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| I wasn´t too impressed by Stirling Road´s debut album but the brand new single "Without you" shows a new improved sound from the duo of Sherry Michelle and Matthew Shad, gone is the alternative pop/country from the debut album and instead we get a more edgy pop/rock song with "Without you". Sherry sings with more power and it suits the song just perfect and I really welcome the more rocking guitars here from Matthew, and it´s no wonder that this sounds so good because the song is co-written and produced by Kenny Scott of Swirl 360. This song will be part of an upcoming EP that will be out in the summer, I play it on repeat and I can´t get enough. Thumbs up! |
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| Do not think that Taproot's latest albums has been particularly interesting, unfortunately. 2010’s, "Plead The Fifth" was OK with a return to their harder style and a bunch of strong tracks. So a bit unexpected their latest album "The Episodes" is a very good album with a relatively new sound and approach. It is more progressive than before and their clear Alice In Chains influences are as blown away. Now they feel more like a less electronic Filter with a compact sound and new alternative ideas. Think it works very well and tracks like the tougher "Memorial Park" and "Lost Boy" are one of the best the band have ever written.
However, the other half is clearly weaker than the first, but overall is "The Episodes" a really good album worth checking out if you’re into alternative metal. |
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| Nox Aeris is Chicago based Janus fourth album since the start in 1998. Really liked their last album, Red Right Return, where the band really found a good collection song with a mixture of metal and electronica. It was powerful and melodic, yet alternative and exciting not that far away from bands like Depswa and Red that play the same type of compact rock.
This new album Nox Aeris then, follows very gratifying the same track as 2008’s Red Right Return with a perfect sound and a bunch of great tracks. They open with "In Flames", "Stains" and "Life Less" in a prefect way and just bombs us with pure and energy filled rock. Can’t see that this type of alternative music can be that much better to be honest. However, the album loses quality a bit on the second half, which is sad since could have been a classic record. But overall it's still a stable release once again by Janus, worth checking up if you’re into electronic metal / rock. |
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| Really liked Civil Twilight's emotional and beautiful debut from 2010. The band that moved from South Africa to Los Angeles in 2005 is now back with their sequel in "Holy Weather" and this with a bit of a new style. This time the band has taken away some of their Coldplay influences and replaced it with a more electronic and indie influenced sound. It does feel a bit fresher and more exciting this time with cool pop pearls like "River" and "Holy Weather" where the band is really close to the 80's synth.
What I may think though, is that it lacks of the depth and beautiful elements as on the debut that was much more subtle. But this is a different type of record from the band that however, is cool and worth a cool up if you like alternative and somewhat progressive pop. |
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| The Veer Union that once was called "Everything After" and "Veer" unfortunately just released one record on Universal Records. Thought they would get a smaller break with their tougher Modern rock like a more radio-suited Sevendust. Their debut "Against the Grain" from 2009 was a good, maybe not a masterpiece, but thinks that they found a unique and cool style that should have worked better.
Being dropped did not lower the band since they’re now back and with a fresh new album in true The Veer Union spirit. It’s a little darker and harder this time, which I think, suits them better to be honest. It feels also even more focused and homogeneous through the album , which more or less contains the same type of songs. "Against the Grain" was perhaps slightly sharper when it comes to songs for radio, but was also a bit more shattered in style, with both very commercial and tougher metal / rock tracks in the same mix.
