Album Review: "Hollow" by My Shameful

Hollow

One of my favorite things about metal is the ridiculous amount of sub-genres of metal that there are.

I am well on the record for having poked at the sheer amount and prideful tendencies that go with them. A friend of mine is very much about these sub-genres and how much they mean....

I get a giggle out of them really. I do. It's very funny to me. If you ask this old guy, metal really only comes in about three varieties, heavy, speed, and extreme.

Now I've rambled, but here's the point...in the presser I received about today's review, My Shameful, they were referred to as doom metal with death metal tendencies.

So, I'm picturing this as cyborg metal. Robots rising up to play metal and mating with humanity in order to achieve a more perfect version of metal that's played by musicians partially made of metal.

Ok, I have really gone off of the deep end here, so let's continue....

Album Review: "No Limit To The Evil" by Zero Down

No Limit To The Evil

Today we consider Seattle based traditional metallers, Zero Down.

This is another one of those times when I'm first hearing a band as I listen to their record for review.

Before really going further, let's discuss the term traditional metal. What precisely does that mean?

When I was growing up, I'd have called this album metal. In the end it's not overly fast, so it's not Thrash/Speed Metal. It's not hyper brutal, played at 1,000 MPH, and not overflowing with blast beats or growls, so it's not death metal.

They don't sing about fantastical worlds and cram in 100 guitar solos, so it's not power metal. No growling, anti-church themes propped up by a keyboard, so it's not Black Metal.

Album Review: "Prolapse" by American Heritage

Prolapse

Today we  have a group called American  Heritage up for review. It's a bit funny that their album is being put out on a record label from Clemont-Ferrand in France.

This is their first album for Solar Flare Records.

The Chicago based quartet has been around for some time with low brow music and lyrics.

Originally formed in 1997, they have been writing and recording music for a very long time, even though their first full length album wasn't released until until nine years later, 2006's Millenarian.

Before that, they put out several EPs, took part in compilations, and split EPs nearly every year or so. Their style is sure to be music to the ears of many folks in the wider world.

Album Review: "EastfrisiaApokalypse" by Eastfrisian Terror

EastfrisiaApokalypse

Today we're looking into some foreign grind/death metal, but in the end most of this kind of music is a bit foreign. Napalm Death, Carcass, etc those are the godfathers of today's review.

Eastfrisian Terror hails all the way from Germany, Emden, Germany to be exact.

Normally, I do not think of Germany as being all that metal really. I suppose it's the David Hasselhoff thing that makes me think that. 

I still picture discos blaring pop and dance music over there....But today we're looking past that and into the glaring face of metal. Metal, they definitely are.

An interesting note about this band, Eastfrisian Terror, is that they do not sing in English. When it comes to death/grind/etc it really doesn't matter, but the song titles are in German, but in their home dialect and not standard German, which makes it all the more interesting.

Album Review: "The Birthday People EP" by The Birthday People

The Birthday People

From time to time there are albums that pass in and out of my view.

In this case, I was familiar with some of the musicians involved, but there was a bit more than just that.

It's that cover. That cover makes me laugh hysterically. My daughter looked at it last night and said, "Is that me, daddy?"

I just had to laugh and tell her that had that photo been of her, I would have most likely been arrested by now. She's still young enough that I'm pretty sure that these words don't mean a whole bunch to her...which is nice.

So, obviously, I was intrigued by the cover. I tend to think that it's easy to get an idea of the personality of a record based on the cover. At least that's how it SHOULD be....

Album Review: "Devil Down" by Twingiant

Devil Down

Today's review subject hails from the desert city of Phoenix, AZ.

Can you think of any other bands from that area? I believe that Godhunter is from Tuscon, AZ...but I also have no idea how far apart these cities are and the aforementioned Godhunter has very little in common from Twingiant.

The similarities end at playing high gain guitars and metal.

Formed in 2010, their idea was to play loud as all get out rock'n'roll, but in today's society, grooving rock music gets classified under the Stoner Metal category...

Our good friends Crobot can attest to that I think.

Twingiant has been fairly active in their short time in existence. Today we're looking at their sophomore LP, Devil Down, but aside from their debut, they also have an EP to their credit and will be releasing a Split EP next year and going on tour.

Album Review: "Sweet Static" by Bruiser Queen

Sweet Static

I'm going to assume for a minute that you kind of care about me, your friend and humble narrator.

As I write this, I'm sitting in a hotel room in Birmingham, AL on a business trip. Yes, I'd love to tell you that writing about music is how I pay my bills, but even though it's my passion, it's a non-paid endeavor.

Presently, St. Louis's own Bruiser Queen is pouring out of my speakers and it kind of feels like a love note from home.

As anyone who listens to KWMU or reads my other, mostly inactive, blog knows, I'm a fan of St. Louis City, MO. Frankly, I'm feeling a little homesick.

I'm in the deep south and I don't have my friends and family here, but I'm happy to say that my hosts and fellow travelers are keeping me very busy, hence why I'm writing this seven hours before it publishes! All that being said, I'm going to tell you what I think about our local band....

Album Review: "The Art of Vengeance" by NervoChaos

The Art of Vengeance

It's been a little while since I've reviewed new band from Brazil.I suppose the last one was Sarcofago...

