Tag: album

Categories
Album Reviews Buzz Chart Music Reviews

Anberlin

Anberlin
‘Vital’
[Universal Republic]

To call this a masterpiece does not even justify Anberlin’s sixth studio album ‘Vital’.

It seems there is in fact much more to Anberlin than head-banging, mosh pit worthy breakdowns and rowdy screams based around the lyrics of heartbreak and growing up. The band make a stand for this with songs ‘Other Side’ and ‘Someone Anyone’. ‘Vital’ is more mature. It’s sophisticated. It channels their music into a different dimension. With frequent Innerpartysystem meet Nine Inch Nails synth effects pursuing ‘Vital’ down a path of more modern musical styles.

Vocalist Stephen Christian describes it as ‘youthful, energetic energy’ saying its their most aggressive record yet, which is agreeable when listening to the eleven track album. The piercing first song can safely represent ‘Vital’ as a journey of nostalgia and tension. Continuing this adventure with ‘Little Tyrants’, Stephen takes the opportunity to define his dynamic tone, from the fiercely monstrous aggression in the chorus straight through to the melodic, more delicate verses. Yet its not just vocal power, let’s not forget the overall great effort from the band who indulge in supreme guitar riffs and paramount beats in the flawless bridge.

The album is far from a bore, rattling the airwaves with ‘Intensions’. The exploding arrangement involves a crunchy guitar intro darting into an apocalyptic synth melody. Lyrics: ‘I want a love that I don’t deserve/I want the gold that I didn’t earn/I want a fire that will never burn’ are fundamentally catchy. What makes ‘Vital’ really glisten and flourish is their seventh track ‘Desires’. The veteran musicians craft this by exploring the unknown, experimenting with challenging rhythms and shaping a melody nothing less than extraordinary.

Only Anberlin could come up with this recipe. The essence of experts coming together to create something refreshing can be heard in ‘Type Three’. Unlike the rest of ‘Vital’ it’s almost a ballad, the instrumentation laying the foundations to a melody that tells a story. It’s evident they pushed the boundaries and every song emphasises their treasure like talent.

Anberlin maximise their music ability and as the album artwork suggests it does blow everything out of the water. Possibly saving the best until last is ‘God, Drugs & Sex’ captures the epic sound of Amberlin as a whole. This track also features guest vocals but this time from US singer songwriter Christine DuPree, who has previously appeared on the New Found Glory- ‘Coming Home’ album.

‘Vital’ is an essential album and will hopefully inspire change and further creativity in alternative music.

Words: Jenny Chu

Categories
Album Reviews Buzz Chart Music Reviews

I Call Fives

I Call Fives
‘I Call Fives’
[Pure Noise]

If you feel as if your life is lacking some fun pop punk turn your heads to I Call Fives. The quintet from New Jersey left their distinctive sound tickling everyone’s taste buds with their debut album ‘First Things First’ back in 2008. Two years later came the release of ‘Bad Advice’ and now they’ve unveiled their self-title album.

‘Late Nights’ is a confident start to the eleven track album. From the bold, crunching riffs to drums that are full of power providing a true dose of pop punk. Frontman Jeff Todd’s tremendously lively vocals are fitting for such genre. The energy is undeniably contagious and should find its home to all pop punk fans record radar.

Setting I Call Fives apart from other bands in the genre is how they have managed to maintain a certain power throughout their band, despite a change in singer. Jeff has so far made a splendid first impression with this release. ‘Obvious’ seems like the perfect sing along with chorus lyrics ‘When it all comes down to the facts/you can’t admit when you’re wrong’.

From first listen ‘Back Up Plan’ is at the heart of I Call Fives style, bringing attention to a greatly memorable melody. Fourth track ‘The Fall Guy’ stays true to their pop punk roots, avoiding a mature style that the likes of All Time Low and Hit The Lights have recently adopted, yet what still exists with I Call Fives is a genuinely raw sound that the five guys have mastered throughout this record. There doesn’t seem to be any intension of pleasing the mainstream radio stations or setting their sights on playing big production shows at arenas across the globe, it still feels sincere.

‘Stuck In ‘03’ and ‘Enemy’ are a tornado of energy which never gets boring. The lyrics remain stubborn, youthful and fun with lyrically the best chorus emotive pop punk has to show:
‘Sometimes you just can’t wait
, I’m more than happy to not fit in (with your friends), 
I hope you don’t make it home
, Someday that you’ll face it, 
Cause the world doesn’t spin for you’.

If there’s anyone still waiting to be won over, ‘Two Sides Of Every Story’ can guarantee to do the job. With an irresistible intro, layered vocals and an effortless tougher edge, I Call Fives are carrying the flame for a genre they are taking lead of. Closing songs ‘Regrets and Setbacks’ and ‘Sleep Well’ have the potential to stay stuck in many an existing fan’s head, they’ve also got the potential for them to spread their wings and gain interest from a wider audience.

