CRYPT MAGAZINE: sex. horror. rocknroll.

Welcome boils and ghouls to our library. In here you will find written works on Sex. Horror. Rock N' Roll...and things that once were...renanimated!

Writers: Dark Winter

Dream Evil
United
(Century Media)

   Here I am digging through cd’s and what do I find but them shiniest of gems a band called Dream Evil. I hit play and discover a massive dose musical perfection of epic proportions. This 2006 release entitled United is just simply perfect from beginning to end and will easily sweep clean off of your feet with out any hesitation. Now all I can think of is how the fuck this slipped passed me.

   Try to picture taking the best parts from bands like Helloween, Black Sabbath, HammerFall, and a hint of Dragonforce then mix and volume then serve. Now that you have a power metal meal that just can not be beat. I just can not find one thing I don’t like about this cd every thing is right where It should be. From the over all sound quality to song structures and total dynamic possibilities it is all fulfilled its like a dream come true!

   Each song is so powerful yet beautiful so to the point it becomes difficult to pick a favorite and that’s not really a bad thing. I guaranty that this cd is a instant metal god for all times that will never leave your playlist and how once you heard it could you ever go without it. I swear that as soon as you start to listen to this cd you believe that you are covered in magical armor ready to batlle in all its glory without fear and full of honor / pride. So go for and get this god send of a cd or all the others that have been enchanted by its brilliance will most likely unite and hunt you done for being their enemy against the metal gods. -DW

http://www.dreamevil.se/
http://www.dreamevil.se/index2.html
http://www.myspace.com/dreamevil

Iron Maiden
Running Free (single)
(EMI)

   Now here is a crucial date in history for metal fans across the martial plain, February 8th 1980. That was when Iron Maiden released the single that would catapult them into the forefront of heavy metal. Running Free was Maiden’s first single released on 7" vinyl at 45 rpm which featured of course Running Free on the A-side and one of ARRY’S pre Maiden songs Burning Ambition on the B-side.

   I tell you the raw power from this single is just mother fucking amazing. The moment that first guitar roars in your just overwhelmed with a strong rebellious feeling. Then all of a sudden you just want to piss in your mothers face. Maybe finally tell her what a filthy cunt she is and just take off leaving your cares behind to live life your way. I know when I hear I still want to cram my foot right down someone’s fucking throat. Raw, clean, technical, mean, and just about everything else in between. Now almost 28 years later from its release date and it still kicks ass. What really fucking pisses me off was and is one of Maiden’s more radio air friendly songs but I have never to this day heard this song on a fucking radio station. What the fuck. That just never made any dam sense but hell that’s fucking American radio bull shit radio stations for you. Anyway this just oozes with nostalgia that can’t be beat, and it has that sound from the era but with a big ass set of titanium balls. This is a song that will always stand tall and proud like a anthem of metal in or hearts.

   Burning Ambition like I said on the B-side and I know there are probably a few of you younger rivet heads sitting there scratching your heads thinking what the fuck a B-side is. Ok so ill amuse you for a sec little metal dudes because if you don’t it is most likely your fault. Ok check out this link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramophone_record
This will explain everything about this madness I speak of and when you got it all figured out, come back here and it will all make sense. Now for those of you that already understand let’s skip ahead and don’t worry about the little dudes right now staring in shock at that old school cd looking thing.

   Alright let’s try this again, Burning Ambition though on the B-side of this single, don’t let that trick you into thinking that its not a good song. Don’t even get a stupid idea like that rolling around in that head of yours, remember this is Iron Maiden. First off what makes this track extra special is the fact that it has Doug Sampson on it and unless you have the Sound House Tapes this is pretty much your only chance to check him out as I studio drummer with Maiden. This song is got that up beat sound with a little bit of dreamy guitar goodness and it still captures that raw maiden aggressiveness. This is still one of my favorite Iron Maiden jams with out a doubt. It was written I believe back during the Gypsy's Kiss era of ARRY’s carrier.

   All in all a fucking great first single that set raised the sail for the Maiden voyage that we all have come to know and love. -DW

http://www.ironmaiden.com/

Metallica
No Life 'Til Leather
(Self Release)

   July 1982 changed the face of metal forever when this 7 song demo tape was sent out into the world. To this day this is still one of my favorite releases from Metallica. Though it is pre Cliff it still holds and is raw demo cassette it still after all these years kicks fucking ass. This is one of those mother fuckers where the crappy sound quality is one of the things that just adds to it greatness. Times were way the fuck different and it was hard as fuck to find killer unsigned bands. Now of days you could make a crystal clear studio quality demo that was recorded in your shitter and it could sound identical to something that a record company would put out. Not only that, you have the whole internet as a distributing tool which though can’t always get you signed but it can most defiantly get your music heard. Not the case in 1982 where if you did not have the money to get studio time you were pretty much fucked on quality. You would have to resort to cheap ass microphones and either a cheap 4 track or a standard tape deck for you recording process.
Then after that fun experience you get the pleasure of copying your demo. Now that alone would suck ass. Just think of burning each copy of your demo cd in real time. Then you get to pass them out and hope that someone digs it.

