Dr. Acula - Welcome to the Social Event of the Century (2010)

Genre: Deathcore/Partygrind (apprantly)
For Fans Of: Attila, The Irish Front, Heavy Heavy Low Low

Dr. Fagula has come a long way since they started. Although the sound hasn't changed entirely too much its kept the same concept of being brutal and fun at the same time and possibly even weed music. The line-up changes however have changed the bands playing style as a whole especially in the vocal department. After the disappointing 2008 album Below Me Dr. Acula has come back with a much more concentrated effort that will possibly even gain some new fans. From what I understand the line-up is completly new on this album which might have to do with the much improved sound and structures of the songs.

The album opens up with the title track which gives you a hint that this is going to be a very fun album. Immediatly it is shown that this is a massive improvement over all the previous efforts that were released before this. It seems the band is taking their instrumental talent farther and more serious this time around however the lyrics are still funny. The only way I feel I can properly review this is by talking about the stand out tracks and the instruments themselves.

First off the vocals are improved without a doubt from the previous release. The only thing that was good on the last one was the lows that the vocalist pulled off which were suprisingly impressive. His highs however sounded like a dying cat and his talking portions were even more annoying sounding. This is opposite of the case this time this time the screams are much higher and much more menacing sort of resembling those of Chelsea Grin or Suicide Silence. His lows are also very impressive but are not used often enough sadly but they sound just like the lows on below me only better possibly. His talking has been replaced with a mid ranged hardcore yell that is also very impressive and somewhat goofy. These 3 styles help add a little variety so you do not get bored with the vocals fast like with most deathcore. To top it off you also get the occasional pig squeels but these dont come along often enough to note.

The guitars are also very strong on this and greatly improved over the last release. You get the typical chugging breakdowns and fast thrashy sections of course but you also get some technicality here and there. We even get a good amount of guiter solos, sweeping, tapping, and other cool things to bring you into the songs. The bass on the other hand well.....its there suprisingly. You can hear it slightly better then other deathcore acts but its nothing that will attract you and pull you in. Same goes with the drums they are fast but wont blow you away or anything like that. Whats most improved are the samples they are far funnier this time around and we even get one fromt he gutiar hero episode of south park. Its without a doubt a great album for being stoned due to this.

What really matters as we all know is the song writing which is surprisingly good. They are still comical and funny just like on the other releases if not even more but they also feel a little more serious this time around making this their best effort yet. The most impressive tracks are Music/Videogame olympics, L Train to high Street, and Show stopper with its epic keyboard showdown to end the album. If you didn't like the bands previous material give this one a few listens to see if you like it you might be impressed actually. Some of the older fans may be dissapointed again with the lack of pig squeals but hey get over it and enjoy this truly great release.

Pros:
A massive improvement over Below Me in every department
L Train to High Street actually sounds very serious
Epic ending
Might change some minds
Great solos I must add

Cons:
Growls could be used more
Could maybe be a little longer
Is this a party or a dick measuring contest kind of sucks

Overall: 8.5/10
Buy?: If its 10 dollars go ahead you have no excuse

Suffokate - No Mercy, No Forgiveness (2010)

Genre: Deathcore
For fans of: ABACABB, Demolisher, Emmure, Whitechapel

2010 is looking like a better year for Deathcore than 2009 was. Last 2 years all we ever got was copycat bands doing the same thing over and over but worse each time. This year we got some bands doing interesting things (Upon a Burning Body) and being copycats but doing it well at that (Chelsea Grin.) So how does No Mercy, No Forgiveness hold out to the others?

Very well I might add although its nothing original or insanely technical it manages to be a very catchy album and an easy listen the whole way through. We open up with a track which is mostly one long breakdown pattern which changes through the whole song. The guitar work is decently impressive to say the most. It mostly relies on chugging and the occasional catchy riffing. In total there are only to guitar solos to be found on the record however both are far from filler. The guitarwork will not bore you but neither will if keep people into technical stuff truly interested. If you however completly despise chugging this cd may not be for you.

The drumwork is also very impressive however this is not really a suprise at all. Deathcore has never really had many shitty drummers they just happen to never stand out among each other aside from Oceano and Whitechapel. Same goes here on this album its very catchy, very fast, and keeps well with the instruments. But that is preatty much exactly what you get out of it and nothing else much more sadly.

The vocal work is what truly interests me into this album. Ricky has one of the lowest and sickest sounding death growls I have ever heared in a long time. Its somewhat similar to Glen Benton of Deicide it would be interesting to see what he would sound like if he sang at a higher pace. Many will probably be reminded of the vocalist of ABACABB with how he keeps a deep tone, goes at a slow pace and occasionally lets out some high screams. The high screams are okay but its clear why he sticks to the lower growls more often it seems like a logical choice for him however the layered growl/screams are preatty sweet sounding. The album also has some really amazing sounding gang vocals in "Not the Fallen" which sound different from anything else I have heared before. this track and "Power of Submission" steal the album for me. Power of Submission is a more melodic sounding track and "Not the Fallen" is just a pure ass kicker.

