Review: Cody B. Ware- Welcome Home (2011)

Band: Cody B. Ware

Release: Welcome Home

Genre: Rap/Hip-Hop

Label: Independently Released

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/codybware

Tracklist:

1. Welcome Home

2. #33 Forever

3. Eyes Closed (Everything Is Alright)

4. Trix [Feat. Natty Monstaaa & Prince SAMO]

5. Breaking Night

6. Gangsta Party [Feat. Ninjasonik & Bad Rabbits]

7. Ladybug

8. Fear My Name [Feat. Irepress]

9. What I Came Home For [Feat. Jeff Donna]

10. Run To The Sun [Feat. Dua Boakye & Jesse Korman]

Review: 9.4/10

This is an album that has very clear strengths and one key weakness and Cody B. Ware’s latest album Welcome Home. First I shall list the strengths. First off is his very impressive vocal delivery between catchy choruses and rapping. On the opening track “Welcome Home,” there is a drum and female vocal intro saying “Welcome Home” over and over, then Cody comes in with a beat matching rap over a synth filled beat. There is a little bit of subtle piano, but as evidenced throughout the CD he uses a lot of synth compared to the radio friendly sounds you hear these days.

Perhaps the one and only weakness on every song except “#33 Forever” is that his verses are way too short. Although he spits out an awesome rap on the single, it’s overall length is still a little short. I think this would have caught on to people much more if it was extended to a four to five minute long song. I would definitely suggest re-recording and extending this song on a future release as the beat and his vocal style has a huge club potential.

“Trix” has a catchy and minimal beat that uses a different style of bass instead of going with the usual bass sound. Again, I love his perfect blend of rap, hip-hop and synth sounds that all blend perfectly together. His delivery is unrelenting and doesn’t sound the least bit lacking in any way at all, other than the length of it of course. From a short verse, chorus, then another very short verse by Natty Monstaaa just doesn’t give this song justice.

Other than the single “#33 Forever,” the song “Breaking Night” is the other shining song on the album. It has a very catchy chorus line (I’m breaking night/ I’m breaking night/ until I see the sun/ I won’t stop having fun), an infectious verse beat that the ladies can grind with and a chorus beat to really boost the energy of people dancing too.

This album is a stand out among other hip-hop albums of 2011, it doesn’t hit a top 10 for me because of the verses just being too short. It has awesome and original beats that, alone, make this album definitely apart from the rest. His rapping style is also really good and I can see him spitting among the greats in the future. 

Review: Eyeresist- Between The Line EP (2011)

Band: Eyeresist

Release: Between The Line EP

Genre: Metalcore/Deathcore

Label: Independently Released

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Eyeresist

Tracklist:

1. Raise The Curtain

2. Between The Lines

3. Systematic Vessel

4. Walls

5. Cold Chamber

6. Apocalyptic

7. Utopia

Review: 8.5/10

On the debut EP by Kuwait’s Eyeresist, they give people a peak into one of the best blends of metalcore and deathcore I’ve seen so far. Most bands try to mix it up but rarely does it ever turn out good. Let me explain this a little better for you.

On the first track “Between The Lines,” they open up with a well done metalcore verse that has catchy guitar lines. Not too complicated, but not that simple either, these guys have the ability to keep people who are on both sides of the fence occupied. The drums and guitars play off of each other for the verse lines, then the guitar takes center stage with a chunky riff (yeah I just said chunky) before going into a metalcore bridge that is sub-par at best. The deathcore elements kick in with the next breakdown, which is much heavier than the rest of the song and have deeper, growling vocals for part of it and higher pitched vocals the other part.

An instant metalcore classic when I first heard it, “Systematic Vessel” is my pick of the EP. I can see that this track being played live will really get the people moving. It’s at a slower pace than the previous song, but the breakdowns are more catchier and heavier, grabbing your attention at once. The bridges aren’t really all that great and are a little on the generic side, but the rest of the song holds it’s own.

Overall it’s a pretty sweet debut. Over time, don’t be surprised if these guys make it big. There is a lot of promise to be heard here. The only things holding this album back are the issues that only bands with more experience can fix. Give it 3 years, these guys will be on the front cover for a legitimate magazine.

