Acrassicauda
Only the Dead See the End of the War
buy album here
So you think that it's hard to keep a band together these days with constant squabbles and power struggles that feed each other's egos and keep the emotional wells full to the brim with the beginnings of countless angry solo material? Well, try living in a country in which your long hair and concert tees will get you killed and the mere existence of your heavy rock or metal band angers some sects enough to blow you, your family, and your cohorts to bits. And what of the fact that your band might even be lucky enough to play only one show every two years, in secluded locations, most ending in bomb threats or terrorist attacks before your third song is even underway? Acrassicaudia, the Iraqui heavy metal band featured in Heavy Metal from Baghdad, fled from war torn Iraq to Syria, Turkey, and finally have made it to the United States and released their first four-song EP, Only the Dead See the End of the War. Their perseverance, heart, and love for the music itself has guided them through struggles that we could only dream of and gives them a leg up against all other metal bands out there today.
Though this band has had only a handful of shows and is still relatively young to the metal scene in terms of experience and exposure, Acrassicauda proves that they can indeed hold their own in the metal genre and will have a future that will indeed be fruitful, allowing them to create, record, and perform their music live as more individuals gain the knowledge of this band. Produced by Testament's Alex Skolnick, Only the Dead See the End of the War sounds just as you would expect: a mixture of Metallica, Slayer, and at times Alice in Chains. Acrassicauda's sound most definitely shows their influences, yet gives things a new spin that is sure to blossom into a style that is by far their own as time passes. Though a great deal of metal music is constantly subgenred to death, I have say that this band's sound is just plain heavy metal in it's truest form. "Message from Baghdad" opens things up with an aggressive riff and quick tempo that sounds like something out of early 90's camp Metallica and a message that is straight up pissed off. My personal favorite, "Garden of Stones", follows with great double kick drum grooves and chunky guitar rhythms that fall into the pocket and further reinforce the half-time feels that are scattered throughout. One aspect of this track that really stands out among the other three is the strong Middle-Eastern influence that surfaces towards the end of the song with changing chord progressions, added hand percussion, and Iraqi vocals that are clean. The vocals on "Massacre" change things up in being a bit more grunge influenced than the other material on this release, sounding a great deal like early Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains.
If you have seen Heavy Metal in Baghdad or are in any way a fan of heavy music, you should go ahead and grab this album. Though nothing new or ground-breaking, the story and struggle of this band alone is worth giving them a listen. -Andrew Bryant
Monday, April 5, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers
The Big To-Do
buy album here
With The Big To-Do, I have re-discovered the greatness that I initially found in the Drive-By Truckers. Like the early albums that first caught my ear, this new record finds the guitars bigger than ever, Patterson Hood exhibiting his unique story-telling craft to the utmost extent, and Mike Cooley channeling the Stroker Ace in full effect. What I love most about this record is the fact that it rocks and does so fluidly, with every song placed in just the right spot for maximum complement to the entire piece. This album reminds me of their sound on The Dirty South with every song exploring some darker, more depressing subject matter of the South along with some great stories that could only be told by those who have grown up in this region, hearing the yarns and legends spun by family members, friends, and neighbors.
Opening with "Daddy Learned To Fly" is the perfect way to kick things off with The Big To-Do. This song is big and loud, with an almost celebratory feel, despite it's subject matter of children dealing with their father's death. Both in structure and style, this particular song reminds me a lot of "February 14th" from A Blessing and a Curse in just how massive and positive the chord progressions are, giving listeners a reason to raise their glass and sing along. Another standout as far as Patterson Hood songs go is "Drag the Lake Charlie" with it's scratchy guitar melodies and a chorus that you'll catch yourself humming as you vividly imagine what is going on with this sea of deception, secrets, and an implied murder cover up that only a small Southern town could boast. Mike Cooley, though his songs are a bit more few and far between on this record, chimes in with the wisdom that we have all come to expect from this rough-around-the-edges poet of tough luck and subtle, dry humor. With "Birthday Boy", Cooley brings forth an almost Dire Straights vibe with this one, if Knopfler was a skinny Southern boy from Alabama, telling of money, married men, and unhappy strippers. "Get Downtown" is a true boot-stomper that gives a bit more oomph to the boogie-woogie style of the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and is thus the most toe-tapping track on the record. As with Brighter Than Creations Dark, The Big To-Do finds Shonna Tucker contributing a few herself, breaking the dirty Southern chain of Hood and Cooley, with "You Got Another" being the standout of the two. This song is a the first somber track of the record, with a higher vocal range than we have heard from Shonna in the past and a swirling Hammond B-3 and Mellotron canvas provided by the Truckers' newest member, Jay Gonzalez. The Big To-Do ends with two slower numbers, including one of Patterson Hood's finest moments that brings back the chills that earlier songs like "The Deeper In" and "Tornadoes" evoked. "The Flying Walendas" is a an absolutely beautiful track that tells the story of a family of acrobats and trapeze artists that were the stars of many of the famous circuit circuses, whose lives were tragically taken when feats went wrong under the big top. This song has a slow, lazy waltz feel and finds the mighty John Neff behind his trusty pedal steel with some of his finest lead lines that almost weep for the subjects at hand.
