tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16796110056285623362024-03-05T10:52:46.729-08:00Metal Music Album ReviewsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-67466790369513141732014-05-27T12:34:00.001-07:002014-05-27T12:54:37.524-07:00Casualties of Cool - Casualties of Cool<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj4o-d3kH5lp0znZkiB7l1rnZVKZnvKneWZPG35WkFqs9LOYbnR5u-W03PGtB-AJvWSjF67jS2SLJLFaGFy6VsuIJ413lU-hXm6AdFWUOJGdpXhNuY4gCbfWXbvMUvVDtZTK27_5Xwlk/s1600/Image+for+Dev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj4o-d3kH5lp0znZkiB7l1rnZVKZnvKneWZPG35WkFqs9LOYbnR5u-W03PGtB-AJvWSjF67jS2SLJLFaGFy6VsuIJ413lU-hXm6AdFWUOJGdpXhNuY4gCbfWXbvMUvVDtZTK27_5Xwlk/s1600/Image+for+Dev.jpg" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Release Date: </span>May 14, 2014</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Genre: </span>Country Rock, Ambient.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Label: </span>HevyDevy</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Number of tracks: </span>15</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Rating: </span>8.1/10</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Casualties of Cool is the first of two confirmed releases this year from Devin Townsend, the second being the much anticipated sequel to Ziltoid the Omniscient. Unlike the latter of the two, Casualties represents something a bit different for Townsend. Featuring a seriously laid back vibe with ambient country-rock stylings. It is perhaps closer to Ghost than Ziltoid on the Townsend Scale.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The album features the story of a traveler, floating through time and space who is lured to a sentient planet by a woman's voice. The planet feeds on the traveler's fear, and he takes solace in an old Radio that he finds, and later, a Phonograph. Eventually, the traveler manages to face his own fears, liberating the woman trapped within the planet and freeing his soul. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The album features several tracks which are perhaps key to this theme, Most notably towards the end with The Bridge, and Bones. As a narrative, the album works really well. Each track is individually good, but it by far works best as a whole unit. The album is designed to be listened to as a whole, and this is where it truly shines. As a collection of songs it is good, but as a whole it is fantastic. This is night time music, a dark journey of self realization. Devin describes the album as 'probably the truest reflection of who i am in life at this point' which in itself adds a really personal, close feeling to the album. It's an easy album to connect to and because of the thematic nature, this adds to the experience.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who will this album appeal to? it depends. If you expect metal craziness, then wait for Z2, as Casualties will probably not do it for you. If you are after a chilled out, ambient ride through space, then this is a fantastic choice. It's the kind of album that really excels when you're listening through headphones in the dark. If you are a fan of Devin then it goes without saying. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In conclusion, Casualties is a fantastic journey of music that is best listened to at night, through headphones. It's an excellent change of pace from Epicloud, and highlights and demonstrates just how enormously talented a man Devin Townsend is. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This and Z2 are crowd funded albums, and its well worth keeping up to date with their <a href="http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/casualties-of-cool/updates/36233?utm_campaign=project8813&utm_medium=activity&utm_source=facebook" target="_blank">Pledge Music</a> page, his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dvntownsend" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, his incredible <a href="http://www.hevydevy.com/" target="_blank">website</a>.</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09593786165535406590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-28357164011293121512014-04-18T15:41:00.003-07:002014-04-18T15:41:55.324-07:00Austrian Death Machine - Triple Brutal<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/hmun0gZp1Uw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Release Date: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1st April 2014</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thrash, melodic metal. Comedy metal</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Record Label: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Artery Records</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number of Tracks: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18 (46 Mins playing time)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall Rating:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 8.4</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">/10</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow. This album really beats you up. From brutal rhythm, death metal vocals, ear splitting solos and an the hilarious inclusion of an Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonator, this album has all the potential to be excellent. It is a release of pure testosterone and stupidity.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lets put front man <i>Tim Lambesis</i>'s current legal situation aside and talk about the music. ADM is a side project from the former <i>As I Lay Dying </i>vocalist and is a parody of the Arnold Schwarzenegger films, and as such features <i>Destroy the Runner </i>vocalist <i>Chad Ackerman </i> doing the Ahhnold voices, as well as many special guests including <i>John Boecklin </i>from <i>DevilDriver</i>, <i>Dave Nassie </i>of <i>Bleeding Through, Jammey Jasta </i>from <i>Hatebreed </i>and <i>Chris Storey </i>from <i>All Shall Perish</i>. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ADM shares musical similarities with <i>As I Lay Dying, </i>which is no surprise seen as <i>Tim Lambesis </i>wrote and recorded guitars, drums bass and vocals. All the songs are in your face, and each one of them features a guitar solo. As a fan of shred, this is excellent and it is easy to air guitar along to the solos and chuggy riffs.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>All in all, the disc is speedy modern metal, full of precision mechanical percussion and melodic death-style vocals. The songs have an undeniable energy, though it isn’t quite enough to offset a consistent lack of hooks. The second album humorously acknowledges the fact that some of his songs sound similar to others, and you do feel that this happens more so here.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Favorite tracks include: track 3 <i>Chill Out Dickwad </i>and track 6 <i>I Hope You Made Room For My Fist.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall, this is a really good album. Full of energy, whit and musical prowess. The album lacks diversity, however it shouldn't stop you from enjoying a lively, modern thrash metal album. </b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuZtFzBt156S_AHsKV6tdEyfjsFVzKuIXTY9RUg0tfNHtTO_sZdJppgsGWfTijEQrY1AsEeNV6LmoCXd3ryLZCSwhrX8iG7TANlQ93yc32_F2MvK5JGQ1i_nGhEhaGr9KLepRCK71Wq0/s1600/austriandeathmachine-triplebrutal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuZtFzBt156S_AHsKV6tdEyfjsFVzKuIXTY9RUg0tfNHtTO_sZdJppgsGWfTijEQrY1AsEeNV6LmoCXd3ryLZCSwhrX8iG7TANlQ93yc32_F2MvK5JGQ1i_nGhEhaGr9KLepRCK71Wq0/s640/austriandeathmachine-triplebrutal.jpg" /> </a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-25392339571164775062014-04-17T13:30:00.000-07:002014-04-17T14:07:09.336-07:00Animals as Leaders - The Joy Of Motion<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Release Date:</span> <span style="color: #999999;">March 24th, 2014</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Genre:</span> <span style="color: #999999;">Instrumental Progressive Metal</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Label:</span> <span style="color: #999999;">Sumerian Records</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Number of tracks:</span> <span style="color: #999999;">12</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Rating:</span> <span style="color: #999999;">6.9/10</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instrumental Progressive Metallers
Animals as Leaders have released their third album, the Joy of
Motion. A mixture of dark themes, jazz and blues influences and
astonishing technicality, but how does it hold up? Is it an
advancement of what came before?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Not really. The Joy Of Motion
certainly is a step up in terms of production value, from that
perspective the album sounds well balanced and warm. However, when it
comes to the content, it lacks consistency. There are moments where
the album is warm and interesting, (see, Air Chrysalis, Another Year)
and moments where it's just overwhelming (See Leppincott, and after
the first minute of Ka$cade) and these moments of incongruity, while
technical on a level rarely seen, don't really add much to the
listening experience. It's like flashes of moderately inappropriate
strobe-lighting in the middle of the day.
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<b><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Just to re-iterate, the musicianship
of this album is phenomenal. As a technical feat, it's above and
beyond most other albums, (although it seems important to point out
that there aren't a whole bunch of albums comparable to what Animals
as Leaders do, really) and for the technophiles out there it's
probably on a par with, or even a level above Conquering Dystopia.
However, uncompromising technicality does not equate to a fantastic
listening experience and, for even a slightly more casual listener
there isn't an awful lot to take away from the Joy of Motion.
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<b><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The real crux of the matter is that
the album fails to keep your attention and really forces
you to try and focus on it, and this isn't a good trait in an album,
to put it another way – It lacks soul, the sheer technical prowess
gets lost in translation. When you've got to focus on music to enjoy
it then it's failed to capture the attention of the listener and it
here that The Joy of Motion really fails. Despite it's technicality,
it fails to capture a listener's attention.
