Demons Of Insanity - Metalium

Advantages: Heavy as Hell moments contrast with the melodic ones
Disadvantages: Too heavy for some, extreme in places

...having been forewarned that this was the heavier end of the musical spectrum flowing from Pantera, i was vaguely apprehensive before my first listening of "The Great Southern Trendkill". I had been amazed by all their albums subsequent to "Cowboys from Hell" up to this one, having been unfortunately swung between dance, indie and nu-metal before i discovered the band. The album begins with the title track, a demonic, derranged thrashfest that thankfully dissolves in to a more accesible southern-style guitar solo around the 2 minuite mark. This sets the scene for the rest of the album; angry, possesed rock with perscision guitars and screaming complemented by power metal solos and occasional forays into what might even be called tuneful territory. Track 2, "War Nerve" is driven by a classic Pantera riff, but is less intense and more... Read review

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Advantages: Well crafted pop punk tunes!
Disadvantages: Some may think the production has left it sounding too clean?

...Calling your band Pickled Dick is probably to some people, the equivalent of hanging a blanket-covered child over a balcony; attention grabbing but for all the wrong reasons. However, band name aside (I think it's legendary), Pickled Dick are one of the better underground UK pop punk bands emerging at the moment. Think a cross between pre-Nimrod Green Day, Screeching Weasel, Mr. T Experience and a little bit of The Queers, but with a stronger emphasis on harmonies and catchy choruses. Building on their debut full length 'Panda-Moanium', this six track gives the listener more of what can be found on the first release whilst at the same time expanding their sound and giving room for creativity. The harmonies and sing-along's are still here throughout the 20 minutes, most evident in the insanely infectious opening track 'Extra... Read review

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Advantages: Groovy and doomy, baby!
Disadvantages: Hmmm - a bit odd for some people.

...speakers like a ton of molten glue. But it is the last few minutes of the song that really make it great – an infectious riff bounces along like the demonic Mr Dorrian himself, with some strange haunting synths to back up the whole thing. All combined with a marvellous Led Zeppelin style solo, only with Lee babbling nonsense behind Gary’s guitar work. The EP closes with a work of such monumental insanity that I can scarcely even begin to describe it. The Voyage of the Homeless Sapien is a 22 minute epic of vast scope, dealing with a trip through the galaxy so disturbed, bizarre and drug addled that it makes Star Trek look like a jaunt down to the corner shop. Cosmic traveller Lee Dorrian once again breaches the bounds of sanity in providing us with some of the most profoundly odd lyrics ever to see print, including the mightily... Read review

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