Black Cobra, Corpus Christii, Vader, and more

Up at Decibel, I have reviews of Blotted Science (new project of Ron Jarzombek), Devian (new project of Legion, ex-Marduk), and Rigor Sardonicous (slower-than-slow dooooom), as well as a feature on Portuguese black metallers Corpus Christii, whose recent record Rising is sick-sick-sick. The print version (#41, At the Gates cover) also has my live review of Neurosis/Earth/Saviours on NYE.

Black Cobra – Red Tide
Corpus Christii – Stabbed

At Metal Injection, I have reviews of The Great Deceiver (Tomas Lindberg’s almost-nu-metal project), Polish behemoths Vader, mighty SF duo Black Cobra, Hot Topic pinups Bullet for My Valentine, and Strapping Young Lad clone The Arcane Order.

The latter’s album is noteworthy, as it is a digital-only release in the US – from Metal Blade. CD’s are available in Europe, but not in America. Metal Blade must have done a cost-benefit analysis and decided that CD’s generally weren’t worth manufacturing. Instead, the label has outsourced distribution to iTunes, Napster, et al., not even selling MP3’s on its own site (yet). Metal Blade is the first major metal label I’ve seen do this – but I’m sure it won’t be the only one.