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<b><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This doesn't necessarily mean that The
Joy Of Motion is a bad album per se, depending on what criteria you
define an album. If you're a huge fan of technical music then this
album will no doubt appeal and that is fine, however if you're not
specifically looking for technicality, then there are better albums
out there and Animals as Leaders just fall short of providing an
over-all experience.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> To conclude, The Joy Of Motion is an
extraordinary technical feat that lacks a real human element and as a
result falls short of a full experience. If you are looking at
getting into this kind of music, then this is probably not a good
place to start, but if you're into next-level musicianship,
definitely give it a try.</span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09593786165535406590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-37786350779047641302014-04-13T14:45:00.000-07:002014-04-13T14:45:01.446-07:00Steel Panther - All You Can Eat<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/roRcksH2_HQ/0.jpg" height="266" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/roRcksH2_HQ&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="280" height="236" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/roRcksH2_HQ&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Release Date: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1st April 2014</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comedy, glam hard rock</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Record Label: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Open E Music, Kobalt Label Services</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number of Tracks: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.6/10</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have never heard of <i>Steel Panther </i> then you should hide yo kids hide yo wife, and prepare yourself for profane vulgarity towards sex and sexual themes that will have you in stitches and singing (probably not in public) along.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steel Panther had some early success on the sunset strip as a Van Halen cover band, before releasing their first single, <i>Death To All But Metal </i> in 2003. This was included in their first album <i>Feel the Steel </i>in 2009. Their second album is more risque with 'true' song about how the lead guitarist <i>Satchel </i>"Fucked 17 girls at the grocery store and never lost his erection". This 3rd album <i>All You Can Eat </i> takes the themes from potentially true and sometimes thoughtful ideas, to humourous and comical. The track listing is below so you can get an idea of what I'm talking about. </span></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; line-height: 21px;"><b>1. </b></span></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"Pussywhipped" </b></i></div>
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<i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">2. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"Party Like Tomorrow is the End of the World" </b></i></div>
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<i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">3. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"Gloryhole" </b></i></div>
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<i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">4. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"Bukkake Tears" </b></i></div>
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<i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">5. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"Gangbang at the Old Folks Home" </b></i></div>
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<i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">6. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"Ten Strikes You're Out" </b></i></div>
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<i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">7. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"The Burden of Being Wonderful" </b></i></div>
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<i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">8. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"Fucking My Heart in the Ass" </b></i></div>
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<i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">9. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"B.V.S." (Big Vagina Syndrome)</b></i></div>
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<i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">10. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"You're Beautiful When You Don't Talk" </b></i></div>
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<i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">11. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"If I Was the King" </b></i></div>
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<i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">12. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;">"She's on the Rag" </b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This album is loads of fun. Yes, Steel Panther are a comedy act, but the music is actually excellent. The album is full of catchy rhythms, lyrics and melodies. The construction on the most part is as simple as a verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo theme, but they manage to mix styles and tempos to make it interesting and different every time. You can't deny that Satchels well executed solos are excellent and a real credit to this album. Even though this is a comical album, you can't help but feel that Satchel takes his guitaring very seriously, and puts a lot of effort into his solos.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The 80's parody they go for is done really well, with some excellent Van Halen style songs, such as <i>The Burden of Being Wonderful </i>and some of the lyrical themes are culturally infuriating with the 80s parody they are trying to convey. Examples can be seen in track 6 <i>Ten Strikes and You're Out </i>and <i>If I Was the King</i>. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>We can find very little fault with this album musically, however the reason you listen to Steel Panther is the vulgarity which entices a certain audience. You do get the feeling that the jokes are wearing thin after 3 albums, and there isn't anywhere new the band can go. I would also say it is less diverse than the previous 2, and lacks the softer <i>Community Property </i>or<i> Girl From Oklahoma </i>song that really made <i>Feel the Steel </i>pop.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall, it is a solid effort from Steel Panther and is another great addition to their discography. Musically is it superb, and it is a lot of fun. It would be interesting to see if their jokes continue to be funny on their next album. Steel Panther are undeniable proof that 80s glam rock can survive in 2014!</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpzYymXn8XmMsZnnnce6Wves1lSSi6vzO5JtMQAqP3dVZ1MzfEuqcnFMigUTKEASqnVbsYy10b_VWsW2bp5XTFB2k3Ko95baTpmgnq3FirUOSNhsz_tzjdLA-4STVPXU9R5t3Sf5FBNQ/s1600/All_You_Can_Eat_Album_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpzYymXn8XmMsZnnnce6Wves1lSSi6vzO5JtMQAqP3dVZ1MzfEuqcnFMigUTKEASqnVbsYy10b_VWsW2bp5XTFB2k3Ko95baTpmgnq3FirUOSNhsz_tzjdLA-4STVPXU9R5t3Sf5FBNQ/s1600/All_You_Can_Eat_Album_Cover.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/steelpantherkicksass" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/steelpantherkicksass</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.steelpanther.tv/" target="_blank"><b>http://www.steelpanther.tv/</b></a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-83755022973926564952014-04-11T03:01:00.002-07:002014-04-11T03:22:34.462-07:00Black Label Society - Catacombs of the Black Vatican<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Southern Rock, Heavy Metal</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Record Label: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">E1 Music</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number of Tracks: </span><span style="background-color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Overall Rating: </span>6.9</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last studio album released by Black Label Society (BLS) was </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Order Of the Black </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">released back in 2010. The hard working quartet released pretty much an album per year from their inception in 1999, up until </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Shot to Hell </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> released in 2006 - which was a poor album to say the least. </span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Catacombs is their 10th record, and first without Nick "The Twin" Catanese, who left last year. After BLS's more recent acoustic releases such as <i>The Songs Remains Not the Same </i>and <i>Unblackened, </i>we were all expecting something heavy, aggressive and kick ass like on their debut album or 2002 <i>1919 Eternal</i>. This album disappoints in that aspect. </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Thats not to say its a bad album far from it. Catacombs is a midpoint between the heavy and the softer side of BLS, which forms a sort of soft mid tempo grunge style. Guitarist and frontman Zakk Wydle delivers bludgeoning </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grunge, soulfull southern </b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sabbath style riffs, with definite hints of </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alice In Chains </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in there too, especially track 1 <i>Fields of Forgiveness </i>and lead single <i>My Dying Time. </i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>But there are softer more melodic songs such as track 4 <i>Angel of Mercy, </i>track 7 <i>Scars </i>and final track 11 <i>Shades of Grey. </i>These are surrounded by heavier tracks which we were expecting. </b></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most typical BLS track on this album has to be up tempo groovy track 5 <i>Heart of Darkness</i>. It shows some guitar wizardry and would perhaps be a better opening track than <i>Fields of Forgiveness </i>which is more mid tempo and not the typical aggressive BLS we are used to. Track 8 <i>Damn the Flood </i> is another heavy aggressive track, full of well timed pinch harmonics and exquisite vocals. It probably has the best solo on the record too. <i>Damn the Flood </i> is my favorite track, and the album would have fared a lot better if it was full of similar high tempo tracks.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Catacombs doesn't break new ground, and definitely isn't the heavy aggressive album which we were expecting. Its more diverse with the a range of tempo's and acoustic pop ballads thrown in there too. Its still a good album, and has the polished, defined BLS sound which the legion of Wylde fans will be pleased about.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whats your favorite BLS track?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think of the new album? Throw us some comments below.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/zakkwyldetv" target="_blank">Listen on YouTube</a></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/blacklabelsociety" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://blacklabelsociety.com/home/" target="_blank">BLS Website</a></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-3151680012504927442014-04-03T06:02:00.000-07:002014-04-03T06:02:27.486-07:00Ronnie James Dio - This is Your Life - Tribute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">Ronnie James Dio</a> was a character unlike any other in the music industry. His, talent, his songwriting, his distinctive style and his compassion and personality all of which have made him a legend in the field. <i>Ronnie James Dio - This is Your Life </i>is not only a tribute, but a celebration of his works which have left an indelible mark on the genre. The album brings some of the biggest names in metal and some of Dio's close friends, to honor such a great, by covering some of his elusive works from; <i>Rainbow, Black Sabbath </i>and <i>Dio</i>. All proceeds from the album go to the <a href="http://diocancerfund.org/" target="_blank">Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund</a>. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Personally, I thought it would be rude to review an album of covers, especially because it is a tribute album. It wouldn't be fair to scrutinise the excellent work done by these artists. However, I know many of you will agree when I say each song does Dio justice, as they are all as heavy and in your face as you would hope for. There are a lot of standout performances such as <i>Anthrax</i>'s cover of <i>Neon Knights, Adrenaline Mob</i>'s cover of <i>The Mob Rules, Corey Taylor</i>'s excellent vocals on <i>Rainbow in the Dark </i>and more surprisingly the powerful vocals from <i>Halestrom. </i></span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The effort gone into this album is phenomenal, its not just the artists on the back of the CD that have contributed, a full list can be seen below, and they all deserve credit as dedicating your time, effort, money and resources to such a cause is worthy of credit. These tracks represent a bold statement of the love and admiration that united musicians from all eras.</b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Neon Knights - Anthrax</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>The Last In Line - Tenacious D</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>The Mob Rules - Adrenaline Mob</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Rainbow In The Dark - Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci, Jason Christopher</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Straight Through The Heart - Halestorm</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Starstruck - Motörhead with Biff Byford</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>The Temple Of The King - Scorpions</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Egypt (The Chains Are On) - Doro</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Holy Diver - Killswitch Engage</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Catch The Rainbow - Glenn Hughes, Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo, Scott Warren</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>I - Oni Logan, Jimmy Bain, Rowan Robertson, Brian Tichy</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Man On The Silver Mountain - Rob Halford, Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson, Scott Warren</i></b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ronnie Rising Medley (Featuring A Light In The Black, Tarot Woman, Stargazer, Kill The King) - Metallica</i></span></b></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This Is Your Life - Dio</i></span></b></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Heaven And Hell - Stryper (Japanese bonus track)[1]</i></span></b></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Stand Up And Shout - Dio Disciples (Japanese bonus track)[1]</i></span></b></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Buried Alive - Jasta (Digital bonus track)</i></span></b></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I have to give a mention to the artwork, which is perfect. Pictures of Dio are printed on the inside cover including a picture of his Devil Horns, which were a legacy of Dio. I teared up when I opened the album to see these pictures, and it was even before the music started that I realised how appropriate this tribute is.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Finally, the last song and title track brings a close to a fantastic album and out of honour and respect it had to be Ronnie himself with <i>This is Your Life </i>from the 1996 <i>Angry Machines </i>album.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Horns up, in honour of a true legend. Ronnie James Dio will forever be remembered in the highest regard by fans of all rock and metal. </b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-23877011101233711902014-04-01T14:14:00.000-07:002014-04-01T14:15:16.747-07:00Scarsic - A Tale of Two Worlds<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<b style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Release Date</span>: 25th February 2014 </b></div>
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<b style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Genre:</span> Technical Metal, Heavy Metal</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #666666;">Record Label:</span> Self-released</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #666666;">Number of Records:</span> 10</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #666666;">Rating: </span>7.6/10</b></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's another Tuesday night review! This week we have Scarsic with their first full-length offering; A
Tale of Two Words. A three-piece studio project, Scarsic have crafted
their own distinct style of metal, featuring some great riffs, an
excellent rhythm section, and excellent dynamic diversity.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> The album opens with a simple piano
moment that is both lovely and dynamic while hiding underneath a
punchy riff, before opening out into a spacious chorus. Throughout
the 10-track record, this serves as a benchmark for the dynamic
variance of each track, giving the listener a good primer for what to
expect. That said, this album doesn't get boring or predictable,
providing a variety of sounds from almost Dream Theateresque build
ups, to outright groove riffage and almost every other stop along the
way. Diversity is definitely the keyword to this record.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> As well put together as A Tale is as
an album, there are a few moments where the overall production does
let it down, the piano on Entropy sounds a tiny bit clippy in context
to the rest of the record. There are moments where vocal harmonies
sound a little bit unrefined too. During the opening track, this is
most apparent. Outside of these small niggles, the rest of A Tale is
actually very well produced and put together. There are other tiny
niggles, but they aren't really noticeable.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Musically, the album is actually
pretty excellent. Asides from the aforementioned diversity, the tonal
quality of the album is great. It's not muddy, it's not buzzy, it's
tonally warm and well-rounded. The band sound together and coherent,
and again, it really accentuates the experience. Listening to a band
who aren't quite together can be disconcerting, but Scarsic come
together nicely, and it translates really well onto the record.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Despite all of this, A Tale is not a
perfect album. Despite being well put together as an album, there are
moments where individual tracks lack cogency and feel a little bit
disjointed. Live By These Words is a good example of this. The
opening section, with the clean chordal moments and the (really,
really good) vocal melodies then moves into something that almost
feels entirely unrelated and possibly unnecessary. It's still a good
song, but it does feel a little disjointed. The album is called A
Tale of Two Worlds, and it's probably fair to say that the diversity
is done as a nod to the theme implied by the title, and for the most
part it does actually work really well. With a bit of refinement, it
could be really, really excellent.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> The album it's self really is an
eclectic mix of themes, held together by some really solid metal.
