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Music Reviews:
JUNE 2005
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Street Brats,“You’ll Never Walk Alone” b/w “I Remember”, “Mind Control” [7” vinyl] (Full Breach Kicks)
If Green Day was on a train headed east traveling 67 m.p.h. and Velvet Revolver was on a train heading west traveling at 78 m.p.h. and they collided somewhere near the Dead Boys old hometown the Street Brats might be what the survivors would sound like if they joined forces. Songs in the same style as the New York Dolls and the Dead Boys with a bit of a punk edge.
www.fullbreach77.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
Kasabian,"Kasabian" (RCA)
While there have been plenty of Oasis comparisons when it comes to the group Kasabian, I just don’t hear it. Sure, some of the vocals have that “Ian swagger”. But I see the group as a natural progression from The Stone Roses and Blur. Kasabian combines the best of these groups (Plus the knack of the Oasis grasp of catchy melodies) with a healthy dose of “techno”. “Reason Is Treason” screams out for radio play, it is just so damn catchy! Overall, this is what a ‘debut’ album should do: inspire, captivate and ultimately satisfy.
I’m thoroughly impressed…Kasabian is possibly the ‘great white hope’ of ‘Brit-Pop.
Another great “find”.
www.kasabian.co.uk
Rating:
Review by Ronnie
Axel Rudi Pell,"The Ballads III" (SPV)
Hard rockin’ German axeman Axel Rudi Pell has put out his third installment of ballads on the appropriately titled THE BALLADS III. This 11-track collection sounds like 1988 all over again, so much so that the only thing missing is a can of Aqua Net and some fringed leather jackets. However, fans of the beleaguered but ultimately memorable entity known as the power ballad will rejoice over this collection. Compiling the softer side of Pell’s last three releases with three new cuts, one of which being a soulful cover of Rainbow’s “The Temple of the King”, THE BALLADS III may not be an essential purchase. But, if you’re a fan with a completist complex or are a little curious on how little the power ballad has changed over the last 20 years, this CD is for you.
www.spvusa.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
RPG,"Full Time" (Arclight)
RPG is a hard rockin’, beer drinkin’, blood drawin’ outfit from Virginia whose 13-track, pedal to the metal, non-stop retro rock ‘n’ roll shindig of an album is a pleasure to listen to, as these guys take you back to a time when bruising, ballsy blues rock with a heavy bottom end ruled the world. Imagine the MC5, The Stooges, Aerosmith, Grand Funk Railroad, Monster Magnet, AC/DC, and Motorhead on one bill, and that kind of sums up the wide range given off by FULL TIME. Tracks like “Song of Evil” impose the punk rock kick to the groin while “Clockin’ In” combine fuzz guitar with a Southern rock-y, Lynyrd Skynyrd vibe and “Paralyzed” contains the right concoction of sleaze and haze to make it the album’s shining moment. No time to stop and think here, kids, as RPG burns through some straightforward, meat and potatoes style rock with bursts of hearty, high-octane hard rock. Be prepared to consume the rock ‘n’ roll voodoo RPG is working.
www.arclightrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Various Artists,"Wild Sazanami Beat! Vol. 2" (Sazanami)
Usually compilation CD’s don’t do much for me, but WILD SAZANAMI BEAT! VOL. 2 is the exception to the rule. There ain’t a weak track in the bunch, and the 24 tracks within combine garage rock with surf music of the early ‘60s with farfisa-led rock, featuring treatments by both American bands as well as rock bands from the far East. So you get a few familiar covers like “Have Love Will Travel” (by The Portugal Japan) as well as familiar names such as The Woggles (Their “Mella Mella” is just so damn infectious!).
However, it is some of these “foreign” interpretations of rock that I almost find the most impressive. Rock ‘N Roll still has its “new” sheen in the far east and these
band’s enthusiasm simply pours from their songs! Whether it is the Chocomates
broken-English version of The Beach Boys’ “Surfer Girl” (Best Beach Boys cover I’ve
heard in a LONG time) or The Babies “Girl” (This song transcends the language barrier! Although it is in Japanese, it is my favorite track!). Cooterfinger delivers pure
electricity with the “Rehab Twist”, complete with authentic lo-fi production.
Sometimes, delving back into the past glories of rock ‘n roll can be a good thing,
especially when it is heartfelt. This is one of the strongest albums of the year!
www.sazanamilabel.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by Ronnie
Paul Westerberg,"Folker" (Vagrant Records)
Restrained acoustic strumming, melodic choruses and songs about loss, desperation
and heartache. What more do you need from a CD? Westerberg gives us all this and more
on this great record. “My Dad” laments the fact that his late father never saw him play-but he did get a kick seeing the family name in the paper. “Lookin’ Up In Heaven” is tugs at your emotions with lines like “before I go I’ll look high again.” But it’s not all sad stories here-“$100 Groom” swaggers with a Charlie Watts like back beat-
“she spent all my cash/I broke out in a rash.” Who didn’t on that special day?
“As Far As I Know” barrels along and is already a heady crowd pleaser at his
live shows. But it’s “How Can You Like Him?” that anchors this release. I dare you
to get the refrain out of your head. I’ve tried everything-Q-tips, water, WD-40. It
refuses to go away. To paraphrase The Ramones-it’s the song that ate my brain. Not
always a bad thing.
www.vagrant.com
Rating:
Review by Sean Koepenick
Superheavygoatass,"60,000 Years" (Arclight)
What a name, huh? Luckily for this Texas quartet, they can back up their moniker with a bevy of bulky, bong-fueled boogie-down barrages that would find solace in a southern swampland. Thick, rich, and oh yeah, real spacey, 60,000 YEARS takes the nuances of stoner rock and metal and fuse them into a cohesive cluster that fills your head with the kind of visions that they used to lock people away for having. Giving props and nods to ZZ Top, Sabbath, Monster Magnet, and Skynyrd, songs like the syrupy “Druglord” meanders in the much before the boys hit the full throttle guitar button and are up and running in seconds flat, sounding like a duel to the death between Billy Gibbons and Tony Iommi, while the driving the nail through your skull stance of “Best Friend” has got that QOSTA stomp meeting up with Sixty Watt Shaman’s sonic side. Superheavygoatass may sound funny, but their mix of Texas two-step, stoner rock shimmy, monolithic metal, and whiskey-soaked wisdom ain’t nothing to mess with, rejuvenating the sounds of hard rock circa 1977 convincingly.
www.arclightrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Brainstorm,"Liquid Moster" (Metal Blade)
German power metal troupe Brainstorm barrel down the gates on the quintet’s latest offering, the 11-track LIQUID MONSTER, Fusing triumphant choruses with exhilarating guitar runs and interlocking rhythms, tracks like “Mask of Life” and “Lifeline” will summon up the metal from deep inside your soul. Falling somewhere in between vintage Queensryche, Helloween, and Iced Earth, Brainstorm’s searing hooks are both heavy and catchy, while the band’s overall flurry of metal is overwhelming to the casual fan, but will undoubtedly please those that revel in Priest, Maiden, Dio, and the like. If you yearn for the days when falsetto metal voices were king and the riffs came fast and furious, Brainstorm has the remedy you crave.
www.metalblade.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
King Valley,"Greatest Hits Volume 8" (Indie Release)
Remember when monolithic rockers like Blue Cheer and Black Oak Arkansas
roamed the Earth freely-wreaking havoc wherever they went? I don’t either-I was in
diapers in 1970 but that’s what I hear from you old fogies out there. King Valley brings
back the riffs-big time. “Drawing Flies” is about as subtle as that Merrill Lynch bull
in a china stop-but it works. “Loaded” slides around guitarist Greg Clark’s massive
leads as singer TC screams over the fray. “Detect The Reject” benefits greatly from
the pummeling attack of Dave Sherman and Neckbone on bass and drums respectively.
