CD Review: New Heavy Metal Music From Monte Pittman, Charred Walls Of The Damned And Allegaeon

Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter Monte Pittman continues to evolve with each new release and his fourth full-length album "Inverted Grasp Of Balance" is his best yet. After working with superstar Madonna and being a member of the heavy metal band Prong, Monte Pittman made his Metal Blade Records debut with his break-through metal album, "The Power Of Three." Now he takes his music to the next level on the new twelve-song release that features Richard Christy (Charred Walls Of The Damned) on drums and Billy Sheehan (Winery Dogs) on bass. Beginning with "Panic Attack," Monte Pittman gets the energy flowing immediately with the quick-pace and heavy metal guitar riffs. The music gets more intense with the hardcore metal appeal of "Arisen In Broad Daylight" and reaches epic proportions on the tempo changes of "Guilty Pleasure." He lets his guitar do the talking in the metal groove of "Double Edged Sword" and during the classical instrumental sounds of "Cadabra." The album finishes with the electrifying buzz of guitars in "Be Very Afraid," the exciting full-band instrumental "Obliterated" and the shift from acoustic ballad to power metal in "New Blood Keeps Us Alive." To find out more about Monte Pittman and his latest release "Inverted Grasp Of Balance," please visit montepittman.com.

Next up is the return of heavy metal giants Charred Walls Of The Damned with their third album "Creatures Watching Over The Dead." It's been five years since their last release and fans are anticipating an epic comeback. Drummer/songwriter Richard Christy has been busy filling his time playing in Iced Earth, Death and with fellow label mate Monte Pittman. The new nine-song release begins with the epic feel of "My Eyes" as the music brings together a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal sound with a modern hardcore edge. The energy goes through the roof with the hardcore, thrash metal appeal of "The Soulless" and the progressive hard rock of "As I Catch My Breath." The quick pace of "Reach Into The Light" will certainly have you banging your head as singer Tim "Ripper" Owens brings us back to his Judas Priest days. The album closes with the adrenaline-fueled rhythm of "Time Has Passed." To find out more about Charred Walls Of The Damned and their latest release "Creatures Watching Over The Dead," please visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/charredwallsofthedamned. 

Finally we arrive at the new concept album titled "Proponent For Sentience" from heavy metal band Allegaeon. It features twelve tracks that deal with the growth of machines that could wipe us off the planet. Beginning with the dark orchestral tones of "Proponent For Sentience I - The Conception" you easily get swept up in the thunderous death metal rhythm backbone of the song. The growling vocals of "All Hail Science" is a perfectly executed battle-cry, while "From Nothing" showcases the excellent musicianship within the band. Allegaeon expand upon their sound with the eight-minute epic "Grey Matter Mechanics - Appassonsta Ex Machinea," then come roaring back with the hard hitting attack of "Demons Of An Intricate Design."  The album finishes with the six-minute prog-metal feel of "The Arbiters" and their excitingly intense cover of Rush's "Subdivisions." To find out more about Allegaeon and their latest release "Proponent For Sentience," please visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/allegaeon