“It’s one of the strange ironies of the music business… that it would turn one of your idols, into one of your enemies.”
— Machine Head front man Robert Flynn in reference to his “feud” with Slayer’s Kerry King.
This week’s most listened to CDs by yours truly were Children of Bodom’s “Trashed, Lost & Strungout” EP, Spitalfield’s “Stop Doing Bad Things” and Killswitch Engage’s “The End of Heartache.”
There’s a lot of stuff to get to this week. No album of the week … but I will pimp a band at the end of the column.
By the way, as per my mention last week … I did sell off my entire Korn catalogue. I didn’t get that much money for the set and don’t miss any of the discs at all (apart from a couple of songs off the first album). Face it, none of the material really seemed to stand up to the test of time. Plus, the band seems ready to move in some other direction: first that “Word Up” cover, then the appalling (as if it could get any worse) “Fight the Power” abortion with Xhibit … now the band plans on collaborating with rapper The Game.
Whatever!
So it’s a well-known fact I hate digi-pacs. I’m not against the “idea” of the digi-pac … I just hate that, as a fan, if a band I love comes out with a CD, I’ll pick it up, but potentially get burned down the road when a digi-pac hits shelves.
Still, two bands I’m high on, Killswitch Engage and Slipknot, recently re-released their latest albums (we’ll ignore that Roadrunner Records was the common thread here). With both albums already being reviewed here at Inside Pulse, I thought I’d use some of the space here to go over the “bonus” material on these releases.
The six tracks on Killswitch Engage’s “bonus” disc features live songs and b-side material in equal proportions.
The real gem here is the re-recorded version of “Irreversal,” one of the best songs off Killswitch’s first album on Ferret, with Jones on vocals. The song undertakes an almost hardcore transformation and sounds 10 times more powerful than the initial recording (though different). This redone version, which also features Jesse Leach (the band’s former front man and current singer for Seemless) and Phil Labonte (former front man for Shadows Fall and current singer in All That Remains) on backing vocals, does not replace the original, but gives fans a glimpse into how the band’s sound has matured over the years.
The live tracks also offer Jones’ interpretation on the band’s material prior to his addition: blistering versions of “Life to Lifeless,” “Fixation on the Darkness” and “My Last Serenade” (all off the band’s Roadrunner debut, “Alive or Just Breathing.”
There’s also the unreleased track, “My Life For Yours,” and a “Resident Evil” mix of “The End of Heartache” (about 50 seconds shorter with a slight alteration on the backing vocals and guitar mix).
For a review of the album proper, go here.
Slipknot’s “Vol. 3. (The Subliminal Verses),” packs more bang for your buck. The bonus disc features eight tracks clocking in at a little over 40 minutes. Sure, half of the disc is the usual live fare, in this case “The Blister Exists” (complete with kick-ass drum bridge), “Three Nil,” “Disasterpiece” and “People=Shit” (both off “Iowa”).
There’s a new mix of “Vermilion,” (courtesy Terry Date), which sounds much more creepy than the initial album cut. Taylor’s vocals are brought up higher in the mix and most of the guitar is stripped away leaving room for some ethereal sampling.
There’s a “full-length” version of the “Vol. 3” closer, “Danger – Keep Away,” which, at just under eight minutes in length, might have been the better choice to end the album proper (keeping in tone with the band’s previous efforts).
The meat of the set, if you will, is the two cuts from the album’s recording session that didn’t see release, “Scream” (which was included in the Japanese pressing of “Vol. 3”) and “Don’t Get Close.” “Scream” is the stronger of the two tracks, changing tempo a couple of times. There’s a solid hook during the chorus and bridges. “Don’t Get Close” is a good enough track. In fact, the only reason I can see for not including it on the initial release (apart from keeping the album tight) was that the song, thematically, doesn’t really fit with any of the other material. It’s a Slipknot song, but one that really seems better suited for something like a soundtrack.
The live tracks were taken from various tours over the past couple of years. The mixes are pretty solid (recorded right off the boards I assume), with little crowd interference (except for before or after the song).
