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Serpentine Dominion

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George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher, Adam D, & Shannon Lucas

George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher, Adam D, & Shannon Lucas

 Killswitch Engage and Cannibal Corpse, seems like an odd combination doesn’t it? Well if you answered yes to that, know that I agree with you. Combining the signature skill sets of vocalist George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher of death metal legends Cannibal Corpse, guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage, and drummer Shannon Lucas formerly of The Black Dahlia Murder & All That Remains to form a monster of a melodic death metal band called Serpentine Dominion.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first got my copy of the album, and once I loaded it onto my phone for repeated listening I discovered that I was in for a treat. The album starts off with an intro track that has melodic clean guitars building into heavy and epic  leads before rolling into the lead track “The Vengeance in Me”.

Serpentine Dominion

Serpentine Dominion

 Grindy, thrashy guitars, machine gun blasting drums, and vocals reminiscent of a growling demon spawn in a style true to Corpsegrinder. These songs thrash along speed driven guitar riffs and blast beats in a fashion similar to Cannibal Corpse before unexpectedly giving way to a burst of melody with guitar riffs signature of guitarist Adam D.. Completing the melodic feel and grooves are the clean vocals by Adam backing and driving the songs forward and setting them apart from a sea of talented death metal bands that can sometimes tend to blur together.

This is a fantastic album that seamlessly blends the musical influences and styles of its members, truly the sum of its parts. I would recommend fans of any of the involved musicians or fans of death metal in general. The album is out now on Metal Blade records and available at all the usual outlets for music. You can order your copy here.


My favorite track from the album

 Lead track from the album

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CD Reviews

ALICE IN CHAINS “BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE” VINYL REVIEW

Ron

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Alice In Chains have Re-Released the 2009 album on vinyl. This album was the first Alice In Chains in 14 years and the first album with guitarist/singer Willam DuVall after Layne Staley passed away in 2002. 

I was a huge Alice In Chains fan and was a big fan of both Layne and Jerry. When this album first came out I remember sorta pushing it the side only cause of sadness about Layne but after hearing “Check My Brain” I gave it a chance and was so glad that I did. This album is amazing and really put Alice In Chains back into the mainstream. 

The vinyl not only looks super awesome but sounds amazing. If you’re a fan of Alice In Chains and into collecting Vinyl, this album is a must in your collection. It’s a great packed vinyl with 2 vinyls included. 

Side A: All Secrets Known, Check My Brain and Last of My Kind. Side B: Your Decision, A Looking in View. Side C: When The Sun Rose Again, Acid Bubble, Lesson Learned. Side D: Take Her Out, Private Hell, Black Gives Away To Blue

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CD Reviews

VENDED: Album Review

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9/20/24 sees the independent release of the full-length, self-titled debut album from Des Moines, Iowa natives Vended. Featuring vocalist Griffin Taylor, Simon Crahan on drums, Jeremiah Pugh on bass, Cole Espland on lead guitar, and Connor Grodzicki on rhythm guitar.

On this album they have taken more abrasive elements of nu metal as seen in the late 90s from bands like Slipknot and Soulfly and utilized elements of metalcore to slap a fresh coat of paint on the style. There are elements that remind me of the more modern and spastic styles of nu metal, similar to a band like Tallah. 

Griffin’s vocal styling showcases mid-range screams as the main driving force bending the vocals. True to the nu metal elements, the rage and anger perceived from the screams are offset by the occasional catchy riff or fast talking, almost rapping stylized lyrics. 

Crahan shows an impressive command of rhythm with his double bass drum. Driving each track forward with a machine gun-like purpose, which makes the more groove-oriented parts hit much harder. Crahan, in addition to the rest of the rhythm section (Espland and Pugh), all really work together well to keep the momentum moving forward while not sacrificing said groove. 

While I wouldn’t call it album of the year or anything. It’s definitely worth checking out. Standout tracks: “Nihilism” and “The Far Side”. 

Vended can be found on the usual socials. And the album is available on all streaming platforms. And physical copies can be purchased though https://www.officialvended.com

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DevilSkin “Surfacing” EP 

Ron

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It’s been 4 years since Devilskin’s last album, “Red.” The New Zealand band has followed up with their new EP, “Surfacing.” 

This 6-song EP starts off with “Whale Song,” which just rocks and puts you right in the mood for what Devilskin is going to bring. I love Jennie Skulander’s voice; it works perfectly with the tone and grittiness of the album. 

The EP has two covers on it. “Barracuda,” which we reviewed before and is a great cover song. The band also takes a swing at Dio’s “Holy Diver.” I am pretty critical about anyone covering Dio. Most bands try too hard to sound like Ronnie, which doesn’t always work out. However, I like this cover because the band takes their own path when covering it and makes it their own. 

“Let Me Breathe,” “Insects,” and “Unborn” round up the rest of the EP. Which makes the EP a great listen from beginning to end. There has been a great resurgence of bands coming from New Zealand that kick ass. DevilSkin is on top of that list of bands. I hope that they make it over to the US soon so we can get a chance to check them out live. If you’re into a great rock EP and want to listen to something new and fresh, I recommend checking out this EP.

 THIS IS A SPONSORED REVIEW BROUGHT TO YOU BY TAG PUBLICITY   

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