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Of Monsters and Men<\/strong><\/p>\n My Head is an Animal<\/em><\/p>\n (Universal Music)<\/p>\n 3\/5<\/p>\n <\/p>\n My Head Is an Animal<\/em>, the debut album from Icelandic indie folk group Of Monsters and Men, is full of anthems, reverb, layers, and choirs. It also sounds an awful lot like a band you may have heard before.<\/p>\n \u201cDirty Paws\u201d sounds cannily similar to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes\u2019 \u201cHome,\u201d as do a half-dozen other tracks on the album. First single \u201cLittle Talks\u201d is undoubtedly reminiscent of Mumford and Sons\u2019 smash hit \u201cLittle Lion Man.\u201d<\/p>\n Perhaps My Head Is an Animal\u2019<\/em>s driving guitars, insistent percussion, and layered vocals might be enjoyed on their own. This upbeat, bohemian indie folk is certainly charming and forest-adventure-worthy.<\/p>\n But Of Monsters and Men offer nothing new, and instead simply rehash the same anthem that\u2019s been done by bigger bands before them. Verdict: pretty but tiresome, like a dumb blonde waxing philosophical.<\/p>\n -Rose Jang<\/p>\n Cancer Bats<\/strong><\/p>\n Dead Set on Living<\/em><\/p>\n (Distort)<\/p>\n 4\/5<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dead Set on Living<\/em> is the fourth album from Toronto-based metal-core band Cancer Bats. The album begins poorly with the lyrically childish \u201cR.A.T.S.\u201d but picks up steam after that lacklustre first track. \u201cBricks and Mortar,\u201d \u201cRoad Sick\u201d and \u201cBreathe Armageddon\u201d are all entertaining, showcasing crunchy Black Sabbath-esque riffs and raw, visceral vocals.<\/p>\n The sludge metal elements are far more prevalent on Dead Set on Living<\/em> than on Cancer Bats\u2019 previous releases, sounding reminiscent of a more up-tempo Weedeater, rather than a Billy Talent sound-alike. This shift in sound makes Dead Set on Living<\/em> the most memorable Cancer Bats album yet.<\/p>\n While this album is far from innovative, it\u2019s accessible enough for the casual rock fan and hardcore enough for metalheads. Above all, it\u2019s a satisfying listen, full of rock and roll war swagger and everything that makes metal great. Dead Set on Living<\/em> is essential listening.<\/p>\n -James Down<\/p>\n Lahmia<\/strong><\/p>\n Into the Abyss<\/em><\/p>\n (Bakerteam Records)<\/p>\n 3\/5<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On Into the Abyss<\/em>, their first full- length, Italian melodic death metal band Lahmia lines up their clich\u00e9s and proceeds to race through them, one by one.<\/p>\n Into the Abyss<\/em> isn\u2019t a bad album, it\u2019s just very similar to the late \u201990s melodo-death craze that bands like Finnish shredders Children of Bodom, Finnish melodic death ragers Kalmah, and French Canadian act Talamyus did so well.<\/p>\n This disc boasts very crisp production, attractive riffage, and occasional yet tasteful clean vocal interludes. Unfortunately, what this album lacks is soul, humanity, and the odd fuck-up to remind the listener that this is indeed music for people by people.<\/p>\n Instead, Into the Abyss<\/em> is a robot among many robots. And although there may be many like it, this robot is a part of an army, bent on the destruction of the kind of grimey, raw, swamp-like metal that I adore.<\/p>\n Lahmia: killmode engaged.<\/p>\n -Adam Price<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n