2009
08.31

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-31

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2009
08.30

PJ’s Zandrock report

Category: Bands, Gigs and Festivals, Music / Tag: , , , , , ,  / 2 comments

zandrockA few days ago I found out about a free 3-Day festival in a small town near me. Friday and Saturday feature rock & metal bands while Sunday offers entertainment for the youngest festival goers. The line-up of the Saturday interested me so I headed down there.

Opening the saturday was Ostend Powers a band from my city ‘Ostend’… I’ve obviously seen many times, though not in a few years. They are finally releasing their first album later this year. So it was interesting to hear what they’ve come up with to fill that album. Unfortunately the sound didn’t seem to good was it setup? I could hardly hear any definition of the guitars, or maybe that’s just what they were aiming for. It’s hard to describe this band, it has elements of nu-metal, modern rock, bands like Lost Prophets and maybe Deftones could be named as influences. I guess I’ll have to wait for the album for a better opinion.

Following was a dutch singing band called De Fanfaar who were mildly entertaining but couldn’t do more than that.

Steak Number Eight a band I’ve never heard of before but from checking their myspace I learned they are very young and allready won probably the best know rockrally in Belgium. Anyway they play post-rock/metal along the lines of Isis and Pelican and reminded me of Primordial several times as well. There is no denying their performance is quite a feat at their age. But near the end of their show I got a really cocky vibe from them, smashing a guitar, throwing a drumstick at high velocity into the crowd just doesn’t sit well with me.

Next up was another band I’ve seen a couple of times, only the last time I’ve seen Morda was many years ago. Meanwhile they had some changes in the lineup. The band however sounds exactly the same, unlike what came before these have had several years of experience and toured Europe and even Japan. Morda however isn’t hard to describe, they are metalcore band grown from the local hardcore scene. Catchy melodic riffing and harsh powerfull growling vocals. Their experience over the bands shone in their stage presence and tight set.

After Morda brutal metalcore it was Diablo BLVDs turn to entertain the crowd at Zandrock. It’s line-up consisting of members of A Brand, Born From Pain,The Ditch and fronted by a well known Belgian (and part English) stand up comedian Alex Agnew. Their sound is very close to that of Danzig, and similar to The Cult and Volbeat. They performed quite good and enough of entertainment value, their songs weren’t bad but they couldn’t win me over. If a cover is the best song in a set, then in my opinion you need to work on your songwriting.

I didn’t like the next band Hulkk the band much and didn’t stick around for punkrockers Janez Detd.

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2009
08.30

Five Finger Death Punch – Hard To See

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Artist – Five Finger Death Punch
Release – Hard To See / Bad Company
From – War Is The Answer, 21st September 2009
War Is the Answer is the follow-up to last years The Way Of The fist, a 400,000-seller worldwide. comprising of 13 brand new tracks, including first single/video Hard To See, lead MySpace stream Bulletproof plus Bad Company, a cover of the 1974 clasic originally recorded by the UK band of the same name, the album was jointly helmed by FFDP and award-winning producer, Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne), and mixed by the legendary Randy Staub (Metallica, Stone Sour). FFDP are back in the UK in November with labelmates, Shadows Fall.

Xander says…
Although this is a change of pace for what I normally expect from FFDP, Hard To See still has that hard groove and punchy riff that makes this band so strong. This may be a tad more acceptable to the commercial world, but ifs it can open the world of FFDP to more fans then why not, it is good to try new things! Also a great cover of a classic song, Bad Company, sure to be a new favourite at live shows!
★★★✩✩

Tina says…
‘Hard To See’ and ‘Bad Company’ both strike me as being a little bit different to what we’re used to hearing from FFDP and are perhaps indicative of the band progressing within the content of their second album.
‘Hard To See’ is definitely a little lighter, with slower riffs and cleaner vocals. Similarly ‘Bad Company’ starts out almost like a ballad before launching into something a lot more thrashier and melodramatic. Both offerings however, strike me as a small nudge towards more commercial metal, which is no bad thing in my opinion as it demonstrates a diversity, and will no doubt win them over a new legion of fans.
★★★✩✩

