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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Scarlet: Something to Lust About (4.5/5)

Year: 2003
Label: Ferret Music
Genre: Chaotic Math Metal
TRT: 12:24

Scarlet was a favorite in the Richmond scene for a long time before they signed with Ferret, but this EP is really what announced their presence to everyone else. Brash, in your face, and unashamed to call you out on your darkest secrets. John Spencer's furious vocals pull you in to the whirlwind, and when it's all said and done, you're left ravaged, and wanting more.

01 Revolver
02 Carbon Copy Killer
03 Sell Yourself
04 Erotic Antibiotic
05 Something to Lust About
06 Suicide King

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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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Norma Jean: Redeemer (4/5)

#9 Album of 2006

Year: 2006
Label: Solid State
Genre: Chaotic Hardcore
TRT: 41:42

Fans who felt let down by Norma Jean’s abrupt change in style from Bless the Child, Kiss the Martyr and last year’s O’ God the Aftermath shouldn’t write them off just yet. Redeemer is a masterful combination of catchy lyrical runs reminiscent of the former, and the technical skill and composition of the latter. A solid album through and through.

01 A Grand Scene for a Color Film
02 Blueprints for Future Homes
03 A Small Spark vs. A Great Forest
04 A Temperamental Widower
05 The End of All Things Will Be Televised
06 Songs Sound Much Sadder
07 The Longest Lasting Statement
08 Amnesty Please
09 Like Swimming Circles
10 Cemetery Like a Stage
11 No Passenger : No Parasite

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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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