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"Meteora" (03/25/2003) Heavy Metal Linkin Park, Warner Bros. Records (Record Label)This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Enhancements include behind-the-scenes video footage, a screensaver, and weblinks. Linkin Park: Mike Shinoda (vocals, emcee, samples); Chester Bennington (vocals); Brad Delson (guitar, background vocals); Phoenix (bass, background vocals); Rob Bourdon (drums, background vocals); Joseph Hahn (turntables, samples, background vocals). Additional personnel: Joel Derouin, Charlie Bisharat, Alyssa Park, Sara Parkins, Michelle Richards, Mark Robertson (violin); Evan Wilson, Bob Becker (viola); Larry Corbett, Dan Smith (cello); David Zasloff (Shakuhachi flute). Recorded at NRG Studios, North Hollywood, California. "Session" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. In one of the most highly anticipated follow-ups of recent years, Linkin Park maintains its position at the top of the nu-metal heap with METEORA. The band labored carefully over their craft; for instance, the writing process of leadoff single "Somewhere I Belong" spawned 30 finished choruses before vocalists Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington arrived at the version found on the album. The combination of Shinoda's raps and Bennington's sing/scream vocals makes for an altogether complementary approach, best evidenced in "Faint" and "Easier To Run." The pressure felt by Linkin Park to meet a high standard with their sophomore release even finds it's way into the lyrics of "Nobody's Listening," where self-doubt and fear are almost all-consuming. Producer Don Gilmore (Apex Theory, Blind Tribe) mans the boards with a decisive lean towards acoustic drums. That is not to say by any means that Linkin Park's inventive use of samples and turntables is any less present or crucial to the group's now-signature sound.

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"Slipknot [Digipak]" (09/26/2000) Heavy Metal Slipknot, Roadrunner Records (USA)These self-proclaimed "freaks" from Des Moines draw upon elements of thrash, hip-hop, and shock-rock with brutal results. The music world may not have seen such a marriage of aggression and technical precision since the rise of thrash pioneers Slayer. At times Slipknot steps into the musical guises of heavy purveyors such as Korn, Powerman 5000, and Sepultura. However, even with the derivative nature of metal, this eight-member ensemble manages to be something original. SLIPKNOT is a mix of dark interludes that segue into carefully crafted songs. The tracks use metaphors to describe themes of isolation, insecurity, confusion, and self-loathing. In "Surfacing" and "No Life," rap verses give way to melodic choruses. The rhythmic pounding of "Prosthetics" is as complex as it is relentless; a credit to drummer Joey Jordison, whose virtuosity is the driving force of Slipknot. "Only One" is a contrast of hip-hop funk and mosh-pit abandon. The band's style is best defined in "Scissors," where whispered lyrics give way to screams of "biding my time until the time is right / it's time." Slipknot has bid its time wisely and is poised to take its place among its heavy-handed musical peers.

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"Ten Thousand Fists" (09/20/2005) Heavy Metal Disturbed, RepriseDisturbed: David Draiman (vocals); Dan Donegan (guitars, keyboards); Mike Wengren (drums). Additional personnel: John Moyer (bass guitar). Five years after Disturbed's crushing debut, the Chicago nu-metal stalwarts offer their third full-length, TEN THOUSAND FISTS. Reunited with long-time producer Johnny K and new bassist John Moyer (Union Underground), Disturbed's return boasts a revitalized edge. TEN THOUSAND FISTS carries the metallic fire of THE SICKNESS, perfectly balanced with the melodic sensibility of 2002's BELIEVE. From the mosh pit-inspiring title track to the provocative and socially conscious lyrics of tracks such as "Deify" and "Sacred Lie," it is abundantly clear that Disturbed has further evolved their brutal-yet-refined approach. TEN THOUSAND FISTS also features striking booklet artwork by comic book legend Todd McFarlane.

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"Century Child" (09/23/2003) Heavy Metal Nightwish, Century Media Records (USA)Nightwish: Tarja Turunen (vocals); Emppu Vuorinen (guitar); Tuomas Holopainen (piano, keyboards); Marco Hietala (bass, background vocals); Jukka Nevalainen (drums).

