Category Archives: Reviews

(review) Curt Cannabis – Sad But True (Too Loud Records)

USA pop punks Curt Cannabis have a new record out and it is an e.p. containing 6 songs. The music is melodic punk rock, with lots of pop punk thrown in. The songs are not fast, rather mid tempo punk rock with gusto and deliberate built up of melody to sweet choruses. I love tribute to Elvira with Dear Elvira (Jewel of TV), also Atomic Heart is one of my personal favorites having such great chorus and melody. Vocals are kind of rough on edges but fit perfectly to music. Songs called Drag and the title song are also highlights of this little e.p. Great effort. If you like your pop punk check this one.

Bandcamp

(review) School Drugs – Absolution

School Drugs are back with their three new songs, second part of their four part LP. These three new songs offer maniacal, in your face, no holds barred fast hardcore punk with brutal screamed lyrics and old school vibe in No Taste and Broken. Third song, Cold Hearted offers a more metallic edge in the start, but after pumping bass it evolves into mid tempo powerful street core song with vicious lyrics and I love this band and their stuff, also I am looking forward to future parts of this great LP.

Indecision Records

(review) Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army (Metal Blade)

Swedish masters of melodic death metal Amon Amarth are back with their new opus. This new full length contains nine songs. Some of the songs have usual Viking melodic death metal themes with great epic melodies and catchy hooks crossbred with brutality of primordial mid tempo death metal which somehow became courtesy trademark of this great band. Get In The Ring is a classic epic Amon Amarth opener with lyrics a bit different from their themes. The title song has too many groove moments and kind of not so powerful chorus, so it did not impress me so much. Heidrun is one of my personal favorites on this album, somehow reminding me of Thyrfing, in riffs and songwriting. Johan Hegg´s voice is powerful and brutal, but I love how I understand almost everything he is singing and that is a trademark of excellent death metal singer. Oden Owns You All reminds by title of Einherjer but music is vintage Amon Amarth with such sweet melodic guitar work, making it one of the best on this opus. Find A Way Or Make One is hard hitter with uplifting warrior lyrics and anthemic chorus, some say that Amon rehash all their albums over and over again, but I beg the differ. Or if they do it, they do it perfectly. Dawn Of Norsemen did not sit for me right, maybe because it lacks something, just to be a great song, this way it is only a decent one. Now we come on best part of this opus, Saxons And Vikings, featuring excellent guest performance by Saxon´s Biff Byford, thus creating a perfect mixture of these two warrior folk. I listened to this one over and over again. Skagul Rides With Me is an epic decent anthem of warrior pride and never surrendering defiance. The Serpent´s Trail is the longest song on this opus and finishes this record with rolling and epic guitar work, great lyrics and songwriting. Good album.