Tag: Riff Police

Riff Police! Pull Over! #52: The Acacia Strain Vs Suicide Silence!

Having just celebrated its tenth anniversary it’s time we spoke of “Continent” by The Acacia Strain. The Chicopee Massachusetts Deathcore heavyweights have been around since 2001 and having beefed with Emmure for a long time the opening track of that beast of an album “Skynet” could either feature a 3 line vocal attack on the

Riff Police! Pull Over! #51: In Flames Vs Light This City!

Gothenburg Sweden’s In Flames may get a lot of flack these days but that’s only because back in the day they had a groundbreaking sound and were making waves. As they’ve grown older they’ve changed their style and moved in a direction that some of their fanbase don’t appreciate. The bands 2002 effort “Reroute To

Riff Police! Pull Over! #50: Gojiria Vs Wednesday 13!

It might seem highly unlikely but what are the chances of French Progressive Death Metal outfit Gojiria being an influence on Wednesday 13 guitarist Roman Surman? Back in 2008, The French titans released “The Way of All Flesh” with the help of former Machine Head and current Once Human guitarist Logan Mader who not only

Riff Police! Pull Over #48: Warmen Vs Children of Bodom!

Appearing on their 2001 album “Beyond Abilities”, the interestingly titled Warmen song “Salieri Strikes Back” is a bold offering from the Finnish Progressive Metallers. It takes its name from the film Amadeus and the rival of Mozart and was written by bassist Lauri Porra and synth king Janne Wirman in inspired form. What’s interesting about this

Riff Police! Pull Over! #47: 36 Crazyfists Vs The Royal!

When it came to the first wave of Metalcore bands, Alaskan quartet 36 Crazyfists are right up there as one of those that have stayed the course. Yes, they have had their ups and downs but 8 studio albums and 4 EPs in 22 years as a band is pretty damn impressive by anyone’s standards.

Riff Police! Pull Over! #46: Karnivool Vs Textures!

Back in 2009, Australian Progressive Metallers Karnivool dropped their second studio release in “Sound Awake”. Whereas the bands debut “Themata” had been largely written and arranged by guitarist and backing vocalist Drew Goddard, this new release was an entirely collaborative effort. Second track “Goliath” is one that stands out of a number of reasons, one of which

Riff Police! Pull Over! #45: Machine Head Vs Hate Force!

Often talked about, much loved and much panned, Oakland Californian Robb Flynn fronted Machine Head have released more than their fair share of diamonds over the years. Many would argue that their debut full length “Burn My Eyes” is a not only a stone wall classic, but an album that the band haven’t bettered. Seeing

Riff Police! Pull Over! #44: Slipknot Vs Pagan’s Mind!

Hailed erroneously as a “Pop-Metal classic” by the BBC and hilariously as having a “Grindcore riff” by Stylus Magazine, the opening single from Slipknot‘s 2005 third album “Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses” was the rallying call that “Wait And Bleed” had been in 1999. An anthem that appealed to Metal Heads while also having that

Riff Police! Pull Over! #43: Opprobrium Vs Metallica!

Released in 1988 under the name Incubus, the New Orleans band now called Opprobrium enjoyed some influence with the Death Metal influenced Thrash sounds of their debut “Serpent Temptation”. A deluxe re-issue appeared via Relapse Records in 2016 with 4 additional tracks in the form of their 1987 original demo. There is one track, “Hunger

Riff Police! Pull Over! #42: Underside Vs Avenged Sevenfold!

Avenged Sevenfold lifting *ahem* being influenced by Metallica is pretty common knowledge. Why? Because it’s so blatantly obvious! To be fair, they’ve got a wealth of decent material of their own and they created a decent song around that Metallica riff. “Unholy Confessions” is a fans favourite and has all the trademarks of the classic