REPOST: THE DEVIL YOU KNOW: INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INDEPENDENT

This Article was originall posted on The Gauntlet and I really appreciate them for giving me the platform for this article. If you would like you can go here: http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/1225/27523/The-Devil-You-Know-Internet-Social-Media-and-The-Independent and give it a look or read below. If nothing else go give The Gauntlet a look abnd support their site! http://www.thegauntlet.com/

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW: INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INDEPENDENT:

If I were in a band, I would be madly in love with the Internet and everything that it could do for me and my band and the endless possibilities that lie within it. Or would I? The Internet is a fascinating and intriguing place for all things music and it is a bastion of big hopes and big dreams for the up and coming music star. It allows for the talented and the not so talented to have a stage that can reach the masses and allow for their music to be heard throughout the world, whether we like it or not. The aspiring musician can showcase themselves with just a few clicks of the mouse and have an audience wider than anything that we have ever before imagined.

The use of MySpace and now Facebook has allowed musicians to bring their music to a much wider audience and allow people who have never been able to sample their music the opportunity to do so. According to Dean Tompkins, the bass player for the unsigned band Mammoth Thunderpower from Costa Mesa , CA, “We have a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Bandcamp, MySpace, Soundcloud, Reverb Nation, basically everything.  Look, we all know that monkey’s like bananas, but I want to make that monkey get that banana in the easiest way possible, if you Google Mammoth Thunderpower, you’re going to find us.”

The World Wide Web has given a global voice and audience to the aspiring musician and if you can make it you will have the ability to reach across borders, shores, and even oceans, but is it too much? Can the independent musician or band or distributor handle the demand of being popular or mainstream? Is the cost worth the hassle in the long run? Is it better for the independent to stay close to home and not try to keep up with the big dogs? Dave Hall the owner of Handshake Inc., a boutique film and video production company and music label and co-runner of music label Mutants of the Monster, states “The Internet is a great tool and can be super fun and that is how I approach it.  I cannot think of one instance in which being online hinders what I want to accomplish artistically or commercially.” This sentiment was echoed by Ryan Crossthread (aka Ryan Blasphemour) the owner/CEO of Blasphemour Records an independent record label, Crossthread explains “I have noticed [customers] will get more involved.  Some people really love music and what we are doing.  They will go out of their way to buy everything you put out, spread the word, and tell you they appreciate what you are doing.  I love that aspect of social media.  It gives you that extra drive to keep on doing what you are doing.”

Sure, we all know that any exposure is good exposure, but for the sake of the life of a band is this really true? Was it easier before there was 24/7 access to your favorite band or is that just part of one’s rise to success and excess? Crossthread warns “There are so many ways to promote through the internet such as webzines, forums, Facebook, etc, but there are so many people doing this, it comes off as over-saturated and pushy.”

With the rising postal costs is a band or distributor willing to take a hit to move merchandise and where is the line? Crossthread’s take on the postal increase is “Unfortunately when rates go up, we have to pass that expense on to the customer.  I like to think that for a metal label, we have a hardcore mentality and try to keep our rates extremely affordable.  So typically our pricing is affordable even with shipping increases.” For an independent band like Mammoth Thunderpower, “prices just go up that’s all.” Tompkins explains “We don’t charge for shipping a shirt in the US. $15 bucks and that’s it, we charge the minimum for shipping international, we aren’t big enough for it to matter. [Plus] if someone is buying from out of the country then they usually understand what the rates are going to be.”  

It is hard enough as a band to write music, record, and tour, let alone try and keep up with the merchandising demands of one’s fan base. But it goes with the territory.  If you want to be big then you have to work for it.

But is there a point at which an independent can say: Enough! We need time for ourselves!? Or is that never an option? Dean’s perspective is “like it or don’t, this is how it is. The internet is magic. You don’t have to play the game this way, but then you just need to be content playing music in your garage and not getting new fans. It’s just how it is!” This statement was reiterated by Dave Hall, “You have to make the internet your bitch, cuz if not, it’s going to make a bitch out of you.  You can’t be afraid or resentful or brush it off: it’s here to stay, it can be used for some great stuff, and it’s only as bad or as good as you make it…”

 Social media websites like Facebook and Twitter have given us fans an almost instant access to our favorite performers. In most cases the performers are more than happy to have this type of social relationship with their fans and it shows on how they interact on these social websites. The social media is a place where a band or musician can pimp their own music and merchandise without the exorbitant advertising cost while also being able to take advantage of the sites “share” or “retweet” functions that their supporters can use to spread the word to all of their friends and fellow “tweeps”.  

According to Hall,  “Having a Facebook page is essential I think, in terms of staying in touch with and communicating to your fans, customers, friends, enemies – anyone you may want to engage with.” Hall continued, “I tweet and post to Facebook all day long.  Sometimes twice or three times regarding the same item.   I use it to announce new products, news, anecdotes, anything and everything I can think of I say on social media” However; Crossthread cautions about Facebook from an independent perspective, “They want to charge you for every little thing they can.  Even if you have 1000 people that have liked your page, maybe 150 of those people will be exposed to your post, unless you pay to promote it.  Want more likes?  Pay us. Want more people that like you to know what you are doing?  Pay us more.”

