Okay, so i haven't done any music reviews in a while...but this batch should be a doozy...i was of course on vacation and didnt really do a whole lot of anything except stay busy while i was there which is good i guess but now i've got about a TON of albums that i'd like to review/give my opinion on that are either out already, or coming out very soon.
#1. Greymachine - Disconnected
I've been highly anticipating this one for quite a while and once i finally heard it...it was just as might as i expected! I've read a few reviews of it and none have been really favorable...and to those people i say suck it! Aaron Turner and Justin Broadrick have crafted a monumental amount of noise with this album...from the intro to "Wolf At The Door" you can tell this album is going to be insane, and sure enough it just manages to get heavier, noiser, and alot dronier...the intro to "Vultures Descend" is pretty awesome. Honestly, every song on this album is very reminiscent to both Broadrick and Turner's other bands...and that is every bit as awesome as you'd think it would be. The bass on this album hits so hard, i mean seriously, the tone on the bass on this album is so heavy that it is quite reminiscent to what it would sound like if a bass guitar were plugged into a wall of double stacked amps and laid on it's back with strings facing up and then notes were played by dropping monster trucks onto said bass.
I give this album a 8.5/10 because Turner and Broadrick managed to put out an album heavier than a 10 ton bag of rusty nails...which is ironic because when that bag drops the impending emotions are exactly what it feels like when you listen to this album
#2. Assjack - Assjack
Okay, so i had really really high hopes for this album that it would be the absolute bees knees...however i was highly disappointed. I mean, sure this album has some pretty cool parts, the tone is very sludgy and you can tell hank III brought alot of superjoint ritual influence to this album...but at times it just sounds very...i dunno...stupid? It sounds like what drowning pool or somebody would sound like if they were trying to rip off pantera and crowbar or something. The First song on the album "Tennessee Driver" is awesome but from there the album is just a big amalgamation of cool riffs and bad vocal parts. It's like good cop bad cop but more like good riff bad riff, or maybe good riff bad vocal or something?
I'm gonna give this album a 7/10 for effort because the whole southern sludge/punk thing is good...they just didnt quite pull it off as consistently as i had hoped.
#3. The Bronx - El Mariachi Bronx
Okay, so this album is an absolute longshot. I mean, literally, it is a nasty dirty hardcore punk band from new jersey that has a song that goes "slit wrists are the latest fashion, your sheets see the dirtiest action. we're independent lovers. broke kids and loveless gutters. here comes your sh*tty future! one more time your sh*tty future!"...except it's mariachi! Yeah, mariachi, and it's not even done ironically...i mean these guys studied the art and rules of mariachi very closely and have done...a really good job with it! I mean, i have always had a part of me that kind of appreciates spanish music/mariachi but i never really listen to it that much because...well...i don't speak spanish well. Anyways, this album is awesome because you get the nice peaceful rhythms of mariachi music, but done in english by a very very talented punk rock band.
I'm gonna give this album a 9/10 for effort because you can count on 1 finger exactly how many bands have the balls to pull this off and actually do a good job with it. Touche' guys!
#4. Winds Of Plague - The Great Stone War
Okay, before there is a massive chorus of "THAT BAND GAY!" shouted...just keep in mind...and honestly i've thought this for a while since their first album came out...Winds Of Plague...on paper is a great band. I mean you've got really good shredding metal, really nasty deathcorey breakdowns, hardcore vocals, epic keyboards and really really good guitar tone combined with a bit of an asian twist...however in practice, they arent as good as they could be. I mean this album really has alot of potential...but they overdo it...every thing! The breakdowns aren't as nasty as on the last album, and even the super epic ones arent as good as the one on "the impaler" and the shredding metal parts are cool but get boring after awhile and their singers voice gets SO ANNOYING...less annoying than the last album however.
Basically this album really had potential...but instead i'm gonna give it a 5.5/10 because they really could do ALOT better.
#5. Showbread - The Fear Of God
Oh, hey Showbread! what's goin on guys...it's been a really long time since you've guys have had an album out! That last album "No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical" was so aweso...wait what? they've put out 3 albums since then? Haha, actually i kid, i've listened to their last few albums...though they've offered no redeeming value except to remind me of the time i saw them play to 100 people in jackson and how i almost got in 3 wrecks that night...it's good to see them getting away from their whole "we love Nine Inch Nails and Norma Jean!" sound of the last 3 albums...this album is really the best possible follow up to "nihilism" it's got that same kitschy keyboard sound with the nice driving "raw rock" guitars and the vocals are pretty cool. Actually,Showbread did a great job on this album.
I'm gonna give this album a 7.5/10 because the music is good...but they really need to bring the black singer back.
