Whitechapel | Recorrupted

by Cynthia Jo
Staff Writer

Deathcore overall has that evocative, too many breakdowns, monotonous, boring beats, and the heavy synths overuse. One band that puts that into good use is Knoxville sextet, Whitechapel.

Their latest EP, Recorrupted, has only five tracks — one which is an original song, one Pantera cover, and two remixes.

Beginning with the only original song, “Section 8” the album establishes a very generic sound of under-toned, uncreative breakdowns. The Pantera cover of “Strength Beyond Strength” probably has Dimebag Darrell rolling over in his grave. The cover is simply boring. There is no creativity, perhaps one of the worst Pantera covers ever recorded.

Probably the two remixed tracks, “Breeding Violence” and “This is Exile” are more than adequate, but that depends on who is listening to them. Those two tracks are groovy and hard-hitting and will probably be in good use for a video game or something. Whitechapel fans will probably love “End of Flesh.” The track is calm and haunting; a twist to the EP since it’s nothing close to deathcore overall.

Bottom line, Whitechapel’s Recorrupted does deserve credit for those two remixed tracks — however, deathcore fans don’t care about remixed tracks. This EP just opens the doors for more hatred toward the endless “chug-chug-chug” that deathcore bands love.

Genre: Deathcore

Band:
Phil Bozeman (V)
Alex Wade (G)
Ben Savage (G)
Gabe Crisp (B)
Zach Householder (G)
Ben Harclerode (D)

Tracklist:
1. Section 8
2. Strength Beyond Strength
3. Breeding Violence
4. This is Exile
5. End of Flesh

Label: Metal Blade

Website: metalblade.com/whitechapel

Hardrock Haven Rating: 4.5/10

Mayhem Festival Live!

August 7, 2009 at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ

by Steve trager
Staff Writer

Fans of pure metal have found themselves with the newest edition of summer festivals simply called Mayhem Festival. It is similar to one the greatest tours ever to roam across America, which is “Ozzfest.” Mayhem Festival certainly has kept the doors opened to one of the best-known genres in music, which is Heavy Metal. Last year’s initial run with Mayhem was an indication that we can still rock out in the hardest way with some of the greatest bands on three stages for one decent priced ticket.

This year’s Mayhem Festival definitely cranked up the word “Heavy” with a brutal line-up that turned most pits into total chaos during such sets like Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Trivium and God Forbid.

The nice feature about Mayhem Festival is that you have three stages, loads of music, and rockstar bling for those who always want to make a fashion statement to the rest of the world. Last year’s festival had a great line-up that could have very well been just a one-time slot of Mayhem. But the response from last year brings us to the second annual Mayhem festival. It featured great sets from well-known artists like veteran thrashers Slayer and the rock shock anti-Christ himself, Marilyn Manson, who closed out the main stage.

For most of us who endure the heavier side of metal, there were bands like Job for A Cowboy, WhiteChapel and Behemoth that can grab your attention once the music kicks in. Everyone likes something different when it comes to music in general. While I might dislike some of the bands that played on the Hot Topic stage, it still was an incredible experience to see a long list of bands that certainly hold the record for mosh mayhem.

Perhaps each set could have been longer for bands like God Forbid, Trivium, All that Remains, and Bullet for My Valentine, which opened the main stage, the fans still get the packing punch we have always come to expect at a metal show.

I still have to give props to Killswitch Engage for their stage attire at a metal show. Even dressed slightly unusual for head bangers delight, front man Howard Jones still has that voice that can go through you like a lighting bolt. I especially enjoyed Dio’s “Holy Diver“ cover, which was filled with anger and great guitar work and the balls-to-the-wall vocals makes that ‘80s classic truly come alive as only Killswitch can do so well live.

Slayer also out did a great show, captivating their finest works as an old-school thrash band that they are. Slayer is a true metal band that has never changed its sound and never has sold out for radio success but has kept a cult following all these years in the true genre of pure metal. Even Manson played a great quick set; however, I am not much of a big fan. Music fans always like something different, and that makes them unique. This is an indication that Mayhem Festival will be around for a long time (we can all hope).

The Great: Bullet for My Valentine, All That Remains, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, God Forbid, and Slayer.

Hot Topic / Extreme Metal Stage:
WhiteChapel
Black Dahlia Murder
Job for A Cowboy
Behemoth
Cannibal Corpse

Jagermeister Music Stage:
Beyond The Star
God Forbid
All That Remains
Trivium

Rockstar Energy Drink Main Stage
Bullet For My Valentine
Killswitch Engage
Slayer
Marilyn Manson

Mayhem Festival 2009 Photo Gallery

Photos by Steve Trager.