Although the band is not signed to a major label so they are now with the talented Rocket Science Ventures. Maybe it's even better for the band since I guess that they don’t have them same pressure in record sales, but also a label that wants to invest in them for a longer time. Future will tell, but thinks that that this album is a positive step forward and that it’s really worth checking up if you’re into any kind of Modern rock. |
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| I guess most of you are familiar with one of the world’s best guitar players: Michael Landau. As a studio musician he’s been playing with roughly anyone you can think of, and it’s not strange. He is capable of playing any kind of music! THE MICHAEL LANDAU GROUP is his latest group project, bringing us rock, fusion and blues mixed together. The album consists of ten songs, and Mike is helped out by cool names such as Jimmy Haslip (YELLOWJACKETS; bass), TEDDY LANDAU (bass), GARY NOVAK (drums) and LARRY GOLDINGS (Hammond) among others. The more fusion oriented moments on the CD might come close to Landau’s “Tales of the bulge” album, although still more blues based. Naturally, the guitar playing is totally amazing. Landau is a master, and one fine example is what he creates by using the volume knob in the soft melodies on “Karen Mellow” – and in the same song he suddenly switches to crispy, biting chords. I like Landau best when he lets out the sensitive playing. “Ghouls and the goblins” is a perfect example – but even this song sees him switch to raw rhythm playing all of a sudden. The downside of this album, if you ask me, is that most of the songs sound like jam sessions. Not real songs! It gets very experimental at times, and it feels like the songs are not fully finished but still recorded. Nevertheless, perfect playing on all instruments by all participants. |
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| New Jersey rocker Tyketto has released their first album in 18 years and with the originally line-up containing Danny Vaughn (vocals), Brooke St. James (guitars), Michael Arbeeny (drums) and Jimi Kennedy (bass). Dig In Deep continues the traditional trademarks that Tyketto had on their two first albums and blends melodic rockers with acoustic guitars in the background and ballads. I don’t think the songs are as strong as on the debut, but I would say that this is slightly better than the Strength In Numbers album. The production is also very good with a modern touch. The opener Faithless is a monster rocker with strong hooklines and a catchy chorus, this is a song in the same leagues as Forever Young and Meet Me In The Night. Here’s Hoping It Hurts reminds very much of Nelson with great harmonies. The riff strong The Fight Left In Me show the best side of Tyketto with layers of melodies and a more pop chorus. Evaporate is another nice rocker with great riffs and a melodic chorus. This Is How We Say Goodbye is a good acoustic ballad that flirts with country and could go home in Nashville. Danny sings outstanding like always and if you’re a fan of Tyketto then Dig In Deep won’t let you down. There’s couple of average songs that feels out of place, but otherwise I think Tyketto´s new album is a nice piece of work.
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| Points North is an interesting trio of first class musicians, guitarist Eric Barnett´s style reminds a bit of Steve Morse and Eric Johnson, he is brilliant. You might know bassist Uriah Duffy´s name from his time in Whitesnake, on this album "Road less traveled" he gets to show what a terrific bassplayer he is. Behind the drumkit, they´ve got veteran drummer Kevin Aiello that back up the other two like a true pro. We´re talking instrumental guitar rock here in the same vein as Dixie Dregs, Dave Sharman and even Rush at times. They even got a song named "Grace under pressure", that one smells like Rush for miles. The opener "Vast horizons" is more of a fusion rocker and it´s also one of the best tracks here along with the energetic "High wire". Ohyeah, let the guitar do the talking! |
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| One of this year’s most catchy albums has Dutch Destine fore sure released. Their second album, Illuminate is really packed with ultra catchy pop / rock like a more energetic version Simple Plan. And think that this band is far better since they have an edgier sound and doesn't feels so slick as the Canadians.
Certainly it is on the verge of a boy-band pop / rock sound, but they have succeeded to be on the right side and delivers several strong tracks on this album. "Stay," "Thousands Miles" and "Unbreakable" is really good, and there are really no bad tracks on this very competent album.
Personally I think that it is too pop orientated and predictable in the long run to really hype it. But if you like this kind of catchy, energetic rock, Destine's Illuminate is a must for sure. |
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| 2012 can very well be the year for Fight The Machine (ex.Stretford End) with the release of their debut EP "The Assayer" on March 13th, the first taste is the new single "Carousel" which sounds like a direct hit single in my ears. It´s more radio ready than their previous Stretford End single "Cannibal" that was a great song too but the new song might work even better on radio. Their mix of modern rock and pop punk is irresistable and I do love the wall of guitars on the chorus, if you´re into bands like Young Bones and Lostprophets - do not hesitate to purchase this single on iTunes. |
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Train is a band with nine lives. Thought if I'll be honest that they would find it hard to top the hit "Meet Virgin" from the debut, but "Drops Of Jupiter" from the next record became a smash hit and took them to new heights. Then came a couple of less successful album and thought once again that the band was off speaking. But then "Save Me San Francisco" was released and the band delivered once again a mega hit in "Sweet Soul Sister" which sold five million copies. Impressive!
