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A Short Review Of The Fear Factory Discography

2007-12-18T11:05:00.000-08:00

1992 Soul Of A New Machine: Industrial tinged death metal. I would go as far as to say that Soul Of A New Machine is a groundbreaking metal effort. Much heavier in the traditional sense than their future releases and does not contain a lot of the bands soon to be signature sound and electronics. 7/10

1993 Fear Is The Mindkiller: Remixes of some tracks from Soul Of A New Machine...I'll pass... 4/10

1995 Demanufacture: Easily their most popular and well known album. Demanufacture brought the Fear Factory sound full circle and brought in a whole new fan base. Everything Fear Factory did from here on out would be directly influenced by Demanufacture. Heavy, progressive, well produced and catchy, Demanufacture remains in a tie for my favorite Fear Factory album. 8.5/10

1997 Remanufacture: Remixes of tracks off the Demanufacture album. Again, I'll pass...4/10

1998 Obsolete: Take the basic sound from Demanufacture, fatten up the mix, add more electronics, a bit more melody and a concept story and viola!, Obsolete is born! I can't decide whether I like this or Demanufacture better because they both kick your ass so hard. I would say that Obsolete is the bands all around most balanced release if not their best. 8.5/10

2001 Digimortal: Definite Nu Metal influence on this album divided a lot of fans. The album is instantly recognizable as Fear Factory but it seems that the band traded some brutality and technicality for a more simple and radio friendly approach. There are some scorchers on here such as Acres Of Skin but, tracks like Back The Fuck Up and Invisible Wounds are a definite stray from the sound. I applaud any band for breaking the norm and pushing musical boundaries but it just doesn't work here. Despite all the negatives, Digimortal is an album that I will stand behind and I consider it a merit to the bands career. 6.5/10

2002 Concrete: Recorded back in 1990 but ultimately shelved and then released by roadrunner in 2002. From what I understand, Fear Factory did not want this album released but the record company did it anyway and why not, it sold 34,000 copies! N/A

2003 Hatefiles: Same scenario as above. Only for die hards or completists. N/A

2004 Archetype: All hail Fear Factory for they have returned! Archetype is easily their heaviest album since Demanufacture. Bassist Christian took over guitar duties and Byron from SYL stepped in for bass duties. What Archetype lacks in innovation it makes up for with downright bludgeoning power. I was literally cheering the first time I heard Archetype as it showed great things to come for the reborn Fear Factory.
Drummer Ray Herrera is a stand out on Archetype as he lays the backdrop for arguably the most ferocious Fear Factory album to date. 7/10

2005 Transgression: Hot on the heels of Archetype, Fear Factory release Transgression. In a nutshell, The first half of the album is pretty kick ass and the second not so much. The production lacks as compared to prior FF releases and it seems rushed (admittedly, by the band, it was rushed). All the ground the band may have won back with Archetype they seemed to have lost with Transgression. By no means a bad album, it was just a disappointment after releasing an album as heavy and listenable as Archetype. 6/10

The Good: Innovation, excellent production (FF sounds awesome on a high end stereo), experimentation, top notch musicians, signature sound.

The Bad: Filler tracks, too many remixes/cover songs, losing Dino. Christian is an absolutely respectable replacement for Dino but he just doesn't quite nail it in the same way.

Buy Fear Factory Releases:

Webmaster Recommendation: Demanufacture, Obsolete, Archetype

Heaven Shall Burn-Iconoclast Album Review

2007-12-17T16:05:00.000-08:00

In the beginning when Metalcore was a new thing I really did enjoy the genre. At The Gates, Caliban, Killswitch Engage and the like were innovative. Bands like these took the heaviness and technicality of death/thrash metal, hardcore style breakdowns and combined it with melody and some cleaner singing parts. It seemed like a good formula but boy oh boy have I grown tired of this genre. Heaven Shall Burn was indeed a pioneer of the Metalcore genre but on their latest album Iconoclast, I don’t hear much growth. Iconoclast definitely is much heavier than your typical Metalcore release but not much about the album stands out. The musicianship is top notch and the band displays pretty much non stop heaviness throughout the album but, these days with so many bands, it takes a special element to stand out which I believe Iconoclast lacks.

Oh and another thing, guys please stop with the 90 second piano/electronic intro to the album. It’s been done far too many times and it only makes me want to skip the track. And I’m not just talking to Heaven Shall Burn (you know who you are). That is admittedly a minor nitpick so lets move on to some good points of Iconoclast shall we?

As noted before, the musicianship is excellent. These guys are fairly technical while staying heavy and some what catchy. In my opinion, the drummer is excellent and his work definitely stands out on Iconoclast. The production is clear and chunky and not the muddied mess that you get with a lot of the heavier bands these days. You’ll get the usual fare of blistering twin guitars, tons of double bass and, heavy, sinister sounding vocals. Overall it is a good metal album but what does it lack…?

Iconoclast lacks an identity of its own. There is nothing particularly bad about the album except for the fact that it doesn’t possess that element, whatever it may be that grabs the listener’s attention. Fans of Heaven Shall Burn will no doubt embrace this album as it is a lot more of what they appreciate about the band but, casual listeners or first timers may dismiss it as yet another Metalcore/Deathcore album. I’ve always thought the band has put out solid releases but this one just seems to miss the mark with me. I actually prefer their 2004 release Antigone. Don’t consider this review a bashing of Heaven Shall Burn because it’s not, it is merely one mans opinion that a band of this caliber that’s been together for almost 10 years now would release a more memorable and listenable album. Not by any means is it bad but it is far from excellent. 6/10

Webmaster Recommendation: Heaven Shall Burn-Antigone

Devin Townsend To Produce New Misery Signals Album

2007-12-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

Heavy Metal madman and mainman of Strapping Young Lad will produce the bands as of yet untitled next album. Townsend produced the bands first full length offering titled Of Malice And The Magnum Heart. The band had this to say:

"We headed down to our rehearsal space bright and early and began doing some pre production demos to send to Devin. We recorded ten brand spanking new songs, most of which should make the album. The band will be splitting ways over the holidays for a couple weeks, then we will reunite in early January to write a few more songs, get some more demos together and once again send them to Dev.

"Once again, it's hard to express in words just how excited we are to be back working with Dev, and how excited we are about our material. I said it before and I will say it again, I think if you are fan of MS, you will really enjoy what we have come up with this time around."