But with this instant exposure comes the need for instant gratification and if a fan buys something from you they expect to get it within a reasonable time frame. What is considered reasonable is a question for another day but how do these independents handle the demand that this type of medium presents to them? According to Hall “The fans have easier access to you so it forces greater accountability.  If I get an order and don’t send it out right away I get emails from people- that’s good for someone like me”

The normal person like me uses the Internet everyday for fun, information and shopping, downloading music while the independent musician, label, and distributor are using it to survive; says Hall “The internet allows a small business owner to engage directly with the people he or she wants to sell to and I think that is a great thing.  I try my best to spread the launch of various releases across all forms of social media because it does in fact lead to sales and you can’t argue with the results.   It has to be done tastefully and if possible in tandem with publicity through various media outlets and sources.”

The struggle to create ones identity and presence on the Internet is just as important and one of the biggest challenges facing an independent as resources have to be spread out to survive. Sure there are reasons why the Internet can be a hassle; some of them stated above but as Dean Tompkins, Dave Hall, and Ryan Crossthread have told us it is a much greater benefit than any issue it could ever cause. Hall summarizes this subject of Internet presence astutely: “It doesn’t mean the internet and social media defines your existence, or that if you do create an online presence it will magically make you successful…like all things ‘virtual’ you have to have the real life skills and abilities, drive, passion and ambition to succeed…if you are succeeding or trying to succeed in real life, your internet presence will reflect that.”  

So I think, in essence, we have the answers to the questions asked above. While it is not the end all be all for the independent artist/distributor/label, the Internet is probably the most important weapon in their arsenal. The small hindrances that 24/7 access adds to an independent is miniscule compared to the benefits they receive from the World Wide Web especially in the realm of social media. With the instant access to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and all of the other platforms independents now have a better chance to make a name for themselves and stay independent if that is what they choose, but with these tools it gives them more of a chance to survive.

 

Writer’s Note: Ryan, Dave and Dale where gracious enough to take part in this article via email correspondence and I want to thank them all for their support. Links to their social media pages and websites are below:

Dave Hall-Handshake Inc: Twitter: @Handshake_Inc  Facebook: www.facebook.com/handshakeinc Website: www.handshakeinc.com/  Bandcamp: http://handshakeinc.bandcamp.com/

Dean Tompkins-Mammoth Thunderpower: Twitter: @MThunderpower  Facebook: www.facebook.com/mammoththunderpower Website: http://mammoththunderpower.com/ Bandcamp: http://mammoththunderpower.bandcamp.com/ Reverb Nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/mammoththunderpower

Ryan Crossthread- Blasphemour Records: Twitter: @blasrecs Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blasphemour Website: http://blasphemourrecords.com/ Reverb Nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/label/blasphemourrecords

Friday Finds, Features, and Foibles

Good day all,

Alliteration is my friend!

It has been a while since I have been able to post anything on here, the main reason being that my real job is taking up a majority of my time with a pretty significant project and that has left me little time for myself. As the line from The Shining goes “All work and no play make Justin a dull boy!”. Regardless I have a little time today to add to my posts and have decided to do so. It has been so long though that I almost forget what we were talking about…

Recent music finds:

Here is what I have been listening to over the last few weeks:

Inter Arma: Sky Burial – This is a fantastic Doom/Sludge/Progressive/Psych album from this Richmond VA band. It is an album that I have had a tough time turning off as every time I listen to it there is a new layer that is peeled off in the music. I also suggest that you read Phil Johnson’s (@PJSLUDGE) interview of Inter Arma’s Trey Dalton over at Echoes and Dust (@echoesanddust) here is the link: http://echoesanddust.com/2013/03/interview-trey-dalton-from-inter-arma-3/

You can find Inter Arma’s album here: http://metalbandcamp.com/2013/03/inter-arma-sky-burial.html

Suicidal Tendencies: 13 – This is a great album harkening back to the old-school days of thrash. Mike Muir and company comeback after 13 years and put out a fantastic album that is worthy of the Suicidal moniker. As I said via Twitter a little while back, all I need is a skateboard and my Vans and I am set! Buy this album, you won’t be disappointed!

Victor Griffin’s In-Graved: Here is a solid EP from the former (current? can anybody really know) member of Pentagram that is long on the Sludge/Doom sound that I have recently come to embrace more and more. This is a solid group of songs and the musicianship and song writing is spectacular. I just wonder how many kids know that the song “Teacher” is a Jethro Tull cover? Would be an interesting study in demographics!

Warbeast: Destroy – This is the second album from this band (which I did not know, thought it was their debut…so I had to do some research), anyway I had heard their split with Phil Anselmo and really wasn’t that impressed but found that this album is really worth a listen. I feel that there is a really strong Pantera feel to this album both in the music and the song structure and that is OK! In fact it is really great to have a band that can capture the aggression and feel of Pantera that Pantera’s former members have yet to re-capture. I have to assume that Phil has something to do with this, no matter what though this is an album worth your time.

