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Hamburg numetal quartet 4 Lyn sounds like a mix between Korn and Saigon Kick,singer Ron Braz delivers both fine melodies as well as screams from hell and the axework from guitarist Rene is in the same heavyweight class as Korn-not a bad combination if you ask me.
On songs like "Kisses of a strobelight" and "Incomplete",4 Lyn?s vocalist Ron really sounds like Matt Kramer of Saigon Kick and also the songs could?ve been taken from a SK album.
This is their 3rd album if I counted it right coz I?m not so good at German when I read their bio :-),the self titled debut came out in 2001 and the follow up "Neon" in 2002,their new album "Take it as a compliment" belongs in every numetal fan?s home coz the production is excellent and the songs are very enjoyable.
It never feels monotone to listen to coz the variation is big all from the Smashing Pumpkins sounding verse on "Eobane" to the killer rocker of "Train" that works fantastic LOUD!!!
"S.T.C" echoes out some Mushroomhead and "Stay different" maybe features the best axework of the album......shockingly good.
Can you afford to pass on this one? |
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I really liked this German dynamite on their previous album "Take is as a compliment" (2004) which had a big variety in arrangements and sound but all kept together in a certain song structure,that seems to have been lost in the process of the new album "Compadres" coz most of the time in this compact hour - they push the pedal to the metal and totally run over the listener with a massive noise of 100 guitartracks and no nuance whatsoever.........which is a big shame coz they still rock like hell on some of the songs like the first single "Drrty Rokka",the opening track "Beautiful waste",the ultra heavy "Even",my fave "Chosen" and "New breed".
Pick out a few songs and make your own EP and I will give it 4 stars!
For fans of Korn,Filter,Deftones and Emil Bulls. |
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German numetallers 4Lyn´s previous album "Compadres" was a disappointment, the lack of great melodies made the album almost unbearable to listen to.
It´s so important to fill this genre with nuances to make it enjoyable or else all the riffs will sink into the swamp of heaviness.
But I am pleased to say the band is back with new life and reloaded batteries on their new album "Hello", they line up strong melodies just as much as there are stars in the sky.
This is how I like to hear numetal in 2008, a cool unique sound like a mix of KoRn, Saigon Kick and the British rock of Suede.
"Nostalgia" is one of their strongest songs so far and the new single "Hello" gets stuck in the head like superglue.
"World´s gone crazy" and "The jumpoff" would make Jonathan Davies of KoRn proud while "Shadow valley" is a cool example of Saigon Kick meeting Suede in a crazy mix.
Impressive! |
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In 2001,40 Below Summer?s explosive debut album ?Invitation to dance? saw the light of day and was a pretty uneven cd. Quite cool at times with a nice mix of metal and more melodic rock in the choruses, but far too often too destructive for a melodic rocker like me.
This new effort named ?Mourning After? though is a nice facelift from the debut with a far better line-up of songs. The album isn?t totally complete with a few moments of more negative sounding metal like the last track ?A season in hell?, which title explains the song quite well.
But except from that track and one or two other quite anonymous tracks this second effort is a nice step forward with better songs and greater melodies. Some of their old fans might think that they have sold out with this more melodic sound. I don?t think so cause this is still pretty heavy and edgy at times with Max Illedge?s hardcore alike screams here and there. And the fact that he sings more on this one is a big reason why I like it far more than the debut.
Songs like ?Rain? and ?Monday Song? are both pure numetal heaven with a perfect mix of edge and melody that Sevendust really succeeded with on their latest effort. 40 Below Summer is tougher than Sevendust, but they?re not far from each other and I think that fans of ?Animosity? and ?Seasons? will like this one too.
Fourth track ?Breathless? is another nice discovery on ?Mourning After? here and overall I must say that this is a pretty nice album in the numetal genre. Not that revolutionary, but it sure has it?s moments and shows that the band has talent and potential. If they can do the same improvement to the next album as they did from the debut I just can?t wait for it. Future will tell, but until then give 40 Below Summer a few spins on loud volume pretty late in your player and you?re in war with your neighbours.
Anyone that got an apartment for rent? |
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40 Below Summer?s so called new album "The Last Dance" is a collection of demos meant for a 3rd album and unreleased songs that never made it onto their first 2 albums "Invitation to the dance" (2001) and "The mourning after" (2003).
The band split up last year where Max Illidge-Lead Vocals, Joey D?Amico-Guitar and Hector Graziani-Bass formed a new band called Black Market Hero with ex.Flaw guitarist Ryan Jurhs-Guitar and Ali Nassar on Drums.
Since Crash Music are releasing this album, 40BS will now make a reunion tour but that doesn?t put an end to Black Market Hero according to Max Illidge who has recorded a brand new EP that will be available soon.