Cazzy says…
When first hearing Hard To See it’s instantly likable. With a catchy chorus, you find yourself singing along to it, even after it’s finished. The harmonious beat combined with decent lyrics and an excellent guitar solo makes this track an all-round win.
Bad Company has a true western film feel to it that almost gives the impression of a heavier Bon Jovi track. I found myself slightly disappointed as I expected a bit more from Five Finger Death Punch, as the song seems to lack any passion. The guitar solo near the end of the track helps the song marginally but overall the song is considered easily forgettable.
★★★★✩

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2009
08.29

Swashbuckle – Back To The Noose

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Artist – Swashbuckle
Release – Back To The Noose
From – 24th July 2009, Nuclear Blast
www.myspace.com/swashbuckle

They are from New Jersey. They are a trio (well, a quartet if you count parrot “Shithead“). They were one of the lucky winners of 2008 issue of the international Nuclear Blast MySpace Contest and they will teach you how to thrash the right way! ARRRRRR!

“We pirates three be proud and honoured to announce that SWASHBUCKLE has inked an accord with Nuclear Blast Records! They have heeded the call of piracy and have prepared for conquests of pillage, plunder, and piratical metal along side our malicious high-seas hi-jinks. Here us now, world! The pirates three sail under the Nuclear Blast flag! Grab yar swords, tighten yar peglegs, ‘n hide yar booty… WE BE COMIN’ FOR YE!!! YARRRRRRRR!!!!!!!“

SWASHBUCKLE are not the average pirate metal band as one might think when it comes to this term. SWASHBUCKLE are just much more than that as they do have really strong feeling for what fits into the right place. Mixing punk influenced thrash with a hardcore edge and Carribean / piratical themes makes SWASHBUCKLE so special, so extraordinary – so in yar face!

With a stunning production from GUNS N’ ROSES’ very own Ron “Bumblefoot“ Thal (who also played on “Back To The Noose“), that keeps up the dirty spirit of a plundering horde of rum drinking and cheering pirates, “Back To The Noose“ marks a highlight for this summer! All those sing-alongs, tropical/carribean parts and interludes as well as the brutal thrashing (think of S.O.D, ANTHRAX, EXODUS and SLAYER) will definitely rock every barbecue in 2009 and beyond!

“A few years ago I was at a bar and came across this band of over-the-top dudes dressed as pirates that just tore my face off – they immediately became one of my favorite metal bands. Since then we’ve done shows together, I played on their album, had them on my album and as my live band. These guys are local heroes, it’s great to see them getting out there. They’ve earned it and deserve the best.”

Xander says…
The entrance track to Back To The Noose instantly gives you the feeling of an adventure you’re about to endure with the band. A definite highlight of this album is the instrumental acoustic shanty interludes. These interludes start softly, as if you’ve woken on the deck after a nights heavy drinking, just what you need to get you up, or they can act as little breathers in between attacks, only to then be slapped in the face instantly with a whack of brutal thrash metal. This fast paced metal is not for the faint hearted and you better be prepared to chant along with these tales from the sea. Swashbuckle are THE band to have a little jig with ye hearties and raise your ale with a ‘yo-ho’ either out in the clubs or at home.

With an album of 21 songs and shanties, mostly ranging 1-3 minutes, for me it is taking a while for tracks to separate, but after the first few listens, We Sunk Our Battleship, Rounds Of Rum and Cruise Ship Terror (along with the video which can be found on here) beam out. The album demonstrates classic thrash riffing to thunderous blast beats, fused with a tone of urgency and an attitude of brutal melodies. Hoist the Jolly Roger, for true Pirate Metal is here!
★★★★✩

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2009
08.28

Disarmonia mundi new EP: The Restless Memoirs

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Nebularium_%2B_The_Restless_Memoirs.jpgDisarmonia Mundi, one of those bands/projects that I heard one song of and then listened to everything they did I could my hands on for weeks. I say slash project at is not really a band but producer slash musician Ettori Rigotti‘s Melodic Death project.  He has released 3 albums and on the last two Bjorn “Speed” Strid of Soilwork appeared as guest vocalist.