There is something for everyone, be it the technical riffage of Land
of Sin, to the really wide open piano and acoustic sounds of A Tale
of Two Worlds pt.1, which moves into more excellent and expansive
metal.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> To wrap up the review, A Tale is a
good opening effort from a really talented trio, featuring a lot of
really, really good metal. Despite the few niggles that let the album
down, it's a really enjoyable experience that hints at a band that,
with some refinement, have an awful lot to offer.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Check out Scarsic's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/scarsicband" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/scarsicband" target="_blank">Twitter</a>
and <a href="http://scarsic.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> accounts. And if you're interested in hearing more, they
are on Spotify too!</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09593786165535406590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-8227658861493622392014-03-19T11:54:00.001-07:002014-03-19T11:55:49.885-07:00Glamour of the Kill - Savages<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Release Date: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">23rd September 2013</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Post Hardcore</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Record Label: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eOne Entertainment Music</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number of Tracks: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall Rating: 3</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">/10</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The UK metal music scene has sadly struggled in their attempt at reaching the heights of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Led </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Zeppelin, to name a few. In recent years, we have heard disappointing stuff from Bullet For My Valentine, Asking Alexandria and Bring me the Horizon in attempts to scale the heights of their successors.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Glamour of the Kill </i>have been touted as the one of the '<i>Uk's brightest young hopes',</i> after their first release <i>The Summoning (2011). </i>Unfortunately, their latest album, <i>Savages (2013)</i>, is a weak attempt and another disappointment for British metal. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nothing on this album manages to surpass average. The guitars show no imagination and lack of ambition. The creative minds of the guitarists have surcumb to what we know as the modern metalcore scene. They are very basic, and are reminiscent of the type of riff you are taught as a beginner guitar player. </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The solos are often replaced by slow chugging breakdowns</b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, however there is one solo to note in track 3 <i>The Only One </i>and is really the only glimpse of creativity in the entire album. </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The vocal diversity was very good in<i> The Summoning </i>with deep growls, clean vocals, and higher end melodies. This highlight, has sadly abaited in this album as the vocals are weak and lack dynamic variation. They are now all clean vocals, similar to <i>All Time Low. </i>The lyrics are typical of a modern hardcore band track 4 <i>Live for the weekend - </i>'<i>And last night was so crazy / My head feels like its World War 3 / And no other night will be the same / We're going to do it all again'</i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The use of electronic synthesizers in metal is something which we should approve of. They are used in this album, however, they are clearly making up for the lack of creativity in other departments.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall, this album is geared to the younger metal fans and is not a good example of fine musicianship, creativity or construction and has a more pop feel to it. This album and band have a lot to do to ever scale the heights of their predecessors.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Currently touring America with Pop Evil and Escape the Fate.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/glamourofthekill" target="_blank">Facebook</a></b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-88775248967086844632014-03-09T14:11:00.000-07:002014-03-19T11:55:22.617-07:00Conquering Dystopia - Conquering Dystopia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Release Date: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10th March 2014</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instrumental, Shred metal.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Record Label: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Self-Released</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number of Tracks: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9.8</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">/10</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Purchase From:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://conqueringdystopia.com/downloads" target="_blank">Conquering Dystopia</a></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its always super exciting when a super group forms. <i>Adrenaline Mob, Avantasia, Hellyeah, Murderdolls, Chickenfoot,</i> to name a few. The excitement that enveloped the guitar community when we heard former <i>Nevermore </i>guitarist Jeff Loomis was collaborating with fellow super shredder Keith Merrow, <i>Cannibal Corpse </i>bassist Alex Webster and <i>The Faceless </i>drummer Alex Rudinger, was endless. More than double the funds for this crowd funded album were gathered very quickly, and they soon got to work. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The album is put together exceptionally well. Its put together at <i>Audiohammer, </i>and you can hear the quality that a professional studio has to offer. The tone of the guitars throughout is spine tingling, check out the pre-verse riff of track 3 <i>Ashes of A Lesser Man </i>as a prime example<i>. </i>Surprisingly, it has great dynamic variation throughout the album, and even though the tracks are an onslaught of brutal super shredding, you do get the occasional break such as track 7 <i>Lachrymose</i> and some acoustic interludes.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Conquering Dystopia </i>batters us from song 1, the appropriately named <i>Prelude to Obliteration</i>, with a face melting solo just 2 minutes in and the rest of the song ripping us apart with supreme riffage. Some of the riffs are reminiscent of when <i>Nevermore </i>were in their prime, however it is clear that this is a team effort. Keith Merrow's death-metal back ground can be heard in track 8 <i>Autarch, </i>and track 10 <i>Kurfa at Dusk</i>. It is evident that both guitarists had an input in many of their riffs, and <i>Nuclear Justice </i>is a mix of Merrows Riffing and Loomis' soloing.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>We all expected the guitaring to be exceptional, and they excelled. But a big credit has to go to the drummer Alex Rudinger. His drums are phenomenal, and do a great job of creating the mood and, along with Alex Webster's </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">excellent </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bass tone, compliment the guitars. Overall, an excellent team effort. </b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was no doubt that this collaboration would work, but its fact that it has has set this high standard for instrumental metal that gets its high rating. It is very hard to find fault with, there are 13 tracks of instrumental genius, with explosive riffing and ear splitting, finger destroying leads. What more could a music fan want? </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ConqueringDystopia" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://conqueringdystopia.com/home" target="_blank">Website</a></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-85505356266302173822014-02-26T15:18:00.000-08:002014-02-26T15:47:35.870-08:00Coshish - Firdous<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Release Date: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2nd September 2013</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Progressive, Rock.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Record Label: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Universal Music</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number of Tracks: 10</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.9/10</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indian progressive fusion band <i>Coshish,</i> have worked incredibly hard to release such a thought </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>provoking, ambient album which has hints of progressive melodies and classic soft rock whilst engrossing the listener to piece together the concept. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Inspired by <i>Tool </i>and <i>Nine Inch Nails, </i>the hard working, diligent album takes you beyond the music as the music follows the story of a protagonist who embarks on a journey to reach enlightenment. The listener can piece together their own journey with the subtle clues left in the album artwork, as well as rearranging the track listing to flow with their version of the story. The album is worth understanding, just to see how much hard work has gone into this.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Musically, it perhaps lacks a little edge, perhaps lacks a defining moment. What it doesn't lack is consistency, and the construction is intricate with each bit leading into the next really well, as well as running along side the concept beautifully. At points, its classic rock and blues influences are obvious, to the point where it is really refined but not really unique. That doesn't mean to say that i've heard this before, its progressive edge, ambient atmosphere and the odd intriguing guitar melody makes it an album worth remembering, and is a good building block for anything <i>Coshish </i>decide to throw at us in the future. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Track 3, <i>Coshish </i>is a highlight of the album, as the sole ambient intro leads us into some classic rock riffage. This is a very soft song and is definitely geared more towards the radio audience. Track 5 <i>Woh Kho Gaye, </i>shows some neat guitar work, as do most of the tracks whether it be from tight acoustic rhythm, blues solos and rhythm and progressive. Track 7 <i>Maya </i>and track 10 <i>Mukti </i>offers a hint of a change in pace, and adds some flavour to the album. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall, it is a good album. With a few added bits of spice, this could be a great rock album. However, The concept and the mix of the variety of different styles mentioned in this review, make it an interesting, thought provoking and enjoyable album. It is really an album which you can discuss at the pub after a few pints, and any album that can make you do that, is memorable and worthy of recognition.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNVwXHXu615MUJqFM8ZPDlAnwOSGYDGjVfVHa8FO3Zm3d93x9SJ6UxLr0jcgKKrlg9wujs9JgZqS3dappu8nh9AWEGV5ZUkYAws1DGOi-FbP3l_bz-atFXNl-BHKpDr6zXQxz_1hBhQE/s1600/980205_438049146316636_420355151_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNVwXHXu615MUJqFM8ZPDlAnwOSGYDGjVfVHa8FO3Zm3d93x9SJ6UxLr0jcgKKrlg9wujs9JgZqS3dappu8nh9AWEGV5ZUkYAws1DGOi-FbP3l_bz-atFXNl-BHKpDr6zXQxz_1hBhQE/s1600/980205_438049146316636_420355151_o.jpg" height="190" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Useful links:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/coshishindia" target="_blank">FaceBook</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/coshish/coshish-firdous-album-promo" target="_blank"><b>SoundCloud</b></a></span><br />
<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/in/album/firdous%E2%80%A60?ign-mpt=uo%3D2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><b>iTunes</b></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-79965258931914531102014-02-11T14:00:00.002-08:002014-02-11T14:00:52.791-08:00Immortal - Sacrament<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAP_-5fy86dwITHfEK5FiaYyf0smJ6uWHGa_KfoVkU0Rfw6TL10QcRjoQB7MVzBUBQdSC06qxdFimpoGnnPFHdAFWbKxnB8M1sSF2wa5-xgQ1a05u24zXYs6q376d8S_a6AVhdnc2Pfo/s1600/1324697181_Immortal_Sacrament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAP_-5fy86dwITHfEK5FiaYyf0smJ6uWHGa_KfoVkU0Rfw6TL10QcRjoQB7MVzBUBQdSC06qxdFimpoGnnPFHdAFWbKxnB8M1sSF2wa5-xgQ1a05u24zXYs6q376d8S_a6AVhdnc2Pfo/s1600/1324697181_Immortal_Sacrament.jpg" /></a><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: <span style="color: #666666;">Heavy Metal</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Label: <span style="color: #666666;">Unsigned</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Number of Tracks: <span style="color: #666666;">10</span></b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Favourite Track: <span style="color: #666666;">Wish You Were Here</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall Rating: <span style="color: #666666;">7.5/10</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>It's time for another Review Tuesday!
