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Halestorm - Hello, It's Mz. Hyde EP
Rock/Metal
Atlantic Records
Posted 1/24/12 7:00PM EST
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| Courtesy Atlantic Records |
With the Hello, It's Mz. Hyde EP Halestorm gives an oh so sweet taste of what
is coming from their new album The Strange Case Of... dropping April 10 right before the band hits the road
with Godsmack and Staind on the Mass Chaos Tour. The statement from Lzzy Hale the the four songs on the EP are from the
deepest, darkest, and some light parts of her soul is proven in the ferocity of her vocals on "Love Bites (So Do I)" if in
nothing else!
While "Daughters of Darkness" is one of the best feminine power songs this reviewer has ever heard, showing
the multifaceted strength and power of women so very well. And "Rock Show" and "Here's To Us" show intimate self studies of
oneself and a romantic relationship in relatable and real ways to both sexes... while still bringing the hard rocking sound
that is Halestorm.
As readers can probably tell this reviewer is a fan, so please excuse the bias; it's well earned by the
quartet. Hello, It's Mz. Hyde shows that Halestorm just keeps getting better as time goes on, as a fan and as a journalist
I'm looking forward to more than ever to The Strange Case Of... after listening to these four songs. Lzzy's vocals
are in top shape and ass kicking and instruments by Arejay, Joe, and Josh are some of their best studio work so far.
The band's sonic assault will leave with a grin like you just got lucky and make you want more!
Tracklist:
"Love Bites (So Do I)"
"Rock Show"
"Daughters of Darkness"
"Here's To Us"
Halestorm gets a 5 out of 5 for Hello, It's Mz Hyde.
Halestorm is Lzzy Hale (vocals, rhythm guitar), Arejay Hale (drums, percussion) Joe Hottinger
(lead guitar), and Josh Smith (bass guitar). For more from Halestorm hit www.halestormrock.com.
- Michael Meade
True Margrit - The Juggler's Progress
Alternative/Piano Art-Pop
Bobo Tunes
Posted 12/5/11 5:00PM EST
True Margrit delivers delivers alt-pop
with deeper indie singer/songwriter overtones, think if R.E.M. and Sara Bareilles had children that formed their own band.
Poppy and hopeful even when the lyrics of a song are covering painful areas of the human experience, but not in a fake or
nauseating way; truly a "trying to be hopeful and look on the brightside" viewpoint is conveyed through the emotional subject
matter. And of course there some songs that are just fun to listen to and hum or sing along with, calling The Ready Set to
mind in fact... even though True Margrit has been performing and recording longer (indie hipsters start writing to your favorite
labels now).
The San Francisco-based trio has a seasoned and comfortable sound, but not comfortable enough to be boring
as each member is a multi-instrumentalist. Vocals flow seemlessly and emotionally with the music enhancing them as just as
much as the instrumentations enhance the vocals.
Tracklist:
"Opposite Man"
"Fly It Like A Flag"
"Lucy"
"Syllable"
"50,000 Names"
"Emily"
"The Juggler's Progress"
"Metaphor"
"Emperor"
"Casseroles & Thunderstorms"
"Make Them Beg"
"500 Years"
"Opposite Opposite Man"
Choice cuts are "Opposite Man", "Emily", and "500 Years".
True Margrit gets a 3.5 out of 5 for The Juggler's Progress.
True Margrit is Margrit Eichler (vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar, glockenspiel), Gary Hobish (bass, guitar,
vocals, flex-a-tone), and Andrew Bacon (drums, percussion). For more from True Margrit check out www.truemargrit.com.
- Michael Meade
Iroquois Confederacy - Splitting The Sky
Rock
Unsigned
Posted 12/5/11 2:30PM EST
Iroquois Confederacy is back
with their Splitting The Sky EP, five songs from Pennsylvania-based quartet doing what they do best... rocking
out! This time around the guys have a less across the board feeling with their, this EP showcases their more grunge and blues
flavored garage rock influenced writing while throwing in a few shred style guitar solos. They still maintain their deep
and engrossing rhythms with some catchy hooks, overall this reviewer enjoyed the genre focusing of the five songs on
Splitting The Sky. Not to sound like this is a knock against The Left-Handed Peace Pipe, but it feels like
the band has a firmer grip on their sound and what they want it to be this time around.
Tracklist:
"Crazy Lady"
"Jetstream"
"I'm Bitter Also"
"Hungover"
"Brass Knuckles"
Choice cuts are "I'm Bitter Also" and "Brass Knuckles".
Splitting The Sky gets a hard 4 out of 5.
Iroquois Confederacy is Jeff Heilman (guitar, vocals), Andy Adams (lead guitar), Chris Underkoffler
(drums), and Eric Spotts (bass, vocals). For more from Iroquois Confederacy check out www.iroconfed.com.
