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Screw the mainstream if you really want to get your rocks off you have to go to the underground. That's just what we plan to do with this series, take some of the best emerging bands that are out blowing away hardcore fans on the underground music scene.

Metal Spotlight Special

Join us as we take a look at the Metal Underground. We've brought together three recent reviews of bands from various areas of the Metal Underground

• Symphony X � The Odyssey
• Virgin Steele � Hymns To Victory
• BoySetsFire � Live For Today

Symphony X � The Odyssey
Label: Inside Out
Rating:
by Scott Slapp

Epic Metal MAN!! Yeah! If any epic classic of literature has been crying out to be set to music it's Homer's Odyssey. I'm surprised Steve Harris hasn't wrapped his songwriting brain around the Odyssey given his tendency to set classics to music but that's ok, because Symphony X do it with style.

On this CD Symphony X have once again topped themselves as they seem to do with each new CD. But there are no big surprises in store for Symphony X fans, the band stays true to their craft, while cranking out a bowl full of metal to get you stoned on Epic progressive metal riffing and power vocals. It's a good buzz too!

This band takes their name to heart and really set out to give you a metal symphony and that's exactly what you get with the mind-blowing title track that clocks in at over 24 minutes and would give Beethoven a run for his money. Who was the a**hole that said classical music is dead? It isn't, metal bands are just representing it these days.

Now what pisses me off is the fact that music like this isn't what's out there representing metal to kids there days. What they get instead are lame ass clowns in masks with limited musical ability.

New Jersey may have foisted Bon Jovi on us but Symphony X do the garden state proud and more than make up for the years of crap coming out of there from the slippery when wet crowd.

If you want real metal than dude get off your ass and go buy this CD! Nothing more to say besides it will kick your ass!

Virgin Steele � Hymns To Victory
Label: Noise Records
Rating:
By antiGUY

You gotta hand it to Virgin Steele, when they decided to put out a "best of" collection they really put some thought into it and wanted to give the fans a true value for their bucks.

Virgin Steele have been rockin' along in the metal underground for 20 years and in that time they have released an impressive catalog of material. I wouldn't have wanted to be the one who set out to decide which songs to put on this disc but whoever did make that decision did one hell of a job!

The songs here were pulled from the group's entire career and instead of just slapping a bunch of album tracks together, putting a cover on it and calling it a greatest hits CD, Virgin Steele decided to give their fans remastered as well as alternative mixes of these classic songs. So even if you own all of the albums, there is a good reason to add this one to your collection aside from the 2 brand new songs, Saturday Night", and " The Mists of Avalon"

You have to respect any band that have braved the music industry for over 20 years and hung in there without compromising themselves or their music in-order to make it big. These guys are heroes to their fans and for good reason, they have some amazing music and this CD is just a showcase of some highlights.

Like what you hear? The band just reissued their first two albums, the first time these albums will be available on CD. Also in December they filmed a performance in New York for their very first DVD! So lots of great Virgin Steele coming up and this CD should get you started!

BoySetsFire � Live For Today
Label: Wind-Up
Rating:
by antiGUY

Boysetsfire are heroes of the melodic hardcore underground for good reason, they have the chops and deliver the goods. In the netherworld where melody meets power is where this band dwells. My biggest complaint with this EP is that it is an EP, it's over just as you get into full scream along mode and wets the appetite for their forthcoming full length.

The band's move to Wind-up from Victory Records had some fans worried that they might compromise their credibility in order to fit into the label that Creed built but no worries these guys stay true to themselves and the fans. The new songs give us a glimpse of where Boysetsfire is heading in 2003 and it's not selloutville that's for damn sure!

The equal mix between studio and live tracks show us this band's strengths in both mediums and let me just say the riffs of one of the new tunes "Curtain Call" make this EP worth every cent!

Big things are expected from Boysetsfire and this EP shows why! "Live for Today," is definitely a great effort from these Delaware rockers and may just give Wind-up there next multi-platinum act. The tunes are there, we just have to see if the audience is paying attention.