You can hear some of their songs and get more information on Misery Signals HERE

Buy Misery Signals albums here:

Devildriver Napalm Death 36 Crazyfists Walls Of Jericho And Invitro To Hit The Road Early 2008

2007-12-15T11:33:00.001-08:00

The "Bound By The Road" tour will kick off on Feb. 27 in California and conclude Apr. 18 in Arizona. Devildriver will be headlining but no other information is given on the order that the bands will play. I would assume the order would go as follows: Invitro, Walls Of Jericho, 36 Crazyfists, Napalm Death, Devildriver. Line ups sometimes change city to city but that's my best guess. The dates are as follows:

Feb. 27 - The Fat Cat - Modesto, CA
Feb. 28 - The Boardwalk - Orangevale, CA
Feb. 29 - House Of Blues - West Hollywood, CA
Mar. 02 - The Rock - Tucson, AZ
Mar. 04 - Sunshine Theater - Albuquerque, NM
Mar. 06 - Cain’s Ballroom - Tulsa, OK
Mar. 07 - Ridglea Theater - Fort Worth, TX
Mar. 08 - Scout Bar - San Antonio, TX
Mar. 09 - House Of Rock - Corpus Christi, TX
Mar. 14 - Boomerz - Seminole, FL
Mar. 15 - Mojo Room - Port St. Lucie, FL
Mar. 17 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Mar. 18 - Jesters - Fayetteville, NC
Mar. 19 - Ground Zero - Spartanburg, SC
Mar. 20 - House Of Blues - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Mar. 21 - Hooligans - Jacksonville, NC
Mar. 22 - Jaxx - Springfield, VA
Mar. 24 - BB Kings - New York City, NY
Mar. 25 - Crocodile Rock - Allentown, PA
Mar. 26 - Webster Theater - Hartford, CT
Mar. 27 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
Mar. 28 - Mark’s Showplace - Bedford, NH
Mar. 29 - Northern Lights - Clifton, NY
Mar. 31 - Mr. Smalls - Millvale, PA
Apr. 01 - Headliners - Louisville, KY
Apr. 02 - Peabodys - Cleveland, OH
Apr. 03 - The Intersection - Grand Rapids, MI
Apr. 04 - Harpos - Detroit, MI
Apr. 05 - Machine Shop - Flint, MI
Apr. 06 - Pearl Room - Mokena, IL
Apr. 08 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Apr. 09 - The Rock - Maplewood, MN
Apr. 11 - Pop’s - Sauget, IL
Apr. 12 - The Beaumont - Kansas City, MO
Apr. 13 - The Blue Goat - Salina, KS
Apr. 16 - The Black Sheep - Colorado Springs, CO
Apr. 17 - Gator’s - Famington, NM
Apr. 18 - Marquee Theater - Tempe, AZ

I'll be honest, I have no idea who Invitro is but if they're not half bad then this should be an all around kick ass tour.

You can get albums from any of the bands on this tour by clicking on the links below.

Webmaster Recommendation: 36 Crazyfists-A Snow Capped Romance

Dave Mustaine To Auction His Custom ESP DV8 Guitar

2007-10-04T12:19:00.000-07:00

The guitar is custom painted and from Dave's personal collection. It was used on the Blackmail The Universe tour. The guitar is reportedly in excellent condition and includes a case. You can view the auction located in the official Megadeth Ebay Store HERE.
You can buy their latest album United Abominations here.

Machine Head Now I Lay Thee Down Video Available For Viewing

2007-10-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

Mike Sloat directed Machine Head's latest video for the song Now I Lay Thee Down. As for the plot, the band's label says, "the video is a play about a past time in which a strange and grotesque man, who is shunned by society and outcast, decides that he wants to know what it's like to die. He asks his lover, the only person who cares for him, to take his life. Reluctantly, she does. But then she becomes so distraught and miserable about losing her only love that she decides she must take her own life as well to be with him forever. The play ends with the two lovers together again, at last in the afterlife. The curtain drops and the entire cast bows to the audience." The song is from Machine Head's critically acclaimed album The Blackening. You can view the video below:

Buy the album here:

The Autumn Offering Another New Song Posted Online

2007-10-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

The Autumn Offering have posted another song from their upcoming album "Fear Will Cast No Shadow" titled From Atrophy to Obsession. You can hear it HERE. The album is due out on 10-30-07 via Victory Records and is a follow up to their 2006 release "Embrace The Gutter". Ok guys, I am a huge fan of your music but please bring back Dennis (ex vocalist). There is no doubt that he is the superior vocalist and as far as I can tell so far, Fear Will Cast No Shadow is inferior to Embrace The Gutter.

If you like what you hear, pre order Fear Will Cast No Shadow here:

Webmaster recommendation: Embrace The Gutter

Embrace The Gutter Video:

Tool Announces 7 New North American Tour Dates

2007-10-03T06:27:00.000-07:00

Legendary hard rock band TOOL have announced 7 new North American tour dates which will likely round out the touring cycle for their 2006 release 10,000 days. There is no news yet on a follow up to the highly successful album but knowing TOOL, it will be at least 3-5 years before a new album emerges. Their stage show is one of the best around so see them if you get the chance.

Nov. 14 - Austin, TX @ Frank Erwin Center
Nov. 16 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
Nov. 17 - New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
Nov. 23 - Casper, WY @ Casper Events Center
Nov. 27 - Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
Dec. 10 - Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre
Dec. 11 - Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre

Job For A Cowboy Behemoth Beneath The Massacre And Gojira US Tour

2007-09-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

In what promises to be a brutal night of death metal mayhem, Job For A Cowboy, Behemoth, Beneath The Massacre and, Gojira have teamed up for a North American tour. This is a tour that metal fans do not want to miss when it hits your town. The dates are as follows:

Oct 18 2007 @ Rams Head Live Baltimore, Maryland
Oct 19 2007 @ The Norva Norfolk, Virginia
Oct 20 2007 @ The Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 21 2007 @ The Club @ Firestone Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Oct 22 2007 @ HOB New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana
Oct 23 2007 @ Meridian Houston, Texas
Oct 24 2007 @ White Rabbit San Antonio, Texas
Oct 26 2007 @ Marquee Theatre Tempe, Arizona
Oct 27 2007 @ Soma San Diego, California
Oct 28 2007 @ House Of Blues Los Angeles, California
Oct 29 2007 @ Slim’s San Francisco, California
Oct 30 2007 @ Hawthorne Theatre Portland, Oregon
Oct 31 2007 @ El Corazon Seattle, Washington
Nov 2 2007 @ Gothic Theatre Englewood, Colorado
Nov 3 2007 @ Granada Lawrence, Kansas
Nov 4 2007 @ Pop’s Sauget, Illinois
Nov 6 2007 @ Station 4 St. Paul, Minnesota
Nov 7 2007 @ House Of Blues Chicago, Illinois
Nov 8 2007 @ St. Andrews Hall Detroit, Michigan
Nov 9 2007 @ Mr. Smalls Millvale, Pennsylvania
Nov 11 2007 @ Club Infinity Buffalo, New York
Nov 11 2007 @ House Of Blues Cleveland, Ohio
Nov 12 2007 @ Opera House Toronto, Ontario
Nov 13 2007 @ Club Soda Montreal, Quebec
Nov 15 2007 @ The Chance Poughkeepsie, New York
Nov 16 2007 @ The Palladium Downstairs Worcester, Massachusetts
Nov 17 2007 @ Trocadero Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 18 2007 @ The Fillmore NY @ Irving Plaza New York, New York

Webmaster recommendation: Job For A Cowboy-Genesis

A Life Once Lost New Song "Worship" Posted Online

2007-09-12T07:35:00.000-07:00

A song from A Life Once Lost's upcoming album Iron Gag has been posted online. The track is titled Worship and can be heard on their Myspace site HERE. Iron Gag will be released through Ferret Music on September 18th.

