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Blue Delusion - Ab Intra
Acoustic/Experimental/Indie
Unsigned
Posted 7/2/10 2:40PM
Sullen and defeated but slightly hopeful in the same breath, Blue Delusion's Ab Intra does
not cover up or glance over the hard or low parts of life, it takes them head on and embraces them. But it is never fully
conquered or driven to complete hopelessness, at least not enough to stop getting out of bed.
Lyrics conjure images of life in a small Midwestern town, particularly on "Run Away", and feeling
trapped within it; relatable for anyone that has grown up in a small town anywhere.
Music is a mix of indie acoustic and some experimental synth work, but the album never loses
it's indie and quality to the electro sounds.
Track list:
"La Pluie"
"Sunlight Will Burn"
"State Of Affairs"
"No Means To The Ends"
"Run Away"
"True Love Is Hard To Find"
"Shadows In The Graveyard"
"Fade Away"
"Anthem"
"Burlington"
"Osceola Ave."
"Towers"
"Le Fin Du Chemin"
Choice cuts are "Run Away", "True Love Is Hard To Find", and "Towers".
Blue Delusion gets a 3 out of 5 for Ab Intra.
- Michael Meade
Michael Abdow - Native Alien
Metal/Progressive
Shredguy Records
Posted 5/16/10 2:30PM EST
Abdow's compositions are epic and emotional, taking the listener's mind to the greatest heights of imagination,
while still able to tug the heart with certain chord progressions. Make no mistake though; this is still an album of string
punishing, kick ass shred metal! Abdow's speed and precision are incredible, start to finish of every song is never off time
by even a millisecond.
Performance is consistent for the whole of Native Alien, Abdow really creates songs (layered and
complex) with his shredding skills. Many shred guitarists are forgetting how to tell stories or evoke emotions with their
music, losing that aspect of music in technical skill and speed, but Abow retains it all and uses it all to great results.
Track list:
"House of Shimti"
"Savage Garden"
"Eurasia"
"Tell Me Why"
"Bleeding Dry"
"Monologue 11:11"
"Truth and Consequences"
"Tat Tvam Asi" (live)
"Redemption '04"
Choice cuts are "Savage Garden", "Eurasia", and "Truth and Consequences".
Michael Abdow gets a 4 out of 5 for Native Alien.
Michael Abdow was on all guitars and programming for Native Alien. Guest musicians were Jon Morency
(bass, innovation), Matt Lamagna (drums on tracks 1, 4, 5, and 6), Colin Conway (drums on tracks 2, 3, and 7), Tom Kopyto
(guitar solo on track 1, 3:57-4:14), Drake Descant (keyboard solo on track 2, 2:04-2:24), Kenneth Paul Benda
(vocals on track 3), Tony Whalen (vocals on track 5), Ed Dupont (drums on track 8), Rick Thompson (keyboards on track 8).
- Michael Meade
Skull Fist - Heavier Than Metal
Metal
Unsigned
Posted 5/13/10 1:35PM EST
Skull Fist brings the glory days of heavy metal back to life with Heavier Than Metal, combining
the best elements of Motley Crue, early Guns and Roses, and Judas Priest in hard and fast metal awesomeness! Pace is driven,
vocals are belted, and instruments flawlessly tight and tasty.
If you love the best American metal had to offer in the 70s and 80s, as well as the best of
the NWOBHM; get ready to travel to the Great White North because Skull Fist is what you need to be listening to.
Track list:
"Sign of The Warrior"
"Heavier Than Metal"
"Ride The Beast"
"Blackout"
"No False Metal"
Choice cuts are "Sign of The Warrior" and the title track.
Heavier Than Metal gets a 3.5 out of 5.
Skull Fist is Alison Thunderland (drums), Jackie Slaughter (guitar), and Sir Shred (guitar).
For more Skull Fist check out their Myspace.
- Michael Meade
Le Baron Vampire - Baruch
Metal/Post-Hardcore
Sums Records
Posted 4/29/10 4:30PM EST
Dark, foreboding, and sinister metal is Le Baron Vampire supplies on Baruch. Their sound falls
between black metal, for tone and feel, and hardcore for vocalization; while in this gray area between two very hard genres,
Le Baron Vampire retains a very melody laden sound. Granted the melodies could have been composed by Vlad The Impaler but
it is melodic nonetheless.This adds a very appealing melancholy to each song, a lmost like Edgar Allen Poe's works read with
dark metal.
That said you'll never doubt the hard edge of Baruch. Le Baron Vampire has crafted one of the best
post-hardcore albums this reviewer has heard in a long time.
Pacing is hard, fast, and melodic; with even the melodic parts keeping your head banging. Vocals, as stated,
are hardcore and vicious, even during the more melody driven compositions a predatory air is present. Instruments match vocals
in power and drive, flowing in seemless and unified musicianship.
Track list:
"Coyote Versus Machete"
"Saloon Bizarre"
"Astro Zombies"
"The Statues"
"Bullet Dozer"
"Herz, Knie, Staub"
"Hellsinki"
"Baruch"
Choice cuts are "Coyote Versus Machete", "Astro Zombies", and the title track.
