Before I get into today’s post I’ve gotta throw out a call for some help. Does anyone out there use a filesharing program called eMule? There are some rare mp3’s floating around that I very badly need to get my hands on, and eMule seems to be the only way. But I’ve been trying for the last three days and the combination of my piece of shit computer, crappy internet connection, and lack of ability for a better queue placement have fucked me from the start, so I can’t get shit to come together. If you use eMule and can help me out, please get in touch. Or, if you just happen to collect shitloads of old demo mp3’s in your spare time through various other means, I’m trying to track down a copy of Formicide’s third demo from 1989. There are two versions of this demo, so the one that I really need is the original four-song version that includes “Platten #2″. If you’ve got these tracks, please, please, please let me know! Thanks!

I honestly didn’t know that Arkangel (Belgium) was still around, and I’m not even sure I’ve heard anything the band has done since their debut 10″ back in 1998. “Hope You Die by Overdose” was actually originally released quite some time ago by the band on their own label, but it was recently licensed to God’s Child Music for Japan, Korea, China, etc. – and that’s how it made its way to me. But then again, this is only the band’s second full-length in eight years, so it’s not like they’re the most prolific act on earth… so I guess I can be forgiven for being unaware of their current activities? Whatever the case, this thing opens with a pretty powerful little melodic instrumental track before getting down to business and proving that Arkangel’s still cranking out an intense brand of European metalcore with absolutely scathing vocals. I’m talking completely over the top screams with no fucking remorse – totally nuts. The frontman definitely gives these guys an edge, because I have to confess that musically this style of metalcore can sometimes get tiresome due to all of the tremolo picking riffs, though I have to give Arkangel credit on a few fronts. First of all, they generally keep the tracks short, so the majority of these songs run around three minutes apiece. They also keep things moving along, so even though there’s a heavy reliance on chugging tremolo picking riffs, they break up the monotony with lots of churning midpaced breaks and minor shifts in tempo, so there’s sort of an All Out War thing going on to some degree. But beyond all that, I seem to remember that these cats were definitely one of the first bands, even in the European scene, to really amp things up and throw a significant death metal sounding influence into the metalcore realm. Perhaps they were even a little ahead of their time in that regard, since this form of material could kind of take you aback during the start of the late-90’s. Many bands have tried their hands at this style in the last decade and simply missed the mark, but Arkangel still has a pretty damn vicious bite.

Arkangel “Annihilating Your Peace”
Arkangel “How We See the World”

I’m loving those fucking vocals. Pick this shit up and feel the burn:

@ Interpunk
@ RevHQ

It’s surprising that “Is it contradiction, a mistake, or necessity?” is Community Trust’s debut full-length (also on God’s Child Music), despite the fact that the Japanese outfit has been around since way back in 1997. This is a rather promising take on ultra melodic metalcore that takes the harsh screaming vocals and dual guitar interaction more associated with what was going on in the US around the time of the band’s formation (ala Shai Hulud and such) and blends in a much more openly melodic side that has a contemporary feel. Occasionally they’ll bring in some singing with all of the swirling clean passages and such, so there’s definitely a significant degree of “emo” involved, but the end result of what this band creates is interesting to me in that it sounds quite “modern” (for lack of a better term), while also coming across as far more sincere and genuine than what some of the connotations of its aesthetics might suggest. I would like to hear them take things in a heavier and more in your face direction from time to time to balance things out, and they should definitely dump the weird hip-hop influenced vocal work that’s employed on rare occasion (it’s generally just some quick “yeah, yeah, what, what” crap during an intro or two, but it makes no sense whatsoever), but that’s life. It’s not going to be for everyone, but I certainly like it overall, and I could see the band doing some really impressive work in the future. They’ve really got a great knack for weaving together different guitar parts. The recording’s a little choppy in certain instances, which can hinder that talent to a degree, but barely, so they’ve done very well for themselves for their first album.

Community Trust “Untitled”
Community Trust “Battlefield Without Glory”

As always, make the purchase if you enjoy the tunes:

@ Interpunk

Original post by Andrew @ AVERSIONLINE and software by Elliott Back