Underrated Albums

YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: SYSTEMATIC

Back in the early 2000s at the height of nu-metal there were a few bands that came out onto the scene only, these bands were more rock. Heavy rock to be exact. Quite a few of these bands got lumped into the nu-metal category unceremoniously. They were heavy rock bands that were more hard metal than anything else. Instead of having more to do with Korn or Deftones, there was one particular band of that era that has always had my ear. They went back to the roots and were inspired by bands like Alice In Chains, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Metallica with nice twists and turns into sludge, blues and a hint of psychedelic rock. That band is Systematic. 

Systematic broke out in late 2000. The band gained critical attention when they were announced as one of the first signings to the label, The Music Company, which was Lars Ulrich of Metallica’s record label. The bands debut album, Somewhere In Between was released on May 22, 2001. The album was produced by Peter Collins (Queensryche, Rush, Alice Cooper) and mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Slayer, Helmet, Rage). That summer Systematic was a part of the second stage of Ozzfest. They also appeared on the HBO show, Reverb. 

Somewhere In Between is a sonic assault of pure heavy rock. The songs are written and arranged in such a way that the dynamics swing with each chord and note change. Rhythmically, it’s driving and flowing. There’s a fun tension in the way the rhythm section tightens and loosens to accentuate the down-tuned guitars. And thought he guitars are down-tuned, there’s still a clarity that shines through. Then you add in the vocals. Never hurts to have a singer that can really sing! The way the lyrics are conveyed is a sweet bonus. And the songs! There’s not one ounce of filler on this record. From “Dopesick” all the way through “Thick Skin,” it’s unrelenting. Those two tracks along with “Beginning Of The End,” “Deep Colors Bleed,” “Glass Jaw,” and, my personal favorite, “Bedsores,” are great stand out tracks. The title track packs quite the gut punch or two. 

Systematic’s second album, 2003’s Pleasure To Burn, went even more into the rock realm. This record saw a lineup change as well including Slayer drummer, Paul Bostaph joining. The band worked with producer Howard Benson on this album. Which provides a stark contrast between their debut and follow up. While Somewhere In Between was grittier and heavy, Pleasure To Burn, is the more alternative side to the band. There’s still big rock songs like “Not Like You,” “Pleasure To Burn” and “Infected.” The focus though is more on the slower mid tempo songs like “Where We Live And We Die,” “They Say (My Soul Was Lost),” and “Leaving Only Scars.” The band would go on to tour as part of the Jäegermeister Tour with Breaking Benjamin and Stereomud among other tours. Sadly though in 2004, the band announced they were disbanding. 

The members went on to form other bands and projects. Most notably, singer/guitarist Tim Narducci started the bad Spiralarms with Forbidden guitarist Craig Locicero and Stone Temple Pilots drummer Eric Kretz. I saw this lineup of the band in 2005/2006 and my what a band! Later lineups of the bad included Mark Hernandez and Chris Kontos. Bassist Johnny Chow, who was part of the Pleasure To Burn era, would join Stone Sour and Cavalera Conspiracy. Paul Bostaph went to play with Exodus and Testament before returning to Slayer. Original drummer Phillip Bailey most recently has played with (one of Audioeclectica’s favorites), Spirit In The Room. 

2026 is the twenty fifth anniversary of the release of Somewhere In Between. It’s crazy to think I’ve been listening to it for that long. And yes, it’s been in steady rotation for me since I bought it in 2001. That record really is an underrated standout from the time. Especially during a time when there was a music identity crisis, Systematic knew exactly who they were and what they wanted to do. Most recently, Systematic’s original lineup of Tim Narducci, Adam Rupel, Phillip Bailey and Nick St. Denis have announced their return. Personally I’m very excited about this. It’s about time Systematic got their due as a great heavy rock band. I look forward to what’s to come! We need rock bands like this! No more over produced, generic, played out “rock.”

By: Brian Lacy

Somewhere In Between:

Pleasure To Burn:

HBO Reverb Performance:

UNSUNG MASTERPIECES: SLOW CRUSH- THIRST

When a genre explodes, finding the standouts becomes imperative. Over the last few years “shoegaze” has come to the forefront of modern music. Depending on what subgenre of shoegaze you listen to shows you where the inspiration comes from. Deftones and The Smashing Pumpkins in particular have struck a chord with the younger generation. That being said let me shift this to the other side of the equation. Through all my listening and searching I believe I found one of the best albums of this new era of shoegaze. The band is Slow Crush and their album, Thirst is astounding.

