Tuesday, 30 December 2008
((Catch Up))
Friday, 26 December 2008
((A Gift From Me To You))
So there we have it folks. Christmas is gone and new years beckons, Im frightened of what the new years brings people and what its leaving behind... An array of truly great albums. This here is a list of the ones that were damn good but didn't make top ten. I recommend you at least listen to these bands if not buy the albums.
Monday, 15 December 2008
The 10 0f 2008 Part.2
Friday, 12 December 2008
The 10 0f 2008 Part.1
Saturday, 6 December 2008
((Worship))
Thursday, 4 December 2008
//Behold//
I seem to attract odd bands at the moment and the one I'm about to introduce is no exception.
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Haunts - Haunts
Sunday, 23 November 2008
News From The World Of John 5
John 5 has been keeping quite for the past few months but it seems the rule of the bus applies, You wait for ages and 2 come along at once.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Producers With Computers - Volume 1.
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Mr.Oizo - Lambs Anger
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Destroy The Runner - I, Lucifer
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Bring Me The Horizon - Suicide Season
Friday, 26 September 2008
Rolo Tomassi - Hysterics [Joint Reveiw]
It takes a force of 2 to review an album as mental as this. We are of course talking about 'Hysterics', the debut album from Sheffield based Rolo Tomassi. It's hard to believe their widely recognised self-titled EP was released two years ago, as the band themselves are still pretty young. Now with their first full length, they can really show what they're made of - and they haven't disappointed. Previous releases were on up and coming label Holy Roar, home to the likes of Gallows, Dananananaykroyd and the now defunct I Was A Cub Scout. But this was released on Hassle, where Rolo Tomassi truly are the cat among the pigeons. And the pigeons are getting destroyed.
The bloodbath begins deceptively with the politely titled "Oh, Hello Ghost'. Eerie synth noises lure you in, as singer Eva Spence begins to haunt with a soft lullaby. But when the bassline joins her, you know that something terrifying is coming. It breaks open 1 and a half minutes in, with heavy guitars and crashing drums. Schoolyard chants come in, with help from brother James Spence. Then with 30 seconds left, Eva's demonic growls make their first appearance with "When you come to point your finger you'll find three are pointing back". Yes, we had to check to booklet. It's an epic opener. A highlight for both us has to be 'Abraxas', coming on like a full horror movie, in just 2 minutes 20. Orchestral jabs greet the breakdown as furious synth and a crash cymbal completely alter the tempo. It's amazing to hear, and makes you wonder how they ever wrote it.
'An Apology To The Universe' and 'Everything Went Grey' are instrumental numbers, which Rolo Tomassi do with ease. They supply breathers between Spence's onslaught, and show that the band are much more than a one trick pony. 'Macabre Charade' actually has boy/girl harmonies between the siblings that builds up into the sounds of static-electricity. The album climaxes with 'Fantasia'; probably the most all-out closer either of us has heard this year. Starting with melancholic piano, the song twists and turns through its 14 minutes like an angry sea serpent. It reaches its stride with Eva apparently arguing with herself. A young girl pleading for the other to "calm down" with a furious beast screaming back"I'M CALMED DOWN". Is she schizophrenic, possessed, or a seriously multi-talented frontwoman with something to prove?
Although 'Hysterics' isn't to everyone's taste, it's appealing to more people than any other hardcore record of the moment. The reason for this is simple; They're young, talented, and they're doing something drastically different. These 2 reviewers have very different tastes, and it takes something special to unite our praise. This has done it.
Rolo Tomassi - Abraxas
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
//Behold//
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Born Of Osiris - The New Reign
Planisphere
Just when you wonder if Justice are ever going to create some new original material and stop doing remixes they go and throw this at you. When asked to create the music for the Dior Homme fashion show Justice came up with what they call "Planisphere". With 4 parts to this epic soundtrack Justice have given us a taste of the direction they are going in. One of the most controversial parts to these electro tracks is the lengthy guitar solo in part four which shows Justice's more rock side.
Monday, 8 September 2008
Metronomy - Nights Out
Friday, 29 August 2008
((Changing))
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Maybeshewill - Not For Want Of Trying
Maybeshewill - The Paris Hilton Sex Tape
Reading Festival 2008 -RUNDOWN
So this year I decided to follow in my friends footsteps and go to Reading Festival as this years line up out did last years by a mile.
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
//Behold//
Wow.
This is how you fuse two very different genre's. Silent Descent have created a melodic trance metal sound that ticks every box and keeps you enthralled until the last second.
