This album is just plain ridiculous. First off, the vocalist is female, and she has one of the heaviest voices you will ever hear anywhere. It's a different style, but I will put her up on a pedestal with the ladies from Damned and Arch Enemy, she's that good. Second, this band pummels like Bleeding Through. They make Snapcase look soft. They will give Darkest Hour a run for their money if they get any heavier. The is Slayer riff-inspired Metal with Hardcore song structures. The power chord progressions are just brutal, and the drum fills are unbelievable precise. I want these guys to be a Metal band - I don't want the terms "Hardcore" or "Metalcore" to ever describe them. They are so heavy all I can think of is the total beatdown I saw the first time In Flames played in New York. Yeah, Walls of Jericho are that good.

As WOJ front-woman so brutally intones, “There is no “i” in fuck you!” However, one might point out that there is an “i” in “bitch.” Fortunately, there is nothing to bitch about on this release. This is Metalcore, plain and simple. It is also crushingly heavy. The average listener is three songs in before they realize that Candace, the vocalist, is female. While female Death Metal vocalists are nothing new, Candace seems to have an edge. She is actually more brutal than Death. This reviewer would certainly never wish to anger her. The music is fairly standard, but well-played. Walls Of Jericho—a band on the cusp of far-reaching cross-genre success—have not gotten this far by being innovative; they have gotten here by being good…damn good. Perhaps more aggressive and vitriolic than any other band on Trustkill, they have also learned the art of the simple riff. Instead of sixty time-changes and forty breakdown sections, WOJ keep it “to the point,” often accomplishing more with one riff than some Metalcore goons achieve in entire songs. This is well evidenced in the opening title cut (if not throughout the disc). It is all about atmosphere; and the atmosphere here is absolutely hostile. Be forewarned.

Walls Of Jericho have developed a strong reputation in the hardcore scene. Their intensity and perseverance are rarely matched. Their career thrived in the late nineties as their technical post hardcore sound was a few years ahead of its time. Their live show became a thing of legend. Frontwoman Candace Kucsulain screams with a vengeance and her maniacal stage demeanor won Walls Of Jericho many fans as they toured with bands like Candiria, In Flames, and God Forbid. Their full length debut, The Bound Feed the Gagged, came out in 2000, as Walls Of Jericho recently took about a year hiatus after non stop touring. Their sophomore release, All Hail the Dead is as intense as the debut but Walls Of Jericho have gotten even tighter. Surely, years of touring has helped make them a better band and it shows on this new album. Their sound is a combination of technical hardcore, a dose of thrash, and lots of aggression. Fans of bands like Throwdown, God Forbid, and Martyr A.D. will likely have a place for Walls Of Jericho as well. Candace is an awesome screamer and the perfect complement to the intense music. Give Up The Ghost's Wes Nightmare guests on "Another Anthem for the Hopeless." Album Score: 7 out of 10

I had heard absolutely nothing from (or about) Walls of Jericho until I slipped this CD into the stereo and it began to strip the flesh from my face. This is skull cracking neo-hardcore that still manages to somehow have a deeply embedded melodic underpinning. The roots of this music could easily be traced back to the chugga-chugga NYHC sound of the 80s, but to that foundation they add razor sharp staccato guitar riffs (yes, metal tinged, but in a good way) and the throat shredding vocals of Candace Kucsalain. Fans of the 90s Victory sound are going to pe their pants when they hear this. I bet a dollar that a pit at a Walls of Jericho show would make the violence at an NFL game pale by comparison. Simply put, this is brilliant and worth every penny you have to steal to buy it.

It's been four years since Walls of Jericho released an album, and they couldn't have done better. All Hail the Dead is a vicious return for this Detroit metal/hardcore band. Absolute precision and mind-blowing speed and power wreak havoc on the listener through every track, while Candace, the singer, is an idol within the scene. Her vocals are truly brilliant, destroying with every phrase. Each song gives you goosebumps, they are so powerful. It only gets better with the live show. I saw this band in NYC and I was floored. Their performance can be compared to nothing. Get this CD at any cost. This band will be huge.

Detroit, Michigan's Walls Of Jericho's latest release, All Hail The Dead, on Trustkill Records, is simply one of the best metal records put out this past year. The blistering, fast -paced double guitar playing, thunderous bass, insane drumming, and unbelievable vocals of female singer Candace Kucsulain make All Hail The Dead a great record. From the first song, the straight in your face title track, all the way through the rest of the other 12 songs, you know you have something special. All Hail The Dead is one of those records that makes you want to smash something when you hear it. True metal at its best. "Revival Never Goes Out Of Style" has a great punk feel to it, even down to it only being a tad over two minutes long and the gang vocals throughout the track. Track 13, "To Be Continued," is an amazing three and a half minute musical. Everything else is pure, raw metal, with the female vocals giving it even more of an edge. Candace truly pours her heart into this music, and it's evident through listening to it. It's always awesome to see more women in the hardcore/metal scene, and Walls Of Jericho can truly throw down with the best of them.

Holy crap! I had heard absolutely nothing from (or about) WALLS OF JERICHO until I slipped this CD into the stereo and it began to strip the flesh from my face. This is skull cracking neo-hardcore that still manages to somehow have a deeply imbedded melodic underpinning. The roots of this music could easily be traced back to the chugga-chugga NYHC sound of the 80s, but to that foundation they add razor sharp staccato guitar riffs (yes, metal tinged, but in a good way) and the throat shredding vocals of Candace Kucsalain. Fans of the 90s Victory sound are going to pee their pants when they hear this. I bet a dollar that a pit at a WALLS OF JERICHO show would make the violence of an NFL game pale by comparison. Simply put, this is brilliant and worth every penny you have to steal to buy it.

