ROCK N ROLL EXPERIENCE - May / June 2008

Before you begin reading these reviews, we have a rating system to tell you just how good or bad a CD is & here's the breakdown on how it works:

1 Star - crap

2 Stars - This is stuff your Mom might like!

3 Stars - It rocks, but is only okay

4 Stars - This is good, but there's room for improvement!

5 Stars - You should consider buying this...it's a good one!

6 Stars - Sell your car, dog, baby, etc., this is a MUST have!

Burton Bell is best known as the singer for Fear Factory, & in all honesty, I had no idea his side project, Ascension of the Watchers, was so far removed from the Metal side of things! Musically, this cd is like mixing the darkest sides of Portishead with the darkest sides of Pink Floyd...it's very serious, full on, emotionally deep music that's not meant to do anything other than stir up emotions & make you think! "Evading" is the song that I found really interesting..it's got goth-ish vibes, yet it's NOT goth in any way, & John Bechdel's musical imprint is all over this cd..his samples, keyboards, synth's & overall moody music is a HUGE part of this project's sound! Al Jourgensen from Ministry & Paul Raven both make guest appearances on this cd & if you're looking for a fast, upbeat metal record, this is NOT for you...if you're looking for an introspective, moody, dark, & very deep record, this cd is for you! I still find it interesting that Burton, a guy who's known for being the singer of Fear Factory, he's got this side to him, & I remember talking to him not too long ago & he admitted to me that he's not even a Metal fan, so this cd just proves that!

Rating: 3 stars!

Michael Schenker has always been considered a guitar god, & his playing influeced far too many players to even mention, but the big one that comes to mind immediatley is Dave Mustaine from Magadeth! Mr. Schenker has a new line up of MSG, he has a new cd out & with this batch of new songs, as much as I hate to say it, the songs all sound kinda dated, there's little groundbreaking going on here, & there's a few good guitar solo's, but overall, the cd feels kinda stale in parts & I hate to trash anyone, but much of this material just feels like filler & this was actually Michael Schenker's come back record since he has some serious personal problems a few years back, so I guess the only way I can put a positive swing on this review is that, it's nice to see that MSG is still intact, that Schenker is still playing & still trying to make new music!

Interestingly Odd, the new cd from Black Gasoline is a mix of Monster Magnet, Kyuss, Mondo Generator & Fu Manchu! The band has that retro 70's, fuzzy guitar tone & jam vibe in full effect, & you can practically smell the bong water as you listen to "Dirty White T-Shirt"..it's just got that kinda vibe & feel to it & there's even some cowbell in the song too! Overall, this cd is great stoner rock & I'm still impressed that there's bands out there like Black Gasoline, who play riff rock that's more inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Sabbath & Black Oak Arkansas! There's unlimited guitar solo's on this cd, the artwork is kinda trippy, & what I really like about the overall sound of this cd is, it's NOT polished, it's kinda raw, it has that "vibe" where it almost sounds live at times & that's not common in this pro-tools world!

Production wise, this cd sounds great...sometimes REALLY heavy bands with singers that scream their balls off, sometimes they get a really muffled sounding mix & the guitars are just too muddy, BUT, with "Wounds" by The Funeral Pyre, the guitars maintain a good, clean, treble tone while the vocals are strong & shrieking with NO muddy tones! "Wounds", the title track, is over 8 minutes long & when I listened to this entire cd from start to finish, the band is kinda like a prog metal band, with the exception of, there's NO guitar solo's, or atleast, no traditional guitar solo's, & it's what really makes the bands sound non-stop brutallity, BUT, I think if they had some lead breaks, it would be pleasing to the ear to hear some dynamic changes, but I'm not knocking the band, they rip your face off with their sonic assault of non-stop aggression! By the Way, there's NO ballads on this cd!!!

Rating: 5 stars

I was reading the accompaning bio that came with the advance for Dear Life's "Framework" cd & they were compared to Every Time I DIe...I can kinda see that in the vocals, BUT, musically, Dear Life are more metal core than ETID, which, musically, tend to fall back on more hardrock at times than metal core, which is the pure essence of Dear Life! "Our Defining Moments" has a great guitar chug to it & it kinda reminds me of Chiodos in parts, but, to be honest with you, the band's vocals are great for what they are trying to do, but it would be nice to hear some clean vocals in some parts..the non-stop aggro vocals kinda get boring after some point & what keeps the listener interested is clearly the guitar work that's weaved all through the cd..the riffs are tuned down drop-D/C riffage, & it's all relative to what they do, but I really like the guitar riff on "Puppy Mills.." which kinda has an Iron Maiden/Avenged Sevenfold flair to it! Overall, Dear Life is a good band, they sound like all the other metal core bands, so if that musical trend continues for a few more years, this band could easily be on the Bullet for My Valentine tour & fit in perfectly!

Billy Howerdell is best known as the mastermind & main guitarist for A Perfect CIrcle, but with the bands current hiatus, Billy has a new musical venture titled Ashes Divide, & the music on this cd is not totally opposite of A Perfect Circle..it's dark, has that guitar tone that only Billy can play & create, & the interesting thing about this project is that Billy played almost all of the instruments & has taken over the role of lead singer for this project! The artwork is killer..there's a piece of artwork for each song, & the lyrics are touching, dark, introspective & at times, they are so honest that they are almost spooky! "The Stone" is the lead single off this cd, but don't let that song fool you, the ENTIRE cd is rich, diverse, unique & no 2 songs sound the same! "The Prey" has this new wave feel to it, while "Sword" is really kidna dark & almost gothy in parts! "Stripped Away", in my personal opinion, sets the cd up with it's overall tone, & it's ironic that it's the first song on this cd, because in many ways, Billy stripped away all the parts of A Perfect Circle to create his own musical vision that's totally singular, there's no other major collaborators on this cd, it's all Billy, & when I had the opportunity to talk to Billy, he was telling me that putting together the touring line up of the band was a challenge in ways. For a record that was primarily recorded by soley one person, this cd still maintains that "band" vibe & sounds like a gang of people, rather than just being created by one musical being, & that's truly a unique part of things..Billy's creativity is an outlet on this cd & the darker songs are not even that dark, they just speak of life, death, & what's next, & that's probably the heaviest subject matter ever! My final comments on this cd are as follows: This is definitley one of the best, most artistically expressive cd's for 2008...it speaks to the masses, yet it's an absolute expression of what Billy was feeling while recording this cd!