Webmaster recommendation: A Life Once Lost-Hunter

Otep-The Ascension Album Review

2007-09-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

One thing I never got was, why has Otep always been classified as Nu Metal? Sure, they contain some elements of Nu Metal like, the occasional rapping, down tuned guitars, and lyrical subjects comparable to other Nu Metal bands but, when I think Nu Metal, I think Linkin Park and Korn. Not only is Otep heavier than both of these bands, they convey their message in a much more intelligent and aggressive way. One of the things I like about Otep is the fact that you really can’t genre classify them.

Their last album House Of Secrets was brutally heavy at parts but lacked the punchiness and overall winning sound of the prior album, Sevas Tra. After the hit or miss House Of Secrets, Otep had to overcome the sophomore curse and reclaim a name in heavy metal. Their latest offering The Ascension finds the band seemingly more focused and determined this time around. Like any other Otep album, you will hear, angst filled, brutally honest and haunting poetry supplied by singer Otep Shamaya but unlike House Of Secrets goes more with the flow of the album than just providing filler.

Singer Otep Shamaya and bassist Evil J Macguire have made progress on their respective instruments and the addition of Karma Cheema on guitar (Aaron Nordstrom providing live guitar) and Brian Wollf on drums the band seems to have found a winning line up. Is The Ascension heavy? Yes it is. I would say it is their heaviest album to date but they don’t limit themselves. Crooked Spoons and Ghostflowers are balls out metal songs while Perfectly Flawed is mellower and almost radio friendly. They also go in the direction of hardcore punk rock in Breed.

The production is not excellent but not bad in any respect. There is some very interesting bass and drum work on this album and those two things greatly contribute to the albums effectiveness. Otep Shamaya retains her instantly noticeable growl and the band overall sounds like the same ol Otep while not being too repetitive and restrictive. The lyrical content isn’t much different than their other albums but Otep Shamaya has a way of creatively conveying many of the same emotions again and again without becoming stale and monotonous.

There may be 2 or 3 skippers on this album but in the end is worth the purchase for long time fans. If you are new to Otep I would recommend Sevas Tra and if you like what you hear there, pick this up. After a fairly long hiatus, line up changes and, record label problems, I fully expect Otep to hit the nail directly on the head next time and look forward to their next release. 6.5/10

Webmaster recommendation: Otep-Sevas Tra

Mastodon's Brent Hinds In Hospital With Severe Head Injury

2007-09-12T06:52:00.001-07:00

Rumor has it that Hinds was brutally assaulted after Mastodon's performance at the Mtv Video Music Awards in Las Vegas. This claim can not yet be substantiated but Hinds remains hospitalized today. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Chimaira Kataklysm And Terror To Tour

2007-09-12T06:32:00.000-07:00

Divine Heresy will open on all dates in between November 14 through December 8 and The End will close out the tour as opener. The dates are as follows:

Nov. 14 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
Nov. 15 - New York City, NY - The Blender Theatre
Nov. 16 - Allentown, PA - Crocodile Rock
Nov. 17 - Williamsville, NY - Club Infinity
Nov. 18 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts
Nov. 19 - Mokena, IL - The Pearl Room
Nov. 21 - Winnipeg, MB - The Garrick Centre
Nov. 22 - Saskatoon, SK - Ryly's
Nov. 23 - Calgary, AB - MacEwan Ballroom
Nov. 24 - Edmonton, AB - Dinwoodie Lounge
Nov. 26 - Vancouver, BC - Croation Cultural Centre
Nov. 27 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
Nov. 28 - Bend, OR - The Domino Room
Nov. 29 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
Nov. 30 - West Hollywood, CA - Key Club
Dec. 01 - Pomona, CA - Glasshouse
Dec. 02 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues
Dec. 04 - Tucson, AZ - The Rock
Dec. 05 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
Dec. 07 - San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit
Dec. 08 - Houston, TX - Meridian
Dec. 09 - New Orleans, LA - House Of Blues
Dec. 10 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
Dec. 11 - St. Petersburg, FL - State Theatre
Dec. 12 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
Dec. 14 - Jacksonville, NC - Hooligans
Dec. 15 - Springfield, VA - Jaxx
Dec. 16 - New Haven, CT - Toad's Place
Dec. 18 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
Dec. 19 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda
Dec. 20 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
Dec. 21 - Millvale, PA - Mr. Small's Theatre

The Dillinger Escape Plan Ire Works Tracklist Available

2007-09-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

Ire Works is set to be released on November 13th through Relapse Records. The album features 13 tracks and they are:

01. Fix Your Face
02. Lurch
03. Black Bubblegum
04. Sick On Sunday
05. When Acting As A Particle
06. Nong Eye Gong
07. When Acting As A Wave
08. 82588
09. Milk Lizard
10. Party Smasher
11. Dead As History
12. Horse Hunter
13. Mouth Of Ghosts

The band will be touring during October with A Life Once Lost, Behold...The Arctopus and, Genghis Tron. Check back for tour information.

Webmaster recommendation:

Demon Hunter: New Album Title And Tracklist Revealed

2007-09-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

Christian metalcore outfit Demon Hunter will be releasing their new album titled Storm The Gates Of Hell through Solid State Records on November 6th. It is their 4th album and judging by the audio sample HERE it just may be the heaviest yet.
Storm The Gates Of Hell track listing:

01. Storm The Gates Of Hell
02. Lead Us Home
03. Sixteen
04. Fading Away
05. Carry Me Down
06. A Thread Of Light
07. I Am You
08. Incision
09. Thorns
10. Follow The Wolves
11. Fiction Kingdom
12. The Wrath Of God

Check out the video for Undying a song off of their last release The Triptych.

Or if you want the webmasters recommendation, pick up their 2004 release Summer Of Darkness.

Iced Earth-Framing Armageddon Album Review

2007-09-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

Following up my favorite Iced Earth album of all time, Something Wicked This Way Comes was not an easy task and although the band has come close, they have not topped that infinitely awesome album. Framing Armageddon just might do that. If I had to use just two words to describe this album it would epic and heavy.

Guitarist Jon Schaffer includes signature Iced Earth riffing style and tone which we all know and love and Tim “Ripper” Owens is in top form and sounds the best he has in years. Iced Earth always has had a way of painting a vivid picture through their concept albums as they do on Framing Armageddon but one of the disks many merits is that each track, on it’s own is great as well.

The production is crisp and clean and even the bass, which seems to be shoved in the back of the mix on most metal albums, is clear and vibrant. Despite line up changes over the years, Iced Earth always includes top notch musicians and this line up is no exception. It is very apparent that each member has a passion and talent for the band and is always refreshing to hear that come through on the album.

