1. Norma Jean – The Anti Mother (2008)

I have heard many bad things about this album, in fact, after initially listening to a couple of songs, I wrote this album off as another melodic metalcore assraping. However, for this review, sitting down at my computer and thoroughly listening to the Anti Mother, I have to say that I actually enjoyed this record! It’s not groundbreaking, but you know what, Norma Jean hasn’t succumbed to the temptation of going deathcore. They play the same metalcore style they have since the beginning (okay, so yeah, they do through in a few clean melodic passages that pretty much suck), and if you liked them then, you’ll like them now more than likely. I have never been a huge fan of Norma Jean, but even with the weak clean tracks, I think this is a decent metalcore record that is getting shit on a bit too much simply because they aren’t brutal as fuck. Norma Jean are acceptable to mainstream listeners, let’s just take our blankies home and get over it people. (Similar Artists: Saosin, Kyuss, Every Time  I Die, Converge) GOOD

2. Motorhead – Motorizer (2008)

I am quite ashamed to say this, but the first thing I thought of when first listening to this album was how much it reminded me of Ringo Starr’s solo stuff. Ringo’s career for the last 30 or so years has been marked by trying to live up to his legacy as being a member of the Beatles, unfortunately, his songwriting abilities are some of the worst in rock n roll and has really never had a quality career without constantly reminding the world of his involvement with The Beatles. Motorhead are who they have always been and there’s nothing wrong with that, but Motorizer is such a dried up, “been there done that” album with nothing exciting or outstanding. Lemmy has shown that he can right some mean riffs at this point in his career as demonstrated on albums like 2004’s Inferno, but what the fuck is this? I think Motorhead needs to takr a breather from touring and writing and get some R&R. The talent is still there living strong, but this is really a tired sounding album with no spice. (Similar Artists: Are you serious? It’s fucking Motorhead!) EH

3. Dismember – Dismember (2008)

Despite this coming out in February, I just recently got around to listening to this beast. Why did an album from one of the greatest European death metal bands of all time get so little fanfare? Could it be because they haven’t littered their album with core bollocks? Yup, I believe that would be the actual answer. As far as the sound, what can I say? This is a stereotypical Dismember album–absolutely brutal and groovy with no end in sight. With perhaps the crunchiest riffs this side of Obituary, Dismember’s self titled album really brings home the bacon so to say. If you haven’t heard Dismember yet, you need to, because no other death metal band besides Entombed (and it’s early incarnations), Obituary and maybe one or two others can claim to have the throne of most bad ass death metal guitar riffs on the planet. In addition to that, they play effective slow to mid tempo death metal that will likely detach your head from your neck if you’re not careful. Like always, this record doesn’t give into the temptation of turning into All Shall Perish or the new Cryptopsy, nay, this tried and true Dismember that will guarantee long time and new fans alike. (Similar Artists: Entombed, Obituary, Death, Suffocation, At the Gates) VERY GOOD

4. Haggard – Tales of Ithiria (2008)

Taking the concept of symphonics, folk and elements o death and black metal, we are presented with a Haggard album that isn’t dramatically different from their previous work or other artists in this landscape. However, what perhaps divides Tales if Ithiria from recent folk and symphonic pieces, is just how in depth they go to present their sound. Containing almost too much musicians, Haggard emphasizes the complete symphony as opposed to how metal they may or may not sound. Yes, this is a metal record, but I don’t think it aims to be just that, which I enjoy. However, the downside of this album is the horrible production. It sounds like Haggard and its label had 50 bucks to produce this album. Despite their numerous musicians, it sounds like they use way too many electronic sampling of real instruments, and the actual vocal and instrumental parts are so horrible produced it dramatically hinders the quality of the listening experience, which would otherwise be quite good given the interesting storyline and quality songwriting. It would be nice to hear this album re-recorded as I’m sure it would become infinitely better. (Similar Artists: Battlelore, Turisas, Falconer, Nightwish) GOOD

5. Destruction – D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. (2008)

If there’s one constant in the world of metal, it’s Germanic thrash. Arguably the most consistent of all the Teutonic thrash titans is Destruction, who puts out regular material much more frequently than most others save for maybe Sodom. It’s also worth noting that the highlights of Destruction’s career have come later in their career, most notably with 2001’s The Antichrist was and probably still is the best thrash album of the new millennium. Now here we are in 2008, checking out yet another new Destruction release entitled D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. Perhaps most interesting about this record is the noticeable change to a more groove oriented style which is much more in tune with latter day Overkill and Lamb of God than modern Destruction albums. I have mixed feelings about this; on one hand, the band is showing progression in a genre that sometimes has difficulties fresh ideas, but on the other, it’s just not the tried and true Destruction brand (or at least not as much so) that we have all grown to love. I guess when it all comes down to it, I can’t say I really enjoy this record directly as a result of its new groove style which really isn’t done as well as the bands I compared it to. My opinion is especially apparent aftering re-listening to The Antichrist and then putting this on afterwards. It’s just a little too weak in the songwriting dept. (Similar Artists: Sodom, Lamb of God, Overkill) NOT BAD

Reviews by CODY