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From Urmond,Holland comes this progressive rockband with westcoastrock influences featuring bandmembers:Robert Loozen-Vocals,Richard Ramaekers-guitars,Erik Stals-keyboards,Paul Heuts-Drums and Jo Janssen-Bass.
"The Gates of Industry" is their first album and listening to it I must say that these guys pretty much did what they wanted and felt like doing for the moment.
They are most certainly grown up with progressive rock in the old school and also have some love for westcoast/AORish style,this is a typical progrock release from Holland because these bands just about always go their own way with not looking at how the music industry develops into trendy styles.
This album could?ve been released back in 87 or in 95,that?s the charm about it too but some of the songs feels too dated if you know what I mean.
The title "Hold on" says it all,bad title used a 1000 times before and an equal bad tune......but then the band freshens up in songs like "The Key of the guard" and "The ship of RE" which satisfies my progrock hunger for the moment.
Too much of a roller coaster ride though,up and down and nowhere in between........nice tangent work anyhow. |
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Want some classic hard rock in the 80´s style? Then Hollywood based 1rko´s debut 6 track EP "FirstRoundKnockout" is the answer for your prayers.
It´s a varied EP of rockers, ballads and more melodic stuff - I think they have done a good cover of The Sweet´s "Fox on the run" and the piano ballad "Hand in hand" could´ve been a hit back in the 80´s.
"Right now" is a great rocker made for the stage and the more melodic "So alive" bring thoughts to Paul Stanley´s song "Goodbye" from his 1978 solo album.
The best track on the ep is "One more time" that I also hope will be included on the band´s forthcoming 14 track album out in 2009.
1rko is fronted by the strong vocalist Simon Daniels who also plays guitar and keyboards, well it´s not a groundbreaking record but it doesn´t have to be now does it? |
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"Devil?s playground" is punk icon Billy Idol?s first album in 12 years since "Cyberpunk" (1993) and probably also his most punkish record ever, you have to go back to the days of his band Generation X to find such energetic hard hitting punkrock from Mr.Idol. (50 yrs old Nov.30 this year).
There aren?t many memorable moments on his new effort if you think about how many cool songs this guy has done
through the years like "Rebel yell","Flesh for fantasy" and "White wedding" to mention a few.
DP is not a bad album, it just doesn?t contain any great songs that he will be remembered by - I think "Rat race"
and "Sherri" are cooking just fine but they are no songs to be featured on a best of album.
Billy also works with axeman Steve Stevens again on DP and that is a nice welcoming collaboration but they have to work
harder to reach the level of those fine years in the 80?s!
HIGHLIGHTS:Rat race,Sherri,Romeos waiting |
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| Cant believe of how many cool albums i heard this far in 2001. Its really hard to make a playlist thesedays and were just halfway 2001. Now take David Isaacs, a West Coast songwriter who will be more and more in the picture in the near future because this lad gets more attention from other artists like Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac) who wanna work with him. As a matter a fact during the recording for this interesting "Timebomb" release he already worked with the most well known studio musicians you can locate in L.A., people like Matt Laug on drums (Public Domain), Lance Morrison on bass (Rick Springfield, Don Henley), Ian Mayo on bass (Bad Moon Rising), Bruce Watson on guitars (Public Domain), Mark Harris on bass & The Lennon bros (Venice). In other words this release is the work of a gifted and very talentful and promising songwriter. His style will be without any doubt something for our readers because its kinda like a mixture between the work of Jude Cole and a young version of Don Henley. Check out the track "Come Back Home" he wrote together with Ian Mayo and youll know what i mean. The "When It Rains" track couldve been a mass hitsingle if it was recorded by Bon Jovi, not fair if you ask me. Also worth checking out are the production skills of producer Chris Horvath, this cool dude replaces Monroe Jones in the Venice band because Monroe moved down South doing some productions himself. If you give this "Timebomb" release some time and a few spins youll be very satisfied and youll definitely remember his name in the future. |
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| Anthony J Resta is one of my favourite producers (Collective Soul, Shawn Mullins among others) and I got a mail from him a month ago where he recommended this new band he produced called "I". He said it was the best stuff he worked with for along time. So I wrote the guys and asked for a copy. And it´s sure some good damn quality! Hard melodic modern rock, with a very solid singer in J.Staples who have a voice somewhere between the singer in The Cult, Ian Astbury and a softer more melodic singer like... hmmm... who should we say... well take a listen yourself. It´s VERY professional and the best song? track number 3 "Mary" is pure modern rock heaven, with quite a soft verse and a bombastic fat guitar-driven refrain. If you adore tougher modern rock I have to recommend all of you to surf to their homepage and listen yourself. The cool thing with the band is the own unique style. It?s not Nu Breed. It´s not Nu Metal. It´s not pure modern rock. It´s somewhere between these styles. And all done with a cool retro edge. Imagine yourself Adema mixed with The Cult on their way to Depswa and Ra for a cup of coffee and we´re quite ahead of the guys. Buy the EP at CD BABY, and don´t be surprised if the band are signed to a major label sooner than you read this review. |
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If Frank Zappa would have ever recorded a metal album I think this album titled "Off The Hook" from the Boston band "I" is the closest we will get to getting that strange comparison.
