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June 1, 2004 - Misery Signals and Of Malice And The Magnum Heart

A week after my last release a new band joins my library when Misery Signals released their debut album "Of Malice And The Magnum Heart" on June 1, 2004. But who is Misery Signals? They are a five-piece with both Canadian and American members, but formed in Wisconsin and are one of the first bands to play progressive metalcore! They consist of lead singer Jesse Zaraska, lead guitarist Ryan Morgan and his brother, drummer Branden Morgan, rhythm guitarist Stuart Ross and bassist Kyle Johnson. Misery Signals combine the heaviness of metalcore with the smooth segues and longer songs of prog and given that, who better to produce them than Devin Townsend! I can't wait to hear what these guys sound like, let's dive in!  The album kicks off with a short intro track called "A Victim, A Target" and it's got some fairly basic guitars keeping the pace while Branden plays a cool drum beat in the background. Zaraska comes in and shows us his epic screaming style that ...
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May 25, 2004 - Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)

Two weeks after my last release and almost three years since their last album "Iowa", Slipknot released their third album "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)" on May 25, 2004. Slipknot still have that crazy nu-metal energy, but they also show some different faces on this album, including guitar solos, acoustic guitars and Corey Taylor singing a lot more (while of course still screaming plenty). Let's see what the latest from Slipknot has to offer! The album fittingly starts with "Prelude 3.0" and Craig Jones plays some trippy, distorted keyboards to start us off. Chris Fehn adds a cool light drum beat and one of the guitarists (could be lead Jim Root or rhythm Mick Thomson) plays a light guitar riff and this all combines for an atypical but trippy and interesting opener. Taylor eventually comes in with some quiet singing that is almost talking and after a minute and a half things finally get Louder with the other guitarist coming in and Joey Jordison addi...
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May 11, 2004 - The End Of Heartache

It's a double release day! Two years since their last album "Alive Or Just Breathing", Killswitch Engage released their third album "The End Of Heartache" on May 11, 2004. Killswitch have some major line-up changes since last album, starting with the departure of lead singer Jesse Leach. Leach is a pretty awesome screamer, a decent singer, but most certainly a transformational one that will be missed for sure. He is replaced by new singer Howard Jones and he also is a great screamer, while being a better singer! Also, Killswitch expands to a five-piece as Joel Stroetzel goes from all guitars to just rhythm guitar and the lead guitar is now played by Adam Dutkiewicz, their drummer! That's a drastic shift I've never seen before: drummer to lead guitarist! Justin Foley joins the band as their new drummer and this is quite the different look now! Killswitch are definitely still metalcore, but they lean more melodic and radio-friendly on this album. Let's...
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May 11, 2004 - Sonic Firestorm

Three weeks after my last release and just 15 months since their debut "Valley Of The Damned", DragonForce released their second album "Sonic Firestorm" on May 11, 2004. DragonForce have a completely new rhythm section on this album as original bassist Diccon Harper and original drummer Didier Almouzni are both no longer with the band. Replacing them is new bassist Adrian Lambert and new drummer Dave Mackintosh but they don't let a new rhythm section slow them down as DragonForce continue with their super speedy, power metal style. Let's see how the latest sounds! The album kicks off with "My Spirit Will Go On" and one of Herman Li or Sam Totman starts us off with a pretty epic guitar riff. The other guitarist comes in shortly after with a nice chugging and fast riff and Mackintosh and Lambert join in and do a nice job aiding with the build-up before they finally slam into a typical(ly sweet) main riff that is super fast and of course pretty damn e...
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April 20, 2004 - Hangover Music Vol. VI

It's a double release day! On the same day as my last release and just a year since "The Blessed Hellride", Black Label Society released their fifth album "Hangover Music Vol. VI" on April 20, 2004. For the first time on a BLS album Zakk Wylde gets some help on bass with James LoMenzo playing about half the songs, John DeServio playing bass on four songs and even one song with Mike Inez from Alice In Chains! This album is unlike any other BLS album in that it's largely acoustic based, but not entirely. There are still your expected electric guitar solos, but most songs have either an acoustic guitar or piano base to them. Let's check out the softer side to BLS! The album begins with the song featuring Inez and it's called "Crazy Or High". Zakk leads the way with a cool acoustic riff that has some nice faster bits to it and he also overlays some slow, epic electric guitar overtop. Wylde sings a soft verse that nicely matches the mood and he ...
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April 20, 2004 - Desensitized

A week after my last release and almost three years since their debut "Sinner", Drowning Pool released their second album "Desensitized" on April 20, 2004. The reason for the long delay is sadly the death of lead singer Dave Williams due to heart failure. This obviously shook the band up, but they persevered with new lead singer Jason Jones, but are still playing the same nu-metal style. Let's check out their latest! The album kicks off with "Think" and it's got a slow but hard-hitting main riff led by C.J. Pierce on guitar and we hear Jones for the first time and he seems to have a decent nu-metal voice as he sings in a pretty low voice and then raises it up to a nice loud yell at times as well. They don't stray too far from the main drag once it's established but things sound solid, including some nice drums by Mike Luce at times, and Jones sounds best when he's yelling at the top of his lungs! Up next is the album's lead single ...
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April 13, 2004 - Is There Love In Space?

A week after my last release and almost two years since "Strange Beautiful Music", Joe Satriani released his tenth album "Is There Love In Space?" on April 13, 2004. Joe is still playing his usual style of instrumental rock, but for the first time since "Joe Satriani" he also sings in a couple songs. Joe isn't the best singer, but let's not judge too much before we listen! The album kicks off with "Gnaahh" and as Joe is so great at he lays down a pretty cool rhythm guitar riff before coming in with some flashier lead guitar overtop. There's lots of Distortion on his guitar and things sound pretty cool and Joe's bass in the background is pretty sweet as well if you listen for it! Joe delivers a lengthy guitar solo with a couple different parts to it and all of it sounds pretty awesome as he is shredding it very nicely! This was a great way to start off the album! Up next is "Up In Flames" and it's got more of a classi...
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