This time around we have Canadian metallers Immortal Sacrament. This
will be something of an unorthodox review as they don't have a
collective set of works in the traditional sense. Instead, I'll be
reviewing the material they have on their <a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/immortalsacrament/song/10515678-this-ones-for-you" target="_blank">ReverbNation</a> page.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> With that out of the way, onto the
important part – the music. What it lacks in refinement (and it
does lack refinement – more on this later) it more than makes up
for in ability, energy and sheer balls. The material is crafted with
the love and passion of a small band – There's no expectation here,
no budgets, just a love for solid, expressive metal. On record
they've managed to capture a live vibe that was undoubtedly born of
necessity, but it comes across really rather well. Don't get me
wrong, there are some drawbacks to the raw nature of the tracks but
they aren't amateurish – merely unrefined.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Key tracks:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> #1 – This Ones for You.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> The opening effort of this collection
goes a way to showcase the talent of the band. The Vocals and the
Rhythm section stand out really well here, the former being both
haunting and compelling, the latter being tight and present. It also
features a drastic dynamic contrast, especially during the opening
verse.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> #3 – My Reflection</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Slightly more up-tempo feel, this is
possibly a bit rougher than the opening track. It opens into a really
excellent riff and just runs from there. The vocals are a little bit
rougher too, and it suffers a little bit for it. Still a great track
all in all! Especially for that pacey, up-tempo vibe.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> #4 – Path to Arise</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Another ballsy riff, leads into a far
more polished track. It gives a view as to what Immortal Sacrament
can become as a band (and probably are, Live). It has a really catchy
chorus and flows really nicely. If there's any criticism, it does end
rather abruptly.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> #5 – Media Bullshit</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> This song is a little reminiscent of
Trivium in it's opening, but then it veers off into something that
feels unique. It's another well-written song - I found myself singing
the chorus throughout the day - and it's bristling with a more
polished energy. Great track.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> #7 – Wish You Were Here</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> This song was surprising. It's has a
garage-y feel which really adds to the charm, and is probably one of
the softer songs in the collection. It really works though and shows
a slightly different side to the band with it's more Puddle of
Mudd-esque feel. It highlights more of the passion and some
versatility that Immoral Sacrament bring as a unit.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> #8 – Battle of Gaia</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> After Wish you were Here, it injects
needed tempo into the experience and some really nice guitar work
complements the other parts of the band. It finishes really strongly,
on an up-tempo note. Another solid track that highlights the band's
pros.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> As previously stated, Immortal
Sacrament's music does lack refinement and it's time to talk about
that for a moment. It has a cons and pros. On the pros side, it
avoids the sterility of over-production quite nicely – you can
really feel the energy of the band and it comes across beautifully.
On the negative side – It doesn't quite sound as good as it could.
Tracks 4 & 5 feel the most polished and it really shows. These
two tracks stand out on a purely audio level and if the rest of the
tracks were to the same standard, they would come across far better.
The problem is there are moments where sections of the band are less
prominent, and this is a stark inconsistency which does impact the
effect of the songs somewhat. However, this is a result of the fact
that a lot of the material is self-recorded and recorded live. If you
can look past this, there's a real font of quality material and it's
worth the perseverance. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> In conclusion, Immortal Sacrament are
a real edgy, ballsy outfit with a talent for their own brand of
metal! If you can look past the lack of refinement (and in my humble
opinion, you should) then you will enjoy what they have to offer. If
you live in their particular area then I'd say it's definitely worth
going and checking out one of their shows.
</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09593786165535406590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-32368234841318750132014-02-08T10:15:00.001-08:002014-02-08T10:32:17.906-08:00Periphery - Clear<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM60zRAtK_Jq5idIBnq5JK4b58xtkAL7_KghpxFP_yqop09US3TnKFe7D8Te3fpBx2_8xyt3q6qbnmUqrVl5F8Jx0SY2C2IRDShLExZU31PyTB0Q0s0hxSBupaM_t2HXgJIvi1YBa3fRU/s1600/periphery_clear_cover_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM60zRAtK_Jq5idIBnq5JK4b58xtkAL7_KghpxFP_yqop09US3TnKFe7D8Te3fpBx2_8xyt3q6qbnmUqrVl5F8Jx0SY2C2IRDShLExZU31PyTB0Q0s0hxSBupaM_t2HXgJIvi1YBa3fRU/s1600/periphery_clear_cover_lg.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Release Date: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28th Jan 2014</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Progressive metalcore</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Record Label: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sumerian Records</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number of Tracks: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.9/10</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Periphery </i>were formed in 2005 and have previously released 2 albums and an EP. Their latest 7 track EP is a follow up to their well received 2012 album <i>This Time It's Personal </i>and they are a band that get better and better with every release.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combining each individual's outstanding ability with their instruments, and their unique and exceptional method of song construction, <i>Periphery </i>have created an album which showcases their fantastic songwriting skills. This mature record bleeds quality and style as progression and melodicity swell around the album. Each song on the album is written by a different member of the band, so gives us an insight as to how each member thinks. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening track '<i>Overture' </i></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is the only track written by the entire band and it </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">introduces the operatic theme demonstrated throughout. This is a fantastic opening tune, as it is a mix of brilliant piano playing both lead and rhythm, and progressive heaviness. A definite highlight of the album is the uniqueness of this song. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2nd Track <i>'The Summer Jam' </i>is very modern progressive. A groovy main riff and some catchy vocals carry you through the track. It's a good individual track, but the fact it doesn't follow on from <i>'Overture' </i> is a little disappointing. '<i>Feed the Ground' </i>is up next and this track is written by Matt Halpern - Percussionist. That explains why it is very percussion heavy, thudding drums and some funky bass lines make </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this track move as quick as superman. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The odd lead riff and a fantastic vocal range, </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">make this track a definite highlight. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Track 4 '<i>Zero' </i> is 1 of 2 instrumental tracks, and this is written by frontman Misha Mansoor. He really is the creative force behind the band, and he has written a typical <i>Periphery </i>track. A weakness to this track however is the tone of the guitar seems un-natural, as if its been made totally on a computer.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favorite track on this album is track 5 '<i>The Parade of Ashes'. </i>The intro and pre chorus is a build up to a bouncy riff and pleasing drum line. The chorus is totally fantastic. The lyrics are worth noting here too: <i>"Concealing the intent of fascists/ Resurrect / Humanity has fallen by the way side". </i>And the solo ain't half bad either. The second of our instrumentals is track 6 <i>"Extraneous" </i>is a bit of a let down considering what it has to follow, however it is still a fantastic instrumental track which seems </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">individual to the rest of the album</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. The track has a hint of early Keith Merrow to it. Final track '<i>Pale Aura' </i>and is written by guitarist Mark Holcomb. The riff in this is very good, bordering on technical metal. It has a quaint ending to the track and is a suitable way of finishing the album.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's very much an experimental album as none of the tracks seem to work together as an album should. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, <i>Periphery </i>have written a great set of 7 tracks that individually show what <i>Periphery </i>are about as well as each individual's talent as a songwriter. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a great appetizer for what is to come in late 2014, when <i>'Juggernaut'</i> finally makes its way to us.</span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-37172464653572805172014-01-29T10:56:00.001-08:002014-01-29T10:57:07.997-08:00The Grand Minnows - Friday Lights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmU1ZgKAvKB41x5CbY_6QDlcAzKkH8Js6CINojBYgsMd2kaRYtqn6NIx_h_OZoSPl3WhOI5Z5uEVL4AWrPi2e-qafBD4L1ki1bXJRryhIFHZhw-TFgwKDvu_nDXwjIfMMk9I_XmDkZ2k/s1600/a1895242971_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmU1ZgKAvKB41x5CbY_6QDlcAzKkH8Js6CINojBYgsMd2kaRYtqn6NIx_h_OZoSPl3WhOI5Z5uEVL4AWrPi2e-qafBD4L1ki1bXJRryhIFHZhw-TFgwKDvu_nDXwjIfMMk9I_XmDkZ2k/s1600/a1895242971_2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Release Date: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">th January 2014</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soft rock, pop rock, Indie rock.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number of Tracks: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7.7/10</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a metalhead, I always find it refreshing to hear something different. When I first listened to <i>The Grand Minnows</i> I felt calm. I didn't want to mosh, headbang or get a skull tattooed on my fist. I just wanted to listen to the music and enjoy the moment. Now to some, this might be hard to do, but tune into this Swedish/American Indie Rock band's 2nd EP and you will see exactly what I mean.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The members of <i>The Grand Minnows </i>have all been in established bands before and their experience in this 3 track EP is evident throughout these tracks. They are simple, but effective. They get you contemplating, wondering. It's thoughtful music, very calming and very mature. </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are a regular metalhead, then you might turn your nose at something like this, but having these 3 tracks on your iPod is recommended. It will change your day and slow things down. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give them a listen, you will not regret it. Tell me if you agree with me in the comments.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Currently organising the production of a music video, and more tracks expected in May/June time. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You can hear this album on <a href="http://thegrandminnows.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">their Bandcamp</a>, and I recommend that you do as well as keep up to date with their latest stuff on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandMinnows" target="_blank">FaceBook</a></b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-35724486286838368472014-01-21T15:18:00.001-08:002014-01-21T15:30:46.931-08:00Fallen Fate - Into The Black<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe5I6A1TQpGTb4TwC-tDDYbBSj7F2uamZCrQVqy6awQOF31t0BPb0eDYa14qOXSLxbEh7bdWD6sezRZMBb4LmMjb7UY2dwd2lZLRlMP_7RdXHhahnJ_rmIUB8OvmL_fJ8xbmEe4dQFjQ/s1600/IntoTheBlack-AlbumCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe5I6A1TQpGTb4TwC-tDDYbBSj7F2uamZCrQVqy6awQOF31t0BPb0eDYa14qOXSLxbEh7bdWD6sezRZMBb4LmMjb7UY2dwd2lZLRlMP_7RdXHhahnJ_rmIUB8OvmL_fJ8xbmEe4dQFjQ/s1600/IntoTheBlack-AlbumCover.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Release Date: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30th January 2014</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melodic modern death metal.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Record Label: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unsigned</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number of Tracks: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sounds Like:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> As I Lay Dying, Caliban, </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Insomnium.