As the number of metalcore bands continues to rapidly increase, incorporating all that whiny emo bullshit, it's refreshing to hear a band like Detroit's WALLS OF JERICHO keep an abrasive hardcore edge. 'All Hail The Dead' features a healthy dose of Slayeresque guitar lines, giving the album a sharp metallic feel, yet there is no mistaking that this is a hardcore rooted band. Making things even more of a treat are the vocals of Candace Kucsulain; her style is as pissed off and scathing as any hardcore screamer you'll ever hear, male or female. It's difficult to find a moment's peace when she's belting out venomous lines over bone-dry riffs and a concrete-busting rhythm section. This is one release that may very well appeal to both hardcore kids and metal heads, the genre mix being one of that keeps the arrangements interesting and never fails to give you the wonderful feeling of being repeatedly smacked in the face with a baseball bat. With the exception of the serene and captivating closing instrumental track ("To Be Continued"), every song is sure to put cracks in your teeth and hairline fractures in your skull. Besides, shouldn't you at least check it out so you can hear a song called "There's No I In Fuck You"?

All hail the dead? How about all hail the rebirth. After spending some time away from the game, Walls Of Jericho is back and ready to destroy with their Trustkill Records release "All Hail The Dead," and hardcore fans everywhere are screaming in joy. It certainly was an unceremonious exit for the quintet, who took some time off when their former drummer left the band. Now equipped with a new drummer in tow, Walls Of Jericho has two years of pent up frustrations to ready to be unleashed, and that is exactly what they do with "All Hail The Dead." There aren't many female vocalists in hardcore, and Walls Of Jericho vocalist Candice Kucsulain could care less. Obviously a lot of people are going to focus on the fact that Candice is, well, a girl, but just one listen to her performance on "All Hail The Dead" should make people forget that fact, because she is downright brutal. As a matter of fact, I wish I could scream like that, and I am sure there are a lot of other guys out there that feel the same! The fact of the matter is no one should care that she's a girl, because she is an awesome vocalist no matter which way you slice it. She's got a lot to say, and she is pissed. Besides having a creatively witty title, "There's No I In Fuck You" tells the story of people of judging others (and more specifically, her) based on what they see and/or hear, whether it is in a positive or negative manner. I love the lines "you don't hate me, you hate the person you think I am, a poster board pin-up for you to hate." It makes sense, especially when it comes to being a female in the hardcore scene and all the stereotypes that unfortunately seem to go along with it. There is no denying that the work on this album is much more mature and focused then in the past, and it's also much more pissed. On of the few problems that I have with her vocals is the higher pitched stuff she has on the track "Revival Never Goes Out Of Style," because to be honest it doesn't really work for her. Of course, then Walls Of Jericho had to go throw a fun little sing-a-long part at the end and make up for it, so just get over the minute of higher stuff and you're all set. Musically, Walls Of Jericho is just a breakdown machine. The music is ferocious, nonstop and basically amounts to 45 minutes of moshing. Guitarists Mike Hasty and Chris Rawson have a very thick sound and lead the charge with a bunch of really fun breakdowns. Yes, fun breakdowns! They make you want to dance your ass off. The music is pretty straightforward and overall, just solid. It's nothing fancy and they aren't showing anything off, but with this type of music, you don't have to. There are some elements of metal thrown in there, but I wouldn't go as far to call this metalcore. "All Hail The Dead" is a triumphant return to glory for Walls Of Jericho, and the hardcore scene is a better place with them back in it. There is absolutely no rust on this finely built machine, and hopefully they are in it for the long haul. This is definitely a band that was missed, and I for one am glad to have them back. Fans of bands like Most Precious Blood and Hatebreed will dig "All Hail The Dead," which is in stores now.

Detroit has manufactured some hash and liberated microphone criminals, the names Eminem and Kid Rock readily coming to mind. Now it's time to bow down to someone from that area who is twice as battering with her granite hard screams and broken glass whaling, Candice Kucsulain. Together with guitarist Chris Rawson, bassist Aaron Ruby, guitarist Mike Hasty and drummer Alexei Rodriguez, they are Walls Of Jericho. Rampant guitar shrapnel flies throughout their 13 song Trustkill Records sophomore release, colorized with ocean deep breakdowns of vintage Agnostic Front quality and V.O.D. bombast, while the last track, the instrumental "To Be Continued," caresses like a beckoning requiem. All Hail The Dead is a monster that refuses to die.