Rating: 5 stars!

Disgust was an easily over-looked thrash metal band that featured former Motorhead guitarist Wurzel on lead guitars, & their sound was a mix of hardcore, punk & thrash..it's really hard to categorize it, because there's a really sludgy guitar tone to many of these songs & "Hymn For A Dying Planet" is one song that I found to be weird....it's like a 12 minute song that's all the same sonic thud...it goes nowhere in all honesty, it's just super heavy & chunky & there's no vocals either! The cool thing about this re-issue is that there's 8 bonus tracks that were not on the original release of this cd, so if you like good, old school thrash style metal, check out this cd!

Diamond Head have always been considered by the true fans of the NWOBHM as the most influencial band of that genre, next to Iron Maiden...Diamond Head's biggest fans though are obviously the guys in Metallica who made the song "Am I Evil?" famous & interestingly enough, alot of the Metallica fans still think that's a Hetfield penned song, when infact, it's an old Diamond Head song off their "Borrowed Time" cd. The "Borrowed Time" & "Canterbury" cd's have recently been re-released in a limited edition digipack version that's limited to 2,000 copies worldwide, & when you listen to these 2 cd's, the band really did create great heavy music & the era that they came from was NOT particularly known as an era for heavy music in popular culture! Both cd's have cool little biographical stories about the band & the music sounds superb & rich! It's interesting to hear the band play, because they have a really heavy sound, BUT, they also have a blues side, & they mix up genre's quite well while still remaining hard & heavy!

The new cd from Spiritual Beggars is a self titled release that's a compilation of stuff recorded in 93/94 by the band & if you've never heard Spiritual Beggars before, they are a stoner rock band that's got a vibe somewhere between Jimi Hendrix & Black Sabbath...I'd describe them as straight up riff rock & "Yearly Dying" kicks off the cd in style with chunky guitar riffs & a recurring fuzzy guitar tone that's prevalent throughout this entire cd. I'm always amazed that stoner rock bands still pump out records, because the stoner rock genre basically isn't a genre that sells particularly, well, but what I've always admired about it is, it's a solid genre that sticks to the formula that AC/DC & The Ramones did way before them...every song has a common theme, every song sounds distinctly like the other, & when you listen to Spiritual Beggars, I think this cd is good till the very last notes in "Sour Saints"!

Rating: 6 stars

King's X is a band that always intrigued me...they had it ALL...they were GREAT song writers, GREAT musicians, & yet they made very little money, had minimal success, yet, they still stayed true to their music & to this very day, they continue to release records consistantly! With the bands newest, "XV", the band basically still has that standard, trademark King's X sound..it's got a bit of a Southern vibe, kinda crunchy, very Beatle-esq, & Doug's singing is something that you will recognize as a huge part of the bands sound as well! "Pray" kicks off the cd on a rockin' note, but the song that really caught my attention was "Rocket Ship" simply because it's a rocker, but it has this trippy feel to it & definitley make sure you listen to the entire cd...I mean, the entire cd is great all the way through, BUT, there's some hidden bonus tracks that you have to check out..there's a cool blues number they do that kicks ass! If you look at the cd cover closely, the bands singer, Doug, is wearing a large cross necklace, yet he's also got a pentagram belt buckle, so there's some interesting parallels there! As a complete piece of work, "XV" is beautiful & definitley a solid release from King's X that will go down in the bands career as one of their best records ever!

Rating: 6 stars

This is probably the most popular, at least in terms or sales, of the releases from Flotsam & Jetsam, & this is the post Jason Newsted era of the band...on this release, there's songs written by Chris Cornell & David Ellefson from Megadeth, & it features 2 songs that got heavy rotation on the old MTV Headbanger's Ball.."Swatting At Flies", which has the great line, "The Only Thing I Ever Made in My Life was a Fist!" & "Wading Through The Darkness" which is actually the bands biggest commercial single EVER! This re-issue features a handful o' bonus cuts & the sound is amazing on this re-issued, digipack that's limited to 2,000 copies worldwide! Flotsam & Jetsam was a thrash band that kinda crossed over at some point & stripped some of their heavier, early sounds & went with a more polished, standard "Metal" sound over time. As a great bonus, the video for "Wading Through The Darkness" is included on this cd!

Rating: 6 stars

Metal Mania 2007 is an interesting package..it's a cd/dvd combo set that features artists' that played the Metal Mania 2007 show on March 24, 2007. Highlights of this package include 5 songs from the headliner's of the night, Testament, who tore the shit out of that place! Alex Skolnick's techincal shred combined with Chuck Billy's growling vocals...all I can say is simply brilliant! "The New Order" was actually my favorite track on this entire dvd too! Sepultura is on this dvd, but I've always thought that Sepultura without Max was....idk, bland! Paradise Lost seem like the odd band out with their very prog-sounding "Say Just Words", & it's interesting how Blaze Bayley was included on this billing..he's a GREAT singer, but he seems a little different than the other artists on this bill...I'd say Blaze fits, just it's kinda weird..I think what it is, is that overseas, Blaze is a big star, in the USA he's remembered as that guy who was after Bruce Dickinson in Iron Maiden! Many of these opening bands I'd never heard of...Korpikiaani are an interesing band that blends prog metal with shred, & Vital Remains is a band that you have to see to believe! The Audio cd features bands that I'd never heard before at all & they all share a common bond in their heaviness & their intensity!

