“We’re a multi-faceted band. We’re not one-dimensional. We never claimed to be anything like that. I think this is probably the pinnacle of all the stuff we’ve been doing over the years and thrown into one thing.”
— Corrosion of Conformity’s Pepper Keenan talking to Digital-Noise about the band’s new album.
This week’s most listened to CDs by yours truly were Scorpion’s “Bad for Good” and Trivium’s “Ascendancy” (rocking the old school with the new school).
For those wondering… I’m 100 percent serious when I’m listing what I’ve been listening to over the week. Sure, I’m throwing in other things here and there, but those albums that make the list are what I’m seriously spinning at the moment.
I’m not about to go into detail about my personal album collection (which I feel is impressive) … I don’t think it matters. But I own enough stuff that I feel like certain bands get overlooked … a lot. I have a bunch of hardcore and more melodic rock (think The Used or Thursday), but lately I’ve been firmly planted in metal. Still, every couple of weeks I seek out something from my collection I haven’t listened to in a while, just so nothing is going to waste.
The two discs I listed up top are what I’ve got in my truck. Unfortunately, since my move I haven’t been able to hook up a stereo at home, so I rely on my digital music (metal) channel in the homestead. At work, I’ve been listening to everything from Entombed’s “Same Difference” (a severely overlooked and underrated album!) to Open Hand to The Killers and Burn the Priest.
I’m not really going anywhere with that … just sharing my listening habits.
There was a post over at Blabbermouth earlier this week with a link to what is claimed to be the cover art for the next Biohazard album, “Means to an End.” Said artwork looks awfully familiar … as in, it was the same artwork that was supposed to be for the band’s previous effort (“Kill of Be Killed” … which was originally titled “Never Forgive Never Forget”). So I’m taking this news with a grain of salt (read: I’ll believe the cover art when I own the album).
Prints of the cover art were being sold by the artist. I would’ve posted the link to the sale but the 400 prints were already sold and the artwork was pulled from the site.
Also of note, however, was a veiled reference to this being the band’s latest and last effort. I had not heard news that Biohazard was coming to an end, but it’s understandable with the members being involved with a variety of other projects (from Billy’s handful of other bands to Evan’s porn career). Plus, the band’s official site hasn’t been updated in over a year.
So, with that sad rumor, I’m choosing Biohazard’s 1992 release, the explosive “Urban Discipline,” as my album of the week. The album had it all: hits (“Punishment”); a sick opener (“Chamber Spins Three”); a cover (“We’re Only Gonna Die (From Our Own Arrogance)”); the band revisiting its first album (“Wrong Side of the Tracks”) and much more. If you don’t have it, pick this album up … now!
And check out my “Mix of the Moment” this week for more Biohazard goodness. And if you wonder where I’m coming from on this: I have the band’s logo tattooed on my throat.
..:..Feel-good story of the week..:.. The awesome metal band Trivium is among a host of bands teaming up for a 21st birthday party in West Virginia for a fan that has been battling Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer since he was diagnosed two and a half years ago. According to Herald-Dispatch.com, Adam Weaver, a big time fan of such bands as Black Sabbath and Slayer, should be having a good time Friday, since he was already onto Trivium, long before he found out they were coming in town to rock with him. “It was kind of weird because none of my friends have been on to them like I have,” Weaver said. “These guys are awesome, and I’m really thrilled they’re playing at Ozzfest.” Good luck to Weaver in his fight… and enjoy what looks to be one killer birthday bash…
..:..More Ozzfest mysteries..:.. Two more “mystery band” slots have opened up over at the official Ozzfest site. You’ll remember once the official bands were announced a slot was initially left vacant, but eventually filled by Mudvayne. Now, it is already known that Iron Maiden won’t be able to make the last handful of dates, and Velvet Revolver has pretty much been tapped as the replacement act … that would take care of the Main Stage mystery. No word on who might be added to the second stage …
..:..Damageplan shooter caused earlier disturbance..:.. Just a little item of note: a reporter over at The Columbus Dispatch recently filed a story which states Nathan Gale, the guy who got on stage during a Damageplan concert last December and shot and killed four people, including Dimebag Darrell. Columbus police confirmed that Gale caused a disturbance on stage at Bogart’s nightclub on April 5, 2004. According to reports filed by Cincinnati police, Gale damaged lighting equipment during a struggle with security while Damageplan performed … no charges were filed. The band didn’t seek charges, police said. Just an interesting look into the case, seeing as Gale was “trying” something a full 8 months before he went through with the murder. The actual story requires registration, but you can check out a good chunk of it over at Blabbermouth.
