Hard 20 |
July / August 2009Stuck Underwater | Rise to Addiction | Eerie Von's Spidercider | To the Bone | 286 | Omar Torrez Band | Silencer | Song of the Siren | Slank | Thanatos | Epsilon | Synthetic Elements Prodigal Earth | Enforcer | Larry Coryell | Alex Beyrodt's Voodoo Circle | Tommy Bones | David T. Chastain | National Lampoon | Exmortus Stuck Underwater Here's a totally off the wall release if I ever heard one. I think "No Script To Follow" is more than just an album title because Stuck Underwater doesn't follow any set "rules" when it comes to making music. One minute, they're crankin' out some seriously heavy metal/punk/hardcore and, all of a sudden, they're off to la-la land. When you think they're gonna throw you a straight pitch...they whip a curve ball at you. It's enough to make you dizzy. That's what makes this band (and this release) so great. You never know what to expect because they're so...so...so...different. Sure, they could play it straight and bore you to death with music that you've heard a thousand times over. You can't rise above everyone else when you follow the leader. That's why a lot of musicians end up getting lost in the crowd. Not this band....While everyone else is standing in line, Stuck Underwater is running through the crowd with their eyes closed...and, for those of you who simply like to stand in line, Stuck Underwater is gonna bump into you....maybe even push you out of the way and that's when you turn to the person standing next to you and you're like, "What the hell was that?" Well, grab a copy of this album and find out. That's the best thing to do. http://www.stuckunderwater.com Rise To Addiction Too bad I can't get away with a one word review. If I could, all I would have to say is METAL. That's all you really need to say here. Then again...some people would say, "Yeah...but...is it good?" That's when I'd have to start talkin' about the album, which is what people should be doing about this release. To answer the question, "Yes, it's quite good!" Rise To Addiction's "A New Shade Of Black For The Soul" is a pure metal release. It's got a top quality production. The tunes are huge and epic. In fact, the more you turn it up, the better it sounds. This ain't music for quiet folk. This is loud, blow your speakers up metal. All meat and no potatoes. It's aggressive and all the solid through and through. A high quality release if I ever heard one. One listen is all it will take for the true metal fan. You'll be a fan by the time you get to the second or third song. Quite impressive if I do say so myself and, believe me, I'm not the only one who's saying it. Rise To Addiction has been getting a lot of well deserved praise. So, isn't it time you gave a listen to see what everyone else is talkin' about? Yeah.......I thought so. Just remember to keep that one word in your mind...METAL....because that's all I really had to say. http://www.risetoaddiction.com Eerie Von's Spidercider I happen to like that whole garage rock/punk sound, especially if it's done right.. Okay, sure, that style of music is pretty simple. But, you don't want to sound like you just wrote your first song and you put it on record in your neighbor's basement.. That's not the way to make a good album and, to be honest, music like that should stay in the garage. For me, personally, what I look for in this style of music is more than a sound. It's a feeling. Hell, The Ramones made a career out it. As for Eerie Von, he's got that same vibe on "That's All There Is." We're not talkin' Van Halen stadium rock here. We're talkin' a small club filled with smoke, loud music and a mosh pit in front of the stage. Nothin' fancy. Just a straight-forward, high energy, rock 'n' roll sound that makes you wanna jump up and down and have a good time. It's pretty kick ass experience if you're into this style of music. Ten songs that will make your day a little better! http://www.eerievon.com To The Bone I went though this disc a few times and I still can't believe how good it is. Almost everything I love about music can be found on this release. It's like...there's old school metal mixed with hard rock, performed with a punk attitude and a garage rock vibe with a hint of progressive thrown in to give it some additional flavor. Is there anything this band can't do? I'm suprised they didn't throw anything else into the mix. You know, there are people out there who say that this style of music is dead or that style of music is dead.....and most of the time, they're talkin' about one form of rock 'n' roll or another. Personally, I don't think any style of music is dead. It's just that people tend to do the same thing over and over again...and it does tend to get boring. Then you listen to a band like To The Bone and they