Rating: 6 stars

Iill openly admit that I stopped listening to Korn somewhere around the "Issues" era...the band just got too commercially accessible, the media accepted them, they raped what was once a very cool, underground thing, & I lost my love for the band in that process...when I got the new "Live At Montreux 2004" dvd, I remembered just how powerful the band was...how bass heavy they were, & in a weird way, when you watch this dvd, you can see how things kinda fell apart too! I remember seeing Korn play small clubs, they were not that amazing, BUT, they had this charisma, & when you put that band on a large stage, they totally made it their own, yet, that huge success kinda killed what made the band special as well! "Blind" was the first song I remember hearing from the band, & when I sat down to watch this dvd, that was the song I was really inticipating..I wanted to see if it had all the power that I remembered the band possessing & guess what..it did! There's little bonus's on this dvd like a partial cover of Metallica's "One" & the bands cover of "Another Brick In The Wall" by Pink Floyd, but it's the bands originals that make this dvd special, & seeing Jonathan Davis sporting his kilt & flailing around effortlessly, hearing & seeing Munky & Head lay down some of the lowest, most tuned down riffs ever, & hearing the best rhythm in the rock/rap genre via Fieldy & David...it's clear to see why Korn made such an impact on the rock scene..this dvd proves that! This dvd captures all the elements of a Korn live show..sweat, energy, enthusiasm, excitement, & adrenaline!

Rating: 6 stars

This 2 dvd package is a drummers wet dream! You get Terry Bozio, Chad Wackerman, Jimmy Chamberlin, Jeff Hamilton, Steve Smith, Zakir Hussain, Mike Mangini & Mike Portnoy all in one concert! The Mike Portnoy footage was my personal favorite & features Paul Gilbert on guitar on a RUSH jam with the dynamic Mike from Dream Theatre! The drum kit that Terry Bozzio plays on..in one word, is HUGE! I kid you not, it's the largest drum set I've EVER seen in my life! The Jimmy Chamberlin Complex is probably the 2nd best set on this dvd..Jimmy has a full band backing him & they sound killer! This entire show was filmed on 9/18 at the Vic Theatre in Chicago, & it's got amazing sound, great sound video, & I know I've said it before, but I used to think that drummers were not really an interesting part of music, I mean they are just beating on skins! But, watching this dvd, you realize how intricate & delicate of an art that being a drummer really is!

Rating: 5 stars

In this killer collection from the Christian Death Metal band, Mortification, you have 2 releases here that I am reviewing..there's a double cd packaging of "The Silver Chord..." & "Ten Years Live Not Dead" that's packaged in a 2 disc packaging & there there's "Primitive Rhythm Machine" that's packaged as a single disc. Every disc is limited to 2,000 numbered copies, worldwide, & there's a slew o' bonus tracks not included on the original pressings! Mortification are a Christian Death Metal band that believes in offering a postive message in their music, they sing about salvation & saviour, as opposed to Satan & the darkside, & if you didn't know any better, you would have no idea they were a Christian band! The bands gone through several line up changes & these cd's show that, & what's a living testament (n pun inteneded!) to the bands longevity is the fact that the bands singer was diagnosed with cancer & beat it..something that he credits to his faith in Jesus. What I find interesting about the band is their positive swing on things...they are all about finding a better way, about belief, & even if you don't care for Christian based music, you can't deny that Mortification can tear it up!

If you're familiar with this series of documentary style dvd's, then you'll know that the previous chapters covered the earlier pieces of Bob Dylan's career & this dvd basically brigs you up to the current era of Bob's career. I had no idea that Dylan used Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits on his later records, & that Dylan converted religions & basically lost his core audience when he started to record music that was essentially religious based material! There's alot o' great archival footage of Dylan in this dvd, you get to see some cool interviews with people in the know about this part of his career, & I can't stress enough, this is a really comprehensive documentary on the later works of Bob Dylan...it's got alot of stuff on it that I never even knew about the man!

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Rating: 6 stars

I got a bio that accompanied this advance cd & I'll admit, the band's pic looked cool, so I had doubts if these tatted up rocker's with cool hair & eyeliner would sound 1/2 as cool as they looked, because alot o' times, a bands pic will look good, BUT, the bands music will suck ass! Well, in this case, the bands pic is as good as their music...it's a mix of punk & metal & really, it's got that New York Punk Rock vibe & tone, just it's more modern sounding & the band they remind me of the most is D-Generation, who were one of my personal favorites from the New York rock scene that never really went far. Fall From Grace's cd opens with "Hated Youth" which is a kick in the pants..it's fast, loud & full o' energy, then you have a song like "Wake Up My Friend" that's a little more brooding, yet still chock full o' chunky rock riffs & power chords, yet it's slower & it sounds like it should be a single to me! "The Last Straw" is fast, & it's what I think Johnny Cash would sound like if he did hard rock music...it's got that kinda vibe, yet it's a full on rocker! "Picture on the Wall" kinda starts off like a left over Blink 182 song & I mean that in a good way, & "Covered In Scars" is my personal favorite off the cd, it's just a kick ass rock n roll rollercoaster ride that leaves you wanting a little more when it's over! Fall From Grace might easily be the best new hard rock band I've heard all year, & they are the winners of the Bodog Battle of the Bands contest, so that tells you they can deliver the goods as a band, besides the fact that their cd is just f**king killer!

Rating: 6 stars

Black Magic is an idie rock band that's got a great edge...the guitars are loud yet emo-ish, & the vocals are clean & "Magic Tricks" has a very Strokes-ish kinda sound, but don't say they sound like the Strokes, because musically, the bands a mix of garage pop rock & strong indie song writing! "White Lie" is a slow song that's kinda sad in it's overall vibe & "Bad Call" reminds me of The Hives in pieces! "Drag Addict" is the song that I think the band really shines on & it kinda reminds me of the great Indie scene we used to have in the mid 90's where bands were creative, yet totally sellable to the masses & radio friendly! This cd is really short, but it gets the point across, Black Market write great, catchy, memorable songs!

Rating: 6 stars

GG Elvis is a cool one-off Punk rock tribute to the King of Rock N Roll, Elvis Presley, & this cd comes with a limited edition DVD that's got music videos & weird little interviews, BUT, the catch for the music videos is, they cannot use the Elvis covers on the dvd because there's some weird assed rule about using songs on video & the Elvis estate were being bitches about things, so during all the music videos, they have funny little dialogue running under the videos & if you really wanted to, you can play the cd with the accompaning song so you see the video as it was intended..infact, if you go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWSfDIW2kgc, you can watch the video for "Blue Suede Shoes" which was NOT allowed on the dvd! There's alot o' surprises on this cd, check out the scratch & sniff part, that's pretty sick, so don't say I didn't warn you, & there's random nut sacks in parts on this cd, but you'll have to watch the dvd & check out the cd to understand that reference! Overall, I LOVE the punk covers to every song, there's little parts where you might hear a Ramones cover or a Sex Pistols cover tossed in with the Elvis songs, & this is one helluva fun tribute record...I doubt it'll really get much exposure in mainstream America's world, but for the true music lovers & the underground, this is a rare gem that you MUST buy to understand....I can almost see the lawsuits happening, & truthfully, this is a great record, it's fun, Elvis recorded sooo many great songs, & hearing them done in a punk rock style, it's classic!