Is this female-fronted hardcore band’s latest worth hailing? Of the slew of female-fronted metal bands — bands like Kittie, Otep and Arch Enemy to name a few — Walls of Jericho, really stand out from the pack. Unlike other frontwomen who can either switch the metal on or off —fluctuating between the hardcore and death metal growl or the more feminine singing — Walls lead singer Candace Kucsulain can tear through track after track in full hardcore mode while still maintaining the slight femininity in her voice which is a great touch. The band — Kucsulain, bassist Aaron Ruby, drummer Alexei Rodriguez (formerly of Catharsis) and guitarists Chris Rawson and Mike Hasty — has been a staple on the hardcore scene for a couple of years now. The band toured relentlessly following the release of its Trustkill debut, “The Bound Feed the Gagged,” and really established itself on the scene. “All Hail the Dead” is set to further the band’s legacy and does a great job at doing just that. From the opening title-track, it’s clear WoJ are tighter and stronger than ever. Ruby’s machine-gun like bass work teamed with Rodriguez’ double-bass drumming is relentless, allowing the listener little time to come up for air as Kucsulain tears through her vocals. The same goes for the follow-up, “There’s No I in Fuck You,” which unfolds as a perfect hardcore anthem with thudding beats and scratchy vocals. “A Little Piece of Me” has a little thrash metal element mixed into the overall sound, and Rodriguez’ drumming really shines as he never misses a beat tearing through fill after fill. The band shows hints of old-school Slayer at times and Kucsulain’s vocals really blossom into an anger-filled amalgam. There’s a changeup vocally on tracks four and five, “Another Anthem For The Hopeless” and “Revival Never Goes Out Of Style,” with Kucsulain adding in some more melodic backing vocals. That adds a nice element to the band’s sound that might prove interesting if incorporated more into the band’s “sound.” “Revival” also has a great sing-a-long chorus that features the whole band joining in on backing vocals towards the end of the track. As “All Hail…” unfolds, the tracks start to feel a little repetitive. The band seems unwilling to change it up too much, but the quality of the musicianship and vocals keep everything from becoming boring. Rodriguez’ drumming is, hands down, the star of this release. Everything else seems built up around his skills. Kucsulain’s voice is great for hardcore singing — the backing melody is haunting and the subtle female nuance is definitely a plus. The band’s vocalist is also aware of the groups place in the hardcore scene and how important the scene is to fans — as she points out at the Trustkill Web-site: “What is important to me about our band's music is what is a common thread throughout the hardcore scene. Hardcore's aggression has been appealing to me — because when I was younger I was an angry kid, and I was having to deal with the emotions that life forces on you. This band becomes a way for me to vent, even now.” At times, “All Hail…” feels a little repetitive, but overall it’s a solid release chock full of tight, intense music.

The mighty Walls of Jericho returns. The amazing "The Bound Feed the Gagged" has spun numerous of times in my cd player and still is one of my fav metalcore cd's. With the return the first question is: are they as mighty as they once were? I would have to say even better. The music, the melodies, the vocals... all seems to have improved and their great almost Kreator like thrash metal is amazing; also bay area bands seem to have influenced this Detroit hardcore crew. Add up to this the mosh parts and you're have a classic in the making. Candace vocals are more intense than ever. Don't care too much for the clean vocal parts as they choke the metal mayhem underneath. The Pennywise "o-o-o-ooh's" in "Revival Never Goes Out Of Style" give the band a friendlier face. And the "outro" called "To be Continued" also gives the band the chance to play a mellow tune. A varied, mature record, which will continue making its spins for the time to come.

I have to admit, I never paid much attention to Walls Of Jericho when they were around years before. But now I'm not really sure why I didn't . This is some furiously angry hardcore. I don't know where Candace [the singer] pulls that voice from, but hell it rips shit up. They leash out solid new style Hardcore without being overly Metal, which is rare these days. Think Slayer meets Most Precious Blood meets Sick Of It All and you have an idea of where Walls Of Jericho are coming from. This is a step above most bands trying this style today. Glad to have you back guys... and girl. I mean, woman!

After breaking up a couple of years ago, the Michigan based metalcore band Walls of Jericho is back. They've reformed with new drummer Alexi Rodriguez (Catharsis) and after touring for several months have released a killer new album. Lead singer/screamer Candace Kucsulain is in great voice and her lyrics on All Hail the Dead are more personal than ever. The musicianship on this album is phenomenal. Guitarists Chris Rawson and Mike Hasty provide skull crushing hardcore and speed metal riffs backed by a great rhythm section of Rodriguez and bassist Aaron Ruby. Walls of Jericho were an excellent band before, but their hiatus seems to have recharged them and taken them to an even higher level. Their previous album, 1999's The Bound Feed the Gagged, had an acoustic song featuring Kucsulain's excellent singing voice. It would have been great to have heard her sing again, but All Hail the Dead ends with an instrumental ballad, as the band probably didn't want to repeat themselves. Even so, All Hail the Dead is one of the best hardcore/metalcore albums you'll hear. The scene is a much better place with Walls of Jericho in the mix.

Walls of Jericho are further proof of what makes both Detroit and brutal metalcore popular. Although Walls was MIA for the better part of the last three years, the band has come back with a skin-peeling ferocity due in large part to the astonishing precedence of frenetic front woman Candace Kucsulain and the double footed, eight armed drumming of former Catharsis skin beater Alexei Rodriguez. Guitarists spew out riffage from Slayer's metal playbook while simultaneously referencing speedy thrash and toughneck hardcore (pronounced "hawd-core"). Even when the message wears thin, you can't dispute the beauty of "There's No I In Fuck You".

