|
|
VILLAINS COMPANY - (Room 45 Records)
Review by Mario Salazar.
This is the 2012 release from the Chicago band Villains Company. This album, their latest effort, has an overall artsy, sort of eclectic feel to it. I hate using that specific term to describe this album, as it generally means no one other than the band members -and maybe their significant others- actually gets or likes the music, but in this case, it was a different situation that was actually done quite nicely. Read on.
The 1st track Feels Good with its clean, acoustic guitar opening riffs, had a vibe that reminded me of the 90s band Days Of The New. It had a nice feel-good tone to it (hence the name) and it was a nice sign (or indicator if you will) of things to come. From there on, the band presents an array of material that is not only well played and recorded, but it's also an interesting, well-written batch of songs which are actually well-thought out and produced. The album shines with musical variety after the aforementioned track (Feels Good) down to the happy-go-lucky feel of Teen Naive to the beautiful, soulful ballad named Beautiful which also had a killer guitar solo, to the down-home, Mississippi-delta blues feel of Momma.
I must say that I particularly liked vocalist JP Harrington's voice as I think he has a perfect pop-music voice that was spot-on for the band's material and really brought out the emotion and feeling the songs intended to convey. Overall, I think Villains Company has done a good job with this new album and I hope it gets the response it deserves. If you like music along the lines of Coldplay and that type of bands/artists within the alternative rock genre, I definitely recommend you check them out and give Villains Company a listen.
For additional information on the album, downloads, point-of-sale and band show dates, visit them online at www.villainscompany.com
This is the 2012 release from the Chicago band Villains Company. This album, their latest effort, has an overall artsy, sort of eclectic feel to it. I hate using that specific term to describe this album, as it generally means no one other than the band members -and maybe their significant others- actually gets or likes the music, but in this case, it was a different situation that was actually done quite nicely. Read on.
The 1st track Feels Good with its clean, acoustic guitar opening riffs, had a vibe that reminded me of the 90s band Days Of The New. It had a nice feel-good tone to it (hence the name) and it was a nice sign (or indicator if you will) of things to come. From there on, the band presents an array of material that is not only well played and recorded, but it's also an interesting, well-written batch of songs which are actually well-thought out and produced. The album shines with musical variety after the aforementioned track (Feels Good) down to the happy-go-lucky feel of Teen Naive to the beautiful, soulful ballad named Beautiful which also had a killer guitar solo, to the down-home, Mississippi-delta blues feel of Momma.
I must say that I particularly liked vocalist JP Harrington's voice as I think he has a perfect pop-music voice that was spot-on for the band's material and really brought out the emotion and feeling the songs intended to convey. Overall, I think Villains Company has done a good job with this new album and I hope it gets the response it deserves. If you like music along the lines of Coldplay and that type of bands/artists within the alternative rock genre, I definitely recommend you check them out and give Villains Company a listen.
For additional information on the album, downloads, point-of-sale and band show dates, visit them online at www.villainscompany.com
LOSING SCARLET - Learning To Bleed (Independent)
Review by Joel Beverly of Happy Headbanger Blogspot.
Every so often a CD comes around that I just can't get enough of. These are the albums that live in my CD player for months on end. You know this kind of album: the one that just grabs you and you can keep playing it over and over and never get tired of it. I've had this experience several times, when I'll listen to the same CD on a daily basis week after week. In the past it's happen with albums like GN'R's 'Appetite for Destruction', Pantera's 'Far Beyond Driven', System of a Down's 'Mezmerize'... Well, this summer it's happened to me again. The album that did it this time: Learning to Bleed by Losing Scarlet.
Losing Scarlet have held strong to their signature sound they established on their self-titled 2009 debut, but Learning to Bleed sounds like a much stronger, crisper, and more established effort. It's not that they've done anything different on this album, I just think they do what they do much better this time around. The recording quality seems a couple notches higher to my ears as well. As you listen to this album, it flows really well from one song to the next. Each song seems to add a slightly different element or effect to their repertoire.
Overall I can still describe their sound as the half-way point between Evanescence and Disturbed. So if you have checked out Losing Scarlet's first CD and found it enjoyable, then don't wait another second and pick up a copy of Learning to Bleed today! Here are my recommended track to get you started:
-Learning to Bleed
-Halo of Stone (My personal favorite. This song rocks hard with a lot of attitude.)
-Dick Whiskey (Their first single from this album, with a cool video on youtube!)