While we wait for the upcoming album The Isolation Game is Disarmonia Mundi treating us on a new EP called The Restless Memoires containing old recorded songs that never made any album, or were recorded before Disarmonia Mundi was even a concept.

It’s bundled with a reissue of the debut album Nebularium and available from their website or can be previewed on the myspace page. So if you are a fan of melodic (death) metal, go and check out that preview!

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2009
08.28

Dear Superstar – Brothers In Blood

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Artist – Dear Superstar
Release – Brothers In Blood
From – 7th September 2009

www.myspace.com/dearsuperstar

Due to a successful three months of hard work and heavy touring, Dear Superstar are pleased to announce they will be launching a Brothers In Blood campaign with a free download of the single and official music video. The single is due for release September 7th 2009 via DR2 Records and is t celebrate the success of the bands recent tours supporting Papa Roach, Buckcherry, plus performances at Download and Sonisphere 2009 festivals.

Frontman, Micky Satiar, commented “2009 has been insane for us and we don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon – we’re putting out Brothers In Blood for free as a huge thank you to all Dear Superstar fans and we will be back on tour and kicking ass in the Autumn!” The video is available to view here.

Xander says…
Brothers In Blood is very typical for the trash sound that is booming at the moment. It has the perfect ingredients, dirty vocals and chants, hard riffs, solid drumming, groovy breakdowns and wailing guitars. I don’t really feel I can say much more than if you love sleazy rock, you’ll love this song and the band!
★★✩✩✩

Tina says…
I was fortunate enough to catch Dear Superstar at this year’s Download Festival, and if memory serves me well, they put on one hell of a show.
‘Brothers In Blood’ is a slick, catchy track reminiscent of good old 80′s cock rock/hair metal. From the first play I was hooked into this track and found myself tapping along. Despite ‘Brothers In Blood’ having a basic format, Dear Superstar have nonetheless created something highly infectious.
★★★★✩

Cazzy says…
Blood Brothers has an unrelenting beat to it that wouldn’t seem out of place in a stereotypical film about rock stars. However this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the track does have good guitar riffs, which instantly grabs the attention of the listener. The lyrics seem slightly unimaginative and they tend to become quite repetitive. However, due to the decent beat of the track it’s quite catchy and something you can secretly play air guitar to on a sunny day.
★★★✩✩

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2009
08.28

Belladonna – Till Death Do Us Part

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Artist – Belladonna
Release – Till Death Do Us Part
From – The Noir Album, 5th October 2009

www.myspace.com/wwwbelladonnatv

“Pyromantic, mysterotique, visionoir” are the words that Luana, the sultry, sensual, sonic-seducin’ Belladonna singer coins to describe Rock Noir, the Italian Quintet’s unique brand of emotionally-charged rock ‘n’ roll melodrama.

Belladonna’s soulfull and uncompramising approach to music has gained them results hitherto unheard-of for an unsigned band: a Grammy Awards 2008 ballot nomination, over 1,500,000 plays on Myspace, Rolling Stone hailing them as the “next big thing”, gigs with major acts like NIN, The Mars Volta, Korn, Staind and Siouxie & The Banshees, performances at the Dubai International Film Festival and at Austins SXSW.

Their phenomenally spine-tingling new record is a collection of 11 rock noir songs called The Noir Album. Recorded in the USA with alt-rock producer supreme, Sylvia Massy (Yool, System Of A Down), its sheer sensual energy promises to challenge Belladonna’s attempts to stay cult-size.