The record ends on this DC band’s debut with 7 plus minutes of “Astro Train”. King Valley drives you into a dark gully and bruises your head a little. But you’ll be
smiling afterwards-even with a few teeth missing.
www.kingvalleymusic.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by Sean Koepenick
Will Sartain,"The Listening Booth" (Exumbrella Records)
This humble Utah musician has a very healthy outlook on fame and the whole music scene in general from everything I’ve read. He resides in a renovated attic space above an old Westside Liberty house, loves ping-pong, his mom, playing kickball and listening to music. A former member of local favorite Redd Tape, Sartain is now on tour in Europe. Not bad for a kid that has no pretensions about being a rock star. His quirky brand of pop seems to be doing quite well for him.
Personal favorite: "Perspective".
www.exumbrella.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
Shame Train,"She Knows The Score" (Rock Is Dead Records)
This is alt-country cut from the same cloth as bands like Old 97’s, Whiskeytown, Wilco, the Jayhawks and Steve Earle. A pretty great album here. Songs of love and love lost. All the stuff a good album should have. “The King Of All That I Survey” seems to stick with me the most for some reason. If you’re into the whole alt-country scene then this should be right up your alley.
www.shametrain.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
Blessed By A Broken Heart,"All Is Fair In Love and War" (Blood & Ink)
Christian metalcore clan Blessed By a Broken Heart aim to replace Atreyu as the 16 year-old female’s new pinup kings, yet these Canadians lack the creativity to usurp them. On the band’s bland nine track release, the gorged guitars and razor-throated vocals sound like countless other outfit’s, and worse yet, when the band decides to go retro in the form of rapping and ‘80s metal-ing up, it falls flat fast. However, the cover art (a badass skull emblazoned with a twin turret machine gun and two intercrossed guitars) would make quite the conversation piece as a tattoo. Sadly, the album fails to even peak similar interest, although “OMG!” does show sufficient signs of life via a chugging breakdown and guttural vocals that rips into a Bury Your Dead meets Unearth crescendo, but one track does not an album make.
www.bloodandinkrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Eyes of the Betrayer,"Recovery" (Recourse)
Kansas City, MO natives Eyes of the Betrayer’ five-track metalcore display borrows from the Swedish metal scene quite a bit, making RECOVERY a smidgen more brutal than many other albums. A well-placed death growl also accentuates songs like “Icarus Demented” from being merely average, yet the same tired singing parts that reoccur in so many band’s arsenals rears it head here, detracting the overall feel of the song. When these guys get low and fast, they seem unstoppable, and while this five-track disc clocks in at about 30 minutes, there’s not a lot of meandering going on, just a lot of impressive twists and heavy-handed turns that allow EYES OF THE BETRAYER to stand out ahead of the metalcore pack.
www.recorserecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Sirenia,"An Elixir For Existence" (Napalm)
Hot off the heels of bands like Nightwish and Lacuna Coil, Sirenia’s AN ELIXIR FOR EXISTENCE take the female-fronted Gothic metal approach. Complete with symphonic choruses, growling male utterances, angelic female lead throat work, and the kind of keyboard overlays and rhythmic chugging you’d only find in this genre of metal, Sirenia’s nine-track dish isn’t breaking any new ground, but does provide an ample alternative to the aforementioned outfits. If you dig lush arrangements with a Goth-metal flare, this disc will suit you just fine.
www.napalmrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
The Go-Betweens,"Oceans Apart" (Yep Roc Records)
To be perfectly honest, I had never heard of the Go Betweens prior to receiving this cd in the mail but they have been around since 1978. According to their press bio they have been dogged by label troubles since their beginning which may explain my ignorance. This is some of the best pop you’ll find out there. Thirty plus years of making music together can either make you great or make you stagnant. Luckily it made these guys great. I would highly recommend you check this out. Oh yeah, this came with a six song concert cd as well so you can get a taste of how they sound live.
www.yeproc.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
Warp 11,"Boldly Go Down On Me" (Reboot Music)
BOLDLY GO DOWN ON ME is a natural progression from the excellent last Warp 11 release,
RED ALERT. Sure, there are plenty of hilarious & clever, Star Trek-inspired lyrics (as
well as sexual innuendos), but this time Warp 11 is taking no prisoners as they deliver
an even harder edged musical sound! “Rage Against the Federation” and “Give It Up for
the Captain” show that Warp 11 can hold their own against ANY “serious” band.
Especially endearing to me is Warp 11’s emphasis on the old Star Trek – not only do I
think that the ‘60s version is superior, but the sheer campiness of that series is prime
material for hilarious parodies. But Warp 11 leaves out no series of Trek, and Chief
Science Officer Kiki Stockhammer’s vocals on the Data inspired “My Electric Man” is a
sultry blues song guaranteed to get a “rise” out of any geeky Trekkie (Ha ha, as well as
any testosterone filled man!).
After seeing the band perform live on TREKKIES II, I think I’ve realized why they are
heads and shoulders above all the other Trek bands: they are musicians FIRST. Clever
Trek lyrics are dime a dozen, but it takes a musical “force” like Warp 11 to truly
deliver the goods effectively. Accept no faux imitations, Warp 11 is the BEST Star Trek
themed band around.
BOLDLY GO DOWN ON ME is funny, memorable and most importantly…it ROCKS!
This ain’t no geek rock – Warp 11 redefines the whole perception of a Star Trek fan!
Resistance IS futile…
P.S. I can’t WAIT to see these guys live…
www.warp11.com
Rating:
and 3/4
Review by Ronnie
Team Sleep,"Team Sleep" (Maverick Records)
Founding frontman of the Deftones, Chino Moreno, and friend Troy Wilkinson had been trading tapes since 1994 and finally decided to turn this side project into a full fledge band in 2001. Team Sleep had a taste of success in 2003 with their song “The Passportal” on the soundtrack of “The Matrix Reloaded” and it looks as though that was just a taste of what’s to come. Off beat, hypnotic trip rock.
www.maverick.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
Neaera,"The Rising Tide of Oblivion" (Metal Blade)
Taking its name from a Greek mythological woman sold into sexual slavery only to be allowed to buy her own freedom back, the German metalcore clan Neaera make a solid run for the gauntlet on the group’s 13-track debut. Sounding somewhat like how At the Gates would if merged with Unearth, songs like the staccato savagery of “Broken Spine” seem all too familiar to the ardent headbanger, yet these guys do exhibit a knack for churning out some extreme metal chops with ferocious fluidity and a touch of darkness brought on by adding some orchestration on tracks like “From Grief…”. Add on some voracious drumming, some textbook Swedish death metal fretwork, and tight breakdowns (namely the one in “Where Submission Reigns”), and you’ve got a sturdy release on your hands. Only problem is that the style in which Neaera plays is overwrought with many of the same bands employing similar tactics, which may steer some away, but if you’ve hadn’t had enough of the sounds of Scandinavian metal yet, THE RISING TIDE OF OBLIVION is yet another disc worth checking out.
www.metalblade.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Incantation,"Decimate Christendom" (Olympic)
Merging deliberate dollops of doom with frenzied death metal, veteran troupe Incantation have numerous albums, countless tours, and legions of fans worldwide, and its latest addition, the 11-track DECIMATE CHRISTENDOM, conjures up yet another barrage of blasphemous brutality. Menacing riffs, pummeling percussion, and some of the most visceral guttural growls heard in a long time can be heard on tracks like “Merciless Tyranny” and the uber-doomy “Oath of Armageddon”. Some bands tend to mellow out after a few years, especially the heavier ilk, yet these troopers have gotten in touch with their inner decay and are still pumping out depraved death metal like “Horns of Eradication” and “Thorns of Everlasting Persecution” with the vigor of younger bands half their age. If you hate organized religion and love the sounds of punishing death metal, Incantation’s latest will not disappoint.
