MercyKill - The Order of War (2008)

Cost: $1.50

The artwork and band name made me think groove metal or perhaps even metalcore, so my hopes going in weren't particularly high, but when I saw they covered King Diamond's "Welcome Home," that made it an automatic purchase.  Would I have taken the chance and bought it otherwise after some consideration?  We'll never know.  The cover had me feeling more optimistic, since how can you really go wrong with any band that likes classic MF or KD?

The music is a bit of a mishmash--mostly death metal or death metalesque riffage, plenty of thrash influences, some unfortunate groove metal chugging, and maybe a tiny bit of melodeath in the mix.  Dual style vocals here, with monotonous, somewhat forced death metal vocals and very forced raspish vocals.  The actual music style they play is better than I expected (despite the more modern influences to their sound, which I could do without), but it doesn't come off as very inspired.  Most of the tracks have a pretty decent part, usually a thrashy one, but I didn't come away thinking any of the original songs were particularly notable or cool.

The "Welcome Home" cover is quite good musically.  No, they don't even bother to attempt King-style vocals--while I'll agree their regular vocals aren't ideal, they're a far more sensible choice than a bad King impression.  This would have been one of the better songs on either the Dwell or Necropolis King Diamond tributes, and compares pretty favorably to the Agressor and Prototype covers of the song.

Crimson Spectre/Uwharria - split CD (2005)

Cost: 99¢

This CD is available for trade.

Wasn't sure what to expect here, but the Crimson Spectre songtitles sounded sort of grindcorish, and there's a D.R.I. shirt in one of the booklet photos.  They turned out to be pretty disappointing as they're punk/punkish HC with screamy vocals.  There's some natural thrashiness just by virtue of it being punk, but nothing to a satisfying degree.  The Uwharria side initially seemed relatively similar and had me thinking this CD was going to be a total bust, but they at times they actually kick into full-on crossover mode ("Devil's Gut" is pretty cool).   I was further amazed that the "Riparian Trilogy" is quite strongly NWOBHM influenced!  The vocals here are also a punkish screamy style, although wilder and more spastic than Crimson Spectre's. 

Exhibition - The Sign of Tomorrow (2003)

Cost: 99¢

This CD is available for trade.

The mummy on that cover sure is reminiscent of a certain iconic metal mascot, huh?  The Egyptian-themed artwork in the rest of the layout further brings Maiden (or to a lesser extent, Iced Earth) to mind.  Decent progressive/power metal.  The power metal component is definitely a '90s US style as opposed to a Euro style, and the progressive influences are quite varied--there's older Fates Warning/older Queensrÿche influenced stuff, but also mellower emotive sections (including a balladish song) and keyboard pieces that are more Dream Theater-inspired. 

The CD was fine to listen to--I appreciate that they maintained a pretty good balance and didn't go overboard with the prog--but after it ended, nothing really stood out as having much wow factor.  They seem pretty versatile in terms of being able to play both heavier and lighter material, but I'm hard pressed to identify anything really great about it.  It's good for a dollar bin pickup, but it doesn't seem like something I'd be inclined to revisit.

Elektrik Mistress - Elektrik Mistress (2001)

Cost: 99¢

This CD is available for trade.
 

Occasionally I'll pick up stoner rock looking discs from the bargain bin in case they're more on the doomy side.  Don't find the COC (Deliverance-era)/Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age influenced stoner rock here that interesting, and with the lack of metal, this is a miss for me.  Vocals sound like a cross between Pepper Keenan and the guy from Saigon Kick, and the song "Blakk Room" is a Collective Soul-style acoustic alternative rock ballad.  Should add that there are online reviews that REALLY overstate the space rock elements here as if Elektrik Mistress were Hawkwind disciples (which I would have greatly preferred), but then the album ends up having like two songs with a couple seconds total of minimalist spacey effects.