Review by JD on November 22, 2008.

I read in the bio for Brain Drill that this band was suppose to have been nothing more than a temporary side project for guitarist Dylan Ruskin after departing from his old band Burn At The Stake and was figuring out his options at the time. Right now, I want to really thank Mr. Ruskin for this turn of events in spades... really I do.

Where do I begin to explain what this fiendishly twisted yet so amazing monster of a band truly is. They are in the simplest of terms, what extreme metal really is. They have gathered together many shades of extremes together into one album that the metal world now beholds and marvels at.

On this CD, you have Death Metal melded together with shades of Speed Metal which is mixed together with the addition of Grind, Punk feel and even some real elements of Progressive Metal as well. Added in for good measure is their twisted love of ever single blood soaked horror movie that has ever been put out, plus the devious thought of every member as well. All of these ingredients makes this unstoppable force and the whole thing is unleashed onto all of us as the band that is called Brain Drill.

Lightning strong drumming, insane yet very musical riffing support vocals that are sounding they were coming up from the bowels of the earth... not to mention a very crazy man who plays a seven string bass( Yikes!!), they are that sort of band that will and has silence ever last critic that says that extreme metal cannot ever be musical. These guys deliver both musical talent and a sonic assault that can’t be matched.

With each and ever lasting note that Apocalyptic Feasting serves up, they show that brilliance, extreme music and a serious load of pure talent can meld together while adding in the warped interest in the macabre. Brain Drill... don't wait any longer - lobotomize me please!!

Side Note: Sadly, it has been reported that Brain Drill had broken up for the time being after the release of their Apocalyptic Feasting LP. As metalheads, we can only hope that whatever differences the band has they can clear up really fast so they can continue to crack our craniums like they have been.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 10
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Review by JD on November 22, 2008.

I read in the bio for Brain Drill that this band was suppose to have been nothing more than a temporary side project for guitarist Dylan Ruskin after departing from his old band Burn At The Stake and was figuring out his options at the time. Right now, I want to really thank Mr. Ruskin for this turn of events in spades... really I do.

Where do I begin to explain what this fiendishly twisted yet so amazing monster of a band truly is. They are in the simplest of terms, what extreme metal really is. They have gathered together many shades of extremes together into one album that the metal world now beholds and marvels at.

On this CD, you have Death Metal melded together with shades of Speed Metal which is mixed together with the addition of Grind, Punk feel and even some real elements of Progressive Metal as well. Added in for good measure is their twisted love of ever single blood soaked horror movie that has ever been put out, plus the devious thought of every member as well. All of these ingredients makes this unstoppable force and the whole thing is unleashed onto all of us as the band that is called Brain Drill.

Lightning strong drumming, insane yet very musical riffing support vocals that are sounding they were coming up from the bowels of the earth... not to mention a very crazy man who plays a seven string bass( Yikes!!), they are that sort of band that will and has silence ever last critic that says that extreme metal cannot ever be musical. These guys deliver both musical talent and a sonic assault that can’t be matched.

With each and ever lasting note that Apocalyptic Feasting serves up, they show that brilliance, extreme music and a serious load of pure talent can meld together while adding in the warped interest in the macabre. Brain Drill... don't wait any longer - lobotomize me please!!

Side Note: Sadly, it has been reported that Brain Drill had broken up for the time being after the release of their Apocalyptic Feasting LP. As metalheads, we can only hope that whatever differences the band has they can clear up really fast so they can continue to crack our craniums like they have been.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 10
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Review by Adam on August 28, 2003.

You might as well of been living under a rock if you are a melodic death metal fan and have not heard of Nightrage. The hype for this album has been on the rise ever since vocalist Tomas Lindberg (ex-At the Gates, The Great Deceiver & Lock Up) joined the band's line up. I went into this with some trepidation. Why you ask? The reason is that, to me, it seems every melodic death album coming out produced by Fredrick Nordstrom is hailed as the album to successfully follow the brilliance of "Slaughter of the Soul". I know I cannot be the only one who is sick of hearing this.

This album was pretty much what I expected it to be: fairly generic and aggressive melodic death metal. Is there really anything else to say? For me the answer is no. This record will have you thrashing around from beginning to end while your ears bleed and your neck swells. The guitars soar, the drums blast, and the vocals pierce through your flesh like a million razors. Lindberg hasn't screamed with this kind of intensity since... well... the last band he was in.

Nightrage also employ the talents of Evergrey's vocalist Tom S. Englund to give this melodic death metal album the essential clean vocals. However, to my surprise and pleasure, these vocals are kept at a minimum. I found this to be refreshing since I tend to think this guy's vocals, while good, can come off as a little cheesy. When the music is this intense it is best for the vocals to keep up and for the majority of the album they do.

"Sweet Vengeance" was an unexpected surprise for me. I went into it wanting to call it generic and passé, but the more I listened, the more I just let it go and banged my head. If you are over the whole melodic death metal thing, then do all you can to avoid this. Otherwise, I implore you to try this album out. If you are weak for this stuff like me, then you got a sure winner in Nightrage's "Sweet Vengeance."

Bottom Line: This is aggressive melodic death metal. If you dig this stuff, then go for it tiger!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 9
Originality: 6
Overall: 8

Rating: 7.8 out of 10