www.olympicrecordings.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Freedom Call,"The Circle of Life" (SPV)
German power metal troupe Freedom Call drum up all of the standard rock clichés on THE CIRCLE OF LIFE, from mega-dramatic guitar solos to fist pumping anthems like “Carry On” that’d sound best accompanying clips of international soccer highlights. With a likeness that combines Manowar, Gamma Ray, and Symphony X, this quintet takes its harmless, kitschy metal very seriously, and the musicianship behind songs like “Starlight” accentuate that. While the happy go lucky feel of this 12-track disc is a bit misplaced in 2005, if it’s innocuous power metal you’re looking for, these guys deliver the goods proper.
www.spvusa.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
The French Broads,"Better Wings, Better Happiness" (Disgraceland)
It’s been a couple of years since The French Broads have released an album and after listening to “Better Wings, Better Happiness” it seems it was time well spent. “Driver” is definitely my favorite track. It’s catchy and to the point and clocks in at a short minute and fifty-nine seconds. “Broken Enough” is another tasty song with all of its half Beatles, half Cheap Trick flavor. It’s one of those songs that’ll have you playing air guitar and making stupid rock star faces. This is pretty cool stuff.
www.disgraceland.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
Wammo,"Lowriders on the Storm" (Spanks-a-Lot Records)
Wammo’s latest release is not a full-blown concept album like his excellent last
endeavor (2002's FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SUCK). This time around he attempts a mostly
straight rock record, and his hit-miss ratio is 50/50, exploring genre's from
Zeppelin-esque rock (“Successpool”), grunge ("Save Me"), post punk ("Drowning at the
Oasis"), to Art Of Noise-like ("Hey Dave"). However, "Lowriders on the Storm" is HOT,
managing to mix "Riders on the Storm", "Lowrider", "Day Tripper", “Satisfaction”,
“Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “Godzilla”, “Baba O’Reilly”, “Sweet Jane”, “La Bamba”,
“Stand” – all into a coherent, very entertaining song. The last time I remember any
band cleverly mixing even a few of these songs was that old April Wine song (which title
escapes me). "Mulletica" is classic Wammo - a parody of the mullet, that combines a
hilarious story of deciding to change your hairstyle to the mullet, set with the music
of Metallica. “Lowriders…” and “Mulletica” alone are worth the CD! He also turns the
Asylum Street Spankers song "Beer" (which he wrote) into a rockfest, starting with a
"Kashmir"-like tempo, melding intro to an Elvis-rocker, finally into lightning punk rock
speed.
However, Wammo has mostly abandoned his strongest attribute: his humorous, concept
songs. While this is not his strongest release, it still has moments of brilliance.
www.asylumstreetspankers.com
Rating:
and 3/4
Review by Ronnie
The Awkward Romance,"To Breathe Is To Compromise EP" (Day Job Records)
Capturing the live energy of the band a bit more than their previous outing was what these guys were attempting to do here and I think they accomplished that and then some. Catchy pop punk is what they’re selling and business is good. “This Hurts Me More Than It Hurts You” is a summer radio hit if ever I heard one. “Wake Up, Wonder Twins” rocks a little harder and has a bit rawer sound but is just as full of hooks. “…Like Hypochondriacs Need Placebos” gets my vote for its title alone. Lots of good music here that the little girls would understand.
www.theawkwardromance.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
The Red Death,"External Frames of Reference" (Metal Blade)
The Red Death is an Upstate New York based outfit whose 10-track debut blends the guttural growls of death metal with the soaring riffs of Swedish metal, creating yet another band in the long, drawn out metalcore genre. This quintet’s vocal attack comes sans any clean singing (a big plus), and sounds more raw than its peer’s releases, making tracks like “Aftertaste of the Emaciated” and “Silent Machines” strike harder than usual. Otherwise, The Red Death’s slash and burn delivery, churning rhythms, staccato guitars, and impassioned screams aren’t anywhere near innovative, but do a cohesive and competent job in pleasing your inner headbanger.
www.metalblade.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Impellitteri,"Pedal to the Metal" (SPV)
Impellitteri features the fancy fretwork of Chris Impellitteri, guitarist extraordinaire that, unlike other guitar heroes, releases a 10-track album that actually produces well-crafted songs like “Kingdom of Titus” instead of guitar showoffs. While tracks like “Propaganda Mind” rips off Disturbed blatantly, and the tongue in cheek flavor of “Punk”, supposedly aimed at making fun at the rap-rock explosion, actually makes the band look a little bitter, there’s still a lot of powerful numbers on this disc, such as the chunky “Hurricane” and the pounding “Crushing Daze”. Alas, if you dig power metal, songs like the cascading “The Writing’s on the Wall” hit a homerun, and there are still a slew of flashy six-stringed tricks exposed on PEDAL TO THE METAL to excite the guitar freak. Yet, Impellitteri goes the extra mile, unlike his shredding contemporaries, and made sure to include some compelling hard rock tunes for all audiences, not just gear heads and axe fans.
www.spvusa.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Greyscale,"Discord for the Dead Kid" (Battle Born)
Greyscale is a Reno, NV based quintet transplanted from Long Island, NY whose 10-track release presents an intriguing mixed bag of musical styles, with hard and heavy ultimately winning out. Despite the decibel level being tested, these guys are deep-rooted in the dub and drum and bass aspect of music, as most of DISCORD FOR THE DEAD KID’s tracks display an undercurrent of the aforementioned styles. Sounding at times like a cross between Dredg, Nonpoint, and Skindred, tracks like “Get At” and “Searching for Substance” reveal a clash between chugging guitars and groove-laden rhythms, while the dub-esque feel of “New Beat” showcases an adventurous side of the group. For a mix of chunk and funk swung with a ten-ton hammer, Greyscale’s latest disc is as solid as it gets.
www.battlebornrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Longwave,"There’s A Fire" (RCA)
Longwave is a band full of guys that are masters at putting together songs that sneak up on the listener. You’ll find yourself tapping your foot before you even realize what the hell your listening to. Take “There’s A Fire” for instance, it sounds like you’ve heard this song before almost to the point of knowing the lyrics. That is a gift of sorts I suppose and hell, to be honest, I could have possibly heard the damn song before. All I know is it’s got some meaty hooks that stick in your head like gum to a shoe. These guys are playing in the majors and they’re holding their own pretty well.
www.rcarecords.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
Allen Wentz,"Out of Warranty" (Overnight Music)
OUT OF WARRANTY is a gem – with obvious Gabriel, Floyd, Beatles, Hollies, Knopfler,
Dylan, Beck, Wilson, and Eagles influences. But I also hear Rundgren, Byrds, and Styx,
in the mix. Wentz says it best when he describes his work as: "I am a synthesis of all
that I've ingested. Sometimes obvious, sometimes not." But that’s only on the surface.
Just when you get used to the familiar, almost retro sounds, Wentz puts bizarre techno
twists in. His lyrical brilliance shines on “Planet Hollywood”, a scathing tale of
California as well as “Too Little, Too Late” with its “Obi Wan can’t save you here, the
force is null and void my dear”. “Any Other Thursday” is simply beautiful.
However, the creme de la creme has to be his cover of The Beatles “Lucy In The
Sky With Diamonds”! Yes, you’ve gotta have balls to cover a Beatles song, and cover it
properly he does - taking “Lucy” to places that Lennon probably couldn’t have imagined.
It combines elements of the original, along with a very “Good Morning, Good
Morning”-type horn section, mixed with assorted techno infusions. John would definitely
be proud, as this version kicks the ass of Elton’s 1975 version!