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"Reanimation" (07/30/2002) Heavy Metal Linkin Park, Warner Bros. Records (Record Label)REANIMATION is an album of remixes of songs from HYBRID THEORY. Linkin Park: Mike Shinoda (vocals, programming, samples); Chester Bennington (vocals); Brad Delson (guitar, bass, background vocals); Phoenix (bass); Rob Bourdon (drums, background vocals); Joseph Hahn (turntables, programming). This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. The runaway success of Linkin Park's debut album HYBRID THEORY was a phenomenon the rock world had seldom seen since Guns 'N Roses turned the rock world on it's ear with APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION. With the band preparing a follow-up, an eclectic assembly of both underground and mainstream contributors de- and re-construct the music of Linkin Park on REANIMATION, under the direction of bandmember Mike Shinoda. While the requisite remixes are present, REANIMATION is not your typical remix album. Black Thought (of the Roots) chops up Linkin Park samples for his own rap spotlight on "X-Ecutioner Style," an approach also taken up on "H! Vltg3" by Pharoahe Monch and Dilated Peoples members Evidence and DJ Babu. "Enth E End" gets reinvented by veteran producer Kurtmaster Kurt, with verses laid down by the up-and-coming MC Motion Man. Korn's Jonathan Davis embellishes "1Stp Klosr" with his slow-boiling intensity, while Staind's Aaron Lewis adds emotive harmony vocals to "Krwling." The enhanced portion of the disc includes a music video for "Pts. Of Athrty," as well as links to an internet tool kit that guides fans in the creation of Linkin Park fan sites.

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"Ice Upon the Night" (04/25/2006) Heavy Metal Immortal Souls, Facedown RecordsImmortal Souls: A. Arkioja (vocals, bass); E. Sarkioja, Pete Loisa (guitar); Jupe Hakola (drums). Recorded at Sonic Pump Studios, Helsinki, November 2002.

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"Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection" (05/17/2005) Heavy Metal Def Leppard, Island Records (USA)Def Leppard: Joe Elliot (vocals); Pete Willis, Phil Collen, Steve Clark , Vivian Campbell (guitar); Rick Savage (bass guitar); Rick Allen (drums). Recording information: 1980 - 2005. In the mid-1980s, there were few hard-rock bands as popular as Sheffield, England's Def Leppard. Influenced by the glam rock of Queen, Slade, and the Sweet, the quartet reveled in the style's high-energy elements, while trading the outlandish imagery for a no-frills, denim-clad look that made them even more accessible to the masses. With 1983's PYROMANIA and its delayed follow-up punch, 1987's HYSTERIA, Def Leppard became an international phenomenon, unleashing hit after hit, including the riff-heavy, shout-along singles "Rock of Ages," "Pour Some Sugar on Me," and "Armageddon It." This collection presents every song on the previously released VAULT: GREATEST HITS 1980-1995, along with an entire second disc of additional album tracks, including the AC/DC-like "High 'N' Dry (Saturday Night)" and HYSTERIA's anthemic ode to "Women." Throughout the decades, the group endured its share of upheavals and tragedies--drummer Rick Allen lost an arm in a 1985 accident and guitarist Steve Clark died in 1991--but they continued recording into the 21st century (see the 2002 track "Now"), revealing a determination that most of their peers lacked. For fans of '80s hard rock, this 35-track compilation is essential.

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"Metal on Metal" (11/25/2002) Heavy Metal Anvil, Attic Records

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"Vol.3: the Subliminal Verses [PA]" (05/25/2004) Heavy Metal Slipknot, Roadrunner Records (USA)Initial pressings of VOL. 3: (THE SUBLIMINAL VERSES) include Enhanced CD content. This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Recording information: The Mansion At Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, California; Akadamie Mathematique, Los Angeles, California; Sound City, Los Angeles, California. Far removed from their rap-metal roots, these masked men of extreme metal show no signs of relenting with VOL. 3: (THE SUBLIMINAL VERSES). For this brutal chapter of the Slipknot story, the jagged sound of fierce heaviness and moody melodicism is executed deftly, as Slipknot ducks crossover cliches and nu-metal formula. Esteemed studio guru Rick Rubin captures the group's raw intensity with sonic reverence, a feat not easily achieved with bands of this style. VOL. 3 delivers all the elements that Slipknot fans have come to expect and demand. From solid, catchy choruses ("Duality") to fearsome blasts of noise and percussive gymnastics ("Three Nil," "Welcome"), and borderline balladry ("Vermilion Pt. 2"), unsettling emotions and images are vividly depicted for the listener by this notorious Iowan ensemble.