The guitar tone is razor sharp, the leads are technical but not just for the sake of being technical, the drums if not a ferocious, pummeling attack are tastefully done, the bass as I said before, actually shines on this album much more than other metal releases and, “Ripper” sounds as good if not better than he did on the Judas Priest album Jugulator. My personal favorite track is A Charge to Keep, which features some excellent rhythm guitar, great lyrics and a very catchy, epic chorus.

From melodic acoustic passages such as Reflections to the thrash metal assault of the title track, Iced Earth is firing on all cylinders and has made a note worthy album this time around. While this album hasn’t grown on me as much as Something Wicked This Way Comes, I also have to consider the fact that I have been listening to that album for years now and just recently heard Framing Armageddon. This is definitely an album that gets better with every spin as you notice more of the subtleties that make it so complex and interesting.

If you are a fan of Iced Earth, then you can expect all of the things that you love about the band and much more. If you are not familiar with Iced Earth then I see no reason why Framing Armageddon isn’t a great introduction. Framing Armageddon is quickly becoming one of my favorite releases of 2007 and if you give it a few listens, it may become one of yours too. 8/10

Machine Head Live Video With Temporary Bassist Posted Online

2007-09-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

Brandon Sigmund from the band Hostility has been filling in for Machine Head bassist Adam Duce after he broke his leg in a dirt bike accident. The footage is a fan shot clip of Aesthetics Of Hate and is the first video available with Brandon Sigmund on bass. Aesthetics Of Hate is a track from Machine Head's 2007 release The Blackening which is being praised by critics and fans alike. It is arguably their strongest release to date. View the clip below.

Avenged Sevenfold To Hit The Road In The Fall

2007-09-10T22:42:00.000-07:00

The 18 city headlining run will be in support of their new, self titled album. The track Critical Acclaim, from the new album can be heard HERE. The album which will be the bands first try at self producing will be released October 30 through Warner Bros Records and the tracklist is as follows:

01. Critical Acclaim
02. Almost Easy
03. Scream
04. Afterlife
05. Gunslinger
06. Unbound the Wild Ride
07. Brompton Cocktail
08. Lost
09. A Little Piece of Heaven
10. Dear God

This album is the follow up to their hugely successful City Of Evil.

As I Lay Dying Announce Headlining US Tour

2007-09-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

With their newest release, An Ocean Between Us doing well across the world, As I Lay Dying is preparing to hit the road. All That Remains, Haste The Day and, Through The Eyes Of The Dead will support on all 29 dates and those are as follows:

October 27 Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ (Phoenix)
October 28 Sunshine Theater - Albuquerque, NM
October 30 White Rabbit - San Antonio, TX
October 31 The Door - Dallas, TX
November 1 Meridian - Houston, TX
November 2 House Of Blues - New Orleans, LA
November 3 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
November 4 Revolution - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
November 5 House Of Blues - Lake Buena Vista, FL (Orlando)
November 7 Tremont Music Hall - Charlotte, NC
November 8 The Norva - Norfolk, VA
November 9 Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
November 10 The Palladium - Worcester, MA
November 11 Rams Head Live! - Baltimore, MD
November 12 Nokia Theatre - New York, NY
November 14 House Of Blues - Cleveland, OH
November 15 Clutch Cargo’s - Pontiac, MI (Detroit)
November 16 Newport Music Hall - Columbus, OH
November 17 Rocketown - Nashville, TN
November 18 Pop’s - Sauget, IL (St. Louis, MO)
November 19 House Of Blues - Chicago, IL
November 20 Cabooze On The West Bank - Minneapolis, MN
November 21 The Beaumont Club - Kansas City, Mo
November 23 Gothic Theater - Englewood, CO (Denver)
November 24 The Great Salt Air - Magna, UT (Salt Lake City)
November 26 Slim’s - San Francisco, CA
November 27 Slim’s - San Francisco, CA
November 28 Wiltern Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
November 30 Soma - San Diego, CA

An Ocean Between Us debuted at #8 on US charts and is Metal Blade Records best first week Billboard showing in the history of the label.

The Dillinger Escape Plan: Fix Your Face

2007-09-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

The band has put a song from their upcoming release Ire Works online. The song is called Fix Your Face and can be heard HERE Ire Works will be released through Relapse Records on November 13.

Check out their last release Miss Machine.

The Autumn Offering Has Posted A New Song Online

2007-09-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

The Autumn Offering, hailing from Daytona Beach, Florida has released a song from their upcoming album Fear Will Cast No Shadow. The song is titled Castaway and can be heard HERE. The album will be released through Victory records on October 30. It is their first album with former Hell Within singer Matt McChesney. The tracklist for Fear Will Cast No Shadow is as follows:

01. From Atrophy To Obsession
02. Fear Will Cast No Shadow
03. A Great Distance
04. All That Fall Around Us
05. Castaway
06. You're Time Is Mine
07. Silence And Goodbye
08. The Wolves At Your Door
09. March Of The Clones
10. Crown Yourself A King, Kill Yourself A Queen
11. Dystopiate

Buy The Autumn Offering's last release, Embrace The Gutter through Amazon.com

As I said in a previous The Autumn Offering related post, Embrace The Gutter is one of my favorite albums of all time and definitely worth checking out.

Dave Culross Quits Malevolent Creation

2007-09-06T22:14:00.000-07:00

Drummer of pioneer death metal band Malevolent Creation, Dave Culross has quit the band. It is rumored that he is doing recordings with other bands and is working on forming a new band. No official reason was given for his resignation. Malevolent Creation released their latest album, Doomsday X on July 17 through Nuclear Blast. No replacement has been announced so far.

As I Lay Dying's An Ocean Between Us Debuts At #8 On USA Charts

2007-09-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

The follow up to the 2006 album Shadows Are Security, An Ocean Between Us has debuted on American charts at #8. The band, who took a more thrash metal approach on their current offering is doing well in album sales through out the world. International chart positions are as follows.

Germany: #24
Austria: #33
Switzerland: #43
Netherlands (Plato Charts): #25
UK: #117
UK (Rock & Metal): #8
UK (Indie Album): #13
USA: #8
USA (Hard Rock): #1
USA (Indie Album): #2
Canada: #19
Canada (Hard Rock): #2
Canada (Indie): #3

An Ocean Between Us was produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz.

You can view the video for the first single, Nothing Left below.