Walls of Jericho have returned with their newest CD. After a brief breakup, they have reunited and in turn gave us a CD in which they show their brutal side. Walls of Jericho doe not mess with the formula that they are good at. I would like to think that Walls of Jericho were around before the term "Metalcore" became so overused in todays scene, but they were a band that capitalized on the fact that you could blend the two styles of music and produce kickass music. The CD starts off with the title track and gives fans what they had been craving for two years. A blazing song that just destroys you. Lead singer Candace shows you how pissed off she can get. In a scene dominated by men, she does her best to prove that women too have a place in hardcore. The strong points of the album are those of a typical Walls Of Jericho CD: Nicely timed breakdowns, vocals are clear, production is good, and best of all, the band sounds as if they didn't miss a beat in their down time. The first three songs make this one of the best albums of the year. Not many albums that come out today start off with solid tracks back to back to back. But they accomplished this. And kicked your ass in the process. On "Another Anthem for the Hopeless," Candace is joined by Wes Einold from Give up the Ghost/American Nightmare fame, and that rocks in my book. The only criticism I would give this album was that on the song, "Revival Never Goes out of Style" at the end of the song, it gives you a rip-off of the Pennywise classic "Bro Hymn" Chant. But that is me just being incredibly picky. Other than that, This album is pretty good. I could see why this band is so pissed off, hailing from Detroit, why produce happy music. And after seeing the band play live, the songs off this release are definitely better live and anyone who has a chance, check them out.

Plain, simple fact: Men tend to man the mics among hardcore's rank-and-file. Detroit metal-core monster, Walls of Jericho, sweep aside gender concerns with a dark, crushing sound and vocalist Candace Kucsulian's ferocious, blood-curdling vocals. After a two-year recording hiatus, the quintet's new full-length, All Hail The Dead , delivers a cathartic blend of dropped-E, palm-muted chugga-chugga for the Hatebreed crowd and loads of thrash-driven fret-work for the Slayer camp. At times, plodding, juggernaut-heavy and technical for their stop-start dynamics, songs such as "Day and a Thousand Years" and "Through the Eyes of a Dreamer" mesh aggressive instrumentation well with spurned-demoness ravings. Who needs testosterone to be hardcore?

All Hail the Dead is jaw dropping. The CD Is simply amazing. I have finally found a hardcore CD to bump out Throwdown's Haymaker from my player, and now I think it will be quite some time before this one is dethroned! What Walls Of Jericho do with consummate ease is to cut some abysmally evil metalcore and cap it off with harsh, shredding female vocals. To mix things up a bit, the band also has a few sing-a-long choruses as well as hints of catchy traditional hardcore and clean female vocals courtesy of the usually ululating Candace. There are some absolutely vicious breakdowns on this release, and if you are looking for a soundtrack to smash things to, All Hail The Dead is it. I think I will load up All Hail The Dead, Haymaker and Rise of Brutality on my mp3 player the next time I hit the gym and see what I can bust open.

Power driven. The core of all cores. They rip out all the tired stereotypes of hardcore, metalcore, grindcore, thrashcore, and incorporate only the best in this third album of theirs. If you're even thinking about scenesters with jet-black hair pasted down halfway across their face, get it out of your head. In fact you'll have no problem doing so with songs such as 'Fixing Broken Hearts', where the spasm of the riffs correspond perfectly with the vocal jerks of lead singer Candace Kucsulian and will leave you either shaking your head in disbelief or banging your head.

Screamy-core. No fuckin' around. Listening to this album was like trying to achieve orgasm after a heavy night at the bar. On the one hand, you're hornier than ever, but on the other, you're too sloppy to finish in under two minutes. The money shot came after I'd already heard it through once and realized, after reading the credits, that the lead singer is in fact a broad named Candace. Spoink!

This is what Kittie wish they sounded like. Only one member of Walls of Jericho is female, but lead singer Candace Kucsulain blows away most other hardcore singers with her aggressive vocal style. Not that the rest of the band members are slouches. Guitar riffs that sometimes remind of Slayer and insane drumming round out this aural assault.

I remember seeing Walls of Jericho in concert in 1999 like it was only a few days ago. Driving for over two hours to some obscure skate park in Tampa to witness what ended up being Indecision's last tour ever, when the band played without Rachel who was in prison for some unknown reason. Not sure what to think of a one-guitar performance of Indecision, but leaving the show happy by witnessing the true power of a female-led hardcore band that put it all on the line that night, delivering an amazing set of blood (just ask guitarist Mike Hasty about a giant gash he made with his guitar on some kid's forehead), sweat, and fury. Five years later, Walls of Jericho is back with a big "FUCK YOU" of an album. All Hail the Dead is the most pissed-off hardcore record I've heard in a long time. Not much had changed in the songwriting since the band's 1999 Trustkill debut, The Bound Feed the Gagged. The only differences are that everything is tighter, the riffs are more metal, the music is faster, and the breakdowns are heavier. No matter how metallic Walls of Jericho's sound had become, there is a true sound of hardcore hiding beneath the thick walls of metal; to me this band epitomizes what modern-day hardcore should be all about. While Mike's and Aaron's guitars are pumping out Slayer-esque riffs, it is the drumming of the newly enrolled Alexi Rodriguez and Candace Kucsulain's vocals/lyrics that take me away to the good ol' days of hardcore. Alexi is a nice replacement to Wes Keely. Most of the time he sounds like a punk rock drummer yet, on occasion he is not shy to slow the pace and lay the smack down with some double bass breaks. Candace does not preoccupy herself with poetic bullshit that majority of modern metalcore bands call "lyrics," as she brings it all to the table and sings about everything from personal struggles to the way hardcore scene used to be in what is destined to become the band's anthem, Revival Never Goes Out of Style. That song has the meanest sing-along chorus highly reminiscent of Bro Hymn by Pennywise, which will get all the kids worked up at the shows. The band also included the new version of a classic song, Day and a Thousand Years that fits extremely well into the new album. A few other highlights include the longest song on the record 1:43 AM, clocking at over four and a half minutes, that has some clean vocals, and a moody instrumental To Be Continued.... My only complaint is that the band did not include an acoustic song like Angel because Candace's clean vocals are completely mesmerizing. Nevertheless, the way I see it after all these years is still the same: Walls of Jericho is one of only few honest, passionate, heartfelt bands left in modern hardcore.

