Here are some short reviews of albums I've picked up recently.

All Else Failed -- This Never Happened relates a deeper, more subtle and personal evil, one of broken trust and betrayal. The music is hard to classify. The lyrics are as ugly and personally oppressive as I've ever seen. "To whom it may concern" makes Henry Rollins look well adjusted. Sort of new Philadelphia hardcore with a little Dillinger Escape Plan mixed in, but some of the songs are surprisingly
tender despite the subject matter. Best songs -- To Whom it May Concern, Character Actor.

A Life Once Lost -- A Great Artist. Another one that's hard to classify. A little like later Meshuggah but not as complex. Got a little Philly hardcore in there too.

Mastodon -- Leviathan (plus live audio DVD). Heavy, catchy, and subtly complex. Blood and Thunder is the best song on the album.

Heaven Shall Burn -- Antigone. Epic Euro metal. Best songs -- The Weapon They Fear, The Only Truth. When it hit the 0:14 mark on The Only Truth, I thought at first "oh shit, the whole ALBUM is gonna be like this!" A bit of guitar wanking but they don't overdo it too much.

Nasum -- Shift. Grindcore with lots of short fast songs. Heavy as hell and very intense. Sadly their singer/guitarist died in the tsunami. Best song -- Wrath.

Strapping Young Lad -- Alien. Strapping Young Lad is coming out with a new album. I was a little underwhelmed at their last album, which sounded like they'd been touring with (and influenced by) death metal bands too much lately. I got a promo CD, and it sounds like Devin is off his meds, which is a good thing. It sounds closer to his best album, the brutal manic-depressive City. I'm gonna grab this album soon.