Review: Comity- The Journey Is Over Now EP (2011)

Band: Comity

Release: The Journey Is Over Now EP

Genre: Hardcore

Label: Throatruiner Records

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Comity/351656149310

Tracklist:

1. Part I

2. Part II

3. Part III

4. Part IV

Review: 8.3/10

Comity is a band that took me by surprise. When I received their latest EP The Journey Is Over Now, I noticed that the four tracks are insanely long (clocking in between eight and eleven minutes). My first expectations was that it will be a long and droning hardcore EP with rare moments of energy. However, all of that was quenched when I started playing the first track called “Part I.”

It all begins with a chaos filled spiral of spazztic hardcore that follows a small part of linear structure, they know how to keep someone’s attention for almost twelve minutes. It’s a very raw and aggressive song, as is the entire EP.

They occasionally fall into different grooves repeatedly throughout the song. This could have been easily split up into five or more different shorter songs as every two minutes something new happens. At the 3:54 mark of “Part I”, it goes over the edge into a very calm guitar part that really throws the listener for a loop. Then back into chaos we go, albeit at a very different pace than the previous section.

“Part II” is a more raw look into the EP. Lots of unconditioned guitar playing and drumming actually sounds better than most polished tracks of this genre. This track secures this band as one of the sleeper hits of the year in my eyes. Granted, the song length will throw some people off, but to those who look beyond that, your time will be well rewarded.

Review: In Dying Arms - "The Core Of My Existence" Single

Band: In Dying Arms

Release: "The Core Of My Existence" Single

Genre: Post-Hardcore/Metalcore

Label: Matchless Records

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/indyingarms

Tracklist:

1. The Core Of My Existence

Review: 8.1/10

In Dying Arms just released a brand new single entitled “The Core Of My Existence,” and it’s a lot different from their self titled album.

First and foremost, they switched vocalists. Instead of Toby, they now have Orion on vocals, and it’s better than before. The first impression on the track is that it’s a lot more of a cleaner, slightly more metalcore style than the deathcore infused album.

The chorus is more of a post-hardcore influence and has a lot of singing. The bridge after the first chorus is a good note, while going into a heavy yet atmospheric realm that is shown through the guitars, and the music really builds off of this bridge before then heading into a basic melodic hardcore breakdown. Not too heavy, not too soft, just basic meat and potatoes. Not really a bad thing though.

I like the growls and screaming much better, but I liked the old singing style used in the chorus’ on the self-titled to be honest. The music, however, is more experimental and seems to stretch out more into different music styles than the limitations that were shown in the album.

My main thing with this song is that I really feel Orion can sing more outward with his voice and that he’s really holding himself back. Other than that, this is a great song and I hope to see more of this in the future.

Review: Micawber- Viral (2011)

Band: Micawber

Release: Viral

Genre: 2011

Label: Independently Released

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/micawbermetal

Tracklist:

1. The Colonization

2. Viral

3. Beyond The Throne

4. A Timid Existence

5. Systematic Manipulation

6. The Calamity

7. Victim Of Persuasion

8. Mechanized Enslavement

9. Incorp(s)orated

Review: 10/10

Coming off strong after their last release Hell On Earth, the ever brutal Micawber have just released their latest album Viral onto the world.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

I was very unsure that they could top Hell On Earth, but I am so wrong. This album is exactly what the world of death metal/deathcore is missing. Like the last album, Viral kicks off with a sick intro on “The Colonization,” a haunting and eerie intro that throws you in the middle of apocalyptic drumming like the signaling of the end of times.

With a demonic growl that is meant to make you want to punch babies, “Viral” is a thundering track that is no doubt an excellent crowd pleaser. Awesome ,old school death metal brought into the new age that will surely convert more people to the dark side of metal. The vocals are much more refined and menacing than ever before, the guitar playing is much cleaner, and the drumming has gotten a hell of a lot faster.

Probably my favorite track on the whole album (and that’s a maybe cause it’s hard to pick a favorite), “Beyond The Throne” is full of the kind of metal that puts a Pabst Blue Ribbon in your hand and hair on your chest. The vocals are straight phenomenal. Phil Bozeman, watch out cause Jeff Plewa is on the fast track to sitting on that throne. Full of intense riffs and pummeling, ultra fast drumming make this track a stand out on the album. The different transitions keep this track fresh all the way through, not a single dull second.

