Live Review: Mastodon, Gojira and Kvelertak at Club Nokia

There are certain bands that are a must see live. The albums they create have the ability to transcend reality and their live shows take that reality even further. Mastodon have been doing just that for me since I saw them back when their album Remission was released. Every album they upped their game and pushed the limits of what they can do in the studio and in a live setting. May 2nd was no different. Mastodon wasted no time during their 90 minute set to deliver one of the strongest live shows they’ve done since Crack The Skye was released. Their 17 song set was highlighted by the inclusion of songs such as opening with “Hearts Alive,” “Crusher Destroyer,” “Naked Burn,” “Aqua Dementia,” and “Oblivion.” The two new songs they played “Chimes At Midnight” and “High Road” sounded great, especially “High Road.” Instead of banter between songs, they let the music do the talking. The light show they has while they played had a bit of a psychedelic vibe to it and it matched perfectly with their set. Vocally, their past shows have been underwhelming, but it seems that with the proper vocal training, they have managed to pull off these songs in a much better light.

Also playing this fine evening was Gojira. Their loud bombastic assault has been talked about for years. As a live band they have the ability to steal the show away from the headliner (recently on their tour with Slayer, they did just that). Gojira’s set went by fast but was a great and fulfilled all that the mid opener slot is meant to be. Certain tracks played like “The Heaviest Matter Of The Universe,” “Oroborus,” and “Vacuity” got the crowd banging their heads. Their sound from album to live sounds identical, and all in a good way. Opening the entire show was Kvelertak. They are the perfect opening energy type band. Armed with three guitars and vocals only sung in their native Norwegian language, it’s hard not to be captivated by them.

Mastodon truly owned the night. The diverse set list that was played really balanced out a great evening. Their new album Once More Round The Sun comes out in June. Club Nokia on the other hand isn’t the greatest place to see a show. The layout and design puts a bit of a hinderance on viewing and listening. But I refused to let that get in the way of enjoying the show.

 

Mastodon Set List:

  1. Hearts Alive
  2. Divinations
  3. Crusher Destroyer
  4. Capillarian Crest
  5. Black Tongue
  6. Bladecatcher
  7. Crystal Skull
  8. Siberian Divide
  9. Naked Burn
  10. Megalodon
  11. Oblivion
  12. Blasteroid
  13. Octopus Has No Friends
  14. Chimes at Midnight
  15. High Road
  16. Aqua Dementia
  17. The Sparrow

 

By: Brian Lacy

Band Of The Week: Machines Learning

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The 90’s sound of quiet to loud has always played a large role in rock music. The ability to take a delicate melodic part and transition it to a loud and heavy part takes the right amount of patience and creativity. Machines Learning have honed their craft of being able to do just that. Hailing from San Diego, California, this three piece band has taken their influences of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Hum, and Sunny Day Real Estate and blended them into a powerful sound. Singer/Guitarist Paul William Balmer has a very subtle yet very textured voice that compliments the loud dirty guitars. The bass sound that Bradley Botbyl has borders on the 90’s sound and the more modern sludge of heavier bands. The drums are thunderous when it needs to be and understated when those softer parts come in. Machines Learning have released 2 exquisite EP’s, and from the sound of them , they are surely headed on the right path.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/machineslearning

http://machineslearning.bandcamp.com/

 

By: Brian Lacy

Worst Cover Songs

Instead of finding the best cover songs I thought it would be fun to make a list of the worst ones ever.

 

Limp Bizkit- Faith, Behind Blue Eyes
Korn- Word Up, Another Brick In The Wall
Nonpoint- In The Air Tonight
311- Love Song
Six Feet Under- their AC/DC album
Megadeth- Anarchy In The UK
Guns N Roses- Sympathy For The Devil
Rob Zombie- Brick House
Seether- Careless Whisper
Sevendust- Hurt
Alien Ant Farm- Smooth Criminal
A Perfect Circle- Gimme Gimme Gimme
Sheryl Crow- Sweet Child O’Mine
U2- Fortunate Son
The Ataris- Boys Of Summer
The Cure- Purple Haze
Celine Dion- You Shook Me All Night Long
Eric Clapton- I Shot The Sheriff
Madonna- American Pie
Five Finger Death Punch- House Of The Rising Sun, Bad Company
Asking Alexandria- Closer
Tori Amos- Raining Blood, Smells Like Teen Spirit

Great Guest Vocalists on Albums: Scott Kelly of Neurosis

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When creating an album, a lot of bands have a thought in their mind while writing that certain songs would sound great if they could get someone from one of their main influences to sing on that song. Mastodon has done that constantly. One of their big influences is Neurosis and they have managed to get Scott Kelly to sing on 5 of their albums and songs (Leviathan, Blood Mountain, Crack The Skye, The Hunter, Once More Round The Sun, and Emperor Of Sand. Scott’s vocals are very prominent in the mix and it fits so well with the music that the guys in Mastodon have created. It seems as though Scott is the unofficial fifth member of the band. Perhaps one day Scott will just do an entire album with Mastodon. Below are the songs in which they have collaborated on. Enjoy!!!

Aqua Dementia from Leviathan:

 

Crystal Skull from Blood Mountain:

 

Crack The Skye from Crack The Skye:

 

Spectrelight from The Hunter:

 

Diamond In The Witch House from Once More Round The Sun:

 

Scorpion Breath from Emperor Of Sand:

By: Brian Lacy

Album Anniversary: The Cure- Disintegration

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This year marks the 25th anniversary of The Cure’s landmark album Disintegration. Released on May 2, 1989, Disintegration was a return to the more gothic nature of the bands roots. These 12 songs make up a cohesive album that tells the tale of a tortured soul (Robert Smith) and all his trials and tribulations. Originally Robert wrote all the songs alone and thought that if the rest of the band didn’t like the songs, he would go on and record them as a solo album. Luckily the other guys did enjoy them.  This album has a personal connection with me as it had helped me through some interesting times. There are so many gems on this album, it’s hard to not listen to the entire album (Even if “Pictures of You and “Lovesong” are beyond overplayed). My personal favorite has always been “Fascination Street.” There is just something so gripping about that song that resonates with me.

The Cure have gone on to be one of the most influential bands. The honesty that Robert Smith conveys is copied at astronomical amounts in the alternative music world. The band themselves helped to create such an unique sound infected with melody and anguish.

 

 

By: Brian Lacy

Band Of The Week: Spirit In The Room

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The use of electronics has become very prominent in music as of late. Some bands have really been able to utilize it in in a great way. One of those bands is Spirit In The Room. Dennis Sanders who has also been involved with Wes Borland’s Black Light Burns leads this collective. The use of electronics doesn’t hinder from the actual music, if anything it adds an extra element of darkness to the music. There are elements of rock, post-punk, synth pop, and a goth vibe similar to the music of The Cure. Dennis has a voice that shows the vulnerable side of himself all the while being uninhibited. Spirit In The Room opened up for Crosses on their Southern California dates. They also just released their debut EP The Holy Phobia part 1. From the looks of the live videos their live show looks very entertaining.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/spiritintheroomsounds

https://soundcloud.com/spirit-in-the-room

 

By: Brian Lacy