Phantom
Moonfog (import)
3.0 EYES
More simplistic, midpaced, "rock and roll black metal" that pretty much sounds like their debut, Masterpiss of Pain - not that that's a bad thing! Khold pretty much established themselves from day one as purveyors of martially-paced, keyboard-free, grim and sardonic blackened metal, and they're not letting loose their stranglehold on the style for an instant, thank you very much! Creeping, insidious vocals and live-sounding, majestic, yet primitive chords and beats - it's a tossup whether I like this one more than Masterpiss, but with tasty bits like the beginning of "Vandring" burrowing their malevolent way into my skull, that's a contest I'll be happy to take my time deciding. (Keith Bergman)
PITCH BLACK
Pitch Black
Revelation
3.0 EYES
Part skate-punk, part metal crossover, part Misfits-inspired murderbilly ballads, and all rockin', Pitch Black makes an awesome punk rock record here that traces its roots back to Agent Orange, the 'fits and Samhain, Dead Kennedys, and the trebly soundtracks to a hundred skate videos. I like the spookier stuff like "The Bride," "Half Empty" and "Resting Place" more than the more standard-issue fare found on songs like "Rock and Roll Girl" and "Undefeated," but there's not really a bad track in the bunch here - and you can tell from the snotty, tude-laden vocals and ragged energy, that this band blasts off live, tempered in the sweatboxes of dozens of basement shows and Gilman Street throwdowns. Oh, and they even throw a theremin and keyboard in some songs for that extra creature-feature vibe! One of the coolest bands I've stumbled across in some time, right up there with AFI in the "skaters grown up" division, and well worth your time and ducats. (Keith Bergman)
Shockwaves CD REVIEWS ISSUE 6 Page 9