“The Calamity” is pure old school throughout. Not too much unlike Massacre, they keep it fast and heavy for the average deathhead, and enough awesome instrument work to impress more seasoned listeners. The solo alone is worth it, but this track overall is just plain badass. It’s the equivalent of having a train made of death metal and shoving that into your ears.

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of listening to a pre production track called “Ridin’ The Night Train” that I couldn’t stop raving about. Well it’s been renamed and given a slight musical makeover, but the track “Victim Of Persuasion” is a force to be reckoned with. In my opinion, this should have been right behind the intro track, but that’s just me. It’s a tad slower than the fast playing of the rest of the album, but not by much. It’s a welcome change of pace and helps break the formula a little bit.

You’re not a real man if you haven’t heard this album yet. Seriously one of the best releases of the year, this is a must have for any music collection. Go cop it now!

Review: As You Drown- Rat King (2011)

Band: As You Drown

Release: Rat King

Genre: Deathcore/Death Metal

Label: Metal Blade Records

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/asyoudrown

Tracklist:

1. Conqueror

2. Slaves To The Kingdom Of Fear

3. You Should Be Paranoid

4. Rabid Wolves In Sheep's Clothing

5. Your Loyal Betrayer

6. The Coming

7. The Nothing

8. Bleeding Structure

9. Cleansing Hands

Review: 5.3/10

Meat and potatoes deathcore is what As You Drown’s latest album Rat King can be best described as. Although they use more death metal elements than most –core bands, they still have breakdowns as a base. Does that make this a bad album? Yes.

Each song is hard to really tell apart and that’s the main fail point. It’s laden with tons of breakdowns, but they sound like they should be used as shorter bridges instead of an entire song. Hardly any deviation is noted in the first song “Conqueror.” This is a song by a band that would make a great filler for any given tour. Even the vocals aren’t anything you haven’t heard already. Just basic deep growls that sound like they were gurgled from the stomach.

“Slaves To The Kingdom Of Fear” is the previous song all over again, but a little faster. The vocals just sound like mud against the instruments, barely having any sort of unique tone or feel at all. Also it really feels like he’s holding back from really belting out some brutal line’s but, alas, he just sounds like a better version of Pathology’s vocalist.

The vocals get even more painful to listen to on “You Should Be Paranoid.” There is no telling what he is saying, but it’s in a tone that is like rubbing a cheese grater against my eardrums. The music really isn’t all that great either. It just sounds like a bunch of thrown together riffs and blast beats that don’t have much relation to each other.

Ditch the current vocalist and get a new guy. Even if they still stay as a basic deathcore band musically, at least they would have a lot more attention than they do now. 

Review: Uneven Structure- Februus (2011)

Band: Uneven Structure

Release: Februus

Genre: Progressive Metal/Ambient/Mathcore

Label: Basick Records

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/unevenstructure

Tracklist:

1. Awaken

2. Frost

3. Hail

4. Exmersion

5. Buds

6. Awe

7. Quittance

8. Limbo

9. Plenitude

10. Finale

Review: 10/10

Going up on my list as not only one of the best albums of the year, but as one of the best I’ve ever heard, Uneven Structure have unleashed the demon that is Februus. Although this review is long overdue, I wasn’t going to let it slide past me. With a perfect blend of progressive metal, mathcore, atmospheric elements, and the energy that is on par with the almighty Meshuggah, Februus will take the music world by storm.

Beginning with a soft, atmospheric intro in “Awaken” that steadily gets heavier and heavier, you can really feel the energy that set to come, then it slaps you across the face with uncompromising brutality that is partly lead by palm muting guitars and partly led by the bass. You can easily be overwhelmed (in a very good way) by the barrage of complex guitar arrangements, snare shots that blast outward whenever they’re hit, and the one-two punch of energy demanding screaming and the harmonic, male-siren-if-sirens-were-males singing really left me in awe at this band. AND IT’S ONLY THE FIRST SONG!

Menacing and heavy guitar hits start off the next song “Frost.” The atmospheric elements of the band are shown more in this song, with sultry, inviting singing that is wholly unique and awesome. The overall atmospheric element is held throughout the entire song, even when it gets heavy. This is one of those songs that can put anyone out of a bad mood and really make a person feel positive.

Chaos descends in “Hail.” Precise guitar slams and crazy drumming keep your attention on edge by coming off slightly Dillinger-esque, allowing your mind to wander off as it pleases as the music envelops you. So many bands attempt to cross metal and ambient, but few can actually pull it off for six minutes at a time and actually have it captivate someone as much as this band accomplishes.