It is a given that many of us will always be fans of anything and everything that the Drive-By Truckers will ever give us, however there is something about The Big To-Do that could quite possibly be their finest work thus far. Every piece of the puzzle is here on this one and there are absolutely no throw-away tracks in my opinion; each one falling perfectly into place and at just the right time in the grand scheme of things. One of 2010's best already, this one is going to be damn near hard to beat this year. -Andrew Bryant
The Big To-Do
buy album here
With The Big To-Do, I have re-discovered the greatness that I initially found in the Drive-By Truckers. Like the early albums that first caught my ear, this new record finds the guitars bigger than ever, Patterson Hood exhibiting his unique story-telling craft to the utmost extent, and Mike Cooley channeling the Stroker Ace in full effect. What I love most about this record is the fact that it rocks and does so fluidly, with every song placed in just the right spot for maximum complement to the entire piece. This album reminds me of their sound on The Dirty South with every song exploring some darker, more depressing subject matter of the South along with some great stories that could only be told by those who have grown up in this region, hearing the yarns and legends spun by family members, friends, and neighbors.
Opening with "Daddy Learned To Fly" is the perfect way to kick things off with The Big To-Do. This song is big and loud, with an almost celebratory feel, despite it's subject matter of children dealing with their father's death. Both in structure and style, this particular song reminds me a lot of "February 14th" from A Blessing and a Curse in just how massive and positive the chord progressions are, giving listeners a reason to raise their glass and sing along. Another standout as far as Patterson Hood songs go is "Drag the Lake Charlie" with it's scratchy guitar melodies and a chorus that you'll catch yourself humming as you vividly imagine what is going on with this sea of deception, secrets, and an implied murder cover up that only a small Southern town could boast. Mike Cooley, though his songs are a bit more few and far between on this record, chimes in with the wisdom that we have all come to expect from this rough-around-the-edges poet of tough luck and subtle, dry humor. With "Birthday Boy", Cooley brings forth an almost Dire Straights vibe with this one, if Knopfler was a skinny Southern boy from Alabama, telling of money, married men, and unhappy strippers. "Get Downtown" is a true boot-stomper that gives a bit more oomph to the boogie-woogie style of the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and is thus the most toe-tapping track on the record. As with Brighter Than Creations Dark, The Big To-Do finds Shonna Tucker contributing a few herself, breaking the dirty Southern chain of Hood and Cooley, with "You Got Another" being the standout of the two. This song is a the first somber track of the record, with a higher vocal range than we have heard from Shonna in the past and a swirling Hammond B-3 and Mellotron canvas provided by the Truckers' newest member, Jay Gonzalez. The Big To-Do ends with two slower numbers, including one of Patterson Hood's finest moments that brings back the chills that earlier songs like "The Deeper In" and "Tornadoes" evoked. "The Flying Walendas" is a an absolutely beautiful track that tells the story of a family of acrobats and trapeze artists that were the stars of many of the famous circuit circuses, whose lives were tragically taken when feats went wrong under the big top. This song has a slow, lazy waltz feel and finds the mighty John Neff behind his trusty pedal steel with some of his finest lead lines that almost weep for the subjects at hand.