take a style of music (or styles) and instead of playing the same song that you've heard a million times before, they do something different. They're creative. That's the key word here...creative. They take an old style and they make it sound fresh and exciting again...and that's reason enough to pick this one up. http://www.myspace.com/tothebone 286 There's only 2 songs on this release and there's no way I can form an honest opinion on a band after hearing a song or two. I just can't do it. Luckily, I've heard other tunes by 286 and, yes, I was impressed. In my previous write up, I said that they were straight up, in your face, rock 'n' roll. It's the same thing on this release. This is just a quick, one-two punch to show you what the band has to offer. Both tunes, "The View Inside" & "Vow," are pretty solid songs. Sure, your listening experience is over in the blink of an eye. But, once you're done blinking...you'll be hungry for more and, from what I've heard so far, 286 is a band that will deliver. So, be sure to keep your eye on 'em. I'm sure they're gonna make some serious noise. Oh, there's one other thing I should mention about this release...it's an enhanced CD and it includes a video for "The View Inside," which was pretty cool. http://www.myspace.com/286music Omar Torrez Band About Omar Torrez, The Los Angeles Times said, "Dare we dub him the Latin Hendrix?" You really don't compare a modern artist to a legendary one without good reason. When you do, the artist in question which, in this case, is Omar Torrez, has to take music to a whole other level. They just can't create a few tunes and play 'em. Anyone who knows how to play an instrument can do that. You have to be able to bring your music to life and play with such a passion that it draws people in... That's what Hendrix did...and it wasn't something he did in one night.. He had to work at it, which is something Omar Torrez seems to be doing.. His band was voted "best band" for three years in a row by Seattle Weekly and he also won the National Jimi Hendrix Guitar Competition. As for his music, "The Beat Outside" is an 11 song release that combines rock, funk, blues and Latin music into one unique musical style.. On top of it all, the music is played with a lot of passion and energy, which makes this release a pleasure to listen to. Now, to be honest, this isn't a style of music that I usually listen to. But, after going through the disc a few times, it was like a breath of fresh air. It was fresh, new and exciting...and for that...it's worth checking out. http://www.OmarTorrez.com Silencer I like old school thrash. It was a simple, straight-forward style of music. It was heavy, brutal and it had that "chunka-chunka-chunka" sound. Back in the day, every band and his brother were doin' that style of music. Who were the big four? Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer, all of which went on to bigger and better things...and any fan worth their weight in jean jackets and metal patches could probably rattle off a number of other good...and not so good...thrash bands. Like Archie Bunker would say...those were the days. That style of music is still out there...and there's a band or two that's still loyal to the old ways. Then you have a band like Silencer, who are anything but silent. They probably grew up with the old style, as most of us did. But, when it came time to create that style of music, they threw in a little more metal aggression in order to have a more modern sound...and the end result is the sonic assault of "Divisions," an album that's sure to take your head off the first time you listen to it. Back in the day, thrash was the music of the youth.. Today, it's all grown up and it's a lot more dangerous. Don't believe me? Give Silencer a spin. That's all the proof you'll need. "Divisions" will hit you like a ton of bricks. http://www.fbombrecords.com Song Of The Siren Here's a nice little power-pop disc that has just enough kick that it doesn't get tagged as being like cotton candy. Meaning...it's not fluffy (so to speak) and it has more of an edge. I like that. Oh, don't get me wrong...I like a little fluff every now and then. But, most people don't seem to get it right. They try to be too cute and it ends up sounding like you're listenin' to a kiddie record. Not here. This is mature, straight-forward, power-pop rock 'n' roll. It's got enough punch to carry you through the night and get you to last call while you still have enough strength to stand on your own two feet. Well worth checking out if you ask me. http://www.myspace.com/songofthesirenband Slank Slank has sold more than 15 million albums. But, it's highly unlikely that you've heard of them because most of those albums were sold in Indonesia, which is where