The biggest complaint about this album is that it dosn't vary its speed at all and probably will not stay in your cd player forever. The first time you hear it will grab you in and most likely keep you interested for about its 30 minute running time. When you pick this up however you may want to pick up something else along with it like Upon a Burning Body.

Pros:
Amazing vocal work
2 tracks that will stay on your playlist for a long time
It all comes together well
Huge improvement over previous material

Cons:
Not much variety aside from the solos
Might not last you very long
Core haters won't be impressed

Overall: If you loved ABACABB's Survivalist check this out
Buy?: I say so

Dr. Acula - Slobology (2010)

Genre: Deathcore/Grindcore
For fans of: Heavy Heavy Low Low (maybe), Job for a Cowboy

Here it is my friends! The Dr. Acula Slobology containing the releases of both Silver Lipped Operator of Bullshit, and Chillology both remastered for your listening pleasure (or displeasure). This release features the old vocalist with all his pig squealin glory in on one disc for ultimate entertainment. In this review however I will spend more time talking about S.L.O.B. since it features most of the songs off Chillology remade.

We open of with party with the chorus chanting THIS IS HOW WE PARTY! SO FUCK OFF! which is only one minute long then it fades into my the 2nd track. This track Cuckoo Clock of Doom scares the shit outa me its got these creepy keyboard like things in the back which sound like a circuss. We got Night of the Living Dummy which I never really very much after that comes Lets Get Invisible. This is no doubt the best version and the singer even forgets the words at the end and begins screaming fuck over and over. Monster Blood rapes on here just like it does on the other releases but its also better on here just like Lets Get Invisible. unfortunently after the first 5 tracks the less interesting tracks come up with the funny samples to make up for this. The whole cd manages to be very entertaining and never let down and it is also very short so it dosn't take up too much time. The album closes with my favortie Dr. Fagula song known as Legend of the Lost Legend which has a very catchy sounding singing part towards the end actually.

Chillogy starts at track 11 and starts with a very comedic intro saying "I want to suck your blood" this is where it all started at. This EP isn't nearly as good as the other album but it still manages to be quite entertaining. Horror at Camp Jelly probably steals the show for being completly different then the other tracks, but out of the 6 tracks only 2 were not remade for S.L.O.B. and Below me (2008).

Even tho there are two albums on this release it still has a considerably short runtime. S.L.O.B. is about 22 minuets and Chillology is about 19 minuetes but only because of a long peiod of silence in the last track that leads up to some random dialouge among the band. This however will make an excellent download and/or purchase so get your hands on this if you can at all costs.

Pros:
Very funny
Very scary
Its fucking Dr. Acula
It dosn't seem to get boring after repeated listens like most joke bands
If not taken seriously this could become one of your favorites

Cons:
Vocals can be preatty annoying
Some tracks feel like filler
Shoulda had the cover of S.L.O.B.

Overall: 8/10
Buy?: YES!!!!

Beneath the Rising Tide - Of Divinity and Damnation (2010)

Genre: Death Metal/Deathcore (maybe)
For Fans Of: The Red Shore (we dont get that one often), Thy Art is Murder, Cannibal Corpse (just check em out u pussies dont call em deathcore fags)

Woah 2010 is here (for a few months that is) and DAMN this has been a good year for music so far with a lot of releases domininating the band previous materials we seem to be heading into a good year for music, and possibly Deathcore even getting respect. Now here we have a rather newer band that I believe started in 2008 and has released their first EP. The style however can be more compared to Death Metal for it concentrates more on technical riffing rather then silly one note breakdowns.

The album starts off with Blacklands which is probably one of the most kickass song titles I've ever heared I think of Lord of the Rings in the mordor area. You'd think it'd be a silly intro cuz of the short song length right? Nope the band says fuck your stupid intro shite were making this a song. Then comes on Unhallowed Abortion which is the song that got me into this release the riffing is catchy as hell and it gives me this really creepy atmosphere that I can't figure out what it is. It very much reminds me of the new Red Shore album Lost Verses just without the symphonic keyboards to add onto it. Then we got Thy King, Thy Conqueror which I don't dig quite as much as the other tracks but the rest of the album kicks major ass the whole way through. The songs are also far from repetetive which is a nice change for this style of music that seems to bore the listener after 3 or 4 songs. One thing I gotta point out his how epic the song titles are I mean we got Arise the Bretheren, the other two I mentioned and Hollow Majesty which makes me assume the lyrics talk about epic battles instead of silly topics like female troubles.

