Mentors

Today in 2005 The Mentors released the album Over The Top Seattle, Washington (early) / Hollywood, California (now) Heavy/Thrash Metal/Punk Status:Active Years active: 1977-present The Mentors were one of the pioneers of the underground shock rock movement that would open the door for artists like G.G. Allin and the Dwarves in the '80s. Known for their crude production and filthy lyrics, they were a popular target of parent groups throughout their original incarnation. Celebrated by musicians like Anthrax, Ministry, and Faith No More, they became a cult favorite, developing a dedicated fan base that appreciated their tactics. Mentor Records Jake Huber (R.I.P. 2020) Vocals Sickie Wifebeater Guitars Sickie Jr. Guitars Dr. Heathen Scum Bass, Vocals Moosedick Drums Guest/Session Sleazy P. (Dane) Drums (1, 9) 1. Suck for Rent (3:52) 2. Young Fresh Tight Sweet Stuff (3:18) 3. Over the Top (4:59) 4. Sickie Sniffer Test (3:01) 5. Electric Dick (3:56) 6. Sex Boose Weed Speed (3:15) 7. Whit It Out (4:56) 8. Inches of Three (4:48) 9. Oxycution Date (10:37) Total Time: 42:42 All songs written by Carlson, Broy, Solberg, Huber. There is a hidden track (03:30) after 03:05 of silence at the end of "OxyCution Date" (04:01). Over The Top is American heavy metal band The Mentors' sixth album.

The Ocean

 Today in 2004 The Ocean reelased the album fluXion

Berlin, Germany Progressive/Atmospheric Sludge Metal/Post-Hardcore

Status:Active

Years active: 2000-present

Originally known as the Ocean Collective, before shortening their name to the Ocean, this forward-thinking ensemble from Berlin, Germany, was founded in early 2000 by guitarist Robin Staps, who soon surrounded himself with fellow guitarist Andreas Hillebrand, bassist Jonathan Heine, drummer Torge Liessmann, percussionist Gerd Kornmann, and a variety of individually specialized vocalists, including Nico Webers, Sean Ingram, Nate Newton, Thomas Hallbom, and Carsten Albrecht. Inspired in part by the progressive explorations of Americans Neurosis, and wishing to compose brutal heavy metal containing lighter, atmospheric elements under strictly orchestrated parameters, the group's demos, EPs, and two albums (2004's Fluxion and 2006's Aeolian -- which were recorded at the same session) have been described as "ambient doom soundtracks." The hard-hitting, prog-tinged Precambrian arrived in 2007. For 2010's Heliocentric and Anthropocentric (released just five months apart), vocalist Loïc Rossetti (who actually sings rather than growls) replaced Albrecht and helped to shift the band's focus toward a more spacious approach with larger textural and dynamic shifts. In April of 2013, the Ocean released their most ambitious undertaking yet in Pelagial. Written to be performed as a single 53-minute conceptual work, its various sections virtually interact with one another. The package contained both vocal and instrumental versions of the album.

Make My Day Records

Robin Staps Guitars, Percussion

Jonathan Heine Bass

Torge Ließmann Drums

Gerd Kornmann Percussion, Vocals

Sean Ingram Vocals

Tomas Hallbom Vocals

Nate Newton Vocals

Ercüment Kasalar Vocals

Carsten Albrecht Vocals

Nico Webers Vocals

Mathias "Meta" Buente Vocals

Guest/Session

Markus Gundall Vocals

Thomas Herold Vocals (backing)

Alex Roos Vocals (backing)

Rebekka Mahnke Cello

Demeter Braun Violin

Tove Langhoff Clarinet

Mike Pilat Vocals (additional) (2009 re-release)

1. Nazca 04:51 instrumental

2. The Human Stain 08:37

3. Comfort Zones 03:59

4. Fluxion 04:19 instrumental

5. Equinox 04:19

6. Loopholes 01:29 instrumental

7. Dead on the Whole 05:05

8. Isla del Sol 09:40

9. The Greatest Bane 14:34

56:53

In 2009, the album was completely refreshed with new vocals by another vocalist, new mixing and re-mastered, and was released with new package and artwork by Pelagic Records.

Co-released with Throne Records.

