There’s
a world of difference between Abdullah’s self titled debut and its follow up
‘Graveyard Poetry’ but you can still tell the same band is responsible for
both. This new demo shows the band making yet another shift in style while
still maintaining their identity. I wouldn’t say they’ve abandoned metal
altogether, but the five songs on this demo definitely find Abdullah moving in
more of a straight forward rock direction. It kind of reminds me in spirit
anyway of how Entombed have mutated over the years. “Ribbons” and “Burning
Away” are both uptempo shredders with catchy hooks. Both are good but perhaps a
bit too similar to be placed back-to-back. “With Guilt as a Friend” is probably
the stand-out track here, a slow and heavy number that has as much in common
with alternative rock as it does with doom metal. “Bones and Ashes” shows a
grindcore/death metal influence while still displaying the band’s penchant for
good songwriting. The demo closes with an unlisted track, a cover of The
Misfits’ “Hybrid Moments” that sounds perfectly at home here. All in all a
solid effort that will hopefully get these guys signed to a new label. (Bob
Ignizio)
The first track on this four
song demo, “Acceptable Addiction”, brings to mind some Poison the Well songs and
has a certain guitar effect for the first minute or so that I just can't get
accustomed to. Then a very Incubus-like slow part gives way to some good
songwriting with back-up vocals and drumming that are beyond many local acts.
The breakdowns don't come off as predictable as the usual hardcore/screamo act.
The only downside is the overdrive on the guitar, which I think just needs to be
a bit cleaner for the average listener to pick out the parts. The vocals are
almost always sung and are complimented by screaming back up vox. “Small
Solace” hits the listener next with a grinding guitar intro leading into a song
that could be about anytime you’ve gone through a break-up. After “Small
Solace”, things slow down on “Faces Long Since Fake. It’s another emo-based
song with a solid guitar lead which once again has only one flaw: the
overly-over driven guitar. My advice to the guitarist is to quit using the rack
effects and play maybe slightly distorted or somewhere between clean and where
you are right now. The last track, “Lost to Time”, sounds good, but the louder,
almost obnoxious guitar really is a distraction from what could be a vocal
masterpiece. The songs are all good but a bit too similar, with “Small Solace”
being my favorite. This is a damn good effort for being done basically by three
guys in a basement. The song writing shines beautifully and this is well put
together studio-wise. My only real complaint is the distortion on the guitars.
(The Nate)
Most of
this six song demo sounds pretty much like the last couple of Misfits albums
with the guy from AFI on vocals. For my money that’s not such a band thing,
although it’s not exactly what I’d call original. Regardless, the songs are
all catchy and full of “whoah” backing vocals and morbid lyrics. Derivative
though they may be songs like the title track and “Shrunken Head Kids” are hard
to resist. “Crizilla” and “Blood in My Eyes” still wear their influences on
their sleeves but seem to have something a little more distinctive going on. If
these guys can find their own voice while still staying in the same spooky
neighborhood they just might have something. I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m
coming down too hard on the band because this is a fun EP. If you’re a horror
rock fan you’ll most likely dig Calabrese. I wouldn’t say it’s a must have,
but at only 7 bucks postage-paid it’s certainly worth considering. You can
order your own copy at the band’s
website. (Bob Ignizio)
For years I mistook Exhumed for
the 80's German thrash band Exhumer, thinking they only got heavier. Goofy
me!! These guys thrash it up, too, but there are more blast beats. Gore
drenched lyrics abound on the vocal front, with a delivery reminiscent of
Carcass or Nasum. There are eleven songs in all beginning with the instrumental
title track that goes right into "Waxwork". That powerful opening is followed
up by "The Matter of Splatter", then "Under the Knife", two more worthy tracks.
And "A Song for the Dead" might shake some ground by the time it's all over. I
suppose you could call this raging death-gore metal, but I hate labels. How
about just "Heavy"? (Mike Salamone)
There’s
a world of difference between Abdullah’s self titled debut and its follow up
‘Graveyard Poetry’ but you can still tell the same band is responsible for
both. This new demo shows the band making yet another shift in style while
still maintaining their identity. I wouldn’t say they’ve abandoned metal
altogether, but the five songs on this demo definitely find Abdullah moving in
more of a straight forward rock direction. It kind of reminds me in spirit
anyway of how Entombed have mutated over the years. “Ribbons” and “Burning
Away” are both uptempo shredders with catchy hooks. Both are good but perhaps a
bit too similar to be placed back-to-back. “With Guilt as a Friend” is probably
the stand-out track here, a slow and heavy number that has as much in common
with alternative rock as it does with doom metal. “Bones and Ashes” shows a
grindcore/death metal influence while still displaying the band’s penchant for
good songwriting. The demo closes with an unlisted track, a cover of The
Misfits’ “Hybrid Moments” that sounds perfectly at home here. All in all a
solid effort that will hopefully get these guys signed to a new label. (Bob
Ignizio) 
The first track on this four
song demo, “Acceptable Addiction”, brings to mind some Poison the Well songs and
has a certain guitar effect for the first minute or so that I just can't get
accustomed to. Then a very Incubus-like slow part gives way to some good
songwriting with back-up vocals and drumming that are beyond many local acts.
The breakdowns don't come off as predictable as the usual hardcore/screamo act.
The only downside is the overdrive on the guitar, which I think just needs to be
a bit cleaner for the average listener to pick out the parts. The vocals are
almost always sung and are complimented by screaming back up vox. “Small
Solace” hits the listener next with a grinding guitar intro leading into a song
that could be about anytime you’ve gone through a break-up. After “Small
Solace”, things slow down on “Faces Long Since Fake. It’s another emo-based
song with a solid guitar lead which once again has only one flaw: the
overly-over driven guitar. My advice to the guitarist is to quit using the rack
effects and play maybe slightly distorted or somewhere between clean and where
you are right now. The last track, “Lost to Time”, sounds good, but the louder,
almost obnoxious guitar really is a distraction from what could be a vocal
masterpiece. The songs are all good but a bit too similar, with “Small Solace”
being my favorite. This is a damn good effort for being done basically by three
guys in a basement. The song writing shines beautifully and this is well put
together studio-wise. My only real complaint is the distortion on the guitars.
(The Nate)
Most of
this six song demo sounds pretty much like the last couple of Misfits albums
with the guy from AFI on vocals. For my money that’s not such a band thing,
although it’s not exactly what I’d call original. Regardless, the songs are
all catchy and full of “whoah” backing vocals and morbid lyrics. Derivative
though they may be songs like the title track and “Shrunken Head Kids” are hard
to resist. “Crizilla” and “Blood in My Eyes” still wear their influences on
their sleeves but seem to have something a little more distinctive going on. If
these guys can find their own voice while still staying in the same spooky
neighborhood they just might have something. I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m
coming down too hard on the band because this is a fun EP. If you’re a horror
rock fan you’ll most likely dig Calabrese. I wouldn’t say it’s a must have,
but at only 7 bucks postage-paid it’s certainly worth considering. You can
order your own copy at the band’s
For years I mistook Exhumed for
the 80's German thrash band Exhumer, thinking they only got heavier. Goofy
me!! These guys thrash it up, too, but there are more blast beats. Gore
drenched lyrics abound on the vocal front, with a delivery reminiscent of
Carcass or Nasum. There are eleven songs in all beginning with the instrumental
title track that goes right into "Waxwork". That powerful opening is followed
up by "The Matter of Splatter", then "Under the Knife", two more worthy tracks.
And "A Song for the Dead" might shake some ground by the time it's all over. I
suppose you could call this raging death-gore metal, but I hate labels. How
about just "Heavy"? (Mike Salamone)