Baruch gets a 4.5 out of 5.
The Lausanne, Switzerland based 5 piece Le Baron Vampire is Dave Schlagmeister (drums, vocals), Jakkob Wierdmann
(guitars), Matoslav Axwielder (guitars), Valentino DiCabillo (bass), and Renzo Especial (vocals). For more Le Baron Vampire
check them out on myspace.
- Michael Meade
Snew - We Do What We Want
Rock
Snew Music
Posted 4/24/10 6:20PM EST
Snew is back and channeling AC/DC and The Stooges with all their might! We Do What We Want
is what The Stooges would've sounded like with Bon Scott on vocals, the party rock flows like a raging river seemlessly
from one song to another in a ten song bash. Vocals are solid and electric, backed by excellently hard instruments that would
drive a bar to destruction in a glorious blaze!
Pacing doesn't give you a rest... but you won't care as you'll have to force yourself to sit
still from dancing and thrashing to Snew's signature sound, a sound that is best when speakers are turned all the way up.
Lyrics are a perfect blend of living your life for yourself, partying, drinking, fighting, and hooking up just the way hard
party rock should be.
Track list:
"We Do What We Want"
"Feedback And Distortion"
"Private Stash"
"Risking My Life"
"Get Loud"
"Knock It Out Of The Park"
"Power Pack"
"Pick Up The Ball"
"Who The Hell Are You"
"Shinebox"
Choice cuts are the title track, "Private Stash", "Knock It Out Of The Park", and "Power Pack".
Snew gets a solid 4 out of 5 for We Do What We Want.
Snew is Curtis Don Vito (vocals, harmonica), Andy Lux (guitars), Cat Tate (bass), Mark Ohrenberger
(drums), and featuring Bobby Owsinski (keyboards). For more Snew check out their website and myspace.
- Michael Meade
Lena's Baedream - Memo - love chronicles
Alternative/Rock
Zetafactory/Venus
Posted 1:50PM EST 4/18/10
Lena's Baedream is a Parma, Italy based five piece rock outfit. Their sound is very influenced by 90s alternative
rock, but to the point of losing originality; Lena's Baedream is definitely their own entity, lyrically and in composition.
Instruments are tight and show how secure a unit this band is, lyrics are original even where subject matter
is known territory (love and the problems as well as joys of it). Vocals are delivered on equal footing with the instruments;
strong and engaging.
Memo - love chronicles sports one cover song, "Missing" (originally by Everything But The Girl),
Lena's Baedream has rearranged it as an awesome rock ballad and is quite possibly the best cover of "Missing" to date.
Track list:
"Chewin' Razorblades"
"Equal to 0"
"Missing"
"Lover"
"Message to Jolene"
"Dawn (I learn)"
"Attitude To Cry"
"You Got Pills, I Got Speed"
"Wormhole +"
"D."
"Overture"
Choice cuts are "Chewin' Razorblades", "Missing", "You Got Pills, I Got Speed", and "Overture".
Lena's Baedream gets a 4.5 out of 5 for Memo - love chronicles.
Lena's Baedream is Nicola Briganti (lead guitar, backing vocals), Cristian Ferrari (vocals), Gabriele Anversa
(drums, percussion), Carlo Alberto Morini (rhythm guitar), and Jacopo Montali (bass).
For more Lena's Baedream check out their myspace.
- Michael Meade
Walter Prez & Kelly Birtch - She Has Risen
Rock/Acoustic/Folk
Rabbit Fever
Posted 3/17/10 4:30PM EST
Prez's joint album with Kelly Birtch leans a bit more heavily on the electric side of instrumentation,
but lyrics retain the folk-rock storyteller style that Walter usually employs. The mix fits well, Birtch's style on lead guitar
complements the lyrical content of the songs, as well as Prez's rhythm work on guitar and bass.
Cindy Jackson's vocals are a nice addition too, her soft, but strong, vocalizations contrast
yet enhance Walter's deep, gravely vocals very well! Pacing of She Has Risen goes back and forth between slower coffee
house rock speed and harder rock n' roll style. This keeps the album from having a singular mood to it, but this reviewer
likes when an album moves around the emotional spectrum staying away from redundant odes to lost and dying love, happiness,
new love, anger etc.
Track list:
"Rock n' Roll Has Risen Again"
"Teenage Sex Machine"
"Outtasight!"
"Goodbye My Summer Love"
"You Wear Those Eyes"
"The Dangerous Type"
"Franny"
"Holy Land"
"The Wrong Kind Of Love"
"Control Freak"
"You'll Come Back As One Of Them"
"Vanish In The Snow"
"Carapace"
Choice cuts "Rock n' Roll Has Risen Again", "The Dangerous Type", and "Vanish In The Snow".
She Has Risen gets a 3.5 out of 5!
She Has Risen features Walter Prez on vocals, rhythm guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion.
