A little over a week ago legendary metal band Exodus played a show in the San Francisco Bay Area outside of the Metro Operahouse. Exodus recently released their superb new album, Persona Non Grata. If you are into thrash metal, I recommend you checking this record out! At this show though, Robb Flynn from Machine Head came out to join the band to do guest vocals for one of his all time favorite Exodus songs. I have to say this version is badass. It would be pretty awesome to hear a studio version with Robb on this track some point in the future. Also what would be awesome is if Machine Head and Exodus did a tour together in 2023. Just throwing that out there!!!
Exodus with Robb Flynn from Machine Head- A Lesson In Violence:
Brand New’s album The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me is one of the best albums of the 21st century. If you haven’t heard it, you really should make a point to do so. It’s one of those albums that the moment it starts, it captivates you and compels you to start it over as soon as it’s over. The album has some interesting history to it. Not only was it the bands major label debut but, before the album was even released there were 9 songs that were leaked out in demo form. The band was disappointed to hear of the leak; however, they had already been performing new tracks at live shows. Initially leaked without song titles, two of the songs would be re-recorded for the album (“Sowing Season” and “Luca”), with two others being re-recorded and released on singles from the album. These versions are quite different than the what is found on the album. These leaked demos are referred to by fans as Fight Off Your Demons, the batch of leaked demos were remastered and officially released to the public on December 2, 2015. It’s quite a good complimentary release to The Devil and God. It gives you a different perspective on the writing of the album and the mindset. As much as it sucked to have these songs leaked, I do believe it did do the band good in that it pushed them a bit more to keep going and the end result is an absolute masterpiece.
Brand New- Fight Off Your Demons (aka Leaked Demos 2006):
Brand New- The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me:
I was having a conversation with a couple friends the other day. We were discussing a few bands and the thing that kept coming up was the voice of the vocalist. As we were chatting a list was starting to be made and why not make this a fun collaborative list! This list doesn’t necessarily mean they are terrible just that their voices aren’t easy to listen to (high pitched, nasally, obnoxious, etc). So, here we go…
Geddy Lee- Rush Tom DeLonge- Blink 182/Angels and Airwaves Perry Farrell- Jane’s Addiction/Porno For Pyros Claudio Sanchez- Coheed and Cambria Scott Stapp- Creed Myles Kennedy- Alter Bridge/Slash Daron Malakian- System Of A Down/Scars On Broadway Justin Hawkins- The Darkness King Diamond- Mercyful Fate/King Diamond Gerard Way- My Chemical Romance Davey Havok- AFI/Blaqq Audio Steven Tyler- Aerosmith Chris Carraba- Dashboard Confessional Bert McKracken- The Used Adam Lazzara- Taking Back Sunday Brian Molko- Placebo Billy Corgan- The Smashing Pumpkins Chino Moreno- Deftones Joey Belladona- Anthrax Dani Filth- Cradle Of Filth Ben Gibbard- Death Cab For Cutie/The Postal Service Sully Erna- Godsmack Chad Gray- Mudvayne/Hellyeah Anders Frieden- In Flames Chester Bennington- Linkin Park Cedric Bixler Zavala- At The Drive In/The Mars Volta Maria Brink- In This Moment Dave Mustaine- Megadeth Vince Neil- Motley Crue (anything post 1991) Tim Armstrong- Rancid/The Transplants Anthony Green- Saosin/Circa Survive Brian Aubert- Silversun Pickups Bjork Jewel Joni Mitchell Joan Baez Bob Dylan
Got some new jams to share with you all. Over the past week a bunch of new music came out. Check out tasty jams by If It Kills You, Sound & Shape, VOWWS, Greg Puciato, Coheed and Cambria, Absent In Body, Haunted Shores, Meshuggah.
Ever since I heard the band VOWWS, I’ve been smitten by them. The way they’ve mixed and blended post-punk, new wave, goth, industrial and electronic music is absolutely superb. As a two piece the amount of volume they emit is astounding. And their live show is one that you won’t want to miss. Now, VOWWS has released a new single and I couldn’t be more stoked. “One By One” is trippy song that creates this rich tension in the way the guitar and electronic elements come together, mix that with the rich vocals and when those melodic parts kick in, it all comes together to create a delightful sound. The accompanying video is a bit psychedelic too. Directed by longtime collaborator Jordan Hemingway and edited by the bands own Rizz with Ella Turner-Bridger, they’ve created something that is artsy and intriguing while captivating you to listen!