The new album "California 37" then will certainly go very well since it’s a worthy and strong sequel. We get an album that is their most pop-oriented so far and the band has really gone in to write hits with super catchy tracks from start to finish. "This'll Be My Year" and "Bruises" cannot be anything but hits with his beautiful melodies and choruses and we got more of that stuff.
However, the album feels less “real” this time and, unfortunately, quite artificially in the production. There are good tracks for sure, but it's bit too much name-dropping and electronic elements, which unfortunately takes the depth out of Train's organic style. Would have loved to have seen more tracks as they soul filled "We Were Made For This" and "When The Fog Rolls In", but these ones are no safe hits, so can understand that we do not get more of that type.
“California 37” is a pretty mixed album clearly, with plenty of hits candidates that will keep them on the throne when it comes to American traditional rock.
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| The title track on Cloverton´s new EP "The end is the beginning" totally blew me off the ground with it´s epic soundscape and huge chorus, after I had watched the video on youtube I just gotta hear the entire EP. And all 4 tracks are great but the title track is without doubt magic, they are influenced by Coldplay but doesn´t sound at all that much like Chris Martin and Co. The first single "Take me into the beautiful" sounds a bit like Coldplay but the slow "Great plans" bring thoughts to John Lennon and "Send down your grace" goes in the same vein as Future of Forestry and Leeland. Highly recommendable! |
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| The Finger is a female fronted band from Greece, their debut album "I dont believe my eyes" will be out on March 15th and it´s a must for fans of 80´s new wave in the same vein as Simple Minds, Blondie and a modern touch a la The Sounds and Stimulator. I really like singer Lia Siouti´s voice which is perfect for this type of romantic pop, the album opens very strong with the title track "I dont believe my eyes" and the catchy "Die die superhero". The production is warm and fluffy, they really nailed it because the production is so important in this genre. Don´t expect any ballads here, the major part of the songs are upbeat and there are several songs with hit potential like "I was so young" that sounds like an unreleased Classix Nouveaux song or why not my personal fave "My room". Great album! |
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| Albums like Exotic Animal Petting Zoo´s new album "Tree of tongues" don´t exactly grow on trees you know, we´re talking unpredictable and noisy rock here that is quite colorful even though they fire on all cylindars. They sound a bit like a mix between Deftones, Thrice and Strapping Young Lad, you can expect everything from progressive rock to hardcore with elements of numetal on this great album. EAPZ has opened for Kaddisfly and Brazil and things really look bright for this band in 2012, their new album should open many doors so don´t be square and instead be cool and rock out to EAPZ. |
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| Jacksonville Florida is not just Shinedown when it comes to well-made rock. Son Of A Badman is another nice act and even they have a "hard" sounding name they are much softer than Shinedown. These four young men reminds me at times of a band called Carbondale that did a charming album back in 2003 with a mix of soul, rock, powerpop and southern rock. Their style is crazy catchy and feels like an anthemfor a hot summer day to be honest.
Son Of A Bad Man spent a short time on Universal Republic Records and recorded an EP with John Fields (Switchfoot, Andrew WK, Soul Asylum) back in 2009. But unfortunately they were dropped relatively quickly and did not get anything with them. Very sad for the band that has plenty of qualities and with the right palcement it could have taken off really. Check out if your einto bands like Augustana and Parachute. |
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Did you know that?
Before forming Fightstar, singer Charlie Simpson was in a band called Busted, who were a British pop band consisting of James Bourne (rhythm guitar), Charlie Simpson (lead guitar and occasionally drums), and Matt Willis (bass). They sold over 1 million singles and 2 million albums in the UK, winning BRIT Awards, Record Of The Year and performing on several sellout arena tours.
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latest reviews
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