The self-released version of Intronaut's "Null" EP is another that received a full review on the old site awhile back, but I decided to give it a second hit now that it's being "officially" released by Goodfellow Records. The band features current and former members of Impaled, Uphill Battle, Anubis Rising, and Exhumed and cranks out some fucking wickedly creative metal that's almost sure to surprise fans of the aforementioned acts with its excellent musicianship and songwriting. Read the full review if you want specifics, 'cause I'm just gonna let this song speak for itself.

At this point in my life it really does take a hell of a lot for a song to really hit me 100% and trigger an actual wave of emotional response, but "Fragments of Character" certainly succeeds time and time again. This was easily one of the top 10 songs of 2005 for me, and I can safely say that if you don't appreciate at least portions of this song I probably think you're a complete jackass and your taste in music is reprehensible. There are some riffs in this thing that seriously make me want to kill everything on the planet – in a good way. Fact: If you listen to any kind of "heavy" music and don't like this song, you are fucked.

Intronaut "Fragments of Character"

I'm not sure if they remastered this version of the EP or not, but I feel like I'm having a slightly harder time making out the basslines (which are absolutely impeccable, though really the band's entire rhythm section is monstrously badass) this time around, so hopefully they'll up the levels a touch on their next outing. I've also found that the recording on this one works better in headphones, whereas the somewhat dry muddiness (if that makes any sense) loses some impact out in the open somehow. No big deal, though. The songs deliver the goods.

The disc won't really be out until later this month, but you can get it early from the label if you pay a little extra for a t-shirt package deal or something. But whatever the case, buy this shit and keep your eyes peeled for more from these cats… I can't fuckin' wait.

@ Goodfellow Records

Also from Goodfellow Records, though I've been sitting on it seemingly forever, is "Between Two Unseens", the final EP from Taken, which is actually my first exposure to the California band (I think). It's basically contemporary emo/screamo metalcore type of stuff that falls on the artier (and more "mature", for lack of a better term) side of things due in large part to loads of soaring layers of guitars that are drenched in various effects. There's some pretty flashy drum work on occasion as well, and while the music is not something I would call technical per se since these flourishes aren't exactly over the top or blatant, there's definitely a certain level of musicianship here that's above average within this particular niche. I wish they'd lay off some of the clean guitars in favor of more distortion though, 'cause when they pick it up and start getting a little chunkier some of the riffing hits on some Shai Hulud-esque shit, and you can't lose with that kind of action. I definitely think the fierce screaming over the layered melodic dissonance of the distorted passages is more powerful and interesting than so many similar sounding reverberated clean breaks. Damn nice looking layout as well, and the lyrics have a cool flow, too. This is pretty good stuff, don't let the "classifications" fool you, there are actually bands of this nature that do it right.

Taken "Swirling Memories"

This one also comes with a bonus DVD that includes the band's final show in its entirety, as well as interviews and footage from older shows and whatnot. To be honest, I actually haven't watched the DVD yet because I keep forgetting to do so and never really have the time, but even if it sucks it's cool that they tossed it in for free, right? Make the grab:

@ The End Records