It is a given that many of us will always be fans of anything and everything that the Drive-By Truckers will ever give us, however there is something about The Big To-Do that could quite possibly be their finest work thus far. Every piece of the puzzle is here on this one and there are absolutely no throw-away tracks in my opinion; each one falling perfectly into place and at just the right time in the grand scheme of things. One of 2010's best already, this one is going to be damn near hard to beat this year. -Andrew Bryant
Monday, March 15, 2010
HIgh on Fire
High on Fire
Snakes for the Devine
buy album here
Whatever it is, Matt Pike has got it, has had it, and won't lose it anytime soon. This can refer to one of the biggest, nastiest, meatiest, dirtiest guitar sounds in the biz, some of the best songwriting and album construction in both the metal and stoner rock genres, and the ability to front some of the most influential heavy bands over the past two decades. Oh, how we all miss Sleep and thank whomever we align with every night before bed for Holy Mountain and Dopesmoker. As the sad end came to this mammoth of a band, we all wondered what would become of this monster guitarist and vocalist that we had all come to adore. Shortly after, from the dense fog, High on Fire came knocking, punched us in the gut, and rattled our fillings as we were braced ourselves for round two with Matt Pike.
Snakes for the Devine is an extremely aggressive album, throwing away the notion that High on Fire is a stoner metal act in any way. The guitar riffs are fast and brutal, the bass lines are meaty and melodic, and the drums gallop throughout, utilizing double kick drum rudiments as much as humanly possible. This record is angry and epic, almost as if Pike and company are throwing on the armor, taking up the axes, and sprinting into battle with a thirst for blood, delivering violent death to all who fall prey. As he gets older, Matt's voice reminds me of a perfect mix between Lemmy and Mille Petrozza from Kreator.
Produced by Gred Fidelman, the man responsible for recording and mixing Metallica's Death Magnetic and Slayer's World Painted Blood, this album as a whole is much more accessible for most listeners with cleaner guitar tones and vocals that are mixed out in front of the rumble. Thus, Snakes for the Devine could quite possibly serve as High on Fire's bridge into the metal mainstream, increasing their fans and listening population beyond those who are "in the know" and who have been loyal to Matt Pike from the get-go. Not that they are selling out with this one, no sir. However, for those who are used to to what High On Fire has delivered in the past, it might a listen or two to get used to things with the way that they are now. Opening up with the titled track and quite possibly one of the most intense moments for their career, High on Fire leaves stragglers in the dust with a song that is fast, furious, and in your face. The opening guitar line could just as easily come out of a prog metal notehead and threw me for a loop during my first listen. "Frost Hammer" follows and keeps things going with a tempo that parallels those of Motorhead and Venom. With "Ghost Neck", things get a bit faster and throw a bit more thrash metal into the mix, adding yet another dimension to the new sound. For me, the gem contained within Snakes for the Devine is "Bastard Samurai", a slower track which is highly similar to the previous more stoner, doomy material that both early High on Fire and Sleep exhibited. The tempo is almost twice as slow as everything else on the record, giving a breath of fresh air among the speedier numbers, and is just as heavy, if not heavier than the rest of the album.
Hats off to Matt Pike and High on Fire for not giving up on what they love to do and delivering yet another record that will assuredly gain them a more diverse, widespread crowd within the metal community. -Andrew Bryant
Snakes for the Devine
buy album here
Whatever it is, Matt Pike has got it, has had it, and won't lose it anytime soon. This can refer to one of the biggest, nastiest, meatiest, dirtiest guitar sounds in the biz, some of the best songwriting and album construction in both the metal and stoner rock genres, and the ability to front some of the most influential heavy bands over the past two decades. Oh, how we all miss Sleep and thank whomever we align with every night before bed for Holy Mountain and Dopesmoker. As the sad end came to this mammoth of a band, we all wondered what would become of this monster guitarist and vocalist that we had all come to adore. Shortly after, from the dense fog, High on Fire came knocking, punched us in the gut, and rattled our fillings as we were braced ourselves for round two with Matt Pike.
Snakes for the Devine is an extremely aggressive album, throwing away the notion that High on Fire is a stoner metal act in any way. The guitar riffs are fast and brutal, the bass lines are meaty and melodic, and the drums gallop throughout, utilizing double kick drum rudiments as much as humanly possible. This record is angry and epic, almost as if Pike and company are throwing on the armor, taking up the axes, and sprinting into battle with a thirst for blood, delivering violent death to all who fall prey. As he gets older, Matt's voice reminds me of a perfect mix between Lemmy and Mille Petrozza from Kreator.
