Liturgy- Aesthethica

This record feels like one giant outro of math-rock and punkish metal, a punishing assault of cymbal crashes and dueling guitar notes. These guys have the upside down cross and the overtly religious band name. They also have the death wail and mush mouth growl of other black metal bands, but their music aligns more properly with the Isis's and Pelican's of the music world. This is a band that is yearning to be instrumental, but a screeching banshee won't let them.

Buy this record if you're tired of screaming at the tele and the wife/husband isn't home yet.

www.myspace.com/liturgynybm

Red Fang- Murder The Mountains

Here's another metal band that can't resist the lure of added production. These guys started out as a bluesier version of Mastodon with a hint of REO Speedealer. Whereas Mastodon seemed proggy and technical in its approach, Red Fang veered toward a gritty punkishness. There's definitely an added layer of sheen to the Murder The Mountain songs that was missing from their self-titled debut, which moves them a step closer to Queens of the Stone Age territory. This may be a good thing for listeners, I'm on the fence. It's still pretty much in your face bro-tastic music that will pummel you as you pummel down  PBR and shots of Cuervo. I was pretty impressed with their set at the Fog Rising Festival in San Fran back in 2009 and imagine that their live show has only gotten better.

Buy this record when you're hiding under the bridge, waiting for a dust devil.

www.redfang.net