Abramis Brama

 Today in 2003 Abramis brama released the album Nothing Changes

Farsta, Stockholm,Sweden Stoner Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1997-present

Abramis Brama is yet another Scandinavian stoner rock mainstay, forming in 1997 and recording steadily since their debut in 1999. They sing almost exclusively in their native Swedish, with the exception being the album reviewed here, 2003's Nothing Changes, which in fact is comprised of songs from their first two albums sung in English. On this album the band play stoner hard rock with some blues and grunge influences, heightened by the strongly Chris Cornell-inspired vocals. Native-language bands rarely make serious headway outside their homeland, and that will likely always be the case for Abramis Brama, yet their music does transcend language barriers and makes for a solid stoner rock recommendation.

Sweden Rock

Dennis Berg Bass

Peo Andersson Guitars

Ulf Torkelsson Vocals

Fredrik Jansson Drums

1. Abramis Brama 04:31

2. Know You're Lying 03:49

3. Just like Me 04:43

4. Anticlockwise Man 05:46

5. All Is Black 04:39

6. Nothing Changes 04:47

7. Promises 05:08

8. Never Leaving My Mind 05:15

9. Parts of My Mind (Still Remains Untouched) 06:22

45:00

This one contains old songs but with English lyrics.

Time Requiem

 Today in 2002 Time Requiem released there self tiled debut album

Skurup, Skåne, Sweden Neoclassical/Melodic Power Metal

Status:Unknown

Years active:2001-?

Merging power and neo-classical metal, progressive rock, and AOR, pan-European quintet Time Requiem was formed in 2002 by vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (also Meduza), guitarist Magnus Nordh, keyboardist Richard Anderson (Space Odyssey, Majestic, etc.), bassist Dick Lövgren, and drummer Peter Wildoer (also Darkane). A self-titled debut emerged the following year and was soon followed by the live album Unleashed in Japan, after which Time Requiem replaced their rhythm section with the Flower Kings' Jonas Reingold (bass) and Zoltan Csorsz (drums). 2004 saw the unveiling of their sophomore album, The Inner Circle of Reality.

Regain Records

Richard Andersson Keyboards

Dick Lövgren Bass

Peter Wildoer Drums

Magnus Nordh Guitars

Apollo Papathanasio Vocals

Guest/Session

Stefan Ingelstrand Vocals (backing)

Mattias "Flesh" Frisk Talking Voice (track 1)

Inger Ohlén Vocals (female) (track 1)

1. Time Requiem 09:19

2. Watching the Tower of Skies 08:09

3. Milagros Charm 05:55

4. The Aphorism 06:33

5. Brutal Mentor 05:52 instrumental

6. Visions of New Dawn 06:51

7. Grand Opus 07:39

8. Interplay of Matters 02:01 instrumental

9. Above and Beyond 07:09

59:28

Mixed at Studio Fredman.

Recorded at Reingold Studios, Malmö, Sweden except Drums recorded at Berno Studios, Malmö, Sweden.

Mastered at Mastering Room.

Rytmihäiriö

 Today in 2002 Rytmihäiriö released the EP Surmaa kännissä

Helsinki, Finland Hardcore Punk/Grindcore (early), Thrash Metal/Crossover (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1988-1992, 1998-present

A thrash and death metal outfit hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Rytmihäiriö (which translates in English as "arrhythmia") formed in 1988. The band has gone through a long list of members, and in 1992 split up for a short time. One of the first bands to sign to Spinefarm in 1990, Rytmihäiriö released a pair of EPs before their 1991 full-length debut, Surman Siipien Havinaa. A split release followed during the next year, but that also marked the end of the first chapter of the band's story. The group took six years to reconsider the decision, and in 1998, Rytmihäiriö were back, and by 2000 were able to release a demo of new material. Eventually, after some EP releases, the band was back to putting albums in stores, starting with 2005's Saatana On Herra. Seitsemän Surman Siunausliito followed a year later, and the band spent the next year issuing a number of split releases. In 2008, Rytmihäiriö (the membership being Unto Helo on vocals, Janne Perttilä on guitars, Antti Kiiski on bass, and Otto Luotonen on drums) were back with their fourth album, Sarvet, Sorkat, Salatieteet, which was a Top Ten hit in Finland.