Unfortunately the bands following is rather small but with a recent interview in Metal Hammer and a growing interest in metal fusion genre's Silent Descent looks set to become huge.
P.S. With a song sampling the fantastic film "300" They will always have my vote.
Silent Descent - Duplicity
Sunday, 17 August 2008
///Reading Update///
As you can tell by looking at the poster above the line-up this year is...well to say the least amazing and anyone who isn't attending this sublime festival is an idiot and should seriously reconsider themselves as a music fan.
Because I'm nice I thought I would tell you the bands I'm most looking forward to seeing and the track I most want to hear.
Slipknot - An old track but none the less amazing, Also looking forward to hearing some tracks from the new album.
Slipknot - My Plague.mp3
Metallica - Creeping Death.mp3
Bullet For My Valentine - Forever And Always.mp3
Late Of The Pier - After waiting to buy their debut and not downloading it there is no way I'm missing these guys.
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Black Tide - Light From Above
Black Tide - Shockwave.mp3
Buy Light From Above
Friday, 1 August 2008
//Behold//
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
(((July)))
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
As I Lay Dying - An Ocean Between Us
An Ocean Between Us was released in August 2007 and was the bands fourth studio album. This gained the group worldwide recognition with over 115'000 copies sold worldwide and leading to a sold out World tour a few months later.
The opening track is one of those openers that when heard for the first time stuns you and lets you know your about to hear something very special. It builds up into dual guitar harmonies that put hair metal to shame then masterfully fades into the 2nd track "Nothing Left which was the single and you can understand why. The first riff has enough force to leave any man weak at the knee's and with Tim Lambesis' first gut wrenching scream you know why this was the single. This then uses the guitar feedback to fade into "An Ocean Between Us" which is alot faster and more relentless than the previous two tracks but lacks the melodic line you come to expect from hearing the previous tracks.
An Ocean Between Us is defiantly a good album but lacks the catchy melodies of some of metalcore's bigger names and most of the songs, although good, sound very similar to each other.
As I Lay Dying - Nothing Left.mp3
Buy An Ocean Between Us
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Metallica - Death Magnetic [Artwork]
Metallica have now released the cover art for their upcoming album "Death Magnetic". Metallica have reverted back to their old font on the Metallica logo and got rid of the much hated ninja star "M" many Metallica fans despised.
I definitely rate this artwork higher than such albums as "Load" or "St.Anger" It just seems much more 80's Metallica.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
//Lost & Found//
Friday, 11 July 2008
Dir En Grey - The Marrow Of A Bone
Turisas - The Varangian Way
But when hearing their cover of "Rasputin" on a compilation CD recently it got me intrigued, They sounded so full and new I just had to give the album a listen.
"The Varangian Way" is Turisas' 2nd album to date and If I do say myself a breath of fresh air for the metal scene. Violins and guitars working in harmony to create something I have come to call folk metal.
The album opens with the symphonic "To Holmgard & Beyond" which incorporates everything from the accordion to what sounds like half an orchestra. Very few songs that try to make you feel or visualize something ever work but To Holmgard & Beyond really does make you think your standing on a hill in some far flung European country with your fellow vikings preparing for war, It sends a proud shiver down your spine. The next track opens with the accordion and I instantly thought " This is to much bring back the metal" but I didn't have to wait long as little before 20 seconds later the guitars pound in only aided by the perfectly placed double bass pedals.
Unfortunately "Rasputin" is on the deluxe edition of "The Varangian Way" but nonetheless this album can only be described as a front runner on new European heavy metal, Folk metal has been tried before by the likes of Skyclad but Turisas have opened it up to a whole group of people.
Turisas - To holmgard And beyond.mp3
Buy The Varangian Way
8/10
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
- Tablature -
Joe Satriani - Crowd Chant
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/j/joe_satriani/crowd_chant_tab.htm
As Blood Runs Black - In Dying Days
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/a/as_blood_runs_black/in_dying_days_tab.htm
Paul Gilbert - The Gargoyle
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/p/paul_gilbert/the_gargoyle_tab.htm
Walls Of Jericho - With Devils Amongst Us All
I wasn't sure where to begin but when usually starting out on a band I look at their second most recent album and hope it gives me a taste of the bands sound.
With Devils Amongst Us All is Walls Of Jericho's 4th album and begins with the brilliantly titled track "A Trigger Full Of Promises" which opens with an awesome 80's sounding thrash riff that wouldn't feel out of place in any Megadeth collection. This doesn't mean that Walls Of Jericho are just following the current thrash metal up rise as after the initial skull pounding riff you hear a more diverse complex sound that combined with the simply breathtaking vocals of Candace Kucsulain leaves you wondering why this underground metalcore band aren't one hell of alot bigger?