Xander Says…
A great kicking intro to Till Death Do Us Part sets the pace for this song. The track gains momentum over the 3 minutes with strong vocals full of intent and a repeating riff to a crescendo ending. I feel this track takes you on part of a journey so I’d certainly like to hear this track in context to the rest of the album! To me I hear hints of PJ Harveys music and Rilo Kiley.
★★★✩✩

Tina says…
Belladonna describe themselves as ‘rock noir’, a phrase that almost certainly perfectly encapsulates their music. They strike me as a less metal, more 80′s rock Within Temptation/Lacuna Coil hybrid with a dash of Blondie thrown in for good measure.
‘Til Death Do Us Part’ took me a few listens to get into, but soon had my head bopping along. It’s a track that simply oozes attitude, which is amplified by Luana’s deliciously vampish, sultry vocals.
★★★★✩

Cazzy says…
It’s hard to know whether the front singer of Belladonna has an unusual voice for rock, which in Till Death Do Us Part seems a little out of place, or if it’s the track.
The song seems to lack anything that could grab your immediate interest and the piano in almost tries too hard to create an unexpected twist. Overall the song lacks anything considered groundbreaking and the recurring nature of the song can get slightly irritating and drags during the chorus.
★★✩✩✩

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2009
08.28

Summer Sundae Weekender Review by Tina Bass

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Review by Tina
Summer Sundae Weekender 14-16th August 2009

GREAT IMITATION gave by far one of their best performances to date. They soon filled the Musician tent out and had the crowds clapping along. They certainly set a very high standard for the rest of the day’s proceedings. I will always have nothing but praise for this incredibly talented band as they progress from strength to strength. I imagine we’ll definitely see them gracing a bigger stage in the not so distant future.
RAZMATAZ were the winners of the BBC ‘The Beat’ competition and were given the honour of opening Main Stage. They have a distinct , almost generic indie sound, a kind of Editors/Arctic Monkeys hybrid and although their myspace offers easy-listening catchy tracks, their live-performance failed to invoke any kind of excitement for me.
THE BREAKDOWNS were reminiscent of a rock and roll Greenday. They had good vocals and some really nice melodies, and their songs were upbeat and catchy but three tracks in they began to sound a little bit samey.
MY LATEST NOVEL, a Glaswegian alternative/indie quintet sounded promising, they reminded me a little of Longview. I would definitely invest in their CD but found their music a little bit too mellow to stand and listen to.
OI VA VOI were a vibrant wake-up call. Gorgeous vocals and all round very vivacious, energetic and lively.
BEARDYMAN has to be seen to be believed. A one man beatbox, the sounds he makes are quite extroadinary. A little something different for the weekend and highly entertaining!
ASH GRUNWALD, an acoustic/folk rock one man band from Australia was like a breath of fresh air. Definitely one to look out for live. Fantastic music and incredibly entertaining, he managed to get the whole tent tapping along to his bluegrass sounds.
MYSTERY JETS…WOW. Absolutely brilliant performance. Had the crowds singing along to their hit tracks, ‘Young Love’ and ‘Two Doors Down’, I even had a little boogie!
IDLEWILD had a tough job after they were bumped up to the headlining slot to replace The Streets after their bassist came down with the dreaded Swine Flu. It was a slot that they easily filled playing a wide range of songs from their discography, old and new. They were an absolute pleasure to watch live.

HER NAME IS CALLA were fantastic. A 6-piece layering everything from an accordion, banjo and synths to guitars, a magnus organ and a violin! Their haunting, melancholy music with vocals reminiscent of Thom Yorke, keeps you transfixed throughout as each song builds from a slow, dazing, lull to a kick-your-teeth out crescendo.
DUMBFOUND Regrettably, we only caught the last song of this Leicester based band. An impressive progressive/indie 3-piece who draw comparisons with Elbow. Nice vocals (a case of small guy, big voice!) and a fantastic drummer who not only produced clean, accentuated drum-beats but who was also very animated himself.
THE FRONTIERS a Notts based indie/alternative band had good potential for what could progress into great stage presence. Good vocals with catchy riffs. I felt that they had an element of the Arctic Monkeys about them, overall a good set.
KAV was pretty much middle-of-the-road rock. I got bored fairly quickly, a performance that failed to captivate me at all. I resorted to drawing on leaves…
BROKEN RECORDS reminded me of a mellower The Airborne Toxic Event. They have very similar vocals but with a slower tempo and much more dolorous sound.
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB were gorgeous. Fantastically upbeat yet mellow music, perfect for lounging about enjoying the sunshine on what was a deliciously lazy Saturday afternoon!
THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT unfortunately clashed with Frank Turner so I was only able to stay for a song and a half, so captivated was I by their performance that on that very same evening I purchased tickets to one of their gigs. Stunning vocals and music that remains upbeat, even with pensive undertones.
FRANK TURNER was by far the absolute highlight of my weekend. I’ve always loved Frank T from the moment I heard ‘Reasons Not To Be An Idiot’ and seeing him live just made me fall in love even more. The Rising Tent was rammed full of people dancing and singing along. It was quite simply a brilliant performance. He comes across as very down to earth, and one of those guys that everyone can get along with, and he very clearly enjoys himself on stage which made it an even more ineffable set.