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7.2/10</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><b>British metal has developed since the 80's thrash metal that changed the genre forever. Epitomising this evolution is Fallen Fate, who are releasing their brand new album on January 30th, titled <i>Into the Black. </i></b></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combining thrash, death metal and hardcore punk in a mix of dark melodic riffs and punishing aggression, Fallen Fate have created an interesting and engaging concept album with a story familiar to that of the new wave of demonic horror movies such as <i>The Devil Inside </i>and <i>The Possession. </i>This album is different to their 2011 release <i>The Virus has Spread, </i>in that it is a lot darker vocally and musically, but they have kept the melodic heaviness and speed which has seen them on the Bloodstock and Download stage.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The highlight and standout of this 10 track album, is the theme. It is a story about Vespa who is possessed by a demonic presence which takes over, killing her and her family. V</b></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ocalist and guitarist Lee Skinner, explains the concept of the album, "</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The drive behind the concept is to empower the listener to decide whether she was possessed by the devil, as she has no saviour in her life, or if she was possessed by God, punishing her for her lack of faith"</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. As a listener, it clawed me into the music making an interesting and stand out album. However, such a heavy theme could distract the listener from the music, as it is easy to get lost in trying to decipher or understand the theme making it difficult to enjoy the music, almost like reading The Da Vinci code.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The album musically is monotonous. It is hard to believe that there are 10 tracks on this album as they all seem to cleverly merge into one. There are no distinctive breaks except for track 9, <i>The Demise </i>which would be considered more of an interlude or intro to the longer final track. The vocals are continuously screamed, which to be honest are done and recorded to a high standard but they very rarely offer a melody and are largely toneless. The only differing vocal tones come as backing vocals in tack 3 <i>Until the Final Hour </i>and<i> </i>track 6 <i>I welcome the Dead </i>which add to the spine tingling eerie atmosphere.</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A side from the vocals, the album is musically good. The riffs are somewhat complex, reminiscent of <i>Ember to Inferno, </i>the riff in track 7 <i>Rituals</i> is a key highlight. These riffs mix almost too well with the solos which are engaging and emotive and offers the listener time to think about the concept. Another highlight being the 2 part guitar duel on <i>Until the Final Hour. </i>The gothic tones and occasional church atmosphere add to the theme and are suitable for the tracks they are in. </b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Into the Black </i>is a heavy going hard to listen to album. It is dark, and although the idea behind the theme is fresh, the album struggles to narrate the story behind it. There is no explosive moment, the concept is really the only engaging aspect of the album and although the music is good, there is nothing engrossing about it.</b><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The album is officially released on January 30th and can be pre-ordered <a href="http://fallenfate.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">here.</a> Follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fallenfateband" target="_blank">FaceBook</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/fallenfate251" target="_blank">YouTube</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/fallenfateband" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. </b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dhVTRwsS2H8" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-48025629016745604212014-01-13T13:43:00.000-08:002014-01-13T13:43:47.026-08:00Songs of the Week!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_j5ih_ntbz-Xaum96qV72tzrN0AtQUsIE9lOTlFwg-kjth-8QztNSTosb48z6Lz1qWQHE1Kol2R5QSqHOqVBB-jtvQFQHyEOpve1DGlbGKu27Aayo7VbU2xqxwM80WCrHOPSG7KbeUQ/s1600/pa19920220b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_j5ih_ntbz-Xaum96qV72tzrN0AtQUsIE9lOTlFwg-kjth-8QztNSTosb48z6Lz1qWQHE1Kol2R5QSqHOqVBB-jtvQFQHyEOpve1DGlbGKu27Aayo7VbU2xqxwM80WCrHOPSG7KbeUQ/s200/pa19920220b.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Songs of the Week is back and we have been asking the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MetalMusicAlbumReviews" target="_blank">Facebook</a> following what songs have caught their attention this week. Old or new, and regardless of genre we want to know what you're listening too and we will share it with the masses. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So headphones in, volume up and have a listen to anything on this list which you haven't heard before. If you have a particular track you have been enjoying recently, then comment either on here or on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MetalMusicAlbumReviews" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Pantera - Walk</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Adequately named Pantera album, <i>Vulgar Display of Power </i>featured a riff which many would consider riff of the century. It was off the song <i>Walk . </i>It has been covered by many bands including Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, Seether, Operator and Disturbed to name a few. The message behind the song was described by frontman Phil Anselmo as "Take your fucking attitude and take a fuckin' walk with that. Keep that shit away from me". Either way, there's no denying the songs presence in the metal hall of fame. The song most requested by our Facebookers this week.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kinetikmetal" target="_blank">Kinetik</a> - Acres of Space</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recently receiving our highest rating for an album for their new full length <i>Heavier Elements </i>album (9.7), Technical Groove Metallers Kinetik are mindbogglingly good. The album is "A sublime mixture of brutish riffs and vast-open sounds woven together by some very technical and proficient playing providing both complexity and excellence in abundance" as stated on our review. This track inparticular starts with a killer bass riff and oozes groove and style. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Beatles - Something</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What's</b></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> your favorite Beatles song? Thats perhaps a discussion for another day, but comments are always welcome. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Beatles attempted to buy a Greek Island called Euboea which was coincidentally in the shape of a guitar. Lennon had wanted escape from screaming fans so discussed the idea with the rest of the band. They never did it though, as they broke up before a deal could be done. Anyway, t</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his song of the week came from Mani Shankar Singh from our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MetalMusicAlbumReviews" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. The song is from the</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 1969 album <i>Abbey Road.</i></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Andy James - Second Wave</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Fresh out of melodic heavy metal band <a href="http://www.sacredmothertongue.com/" target="_blank">Sacred Mother Tongue</a>, Andy James is setting up his very own unique <a href="http://andyjamesguitaracademy.com/" target="_blank">guitar academy</a>. He has released a set of solo tracks which are brilliant. His rhythm riffing and his emotive solo lead parts are exquisite. The track below is my favorite of the lot. It isn't just a shred fest, but a well composed, emotive track. He also featured on as one of MMAR's <a href="http://rockandmetalmusicreviews.blogspot.co.uk/p/guitarists-to-look-out-for-in-2014.html" target="_blank">guitarists to look out for in 2014</a>.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Richard Cheese - Last Resort (Papa Roach Cover)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Random song to finish off on, but if you have ever heard of Richard Cheese then you know what to expect when he covers alternative songs with piano. If you haven't heard of him then check this video out off his 2000 album <i>Lounge Against the Machine.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-9964456316149532642014-01-07T14:20:00.000-08:002014-01-07T14:53:23.808-08:00Kinetik - Heavier Elements<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzoK_DzUumLW1EImrw6hxCp7KqGPyiMD8qfa5wb6NrynLxwP0FGnbXZY2AIHl8Uu4BqFuezqV1qU1jboiijj5P9wrD4IcvyXRXfa5LrRTcef7DWtcroXDsWKRvNMvjY23NpTh7LqKPTc/s1600/a0536612885_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzoK_DzUumLW1EImrw6hxCp7KqGPyiMD8qfa5wb6NrynLxwP0FGnbXZY2AIHl8Uu4BqFuezqV1qU1jboiijj5P9wrD4IcvyXRXfa5LrRTcef7DWtcroXDsWKRvNMvjY23NpTh7LqKPTc/s1600/a0536612885_10.jpg" height="288" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBCMWz0ej6oBWQ2sqKKMWxNRMmKFl7MKfq5hc3r-aTbcVE2BROgJ_ShxaumsBQdV4NSZ31MeomwOwHKAVp-QQ9F5QnyNC_mcuktR9e02muVx_bS19Zb8__L1L1Kyzo_z1DrRgas5CPGg/s1600/1554403_771677066180247_1368518037_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Release Date: <span style="color: #666666;">April 2013</span></b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: <span style="color: #666666;">Technical Groove Metal</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Label: <span style="color: #666666;">Unsigned</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Number of Tracks: <span style="color: #666666;">12</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sounds Like: <span style="color: #666666;">Meshuggah</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Key Tracks: <span style="color: #666666;">Static Motion, Obsolete Zero, Closer than Contact, Acres of Space, On Starless Nights</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Favorite Track: <span style="color: #666666;">Acres of Space</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall Rating: <span style="color: #666666;">9.7/10</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Kinetik are a 4-piece tech metal band
hailing from California. They released their first full-length
feature Heavier Elements earlier this year, and it is an
uncompromising combination of complex rhythms, massive riffs and a
sound that is guttural and yet spacious. The sheer rhythmic power of
Heavier Elements grabs your attention, but it's a combination of the
musicianship and that huge sound that really keeps you listening
right till the end of the album.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> The sound of this album is thick and
tight and yet vast and spatial, like a tempest in space. It's diverse
and dynamically variant, writhing and fluid, and it gives the
impression that the music is almost alive, feral even. It
incorporates a good mix of stylistic choices, the use of synthesiser
sounds goes a long way to illicit that spatiality that was mentioned
earlier, and there is a Jazzier hint within the structure which
really sets off the rhythmic groove of the album.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Heavier Elements is not an easy album
to listen to if you're looking for something light and frothy and to
be honest I suspect this is rather the point, but if you give it the
time and attention that it deserves then it is something really, face
meltingly excellent.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Key tracks on this album are :</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Static Motion:
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> The opener for the album, it really
sets you up for the experience and really comes out of the blue,
starting off with essentially a huge dynamic shift, within the
opening moments it punches you in the face with everything that is
great about this album.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Obsolete Zero:
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Arguably more technical than Static
Motion, although that is debatable. This track lifts into a great
section which highlights some of the more melodic side to Kinetik and
it shows a little of the diversity that encompasses the whole album.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Closer than Contact:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> This track is just brutal. It's like
being beaten around the head by a giant metal fist, that is not to
say that it is not excellent – It really is, and it is a really
heavy moment on the album.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Acres of Space:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Honestly, this is my favourite track
on the album. Opening with a killer bass riff, it shows a real
tightness and technicality, even beyond what you would expect for a
band like Kinetik. It just oozes groove and style. It provides a