Rating: 6 stars

Musically, Atris is kinda like Radiohead meets Ours...they are a mix of rock, with piano's, randome electronic elements, clean vocals, & REALLY amazing song writing! The songs on this cd are pretty somber, they range in their emotional value, yet they are all serious, intense & dark, BUT, they are NOT heavy in any way! Progressively experimental, yet artistically simple, EVERY song on this cd is a pure work of art & all I can say is, if you like emotionally charged music that's kinda like mixing Tori Amos with Ours, you'll LOVE this band! I Love the part of the band bio where they reference Oscar the Grouch too, that's classic!

Track Listing: Sex Is A Sin, Darkness Eternal You Are There, Bubbles & Nights, Get Onboard The Drug Train, She Sells Sex By the Seashore, Lovely Lovely, Dead All Dead, All My Friends Are In Love With Satan, The One, I Never See Them In The Dark

Rating: 6 stars

Ok, so I think I've basically heard all there was to hear, I was going through all the cd's I had in my large pile of things to review, & I come across a cd from a band called Dearestazazel...the name is hard to say, I don't even like the name, it's just too hard to ever be able to spell right or even remember, YET, the music this band makes on their cd "Be Mine" is a mix of synth pop, metal, & pop...the singer is an opera singer, the guitarist is a shredder, the drummer is a rocker & the synth's remind you of video game music at times! "Sex Is A Sin" has sooo many twists & turns that it's an immediate masterpiece! The song is dancable, you can headbang in parts, & it's ironically clean & something you could play infront of your family! The band mixes so many genre's that it's crazy & I've never really heard a band quite like them...imagine Flock of Seagulls meets Orgy meets Horse the Band meets Dragonforce...the vocals are really unique & everything is just so oddly mixed on this cd that as a music fan, I fell in love with this cd instantly! "Bubbles & Nights" reminds me of Stryper with synth's, & "She Sells Sex By the Seashore" is kinda funky with it's interesting hooks & seriously, this band will surprise you if you are looking for something that's un-definable, has NO genre, & is just REALLY interesting..this is a band you MUST check out & I'll totally go out on a limb & say, this is the most interesting band/cd I've heard all year!

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GARDENIAN

Soulburner / Sindustries Track Listing: SOULBURNER: As A True King, Powertool, Deserted, Soulburner, If Tomorrow's Gone, Small Electric Space, Chaos In Flesh, Ecstaty of Life, Tell The World I'm Sorry, Loss, Black Days

SINDUSTRIES: Selfproclaimed Messiah, Doom & Gloom, Long Snap To Zero, Courageous, Hearltess, The Suffering, Scissorfight, Sonic Death Monkey, Sindustries, Funeral

Rating: 6 stars

Gardenian is an interesting band..they emerged from the Swedish metal scene, & never really attained the same success as In Flames or Dark Tranquility, yet, musically, they were equal to both bands! There's a cool 2 cd re-issue available that's numbered & limited to 2,000 copies world wide, & with this re-release, you get 2 of the bands 3 records & what makes the band interesting is their use of cealn & aggro vocals...the clean vocals really do remind me slightly of Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden, & when you listen to "Soulburner", I think it's a great epic metal release, BUT, "Sindustries" shows so much growth & you can hear how much the band grew in taht time period! "If Tomorrow's Gone" is an amazing song that's got this them to it that's almost like going on a voyage! Direction wise, the band has some classical influences, some stock metal influences, & what I really like is that most of the bands material has guitar solo's & you can hear pure musicianship as opposed to some of the latter day nu-metal bands that just went with tuned down riffs & no real musicianship. "Black Days" is another example of the musical diversity this band has..they are a metal band with prog roots, but they also have this side to them that creates creepy soundscapes & doomy sounding riffage! I have to mention too, most of the songs on the 2nd cd are 6+ minutes...that's something MOST bands can't say...it takes some serious direction to make a song 6 minutes & to still make it sound interesting & make the listener feel like they are on a voyage!

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WINTER Into Darkness / Eternal Frost (re-issue) Track Listing: Oppression Freedom, Oppression (Reprise), Servants of the Warsmen, Goden, Power & Might, Destiny, Eternal Frost, Into Darkness, Servants of the Warsmen, Eternal Frost, Winter, Blackwhole

Rating: 5 Stars!

Winter was a weird assed band..they were together long enough to release one full length cd & record one demo....with this new re-issue, you get both of the bands recorded releases on one cd set! Winter was a band that played doomy sounding metal that's not really death metal, yet it has the growling vocals & super low-tuned riffage. I would really describe Winter as a slower version of Carcass...ideally, I can see why the band didn't last for the long haul..their music is creative, dark & angry, but it really is a total downer...every song is just freakin' brooding & a total downer...don't get me wrong though, I think they are great at what they did, what I think really describes their sound, in one word, is SLUDGE! This cd is a limited edition reissue that's numbered & limited to 2,000 copies, so don't miss your chance at getting this rare release from the doomiest sounding band of all time!

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BELIEVER Sanity Obscure Track Listing: Sanity Obscure, Wisdom's Call, Nonpoint, Idols of Ignorance, Stop The Madness, Dies Irae (day of Wrath), Dust To Dust, Like A Song

Rating: 6 Stars

Believer sounds alot like older Voivod in my personal opinion...they play old-school thrash with attitude! The bands "Sanity Obscure" has been re-issued as a limited edition digipack that's limited to 2,000 copies worldwide, & the sound is amazing, the songs are intense, & it's interesting that they are a Christian band, because you could honestly NEVER tell! Musically, this band stands up to any other thrash/hardcore metal force..their riffs are fast, the drumming is intense, & the vocals are kinda ugly..what more could you ask for in a thrash metal band?!? I think "Nonpoint" is the song that really caught my ear..it's got great writing, it should have been a single, & it's just really well written...I love the riffage as well..the guitar work is tight! "Dies Irae" is the song that will make you think you've got the wrong cd on..it's got opera style female vocals & it's really more classical based than anything on this cd..it sounds amazing, but kinda seems odd on this record...don't get me wrong though, I LOVE it...this is one of the best underrated thrash metal records EVER!