- Michael Meade
Butcher - Welcome to The Night
Metal
Inferno Records
Posted 11/26/11 4:30PM EST
Butcher delivers a mix of old school heavy metal with powerful, gravel filled vocals. Instrumentation is
gruff but tight, some might be turned off by the radio intros and station bumps between the songs that make up the first half
of the album; but this reviewer found them funny enough to not be annoyed at the interruption to the music. The female-fronted
quartet styles Welcome To The Night as a horror concept album for the most part, introduction and epilogue tracks
reinforce this along with the radio host and news bits.
Tone is heavy and has a healthy chunk of menace to it for most of the album's songs, the others that do
not have a melancholic quality to them. These lamentation songs show off the softer side of vocalist Lil Tang's voice, which
is impressive when you consider the range needed to go down low and gravely with death grunts and then high to be almost lilting
in the sadness of the songs.
Track list:
"Full Moon (Prologue)"
"The Dark"
"King of the Hill"
"Battleaxe"
"Shockwave"
"Silence"
"Wreck'N'Ball"
"Halloween"
"Gates of Hell"
"Your Own Enemy"
"Days of Troy"
"Welcome to the Night"
"Sunrise"
"The Awakening - A Grim Reality (Epilogue)"
Choice cuts are "The Dark", "Gates of Hell", and the title track.
Butcher gets a 3.5 out of 5 for Welcome To The Night.
Butcher is Lil Tang (vocals), Joel Myers (guitars), StoneAge (bass), and Gary Sheehan (drums). For more
from Butcher check out www.myspace.com/butcherusa.
- Michael Meade
Comedy of Terrors - Satellites & Angels
Rock
Unsigned
Posted 11/17/11 12:20AM EST
Pure rock goodness is what
Comedy of Terrors delivers on Satellites & Angels; the band work elements of rock, hard rock, and metal into
the nine track album. Each song keeps you rocking out while pulling you into the song's story, and with most of them you'll
soon find yourself in engrossed in the narrative of the lyrics.
Instrumentation and vocals are tight and effective as a unit, the four piece outfit achieves the popular lo-fi
sound yet maintain a high quality to their music at the same time. The lo-fi also adds to the grizzled, hard-edge of the vocals.
Tracklist:
"Prisoner of Gravity"
"Faded"
"Send Me Back to Germany"
"What I Want"
"Diesel"
"1969"
"She Told Me"
"What Would You Pay"
"Purple Skies"
Choice cuts are "Prisoner of Gravity", "What I Want", and "What Would You Pay".
Comedy of Terrors gets a 3 out of 5 for Satellites & Angels.
Comedy of Terrors is Curt Williams (vocals), Robert Swanson (guitar), Darren Ross (bass), and
Ruppi Barnickel (drums). For more on Comedy of Terrors check them out on Facebook at www.face.com/ComedyOfTerrors.
- Michael Meade
Aldo Leopardi - Villains & Heroes
Indie/Pop/Rock
Backslash Records
Posted 11/5/11 4:30PM EST
Aldo Leopardi, indie rock 'n' roll dentist...
yes, rock 'n' roll dentist. Don't worry, Doctor Leopardi's music does not reflect his day job in the slightest. Villains
& Heroes is largely about love and self identity, now before anyone writes the good doctor off as more of the same
when it comes to indie rock; this reviewer says give this EP a chance! Lyrics and instruments are hooky and catching, the
songs also don't get caught in themselves like an angsty teenager (like so indie songs), they give their message, reel you
in enjoying them, and leave you wanting another trip to the dentist!
Rock elements are strongest in these five compositions, there's definitely indie flavor to the lyrical structure
and content, with some pop hooks for extra tastiness. Vocals are sharp and instruments sound seasoned and strong.
Tracklist:
"Love"
"Not Enough"
"My Parade"
"The Villain"
"The Hero"
Choice cuts are "Not Enough" and "The Villain".
Villains & Heroes gets a solid 4 out of 5.
Vastator - Machine Hell
Metal
Inferno Records
Posted 11/3/11 1:10AM EST
Chilean metal outfit Vastator
is back with their Machine Hell, which surpasses their last album in both intensity and musicianship. The group's
sound has a tighter, more practiced feel to it. The instrumentals do bring a Megadeth vibe to the table this outing, but not
enough that the songs aren't clearly Vastator's (if you've listened to their material before). The album's theme, though not
a concept album, examines the disparate aspects of society... while melting your face with sweet metal riffs and hooks.
The only downside to the album for this reviewer is that unlike their last outing, Machine
Hell is partially in Spanish; since I'm not fluent some lyrical content is lost to me in those songs. But the instrumentals
are just as kick ass.
Tracklist:
"Machine Hell"
"8.8"
"The Gods Give No Reply" (feat. Veronica Freeman on vocals)
"Fiend"
"X-Terminate"
"Hawker Hunter" (feat. Metal Mike on lead guitar)
"Reminiscence"
"Combustible En La Sangre"
"Punado De Almas"
"El Ultimo Grito En El Infierno"
"Caleuche"
Vastator gets a 3.5 out of 5 for Machine Hell.
Livan - Off The Grid
Alternative/Post Punk
Pumpkin Music Ltd.