Man... this disc is HARD. Although I feel that while we're in the midst of one of the best periods of heavy music ever in the US, much of that music is just that - heavy. But WALLS OF JERICHO come from a different time period, one that was a wee bit more organic in terms of origin, and their drop-you-to-the-fucking-floor intensity is undeniably relentless. "All Hail The Dead" is the band's first full-length is well more than two years, but their line-up is mostly intact, save for the addition of a new drummer, who previously did time in the raging band, CATHARSIS. Vocalist/Screaming Demon Candace Kucsulain is virulently antagonistic in rallying against her personal troubles on "There's No I in Fuck You," and "Another Anthem For Hopeless." Far from being one dimensional though, Kucsulain praises the positivity of making a change through hardcore on "Revival Never Goes Out of Style," and "More Life In The Monitors," and such conviction goes straight to the root of WALLS OF JERICHO's audio assault. A few quirks stand out on "All Hail The Dead," and the most troublesome comes from a few overdubs of Kucsulain adding sung vocal parts layered over her screams. I can totally understand the effect she was going for, but the melody is wildly out of place with the overall chaos. Another atypical aspect of this release is the absurdly tough/metallic recording style. There's nothing pretty or polished about the way "All Hail The Dead" sounds as it picks apart your skeleton and deossifies your bones - but this is surely a positive thing. Throughout listening to all 35 minutes of "All Hail The Dead," I can't help but wonder how many screamo bands were maimed and tortured during the recording of this disc. Anyone have any extra caution tape?

It takes you at least one listen to this whole record to ascertain that Walls Of Jericho have a female vocalist. Not that I give two shits if the singer's half porpoise and half daffodil as long as the hardcore is righteous and rips, but it seems that with the harsh vocal stylings of Candace there's an added intensity to their metallic hardcore kickers. From the double whammy of 'All Hail The Dead' to the lethal dose of hatred of 'There's No I In Fuck You', these guys are onto a winner with this. Noticeably more focused and driven than it's predecessor 'The Bound Feed The Gagged', the likes of 'A Little Piece Of Me' and 'Through The Eyes Of A Dreamer' are decimating pit anthems in the making, and will no doubt have you leaping around like hyperactive salmon in the coming months. A band definitely going places fast.

This was never going to be a pretty album, and with a song coyly titled 'There's no I In Fuck You' the Walls have hardly disappointed on their first release in nearly five years. After initially calling it a day in '01, it seems that the reformation of this female fronted terror squad was only a question of 'when' rather then 'if', as no one could compete with the intensity and brutal display that the band prided themselves on. However, in keeping with scene dictates, the line-up was pillages while inactive and Wes Keely went to join Floridian straight edge titans of mosh Until The End, so when the reformation cam Alexei Rodriguez of Catharsis arrived to fill the stool and make it his own. The time away seems to have worked for the band, as 'hail To The Dead' sounds refreshingly heavy, devoid of cliched licks and bristling with excitement and anger. The new backbone is tight and the blast beats pulse with speed and precision, Candace's rasping and ferocious tones hang heavy on the heart-quaking riffs to create what is effectively a musical slap to the face. The bar has been raised; bands wanting to compete with this had better raise their game.

Screw Angela Gossow, Candace Kucsulain has the voice and tenacity to back up her reputation in the world of underground music. Not only did she recently receive a blow to the face, which resulted in a broken nose, but also continued to finish the show and refused to take a break from the tour. Now that, my friends, is fucking tough. Trustkill ( Walls of Jericho's label) themselves put it nicely, "Nobody fucks with Candace." With that said, Walls of Jericho has released one hell of an album here. All Hail the Dead will rip your face off with its hardcore fury, only to sock you in your bloodied mess you used to call your face, with its tough-ass breakdowns. Taking their game to the next level since the release of The Bound Feed the Gagged, Walls of Jericho has crafted quite the album that has the perfect mix of old-school hardcore and mosh breakdowns. Chris Rawson and Mike Hasty are able to throw together a good mix of old-school style hardcore riffs in the vein of bands like Agnostic Front or Sick of It All, but are quick to punish your ears with some crushing metalcore based riffs. In addition, do not forget those mosh breakdowns that will have the hardcore kids kung-fu fighting in no time flat. Not to mention, Candace will grapple you by the balls and rip them off with her strong vocal performance. You can sense the desperation and power in her scream and there is just perfect sing/scream along parts to be found throughout All Hail the Dead in "Revival Never Goes Out of Style" or "Through the Eyes of a Dreamer." While listening to this, you have no choice but to submit and start bobbing that head along to the heaviness served on a bloodstained platter. If you are grooving on the likes of the new Most Precious Blood album, do yourself a favor and buy this. All Hail the Dead proves that Walls of Jericho is in it for the long run and has earned the popularity they have received. This band is the real deal, not some gimmick because they are female fronted. Buy this album.