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ARCHITECTS Vice Track Listing: Cold Hard Facts, Hard Times, Pills (Radio Edit), Daddy Wore Black, Jersey Shore, New Boots & Truncheons, Mrs. Doyle, Drop In The Bottle, Continental, Help, Oklahoma, Pills (extended version)

Rating: 6 Stars!

Architects have a working class sound, & solid song writing, & it's weird trying to describe their style...they kinda remind me at times of Jimmy Eat World mixed with the rock side of Bruce Springsteen, & there's definitley some Mike Ness style tossed in as well...I don't know, it's hard to explain this band...their sound is simple & rooted in traditional rock n roll & there's mild elements of punk & metal as well..I still use the analogy that Architects are a working class band though..there's no frills, no filler, just solid song writing, attitude & alot o' guts! "Hard Times" has a catchy little pinch harmonic guitar lick that's tossed in every so often, & "Pills" is power pop as it was meant to be...upbeat, fast & fun! "Daddy Wore Black" has a metal vibe & reminds me of Poison's "Talk Dirty To Me" in certain parts, BUT, this is NOT a glam song, it's just got this little piece that reminds me of Poison..."Jersey Shore" is probably the most interesting song on this cd..it's got a catchy chorus, solid foundation & it's just a damn good song! Overall, Architects are a kick ass rock n roll band..they offer nothing more than good song writing, singable choruses & catchy songs..what more could you ask for? I might add too, the lyrics for the song, "Mrs. Doyle" are pretty interesting too...what I can gather about that story, it seems like a twisted love story! Oh yeah, btw...."Continental" will kick your ass too btw, it's a rocker!

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IAN WALSH Please Remember Track Listing: Unhappy Ending, Catch My Eye, Now Or Never, Perfect Sense, As Always, Goodbye, Supposed to Be, I Hope I'm Blind, Familiar Place, Apology

Rating: 5 Stars!

Ian Walsh has a strong voice, good songwriting, & it's interesting to read his bio, because he used to be straight up metal, then he decided to change gears after a bad relationship, & you know what..that was the best decision Ian could have ever made, because this is the right direction for him! "Unhappy Ending" kicks off the cd with a pop/rock power punch, & "Catch My Eye" goes right into a more powerful vibe, while retaining that modern pop-rock vibe, although, as a metal fan, I can definitley hear the metal influences on this one! "Perfect Sense" is an interesting song that's got a bit of a sad overtone to it, & "As Always" is honestly a depressing song! What I get from this cd, when I listen to it as a whole, is that the bad times Ian went through...it was all worth it in the end, because he wrote a deeply personal, soberingly beautiful body of work about love & losing love...it's something that most people can relate to, & listening to this cd, the concept is really about letting go & moving on, which is the hardest part of life!

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YOUR HIGHNESS ELECTRIC The Grand Hooded Phantom (dvd/cd) Track Listing: Ain't No Not, Our Albatrosses, Man The Doublewise, Wine Red Lips, Handing Out Hairlips, We Kentuckians, The World's Biggest Necklace, Bearskin Love, Army Green, Apocalypse Town, Bobsugarsexmagic, Picture That With Teeth, Carnal Knowledge, kNOw Gods, kNOw Masters, Le Titout

Rating: 6 stars!

Stoner Riff Rock...that's the best way to describe the new CD from Your Highness Electric! The cd kicks off with this weird assed intro that made me wonder where this cd was gonna go, but when "Our Albatrosses" kicked in, it was clear that this band was HEAVILY influenced by Tony Iommi's riffs! The Best way I could describe them is imagine if Jack White was jamming with Soundgarden...that's an interesting way to put it & it's pretty accurate in my opion, because the vocals have this garage rock quality to them, yet the band has this larger than life riffage going on & the bands sound swells in your ears as you listen to song after song, because each song is raw, un-defined, & I don't think the band places too many limations on their creativity, which is what makes them sound amazing! Actually, I think Your Highness Electric would be an awesome band to tour with The Raconteurs, because both bands have a similiar vibe, sound, & energy that's based on 70's riff rock & you can't deny all the energy that's on this cd!

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ATTITUDE FOR DESTRUCTION

DVD Track Listing:

Rating: 6 stars

Attitude for Destruction is a b-horror movie that revolves around a parody band called Hollywood Roses, which kinda parodies Guns N Roses somewhat, & the core of the movie if focused on a band that plays the Sunset Strip music scene in CA, get an offer to sign with a record label if they dump their singer, so the band kills their singer accidentally in a violent fight that breaks out after they tell him he's fired, & the bands singer then comes back to avenge his death by killing the bands members, the guy who signed the band & basically, it's kinda like the Freddie Krueger concept where the slain singer attacks the ones who harmed him through their dreams, & there's load's o' blood, guts, babes & rock n roll insanity, & when you watch the movie, it's clear that it's a low budget horror flick, but it's also part of the charm of this movie, because there's no famous actors, there's NO big productions, it's all very low budget, & if you watch the movie as a complete piece of work, it's fun in it's campy approach to representing the rock n roll world & the horror genre all in one! The guy who plays the character of "Slash" from Guns N Roses couldn't have a worse wig either! lol

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This DVD captures a live show by Limp Bizkit when they were at the height of their career, when they were the king's o' rap-rock, & when the singer wearing the red ball cap was EVERYWHERE! Seeing Wes Borland totally covered in black paint & tearin it up with the band is great, because it was shortly after this tour that Wes quit the band & that was essentially the beginning of the end for the band as well! "Break Stuff" is my personal favorite on this dvd & god, it get's the crowd movin' like a bunch o' freaks! "Master of Puppets", the Metallica song, is covered on this dvd & "Faith" is probably the song that I think the crowd went the most insane for, & Fred Durst screams his ass off on that song as well! "Rollin" is the last song of the night & arguably the biggest song from the band, but I'm kinda bummed that "Counterfeit" wasn't played! There's 2 versions of the same concert on this dvd..one is the original & the other is a remixed version..I personally prefer the original, & there's also a bonus interview with DJ Lethal as well. Although Limp Bizkit is gone, this dvd is a great souvenier of just how amazing the band was in their prime!