..:..Dream tour ruined..:.. The Haunted were “forced” to drop off the upcoming Machine Head tour scheduled to kick off in May. The reason behind the cancellation, according to a post at the band’s Web site, was “due to illness within the close family of several members in the band and we need to be close by in case things should get worse.” The band is still expected to perform on the second stage of Ozzfest when the trek kicks off July 15. I’ll keep my fingers crossed… Man, The Haunted and Machine Head on tour together … that’s about as close to a dream bill as I can imagine right this moment. Too bad that couldn’t be pulled off.
..:..Here’s a band to keep and eye on..:.. Scum, a new band sporting an impressive line-up of Norwegian and American musicians, inked a record deal (with Dogjob Records) and is slated to release the album “Gospels for the Sick” in September. The band features Samoth (Zyklon, ex-Emperor), Faust (ex-Emperor), Happy Tom (Turbonegro), Casey Chaos (Amen) and Cosmocrator (Mindgrinder) — check out a photo here. During an interview with Terrorizer magazine last year, Chaos referred to the band’s sound as something that “doesn’t sound like anything, that’s the best thing. It doesn’t even sound like what I thought it was gonna sound like. The original blueprint was Norwegian black metal with hooky, punk rock choruses, something along those vibes … It’s a total freedom album and the band’s bigger than all of us.” I don’t usually get too excited over stuff I’ve never heard before, but this just does something for me. I think you should keep an eye on this project…
Kane Hodder: “The Pleasure Remains so Heartless” … the hardcore metal band with one of the coolest names ever. I don’t own anything by these guys, but I think I’m going to pick this one up. By the way, this is a re-issue of the 2004 release with new artwork…
Mudvayne: “Lost and Found” … my favorite “band-with-potential” always seems to be hit or miss with its albums. Nothings ever a homerun, but I’m hearing good things about this disc so I have high hopes…
Slipknot: “Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)” … hooray! Another re-issue. I’ve been waiting for this one to pick up the Killswitch digi-pak as well. The second disc of this Slipknot set includes b-sides and live tracks … and of course new artwork.
Wednesday 13: “Transylvania” … he doesn’t want to wait for another Murderdolls disc, so this front man goes solo. I’m not really “into” this music, but it falls into my domain nonetheless.
Here’s a little mix I put together featuring the song’s of Biohazard. I wanted to spotlight a band to try and turn readers on to music they might not be aware of. Check one, some or all of them out … who knows, you might discover something you like or remember something you used to …
“Slam” (off “Tales From The B-Side” )
“Business” (off “Urban Discipline” )
“Authority” – live (off “No Holds Barred” )
“Never Forgive , Never Forget” (off “Kill or be Killed” )
“Blue Blood” (off “Biohazard” )
“Better Days” (off “Mata Leao” )
“Unified” (off “Uncivilization” )
“Tales From The Hard Side” (off “State of the World Address” )
“Chamber Spins Three” (off “Urban Discipline” )
“New World Disorder” (off “New World Disorder” )
Trust me … that doesn’t even scratch the surface …
By the way, I heard the Korn/Xzibit collaboration of “Fight the Power” (set for release on the “XXX: State of the Union” soundtrack) … I never thought it could get worse than the “Word Up” track, but it has. Truly, truly horrible stuff … while I’m always willing to give a band one more chance, I’m quite ready to completely write the band off and stop paying attention (like most fans, I assume, already have). Should I hold on to my back catalogue? E-mail me and let me know your thoughts…
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…