A Trigger...Then flows into "I Know Hollywood And You Ain't It" another brilliantly titled track which possibly shows Candace Kucsulain at her vocal best with gut-wrenching screams and enough adrenaline to leave you sweaty and very scared.
The rest of the album follows the awesome track names with songs such as "Another Day, Another Idiot" & "Try.Fail.Repeat" both of which are packed full of breakdowns and riffage galore.
All in all a good album and a band I will be looking further into
P.S If your no fan of female's making the vocal talents of most men in the metal scene seem shamefull try "No Saving Me" which features Candace singing to her scientific best.
Walls Of Jericho - A Trigger Full Of Promises.mp3
Buy With Devils Amongst Us All
7/10
Saturday, 28 June 2008
~ June ~
1. Justice - Sure You Will
2. Paul Gilbert - The Gargoyle
3. You Slut! - On The Count Of 13
4. John 5 - Sounds Of Impalement
5. Bullet For My Valentine - Ashes Of The Innocent
6. Joe Satriani - Starry Night
7. 36 Crazyfists - The All Night Lights
8. MGMT - Electric Feel [Justice Remix]
9. Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone
10. Tesseract - April Song
11. Metallica - Master Of Puppets [Old School Remix]
12.Queens Of The Stone Age - Millionaire
Monday, 23 June 2008
Paul Gilbert - Silence Followed By A Deafening Roar
"Silence Followed By A Deafening Roar" is Paul's 13th studio album and although his previous album "Get Out Of My Yard" being scorned as to much of a variation from Paul's Racer X days this stunning new album returns fans to a state of metallic shred bliss.
The self titled opening track throws you of course with its ballad feel and melodic slow intro but prevail to just over a minute and you can already hear the Racer X piercing the lining and giving you a taste of what is to come.
The second track is another of Paul's classically influenced tracks entitled "Eudaimonia Overture" which begins with some outrageous 3 fingered tapping and slips into what I can only describe as a beautiful little riff which raises spirits and send you rushing to the nearest guitar to attempt Paul's mesmerising sound.
My 2...Yes 2 stand out track's of this album are without a doubt Norwegian Cowbell & The Gargoyle which show Paul's inspirational guitar work at its best. Norwegian Cowbell is melodic and catchy with some of the best licks on the album. The Gargoyle could be described as Iron Maiden on speed with Paul's tone and use of classic sounding scales giving you an urge to make your hair big and stuff your trousers with the nearest implement available.
Its hard to judge a Instrumental album as you have to take into account skill of playing combined with the song structure to make sure it isn't just sweeping scales or basic riffs...Silence Followed By A Deafening Roar sums this up. Contender of shred album of the year without a doubt.
Paul Gilbert - Norwegian Cowbell.mp3
Buy Silence Followed By A Deafening Roar
Friday, 20 June 2008
You Slut! - Critical Meat
Critical Meat is an 8 track album that was only released in japan as the band didn't have enough money to produce it here and with reviews from magazines giving nothing less than 4 stars its makes you wonder why?
The album opens with "Cut & Shut by You Slut!" which introduces you very quickly into You Slut!'s sound. Next comes "On the count of 13" which in my opinion is the best track on the album as its melodic yet dramatic guitars simply pierce the mind and have you humming the tune for days to come and loving it!
The final track is a grand finale, "Mybloodyjesusexploreronfire" is the first track I heard by You Slut! and what a track it is. The guitar work yet again has you enthralled and with effects being used to epic proportions it really is a track to remember.
Overall Critical Meat is an amazing instrumental album open to anyone who isn't used to instrumentals and to those who are get ready for something new & fresh.
You Slut! - Mybloodyjesusexploreronfire.mp3
Buy Critical Meat
Saturday, 7 June 2008
John 5 - Requiem
Requiem's opening track was released on John's myspace several months ago and was entitled "Sounds Of Impalement", this is a stunning piece of guitar work personifyng John's technique and signature sounds all in just over 4 minutes. Next up is "Heretic's Fork" which again displays immense handling of the guitar and techniques only John 5 can pull off such as chicken pickin and banjo rolls on the guitar, the opening riff to this track is powerful enough to have skeptics blown away and there minds changed.
This flows perfectly into Noisemakers File in which the intro shows a slightly more mellow side to John's playing with clean sounding guitars and typically country scales & themes being used, but once again this leads into a rock influence and John perfectly fused the two.