Kongh: Soul Creation: Another spectacular sludge/doom/psych album. This album was released earlier this year but I have just recently been able to give it a proper listen. Needless to say but it is phenomenal and should be purchased by you immediately if you are even remotely interested in this genre of heavy metal.

Don’t forget to also check-out my Bandcamp collection at http://bandcamp.com/justinpetrick You will be able to find some really cool stuff on there that I have found via Metal Bandcamp or from the folks that I follow via this site.

Also remember to check me out on Twitter @ICHeavy I am always looking for new friends!

Finally don’t forget to check out my article over on The Gauntlet http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/1225/27523/The-Devil-You-Know-Internet-Social-Media-and-The-Independent They were kind enough to post it and I am kind enough to pimp it…I will eventually post it here on the blog but for now go visit The Gauntlet and check out everything else they have to offer.

I think that is it for today, remember to say Hi in the comments…

Until Later, Peace!

Lurch

 

COME ON IN AND COVER ME

Good day all,

I have been a fan of Anthrax since the beginning of their existence when Fist Full of Metal first hit the stores. I have always found Anthrax to be one of the few metal acts who really do not take themselves too seriously and allow their music and personalities to shine in whatever they do. Even when they take on a serious issue in their music i.e. “Indians” they still aren’t over preaching, if you will, to their audience but trying to have as much fun as possible while trying to teach just a little bit. This as far as I am concerned is the way a lot more bands should approach music. Take a look at their EP I’m the Man, there is nothing but fun on that EP and the fact that they even made this EP and that song in particular is pretty impressive for a thrash band, especially one in the 80’s and 90’s.

So this week Anthrax released a new EP just in time for their headlining spot on the Metal Alliance Tour that starts Saturday (March 23) in Las Vegas. The new EP Anthems is an album of cover songs from the likes of RUSH, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, Cheap Trick, and Journey among other bands that they pay homage to on this EP. I have listened to the album and my opinion is it is a great addition to the history and importance of these songs and it is a great way to hear Anthrax do something new in terms of songs they have not put down on a record but the problem I have with the album is that they didn’t do anything that would make you think anything differently of the songs themselves. They basically made a carbon copy of the songs and really, as far as I can tell, didn’t put any type of “Anthrax” spin on any of these songs. These songs, although well done, are the original songs that Anthrax decided to record. They will make for good encores as they are playing the entire Among The Living album and needed something to end with but there is nothing that screams out Anthrax’s personality. That is what I have an issue with; if you are going to do a cover, do something with it that makes it your own. A band doesn’t have to recreate the entire song or re-imagine it but at least add something of your own to it and not just copy the original. Too much of that already goes on!

I love a great cover song and some bands have made a career out of doing them without the general public even knowing about them. Take a look at Six Feet Under who have done a great job of making the covers of Motley Crue’s “Bastard”, Sabbath’s “Sweet Leaf” and Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” sound like a death metal version of the song. They kept the rhythm but they took the steps to make these songs truly an interpretation of what Six Feet Under is about. Even though I am not a Six Feet Under fan, I appreciate what they did with these songs, I have heard the originals and I liked them, show me something different if you are going to cover another bands music! I hate to use this as an example as it was more comical than good but even Pat Boone recorded a heavy metal covers album and even though it was big band/jazz it at least was a re-interpretation of the original music and you have to be impressed with that.  By the way the name of the album was In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy, I bet a lot of you didn’t know about this album and are now intrigued!   

Anyway, you see my point right? I love Anthrax and all of the music they have put out but they could have at least tried something new with some of these songs. They did it with “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” on the I’m The Man EP, why couldn’t they do it here? I don’t want to stop you from buying an album from any band, especially Anthrax who I think is currently the hardest working band in metal, but they could have at least given us something a little different with these songs or even put a little more personality into them. The covers on this album are really good and will make for a good listen, but as far as I am concerned; once was enough.

Until Later, Peace!

Lurch

Friday Four…No More!

Good day all,

Another Friday and another Friday Four Pack? NOPE! I have decided that I will no longer be doing the Friday Four Packs as I have found that trying to find and review albums everyday has become more of a chore for me than fun. Plus there are plenty of places to go and find great metal music reviews that I don’t have to add my two cents to it every week. What I have noticed is that trying to do these reviews every week has made me miss out on the actual entertainment value of the music and forced me to make listening to music seem like work. I would try to dissect the nuances of an album or a song and not really listen to it for enjoyment purposes and I feel I have missed a bit. I still plan on having an end of year list and there is still a review or two I am working on but overall I think I am going to leave the reviewing to the guys and gals that excel at it and I am going to stick to more of my opinion and article writing.

Speaking of article writing please check out my latest article now on The Gauntlet:The Devil You Know: Internet, Social Media, and The Independent http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/1225/27523/The-Devil-You-Know-Internet-Social-Media-and-The-Independent  I really enjoyed working on this and am going to get ready to work on a follow-up if I can find the interview subjects and time.