Walls of Jericho is some of the most brutal, honest metalcore I've heard, and get this, their singer isn't even what you'd expect. How many metalcore bands out there can you name that have a girl as their lead? Of course there are some here and there, but how many of those bands rule? Just one, Walls of Jericho. In fact, overall, Walls of Jericho is one of the best metalcore bands in the entire scene right now, and on their new release "All Hail the Dead," they bring the heat with a swarming infestation of brutality and metal! Their speed, intensity, and brutality surpass the excellence of almost every metalcore record that has been released in the past few months. Breaking down barriers of generic, this band does nothing by the book. Adventurous in their musical approach, the screaming flavor of lead singer Candace Kucsulain surpasses the brilliance of most hardcore male singers in the scene; her astounding vocal abilities resemble that of Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy, only put with a hardcore flavor. Screaming magnificence of deeply rooted lyrical content, and punk beats that rapidly transition into a heavy metal assault of drums and splintering guitars line the whole of "All Hail the Dead." The veracious tenacity from start to finish is an absolute wonder. Beginning the album with the title track "All Hail the Dead," a beautiful metalcore appeal is born. Tunes "There's No I In Fuck You," "A Little Piece of Me," and "Another Anthem For The Hopeless," keep the record rolling at a top notch pace. There are hardly any records ever released that can satisfy with every single track. However, Walls of Jericho has accomplished this nearly impossible feat with their new Trustkill tour de force. Fleeting riffs plaster "Revival Never Goes Out of Style" and "Day And A Thousand Years" all over the place. There's no need for an intricate guitar solos on a Walls of Jericho record because Kucsulain takes care of the stunning aspect and band appeal all by herself. With vocals this magnificent, tracks following such as "1:43 AM," "Jaded" and "Thanks For The Memories" blanket an entire new range of sound. Not only is a hardcore style exhibited on this record, but a massive metalcore blast, and heavy metal twist, that's enough to blow the average scene we are so commonly used to in today's world, out of their precious little infant diapers. Most hardcore bands seem like whiney little children compared to Walls of Jericho, including their absolutely antagonistic approach at the metal realm in general. "All Hail the Dead" compliments everything good about metal, blending it with the vocals of a true professional. "More Life in the Monitors," "Fixing Broken Hearts," and the concluding "To Be Continue..." strike a powerful note on the forefront. Continuing their masterful sound throughout, Walls of Jericho finish the record off with a laid back approach compared to the speed and flawlessness of their other previous twelve tracks. On "All Hail The Dead" Walls of Jericho deliver an unblemished amount of excellence with every track. It has been quite some time since a metalcore record of this caliber has been released with the unbelievable stunning edge "All Hail The Dead" pocesses.

After nearly half a decade, Walls Of Jericho return with the long awaited follow up to their critically acclaimed "The Bound Feed The Gagged." Though they've been out of commission on the touring circuit for three years, and the popularity hardcore/metal scene has grown by leaps and bounds, Walls Of Jericho's latest "All Hail The Dead" would have one believe the band not only never left the extreme music kingdom, but already been crowned, with the scepter in hand and the populace at their knees in reverence. Eleven fresh cuts, a re-recorded favorite, and an instrumental comprise an anthology of audio brutality sure to strengthen their already massive fanbase, and decimate the ranks of imitators that have risen in their absence, but will not be alive in the aftermath of "All Hail The Dead." The title track kicks things off with plenty of E-chord mayhem, while "A Little Piece Of Me" has a breakdown that will have you dancing it up in no time. "There's No I In Fuck You, besides having a great title, is a damn fine slab of meaty metalcore." Another Anthem For The Hopeless" and "Revival Never Goes Out Of Style" are pure youth crew, given a Detroit Rock City toughness treatment, and the latter is even topped off with some Pennywise/Dropkick Murphys styled chorus of "ohhhs". The new version of "A Day And A Thousand Years" is good, but I still like the original more. "Through The Eyes Of A Dreamer" keeps melody and mosh meshed well, with excellent guest vox courtesy of Sara Russert of Seattle hc unit, To See You Broken. The refrain of "Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow" is sure to be an often repeated lyric in online profiles for some time to come. The groovy texture of "Thanks For The Memories" is interesting, and the passionate drive of "More Life In The Monitors" is inspiring. The last number, "To Be Continued" is the aforementioned instrumental tune, and is probably one of the more bold experiments presented here. Kind of a mix between lo-fi indie and high powered prog rock, it's unique and refreshing, and quite catchy after a few listens and a little bit of patience. Though this is a very solid release, I do have a couple minor complaints. The first and foremost is how Candace's singing and screaming are intertwined on some of the tracks. I definitely like both of her vocal styles, even in the same song, but unlike earlier material, the two are actually streamlined together, and the outcome is unpleasant at times, as they compete for dominance. Second, is the brohymn backing at the end of "Revival." I'll give WOJ points for originality, but it just doesn't seem to flow. Yet, I'd like to return to the more positive notes. Guitar Mike Hasty produced "All Hail The Dead" in his Cloud City studio with quality results while the artwork from Mark Price is fascinating. The lyrics aren't my favorite of Candaces thus far, but they are better than what most other acts are churning out. Overall, if you liked previous Walls Of Jericho records, you are going to love this. It contains all the unholy Slayer style mosh metal you've grown to love, with an underlying sense of sweetness and sincerity, and a touch of old school spirit with some of the best lyrics and endless energy you are bound to find, past, present or future...