Produced by Gred Fidelman, the man responsible for recording and mixing Metallica's Death Magnetic and Slayer's World Painted Blood, this album as a whole is much more accessible for most listeners with cleaner guitar tones and vocals that are mixed out in front of the rumble. Thus, Snakes for the Devine could quite possibly serve as High on Fire's bridge into the metal mainstream, increasing their fans and listening population beyond those who are "in the know" and who have been loyal to Matt Pike from the get-go. Not that they are selling out with this one, no sir. However, for those who are used to to what High On Fire has delivered in the past, it might a listen or two to get used to things with the way that they are now. Opening up with the titled track and quite possibly one of the most intense moments for their career, High on Fire leaves stragglers in the dust with a song that is fast, furious, and in your face. The opening guitar line could just as easily come out of a prog metal notehead and threw me for a loop during my first listen. "Frost Hammer" follows and keeps things going with a tempo that parallels those of Motorhead and Venom. With "Ghost Neck", things get a bit faster and throw a bit more thrash metal into the mix, adding yet another dimension to the new sound. For me, the gem contained within Snakes for the Devine is "Bastard Samurai", a slower track which is highly similar to the previous more stoner, doomy material that both early High on Fire and Sleep exhibited. The tempo is almost twice as slow as everything else on the record, giving a breath of fresh air among the speedier numbers, and is just as heavy, if not heavier than the rest of the album.
Hats off to Matt Pike and High on Fire for not giving up on what they love to do and delivering yet another record that will assuredly gain them a more diverse, widespread crowd within the metal community. -Andrew Bryant
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Mondo Drag
Mondo Drag
New Rituals
buy album here
Part psychedelic swirl, part vintage fuzz; Iowa's Mondo Drag is one of the newest additions to the stables at the mighty Alive Records camp, a label that keeps churning out good rock and roll the way it used to sound. The new album from these lads, entitled New Rituals, is a great addition to what Alive already has going for it, adding vintage space rock to the already strong roster of garage and blues artists. With this new record, Mondo Drag has something very interesting things occuring musically as they combine vintage sounds from several genres and morph them into something that is unique in today's rock and roll world. If I had to place them into any sort of category with contemporary artists, I have to admit that they remind me on several occasions of bands including Dead Meadow, Radio Moscow, and at times Swedish proto-metal monsters such as Witchcraft, Graveyard and Horisont but only in some of the heavier groove sections. I wouldn't venture to comparing them to the like of Astra and Litmus, because they are not quite that psychedelic or progressive, however I could see them traveling down these roads in the near future.
New Rituals begins with the title track "New Rituals", starting things off with mid-range drones and accents followed by decrescendos that sound eerily similar to the Who. Suddenly, this track breaks into a fuzzy, analog sounding groove that is driven by John Gamino's vintage organ that gives a strong knod to the likes of the Zombies, Electric Prunes, and Strawberry Alarmclock, at the same time intertwining some atmostpheric breaks and swells that sound a hell of lot like early Pink Floyd. Clocking in at over eight minutes, this song makes a strong statement from the get-go and leaves no secrets as to what kind of beast we'll be dealing with. "Light As a Feather" is a bit more on the heavy end of the spectrum with a bluesy groove and riffs that are in the same vein as Blue Cheer or Shiver, if they were accompanied by the woodwinds and electronic goodies from the classic era of Hawkwind. Mondo Drag break out the acoustics and blues slide work on "Come Through", giving the listener a bit more versatility than most psychedelic/space rock bands care to do these days. "Fade Out" starts out fast and could just as easily been included on a Blue Cheer or even a Jimi Hendrix record, yet trails off into a more spacious territory and improvosational direction. This element of "jam" (though I hate to use that word) is one of Mondo Drag's strongest elements throughout, sounding as though they followed their tangents from time to time and were not afraid to elaborate upon ideas that might have began on whim during the recording process. These improvosational and solo breaks add length to the songs and more of a live feel to the record itself, connecting all of the pieces to the New Rituals puzzle and coming across as a strong work of music.
