A while back I made the band Moving Structures the band of the week. During that time they were in the midst of working on their debut full length. Well it’s now out and it is tremendous. When you are an instrumental band, the ability to connect with listeners and invoke feeling without vocals and lyrics is not easy, but Moving Structures are one of the few bands I’ve heard to be able to do just that and then some. There is something truly remarkable about the melodies and tones that they use to get you to feel something more than usual. The power of not having vocals makes you think and delve deeper into your senses. The twelve songs on Moving Structures’s debut Awake, take you on a journey that allows the listener to grasp their intentions all the while making it something that transcends the genre. With bits of prog, ambience, and rock, Moving Structures have released an album that can become a new blueprint for instrumental bands to learn and expand upon.
When you think of the band Filter these days, I would guess two songs come to mind, “Hey Man Nice Shot” and “Take A Picture.” One would think they have moved on from their early more industrial side of things, considering the last album didn’t really have any of those elements. Well Filter have just released a new album that harkens back to the Short Bus era and adds a bit of a modern approach. The new album Crazy Eyes is very influenced by the early days of Filter and a bit of Nine Inch Nails Broken era. Richard Patrick is back and angrier than he’s been in a long time. Armed with a band that helps realize his vision and tests the limits of electronic and industrial tones, the new album is one that stands out amongst the bands catalog. Songs like “Nothing In My Hands,” “Pride Flag,” “Take Me To Heaven,” and “Welcome To The Suck (Destiny Not Luck)” are complete standouts on this record. On a fun note Danny Lohner helped write and produce the song “City Of Blinding Riots,” which is a song that will be a great in a live setting. There is also an instrumental called “Under The Tongue” that is very Nine Inch Nailsesque in a good way.
I had the pleasure of speaking to Richard and he says “this album is a bit more reckless dangerous and quirky.” He also mentions that this incarnation is one of the most passionate version of the group since the early years. He also goes on to say that “this album should be triumphant in its anger.” While the album is full of anger, social commentary, honesty and a DGAF attitude are very prevalent themes throughout. Filter have come back to their roots and it’s very fitting in a time when music is getting stale.
After 20 plus years as a band and now 8 albums in, where do you go? Deftones have never been a band to play it safe. They shake things up every now and then, showing the band is constantly evolving. Their new album Gore is a prime example of a band maturing and expanding upon its influences. It’s nice to hear a band like this take chances and try new things, but the end result isn’t all that pretty. Gore has a flow to it that is makes it seem more like a collection of songs rather than an album. There are a few songs that are absolute standouts on this record. Songs like “Hearts/Wires,” “Phantom Bride,” and “Rubicon” are the best the album has to offer. “Hearts/Wires” should have been the first single released. Chino sounds vulnerable and focused on this song. There are great harmonies as well that take it up a notch or a few. As of this writing my favorite track is “Phantom Bride.” Jerry Cantrell guests on the song, providing a guitar solo that fits ever so perfectly with the vibe of the song. The song is also one of the the most heartfelt songs on the album. Chino shines on this, as well as the rest of the band. Other songs that caught my attention are “Prayers/Triangles,” “Acid Hologram,” and “(L)MIRL.” There is something very etherial to these songs. They expand upon the Deftones more “ambient” side.
Part of the problem with the album is the production and mixing. It’s very disjointed. The drums are buried in the back and don’t have the sense or urgency that fans of the band have loved for many years. There is a “raw” element to this album and I get it, but it’s just not done well at all. I understand why they didn’t want to continue on the path that they laid with Diamond Eyes and Koi No Yokon, but they seemed to have strayed a little too far on this one. The end result is that this album will definitely be one that grows on you with time. This is not to say that you won’t enjoy Gore, but it will for sure be one of the albums in the bands catalog that songs get skipped on a lot.
This is the first album that I’ve been anticipating all year. A few years back when Killswitch announced that Jesse was back in the band, it got me very excited. Disarm The Descent was a great way to welcome Jesse back into the fold. Now on this new album Incarnate, the band have stepped it up in a huge way. Taking a cue from their masterpiece Alive Or Just Breathing, the songs on the album get deep lyrically and musically they are taking chances, expanding on the melodic metal sound they helped to bring to the masses. One of the biggest things I’ve noticed on this album is Jesse’s voice. His screams are more direct and menacing in his delivery of the lyrics, while his clean singing voice has gotten better and better over the years. His range and emotion while singing is a true stand out amongst the talented musicians. One of my favorite songs “Embrace The Journey…Upraised,” really has the feel of the Alive era, but this song brings it in a different way, adding more ambience to the song, making it more epic by nature. Not to mention the positive outlook in the words. “Quiet Distress” is similar to the Times Of Grace project that Jesse and Adam have on the side. Its acoustic setting and dual vocals really drive home the message of the song. “Just Let Go” is another emotionally charged song that sees Jesse bare his soul a little more. “Strength Of The Mind,” is a classic Killswitch song, that will get the crowds going when they play it live. The song “It Falls On Me” is one of the most epic songs the band had ever put out. This is my favorite song on the album as of this writing. I hope it becomes a fan favorite and they include it in their setlist rotation. For those looking for a real head banging track “The Great Deceit” is the song you want. Closing out the album is “Ascension,” a song that sums up the entire album lyrically.
