Black Castle: Silver Demo (4.5/5)

Year: 2003
Label: Self Released
Genre: Electro Hardcore
TRT: 10:57

After seeing their furious live show, I spent my last five bucks at their merch table on this recording. Very short, but brimming with the same energy displayed live. Imagine what Converge would sound like if they didn't take themselves seriously and collaborated with HORSE The Band. Something that set Black Castle apart is their lack of guitar, and being driven by the bass and keys equally. They released a full length in 2004, but it dosen't quite match the intensity of this release, and the band broke up shortly thereafter.

01 Oh No! Oh No! Oh No! Oh Yeah!
02 ...And the Boneless Phoenix...
03 The Wall of Infertility
04 Godspeed You Black Castle!
05 Battling the Dark Knights Armor
06 Zombie Brain-Eating March

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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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