needed break from the heavier sections of the album, it does however
beef up towards the end before falling back into that excellent bass
groove.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> On Starless Nights:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> The closer, this track almost feels
like a twin to Static Motion, albeit somewhat up-tempo, it's a
genuine gem with which to top of the album, rounding everything good
about the previous tracks and winding it to a satisfying and complete
close.</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In conclusion, Kinetik's Heavier Elements is a sublime mixture of brutish riffs and vast-open sounds woven together by some very technical and proficient playing, providing both complexity and excellence in abundence. As earlier said, it's not necessarily the most easily accessible album, if you're looking for something light and bubbly, this is probably not your album, but if you appreciate the subtleties and complexities of music, I absolutely could not recommend Heavier Elements any more. If you happen to be from around San Francisco, I would also recommend trying to get to see Kinetik live.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBCMWz0ej6oBWQ2sqKKMWxNRMmKFl7MKfq5hc3r-aTbcVE2BROgJ_ShxaumsBQdV4NSZ31MeomwOwHKAVp-QQ9F5QnyNC_mcuktR9e02muVx_bS19Zb8__L1L1Kyzo_z1DrRgas5CPGg/s1600/1554403_771677066180247_1368518037_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBCMWz0ej6oBWQ2sqKKMWxNRMmKFl7MKfq5hc3r-aTbcVE2BROgJ_ShxaumsBQdV4NSZ31MeomwOwHKAVp-QQ9F5QnyNC_mcuktR9e02muVx_bS19Zb8__L1L1Kyzo_z1DrRgas5CPGg/s1600/1554403_771677066180247_1368518037_n.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Check out Kinetik's <a href="http://kinetikmetal.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> to buy the album and their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kinetikmetal" target="_blank">Facebook</a> to keep updated!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yshRxStERRaePq15fI5waClmFeWEZu1LyHLKpsOARuT0Y7CNSKzJlESGgMH4HwD3lgipRDXeKOV26RGtbzFHJnok_Emn5BmMFfcbVGQ-KgqY2F7HdBhk2jF8LekTtcdciGQZFkrs1WM/s1600/Kirk-Hammett-Metallica-Wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yshRxStERRaePq15fI5waClmFeWEZu1LyHLKpsOARuT0Y7CNSKzJlESGgMH4HwD3lgipRDXeKOV26RGtbzFHJnok_Emn5BmMFfcbVGQ-KgqY2F7HdBhk2jF8LekTtcdciGQZFkrs1WM/s320/Kirk-Hammett-Metallica-Wallpaper.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><b>So 2013 is behind us and we can yet again reflect and the vast array of heavy metal, acoustic jazz blues guitarists that flutter the music world.</b></b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This is a list of guitarists that are either still makes waves from 2013, or that are releasing or touring in 2014. Have a good read, and comment below your constructive thoughts! </b></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #666666;">Keith Merrow / Jeff Loomis</span>: What happens when 2 monstrous super shredders come together and create an album with bigger consequences than Anakin Skywalker becoming a jedi? They form a band called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ConqueringDystopia" target="_blank">Conquering Dystopia</a> and tour America. The album is in the final stages of production and their first gig is on the 25th January at the Schecter Guitar NAMM party in California. This was a self funded album, so credit to the fans for making this happen, but guitarists and music fans are in anticipation for whats to come. The video is a clip from just a jam session with both of them, this is a sample of things to come from their album.</b></b></span><br />
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<b><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AndyJamesOfficial" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;">Andy James</span></a> - </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently departed from Sacred Mother Tongue after releasing a cracking album, monster of the fretboard Andy James is setting up an online interactive </span><a href="https://andyjamesguitaracademy.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">guitar academy</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> this year where he is teaching everything from beginner to advanced lessons suited to each individual. There are free lessons, interviews, skype calls and chances to meet him in person. As a solo artist, he also has "S<i>everal exciting new album releases and live tours also scheduled for 2014". </i>A genuine down to earth musician, as well his hellish music skills. This video is one off his guitar academy.</span></b></b><br />
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<b><b style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/331Erock/videos" target="_blank">Eric Calderone</a> - </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With his unique blend of metal riffage with family favorite tv shows, movies and games such as Dr Who, Indiana Jones and Skyrim, he has gained an extraordinary following and sponsors. He releases a new video on youtube every week or 2 and they are consistently baffling. Always interesting to see what he does next next and never a disappointment. </span></b></b></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.jongomm.com/" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.jongomm.com/" style="color: #666666;" target="_blank">John Gomm</a><span style="color: #666666;"> - </span>The sensational unique raw talent of Jon Gomm went viral in 2012 after the single "Passionflower" was discovered by critics and celebrities. His sound consists of, acoustic guitar both rhythm and lead, singing and using the guitar as a drum all at the same time. In some songs, he even uses the tuning nuts to create a unique sound. His new album, released November 2013 is his "Best work yet". His tour dates in 2014 are worth keeping an eye on, as seeing him live would be mind-blowing. The video below is the opener off his new album.<span id="goog_731238680"></span></b></span><br />
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/J9b29phQz_I/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/J9b29phQz_I&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/J9b29phQz_I&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://www.ericjohnson.com/tour" target="_blank">Eric Johnson:</a> </span>Instrumental rock solo guitarist Eric Johnson will be touring America in March with his Experience Hendrix Tour. Releasing "Up Close; Another Look" last year he continues to expand his artistry with compelling and enriching results. Keep an eye on his tour dates ext year and see if you can experience the uniqueness.</b></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.andymckee.com/" target="_blank">Andy McKee</a> - Acoustic guitarist extraordinaire Andy McKee is releasing </span></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The most creative and interesting thing hes done" with</span></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> new EP at the end of January including a piano piece. McKee also hope to tour across the world hitting America, Europe, South America, India and Australasia. He is hoping to do more instructional videos next year to help us all out! Check out this video he released on New Years Day updating his happenings in 2014</span></b></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/beckylangan" target="_blank">Becky Langan</a> - The young, talented solo acoustic artist Becky Langan has been building her fan base since 2010, playing intimate gigs at quaint venues in the UK. Hoping to release more singles over 2014 with a view to an album written by 2015. Subscribe to her <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/becky8610?feature=watch" target="_blank">YouTube</a> channel to keep up to date with these releases.</span></b><br />
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there's you're lot! A great bunch of guitarists/musicians hoping to inspire and entertain us next year. If you know of any more that you want to mention, that's what the comment section is for!</span></b></b><br />
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</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-64577411325379357462013-12-19T09:10:00.000-08:002013-12-19T13:05:23.292-08:00Albums of the year 2013!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>On our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MetalMusicAlbumReviews" target="_blank">Facebook</a> you guys have been deciding your album of the year. This is my list of the top 10 albums this year. There have been some great albums and it has been really tough to decide on the number 1. I'd like to think there is a mix of genres on here, something for everyone so have a listen to the list and share your opinion.</b></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Here we go:</b></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10: <a href="http://blog.funeralforafriend.com/" target="_blank">Funeral For A Friend</a> - Conduit</b></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>9: <a href="http://www.drowningpool.com/" target="_blank">Drowning Pool</a> - Resilience</b></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>8: <a href="http://www.satriani.com/2004/" target="_blank">Joe Satriani</a> - Unstoppable Momentum</b></span><br>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7: <a href="http://www.stratovarius.com/pages/intro.php" target="_blank">Stratovarius</a> - Nemesis</span></b><br>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6: <a href="http://www.blacksabbath.com/" target="_blank">Black Sabbath</a> - 13 </span></b><br>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5: <a href="http://www.volbeat.dk/landingpages/outlaw-gentlemen-shady-ladies-touredition/" target="_blank">Volbeat</a> - Outlaw Gentleman Shady Ladies</span></b><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4: <a href="http://www.protestthehero.ca/" target="_blank">Protest The Hero</a> - Volition</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3: <a href="http://www.dreamtheater.net/" target="_blank">Dream Theater</a> - Dream Theater</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2: <a href="http://www.sacredmothertongue.com/" target="_blank">Sacred Mother Tongue</a> - Out of the Darkness</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1: <a href="http://www.alterbridge.com/" target="_blank">Alter Bridge</a> - Fortress</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An honourable mention has to go out to actor and singer Sir Christopher Lee. He followed up his symphonic concept album released in 2010 with another fantastic album released on his 91st birthday. Anyone in a heavy metal band at the age of 91 is a true legend, it is a good album too well worth a listen. Well done Sir, well done.</span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-55964431640191150662013-11-21T14:45:00.003-08:002013-11-21T16:00:47.572-08:00Order of Nine - Seventh Year of the Broken Mirror<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSDZP26OH5Xo6esfYMIYQYzPJ65PC8-qSRuhZDXVKu85lRxyBVT66D0A0I0c5a49WAs4wjk1-vHcwfdLKJdy-1TzTmuvoPtL4whI932F-bjvuiAK2DyrAcHSG1H0JVGWM-YpGiVVjg44/s1600/7th+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSDZP26OH5Xo6esfYMIYQYzPJ65PC8-qSRuhZDXVKu85lRxyBVT66D0A0I0c5a49WAs4wjk1-vHcwfdLKJdy-1TzTmuvoPtL4whI932F-bjvuiAK2DyrAcHSG1H0JVGWM-YpGiVVjg44/s200/7th+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Release Date: <span style="color: #666666;">22nd May 2012</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: <span style="color: #666666;">Symphonic Power Metal, Heavy Metal.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Label: <span style="color: #666666;">Nightmare Records</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number of Tracks:<span style="color: #666666;"> 11</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Band Homepage: <a href="http://orderof9.com/" target="_blank">Order Of Nine</a></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall Rating: 7.8/10</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'<i>Seventh Year of the Broken Mirror' </i>is the 5th album from accomplished, Pennsylvanian metallers Order of Nine. Inspired by the likes of Iron Maiden, Dream Theatre and Symphony X, this diverse album is musically brilliant with great riffs, exquisite lead guitar playing and unique doom style vocals all of which will escalate Order of Nine to be up with the big names of this genre. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The album is generally set at a slow tempo, but is certainly heavy and perhaps the most impressive aspect of all is the tight, harmonised lead guitars that feature in different ways in every song. Hell, all the guitars are phenomenally tight and well composed and the riffs in certain parts are muscular. Guitarists Steve Pollick and Mark Kreh are real assets to the 6 piece group. Michael Degrena's vocal style </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">has similarities to Ozzy Osbourne and although it has it weak points where perhaps it doesn't fit with certain songs such as the chorus to 'Spiral Staircase', this is a rarity as it</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> fits well with the slow tempo and riffing style and is unique to this genre. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keith Hurka's drums really mould well with the guitars and the diversity in the drums alone is fascinating. This is evident throughout the album, but 1 song sums up the drumming ability and that is track 6 'Innocence'. The intro to this song is heavy, probably the heaviest section of the album with tight drum fills and double bass carrying the song to a softer, almost psychedelic sound. Chris Dillion's powerful addition with the keyboard really adds to the emphatic feel to songs, track 8 a particular highlight of his work. Overall, a great musical set up.