Slow Crush’s album Thirst is haunting, seductive, heavy, whimsical and more. Every time I put this album on I’m completely swept away by the intensity. Across ten songs and forty minutes there isn’t one moment on this album that doesn’t fit. As much as this album is shoegaze focused, there is so much more to it. First there is an undercurrent of Black Metal running through the album. There are also elements of stoner rock, alternative rock and dream pop. Sonically, Thirst is explosive, etherial and atmospheric. The vocals will sweep you off your feet and take you on a trippy journey. They crawl under your skin and give you those chills that make you pay attention. Musically too, the intricate web of layers showcases the varied influences of the band. Being able to pull in heaviness into delicate structures is not an easy thing to do. While certain moments are crushing, the more airy ones are what captivates. The hypnotic nature of the songs and production is another part that makes Thirst such a masterful album.

For each listen, you find something new to love and discover. One of my favorite parts of this album is the ending of the second song “Covet.” The use of saxophone at the end of this song is sublime. What a great part and addition to the song. It feels like a David Bowie moment that fits perfectly. It’s almost like the band steps into another world with each song. As a listener it’s rather liberating to hear an album like this. It’s not everyday you get to hear an album that ups the game of a genre. Slow Crush have defined their sound and style with Thirst. Do yourself a favor and take some time with this album and let it take over!

Overall Rating: A

By: Brian Lacy

Slow Crush- Thirst:

Underrated and Influential: No Knife

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When we look back at music history, especially in rock music, there are so many bands that should have been huge but, for whatever reason, they weren’t. That’s not to say that they didn’t leave a lasting impact on those that did listen to them. Throughout the years, I’ve spent many a day and night delving deeper into the 90’s and discovering a plethora of bands that I never truly gave a full listen to when they first came out. One such band that I’ve really come to love and draw inspiration from is No Knife. This band originally from San Diego, California, was quite special. They had this very cool style of mixing, bits of post hardcore, math rock, and what we now refer to as “indie” rock. Through their career, No Knife released four full length albums and went on to influence and inspire so many other bands that in a way, copped their sound. 

Going back through the bands catalog, and really listening, you come out of it not only inspired but, with an understanding as to why they are commonly referred to as a “band’s band.” Their debut album, Drunk On The Moon (1996), has this really interesting melodic sense to it that cuts through like a knife (no pun intended). It’s a very 90’s sounding album but, if it were to come out in say the early mid 00’s you’d think this was a new band from that era. Their next album Hit Man Dreams, (1997) was actually the first album I heard from No Knife. Original guitarist/vocalist Aaron Mancini was replaced by Ryan Ferguson. This album is a bit more melodic but, also seems to have more of an “edge” to it.  To me, and this is just my opinion, this is the album that No Knife really found their sound on. I strongly suggest you taking a listen to all their albums but, Hit Man Dreams specifically. I think this is the one that will make you fall in love with the band. Following these two albums, drummer Ike Zaremba was replaced with Chris Prescott and the band continued on. Their next album, Fire In The City Of Automatons (1999), was another step in the bands evolution. This one has more of a “math rock” approach to the rhythms while still keeping true to its melodic undertones. The bands final album Riot For Romance (2002), really fit in perfectly for where their genre was heading but, sadly didn’t quite capture the audience that their peers like Jimmy Eat World did. Even though, No Knife was clearly the better band. In 2003, the band sadly broke up. Though in 2009 they did reunite for a few shows in the San Diego area. And most recently, they were the special guest at one of Jawbox’s reunion shows in Los Angeles in 2019.


All in all, through No Knife’s short but inspiring history, they forged a sound that would be highly touted and recognized by countless bands and their peers. No Knife are the type of band that should have been huge but, thankfully, we have four great albums to go back to and celebrate. I personally think that if they were to come back with an EP and go out on the road with a band like Thrice (imagine how amazing that tour would be), it would open a whole new door for the band and people can really get a chance to discover how great this band truly is. 