Since I won’t be doing  the Friday Four Pack anymore I think I will just list the bands I have found that I am currently into and maybe a quick blurb about each. Whether they have been released this week or earlier I will try to leave something for everyone every Friday. Here is this weeks music choices

Thrawsunblat: Wanderer on the Continent of Saplings http://metalbandcamp.com/2013/03/thrawsunblat-wanderer-on-the-continent-of-saplings.html

Zed: The Invitation http://zedisded.bandcamp.com/

Cojones: Sunrise http://cojones.bandcamp.com/album/sunrise-2009

Hatchet: Dawn of the End https://www.facebook.com/hatchetofficial#!/hatchetofficial

Also go and check out my bandcamp site at http://bandcamp.com/justinpetrick I have a lot of great music on there and don’t forget to check out my wishlist as well.

Like I said earlier there are a lot of great reviewers out there and I will link to some each week so that you can still get your fix of new music and maybe get a taste of something new. For instance look at this weeks new releases courtesy of MSN Headbang http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/headbang-blogpost.aspx?post=1681f842-a1ee-4fdb-8659-55f29a16cada  As well as About.com Heavy Metal Crew http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/tp/New-Heavy-Metal-Album-Reviews-March-12-2013.htm These guys really know how to give you the most out of a music review. I would also make sure you check out their Twitter pages as their writers tweet out a lot of great stuff throughout the week and most work for multiple outlets which will give you a wider variety of music to choose from. Additionally, if you are a metal fan you should be checking out Metal Bandcamp http://metalbandcamp.com/ on a regular basis as they have both the music and the reviews, also follow them on twitter to keep up with everything they have going on.

CHeck out this post I wrote back in September about these websites and these reviewers: http://culturemisnomer.wordpress.com/?s=metal+ed

I hope I have not disappointed anybody but I am pretty sure you don’t come to my blog for the reviews…and I don’t blame you!

Until Later, Peace!

Lurch

 

 

 

 

Instrumentality

Good day all,

As I sit here and listen to the EPs of the band Vasquez I can’t help but be astonished of their ability to make what is basically noise and turn it into an outstanding display of musicianship and music. As I listen to these songs I try to isolate certain sounds so I can understand what they would sound like alone. In a particular song Vasquez drummer Jon Adams hits the cymbal in a constant strike that by itself sounds like noise. The type of noise that my 4-year-old son makes on his drum set. But together with the music of Ciaran Mckenna and Sean Quinn a remarkable and beautiful song is created. This type of talent floors me!

I think I am also a little more impressed by how instrumental bands create music more than bands who use singers. One reason is it seems when you are using a singer and are writing a song you are telling a story and the lyrics can be created before the music or vice versa, or they can both be created together but an instrumental band has to be able to tell the story without the words, only the music. Maybe instrumental bands write the lyrics only to discard them after they have a firm grip on the story and use their ability to let it flow from the instruments in a coherent form. I don’t know, maybe someone can tell me.

I also think that writing an instrumental piece as a bridge or segway for an album with songs that have vocals is different from an instrumental album. Like I said an instrumental song could be an intro, outro, bridge to a story that the band is telling and that non-vocal song fits the mood. However, an instrumental band has to be able to tell the story with their music alone and that to me seems like a daunting task. I can barely keep two coherent thoughts together writing this post let alone a whole album of songs that work so well together without any words. 

I personally do not listen to a lot of instrumental only music, I am someone who needs lyrics so that I can follow and understand what and artist or group is telling me but I have found that I get lost in Vasquez’s music and sometimes can’t pull myself out. I have had similar experiences with bands in my past that seem to make more instrumental music than vocal, but it seems that a majority of these artists were solo artists and it was their personal vision they where sharing with the instrumental songs. Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd to name just a few. When these guys play an instrumental song it gets my attention, and yes I do realize that they are all guitar virtuosos as well, not many drummer led instrumental bands.

But I guess the thing is that if you can make me care and understand what you are doing with a song and make me feel as if I am part of the song,  you are doing what you set out to do. Vasquez did that to me today and the other artists I have mentioned have done it to me in the past. It seems a unique thing to create an extraordinary song without lyrics that makes people feel something that they wouldn’t ordinarily feel. I know that this is a majority of classical music but I am talking about our favorite genres here, to me it is important to give those who create great stories without words a bit of my attention and gratitude. If you don’t listen to instrumental metal or hard rock you should really give it a try! I think like me that you will be mighty impressed with what you here and how the story is told.

Know I have to look into this whole Black Metal Instrumental thing…

Until Later, Peace!

Lurch

An Open Letter To Eddie Trunk

Dear Eddie,

I have noticed from your Twitter feed that you will soon be getting ready to record a new season of That Metal Show for VH1 Classic. I have to tell you upfront that I am a fan of your shows, including both of your radio shows as well as TMS and look very forward to the start of the new season.  I think what you are doing to make hard rock and metal relevant is a great benefit to those of us who have tried to carry on this torch for so long. I appreciate what you do and who you take the time to interview. I think your crusade against the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is honorable if not a bit useless, and I believe that in your heart you believe you are giving your fans the best show(s) possible; and for that you should be commended.

