I’ve been in a Pantera mood the last couple days. I’ve mainly been listening to The Great Southern Trendkill (as it’s my favorite album of theirs). While I was going through all their albums I forgot about a few b-sides and covers that they did throughout their career. So here they are. The few b-sides they have and covers. Enjoy!
I was originally going to make a giant list of the best debut albums of all time but, I thought doing an individual series would be more fun and frankly more interesting. There are zillions of great debut albums out there. Some of which are legendary and influential while others are just plain awesome. Some of you reading this might not agree with all the ones I pick and that’s ok. I just really want to showcase some great albums, some that you might have missed and some you probably haven’t listened to in a long time.
I love it when a band melds their influences into something that stands out from what they were inspired by. Sure there might be moments when one of the influences comes through a bit more but, that just shows how much of an impact that band has on others. For the first band of the week of 2018 I’d like to introduce you to the band Vexes. Made up of former members of A Life Once Lost, Vessl, and Fury of Five, Vexes has come out with a fury of thunder. Vexes takes their love of Deftones, Cave In, Thrice, Helmet and Circa Survive to new heights. Their debut album Ancient Geometry is gearing up to me quite the debut. From the three songs released so far, “Lift,” “Plasticine,” and “Helion,” you can tell that Vexes is here to make and leave a lasting impact.
Comeback albums are quite difficult to make. When the band has been gone for a good amount of time, there is always a specific question that comes up. Does the band still have “it” to make a great album? Well in the case of Corrosion of Conformity, you bet your ass they do. The bands first new album with singer/guitarist Pepper Keenan back in the fold since 2005’s In The Arms Of God, is everything you’d want from the band and then some. Their new album No Cross No Crown is every bit a classic COC album but it’s fresh and full of rip roaring riffs and thunderous rhythms, not to mention some of the best vocal performances of Pepper’s career.
From the moment the instrumental intro “Novus Deus” begins, the feeling of epic awaits. “The Luddite” is one hell of a way to start things off. This song has Sabbath worship all over it with bits of a High On Fire vibe too. “Cast The First Stone” is one of those signature rip roaring songs that COC does best. There are so many songs on this new album that are badass that it’s hard to pin point an absolute favorite. I will tell you though that songs like “Wolf Named Crow,” “Forgive Me,” “Nothing Left To Say,” Old Disaster,” “E.L.M,” “No Cross No Crown,” and “A Quest To Believe (A Call To The Void),” are all outstanding songs. I would put money on these songs going over so well live, people would be clambering for a live album of the material from this album. Something else about this album that really stands out are the little interludes between songs. It really gives the album a real “album” feel, something that is definitely missing from a lot of bands these days. The album and band’s longtime producer John Custer really knows how to get the absolute best tones for all the guys in the band as well as making sure they deliver the best performances.
It’s all very refreshing to have this version of Corrosion Of Conformity back. The band originally started as a three piece way back during the beginnings of Hardcore Punk but in the late 80’s early 90’s shifted to more a heavy rock band with the inclusion of Pepper Keenan. Their legacy has never been questionable. They have delivered great album after great album, from Deliverance and Wiseblood to this new one. If you have not known about COC, or are rediscovering the band, No Cross No Crown is a great way to get into the band. Throughout listening you will find yourself grooving your head along to the rhythms and riffs. You might even break out into a sudden air guitar moment with how good the riffs are.
Thank you Corrosion Of Conformity for putting out a sheer contender for Album Of TheY Year, and it’s only January.
Overall Rating: A
Corrosion Of Conformity- Cast The First Stone:
Corrosion Of Conformity- Wolf Named Crow:
2017 brought us a slew of great albums. From the new Mastodon, With Our Arms To The Sun, Mutoid Man, Pallbearer, Converge and so many more.
2018 is shaping up to be quite a year for new music as well. The following bands are either releasing new music this year or are supposed to. Either way these are the most Anticipated Albums of 2018 (so far).
2018 is upon us and Audioeclectica is going to be a little bit different this year. You will just have to keep reading to see what changes and what is to come.
