ENDWELL have premiered their new song titled “Depression Party” from their upcoming new album Punishment, which is set to hit stores April 26th through Mediaskare Records. To listen to the new song go to http://www.facebook.com/EndwellNYC and “like” their page.
News by .
Of Mice & Men have parted ways with vocalist Jerry Roush and have announced that they will reunite with original front man Austin Carlile. The reformed lineup will be heading into the studio in early January to record the follow up to their Rise Records self-titled debut. Guitarist Alan Ashby, who had been working with Austin on a new project during his time apart from OM&M, has also officially joined the band. Shayley Bourget will now play bass and Alan will assume his position at guitar. Phil Manansala and Tino Arteaga remain on guitar and drums, respectively.
Starting March 10, Of Mice & Men will be headlining the 2011 Artery Foundation Across The Nation Tour with guests Isetmyfriendsonfire, Sleeping With Sirens, Woe, Is Me and The Amity Affliction.
News by .
Rise Records is pleased to announce its partnership with UK based band, SHARKS. Keeping with the bands D.I.Y ethics, they have started their own record label “Velvet Scene” and will team up with Rise Records to release a 14 song album entitled, “’The Joys Of Living 2008-2010”. The album will showcase the bands first 2 years worth of recorded material (’Shallow Waters’ and ‘Show Of Hands’ EP’s and the ‘Common Grounds’ single) as well as 2 brand new songs. Available in LP/CD/Digital formats April 5th in the US, Canada and Australia/NZ.
News by .
Woe, Is Me have posted their new music video for “[&] Delinquents” from their debut album Number[s]. Watch the new video below!
News by .
The Gun Show has announced a solo run of tour dates that will keep them on the road from November 27th to December 14th. Dubbed ‘The Han Solo Tour’, the trek will put The Gun Show in front of crowds throughout the southeast and mid-west, where they’ll showcase material from their upcoming album, Discontentment due out early in 2011 through Static Age Records. Check out the tour dates below.
‘The Han Solo’ tour dates:
11/27 Barbourville, KY – Black Kadillac
11/28 Cookeville, TN – Amps & Ramps
11/29 Cleveland, GA – The Foundation Venue
11/30 McDonough, GA – The R.O.C.K.
12/01 Jacksonville, FL – The Pit
12/02 Kissimmee, FL – Second Saturday Showcase
12/03 Lake Worth, FL – Propaganda
12/04 Pompano Beach, FL – Rocketown
12/05 Tampa, FL – Transitions Art Gallery
12/06 Theodore, AL – Padiddles
12/07 Clinton, MS – First Baptist Church
12/08 Waco, TX – Art Ambush
12/10 Midwest City, OK – The Church Of The Harvest
12/11 Wichita, KS – Eagles Lodge
12/12 Springfield, MO – Lemon Drop
12/13 Springfield, IL – Blacksheep Cafe
12/14 Marion, IN – The 803
News by .
The world hasn’t had the benefit of a new BLS album for quite a while now. In fact, their last album “Shot to Hell” goes way back to 2006. After that, Zakk kept busy with his longstanding commitment to Ozzy Osborne and has since been retired and replaced by Greek export Gus G. While such an abrupt career dip may spell the end for most musicians, Zakk always had his own baby to fall back on. Gathering the troops for yet another jaunt into whiskey fueled metallic territory, Zakk now presents us “Order of the Black,” a foreboding title that still manages to absorb your interest despite the band’s long absence.
Not wasting time with dull intros, Zakk whips out his guitar’s signature tone for opening jaunt “Crazy Horse.” It’s a biker anthem soaked in American lore and a majestic chorus destined to inspire much fist-pumping among a live audience. The next song “Overlord” keeps the momentum running at an even pace and bears the distinct signature of Ozzy Osbourne. Not that Zakk is imitating the Ozzman, it’s just the style is reminiscent of his work in his previous band. The album’s pulse barely misses a beat for “Parade of the Dead” and it isn’t until “Darkest Days” that the tenderness begins oozing forth in ballad form.
Guitar pyrotechnics is what drags in “Black Sunday,” one of the album’s speedier offerings that forego the grooving sludge for exquisite finger work. Speaking of finger work, take a large aural dose of “Chupacabra” near album’s end. It’s an abrupt showcase of Zakk’s technique as he punishes a Spanish guitar in a prolonged burst of shred frenzy. However, if this is too strange for your orthodox tastes, honest-to-goodness rockers are plentiful and come thick around the middle. Ignoring the ‘other’ ballad here (”Time Waits For No One”), the anthemic “Southern Dissolution” and its power-thrash sibling “Godspeed Helbound” are undeniable proof that age hasn’t diluted this quartet’s sonic brew.
