Month: March 2018

Album Review: Dead Empires- Designed To Disappear

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It’s always a pleasure to see and hear a band evolve in the right direction. A couple years back I featured the band Dead Empires as Band Of The Week, and now they have come roaring back with a new album, Designed To Disappear, and it is absolutely crushing. From the time the opening song, “Spectacular Ruin” kicks in, you the listener know you that Dead Empires are coming to take over. The progressive nature of the Designed To Disappear not only lets the songs stand alone, they are have a perfect ebb and flow to create an album. There are parts that are reminiscent of The Dillinger Escape Plan which makes for some really cool jazzy breaks. Songs like “The Form,” “Reverse Speak,” “A Summertime Song,” and the closing title track “Designed To Disappear,” all have a sense of urgency and depth that a lot of instrumental bands seem to lack. Now armed with a vocalist, Dead Empires are about to cause some serious damage to stages and speakers. Something else about this album that stands out is the production. There is a crisp and heavy feeling about these songs that helps to resonate what the true nature of their playing feels like. Dead Empires are alive and well, and are ready to take over.

 

Dead Empires- Designed To Disappear:

Classic Soundtracks: Judgement Night

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Back in 1993 there was a movie that came out that was pretty mediocre but the soundtrack was an absolute beast. I’m talking about Judgement Night. The movie had Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr, Jeremy Piven, Stephen Dorff and the great Denis Leary. The movie is less than memorable, though Denis Leary plays one hell of a bad guy. The soundtrack though became a cult classic and really was instrumental in bringing hip-hop and rock/metal together. Collaborations like Helmet and House of Pain, Biohazard and Onyx, Living Colour and Run DMC, Slayer and Ice-T really stood out as the go to tracks. Then there were others that were quite interesting like Pearl Jam and Cypress Hill, Sonic Youth and Cypress Hill, Dinosaur Jr and Del The Funky Homosapien. All in all this soundtrack was badass. There was even a collaboration between Tool and Rage Against The Machine but, neither band was happy with the end result so it didn’t make the album.

 

Judgement Night Soundtrack:

 

 

Tool and Rage Against The Machine- Can’t Kill The Revolution:

Guest Vocalist: Howard Jones- Light The Torch Ex Killswitch Engage

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For many years now, Howard Jones has been a well respected vocalist in the heavy music world. From his time in Blood Has Been Shed to Killswitch Engage and now with Light The Torch (formerly known as Devil You Know), Howard’s voice and lyrics have resonated with countless amounts of people. Since Light The Torch is getting set to release their new album, Revival (out March 30), I thought it would be fun to put together a bunch of songs Howard has guested on over the years.

 

36 Crazyfists- Elysium (from Rest Inside The Flames):

 

Eighteen Visions- One Hell Of A Prize Fighter (from Vanity):

 

Throwdown- The World Behind (from Vendetta):

 

Roadrunner United- The Daggar (from Roadrunner United- The All Star Sessions):

 

Every Time I Die- Punch-Drunk Punk Rock Romance (from Last Night In Town):

Within Temptation- Dangerous (from Hydra):

 

Jasta- Chasing Demons (from The Lost Chapters):

 

Asking Alexandria- Until The End (from From Death To Destiny):

Band Of The Week: Actors

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Post Punk has fast been gaining and growing as one of the most popular genres these days. I’ve seen a lot of people from heavier bands going in this direction as side projects or after they’ve left their bands. There is a band hailing from Vancouver, Canada called ACTORS that have really nailed the post punk/darkwave sound. Actors have taken the classic post-punk sound and added a bit of a modern twist to it without losing the true essence of what the genre is. Their synth drenched scores could easily be found in countless films, all the while the songs have a dance vibe to them that fit in clubs. Led by singer/guitarist Jason Corbett, ACTORS have taken their well studied sound and delivered the goods. Their album It Will Come To You is chock full of dark sounds but with a sense of light underneath the beats.

 

Actors- It Will Come To You:

 

Actors- L’apple Du Vide (Live):

 

Songs In Film/TV: Phil Collins- In The Air Tonight on Miami Vice

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One of my all time favorite TV shows is Miami Vice. I still remember sitting with my dad and mom watching it when I was a little kid. What a great show it was. There were so many really great things about the show, especially the music. The way they chose the songs and where they were placed in scenes are absolutely legendary. One song I’ll never forget along with the scene is when Phil Collins’ song “In The Air Tonight” was played. The entire scene, the way it was shot, the drama, and the mood, perfectly captures the feeling of the song.

 

In The Air Tonight in Miami Vice (Season 1):