Venue Review: Harpos Detroit, Michigan

2007-09-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

Located on Harper Avenue, in East Side Detroit, you wouldn’t assume that Harpos Concert Theater would be packed with heavy metal fans on a regular basis. While being a local favorite venue, thousands of artists have taken the stage at Harpos from, Slayer to Type O Negative. Almost exclusively a heavy metal oriented venue, the dedication of metal fans lies in the fact that night after night the fans, sometimes embarking on a several hour drive, fill the club while almost always staying respectful and well tempered. Sure, there’s the occasional fight but, Harpos Security does an excellent job of severing the problem at the root. Their not the over bearing, eagle eye security you find at most big venues but if need be, the security staff is on the ball like no others I’ve ever seen.
Don’t get me wrong, the security staff do their jobs and well but they do a great job of blending in and not being a suffocating presence therefore insuring a more relaxed concert experience. Inside, Harpos is spacious and uses the 3 tier approach, the 2 top sections contain tables and chairs for the concert viewer who wants to relax and enjoy their favorite band while the bottom tier is standing room only and is prime area for the mosh pits. The bathrooms are big enough to serve 20 or so people at once and at the beginning of the night, are clean and stocked with all necessities. One thing I found that most other similar clubs can not offer is reasonable drink prices and a well mannered, attentive staff. There’s a no $9 beer or cranky bar staff present. I have been going there for over 10 years and have always found the bar staff pleasant. Harpos sound system is and always has been top of the line. You feel the pummel of the kick drum and get the full experience of the face melting guitar solos at Harpos. Another big plus that seems to be quickly disappearing these days, is the fact that you can smoke. As a smoker myself I know how nice it is to have a beer, watch my favorite band and light up a cigarette. Harpos, always a cut ahead, still allows smoking and you’re not designated to one area or down right forbidden to smoke inside as with some other clubs. The parking is ample and security is outside as well as in throughout the duration of the show. They feature a metal detector at the door but provide speedy admission into the club. Overall, for all these reasons, Harpos always was and will remain to be my favorite venue to see bands. A lot of people are a little skeptical of Harpos due to it’s location but I have never had a more enjoyable yet secure concert experience than I have had at Harpos countless times. I would recommend it to any fan of heavy metal and encourage them to visit the venue as frequently as possible. Harpos, from A-Z is a professional and enjoyable place to see your favorite band and my personal favorite.

Megadeth US Tour Dates Posted

2007-09-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Megadeth will hit the road this fall, for their "Tour Of Duty" in support of their highly anticipated, critically acclaimed release, United Abominations. Also in tow will be In This Moment and The Confession. Check back for additional future dates.

September
09/04 - Anchorage, AK - Egan Convention Center
09/05 - Fairbanks, AK - Carlson Center
09/07 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theater
09/08 - Spokane, WA - Big Easy
09/09 - Portland, OR - Roseland
09/11 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield
09/12 - Anaheim, CA - Grove
09/14 - Las Vegas, NV - House Of Blues
09/16 - Denver, CO - Ogden
09/18 - Sauget, IL - Pops
09/19 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagle’s Club
09/21 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room
09/22 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
09/23 - Grand Rapids, MI - Orbit Room
09/25 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
09/26 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
09/28 - Providence, RI - Luo’s
09/29 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino
09/30 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

October
10/01 - Richmond, VA - Toad’s Place
10/03 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
10/04 - Orlando, FL - House Of Blue
10/05 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House Of Blues
10/06 - Norfolk, VA - Norva

The Top 5 Hottest Women Of Heavy Metal

2007-09-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

Heavy Metal, largely a man’s domain, has produced many women that are as beautiful as they are talented. Who are the top 5 hottest women of heavy metal? As we all know, as apparent in countless top 40 pop stars, a pretty face and sexy body does not equal talent. The top 5 hottest women of heavy metal provide not only physical beauty but a passion, talent and, dedication to the heavy metal that we all know and love. I present to you, The Top 5 Hottest Women Of Heavy Metal.

#1. Maria Brink: In This Moment

With the ability to go from seductive siren to screaming banshee within a verse, Maria Brink’s vocal range and ability is equaled only by her white hot good looks. A great stage presence and a girl next door, down to earth quality combined with her undeniable sexiness and beauty guarantee her a spot on this list and on the minds of heavy metal fans throughout the world.

#2 Angela Gossow: Arch Enemy

Not even considering the fact that she provides hands down the most brutal and intimidating female vocals in metal, Angela somehow manages to be as gorgeous as she is menacing. Maintaining beauty and charm can’t be an easy task while fronting a band as vicious as Arch Enemy but she pulls off the task with ease. Her long legs and delicate features tell a different story than her aggressive vocals and commanding presence would imply. May she continue to reign as heavy metal’s queen of scream.

#3 Christina Scabbia: Lacuna Coil

The sultry, mysterious and aesthetically model-esque singer for Lacuna Coil looks more like a fashion cover girl than front woman of a gothic metal band. On stage, she oozes sexuality and on album, her voice conveys her haunting and undisputable beauty. Besides her obvious physical traits, Christina provides one of the most beautiful yet diverse voices in heavy metal.

#4 Otep Shamaya:

The eternally tortured yet endlessly sexy singer’s vocals are as primal and hard edged as her appearance. Without a doubt, one of the most creative and mysterious women in heavy metal, her natural beauty and inventive attire insure that her image will be burned into your mind long after the lights go out. Her stunning eyes and overt fragility only add to her attractiveness but don’t be fooled; Otep Shamaya is one of the most dangerously tempting women in heavy metal.

#5 Candace Kucsulain: Walls Of Jericho

On stage, she is all business as one of the most energetic and engaging vocalists regardless of gender, in heavy metal. As beautiful as a rose yet as hard as nails, Candace’s face betrays the seemingly inhuman growl she is capable of. Covered in tattoos and sometimes blood, Candace possesses remarkable good looks while simultaneously, being one of the boys. She is a true credit to heavy metal and, without a doubt, endlessly adored by countless fans.

There you have it, The Top 5 Hottest Women Of Heavy Metal. Although every one of these women possess unparalleled beauty and sexiness, their true merit lies in the music they produce and the blood, sweat and, tears they put into their profession.

Movie Review: Rob Zombie's "Halloween"

2007-09-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

I would like to start this review by saying that the original "Halloween" is easily my favorite horror movie of all time. I was excited to hear that this movie was being made as I am a huge horror movie fan and enjoyed Rob Zombie's work on "The Devil's Rejects". Boy was I disappointed. Any fan of the original will tell you that what made it so scary was the atmosphere and suspense which Zombie has traded for blood and gore. Another negative aspect of this film is the fact that the first half of the movie was spent trying to develop the character of Michael Myers and give the audience some method to his madness. I don't know about you but I prefer the killer who is simply pure evil and that's that. Myers loses his identity as "The Shape" and gains more of a good ol fashioned psycho serial killer status. Before I go on there are some positive things I would like to point out. Tyler Mane who plays Michael, does as good of a job as any in the role and Malcolm McDowell, despite bad dialogue is fitting as Dr. Loomis. In the end though, we all know that Donald Pleasence is the true Dr. Loomis but sadly, he passed away before he could reprise his role. The blood and gore although very well done seemed a little out of place and over the top being in a remake of a movie that contained virtually no blood and zero gore. The main characters namely Laurie are underdeveloped to the point where you don't really care if they live or die. I personally was on the edge of my seat rooting for Jamie Lee Curtis to survive when I saw the original but that was not so in this version. William Forsythe and Ken Foree have memorable cameos but unfortunately not much screen time. I know this is a "re imagining" or whatever you wanna call it and no I didn't expect it to be a shot for shot re shoot of the original but it lacked the subtle intensity of the original and came off as more of a generic slasher flick. Some people are complaining about the amount of foul language and nudity but I don't really see that as much of a problem as it is a sign of the times and fits accordingly. So basically, the mystique of Michael Myers is gone, Dr. Loomis is not the mad man consumed and hell bent on stopping him and, the victim who you are supposed to want to see triumph over evil is un memorable. As a slasher flick it's effective as it employs many traits of those films such as gore, nudity, sex, brutal killings, and deranged serial killers but, as a Halloween movie it misses the mark by a mile. Now I will say this, I saw this movie in theaters twice and I did like it a little more the second time. Maybe it will grow on me as more of a separate entity but as I said before, is far inferior to the original. 5/10 My advice? Save your money and pick up the original.