This band truly has technical poly-rhythms down to a fine art. I will say that this band should NOT, I repeat NOT, be pigeon holed as a fucking djent band. I love bands that people consider djent, but that word is thrown around way too much and the value is diminished. Getting high while listening to this also gives a whole new perspective on the album. This album is best described as a roller coaster, with the ups of meat tenderizing brutality, the lows being the ambience soundscape, all brought together with awesome middle ground that covers the bases well.

This is a must have album for any metal head’s collection. To experience this among all other types of metal should be placed on your bucket list.

Review: Alighieri- Moths EP (2011)

Band: Alighieri

Release: Moths EP

Genre: Deathcore

Label: Unsigned

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alighierimetal

Tracklist:

1. The Atmosphere Between

2. Nights

3. Isolating The Moth

4. Atlas Mourned

5. Transparent and White

6. Cessation Of Parallels

Review: 7.8/10

Alighieri is a band I’ve been following closely ever since I saw their excellent live performance opening for Arsonists Get All The Girls and Attila years ago. Very heavy, unrelenting deathcore shines forth, but the Moths EP is not near as good as Serving The Recession EP. They had a faster and original edge that is almost completely lost here.

The initial track “The Atmosphere Between” has a doomy, end of the world feeling intro to start off, then heads into double bass pedal driven deathcore with the occasional blast beats and brutal low vocals that hold their own in the deathcore community. The screams, however, kind of kills the song for me. They opted instead for a slower feel that really makes me miss the old Alighieri.

The re-recorded of “Atlas Mourned” (bringing that total to three versions since the first version and demo are both on Serving The Recession) is admittedly better than the original. Being the only track that I thought had no hope on their previous EP, I’m very surprised that they would put the time and effort into re-recording this. The guitars have much more life in the song as compared to the underlying guitars on the original version. It also shows the vocalist being more adventurous than before with his vocals, making this 50/50.

The lat track, “Cessation of Parallels,” is a good ending for the average listener. I can only see people getting into this band if it was the first thing it thought of after a coma. I only wish the singer was much more projective with his voice instead of having it blend with the music. The screams really grate on a person’s nerves after a while, I would rather hear him sing the entire song in a deeper tone instead of hearing those screams. Not too bad of an album, I would suggest this.

Review: Silence The Feedback- No Flow EP (2011)

Band: Silence The Feedback

Release: No Flow EP

Genre: Hard Rock

Label: Unsigned

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/silencethefeedback

Tracklist:

1. I Bleed

2. Within These Arms

3. Hole

4. Structures

5. Crash Course

6. Time

Review: 2.3/10

Silence The Feedback is a hard rock band from New York. The lack of originality is astounding here. No Flow EP is one of the most boring albums I’ve heard all year. With the garbage music and the run of the mill lyrics, I can only compare them to a mix of Rage Against The Machine, Seether and [Insert name of one hit wonder early 2000’s metal band here] with all talent squeezed out.

The beginning has a promising industrial-like intro, but it spends to mediocre by the book metal where they re0use the same riffs over and over and over again, trying to get them to be a catchy radio riff. This sounds like one of those small town rock bands that try to make it big by using rehashed material. The guitar solo is decent, but by no means impressive. The rhythm guitar is the lamest thing on this song, having no type of virtuosity whatsoever. “I bleed you / bleed me slow / yeah yeah yeah yeah” is the hook to this song. You see where I’m going with this?

In a weird attempt to emulate earlier CKY with some Seether mixing up the pot, “Hole” delivers. Using a certain fuzzy bass tone that has helped make CKY’s sound instantly recognizable, this song screams rip off all over. Chock full of open chord filler material and trying-to-hard singing, I was really disappointed by this. They shamelessly link random generic bridge 1-chorus-bridge 2-chorus-bridge 1 material and Alice In Chains-ish background wails gives away to a clap build up that not even twelve year olds would be entertained by spell the doom for this EP. The song is about someone losing themselves and becoming their own worst enemy, these are lyrics that had been done all before. There is no sense of originality and personal experience felt through the emotions of the singer.

The song “Crash Course” sounds like a run of the mill Burnout video game soundtrack song that never made it to the game. What I mean by that is, again, the lack of originality, is felt through the singers bland voice and the instruments aimless chugging that almost put me to sleep. Quite possibly the worst track on the album. “Were on a crash course to heaven” suggests the mediocrity.