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"The End of All Things to Come [PA]" (11/19/2002) Heavy Metal Mudvayne, Epic (USA)Mudvayne: Chud (vocals); Guug (guitar); Ru-D (bass); Spug (drums). Recorded at Pachyderm Studio, Cannon Falls, Minnesota. When Mudvayne's major-label debut appeared, many critics either lumped the band into the same rap-metal bag as Korn and Limp Bizkit, or merely dismissed the combo as a Slipknot rip-off. On THE END OF ALL THINGS TO COME, the group transcends the comparisons and wacky makeup to deliver a ferocious slab of the hard stuff that, for once, truly deserves to be termed "alternative." Equal parts Morbid Angel, Rush, and Shudder To Think, the disc highlights Mudvayne's ability to temper nu-metal's characteristic machine-gun riffing and throat-shredding vocals with a variety of quirky textural shifts and (gasp!) melodic vocalizing. Lyrically, the group mines the same nihilist/anarchistic territory popularized by Metallica and scores of '80s hardcore punk groups. Luckily, however, Mudvayne avoids the I-wanna-blow-up-the-world-'cause-my-mom -told-me-to-take-out-the-trash syndrome and manages to come up with several interesting and genuinely chilling variations on the theme.

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"No Rest For the Wicked [Remaster]" (06/25/2002) Heavy Metal Osbourne, Ozzy, Epic (USA)Personnel: Ozzy Osbourne (vocals); Zakk Wylde (guitar); John Sinclair (keyboards); Bob Daisley (bass); Randy Castillo (drums). Additional personnel: John Sinclair (keyboards). Producers: Keith Olsen, Roy Thomas Baker Reissue producer: Bruce Dickinson. Recorded at Enterprise Studios and Goodnight L.A. Studios, Los Angeles, California. Originally released on Epic (44245). Includes liner notes by Phil Alexander. Digitally remastered by Brian Lee and Bob Ludwig (Gateway Mastering Studios, Inc.). Although Ozzy Osbourne received enormous commercial success with 1986's THE ULTIMATE SIN, his detour into glam metal proved unsatisfying for both Osbourne and his fans. Osbourne spent most of 1987 readying his postponed live album with Randy Rhoads for release, TRIBUTE, and pondering his future musical direction. He elected to return to the kind of music that got him where he was in the first place--loud, unapologetic heavy metal. He also decided to replace guitarist Jake E. Lee with a young newcomer from New Jersey, Zakk Wylde, for 1989's NO REST FOR THE WICKED. Wylde had been a lifelong Ozzy/Sabbath fan, and resembled Randy Rhoads both in appearance and in playing style. While the album is not on par with such past classics as BLIZZARD OF OZ and DIARY OF A MADMAN, NO REST FOR THE WICKED did represent a return to Osbourne's roots (thanks in part to longtime Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker). Osbourne tackles a range of subjects throughout, such as crooked televangelists ("Miracle Man"), serial killer Charles Manson ("Bloodbath in Paradise"), and even his own struggle with alcoholism ("Demon Alcohol"). Also included is the concert favorite and popular video, "Crazy Babies."

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"Ascendancy [Edited]" (05/10/2005) Heavy Metal Trivium, Roadrunner Records (USA)Trivium: Matthew K. Heafy (vocals, guitar); Corey Beaulieu (guitar, background vocals); Paolo Gregoletto (bass guitar, background vocals); Travis Smith (drums, percussion). Recording information: Audiohammer Studio, Sanford, Florida; Morrisound Studios, Tampa Florida. In Trivium's band photo for ASCENDANCY, the four members sport t-shirts from (early) Metallica, Overkill, Guns N' Roses, and black-metal legends Darkthrone. The odd thing is that no one in the group is old enough to have experienced any of the first three bands in their 1980s glory. This doesn't seem to adversely affect Trivium's sound, however, as the band has clearly done its homework. Riding the wave of bands like Shadows Fall and labelmates Killswitch Engage, Trivium bring together the speed of thrash, the melody of classic metal, and the aggression of hardcore in one seamless package. Founder and guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy uses metal-core screams, James Hetfield-esque growls and sing-along melodies to carry the title track. In the first few bars, "Departure" changes style from acoustic strumming to thrash riffs to full death-metal rage, while "Rain" takes a great opening riff and makes it even better with a subtle and unexpected harmonic shift. Showing maturity beyond his 19 years, Heafy crafts songs packed with power, precision, solos, and hooks.

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