"The Last Dance" is in fact a rather good album where most of the songs deserves to be released so this album is a must have for the 40BS fans around the world, but why only 9 tracks when they could?ve included the demos of "How long" and "Hate mail" on it as well?!
Perhaps they didn?t think they were good enough?
I only recognize the rockballad "Relapse" as an online demo from 2005 out of these 9 songs, the second track "5 of a kind" truly belongs on a Best of collection with this band - awesome song! |
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| New Jersey-based 40 Below Summer released their first album in 1998 and but after some struggles the band broke up in 2006. Now they're reunited and back with the album "Fire At Zero Gravity". Musically it's quite brutal nu metal with both screamo and vocals baked into the package. The sound is fat with a quite complexed and progressive undertone. Imagine a mix between Drowning Pool, Mastodon, Slipknot and Fear Factory and you're quite near the sound. A good and solid album in the genre. |
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| I?ve felt the last years that the punk influenced rock has got stuck with far too many Blink 182 clones and not that many bands with an own identity. In this case I can?t complain a single shit (Sorry for language), cause this is punk rock like at it best, friends! Attitude, edge and humor are the ingredients in the sound of 40 Ft Ringo, which has done a stunning album in the same vein as the hero Butch Walker. This New Jersey bands background is quite close to the ex Southgang/Marvelous 3 guy, which I guess have given them both this excellent formula of rock with heavy balls. The album starts of with the first single called ?Anyway?, which has huge potential with it?s catchy and energy filled beat that just got stuck in the head at once. That song reflects the album quite well, cause the overall feeling is energy, but the band also shows a deeper side on the album. ?Origami mummy? and ?Tough? are both really serious songs and shows what a great variation Steve Brown and the guys have. Other songs to mention is the ultra cool ?Big fat smile? and the lovely riff based ?Book of virtues? and ?Wired?, which both shows what a ?true? band this is when it comes to attitude. I?m totally sure that will be one of the best albums when I look back in year 2003 and this is an album that you got to have if you?re a true rocker! Got get it??..NOW! |
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The Finnish band 45 degree woman gave us the bombastic "How to handle pain" in 2007 and they continue in the same fine style on the brand new album "Revival".
If Godhead, HIM and Mustasch had a baby - it would be 45DW, you´ll find traces of both gothrock, stoner rock and numetal in their sound.
The new album feels a bit more melodic but it´s still quite heavy at times, the 7 minute long "God" is outstanding - just listen to the outro of this song.
Good stuff! |
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| 4 Him have done some tremendous music in the past for sure. Their abilities and harmonies have always striked right into my heart. Here on their new album, theyve done a Worship album which is to much joy, jesus and hallelujah. Its not bad or anything and the production signed Michael Omartian have nothing to complain about. Still not an album you have to buy if you enjoy the older 4 HIM album, cause this is for the lyric and sake and not so much for the music. "Be Thou My Vision" is sure beautiful but its to much hallelujahs on here. |
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Their final album has arrived! 4Him has been one of the leading bands in Christian pop for the past 15 years. Andy Chrisman, Marty Magehee, Kirk Sullivan and Mark Harris have been together for this period of time making excellent popmusic with very memorable vocal achievements. Each one of them has his own distinguished voice, but together in harmony you really get something special. They are surely no hardrockin? guys, but they produce lots of melodic pop with some poprock moments. They have worked with many wellknown sessionmusicians like Dan Huff, Michael Omartian and Jerry McPherson just to name a few.
I am an alltime fan of their music and albums that are really worth mentioning here are ?The Ride?, ?The Message?, ?The basics of life? and ?Walk on?. Not that the others are bad but these are my faves. After two soloalbums of Andy Chrisman and Mark Harris the band decided to split-up. Like they say themselves: Each one, in his own time, began to feel the excitement of seeing new roads winding out before them. They began to sense God saying ?I am doing a new thing in you?.
Well what about the songs then you might say. Most songs are from their previous albums. There are 4 solosongs from each bandmember at the end of the album and one song with help of other fellow artists called ?Unity?. Normally, I don?t like ?best of?-albums that much because if you are a fan you have all their albums already, but this one is an exception. All songs have been rearranged and sound different from the originals most even better. The cd has a great production. The 10th song is a medley of four songs which is one of the highlights of this album. Beautiful songs like ?Where there is faith?, ?Basics of life?, the excellent ?The center of the mark? and ?For future generations? bring out the joy in me. All the songs have a very possitive message giving God all the praise. From the solosongs the last song from Marty Magehee is far out the best one. This is a great rocker that leaves me wanting for more of his solowork in the future.