Words: Jenny Chu

Categories
Album Reviews Buzz Chart Music Reviews

Between The Buried And Me

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
‘The Parallax II: Future Sequence’
[Metal Blade Records]

The Prog Metal warriors, Between the Buried and Me return with a dominating new full length, ‘The Parallax II: Future Sequence‘, in which they truly came, saw and conquered, yet again.

The LP starts off with ‘Goodbye to Everything’, a subtle introduction, acoustic guitars, clean vocals with harmonies, a very peaceful start. This isn’t something they have often done before, but it has you wondering what else is to be expected. Soon enough, we’re back on track with ‘Astral Body‘ which has a more familiar shredy-prog metal feel about it; with soaring clean vocals over some amazing melodic guitar work, this is the definition of what Progressive Metal is. It’s intricately written, and performed by these virtuosos.

‘The Parallax II: Future Sequence‘, has a very ‘Astro Physics’ feel about it, with space aged synth patterns delicately placed in-between thunderous arpeggio riffs. The album is filled with tiny interludes where they drift off into jazz rhythms or an odd clean section, even strange retro computer game style sounds in the midst of growled vocals and pure shred action.

The album is varied in song styles, there are some shorter ones which remain instrumental and melodic, and there are the thunderous tracks such as ‘Silent Flight Parliament‘ and ‘Lay Your Ghosts to Rest‘.

Between the Buried and Me have returned with a great album and potentially one of the best of the year. It slightly different perspective with a somewhat concept feel about it. Not many stand out bands these days in Progressive Metal, but who needs others anyway when there is BTBAM, they more than fill the void. They do Prog Metal so well, there’s no need real to elaborate. Between The Buried And Me are just masters of their craft. All those years listening to bands like Dream Theater has rubbed off on them, with a development of spell bounding musicianship displayed through this album.

Words: Arif Noor

Categories
Music Music News

P.O.S. ‘We Don’t Even Live Here’ Album Details


Punk philosopher, rapper and co-founder of Doomtree, Stefon Alexander, aka P.O.S has announced details of his latest record ‘We Don’t Even Live Here’ which will be released via Rhymesayers Entertainment on November 05th.

The album features a star-studded line up with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Lazerbeak, Cecil Otter, Mike Mictlan, and Sims joining in for the ride. The album was taken care of by all-star producer and mix engineer Andrew Dawson who has worked on platinum releases from the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and Fun.

The new album has been gracing our stereo for some time and it’s beyond good. Read our thoughts on Bumper.

P.O.S. discusses his work in more detail in the vid below. The track listing is as follows:

01. Bumper
02. Fuck Your Stuff
03. Where We Land (feat. Justin Vernon)
04. Wanted/Wasted (feat. Astronautalis)
05. They Can’t Come (feat. Sims)
06. Lockpicks, Knives, Bricks and Bats
07. Arrow To The Action/Fire In The Hole
08. Get Down (feat. Mike Mictlan)
09. All Of It
10. We Don’t Even Live Here (Weird Friends)
11. Piano Hits

Categories
Album Reviews Buzz Chart Music Reviews

White Lung

WHITE LUNG
‘Sorry’
(Deranged)

‘Sorry’? Don’t make me laugh. Judging by this record (the band’s second), Vancouver quartet White Lung aren’t afraid to hurt your feelings and their raw, blistering punk rock attack will rub salt into your wounded heart. Strangely enough, you’ll thank them.

Belting through ten songs in less than 20 minutes, the pace is Ramones-relentless, but they never sound less than convincing. Vocalist Mish Way could match most typical punk screamers for power, but her piercing howl has the clarity and melodic edge that lingers long in the memory after ‘Sorry’ has run its course. Guitarist Kenneth William is no slouch either, whether scratching out a brittle melodic line on ‘Bag’, an ace spidery riff on ‘The Bad Way’ or unleashing bursts of screeching sonic warfare on ‘Those Girls’.

The overall impression is of a mix of early 90s alt-rock and riot grrl (Mish Way is a self-confessed Courtney Love devotee) fed through an 80s hardcore blender; the end result being as addictive and uncompromising as you could hope for. Granted, they’re not offering up anything particularly new, but they certainly infuse these old sounds with fresh rage and vitality. Check them out – you won’t be sorry either.

Words: Alex Gosman

Categories
Music Music News

New Deftones Songs and Album Artwork Revealed

Deftones have announced the track-listing for their forthcoming album “Koi No Yokan” which is set to be realeased 12th November 2012. In addition, Deftones have posted two new songs from the record, ‘Tempest‘ and ‘Leathers‘. Both are available to stream below with ‘Leathers’ also available for FREE download if you follow the Soundcloud links.

The band have also revealed the artwork for the record, seen to the right. The track listing is as follows:

KOI NO YOKAN
1. Poltergeist
2. Romantic Dreams
3. Leathers
4. Swerve City
5. Entomb (Dazzle)
6. Graphic Nature
7. Tempest
8. Gauze
9. Rosemary
10. Goon Squad
11. What Happened To You?

