Do Unto Others

Stigmata is a powder keg on the verge of exploding, churning out excellent heavy metal that pummels the listener with thick bass plucking and surging guitars. Do Unto Others... pulls zero punches; it is strictly jacked-up metal muscle with gritty hardcore vocals, and Stigmata creates their music with steadfast determination. Jason Bittner's drumming is phenomenal and quite possibly the hidden gem waiting to be found. He seems to beat the skins with uncanny knowledge of the kit, and enhances each song with his mere presence. Riley's vocals are hardcore, yet up against the formidable wall of metalcore aggression he tends to fade into the background. This may be the poor production accompanying the album, yet it is disappointing. Stigmata displays the fundamental understanding of how to shred, and while Do Unto Others... is certainly not any sort of milestone in hardcore or metal, it is a solid album that can get the job done if you are in need of a heavy music fix with attitude. ~ Jason D. Taylor|