·Release of the Week:
Burton
L
·Album Reviews
Amorphis / Corporate MF / Devilinside / Grave / Fission / Lacrimas Profundere / Morgenstern / Napalm
Death / NYIA / Peachfuzz / Silo The Huskie / Tiger Saw / Time Machine / The Heavils / Thistle / Various Artists: Rock Against
Bush Vol 2
·Single/EP
reviews
Infinite August
/ Marshall Star / Sicboy
Release of the week:
Burton L; Spy Life
Omega Point Records
Listening to “Spy Life” you can hear that this guy is influenced by Moby and the likes, but where Moby
used to be rock and now is electronic, Burton L likes to combine both sides of the fence at once. Now, I am a big Moby fan
so obviously it’s going to be hard for someone like Burton L to come along and just all of a sudden be overshadowing
a genius like Moby and, well, he doesn’t really overshadow him either – and I am sure he's not meaning to either
- but the fact of the matter is that Burton L is one of the few electronic artists of this kind that has gotten me this excited
since Moby released “Play” in 1999. Just listen to two of the most brilliant tracks on here (“It’s
So Easy (To Love You)” and “Need”) and you’ll be hooked for life. If those were Moby-singles they’d
be gaining themselves number one chart positions in no time. (JJJJJ-) Release date: out now
Albums this week:
Amorphis; Elegy (re-release)
Relapse Records
(Provided by Target Distribution
All metal fans are well aware of Amorphis and their “Elegy” album released in 1996. There’s just
no way around it. Seldom has atmospheric and psychedelic progrock, death metal and doom been combined in a way that sounded
this appealing. The songs are long, but then again they usually are when coming across music like this. Fans of everything
from Opeth to Deep Purple and Jethro Tull will – and probably have for years – go nuts over this. The re-release
features a few live bonus-tracks. (JJJJJ-)
Release date: out now
Corporate MF; The Royal We
Omega Point Records
More electro-punk from this brilliant record-label. I think I might be falling in love with Omega Point Records. These
guys combine lots of synthesizers and post-punk and funny lyrics about corporate experiences (like getting hired, getting
fired, drooling over coworkers and kissing executive ass). It’s not the best release from Omega Point Records this month
and it’s surely not easy on the ears all the time, but it’s still better, more unique and original than a lot
of what comes from both sides of the electronic and punk-scenes these days. (JJJJ--)
Release date: out now
Devilinside; Volume One
Century Media
(Provided
by Target Distribution)
Like a lot
of other labels lately, Century Media also seem to have gotten a taste for the new metalcore trend that has been going on
for a while now and Devilinside is one of their signings in that department. But this is not just any band that they’ve
signed in a hurry in order to cash in an ongoing trend. Nope. Devilinside features members of Disembodied which was a band
that already played music similar to this back in the mid 90’s. And man do you understand how metalcore can be getting
bigger and bigger these days when you hear stuff like this. It’s catchy as the flu. There’s one minus, though
– there are way too many songs on this thing. They should’ve cut it down from 23 to only 12-14 – that way
this could’ve been a great CD. (JJJJ--) Release date: 23rd
August 2004
Grave; Fiendish Regression
Century Media
(Provided by Target Distribution)
Initially established in 1986 with their previous outfit Corpse these guys are some of the longest running veterans
within Swedish death metal and not for nothing, I might add, as their debut album, “Into The Grave” from 1991,
is still to this day seen as one of the most influential death metal releases from Sweden. Today, however, I don’t see
these guys as one of the most influential bands around, but rather a band that just plays along without distinguishing itself
from the other death metal bands out there. (JJJ---)
Release date: 23rd August 2004
Fission; Crater
Napalm Records
(Provided
by Target Distribution)
This is a
the new project featuring Vintersorg (of Vintersorg) and drummer Benny Haggard (also of Vintersorg). Didn’t know what
to expect, since I had no idea there was a project like this in the making, but it turns out that it sounds a lot like Vintersorg.
