Well, it's that time of year, once again, where I say thank you to all of you who read my stuff over the past school year and to those who actually shared their agreements or disagreements with my reviews and suggestions. I'd also like to thank Diana McLay and John Said (and the rest of the Interrobang staff) for putting up with my ramblings, editing my work (because I was too tired with my day job to do it) and their hard work throughout the year. Let's wrap this year up with a couple mini reviews.

Hate Eternal
Fury and Flame
Death Metal guru, Erik Rutan, returns with Hate Eternal's fourth release. This new opus takes death metal to the limit but doesn't really innovate anywhere. The songs are good but nothing really catchy on this one. I have to say that while it's cool that Cannibal Corpse's Alex Webster guests on the bass, Rutan didn't have to turn it way up in the mix. I had to turn my bass settings down to half because the bass was so loud I couldn't hear ANY of the guitar, snare drums or vocals. Rutan is usually a good producer, so I have no clue what happened here.
In Flames
A Sense of Purpose
The band that so many metalheads love to debate return with a new disc in the style of their past couple releases. I think that (with a couple of listens under my belt) that the disc blends their last release, Come Clarity, with Reroute to Remain. If you hate the band now because they don't sound like they did on The Jester Race, you'll be disappointed again. I like how the band has progressed and there is some good stuff on here.

Side note: this CD also comes with a Limited Edition DVD package. I got mine day one, but I heard that it was released in limited amounts. The DVD features a two-and-half hour making of documentary. I haven't watched it yet but I'm sure it'll rock.

Nine Inch Nails
Ghosts I-IV
What? A new release already? This is an instrumental 36-track package with each disc showing off a different side of Reznor. I have to say that there is actually too much on here that needs plenty of dissection, so there is no way I would be able to go into it here. I'm basically promoting it considering that for $10 (at Future Shop), you get A LOT of music. You get everything from rock to electronica, to ambient noise and everything in between and far between. I know hardcore fans will definitely have this (or have already downloaded it online), but those looking for some interesting background music or something to actually dissect should part with $10.

HAVE A GREAT AND SAFE SUMMER, EVERYONE!