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are many many good points in this album which i urge you to check out. The titular first track's keyboard breakdown/solo and guitar harmonised solo is very reminiscent of early Dream Theatre. After the intro to this song, it fades away into a clean section led by talented bassist Mark Howard. Even though this song features some screamed vocals in the chorus, the verse riff seems to lack thrust and imagination. However, this is made up for in the aforementioned solo section. Track 2 'Words That Were Said' moves like a bullet and offers us a sharp and short lived injection of pace. Again the intro riff is blistering as is the harmonised solo which is worthy of super shred status.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a lot of diversity on the album as track 3 'Dreamspeak' starts with a soft piano intro, unlike the other tracks, but it still has the 80s thrash theme. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The verse does a great job of leading up to the </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> chorus which features fast double bass drums and a continuous symphonic feel. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The lengthy track 5 'Changing of the Guard' is laden with musical excellence. Drums, guitar, keyboard and bass all prove how talented the band are and is one of the strongest tracks on the album. It's composure is excellent as it features a chunky riff, drums and keyboard and stay heavy up until just after a Godly solo, where it turns into an slow acoustic melody which builds to a guitar shred duel lasting another 3 minutes.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Track 8 'Eye of the Enemy' is the strongest track on the album and is a song you can really get connected too. The chord choice, particularly in the keyboard is spot on, and could not be any better. The song is constructed similarly to track 5 but the piano breakdown at 4:00 minutes is very emotive, and spectacularly is not out of place. The vocals after this are very Ozzy Osbourne esque. This builds to an appropriate guitar duel, that again, isn't overdone. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>There are few negatives, as songs like 'Twelfth Talisman', the verse sections to 'Third Wish', and 'Seventh Year of the Broken Mirror' seem to lack originality and are overshadowed by the excellence that surrounds them. In parts, the vocals are weak and sometimes do not fit the song such as track 11 'Winters Call', however this is a rarity as it was refreshing to hear a band try something new, and add something fresh to this genre.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall, this is mostly a fantastically well written, well composed and well produced album which shows the talents of every member of the band. The musicianship in parts is exceptional. A stand out fact is how much effort these guys have clearly put in, which doesn't go un-noticed. These are a unique and highly diversified group, one which I wish I had heard sooner. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You can purchase the album off the bands webpage (link at the top) and I recommend that you do. They have a selection of songs off their discography on the <a href="https://www.reverbnation.com/orderofnine/songs" target="_blank">Order Of Nine Reverbnation</a> page, and their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/orderofnine" target="_blank">Facebook</a> is frequently updated.</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-60820502626456114682013-11-19T16:44:00.000-08:002013-11-19T16:48:46.327-08:00Gomorrah - To The Depths EP<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8GoDw-mkBJP_PtTewx-Qhz42N_P_ItdhJHK1NWBcaEBCFdvTZdcAHENo1C8iyPk9R9fAoA-ME3qaDhvTiLWMBkq_QjZsOFG1xfHuOmAxHwZmlQuy-YaXRjUd3rsNfGuepK7z6GkhhgY/s1600/Gomorrah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8GoDw-mkBJP_PtTewx-Qhz42N_P_ItdhJHK1NWBcaEBCFdvTZdcAHENo1C8iyPk9R9fAoA-ME3qaDhvTiLWMBkq_QjZsOFG1xfHuOmAxHwZmlQuy-YaXRjUd3rsNfGuepK7z6GkhhgY/s200/Gomorrah.jpg" width="200" /></span></b></a><b><span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Release Date: <span style="color: #666666;">September 2013</span> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Genre: <span style="color: #666666;">Metal, Thrash, Death</span></span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Label: <span style="color: #666666;">Unsigned</span></span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Number of Tracks: <span style="color: #666666;">6</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black;">Sounds Like:<span style="color: #666666;"> Lamb of God, Sepultura.</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Overall Rating: <span style="color: #666666;">7.0/10</span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Unsigned Ohio-based metal act Gomorrah
have recently released their 'To the Depths' EP, a mixture of riffs
and aggression neatly distilled into 6 tracks that demonstrates the
band's sound, which is reminiscent of a less melodic pre-crusade
Trivium mixed with a vaguely Lamb of God flavour. This is not to say
that To The Depths is derivative, far from it.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>It starts as it means to go on, and
the titular opening track does a good job of painting the picture for
the rest of the experience. As opening tracks go this isn't a bad
effort, the opening riff is satisfyingly heavy and sets up the
screaming vocal style nicely. The track demonstrates a real knowledge
of how songs of this genre are put together, and it culminates in a
genuinely great instrumental break before quite literally ending
where it began.
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Track 2, 'Chapel of Stilled Voices'
starts off slightly up-tempo before kicking into a killer riff and
just runs from there. Fairly similar vocal styles to the previous
track and this is what can be expected for the duration. All in all
an energetic addition to the EP.</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tribulations highlights a slightly
different track than the previous two, and it's a refreshing change.
This track is relentlessly straightforward, and features some really
nice harmony work towards the middle. This track is a particular
highlight and it shows a band that has energy and potential.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>In contrast, Tempest fails to leave as
big an impression because, despite starting off well, there is a
section about 1:20 into the track where things feel really disjointed
and forced and it spoils the track a little bit. It feels clumsy
compared to the excellent musicianship displayed throughout. It's not
a complete spoiler however, and the song picks up again after this
and we're hit with a killer instrumental break (a recurring theme in
this album) before the track rounds off.</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tracks five and six provide a
satisfying conclusion to the EP. Colossus, track 5, has a really
interesting riff and really reflects what we've seen already. It's a
good listen but the track that stands out is track 6, Beneath the
Falling Sun. This song takes all the potential glimpsed in the
previous five tracks and combines it wonderfully. It's a brilliant
ending track, combining high-tempo riffing, excellent drumming and
good structure, before it descends into the absolute highlight of the
track. The acoustic section and the solo that accompanies it is truly
a wonderful contrast to the way the song starts. The acoustic section
drops away to some more serious soloing. We're greeted then with a
slower riff before kicking back off into a up-scale instrumental
break. This section of the song serves to highlight Gommorah's
tightness and is genuinely impressive.</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a solid EP, however, there are
some flaws. The EP really lacks dynamic variance. It's relentless to
listen to from start to end and it's a shame because individually the
tracks are good, but one after another it's very hard to really
appreciate as a whole. The strange disjointed section is another
downside, and while this is a one-off it's still a flaw. The other
major gripe of this EP is that it is not especially varied. That's
fine, in a sense, but it's always nice to hear variety and I think
that is one thing To The Depths lacks.</b></div>
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</b></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The verdict: To The Depths is an
excellent insight into a talented band. While not perfect, it
features some great musicianship. Based on what this EP represents,
Gomorrah are going to make some truly excellent music in the future,
and if you are local to them then it may well be worth going to see
their shows. Keep your eye on this band. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Follow Gomorrah's <a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/metalgomorrah" target="_blank">ReverbNation</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Gomorrahband" target="_blank">Youtube</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/metalgomorrah" target="_blank">Soundcloud</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/metalgomorrah" target="_blank">Facebook</a> accounts for updates on the band, tours and future releases.</span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09593786165535406590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-79091077126645540242013-11-12T17:23:00.000-08:002013-11-19T16:47:03.902-08:00Protest the Hero - Volition<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHpLZyxIBqp25ZoL8Ciio80Fl-5nhflbUUuP420TAtEjaRNyrjYIyevbVuuQfnG1_grseEGvlt5cFEEny7E6F5UihPjwrJxiYGBATk1CnwWdHd7lDSIlTh82dDxk_AfbUmwIOt2PS-sU/s1600/PTH-Volition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHpLZyxIBqp25ZoL8Ciio80Fl-5nhflbUUuP420TAtEjaRNyrjYIyevbVuuQfnG1_grseEGvlt5cFEEny7E6F5UihPjwrJxiYGBATk1CnwWdHd7lDSIlTh82dDxk_AfbUmwIOt2PS-sU/s200/PTH-Volition.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Released: </span>October 29th, 2013</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Genre: </span>Progressive, Metal</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Sounds Like:</span> <span style="color: #cccccc;">Dillinger Escape Plan</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #bbbbbb; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Label: </span>Unsigned</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Number of Tracks: </span>11</b></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Overall Rating:</span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span>8/10</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> '<i>Without
a word uttered a comparison is drawn</i>.' - track 1, Clarity. </span></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
sums up PtH. Fortress and Kezia were great albums, so when a
new release comes out; there's your benchmark. Does Volition live up
to the previous work? Almost. Yes. Sort of. It's hard to say, really.
It's an unmistakably PtHesque album, but it is also something
different, a genuine step forward. Protest the Hero have always been
an interesting band. Technical and intricate, the diverse vocal
styles and lyrical content of their previous works have
differentiated them from similar bands. So how does Volition hold up
against what we already know about PtH?</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> The
album does not shy away from technicality, this is first truly
evident during track 3 – Tilting Against Windmills. This track
features the trademark impressive guitar work we've come accustomed
to from PtH and similarly impressive and polished vocals and it makes
a good snapshot of the album. It's interesting to consider that in
style, each album is relatively similar but at the same time they
carry their own unique feel. It's easy to differentiate Heretics &
Killers, Sequoia Throne, Hair-Trigger and Plato's Tripartite, but
each song is easily identifiable as Protest the Hero and it's just as
easy to differentiate between each album. On that, Volition does
manage to have it's own feel whilst keeping the quintessentially PtH
sound that fans have become accustomed to. It would be hard to
imagine a track like Drumhead Trial appearing on Scurrilous.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
lyrical themes of the album are diverse, arguably even more so than
previously. You can't really talk about this without mentioning track
9 – Underbite, which is a song that calls into question the
motivation of bands and the relationship between a band and their fan
base becoming disillusioned and the video (which can be found
underneath this paragraph, check it out – it's brilliant) pokes fun
at merchandise and references lip-synching. This is a particular high
on the album and stands up well, especially in context of the video.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> One
negative point is that there is almost no bass in this album. On
Fortress in particular the bass is normally very noticeable and
typically excellent, but on this album it seems held back far too
much. It's not completely absent, indeed there are a few brief
highlights in Clarity and the final track Skies, where the bass is
indeed noticeable but for the most part it is woefully
under-emphasised.
