Most thrash bands of the eighties followed the trends set
by the unholy quartet of Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, and Megadeth. Celtic Frost
blazed their own trail of avant garde doom with classic albums like ‘Morbid
Tales’, ‘To Mega Therion’, and ‘Into the Pandemonium’, ultimately influencing
countless death, black, and doom metal bands. Eventually the band’s
experimentation took a strange turn, resulting in perhaps the strangest “glam”
metal album of all time, ‘Cold Lake’. Many fans were upset by this change in
style, and although Frost returned to a heavier sound on ‘Vanity/Nemesis’, it
ultimately proved to be the band’s last gasp. Until now.
17 years since their last studio album, Celtic Frost has
unleashed ‘Montheist’. It’s definitely the heaviest thing the band has put out
since ‘To Mega Therion’, yet at the same time it incorporates some of the
avant-garde leanings of ‘Pandemonium’ and ‘Vanity/Nemesis’ as well as some more
modern sounds. If you were expecting the band to rehash their past, you’ll
likely be disappointed. But if you appreciated the experimental side of Frost
in the past, but wished they had stayed a little heavier, this just might be the
album you’ve been waiting for.
‘Monotheist’ is crushing, heavy, doomy, and even downright
grating at times. To my ears, it sounds exactly like what a Celtic Frost album
in 2006 should sound like. I’d be lying if I said I enjoyed it as much as
‘Morbid Tales’ or ‘Mega Therion’, but it’s in the ballpark. Far from simply
reuniting to make some bucks on the nostalgia circuit, Frost proves themselves
to still be a vital and challenging band. ‘Monotheist’ won’t please all the old
fans, but it pleased this one, at least. (Bob Ignizio)
Demented Are Go are one of the earliest psychobilly bands,
dating back to 1982. Much of their reputation rests on the apparently real
mental and drug problems of lead vocalist Spark, who not coincidentally is the
only original member still in the band. All hype aside, though, this current
incarnation of the band can deliver some pretty potent music. ‘Hellbilly Storm’
frequently leans more towards punk than rockabilly, as on tracks like “Pedigree
Scum” and “The Noose that Snapped”. Think Motorhead meets The Cramps and you
get a fairly good idea of what this sounds like. I haven’t really heard
anything these guys have done in the past, so I can’t say where this falls in
the grand scheme of things, but for the most part I like it. Not great, mind
you, but enjoyable. (Bob Ignizio)
This band features members of Sockeye and Boulder playing
tunes in the vein of eighties style thrash metal and crossover hardcore. That
pedigree alone would be enough to get me to go buy this if I hadn’t gotten a
copy for free. But if I had spent my hard earned moola on Doktor Bitch, I would
have definitely gotten my money’s worth. Chock full of great riffs and stupid
juvenile lyrics, this self titled CD has everything I could want, including
coves of S.O.D. and Ween songs. As intentionally dumb as most of this is, the
songwriting is still better than 95% of the other bands out there mimicking
eighties heaviosity, and Doktor Bitch even manages to sound kind of original
while wearing their influences on their sleeves. It’s kind of like a cross
between Sodom, S.O.D., and The Butthole Surfers. For more info, visit
http://www.myspace.com/doktorbitch. (Bob Ignizio)
Nocturnal Solace vocalist/keyboard player Kory Kent steps
out more or less on his own with this release. If you were hoping for metal,
you’ll probably be disappointed. This is much more goth/synth type stuff, with
even a few forays into the poppier side of goth (ala The Cure or Joy Division).
It’s dark and melodic, and the songs are well written. I really like the music
a lot, but while Kory isn’t a bad singer, the way the vocals are recorded and
mixed here isn't strong enough to carry the material. That said, on the
strength of the songwriting I’m giving this a recommendation. (Bob Ignizio)
Most thrash bands of the eighties followed the trends set
by the unholy quartet of Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, and Megadeth. Celtic Frost
blazed their own trail of avant garde doom with classic albums like ‘Morbid
Tales’, ‘To Mega Therion’, and ‘Into the Pandemonium’, ultimately influencing
countless death, black, and doom metal bands. Eventually the band’s
experimentation took a strange turn, resulting in perhaps the strangest “glam”
metal album of all time, ‘Cold Lake’. Many fans were upset by this change in
style, and although Frost returned to a heavier sound on ‘Vanity/Nemesis’, it
ultimately proved to be the band’s last gasp. Until now. 
Demented Are Go are one of the earliest psychobilly bands,
dating back to 1982. Much of their reputation rests on the apparently real
mental and drug problems of lead vocalist Spark, who not coincidentally is the
only original member still in the band. All hype aside, though, this current
incarnation of the band can deliver some pretty potent music. ‘Hellbilly Storm’
frequently leans more towards punk than rockabilly, as on tracks like “Pedigree
Scum” and “The Noose that Snapped”. Think Motorhead meets The Cramps and you
get a fairly good idea of what this sounds like. I haven’t really heard
anything these guys have done in the past, so I can’t say where this falls in
the grand scheme of things, but for the most part I like it. Not great, mind
you, but enjoyable. (Bob Ignizio)
This band features members of Sockeye and Boulder playing
tunes in the vein of eighties style thrash metal and crossover hardcore. That
pedigree alone would be enough to get me to go buy this if I hadn’t gotten a
copy for free. But if I had spent my hard earned moola on Doktor Bitch, I would
have definitely gotten my money’s worth. Chock full of great riffs and stupid
juvenile lyrics, this self titled CD has everything I could want, including
coves of S.O.D. and Ween songs. As intentionally dumb as most of this is, the
songwriting is still better than 95% of the other bands out there mimicking
eighties heaviosity, and Doktor Bitch even manages to sound kind of original
while wearing their influences on their sleeves. It’s kind of like a cross
between Sodom, S.O.D., and The Butthole Surfers. For more info, visit
Nocturnal Solace vocalist/keyboard player Kory Kent steps
out more or less on his own with this release. If you were hoping for metal,
you’ll probably be disappointed. This is much more goth/synth type stuff, with
even a few forays into the poppier side of goth (ala The Cure or Joy Division).
It’s dark and melodic, and the songs are well written. I really like the music
a lot, but while Kory isn’t a bad singer, the way the vocals are recorded and
mixed here isn't strong enough to carry the material. That said, on the
strength of the songwriting I’m giving this a recommendation. (Bob Ignizio)