FooFighters, as they had promised, has come up with a ‘heavy' album, although some nut cases say this one is as soft as Justin Timberlake. They must have eardrums made of metal, as the dudes serve non-stop frenetic rock in this highly-charged affair. Not that it really comes as a surprise, for these guys have been dishing out some fine albums, the most notable being their second handiwork The Colour and The Shape.
This one is another fine thoroughbred. You just know that things will whizz by your head as soon as you plug into the anthemic opener, All My Life, that has lead vocalist Grohl going into a chanty-drone-soaring-chorus mode.
The fuzzy guitar riffs and tight drumming continue in the high-octane Low that is full of menace and packs a hefty punch.
They slow things slightly, but still surpassing the speed limit, in the commercial pop rock-wannabe Have It All. Creatively done, it is a bouncy piece that showcases something fans would know the band can do by now – airtight harmonies. You get standard FF issues, like the jangly guitar-backed Times Like This that has a catchy chorus and the psychedelic and somewhat spooky Disenchanted Lullaby.
They take a break in Tired of You. It is sparse and uses minimal music, one voice, a single reverb-heavy guitar and the guys have a smooth piece that is beatnik at some corners.
The album is very balanced, and bashfully intoxicating throughout. There is power in their play throughout, and yet, control is never compromised. Brilliant could be an acceptable description.
NICK CARTER Now Or Never THE first song, Help Me, got me a bit dumbfounded. Had I erred by putting Bon Jovi on instead of the former Backstreet Boys stalwart? Or was it Bryan Adams? Nope. I had the right CD. I joke not. He does sound like Bon Jovi or Bryan Adams almost throughout the album, his ‘new' raspy and crispy voice obviously fooling me.
Maybe, just maybe, he has reached puberty. But whatever hormonal change he has gone true, Nick has jolted many with this album.
Why, you might ask. He has gone totally in the opposite direction of his labelmate Justin Timberlake (did I just mention his name again? Forgive me, for I have sinned!).
This is not as sotong-like as I had thought it would be. This is a happy pop-rock album that has proved sceptics wrong. Nobody thought MTV would give him a chance, but we all know that the songs from this album are riding high.
I can understand why, although admitting to liking his music comes as a bit of an embarrassment. Like admitting one likes Modern Talking.
He does a mean Bryan Adams in the superb ballads Do I Have To Cry For You and Heart Without A Home (I'll Be Yours).
Heck, he even puts on the mask of Def Leppard in the everybody-sing-along American pop rock fare, Girls In The USA, Duncan Sheik's I Got You and Blow Your Mind that has Roxette written all over it.
This is different. It's not vintage but it is fairly decent. Now, why didn't he sing like this when he was with the BB? Hmm...
HATEBREED Perseverance MUST be getting old. As soon as I saw the cover and the band's name, I shuddered.
Was expecting the worst, and yep, these growlers did not disappoint. They had a highly-acclaimed underground debut album called Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire that my rocker kid brothers have in their collection.
This one, though, should be renamed Don't Waste Your Time and Money On Us. And make that print in striking red, just to make sure the message gets across.
All the songs can be likened to a nightmare within a nightmare, the kind that you can't wake up from.
They start the same, they end the same, they sound the same. Heavy, repetitive riffs, double-pedal drumming and solo and groupie growls. From start to finish.
They're so crappy that it would be a waste to name any of the tracks.
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