Kelly Birtch on lead guitar (electric and acoustic), and percussion. And Cindy Jackson on vocals.
-Michael Meade
Blackwater James
Blues/Rock/Southern Rock
Blacklist
Posted 9:34PM EST
A reviewer from another publication was quoted as saying "... they don't add anything new" to their genre
of rock. While technically true it can also be said, and damn well meant, that Blackwater James is giving a much needed shot
in the arm to American hard rock!
Blackwater James takes the best elements of AC/DC, The Black Crowes, Free, Buckcherry, early Guns N Roses
(before they became a bloated Axl and a shitty backing band), amongst other greats and them roaring into the 21st century.
Heart-felt power ballad or party rock anthem, Blackwater James is a solid band of musicians, as stated they take what defined
some of the best hard rock has to offer and made it their's.
In that, they have forged their own path and identity using
the guidelines laid down by the best, with the potential to be ranked up there right beside them.
If you want to remember what real rock with a southern flavor is in a time of emo and rap/metal fusion deluge,
then this reviewer highly recommends you check out Blackwater James.
Track list:
"All Fired Up"
"Midnight Train"
"Scandalize"
"Roses & Rain"
"Taste"
"Stand Up"
"Stone Cold"
"Sick Generation"
"Wake Me"
"Rock Steady"
"8 Letters Gone"
Choice cuts are "All Fired Up", "Midnight Train", "Stone Cold", and "Wake Me".
Blackwater James gets a rock solid 4 out of 5 for their self titled album!
Blackwater James is Chris James (vocals, guitar), Deanna Passarella (guitar), Josh Burns (bass), and Todd
Schlosser (drums). Check Blackwater James out at www.myspace.com/blackwaterjames.
- Michael Meade
Walter Prez - Midsummer Lady
Rock/Acoustic/Folk
Rabbit Fever
Posted: 8:53PM EST
Midsummer Lady is Walter Prez's second full album, originally released in 2006. Walter
the complete one-man band here, pulls all writing duties as well as vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, keyboards,
and percussion! As usual Prez does it all with his signature style and never misses a beat.
Midsummer Lady while not as strong as a whole as Witchman and Good Energy
(Prez's latest release with his band The Awesome), it is still a solid album worth every second of listening.
Lighter in disposition overall then Witchman, Midsummer Lady does sport a few bluesier
songs like "Poor Leroy" (though humorous, there is a clear blues inspiration in this song) and "Cemetary Street".
There are also the historically rooted "Tom Quick The Indian Killer" and "Bridgiet Bishop Will Have Her Revenge on Salem Mass",
and humor in "Cockpit" and "Dirtbag".
Again Prez's sound is a combination of rock and folk with elements of blues evident throughout
most of his compositions.
Track list:
"Jimmy Page"
"Burning Highways" (instrumental)
"Witching Hour"
"Poor Leroy"
"Cemetery Street"
"Midsummer Lady"
"Cockpit"
"Comet"
"Tom Quick The Indian Killer"
"Dirtbag"
"Bridget Bishop Will Have Her Revenge on Salem Mass"
"Military Playset"
"Nightsky"
Choice cuts are "Jimmy Page", the title track, "Dirtbag", and "Bridget Bishop Will Have Her
Revenge on Salem Mass".
Walter Prez gets a 3 out of 5 for Midsummer Lady.
- Michael Meade
eENIK - Oddomatic
Rock/Progressive/Experimental
Unsigned
Posted 3/2/10 9:30PM EST
eENIK is attempting to bring the avant garde back to rock music, but unlike the many that have failed in
that aim eENIK is going about it the right way. Their experimentation with blending and cross-pollinating genres and styles
is great! Rarely are rock/metal centered bands able to pull off fusions as seamlessly tight as found on Oddomatic; jazz,
soul, Latin, rock, metal, powerpop, and even some punk influences and melodic styles can be picked out from the incredible
mix.
eENIK is all their own in terms of identity, but at times they are reminiscent of The Mars Volta, Live,
and Tool, amongst other greats, in their sounds and vocalization. But definitely in an influencial way as opposed to a copycat
fashion, and that is always a plus when seeking and finding originality like eENIK's.
Pacing runs the gauntlet from groove driven to hardhitting to, as the band says of their "melodica", schizophrenic.
Track list:
"Animals At Play"
"Just For Men"
"My Kudge Axin"
"Passive Attack"
"Lazerblasts and Lace"
"Raging Waters"
"FM For Spearmint Children"
"Perfek Contak"
"Fat Bees"
"It's Panama, Y'all"
Choice cuts are "Animals At Play", "Just For Men", Passive Attack", and "Lazerblasts and Lace".
eENIK gets a solid 4 out of 5 for Oddomatic.
eENIK is Craig Laubach (vocals, synth, sampler), Blas (bass, vocals, synth), Luke Thomas (guitar, vocals),
and Jon Rizk (drums). For more from eENIK check out www.eenik.com and www.myspace.com/eenik.
- Michael Meade
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