Categories
Music Music News

Funeral For A Friend Announce Sixth Studio Album

Funeral For A Friend Promo 2012Much loved Welsh band Funeral For A Friend have announced details of their sixth studio album, ‘Conduit’.

Front man Matthew Davies-Kreye reveals the album is about what being in a band, and Funeral For A Friend, means to the members…

“Five people on a stage, a conduit for the message and the music, delivering that to people who want to listen in, be a part of whatever it is that we’re doing and being involved. It’s purely about delivering the message. After 10 years of being a band, we see how much what we’ve done has effected people who care about our stuff. Whether it’s lyrics or whatever, these songs transcend us and become something more to a lot more people. It sounds lofty I know but that’s how it feels to us when we meet the folks who dig our band and who treat these songs with so much love and respect. It blows our minds constantly.”

‘Conduit‘ will drop on 28th January 2013 through Distiller Records. The first single from the album ‘Best Friends And Hospital Beds’ will be released on 12th November following the band’s appearance at the now sold out Vans Warped Tour UK date at London’s Alexandra Palace on 10th November.

Categories
Music Music News New Releases

Stream Converge Album In Full

Converge-All-That-You-Leave-Behind-Artwork-CrossfireIn preparation for 2012’s most anticipated metal/hardcore album of the year, Boston’s Converge are streaming their 8th studio album, ‘All We Love We Leave Behind’ in its entirety via Youtube (embedded below).

The album has been spinning on the Crossfire HQ stereo for sometime, and let us tell you now, its intensely heavy. No one quite channels aggression in the same way as Converge. Front man Jacob Bannon comments:

“All of our albums are emotional but I feel this is our most potent album to date… Success to me is creating something that’s moving and fulfilling and I truly feel both of those things when I listen back and experience this album from start to finish.”

‘All We Love We Leave Behind’ will be released October 8th via Epitaph Records (vinyl on Deathwish). Fans can pre-order the album here. Converge will be performing at the following dates:

NOVEMBER
25th, London @ Koko
26th, Birmingham @ O2 Academy 2
27th, Colchester @ Arts Centre
28th, Glasgow @ Classic Grand
29th, Manchester @ Academy 2
30th, Dublin @ The Button Factory
DECEMBER
1st, Brighton @ Concorde 2

Categories
Album Reviews Buzz Chart Music

Propagandhi

PROPAGANDHI
“Failed States”
Epitaph

Breaking News; I do not have my ear as close to ground as I used to, having failed to register that Canada’s Propagandhi recently released a new album, and it’s on Epitaph. So, having spotted this by chance in a high street music chain, whilst dodging a downpour, I duly stumped up the asking price.

I was a relatively late starter to Propagandhi, with their first 2 albums barely registering on my radar. I had them down as just-another production-line ‘Fat (Wreck)’ band. My conversion came with 3rd album “Today’s Empires, Tomorrow’s Ashes” which hit me like a jet plane. The union of Thrash Metal, Hard Rock and banging Hardcore, played out to a seriously intelligent and impassioned radical-political agenda, won me over. Learned my lesson. Have been onboard ever since.

Like all great confrontational music, you do not stick on a Propagandhi album, and then get on with something else, whilst the ‘tunes’ idly hum in the background. No fucking way. You soak up the finely crafted (rampaging) music, and give your full attention to the lyrical scripture.

“Failed States“ ruminates not just on basket case countries in faraway places, where punks have their heads shaved by religious intolerants, and lesbian footballers are raped by men to teach them a ‘lesson’, but also closer to home, in our own free and pleasant lands, where life is not always so peachy, and it’s important to take a stand. And all this to a riotously furious soundtrack of precision executed music that veers from tender layered moments, to balls-out jackhammer Thrash/Core ultra-heaviness.

For my money, possibly their strongest album to date. Dyna-fuckin’mite.

Words: Pete Craven

Categories
Music Music News New Releases Preview

New Crystal Castles Material

Electronic duo Crystal Castles have announced their next record (III) will receive a global release on November 5th and is the first of their full-lengths to be produced entirely by Ethan Kath. The band have also revealed the album’s artwork.

After performing it live at Reading Festival, new single ‘Wrath of God’ was aired on Radio 1 by Zane Lowe on Wednesday 26th September. ‘Wrath of God’ and ‘PLAGUE’ (both from ‘III’) are now available to stream below and on the band’s Soundcloud.

Make sure you catch Crystal Castle’s dynamic live show as they hit the UK this November.

NOVEMBER
22nd – BIRMINGHAM Institute
23rd – NORWICH Norwich U.E.A.
24th – LONDON Brixton Academy
26th – GLASGOW ABC
27th – LEEDS Academy
28th – MANCHESTER Academy