Posted 10/10/11 3:05PM EST
Livan's Off The Grid focuses on issues that aren't embraced enough, both in music and other media;
including over-digitizing our lives, distance between governments and their people, and of course stand bys like loneliness
and one's place in the world, the affect of lethal drugs on lives. Livan (pronounced Lie-van) however writes all of the
above in his own words, influences can be heard of course (this can be said of all writers), but truly Livan is using his
own voice in his lyrics. Case in point, one of this reviewer's favorite lyrics from "The Silence": while you're shooting stars,
I'm counting fallen angels. The everlasting silence filled with noise."
Vocals and instrumentation are tightly knit in a way that has been lacking in come lately Post Punk outfits
for a while now. Livan, as the band and the individual combines the best elements of themselves with the best of their genre
in a great amalgamation.
Livan is one of the best British exports that has landed in TLR's mailbox this year! Livan's live performance
(see the TLR! Live Review on his performance opening for Alice Cooper) is the only to top his studio work.
Tracklist:
"Undead"
"Little White Lies"
"Meet Me On The Other Side"
"The Silence"
"Sad"
"King of The World"
"The Joker"
Choice cuts are "Undead", "The Silence", and "King of The World".
Livan gets a 4.5 for Off The Grid.
Livan is Livan (vocals, keyboards), Will Crewdson (lead guitar), Damon Wilson (drums), and James Bailes
(bass guitar). For more from Livan check out www.livan.co.uk.
- Michael Meade
Margin of Error - What You Are About to Witness
Deathcore
Posted 8/22/11 6:05PM EST
Margin of Error ups the ante in deathcore with their 2009 album What You Are About to Witness.
A concept album, each song is written from the point of view of a serial killer, the resulting ten songs are every bit as
dark, violent, and foreboding as a "sane" mind would expect them to be. The album captures the violence and pain of a killer's
mind well, at least from a writer's standpoint. As the listener, you can also feel the sense of fear that accompanies meeting
some of the real monsters the world has in it. This album deserves the "Mature Content" warning label, and this writer supposes
the controversy it's subject matter brings with it; though this reviewer applauds any band or artist that can make people
think outside their self-imposed boxes. Even when that "outside" is uncomfortable.
Combining elements of deathcore, melodic dark metal, and some electronica the music has
a depth that unfortunately many non-fans would not expect from a deathcore band.
Pacing is hard, fast, and lethal. Instrumentation is tight, as a unit Margin of Error is exemplary;
many deathcore outfits could definitely learn from their approach to the music in both tone and musicianship. Vocals are the
right kind of terrifying to fit not only the genre but the subject matter of What You Are About to Witness.
Tracklist:
"Time To Suffer"
"We Are the End"
"The Shape of Hate"
"Your Life in Playback"
"The Struggle"
"What You Are About to Witness"
"Cut the Throat"
"The End of Worth"
"Innocent Victim"
"Where I Reside"
Margin of Error is Travis Meyers (vocals), Tyler Daffron (guitar), Joe Estes (bass), and CJ
Wilcox (drums). For more on Margin of Error check out www.marginoferrormetal.com.
- Michael Meade
Adrian English - Innerplanetarium
Metal
Shredguy Records
Posted 8/9/11 6:00PM EST
Adrian English is back with his new album Innerplanetarium and he goes above and beyond his last
outing A.D.D.! If it's possible it sounds as though his playing ability has improved and expanded, there a more flowing
quality to his guitar playing now; much as this reviewer hates to admit it, I can't find a better word for it. It's almost
as though English has achieved a, excuse the hippie-ish phrasing, oneness with his instrument and the music. By no means does
that mean English has lost any of his badass metal attitude on any of the thirteen songs on Innerplanetarium, there's
just a deeper aspect to his sound than before.
Pacing, feel, and overall mood are just what each aspect should be on an instrumental shred metal album
even on the softer songs (that's a relative term here folks). Whether you're a shred-head or not this definitely an album
that comes recommended by TLR!
Tracklist:
"Viper"
"Innerplanetarium"
"Awoo's Beach House"
"Ten Ways"
"Transcendence"
"Solidarity"
"Sinistar"
"Velvet Rain"
"Paranormally"
"Whats Under You're Shred"
"G-Theory"
"Harmony Creek"
"Closure"
Choice cuts are "Viper", the title track, "Transcendence" (love the funk undertones), "Paranormally", and
"G-Theory"
Adrian English handles all guitar duties (lead, rhythm, and harmony), and is joined by Ryan Morrow (bass
guitars), Mike McDavid (engineering, keyboards, and sampling), and Chas Cantrell (drums and percussion). With special guests
Dannyjoe Carter (1st main solo on "Solidarity"), Mike Abdow (3rd main solo on "Solidarity" and 1st and 3rd main solos on "G-Theory"),
Toby Knapp (2nd and 4th main solos on "Whats Under You're Shred"), and Sean Baker (2nd and 4th duet harmony and arpeggio solos
on "Paranormally").
- Michael Meade
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