One of the heaviest and most consistent extreme metal bands, Cephalic Carnage delivers album number five with zero concessions to anything popular or trendy. Xenosapian (Relapse) is a brutal manifesto of nonconformity and rage delivered through the artistic lens of skilled musicians who know as much about jazz and prog-rock as grindcore and death metal. Yet somehow, even with all the impossible time signatures and unearthly rhythm shifts, the music isn’t the least bit alienating, as witnessed by insanely enjoyable and crushing trakcs like “Endless Cycle of Violence” “Divination and Volition” and “Touched by an Angel.”
Autumn - - My New Time (Metal Blade) Another chick-fronted European gothic metal band, Autumn write catchy pop songs glazed with buzzing, downtuned guitars and sturdy rock beats. Comparisons to Evanescence and Lacuna Coil are, perhaps, inevitable, but these Dutch musicians are unabashed about their commercial influences and don’t feel the need to embellish their songs with harrowing howls. Energy, not anger fuels the tracks, which should appeal to fans of upfront melodies well-crafted harmonies, and swirling keyboards. Autumn should be bigger than Linkin Park.
Circa Survive — On Letting Go (Equal Vision) Featuring ex-Saosin singer Anthony Green and emo guitarist Colin Frangicetto (ex-This Day Forward), Circa Survive play elliptical, progressive rock/metal in the vein of Coheed and Cambria. The band’s second album, On Letting Go, is more developed and free-spirited than their 2005 debut Juturna, combining high, melodramatic vocals, guitars that chime as often as they rip and syncopated drumming into a multifaceted, enthralling journey. Dream Theater who?
