CORE DEVICE
"Our
Fellowship Eternal" (Self-released; 2004)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
With the sonic assault on your perceived sound of
heavy metal they call "Our Fellowship Eternal," Core Device's brings guts, intellect and a good dose of guitar to make you heed their call.
It's double-bass and freight train guitar time again. The guitarists here have some skills that set
them apart from other metal axe slingers.
The vocals on a few songs are a cookie monster and clean sound combo. I have yet to get comfortable with this approach, either sing or vocally vomit, just pick one. When the vocalist releases his singing talent he does rip the range apart. It takes a few spins to let it soak in your psyche, but once you listen with fervor to their old school metal
grind, Core Device will surely graduate you with honors ... and brain bruises.
The guitar is heavy with riff centric emphasis on driving their sound right through you. The guitar solos are blazing yet
classic-sounding on a few songs and a few deserve a second listen. Core Device doesn’t sound like anybody
else unless you want them to. They approach this disc with a mission and even though some of the songs
may sound over produced they’re really not. A lot goes into each track and why not throw in everything you can to give it as many layers as
possible?
Fans of old school metal will no doubt sleep with this jewel case under their pillow and dream of
fist-raised followers.
The best metal school cuts are “Shadows Mind,” “Stranger,” “Green Water,” and “Unknown Tears.”
Core Device: Daniel Dunphy – vocals and keys; Patrick Kehoe – guitars; Tony Nocera – guitars; Marty Walsh – bass; Tim Protsman – drums.
For more information, check out http://www.coredevice.com
or http://www.myspace.com/coredevice.
"Our
Fellowship Eternal" (Self-released; 2004)
Reviewed by Snidermann
Not only does Core Device have an ultra cool name, the band also delivers the goods musically.
The rock'n'roll on "Our Fellowship Eternal" is nothing short of killer, providing track after track of incredible old school metal. This is some serious rock'n'roll and you can tell from the start that Core Device really like what they do and they do it extremely well.
Sometimes, the music does seem a bit over produced and, when that happens, it tends to bring everything down just a bit. Still, the pros far outweigh the cons and "Our Fellowship Eternal" should be in any serious heavy collection.
For more information, check out http://www.coredevice.com or http://www.myspace.com/coredevice.
Reviewed by Jason Savage
For some of you, old school metal is a long lost dinosaur, fossilized and
buried deep underground beneath Metal Blade Records. Believe it or not, some of us miss the powerful vocals, spewing forth
messages of dungeons and dragons and darkness, accompanied by dramatic guitar solos and
thick bass lines. If this style of metal still seeps out of your speakers and you
refuse to let it go to pasture, than Core Device may just be the coming of a new messiah.
Core Device, a dynamic quintet who come straight from the "metallands" of Middletown,
NJ, resurrect a superior brand of metal. Formed by Kehoe and Protsman in September 1996,
Core Device has been brutalizing the East Coast, opening for the likes of Iced
Earth, Mercyful Fate, Morbid Angel, Nevermore and My Own Victim.
Gaining critical acclaim for their first demo entitled "Raped," they have recently unleashed a new 3
song demo that is sure to land them a record deal. My initial impression came via the mail. When I
saw their band picture as I opened the dark black folder, I was scared out my wits by frontman
Dan's menacing mugshot. He had that vintage "I'm evil and I'm gonna kick your ass!" look that most
metal bands of the 80's had. His long dark flowing mane and beard drew in all the attention as the
other band members stood behind him against a fence. The black and white photo added to the
evilness of the scene, set in the middle of Mirkwood.
Okay, enough of that, let's get
on with the music!
Track one, entitled "Burning Away," started this epic triage with a slow crunching riff. When "Evil"
Dan entered the story, I would've sworn I was listening to Warrell Dane of
Sanctuary and Nevermore fame. He sounded similar, yet had his own distinct wail. Others joined in with chanting and
even some King Diamond type high notes. The vocal barrage kept changing pace between the highs and
lows to include typical death growling, but not constant and overdone. Clocking in at 4 minutes and
40 seconds, it kept this listener interested.
"Unknown Tears" opened with more monk-like chants but quickly gave way to some heavy guitars.
Warrell Dane invaded this song also, but being a huge Sanctuary fan, I really liked it. Core Device
has captured the essence of this genre to a tee.
"Sixth Sense" continued along the same path, creating almost a concept feel to demo as a whole.
This song spewed forth more growls to accompany Dan's classic voice. Later on, it adds a few
speed/thrash riffs that bring it to a fitting close. I wish it was more than only
three songs. Now I find myself in the mood for a larger dose so I guess I'll have to spin it again. Core
Device is epic doom metal best described as Sanctuary meets Candlemass (Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
era) with a pinch of Peter Steele and King Diamond for some extra added seasoning. A must buy for any fans of
this type of metal.
Core Device: Daniel Dunphy - vocals; Patrick Kehoe - guitar; Tony Nocera - guitar; Marty Walsh - bass; Tim Protsman - drums.
For more information, please visit http://www.coredevice.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2006 by R. Scott Bolton. All
rights reserved.
Revised: 14 Oct 2024 14:01:57 -0400
.