Drunk On The Moon:

 

Hit Man Dreams:

 

 

Fire In The City Of Automatons:

 


Riot For Romance:

 

 

By: Brian Lacy

Underrated Albums: Depeche Mode- Songs of Faith and Devotion

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Depeche Mode is one of the most intriguing bands of the last 30 plus years. They have never been a band to keep making the same album. They’ve experimented and evolved in a way that is truly astounding. Each album stands out on it’s own. Some are better than others but the true essence of Depeche Mode is in each of their releases. Which brings me to their 1993 album Songs of Faith and Devotion. Following up an album like Violator is never easy but, this is Depeche Mode we are talking about. They followed up their breakthrough album with a record that took chances and showed just how really diverse Depeche Mode is.
Songs of Faith and Devotion is the eighth studio album in the bands catalog and it’s one of their more darker and aggressive albums. This album would be produced by Flood again and was recorded in a rented home which the band built a studio and live and worked in. This album saw the band become very interested in the alternative music that was taking over. Bands like Jane’s Addiction and Soundgarden have been mentioned as key inspirations for the albums sound and style. The making of the album was quite difficult. Growing tensions among band members and drug addiction had caused some very trying times for Depeche Mode. Despite all this, Songs of Faith and Devotion is one of the best pieces of work the band has ever put out. Songs like “Walking In My Shoes,” “I Feel You,” “Condemnation,” In Your Room,” “Rush,” and “Higher Love,” just further prove that this album is truly remarkable. Even with the addiction issues, Dave Gahan’s vocal performances on this album are beyond stellar. Martin Gore, in my opinion, outdid himself with the songs he wrote on this album. Perhaps the growing tensions within the group especially the most strained between drummer Alan Wilder and Gore, helped to make some of the bands best songs. The following promotional tour for the album, The Devotional Tour, would be regarded in the bands history as their most “debauched” rock tour ever. This tour would also be the catalyst for the long break the band took afterwards before they would begin work on their album, Ultra.

Depeche Mode’s catalog is full of so many great albums. Violator is always going to be the one that the “masses” reach for but, the deep fans know there is more than just “Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy The Silence.” Personally for me Songs of Faith and Devotion is in my top 3 favorite Depeche Mode albums (the other two are Music For The Masses and Exciter). There is something truly beautiful about how all the negativity that surrounded the making of this album created a record that surpassed an expectations that people would have. For almost 40 years now, Depeche Mode has proven you don’t need to make the same record twice. Taking chances and evolving in a way that still keeps the essence of the band in tact, has always been key to the bands success, and Songs of Faith and Devotion cements that fact.

Depeche Mode- Songs of Faith and Devotion:

Songs of Faith and Devotion Documentary:

Underrated Albums: Static X- Machine

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Back in 2001 following on the heels of their successful debut Wisconsin Death Trip, Static X released their second album Machine and really stepped up their game. Instead of repeating what they did on Wisconsin, Wayne Static, Tony Campos and Ken Jay made an album that truly surpassed their debut. While the band always had electronics and an industrial tinge, Machine was the album that really brought that to the forefront along with strong riffs and a heavier vocal approach. Machine would become the bands heaviest album and the one that stands out the most.

I remember my dad taking me to the record store so I could buy this album. Once we got in the car I immediately put the cd in the car and let it rip. And rip it did. The moment “Get To The Gone” began, I knew that this was going to be one hell of an album. In fact every song on this album is badass. There are those songs that are heavy like “Permanence,” “This Is Not,” “Burn To Burn,” “Machine,” “…In A Bag,” and “Structural Defect.” Then there are songs that explore a bit of the melodic side like “Black and White,” and “Cold” which you might remember from the Queen Of The Damned soundtrack.

Static X made the perfect follow up album to their debut. The “sophomore jinx” was not going to hinder them even with losing a band member before the recording of this album. Another thing that makes Machine underrated is that instead of relying on drum machines and loops/samples, the band made a point to make this as organic as they could while still maintaining their “Evil Disco” sound. Static X was one of the most fun live bands of that era and continued to be throughout their career. Sadly, the band would go on to break up later on and in 2014 Wayne Static died from a drug overdose. One thing is for sure though, Static X wrote some really rad songs and Machine is probably their best album.

Static X- Machine:

Anything But This (B-Side from Machine):