When it comes to Brazilian extreme metal, everyone is familiar with the might Sepultura...as was the singer of Sarcofago.

NervoChaos is an extreme metal band from Brazil, Sao Paolo to be exact, but that's about all they have in common with the two aforementioned acts.

As I alluded earlier, NervoChaos has been around for nearly 20 years and could scarcely be considered a new band on the scene.

Vengeance is their sixth album and their first studio record since 2012's To The Death. Clearly this is one of those times where a veteran band has slipped my radar and I don't know what NervoChaos is, but thankfully, they don't seem to know either.

Album Review: "Dear Insanity" by Eye of Solitude

Dear Insanity

Months ago, I contacted Eye of Solitude directly to receive their album Canto III for review.  I don't recall precisely why I did, but that email ended up opening some doors for me.

Though I take it seriously, this blog is a hobby of mine and our friends from London did me a great favor by putting me in touch with Kaotoxin Records, their label.

I should mention also that Kaotoxin, from France, has sent me a giant box of CDs to send to our troops serving overseas. I cannot thank them enough and all of the organizations who've helped me brighten the days for our fighting men and women.

As I'm writing this on Veterans Day, I'm especially misty. I have a friend over there right now and my best friend spent over two years there....but that's hardly the point. Sorry for the jingoism!

Let's move forward to Eye of Solitude's latest, Dear Insanity, because I hope you're interested in my review.

Album Review: "The Whole Night Thru" by Sam Llanas

The Whole Night Thru

This is one of those situations where I received an album by someone whom I'm frankly not familiar with at all.

Sam Llanas isn't new in any stretch of the imagination.

He was a founding member of the roots rock band The BoDeans, whom I've heard of, but for the life of me I can't name any songs by them.

He was also a member of the band Absinthe, also whom I can tell you nothing about.

I've had the beverage and I found it disappointing, but that's about as far as I can get here. I can tell you he's been at the music game for a very long time and he's known for his acoustic guitar work, but for the rest, I'm flying blind here.

Interview: Alex Skolnick Tells Me About His World Music

Alex Skolnick

Alex Skolnick's latest project, Alex Skolnick's Planetary Coalition, drops today on 11/11/14.

If you missed it, check out the review here... Glacially Musical Alex Skolnick.

When I first heard about this album I will confess myself confused. Long have I been a fan of Testament and I knew full well that Skolnick had a different side to him and played in a jazz trio, but I'd never heard it.

My email foretold of an album that wouldn't be metal in anyway. There's a part of me that was sad upon reading this news, because well, those chops.

I was willing to give this album a listen with a truly open mind and the CD has not left my car as of yet. It's destined to be one those records that confuses my wife when it comes up after Napalm Death or King Diamond.

Alex was kind enough to answer my questions about this album...

Album Review: "A Tapestry of Scabs & Skin" by Astrakhan

A Tapestry of Scabs & Skin

Let's begin today's journey in the most wonderful city in Canada...

Vancouver, British Columbia.

The "inspiration" for Buddy once stated that Heaven is a lot like Vancouver.

These fellows don't seem like they're all interested in hearing about Heaven or Buddy too much, but I'm glad that I can make a Kids In The Hall reference finally....

The opportunities don't come around all that often.

Astrakhan is supposedly peopled with veterans of the Vancouver, B.C. music scene. They're self proclaimed doom/sludge metal.

They've just signed to War On Music to release this EP.

That's about all I've got.

Album Review: "Unto The Nothing" by Fortress

Unto the Nothing

For today, we are reviewing the debut effort from Maryland's favorite sons, Fortress.

To be specific, Hagerstown is where they reside.

Based on their the musical outlook, I would wager that Hagerstown is an industrial wasteland that's been taken back by nature and looks a lot like Chernobyl does now.

Well, based on my research, Hagerstown isn't all that metal and certainly does not look like Mother Nature's reclaiming the grounds and leaving a looted industrial complex in the middle.

The only other recording Fortress has done is a demo back in 2012. Their album is being released on Unholy Anarchy Records, a small but very awesome label on  the East Coast. They also released Coffin Dust's amazing effort.

Album Review: "Suffering EP" by Putrid Offal

Suffering

It's a great time to be a death metal fan.

From new bands like Fisthammer and Coffin Dust releasing their amazing debut records to the lords of death metal and grindcore like Carcass, Obituary, Morbid Angel, Massacre, and Napalm Death releasing great, new material and touring.

Though the genre appeared to have run its course in the late 90's with many of those bands breaking up or going on hiatus.

It seems that, much like when the first generation of heavy metal, like Sabbath, Priest, and Iron Maiden, returned,

Another one of the old guard has returned. Putrid Offal, who have lain dormant for years and years, have decided to resurrect the beast and return to the world of the living.

Album Review: "Shake Electric" by Spiders

Shake Electric

When I think of countries around the world I'd like to visit, I do have to mention Sweden.

There seems to be a lot of stuff that comes out that country in Scandinavia that keeps me occupied.

Not just metal, but hockey players. I think they have chocolate, coffee, and even snus came from up there.

There must be something with the fact that it's dark there so much of the time that the Swedes just have to keep creating new things all the time.

Well, Spiders are Swedish, but they're not black metal. In fact they're not even metal at all. I know we do a lot of metal around here, and we all just kind of expect Swedes to be really metal....