New Reviews 7/16/2011
Unexpect-Fables of sleepless empire-CD (Self Released)
I truly was wondering what had happen to this very unique and interesting ExperiMETAL band. As they were amazing when I saw them live with Gathering and Nov Doom many yrs back. Well looks like there partnership with The End is over and they have self released an album even better then the last. They have Prog, Avant, Death Metal, Indie Rock, Jazz, Post Rock and circus music elements going on all at the same time. The Theatrical female vocals with the clean and growled male vocals, strings, synths, pianos, adventurous guitars, bass and drums its just jaw dropping . If your fans of Arcturus, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Within Temptation, Made out of Babies, Bogus Blimp and Peccatum you just get the tip of the iceberg. So support this force to be reckoned with as they are truly independent now and if Unexpect don't win a Grammy for this release its a crime. As they are as groundbreaking as Queen, Beachboy's Beatles and Yes were and are for there times. This is a must listen as no mortal can hear all that is going on with this release on just one sitting. Their style, arrangements and complexity alone in one song is more then most albums. Just stellar a mandatory album for 2011...
Crone- Endless Midnight-CD (Translation Loss)
So with the end of Isis the members are moving on to new creation and Jeff (Bassist of Isis) is now given us Crone. It has a huge love of Earth more current sound and Americana music from what I hear. Endless Midnight has the Southern lazy post rock sound with the slide guitars, mountains of verb, very simple but perfect percussion and those waves of slow and ebbing bass line mixed with a spaghetti western soundtrack. Thank you Mr Eastwood for this entire genre . There are ties to the mellow sides of Mogwai and Silver Mt Zion. Crone is brilliant sound journey that grew with each track. There are elements of House of low culture and Lotus Eaters here which I think Jeff help on with Aaron of Isis as well. I would also say Justin Brodrick Final is a strong influence here. So many layers and cinematic tones going around every corner . Crone is a must listen for fans of the Post Rock style. I feel richer for just hearing it. I shouldn't be surprised as James Plotkin mastered it and his ear is 2nd to none.
Faces of Bayon- Heart of the fire-CD ( Ragnarok Records)
So a band from State of MA on a label from the same state with members from the Bands ( Warhorse and Twelfth of Never) what do you think the band is going to sound like maybe a Prog Proto Doom metal band.. Well Surprise , surprise that is 1000% what it sound like . If Black Sabbath and Hawkwind put a band together you would have the band I'm listening to right now . I swear this could have been recorded in 1977 and you would believe it was just unearthed.. Some one has major love of the Trippy and Stoner as you can hear the Warhorse sound screaming through out this . Faces of Bayon are just too retro for me to love. Though they do have moments were they are almost winner me over then just goes into the stoner groove I really can not take . Oh well you win some and some you just grow neutral on ...
Bringer of Disease- Gospel of Pestilence-CDep (Translation Loss)
Avant raw Black metal assault from members of Mouth of the Architect and Acheron . If your into Black metal like Watain, Deathspell Omega, Nightbringer, Weapon, Xasthur etc. You get the idea this is full of hate, ritualistic hymns, blistering power and the mental illness to put it all together. There are punk elements in Bringer of Disease like all good releases in this genre and the noise element is strong and good proggish rhythm section. Bringer of Disease is about making music unsettling and dark and wins on both levels. The vocals are just like a dagger to your jugular and it makes it all the better. The blasts are so tight you would swear this is a drum machine but it clearly is not. Black metal with not regards for others .Bringer of Disease is all about what they want and it what you need.. Get this..
Annex Theory- Beneath the skin- CDep (Pivotal Rockordings)
Melodic Tech Deathcore is what is going on here and with just 4 songs they seem to be about structure and substance not tracks. It reminds me of bands like Gojira, Meshuggah , Gorguts, Its has many prog elements like Pain of Salavation and Dream Theater going on to but its just such an odd mix and with the off the wall time stamps going on . This will throw off many in what its going at time they sound as bizzare as " I wrestled a Bear once". Its like this band loves Mike Patton ,Atheist, Death and Meshuggah all at once. Annex Theory is off the wall and really sound like no one else and every once else all at the same time. Controlled Chaos is what you have and I need more. Please next time more then 4 damn tracks..
Sarabante- Remnants-CD (Southern Lord)
Wow Post Crustcore is what we have here and a sick job they do indeed. Think of Deadguy, Born Against, Agnostic Front and early Sick of it All all mixed with elements of Rorschach, Black Army Jacket & Dead and Gone etc. There are moments of Early Neurosis too but just in the guitar sounds. This is far more that dirty filthy Crust sound you got from San Fran and Nyc in late 90's mixed with full on Hardcore riffing. This really makes me want to circle pit . Someone in this band better have matted Dreds and and beard to the chest lol.. There is a power and fury to Sarabante you don't get unless its this style of music. I'm sure it highly social and political in nature and the songs are so thought out in arrangements for this style and certain parts are almost anthemic in nature. Southern lord is really going to were Prank, Slam a ham, Revelation, Victory , Bovine and Amrep were at pulling all these great sounds out of the grave limited releases or not . Amazing Amazing music thank you..
http://southernlord.com/
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