I distinctly remember not being that impressed with the debut album The Bound Feed the Gagged from this Michigan quintet, but also sharing the sentiment of the DigitalMetal writer that reviewed that album in thinking "I've not heard the last from this lot". And here they are with album number two, and it's a drastic improvement. Walls of Jericho took all the good stuff from their debut (the breakdowns, the agonized vocals) improved it and took the not so good stuff (the thrashy, Slayerish riffs) and improved those two. The end result is hardcore album of metal-fueled intensity that plays like a female-fronted version of All Out War's latest long player Condemned to Suffer. Maybe better. Yes, you heard me female-fronted. Candace Kucsulain is not the singer 'cos she's a trophy singer like Angelo Gossow, or because she's scene revered like Karen Crisis, but because her painful screech is vicious, primal and draining. It's the kind of scream I picture women make when they are truly and immeasurably pissed off or terrified - I mean like 'someone has taken my baby' hysterically upset; it's kind of disturbing actually. She rarely lets up her vocal assault, and this time the lyrics are penned from a much more personal standpoint. She occasionally lets some punkish clean singing back her snarl, but otherwise she's raging the whole frigging album. Her sidekicks, while a little in her vocal shadow, have upped the ante a bit in the riff department also. The obviously Slayer inspired take on hardcore is now a little more identifiable as its own beast rather than a blatant rip-off. Every single song on All Hail the Dead is either shreddingly merciless or broods with pulsing metal malevolence. And I mean every song. For example, the jerky riffing of the title track is like a train stuttering down a track with carriage off the rail, and I like the way the guitars go from speaker to speak in true old school hardcore style. From that track onward the album doesn't let up. From choppy thrash gallop ("A Little Piece of Me") through perkier punkish riffs laced with strychnine ("There's No I in Fuck You"), to massive breakdowns ("Thanks for the Memories"), to songs that contain all of the aforementioned elements ("Fixing Broken Hearts"), it's a caustic yet entertaining, complete listen. As an outfit, Walls of Jericho has tightened up tenfold since the sometimes sloppy debut, and bolstered by a gnarly production the breakneck sections are razor sharp and with Candace's venomous voice, come across as a banshee led squad of WW2 fighter planes screaming in on a strafing run. The album's best cut is the scathing yet catchy "Revival Never Goes Out of Style," with one of the most rousing riffs I've ever heard along with Candace layering her scowling voice with a biting clean voice and its shout-a-long finale condemning the silence of the scene. Such as the anthemic line: "Now we finally have a voice and no one says a fucking word !" Rare moments of sonic sobriety such as the four minute (virtually epic) "1:43 AM" and instrumental album closer "To Be Continued" still drip with malcontent and rending emotion; the whole affair is pretty unforgiving. The second great album I've heard in as many weeks (the other being Swarm of the Lotus). 2004 looks to be headed for great things. Great stuff.

Wow! This CD is just spectacular. After being a fan of this band for quite some time and then having to wait about two years to hear from them again, I have come to the conclusion that it was well worth the wait. This is great hardcore mixed with metal breakdowns and this CD proves to the world that Walls Of Jericho are a force to be reckoned with. Candace's voice is just perfect and her screaming and background singing are better than ever. I would definitely say this is better than "The Bound Feed The Gagged" and that was one of my favorite Cds. It really is great to hear WOJ again and it is apparent that this will be on every hardcore kid's top 10 of 2004. I honestly cannot say one bad thing about this disc. It is pure perfection. My favorite song is "Another Anthem For The Hopeless" which has Wes from Give Up The Ghost doing background vocals. Hearing two of my favorite vocalists from two of my favorite bands singing together is quite an experience. Trustkill never seems to disappoint and this disc is further proof that they have some of the best acts in hardcore. Everyone should run to the store and buy this, especially hardcore and metal kids. I guarantee you will all fall in love with this disc. Metal has never sounded so good.

The other day I was listening to a local rock station in Boston talk about the return of Hole. The basic gist of the conversation was how Courtney Love is the most rockin chic on the planet. And I could think was; "Fuck you dumb DJ dork! The most rockin chic goin is Candace Kucsulai!" Nuff said! Hardcore ideals, hardcore bite, punk/hardcore riffs, energy, a deliberate attempt to spread life lessons....that is Walls of Jericho. The band is as deadly as they are raw. Musically the wheel is not being re-invented...instead the wheel is stabbed and destroyed. I always thought that Walls was a more organized and simple Converge with a female scream. "All Hail The Dead" does nothing to persuade me otherwise. I would be remiss to not mention the happy gang vocals during "Revival Never Goes Out Of Style", it doesn't fit at all, but totally makes the song. Should be a crowd favorite live! A must hear! Walls Of Jericho is not musically diverse. Get ready to hear alot of the same all the way through. However, the energy unleashed on this record is captured perfectly by Mike Hasty. If you like gimmick free hardcore with female venom, then pick this suckah up.

Walls of Jericho's new release, All Hail The Dead, makes a strong case for amending the phrase, "Hell hath no fury like a women scorned" to include, "especially when she comes from Detroit." The female-fronted Motor City hardcore group again lives up to its hometown's reputation for angst-filled music, but this time vocalist Candace Kucsulian gets personal, adding a mature voice to the band's aggresive style. New drummer Alexei Rodriguez blends into the fold nicely, helping the group hit its verbal and sonic mark on "Through the Eyes of a Dreamer" and the unforgettably titled "There's No 'I' in Fuck You."

