The Eternal - Sleep Of Reason

The Eternal
Sleep Of Reason
Firebox Records/Modern Invasion Music

For more information on The Eternal, check out - https://www.facebook.com/TheEternal.

© Justin Donnelly.

The Eternal Interview

The Eternal Interview

For more information on The Eternal, check out - https://www.facebook.com/TheEternal.

© Justin Donnelly.

Carpathian - Nothing To Lose

Carpathian
Nothing To Lose
Resist Records/Stomp

For more information on Carpathian, check out - https://www.facebook.com/Carpathian-224570721877.

© Justin Donnelly.

Korn - Live & Rare

Korn
Live & Rare
Epic/Immortal Records/The Firm/Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Australia) Pty Limited

For more information on Korn, check out - https://www.facebook.com/korn.

© Justin Donnelly.

Thursday - A City By The Light Divided

Thursday
A City By The Light Divided
Island Records/Universal Music Australia

For more information on Thursday, check out - https://www.facebook.com/thursday.

© Justin Donnelly.

Frankenbok Interview

Frankenbok Interview

For more information on Frankenbok, check out - https://www.facebook.com/frankenbok.

© Justin Donnelly.

Sepultura - Dante XXI

Sepultura
Dante XXI
Steamhammer/SPV/Riot!

For more information on Sepultura, check out - https://www.facebook.com/sepultura.

© Justin Donnelly.

As I Lay Dying – A Long March: The First Recordings

As I Lay Dying
A Long March: The First Recordings
Metal Blade Records/Stomp Entertainment

For more information on As I Lay Dying, check out - https://www.facebook.com/asilaydying.

© Justin Donnelly.

Horsell Common / Trial Kennedy – The Birds And The Bees

Horsell Common/Trial Kennedy
The Birds And The Bees
Helltrack Records/Set Fire To My Home/Shock Records

For more information about "The Birds And The Bees", check out - https://www.facebook.com/shockrecordsaus.

© Justin Donnelly.

The Gathering – A Sound Relief

The Gathering
A Sound Relief
Psychonaut Records/Stomp

For more information about The Gathering, check out - https://www.facebook.com/thegatheringofficial.

© Justin Donnelly.

The Ocean – Aeolian

The Ocean
Aeolian
Metal Blade Records/Stomp

For more information on The Ocean, Check out - https://www.facebook.com/theoceancollective.

© Justin Donnelly.

Various Artists - Metal For The Masses

Various Artists
Metal For The Masses
EMI/The EMI Music Group Australasia

For more information on "Metal For The Masses", check out - https://www.facebook.com/emimusicAU.

© Justin Donnelly.

Various Artists – MTV2 Headbanger's Ball: The Revenge

Various Artists
MTV2 Headbanger's Ball: The Revenge
Roadrunner Records/Universal Music Australia

For more information on "MTV2 Headbanger's Ball: The Revenge", check out - https://www.facebook.com/mtv2headbangersball.

© Justin Donnelly.

10 Years Interview

10 Years Interview

For more information on 10 Years, check out - https://www.facebook.com/10yearsmusic.

© Justin Donnelly.

Satyricon – Now, Diabolical

Satyricon
Now, Diabolical
Roadrunner Records/Kaleidoscope/Universal Music Australia

For more information on Satyricon, check out - https://www.facebook.com/SatyriconOfficial.

© Justin Donnelly.

Lacuna Coil – Karmacode

Lacuna Coil
Karmacode
Century Media Records/Shock

For more information on Lacuna Coil, check out - https://www.facebook.com/lacunacoil.

© Justin Donnelly.

Raised Fist – Sound Of The Republic

Raised Fist
Sound Of The Republic
Burning Heart Records/Shock Records

For more information on Raised Fist, check out - https://www.facebook.com/RaisedFistOfficial.

© Justin Donnelly.

Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Progress

Scar Symmetry

Pitch Black Progress

Nuclear Blast Records/Riot! Distributors

In melodic death metal terms, Scar Symmetry's 2005 debut effort "Symmetric In Design" (Released through both Metal Blade Records and Nuclear Blast Records) was a solid effort, and showed plenty of promise for things to come. And while a certain amount of progression was to be expected with their new release, I certainly wasn't expecting quite the jump that's evident throughout "Pitch Black Progress". Formed in 2004, the Swedish quintet (Featuring Angel Blake/Incapacity/Unmoored vocalist Christian Älvestam, ex-Altered Aeon/World Below guitarist Per Nilsson, ex-Carnal Forge/Centrix guitarist Jonas Kjellgren, bassist Kenneth Seil and Altered Aeon drummer Henrik Ohlsson) have wasted no time in following up their debut with an album that proves that melodic death metal needn't sound tired and repetitive, with "Pitch Black Progress" taking elements of both latter day Soilwork and In Flames, yet pushing them just forward far enough to come up with a sound that once again breathes new life into what has essentially been a lifeless genre of late.

The opener (And the first promotional video clip from the album) "The Illusionist" is a good representation of what to expect from the album with blackened thrash riffing, melodic keyboards and impeccable solo work abound, but the real jewel in Scar Symmetry's crown is Älvestam, who manages to provide both a convincing death growl and incredible clean vocals that never fail to amaze. With "Slaves To The Subliminal", Scar Symmetry balance the aggressive with the melodic, which could easily please fans from both camps without relying too heavily on either one way or the other, while the opening riff in "Mind Machine" could easily be mistaken for any number of Soilwork songs of late, but is soon twisted around to make way for something a little more original sounding within the chorus.

The title track "Pitch Black Progress", "Retaliator", "Calculate The Apocalypse", "Abstracted" and the diverse and lengthy "The Kaleidoscopic God" are by far the albums heaviest tracks with the band leaning more towards modern day thrash and Älvestam keeping the clean elements to a bare minimum, while tracks such as the more progressive metal based "Dreaming 24/7", "Oscillation Point" and the powerful parting track "The Path Of Least Resistance" perfectly balance melodic death metal with soaring melodic choruses, without sounding forced or misplaced at any point.

Melodic death metal, much like any genre that's taken off in a major way, has been bastardised to the point where we're starting to see clones of the original clones. But for all the unoriginal copy acts the labels push out endlessly, Scar Symmetry's "Pitch Black Progress" stands out as something fresh and exciting. Maybe it's Älvestam's amazing vocal ability, the guitarists constant soloing or the constant genre jumping within the songs that keep things interesting, either way, I simply can't help but just enjoy this album a lot more than most in recent times.

For more information on Scar Symmetry, check out - https://www.facebook.com/scarsymmetry.

© Justin Donnelly.

Judas Priest – Live Vengeance '82

Judas Priest
Live Vengeance '82
Columbia/Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Australia) Pty Limited

For more information on Judas Priest, check out - https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJudasPriest.

© Justin Donnelly.

Rob Zombie – Educated Horses

Rob Zombie
Educated Horses
Geffen Records/Universal Music Australia

For more information on Rob Zombie, check out - https://www.facebook.com/RobZombie.

© Justin Donnelly.

Lacuna Coil Interview

Lacuna Coil Interview

For more information on Lacuna Coil, check out - https://www.facebook.com/lacunacoil.

© Justin Donnelly.

Bullet For My Valentine – Hand Of Blood

Bullet For My Valentine
Hand Of Blood
Sony BMG Music Entertainment

For more information on Bullet For My Valentine, check out - https://www.facebook.com/BulletForMyValentine.

© Justin Donnelly.

Caliban – The Undying Darkness

Caliban
The Undying Darkness
Roadrunner Records/Universal Music Australia

For more information on Caliban, check out - https://www.facebook.com/CalibanOfficial.

© Justin Donnelly.

Lacuna Coil Interview

Lacuna Coil Interview

For more information on Lacuna Coil, check out - https://www.facebook.com/lacunacoil.

© Justin Donnelly.

Deep Purple – Live In Europe, 1993

Deep Purple
Live In Europe, 1993
Sony BMG Music Entertainment

For more information on Deep Purple, check out - https://www.facebook.com/officialdeeppurple.

© Justin Donnelly.