Psychostick — Sandwich, Rock Ridge Music
Just when you think every genre of music has been covered, Psychostick coins Sandwich as delicious metal?! This quite possibly could be the smartest crazy album in history. It’s their off-the-wall lyrics that make Psychostick so “delicious.” “Girl Directions,” “Grocery Escape Plan,” and “This is Not a Song, It’s a Sandwich!” are direct reflections of their wacky unorthodox lyrical content. Don’t disregard them as talented musicians because they are. They posses the strange qualities of S.O.A.D. (“Coffee” etc.) and try their hand at a little butt-rock on “#1 Radio Single.” Psychostick funnels everything and the kitchen sink on Sandwich making a Hungry Man TV dinner look small. They will even have you ROTF, LYAO, saying “OMG, this shit is funny” especially with the track dedicated to out-takes.
(Misty Johnson)

Seventh Void — Heaven Is Gone, Big Vin Records
Heaven Is Gone is full of thick and meaty riffs and plenty of doom and monster rhythms. Imagine if you took the killer sound of early Sabbath and vocals of Soundgarden during the early nineties and gave it a modern sound. Type-O Negative veterans Johnny Kelly (drums) and Kenny Hickey (vocals/guitar) bring the low-down grooves with the help of Hank Hell (bass) and Matt Brown (guitar). This quartet delivers the goods on funky “Drown Inside,” the doomy, psychedelic “The End Of All Time” and the title track’s monster rhythm. Seventh Void delivers some of the best sludge and slow grind with “Closing In” as well as up-tempo riffing on “Broken Sky.” Check out their website at www.myspace.com/seventhvoid for details on their CD Release Party at The Clubhouse on April 21.
(Travis Tutwiler)

Centaurus–A — Side Effects Expected, Listenable Records
Side Effects Expected is a mix of technical power, vocal ferocity and a barrage of break-neck rhythms. Guitarists Maik Matanovic and Hernan Martinez let loose with sweltering guitar solos, dizzying fretboard acrobatics and chugging riffs on “The Praying Mantis” and “Morning Tremble.” Patrick Schroeder is a beast behind the drum kit as he and Michael Ahlgrimm (bass) hit hyper-drive on “Drop Off” and crush you on the pounding “Arson.” Johannes “Jojo” Henke’s aggressive vocals come at you like a rabid dog, that you’ve been antagonizing. Also check out “Dripping Red Canvas” and short instrumental “The Ease.” With the virtuosity found on this disc, the metal world will soon take note of this German metal machine.
(Travis Tuwiler)

Kylesa – Static Tensions, Prosthetic Records
There’s definitely something in the water in Georgia. In the flood of sludge coming from the Peach State, Kylesa sets themselves apart. Forget they have two drummers and part-time female vocals, this Savannah quintet possesses a post-punk sensibility that distances them from area giants Mastodon and Baroness. Static Tensions engages you with guitarist Phillip Cope’s mid-range shouted vocals. He shines on “Unknown Awareness,” which could have been in Sparta’s playbook. Co-guitarist Laura Pleasants’ haunting vocal lines provide a harmonic balance in the hypnotic “Running Red.” She gets fierce with the best of them in “To Walk Alone.” What really makes this album especially good to listen on headphones (and their live show more enjoyable) is the dual drumming — yes, full kits. This, along with the bass, creates a true stereo experience. Expect to see and hear a lot more of Kylesa on an upcoming tour with Mastodon.
(D.J. Ivie)

Edguy — The Singles, Nuclear Blast
As most of their fans know, Edguy has a history of putting out EP’s in between albums. While one song is usually a single from the forthcoming album, the rest of the material is exclusive to the EP. The Singles collects EP/singles from the “King of Fools,” “Superheroes” and “Lavatory Love Machine” in one convenient CD. That’s good news for fans who either couldn’t find the EP’s or didn’t want to buy a CD with only a few songs on it. There’s some killer material here including “Judas at the Opera” featuring special guest ex-Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske and covers of Magnum’s “The Spirit” and Europe’s “I’ll Cry For You.” There’s also one of my personal favorite Edguy songs, “Holy Water” and the hilarious “Life and Times of a Bonus Track.” If you already own the original EP’s, there’s no reason to get this. If you don’t, this is a “must have.”
(Andy Laudano)

Black Water Rising — Self-titled, Capitol T Productions
There’s nothing like a little low-end, stoner-groove pumping through the speakers, when you just want to kick back. This winner of 2009’s Doobie Award for Best Rock from High Times Magazine gives you plenty of that on the self-titled debut. Songs like “Brother Go On,” “The Mirror” and “Burn It Down” are infectious. “The River” is a hard-driving southern rocker that changes tempos but is reminiscent of old BLS. “Hate Machine” and “Sale On Your Soul” are more straight ahead rock, while “No Halos” has a little funk to it. Black Water Rising offers up some tasty grooves, plenty of riffs and a lot of soul.
(Travis Tutwiler)