CD REVIEWS S-U

CD REVIEWS- S

• SUPERSHINE-self-titled-(Metal Blade)-This is the side projct of Doug Pinnick (KING'S X) and Bruce Frankin (TROUBLE). Simply put , it sounds like two things-TROUBLE if Doug Pinnick were the lead singer and KING'S X if Bruce Franklin were playing lead guitar. They don't stray away from the styles of those two bands at all. Being a fan of both, I enjoyed the CD. Fans of KING'S X and TROUBLE will like it. If you are not familiar with either band, this CD combines low end doom guitar and some more melodic guitar with soulful, harmony vocals. (Metal Blade-2828 Cochran St. PMB 302, Simi Valley, CA 93065-2793)-Chris Lee
• SLOPPY MEATEATERS-Shameless Self Promotion (Orange Peal)-Radio friendly pop punk. Didn't like the singer's voice at all and the music is average. A few highlights are 'Another Friend' and 'Home' , which musically bring to mind early BAD RELIGION. Orange Peal Records, P.O. Box 15207, Fremont, CA 94539-Chris Lee
• SUICIDE CULTURE-*Hallowed Be Thy Agony*-Kick ass thrash death metal from Seattle, WA. This rocks! This trio creates a huge sound that fans of late 80s thrash will love. Fans of the old COMBAT RECORDS stuff like EXODUS and DARK ANGEL will love this. SUICIDE CULTURE are a band to look out for folks because this CD smokes in a big way. P.O. Box 70566, Seattle, WA 98107-Chris Lee
• SENTENCED-*Crimson* (Century Media)-Century Media recording artist SENTENCED are back once again with their brand of power metal. Sounding abit more mainstream this time around, SENTENCED still deliver a CD full of great songs that should get them the mass recognition they deserve. Lack of support for power metal in the US media and the fact that SENTENCED probably won't be touring in the US in support of this album [hailing from Finland, I think they have only played on one show in the US and had a terrible, disasterous experience] will keep SENTENCED in the underground. But no matter. Their legion of underground fans will purchase this [most probably already have it] to support the band and help keep power metal alive. If you are looking a solid power metal band that continually puts out good albums and have not heard SENTENCED, do yourself a favor and go pick up *Crimson* [and while you are at it pick up their albums *Frozen* and *Down*]. Century Media Records, 1453-A 14th Street #324, Santa Monica, CA 90404-Chris Lee
• STEVE STEVENS-*Flamenco a Go-Go* (Ark21)-Steve Stevens, guitar legend who has played with Billy Idol and Michael Jackson, hits the listener with his solo album , which can be described as 'electronic flamenco'. The guitar playing is truly amazing. Just one flamenco guitar throughout the whole thing with electronic rhythms and beats behind it. He rules on guitar. Aside from the first song, which has this annoying rave dance beat to it, this is a good CD. Well played and enjoyable to listen to. Also, while you are picking up this CD make sure you grab Steve Stevens' other project CD, BOZZIO/LEVINS/STEVENS. That CD rocks too. Ark 21Records, 14724 Ventura Blvd., Penthouse Suite, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-Chris Lee
• SKINLESS-*Foreshadowing our Demise* (Relapse)-Gutteral, brutal death metal from Relapse recording artist SKINLESS. This album is in-your-face intense. Slamming the listener heavy and hard right from the first note. Songs like 'Salvage What's Left', 'The Optimist', and the title song crush from beginning to end with heavy brutality. Highly recommended for fans of the extreme. Relapse Records, 1720 S. State Rd., Upper Darby PA 19082, www.relapse.com-Chris Lee

CD REVIEWS- T

• THORNS OF THE CARRION-*Eve Songs*-THORNS OF THE CARRION's follow up to their classic album *The Scarlet Tapestry* does not disappoint. The band brings doom metal, dark metal, thrash metal, classic metal, and death metal together to produce a masterpiece of an album. There is no justice when a band like this remains unsigned yet bands like PRIMER 55, P.O.D., and STATIC-X get picked up, put on big tours and shoved down heavy America's throats. More intense than every band on this year's Ozzfest and this year's Tattoo the Earth fest (Except, of course for the mighty SLAYER), *Eve Songs* which contains five songs clocking in at just over 34 minutes, is a CD that every fan of any of the above mentioned genres of metal should own. My suggestion is to pick up a copy of now because the word is already spreading like wildfire in the underground. Contact Address: P.O. Box 3537, Cincinnati, OH 45201, Email: bloodthorn@mailexcite.com, Website: http://www.geocities.com/carrionthorn-Chris Lee
• LUCA TURILLI-*King of the Nordic Twilight* (Limb Music Products)-The debut solo album from RHAPSODY guitarist and Italian composer LUCA TURILLI. This album rules!!!! Epic fantasy power metal at it's best. GAMMA RAY (kings of all power metal), BLIND GUARDIAN and of course RHAPSODY all come to mind when listening to this album. Incredible technical ability(as is the case in good power metal) going on all over this CD. If you like metal with a capital METAL then I do recommend that you raise your fist in the air and head to your nearest store, pick up LUCA TURILLI's CD and be prepared to be blown away. Or contact: Limb Music Products-Postfach 60 25 04-11135 Hamburg, Germany-Chris Lee

CD REVIEWS- U