#6. Mutemath - Armistice
Hey, this is that band from the twilight soundtrack right? Haha, it's nice to see a band with buku's of artistic integrity hit it big with a song on one of the highest selling movie soundtracks in years with the song "spotlight" which is actually a really really good song. Actually this album is full of really good catchy songs with alot of creative force so any more i say about it would be a moot point. Although i will say this, everytime i hear Paul Meany's voice all i can hear to myself is "I SEE JESUS RIDING ON A WHITE HORSE, WITH SPARE ROOM FOR YOU AND I....TO FLY! RIDING ONNNNN A WHITTTTTEEEEE HORSEEEEE GONNA FLY GONNA FLY SO HIGH!" hehe
This album gets a 8/10 because it's a typical mutemath album which means it's super creative, super dancey, and super catchy but meaningful
#7. Third Eye Blind - Ursa Major
Been waiting for this album for a really long time, and i'm so glad they finally released it. They were amazing live and all the songs from this album were really really good live. "Can You Take Me" sets such a great pace for this album because it's a really good typical catchy driving pop rock riff as they are very much accustomed to. Of course other songs like "Bonfire" and "Why Can't You Be" are also very deserving of their place in 3EB's discography. The end of this album kind of slows down to a crawl before ending with a nice instrumental song...but that doesnt hinder it much because this is a very well written album and i can't wait to hear the b-sides that should be coming out later this year.
This puppy gets a 8.5/10 for it's catchy and rock n' roll nature but i wish the last few songs were a little more upbeat
#8. Shadows Fall - Retribution
Mmmm Shadows Fall...i must say that i am a fanboy and have been a fan since my senior year of high school...the first time i heard "the art of balance" my taste in metal was forever ruined. I'll be honest with you, i didn't have much hopes for this album; I kind of half-expected it to be a generic, boring attempt to reclaim their old sound and reclaim the spot that lamb of god and killswitch stole from them as america's favorite "NWOAMC" band, but i was proven wrong. The album kicks off with a very atypical acoustic interlude but then the album kicks in with a very very heavy riff and though this sound is all too familiar with Shadows Fall fans and fans of the NWOAMC sound...it's still really good because it's got that familiar swing...but with a much punchier sound...the mix/production on this album is top notch...also the solo's and drumming are incredible. Basically...these guys put out yet another pummeling, thrashy, metal album with awesome drums, great solo's and breakdowns, and incredibly tight playing which is all that a true ShadFall fan can ask for anyways.
I'm gonna give this album a 8/10 just because it holds up well amongst their back catalog...and though it won't make you want to throw "the war within" away...it'll definitely make you reconsider "threads of life"'s spot on your shelf.
#9. Gwar - Lust in Space/Chevelle - Sci-Fi Crimes
Okay, so i expected big things from both of these albums...and they both disappointed. Gwar was okay...and i of all people should know not to judge gwar based on lyrics...nor should i judge Chevelle based on a radio single that reminded me alot of their older stuff before everyone with a southern accent and/or access to modern rock radio fell in love with them...but i felt the need to rate both of these albums at the same time...because why waste breath...err..keystrokes right?
Both albums get 5/10 because i sort of like them but hate their new albums
#10. Burnt By The Sun - Heart Of Darkness
So i have to admit...i never really listened to this band back in their hay-day and even when i was all about discovering new bands of their ilk...i never really saw what the big deal was with BBTS however after hearing the new album i can say this...Dave Witte is a MONSTER on drums and their singer has a penchant for very annoying vocals. All in all though i'll say that this album is pretty awesome...i mean, it's got alot of really sweet dirty grind and groove to it...but it never really gets boring. Dave Witte pounds the hell out of his drums on this one though...the riffage is also quite pummeling on this album. Yeah, if i had to sum this album up with one word it would be....Pummeling.
This album gets an 8/10 because it is heavier than an aircraft carrier full of kids from the local fat camp eating chocolate cake on their monthly field trip.
#11. 3 Inches Of Blood - Here Waits Thy Doom
Okay, so i have to admit...aside fro the song that they had on tony hawk a few years ago...i really just cannot stand this band...mostly their singer Cam Pipes. The guy just has an epic voice...but it's SO ANNOYING!!!!! This album has a very thrashy, maideny kind of vibe...but honestly...it's not really for me...plus the whole "bloodshed during battle" schtick has been done by so many bands that sound so much better...this band should have to "answer the call of the hammer" to Amon Amarth and Ensiferum and Amorphis who put 3IOB's weak attempt at battle metal upon a pyre and feast upon it's barbecued corpse
Okay 3IOB, nice try and whatnot with the solo's and catchy thrash parts...but you will get a 6/10 just for annoying me
#12. Ensiferum - From Afar
Just so you know...i....absolutely...LOVE...ENSIFERUM!!!!! Epic as hell battle metal! They are just so musically talented...but also talented at...well...spitting forth many many nasty oden-approved riffs of mightiness that will have you wielding an axe and smoking your enemies out of their cave by lobbing a flaming raccoon into their dwelling in no time. Honestly, i'm just a sucker for catchy pounding, fast, thrashy swedish power metal and this album does not let me down by any means...i still think the new amorphis may be the best power metal album of the year...but this one is close!
Ensiferum gets a 9/10 for this album because it's epic, catchy, thrashy, and really really really good.
#13 Swashbuckle - Back To The Noose
Okay, so to be fair...when i first heard of this band i just assumed they were a poor Alestorm rip off and didn't pay them much attention until i realized that not only were they from America...but they have been around for about as long as Alestorm has...and they are way thrashier. So listen, this album is a really heavy fast thrash album with lyrics about doin pirate stuff except it's not as catchy as Alestorm and more violent and pissed off like a pirate might actually be more akin to sound so to them i say "Touche' me-harties!"
