Album Review- Toxic Holocaust: Chemistry Of Conciousness

Chemistry Of Conciousness is 5th album by blackened thrash metal band Toxic Holocaust and was released in 2013.I have been a big fan of this band since they dropped An Overdose Of Death in 2008. Even though each album is basically the same speed metal album after another, however they are consistent. This album i find is really unique to their discography and shows the band getting more broad even if its not that much. Now, onto the review.

Track Rundown

1.Awaken The Serpent- As every Toxic album this one starts out with a bang and to see that it is now a full band on the record and not just Joel Grind recording all the instruments even though he did it very well on the first few records. This song has a really fuzzy punk feel to it which i really like.

2.Silence- this song is full on thrash metal and even features an awesome guitar solo which there are many on this record and there is even a bass solo. i really like the classic thrash riffs here.

3.Rat Eater- Starting out very doomy sounding, this track is intensely heavy and when it speeds up it really makes you wanna mosh. This track is really unique to their discography as it has a slower pace in it which most of their songs are full on speed.

4.Salvation Is Waiting- Arguably the fastest and most brutal track on the album the band sounds really tight here with some fast spitting by Grind. I really like the drums here they sound really tight and the cymbals are very pronounced. they even get some Slayer sounding riffs in here too i like it.

5.Out Of The Fire- The riffs have just so much fuzz to them and the middle of this song makes me wanna go crazy even in a crowd of people it just has such a groove to it. This track is probably the catchiest to me at least.

6.Acid Fuzz- Before i review this song, take a word of advice, listen to it with the music video it makes it just that much cooler the riffs just pour out on this track and features my favorite Toxic Holocaust solo it even has a rock n roll feel to it.

7.Deny The Truth- A slower but just as devastating song on the album which is aimed at the church and government and whatever thrash metal bands talk about. A good track with some good catchy rhythms but probably the weakest track to me.

8.MKultra-This song starts out really cool it really would get any mosh pit kicking and his vocals are very strong sounding oozing of his love for old Black metal like Bathory and Venom.

9.I Serve- I love when Joel Grind does his trademark yell in any song especially at the beginning it really gets me pumped. this is not hugely a standout track but its a good one.

10.Government Conspiracy-Some cool grooves in the beginning and how he sings with just the drums is really cool. i like the palm muting too in some of the riffs good track.

11.Chemistry Of Conciousness- Ah the title track, it is not amazing but its a fantastic end really squeezes all of your adrenaline out of you and how it ends in just feedback is just awesome.

Overall, i give this album a solid 9 out of 10. I really like this over Conjure and Command that they released back in 2011. Its nothing inventive but anyone in the thrash community would appreciate this album and suprisingly the band is able to  make themselves sound fresh every record and i give them major props for that.

Album Review- Black Tide: Post Mortem

Post Mortem is the 2nd album by Heavy Metal/Metalcore band Black Tide and was released in 2011. Oh god where do i start here. Hmm well my history with this band goes back to 2010 when my friend showed me their first record Light From Above. It was like hearing an undiscovered 80s metal record but with good modern sounds within it not to mention a killer cover of Hit The Lights by Metallica. I finally found a newer band that i could get into...and then they released this. Well it was definitely metalcore when i heard it and im not bashing metalcore their are some really amazing bands like Trivium who manage to write masterpiece after masterpiece. However, this was just a punch in the face i'll let the review speak for itself.

Track Rundown
1.Ashes- well there is metalcore riffing here but it just sounds kind generic to me. On their first album when they played good heavy and catchy riffs they sounded awesome and you could really bang your head to them but this is...just i keep hearing all these bands i can't stand here it sounds like a low budget Avenged Sevenfold.

2.Bury Me- This sounds like they are trying to be heavy and melodic but it just sounds very generic to me thats word im going to use alot in this review. I am slowly losing faith in this album but lets move on.

3.Let It Out-Very mainstream sound riffs and then that voice god that voice i just cant take it it has no heaviness to it like their first album did..

4.Honest Eyes-Kind of heavy riffs in the beginning i kind of like it until the voice comes in just makes it sound too pop to me i just cant get into it there is just no real feeling to me with this album at all it sounds again generic and alienating.

5.That Fire- i see they are trying to have some variety but i just i dont get why they thought they had to write the same feeling songs over and over the vocals sound the same over and over and just too pop.

