Auditory Assault

“We do owe something to our congregants. A band formerly known as Burn the Priest caused us pause. We have to draw the line somewhere.”
— Marc Little, general counsel for the Faithful Central Bible Church, the group which owns The Forum in Los Angeles and banned Lamb of God from performing there.

For God’s sake! Think about the children!!!!!

Intro …

This week’s column was crafted while listening to Sum 41’s “Chuck” and Opeth’s “Damnation.”

There’s been a couple of notable metal bands who have released acoustic albums in the past couple of years. I’m not sure whether I love or hate the practice of heavier bands unplugging.

I don’t think I ever really used to find it aggravating until Godsmack released it’s “The Other Side” album. Don’t get me wrong, I liked that particular disc, but once that hit big (or maybe it was during the height of the band’s “Voodoo” track which was the starting point of said album) it seemed like every time I turned on rock radio there was another band turning a song into an acoustic track: Lacuna Coil, Chevelle (WTF!), Spineshank (huh?), and so on.

Some band’s pull it off pretty well. Alice in Chains was making phenomenal acoustic material — back in the heyday of MTV’s “Unplugged” without fully going that route (though I know the band did do an appearance on the show down the line). Maybe I prefer the original acoustic material instead of a band taking a song that it recorded — that in no way would sound good “unplugged” — and then “doing” that song.

Big thumbs up!

More recently Black Label Society put out one hell of a solid acoustic offering. The band (particularly Zakk Wylde) sounds just as intense and “heavy” in that setting as it does fully “plugged in.” If you haven’t picked this album up, I recommend you do so. So parts drag at times, but it’s a worthy addition to any collection.

Thumbs in the middle leaning up…

Personally, I always loved the first Days of the New album. Completely acoustic, the self-titled first offering from the band really captured an intense, heavy-rock style that I haven’t heard from any bands more recent. I was sad that the band — well, Travis Meeks and his fellow musicians since everyone from the first album was fired before the second disc was recorded — decided to “plug-in” on following releases, though I still enjoy those follow-up albums.

Thumbs way up!

This brings me, in a roundabout way, back to Opeth (I mentioned the band at the top of the intro). In April of 2003, Opeth released “Damnation,” the second of the band’s unofficial one-two punch. The first punch came five months earlier in the form of “Deliverance,” a progressive metal offering that mixed acoustic interludes with death metal styling time and time again.

This blending of genres was nothing new for the band … but “Damnation” was: an entire album of acoustic melody and clean, well-sung vocals (think Dream Theater I guess). Fans of the band really couldn’t have been caught too off-guard, though those who had heard of the band and picked this (of all albums) as an introduction might have been surprised. From the epic opening track “Windowpane” right through to “Weakness,” every track is expansive and worthy of a listen. I particular enjoy “Death Whispered a Lullaby” and “Hope Leaves.”

So, in short, this is my official pick for album of the week. Enjoy!

In brief …

..:..Sepultura reunion? I don’t think so..:.. Former Sepultura front man Max Cavalera (now with Soulfly) recently sat down with Music Mania Magazine and talked about Dimebag Darrell, Soulfly, and whether or not he’d reunite with his former band. “No, I believe things happen for a reason and I see that as a great time in my life that I did something, but I see “Soulfly being a new chapter. I go with the philosophy of going forward and never backwards.” It’s been a while now, I’m pretty sure fans are comfortable with the state of the two bands. The interview also has a lot of good Soulfly information, so check it out.

..:..Darkest recording..:.. Hardcore/metal band Darkest Hour (another band I highly recommend checking out) have indicated (via a posting at the group’s Web site) that writing of a new record is underway. The band plans on heading into the studio towards the end of the month. The band anticipates a completion date of April 4. The band also points out that fans shouldn’t expect “‘Hidden Hands of A Sadist Nation’ Part 2!” Both Darkest Hour albums are pretty solid. The band also has a DVD out (“Party Scars and Prison Bars, A Thrashography”) is you’re into that sort of thing.

..:..Banned Lamb!..:.. It looks like Lamb of God is being forced to sit out a date on the upcoming Subliminal Verses tour. The band (formerly known as Burn the Priest for those who are new to this column) won’t be allowed to perform at The Forum in Los Angeles which is owned by The Faithful Central Bible Church, who decided to impose a ruling to ban Lamb of God in the venue. Can anyone say “Overly PC?” Via a press release issued by the band’s management, drummer Chris Adler commented, “The ‘situation’ in L.A. can only be described as ridiculous. It’s already been a huge waste of energy trying to turn this around. The powers that be aren’t interested budging – or doing their research apparently – and we’ve never been a band to placate anyone to get our way, smooth things over or make anyone feel better. They have made it clear that they don’t want us because of our name, our show and our crowd.” Stuff like this happens all the time, so I’m not surprised.

..:..Speaking of Lamb of God…..:.. Machine Head recently revealed (via a posting over at their Web site) that the group will join Lamb of God on a U.S. Midwest tour beginning in May. I would almost declare Lamb of God the official band of this column, but Machine Head would be up there too. Following the tour, Machine Head will hit the road on their own to support the upcoming “Through the Ashes of England” DVD.

..:..Metallica and Batman just don’t mix..:.. Someone over at Metallica’s management company has shot down “rumors” (that I can’t really find) that the band would be on the upcoming “Batman Begins” soundtrack. The soundtrack is apparently chock-full of notable hard-rock and heavy-metal acts. (I don’t want to add fuel to the fire, but other artists talked about have included Velvet Revolver, Chevelle, Audioslave and Foo Fighters, to name a few.) Fans will remember Metallica contributed the highly successful “I Disappear” (a song I love and don’t own) to the “Mission: Impossible 2” soundtrack in 2000.

Mix of the moment…

Here’s a little mix I put together featuring the song’s I’ve been listening to a lot lately (or songs I wish I’d be listening to more). Check one, some or all of them out … who knows, you might discover something you like or remember something you used to …

Warrant: “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (off “Cherry Pie”)
Nile: ” Churning the Maelstrom ” (off “In Their Darkened Shrines”)
As I Lay Dying : “Falling Upon Deaf Ears” (off “Frail Words Collapse”)
Sum 41: “The Bitter End” (off “Chuck”)
Spineshank: “Smothered” (off “Self-Destructive Pattern”)
Drowning Pool: “Bodies” (off “Sinner”)
Chimaira : “Power Trip” (off “Impossiblity of Reason”)
Lamb of God: “Letter to the Unborn” (off “New American Gospel”)
Unearth: “Failure” (off “Oncoming Storm”)
Atreyu: “Lip Gloss And Black” (off “Suicide Notes & Butterfly Kisses”)

In closing…

So, I had mentioned the Sum 41’s “Chuck” had a hand in today’s column. I’m surprised how far this band has come in its short career. There were slight glimpses, every now and then, or the band’s metal influences (a Maiden riff here or there; some Metallica-influenced rhythm) but the band sat firmly in a punk-pop position. No more with “Chuck.” The band really pulled out a solid metal release … and while it might not be the greatest metal album to come out in the past year, it still pretty strong. I particularly like the first single “We’re All to Blame” and the explosive “The Bitter End” (though I can’t be the only one that notices the song sounds exactly like Metallica’s “Battery”). You be the judge: check out clips from the album over at CD Universe.

And that’s that. As always, drop me a line. Until next time, I’ll be here at Inside Pulse making sure no metal news falls through the cracks.

Take it easy…