Author: audioeclectica

New Release: Fearing- I Was So Alive

For many years now, I’ve been quite keen on the post-punk genre. When I look back on it, you could say that I’ve been drawn into it all at a very early age with bands such as The Cure, Joy Division and early Depeche Mode. Post Punk these days has expanded into many sub-genres as with any genre. One of the sub-genres that I am pulled into is the “Dark Wave” side of things. There’s something about the incorporation of a bit of New Wave into Post Punk that is exciting and intriguing. That being said, I’d like to introduce you to the band, Fearing. Their Dark Wave/Post Punk sound adds a bit more to the genre with interesting dynamics and melodies. There’s also this really cool contrast between the darker side of the genre and a pop tinge that gives the songs a variety that you don’t usually get with bands of this genre. On September 29th, Fearing will release their second full length album, Destroyer. The first single off the album, “I Was So Alive” is a brooding post punk jam with a shimmering light that shifts with the song. Fearing is the type of band within this genre that keeps evolving in a manner that keeps their roots intact but, changes just enough to make their music stand out.

Fearing- I Was So Alive:

Fearing Online:

FEARING | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

New Release: Repentance- Blinded By Fear

On September 1, 2023, Chicago’s own Repentance will be releasing their debut album, The Process Of Human Demise. That’s a pretty metal title! Ahead of the release, Repentance have released a couple songs with the latest being the absolute banger “Blinded By Fear.” The first single released “Withered And Decayed” is another head banger and features new Fear Factory singer Milo Silvestro. Repentance has a sound that is very metal with bits of groove metal, Swedish Melo Death, and a tinge of hardcore. The Process Of Human Demise was produced by Alex Lackner at Accelerated Sound. Mix and mastered by Chris Collier at CMC21 Productions. I’m for one am looking forward to what is to come with Repentance.

Repentace- Blinded By Fear:

Repentace w/ Milo Silvestro- Withered & Decayed:

REPENTACE ONLINE:

Official Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Memorable TV Performace: Chris Cornell on The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno 2006

Back in 2006, Chris Cornell wrote a song for the film Casino Royale. Since this was to be a new beginning for the James Bond franchise (and it’s a great film too), the film’s producers wanted to reflect this new direction of James Bond with a “strong male singer.” Well, they definitely got that with Chris Cornell. The end result is “You Know My Name.” One of the intriguing things about this song is that during the making of it, Ken Andrews of Failure was asked to help out. Chris would wind up doing some vocals with Ken behind the board. Which is a totally awesome thing all on it’s own. I still to this day wonder what Audioslave or even Chris’s solo album would sound like if Ken was the producer and or mixer. When you watch this performance check out who is playing guitar and doing backing vocals!

Chris Cornell- You Know My Name (Live on The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno- 2006):

New Release: The Armed- Everything’s Glitter

I remember the day my friend Adam told me about this band he was really into. The way he described them to me made them quite intriguing and then he played me the song “Polarizer” and from there I was completely in. The band that we are talking about here is The Armed and they are one hell of a band. The Armed are a sonically bombastic entity that with sheer volume will essentially polarize you in a total good way. Today, they have released “Everything’s Glitter” a new song from their upcoming album, Perfect Saviors (out 8.25.23 via Sargent House). This new song finds the band further expanding their sonic sensibilities with a melodic and anthemic element. The Armed still have a wildly chaotic sound but, have been able to over the course of the last couple releases, harness that chaos into controlled chaos with the end result becoming more grandiose and catchy.

The Armed- Everything’s Glitter:

The Armed- Polarizer:

Best Of 2023 So Far…

We are a little past the halfway point of 2023 so, why not put together a list of a bunch of my favorite releases of the year… so far!

*This List Is In No Particular Order EXCEPT For Number 1

01) Iress- Solace EP
02) Loma Prieta- Last
03) Will Haven- VII
04) Better Lovers- God Made Me An Animal EP
05) The Ocean- Holocene
06) Metallica- 72 Seasons
07) Turbid North- The Decline
08) Deathgrave- It’s Only Midnight
09) Unearth- The Wretched / The Ruinous
10) Dave Lombardo- Rites Of Percussion
11) Rancid- Tomorrow Never Comes
12) Creeping Death- Boundless Domain
13) Queens Of The Stone Age- In Times New Roman
14) Tunic- Wrong Dream
15) Common Wounds- Common Wounds EP
16) Jerome’s Dream- The Gray In Between
17) Vanishment- No More Torture
18) The Smashing Pumpkins- ATUM
19) Year Of The Knife- Dust To Dust
20) Thrice- The Artist and The Ambulance (2023 Version)

New Release: Baroness- Beneath The Rose

Ever since they announced their new album, Stone, I’ve been on a pretty big Baroness kick. Lucky for me and you, today they’ve released another single, “Beneath The Rose” from their upcoming new album. This new song is pretty damn rockin’! One of my favorite things about Baroness, is their eagerness to experiment and try new things and on this song, they have definitely added some extra elements and textures to their repitoire. The roots of this song also go back to the bands previous album, Gold & Grey. Speaking about that vocalist/guitarist John Baizley said “This song is kind of a cool one because, when we were writing our last record, Gold & Grey, I had the outline for this song ready to go, but it didn’t quite work. We couldn’t figure out how to turn it into a full song at the time, so it was nice to dust off the bones of the song and breathe new life into it for STONE. It’s always nice to go back to a song that you’ve always felt had a potential, but you never saw through. It’s loosely based lyrically on a poem by George Eliot.” Stone comes out on September 15! In the meantime dig into this!