Incarnate is an album that will leave you feeling a sense of hope and positivity. One of the things I look for in bands is the ability to write strong lyrics that have depth and meaning. Jesse Leach has done just that and then some. He has bled his heart and soul out on this album. Since I first heard his voice and lyrics, I’ve been a fan of his. Not to take anything away from what Howard Jones did with the band, but Jesse has always been the voice of the band for me. If Killswitch carries on with the direction they went with Incarnate, they will have many more years of longevity to come.
Mike Patton has been one of the most consistently busy frontmen/singers in music for the past 15 years. His projects from Faith No More, Tomahawk, Peeping Tom, Fantomas, etc have been fan favorites for many years. Now he has joined up with Tunde Adebimpe of TV On The Radio and Anticon Records founder Adam “Doseone” Drucker in a very adventurous and experimental project called Nevermen. Shockingly the groundwork for this group was started over 7 years ago, when Adebimpe and Drucker would get together and ” crank space heaters in a cold warehouse that was marked for demolition, pour whiskey, run tape and beat on everything from doors, pipes, floors, and chests. They jammed on keyboards and drum machines, fashioned poems from tour memories and newspaper stories. The material would then be chopped up and made into songs then sent to Patton.” Each song has something different to offer listeners. The 3 gents of this group add their own flavor to the songs all the while trying out things that would normally be out of their comfort zones. The sheer amount of talent that each posses is astounding, yet the album doesn’t quite live up to their previous accomplishments. The end result is an album that was created by three very talented individuals that wanted to try something for themselves. While there are some moments that shine for example the song “Tough Towns” has a cool trip-hop vibe and the slow, dramatic swell that emerges from the quiet hum of closer “Fame II the Wreckoning, which contains some introspective as to what holds the group together, “One day might you get to the flame of what you are.”
Nevermen is a group that still has a way to go until they find their “sound.” The die hard fans of Mike Patton will probably enjoy this, while the casual listener might get lost in what this is all about. I can say this though, it’s very refreshing to have people like these 3 guys go out on a limb and try to create something that is drenched in the attitude of we are doing this for our love of music and art. Nevermen isn’t trying to be something that it’s not.
There are albums out there that really strike a chord with me. I’ve long believed in the true meaning of what an album is and should be. Meaning that once you put that album on, you just let it go without skipping any songs. In December, Baroness released their album PURPLE. This album is one hell of a gem. There is such a great balance to this record. The way the songs are arranged really lets you get engrossed in the depths of it. The lyrics and vocals push through in a way that isn’t over powering yet has enough force behind them for you as the listener to feel the pain, torment and hope from the band. A few years back Baroness was on tour in Europe, when they were involved in a very serious bus crash, leaving multiple people in the band and crew severely injured. During the recovery time two members left the band, and the amount of pain and depression really set in for the rest especially for singer/guitarist John Baizley. The end result of all that is this absolutely wonderful album. From start to finish, Purple grabs you and doesn’t let go. The production on this album was also handled by David Friedman (The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev), which explains the added element of psychedelia and layers. The first song on the album “Morningstar” kicks off with a powerful riff, and gruff yet melodic vocals, setting the tone for what’s to come. “Shock Me” and “Try To Disappear are stellar standouts on this album. one listen to each and you’ll understand why. The band really shines on these songs. “Kerosene” is similar in vein to what older Baroness fans really dug about the band. The first single “Chlorine and Wine” is a brilliant song full of many different influences that really help this song shine. Lyrically the story told is deep and meaningful. All the lyric on this are deep and meaningful. “The Iron Bell,” “Desperation Burns,” and “If I Have To Wake Up,” round out the beauty of this masterpiece of an album.
Baroness is one of those bands that aren’t afraid to take chances and experiment to bring out the best of the band. Their previous effort Yellow & Green was misunderstood by a lot of their fans, but it really helped the band in dialing in on what they are. Starting out as a heavier band, each album has allowed Baroness to grow and develop their own style. The addition of the new drummer and bassist, and the bus crash has really helped Baroness become a truly great band. Purple is their defining album. I’d even go as far as saying that this is one of the best albums since the turn of the century.