All in all, OUT OF WARRANTY is a surprise slam-dunk!
www.overnight-music.com
Rating:
and 3/4
Review by Ronnie
Losa,"The Perfect Moment" (Metal Blade)
Hailing from Texas, Losa is a mighty quintet whose unique approach to metalcore breathes new life into the saturated genre. THE PERFECT MOMENT is as caustic, spastic, frenetic, and powerful as anything currently ruling the market, as they tastefully extract pieces of Slipknot, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Candiria, Mastodon, Tool, and Cradle of Filth and comprise a hulking beast capable of immense damage. Crushingly heavy, tracks like the schizophrenic “The Witness’s Account” and the sludgy death groove of “One Day, All Eyes Went Dim” entangle your ears into a web of moody, brooding carnage, while the creeping din made by “From the Ashes of Infancy” is a sinewy slobberknocker. One of the best things about THE PERFECT MOMENT is its non-stop barrage of music, as the tracks run into each other without a chance to catch your breath, making this disc sound organically relentless. Intriguing, enlightening, and distinctive, Losa’s latest release is explosive and necessary listening to those who strive for adventure.
www.metalblade.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Balatonizer,"Occlused In Ottusity" (This Dark Reign)
32 tracks of sweltering grindcore is what the Italian trio known as Balatonizer dish out on OCCLUSED IN OTTUSITY. What makes this release so endearing is not the Cookie Monster on crack vocals, or the incessant barrage of rapid-fire guitars and inhumane drumbeats, but the samples of real criminals boasting of their heinous acts against society. How’s that for a slice of reality? And it’s all done in Italian, which only adds to the mystique. If you dig crushing grindcore and THE SOPRANOS, this disc is for you.
www.devildollrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Arms Of Kismet,"Cutting Room Rug" (Indie Release)
Former Wampeter, Mark Doyon started recording under the name Arms Of Kismet and released “Eponymous” in 2004. “Cutting Room Rug” is Doyon’s follow up album. Full of quirky, off-center, witty tunes about everything from returning to his childhood neighborhood to just listening. With Arms Of Kismet you get those same “what the hell did he just say?” and “what the hell does that mean?” feelings you get when listening to Dylan or Lou Reed. This is some pretty heady stuff but it’s fun all the same.
www.armsofkismet.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
Kevin K And The Real Kool Kats,"Perfect Sin" (Full Breach Kicks)
Kevin K gets my vote every damn time. He’s a throwback to 1977 and all that was magic during that period. Bands like the Heartbreakers, The Dead Boys, The Ramones. All the good shit without any of the glossy, polished, over-hyped bullcrap that radio shoves down our throats. You can always count on Kevin to come through with the goods. Nothing fancy, just stripped down rock n’ roll. No over zealous lead breaks, no gimmicks, no studio control room magic tricks just down and dirty rock n’ roll. Even when he takes a jab at us Americans I still love it. My Kevin K collection just keeps growing.
www.fullbreach77.com
Rating:
Review by J.R. Oliver
Elvis Presley,"Elvis by the Presleys" (RCA)
ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS is the 2-disc “soundtrack” for the My 13, 2005 television special, featuring rare home movies and interviews with Priscilla, Lisa Marie, and other family members. While disc 1 features nothing that a true Elvis fan doesn’t have (“Heartbreak Hotel, “Suspicious Minds”, “Always On My Mind”, “If I Can Dream”, etc), it is disc 2 that I found most interesting, containing 5 unreleased tracks. The previously released tracks include the January 1954 demo “It Wouldn’t Be The Same Without You”, a 1968 version of “Too Much Monkey Business” (where Elvis is obvious having fun in the studio!) and a 1977 recording of “Blue Christmas” (which shows that even near the end Elvis still had that voice!). The unreleased takes of “Jailhouse Rock” (takes 3-5) are fascinating because they show the development of this historic song. “You’ll Be Gone” from 1962 shows Elvis in a primer performance on this samba song. Of the remaining 3 unreleased songs, the 1973 version of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” finds a casual, impromptu rendering of the Hank Williams classic, which shows that Elvis could be a great performer even when playing for a handful of friends.
While not essential, ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS will certainly be welcomed by Elvis
collectors.
www.elvisbythepresleys.com
www.elvis.com
Rating:
and 3/4
Review by Ronnie
John Entwistle,"So Who’s The Bass Player? The Ox Anthology" (Sanctuary)
Although it has been said many times before, it is true - as the bass player for The
Who, John Entwistle had the unfortunate position of being a good songwriter in a group
with a great one (Pete Townsend). THE OX ANTHOLOGY assembles the best of his numerous
solo albums with a couple of live Who gems including of course his originals “Boris The
Spider”& “My Wife” as well as his superb playing on “The Real Me” (one of the greatest
bass lines in rock and roll history in my opinion!). However, while the ‘bonus’ live
tracks are a treat, it is his studio tracks that are so endearing and have really held
up surprisingly well over the test of time. Especially when compared to other Who solo
efforts such as Roger Daltrey’s or Keith Moon’s (You can’t really take Moonie’s album
seriously, although it does have a certain charm and is well worth finding as a CD
release with bonus tracks) albums.
Necessary for any Who fan, and a fitting testament and tribute to a pioneer bass player and excellent songwriter who never really got his due. Until now…
www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com
Rating:
Review by Ronnie
Asylum Street Spankers,"Strawberry" (Spanks-a-Lot Records)
STRAWBERRY shows the Asylum Street Spankers in a hot 1998 performance, featuring many
songs from their then new album HOT LUNCH (my fave Spankers album by the way!) and their
SPANKS FOR THE MEMORIES album. The Spankers are in fine form, showing that they have
the chops live as well as in the studio. Just a few of the highlights include: “Funny
Cigarette” (with Pops Bayless & Wammo’s funny question/answer interaction), “Fanny”
(with its Spinal Tap “Big Bottoms” segue at the end), the classic “Banks of the Ohio”,
and finally the hilarious ode to Lee Harvey Oswald “Lee Harvey”.
This CD easily shows why the Asylum Street Spankers are a force to be reckoned with and
will make a great introduction to the ‘uninitiated’. Easily one of the best albums of
the year!
www.asylumstreetspankers.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by Ronnie
The Cloud Room,"The Cloud Room" (Gigantic Music)
Catchy pop songs from a band with visions of Ziggy Stardust and U2 dancing in their heads. But that’s not all The Cloud Room is about, there’s also a whole lot of eighties new wave influences happening here as well. Bands like the Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and the Psychedelic Furs are just a few that came to mind while listening to this disc. If their goal is to get the kids back on the dance floor then I say they’ve done their job. “Hey Now Now” is hands down the most infectious track I’ve heard in a while but the rest hold up just as well.
www.thecloudroom.com
Rating:
Review by J.R. Oliver
The Templars,"Clockwork Orange Horrorshow" (Templecombe Records)
Sounds a bit like Duane Peters on vocals and the music is old school punk in the same vein as the Clash and the Ramones. Hard hitting with lots of bite just like I like ‘em. “Teenage Warning” is a great cover as well as “Leaders Of Tomorrow”. This E.P. gives the listener a pretty thorough glimpse at what the Templars are all about. Punk rock at it’s best.
www.templecomberecords.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
The Escaped,"The Escaped" (TKO)
This self-titled 6 song cd EP is quite a bit heavier than the other stuff TKO sent but it stands up just as well. If you like it down and dirty and on the rough side, you know who you are, then you should check this out. The Escaped look like a band to be reckoned with. If you need proof give a listen to “Get Away”, “Lifetime Ago” and “Regret The Day” and you’ll see what I’m talking about. In the town of loud and fast these guys rule the roost.
www.tkorecords.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
Straitjacket,"Modern Thieves" (TKO)
Dead Kennedys style rockers with a heavy dose of the Clash and Buzzcocks thrown in to round things out. These Portland rockers have recorded thirteen in your face street punk anthems that will have you pogoing around your living room like a mental patient on orange jello day. Fun stuff. Check out “Legendary Failure” and “I’m On Fire”. You won’t find anything catchier.
