Mosh It Up Baby!
Artist:Dragonforce
Album: Ultra Beatdown
Release Date Auguest 26
Ive only heard the album twice so far but I would put it almost on par with Inhuman Rampage. If you are not already a Dragonforce fan then this sure wont win you over. They still have the trademark speed rhythms, blazing solos, and the piercing lead and background vocals. That might be their ultimate problem that they dont have enough variety in their music. On this album track #4 Heartbreak Armageddon has a clean section that stands out, and I wish they had more stuff like that on the album. The album starts off jamming with their lead off single Heroes of Our Time and ends on a high note with The Warrior Inside. Another solid track and one of my favorites is track #7 Inside the Winter Storm with awesome breakdown sections that had me grooving. While the album is not quite an "ultimate beatdown" to this genre it is still solid and a must buy for any fans out there.
Rating: 8.2

Heroes of our Time



Artist: Soulfly
Album: Conquer
Release Date July 29
Fucking Awesome. Guitarist/vocalist Max Cavalera and Mark Rizzo have done it again. They teamed up earlier this year with one of my favorite releases, The Cavalera Conspiracy's Inflikted album, which is my second most listened to album of the year, only behind the Testament masterpiece. When Soulfly first started, their first few albums was more of the tribal groove bullshit that Max started on the way fucking overrated Sepultura's Roots album. Not to mention they had a bunch of poseur nu metal vocalists guest starring. Finally some sense (and probably the arrival of Mark Rizzo) has been smacked back into Max and he's back making some kick ass music. This album is back to old school thrash groove similar to old Sepultura and some new groove metal music very similar to The Cavalera Conspiracy. On several tracks there are guest vocalist that have never sounded better. Also add in some kick ass leads and some unique heavy breakdowns and you have another must acquire metal album. I think the album is going to grow on me much like their C.C. Inflikted album has. My favorite track on the album, the very Mortificationesque Fall of the Cycophants had me grinning ear from ear reminiscing about the early days of kick ass speed metal.
Rating: 8.8
New video Unleash

Fall of the Cycophants song