SHORTWAVE FADE delivered a somewhat lacklustre performance. The vocals weren’t too great and the music just seemed to lack balls! Taking into account the nerves that would come from opening a festival main stage as a relatively unknown band makes me curious to see them in a more intimate setting. Their recordings are a lot more appealing and hark towards a more indie Jimmy Eat World.
MAYBESHEWILL are a fantastic instrumental band from Leicester. They livened things up on the main stage with a nice mix of thrashy guitar riffs, inventive layering and backing sounds that all merged together to produce a rather pleasing cacophony.
BON IVER was both beautiful and relaxing. A stunning voice and an overall ambrosial performance.
THE ZUTONS rounded off the weekend with their Sunday night headline slot that had the masses bopping around and singing along.

It was interesting to experience a festival in an urban setting, and such a family orientated one, but it was because of this that created the laid back, chilled out atmosphere that was consistently present. I had a fantastic weekend and the wide range of artists and genres that performed meant that there was something for everyone.

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2009
08.25

Aghast – Afterlife Crisis

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Artist – Aghast
Release – Afterlife Crisis

www.myspace.com/aghastuk

Xander Says…
I’ll stick my hand up and admit I’m not a death metal fan, but recently there has been a few bands that have slipped into my radar. I had no choice with Aghast! I was playing a short gig with Badaxe at a comedy night in the basement at The Shed. Whilst I’m setting up my kit in the stairwell out storms this wall of a blast beat riffing jugganaught of a machine, shaking the entire venue, and it sounded pretty sweet! I was captivated by the power a drawn to what felt like a wall of sound beckoning me in! The guitars, whilst not over the top, are deliciously intricate and I think what draws me to this band is the chugginess and textures of the rhythms.
The new EP, Afterlife Crisis, displays the bands sound as some thing extra then just a death metal band, and there is more to it! I’ll be narrow minded enough to go ahead and say that a fair bit of death metal is just pure mindless noise, regardless of the quality of the musicians, Aghast have put in some tweaks and perks and have really though about what they’re doing, not to say other death metal bands don’t, but listening to these tracks it really shows and I believe their hard work has paid off!

EP:★★★✩✩ LIVE:★★★★★

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2009
08.25

Shadows Fall – Retribution

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Artist – Shadows Fall
Release – Retribution, 15th September 2009
From – Spinefarm Records

www.shadaowsfall.com
www.myspace.com/shadowsfall

Xander says…
I felt Shadows Fall kind of lost what they were doing a couple of albums ago, the songs felt like mindless music just for the sake of it, though to their credit live shows always remained strong. To my surprise, the band have rose above and created something I can only think of as… spot on!
The album incorporates a recipe of thrash metal beats, hardcore riffs and metalcore breakdowns. Vocals for me are much stronger in terms of passion and structure. Literally all the tracks on Retribution have a solid structure and a standard of what you would expect from a band on their 6th album. A similar tone is set throughout showing the band has direction and is able to communicate this. My first listen caused me to instantly listen again, tracks that stand out so far include Embrace Annihilation and A Public Execution. I fully recommend Retribution to every SF fan, new and old, and it will certainly have a comfy place in every metal heads collection!
★★★★✩

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