   Well as we all know this demo tape was proved that people dug it. NLTL spread across the globe like wild fire to the point where Metallica would roll into a town to do a show and the audience would know not just the song titles but the lyrics as well. Now the demo was recorded on an 8 track studio at Chateau East Studio, Tuscin, CA - and features this line up. –

    James Hetfield – vocals, rhythm guitar
    Dave Mustaine – lead guitar
    Ron McGovney – bass guitar
    Lars Ulrich – drums

NLTL included 7 tracks that of course ended up on Kill 'em All which were in this order. –

1. Hit The Lights
2. The Mechanix – later to become The Four Horsemen
3. Motorbreath
4. Seek And Destroy
5. Metal Militia
6. Jump In The Fire
7. Phantom Lord

Though I got into Metallica a little late and my first album by them was Master of Puppets, I still appreciate the raw power on this demo. I got my first copy of NLTL back in 1989 maybe 1990 and I played the shit out of it more then I played Kill ‘em All. I don’t think I would ever really be able to convey the nostalgic feeling that this demo give off and all I can really say is if you can find a copy get it. This is a piece of or metal heritage and should be cherished as such. The question is does it stand the test of time, and I can easily say fuck yeah it does. Go ahead and put this next to St. Anger you’ll with out a doubt see which has more raw metal to it. -DW

http://www.metallica.com/

The Sins of Thy Beloved
Lake of Sorrow
(Napalm)

    Well I didn’t have to dig too far into the library for this priceless jewel since this only came out in 1998. Though it is not that old some how you still don’t really ever hear too many people mention it. Now that is a fucking shame since this is a timeless piece of music. Try to keep in mind that this is their first full length studio album. Now I don’t mean that I am saying it is not a bad first attempt. This is quite the opposite… this album is just simply perfect all the way through. A beautiful display of artistic song structures and that just don’t come anywhere close to falling short or overdoing it at any point. Smooth and brilliant dynamic placements will set you a drift with the ethereal plains. The over all sound is so well balanced in the mix that all you hear is the hauntingly enchanting music touching you soul.

   Now that’s the key element to a great release. When all the other things are taken care of like the Mix, the recording sound quality, the math in the structures / dynamics, and that the artist pours their heart plus their soul into the music itself. With all of that shit out of the way you are able to do what is the most important thing to do with music… and that’s to enjoy it. Now that’s exactly what Lake of Sorrow allows you to do and it does it so well.

   From the moment this cd starts you will find your self basking in an essence of pure emotional indulgence. The music plays out like a soundtrack to which the only way I can best describe it is that it feels like a terrifyingly sad nightmare captured from the child with in us all. At least that’s how it made me feel but hey that’s me and you may have a totally different interpretation of how it makes you feel. On that note I have something in mind for those of you that can appreciate this cd as I do. I want you to send me some email on how this album made you feel mentally, spiritually, and or emotionally. What ever the case is if this if this album touches you in some way I want to hear about it. Now I don’t care how you write it… if you want to tell it in a poem or in a story of a personal experience of how it affected you. That’s up to you long as it is from the heart and true that all I care about. Now if your email nails what I am talking about I attach it to this review so we can show others how this wonderful album has affected other people.

   This album is so fucking deep musically and lyrically that you won’t want to come back from the world that it places you in. Gothic doom metal is what it is labeled as but fuck that this is just great fucking music. I really think anyone could enjoy this album no matter what you listen to as long as your heart and soul is honestly pure with the spirit of music. Hell I remember when my son was 4 years old and I was playing the song Until the Dark off this album. Out of nowhere he was all like "dad you got to put this on my Xbox for me this is just so cool." Then we just sat and listened to it a few times and it was just so kick ass to see how it just kind of jumped out at him. Anyway, this release was a classic when it came out, and from this moment till the end of time itself will be a classic. -DW

Slayer
Seasons in the Abyss
(Def American Records)

   Who the fuck can forget the first time the heard this metal masterpiece? Unless you are one of those who have not yet had the honor of being blessed by its blood soaked glory. Originally released on October 9th 1990 and still remains one most killer albums of all times. I remember picking my copy up on Halloween of 1990 and it was also my first slayer cd. I slammed it in not knowing what to expect and then I was just captivated by it. After hearing this cd I became hooked not just on slayer but on way heavier bands that I would not usually have listened to before.

   Now for those of you that have never heard this cd you better prepare your self because we are taking the elevator to hell.

   The overall sound of this album is so fucking clean that it is insane. Now this also has a really dry but refined sound that will definitely put you in a great mood for murdering your entire family. The mix of all the instruments is fucking is nailed just like Christ on the cross, and that just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy like a hallmark Christmas in hell. The songs have excellent structures and have a dynamic road map that should be an example of what should be done when writing music. I wish more bands today would get this old school raw power recording sound that just makes you think that the band is playing right in your room.

   The songs themselves are all fucking great from beginning to end, and you would not expect anything less from Slayer. Like a bear on steroids and cocaine this cd starts off charging at you full fucking force. Another thing that is great about this album like most Slayer releases is when you play it all the way through. See playing a Slayer cd sounds more like a live performance then a studio project. It is almost like they walked in and did it all in one take with the way it is recorded.It makes you feel like it is your own personal Slayer concert.

   This is just one of those albums that you can’t go without for any true metal fan out there. Seasons is a album that has and always will stand the test of time. It is a true fucking classic and has earned a place in my top albums of all time. So for all of you that don’t have it go get it, and for those of you that do go dig it out and play it loud. I know for me when I play this I think of better times in my life and how things just were then. -DW

http://www.slayer.net/
http://www.myspace.com/slayer