” There are so many different things that music can do to you besides beat you between the f*cking eyes, you know? Of course, that’s the favorite feeling, and you’ve got to have your favorite thing, but give me a goddamn break! Have some variety.”
— Dimebag Darrell talking about listening to a variety of music in his ‘last interview’ published in Guitar World.”
This week’s column was crafted while listening to Bury Your Dead’s “Cover Your Tracks” (over and over again).
I was going to make Bury Your Dead’s CD my pick for the week, but I think I’d rather write up a review for the album. I picked it up accidentally (I was looking for a band with the same type of name and assumed this was the disc) and was initially disappointed. The band I was looking for (whose name I now can’t remember!) was more in the vein of Taking Back Sunday crossed with Atreyu or From Autumn to Ashes … Bury Your Dead is straight up hardcore.
Now, I don’t know about you, but if I’m not expecting a certain sound and start to listen to an album, I find myself hating it upon first listen. Luckily, I’m smart enough to let it sit for a couple of days and give it a second chance. (This happened in the recent past with Thrice’s “The Illusion of Safety” and Brand New’s “Deja Entendu.” I picked the Thrice disc up as the band was playing a show I was going to … I hated the disc and never listened to it for some reason, went to the show, was impressed … listened to the disc again at work a couple of months later and was blown away. Now it’s one of my favorites. The Brand New disc caught me off guard, but after a couple of days I started to really like it.) But back to my story …
The Bury Your Dead disc is hardcore … sounding like older Hatebreed. I wasn’t expecting that and listened to half the album before switching over to Rise Against. But there was a cool melody in the disc’s fifth track (“Magnolia,” on my Mix of the Moment this week) that stuck in my head. That one thing hooked me back in and now I’m pretty fired up about the whole thing. Stay tuned for a review in the near future. I don’t want to give anything away, but in an amusing move the band named every song after a Tom Cruise movie. Classic!
And after all that talk about Bury Your Dead, I present American Head Charge’s “The Feeding” as my pick for album of the week. Sure, I did just review it the other day, but I do realize this was a highly anticipated album … not just by me I’m assuming.
I loved the band when the first album (“The War of Art”) came out, saw the group a couple of times (at Ozzfest, the Pledge of Allegiance tour, etc.) and was psyched for a follow-up that never seemed like it would come.
Well, it did finally get here … it was sort of worth the wait. The band tweaked it’s sound slightly — a little less industrial noise, a little less extreme metal — but still sounds pretty strong. I like the middle tracks most of all, but the whole album is starting to grow on me. For more of my thoughts, check out the review.
Dear readers, my album of the week:
By the way, if anyone knows what the deal is with the alternate cover over at CDuniverse, please drop me a line. Personally, I like the clown cover more, but the alternative one has a certain gloomy charm…
..:..Powerman 5000..:.. Powerman 5000 front man Spider One recently posted at the band’s message board, that a new PM5K album is about done. There’s some mixing left and the band is still exploring release options (remember the non-release of “Anyone for Doomsday?”). “What is it going to sound like? Well, let’s just say if you like calculated, bloated Hoobastank ballads or radio friendly nu metal or over-produced, auto-tuned, cookie-cutter rock, then you will hate the new Powerman 5000 record. Now, I’m NOT going to say the standard bullshit like, ‘This is our heaviest, most brutal record yet.’ That’s so boring and predictable. Not to mention, not true. I will say that, this record is raw and real. I really have no idea what to expect as the band’s sound has really developed over time … but everything except that last release (“Transform”) rocked. I’m taking a “wait and see” approach here…
..:..Life of Agony news..:.. I’m sure I already posted this news, but Life of Agony’s anticipated “Broken Valley” now has a release date of May 17 (through Epic). The album’s first single, “Love to Let You Down,” is scheduled for radio around March 21. And, for those who care, the cover art of the album is here.
..:..Opeth ready to record..:.. Opeth recently posted an update on its official Web site, stating the band would be heading into the studio March 15. “The band are currently in rehearsal mode, which is a rare occasion having recorded the last 4 records without rehearsing. The recording will be overseen by the uprising recording mogul Jens Bogren. As of today, no names for production duties have surfaced and it looks like the next record will be a band-produced effort. Nothing has been decided regarding who’s taking care of the mix either so we’ll have to keep you wondering.” I guess the band is also seeking a new record contract and has lined up several festival appearances. The bigger news (at least to me) is that the band is also planning a summer tour of the U.S. I guess keep an eye out here, or at the band’s site. Sounds cool.
