http://www.deadtide.com/reviews/albums/page.php?review_id=1197
Uncorrupted Steel 2 is a sampling of what Metal Blade has to offer, a compilation of seventeen different songs from seventeen different bands signed to the label. Some tracks are previously unreleased, but for the most part are culled from each respective groups most recent release. Like most compilations, the quality of the material present runs the gamut, from atrocious to excellent. In an attempt to underscore which tracks are good, which are mediocre, and which suck, Im going to separate the songs into three categories: the good (definitely worth a listen), the bad (mediocre or worse), and the ugly (Six Feet Under).
The Good:
The Black Dahlia Murder appears with the track Contagion from their latest album, Unhallowed. It is top-notch melodic death/thrash with an original spin, plenty of interesting guitar work and high speed drumming, and good production.
As I Lay Dying were a surprise, especially since, judging from their album title (Frail Words Collapse) and song name (Forever), I was expecting some sort of weak, emo-inflected material. Surprisingly, they play some really awesome melodic metal/hardcore, though the clean vocals they employ sound very out of place.
Vehemence attacks with a new demo track, Kill for God, which sounds like a mix between Heartwork-era Carcass, Swedish melodic death, and American brutal death, and just generally kicks ass.
Amon Amarths Death in Fire is one of the better tracks from their excellent Versus the World album.
Likewise, God Dethroned appear with The Warcult, a great song from their latest, Into the Lungs of Hell.
Beyond the Embrace contributes Bastard Screams, a track characteristic of the Massachusetts-based melodic death metal band.
Dies Iraes Incarnation of Evil is a thrashing death metal song that, while not all that original, is at the very least a good listen.
Vaders Epitaph was one of my favorite songs from Revelations, their most recent album. If you havent heard it yet, youre missing out.
Finally, Engines Losing Ground is a cool stoner rock track with a catchy chorus; the fact that its here, alongside Vader and Amon Amarth, should speak for itself.
So, nine of the seventeen tracks are impressive, to say the least, and thats really not a half bad ratio for this kind of compilation.
The Bad: The weaker tracks on the compilation are not necessarily bad, in the classic sense. Rather, they just cant stand up to the aforementioned songs in quality or energy.
The potency of Cattle Decapitations death/grind assault is tempered by muddy production [I believe this was an unreleased demo track. ~ Editor], and they should get someone more capable to handle their higher pitched growls; this guy just isnt cutting it.
The Heavils are some sort of punk/garage rock; they dont quite fit in on this comp, and they fail to impress with their rather unoriginal, boring Falling Apart.
DBXs Damn that Money is another punk track, but with a more fun spirit. While not really my thing, this sounds like it could really appeal to anyone who doesnt require intelligence/seriousness in their musical tastes, as it offers some humor in its simplicity and in the vocal deliver DBX has chosen to utilize.
40 Grit sounds like nu-metal in the vein of Puddle of Mud... no thanks.
Tourniquets Restoring the Locust Years is decent, but a little repetitive and just not as good as those tracks contained in the section above.
American death metal stalwarts Cannibal Corpses live rendition of Born in a Casket is a cluttered sounding version of a fairly good song.
Brainstorm is power metal, and to be fair, its not all that bad; there's some cool melodies, its got some balls, and the vocals are tolerable. However, its power metal, some cheese is present and it really stands no chance against the likes of Amon Amarth and God Dethroned.
The Ugly:
Maybe you thought I was only kidding with my description of this section; if so, you were wrong. Six Feet Under, if you can believe it, have actually gotten even worse. Calling Amerika the Brutal the worst track on Uncorrupted Steel 2 doesnt do it justice. The lyrics are idiocy incarnate; Chris Barnes, the man responsible for nearly ruining Cannibal Corpses earlier albums with inept vocal delivery, proves that his popularity truly is a fluke, as his growls sound weak and unconvincing; the riffs are so simple it makes me sick, and the same goes for the drumming. I, for one, cannot understand how this band still exists and keeps recording new material.
"Uncorrupted Steel 2" is a good way to hear the best and worst of Metal Blade and, depending on the price (I'm not sure how much this costs in stores), it could be a wise investment as you'll doubtlessly discover at least one good band you've never heard of before. Tom Bransfield
Standout Tracks
Black Dahlia Murder Contagion
Amon Amarth Death in Fire
God Dethroned The Warcult
Vader Epitaph
Black Dahlia Murder Contagion
Amon Amarth Death in Fire
God Dethroned The Warcult
Vader Epitaph