The Cavalera Conspiracy Live Video Posted Online

2007-09-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

"The Cavalera Conspiracy", featuring ex Sepultura members and brothers Max and Igor Cavalera made their live debut at the D-Low Memorial Concert on Friday August 31 at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Arizona. This is the 11th annual D-Low Memorial Concert and is held in memory of Max's stepson Dana "D-Low" Wells who was killed in a car accident in 1996. Check out the fan shot footage of the song "Inflikted" HERE. The Cavalera Conspiracy's debut album is expected to be released in early 2008 through Roadrunner Records.

New Exodus Song Available Online

2007-09-04T15:18:00.000-07:00

Legendary thrash metal band Exodus have posted a new song entitled "Riot Act" on their MySpace Site from their upcoming release "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A". The last release "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" came out in 2005 through Nuclear Blast and was considered by many to be a true return to form for the band. "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A" was produced with Andy Sneap and will be released on October 23 via Nuclear Blast. The track listing is:

01. A Call To Arms
02. Riot Act
03. Funeral Hymn
04. Children Of A Worthless God
05. As It Was, As It Soon Shall Be
06. The Atrocity Exhibition
07. Iconoclasm
08. The Garden Of Bleeding
09. Bedlam 123

Product Review: BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone Distortion Pedal

2007-09-04T12:46:00.000-07:00

Every metal guitarist knows that good tone is imperative to the overall sound. I will be reviewing the BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone. As an owner, I can tell you the ups and downs of the BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone distortion pedal.

Price: It is very affordable and can usually be purchased for less than $100 brand new. An optional power adapter is recommended as The Metal Zone drains batteries (9V)fairly quickly and will cost you an additional 15-20 bucks.
Durability: As with all BOSS pedals they are made to take a beating. After many drops, stomps and spills my Metal Zone, while beat up looking functions perfectly.
Sound: With a name like The Metal Zone, this pedal excels for heavy metal guitar but isn’t bad for smoother blues like or grunge distortion. It features dual circuit gain and a 4 band equalizer including, high, low, mid and, mid frequency as well as controls for volume and distortion. The equalizer allows the user to tweak their sound pretty precisely, finding the distortion that they prefer.
Pros: Affordability, ease of use, durability, tone.
Cons: It takes a while to find that “sweet spot” but when you do, sounds great. Lacks in the mids department, and sometimes has trouble cutting through in a live setting.
Overall I would recommend this pedal to any hard rock or metal guitarist. I have used mine for applications such as recording and playing live shows. It’s a workhorse and as mentioned, affordable and durable. The MT-2 Metal Zone is a great distortion pedal for beginners and pros alike. It is by no means top of the line but provides dependability and is fairly versatile for the price. Great for thrash, death, and black metal, hardcore, or metalcore. Not recommended for alternative or punk music. If you’re looking for aggressive sound this is the pedal for you. I would also like to stress the durability of the Metal Zone. I have owned mine for going on 4 years now and it has never failed me and has taken a fair amount of abuse and wear. It sounds great for palm muting and speed picking but sort of lacks in the soloing and finger tapping department. If you are into bands such as Pantera, Fear Factory, Metallica, or Lamb Of God and are trying for that sound then the Metal Zone should satisfy. Guitarists such as Dimebag, Darrell, James Hetfield, Dave Mustaine and Scott Ian are easily identified by their signature tone. This is a good pedal for basic distortion but is not all that you want to have in your arsenal if you’re a serious player. Experiment, tweak and mix it up to find your own sound.

My Top 10 Most Influential Heavy Metal Albums Of All Time

2007-09-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

Heavy metal today while not at its apex still produces some great and memorable bands. But where did it all start? What are the most important heavy metal albums of all time? Let me make one thing clear, the point of this article isn’t to name necessarily my favorite albums but the most influential albums that contributed largely to what heavy metal has become today. The albums are in no particular order.

1. Black Sabbath-Black Sabbath 1970. Black Sabbath are considered by most to be the godfathers of metal and rightly so. Although this is not my favorite release by them it was undeniably the birth of heavy metal.

2. Metallica-Master Of Puppets 1986. While not their first album, Master Of Puppets is easily their most influential. It brought thrash metal to the main stream and has inspired thousands of bands. It’s also my personal favorite.

3. Iron Maiden-Number Of The Beast 1982. The first album featuring the now legendary front man Bruce Dickinson. Including such tracks as “Hallowed Be Thy Name”, “The Number Of The Beast” and “Run To The Hills” Iron Maiden cemented their status as the premier British heavy metal band. Their influence can be found in bands from Megadeth to Trivium.

4. Slayer-Reign In Blood 1986. Think of this as a more aggressive, satanic “Master Of Puppets”. Although Slayer released albums before this “Reign In Blood” is the epitome of 80’s thrash metal and this is widely acknowledged by a large percentage of heavy metal fans.

5. Deicide-Deicide 1990. The definitive death metal album by the definitive death metal band. Despite some weaker later albums, their self titled album laid the groundwork for any and all future death metal bands.

6. Pantera-Vulgar Display Of Power 1992. Pantera is cited by many as single handedly keeping heavy metal on the map during the grunge and alternative wave of the 90’s. Never compromising the signature sound attained on “Vulgar Display Of Power”, they went on to release 4 more albums and one prior before their disbandment in 2003. Pantera is in my opinion, the most influential heavy metal band ever.

7. Fear Factory-Demanufacture 1995. Fear Factory has the thrash metal sensibilities and punishing drum attack of some of these other bands but incorporated a more industrial sound into their music. Using keyboards and sound effects they further identified their sound as uniquely theirs. They are well known for their staccato drum/guitar attack and that method is widely used today.

8. Sepultura-Chaos AD 1993. Brazilian thrash metallers hit the metal scene with this album in 1993. The metal mixed with tribal drumming and obscure instrumentation proved to be a credible formula. Not only is this album heavy metal, it entertained the notion of breaking away from traditional formula.

9. Megadeth-Rust In Peace 1990. Ex Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine started “Megadeth” after leaving Metallica in the early 80’s. Often referred to as a guitar players album, “Rust In Peace” contains some of the most technical and impressive yet accessible guitar work ever recorded. The now legendary line up has created a true metal masterpiece that has been mimicked or borrowed from countless times.