Now that I am done fapping to the album structure lets talk about the band instruments n such. The vocals are absolutly perfect and spot on and I cannot find anything wrong with them. He uses multiple style one of them being a really low growl which sounds exactly like The Red Shore's frontman which is not a bad thing since we don't get that style very often at all. His screams range from mid ranged to really high which I can't really compare to a specific band, and he also even uses a deep guttural brutal death metal style growl on rare occasions. The pig squeals are there too and are done well but don't come up often enough to really notice at all. Now we got the guitars which deliver the atmosphere of the record and the brutal catchiness. The fuckers sure can play their stuff while I don't remember more then one solo on here they most of the time resort to complex technical riffing rather then silly one-note breakdowns. The Bass I can actually hear preatty well too and it gets its job done of adding a darker tone to the record. The Drums I havn't payed all that much attention too but they deffinently aren't generic double-bass the whole time BS that we get a lot these days.

Really I have to admit I cannot find anything wrong with this cd at all exept that maybe its not anything truly new. It just happens to do everything right and damn well I might add to this also. I guess I could say this would work a little better if it ended more climatically and was a full length instead of an EP because this band sounds like they have been doing it for years. Some will say im sucking up to them because they asked me to review this but fuck off I love this band.

Pros:
Sick Riffing
Excellent Vocals
Not repetitive
Solid Effort
Gives you this truly epic concept that will make you use your imagination

Cons:
Kids who only like generic one-note breakdown music this isn't for you
"They're Deathcore Faggots"
They're wearing Cannibal Corpse? OMG POSURSS!!!!!!!!!!11111elevenoneone

Overall: 9/10
Buy?: It dosn't cost too much so go ahead you have no choice GET IT!

Annotations of an Autopsy - The Reign of Darkness (2010

Genre: Death Metal
For fans of: Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Decapitated, Origin

To start this review I should begin talking about the bands history first. They began around 2006 as a rather shitty deathcore act releasing their first EP "Welcome to Sludge City" in 2007 which received generally negative reviews within the Death Metal fanbase. It was bashes for its horrendous pig squeals and rediculouse amounts of inhales. The Limb Bizkit style gang vocals also didn't go to well with the metal fanbase. The next year they released their debut full legth "Before the Throne of Infection" while recieved considerably better then the previous effort was still not thrown into the death metal genre. It was clear they band wanted to be a death metal band and didn't want the deathcore label staying with them any longer. The vocals were improved and the live shows got even better then eventually the band released this album which I feel was the album they intended to release since the beggining of their career.

Now the reign of darkness is upon us as we are blasted with 45 minuetes of relentless Suffocation/Origin influenced semi technical death metal with almost no letting down. The album starts with a somewhat interesting intro that leads into a brutal smasher known as In Snakes I Bathe. Just from the opening 30 secodns of the track you can tell the band has come a long way since the last effort laid out by them. The guitars are decently technical and the drum patters actually very quite well during the songs (which is very rare today). The guitars sound somewhat like what you would hear on an Origin album or say even Cannibal Corpse at times. Just about every riff is interesting (if not memorable), and adds more icing to the cake, and while the bass that is slightly audible isn't anything crazy it does fit with the guitars decently well. The drum patterns I already said are quite interesting especially the drum rolls that kick in before a crazy riff takes over. The vocals are preatty good too, and for those who hate pig squeals they are preatty much gone completly on this release I beleive I only heared one part of the cd that actually had them used. His growl is deffinently considerably vicious especially compared to the last release you actually get the impression at times that he actually is really pissed off about things. It deffinently suits the lyrics which you can prolly guess are not so preatty. He also lets off the occasional high scream which is preatty good but is not used very often at all sadly which results in the vocals being preatty repetative but its all good since most bands are anyways.

If I had to pick out my favorite tracks one of them would be In Snakes I Bathe which is the absolutly crushing opening to the album which shows that the band means buisness. "I am pure fucking hate" sounds very catchy and deffinently meant to be a sing-along while your driving. Born Dead features vocals from the legendary producer Erik Rutan who produced Morbid Angel cds in the past and I don't know if this is his first appearence on a cd but he deffinently fixed this band up. Just like the previous effort this one has an instrumental to slow things down in the middle of it all. "VII: The Horror, the Destruction" is a very creepy and apocalyptic slow runner that sets the creepy mood for the rest of the album. Another one I didn't like at first was Cryogenica which is considerably different from the rest of the tracks since it seems more melodic death metal influenced but it eventually grew on me. The ending of the record is also very epic its mostly instrumental but it has some vocals in there but they dont stick out on here like in the other songs. The album ends with rain falling down which fades into complete silence for another minuete or so then you relize 45 minuets of your life just passed by rather fast.

This is a very impressive effort and its being sold currently for $9.99. If you have that money which not much to spend on and you love death metal go pick up this record for you will not be dissapointed. The only negative thing is that it won't break any new ground within the genre but its still a solid effort and will deffinently overtake many other releases im sure of this.

Pros:
A Solid release from a once medicore deathcore act
Catchy riffing and unique drum patters keeps the listener interested
Stomach punching vocals
Instrumental keeps the album from being to repetative
Its almost hard to find anything wrong with it

Cons:
Nothing really sticks out about this release
The vocals while better have much less variation then the previous releases
It might be a little long for some people

Overall: 8.5/10
Buy?: Its $9.99 at FYE so get it now