Not so much that it sounds like a new Vintersorg album, but still enough to wonder if it really was necessary to make this
record. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad. Actually, it’s quite good, but usually I like side-projects to
stray a little more from the original band than the case is here. (JJJ---) Release date: 23rd August 2004
Lacrimas Profundere; Ave End
Napalm Records
(Provided by Target Distribution)
When I started to listen to this album (number six from this band), I had to look
on the reverse of the album-cover again. Didn’t think that a Napalm Records’ release would sound like this. Sure
this is goth rock-metal which is quite common for the label, but this one has almost, gulp, radio-appeal. Sure the vocals
might make you want to commit suicide (not because they’re bad, but because they’re depressive...), but there’s
something about this music that could sneak them into the whole nu-goth category. But I am not sure these guys might want
to be standing shoulder to shoulder chit-chatting with Evanescence. (JJJ---) Release date: out now
Morgenstern;
Fuego
Napalm Records
(Provided
by Target Distribution)
This is a rather strange band from Germany. Their basic sound is metal, but they combine it with folk music and flutes,
clarinet and crumhorn and to top that of they also sing in German. It all comes out sounding really strange. Doesn’t
really sound like anything else out there, at least not that I’ve heard, but if you’re into Subway To Sally and
n Extremo, perhaps there’s a little chance you’ll be into these guys too. (JJJ---) Release
date: 23rd August 2004
Napalm
Death; Leaders Not Followers 2
Century Media
(Provided by Target Distribution)
So there you have it, the second album full to the bursting point with cover-tracks performed
by no other than Napalm Death. Didn’t hear the first album of this kind, but this one is surely a pleasant surprise.
I must admit, though, that I don’t know half of the bands they cover, but that’s probably because lots of them
were around before I got interested in this kind of music and probably never really got that big. But there are covers of
bands that I’d definitely like to pay tribute to myself if I played in an extreme metal band like Sepultura, Discharge,
Agnostic Front, Kreator to name but a few. Better than a lot of cover-albums lately and definitely worth having in your collection
if you’re into death metal. (JJJJ--) Release date: 23rd August 2004
NYIA; Head Held High
Candlelight
(Provided by Target Distribution)
This is the new band of former Vader-member Jaroslaw Labieniec. Yes, it’s Polish and
yes it’s death metal (to a certain expense anyway). And no, it doesn’t sound anything like Vader. This is more
like the Polish death metal scenes noisecore cousin and God knows that scene needs a little renewal, right? Fans of different
bands like Converge and The Great Deceiver might like this. (JJJ---) Release date:
out now
Peachfuzz; About A Bird
Orange Sky/Dionysus Records
This is instantly catchy power-pop heavy on sing-a-long-ish choruses and great vocal harmonies that’s also a
bit psychedelic at times. It’s cool. It reminds me of bands like The Beatles, Beach Boys, Big Star, The Raspberries
and stuff like that. If you think the power-pop of today is becoming too smooth and is loosing it’s edge, well here’s
the real deal for you sounding like it came straight out of the 60’s or 70’s. (JJJJ--)
Release date: out now
Silo The Huskie; Sons of Columbus
Tiberius Records
11 years into their career, hard working Columbus, Ohio band Silo The Huskie still know how to keep a fine line between
roots-rock, bar-rock and indie-pop. On “Sons Of Columbus” they’ve out together 12 strong tracks that might
not have much single-potential, but all in all sure as Hell make a good album as a whole. If I went to a bar tonight, I’d
like to hear something like Silo The Huskie. (JJJJ--) Release date: out now
Tiger Saw; Gimme Danger / Gimme Sweetness
Kimchee Records
After having heard the previous album by Tiger Saw, “Blessed Are The Trials We Find”, which we reviewed
in January last year, I was certain that Tiger Saw was the project of two people, namely Dylan Metrano and Juliet Nelson who
seemed to be the perfect couple. But when reading the press-release for this, their new album, I realize that Tiger Saw is
really just the project of Dylan Metrano and that he sometimes gets help from Juliet. She helps him on “Gimme Danger
/ Gimme Sweetness” as well and to be honest I find the moments when she’s accompanying him to be the most appealing
