Tohuvabohu
Metropolis Records
As with all things in life, the things you really like never quite stay the same. For better or worse that's the way it is. With KMFDM It was my opinion that after En Esch and Guenter Schulz left it was gonna be for the worse. The last few albums were "lacking" as I see it, and I was not of any high hopes that the band could really redeem themselves to their glory days. So does Tohuvabohu achieve this mighty feat? No, but it's a lot better than I had hoped. Let's be real folks, without En Esch and Guenter it will never be the KMFDM we all came to know and love, but Sascha and Co do a pretty good job with what's left. The riffs have more of a power groove than straight ahead metal, the electronic side of things is still pure KMFDM through and through and Sascha and Lucia give it their all in the vocal department. It may not be the original recipie but it's still got some of the old flavor left in it.
Craig Harvey
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Hurtlocker
Embrace The Fall
Napalm Records
The back of this CD described this as thrash metal. Not really. It's more metalcore with thrash elements. However, it sounds like a clone of several other bands from this scene with not anything that really stands out to distinguish them from the fold. Gut-wrenching screaming vocals, heavy down-tuned riffs, etc... very formulistic. Still, it's heavy as hell, the band is solid and the production is well done which all counts for something I guess. Like every style of music there are a lot of bands that sound similar to each other, but a lot of the metalcore stuff was not my favorite anyway. However, it's not bad and if you like this style of metal then it's right up your alley.
Craig Harvey
Napalm Records
The back of this CD described this as thrash metal. Not really. It's more metalcore with thrash elements. However, it sounds like a clone of several other bands from this scene with not anything that really stands out to distinguish them from the fold. Gut-wrenching screaming vocals, heavy down-tuned riffs, etc... very formulistic. Still, it's heavy as hell, the band is solid and the production is well done which all counts for something I guess. Like every style of music there are a lot of bands that sound similar to each other, but a lot of the metalcore stuff was not my favorite anyway. However, it's not bad and if you like this style of metal then it's right up your alley.
Craig Harvey
Mehida
Blood And Water
Napalm Records
I liked the Cd cover right off. Simple yet effective. The music sounded good on the first track with vocals that reminded me oddly enough of Styx accompanied by solid sounding metal riffs. Then I started really listening to the lyrics. That is when it hit me; this is christian metal !!!! It all went south after that. No matter how good the band was I couldn't get passed the lyrics. WIth tracks like "Wings Of A Dove, Grace, Multitude etc.." it was way to obvious. It reminded me of Stryper and their ilk. I just don't do christian metal, it's like oil and water they just don't mix. Sorry guys.
Craig Harvey
Napalm Records
I liked the Cd cover right off. Simple yet effective. The music sounded good on the first track with vocals that reminded me oddly enough of Styx accompanied by solid sounding metal riffs. Then I started really listening to the lyrics. That is when it hit me; this is christian metal !!!! It all went south after that. No matter how good the band was I couldn't get passed the lyrics. WIth tracks like "Wings Of A Dove, Grace, Multitude etc.." it was way to obvious. It reminded me of Stryper and their ilk. I just don't do christian metal, it's like oil and water they just don't mix. Sorry guys.
Craig Harvey
The Chemical Brothers
We Are The Night
Atralwerks
The Chemical Brothers return with their sixth album "We Are The Night" and as you might have guessed, it's another fantastic release from this British duo. Like some of their electronic brethren, (Orbital, Underworld, Crystal Method) the Chemical Brothers have carved their own niche' in the electronic dance scene over the years with their own unique sound and "We Are The Night" continues in that tradition. These guys never play it safe while pushing musical boundries. The album is a plethora of odd quirky sounds and bizarre analogue synth's (that sound as if they are from another dimension) all wrapped up in pulsating beats and samples of voices from the unknown. There are guests galore such as Fat Lip and his contribution to the very humorous "Salmon Dance", Ali Love on the funky "Do It Again" and Midlake on the dreamy sounding "The Pills Won't Help You Now". The Chemical Brothers prove yet again, that electronic music can indeed challenge the ear while pleasing the body.
Craig Harvey
Atralwerks
The Chemical Brothers return with their sixth album "We Are The Night" and as you might have guessed, it's another fantastic release from this British duo. Like some of their electronic brethren, (Orbital, Underworld, Crystal Method) the Chemical Brothers have carved their own niche' in the electronic dance scene over the years with their own unique sound and "We Are The Night" continues in that tradition. These guys never play it safe while pushing musical boundries. The album is a plethora of odd quirky sounds and bizarre analogue synth's (that sound as if they are from another dimension) all wrapped up in pulsating beats and samples of voices from the unknown. There are guests galore such as Fat Lip and his contribution to the very humorous "Salmon Dance", Ali Love on the funky "Do It Again" and Midlake on the dreamy sounding "The Pills Won't Help You Now". The Chemical Brothers prove yet again, that electronic music can indeed challenge the ear while pleasing the body.