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This is a retro-re-issue of a home video that came out in the 90's, it features all the great bands Earache had on their roster at that point...Godflesh's "Crush My Soul" is the opening video & it's a video that I never ever saw back in the day, so it was great to see that video! Dub War are the odd band out & NOT metal, Entombed's "Wolverine Blues" was a Headbanger's Ball favorite many years ago, & seeing Cathedral, Napalm Death, & Carcass on dvd finally, it's great to see that this classic 90's home video chock full o' great metal bands music videos is out & on a digital format that will stand the test of time! Fudge Tunnel's "Rudge with an AJ" is my personal favorite on the cd because the video is just weird! It's hard to believe that most of these bands are no longer together, but like I said, this is a retro-reissue from the 90's, it's great for the fans who never saw these videos, because let's face it, these bands were too heavy for MTV even back then!

TSOL are one of those bands that are an essential punk band from CA that oddly enough, most people probably don't know! I remember the first time I ever saw their name was when Duff from Guns N Roses wore their shirt in one of their videos! The band was a mix of punk & rock & they mixed political messages in their music, yet, they didn't look offensive, they were well spoken, & they almost looked like college kids...so non-threatening, yet their music was the catalyst & that was where the harsh tones came from the band..their looks were just NOT like the Misfits, Sex Pistols or Ramones..they looked average! "Abolish Government" was covered by Slayer & it's the one song I actually knew before seeing this dvd, & after watching it, it's interesting to see the good selection of footage they have from the entire bands career...the reunion footage of the band that was filmed recently shows an older, yet still kinda angry band & the best part of that footage was when a young kid jumps onstage & refuses to stage dive like a normal concert goers, so the band stops the song & demands that the kid do it "right" & that's what punk rock is all about...the band was hands-on, fan friendly, & their fans LOVED what they did on that stage..it's really sad that the band went kinda unknown like they did, but, when you watch this dvd, you can really understand the bands legacy & see their passion for the music they made!

Throw Rag is a weird little band that's part rock n roll, part rockabilly, & on the "Tee-Tot" cd, the song "Mama's Vice" is the song that really stands out, it's an instrumental that shows how good the band is at improvising on a song that's part blues, part jazz & ALL mood! The band kinda reminds me of Reverend Horton Heat on acid at times because their songs have odd themes & they definitley like to have fun! "She Devil Woman" is a great slow song that's got a 50's vibe, but the washboard played in the song is kinda odd & not that pleasing to my ears personally! On the "2nd Place" cd, the disc opens up with a harder edge & harder guitar tones, then "Devil Gone Good" kicks in the bands rockabilly overtones! "Desert Shores" sounds like something I've heard before, I might be wrong, but it's just one of those songs that you'd swear you've heard before!!! "Hang Up" sounds like like Bad Religion & it's a great rocker! "Fast To Go" is my personal favorite & really reminds me of the hooks that the band Circus of Power used to have...it's got a nasty groove! I'd say that "2nd Place" is clearly my favorite of these 2 cd's..the last song on "2nd Place", "I'm so Glad" almost totally rips off a few T-Rex songs too, which is kinda cool in my book!

The 2 most recent re-issues from the Flotsam & Jetsam catalog are "Drift" & "When The Storm Comes Down" & the "Drift" cd is the bands most interesting disc because it find them preading their wings a bit, experimenting more, & the entire cd was about the death of Eric AK's brother, so the overall tone is sad, & the highlight of this re-issue is the cover of Sabbath's "Fairies Wear Boots"!! "When The Storm Comes Down" is probably the bands best thrash metal record, it's just PURE thrash metal & they tore it up on this disc, BUT, the band was never happy with the mix & the bonus track is a weird assed interview with the band! Both cd's are limited to 2,000 copies world wide, so get these rare digipacks while you can!

The Black Halo's are a one-two punch of pure punk rock power & on their "We Are Not Alone" disc, the cd starts off with "Disbelief" which is like a more amped up Social Distortion! I think the song "Princess St. Princess" is what I always wanted Rancid to sound like...it's just guitar, bass, drums & vocals..simple, yet strong as shit! "We Are Not Alone" has that New York punk sound mixed generously with that Southern Cali punk spirit...this band is a rare gem in the music world for sure & if you like fast, loud rock that's all about attitude & aggression, then this is the band for you! "Holes" is the only song on the cd that starts off kinda bass driven & it has this great rock n roll sleaze appeal to it! Every song on this cd kicks ass from start to finish, so if you like your rock n roll gritty & dirty, this is a band you'll salivate over!

Heavy as hell, Final Breath's "Mind Explosion" cd has finally been re-released & it's got a few bonus tracks, & the interesting story behind this cd is, they had serious trouble getting the right singer to record this cd, & when they did they had no label to release it! The music on this cd is almost grindcore, it's just super heavy, ugly & intricate with it's churning guitar riffs, solid drum beats & dead on rhythm! The vocals are very standard actually & I think they are a little below what I'd like to hear really, the vocal mix is under the band for the most part & you can't really hear the vocals as loud as I'd prefer them...the core of this band it the guitar tone & that's NOT a bad thing by any means because the guitar work on this cd is amazing! This cd is a limited edition pressing & limited to 2000 copies worldwide, so I'd suggest picking up your copy before they are gone forever!