..:..Ozzfest rumors..:.. There’s a post over at Blabbermouth regarding the acts for Ozzfest’s 2005 Main Stage. I hate to perpetuate false information, but I’m being up front about this being rumor, so here you go (plus, while the report is not confirmed, Blabbermouth’s been on the money with rumors lately): Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden will headline the 10th anniversary edition of Ozzfest … In addition, Anthrax’s “Among the Living” lineup – featuring vocalist Joey Belladonna, guitarist Dan Spitz and bassist Frank Bello – is said to have secured a slot on the main stage at the festival, which is expected to kick off in mid-July. This lineup doesn’t really excite me, except that I can recognize it’s a good draw. I love Maiden, but not enough to have ever got anything on CD (I had some tapes back in the day). Sabbath is a given. We sort of “knew” about this Anthrax stuff and I’ve already bitched about that before (the short is that I prefer the band with Bush at the helm). Supposedly, the shows will also start later than usual and include more non-rotating slots on the second stage. You can check out the complete post here. As a side note, I’m hoping they’re going the whole “classics” on the Main Stage, “up-and-comers” on the second stage.
..:..Slayer update..:.. I wasn’t sure how to address this next piece of news: turns out Slayer was preparing to record a new album and put things on hold because Rick Rubin (who runs Slayer home, American Records) was negotiating a new distribution deal (turns out with Warner Bros.). Rubin has worked with Slayer since the recording of “Reign in Blood.” Hopefully this new deal means new Slayer is on the way.
..:..Sevendust’s new member..:.. Sonny Mayo (formerly of Snot and Amen) has officially joined Sevendust, replacing Clint Lowery. Sevendust is a pretty good band, though they seem to be headed in the Staind direction where the band’s material is getting a little less abrasive and a little more radio-friendly with each release. Information on Mayo and an announcement of an upcoming tour, can be found over at the bands new Web site.
..:..Bitches from the Witches..:.. From the screwed-concert file: I guess Seven Witches was performing a show in Pennsylvania recently for an upcoming DVD. Someone affiliated with the band changed the location last minute and the new venue decided the “all-ages” show was 21-and-under mid-way through the band’s set. Seven Witches got perturbed at the situation and refused to make the necessary announcements … the venue pulled the plug to make said announcement and then let the show continue while bouncers physically removed the children. Dear God, what a clusterf*ck! Rather than go into great detail, I’ll point you to the initial release about the change of venue, a piece from a concert attendee who experienced the fiasco and then follow-ups from the band’s guitarist and lead singer. Fun stuff!
..:..Weird awards news..:.. So, it appears Guns N’ Roses has been nominated in the Best International Band Rock/Pop category at Germany’s Echo music awards. While that might, at first, cause you pause, it turns out that in order to qualify, each artist is required to have had an album in the Top 100 German Media Control chart between March 1, 2004 and February 28, 2005. So thank God for greatest hits collections. Now, where’s my “Chinese Democracy?” I’d suggest you check the link for more information, but it’s all in German.
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 …
Bury Your Dead: “Magnolia” (off “Cover Your Tracks”)
25 Ta Life: ” Strength Through Unity” (off ” Strength Through Unity: The Spirit Remains”)
All Out War: ” From the Bottom” (off ” Condemned to Suffer”)
Atreyu: ” Ain’t Love Grand” (off ” Suicide Notes & Butterfly Kisses”)
As I Lay Dying: ” Distance Is Darkness” (off ” Frail Words Collapse”)
Norma Jean: ” Shotgun Message” (off ” Bless the Martyr & Kiss the Child”)
Remembering Never: ” Incisions ” (off ” Women & Children Die First”)
Blood Has Been Shed: ” She Speaks To Me” (off “Spirals”)
Zombie Apocalypse: “Welcome to the Jungle” (off “Bring You to Your Knees”)
Between the Buried & Me: ” Lost Perfection” (off ” The Silent Circus”)
On a sad note, there’s rumors floating around that CBGB’s time may be up. According to a recent story in the New York Post, the club’s rent is soaring to something in the neighborhood of $40,ooo a month. Check out the full story here.
Let me, in turn, take this opportunity to suggest you try and check out any local clubs around you whenever possible. You never know how good a band may be (or how big they’ll become). In my time I’ve seen the likes of Hatebreed, Biohazard, Creed, Fear Factory, System of a Down, Spineshank and Godsmack (to name only a few) play in the smallest clubs … and the last time I saw these bands they were playing in stadiums to tens of thousands of fans.
But I’ve also seen my fair share of clubs go under … or turn into dance halls. Whatever! Just try to enjoy a good thing while you can.
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…