Mondo Drag is a young band and have indeed made a big statement with this album. Good things can only be in store in their future as they expand their minds and make more of the music that they love. -Andrew Bryant
New Rituals
buy album here
Part psychedelic swirl, part vintage fuzz; Iowa's Mondo Drag is one of the newest additions to the stables at the mighty Alive Records camp, a label that keeps churning out good rock and roll the way it used to sound. The new album from these lads, entitled New Rituals, is a great addition to what Alive already has going for it, adding vintage space rock to the already strong roster of garage and blues artists. With this new record, Mondo Drag has something very interesting things occuring musically as they combine vintage sounds from several genres and morph them into something that is unique in today's rock and roll world. If I had to place them into any sort of category with contemporary artists, I have to admit that they remind me on several occasions of bands including Dead Meadow, Radio Moscow, and at times Swedish proto-metal monsters such as Witchcraft, Graveyard and Horisont but only in some of the heavier groove sections. I wouldn't venture to comparing them to the like of Astra and Litmus, because they are not quite that psychedelic or progressive, however I could see them traveling down these roads in the near future.
New Rituals begins with the title track "New Rituals", starting things off with mid-range drones and accents followed by decrescendos that sound eerily similar to the Who. Suddenly, this track breaks into a fuzzy, analog sounding groove that is driven by John Gamino's vintage organ that gives a strong knod to the likes of the Zombies, Electric Prunes, and Strawberry Alarmclock, at the same time intertwining some atmostpheric breaks and swells that sound a hell of lot like early Pink Floyd. Clocking in at over eight minutes, this song makes a strong statement from the get-go and leaves no secrets as to what kind of beast we'll be dealing with. "Light As a Feather" is a bit more on the heavy end of the spectrum with a bluesy groove and riffs that are in the same vein as Blue Cheer or Shiver, if they were accompanied by the woodwinds and electronic goodies from the classic era of Hawkwind. Mondo Drag break out the acoustics and blues slide work on "Come Through", giving the listener a bit more versatility than most psychedelic/space rock bands care to do these days. "Fade Out" starts out fast and could just as easily been included on a Blue Cheer or even a Jimi Hendrix record, yet trails off into a more spacious territory and improvosational direction. This element of "jam" (though I hate to use that word) is one of Mondo Drag's strongest elements throughout, sounding as though they followed their tangents from time to time and were not afraid to elaborate upon ideas that might have began on whim during the recording process. These improvosational and solo breaks add length to the songs and more of a live feel to the record itself, connecting all of the pieces to the New Rituals puzzle and coming across as a strong work of music.
Mondo Drag is a young band and have indeed made a big statement with this album. Good things can only be in store in their future as they expand their minds and make more of the music that they love. -Andrew Bryant
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Patty Griffin-Downtown Church
Patty Griffin
Downtown Church
buy album here
Downtown Church, the newest album from Patty Griffin, a highly respected artist in the Americana and folk scene, is one of those albums on which you can feel the true emotion with every song. It is without a doubt one of the strongest releases that 2010 has seen across the board. Like other truly great gospel albums that find themselves embraced by both the religious and secular masses, this record is full to the brim with soul, spirituality, and some of the most beautiful music that this year has to offer thus far. Produced by Buddy Miller, the album was recorded in the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville, giving the entire piece an extremely warm and vibrant feel that remains a constant throughout. Griffin, her slew of special guests, and the tight group of musicians that provide accompaniment all add their own personal touch to this record, the result being a extremely consistent album that will give you chills one minute and make you want to dance, shout and reach for the heavens the next. Patty's performance is top-notch and extremely adaptable, from the quiet, gentle opener "House of Gold" to her soulful wails on tracks like "If I Had My Way." Joining Griffin on this album are some of the most respected names in both the Gospel and Americana music communities including Mike Farris, Regina and Ann McCrary, Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, Raul Malo, and of course Buddy and Julie Miller.
