With staccato rapping and spectral keys, Mushroomhead's "Sun Doesn't Rise," from the band's forthcoming XIII, is a radio-bound ripper with dark, catchy choruses reminiscent of an aggro Alice in Chains. Similarly melodic and misanthropic is Chimaira's "Army of Me," which comes complete with gang choruses and Slaytanic guitars.
Slipknot's "Snap," a locomotive demo from '97 with breathless rhymes and burping electronics, is interesting if unessential. The same could be said of Sepultura's Roots-era leftover "The Waste," a percussive pairing with Tomahawk/Mr. Bungle frontman Mike Patton. The real highlights here are Lamb of God's polyrhythmic charge ("11th Hour") and In Flames' anthemic speed metal ("Trigger"). Best of all, though, is "Swinging the Dead" from Devildriver, the new project of former Coal Chamber frontman Dez Fafara. The troupe's gruff, double-bass-driven grind is so good, it's scary.
