Capsule - No Ghost

Capsule - No Ghost

Capsule are a hardcore band from Miami, FL who occupy the perfect middle-ground between Brainworms and Converge with some southern sludge thrown in (i.e. Torche and Kylsea). Heavy as fuck, spastic, melodic and totally fucking rad. This has been getting tons of love all over the place, so if you've been sleeping on this don't as it is the best heavy releases of 2011 so far (and definitely a top ten contender right now). No Ghost will be released this spring by Rorschach Records so pick up a copy, crank it to eleven and bum out all your square neighbours. I can't stress enough how rad this album is, and if you didn't love their last album Blue, fear not, as this one is a little more straight forward (but still fucking heavy as hell).

Excel

Excel - Split Image

Excel - The Joke's On You

Great Venice Beach thrash on par with their friends in Suicidal Tendencies (Mike Muir signed them to his Suicidal Records imprint). Randy Burns (Suicidal Tendencies, Megadeth, Possessed) produced both of these albums and they both wail. Guitarist Adam Siegel went on to play in the Suicidal Tendencies funk side-project Infectious Grooves. Dave Mustaine claims that Metallica stole the riff for "Enter Sandman" from the song "Tapping Into The Emotional Void" off of The Joke's On You LP (there are similarities, but I don't think there is much merit in his claim). If you dig Suicidal Tendencies, Exodus and Sacred Reich then you'll love Excel.

Beyond Possession - ...Is Beyond Possession

Beyond Possession - ...Is Beyond Possession

Canadian thrash band from Calgary. These guys fucking slay big time. This album is so fucking fast and heavy it will scare the wrinkles off your balls. Jeff Hanneman and James Hetfield were both huge fans of these guys. This came out on the Metal Blade subsidiary Death Records in 1986 and it is definitely a classic. This thing is fucking hardcore, thrash and skate-rock all rolled into one. Crank this shit and go out and slay a bowl (like on a skateboard, not dropping a deuce). This is their only full length release (they recorded demos in 1989 but broke up shortly after).