</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> To
conclude, Volition is a pretty solid effort. It is a step forward in
the genre and for the band. If you liked PtH's previous works, then
you will adore this album. If you haven't heard of the band before
then this is probably as good a place as any to start when it comes
to listening to them, it offers a lot to existing fans and new fans
alike.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The album is available now, from the usual places. Check out their </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/protestthehero" target="_blank">Facebook</a></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for updates on tours and other things related to the band. See also their <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ProtestTheHeroVEVO" target="_blank">Youtube</a> for videos. Definately worth a look.</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09593786165535406590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-66351376421707398382013-11-11T13:31:00.003-08:002013-11-11T13:31:30.615-08:00Drawn Awake - Reflection EP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VLX20brGDV1dRTcbVckoqO6735lSO3ouJuaqZm50nxOwRSpiSU8k7fsYSkQ56-CXjnulLHiWoRVefR5q12DkwmEUrpeo_5gNCYmrwXb8mY8JGYczHxcqWvpGoqIkz_Syx8AmAHfj0hw/s1600/artworks-000041180437-2mzg6f-t200x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VLX20brGDV1dRTcbVckoqO6735lSO3ouJuaqZm50nxOwRSpiSU8k7fsYSkQ56-CXjnulLHiWoRVefR5q12DkwmEUrpeo_5gNCYmrwXb8mY8JGYczHxcqWvpGoqIkz_Syx8AmAHfj0hw/s1600/artworks-000041180437-2mzg6f-t200x200.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Released: </span>24th January 2013</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Genre: </span>Melodic, Death metal</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Sounds Like: </span>Amon Amarth, Carcass, As I Lay Dying. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Label: </span>Unsigned</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Number of Tracks: </span>4</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Overall Rating: </span>7.5/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'<i>Drawn Awake' </i>are a 4 piece melodic death metal band from Finland. Soon after their first EP release in 2012, they got to work on a new album for 2013 entitled '<i>Reflection EP' </i>and features 4 high tempo songs with excellent melodic fast harmonised riffing, heavy double bass and screamed death metal vocals.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The death metal vocals aren't overpowering as it is heavily formulated around the guitar and instrumental parts, rightly so as the guitars are, in some parts , technically excellent. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Highlights of the album include track 1 '<i>Game In Reflection' </i>which has a groovy blood pumping verse riff and a catchy chorus. </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Track 2 doesn't stand out for me and even though there are flashes of nice riffing, the lower tempo of the chorus seems to unnecessarily elongate the song. </b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Track 3 '<i>Reflection' </i>is a fantastical music piece starting off with a soft piano riff which diverses the album away from high tempo screaming and is a nice addition. </b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Track 4 '</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Identity' </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is a nice way to finish the album and some really tight technical guitar work similar to technical death metal band '</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Neuraxis' </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and is a highlight and a great way to end an album as it leaves us intrigued and gives us a taste of the potential. </span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The album starts to feel monotonous towards the end, as a lot of the songs sound the same. However, they do have a solid set of melodic death metal songs with which they are ready to explode on the metal circuit as Amon Amarth did in 1998. Currently hoping to play 30+ gigs around FInland and Estonia before recording a 3rd EP in April next year. </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Here is their <a href="https://soundcloud.com/drawnawake" target="_blank">Soundcloud</a> of the full EP, and follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DrawnAwake" target="_blank">Drawn Awake</a> for details of more shows and to buy their EP.</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-68350369318877327112013-11-10T15:27:00.000-08:002013-11-10T15:27:13.175-08:00David Locke, Sick Puppies, ZZ Top and Protest the Hero in Songs of the week!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Have you had a song in your head all week, Tapping along to the drums, air guitaring the riff (or real guitar) or singing along to the lyrics. Let us know here, we are interested in what you guys listen to! All songs welcome, big or small and of all genres, lets share some fucking music. Post in the comments, or on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MetalMusicAlbumReviews" target="_blank">Facebook</a>!</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This week has featured the announcement of a new <i><a href="http://www.within-temptation.com/headlines/pre-order-new-album-hydra-starts-today/" target="_blank">Within Temptation</a> </i>album due in February, the announcement of <a href="http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/heaviest-metal-robot-band-compressorhead-to-play-free-show-in-new-york-city/" target="_blank"><i>Compressorhead</i></a> a band involving purely robots built in Germany gigging in New York and a fantastic new progressive metal album from <i><a href="http://www.protestthehero.ca/" target="_blank">Protest The Hero</a>. </i>But here are a list of our favorite songs that have gotten us through the week.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Starting us off is a fantastic instrumental progressive ballad from <i><a href="http://davidlocke.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">David Locke</a>. </i>His first album <i>'Riding Out Youth' </i>is well written and well produced. It is never in your face and is easily accessible yet progressive. A guitar style similar to Joe Satriani with considerable talent and great musical understanding. </b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sickpuppies.com/" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Sick Puppies</a><i> </i>are an Australian alternative hard rock, band with 4 full length albums. The latest of which was released in July of this year. When track 4 came on shuffle I couldn't get enough of the riff leading up to the aggressive solo and the intriguing lyrics made me stick it on repeat for a few days. These are a band that are under appreciated outside of their home soil, give them a listen!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Released October 29th, <i><a href="http://www.protestthehero.ca/" target="_blank">Protest The Hero</a>'s </i>new album '<i>Violation'</i>. Consisting of technical thrash and power metal, their new album certainly is a wild ride thats filled with excellent musicianship and innovative songwriting. The hilarious video to track 9 '<i>Underbite' </i>circulated this week and the <a href="http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/protestthehero/underbite.html" target="_blank">lyrics</a> are mainly about the state of metal at the moment. '<i>It's bullshit. Be honest, this can't be what you wanted/ if what you write about means anything to you. Rather than pure vanity, people might connect with sincerity.' </i></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You must have something you have thoroughly enjoyed this week! Tell us in the comments below!</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-57701159593912450202013-11-05T14:24:00.000-08:002013-11-05T15:06:41.112-08:00David Locke - Riding Out Youth<div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its always a pleasure when listening to a new album, when I happen across </span></b></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">something that is different and interesting; David Locke's debut album, 'Riding Out Youth' is both. Locke combines progressive ideas with accomplished musicianship with a concept of how to put a song together, producing a complex and technical work that is also subtle and easy to listen to. </span></b></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is an entirely self-produced album, however it is hard to differentiate from a major label release. There are some moments when a disparity in styles over different tracks detract slightly from the continuity of the record as an album and as an instrumental album it does, on very rare occasion, fade into the background.</span></b></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The variety of this album is broad; from the titular opening track which hearkens to a combination of Dream Theater and King Crimson to the softer, more mellow track 8, 'Dreaming' which is more reminiscent of Flying in a Blue Dream, Riding Out Youth hits the more technical sides of prog, through blues to a softer more delicate sound. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Track 2, 'Code' stands out as something a little bit different. Starting off with a riff that really grinds, it then undergoes a syncopated metamorphosis with interesting uses of time signature and melody. It occasionally reverts to a recognisable 'chorus', before it moves again cascading along it's path and ending with a blazing guitar solo.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Track 5, 'Thoughts' is another foray into the lighter side of this album and after the slightly darker piano track 'Untitled' it is a refreshingly bluesy track that builds in proportion as it progresses. In my opinion, this is one of the more simple but subtle tracks on the album, and features yet more accomplished guitar work towards the end.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After that softer interlude we are hit with Track 6 'Elements' which again harks back to earlier prog with it's atonal introduction. It's almost bipolar in construction for the first two and a half minutes, shifting from the atonal chord section to lucid melodies and back again before it seems to resolve its self. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To end up we have Mind Matter. This is a track that manages to be complex and technical without losing any of it's edge and approachability. As a final track, it works really well and acts as a satisfactory conclusion to proceedings.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are one or two drawbacks to an album such as this. As stated previously, the variety of styles hinders the continuity of the flow of the album, and the drum tracks do lack character in places (although this is to be expected with programmed drums). My only other minor criticism is that instrumental albums in general can become background sometimes, although in the case of Riding Out Youth, this is not by any means a common occurrence.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To conclude, Riding Out Youth is a well written, well produced album. Locke is an accomplished guitarist and songwriter, who, as a guitarist is reminiscent of Joe Satriani. The album is never in your face over-technical, nor is it monotonous at any point. The subtlety of the musicianship is what makes this album better than good and it demonstrates considerable talent and musical understanding on Locke's part. To consider then that this is a debut makes it an even more impressive achievement and that is why I give this album 8.5/10</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I highly recommend checking his <a href="https://davidlocke.bandcamp.com/album/riding-out-youth" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> page to get a sample and buy his album. Keep up to date through his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/davidlockemusic" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.davelocke.co.uk/pics.php" target="_blank">his website</a>. He is a true musician and one that certainly should get recognition.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>- Rob</i></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679611005628562336.post-58817051713565871232013-10-22T06:44:00.000-07:002013-10-22T06:58:28.936-07:00Sinheresy - Paint The World<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Released: </span>September 30th 2013</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Genre: </span>Gothic, Power Progressive Metal</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Number of Tracks: </span>10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Record Label: </span>BakerTeam Records</b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sounds Like: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nightwish, Symphony X, Sirenia</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall Rating: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8/10</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Super talented female fronted band <i>Sinheresy</i>, have developed their own unique style of metal by mixing their influences from progressive metal bands such as <i>Nightwish</i> and <i>Symphony X</i> with the dark sound of <i>Siriena </i>and <i>Within Temptation. </i>Their first EP '<i>The Spiders and the Butterfly'</i> received a positive reaction from fans and critics and they are now back with their first full length album '<i>Paint The World'</i>. </span></b></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their fresh new sound make <i>Sinheresy</i> standout with vocalists Cecilia Petrini and Stephen Sain often orchestrating vocal duels and melodies superbly, unlike anything we've heard before. Musically, they are very tight and they blend fast paced power riffs, with a typical </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">symphonic rhythmic keyboard sound, expertly. They know when to slow it down at the right times, and tracks like '<i>Roses & Thorns' </i>fits in well amongst the high tempo brilliance that surrounds it. This sound starts us off with first track '<i>Last Fall'. </i>After the short cinematic intro, the pounding fast riff and drumming excellence from Alex Vescovi carries us through the diverse vocal duets faster than a bullet leaving a gun. This is an emphatic way to announce yourselves on the underground power prog scene.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You get the feeling that the band know exactly what they are doing musically and are technically excellent. Their songwriting knowledge throughout the multi-talented group is vast, and the album has a feel good factor about it. However, it could have been produced better as it is hard to hear the vocals in most parts, and the instrumentals overpower the vocals.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>'The Gambler' </i>and '<i>Made for Sin' </i>is another example of fast paced pounding riffage, and the vocal harmonies continue to work well. Title track <i>'Paint The World' </i>is slower in tempo but is probably the catchiest song on the album, and is vocally excellent for Ms Petrini. The album slows down towards the end, but by no means does it weaken. Highlights include the solo to track 9 <i>'Elua's Gift' </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For fans of symphonic metal this album will not disappoint and is a fantastic starting point for <i>Sinheresy, </i>and joining at the front of the pack of female fronted power prog bands which are in short supply; we will be seeing a lot more from <i>Sinheresy </i>in the future. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Planning on "Painting the world with our music" over 2014, which hopefully means some gigs in the UK and across europe! Keep your eyes on these, I can't wait to hear more from these guys!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Sinheresy?feature=watch"><b>Sinheresy Youtube</b></a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593345104838376022noreply@blogger.com0