While Zakk Wylde’s stamp on “Order of the Black” is indelible, it’s the other three guys who are responsible for really bringing it all together. In case you missed him, Zakk’s co-guitarist Nick Catanese is back in fine shape and the accompanying rhythm section of John Deservio (bass) and Will Hunt (drums) keep the album’s rough edges under control. Solid as a rock and harder than Stone Sour can ever be, “Order of the Black” won’t disappoint.
-Miguel
Album Reviews by .
Metalheads may take pride in the sheer breadth and diversity of their musical tastes, but the truth is they’re a discriminating lot. No surprise then that in the mind’s of most self-righteous metalheads, Bullet For My Valentine are somewhere between Britney Spears and Papa Roach. In not so many words: Near the bottom of the shit pile. Trust us, it’s a pretty awful place to be.
But hey, despite the dismissive haters the Welsh quartet do have commercial success on their side. Not even the elite of America’s “metalcore” scene (Trivium, As I Lay Dying, All That Remains—all of whom have moved on from their trendy beginnings) have sold as many albums as these fairies. To be honest, compared to every half-assed quasi-melodic black metal up-and-coming douche group coming out these days, Bullet For My Valentine have more songwriting panache in their little fingers than the up and comers will ever have.
Such is the core strength of “Fever,” a predictable collection of saccharine tunes whose sole reason for existing is to improve on the last album’s merits. Where 2008’s “Scream Aim Fire” had hooks and energy galore, “Fever” has the same in excess. The band is moving in a straight line apparently and you’re glad to know that Bullet For My Valentine are guided by a musical imprint all their own. Said imprint has the benefit of simple lyrics, faux teenage angst and a strange blend of Gothenburg melodic thrash/death metal tempos with licks circa Def Leppard at their hammiest.
If you think that’s a bad combination you might as well skip this album, because from the first song (the rather tedious “Your Betrayal”) onwards the band inflict syrupy anthems without remorse. The title track is particularly loathsome but it isn’t half as bad as the endless succession of heartbreak songs bedeviling this release. It’s sheer punishment enduring Matt Tuck wail about some chick who left him. You’d think the band would smarten up and make amends halfway through, but instead Matt and his gang worsen matters by contemplating relationships gone sour and the girls who ignored them in school.
So the big question is: Does the album suck? Nope. The songwriting is too polished for it to fail. It’s just…predictable. If a recommendation is asked for it would be a very slight one: slightly recommended then.
-Miguel
Album Reviews by .
Blessthefall have posted their new cinematic music video for “Hey Baby, Here’s That Song You Wanted” off their album Witness. Watch the new video below!
News by .
English post-hardcore act Enter Shikari’s new single “Destabilise” is now available in the US on iTunes. Purchase the “Destabilise” single at:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=399698259 and check out the music video for it below.
News by .
That particular segment of American youth who bother to embark on music careers, especially one in metal, have lately embraced the keyboard as a full-fledged segment of the aural mix. Such is the case with Society’s Plague, a youngish quintet from Kentucky who are being touted as the cutting edge of their genre. Whatever genre that is (let’s avoid pigeonholing these guys, okay?) it sure comes off as ill-fitting at times once you have an earful of the dozen tracks inside “The Human, The Canvass.”
The bone of contention here is the mode by which the band peddle their song craft. Expect harsh screams, cleanly sung choruses, layers of symphonic ambience and melodic death metal ferocity. In short, Society’s Plague are a contemporary American band who play a contemporary blend of influences from either side of the point. Think Soilwork meets As I Lay Dying then throw in a pinch of Iron Maiden and Dreamtheatre. The end result can be off putting at times, however there are also promising examples of what this band will become someday.
“The Human, The Canvass” kicks off with an obligatory intro before the opening track gets underway. It’s gratifying to hear that for a band who’ve juts debuted, Society’s Plague have their musicianship down pat. They may sound contrived on occasion, but when it comes to musicianship and lyrical inventiveness Society’s Plague are on the right track. Perhaps the greatest flaw of the album, despite such winning tracks as “Legions” or ” A Better View On A Bitter World” and even the magnificent “Transcend The Throne,” is the boring sameness that pollutes the listening experience. A lot of the songs here are filler and the parts that are truly memorable only shine on occasion.
When it comes to personnel, Society’s Plague should pride themselves for being a seasoned live unit. It shows when you hear the fluidity coursing through each song here. Odious as Mat Newton’s generic growls are, on the other end of the spectrum is the band’s gift for imaginative writing and well hewn compositions. Given its flaws, keep in mind this is a first album and as a rule of thumb, it’s no one’s place to thoroughly condemn a band’s debut offering. Society’s Plague may not be perfect, yet the future seems right for the quintet if they continue to hone their craft.
-Miguel
Album Reviews by .