I never remember such a random reunion of bands than when this all came into effect. It was definitely out of left field when word on the street was that they were getting back together because much was quiet in that camp. When they had disbanded they left many people scratching their head as to what all went wrong. All of a sudden the reunion show is played at Hellfest to little fan fare (from the crowd response I saw) but in any effect, here is their proper return to the hardcore public. Not departing much from their patented Slayer meets your average hardcore band mixed in with a ton of thrash and a vocalist that has definitely woken up on the wrong side of bed, Walls Of Jericho pounded out one beast of a full length. Candice and her boys have gone with the theory of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". It makes perfect sense that they came out with both guns blazing because if this had lost any of that intensity and passion that was so evident on their first full length it would have been a complete flop. Razor sharp production places the guitars in focus this time through and lyrically Candace deals with the usual turmoil of living each day to the fullest and friendships lost which verge on being a little worn but have that earnest delivery that makes you forget what she is singing, even if it is bad. I am glad that they decided to stick things through and grace us with another recording full of pissed off songs. My only suggestion is that next time through they ditch some of the clean vocal parts because those get a tad annoying after awhile. All in all a great return and a more exciting glimpse into the future.

Reviewing multiple, good hardcore records is like reviewing Star Wars over and over again. It is great even in its repetitiveness, but you can only see Obi-Wan die so many times before it all becomes tiresome. On again, off again gorilla tweakers Walls of Jericho are sort of like Star Wars: Special Edition, same shit but the typical bald-headed warbler has been digitally remastered into an estrogenic cookie monster. As far as nu-hardcore standards go, Walls of Jericho's new album, "All Hail the Dead" adhere to them closely. The static presence of teeth spitting lyrics and mic-choking growling in front of incessant, slave-proding pounding from the drums is as present as in any other hardcore album. You are always told to refrain from using cliches, but since hardcore is a walking cliche, "All Hail the Dead" curses like a sailor, drinks like a fish, and beats its listeners to a pulp. I guess the dynamic here is that all that throttling hardcore angst is being perpetuated by a female. In general, the injection of femininity into a musical genre dominated by males creates weariness about the legitimacy or need for such a voice. After all, the only thing separating muck like Lillix from the Donnas is a talent agent. Thinking about it, it is kind of sad I feel like I need justification for female vocals. Yet, that is probably why "All Hail the Dead" is a noteworthy album. The justification for Candace to do her thing on the mic is nill. Her credibility is instantly established, and the need for riddling her presence doesn't exist. That is pretty much it. That is the real dynamic. She's just as stubborn and raunchy as every other hardcore goon. So there. That's all. Listen to it. It's good. She's a girl. Who cares? Fuck you. Shut the fuck up. Don't ever hold me down. Don't you dare. We are going to take you out. Be positive.

Walls of Jericho have finally returned to us, bringing back all the heaviness that was Bay Area Thrash, but straight outta Detriot. Finally something for Michigan to be proud of. After a 3 year hiatus they come back with the most brutal hardcore, hmm fuck that the most brutal metal album of the year. Mixing up Metallica and Slayer's best hooks and crushing precision drumming, Mike and Chris mix it up the best they can, doing Kerry and Jeff proud of tracks like "All Hail the Dead", and "Another Anthem for the Hopeless" (this one actually allows Candice to show off her singing talents, I mean the girl can much more than just scream). "Revival Never Goes Out of Style" has the best old school sing along, Misfits style. Track #8 "1:43am" is the closest thing to a single you could hear Walls of Jericho having, it's so heavy, but close to being able to be played on the radio...yet heavier than anything you'd ever hear on any station. "To Be Continued..." just shows off how talented Mike and Chris really are, laying down a melodic instrumental that allows the listener to be fulfilled without vocals or catchy hooks. This is what Heavy Music is about, not your trends, not your MTV, fuck your radio.

When Walls Of Jericho called it quits (or put themselves on hiatus) a few years ago, it just didn't seem right. The band had just reached a new pinnacle of success by way of a killer album and some high-profile tours. I think that everyone was expecting that they couldn't just leave things the way they were. So a few "last shows" later and the band have said "fuck it" and reformed, releasing a new album and hitting the road once again. And I'm glad they did. "All Hail The Dead" picks up where "The Bound Feed The Gagged" left off. A heavier sound and more developed songs are the most noticeable differences between the old period and the new. It's like this group didn't miss a beat. "All Hail The Dead" is a reminder that Walls Of Jericho are as potent a metalcore outfit as they were a few years ago... and even at that time, they were quickly climbing the ranks towards the top of the metalcore mountain. I've always had a sort of love / hate relationship with the music made by this band. I love that it strips metalcore down to its essence. That method of getting in, kicking ass and getting out is great. This band are masters of that. They leave little room for filler. Of course, that also makes their thirteen song albums run a whopping thirty minutes! What's worse is that the final track, "...To Be Continued", is an instrumental whose sole purpose seems to be to add some length to the end of the CD. It doesn't do anything for the disc, but at least it's at the end. On the otherhand, the album's first three cuts ("All Hail The Dead", "There's No I In Fuck You" and "A Little Piece Of Me", respectively) are absolutely superb representations of what metalcore should be. They embody all that is Walls Of Jericho - great breakdowns, tons of energy and heartfelt lyrics delivered with passion and energy by frontwoman Candace Kucsulain. Walls Of Jericho are back. This doesn't seem like a contrived and ill-intented return of a band trying to cash in one more time - "All Hail The Dead" is evidence that this band is sincere and I think the metalcore world should be happy to see them back. I know I am.