Month: September 2014

Band Of The Week: Before The Mourning

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The ability to mix melody and heavy music is tricky. You want to be able to keep the edge without betraying the heaviness but all the while make it full and coherent. Los Angeles’s Before The Mourning have been able to do just that. Lyrically you can hear the pain and anguish. The riffs and rhythms are fast, heavy and mosh inciting.  The bands influences of Swedish metal bands like In Flames and Soilwork mixed with the groove and melody are in the way the songs are written. The bands live show is full of energy and is very intriguing. Their debut album Etherial End was co-produced by Logan Mader and will be out in the fall. If you are into melodic metal, definitely check these guys out!

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/BeforeTheMourning

 

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: And We Are Them- City Of Ghosts

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It’s always a refreshing moment in any bands life when inspiration strikes and the end result is something to really be proud of. And We Are Them’s inspiration bug seemed to have hit them hard again and have just unleashed their newest EP City Of Ghosts. Continuing where their most recent release Align left off, City Of Ghosts takes a heavier approach to the music and lyrical content. Kicking off the EP is “So It Goes” which right out of the gate opens with a vocal urgency, then explodes with a heavy yet melodic sensibility. Next up is the very socially aware “Socialite.” This song shows off the melodic tinges of the band. The guitars from Nick Bradford and Chris Matalone really shine on this song as does the drums from Brian Hollenbeck and the slick bass from Jeff Chasin. “Next To Nothing” is bombastic and heavy. The amount of heavy that come with this song is constant. Vocally you can feel the emotion in the screams from Chris Matalone. “While You Sleep” closes out City Of Ghosts. This song is a bit of a departure but in a good way. It shows the growth of songwriting of the guys in the band. City Of Ghosts is the perfect direction for And We Are Them to go in. It’s well balanced between their influences and ability to captivate the listener. These songs are going to be beasts live. Speaking of live, September 19th at Velvet Jones (in Santa Barbara) And We Are Them are special guests of the reunited Abloom.

Pick up a copy via:

iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/city-of-ghosts-ep/id906051446

Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/music/album/And_We_Are_Them_City_of_Ghosts?id=B5tdm4nje3sbprnhipszjtfh66i

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MK3DIS6/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp?ie=UTF8&qid=1410279232&sr=8-3

 

https://www.facebook.com/AndWeAreThem

 

By: Brian Lacy

Amazing Must Own Albums: Mazzy Star- So Tonight That I Might See

 

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21 years ago, Mazzy Star released their second album So Tonight That I Might See. This album has stuck with me since I first heard “Fade Into You.” This genre bending took elements of alternative, pop, and a little bit of psychedelia and made a sensual, deep and beautiful album. Hope Sandoval’s unique and soft voice really sets the tone throughout. Dave Roback’s production and musical arrangements mix in plenty of variety among its tracks without losing sight of what made the group so special to begin with. There is also something very hypnotic about this album. Hope’s vocals across the haze  on “Bells Ring” is seductive, her voice is a breath of melody. “Mary of Silence” slows the album down to a near halt, with each thump and beat  fading into the ether. “Five String Serenade,” (a cover song from the band Love) is one of the albums finest moments. This version is simple, delicate and minimal in nature. “Wasted,” ripe with distortion, bluesy riff, is the heaviest song of the album’s ten compositions. Album closer, “So Tonight That I Might See,” introduces Native American inspired tribal percussion and the intermittent tambourine crash, covered over with a spoken-word vocal, executed with the signature subtle enthusiasm demonstrated throughout the record. So Tonight That I Might See never tries to be something it’s not. This album is devastating as it is touching and has stood the test of time since it’s release in 1993. This is definitely an album that should be in any music fans collection.

 

By: Brian Lacy

 

Band Of The Week: Ghost Parade

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The ability to write hooky melodic songs that actually have substance is not an easy task. There are plenty of bands that try but fall flat on their face. One band that I’ve come across has been able to combine both and maintain a heavy edge is San Francisco’s Ghost Parade. Their meld of progressive rock, alternative rock and even subtle pop moments is infectious and catchy. Ghost Parade are on to something here.. The band’s Foundations EP showcases the a band that seem to only have scratched the surface. The vocals are clear and coherent. The guitars ring bright and the bass adds some tasty rhythms to balance out the drums precise rock swing. I’m really interested to see where they go next.

 

 

 

http://ghostparade.net/

https://www.facebook.com/GhostParade

 

By: Brian Lacy

Cover Comparison: Shinedown vs Deftones (Lynyrd Skynyrd)- Simple Man

Thought I’d try something different. Since there are lots of the same covers out there I thought why not see what one you the reader/listener likes best. This week I put Shinedown and Deftones versions of Lynard Skynyrd’s classic “Simple Man” against each other.

Shinedown:

 

Deftones:

 

Lynyrd Skynyrd:

Playlist for 9.3.14

Here are 10 songs that I’ve been listening to on repeat.

 

Slipknot: The Devil In I (from .5 The Gray Chapter)

 

Foo Fighters: Come Back (from One By One)

 

Royal Blood: Blood Hands (from Royal Blood)

 

Nine Inch Nails: Various Methods Of Escape (from Hesitation Marks)

 

Faith No More: Ashes To Ashes (from Album Of The Year)

 

Ours: Sometimes (from Distorted Lullabies)

 

Sunny Day Real Estate: In Circles (from Diary)

 

And We Are Them: Present Tense (from Align)

 

Ghost Idols: Monsoons (from Monsoons 7”)

 

Dekades: Red Trolley (from Red Trolley single)