Band : Various Artists
Album title : 2008 Label Sampler
Label : Lifeforce Records
Distributor : Suburban
Release date : June 2008
Release : (Compilation) CD

Anyone knowing me a bit, will be aware of the fact that I don't really like label samplers, due to the mere fact that they rarely bring an added value to one's record collection...as usually the songs put on such compilations will simply be tracks taken from the artists' full-length albums! In the case of this label's sampler, I am inclined to be somewhat leaniant. Although the bands on the roster all fall in the more aggressive categories, the styles dó vary...meaning that when it comes to distributing the new stuff at the Concrete Web office for reviewing duties, they may wander onto the desk of several of our stylistically more specialized editors.

Among the bands which already have an album out at this moment (released during this very year), I personally handled (in order of appearance on the sampler) Raunchy, The Psyke Project (these first two only just recently), At The Soundawn, Burning Skies, and Fall Of Serenity. Sent off to other reviewers (and again all released this year) were Destinity, Harlots, Light Pupil Dilate, War From A Harlots Mouth, The Blackout Argument, and Last Winter (ehrr...we might've missed that latter one, because I can't remember it). Oh, and there is Lifeforce bringing a bit of added value anyway by putting on a song off the digital-only EP Breaking The Surface  (made available on-line on July 21) from the band Hand To Hand (who fall out of the usual musical orientation of the label with their Screamo/ Emo Hardcore Punk). In the category "still to come", the label put songs from upcoming albums by Miseration (Your Demons – Their Angels, out Sept. 15), Deadlock (Manifesto, out Nov. 17), Left To Vanish (Versus The Throne, out Nov. 17), and This Or The Apocalypse (Monuments, out Jan. 19, 2009)...which has the additional advantage for yours truly to get a sneak preview on what those bands sound like (makes things a little easier when distributing reviewing tasks).

Other than the few advantages mentioned, I can't see why "normal" people out there would be buying label samplers at all. I mean, they càn get acquainted with bands through the Internet, where they can even find out about the latest bands and releases on any given label they might take a fancy to. Of course, there's still remains a (perhaps limited) certain amount of people who still go about learning about new bands the old way...which is by buying label samplers!

Tony.