National CD Reviews

Abstract Rude
Rejuvenation
Rhymesayers
Street: 05.05
Abstract Rude = James Brown + Project Blowed
Abby Rude comes correct once more, keeping the underground funk and soul hip-hop sound alive. Abstract Rude has been rhyming with Los Angeles hip-hop crew Project Blowed for over a century. The vibe throughout Rejuvenation is extra funky with production exclusively from Vitamin D. Abby Rude’s voice and smooth flow is as distinct and on point as it was the first day at the Good Life Café circa 94, but with more refined content, demonstrated in “Thynk Eye Can.” Keeping DJ Drez on the cuts and bringing several Project Blowed young guns into the limelight in “Thynk Eye Can,” Abby keeps bringing heat on his 18th overall release. An album for everyone to enjoy, standout tracks include “Thynk Eye Can,” “Nuff Fire,” “Rejuvenation” and “Diggin It.”
–JRapp

Afgrund
Vid Helvetets Grindar
Willowtip
Street: 05.19
Afgrund = Nasum + Rotten Sound + Napalm Death
Maybe I’m a bit out of touch with what modern grindcore is because Sweden’s Afgrund threw me a bit off guard with their sophomore album, Vid Helvetets Grindar. Many songs on the album shout “crossover,” mainly into the realms of thrash/speed metal and hardcore. Afrgrund’s tones and song structures rely plenty on groove-styled riffs with hardcore-type chants in the vocals and more punk/hardcore infused drumming than your typical grindcore blastbeat-o-rama. All that said, the record has a fresh new-car smell to it while retaining the old-school styles of grindcore and it works extremely well. Let’s face it, listening to an album that is all blastbeats can get pretty tiresome. Add to that a gritty buzzsaw-effect-sounding guitar tone and you get some tracks that are truly dirge-type affairs. Afrgund have come up with one of the few modern grind albums that not only stands tall as a whole, but has individual songs that deserve applause and repeated listens. –Bryer Wharton

Alestorm
Black Sails at Midnight
Napalm Records
Street: 06.02
Alestorm = Turisas + Cauldron Black Ram + Ensiferum
Thanks to the Internet’s current fascination with ninjas, pirates, zombies and bacon, various themes or gags tend to sprout up among music genres (I cannot confirm the existence of a bacon metal band.) Alestorm formed just two years ago and were quickly picked up by Napalm Records to release their first album, Captain Morgan’s Revenge. An EP and a split later, here we are with their second full-length. The material is as what you would expect: pirate lyric themes and drinking melodies to sing along to mid-tempo synth-heavy battle metal and … a ballad!? Yes, a ballad that would make even Alexander Selkirk proud. While the songwriting is solid and the music is fun, I can’t help but feel that it will probably lose its golden luster for most. Even still, it’s a nice addition to a small fleet of bands with the same ideas. –Conor Dow

Amber Asylum
Bitter River
Profound Lore Records
Street: 06.09
Amber Asylum = Grouper + Jarboe + Stars of the Lid
Amber Asylum are not metal. However, as a metal fan, I am familiar with their close relations with several of my favorite acts, such as Neurosis, Grayceon, and Giant Squid. Here are four ladies devoted to creating solitary, austere music which primarily relies on sparse piano, groaning cellos and operatic vocals, and has a tendency to quickly absorb the listener, offering no chance to escape. Even though this has a summer release date, the experience offered here is actually quite fitting for wintertime. It may have a warm, intimate atmosphere, but the music is bleak yet detailed and expansive enough to draw me in for repeated listens. The highlight for me is the last track, reaching almost 15 minutes in length—it draws out a long, fitting ending with some soft speaking and acoustic guitar work. Don’t pass up on this fantastic album. –Conor Dow

Amon Amarth
The Avenger—Bonus Edition
Metal Blade
Street: 05.26
Amon Amarth = God Dethroned + Hypocrisy + Dark Tranquillity (early)
The Avenger is the Swedish melodic death Viking-themed metal band’s second full-length album, released in 1999. The album isn’t much of a far cry from Amon Amarth’s current sound; it retains a bit rawer edge in production value and just overall sound, more rooted in death metal with a lot less of the polish the band displays on their more current records. I am of the opinion that these repackaged and re-released “Bonus Editions,” like March’s release of the band’s first album, are basically a tool for newer fans to pick up the band’s older records with a bit extra for the dollar—in the case of this version, the album comes with the album played in its entirety live. However, the album tends to run in circles with a high redundancy in most of its songs and a lot less memorable tracks. Even in its flaws, though, the album is still a solid effort in comparison to other albums one could purchase. –Bryer Wharton

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