This feature has really become one of my favorites to do. It’s always fun to go back and listen to these songs. Here are a bunch of songs that you may or may not have know that Aaron Lewis of Staind guested on.
Sevendust- Follow:
Cold- Bleed:
Cold- Send In The Clowns:
Limp Bizkit- No Sex:
Linkin Suck- Crawling (ReAnimation Version):
I’ve been a fan of heavy music pretty much my entire life. There are certain genres within the heavy music world that I’ve really come to love over the years. In 1998 I heard a band that really stepped up the hardcore game. That band was Vision Of Disorder and the album was called Imprint. As I do with every band that I wind up really liking, I went out and purchased any other albums by the band. Flash forward many years later as the “MetalCore” genre started growing in leaps and bounds, it really got me thinking that VOD weren’t getting the due they deserved. Vision Of Disorder had a large hand in developing the “metal core” sound and perfected it with the right amounts of hardcore, metal, and melody. The first two VOD albums cement this theory, especially Imprint. Songs like “What You Are,” “12 Steps To Nothing,” “By The River” which featured Phil Anselmo, and “Jada Bloom” are exquisite examples of what the band stands for. In 2001 the band changed it up a bit on their album From Bliss To Devastation. This album saw more structure and a more pronounced approach to songwriting. The band though grew frustrated by the lack of support from their label and thus Vision of Disorder went on extended hiatus and eventually disbanded. Singer Tim Williams and guitarist Mike Kennedy formed the band Bloodsimple (who released two solidly good albums). Brendan Cohen (drums) and Mike Fleischmann (bass) played in the band Karvnov. Over the years VOD would reunite for scattered shows, then in 2008 the band formally announced their return. The released a new album entitled The Cursed Remain Cursed in 2012 and are gearing up to release the follow up to that album called Razed To The Ground in later 2015.
Vision Of Disorder is a band that deserves the respect of the bands they helped pave the way for. They have a signature sound that sums up what the genre is all about. The music these gents create is passionate and headstrong. I’m happy to say that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing VOD live and they are intense and go for it all every time they are on stage. Do yourself a favor and pick up some VOD albums and see what you missed out on!
Vision Of Disorder:
Imprint:
From Bliss To Devastation:
The Cursed Remain Cursed:
Razed To The Ground:
Making a statement through music and art is always a complex thing to do. On one hand you know that this is the best and most fulfilling thing you can do. So much so that the direction and influence you feel at that point is going to define you. On the other hand, there is a sense that people out there won’t get it and thus give up on you. But for those that understand and really pick up on, know that this is the album that needed to be made and up till this point, it was only a matter of time. Ten years ago, Thrice released their masterpiece called Vheissu. At first it was met with a bit of hesitation but as time settled, the album began to take on a life of it’s own. Vheissu was a dramatic and experimental departure from the bands more post hardcore roots. Thrice took chances to make an album with more substance and meaning. Not to say that their previous releases weren’t up to par, but this album just had to push past all those to leave a mark. They took a chance with adding different elements including different instruments, time signatures, and the use of electronics. All of these things really helped to ensure a true artistic approach in the writing and recording process. There are so many standout songs on this album, it’s hard to pick the absolute best. My personal favorite “The Earth Will Shake,” is a perfect example of the bands progression and how well it worked out. “Red Sky,” “Atlantic,” “For Miles,” “Like Moths To Flame,” and “Image Of The Invisible” are all standout tracks on the album. The entire record as a whole is beyond anything in the bands catalog. Take a trip back ten years ago and listen to Vheissu again.
Thrice- Vheissu:
In all my years as a music fan, there are a few things I look for in bands I listen to, one of the biggest thing is melody. You can be the heaviest band in the world, but if there is no sense of melody, it tends to come across as just noise. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed doing this band of the week feature to find great bands that are out there that people may or may not have heard of. This week I present to you Back Pocket Memory. This five piece from the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank, California writes music with great melodies and pure passion. The best way to describe the band is if you took Foo Fighters from the era of There’s Nothing Left To Lose and melded it with Incubus. There are heavy moments mixed with great amounts of melody, and softer parts that really show off the dynamics of the band. Their new full length album, Victory and Empire comes out in November and the first single “Rob The Young,” really highlights the growth these guys have shown from their first EP till now. If you like you music with great melodies and a delicate nature of passion and heart, then Back Pocket Memory is the band for you.
Rob The Young:
Catapult:
The Prisonser:
https://www.facebook.com/backpocketmemory
http://www.backpocketmemory.com/
By: Brian Lacy
Last night I saw Neil Young, and I’m still in awe. He played for three hours non stop. I wanted to write a review of the show but I seriously can’t put into words how amazing it was. Well in honor of that show, I thought I’d share some really great covers of Neil songs with you all. Enjoy!
Thom Yorke- After The Gold Rush:
Smashing Pumpkins- Cinnamon Girl:
Pearl Jam- Fuckin Up:
Bob Dylan- Old Man:
When I first heard With Our Arms To The Sun, I was completely taken aback. The way this band captivated me was astounding. The gents in this band have such passion and skill it bleeds all over this masterful piece of music. There is a true artistic approach to what With Our Arms To The Sun create. They make music for all the right reasons. i’ve had the pleasure of seeing them live and I can tell you their live shows are one hell of an experience. Their album A Far Away Wonder was released last year, and has not left my rotation of albums I listen to. From the start of the album the songs build and explode with great prowess and intensity. There are elements of prog rock, metal, psychedelia and lots of melody throughout the album. Interspersed through the mainly instrumental album are bits of vocals, that add another dimension to the already impressiveness of the record. Every song on this album is in the right order is meant to be there. There is not one ounce of filler on it. Recently, With Our Arms signed to Fade To Silence records and are gearing up to re-release the album as well as preparing for multiple shows including a halloween show with Tool. With Our Arms To The Sun are a transcendent bright spot in a world that is lacking honesty and realism. Do yourself a favor and listen to this and buy it. You won’t be disappointed!!!
With Our Arms To The Sun- A Far Away Wonder:
The year is 1997 and one of the biggest comic books in the world, Spawn is made into a movie. Sadly, though the movie was wretched, but the saving grace of the entire thing was the soundtrack that accompanied the movie. Following a similar formula that worked for the movie Judgement Night, only this soundtrack paired rock bands with electronic artists as opposed to rap groups.. The likes of Metallica, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Filter, Incubus, and Slayer appeared on the album. This was definitely an experimental record that worked with certain songs, while some others not so much. The tracks by Filter, Incubus, Stabbing Westward, and Marilyn Manson are all standout tracks. Slayer teamed up with the very entertaining Atari Teenage Riot, for a rendition of “No Remorse.” that is absolutely nuts. So go back almost 20 years a have some fun listening to 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.
By: Brian Lacy
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.
scale of 1-10: 9
https://www.facebook.com/hewhoseoxisgoredseattle
By: Brian Lacy
So this past week as you can tell I’ve been back on a Smashing Pumpkins kick. I was searching through covers that they did over the years and wanted to do something in those regards. So while looking up Smashing Pumpkins covers I remembered that Bush also covered Stevie Nicks “Landslide.” So what one do you think is better?
Smashing Pumpkins- Landslide:
Bush- Landslide:
Stevie Nicks:
