Metalcore

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    The Empire Shall Fall – Awaken (2010)

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    Featuring ex-Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach, we were very weary about “Awaken” from The Empire Shall Fall. We never liked Jesse’s vocals on KSE and we also don’t like 95% of the Metalcore that bands put out these days, so we imaged that we would completely rip this album to shreds and call it a day. To our surprise we actually found and interesting sounding album with “Awaken”, an album that will put many of the current Metalcore shit to the ground and Tea-bag them all night long.

    Right of the bat, we still hate the vocals and we will not change our minds about them. The screams seem forced (like he has something up his ass), and the ‘growls’ seem weak in comparison to other dudes in the Deathcore/Metalcore circuit. Jesse’s clean vocals are as vanilla as they come, and there is nothing else to add about such a plain (and boring singer).

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Mouga – The God and Devils Schanpps (2009)

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    We have received very solid releases from Mystic Productions from Poland until now, Mouga’s attempt at mixing Emo with Nu-Metal and some Metalcore elements fails terribly and the band just comes up with a garbled release that will make you want you puncture your ear-drums after listening to it for more than 10 minutes. Imagine we listened to it for at least 3 full spins before going on to write this review.

    We usually don’t like to put bands down unless they really deserve it, and for Mouga we feel that is our obligation to warn you about this steaming pile of shit of an album. The band’s attempt at mixing ‘commercially’ safe genres might be justified, but when there is no substance, and more importantly no music behind such an attempt, it just makes it crash and burn miserably.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Sicarus – Strength of All (2010)

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    Today we find ourselves listening to yet another band mixing Metalcore influences with something else. While this would usually mean that we start laughing from the beginning till the end of the band’s release, we actually find ourselves quite impressed with the solid effort put by Sicarus on their debut EP “Strength of All”.

    Sicarus main strength lies behind the guitar acrobatics that Mad Scotsman and Jon provide the band with. We can make some comparisons with Into Eternity, Echoes of Eternity, Mutiny Within, etc. in this department, but the band does a great job at crafting a sound that does not rely on them too much (unlike the previously mentioned bands).

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Fluwid – From Surface to Suffocation (2010)

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    If you have been an avid reader of Infernal Masquerade for a while now, you should know that we despise most of the shitty Metalcore releases that all the kids over at Hot Topic go crazy about. However, we have always been objective and giving props when props are due to Metalcore/Deathcore/Whatever-core releases that are actually good. Today we have Fluwid and their Metalcore/Melodic Death Metal second album “From Surface to Suffocation”.

    First off, it might be the promo we got but the album sound leaves a lot to be desired since it sounds very hollow and diminishes the overall quality of this release. The music is very straight forward and is highly repetitive, repeating riffs over and over until you can easily play them just by listening to this album once. The breakdowns and clean vocals made us want to puncture our ear drums, but they are very standard for releases of this kind and sound good when compared to other Metalcore bands.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Society's Plague - The Human, The Canvas (2010)

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    With a very ‘commercial friendly’ sound, today we get Society’s Plague. Hailing from the USA, this band plays a mean mixture of Melodic/Progressive Death Metal with Metalcore influence. Setting aside our ‘differences of opinion’ with Metalcore bands, Society’s Plague is actually one hell of a band that will blow you away since the first song on their debut full-length release “The Human, The Canvas”.

    This American band has some Swedish Melodic DM influences in their sound and we love it. When most kids these days are focusing on creating songs with breakdowns every 30 seconds, Society’s Plague focuses more on crafting dual guitar melodies like almost no other new-coming band. The bands guitarists combine both skill and great songwriting skills on this album, making the band have a very dynamic and diverse sound.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Soilwork – The Panic Broadcast (2010)

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    Ever since “Natural Born Chaos”, the real Soilwork died for us. However, the band has been constantly improving in terms of their ‘new’ Metalcore/Modern Metal/Rock sound. And with the return of Peter Wichers to the band in 2008, they are closer to being very good again. With “The Panic Broadcast” the band combines all the previously mentioned genres in a very interesting way not sounding extremely Metalcore-ish, not sounding too much like a rock band either.

    We are sure that Soilwork will gain a considerable amount of followers in the USA and markets where Metalcore is highly accepted with “The Panic Broadcast”. The band’s latest release is very well designed to fit into so many categories, that most people will end up liking this release (except for old Soilwork fans). Using a wide variety of vocals, Björn Strid does the Modern Metal screams very well and the clean Metalcore-ish sections even better.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    As I Lay Dying – The Powerless Rise (2010)

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    We try to stay away from as much Metalcore crap that we can, but sometimes we get some releases that are worth listening to and giving them a solid review. “The Powerless Rise” is one of those, it features an As I Lay Dying that has been refining their sound with every release and now, they are good enough for us to enjoy (somewhat).

    The band is as brutal as ever and features the traditional breakdowns that most people love to death, however, we enjoy this album because of the brilliant melodic parts that some songs have in this release. The band might have 80% of the elements that makes us despise Metalcore, but objectively and musically, they can also compose brilliant songs.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Since Yesterday – Artificial Truth (2010)

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    It has been a very international month here at Infernal Masquerade reviewing (and receiving) albums from all over the world. Since Yesterday hails from Ankara, Turkey and they are planning a massive global take over with their superb debut album “Artifical Truth”.

    As an avid reader of Infernal Masquerade you should know that we do not like the majority of the mainstream Metalcore band and albums. However, we are truly objective when we get any releases for reviewing purposes and sometimes we get true gems that will surely take by surprise the genre and will shake out the established bands of their grandeur pipe dreams of super stardom.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Aquila – Imperium (2009)

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    Opening with an intro track by the same name of the album “Imperium”, Aquila starts showcasing their musical abilities since track one and never let go. This Canadian outfit plays Metalcore and is pretty good at it.

    While Metalcore is not one of my favorite genres, I have no problems in recognizing bands that have talent and do a good job at playing the music. The vocals is the part that for me kills this genre, but Aquila does a good job at sounding more like Trash/Death Metal the majority of the time while maintaining their Metalcore roots.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
    • Comments: 0

    Viatrophy – Viatrophy (2009)

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    When I heard that this band had Metalcore influences, I was very cautious since it’s one the genres that I can’t stand, since all releases sound very much alike and the vocal work just makes me want to shoot my self.

    So after gathering enough courage start playing this self titled album I hit play and after a flashy into I’m blown away with their brutal Death Metal opening from their second track “Mistress Of Misery”. While the band plays mainly Death Metal you can hear some of the dreaded Metalcore influences here and there but it’s still pretty brutal and technical.

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