For a review of the album proper, go here.
Overall, I was impressed with each release. The two-disc set is better than a handful of tracks getting tacked on to the end of an album (like with Fear Factory’s “Obsolete” disc a couple of years ago). The Slipknot disc has more to offer, but there’s good stuff on the Killswitch album too.
..:..Disturbed front man talks to MTV.com..:.. Song titles set to appear on Disturbed’s still-untitled follow-up to 2002’s “Believe” include “Hell,” “Decadence,” “Monster,” “10,000 Fists” and “Deify.” The band has recorded 13 tracks, including a cover of “Land Of Confusion,” the 1986 hit by Genesis. The band’s only other cover, “Shout” (originally recorded by Tears for Fears), appeared on the band’s debut “The Sickness.” Even though the band’s front man, singer David Draiman, said the band would not record any more remakes, he recently told MTV.com, “I know I said I would never do another cover, but I guess I lied. Just wait until you hear it. We took the synth beat out and riffed it up and chunked it up so it’s heavy as f***. Basically, we took all the pop out, and what’s cool is that the lyrics are so appropriate for today’s times.”
Of course, Sweden’s In Flames did the same thing in 2003 on its “Trigger EP.” And I’m thinking, even though In Flames kept the synth intact, that that cover will be far superior. Time will tell I guess.
If you want to check out the whole interview, go here.
..:..Skid Row bassist touches base with Pittsburgh paper..:.. “Bands like Nirvana and the whole grunge movement put bands like us out of business for a while,” bassist Rachel Bolan recently told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “For a while, you didn’t want to say you were in Skid Row — people would say, ‘What, the ’80s hair band?'”
Was Skid Row really lumped in with that crowd? Maybe on the first album. But after that, touring with Pantera, I’m pretty sure the band shook the label off. Then, with the insane “Subhuman Race” release … well, I’m just saying. I don’t think grunge had anything to do with it. There was inner turmoil in the band and they couldn’t keep it together.
The story reiterates that the band is working on a new album that should be released this summer. Getting radio attention would be nice, he says, but it’s not likely for bands from the era of Skid Row. The band has gained many second-generation fans from sons, daughters and younger siblings of older fans, and Bolan says they appreciate Skid Row’s youth-friendly themes in the lyrics of the original hits. “We’re a band that didn’t forget what it’s like to be young, that’s for sure,” Bolan says. “We weren’t thinking about messages; we wrote what was in our hearts … we wrote it down as we lived it.”
Skid Row could still find a place in today’s industry, especially since the band doesn’t have to rely on a label since it releases material independently now. I, for one, am looking forward to the next album.
If you want to check out the whole interview, go here.
..:..McKagan talks GnR..:.. During a recent interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Duff McKagan (formerly Guns N’ Roses, now with Velvet Revolver) got grilled about Guns N’ Roses long-delayed “Chinese Democracy” album.
“You know what? You probably know more than I would. I really have no idea … I wish they would get it out after all this time … Spontaneity and rock ‘n’ roll go together. And chemistry. It comes back to the old adage: If it takes you more than five minutes to write a song, then just scrap it. I don’t know. Axl Rose is a very, very fickle guy, and he changes his mind all the time. So who knows?”
I really didn’t expect him to know too much, but he did offer a little insight into what might be going on with Rose. I still, in my heart, believe that “Chinese Democracy” could be relevant in today’s music scene, especially with the success of bands like Velvet Revolver and Audioslave. I’m not sure too much more time can pass before that stops being a reality.
..:..Amorphis resigns with Nuclear Blast..:.. Amorphis guitarist Esa Holopainen was quoted in press material recently about the difficulty the band faced trying to find a new vocalist.
“It was more difficult than we actually would have imagined. We received about 150 demos from people all around, some of them were really good some not … We actually thought about doing instrumental album.” The band found out about its new front man from a mutual friend. “We listened his demo and his sound was exactly what we were looking for … The day he came over we were all proved that Tomi Joutsen is next Amorphis singer, we went through ‘Against Widows,’ ‘Alone’ and few other songs including ‘Sign From The North Side,’ which is from our debut album. This is the song we also do live again.”