 I follow you on Twitter and try to catch your radio show as much as possible. I record TMS every season and look forward to what you have in store for us each week. I do not listen to your Sirius/XM show anymore because I couldn’t justify the cost for poor programming,(not your show but everything else) but what I did hear while you were on Boneyard was enjoyable and again full of interesting information. It is just too bad that Sharon Osbourne’s issues with you had to force you to a different station.

I personally find what you do for hard rock and heavy metal to be very important. Your knowledge of these genres is significant and your willingness to pass this knowledge and information on to your viewers and listeners is both admirable and noble as most would not understand the importance of bands like Riot and UFO to the music we listen to today without you.  You are an important part of the history of this type of music because you KNOW this music arguably better than anyone else and when I listen to your radio shows I am amazed at your knowledge and the people you know, have worked with, are friends with, have interviewed and still reach out to for information and entertainment for your fans. I guess in a certain context you are an important ambassador for our favorite genre of music and we should be grateful that someone like you is around to fill us full of your never-ending wisdom.

That being said I have some issues I would like to bring up to you before you start taping the next season of VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show. As I said before I do like the show but like all good things there is always room for change and maybe even a little tweak here and there. I would hate to see the show change completely but there are certain aspects that need major tweaking in order for us fans, that have been with you since the inception of this show can continue to keep watching.

I am just going to go ahead and get to my biggest gripe first and that is the two bozos you have sitting next to you on the stage every episode. I know that they are your “besties” but all they really do is bring the show to a grinding halt anytime they talk. I understand that one of the things that you are trying to do on the show is accentuate the banter between the three of you and have a solid debate on different topics in the metal and hard rock world but they are just not up to par with your knowledge and it is completely obvious and slightly embarrassing for them and uncomfortable for us as we watch. I like Jim and Don and I think that they are really funny comedians, hell I have even purchased their albums, but they have no business being on the stage with you for this show.  Every time either one of them looks in to the camera and reads off of the teleprompter it is embarrassing for them and us and should be embarrassing to you. I know they are your friends but you certainly do not need them when interviewing the bands and musicians you have on the show. Use them in the beginning for the “Top 5” and then send them away for the rest of the show, or at least until “Stump The Trunk”, which is another issues but I will discuss that later. If the sole purpose of having the two of them on the stage is to get under your skin for a laugh? Then that plan is failing, I find it more embarrassing for them to be in that position than the funny they actually bring to the show.

Now, about “Stump The Trunk”; can you kill this bit already? We get it, you know just about everything there is to know about hard rock and metal. We also get that it is amusing when you get frustrated and act like a spoiled child when the answers are a bit different from what you know, but enough already! This bit has been played out and it is time that you and the writing staff and the producers come up with anything else than this bore. What would be better for us as fans and viewers would be more actual interview time with the artists and bands and less time on this peripheral stuff like “Stump The Trunk”, “The Showdown”, etc…Sure it was entertaining for a while but enough is enough after this many seasons of the show it is time to change things up a little bit…for the good of the show. As I have said the knowledge that you have and share with us fans is admirable as well as astonishing but using it in the context of actual interviews instead of a venue for Don and Jim to piss you off would be better for all of us. It is a bit annoying that the interviews last for an 8 minute segment and we get bits for the rest of the hour. We tune in not only for your wisdom but because we care about what our favorite hard rock and heavy metal artists have to say.

So there you have it Eddie, my opinions on your show and how I as a fan would love to see you and VH1 Classic revamp it before the start of the next season. I hope you don’t  find anything I have suggested here to be offensive as I am just laying out what I believe would help your show and what I have heard some of my other friends in metal tell me they like and dislike as well while we discuss TMS. I wish you the best of luck on this coming season and hope for many, many more as long as you can stand it, but don’t you think it is time for a change?

Sincerely,

Justin Petrick

Friday Four Pack 03-01-12

Good day all,

Another Friday, another Four Pack! No need for further adieu…let’s get it on!

 

Mustach:  Sounds Like Hell, Looks Like Heaven

This album is everything that I love about heavy metal. There isn’t a note, a riff, a solo, a cow bell that is wasted. This album by Mustach (the first I have heard from this band) is nothing short of a traditional metal classic from beginning to end. There are very few bands that I listen to from the first song to the last and believe that every song on the album is a winner. I had this experience with Dawnbringer and Gypsyhawk this past year and I have it again with Mustach! I thought that the Audrey Horne album was going to be a tough one to beat for me but this album blows it out of the water. It is one of the most solid albums I have heard in a very long time.

Mustach have found a combination of the old and the new and combined them with an expertise and solidity that brings the power and beauty of every song to the listener without fail. Plus they are not afraid to enhance what was once a classic sound and make it their own whether it is Metallica’s “Sad But True” riffage in “Dead Again” or the Coney Hatch attitude of “Morning Star” this album is all strength and no filler. The crusher “Cold Heart Mother Son” starts off with a riff that harkens back to Megadeth’s Symphony of Destruction not a carbon copy but homage. The song itself moves into an Ian Asbury like vocal performance by Ralf Gyllenhammar that makes the song that much stronger. It is very rare to get this excited by an album, but this is a stone cold instant classic as far as I am concerned. A little odd for me to see that this band comes out of Gothenburg, Sweden, usually one would see a melodic death metal band as opposed this fantastic piece of traditional metal. There really has to be something in the water over there to produce this many great metal acts, I mean seriously! Love heavy metal? Buy this album! The only thing I do not like about this album is that it is only a little over thirty minutes long! I need more Mustach! And Cow Bell!

 

Darkthrone: The Underground Resistance

Some may think that the review for this album should have come before Mustach because Darkthrone have been around a whole lot longer than most bands and they are the quintessential kings of the metal underground. In the end maybe it should have but it is the album that I liked the best or felt the most relevant that gets the first spot in this weekly post and in this case it is the spectacular journey through the past and present that Mustach served us. That is not to say that the new Darkthrone album isn’t good, but in my opinion it is not as good as Mustach. A couple of things I have to make clear, I have never been a major fan of Darkthrone, yes I have listened to them and yes I like some of their stuff but in the grand scheme of things I have not intentionally sat down and listened to their catalogue of music. One of the reasons is I have issue with anyone who takes a pro-Nazi, Aryan, stand on anything, and I find it doubly offensive when a band uses their notoriety in the metal underground to spread this agenda. But alas, Darkthrone has removed themselves from that arena and stuck with what I guess we as metalheads believe is the straight and narrow (is that possible in metal?).  

So as for the album itself the one thing I really like about it and the thing that struck me on the very first note of the first song “Dead Early” was how grimy the production is, for me this is a good thing.  When I heard that first not all I could think of was Motley Crue’s Too Fast For Love album and how the sound was so familiar and warm. I love the way that Darkthrone has basically genre-jumped throughout this whole album, it is kind of like a extreme metal Quantum Leap episode where they go from punk, to death, to black, to NWOBHM in a matter of six songs. It is a schizophrenics’ dream! I like this album for the most part but I am not jumping up and down with excitement over what Darkthrone has delivered like some other reviews that I have read. Part of this is probably because I am not in the Darkthrone fan club or a listener who is totally familiar with all of their music but the other part is that this album is good but not great to me. While it has it’s high and low points there is just something on the album that makes it forgettable to me. Which is weird because I usually love anything that calls back to the golden age of heavy metal and that grimy sound we love so much?

 

Ruins: Place Of No Pity

Death metal, black metal, it doesn’t matter, here is another offering this week from a band that has decided to do its best impression of the past. It is not a terrible album but the obvious Celtic Frost homage can become a bit much at times and it takes away from the overall enjoyment of this album. It has fine qualities about it, the production is good, the vocals are understandable but one comes out of a listen to this album with the feeling that you forgot to listen to the music while it was on. This is quite a feat with a death/black metal album. I was actually listening to the album on my way to work this morning and found myself lost in thought enough that I had to remind myself that I was listening to this album. It starts off well enough and weaves its way through the clichés of the black/death world but after the second or third song they all start sounding the same and it becomes a bit mundane. I think that there is definite promise for this band if they put out more music, but I think they have to find a sound that is more their own.

 

Karnya: Coverin’ Thoughts

OK so it seems that every album I have written about today has some type of relationship with the past and this album is no exception. Karnya’s debut album is chocked full of 70’s progressive sounds but with an updated production value and a singer who can handle the large task that they set in front of themselves. Karnya seem to allow the music to lead them as opposed to the other way around. They have written tight songs and incorporated the sounds of the past with an updated tight progressive, hard rock atmosphere that makes this album one I can listen to over and over again. When the opening track “Mechanical Mixtures” starts one gets the feeling of Dream Theater’s debut album, but that is not a bad thing because it was the only Dream Theater that I really enjoyed plus Karnya doesn’t get lost in that sound. They have produced an album that is original, tight, and well conceived and should be enjoyed by anyone with even a small interest on what good progressive metal/hard rock can sound like.

 

That’s it folks, I hope you enjoyed this post and let me know what you think of these bands in the comments. I have said it before and I will say it again, I love hearing from you…

Until later, Peace!

Lurch

Forget Me…NOT!

Good day all,

Wow! A couple of big things happened last week in the metal world, huh? Dave Lombardo is not touring with Slayer right now, that’s big! Plus Bison BC was dropped from Metal Blade Records, to me that seem big. But hey it is the music business so things are bound to be exciting most of the time anyway. But let’s talk about these two events and how or if they have an effect on how we will continue to listen to and/or support these bands.

First Slayer, this situation seems a little weird to me. If you have read Dave Lombardo’s Facebook posts there seems to be an issue with the way and amount he is being paid by the band as a member. Additionally, it seems that the management of Slayer is trying to keep all of this business in-house and not in the public, but alas, thanks to Dave’s post we all know that there is a financial issue that he is not comfortable with. This isn’t the first issue we will see with a band member and management but at this point can Slayer really go on without the likes of Jeff Hanneman and Dave Lombardo? Sure they can, I saw Slayer this past summer at Mayhem Festival and Gary Holt did Yeoman’s work taking the place of Hanneman, leaving the majority of the solos to King and Dave was as superb behind the kit as always but if Guns and Roses can continue without, you know, 99% of the original band then Slayer can continue without Lombardo behind the kit, they have done it before.

How similar does this situation sound to the Bill Ward issues that Black Sabbath has? Either being a drummer makes you a bit more aware of how much you are getting paid, or they are all prime donnas that think they deserve more than they do…I mean, don’t they know that they can just as easily be replaced by a machine! (That was sarcasm folks). I ask this question honestly, do bands and/or their management think that drummers are just ignorant bimbos that they can take advantage of when the time seems right? Additionally, are drummers the smartest member of the band? I mean why is this all of a sudden becoming common place to hear about a disgruntled drummer who thinks they are being screwed out of money? Obviously there has to be some merit to Lombardo’s claims as he has been touring with the band for years and this is the first time there has been an issue, at least that we know of, so the claims can’t be completely baseless right?  Whatever the case, I hope they get it worked out because Slayer, the almighty evil ones, are turning into a parody of themselves.

As for this deal with Bison BC two quick thoughts, 1) I didn’t even realize they were on Metal Blade’s label until I saw their announcement that they are no longer with Metal Blade. And that is not to take away anything from Bison BC, there latest album was excellent and I really like the band, but I pay attention to what Metal Blade does and the artists on their label and for some reason I never really noticed Bison BC. But that points right to thought number two: They seem like they are happier to be free if I interpreted their announcement correctly. So if that is the case good for them and I wish them as much success as possible on their own. This announcement does not surprise me though as I follow Metal Blade on social media and they do a great job of pimping their artists and as I said earlier I don’t recall ever seeing anything on Bison BC and their record just came out a few months ago. So I say “you go Bison BC and move your career on independently and as YOU see fit!”

So thanks metal world for a couple of interesting things to talk about today. Hopefully Slayer can get this thing worked out with Mr. Lombardo and it doesn’t turn into a weird Bill Ward\Black Sabbath situation where they pull in another washed up, talentless ’90s era drummer from an overrated band. I would hate to see the legacy of Slayer tarnished over this. And Bison BC? You go and show the man what you are made of; I have no doubt that there are plenty of labels who want to sign this talented band if they even want that.

Until Later, Peace!

Lurch

Friday Four Pack 02-22-13

Good day all,

It is once again that time for the Friday Four Pack! Sorry about last week but computer issues impacted my ability to not only get the post written but to actually post it in a reasonable time. But it is OK because I am back and I have some leftovers from last week. So it is not like you missed anything. As always, I hope you enjoy today’s installment of the ALL MIGHTY FRIDAY FOUR PACK!

Mothership:  Mothership

True story: I was sitting in my house last week listening to this new album from Mothership and I thought to myself “Self, this band would be a great compliment to Gypsyhawk on a tour.” And what happened next? I know you won’t believe this, but I checked out my Twitter timeline and there it was, a Tweet from Gypsyhawk announcing their upcoming tour, and who is the support for this tour? Mothership! I swear on a stack of bibles (both holy and unholy if necessary) that this is a true story.

 But outside of my amazing prognostication let’s talk about Mothership and their fun and reasonably strong new album. This self titled musical fare is a fun stoner album that allows the band to really work within their southern rock roots and that is one of the better things about this album. They allow that influence from southern rock’s past to help lead and guide this album without depending directly on that influence. There is enough originality and individuality within the songs and the band that this isn’t a bunch of left over songs from Lynyrd Skynyrd but some fun and rocking songs that allow for the band to showcase some originality and songwriting strength. If I have one issue with this album is that they sometimes get to far into jam band mode and the result is a bit sloppy but not enough to not recommend this album to fans of Gypsyhawk and the stoner/trad metal set.

Suffocation: Pinnacle of Bedlam

A fact I have not hidden in past reviews is that I am not the biggest fan of death metal yet when something comes out that is absolutely worthy of praise I am not afraid to pile it on. That is what we have with the new Suffocation album; this is a solid death metal album to the highest level and at this time the best death metal album so far this year, yes, I know it is only February. The biggest thing that I like about this album is how incredible the musicianship is for this type of music. This is not technical death metal but plain old, old-school death metal in the vein that would make Chuck Schuldiner proud.

The guitars on this album are non-stop but the solos are taught and to the point with some various timing changes that make for a more interesting listen. Another reason I have never been a big fan of death metal is because of the vocals, I like to know what a vocalist is singing about and I also like to sing along but in death metal that is hard to find. Frank Mullen’s vocals, both understandable and greatly enunciated allow me to be more a part of the music without having to dig for the lyrics to understand what I am hearing. Suffocation has been one of the best bands in this regard in death metal, Aeon being a band that has taken a similar approach. I can honestly say that I would recommend this album to all of my death metal friends, although they don’t need me to tell them about Suffocation, as well as those who have even an inkling of interest into death metal. This is the band that you start with and more than likely you will be spoiled. Plus the album cover is sick cool! 

Manilla Road: Mysterium

The 16^th album from this band is a bit of an enigma to me. I really want to like it and the mix of NWOBHM, speed metal, traditional American metal is right up my alley but there is something about this album that doesn’t stick with me. The songwriting is strong but I think that the vocals are solid but to me, and to me alone, I just don’t feel that they fit with the music as much as they have in the past. This album musically is also a bit of a bore, it doesn’t seem to go anywhere outside of the scope of the individual genre that each song seems to fit into. As far as I can tell with my listens, these are just rehashes of old and used up riffs, melodies, and solos. The ballad “The Battle of Bonchester Bridge” starts off as a Judas Priest Stained Class intro into a Skid Row I’ll Remember you/18 and Life solo and guitar fills. Normally a good thing, but in this case a bit out of place for the subject matter of this album. This band has not made it very far out of the underground of metal and I am sure that they are happy being the masters of that domain, and this release is not going to do them any favors in the mainstream like other releases of theirs have in the past. The songs on this album go from being strong speed metal songs to boring ballads to forgettable thrashers. I have no problem with using the past to create a great old-school traditional metal album but in this case it seems that instead of enhancing what has already been mastered in the past they just copied an pasted  to create an average album, which is a shame because I was really excited for this release.

 

Vasquez:  EP426

I am not the biggest fan of the instrumental album as I find that I need vocals in my music to help me stay focused on what I am listening to at the time. If a band opens or closes an album with an instrumental intro or outro I tend to zone out and miss the purpose. However, I was recently introduced to an amazing trio of musicians that make up the band Vasquez and their latest EP EP426. I was a little hesitant to put this album in the four pack as it is usually reserved for the heavier bands but I think it fits well as they have a very heavy prog-rock feel to them in the style of Rush. But as this may be an influence Vasquez has a sound that is distinctively theirs and their ability to make the sounds they make is one of the better features of this EP. For a three-piece the mountain of sound that they produce is very impressive and the songs are some of the finest I have heard in some time. The talent of this band shines through with each and every song and the production is just rough enough that the polish is faded enough not to be a clone. There is a garage type feel to what these guys do and that makes this instrumental EP that much more interesting and focused, which in turn allowed me to be focused. This is not a hard rockin’, heavy metal release but more of a superb break from the sonic metal beating from a band that has the talent to do great things. Check out their new EP here: http://vasquez.bandcamp.com/album/ep426

Enjoy everyone!

Until later, Peace!

Lurch

 

…and on the seventh day there was SABBATH!

Good day all,

Wednesday was the 40th anniversary of Black Sabbath’s debut album and to most the birth of heavy metal. I can get behind that because lets face it, Black Sabbath are the godfathers of metal and it all started with them and the release of Black Sabbath. With that distinctive doom sound and the unmistakable and unimitateable voice of Ozzy Osbourne heavy metal was conceived through the copulation by Marshall stacks and distortion and released through the birth canal of the devil. Take a minute and think about where the world of heavy metal has gone since then. It is amazing what a band from the small steel town of Birmingham England where able to do to the history of music and the creation of heavy metal.

So using the release of Black Sabbath as the starting point how has the last 40 years treated heavy metal and what has happened within the genre? The evolution of metal is something to be amazed at if you ask me, the genre has grown so much since that initial and most important Sabbath album. Sure, sometimes it is hard to tell where the line between heavy metal and other genres of harder rock meet and/or separate but overall I would have to say we are in great shape as fans of this genre. Think about all of the bands from our youth that are having extraordinary resurgence over the last few years: Testament, Anthrax, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Flotsam and Jetsam, Destruction, Kreator, Sodom, among many others and hey even the godfathers themselves, Black Sabbath are releasing a new album. Now look at all of the great up and coming bands that will be carrying the torch of metal for the next generation: Holy Grail, Gypsyhawk, Avenged Sevenfold, Striker, Dust Bolt, and again many, many more. Being a fan of heavy metal, or heavy music in general is really exciting right now!

I think one would find it hard to argue the fact that Black Sabbath really did lead the way to the heavy and that the genius that is Tony Iommi was the force behind what a band can do if the guy making the moves is strong. Sure there were a ton of personnel changes in Sabbath and from all that is written about them Iommi may be hard to deal with on a long-term basis but even without knowing Ozzy personally I have to believe he is a bit difficult to deal with and if not him definitely his wife. Regardless Iommi and company were able to take the loss of Ozzy and turn it into a gain with the hiring of the great Ronnie James Dio. Seriously! What other band has been able to pull a vocalist switch like that and succeed like Sabbath did when they fired Ozzy and hired Dio? I can’t think of many who have done the switch and achieved the same type of success.

So as we celebrate the beauty that was Black Sabbath the album as well as the band think about how far our favorite genre of music has come in the last 40 years. We are a lot better off than most genres of music, at least we don’t have a Justin Bieber or a One Dimension, what we have is a genre that is expanding and benefiting from the advancements of technology and ingenuity! So horns up to the great Black Sabbath on this anniversary of their groundbreaking album and Happy Birthday Heavy Metal, we love you all!

Until later, Peace!

Lurch