-Kiss the Guilt Away (Melodic segments mixed with some fast-paced thrashing!)
-Afterglow (The closing number is perhaps the best example of Losing Scarlet expanding their horizons. A softer, slower number, but still electric. Lyrics are introspective and full of emotion, describing the aftermath of a failed relationship.)
Click to visit the band's website to order your CD, check for upcoming shows, and join the band's mailing list.
Every so often a CD comes around that I just can't get enough of. These are the albums that live in my CD player for months on end. You know this kind of album: the one that just grabs you and you can keep playing it over and over and never get tired of it. I've had this experience several times, when I'll listen to the same CD on a daily basis week after week. In the past it's happen with albums like GN'R's 'Appetite for Destruction', Pantera's 'Far Beyond Driven', System of a Down's 'Mezmerize'... Well, this summer it's happened to me again. The album that did it this time: Learning to Bleed by Losing Scarlet.
Losing Scarlet have held strong to their signature sound they established on their self-titled 2009 debut, but Learning to Bleed sounds like a much stronger, crisper, and more established effort. It's not that they've done anything different on this album, I just think they do what they do much better this time around. The recording quality seems a couple notches higher to my ears as well. As you listen to this album, it flows really well from one song to the next. Each song seems to add a slightly different element or effect to their repertoire.
Overall I can still describe their sound as the half-way point between Evanescence and Disturbed. So if you have checked out Losing Scarlet's first CD and found it enjoyable, then don't wait another second and pick up a copy of Learning to Bleed today! Here are my recommended track to get you started:
-Learning to Bleed
-Halo of Stone (My personal favorite. This song rocks hard with a lot of attitude.)
-Dick Whiskey (Their first single from this album, with a cool video on youtube!)
-Kiss the Guilt Away (Melodic segments mixed with some fast-paced thrashing!)
-Afterglow (The closing number is perhaps the best example of Losing Scarlet expanding their horizons. A softer, slower number, but still electric. Lyrics are introspective and full of emotion, describing the aftermath of a failed relationship.)
Click to visit the band's website to order your CD, check for upcoming shows, and join the band's mailing list.
SACRED DAWN - A Madness Within (Darkstar Records)
Review by Mario Salazar.
Sacred Dawn returns with a follow-up to 2007's Gears of the Machine, with a brand-new album in 2011 titled A Madness Within.
After what I thought was a very good album (Gears), and knowing that 60% of the band's current lineup was now different, I was very curious to see what Sacred Dawn would sound like and come up with for their sophomore album.
A Madness Within keeps a lot of the same "old school" elements that made me like them in the first place. The continued influence of bands like Iron Maiden, Savatage & Symphony X is heard throughout an album with much improvement in terms of production, musicality and musicianship that in my opinion is second to none. It is however, not a complete ode to "old school stuff". Starting with very appropriate and modern-looking cover artwork, the album wanders into different areas of metal such as power metal, some doom and prog throughout the 10 tracks that make up A Madness Within. One big change in the band's sound was the addition of Brian Kim on keys which really added a new dynamic to the band and is particularly evident on songs like The Decision and Dawn Of The Day.
From the opening melodies of The Untold Story -with what sounds like intertwined drum loops or a sample of sorts which was different and not something I expected to hear from Sacred Dawn-, all the way thru Dawn Of The Day and its bonus track (-yes there is one for those who buy the album!), I really enjoyed every track on this record. One thing that really turned me off -and to be honest here- were the growls on certain tracks, particularly Demonlover which I would like a hell of a lot better had it not been for them. Maybe it's just me, but I just don't think they add much to the track and/or were really necessary. I do give the band credit for at least trying to keep growing and adding new elements to the music and keep it interesting. It just did not work for me in that specific case. The album has a somewhat dark concept throughout both in its theme (with a booklet 3-page story to go along with it) and the music itself. Standout points for me are The Untold Story, Dawn Of The Day and the totally unexpected, yet beautifully-crafted and somber ballad It Shall Be.
Sacred Dawn has produced a great new album that while not for everyone, I think is yet another step in the right direction that will keep earning them new fans and a wider audience. For additional information on the band, visit them online at www.facebook.com/sacreddawnmusic
Sacred Dawn returns with a follow-up to 2007's Gears of the Machine, with a brand-new album in 2011 titled A Madness Within.
After what I thought was a very good album (Gears), and knowing that 60% of the band's current lineup was now different, I was very curious to see what Sacred Dawn would sound like and come up with for their sophomore album.