Conclusion is that 4Him made a mark in the Christian musicscene for the past 15 years, but we will surely hear more from the individual parts in the near future. |
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SHORTCUT
This is a very cool album I am going to present for you. Schizophrenic is one word. A furios groove another word. Modern rock a third. Hip Hop another... you can add another bunch of influences. The cool thing is that it works. It?s like Living Colour for the 2000 century... That?s quite a good explenation. It?s also an album that grows on you for each listen. A weird mix and it?s damn cool that it?s works so fine. Try to sit still to "Happy Birthday To You"... You won?t. |
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Deep Elm Records is a label I am really familiar with. Knowing this label you know you will always get something original and pleasant to the ears. Deep Elm was responsible for my first Fightstar experience, Last Days Of April, and many more. With that being said comes a very unique group called 500 Miles to Memphis.
Named after the distance from the band´s hometown of Cincinnati to Graceland, 500 Miles To Memphis plays rowdy, insanely catchy, "Country Punk." You´re probably like "Huh? Country Punk?" Yes this band gives you a very original pop punk flavor of Green Day if they were from Nashville, TN. This album features awesome production with Erwin Musper at the helm. These boys incorporate all the features of country and mix it up with rock. Punk. Let me just say it’s awesome!
From the very beginning you can hear the country flavor of the almost swing dancing kicking in with the distorted guitars on "All My Friends Are Crazy." I was completely thrown off by this album and skeptical at first but the vocals and everything are down really well. The slide guitars follow on the moderate rocker "Broken, Busted, Bloody."
It´s more the music of the album that is country. The vocals don´t remind me of country at all and more a pop punk similarity of Billy Joe from Green Day. This band is really underestimated and I think every fan of rock should check this CD out. It´s really refreshing to the ears.
Overall this album really surprised me and I didn´t think I would like it as much as I do. My Favorites on the album include "All My Friends Are Cray", "Darlin", "I´ll Miss You (Whatever)," Go pick up on the great deals Deep Elm has on their website, www.deepelm.com |
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54 Seconds from Austin,Texas has been making albums since 99 with "Coma" as their 3rd full length release,last year they signed a publishing deal with BMG for this album and in July the new single "Ben?s letter" is available on cdbaby.com,a song not featured on this effort.
Spencer Gibb is the voice that will shake you up because his vocals is haunting,emotional and fits the melancholic moody music just fine.
This is suggestive,progressive,dark and unpredictable music with unexpected chord changes and almost improvising influenced jazzpop,I haven?t heard anything like this album and the closest comparison I can make is the early years of Pink Floyd mixed up with Kevin Gilbert and Peter Gabriel.
Spencer has a voice that can be hard to accept coz of his strong vibrato that sometimes dominates the songs very much,however if you love the way he sings-it will take you to another level.
The most commercial song is the calm and laid back "Meaningless conversation",imagine R.E.M and Lenny Kravitz jamming together and you?ll have that song.
The spirit of Peter Gabriel lies over "Elephants",strange but beautiful melodies.
The first track "Watson 439" is too strange and some of you might not get to the 2nd track but if you do,there will be some epic stuff waiting for you.
"Complicated" and "Difference between" should appeal to fans of Sunny Day Real Estate and The Fire Theft,there are no words to describe the feelings I get for listening to these cloudwalking tunes.
Difficult music it is,I won?t lie to you but life ain?t easy....is it?! |
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55 Escape from Norway have just released their debut album and they are one of the few bands around today still happy to embrace the nu-metal sound. Not that that´s a bad thing. Yes there are other influences to their sound but a very good majority of this album captures elements found on the first 2 Linkin Park recordings.
55 Escape feature 2 vocalists and they incorporate rap, melodic singing and even some death metal screams into their songs. The production is from former Metallica producer Flemming Rasmussen and it’s very good. Some of the songs do sound a little similar but the first half of this album is very strong. Just check out first single Forever to get an idea about what this band is all about.
Some of the lyrics do lack a degree of maturity but I get the feeling they are writing about what is real for them and you have to remember this is a very young band. I look forward to seeing how they progress and seeing the kind of response they get to this excellent album. |
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| A singer songwriter girl is what we have here. And a quite great one. A little to much muzak here and there, but still well worth a check if you enjoy Shawn Colvin, Jann Arden and Joni Mitchell. What I miss is a little portion of some "good damn it"? 12 songs ? and all a bit to the same. Still good though, but if you dont have that much money. Spare your money for something else. |
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Did you know that?
Steve Jones of Sex Pistols loved to listen to Foreigner and Journey in the late 70´s but never admitted it to the others in the band.
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latest reviews
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