As a whole, Downtown Church is in the same vein as Krauss and Plant's Raising Sand, sounding extremely similar in many instances throughout and in the overall aura surrounding the music itself. Drummer Jay Bellerose and bassist Dennis Crouch (both Raising Sand alum) provide a large part of this similarity, giving this album a great deal of the primitive swagger and loose, but tasteful boogie that are crucial to the sounds of both records. Highlights for me include the strong spirituals "Death's Got a Warrant" and "Wade In the Water" both of which exhibit the depth and strength of Griffin's phenomenal vocal delivery. The Latin-flavored "Virgen de Guadalupe", a duet with Raul Malo, serves as a change of pace from the rest of the record, adding more into the already eclectic mix of influences. Ending with "All Creatures of Our God and King" is the absolute perfect way to wrap things up with Downtown Church. The soft, beautiful piece features only Patty's voice and simple piano accompaniment, giving the album a simplistic and tastefully emotional end that will remain within the listeners hearts long after the album has ended and put back on the shelf. -Andrew Bryant
Downtown Church
buy album here
Downtown Church, the newest album from Patty Griffin, a highly respected artist in the Americana and folk scene, is one of those albums on which you can feel the true emotion with every song. It is without a doubt one of the strongest releases that 2010 has seen across the board. Like other truly great gospel albums that find themselves embraced by both the religious and secular masses, this record is full to the brim with soul, spirituality, and some of the most beautiful music that this year has to offer thus far. Produced by Buddy Miller, the album was recorded in the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville, giving the entire piece an extremely warm and vibrant feel that remains a constant throughout. Griffin, her slew of special guests, and the tight group of musicians that provide accompaniment all add their own personal touch to this record, the result being a extremely consistent album that will give you chills one minute and make you want to dance, shout and reach for the heavens the next. Patty's performance is top-notch and extremely adaptable, from the quiet, gentle opener "House of Gold" to her soulful wails on tracks like "If I Had My Way." Joining Griffin on this album are some of the most respected names in both the Gospel and Americana music communities including Mike Farris, Regina and Ann McCrary, Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, Raul Malo, and of course Buddy and Julie Miller.
As a whole, Downtown Church is in the same vein as Krauss and Plant's Raising Sand, sounding extremely similar in many instances throughout and in the overall aura surrounding the music itself. Drummer Jay Bellerose and bassist Dennis Crouch (both Raising Sand alum) provide a large part of this similarity, giving this album a great deal of the primitive swagger and loose, but tasteful boogie that are crucial to the sounds of both records. Highlights for me include the strong spirituals "Death's Got a Warrant" and "Wade In the Water" both of which exhibit the depth and strength of Griffin's phenomenal vocal delivery. The Latin-flavored "Virgen de Guadalupe", a duet with Raul Malo, serves as a change of pace from the rest of the record, adding more into the already eclectic mix of influences. Ending with "All Creatures of Our God and King" is the absolute perfect way to wrap things up with Downtown Church. The soft, beautiful piece features only Patty's voice and simple piano accompaniment, giving the album a simplistic and tastefully emotional end that will remain within the listeners hearts long after the album has ended and put back on the shelf. -Andrew Bryant
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Rob Zombie Hellbilly Deluxe 2
Rob Zombie
Hellbilly Deluxe 2
buy album here
When it comes to Rob Zombie, there are no surprises as far as what you are in store for. So rather than waste your time and my breath rehashing over and over again who he is and what he does, I will get straight to the meat and potatoes of why we are all here: the new album. Throughout the past year, there has been a certain buzz that has surrounded this record and a sense of mystery regarding the release of Hellbilly Deluxe 2 and what exactly it was going to sound like. Well friends, the time has come, the album is hot off the press, and it is more than likely all that you had hoped for and quite possibly more.
Deep down inside, I was hoping: a.) that Rob Zombie and company hadn't changed a bit stylistically speaking, b.) they hadn't abandoned their love of madmen, monsters and the macabre, and c.) they still rocked as hard as they had in the past. I am happy to say that all three of my wishes for this record have come true. From the packaging, to the lyrics, to the sound, this is a Rob Zombie record in the deepest sense, straight to the marrow. The entire record ROCKS, and does so in an extremely heavy fashion. Like his previous material, Rob has carefully placed controversial and horrific samples along with mood music into the mix, presenting great transitions, intros, and outros to the eleven listed tracks. However, though the sound is big, it is much more stripped down than what we have heard before, keeping the layers to a minimum and a strong emphasis placed on the hooks which run rampant throughout. Beginning things with "Jesus Frankenstein" and "Sick Bubble Gum", you've already got enough catchy chorus work that will serve as your ear-worms for the next month. Rob's voice is raspy and his delivery ranges from the demented preacher. to carnival barker, to the weary prophet. John 5 once again proves his wizardry with both taste and technical prowess, adapting to the different styles within the confines of the album and providing just the right rhythm and lead tracks for the melodic direction of a great deal of the material. Piggy D and Tommy C, on bass and drums respectively, add the low end and groove to round out the massive Hellbilly Deluxe 2.