www.tkorecords.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
Howling Diablos,"Car Wash" (Alive Records)
This is one of the most energetic and fun blues bands I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. If you don’t believe me just give a listen to “A Woman (Like Mine)” and “Elvis Lives” then name a band that’s got more energy and is more fun to listen to. The Yardbirds had the energy but they didn’t have the tougue in cheek humor of the Howling Diablos. Other highlights are “Dope Man”, “Mean Little Town” and the title track.
www.alive-totalenergy.com
Rating:
Review by J.R. Oliver
Col. Knowledge & The Lickity Splits,"Fall In Love All Over Again With…" (Alive Records)
This cd starts off with “Someday There Will Come A Time” which sounds like a medley of “Double Shot Of My Babys Love” by the Swinging Medallions and the Bay City Rollers version of “I Only Want To Be With You”. This is a strange cd. For instance, “Fallin’ Off The Depths” sounds like a theme song for some t.v. show. This whole album is riddled with every pop cliché and hook in the book. Guess that’s why it works so well, they make no attempts at masking anything they lifted.
www.alive-totalenergy.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
The Stoneage Hearts,"Guilty As Sin" (Alive Records)
Some damn good garage rock with a psychedelic edge. The more I listen to this one the more I love it. It’s addictive as hell. There’s so many great songs on here. I really like the fuzzed out sixties psychedelic sound of “Eye Of A Lie”, and “Your Smile” has a garage rock meets the Cars feel. Hell, the album gets better with every song. My favorites are “Green With Envy”, “Trouble Girl”, “Rock ‘N’ Roll Boys Rock ‘N’ Roll Girls” and “Your Greed”. A real keeper.
www.alive-totalenergy.com
Rating:
Review by J.R. Oliver
Greg Aaron,"Rings In Spaces" (Gas Records)
This reminds me of Jackson Browne. A lot! Especially on tracks like “Living In The World”, “Falling Out Of Love”, “Quiet Power” and “I Don’t Know How To Live”. Well crafted pop songs with a bit of west coast flavor, which is a little odd since he got his start playing his keyboard in the subways of New York. Anyway, “Rings In Spaces” stands up well against about anything in the pop rock vein and if you’re a Jackson Browne fan then here’s your fix.
www.gregaaron.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver
Electric Frankenstein,"Burn Bright, Burn Fast" (TKO)
For me, Electric Frankenstein is the punk equivalent of AC/DC. They play straight ahead rock n’ roll because they know it’s gonna work. They don’t bother with whatever the latest bullshit trend is. They deliver the goods every time just like the boys from down under. You won’t find anything any different on this TKO release. “Burn Bright, Burn Fast” has the same tried and true, speaker blowing, rock n’ roll that you’ve come to expect from Sal and company. The covers are great as well. “Talk, Talk” by the Music Machine, “Candy-O” by the Cars and “Moving Targets” by Flo & Eddie.
artist's web site
Rating:
Review by J.R. Oliver
Henry Rollins,"Come In And Burn Sessions" (2 13 61 Records)
Recent expanded edition of this 1997 release. Last record to feature Mark I version
of the Rollins Band-featuring Chris Haskett on guitar and Sim Cain on drums. “Starve” still burns through your brain matter like a hot laser. “During A City” is presented in two versions here but “On My Way Into The Cage” is the carpet burner on the first CD-it takes no prisoners. “Threshold” may be just a bit too long but that’s a minor quibble. CD 1 will quickly remind you how tight Henry was with this outfit. Come in and get your face burned off.
The second, bonus CD features outtakes, B-sides, and two mixes of “E.O.S.”
“Inhale, Exhale”, “Rejection” and “Unknown Hero” could have made the regular album.
Here they stand out and offer a cool reverse version of the record if you play it in random
mode. All in all, a solid release from the first version of Rollins Band. Not quite as
balls out as The End Of Silence, but still needs a space on your shelf. Now Henry
needs to re-release Wartime on CD next; I’ll be as happy as Dom DeLuise with a barrel
of Chunky Monkey.
www.henryrollins.com
Rating:
Review by Sean Koepenick
Taught Me,"Ready to go Under" (Exumbrella)
There’s nothing wrong with “brooding”, but like all things in life it must be moderated. You don’t fill a whole CD with dirge-like songs of brooding and expect rave reviews. Definitely music to cut your wrists to.
www.exumbrella.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by Scott H. Platt
Dream Aria,"In the Wake" (Indie Release)
Sometimes being different can be an advantage and such is the case with Dream Aria. Their music has a definite middle-eastern flavor to it, giving it an almost exotic take on rock. Vocalist Ann Bursytn can handle both the slow songs (love the dreamline quality of her voice) and the fast songs (but sometimes she is a little overdramatic, but not enough to be annoying). But to me, what really grabbed my attention was the guitar work- Jozef Pilasanovic is a talent! If you are tired of the same old music, check out Dream Aria.
www.dreamaria.com
Rating:
Review by Scott H. Platt
Michelle Payne,"The Air Up There" (Indie Release)
It seems now that the floodgates have opened and the “I am so serious-my music really matters” female songwriters are a dime a dozen. Let me explain before I get a barrage of misogynistic threat letters-there are plenty of male songwriters who have the same attitude, they just have a head start and have been at it longer. It is now too late to close those floodgates. Which brings us to this review and Michelle Payne. Yes, she has talent. She can play that piano and she can see. But this is a classic case of “maximum talent, minimum effort”. I find the title ironic and it makes me wonder “How IS the air up there in pretentious piano land?” Boring, faux integrity songs that reek of a piano-prodigy trying to make a serious statement. Don’t quite your day job as a piano teacher – someday you’ll be able to show your students, “See, I made a CD once.”
www.michellepayne.net
Rating:
Review by Scott H. Platt
Juliet Turner,"Season of the Hurricane" (Hear This! Records)
Juliet Turner’s voice is so alluring that she could sing the phone book and I wouldn’t care. Luckily, she is also a damn good songwriter, with a mastery of diversity from slow, folky songs to melodic pop to punk-influenced ones. It’s not very often that so intrigued by the lyrics of an artist, but Juliet’s lyrics are entertaining as well as clever. “Take the Money and Run” and “1987”alone are worth the price of this CD. Juliet is the real deal!
www.julietturner.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by Scott H. Platt
The Ancient Enemy,"The Ancient
Enemy" (Indie Release)
Long Island’s industrial strength metal troupe The Ancient Enemy play the kind of
depraved music that fans of Slipknot and Ministry can enjoy, as the band’s blood-curdling
vocal screams and heavy handed guitar riffs are fueled with an enraged use of samples and
sound clips, accentuating the overall ominous effect that this two-track sampler casts.