The ability to redeem one’s self in music is a very rewarding thing to accomplish. Last year the Foo Fighters released their very disappointing album Sonic Highways. Sadly that album doesn’t have the legs (get it since Dave only had one leg on tour… shameless pun) to stand on. Thankfully during the Foo Fighters time in Austin for the Austin City Limits Festival, the band gathered at the Saint Cecilia hotel and made an EP that redeems the less fortunate previous album. The five songs on the EP are chock full of riffs from throughout the bands 20 year career. Some of the riffs and ideas have been around since the inception of the band when it was just Dave doing everything. The first song “Saint Cecilia” is 3 and a half minutes of classic Foo Fighters. “Sean” is a little fun fast paced song. “Savior Breath” is the type of rock song that the Foo’s need to base their next album on. This song is beyond a rocker and is sure to be a crowd favorite for years to come. “Iron Rooster” is the weakest song on the collection. The lead guitar parts are really sweet and full of great melodies though. Closing song “The Neverending Sigh” is the best song on the EP. This is another of those songs that needs to usher in the next Foo’s album. The sheer magnitude of bombastic rock that comes out of this song is grandiose.
The Foo’s are on the right track with this redemption EP. That’s what the name of it should have been. It’s great to see a band 20 years into their career and they still have it in them to put out quality. I really thought that with 2011’s Wasting Light, they were on the right track. Here’s to hoping they get back on that track and keep on rolling through.
One of the most fulfilling things about writing this blog is the chance to hear new music all the time. Sometimes out of the bunches that are sent my way, there are those that really stand out amongst the pack. Over the weekend I received that debut album from Despite The Raven. I’ve been looking forward to this album for a while now. After hearing Craig Cirinelli in his other bands (Damn) This Desert Air and Hidden Cabins, I had a feeling that this new project would be the next step in his musical path. Teaming up with guitarist Chris Homentosky, this dynamic duo has created an album that stretches past the influences of the 90’s contemporaries and pushes deeper with each song. The eleven songs on this album are full of great rock n roll with added elements of ambience and soulful melodies. Song’s like “Where Fear and Courage Meet,” “Contrition,” “Tarred and Feathered,” “The Opportunist,” “The Maven,” and closing track “Walk Alone (The Unapology)” really showcase what this band is all about. Craig’s lyrics are personal yet open to interpretation allowing an added sense of discovery throughout the album. Despite The Raven are one of those bands that when they start taking the stage you’ll be wanting to pay attention. By the indication of listening to this album, you’ll get swept away by the sheer beauty of it. This album is definitely a cause for celebration. Do yourself a favor and delve into this.
If there is one thing these days that I really enjoy is when a band throws out the traditional rules, taking all their influences and make a record for themselves. On Hidden Amongst Us’s new EP Ugly, these guys have taken their love of 90’s rock specifically the “grunge” era and added a bit more melody to their already raw sound to do just that. The results are six songs of solid melodic heavy rock. Hidden Amongst Us is another of the bands that I featured during the early stages of Audioecelctica, and they have really grown as a band. This release shows their cohesiveness and willingness to do what it takes to make music with substance. In the past year as well, the band added another guitar player, thus allowing them to expand upon their sound and make it fuller. On Ugly, they accomplish that and then some. Songs like “Another Day,” “Can’t Take Anymore,” and “Bled Enough” show their evolution as songwriters, and the added dynamics in the band. This is definitely the right direction for the band. Take Ugly for a spin, and you’ll hear what I mean.
A while back I wrote a band of the week piece about a band from Washington called He Whose Ox Is Gored. They have fast become a band that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed since I found out about them. Their influences of multiple genres have allowed them to experiment to zero in on just what their sound is. I coined them as doom-gaze for their love of doom metal and shoe gaze. Now they have just released their debut full length The Camel, The Lion, The Child. This album is epic by nature and pulls you in with each song. The band has really found their stride especially with songs like “Oathbreaker,” Crusade,” and “Cairo.” There is something aggressive and heavy to the songs, but on a deeper level. Lyrics are scarce yet meaningful, and the band lets the music do the talking, just like how Isis used to do. Another thing that I’ve noticed in the progression of He Whose Ox Is Gored, is that they have really adopted more melody into their songs. Rather than it being a wall of noise, there is a balance between the heaviness and the more delicate nature of some of the parts, especially with the keyboards. The album was mixed by Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Isis) and Randall Dunn (SunnO, Earth) and it really shows. This album is a great leap for this band, and it’s only the beginning of where they can go from here.