they're from. However, success in their homeland is one thing. Now, they're set to take on the rest of the world with their debut English language album, "Anthem For The Broken Hearted." Now, I don't know if this album will appeal to those of you who simply like to raise the energy level and rock hard. But, for those of you who like a bit of radio friendly rock with a hint of pop to toss into your CD player, "Anthem For The Broken Hearted" will do the trick. Produced with guitar legend Blues Saraceno, Slank offers up a collection of well written tunes that seem to come from the heart. Music is supposed to touch your soul and that's exactly what this album does...and it's also entertaining at the same time. http://www..slank.com Thanatos I happen to like metal. But, when you add the word death to it...well...I don't get too excited about it because that's not a style of music that I can sink my teeth into. It doesn't really do much for me. So, I figured this release would be in and out of my CD player faster than you can say "NEXT!" To my suprise, that wasn't the case. Not at all. "Justified Genocide," as a whole, wasn't that bad. The high quality production caught me a little off guard. I didn't expect to hear brutal music with a crisp, clear sound. On top of that...I was rather suprised to hear that Thanatos can actually put a decent song together....one that doesn't sound like simple, mindless noise...which is why I don't like 95% of the death metal that I have to force myself to listen to. In my opinion, there's not a lot of substance to it. However, Thanatos proves that you can be brutal and extreme and still have substance. Then again...they're not just crankin' out straight forward death metal here. They throw a little thrash into the mix and I believe that gives the music a little extra kick. So...yeah...throw up your horns and play this one loud. It's a keeper. http://www.myspace.com/thanatos666 Epsilon This four song EP, which has a running time of about 25 minutes, really didn't do much for me... It's modern thrash music that doesn't really break any new ground and, if you're a fan of this style of music, it's not something that's gonna excite you too much because you've heard this all before. You might bang your head a little. But, I really don't see you doing anything more with it. The opening track, "From This Pain," is the focus here and, sure, it's a good song. But, that's all it is. It's not gonna bite your head off or anything like that.. You also get a live version of the track, which isn't anything worth talking about. Sounds like a bootleg recording. I could've done without it. My personal favorite was "As The Sea," which is a pretty kick ass tune. It's just one song though...it doesn't really hold up the rest of the album. I think the band could use a little work. They need to kick it up a notch and put a little more bite into their music. As it stands now...I wouldn't go out of my way to pick this one up...but.....if it's not too hard for you to snag a copy....it's at least worth a single listen. http://www.myspace.com/epsilonthrash Synthetic Elements I haven't heard a really good punk/ska record in a long time. Then I heard what Synthetic Elements had to offer and that all changed. This is a fantastic record. Straight-forward, high energy punk. I like it when they just rock out and go for the throat. But, what's really cool is the fact that they can even do an acoustic tune like "Falling Away" and still pack quite a punch. It doesn't bring the album down at all. In fact, it gives "Trashed Out Paradise" a little more flavor...and...really...that's what this release is all about...flavor. Every song doesn't sound the same. They mix it up pretty good here and they never seem to lose their bite. They even do a cover of "Wooly Bully," which, I'll admit, is a classic tune, one which I never really thought too much about. However, they gave that track a life and now I can't get it out of my head. The whole album's like that, really. You wanna learn the lyrics as soon as possible so you can sing-a-long with it... Catchy as hell and highly recommended. http://www.myspace.com/syntheticelements Prodigal Earth I guess I don't know my geography because I have no idea where Cyprus is. One thing I do know, that's where Prodigal Earth is from...and it might be in my best interest to look Cyprus up on the map because...well...maybe not. All I have to do is wait for people to hear this album because, once they do, Prodigal Earth will put Cyprus on the map and it won't be hard to find. I knew this was a great release as soon as I started to give it a listen. What made it even more impressive is the fact that "Zenith II Zero" is their debut release. Yeah...there's a lot of musicians out there who knock off an album or two before they put something out there that's worth talkin' about. Prodigal Earth does it right off the bat. The musicianship on this release is of the highest quality and, if I wanted to throw a simple term out there to describe their sound, all I would have to do is say "metal" and that would probably cover it...but...it wouldn't do them justice. They have a huge, epic sound...kind of like Iron Maiden mixed with Queensryche...only ten times better. It's a must have for any true metal fan. http://www.myspace.com/prodigalearth Enforcer I'm not sure if I can explain how excited I was to find out I was reviewing Sweden's ENFORCER. In fact, this disc has been in my CD player since it was released. There are a ton of mediocre bandwagon jumpers lately with the resurgence of 80's style Metal, so I'm frequently hesitant when I find some new album that looks 'vintage'. What a pleasant surprise! This is actually VERY well done. It would be too easy to equate this to Heavy Metal bands of the early 80's (besides some might find it pointless to compare students to teachers) so I'll say this...... Imagine the best parts of EARLY MAN mixed with WOLF but perhaps even more traditional sounding (if that's possible). If I didn't know "Into The Night" was a new release, there's virtually no way to figure out it isn't a reissue of some underground classic. All the elements are here: melodic vocals, fast riffs (but not too fast) and top-notch songwriting. The entire packaging, production, and image all remind me of the glory days. Like any great record, there are a few ups & downs but it's incredibly tough to pick out the strong points when something is so good as a whole. Anyone itching to find a retro band that's exactly like NWOBHM bordering on Speed Metal is gonna love this. To put it simply, ENFORCER rocks like the 90's never happened. Larry Coryell Here's an interesting one. From what I undersatnd, Larry Coryell is considered a 'guitar legend'.... but not quite in the Yngwie sense. Actually, this CD is somewhat reminiscent of artists like Hendrix, Clapton, or Stevie Ray Vaughan, not just in the playing but the singing & songwriting as well. Coryell has been around for a while and is most known for his work as an established Jazz musician but this new live album sounds more like he studied some British Blues before recording it in 2005. I'm sure there are Headbangers everywhere that will be bored to tears with "Live At The Avalon" but honestly, I was surprised when I found it so entertained.... not that I claim to be very open minded, but from time to time I can certainly appreciate good music from genres other than Metal (if done properly). One thing that stands out is the excellent sound quality. I particularly like the snare drum which seems to stand out & bring back memories of the Jeff Beck stylings I recall appreciating about the 90's Satriani self-titled record. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd likely assume this was a studio release (with the exception of the crowd noise, of course). Definitely not for everyone, but if you don't require absolute sonic brutality in your music, this is a great listening experience! Alex Beyrodt's Voodoo Cirlce Right up my alley! Being a fan of Pink Cream 69, I was already familiar with vocalist David Readman who came on board when Andi Deris left to join Helloween. That detail alone should tell most folks what to expect, but the greatness doesn't stop there. This Swedish band's line-up also features Mat Sinner of Primal Fear & Sinner holding down bass duties, while Alex Beyrodt (mastermind behind Silent Force & guitarist for Mat Sinner on many of his other projects) shreds all over this release. Voodoo Circle absolutely captures the spirit of classy Melodic Metal on their debut release. The keyboards are a bit domanant at times, but interestingly enough it doesn't take away from the intensity. Sure, there a few moments that get downright mellow (if not a little boring), but the heavier parts are full & well crafted. I hear a little Jorn here & there but it's more like Axel Rudi Pell. That's a pretty big compliments since I have really enjoyed the last several releases from the German ex-Steeler guitarist. All in all, I think this CD will do incredibly well in certain areas of the world while it goes virtually unnoticed elsewhere. Sad really, because there are plenty of Heavy Metal fans who should take notice & hear how good Hard Rock SHOULD be made these days. Tommy Bones I wish I liked everything. I truly wish every CD was good so I'd be happy no matter what I was listening to. That's what I felt when I heard Tommy Bones, who is not completely void of interesting moments, but that's really all I got out of this five song disc; a few