Search - Various Artists :: Uncorrupted Steel 2

Not nearly as good as Uncorrupted Steel Volume 1

Daniel H. Ekman | Potomac, MD United States | 08/15/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Let me start this review by saying that I don't hate Metal Blade Records. In fact, Uncorrupted Steel, Volume 1, is what got me into extreme metal in the first place. However, this compilation is very poor in comparison and shows a disturbing trend that has plagued metal blade recently. Whereas Metal Blade used to be cutting edge of extreme metal, now they have flirted with the mainstream to the point where they have lost alot of their edge. What is a real shame is that Metal Blade still has a lot of great extreme metal bands, so promoting is mainly the reason why this has happened. Uncorrupted Steel Volume 2 represents this decline. Whereas the first volume had a heavy and edgy production filled with heavier and more complex songs, this one seems to be tailored more to the mainstream.



It starts with a Six Feet Under song that sounds like a "Made for MTV Metal" song. Hell, Six Feet Under is a bit too watered down as it is, and then they take their most mainstream song. This happens throughout the album, with bands such as The Black Dahlia Murder, As I Lay Dying, 40 Grit, and Engine. In fact, it isn't really until the third song(Cattle Decapitation) that the album starts to feel like an extreme metal compilation. Then, there are bands such as DBX who are simply awful and should never be promoted for any reason. Why would you want to associate you label with that simple-minded drivel? It isn't even the fact that the songs on here are melodic. Hell, Brainstorm is one of the best power metal bands in existence and one of the best bands of Metal Blade(Their last two albums are great). Bands like Vehemence and Amon Amarth mix melody, complexity, and brutality quite well, and more bands like this would have taken the compilation a long way. Then, there are the obligory brutal bands such as Cannibal Corpse and Vader, as the live Born in a Casket gives die-hard CC fans a reason to plunk down the cash. Even a band like the Heavils is good due to the fact that they are humorous without seeming cheap(i.e. DBX).



Unfortuantely, these bands are so spread out between the watered down ones that you find yourself shifting. You didn't have to do this on the first album, as all of the bands mixed melody, brutality, and a certain technical proficiency, while all sounding unique. Metal Blade definately should have substituted some better bands for the ones I first mentioned. With bands like Ancient, Armored Saint, Bolt Thrower, Fates Warning, Falconer, and Vomitory on their label at the time, the lackluster lineup is inexcusable. They could have even waited a year and been able to include bands like Cataract, Gorerotted, YOB, Goatwhore, and The Red Chord. Unfortunately, they missed the boat, and for the price, it is better simply to download samples from the better bands. Buy Volume 1 and skip this one."