Cost: $2.00
The title suggests much more of a death/extreme metal-focused tribute than it ends up being, although compared to some of Dwell's other tributes to non-metal bands, there is, well, surprisingly little non-metal on here.
1. Locomotive - Highway to Hell
Groove metal (with sped-up death metal chorus sections) version with ultra-forced aggro vox. Not the best way to start things off.
2. Dementia - Back in Black
I assume this is the same band from the Mötley Crüe tribute I covered on the blog years ago. I was a bit surprised at first, as they look like a nu/alternative band in their booklet photo, but instrumentally the cover was excellent. The singer smartly stayed away from Brian Johnson emulation aside from some mild swagger in the vocals, and while they aren't great, they're serviceable. I should have trusted my instincts about their picture, though...Two-thirds of the way through the song, they put in a angst-y Rage Against the Machine-style rapped section. I wish I was joking! Ridiculous.
3. Colp - T.N.T.
This is somewhat similar to Locomotive's cover, as it's groove metal heavied up with death metal influences. It comes off far better, though. That said, I don't think it's quite as good and definitely not as fun to listen to as Six Feet Under's version.
4. Wasteland - Riff Raff
This is the mid '90s German thrash band. Great musically but the extreme black metal-sounding vox aren't a great fit.
5. Assisting Sorrow - Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
Very interesting melodic death interpretation. Rather than typical death or black metal vox, the vocals here are gruff, shouty, and even kind of aggro, with a reverb effect. As with the previous track, they're an odd fit and feel weird.
6. Lesser Known - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Solid cover musically. I found the vocal affectations and effects slightly distracting at first, but they're not nearly as bad as some of the vocals on the other covers.
7. Neurosilence - Who Made Who
Very disjointed death/deaththrash version, light years away from their decent cover on the Death tribute. If it wasn't for the song's title right in the chorus, I don't think I would have recognized this at all. Worst track on here.
8. Deamon - Hells Bells
Again, aside from the bells intro and the main riff, it was very hard to hear "Hell's Bells" in here. Since this sounds pretty much like an original death metal song, it kind of defeats the purpose, although because they transformed it so much, it works a little better as an extreme version than some of the other songs.
9. Necrology - You Shook Me All Night Long
I was expecting this to be played closer to the original tempo, just downtuned and made extreme ala Six Feet Under. Instead, it's quite sped up, which I do admit I found funny. I think this would have worked better as a hidden bonus track on their own album than on a tribute CD, though.
10. Vladimirs - If You Want Blood (You Got It)
Musically, a cool punk-infused cover, but not a fan of the uncontrolled shouty vox.
11. Enertia - Walk All Over You
One of the more faithful versions musically, but unfortunately the band uses regular clean vox, robbing it of any Bon Scott feel whatsoever.
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