This quartet released a 3-track CD last year with all 3 songs ending up on this full length debut. I can assure you that these guys will give you a good time of fun rocking metal that is a rare thing nowadays in that world.
To give you an idea of how they sound like, take the funk of Stuck Mojo, put in some metal ala Disturbed and then add some crazy party time LOVE/HATE rock?n?roll and we?re pretty close to the sound of I.
The 2 guys that make the band really interesting to listen to are the amazing guitarist Rich Chamberlain who plays like he was Steve Vai?s cousin and then of course the singer J.Staples who could be the lost brother of Devin Townsend, coz he?s totally insane and at the same time so supercool in his way of singing these songs.
Just put on the opening track "I Never Did It" and you will sing along with the verse, the bridge and the chorus like a lucky new millionaire.
There?s lots of humour in their music, very entertaining and dont to forget.....THEY ROCK! |
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I Am Ghost is a band that deserves more attention, their 2006 album "Lovers requiem" is a brilliant piece of gothic modern rock that bring thoughts to Evanescence, Lacuna Coil and even The Dreaming.
That album is a bit more melodic than the new album that is way heavier and darker, I think they sound a bit like My Chemical Romance now before the "Black parade" album.
There´s definitely more screamo on "Those we leave behind" but also plenty of clean vocals so don´t let that scare you away if you have a hard time liking screamo.
This is a well crafted album even though I think "Lovers requiem" is a bit stronger, the song "They always come back" at the end of the new album is my personal fave.
A great melodic track! |
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| I Am Giant is a new powerful alternative rock band from New Zealand with a British singer, he´s Ed Martin and one of the reasons why you should listen to their debut album "The horrifying truth". What a great voice! The other members are Shelton Woolright on drums (Blindspott), Paul Matthews on bass (Tadpoole) and Aja Timu on guitar, their album is produced by Forrester Savell (Karnivool, Melodyssey) and the sound is both crunchy and crystal clear. This is definitely rock for fans of The Butterfly Effect and Dead Letter Circus, it´s slightly progressive but also very melodic and heavy at times. Highlights : City limits, Neon sunrise, Electric throne |
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Deep Elm Records has passed me by unoticed in the past but not anymore. Here is another instrumental album released on the label. This time it is the Italian band I Am Sonic Rain that releases their album Between Whales and Feverish Lights. It bears some resemblance to UK band Last Lungs but I think that this is a calmer record, more similar to Sigur Ros.
There are actually songs that have sounds similar to whale song, just listen to It Had the Sound of a Long Goodbye, a very atmospheric song. There are quite big contrasts in almost every song, from gentle strumming to full on rock with crashing cymbals. Somehow I do not feel that some the songs grab my attention as other similar bands’ songs do. If I turn my attention away from the music it almost fades away. I am not saying that this is a bad record, not at all. However, when it comes to the slower songs, that is when these Italians shine. The closing title track might be the perfect night music.
I must say that Last Lungs got my eyes more open to this kind of rock and this is also a quite nice record, although I feel that songs are a bit weaker here than on the Last Lungs album. Still, worth checking out if you are fan of Mogwai and such bands. Overall, a good effort from a band that I hope to hear more from in the future.
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Brooklyn based I am the Avalanche has recorded a solid debut in the screamo emo vein but with pop sensibility,they even flirt with reggae on the track "Murderous".
The sound on their self titled album is a bit punkish and you can tell they?re a good live act when listening to their energetic performance.
I hope they won?t get rid of this raw attitude if they?d ever be picked up by a major label coz big budget and fame producers has a risk of turning into a more polished sound.
I like this band! |
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I Hate Kate was formed in 2004 when Justin Mauriello left Zebrahead to explore his musical options,the music is very similar to his former band so his fans will be pleased and about the bandname he says:a friend of mine dated a girl named Kate. She was the devil. I hated her from the first moment I met her. Hell was lonely because she was here. She was an evil person and I just said one day that I hate Kate.
This 7 track EP is filled with energetic,catchy as hell punkpop that in fact is a lot better than the last Zebrahead record which didn?t include Justin - with this in mind,it?s quite easy to see who was the reason behind their older and stronger material.
I get happy hearing songs like "Story I can?t write" and "Bed of black roses",but the other 5 will get your motor running just as good. |
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Unfortunately when a key band member leaves a successful band and starts a new project, that new effort will mostly be compared to the previous effort until it finally blows over. Take for instance Taking Back Sunday´s Fred Mascherino. He left the band and started his own band and helms that project, The Color Fred. He will most likely be compared to Taking Back Sunday for a long time, from their success. Same case with Justin Mauriello from Zebrahead. After his departure from the band we now have his new band I Hate Kate´s debut album Embrace The Curse. From the title of the album, you may think its a harder based band, as it seemed kind of metal sounding to me. The band is not at all harder and more along the same lines of a more serious Zebrahead mixed with a little Lost Prophets and Depeche Mode.
