Witchcraft - The Alchemist

If you want old school - as in "has anybody seen the zig-zags?" - then this is the rock band for you.Seems like everywhere you turn there's a band that's hearkening back to that triple OG sound of bands from that tipping point in musical history when rock turned into metal. Some of them actually do a good job of giving you an old school sensibility with a modern sound. But few are so committed they record with all analog equipment like Witchcraft. These Swedes know how to tap into that old sound and make it sound new, and their 2007 album is being released here in America through Metal Blade Records.

The Bottom Line: This is a really authentic sounding record, but you have to go into it expecting that you're gonna hear some raw rock n' roll as if you just stepped through a time warp into the smokey 1970s. I've heard them compared to early Sabbath, but they're really more like The Doors if you ask me. All in all, if you're looking for competent, old school rock (keeping in mind this is old school), you'll prolly enjoy Witchcraft's nostalgiac extravaganza.

Tracks To Make You Want To Grow Your Sideburns Low: Walk Between The Lines, If Crimson Was Your Colour & Hey Doctor

- Genghis is wondering 'who bogarted the lighter, man?'

Ihsahn - Emertia

Norwegian-born Ihsahn is already something of a musical prodigy thanks to his band Emperor. His solo stuff is worth a look.Admittedly, I know nothing about the man behind Ihsahn's latest, Emertia. This sort of thing comes up in the music review game from time to time, where you may be reviewing artists that are totally new to you, risking the ire of long time fans that probably roll their eyes at each ignorant mention of "this band seems more progressive than technical metal". "Duh, they've been in the genre for years, man!" [Apparently, in his native country, he's been nominated for lots of awards, and helped to revitalize the metal genre with his band Emperor - which he started at the age of thirteen] So, please forgive me if I don't realize that Ihsahn is some sort of genius that I've never heard of. Cool?

With that said, I'm coming to an album with no expectations whatsoever here and what I hear is compelling. For the most part, we're dealing with modern metal with a thrashy bent (The Paranoid, 1:22), replete with heavy guitars, screaming vocals, blast beats, ripping solos, etc. But just when you think you've got it figured out, you come to a monkey wrench like the nearly 9 minute The Eagle and the Snake with its jazzy horn section and Devin Townsend-esque vocals, and you're forced to reevaluate - in a good way, mind you. As I mentioned in the beginning, fans of Ihsahn's work may be saying to themselves "Dude, the horn stuff is classic Ihsahn, jeez!", which I can understand. Just know that I like what I'm hearing.

The Bottom Line: I like it when artists can add something to a genre without being so different that it disregards its convention all together. To me, that's real genius. And when it's done this well, ending up with something very listenable like Emertia, fans of that genre can be truly excited knowing that the genre is all the richer for this experimentation and the validation that it belies.

Tracks to Get Band Nerds Turned Metalheads Excited: The Paranoid, The Eagle and the Snake, Catharsis & The Grave

- Genghis feels like he might've apologized too much on this review...

Kill Devil Hill (Self-Titled)

Listen, you can't beat experience. And these guys have it in spades, making a new band's debut CD sound like a veteran effort.Coming off like a cross between Alice In Chains and Whitesnake, Kill Devil Hill has the sound of a modern hard rock band with a nice old school sensibility. And it's probably due in no small part to the talents of its members: drummer Vinny Appice (Dio, Black Sabbath), bassist Rex Brown (Pantera, Down), guitarist Mark Zavon (W.A.S.P) and vocalist Dewey Bragg (Pissing Razors). The collective experience amassed here in terms of touring and crafting heavy tunes is formidible and it shows in the maturity of their eponymously-titled debut.

The dozen tunes on this album range from the Sabbathy slog of Rise From The Shadows to the Alice In Chains swagger of Hangman to the Whitesnake slither of Voodoo Doll, confidently referencing everything in between. These guys just know good old fashioned hard rockin' and it's here for the listening. The production on this album really helps set the mood, as I've seen good material like this suffer in the hands of mediocre technicians all too often.

The Bottom Line: The sheer experience of its members makes this new band's debut CD sound like the latest work of a veteran outfit with songs that sound polished and effortless. If only all new bands could come out this strongly from the get go.

Tracks To Help You Get Your Rock N' Roll Swagger On: War Machine, Hangman, Voodoo Doll, Rise From The Shadows

- Genghis was muy impressed with this debut offering...

Def Con One - Warface

Sporting a sound influenced by some of the best heavy bands ever, them Newcastle boys know how to rock a joint, I reckon.One of my favorite things about heavy metal is its tendency to reinvent itself even after a few decades and thousands of bands all over the world putting out product. I'm always excited to hear good metal from new bands no matter the genre, which brings me to this review.

From across the pond comes Def Con One to give us a dose of good, old-fashioned, British heavy metal - while giving sonic nods to some of the more interesting bands of the decades since metal's inception.  Take March of the Dead, where you can hear 90s touches of Pantera's muddy distortion before going into an Alice In Chainsy pre-chorus that flows perfectly. Blood lays down a Sevendusty groove with authority, whereas on cuts like the title track, you're taken back to the 80s for some Anthraxish mayhem. But don't make the mistake of thinking this band doesn't have a real sound of their own and that this is all aping popular music of yesteryear. DCO puts their own stamp on things with a punk ferocity that feels both thrilling and authentic.

The Bottom Line: If you're in a moshing mood, set your party to rights with a little Def Con One. This group of hooligans from Newcastle know how to rock a joint with killer grooves and seismic beats that make up a suitably dirty sound, in the best way.

Tracks to Make Enemies of Your Neighbors: March of the Dead, Warface, Blood

- Genghis is still headbanging to Blood...

Prototype - Catalyst

From thrash to prog metal, these boys have transitioned into a more sophisticated band over the last 20 years. Rock on!I am more than willing to admit that the genre of progmetal, despite being one of my all time favorites, is replete with bands that are competent but ultimately make music that's, well...boring. Sure, it's mostly about the "balls and chunk"TM, but if there's no interesting melodic component over the intricate rhythyms, you've lost me.

That's why it's nice to discover a band like L.A.'s Prototype. On their latest studio album, Catalyst, you'll find all of the usual progmetal ingredients, along with the melodic hooks that help a band's music transcend the ranks of artists that, while fully committed to their art, just don't catch my attention. Coming from a solid thrash background as the band Psychosis in the early '90s, Kragen Lum (Lead guitars) and Vince Levalois (Lead vocals, guitars) retooled their sound, and after a much lauded demo started to get a lot of work (their music's been featured in a few video games) as a new sound in progressive metal.

Vince's vocals still have the edge of thrash singer, but he's not without a good range and handles the tunes ably, while Kragen (awesome name, by the way) plays some fine leads without degenerating into the wankery that often steers a band wrong in this genre. I'm looking forward to more from this band.

The Bottom Line: Not just another Johnny-come-lately progmetal band, Prototype has earned its cred putting in performing time as a solid thrash outfit in the '90s before upping their musical game. They easily avoid the rookie mistakes of foregoing melodic interest for rhythymic gymnastics and the listeners are all the better for it.

Tracks To Make You Curious About Their Psychosis Material: Cynic Dreams, The Chosen Ones, Into Oblivion & The Ageless Heart of Memory

- Genghis really dug this album...