Baroness- Beneath The Rose:


New Release: Mutoid Man- Demons

I’m already beyond stoked about the new Mutoid Man album, Mutants, coming out on July 28. One of the things I really enjoy about Mutoid Man is the fun aspect to what they do. Don’t get me wrong, there’s definitely a serious factor to what they do but, they really have this playful sensibility that gives you a little smirk as you listen. And live, it’s even better. The new song they have released “Demons” is a banger and then some. The roots of the song go all the way back to 2018 with singer/guitarist Stephen Brodsky commenting on it “We played PsychoVegas in 2018 and to celebrate the occasion, we thought it’d be fitting to open with a cover of ‘Psycho‘ by the Sonics. We learned the song about 20 minutes before our set, and had such a blast playing it that we decided to write our own little psycho jam. And with that, we present to you ‘Demons‘ — enjoy!” And Enjoy you shall!

Mutoid Man- Demons:



Album Review: Better Lovers- God Made Me An Animal EP


There’s definitely something going on in the ether to bring these forces together. Intensity, aggression, and ferociousness are just some of the words that come to mind when describing the onslaught that Better Lovers have delivered with their debut EP, God Made Me An Animal. When it was first announced that Greg Puciato would be joining Jordan Buckley, Steve Micciche, Clayton “Goose” Holyoak and Will Putney in a new band, the chills that ran through me were astounding. The thoughts of what this new band is capable of is off the charts. The first taste of their offering with “30 Under 13” definitely left you wanting more. Then out of left field comes the raging brush fire that is their debut EP, God Made Me An Animal. The chaotic and frantically controlled 15 minutes of length that their EP runs is one hell of a journey that leaves you with the want for more but, also a sense that what’s coming next is going to smash your face in.

“Sacrificial Participant” sets the tone and pace of the release. It wastes no time as the riffs flow, rhythms pummel and vocals rip your throat right out. Then it goes right into “30 Under 13” which is an absolute ripper. “Become So Small” is a track with a sense of urgency to it with the way it grabs you and twists and turns you. This is one of those songs that live will for sure get the pit in a frenzy. Closing out the EP is the title track, “God Made Me An Animal.” This is my favorite track on this release. It’s a track that shows off different facets of what this band is capable of. The aggressive nature of the song is ripe throughout and the melodic sensibility gives it another element to chew on.

There is a relentless energy that is found throughout this EP that is similar to the bands that the members come from. Better Lovers expands upon some interesting ground that each band delved into and brings it more to the forefront. This is only a taste of what this band is and will become. As much as I would love to have The Dillinger Escape Plan and Every Time I Die back, Better Lovers is a solid step in the evolution of the members as a whole. Each person brings something interesting to the table and with enough time, I have a feeling that this band will take things to a whole other level.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Better Lovers- God Made Me An Animal:

Track One: A Perfect Circle- The Hollow

The other day I was having a conversation with a friend and we got to talking about how fast time has gone by. While in this discussion, it somehow evolved into how old certain albums are now. One of the ones that got brought up was A Perfect Circle’s debut album, Mer De Noms, which is now 23 years old. Crazy! I still remember the day it came out and spending hours upon hours listening to it. So much so that it became my go to album in the summer of 2000. Naturally, this made me go put the album on later and it’s still as good as it was the first listen through. One of the songs I’ve always loved on that album is the opening track, “The Hollow.” It’s a damn good song and one of my all time favorite track one’s. It’s got such a great impact to start the album off and all the little nuances about the song make it all the more intriguing each time you listen. Also something that many don’t know is that this is the only song on the album that Josh Fresse doesn’t play drums on. Instead Tim Alexander from Primus is the drummer on this song. Also, “The Hollow” was the third and final single released from their debut album.

A Perfect Circle- The Hollow:

Cover Song: Placebo (Tears For Fears)- Shout

This is actually pretty funny in my own mind. For years I’ve been talking about how Placebo should do a cover of a Tears For Fears song (my go to for the longest time when discussing this idea was “Everybody Wants To Rule The World). Then a few months back this idea actually came to fruition in that Placebo did cover a Tears For Fears song and they chose “Shout,” and it’s actually really good. I love that not only Brian Molko sings on it but Stefan Olsdal does as well and his voice is the one that sounds best on the track. No to take away from what Brian does but, getting to hear Stefan out in the forefront is awesome. Also, if you haven’t heard Placebo’s latest album, Never Let Me Go, you should check that out too. It’s quite good and reminds me a bit of Sleeping With Ghosts meets Loud Like Love.

Placebo- Shout:

Placebo- Never Let Me Go: