Daughters: Daughters (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top Ten "Not Metal" Picks for 2010
#8 of 10



Year: 2010
Genre: Noise Rock
Label: Hydra Head
TRT: 27:56

A lot has changed since Daughters released Canada Songs back in 2003. A lot has changed since 2006's Hell songs. So much so, that the band quietly disassembled in August of 2009 after having a "falling out" revolving around musical differences and mutual unrest with the recorded material finished in June. Everyone went their separate ways, with guitarist Nick Sadler going on to start the band Fang Island (more on that later).

Later in the year, vocalist Lex went to drummer Jon and they decided to release the self titled Daughters album, stating in a Noiscreep interview: "We started this band and we're the only two people who have been through it consistently, so there was no reason to stop altogether and throw the whole thing away".

And thank goodness. The third full length from Daughters (their longest to date) is by far the most accessible material they've ever released, straying far away from their spastic grind-influenced debut, and only keeping the "drunken Elvis"-esqe vocals from the follow-up. Daughters is still demented, but in a noise rock, art core sort of way. It's easy to see why the band collectively threw up their hands in disgust.

Lex went on to say to Noisecreep that he's "not knocking anyone who enjoys this record, because I enjoy parts of this record. But I think if people like it, it's because it was written for them to like it, if that makes sense." On the surface that seems like a dick thing to say (though Lex is far from a stranger to lambasting fans and critics alike), but if you take a good listen to the album, you can actually see exactly what he means.

01	The Virgin
02	The First Supper
03	The Hit
04	The Theatre Goer
05	Our Queens (One Is Many, Many Are One)
06	The Dead Singer
07	Sweet Georgia Brown
08	The Unattractive, Portable Head

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Clinging to the Trees of a Forest Fire: Songs of Ill Hope and Desperation (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top Ten "Metal" Picks for 2010
#8 of 10



Year: 2010
Genre: Chaotic Sludge Grind
Label: Prosthetic
TRT: 32:55

Unrelenting carnage. Even when they put the brakes on, they wreak havoc. They hate everything and everyone, and they're trying to kill you sonically.

Imagine a less sloppy Converge, combined with Crowpath and Bodies in the Gears of the Machine.


01 Teeth & Hair
02 Cloven
03 I Walked Away From The Human Race
04 Shat Out My Bones
05 Gold Frankincense & Myth
06 Recession
07 Piss
08 Bouquet Of Self Pity
09 Leather Hands
10 Made Of Coal
11 They Smeared Shit On Their Skin So They Could Blend In At Night
12 Empty
13 Remove The Light


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The Dillinger Escape Plan: Option Paralysis (5/5)

Joshua's Top Ten "Metal" Picks for 2010
#1 of 10



Year: 2010
Genre: Chaotic Mathmetal
Label: Party Smash Inc / Seasons of Mist
TRT: 44:18

Ire Works fell flat on it's face for me. One of the few reviews I've bothered to write about a CD I didn't like.

So I was apprehensive, I was nervous, and I wasn't sure what to expect from this one.

In short, this might be the best thing they're ever done (a hard claim to make, for sure). If this had been released right after Miss Machine, it would have made perfect sense. It's the logical progression of the sound the experimented with there. Everything is so well integrated, where Ire Works seemed choppy and poorly pasted together. Option Paralysis even has a bit of a monster ballad, albeit they can't contain themselves for the whole song, but it's perfectly executed. Greg Puciato's vocals are better than ever, and can actually match the talent of the rest of the band, not to mention that he's one of the most intimidatingly good frontmen in the scene today.

Bottom line, this is a furious album, and it will destroy your face right off.

01 Farewell, Mona Lisa

02 Good Neighbor

03 Gold Teeth On A Bum

04 Crystal Morning

05 Endless Endings

06 Widower

07 Room Full Of Eyes

08 Chinese Whispers

09 I Wouldn't If You Didn't

10 Parasitic Twins

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The Heuristic: Parapraxes (4/5)

Year: 2005
Label: Black Box
Genre: Chaotic Mathcore
TRT: 16:41

I saw this band when they were on tour with Swarm of the Lotus, and they brought a lot of intensity to the floor. This short cd dosen't quite match their performance, but there are still some very good moments, and I look forward to seeing what direction they take in the future.

Recommended if you like Daughters, The Locust, or other similar artists.

01 Max Planck vs. The Army Of Darkness
02 There Is No Square Root of Negative One in Team
03 Speed Lemur Houses Ex-Endurance On Account Of Perspicacity
04 This Is First Manassas
05 Second Manassas
06 Jack Ruby Tuesday
07 The Transylvania Lottery
08 E: Redheaded Stepchild Of The Non Repeating Decimals
09 Mississippi Delta Force

Purchase The Heuristic from Black Box Recordings

Spitfire: Self-Help (5/5)

#1 Album of 2006


Year: 2006
Label: Goodfellow
Genre: Chaotic Mathcore
TRT: 33:31

This album was released in February, and it did not move down on my Top 10 for 2006 list for a second. The full on assault of chaos and fury are the perfect juxtaposition of previous Spitfire and Scarlet styles. John Spencer is one of the best vocalists in the genre, period. His writing and lyrical prowess have improved greatly since his time in Scarlet, and his placements are spot on throughout the record. I believe this album will stand the test of time, and remain a favorite for years to come.

01 Meat Market
02 Go Ape
03 Life and Limb
04 Dear John
05 Leap of Faith
06 U.V. I.V.
07 Great White Noise
08 Comfort (The Iceman Cometh)
09 Suicide Cult Is Dead
10 Kings of the Food Chain
11 Ohm Driver

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Training For Utopia: Plastic Soul Impalement (5/5)

Year: 1998
Label: Solid State
Genre: Chaotic Mathcore
TRT: 48:00

Plastic Soul Impalement was released in the same year as The Dillinger Escape Plan: Calculating Infinity and Meshuggah: Chaosphere. Sadly, with Solid State Records still in it's infancy, Plastic Soul Impalement slipped through the cracks and into obscurity. Which is a shame, because this is one of the most furiously disturbing records I've come across, and it's been a favorite of mine since day one.

Note: There are two different album covers, as the ken doll artwork was deemed too controversial for Solid State's "christian market". You can find copies of both on eBay pretty cheap.

01 Plastic Soul Impalement
02 A Good Feeling
03 Brother Hezakiah
04 Two Hands
05 Pretty Picture of Lies
06 Black Forest
07 One Zero One
08 Burning Match in Hand
09 Burning Match in Hand
10 Human Shield
11 Single Handed Attempt at Revolution
12 A Gift To a Dying Friend

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