Hukkalevyt

Ande Bass

Janne Guitars

Une Vocals

Otto Drums

1. Kivitys 01:58

2. Pirun kova tapettava 02:08

3. 50 puukoniskua 02:09

4. Sekakäyttäjä 01:30

5. Surmaat kännissä 01:51

6. Viinaa ja väkivaltaa 00:48

7. Kampurajalka 2002 02:19

12:43

Recorded & mixed at Tumbleweed Studios, September - October 2002.

Mastered at Finnvox.

Running Wild

 Today in 2002 Running Wild released the Live album/DVD Live

Hamburg,Germany Heavy/Power/Speed Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1976-1979 (as Granite Hearts), 1979-2009, 2011-present

Everyone's favorite pirate metal band, Running Wild was one of the four elder statesmen of German power metal, coming into prominence around the same time as contemporaries Grave Digger, Helloween, and Rage. Lead by "Rock'n'Rolf" Kasparek, they went through the usual lineup changes and such throughout their impressive 30+ year career, even though their musical style really didn't change much over time. Though they flirted with satanic imagery briefly in their early career (as seen on the debut), the aforementioned pirate theme was hatched for their third album (Under Jolly Roger) and amazingly they kept that theme running for many years. Rolf announced in the spring of 2009 that he was breaking up the band, but he revived the group in a semi-solo project state two years later.

GUN Records

Rock 'n' Rolf Vocals, Guitars (Lead)

Bernd Aufermann Guitars, Vocals

Peter Pichl Bass

Matthias Liebetruth Drums

1. March of the Final Battle (The End of All Evil) 02:16 instrumental

2. Welcome to Hell 04:38

3. Bad to the Bone 05:33

4. Lead or Gold 06:04

5. Riding the Storm 05:15

6. When Time Runs Out 06:07

7. The Brotherhood 07:21

8. Soulless 05:43

9. Blazon Stone 05:21

10. Crossfire 04:58

11. Metalmachine Solo 03:02 instrumental

12. Kiss of Death 04:15

13. Uaschitschun 05:32

14. Unation 06:20

15. Victory 06:25

16. Prisoners of Our Time 05:10

17. Purgatory 06:23

18. Soulstrippers 05:19

19. Under Jolly Roger 04:41

01:40:23

Recorded live on March 30, 2002 at the Halle Gartlage in Osnabruck, Germany.

Paradise Lost

 Today in 2002 Paradise Lost released the single Erased

Halifax, England Doom/Death Metal (early), Gothic Rock/Metal (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1988-present

Paradise Lost is generally regarded as one of the founders of the the genre of metal known as doomdeath, mixing the raw vocal style of death metal and slowing the riffs down to doom metal speed. Gothic, the band's second album, is widely considered a classic in the genre. As with many doomdeath bands, however, the succeeding albums have moved steadily away from that style, gradually losing the death vocals and instead opting for a more melancholy, slighty goth-influenced mainstream sound, losing almost all metallic ties on albums such as Host and Believe In Nothing. Since then, they've reverted slightly, with Symbol Of Life and the recent Paradise Lost containing a few nods to their mid-period days.

Supersonic Records

Nick Holmes Vocals

Gregor Mackintosh Guitars (lead), Keyboards, Programming

Aaron Aedy Guitars (rhythm)

Stephen Edmondson Bass

Lee Morris Drums

Guest/Session

Lee Dorrian Vocals (additional) (track 1)

Rhys Fulber Keyboards, Programming

Jamie Muhoberac Keyboards (track 1)

Joanna Stevens Vocals (additional) (track 1)

Devin Townsend Vocals (additional) (track 2)

1. Erased 03:33

2. Two Worlds 03:29

3. Self Obsessed (Live) 03:12

10:14

There is a promo version that comes with different cover art and only contains the first two tracks.

Recording information:

Recorded in June and July, 2002 at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom and in 2002 at Dreamcatcher Recording Studios in Bradford, United Kingdom.

Additional recording by Carmen Rizzo at Studio 775 in Los Angeles, California.

Mixed at The Green Jacket in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

Mastered at Skyline Studios in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Track 3 recorded live in 2002 at Ringfest by Eurosound in Cologne, Germany.