On Given to the Rising (Neurot), Neurosis continue their quest for the perfect metallic mantra. While 2004's The Eye of Every Storm, relied heavily on ambience to reach a higher state of consciousness, Neurosis are now blending the thunderous, aggressive riffs of days past with progressions that meander like sunbaked stretches of empty desert. This is mean psychedelic metal -- heart-racing hallucinatory stuff awash with arresting sounds and vibrant, terrifying imagery. Forget all those trendy, droning, post-rock- influenced metal bands that think they're cutting edge, Neurosis are the real deal -- a legendary group that has followed its twisted muse for nearly 20 years and can still find ways to make our skin crawl.
Ion Dissonance -- Minus the Herd (Abacus) This Montreal band's technical hardcore death metal hits you when you least expect it. Like a suckerpunch to the jaw, Ion Dissonance are tight, arresting and as jarring as Dillinger Escape Plan. Minus the Herd, the band's third album, was produced by Zeuss (Hatebreed), who emphasizes the groups low-end attack without drowning out the guitar squeals or cymbal hiss. A must for fans of meticulously constructed chaos.
Nocturnal Rites -- The Eighth Sin (Century Media) Blending elements of industrial, commercial metal, and pop, Nocturnal Rites play a nagging style of bubblegum metal that has a bit of bite, but focuses mostly on syrupy melody. Think Journey with a drum machine or Linkin Park without any rapping.
Caliban - The Awakening (Abacus) One of the few metalcore bands with genuine integrity, this Essen, Germany band adheres to all the traditional elements of the genre -- corrosive verses, hook-filled choruses -- but somehow pulls it off without seeming like it's trying to tap into some happening sound. Maybe it's because Caliban's chugging rhythms have enough melody to segue smoothly into the refrains, which are, themselves, heavy enough feed right back into the verse. Call us suckers, but we've got a soft spot for these angry Krauts.
Paradise Lost -- In Requiem (Century Media) On album number 11 these doom metal oldtimers straddle the line between melodic tuneage and b0ne-snapping metal as well as ever. In Requiem has enough crunch-n-chug to be heavy as iron, yet the songs are interwoven with as many vocal melodies as Evanescence, making them instantly memorable. Paradise Lost may have lost their fear factor, but they sure know how to write a fist-in-the-sky anthem.
Also out this week:
Calico System - Outside Are The Vultures (Eulogy)
Marilyn Manson - Eat Me, Drink Me (Interscope)
Pelican - City Of Echoes (Hydra Head)
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