moments where I say 'this ain't half bad' but that's it. Most of the time, I spent waiting for the next part to come along, hoping it got better. For me, it seems like Tommy Bones has the same problem as a lot of other artists. It's as if the identity isn't quite clear. Is it Metal? Is it Hard Rock? Is it Heavy Blues? I can't tell what the band is going for. Sometimes I hear that sludgy swamp boogie thing that always brings me back to the days of COC's album 'Blind'. I felt that way when I heard Black Label Society for the first time. Then there are parts that sounds like they're almost going for a Pantera groove vibe, but not nearly as heavy. The vocals are reminiscent of later-era Mother Mercy, without the high notes and not very catchy. I guess that's what I get from working retail for so long and being a part of a Metal radio show. I hear so many bands that fall into that gray area that isn't great but doesn't exactly suck either. I'm sure it would be fun to see these guys live but this CD just left me feeling a little empty, and to be honest, kind of bored. David T Chastain Yes, Another guitar hero record, but not just ANY guitar hero record. There's something special about this one... it's actually listenable, and very much so! Not to name any names, but I'm sure you've all heard the shredder stuff where you want to turn the CD off half way through the second track because the songs all sound the same, flooded with too many arpeggio sweeps. The thirteenth 'solo' release for David T Chastain is different, and it's refreshing. Chastain is one of those Metal guitarist who learned how to shred without losing the most important part: melody! This CD is actually a collection of instrumental tracks from the past ('86-'07) so you won't be hearing any of the infamous female vocals from those other Chastain records (which is what I'm mostly familiar with, especially the early Leather Leone material). It's not the same bassist & drummer the whole time either so the changes are interesting and there's a lot of variation between the 18 tracks. I truly hope the Headbangers of the world really give "Heavy Excursions" a chance. I sincerely wish nothing but the best for the fusion crew... Good luck to some well deserving veteran musicians! National Lampoon One show. Five comedians. Let's break it down a bit. Opening the show is Frank Caliendo. He does a few impressions, which are pretty good. Although, he does John Madden and that drags down his routine a bit. I didn't find it too funny and he used it a little too much. Next up is Rob Cantrell. He used a few dirty words. But, he didn't do too much for me. I didn't think he was all that funny and his best joke was the last one he told. He's only featured on two tracks which, in this case, is probably a good thing. Alonzo Bodden is up next. He goes into a routine about racial stereotypes, which is pretty funny. He also talks about getting stung by a bee, camping, children, shopping, crazy women and communicating. He makes the most of his time on stage and I think his routine is the highlight of the disc. Bonnie McFarlane is pretty funny. I don't know if it's her style...but...she doesn't seem too confident in her jokes here. There doesn't seem to be any energy behind them. Maybe it's just me. I don't know. After I went through this disc, I went online and watched her HBO One Night Stand and I thought it was great. I'd love to hear more and, as far as what I heard on this disc, sure, it's funny. I liked her perfomance. Just throw a little more energy into it...that will make it a lot better. Last up is Gary Gulman. He might have had to bring up the rear. But, he'll put a smile on your face. He has a routine about cookies that's worth the price of admission. Personally, I'd rather hear a full length CD from each of these performers. When you only hear a little bit...it's kind of hard to form an honest opinion...know what I mean? As for this release...on a scale of one to ten...I'd have to give it a seven and a half. http://www.uproarcomedycd.com/ Exmortus Take everything you love about old school metal...kick it up a notch and bring it up to date and you have Exmortus, "In Hatred's Flame." They pretty much took every musical genre...death metal, speed metal, thrash, grind, hardcore, progressive metal and so on and so forth...and they threw it all together, gave it a top notch production, wrapped it up in a nice little package and released it to the metal world. I'm not sure if the metal world is ready for the sonic onslaught that Exmortus has unleashed upon it. But, it's here and it's sure to rise to the top of the heap. It's an exceptionally strong (in every sense of the word) album that's sure to catch everyone's attention in a big way. http://www.heavyartillery.us |