A Madness Within keeps a lot of the same "old school" elements that made me like them in the first place. The continued influence of bands like Iron Maiden, Savatage & Symphony X is heard throughout an album with much improvement in terms of production, musicality and musicianship that in my opinion is second to none. It is however, not a complete ode to "old school stuff". Starting with very appropriate and modern-looking cover artwork, the album wanders into different areas of metal such as power metal, some doom and prog throughout the 10 tracks that make up A Madness Within. One big change in the band's sound was the addition of Brian Kim on keys which really added a new dynamic to the band and is particularly evident on songs like The Decision and Dawn Of The Day.
From the opening melodies of The Untold Story -with what sounds like intertwined drum loops or a sample of sorts which was different and not something I expected to hear from Sacred Dawn-, all the way thru Dawn Of The Day and its bonus track (-yes there is one for those who buy the album!), I really enjoyed every track on this record. One thing that really turned me off -and to be honest here- were the growls on certain tracks, particularly Demonlover which I would like a hell of a lot better had it not been for them. Maybe it's just me, but I just don't think they add much to the track and/or were really necessary. I do give the band credit for at least trying to keep growing and adding new elements to the music and keep it interesting. It just did not work for me in that specific case. The album has a somewhat dark concept throughout both in its theme (with a booklet 3-page story to go along with it) and the music itself. Standout points for me are The Untold Story, Dawn Of The Day and the totally unexpected, yet beautifully-crafted and somber ballad It Shall Be.
Sacred Dawn has produced a great new album that while not for everyone, I think is yet another step in the right direction that will keep earning them new fans and a wider audience. For additional information on the band, visit them online at www.facebook.com/sacreddawnmusic
HESSLER - Bad Blood (Independent)
Review by Mario Salazar.
From the opening riffs of 'Shark Attack', the Chicago band Hessler delivers a punchy, energy-saturated tsunami of hard rock on their 2011 debut, Bad Blood.
If I had to put a label of sorts on this album, it would definitely have to be "Organic Rock" as they have a very organic, unadultered and "old school" element to their sound, with a very straight-forward overall production, melodic guitars, clean powerful vocals and no fancy effects. In fact, when I listened to it for the first time, it immediately took me back to 1984 and reminded me of when I bought Grim Reaper's 'See You In Hell' album and it had a sticker that said "The Finest British Metal You'll Ever Hear" or something along those lines. Now, this is not because of the quality of Hessler's debut, but simply because of that raw, cool element in their recorded sound. The album's 7 songs, with the exception of track #5 (Scarlett) are high-energy rockers with memorable riffs and sing-along type choruses that were definitely written with a performance stage in mind. The above mentioned 'Scarlett' is the album ballad. It's nicely done and it showcases vocalist Lariyah Daniels' beautiful vocals, but the track itself was just OK for me.
If you're an 80s rock fan and enjoy in-your-face, good rock music you can listen to while driving 100 mph with the top down, -or topless for that matter- give Bad Blood a listen and see the band live in concert when you get the opportunity. Visit them online at www.facebook.com/Hesslerchicago for additional information.
From the opening riffs of 'Shark Attack', the Chicago band Hessler delivers a punchy, energy-saturated tsunami of hard rock on their 2011 debut, Bad Blood.
If I had to put a label of sorts on this album, it would definitely have to be "Organic Rock" as they have a very organic, unadultered and "old school" element to their sound, with a very straight-forward overall production, melodic guitars, clean powerful vocals and no fancy effects. In fact, when I listened to it for the first time, it immediately took me back to 1984 and reminded me of when I bought Grim Reaper's 'See You In Hell' album and it had a sticker that said "The Finest British Metal You'll Ever Hear" or something along those lines. Now, this is not because of the quality of Hessler's debut, but simply because of that raw, cool element in their recorded sound. The album's 7 songs, with the exception of track #5 (Scarlett) are high-energy rockers with memorable riffs and sing-along type choruses that were definitely written with a performance stage in mind. The above mentioned 'Scarlett' is the album ballad. It's nicely done and it showcases vocalist Lariyah Daniels' beautiful vocals, but the track itself was just OK for me.
If you're an 80s rock fan and enjoy in-your-face, good rock music you can listen to while driving 100 mph with the top down, -or topless for that matter- give Bad Blood a listen and see the band live in concert when you get the opportunity. Visit them online at www.facebook.com/Hesslerchicago for additional information.