For the first post of the year, I thought I would celebrate all the albums that are having major milestone anniversaries this year. The following albums are all hitting the 10, 15 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50 year marks. Some are absolutely legendary albums and others are just impactful albums that you and I would definitely consider to be great. While others are by bands that have had a lasting impact.
I present to you all… The Top 25 Best Albums of 2017
I encourage you to vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.
THIS LIST IS IN ORDER!!!
Honorable Mention:
Brand New- Science Fiction
The Melvins- A Walk With Love and Death
Depeche Mode- Spirit
Archspire- Relentless Mutation
Ryan Adams- Prisoner
Cons- The Burden Of Knowing Why
Polkadot Cadaver- Get Possessed
Glassjaw- Material Control
25) Foo Fighters- Concrete and Gold
24) Black Wail- Chromium Homes
23) Black Map- In Droves
22) L.A. Guns- The Missing Peace
21) Black Mare- Death Magick Mother
20) Wear Your Wounds- Wear Your Wounds/Dunedevil
19) Scour- Red EP
18) Mastodon- A Cold Dark Place
17) Chelsea Wolfe- Hiss Spun
16) 10 Years- (how to live) As Ghosts
15) King Woman- Created In The Image Of Suffering
14) Trivium- The Sin and The Sentence
13) God Mother- Vilseldd
12) Darkest Hour- Godless Prophets and The Migrant Flora
11) Eighteen Visions- XVIII
10) Dead Cross- Dead Cross
09) Nine Inch Nails- Add Violence
08) Converge- The Dusk In Us
07) Royal Thunder- Wick
06) Pallbearer- Heartless
05) Less Art- Strangled Light
04) With Our Arms To The Sun- Orenda
03) Spotlights- Seismic
02) Mutoid Man- War Moans
01) Mastodon- Emperor Of Sand
Next up on Audioeclectica.com’s 2017 End Of The Year Lists, the Top 10 Vocalists. The stipulation is that, an album/EP had to have been released this year.
Vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.
This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!
01) Stephen Brodsky- Mutoid Man
02) Jacob Bannon- Converge/Wear Your Wounds
03) Ben Flanagan- Black Map
04) Josh Breckinridge- With Our Arms To The Sun
05) Brett Campbell- Pallbearer
06) Phil Lewis- L.A. Guns
07) Mlny Parsonz- Royal Thunder
08) Mike Minnick- Less Art
09) Kristina Esfandiari- King Woman
10) Chelsea Wolfe- Chelsea Wolfe
Next up on Audioeclectica.com’s 2017 End Of The Year Lists, the Top 10 Guitarists. The stipulation is that, an album/EP had to have been released this year.
Vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.
This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!
01) Stephen Brodsky- Mutoid Man
02) Kurt Ballou- Converge
03) Mark Engles- Black Map
04) Mario Quintero- Spotlights
05) Ryan Adams- Ryan Adams
06) Tommy Victor- Prong
07) Tom Morello- Prophets of Rage
08) Chelsea Wolfe- Chelsea Wolfe
09) Bryan Tulao- Chelsea Wolfe
10) Mike Tarlazzi- Black Wail
When a band puts out a tremendous album my expectations for seeing them live tend to go up. Last night at The Echo, I had the pleasure of checking out Spotlights live and I left the show in awe of how great they were. As a three piece band, the amount of volume they emitted from the stage was astonishing and bright. Every song they played was tremendous. Their recent album Seismic is a true gem of 2017 and their live show cements the band as a force to be reckoned with. Guitarist/vocalist Mario Quintero, bassist/vocalist Sarah Quintero and drummer Chris Enriquez tore through their set with the utmost precision and passion. Songs like “Learn To Breathe,” “Seismic,” and “Ghost Of A Glowing Forest,” and “What Is This, Where Are We,” decimated the audience. During their set I couldn’t help but look around at the crowd to see their reaction to Spotlights and the sea of heads swaying along with the music was a sight to see. Seeing Spotlights at a venue like The Echo was the perfect place to see them. The intimate setting really lets those in the audience become fully engrossed in the music and the hypnotic nature of the band. I strongly suggest everyone going to see Spotlights when they come through your town. I can’t wait to see what’s to come for them, as they are definitely a band to look out for.
Review and Photo By: Brian Lacy