By now your thinking sounds good and whats with the odd track names, well John 5 decided to entitle all of the tracks on "Requiem" after unknown torture devices all of which should end with a "Requiem" meaning funeral piece of music. It just so happens Requiem is the final track on the album and what an ending it is. The slow tempo mixed with the slightly disturbing guitar lines leaves you satisfied that what you just heard was something rather special and unique.
- May Round Up -
Elle Milano - Juliette's Dead - I wasn't keen on this band but this song is bloody brilliant, Unlike there previous work its very electro based with an amazing intro and lyrics that wrap there way around the mind.
Furyon - Souvenirs - Brighton based metal group progress into new realms with this 8 minute long masterpiece containing several intense solo's and a mid song cliffhanger that leaves you gasping for more.
Exit Ten - Technically Alive -New metal act Exit Ten's opening track to there latest alum is surely one of the best melodic metal tracks of the year, Not much can come close to Exit Ten.
Saturday, 31 May 2008
TesseracT - Demo
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Scroobius Pip - No Commercial Breaks
What most of you wont know is that Scroobius Pip released a solo album several years ago which consisted of him, a few unknown artists and his 16 track recording desk set up in his home in Stanford Le Hope, This was called "No Commercial Breaks".
This low-fi, badly recorded solo project comes across dull and thin to those more accustomed to his collaboration with Dan le Sac but when you get past the idea that there are beats missing and no relative singles on there you can start to enjoy it for it is, Lyrical genius.
It opens with 1000 words possibly the most well known of all his solo tracks which consists of nothing more than a piano and Scroobius' mellow voice and yet it becomes much more accomplished as the track plays through. The album then goes into "Muses" and much more welcoming tracks such as "Development" and "Angles" both of which have been re-recorded and added to the Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip roster. "First Time I Met Musik" is one of the finest on this 10 track disc and speaks of his unsettled attitude to the current music scene in the form of a lady called Musik.
All in all this has nothing on "Angles" but for anyone out there willing to listen to Scroobius Pips spoken word minus the input of Dan le Sac "No Commercial Breaks" is the place to start.
7/10
Sunday, 25 May 2008
36 Crazyfists - The Tide And Its Takers
I gave them a second chance as there supporting Exit Ten on a tour at the moment and I thought I should give them a listen and where to start but there most recent album "The Tide And Its Takers".
After giving it a full listen you think its nothing special but when you leave your computer or CD player and start doing other things you find yourself craving more of Brock Lindow's harsh yet pleasing voice.
The opening track "The All Night Lights" is a awe inspiring display of brutal breakdowns and melodic phrase's which pretty sets you up for the rest of the album and yet warns you of whats about to come next. The next few tracks are all brilliant and then when you reach "Clear The Coast" you just cant quite believe how good an album this is for a band with such a dire name. The next track after "Clear The Coast" is about as melodic the album gets and yet you still feel the adrenaline that this band brings coursing through your veins.
Overall a stunning album that deserves a palce in any metal fans collection.
8/10
For fans of: Still remains, Exit ten, Machine Head.
Thursday, 22 May 2008
- Reading Overveiw -
Saturday is better but there is a clash that I still cant resolve...Bloc Party or Bullet For My Valentine! Other than that Justice, Seasick Steve & Gallows should all be great.
Now Sunday is the grand finale! Lets start with Metallica. Everyone has a band they have been listening to since they knew what music was and it got them hooked on their current music selection, for me that band was Metallica...Nothing on earth can stop me seeing them. Slipknot are one of my all time favourite bands just because before I bought Duality single at the age of 13 I didn't know what heavy was, looking forward to seeing them. Avenged Sevenfold have only recently got my blessing as their latest album is a mix of metal and old school rock, they should be good live with synyster gates being an awe for all guitarists.
Unfortunately While Ill be at the main stage all of Sunday other bands like Crystal Castles & Digitalism will be playing the dance tent which I would have loved to have seen but It will be worth it.
- I Wear Masks
- Unveiling In Front Of Your Eyes
If any Artist's do not approve of there songs posted on this here blog please email me at Im_Haunted@Hotmail.co.uk and they will be hastily removed.
If you enjoy what you hear here please buy the bands records and support them in anyway possible.
If you want anything reviewed send it to my email address above and I will do my best to listen.
Look Forward To...
- MSTRKRFT - Fist Of God [March 17th]
- Dan Deacon - Bromst [March 24th]
- Blakfish - Campions [May 25th]