Chances are if you shop at Hot Topic, have multiple piercings, and are a purveyor of
punishing metal, The Ancient Enemy is right up your alley.
www.theancientenemy.net
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Catastrophic,"Catastrophic" (Indie
Release)
Churning out some old school death metal riffs and sensibilities, the members of NY
based Catastrophic are no strangers to the scene. Boasting members of Pyrexia and
Obituary, this three-song sampler sounds like the perfect mix of the two bands, as the
mid-tempo death grip of “Dismale” should leave your ears discernibly battered and
bruised. If you’re big into the mid-‘90s death metal sound, this band, now on tour in
Europe, is just what you need.
www.catastrophic.org
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Man In Gray / Unsacred Hearts,"Split
7"" (Serious Business)
Is Brooklyn burning? Well, after a close listen of two of the boroughs stalwart acts,
where there’s smoke, there’s bound to be fire. And, both Man in Gray and Unsacred Hearts
bring their own unique kindling their split CD release. Up first, the jagged female
fronted Man in Gray’s two-track offering, summoning up Blondie and Yeah Yeah Yeahs while
throwing the rawk afterburner on full throttle. Next come the subversively clever
Unsacred Hearts, whose stream of consciousness vocal delivery fits perfect with the
atomic musical backdrop, making for a listen as captivating as reading Hemingway for the
first time. Despite the hoopla over Brooklyn and its music scene, these two bands are
actually bands you’ll respect yourself in the morning for liking, and this split is a
great pickup for the indie rock mogul in you.
www.seriousbusinessrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Marduk,"Plague Angel" (Candlelight)
War mongering Swedish troupe Marduk return with PLAGUE ANGEL, an 11-track display of
this veteran outfit of black metal’s wares. Blindingly fast drums pervade tracks like
“Perish in Flames”, while the slower, crushing “Holy Blood, Holy Grail” elicits a
foreboding feeling much like the works of (bands undoubtedly influenced by them) Dimmu
Borgir or Cradle of Filth. Sonically challenging, epically written, and above all,
bitterly heavy, Marduk may only have one original member left in the fold, but the
group’s savage tenacity and innate ability to capture aural apocalypse catapults them
head and shoulders above any number of their peers. PLAGUE ANGEL will not disappoint any
fan that craves extreme metal.
www.candlelightrecording.co.uk
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Pure Sweet Hell,"The Voyuers of Utter Destruction
As Beauty" (Crash)
Ambient and ambitious, Pure Sweet Hell is a three-man project devised by Van
Williams, drummer of Seattle’s Nevermore, as a more artistic and experimental metal
endeavor than his day job. On the 13-track release, there seems to be a lot of abstract
ideas floating around without much resolution, making THE VOYEURS OF UTTER DESTRUCTION AS
BEAUTY sound a bit half-baked. While many of the riffs, such as the monster runs in
“Hangfire” and the slow crunch of “The Killers”, are crisp and commanding, the
compositions throughout tend to meander and lack definitive closure. Perhaps that is what
the band intended, but from a listener’s standpoint, Pure Sweet Hell’s latest release,
despite its superfluous creativity and the adventurous spirit displayed, employs the feel
of doing a jigsaw puzzle with a few pieces missing.
www.crashmusicinc.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Mad Hampster,"Squalor Town" (Indie
Release)
The NYC trio Mad Hampster take it’s gas-huffing riffs of rage out of the smoky garage
and on to a 10-track disc on SQUALOR TOWN. With a sound comparable to Fireball Ministry
meets Fu Manchu at a Burning Brides show, the slacker shuffle of “Shoe Box” or the syrupy
stoner rock-y “Top Erom Ekoms” (read it backwards) are only a few of the tasty selections
on this band’s menu, which bounces from minimalist garage rock to crossover So Cal punk
to full-on rawk with relative ease. So go ahead, get a load on, and get your rocks off
with Mad Hampster.
ww.madhampsterland.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Katy Mae,"Three Song Sampler" (Indie
Release)
Busting out of Brooklyn, NY with a alternative country twang, Katy Mae call their
brand of no-frills rock ‘n’ roll jangle the sounds of New American Traditionalists, and
the description is quite fitting. With nods to Wilco, Jayhawks, and The Who, this trio is
equipped with a pull no punches, hit harder than they have to attitude, and sounds as if
they drink and party twice as hard. If that’s not a recipe for a down home rockin’ time,
then what is? Combining a Texas two-step with a hard rock crunch, Katy Mae is a band
poised to bring the sounds of small town heartache to the big city.
www.katymaemusic.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Kryoburn,"Enigmatic Existence"
(Candlelight)
Pummeling through your speakers, Kryoburn is a metal outfit hailing from New Mexico
whose machine-like precision and enraged musical and vocal rants should garnish the group
a good share of the Pantera and Fear Factory fan base. Combining atmospheric passages
with vulgar displays of digital aggression, tracks like “Singularity” and “Against My
Evil” follow the Burton C. Bell meets Devin Townsend blueprint down to a tee. While
ENIGMATIC EXISTENCE ultimately searches for its own identity while playing out to be way
over-effected and programmed, there’s a plethora of hostility on this disc that can
easily sidestep all of the collection’s shortcomings and appeal to metalheads eager to
let off some industrial-sized steam.
www.kryoburn.net
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Wet Nurse,"Wet Nurse" (Indie
Release)
Opening a dastardly metal album with sleigh bells is either an inside joke or a
warped mind at work, and chances are on Wet Nurse’s frenetic eight-track selection that
both are applicable. This metallic juggernaut’s acerbic agility and vitriolic versatility
shines through on such tracks as “N.Y.C.” and “Rhetorical Question”, beckoning everything
from Candiria to Bloodlet to Will Haven to Poison the Well to Fantomas without losing its
own uniqueness. A high-pitched vocal howl over twisting, churning guitars and a robust
rhythm section poised to change signatures on a dime is what you’ll enjoy again and again
from this eclectic troupe that merges sludge, stoner, noise, ambient, and disjointed
slabs of intriguing metal into a cohesive package that needs to be heard repeatedly to
allow maximum impact to be felt.
www.wetnurse.net
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Merkabah,"Merkabah" (Indie Release)
Merkabah is an outfit from Queens whose three-track release is a bit under produced,
but does show some signs of potential. The hybrid mix of metal displayed by this quartet
showcases a young band trying to establish an identity of its own while paying homage to
its influences. Dollops of old school metal, emotive hard rock, and the sounds of the
West Coast metal you’d see at the Warped Tour get placed into a blender, and guitar-line
driven, dramatically written music comes out. With the right amount of seasoning and
experience, Merkabah could become a force to watch out for.
www.merkabahny.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Highbinder,"…All the Way to Hell"
(Sin Klub)
Gritty, down and dirty rock ‘n’ roll comes to you courtesy of Highbinder, whose
latest 13-track release is laden with the kind of hard rock riffs that rattle your head
and the brash attitude that so much of today’s music is completely lacking. This Toledo,
OH quartet’s keen ear for melody, melded with its metallic pretenses, makes for quite the
exhilarating listen, as tracks such as the grab your jugular style of “White Lie” and the
stoner rock foundation of “Ward” are solid songs that rock fans across the board will
dig. Highbinder, sounding like a cross between SLAVE TO THE GRIND-era Skid Row meeting
The Bronx at a Velvet Revolver gig, wield the mighty rock sword well, sans the glitz and
chock full of chunk. Aggressive without sounding forced, glossed over in all of the right
places (such as the huge arena rock choruses that adorn the disc), and injected with the
rock venom both vocally and musically, …ALL THE WAY TO HELL reaffirms the belief that
good rock music is still being churned out underneath what the mainstream jams down your
throat.
www.sinklub.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Congress of Odditties,"Alive" (Indie
Release)
ALIVE is the latest release by Queens, NY’s Congress of Odditties, whose brand of
love rock is accentuated by sultry siren Jessica Rendon, propelling these 12 tracks to
another level. While the band provides a soulfully danceable (think late ‘70s Studio 54
rock a la Blondie or Chic meets PJ Harvey) backdrop on tracks like “To Dig You”, the hard
rock meets disco design of “Follow Me”, and the bass grooving “Incarnate Man”, Rendon’s
doe-eyed delivery and silky smooth voice transcend your typical female fronted rock music
and thrusts you into a time warp, complete with lighted dance floors and risqué behavior.
Diva fronted rock without the tantrums and drama, Congress of Odditties throw in dollops
of bluesy guitars, lounge-rock percussion, and funky bass and come up with a solid
release.
www.congressofodditties.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
RIFU,"Dead End Street" (Go-Kart)
RIFU, a Norwegian hardcore punk band unafraid to showcase political slants and
sociological rants via their crunchy, imminent music, liberally borrows from bands like
Poison Idea, Refused, Black Flag, and any band that ever gave the world the finger.