This album is deserving of a 7.5/10 the 7 is because it's not really very power metally like a pirate metal album might sound...and it's also not as pissed and filthy as a thrash album should sound...but it's still a decent mix of the 2 styles...and the .5 is because i am a sucker for bands like this with a gimmick!
#14. Masters Of Reality - Pine/Cross Dover
"They say we're barely alive but we're kicking and beeping" Chris Goss is in fact a genius. Without question and if you disagree...well...we'll fight in a back alley or something! Because listen, Chris Goss has produced almost every album Kyuss did, and he has produced every Queens of the Stone Age album, as well as all the other desert rock bands that you've never heard of...but back to Masters of Reality...their self titled album in 1988 continues to be one of my favorite "desert rock" albums ever...and this album...though it's entirely different from the self titled...any all of his other albums for that matter...it still fits in quite comfortably. It's got a very "electronic" guitar vibe on some songs that one can only contribute to the fact that Goss has been friends with Josh Homme since the late 80's so of course JOHO's incredibly catchy guitar tone shows up on this album...alot of that has to do with Dave Catching (Qotsa) and Brian O' Connor (EODM) but then there's also songs like "Absinthe Jim" that have a very old school Goss type guitar tone which sounds like nothing else on the album until the chorus kicks in with that homme influenced type riffage. Honestly, you have to be a really big fan of Queens Of The Stone Age, or Kyuss, or like myself...the entire Desert Rock Scene, and every band that's come from it to really like this album...but i sincerely desire that you listen to it because it's really really really really good. The last song on this album is an 11 minute jam that was recorded upon the first meeting of goss, catching, o' connor, and the drummer so it's totally improvised and...though it doesnt sound like it is improvised...it's a really really really really really awesome song..
This album deserves nothing less than a 10/10 due to the fact that i'm an avid fan of all things Josh Homme/Chris Goss/Desert Rock
#15. Brand New - Daisy
I fully expected this album to be very very very laid back and almost acoustic in nature due to the fact that jesse lacey did a full on acoustic tour a few years ago...but then after the opening singing sequence on the first song ended all of a sudden my speakers are assaulted by a riff that is very converge/glassjaw in nature which is really really really cool, and from that point this album continued to win me over with every song. I...like alot of people my age...have a soft spot for Brand New and am not afraid to admit it...and this album makes me feel even less guilty about it because it is absolutely killer. Jesse Lacey's voice and lyrics are very touching and wrought with emotion and whatnot, and of course there are also some very heavy parts on this album which is very weird for a band like Brand New...however it fits the new style they are heading towards quite well because it makes them touching and heartfelt...but still able to let out their anger and aggression...but within the right context of course.
I'm gonna give this album a 9/10 for creativity but i really can't wait to buy it when it comes out and digest it alot further!
#16. Dying Fetus - Descend Into Depravity
Okay, so there's only a few ways to say the words "heavy" and "grinding" which are the 2 best words to sum up the new Dying Fetus album...so i'm going to let thesaurus.com do the work. Dying Fetus's new album is very gravid and corpulent and it attenuates at a very zaftig pace. Of course, as is typical with a 'Fetus album...the drums are incredibly beefy and pregnant and the guitars buzzsaw along at a very "Burdensome" pace and also who could forget the "Lead-Footed" vocals that levigate, mill, pestle, pound, powder, and pulverize the listener and leave the listener with a very parturient feeling.
I'll give this album a 7/10 because it is WORLDS better than their last album...this is...all kidding aside, quite a good metal album...if you can stand the grunting vocals of course...
#17. Megadeth - Endgame
First of all...i must admit...i am a big time Dave Mustaine fanboy and even though he's a huge douche at times in the media...musically he can do no wrong in my eyes.
With that being said...this album...this album rules so much! It's funny because you can tell alot of the legendary thrash metal bands are trying to kind of return to their roots nowadays but most of them like slayer and metallica kind of fall short in recreating the sound of their hey-day but still manage to put out great albums...but with this album Dave Mustaine literally went right back into the 80's and yanked all of the great parts of 80's era Megadeth...and mixed it with the massive feverish solo's and lightning fast rhythms and incredibly tight drumming that made the last Megadeth album great. Also, you can tell the songs on this album tell stories like "44 Minutes" which tells a story about a police shootout which is a pretty interesting song...also there's a song called "1,320" which is about driving cars really really fast and includes and awesome sample at the beginning which is cool. Dave Mustaine has most definitely outdid himself with this album....i mean it's got alot of really cool signature Mustaine solo's and shred riffs...but he doesnt overdo it...and the songwriting is good and...it's just a really really really good Megadeth album and i'll be picking it up immediately following school on September 15th because Dave Mustaine deserves every penny i shall spend on this album...it's actually even worth buying the deluxe edition just to watch Mustaine shred.
I'm gonna go ahead and give this album a 10/10 because i'm a huge Megadeth fan and this album completely lives up to my expectations and then some!
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