10. AC/DC - Back In Black 1980. You can argue all day if AC/DC is actually heavy metal so let’s just assume that they are. This album that still sells well almost 3 decades later was a landmark for heavy metal. Incorporating excellent guitar work and great anthem like lyrics, any fan of metal would be hard pressed to not be influenced by AC/DC.

Honorable mentions: Judas Priest, Testament, Anthrax, Cannibal Corpse, Death, Morbid Angel.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think, leave a comment.

Cryptopsy's Flo Mounier Goes Freelance

2007-09-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

He is trying his hand as a drummer for hire. Offering his skills as a touring drummer, clinician, studio musician, teacher etc. Only professional offers will be considered. If you are interested you can reach him at fmounier@sympatico.ca. Flo also released a DVD, "Extreme Metal Drumming 101" in 2005. Cryptopsy's last album "Once Was Not" was released in 2005 through Century Media Records.

The Autumn Offering Reveal New Album Title

2007-09-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

On October 30th, through Victory records, The Autumn Offering will release "Fear Will Cast No Shadow". The album was produced by Jason Suecof of AudioHammer Studios and is the follow up to their 2006 release "Embrace The Gutter". On a side note, "Embrace The Gutter" is one of my favorite albums of all time. Any metal fan would have no problem finding something that they love about it so pick up a copy or hell, even download it. But, if you do like what you hear, show your support by buying it.

Type O Negative-Dead Again Album Review

2007-09-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

Being a fan of Type O Negative since the Slow Deep And Hard days I am happy to announce that although they have been around for nearly 2 decades and have released 7 albums, their sound is still fresh and undeniably Type O Negative. "Dead Again" show cases every aspect of the Type O Negative sound that makes them the well respected and accomplished band that they are today. From the haunting melody and excellent keyboard work on "September Sun" to the more straight forward and hooky title track "Dead Again" and the epic and intelligent sound of "These Three Things", they incorporate virtually every aspect of their sound and it blends wonderfully. I suppose fans could peg their 1999 release "World Coming Down" as a downtrodden, depressing album but you can do no such thing with "Dead Again". They cover topics such as drug abuse, the end of the world, heartbreak and an interesting take on the afterlife on the infectious "Halloween In Heaven". Peter, Kenny, Johnny and Josh are in full force on this release and the music really reflects that. While I enjoyed their last release, 2003's "Life Is Killing Me" it lacked the cohesiveness and flow of "Dead Again". With a running time of nearly 78 minutes you would think that the songs would get boring or monotonous but the album is written and performed so well that the only way to truly appreciate this album is to listen to it as a whole. The musicianship is top notch as usual. Peter sounds great and has some really excellent lyrics, Kenny's guitar work is his usual, not over the top technical but very consistent and memorable. His guitar tone sounds awesome and he also provides some great back up vocals. Johnny is right on the money drum wise (drum sound is great by the way) not over playing or trying to dazzle you with his technicality but instead providing the anchor in this sonic soundscape and Josh rounds it all out with his sometimes beautiful sometimes menacing but always excellent and atmospheric keyboard work. Some people have complained about the production of this album but I really don't see a problem. Everything sounds balanced very well and nothing is drowned out. My favorite track is "She Burned Me Down", a song about rejection and the concequence of love while the catchiest track is easily the title track "Dead Again". Not one song on here is a skipper and I really can't praise this album enough. I was skeptical about this release but Type O Negative delivered big this time and has sold at least 1 ticket when they come to my town. My rating 9/10. They will be on tour in October 2007 in support of "Dead Again" so make sure to check them out when they come to your town.

Type O Negative To Tour Through October

2007-09-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn's Type O Negative will be on tour in support of their latest album "Dead Again" throughout the month of October. This is the second North American tour this year for "The Drab Four". The dates are as follows:

Friday, October 12, 2007
Toad's Place - New Haven, CT

Saturday, October 13, 2007
The Palladium - Worcester, MA

Sunday, October 14, 2007
Northern Lights - Clifton Park, NY

Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Crocodile Rock - Allentown, PA

Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Town Ballroom - Buffalo, NY

Saturday, October 20, 2007
Eagles Club - Milwaukee, WI

Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Vic - Chicago, IL

Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Blue Cats - Knoxville, TN

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA

Friday, October 26, 2007
Headliners - Louisville, KY

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Harpo's - Detroit, MI

Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA

Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ

"Dead Again" debuted at #27 on the Billboard charts when It was released in March. Their best selling album to date is 1993's Gothic Metal masterpiece "Bloody Kisses" which has sold over a million copies.

3 Inches Of Blood Announce UK Tour

2007-09-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

Canadian metal band 3 Inches Of Blood have announced a 6 date mini tour of the UK in support of their new album "Fire Up The Blades". The dates are as follows.

Nov. 07 - Wolverhampton, UK - Little Civic
Nov. 08 - Southampton, UK - The Brook
Nov. 10 - Minehead, UK - Hard Rock Hell
Nov. 11 - Swindon, UK - The Furnace (Remembrance festival)
Nov. 12 - Brighton, UK - The New Free Butt
Nov. 13 - London, UK - The Barfly

3 Inches Of Blood will also be on tour later this year with Lamb Of God, Behemoth, Divine Heresy and Shadows Fall. Check back for details on that tour.

Machine Head Appoints Temporary Bassist

2007-09-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

Machine Head have tapped Brandon Sigmund of San Fransisco metal band Hostility to handle bass duties for the upcoming "The Black Tyranny" tour featuring Machine Head, Arch Enemy, Throwdown and Sanctity. Bassist Adam Duce broke his leg in a dirt bike accident and has been forced to sit out the tour. No dates have been affected and the tour will go on as planned. Adam Duce received a steel plate and 2 screws during surgery but is expected to fully recover. Machine Head is out in support of their critically acclaimed 2007 release "The Blackening".

Vampire Mooose-Serenade The Samurai Album Review

2007-09-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

Vampire Mooose (yes there are 3 O’s) is one of those rare bands that come along every now and then and redefine the genre. Korn did it in 1994 with the release of their self titled album and as we all know, reached the heights of super stardom by doing so. Sadly Vampire Mooose has not reached these heights and probably never will. How best can I describe the unique sound that is Vampire Mooose? While being an entity entirely their own, I guess I would say that Vampire Mooose is a mixture of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Meshuggah, Pantera and a Vampyric Moose (which according to the band is the meanest animal you could ever encounter). Being a huge fan of their first album, the release of their latest offering “Serenade the Samurai” was highly anticipated and I was not disappointed. You get the usual fare of off time and complex rhythm changes, excellent drumming, menacing vocals and the occasional jazz inspired moment but there is something different about this album, it seems that our boys are more focused this time and have truly found their sound with this release. This is one of those cd’s that you can listen to all the way through and then again. I can sit here and do a track by track review which we all know is boring so I’ll spare you but I will say this… Track 3 titled 1.21 gigawatts is one of the best songs I’ve heard in a very long time and alone, is reason enough to buy the album. Plain and simple the guys in Vampire Mooose brought their A game this time. If youre an old fan of the band then rest assured that while maintaining their ferocity and brutality, a whole new element has been brought to the table this time. This is thinking man’s metal folks, it’s intelligent, heavy, complex, haunting, catchy and at times dare I say beautiful. As I said before, sadly not many people know of the great Vampire Mooose but if anybody out there is ready for something new and exciting pick up “Serenade the Samurai”. I seriously can not think of one bad thing about this album, it gets 2 thumbs up, 5 stars, A+ whatever it’s just that damn good people. Buy this album…You’ll thank me later. 10/10