I´ve been a fan of Zebrahead for a long time and have always been a fan of Justins lyrics, vocal content and melodic hooks. It´s pretty much the same on this album as the verses arent so Zebrahead (no rapping on this band) and the choruses are melodic and catchy. Embrace The Curse has some new wave elements to the music as well as some songs are upbeat and have nice rhytmns you never heard in his previous effort. I must say the lyrics are more mature than Zebrahead (no Playmate of The Years on this one). I´m glad we still have Zebrahead and they are still rockign with their replacment but I personally dont believe this band will be as popular as Zebrahead. I do think they will create waves just from Justins background and the music itself being very radio friendly and filled with hooks.
The deal to record an EP with the Japanese label, IN-n-OUT Records, presented itself with this album Embrace The Curse. The album was produced by Linus of Hollywood at Linus’ home on a tight budget. It was so low-cost that they had to create a make-shift booth for Justin by cobbling together mic stands and throwing a comforter over his body to block out sound. You would never know when listening to the album though as it sounds just like a real high class studio recording.
If your looking for the next Zebrahead you will not find the sound in this band but will find some resemblance. Its a good rock album and should see some buzz in the coming weeks since this album has just been released. Check out the sounds on thier myspace and get familiar with the music. Fans of Lost Prophets, Zebrahead will find some true pleasure in this record. |
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If Peter Gabriel would do a numetal record in the footsteps
of Tool,who would be more suitable to produce such a record
than David Bottrill who has worked with both and that?s
exactly what he has done but this time it?s not Gabriel,
we?re talking about the progressive numetal boys of I Mother
Earth with guitarist,producer and songwriter Jagori Tanna
as the main man behind this machinery.
"Quicksilver meat dream" is their first album in 4 years and
also their 4th one but the 2nd album with singer Brian Byrne
who replaced the former singer Edwin,I must say I was
impressed by what came out of the speakers because this
is truly intelligent but megalomatic heavy music too at some
moments.
For a progressive rock lover like me,the best parts are when
they sound a whole lot like a mad Peter Gabriel freaking out
with beautiful noise from the guitar amps in the tunes "Choke",
"0157.H7" and "Passenger".
"Meat dreams","God rocket" and "Hall and malful cation" is like hearing Rush
meeting Korn,an odd mix but a fxxking brilliant idea and the result
is breath taking,I have to look to see if it aint Geddy Lee and Jonathan
Davies who has written those for sure.
When the groundshaking riff on "Like the sun" takes over,I?m pretty
sure that Thor finally has come down to pay us a visit,the axework
from Jagori Tanna is overall magnificent with a perfect
balance from the genius of Robert Fripp,the anger of Tony Iommi
and the technique of Alex Lifeson.
I Mother Earth plays progressive numetal on a higher level,the other bands in the
genre can just listen and learn.
Highly recommendable!!! |
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I Nine is a new popular pop/rock band from South Carolina fronted by young Carmen Keigans.
Their debut album "Heavy weighs the king" features the hit singles "Seven days of lonely" and "If this room could move", both produced by the modern rock titans Chad Kroeger and Brian Howes.
I think they´ve got a cool mix of modern country and pop/rock, like combining The Corrs with Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson.
The string section makes these songs a little more unique to listen to than being just another Avril clone, there are plenty of hookladen songs on this album where "Alive" stand out as the next possible single contender.
I am pretty certain you´re gonna hear more from I Nine! |
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I don’t know why, but as soon as I saw the cover for this CD I had to listen to it and I am truly glad I did. I Set My Friends On Fire are one hell of a band and “You Can’t Spell Slaughter Without Laughter” is one hell of a CD!
Generally, Electronica and Meltacore aren’t something that interest me; but after one listen to this album I was hooked. Their Epitaph debut is sure to find a soft spot with fans of metal, hip hop, electronic and more. The hooks on this CD are sure to keep everyone coming back for more, and you have to love that Matt and Nabil genuinely don’t seem to take themselves too seriously with track titles like “Things That Rhyme With Orange”, “Ravenous Ravenous Rhinos”, "Reese´s Pieces, I Don´t Know Who John Cleese Is?" and “WTFWJD”.
Oh and you can’t forget the cover that put these boys on the map. Soulja Boy’s “Crank That” is added for good measure. It actually might be one of the tracks you end up skipping on this CD because it doesn’t compare to the rest of tracks. Overall, this CD is definitely worthy of a buy or at least a lengthy listen. |
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Did you know that?
Ill Nino frontman Christian Muchado was originally a roadie for Soulfly before forming Ill Nino.
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latest reviews
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