Craig Harvey
The Secret Meeting
Ultrashiver
Noiseplus Music
The Secret Meeting is the combined efforts of Karin and Statik of Collide with instrumental help from Dean Garcia formerly of Curve. After listening to this album, I concluded that a more perfect mixture of artist's could not have been more beautifuly matched.The music is very reminicent of both bands (showing the striking similarities they both share) but the music still has its own unique qualities. Karin's voice is seductive, soothing, and at times her voice sounds like Toni Halladay (former vocalist for Curve) almost to the point that I first thought it was Toni singing! The music itself is a union of trip-hop grooves, lush electronic atmospheres, and edgy bursts of distorted guitar. Both Garcia and Statik's compositional genius is a force to be reckoned with on this album. Having lent their talents to such acts as TOOL, Eurythmics, Skinny Puppy and many more, you can only imagine what they have achieved together on "Ultrashiver". This album could have stood as a Collide or Curve release individually in some respects, but the interplay between these very talented artist's has forged something just as beautiful, full of emotion and totally captivating that pay the utmost homage to both bands.
Craig Harvey
Noiseplus Music
The Secret Meeting is the combined efforts of Karin and Statik of Collide with instrumental help from Dean Garcia formerly of Curve. After listening to this album, I concluded that a more perfect mixture of artist's could not have been more beautifuly matched.The music is very reminicent of both bands (showing the striking similarities they both share) but the music still has its own unique qualities. Karin's voice is seductive, soothing, and at times her voice sounds like Toni Halladay (former vocalist for Curve) almost to the point that I first thought it was Toni singing! The music itself is a union of trip-hop grooves, lush electronic atmospheres, and edgy bursts of distorted guitar. Both Garcia and Statik's compositional genius is a force to be reckoned with on this album. Having lent their talents to such acts as TOOL, Eurythmics, Skinny Puppy and many more, you can only imagine what they have achieved together on "Ultrashiver". This album could have stood as a Collide or Curve release individually in some respects, but the interplay between these very talented artist's has forged something just as beautiful, full of emotion and totally captivating that pay the utmost homage to both bands.
Craig Harvey
Korpiklanni
Tervaskanto
Napalm Records
What do get when you cross metal guitars, accordians, violins, flutes with songs about drinking and dancing? Humppa metal of course! These finish folk metal guru's are simply outrageous and full of more energy on one song than many bands are on an entire album! The very first song is entitled "Let's Drink" so it's all one big party after that. Korpiklanni crank it up full throttle on just about every track with fast and furious tempos that almost leave you breathless at the end of each song. The frantic vocals of lead singer Jonne sound as if he is just keeping pace with the breakneck speed of the songs but he never falls behind. The interplay of guitars, bass and drums with the more traditional folk instruments is probably the best I have ever heard from any band of this genre. I can picture their live shows with people chanting and singing along, it's got to be a great time. Granted none of the songs are in English but in this case it really doesn't matter because it's all so much fun. So with tongue firmly planted in cheek, Koripiklanni gets my vote for most original album of the year so far.
Craig Harvey
Napalm Records
What do get when you cross metal guitars, accordians, violins, flutes with songs about drinking and dancing? Humppa metal of course! These finish folk metal guru's are simply outrageous and full of more energy on one song than many bands are on an entire album! The very first song is entitled "Let's Drink" so it's all one big party after that. Korpiklanni crank it up full throttle on just about every track with fast and furious tempos that almost leave you breathless at the end of each song. The frantic vocals of lead singer Jonne sound as if he is just keeping pace with the breakneck speed of the songs but he never falls behind. The interplay of guitars, bass and drums with the more traditional folk instruments is probably the best I have ever heard from any band of this genre. I can picture their live shows with people chanting and singing along, it's got to be a great time. Granted none of the songs are in English but in this case it really doesn't matter because it's all so much fun. So with tongue firmly planted in cheek, Koripiklanni gets my vote for most original album of the year so far.
Craig Harvey
Ironfire
Blade Of Triumph
Napalm Records
This Danish power metal outfit brings us tales of magic, epic battles and all manor of fantasy based songs which is the kind of thing I normally enjoy. Ironfire have all the right qualities musically with stunning guitar work, powerful vocals and solid bass and drums. These guys know their stuff and prove it song after song. However the music is not the problem. Unfortunately (and I hate to say this) it's the lyrics. As I said earlier, fantasy themes are very common in metal and I have come to expect that. However, these were just so cliché and unoriginal that I just cringed. Even after a second listen it didn't get any better. I mean, you could write something more original than stories about Camelot and such. This is the bands only downfall. Everything else was fantastic. Still it's hard to overlook something as major as lyrics because they are such an important part of the songs. However, don't give up on these guys just yet. I think they just need some time and perhaps someone to help with the lyrics and they will really have it all together.
Craig Harvey
Napalm Records
This Danish power metal outfit brings us tales of magic, epic battles and all manor of fantasy based songs which is the kind of thing I normally enjoy. Ironfire have all the right qualities musically with stunning guitar work, powerful vocals and solid bass and drums. These guys know their stuff and prove it song after song. However the music is not the problem. Unfortunately (and I hate to say this) it's the lyrics. As I said earlier, fantasy themes are very common in metal and I have come to expect that. However, these were just so cliché and unoriginal that I just cringed. Even after a second listen it didn't get any better. I mean, you could write something more original than stories about Camelot and such. This is the bands only downfall. Everything else was fantastic. Still it's hard to overlook something as major as lyrics because they are such an important part of the songs. However, don't give up on these guys just yet. I think they just need some time and perhaps someone to help with the lyrics and they will really have it all together.
Craig Harvey
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