Music Reviews of Crossover, Avant Garde, Nu-metal
Band Spotlight
Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
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03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Crossover, Avant Garde, Nu-metal
Cyber-Jack — The Great Red Spot Buy it at Amazon
Brazilian borne Cyber-Jack are here to let us know that Sepultura and Soulfly aren’t the only metal bands originally from that region. But sadly they’re just as bad as they mirage their way through only barely half-decent hard rock tunes. It’s as if they lifted the qualities of the bands they most admire, Guns’N’Roses and Nirvana, and attempted their best to emulate them—but the thing is while on this copy-cat journey they forgot how to play their instruments. Ugh, this is terrible.
- J-Sin
Dark New Day — Twelve Year Silence Buy it at Amazon
While I love being on the receiving end of advance album releases, able to listen to a band’s new release sometimes half a year ahead of its release, it does have its drawbacks. One drawback is that major labels insist that I have to be the victim of other people’s crimes in that they shove CDs my way that simply won’t play in a computer or attempt to install anti-piracy software on your computer, and even sometimes go so far as attempting to log your IP address and send it off to their company’s spies. This makes for an unnerving and annoying experience if you’re an innocent guy like me who likes to write reviews as I listen to the album. Obviously Warner Brothers saw fit to do this to the new Dark New Day album. I guess this is an evil I’m just going to have to get used to, that is until record labels figure out that this gives a negative end-consumer experience and decide that perhaps they should rethink their business models (sort of like when cassettes first emerged). Regardless Dark New Day is one of those new fangled bands that mainstream radio will go gah-gah over. And rightfully so, they can pull together some wicked dynamic songs while able to satisfy the angst riddled teen and allow the well-adjusted jock rocker some beatdown music.
- J-Sin
Full Scale — Full Scale Buy it at Amazon
Now that Rage Against the Machine and Korn have pretty much tasted it and System of a Down is wrought into the mainstream jock rock mentality, another band was destined to emerge to take that helm from them. In steps Full Scale from Australia. Able to write Tool-esque opuses or even mildly funny lyrics like “If this was Texas then I’d have a gun and he’d get some”, Full Scale is the full product. They even have the requisite political-charged song in “Party Political”. But don’t let the lack of a surprise and mildly formulaic approach scare you off—this is no Disturbed. Their songwriting actually has some quality and isn’t the same derivative nonsense over and over again wrapped in an angsty outer shell.
- J-Sin
Various Artists — House of Wax Original Soundtrack Buy it at Amazon
Truth be told now that I’ve heard the soundtrack to the remake of “House of Wax” I’m a little more inclined to see it. Then again when I heard Paris Hilton was going to die in the movie it gave me another reason. Beginning the soundtrack is the new single from The Prodigy “Spitfire” with its explosive thunderous beats that merges into screamo pop band My Chemical Romance’s “I Never Told You What I Do For a Living”, which might be their next single. Deftones add their “Minerva”, further complicating fans who are desperately seeking their new album’s release. Bloodsimple pound you up with their “Path to Prevail”, while Disturbed bores with “Prayer”, another nu-metal band who just refuses to die off. The Stooges put forth one of their classic rock opuses in “Dirt” and Har Mar Superstar makes us all smile with his awesome “Cut Me Up”. Other notable inclusions are Marilyn Manson’s “Dried Up Tied Up and Dead to the World”, Joy Division’s “New Dawn Fades”, Dark New Day’s “Taking Me Alive”, and “Not that Social” by The Von Bondies.
- J-Sin
Stutterfly — And We Are Bled of Color Buy it at Amazon
Maverick Records won’t continue to go broke if they release albums by bands like Stutterfly. Playing the type of screamo that The Used fans are used to hearing (excuse the obvious pun) and that the mainstream has been embracing lately, Stutterfly is a sure bet to sell a whole hell of a lot of albums. But do they have that kind of sound that will last the test of time and keep fans coming back for more even after the eventual demise of the genre’s overexposure? I actually think they just might have that sort of appeal as they come correct with good melodic and diverse screaming vocals, intriguing lyrics that aren’t awash in silly teen angst, and guitarwork that’s light years ahead of the rest of the pack. It might find itself fitting in nicely with many of the other folks doing similar things nowadays but “And We Are Bled of Color” will be one of those albums that music critics look back on as the driving force behind this genre’s success.
- J-Sin
Mindless Self Indulgence — You'll Rebel to Anything Buy it at Amazon
You gotta laugh at the cynicism that’s rooted in everything of this album from its title to the name of some of the tracks—“Straight to Video” immediately stands out. Now signed to Metropolis Records, they’re ready to unleash their branded version of metal, electronica, and punk on the masses (even those masses they seem to be poking fun at). Hey, any band that has the balls to cover Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” and somehow manage to make it enigmatic and crushing while maintaining those operatic and melodic vocals is just pretty damn cool.
- J-Sin
Broken — Haoma Buy it at Amazon
Relying on incredibly dynamic melodic vocals that would remind one of the great Maynard Keenan with music that sounds similar to bands like Hoobastank, Dredg, and Unjust, Broken picks up the crossover/nu-metal genre and reinvigorates it. Progressive songwriting is complemented with subtly embellished song structure while the percussion slaves away, masterfully pickpocketing the legendary drummers of prog-rock bands. Lyrically it can be a tad angsty at times but you can overlook that very easily when a band has this much talent at their fingertips.
- J-Sin
Love Infinity — Love Infinity Buy it at Amazon
Merging together nu-metal with synthesized pop-rock ever edging on the harder end of sounds, Love Infinity has no qualms about shaking off the norms for bands in the crossover style of music. Sure they have the melodic parts that harmonize vocals overtop of spacey guitar parts and they rock out with dynamic heavy crunch parts as well. But on songs like “Fifteen” when you’d expect them to stomp on the distortion and just totally wail with arms flailing about, they don’t. On “Fundamentals” when you figure their crunchy chorus would boast a singer screaming and screeching his way out of a wet paper bag, they don’t. It’s not a letdown; it’s unexpected and breaks with traditions leading you to appreciate what they do even more.
- J-Sin
On a Dead Machine — On a Dead Machine Buy it at Amazon
Melodic catchy hooks are brought immediately to everyone’s attention and then in swoops the dramatic guitar riffs that encapsulate the dynamic vocals that range from screamo to harmonious. The soaring harmonies complement the terrific drum work and smattering of bass lines. Check out “One Day” with its light guitar strumming that breaks apart for a riff-o-logy hardcore medley. Sort of like a mix between Ultraspank and arena rock like Creed—oh god that sounds like an insult but trust me it’s a complement to their knack for writing memorable catchy hooks. I think they’re an amazing outfit that’s got nowhere to go but straight up the charts.
- J-Sin
Infidel? / Castro! — Bioentropic Damage Fractal Buy it at Amazon
The new double disc of insane music from the wild duo known as Infidel? / Castro! is as unbelievably chaotic and yet creative as they’ve achieved to date. Abstract in every way and meaning, they bridge gaps between quite possibly every kind of experimental music ever attempted for a sound truly their own. Sure people will inevitably lump it into the Zorn or Bungle families but it’s morphed way past that now with a noise collage as glitchy and explosive as ever could be put to tape. Crucial Blast Records must be happy that they were able to put out an album that will have critics and likeminded musicians scratching their heads attempting to digest this for decades to come.
- J-Sin
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