Hackneyed
Death Prevails

By Bill Whish

Hackneyed is a synonym for something that has been made commonplace or stale. So how does a death metal band from Germany release something into the metal world that doesn’t sound stale? Simple: do it when you’re still 16 years old. According to their website, the average age of the band is just 16 (one member is 14!, which is astonishing when you hear their debut release, Death Prevails. Formed just over a year ago, these young German teens basically put on their best Suffocation impression, which comes out sounding pretty damn decent. Although the age is an interesting talking point when it comes to this band, it shouldn’t serve as a mere novelty (because these guys can shred!) or an example to prove that German kids are way more metal than Canadian ones. Death Prevails isn’t going to compete for remembrance when it comes to metal in 2008 but this is a solid debut that will hopefully be built upon as the band members reach adulthood. (Nuclear Blast)

Intronaut - Prehistoricisms
Along with Mouth of the Architect and the Ocean, Los Angeles-based Intronaut are the best exponents of the post-core subgenre. Losing founding guitarist Leon Del Muerte might prove fatal for any other band but Intronaut bounce back with even more intelligent, tech-tinged prog metal, making Preh ...Read More
Black Ships - Omens
With Cursed gone (for now?) from our national hardcore scene, there’s a big, gaping hole where our love for crushingly heavy riffs and speedy breakdowns used to be. Black Ships, a group of dirty punks from Montreal, might be ready to fill that void, as Omens, their first full-length release ...Read More
All Shall Perish - Awaken the Dreamers
All That Remains - Overcome
Asva - What You Don’t Know Is Frontier
Blood Ceremony - Blood Ceremony
Caïna - Temporary Antennae
Ceremony - Still Nothing Moves You
Chingalera - Dose
Chthonian - Of Beatings And The Silence In Between
Cross Examination - Menace II Sobriety
Dance Gavin Dance - Dance Gavin Dance
Destruction - D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.
Dr. Acula - Below Me!
Early Graves - We: The Guillotine
Ehnahre - The Man Closing Up
Gone Hollywood - The Great White EP
Haitian Knife Fight - How To Slaughter A Lamb
Head On Collision - Ritual Sacrifice
Helms Alee - Night Terror
Hey Colossus - Happy Birthday
Humanoid - Remembering Universe
Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man (Something Wicked Part 2)
Into Eternity - The Incurable Tragedy
Light Yourself On Fire - Intimacy
Master - Slaves To Society
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Muffler Crunch - Arc Welder
Narrows - Narrows
Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone
Soulfly - Conquer
This or the Apocalypse - Monuments
Trigger The Bloodshed - Purgation
Trivium - Shogun
Underoath - Lost In The Sound Of Separation
United Nations - United Nations
Wetnurse - Invisible City
On his second album, Unbalance, 2562 continues to fuse genres and theories about rhythmic persuasion. Less atmospheric than his highly acclaimed avant-dub-step debut, this new disc further showcases 2562's unerring sense of swing. Though he denies any intentional influences from Africa... Full Review
Gurpreet "The Tabla Guy" Chana combines a deep knowledge of Indian classical music and a lifetime of Canadian musical experiences into a unique approach to percussion. He is both a spellbinding solo performer and a consummate collaborator. Raised in Hamilton, now residing in Toronto, Chana's tabla education began at age three. He relates a time-honoured musical starting point, albeit with specific cultural resonance.... Read More
"Slayer!" Second only to pleas for Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird," virtually every concert-goer of the past quarter-century has heard this passionate cry unleashed during a show, metal or otherwise. There's a reason. The Huntington, California metal quartet is hands-down one of the boldest, most agile, impassioned bands in the history of recorded music. There's no mistaking Slayer.... Read More
Social Networking
• Be our friend on MySpace
• Be our fan on Facebook
Tweet us on twitter
Viewing the October 2008 Issue: Contents PageNewsClick Hear • Articles --> On the Cover  •  Front Five  •  Points  •  Questionnaire  •  Release Dates  •  Research  •  Timeline  •  Videogames  •  Conversations • Music Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Aggressive Tendencies  •  Beats & Rhymes  •  Destination Out  •  Frequencies  •  Groove  •  No Future  •  Pop Rocks  •  Wood, Wires & Whiskey  •  Concert Reviews • Motion Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Dvd Reviews  •  Film Reviews  •  Music DVD Reviews  •  TIFF  •  Videogame Reviews • Music School --> Label Life  •  Need to Know  •  Where I play Contests • Contact --> About Us  • Advertising  • Distribution  • Getting Reviewed  • Getting Published  • Letters To The Editor  • Partnerships  • Subscriptions • Exclaim! Radio --> Aggressive Tendencies Radio  • Beats & Rhymes Radio  • Destination Out Radio  • Frequencies Radio  • Groove Radio  • No Future Radio  • Pop Rocks Radio  • Wood, Wires & Whiskey Radio Exclaim! TV • Home & Latest Issue Browse Issues