Greg Puciato’s debut solo album Child Soldier: Creator of God was one hell of a tremendous album. It was my favorite album of 2020 and I still gravitate towards the record on a consistent basis. A few months back word began to spread that Greg was back in the studio working on the follow up. Well now the wait is over and the details have been released. Mirrorcell will be released June 17 via Federal Prisoner. The first song released “Lowered” features Reba Meyers of Code Orange as a guest vocalist. On this album, Puciato once again recorded all vocals, guitars and bass for the collection, and continued his long-running relationship Producer Steve Evetts (The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Cure, Snapcase)along with Chris Hornbrook (Dhani Harrison, Big Black Delta) who played drums on the nine-song album.
Black Map is one of the bands that as soon as I heard, I instantly fell in love with. Armed with the riffs, pummeling rhythms, and right amount of melody, Black Map have cemented themselves amongst the rock world. As a three piece the magnitude of volume emitted from Ben Flanagan (vocals/bass), Mark Engles (guitar), and Chris Robyn (drums) is astounding. Their new album Melodoria is a catchy, inquisitive and etherial driven album.
From the moment the first song “Chasms” kicks things off with that riff, you the listener are truly in for an experience. Black Map didn’t put together a collection of songs, they made an album that demands you listen and soak it all in. Across the ten songs on the album, there are many different vibes that shape the record and take you on a journey. One of the best things about Black Map is the velvetly delicate vocals of Ben Flanagan. Not only can you hear what he’s singing but with each line and verse and listen you get more and more engrossed in the subject matter and the thunderous bass tone that packs one hell of a punch. Mark Engles guitar work on this album is on par with his brightest moments in Dredg. There will always be a tinge of Dredg in this band but, the way it’s used brings in a different element that adds a level of atmosphere and space to the hard driving riffs. And who can forget the absolutely devastating drums provided by the one and only Chris Robyn. The combination of all three of these gentleman has made for one hell of a band and 3 albums of pure and honest rock music.
A band like Black Map is a breath of fresh air in a musical climate where programmed drums and taking the easy way out has become acceptable. Black Map was founded on the premise of being a heavy rock band with melody and they really have delivered the goods on Melodoria. They’ve achieved and found their sound on this album. Taking the best of what the first two albums offered, mix that with the maturity and development and you really have a recipe for a damn good album. I really recommend putting this album while on a drive and letting it take you over. It’s one of those albums that will grow on your in different ways. It hits you in all the right ways depending on where you are at in that moment. Black Map deserves to be played on every stereo and loud. Go see them live when you get a chance, they will rock you for damn sure!
Recommended Tracks: Chasms, Super Deluxe, Madness, Witching Hour, Melodoria
The whole point of starting Audioeclectica was to share great new music and bands with you all. There are so many good bands out there that deserve the attention and support. With that in mind, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Speed Of Light. This power trio (ages 18, 17 and 15) plays hard-hitting rock n roll with a righteous slab of punk rock. Since their inception they’ve been playing stages all over Southern California and destroying them. I’ve had the pleasure to see a couple of their shows and each time they leave me in awe. Their style of unrelenting rock and right attitude makes them a force to be reckoned with in the rock scene. I personally can’t wait for more from Speed Of Light. Everything about this band is what you would want in a great rock band. Here’s to a lot more from Speed Of Light and them conquering the rock world! Definitely head to The Federal in North Hollywood on Saturday, March 12th to see them rock the house!
It’s not every day that an album begins with an instrumental track. Most of the time when that occurs it’s a short intro. On Chevelle’s most recent album NIRATIAS (which is a great album by the way and TOOL should thank them for making the album they should’ve), the opening track “Verruckt” really sets the tone for the album to come. The sludgey and stoner/doom riffs that accompany the song are quite engaging. Just when you think the vocals are about to chime in, they go a different direction. There’s a subtle Mastodon prog vibe to this song in parts too mixed with a bit of Tool and Helmet. Chevelle one of the most consistent rock bands of the past 20 years and this album proved it in a big way!
If you haven’t noticed, I’m a huge fan of 90’s rock music. There was just something honest and pure about that time before everything got convoluted. One of my favorite things to do back then was just put the radio on and soak up all the songs played. I used to love to keep a blank tape in the stereo to record the songs I liked a lot. One of those songs that I would constantly put on tapes was “Inside Out” by Eve 6. I remember this song coming out and being really into it. It’s one of those songs from the late 90’s that you couldn’t escape and now when you hear it, it automatically takes you back in a good way. The song was a big hit in the US topping the Modern Rock charts 3 different times and 4 weeks at number 1. It even got to 28 on the Top 40 charts. Another interesting tidbit, the band’s self titled debut album was written when the members were 16/17 years old! Here’s to Eve 6 and a great and lasting song!
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