The Real Future of Heavy Music
I once wrote a feature about what I felt was right and wrong with music today. Consider this sort of an extension of the ideas expressed in the previous article. Mainstream magazines and music television would have us believe that bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, Staind, and Kid Rock (basically the whole historical roster of the Family Values Tour) are the future of "Heavy" music. I want to start things off by saying that I have nothing against any of the bands I listed. I even like some of them, but I have a problem with these bands being put on such a high pedestal as kings of heaviness when they don't even come close to the crushing power of the bands I'm going to discuss. Sure bands like Korn and Deftones play hard music, but I don't believe I'd call it really 'heavy' and certainly not 'metal,' but these are the labels that have been given from the smiling faces of such executive powers as MTV and Rolling Stone. If you take the time to look beneath the surface of the decorative bullshit that covers our eyes on a daily basis, you'll find a whole slew of bands that truly give their "blood, sweat, and tears." These are bands that cross barriers untouched at a higher rate than a politician lies! There are certain bands that are coming into the higher attention they deserves such as Sick Of It All, Downset and VOD, but I wish to focus on a small group of bands who deserve the utmost respect and recognition: Candiria, Converge, E-Town Concrete, Neurosis, Will Haven, Race Traitor, and Cave In.
Candiria are perhaps the most unique of the bands I'm going to discuss. The first time I ever encountered them was at the Super Bowl of Hardcore in DC a few years back. What I saw was singer Carley Coma spinning around in the air over and over again screaming vocals over an incredibly tight, chaotic hurricane of music that wove in and out of different tempos and genres. The vocals were screamed, but they were being rapped. Imagine Onyx freestyling through a distortion pedal. Candiria's sound is amazing! They blend solid elements of hip-hop, metal, hardcore, and Jazz to create a sound that is owned by Candiria ONLY. Releasing their first album, "Beyond Reasonable Doubt" on Too Damn Hype (appropriate), and now unleashing their second full length on MIA Records, "Process of Self-Development," Candiria are THE force to reckon with. There isn't another band like Candiria out there. If there is, then I guarantee they're not as good at it!Check out the interview.
I can't say enough good things about Converge! Converge are one of the most intense sounding bands in existence. They come at you from all angles with clever changes and degrees of peace-to-insanity that you never know what's next. The guitar work is impeccably tight, but it sounds like a train that could go off the tracks any moment. The rhythm section keeps the time like a day care worker watching a room of 2 year olds on speed who've watched Child's Play too many times! Jacob Bannon's lyrics and vocals are some of the most eye-opening and intense you'll ever experience in your natural born life. You can find their two full lengths on Equal Vision Records and they're preparing to release a split album with Agoraphobic Nosebleed on Relapse Records. Don't miss it!
Check out the Converge
"E-Town!!!!!!" This is what you'll screaming alongside singer, Ant $'s roar once you experience the realism of E-Town Concrete. The music is very much in the hardcore vein with great breakdowns and dance parts. All of you sing-a-long heads will love this band! They can tear any wall down one minute and build them back up with piano and acoustic guitar parts thrown in for good measure. The lyrics tell of the harsh realities of life that hopefully none of you reading this article will have to encounter. E-Town are the true kings of this crossover music deal! They have a full length available on Resurrection A.D. Records which is one album I will NEVER give up and a new ep, "Fu$k The World" available on the same label. Take away my car, my money (what little there is), and my freedom, but keep your filthy, fucking hands off of my E-Town cds, dig?!
Check out the interview.
Neurosis' approach to heaviness stands alone from all of the bands you'll read up on here. They see the world with a very different set of eyes than you and me. Their lyrics tell of the human condition and everything goes with it…fear, anger, love, hate, pain, redemption, etc. Musically, Neurosis are the crushing fist of the dark skies…slow, overlapping sounds of heavy guitar, bass, and drums with keyboard samples and loops. The vocals sound so genuinely passionate and tortured that it will give you goosebumps, no lie! Neurosis are one the most polite, honest, and intelligent bands I've ever interviewed. Escapist music for the inescapable.
Check out the interview.
Will Haven are probably the most popular of the bands being discussed here…at least from a mainstream point of view. With two awesome albums, "El Diablo" and the new "WHVN," Will Haven are destined to blow up all over the heavy scene. WH have a very thick sound with songs that rage at both fast and slower paces. Grady's voice is a singing-like scream. It's hard to describe exactly. Every element of this band stands out on its own. Touring with the likes of Deftones, Far, and Neurosis will definitely spread the Will Haven gospel, amen.
Check out the interview.
Race Traitor are incredible! They gained cover stories in music magazines before they even had a release. RT bring to table a constant armageddon crushing that will tear you apart and then bring you back together with lyrics that are truly relevant to our lives. They've just released a split ep on Trustkill Records with Burn It Down (check them out too!!!) that is by far, the best heavy release on an independent label this year! If Race Traitor don't move you, then you're probably dead.
Cave-In are very much in the same vein as Converge. They have all of the explosiveness and unorthodox qualities that Converge contain, so what makes them stand out? Cave In have one of the most amazing guitar sounds in heavy music today. It's almost entrancing and beautiful even! Singer, Steve Brodsky's vocals can get brutal as it comes, but he can also sing well enough to the point where you may forget that he's in such a heavy band. CI have flawless change ups and an immortal sense of euphoria in their music. If you don't check out Cave In, then I bestow the curse of N'Sync and The Backstreet Boys upon your houses!
Check out the interview.
I want to state for the record that these are only a handful of the great heavy bands that exist in our world unknown to the mainstream. Hopefully, you'll check out every band I've discussed here and it will further lead you to the light of the REAL future of heavy music.
- Mr. Christopher