This is just crap. Not worth your time, unless you’re a cigarillo smoking brainless jock. Have fun committing ear suicide.

Review: Metallica and Lou Reed- Lulu (2011)

Band: Metallica & Lou Reed

Release: Lulu

Genre: Avant Garde Metal

Label: Warner Bros Records

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LouReedMetallica

Tracklist:

1. Brandenburg Gate

2. The View

3. Pumping Blood

4. Mistress Dread

5. Iced Honey

6. Cheat On Me

7. Frustration

8. Little Dog

9. Dragon

10. Junior Dad

Review: 0/10

Where to even begin with this atrocity that is known as Lulu, the re-burger of Metallica & Lou Reed… Well, we can start with the very first words spoken on the first song “Brandenburg Gate”: “I would cut my legs and tits off when I think of Boris Karloff…” Literally, reading the lyrics for this entire album will speak for itself. If you're one of the chosen few that "don't get" Lou Reed's poetry (as James Hetfield puts it), then you are not reading this from the enclosure of a padded cell or closet.

This is the most god awful album on the planet. This justifies Metallica’s famously horrible St. Anger in every way, to the point that it makes St. Anger sound like Adele. With as much hype as the guys have been giving this album, this by far wins my vote for not only the biggest letdown of the year, but of any hyped up album ever released. If this album doesn’t get worst album of the year, decade, and century, then I’m a one-legged, pissed off Puerto Rican. I can’t begin to express my disgust of the way they fooled their loyal fans looking forward to this turd. I would rather take my $12 to the bank, cash it all in for pennies, go to the nearest sewer grate or manhole cover, and drop one penny at a time, at a rate of 1 penny an hour. I would derive more enjoyment from that then actually listening to this again.

What can be said about “The View” that fellow writer Sammi hasn’t already said? Read that single review Here. To throw in my two cents, it sounds to me that the instruments of “The View” were recorded onto an LP disc format, but instead of using a stylus to read the music, they used Lou Reed’s nut sack.

Is there any actual musicianship at all within this album? I’m afraid there isn’t. “Pumping Blood” sounds like a heavy version of Phish, and yes I use that as an insult because I cannot stand Phish. If you are unfamiliar with them, be glad. They are a crappy jam band, which is what this song sounds like. As a side note, when James Hetfield croons “Why do I cheat on me” along with Lou on the song “Cheat On Me,” it sounds like he stubs his toe every time he says it.

The angst of millionaires is shown in the song “Frustration,” which, musically, is very much like “The View.” Minimal musicianship that is re-hashed and re-burgered, Lou’s babbling old man nonsense talk, and the overall effect that somewhere, at this time, everyone who is not listening to this album is having a good life. In about four months, you will be making about thirty dollars an hour. You take a trip to the thrift store and you see this album for the low price of three dollars. Seeing the name Metallica, you are excited at listening to a Metallica album that you’ve never heard before. You get home and you play this on your computer, which kills you a little on the inside. So you actually get upset, and drive the 45 miles back to the same thrift store just so you can get that three dollars back, never mind the fact that you spent about twenty in gas to get there alone.

Have you ever had that moment where you were halfway out the door, when a old man appears (grandpa or otherwise), and continues to talk to you about his life, but he has Alzheimer’s coupled with deliria, so he ends up talking in droves about complete nonsense and won’t let you leave? So you try to interrupt him so that you may continue about your day, but every time you do, he talks over you like you don’t exist? That’s what putting myself in harm’s way for this website by listening to this album was like. It amazes me that no one quit the band during or after the recording of this album due to creative differences. No matter where life takes these individual musicians, Lulu will remain in their shadows for eternity. Hopefully this, in turn, will diminish Metallica’s widely publicized diva attitudes, because this is proof that their shit does indeed stink.

I also admire journalist Chuck Klosterman's review of this, saying "If Red Hot Chili Peppers were to acoustically cover the twelve worst Primus songs for Starbucks, it will still sound better than this." 

Oh, and to every single reviewer who had the audacity to give this album a positive review and saying that this album is "important" because of it's sheer lack of commercialism, you are the biggest hipsters I have ever seen. I demand reparations Andy Maroon. Where’s my shirt?