Fanning the flames of revolution through potent powderkeg numbers like the bass-driven
crush of “Destroy the Machines” and the empowering staccato rhythm of “Moral
Masturbation”, RIFU bear the distinction of being a unit that can arouse both your savage
side in the pit and your intellectual side by dropping some anti-establishment knowledge.
If you’re in tune with bands like Amen, System of a Down, Kill Your Idols, and other
like-minded outfits, chances are DEAD END STREET will appeal to you and your anarchistic
side.
www.gokartrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Antigama,"Discomfort" (Self Made
God)
If any album title suited a release perfectly, it’d be this one, as Polish punishers
Antigama’s devastatingly demented release DISCOMFORT cuts the bullshit and goes for the
throat. Armed with malicious guitars that can sift through a crusty riff as well as blind
you with technical wizardry, wickedly sadistic drumming, and the sort of vocals that
scare little kids and household pets, this quartet’s diabolical display of dissonance and
distress takes the grindcore genre out of the shadows of Satan and straight to the
horrors of real life. While the album goes 13 tracks deep and runs a bit over the
half-hour mark, each song is given a proper amount of time to fester in your head, even
as the cacophony whizzes by you at an alarming rate. If you dig Pig Destroyer, Impaled,
or Nasum, you’ll love what Antigama bring to the table.
www.selfmadegod.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Hard Skin,"Same Meat Different
Gravy" (TKO)
When this project got started, the English trio Hard Skin started out as a band
parodying the Oi-punk scene, but have since eclipsed its own goofiness and made it to
album #2. SAME MEAT DIFFERENT GRAVY takes the stomping two chord trademarks of the scene
and runs rampant through 13-tracks of good time, hard hitting, infectious tunes that are
the perfect complement to a night of rowdy carousing and drinking way too much. In fact,
the band’s motto, “stop thinking and start drinking”, endorses that very movement. So,
turn your brain off, turn the stereo up, and pogo around your room to tracks like the
simple yet effective “Skin Hard” and the subtle fist-pumping anthem “Still Fighting
Thatcher”
www.tkorecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Never Enough,"Dead Set on
Destruction" (Organized Crime)
Chronicling this Baltimore outfit’s two years in the world of hardcore, this 27-track
collection neatly places all of Never Enough’s recorded works with some live tracks and
six new songs for the kids to lose their minds to. Solid chugging riffs with a NYHC
backbone and a raspy vocal that accentuates the music, DEAD SET ON DESTRUCTION displays a
band who can attack at will and do so with intelligible, thought provoking lyrics. Not
your run of the mill hardcore band, Never Enough take pages from the books of bands like
Sick of It All, Poison Idea, and other old schoolers and give the youth of today a
vibrant and volatile lesson in hardcore.
www.organizedcrimerecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Debris Inc.,"Debris Inc."
(Candlelight)
When members of seminal metal outfits Trouble and St. Vitus join forces in a project,
what’s a listener to expect? Debris Inc. answer that burning question with the sheer
sonic force and a huge retro sound that actually sounds more punk than you’d expect
purveyors and pioneers of the doom metal scene to sound like. On this 17-track opus, Dave
Chandler (St. Vitus), Ron Holzner (Trouble), and a rotating array of drummers (including
Jimmy Bower of Down/Eyehategod) turn the clock back a bit and pound out some lo-fi, drunk
and stoned crossover punk a la DRI, DOA, and Black Flag. But fear not, there’s doom
aplenty here, as the creeping “The Old Man and His Bong”, the slow churn of “Pain”, and
“The Life and Time of Claude and Elmo” relive the glory days of doom, but not before
Debris Inc. bitchslap you with the unsanitized sounds that punk used to make in the forms
of songs like “Shut Up” and the Fear cover “I Love Living in the City”. If you remember
any of these guy’s past works or have heard of their legacy, this CD worth the listen.
www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Clara Venus,"Greatest Hurts" (Indie
Release)
Is it merely coincidental that lovelorn trio Clara Venus released its melancholic
rock opus to fractured relationships on Valentine’s Day? Probably not, because few things
this clever outfit does seem unplanned, from the dazzlingly dynamic rhythm of “Doesn’t
Work Right” to the AC/DC meets The Replacements shuffle of “Liar”. GREATEST HURTS exposes
the band’s losses with matters of the heart with wide-eyed honesty and rock ‘n’ roll
pretense, never losing sight that their hearts are both on their sleeves and entrenched
in spacious riffs like “Talk” or dragging melodies like the one found on “Dry Razor’s
Hand”. With ample influences of Dylan, Westerberg, Cobain, and Bowie shining through
their heartbreaking melodies, GREATEST HURTS is an album to cry along to, only if you
want to, but ultimately is a collection of breakup songs that truly encompass all of
those emotions from the day after and beyond.
www.claravenus.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Blazed,"Now the Party Starts" (Indie
Release)
Blazed is a Long Island metal troupe whose famous lineage has garnished the band some
astonishing exposure, as lead singer Jesse is the son of metal luminary Dee Snider
(Twisted Sister). And while Dad still dons the outfits and rocks arenas worldwide, his
son’s quartet is trying to follow in those hard to fill footsteps. With a discernible’80s
rock sound and attitude pervading the eight-track affair on cuts like the innocuous “Make
It Hurt” and the bubble gum defiance of “Punk You”, Blazed is unapologetic about closely
trailing behind the ghosts of hair metal’s past, and they actually pull off a good hybrid
of Skid Row, Shotgun Messiah, and Love/Hate, where the balls surpass the brains every
time and the message is way lighter than the musical output. And who knows, with the
recent cock rock revival plastering the airwaves, and Blazed already in pole position,
they surely have the chops and the upper hand in leading the new wave of youth gone wild.
www.blazedrocks.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Seer,"Seer" (Indie Release)
Pristine and refined, Seer is a Long Island rock outfit whose four-song endeavor is
heavily influenced by Brit rock such as Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Muse, and Ash. With a
shimmering lead vocal leading the textured amplification, Seer shift between sinewy
rhythms and sonic symphonic passages with grace and ease, especially on “Watching the
Sidewalks”. Creating an elaborate aura thanks to well-manipulated guitar sounds, rounded
out by hypnotic bass and drums, Seer’s output merges elegance and agony in a way that is
both engaging and enlightening.
www.seerband.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Raging Speedhorn,"How the Great Have
Fallen" (SPV)
Being hardcore heroes for some time in England, Raging Speedhorn’s latest vitriolic
assault on your eardrums is now (thankfully) available in America. The brutal crew’s
latest seething soundtrack HOW THE GREAT HAVE FALLEN has been unleashed, and is primed to
kick your ass seven ways to Sunday. The 10-track display of devastation pounded out by
these purveyors of punishment meld grinding death metal, hostile hardcore, and slabs of
stoner rock goodness to create their uniquely and utterly relentless sound. Using a
two-man growl, and backed by an explosive band whose mission is set to destroy all in its
path, songs like the crushing “Dead Man Walking” sounds like Superjoint Ritual banging
heads with Hatebreed, while the sinister groove of “Fuck You Pay Me” slams your skull
against the concrete without remorse. If you’re looking for a heavy band that
incorporates Sabbath, Slipknot, and beatdown hardcore into its blend of merciless metal,
rejoice, as your band has arrived.
