Album Review

Album Review: Aeges- Above & Down Below

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Big hooks, thick riffs, and thumping rhythms all encompass the new album Above and Down Below by Los Angeles’s Aeges. Singer/Guitarist Kemble Walters lyrics are dark yet full of optimism. His voice compliments each chord and rhythm and at times is reminiscent of Steve Brodsky of Cave In. Both Walters and Corey Clarks guitar work on this album supersede their previous effort. The tone is clean yet with enough distortion to drive home the riffs. The bass of Tony Baumeister sits perfectly in the pocket while drummer Mike Land keeps it all going with his steady rhythms. This new album is 12 tracks of nothing but solid rock n roll. No filler! It has the right amount of influence from genres such as alternative, metal, post hardcore. The hooks aren’t cheesy, rather they are melodic with an aggression that allows the band to balance the heavy with the subtle nature of the songs.

I’ve listened to this album quite a few times and my favorite tracks so far are “Echoes,” “Parasite,” “Fault,” “Halos,” and “Wasted Time.” On the scale of 1-10 I would give this album a 9. It’s great and so is this band. They are on top of their game and it shows. In a time when there is a bunch of stale music out there Aeges is a breath of fresh air. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Above and Down Below. You won’t be disappointed. And Aeges are about to start a month long residency on Monday nights at the Silverlake Lounge in October!

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/aegesband

 

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Seether- Isolate and Medicate

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Now 5 albums into their career, Seether has returned with their newest album Isolate and Medicate. This album due to legendary producer Brendan O’Brian (Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Mastodon, etc), comes across as tight and focused, with every layer of instrumentation serving a purpose. Frontman Shaun Morgan says “The whole record is a collection of diary entries. It’s just where I’m at and what I’m going through. I’m writing songs about getting through whatever situations I’m in at the time. These songs deal with relationships and life situations.”

With that being said, this album is full of Seether’s signature tales of woe and despair mixed with “grungy” riffs. Opener “See You At The Bottom” begins with tuned down bass and guitar lines before exploding with Morgan’s trademark soulful growl. “Same Damn Life,” is one of the most accessible and catchy songs of Seether’s career. The high pitch vocals are a very weak point of the song. First single “Words as Weapons” is a fairly standard Seether song, a distortion driven chorus with some added spine tingling vocal harmonies. There are a couple songs that have a bluesier side to them “My Disaster” and the stellar “Nobody Praying for Me.” “Suffer It All” is heavy,and full of chunky riffs. “Keep the Dogs at Bay” is a driving heavy melodic track. And “Watch Me Drown” is a solidly written song, but nothing special. “Crash” is a solemn ballad, with purposely layered guitar lines and some more great vocal takes. This song is one of the most powerful songs the band has written in years.

Isolate and Medicate is a strong release from one of the most consistent rock bands. This album is also indicative of Shaun Morgan being a really good songwriter. Seether has never been a band to reinvent the wheel when it comes to this style of music. There are a lot of people that have written this band off as a radio rock band and just nothing, but there is really something more to this band than any others in their realm. This album isn’t as good as their first 2 albums, but it does have a way to really connect. On the scale of 1-10, I’d give this a solid 7.

 

 

By: Brian Lacy

 

Album Review: Every Time I Die- From Parts Unknown

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After countless years on the road and upping their game on every album, Every Time I Die seemed to have found the perfect balance of all that worked for them in the past. Teaming up with producer Kurt Ballou of Converge, From Parts Unknown is an unrelenting and cohesive album. All the things that make this band enjoyable is found throughout this album. The production is still raw but has a new approach to make certain instruments more prevalent in the songs and the vocals more coherent. Their previous album Ex Lives with producer Joe Barresi started the band on this track. Clocking in at 31 minutes, the 12 songs are full of introspective lyrics and memorable thrash/hardcore, some of the time adding a solid groove or a melodic tinge.