Type O Negative Detroit, Michigan 4-7-07

2007-09-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

I find myself in a smoke filled club in east side Detroit. I’m here tonight to see Type O Negative who is touring in support of their latest album aptly named “Dead Again”. The club is packed and the crowd anxiously awaits the entrance of the band led by the towering front man Peter Steele. The house music stops, the lights go off, the anticipation is thick and without warning….the chicken dance. Full volume, for 20 minutes type O Negative treats their fans to the old classic. They are known for their dark and quirky sense of humor so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to any true fan. Finally the band takes the stage heading to their respective instruments behind the curtain of thick smoke and neon lights. Before I go on let me just say one thing. I have seen well over 100 live shows in my life from the over the top audio and visual experience of Nine Inch Nails with an attendance of 18,000 to seeing Bile in a small club with maybe 100 other people. I only bring this up because I can say that hands down, Type O Negative puts on the absolute best live show I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing. Always true to their fans they bring out the usual favorites such as “Black #1”, “Love You To Death” and Christian Woman. Not only are they great live as far as playing the songs well goes but their stage presence is undeniably sinister and commanding. Their ability to mix up their set and throw in the occasional obscure track every now and then insures that I will return every time they are in town. Peter, Kenny, Josh and Johnny known to the world as Type O Negative refer to themselves jokingly as the drab four, an ode to the Beatles “the fab four” and rightly so because this band has written some of the most haunting yet beautiful songs I have ever heard. Back to the live performance. Peter, always quick with the wit keeps the tempo high in between songs and always keeps it funny and entertaining. Did I mention that part of their light show was a sign that lit up with the words “You Suck” and they encouraged the crowd to chant said words in between songs? Ya gotta love these guys. I have seen them 4 times so far and the show seems to get better and better every time. Every one of them are a master of their instrument and by being so, the intensity or anguish or hatred they display so ably on album comes through very well in concert. If there is one thing I don’t like about seeing live bands it’s the fact that some of them sound exactly as they do on cd which to a point is good but in the end you did come to see a live show right? Type O Negative maintains the integrity of the album while displaying that nice flow and flexibility that is vital to any live show. It will be a sad day when they finally call it quits cause not only will we be denied their excellent albums but a live show which is un paralleled in intensity and soul. If you are a fan and have never been to one of their shows you must do it or you will regret. If you’re new to the band pick up their 1993 release “Bloody Kisses” for starters and do not miss em the next time they come to your town. In short, go see Type O Negative live any and every time you can because the band truly shines in that medium.

Metalcore, The Scourge Of Metal?

2007-09-02T18:03:00.001-07:00

Ask any old school heavy metal fan what’s wrong with music today and they will inevitably say “metalcore”. What is metalcore you ask, let me explain. Metalcore is basically heavy metal and hardcore mixed together with equal doses of eye liner, girl pants and angst thrown in for good measure. Is all metalcore bad? No it is not. Some notable metalcore bands are Trivium, Killswitch Engage and As I Lay Dying. My main gripe with this type of music is lack of identity. The market is so flooded with metalcore these days that I couldn’t tell you at any given time whether Im listening to an album by August Burns Red or The Devil Wears Prada. On the surface there’s nothing wrong with the idea of metalcore as it incorporates many of the finer elements of music such as breakdowns, dual guitar harmonies, aggression and lots and lots of that good ol double bass pedal. Let’s go back a few years shall we? In 1995, Swedish metal band At The Gates released the album “Slaughter of the Soul” which is arguably the definitive metalcore album. At the time the sound was fresh and exciting to metal fans because it couldn’t really be pigeon holed in any one genre such as death metal or black metal. It was ground breaking to say the least but ultimately paved the way for many, many copycats. Now in the year 2007 the style has been beaten to death, resurrected and subsequently beaten to death yet again. Bottom line, the sound is not fresh or innovative anymore people. How many staccato break downs, pseudo thrash guitar riffs or wannabe Dave Mustaine guitar “solos” can you hear before you’ve heard them all? Oh and for the record, a lot of people claim that Killswitch Engage are pioneers of metalcore while in all truth, not even considering At The Gates, Germany’s Caliban was here first. Check out Shadow Hearts by Caliban and you will see what real metalcore is supposed to sound like. Here’s the good news, the masses have finally caught on to the bs and it appears that metalcore is on the way out and good old fashioned Metal is on the rise. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy some metalcore as noted above but at this point it’s so stagnant and repetitive I really can’t see anything new being done with the genre. Metalcore, at one time you were exciting and we really had some great times but these days, I think it would be better for the both of us if you moved on. So to all you fan boys out there, stay away from your mommys make up, get a girlfriend, throw on some Megadeth, have a beer and you just may be able to save yourself…maybe.

Product Review: Ibanez Iceman 400

2007-09-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

Being a fan of Ibanez guitars and playing them exclusively throughout my 10+ year career/hobby as a musician I suppose now would be a good time to let the world know of my latest purchase from the Ibanez team, The Iceman. The IC-400 Iceman, aside from looking the part of a true rocker guitar, delivers on all levels. It features a mahogany body which in turn produces a warm sound not found in guitars manufactured with lower quality wood (basswood anybody?). The 3 piece maple neck and cut away body style give you easy access to the upper frets and a nice smooth playability. The Iceman was designed by KISS axe man Ace Frehley and has been used by many other hard rock/metal guitarists such as, J from White Zombie and Daron from System of a Down. The best thing about this guitar is the fact that, despite the high quality and style, the price is nearly half that of similarly appointed guitars. I picked mine up for $549.00 at Guitar center and it was set up nicely by the techs at Ibanez. Right out of the box the action was perfect and needed no adjustment. From blues to over the top metal the Iceman holds its own with no problem. The stock pick ups while not top of the line, are nice quality for the price. On stage the guitar has a presence unmatched by many others, it’s designed in a way where you can look at it and instantly know that it is indeed an Iceman. One downside is, due to the unusual shape you have to purchase a one of a kind case to lug it around in and while a great case, it’s an automatic 120 more bucks just to protect your latest investment. I really have nothing bad to say about the Iceman, it sounds great, looks cool and is very reasonably priced. I use it as my main guitar in recording, practice and for live shows. Bottom line, if you’re on a budget but want a quality good looking guitar pick up an Ibanez Iceman.