6.Fight Till the bitter end-youd think it would be a gritty heavy song in the beginning until it goes into the same stuff again soft riffs trying to be heavy with an overly soft voice trying to be cool it just is crummy sounding to me the beginning was just false hope to me.

7.Take It Easy- what is this Pierce The Veil?! they have basically by now conformed to sounding like the same with all those bands i just ugh...

8.Lost In The Sound-Again trying to be heavy here is just failing the riffs are just not very powerful and the voice just ruins it for me everytime.

9.Walking Dead Man- Still just sounds like a band trying to hard at least it kinda sounds heavy in the solo in the beginning not a good track but a slight improvement with better composure.


10.Into The Sky- Honesty by this song i thought i had the wrong album. unfortunately being the last track, this song is the weakest. they are trying to make a ballad that everyone can relate to i just cant get into it and left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Overall, i give this album an ear bleeding 2 out of 10. I did not enjoy this album at all it really alienated me and im sure a ton of other pre post mortem fans but this just is an album for 15 year old girls who dont have their act together and really there is almost no metal aspect to it and i kind of blame their vanishing on this mistake.

Album Review- Iron Maiden: SomeWhere In Time

Somewhere In Time is the 6th studio album by Iron Maiden and was released in 1986. Now I, like so many metalheads, worship Iron Maiden they are undeniably one of the greatest live metal acts to see and their discography especially their 80s albums are all just one home run after another. However, the album that stands out as the black sheep would be Somewhere in Time. This album, likes Judas Priests Turbo released the same year, marks the bands first use of guitar synthesizers giving it more of a mainstream feel. But the question is whether or not the album is underrated or is it just a weak album full of forgettable songs.

Track Rundown

1.Caught Somewhere in Time- Right off the bat you are hit with a super spacey feel with the heavy synths and epic twin guitars and then the drums and bass kick in it really gets you going and then BOOM everything just blows up and the band sounds as fast as ever here. Bruce Dickinsons soaring vocals during the chorus just makes you go crazy they really need to play this song live again it would get such a good reaction.One of the best Maiden solos i have heard as well.

2.Wasted Years- Still a classic to hear live today it has a very strong chorus Just Bruces vocals sound their most powerful here to me than any album before. the whole song makes for a good live track i really like the bass especially here and how it is sang another amazing song.

3.Sea Of Sadness- I love Mcbrains drumming here how he manages to play a single bass pedal like its a double bass pedal it amazes me all the time. This track isn't totally up to par with the past two but it is amazing nonetheless it all blends together very well.

4.Heaven Can Wait- I love the quiet opener on this track another bigger song for the band which was on their setlist a few years ago and should be again and Bruce singing with the fast guitar riffing makes it even more catchy. There is a very power metal feeling here as well and the chorus sounds like it could be in any Sonic The Hedgehog game it just has that charm to it. Another standout track to me with powerful instrumentals and catchy vocals.

5.The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner- This track starts with some very cool picking in the beginning. Adrian Smith and Dave Murrays playing on the whole album is just flawless The chorus is just i cant even find words to describe it. Dickinson really is giving everything hes got to get out those lines and makes this track 10x more epic than it already is which is why he is one of the greatest metal vocalists alive. The guitar harmonies are amazing as well. Another faster track and another i wish they would play live.

6.Stranger In A Strange Land- I love the space guitar feel here i don't know how they get it but it just captures everything about Maiden in the 80s. the vocals are awesome and just so out in space and futuristic which the whole album gives off. another cool chorus. Harris's bass sounds really tight on this track as well and seems a bit more audible. The solo is freakin epic as hell on this one too. Another song THEY NEED TO PLAY LIVE AGAIN!!!!

7.Deja Vu- This track i honestly never heard much it starts very majestically and shoots into a very melodic power metal part the guitar riffs are really catchy Bruces double track vocals sound awesome here too. This track is seriously underrated it is certainly not  a throw away track.

8.Alexander The Great- The closer of the album and it starts pretty cool with the wind and the instruments in the backround setting a nice tone. The song is very melodic but not fast and to me is probably the most forgettable one on this album. It would work well with Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son which is my all time favorite Iron Maiden album i would think if it were like a bonus track. Still a solid track just not an amazing closer it really does show the progressive side of Iron Maiden though.

Overall, this album gets 9.5 out of 10. I really enjoy this album it is just an awesome record from the 80s and to me just sounds like that decade as well. i love the sound they got as well it is such a strong piece of music i just wish they would play more songs off of it live.