Wow, I feel like I've gotten alot of Stoner rock in my mail box lately, & to be honest with you, this new cd, "Gods of The Earth" by The Sword is the BEST of the best! The Sword's twin guitar attack is like having 2 Tony Iommi's riffing together while playing Lynyrd Skynyrd's best solo's! The overall mix of each song is raw, not polished, & the guitar riffs are simple yet effective in ripping your face off! "Lords" has a sonic chud that kicks your ass, & the I will admit that The Sword's material is all very similiar in the same way that all of the Ramone's or all of AC/DC's stuff is immediatley recognizable, which isn't a bad thing fyi! "Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians" has this great syncopated guitar rhythm that is like a high speed gallop of treble charged mayhem! What's great about this cd is EVERY song has the same pace..there might be some slow breakdowns or intro's, but overall, every song is crunchy, every song has a similiar theme musically, & god, the riffs are so chunky, heavy & strong, that you just can't help but fall in love with hard rock music...the production on this cd isn't really sharp, it's definitley rough in parts & that's what makes it so pleasing to my ear, because I've seen The Sword live before & how they sound on this cd is EXACTLY how they sound in concert...no pro-tools trickery here kiddies! "The White Sea" is the last song on the cd & it's the ONLY song that's slower & kinda artsy, so it's a great ending to a killer riff rock record!

Juniper Lane is a female fronted band that's got a spacey kinda sound that verges on trippy, & I base that on the bands use of echo alot...I get annoyed by bands like U2 that kill that sound, but when Juniper Lane use it, it just works, because Vivion's voice sounds good over the artistic guitar strums & loose rhythms that direct the bands sound. I think the core of the bands sound is rooted in pop rock with deep meanings & often times, pop rock is affilitated with the mindless crap that radio plays & the dribble that winds up becoming hit singles...the music on here, like the song "Take Me Home", is deep, dark, & artistic, yet still poppy in a quirky kinda way. "Catch My Breath" is piano driven with electronic beats & Vivion's beautiful voice make this song what it is! "Coma" sounds like a song that Tori Amos could have written, & "Don't Follow Me" has alot of indie rock integrity! Juniper Lane is a band that, with the right exposure, could be huge..they have their own vibe, their own direction, & artistically, they stand out as audio anomality...something that's not totally new, yet there's nothing out there quite like them, so they have this unique position that could see the band taking over the world with the right push!

The Dreamscapes Project is an interesting band that's gimmic is, there's NO electric guitars...well, it's not actually a gimmic, but, when you listen to a song like "Food For Thought", it's obvious that there's breakdowns meant for electric guitars, BUT, the band is all acoustic with cello's, & the cello's add a depth to things that make it almost electric in parts, although it's clear that it's not guitar. I might seem crazy, but I always looked at Tenacious D as being a good band...if you look past the goofy lyrics, Jack & Kyle create interesting songs, & The Dreamscapes Project reminds me of the musical end of Tenacious D at times...I mean that in a good way, because I genuinly like the "D", so that's a high compliment, although I can't see TDP ever covering "F**k Her Gently", because the band takes their craft seriously & they are very good at what they do. It's interesting to hear how the band pulls off the same emotions on an acoustic as you would on an electric guitar...a song like "Still Love" is definitley a rocker, yet, it's got the acoustic thing happening, so it's a totally different sorta rocker! Overall, this is a good record..it's not a mellow acoustic disc, it's more like a heavy acoustic record that's got cello's & although it has it's artsy moments, it's definitley a rock record!

Toy Gun Cowboy is a weird assed band! Actually, it's not a band, it's just one guy names Matthew Erickson who goes under the name Toy Gun Cowboy & most of this cd was recorded in his garage according to the accompaning bio I received with this release! The music is a mix of funk, blues, & it's got hip hop flavor to boot! The Everyday Activities" is a great song...it's got a retro vibe, yet it feels kinda new with electronic beats & loops. "Compton.." is probably my favorite song because it's not really anything amazing..it's really simplistic, & that's what makes it a great song..the vocals are what make this a song..it's odd in an advantegarde nature..it's not anything you'd hear on radio, but you might hear it in some underground club after everyone's gone home...I don't know if that analogy makes any sense, but that's the point...it's just a good song that you'd hear at some random time & think, wow, that's good! After listening to this cd all the way through, I'd compare this cd to a less pretentious Fatboy Slim...it's got that kinda vibe, those kinda retro effects, yet, it's NOT really a dance record!

I'll be totally honest, I blame Fall Out Boy for watering down mainstream rock & making idiot kids think that what they do is REAL rock...I know that's a lame assumption on things, BUT, after seeing a zillion kids wearing their Fall Out Boy shirts & hearing their shit on the radio far too many times to mention, I kinda build up a sickness when I heard their name & the irony was, I'd never heard any of their cd's or seen a live performance....soo, I got the bands new live cd/dvd package in the mail & guess what...for what they do, they do it well...I don't hate Fall Out Boy in all honesty, I just got sick of having their name forced down my throat on a daily basis! The band covers "Beat It" by Michael Jackson & it features John Mayer on guitar...I might add that it rocks too! The live tracks on this cd sound loud & a bit echo-ridden at times, but I assume that was the mix they preferred, & "Golden" is actually a damn good song that made me respect this band alot! What I will give the band is, of the radio single I know from the band, all of these live recordings sound as good as their studio versions, so that's a good sign! The bonus dvd has all the bands videos, a live concert & a shit load of extra's that make this a killer package for the Fall Out Boy fan & after listening to this cd & watching the dvd, I now have respect for what the band does!

This is a remix EP from Ontario, Canada's Birthday Massacre...it has a few new songs & a few remixes, as well as the video for "Looking Glass". The band covers, "I Think We're Alone Now" & basically, their cover is an electro-shock retake on the pop cover from the 80's by that girl who sang at Malls all across America, but the thing is, TBM's cover is wayyyy better than said crappy 80's cover! The remixes range from ambient to artsy electro-pop, & "Looking Glass" is the new song on this cd that will make you pay attention..it's got hooks & punches that make it a memorable song for sure!

The Motorcity Madman, Ted Nugent...what do I need to even say about him that hasn't already been said? He's someone who ALWAYS deliver's a kick ass live show, & there's a new Ted Nugent live cd out called "Sweden Rocks" that has Mick Brown on Drums & Barry Sparks on bass & if you're not aware of it, those 2 guys are the rhythm section for Dokken, & let me tell you, they are a great addition to the Ted Nugent rock n roll extravaganza for sure! There's a nice selection of new & old on here, & Ted's cover of "Soul Man" sounds amazing for sure! "Hey Baby" is one that really made me happy to hear..it's such a classic rock n roll song, it's just oozing rock n roll lust & the opening riffs of "Great White Buffalo" will make ANY guitar player smile! What I admire about Ted Nugent is, he's an older guy, yet he still has all the energy & intensity that you'd expect from the Nuge! Ted had a bit of a potty mouth at times, but hey, it's Ted Nugent, it's to be expected, & do I even need to mention that "Cat Scratch Fever" is the shit!?! Probably my personal favorite on this disc is "Free For All" which rocks like f**k! Alot of the younger kiddies might think Ted Nugent is classic rock & not rockin', BUT, let me tell you, Ted's still got it going on & this new live cd proves that point 10 fold!