"What?" and "Werewolf, Baby" bring a strong vintage horror and garage rock vibe to the mix, complete with Farfisa organ and chord progressions that could just as easily accompany a 1960's B- Horror movie soundtrack or haunted house score. "Mars Needs Women" begins with an intro that sounds like something that could have come out of the mid-period Zeppelin camp with acoustic 12-string, mandolin, and soft hand percussion accents. This change of pace doesn't last too long however, as the track quickly crashes into a heavy half-time feel with crunchy, distorted wah-wah leads and chanted vocal work. "Werewolf, Baby" features John 5 with nasty slide guitar leads, which sound a great deal like something we would have heard from Raging Slab in the early 90's.
Hats off to you, Mr. Zombie, for another job well done. It seems that with Hellbilly Deluxe 2, he is as strong as ever and still up to the same old shenanigans. I highly doubt that he will be hanging up his boots any time soon. Thus, the masses are happy, all fat and sassy with bellies full of hellbilly goodness and monster mayhem. Amen and goodnight. -Andrew Bryant
Hellbilly Deluxe 2
buy album here
When it comes to Rob Zombie, there are no surprises as far as what you are in store for. So rather than waste your time and my breath rehashing over and over again who he is and what he does, I will get straight to the meat and potatoes of why we are all here: the new album. Throughout the past year, there has been a certain buzz that has surrounded this record and a sense of mystery regarding the release of Hellbilly Deluxe 2 and what exactly it was going to sound like. Well friends, the time has come, the album is hot off the press, and it is more than likely all that you had hoped for and quite possibly more.
Deep down inside, I was hoping: a.) that Rob Zombie and company hadn't changed a bit stylistically speaking, b.) they hadn't abandoned their love of madmen, monsters and the macabre, and c.) they still rocked as hard as they had in the past. I am happy to say that all three of my wishes for this record have come true. From the packaging, to the lyrics, to the sound, this is a Rob Zombie record in the deepest sense, straight to the marrow. The entire record ROCKS, and does so in an extremely heavy fashion. Like his previous material, Rob has carefully placed controversial and horrific samples along with mood music into the mix, presenting great transitions, intros, and outros to the eleven listed tracks. However, though the sound is big, it is much more stripped down than what we have heard before, keeping the layers to a minimum and a strong emphasis placed on the hooks which run rampant throughout. Beginning things with "Jesus Frankenstein" and "Sick Bubble Gum", you've already got enough catchy chorus work that will serve as your ear-worms for the next month. Rob's voice is raspy and his delivery ranges from the demented preacher. to carnival barker, to the weary prophet. John 5 once again proves his wizardry with both taste and technical prowess, adapting to the different styles within the confines of the album and providing just the right rhythm and lead tracks for the melodic direction of a great deal of the material. Piggy D and Tommy C, on bass and drums respectively, add the low end and groove to round out the massive Hellbilly Deluxe 2.
"What?" and "Werewolf, Baby" bring a strong vintage horror and garage rock vibe to the mix, complete with Farfisa organ and chord progressions that could just as easily accompany a 1960's B- Horror movie soundtrack or haunted house score. "Mars Needs Women" begins with an intro that sounds like something that could have come out of the mid-period Zeppelin camp with acoustic 12-string, mandolin, and soft hand percussion accents. This change of pace doesn't last too long however, as the track quickly crashes into a heavy half-time feel with crunchy, distorted wah-wah leads and chanted vocal work. "Werewolf, Baby" features John 5 with nasty slide guitar leads, which sound a great deal like something we would have heard from Raging Slab in the early 90's.
