Originally posted by Kane:
Chimaira's self titled (*****)
I saw these guys open for In Flames and Soilwork a couple of years ago, but wasn't impressed. I should check out their studio output, though...
Originally posted by Kane:
Megadeth - Back to the Start, Greatest Hits (**)
The System Has Failed topped my 2004 list. I've always liked Megadeth, but never thought of them as a great band until I heard this.
Originally posted by Kane:
Mudvayne - Lost and Found (***)
Not really a fan here, but I did accidentally but this one from BMG,  so I should give it a listen.
Originally posted by Kane:
Soilwork - Stabbing the Drama (****)
Natural Born Chaos is one of my top twenty favorite albums of all time, and despite Figure Number Five's strong commerical leanings I liked it as well. Stabbing the Drama didn't do a lot for me, though; it had some of the elements that made NBC great, but sounded to me like more of a return to their A Predator's Portrait and even Chainheart Machine sound, and I'm pretty lukewarm on their early efforts. I should go back and give StD another listen, though.
Originally posted by Kane:
Strapping Young Lad - Alien (*****)
I'm afraid I just don't "get" Strapping Young Lad, but some of Devin Townsend's other projects are phenomonal. I have an, uh, extralegal  copy of his as yet unreleased album Synchestra, and it's incredible. Do you have his Ocean Machine and Infinity albums?
Originally posted by Kane:
System of a Down - Mezmerize (****)
I couldn't stand their first album, but what I've heard from Toxicity and Hypnotize/Mezmerize is fairly interesting. I need to investigate further...
--T.J.
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