First track “The Great Secret” has all the above mentioned and then some. This song really kicks things off with a bang. “Decayin With The Boys” is classic Every Time I Die with bits of melody. “If There Is Room To Move, Things Move” is ferocious in its thrashy hardcore roots. “Thirst” is an aggressive heavy song with awesome breakdowns and a real attitude. “The Great Secret” has a Converge vibe to it along with a really heavy groove. “El Dorado” shifts gears a bit and is more of a melodic rock song with a 90’s guitar sound. “Overstayer” is the weakest track on the album. There really isn’t anything that is great about this song. “Moor” is a real departure for the band. Starting with a piano intro that melds very well with Keith Buckley’s clean vocals really showcases the band’s songwriting and ability to be diverse. This song is a real stand out. “Exomotorium” is a solid groove/hardcore song. “Pelican Of The Desert” is heavy and full of energy. It also features a guest vocal cameo from Sean Ingram of Coalesce. “All Structures Are Unstable” is a solidly good melodic hardcore song. Closing out the album is “Old Light” featuring Brian Fallon from The Gaslight Anthem. This song has the cleanest vocals on any Every Time I Die song ever. Musically it goes from a rock song to classic ETID.

All in all From Parts Unknown is dynamic and full of greatness. With the exception of one song, it is a stellar album. Every Time I Die has a knack for putting out solid material and this is no different. I would even dare to say that this album is a statement to all those that try to do what they do but always fall short. On the scale of 1-10, I’d give this an 8.5.

 

 

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Mastodon- Once More Round The Sun

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Mastodon are one of the few bands to be able to do what they want and exist on a major label. Their music has evolved from straight up sludgy metal, to evoking the progressive rock spirit. Evolution is a major key to survival in music. Playing the same things over and over make things stale and stagnate. Mastodon had a misstep of sorts with their previous album The Hunter, but are on the track to redemption with their new album Once More Round The Sun. This new album at first isn’t as captivating as Crack The Skye or Leviathan, but after a few listens it starts to pull you in. There is still the elements of 70’s rock, bits of prog, and touches of their classic sludge tone throughout the album. The production is crisp and sleek without being over produced. Nick Raskulinecz really was able to capture what the band has become just as their previous work with Matt Bayles (Remission, Leviathan, Blood Mountain) and Brendan O’Brien (Crack The Skye). Only on The Hunter with Mike Elizondo was the magic lost. The 11 tracks on this new album have a more consistent flow making it seem like an album rather than a group of songs, even though that band has said there is not concept to this album.

Starting off the album is “Tread Lightly” a very solid opener with lots of melody but keeps a “heavy” structure. The ending solo is strong and trails off perfectly into the next song. “The Motherload” has a very cool dueling harmonic guitar riff. The chorus is catchy and full of melody even prompting a bit of a sing along. The guitar solo in the song is reminiscent of something that would be on an album from the 70’s. “High Road” starts simple chunky riff that sets in the groove of the song. This song has sort of Leviathan vibe but more melodic. Live “High Road” is a gem. The title track “Once More Round The Sun” has a Thin Lizzy influence written all over it. The vocal melody even sways that way during the verses. If you can imagine Thin Lizzy being a prog rock band, this song would definitely be in their catalog. “Chimes At Midnight” has a Blood Mountain vibe to it. The rhythm of the song is very percussive. This song live, like “High Road” is great, if not better than the latter. “Asleep In The Deep” is a very laid back mellow and melodic rock song. “Feast Your Eyes” is a heavier jam with gang of vocals during the chorus. “Aunt Lisa” is a very strange song for Mastodon. The structure and sound of the song is all over genres and influences and features guest vocals from the band The Coathangers. “Ember City” is just an average song. It really doesn’t do anything with the exception of the melodic chorus.. This song and “Aunt Lisa” they are the two weakest tracks on the album. “Halloween” is another song that has the 1970’s written all over it. The groove of the rhythm is solid and the highlight of the song is the rocking guitar solo. Closing out the album is “Diamond In The Witch House” which features guest vocals from frequent guest Scott Kelly of Neurosis. The song has a Crack The Skye meets Neurosis Times Of Grace vibe to it. Scott Kelly always delivers on his songs with Mastodon and this one is no different.

All in all this is a solid album. Mastodon seem to be heading back in the right direction. After listening a few times, there is definitely a theme present through the record. On the scale of 1-10, I’d give this album an 8.

 

By: Brian Lacy