on here. But throughout I find this to be a good slowcore album and definitely a nice follow up to “Blessed Are The
Trials We Find.” (JJJJ--) Release date: out now
Time Machine; Reviviscence – Liber Secundus
Massacre Records
(Provided by Intromental Management)
Fans of progressive metal will be drooling all over this one. Having gone through a few line-up changes since the last
album - the first chapter of this trilogy in which, of course, this one is the second – one should think that there
wouldn’t be the same quality as previously, but surprisingly (or is it?) these Italians are just as strong as ever with
one of the better progmetal albums of the year. I especially dig the heavy Dream Theater-riff-like parts – they’re
delicious. (JJJJ--) Release date: out now
The Heavils; Heavilsution
Metal Blade
(Provided by Target Distribution)
Produced by Strapping Young Lad genius Devil Townsend (who has also produced the likes
of Lamb of God) and with a deal with Metal Blade, this American band already has a few cards to play from, but it doesn’t
seem to end there, because these guys are also different from other bands. They created and built their own guitars, known
as meanies, which they use when recording and playing live. Rather unusual don’t you think? Musically they combine a
bit of hardcore and metal, but still they don’t sound too much like all the metalcore bands making it big (or semi big)
these days. (JJJJ--)
Release date: 23rd August 2004
Thistle; Tired Anchor
Tiberius Records
I
can’t say that I’ve ever heard a Thistle song before I heard this CD even though they’ve been around for
six years and have released two EP’s and three albums with this one as well as having received good press from all over.
But after hearing “Tired Anchor”, which is released on the bands own label Tiberius Records, I must say that I’d
love to hear what they’ve been doing in the past, because this is good stuff. It’s everything from acoustic balladry,
90’s indie and straight-up modern rock. (JJJJ--) Release date: out now
Various
Artists; Rock Against Bush Vol 2
Fat
Wreck Chords
Punk
rock has gotten all political again and thankfully 100% against Bush. Vol 1 that came out earlier this year debuted at number
53 on Billboard’s top 200 album chart. On this compilation we get 28 tracks from major names like No Doubt, Green Day
and Foo Fighters to legends like Sick of it All, Rancid and Bad Religion as well as newer up-and-comings like Hot Water Music,
The (International) Noise Conspiracy and Yellowcard + a lot of Fat Wreck artists (The Lawrence Arms, Lagwagon, Dillinger Four,
Mad Caddies and No Use For A Name). Highlights include Jawbreakers “Chesterfield King (live) and Flogging Molly’s
“Drunken Lullabies – a song for whose video can be found on disc two alongside other videos by Alcaline Trio (way
cool, by the way), Bad Religion, NOFX and Thought Riot. There are also three comedy pieces making fun of Bush as well as six
political features. The bottomline is this: First off, if you’re into punk-rock go buy this compilation as it features
more stuff than any other comp in the shops right now and, secondly, if you live in USA don’t vote for Bush. (JJJJJ-)
Release date: out now
Single/EP’s
this week:
Infinite
August; A Loss So Dear
Ionic Records
Infinite August is Ben Walpole (vocals, keys and drums) and Mike Detmer (vocals, bass, guitar, keys and loops), while
also getting some violin and vocal help in “Secret Service” from Sophia Kostoff. This sing song EP is half classic
indie-pop and half singer/songwriter kind of stuff and it has a melancholic touch throughout that might drive some people
to shut this off, but only makes it more real for me. (JJJJ--)
Release date: out now
Marshall Star; Any Second Now (7”)
Furry Records
Here’s a two-tracker that’s quite original in its settings. They put 80’s pop, dance, hip-hop and
rock in a blender and come up with something called “time well spent listening to”. Yep, it’s different.
(JJJJ--) Release date: out now
Sicboy; 2004
Self-released
Having previously released a full-length in 2000 on Attack Records and a self-released EP in 2002 with Darius Szczepaniak
(Black Crowes, Barenaked Ladies, Sum 41) behind the production-wheels, these guys are now ready with a new four-track EP once
again produced by Darius. Their metallic sound is definitely up-to-date. It’s not something I’d like to label
nu-metal, although I hear some System of a Down in there. This is cool because this is metal that really doesn’t follow
the metal-trends of today too much and at the same time it isn’t stuck in the past either. (JJJJ--) Release date: out now