www.spvusa.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Circa Survive,"Juturna" (Equal
Vision)
Circa Survive’s passionate debut JUTURNA contains a shimmering array of pulling at
the heartstrings post hardcore songs that sound like a hybrid of The Mars Volta and
Quicksand. The high-pitched wail of vocalist Anthony Green is the most distinct
instrument used by this Philadelphia based quintet, as his voice sounds like a cross
between Geddy Lee and Claudio from Coheed and Cambria, aiming his high-ranged howl at the
heavens for mass approval. As for the music, this is a band based on creating sounds, not
just passages and chords, and the sounds created by Circa Survive are at all times
well-textured, managing to swirl around your speakers with both space rock’s lush flare
and hardcore punk’s striking imminence. Tracks like “Stop the Fuckin’ Car” and “Oh,
Hello” don’t overpower you straight away, yet after a few close examinations, the
overwhelming intensity (especially on the overly-effected but extremely effective
guitars) hits apexes of jazz-like proportions. Teetering between tough and tender is no
easy feat, yet Circa Survive succeeds through taking all of the nuances of prog rock
without elongating the songs, maximizing the impact and nearly eliminating all
pretentiousness. If you can deal with a dude with a high vocal range, and have a soft
spot for cascading melody, JUTURNA will accompany FRANCES THE MUTE and 2112 quite nicely.
www.equalvision.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
The Auburn System,"The Auburn
System" (Five Point)
The Auburn System is yet another metal band hailing from the Northeast, Massachusetts
to be specific, who blend the devices of numerous extreme metal genres into a bastardized
concoction suitable for mass hysteria. On the quintet’s blistering five-track offering,
everything from blast-beated percussive mayhem to guttural death metal groans to
intricate cacophony is displayed, exploited, and thrust in your ears, demanding your
utmost attention. While other bands choose to tread a path well taken, The Auburn
System’s sense of adventure reigns supreme, making this group one of the ones to watch
out for in the extreme music realm.
www.fivepointrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Acid King,"III" (Small Stone)
Acid King’s pummeling low end attack is once again captured in the form of III, a
Billy Anderson produced seven-track excursion that solidifies this San Francisco based
trio’s place in the annals of the stoner rock upper echelon. Combining hypnotic guitar
riffs, thunderous bass, and a never fail drum groove into a cauldron of raucously
rumbling rawk, III boasts some of the most enticing and trance inducing music of the
stoner rock genre. Keeping it slow and low but exploding with bursts of dynamic radiance
when need be on tracks like “War of the Mind”, Acid King’s latest sojourn into the void
is nothing short of essential to all that worship the fuzzed out riff and all which
accompanies it.
www.smallstone.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Shortie,"Without a Promise" (Earache)
Shortie’s emotionally-tinged hard rock seems misplaced on Earache, home for grind and extreme metal, as this Sacramento, CA band’s sound falls somewhere between the heavy handed guitars of Life of Agony and the sappy mall punk of Story of the Year. However, the melodic meanderings of this outfit’s latest 14-track WITHOUT A PROMISE, while speaking loudly, doesn’t offer much more than The Used or Papa Roach in terms of originality or creativity, making their ready for radio rock fodder fall a tad flat. Armed with big hooks, a slew of anguished screamo-esque vocals, and not much else, Shortie’s shelf life is ticking away quicker by the second.
www.earache.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Sinai Beach,"Immersed" (Victory)
Sinai Beach is a bruising quintet whose latest foray into the world of extreme metal
finds the Southern California outfit churning out some groove-laden metalcore a la Lamb
of God, Pantera, and Unearth. Add on a discernible Christian theme, and sprinkle in some
questionable atonal yet clean vocals that either will irritate or make the break between
screams seems more palatable, and you’ve got IMMERSED. Displaying 12 tracks of
relentlessly fierce metal with traces of programming a la Chimaira sprouting up every now
and again on cuts like “To The Church”, the band’s hardcore metallic assault on tracks
like the staccato style of “The God I Would Be” and the mighty metal groove of “The
Stagnate” hold up best here. Downtuned madness with a holy edge, Sinai Beach’s most
recent release may not appeal to the usual ears that enjoy the heavier type of metal, but
this outfit has pieced together a unique mixture of musical presentation and personal
beliefs, making IMMERSED a triumphant release nonetheless.
www.victoryrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Asguard,"Wikka" (This Dark Reign)
Asguard is a metal troupe descending from the Eastern European country of Belarus
whose sloppy melding of black, NWOBHM, and virtuoso metal would benefit from a better
recording and some inner tightening. With some Cookie Monster vocals strewn in between
Iron Maiden-esque guitar runs and some heroic six-string performance, WIKKA’s overall
feel sounds much like Children of Bodom without the keyboard overlay and packed with a
crazed death metal vocalist at the helm. A bit disjointed, this disc hits its peak when
the guitars on tracks like “The Black Wandering of Death Version 1” intertwine to create
a savage double lick that would make Judas Priest (whose “Leather Rebel” is covered
here”) proud.
www.devildollrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Gratitude,"Gratitude" (Atlantic)
Featuring Jonah Matranga (Far) and Mark Weinberg (Crumb) in its ranks, the debut
release from Gratitude is a 12-track glistening array of heartfelt hard rock with a
surprising arena rock swagger. From the opener “Drive Away” and its contagious chorus, to
the simple yet effective nature of tracks like “This is the Part” and the pop-punk gem
“Another Division St.”, this quintet offer the perfect, more luxurious alternative
between U2 and Jimmy Eat World. With a discernible Californian laid-back feel (recording
where the Beach Boys made PET SOUNDS probably accentuates that a tad), and oozing with
the most straight ahead rock sensibility displayed during Matranga’s illustrious career,
this newfound direct approach allows Gratitude to explore the big rock sound and embrace
a dynamic niche in the process. If you dug Far, dig Incubus, or are a mark for hooky, big
sounding rock record, this eponymous disc delivers.
www.atlanticrecords.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Downshallow,"So Many Wants, So Little
Compromise" (Indie Release)
New Jersey’s Downshallow is at it again, offering up another round of visceral,
rousing music that combines metal, alternative, and hard rock. This outfit’s latest
12-track endeavor exposes an impressive array of hard rock sensibilities, effortlessly
shifting gears from the ethereal feel of Tool, the bluesy grit of Alice in Chains, the
sinewy sonic blasts of Chevelle, the melancholic, metallic nuances of Staind, and a touch
of Black Label Society’s six-stringed heroics. From the mellow reflection of “Feorah” to
the piledriving rhythms of “Why?” and “Anonymous”, these guys cover all bases and emanate
the kind of stand up and take notice sound that some bands take years to hone. Relying on
the strength of a passionate vocal performance, not to be outdone by the precise bass and
drums and the versatile guitar work that flows from sledgehammer-style riffagings to
delicate interludes with refined grace, this quartet’s pulsating melding of metal and
hard rock is the kind of provocative and cathartic music that rock fans everywhere should
get an earful of.
www.downshallow.com
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Octavia Sperati,"Winter Enclosure"
(Candlelight)
Ocatavia Sperati is an all-female Norwegian Goth rock troupe whose 11-track disc
displays mid-tempo melancholic metal that merges the wares of Lacuna Coil with
Evanescence with a discernibly heavier edge, thanks to the biting guitars on tracks like
“Below Zero”. Even though an air of luxurious melodies via keyboards, pianos, and angelic
lead vocals is very much apparent throughout WINTER ENCLOSURE, the band lapses into
Paradise Lost meets My Dying Bride territory on tracks like “Icebound” and “Wasted on the
Living” quite a bit, sinking their collective teeth into a heavier realm which most
female bands dare to go. If you enjoy the work of bands like The Gathering, Nightwish, or
the other aforementioned groups, then Octavia Sperati is a disc worth checking out.
www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
Rating:
Review by Mike SOS
Our rating system:
Flawless...
Almost perfect...
Moments of brilliance...
Slightly redeaming...
Worthless piece of $#%@...
Extremely BAD! Should be illegal to possess...
Format Denotation:
Note: mp3 "albums" count as CD's. All reviewed collections are CD's unless tagged with the following images:
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