Artist: For Today
Album: Breaker
Release Date: 8/31/10
Label: Facedown Records

In today's heavy music scene, many bands aim high, some hitting their goal or missing it. In the case of For Today and their new album, Breaker, they have certainly hit the mark and gone beyond. One of the reasons that account for this is their burning passion for God, that cannot be denied in this breakdown-heavy album, the third release from the band. Besides the fast, heavy side to the album, there are also more melodic parts as well, contained in the numerous gang vocal sections heard throughout Breaker. Lyrically, the album talks about being defiant against the generation and letting our fire for our Creator burn strong.

Breaker starts off with one of the four spoken word tracks that are split up throughout the album, the first of the group being aptly titled "The Breaker's Origin." It begins with a somewhat chilling feel, which explodes into   the album's lead track, "Devastator." The resounding chorus of "Let my name be feared at the gates of Hell, as I exalt the Savior" reigns as one of the most memorable verses heard on the album. Just when you thought it couldn't get any heavier, "The Advocate" follows. The heavy breakdowns and bass drops that fill the song are some of the most aggressive heard throughout Breaker. The track that very well expresses the album's theme would be "Seraphim," which has vocalist Mattie Montgomery growling "Burn, and let the whole world  see! You were made to burn."

The following track, "Arm The Masses," comes as one the highlights of Breaker, with a great guest vocal section from Drew York of Stray From The Path. His higher, hardcore punk sounding screams accompany Mattie's well, which add a unique depth to the track. Shane Raymond of Close Your Eyes also adds vocals on "Phoenix," which contains the most dominant section of gang vocals heard on the record. The triumphant "King" declares "Long live the King!" which both begin and conclude the track. The last spoken word track, "The Breaker's Commission," serves as the closer to the album, also being the best of the four tracks. It ends with a choir that turns the track into a simple but powerful worship song to fittingly end Breaker.

Rating: 9/10 With Breaker, For Today have given us one of the top metal albums that this year has had to offer so far. The music and ministry of For Today serves as a battle cry to this generation of believers and non-believers alike, burning with a fiery God-given passion. At this point, For Today are not slowing down, and will not be be anytime soon.

Tracklisting:

1. The Breaker's Origin
2. Devastator
3. The Advocate
4. The Breaker's Valley
5. Seraphim
6. Arm The Masses
7. White Flag
8. The Breaker's Encounter
9. Phoenix
10. Psalm of the Son
11. King
12. The Breaker's Commission

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Impending Doom have just premiered the title track video from their recently released album There Will Be Violence. You can see it now exclusively on Noisecreep.com

Pick up a copy of There Will Be Violence here: http://facedown.merchnow.com/

War of Ages have just announced The Project AK-47 Tour, a fall headlining tour with The Color Morale (Rise), The Great Commission, Legend (Rise), and The Contortionist (Good Fight).
War of Ages will be donating a percentage of their tour proceeds to Project AK-47.  For more information on P AK-47 visit their website.  http://www.projectak47.com/

Oct 8 - Erie, PA
Oct 9 - Dayton, OH @ The Attic Club
Oct 10 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's Downunder
Oct 11 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
Oct 12 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
Oct 14 - St. Paul, MN @ Station 4
Oct 15 - South Bend, IN @ Church of Heartland
Oct 16 - St. Louis, MO @ Fubar
Oct 17 - Little Rock, AR
Oct 19 - Douglasville, GA @ The 7 Venue
Oct 21 - Lynchburg, VA @ Crosspoint Venue
Oct 22 - Redericksburg, VA @ The Refuge

Artist: The Showdown
Album: Blood In The Gears
Release Date: 8/24/10
Label: Solid State Records

The Showdown have officially "arrived". Their newest effort Blood In The Gears is a mix of everything that worked on both Temptation Come My Way and Back Breaker, but without the filler and some added elements that have never been utilized by the band to this point.

From start to finish, this album is amazing. There is not a filler track in the bunch. For the most part, every song uses a growled verse and sung chorus, but these vocals, provided by David Bunton, are by no means whiny or soft, but in contrast have a dirty grit to them.

To choose album highlights would be a very difficult thing to do, since every track has been crafted so well, so I'm going to focus on the tracks that contain elements that were thoroughly unexpected. "Bring It Down" is a hundred percent unadulterated ride through speedy thrash metal. This track is so fast that has an almost thrash/punk sound in the drumming. It was great to hear The Showdown finally tackle this style of metal.

"Dogma Enthroned" is by far the heaviest song The Showdown have done since A Chorus Of Obliteration. It even has some low death metal grunts in places. Another highlight of the song is the Demon Hunter style vocals in the chorus. The album's closer "Diggin' My Own Grave" is a great choice for a closing track. It starts out as a ballad before exploding into a wall of guitars and becoming a great Southern rock song.

Rating: 9/10 Blood In The Gears in this reviewer's opinion is by far the best and most complete album that The Showdown have released. Fans of all their previous albums will find something to like here. Thankfully, The Showdown have learned how to balance their Southern roots with their shredding, more aggressive metal side. Blood In The Gears has become their Magnum Opus.

Reviewed by Matthew Alexander

Tracklisting:

1. The Man Named Hell
2. Heavy Lies The Crown
3. Bring It Down
4. Take Me Home
5. Blood In The Gears
6. Dogma Enthroned
7. No Escape
8. The Crooked Path
9. Graveyard Of Empires
10. Diggin' My Own Grave

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Artist: The Devil Wears Prada
Album: Zombie EP
Release Date: 8/24/10
Label: Ferret Music

The Devil Wears Prada are back with their living dead inspired Zombie EP, but don't be alarmed, The Devil Wears Prada are on our side on these fast paced five tracks. The band has changed a few things up this time around, showing right off the bat. Their sound has grown heavier and faster, the screams and growls from vocalist Mike Hranica have improved, going from high to low quite smoothly, and the clean vocals from guitarist Jeremy DePoyster have also become a less utilized part of their sound, not to say that they are absent, which is not true to any extent.

Right out of the gate, the faster elements are shown on the opener "Escape." A heavy layered keyboard rhythm is contained, mixed with the heavy, fast riffs, which are also heard on a few other tracks as well. Another standout track would be "Revive," which sets an eerie tone with an orchestral section, offering a bit more depth to the project. "Revive" is also the only track that the clean vocals are one of the dominant parts of the song structure. The closer "Survivor" is the EP's other highlight. It has more of a melodic sound to it, with the clean vocals that come in momentarily some of the strongest heard from the band.

Lyrically, you won't find any messages or anything in the lyrics, being completely about zombies and fighting them off (on "Survivor"). This EP is mainly just for fun, but does show the band progressing into a heavier sound that just might work for them on future projects.

Rating: 7/10 The Devil Wears Prada have become one of the biggest names in today's metalcore scene and have returned with their newest project, the Zombie EP. It isn't too much in depth, due to being based around zombies, the EP is a fun listen. Although this EP won't place near my top metal albums of the year, it is also not a bad listen and is put together well.

Tracklisting:

1. Escape
2. Anatomy
3. Outnumbered
4. Revive
5. Survivor

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