Hats off to you, Mr. Zombie, for another job well done. It seems that with Hellbilly Deluxe 2, he is as strong as ever and still up to the same old shenanigans. I highly doubt that he will be hanging up his boots any time soon. Thus, the masses are happy, all fat and sassy with bellies full of hellbilly goodness and monster mayhem. Amen and goodnight. -Andrew Bryant
Monday, January 25, 2010
Brimstone Howl -Big Deal.(What's He Done Lately?)
Brimstone Howl
Big Deal. What's He Done Lately?
If you enjoy the raw garage rock sounds of the 1960's, it is your lucky day. From Lincoln, Nebraska and the might Alive records arsenal comes the newest from Brimstone Howl which is sure to tickle your fancy and satisfy your lo-fi cravings for at least a bit.
Brimstone Howl has finally achieved an album production that best suites their sound, venturing far from the magic of the studio, and relying on an extremely lo-fi, "live" feel for their fourth album, Big Deal. What's He Done Lately? Not that previous records have fallen short of the vintage swagger, this one just has the perfect amount of noise, dirt, and squirrely notes that give it the authentic garage rock sound. Along with the low fidelity comes gallons of reverb that could easily pour out of the record itself if held at just the right angle, drenching everything from the vocals to the lead guitar squawls. Musically, this album is more straight forward than previous material, sticking mostly to aggressive, driving tempos that give this Brimstone Howl a much more punk rock edge than before. The song writing follows suite, with simple verse/chorus repetition with short, noisy guitar solos thrown in sporadically for color and kicks.
As far as the music goes for this record, Brimstone Howl exhibits hints of the Ramones, Television, and the Cramps stylistically with the production quality of The Sonics. Most songs on Big Deal... are short, falling just below the three minute mark, thus the album is easy to digest in one listen. Highlights include "Easter at the Lewises", with dirty lead lines screeching from a slide guitar and quirky lyrics that are indeed one of this band's strongest points. "Suicide Blues" sounds like a long lost track from the early Velvet Underground with hypnotic percussion work and simple guitar hooks that you will swear that you've heard before. Not that Brimstone Howl is ripping anyone off, far from it in fact. They have merely done their homework, borrow both vibe and taste from their influences, and are content in sounding the way that they do despite what might be occurring in the world of music. This will assuredly guarantee them a position as one of the most authentic garage rock revival acts today. -Andrew Bryant
Big Deal. What's He Done Lately?
If you enjoy the raw garage rock sounds of the 1960's, it is your lucky day. From Lincoln, Nebraska and the might Alive records arsenal comes the newest from Brimstone Howl which is sure to tickle your fancy and satisfy your lo-fi cravings for at least a bit.
Brimstone Howl has finally achieved an album production that best suites their sound, venturing far from the magic of the studio, and relying on an extremely lo-fi, "live" feel for their fourth album, Big Deal. What's He Done Lately? Not that previous records have fallen short of the vintage swagger, this one just has the perfect amount of noise, dirt, and squirrely notes that give it the authentic garage rock sound. Along with the low fidelity comes gallons of reverb that could easily pour out of the record itself if held at just the right angle, drenching everything from the vocals to the lead guitar squawls. Musically, this album is more straight forward than previous material, sticking mostly to aggressive, driving tempos that give this Brimstone Howl a much more punk rock edge than before. The song writing follows suite, with simple verse/chorus repetition with short, noisy guitar solos thrown in sporadically for color and kicks.
As far as the music goes for this record, Brimstone Howl exhibits hints of the Ramones, Television, and the Cramps stylistically with the production quality of The Sonics. Most songs on Big Deal... are short, falling just below the three minute mark, thus the album is easy to digest in one listen. Highlights include "Easter at the Lewises", with dirty lead lines screeching from a slide guitar and quirky lyrics that are indeed one of this band's strongest points. "Suicide Blues" sounds like a long lost track from the early Velvet Underground with hypnotic percussion work and simple guitar hooks that you will swear that you've heard before. Not that Brimstone Howl is ripping anyone off, far from it in fact. They have merely done their homework, borrow both vibe and taste from their influences, and are content in sounding the way that they do despite what might be occurring in the world of music. This will assuredly guarantee them a position as one of the most authentic garage rock revival acts today. -Andrew Bryant
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