Ride the Boogie is comprised of members from VAUX, Places To Park & Arkham, & the members recorded some of their stuff on the John Lennon bus @ the Warped Tour..it's an interesting story on how this project came together..it's like something that really shouldn't have happened, yet it did! The music is kinda lo-fi, straight up rock with no frills, & I have to admit that some of the song themes are kinda funny, like "Big Assed Bass" & "Mustache Riders" to name just 2! "Big Assed Bass" is really roots in 70's garage rock, while "Naughty Corner" reminds me of the Velvet Underground & "All Night" kinda reminds me of Talking Heads! "Flat Out First Gear" is a rocker with fuzzy guitar tones & "Mustache Riders" is jsut plain weird! As an entire body of work, I definitley dig this cd, it's creative, artistically fresh & it doesn't sound like it was pro-tooled to death!

American Speedway is a rock n rollin animal that's fast, furious & revved to maximum speed on their new release, "Ship of Fools", & the title track opens the cd with power, fury & excess via fast, power driven guitar licks, pounding drums with plenty of crash cymbals, & the singer sounds like he's on trucker's speed & jack daniels! Listening to this cd, I get excited for real rock music again, because this band has drive, they have desire to impress & they have freakin' balls! Honestly, the best way I would describe this band is as follows: PURE ROCK N ROLL EXCESS!!! They don't full around, they kick your ass with their gut wrenching riffs, their demanding rhythm & their raw power! "Drinkin' & Drivin'" kinda starts off like a few different songs by the band Kyuss with this really low tuned sound, & honestly, I dig the hell outta this band...they make rock music fun, they play dirty, they are NOT mainstream, they offer no apologies & they play the purest form of hard rock music...no frills, in your face, dirty, high energy rock n roll!

Amy Winehouse is known for being an anarchic motown style diva who's addictions often overshadow her true talent as an amazing vocalist, & with this new documentary dvd on Ms. Winehouse's career thus far, it's easy to see how her transformation from a simple singer who looked innocent, to her current tatted out & heavy eyeliner image...basically, what I get from this dvd is that her career so far has been like a dream, & the media's views on her addictions are really just selling tabloid newspapers, & I think everyone is missing the big picture, which is, Amy Winehouse's fame is something she's having trouble dealing with, & her current problems are just a reflection of that. There's a clip of Amy performing Michael Jackson's "Beat It" which I think is cooler than cool too..I didn't realize Amy was big overseas, then crossed the pond to take The USA by storm! A few people who are interviewd on this dvd seem to be clueles about Amy's situation, but overall, this is a documentary that's been put together really well, they have all the facts in order, & although Amy hasn't had a very long career compared to Madonna or Cher, she's still an amazing performer & she has a good story if you're interested in it.

Kerli is a pop singer/song-stress who, looks wise, is like a mix of Pam Anderson (pre-plastic surgery!) meets Avril Lavigne...basically, she's drop dead gorgeous, BUT, don't think that's all she has going on...her music is a mix of electronic, dance, pop, rock, & it's really hard to even TRY to categorize her...she won an American Idol style contest a few years back & she was actually too young to even enter the contest, so she entered it going against the rules & won the contest, which led to her being offered a record deal & her vocals are really beautiful...she's definitley something that's missing in the current music scene...originallity & freshness! Kerli mixes beautiful tones with dark visions that make you think, fantasize & her music, in a word, is really fresh, fun, & interesting on both a musical & an artistic level.

I was trying to listen to both of these cd's back to back & I wasn't really quite sure what the deal was at first, BUT, basically, THE SUN is the rock record..it's not heavy, but just straight up rock, & THE MOON is the poppy, more artistic record, so you have 2 discs here on this set, both are different, although they share the same song titles...for me personally, I LOVE the art direction in the packaging...it's got this amazing retro feel that's kinda like the stuff you'd see from J-pop bands..it's hard to explain it other than it's all very choppy, & you don't see too many rock records with this kinda art direction & I like it! I think the overall concept of this record is "an eclipse" where you can have 2 cd's that line up to equal one piece...I don't know if that's accurate, but that's my interpretation of things, & the music on both cd's are really diverse & different too! "Bad Sun" is the track I'd say is the best in my personal opinion.

Ludo is an interesting band...every song is totally different, there's guitar solo's in some stuff, some synth's in others, & the song "Topeka" is probably the one that got my attention the most because how many songs talk about catalytic converters?? I don't know, but I found it to be really memorable based on that fact alone! "Love Me Dead" is probably the hardest rocker on this cd, but overall this cd is a mix of emo & alt pop rock & it's all very radio friendly & I have to also note that when you look at the cd booklet, the very first inside page...oh my god, that pic looks like it came out of the 50's..it's quite interesting & almost odd in a cool way! Ludo is hard to classify, so I'd just describe them as a rock band that mixes their sound up alot & what they have going for them is REALLY strong & solid songwriting!

It's interesting to read the bio that accompanied this re-release..this was a band that was called the next big thing by Kerrang & supposedly a huge part of the NWOBH, yet I've NEVER heard them before..they are kinda like Accept meets Judas Priest, but with a not so metal/metal vibe..I mean, they ARE metal, but they have a different sound than Priest or Accept for sure! Overall, the songs on this cd are all great metal songs, they sound a little dated in parts, but the band was strong, they wrote good metal songs for the 80's & they kinda remind me of a better version of King Kobra from the USA! All in all, the production is good on this cd, the songs are good, & it is what it is...kinda cheesy, stereo-typical metal from the 80's! The ONLY thing I will bust this band on is, some of the band members have a Flock of Seagulls hairdo...wtf?!?