From Traditional to Unconventional
We have some more flag-waving Traditional Metal this week, but to offset it, we have quite a quite unconventional offering. Then in the middle (well, actually, we review it first) we have one that falls somewhere in between. How’s that for diversity?
Reviews:
Uneven Structure – La Partition (Long Branch)
Night Demon – Darkness Remains (Century Media)
Dodecahedron – Kwintessens (Season of Mist)
First Impressions:
Decapitated – “Never” from Anticult out July 7th from Nuclear Blast
Uneven Structure – La Partition
Night Demon – Darkness Remains
Dodecahedron – Kwintessens
The Sideshow Podcast 
I always get Uneven Structure confused with Structures. I can never remember which of those two bands isn’t good.
I was intrigued by Dodecahedron when it was released not too long ago and gave it a try. I thought it was interesting but a little too dense for what I was looking for at the time. Related to Dodecahedron, I’ve also been interested in checking out Deathspell Omega which I never have.
I’ve been enjoying Wick by Royal Thunder. I’m prepared to say that I like Wick better than their last album Crooked Doors.
Really?! Maybe I need to go back to Wick…in another week or so.
I haven’t checked out Deathspell Omega either but it is a name I have been seeing for years. Maybe some day I’ll give it shot. Or I’ll just wait for you do it first and see what your report is. Ha ha
– Brian
Here’s how I view Wick by Royal Thunder: it is a vocal showcase. If you’re looking for heavily distorted guitars and blast beats, then look elsewhere. But if you are looking for one of the finest vocal performances of the year, then you can look no further than Wick. I came to this conclusion when I realized that one of my favorite songs on the album is “Plans”. That song starts with some light, quiet strumming on an acoustic guitar but then leads into some powerhouse vocals. For me, “Plans” epitomizes the album even if that song isn’t the most representative of the hard rock of most of the rest of the album. But the vocals alone on that song won me over.