Commotio Cordis - Brutal Oklahoma Death Metal

Oklahoma's Death Metal power-house, Commotio Cordis, have made a bold statement with their new EP entitled simply, "Oklahoma", which packs a punch to the chest that is sure to offset the heart rhythm of any unsuspecting listener. Taking influences from bands such as Through the Eyes of the Dead, Whitechapel, Oceano, Aegaeon, King Konquer, Carnifex, The Red Shore,  and Thy Art is Murder, the band has managed to serve up a tasty, 5-track, deathcore-infused feast that will have any hardcore metal fan begging for a second helping. The disc opens up with the hilariously uplifting and grandiose finale to the Oklahoma State Song, immediately followed by a grotesque, blood-curdling scream and a forboding instrumental intro to the EP that hardly prepares the listener for what is to come. The first official song of the album, "The Playing Field", displays the bands wickedly brutal sound that is riddled with undeniable groove and maximum headbangability, and the rest of the EP fails to disappoint. The remaining tracks "Ascent", "Execute", and "Becoming The Beast", showcase the band's undeniable passion and talent, as each instrument compliments the other on each beautifully crafted masterpiece. This isn't your typical newbie, garage metal band's clumsy display - where drums, guitar, and bass fight for the forefront of the sonic space, no, band members Zach Smiley, Brett Alexander, Dane Alexander, and Tommy Frizzell all mesh extremely well together and each counterpart falls perfectly in line to serve the song and occasionally each member finds the opportunity to stand out and shine, as well. Even though the instrumental strengths of this band are obvious, it's the vocals that take center stage as frontman Zach Smiley's vocal stylings rival the likes of seasoned pros fronting bands like Job For A Cowboy, Suicide Silence, and other heavy hitters in the industry. In addition, the band's live show is as every bit as captivating and intense as the recording would suggest. You would be hard pressed to find a single metal fanatic that wouldn't want to immediately start banging their head or jump head-first into a violent mosh pit the instant the band hits the stage. With a tight live show, and a strong first release under their belt, the band is setting themselves up to be one of the greatest new offerings from the Sooner State. Taking a line from the Oklahoma state song, I'd say Commotio Cordis "has plenty of heart and plenty of hope"! 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Commotio-Cordis/135138389895853

The Gravestones - Young Dallas Texas Thrashers

The Gravestones are a heavy metal band based out of Dallas, Texas. The band has been known to incorporate elements of thrash, death, progressive, grind, speed, power, groove and other forms of metal into their music. The band was formed in February of 2006 and continues to expand their musical horizons 'til this day. Although very young, the band is quickly honing their craft and is setting themselves up to be one of the next heavy bands to watch for coming out of the Texas underground metal scene. This energetic group of thrashers is sure to win over any fan of traditional, old-school, pure American heavy metal. Posers, make way for The Gravestones!

www.facebook.com/thegravestones

FAN VIDEO CONTEST

The New Review, Swimming With Sharks Entertainment, InTune Guitar Picks, and Xcel Drumsticks bring you The Browning Fan Video Contest!!!

http://thenewreview.net/giveaways/the-browning-exclusive-fan-video-contest

Beneath The Veil - Brutal Southern California Hardcore Infused Deathcore



It's no secret that the metal world has been downright overrun with a new genre of metal, called deathcore. We see band after band coming forth with their own tired rendition of this already played out sound, and even though the proverbial bandwagon was overcrowded long ago, it seems that bands will be jumping on until the wheels fall off.  That's just what happens, though. A new and exciting style of music surfaces and leagues of copycats everywhere clamor to stake their claim and fill a niche in the music market. Beneath The Veil is out to prove that they aren't just another Deathcore band. Hailing from the highly competitive Southern California music scene and having only been together just two short years, Beneath The Veil is outrunning the competition and leaving their predecessors in the dust. Their musical peers stand baffled and scratching their heads, as they find they've been outshined by a band comprised of sophomores in high school. This young group of would-be deathcore heroes, however, is anything but green; boasting an impressive resume right out of the gates, sharing the stage with such acts as Suicide Silence, As I Lay Dying, Molotov Solution, Carnifex, Oceano, As Blood Runs Black, Winds of Plague, as well as making some main stage festival appearances and receiving stellar reviews from metal websites and music critics alike. These boys have set themselves up to become one of the next big metal acts to watch for in years to come and have released a stellar 6 song EP that adds insult to injury for metal bands twice their age, looking to catch a break in the industry. The Movement, is a magnificent offering of hardcore infused deathcore that packs a down-tuned punch to the stomach that even bands like Emmure, Oceano, and The Acacia Strain would surely appreciate. Displayed throughout the opening title-track, "The Movement", is a brutal frenzy of guttural, de-tuned epicness that will have any metal head banging their head in approval.  And it's not all blast-beats and break-downs either; other tracks like "SYG" and "The Human Project" show surprising depth and showcase interesting fret-work.

The more one listens to the rest of the songs on the EP, including "Big Ben", "To My Adversaries", and "Oceans", the more one recognizes the heavy hardcore influence throughout the recording. In addition to being a solid metal achievement, The Movement, flows well and is extremely well produced by engineer Alex Pappas, ex-drummer for post-hardcore, alternative rock outfit, Finch. Listening to the album once through won't do your ears justice, and you'll find yourself hitting the replay button several times after the first run through. Look for much, much more to come from the promising and quickly rising, Beneath The Veil!

http://www.beneaththeveilband.com/

Noah “Shark” Robertson - Swimming With Shark Entertainment