Well, I’m glad that speed bump got worked out, as I’ve been a fan of Amorphis for a while now. Though, just the thought of an instrumental album … man, what might have been.
..:..Back to McKagan..:.. McKagan also talked to the Seattle Times prior to a Velvet Revolver gig recently and talk turned to Kurt Cobain. McKagan was one of the last people to talk to Cobain before his death as the two flew together from L.A. to Seattle in April 1994. “He said, ‘Man, I just escaped from Exodus’ [a treatment facility]. I didn’t have any foresight that the guy was going to do what he did. I could tell he was bummed out, and I’d been that way before. We were at baggage claim, and I thought I’d ask him to come stay at my house. I turned around and he was gone. McKagan seemed to get emotional as talk moved towards each member of Velvet Revolver getting their acts together. We’re all still alive. When all five of us could have been dead. And we’re not only alive, we’re stronger than we were when we were 20 years old.
Check out the whole interview here, it’s a pretty interesting read…
..:..The album complete..:.. Obituary has finished mastering on the new album, the band’s first studio offering since 1997’s “Back From the Dead.” The band is still waiting word from Roadrunner Records as to when the album will be released, hoping it will be July at the latest. The band also posted some photos (here) from the recent show in Los Angeles when Obituary filled in for Lamb of God on the Subliminal Verses tour (with Slipknot and Shadows Fall). I cannot wait for this album… stay tuned.
..:..More studio updates..:.. Children of Bodom has recently finished the drum tracks for the band’s upcoming album, due out later this year; Byzantine’s sophomore offering, “…And They Shall Take Up Serpents,” is in the finishing stages at the moment — the album is set for release in July; Clutch have completed work on “Robot Hive / Exodus” and the album is set for release in June.
..:..Vinnie Paul jams with BLS … again..:.. Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul joined Black Label Society on stage during “Suicide Messiah” at the band’s recent House of Blues (Orlando, Florida) concert. Paul had previously jammed with Zakk Wylde’s outfit at the 2005 WAAF Indoor Beach Party on April 9 in Lowell, MA. Good to see Paul ease his way back into the spotlight. Hopefully this means more Damageplan for the future …
..:..In other BLS news..:.. Black Sabbath and Black Label Society will team up for some post-Ozzfest U.S. tour dates this fall. The two will be seen on the Ozzfest Main Stage this summer.
..:..Sick rock stars cancel shows..:.. King Diamond was forced to cancel its gig in Philadelphia last Monday after the group’s front man came down with a “throat problem,” according to the venue’s box office. King Diamond is expected to play a make-up show at the venue sometime in May. Meanwhile, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Tuesday’s Slipknot concert was canceled because lead vocalist Corey Taylor is ill. The band will continue on to Denver in preparation for the next show. The band was previously forced to cancel Sunday’s show in Washington under medical orders from singer Corey Taylor’s doctors. Then, earlier this year percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan missed several performances in order to tend to his wife, who reportedly suffers from Crohn’s disease. See, even rock stars get sick …
The Esoteric: “With the Sureness of Sleepwalking” …featuring current and former members of Coalesce, Today Is The Day and Reggie and The Full Effect…
The Red Death: “External Flames of Reference” …thrash metal mixed with Swedish death metal and hardcore…
Sinai Beach: “Immersed” … brutal mix of metal and hardcore…
All Shall Perish: “Hate, Malice, Revenge” … melodic hardcore death metal…
Bleed the Sky: “Paradigm in Entropy” … metal meets melody…
Circa Survive: “Juturna” … check out a review here…
Mistress: In Disgust We Trust … doom/grind/sludge metal…
Here’s a little mix I put together featuring the songs of Machine Head. 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 …
“Imperium” (off “Through the Ashes of Empires” )
“A Thousand Lies” (off “Burn My Eyes” )
“Struck a Nerve” (off “The More Things Change” )
“Message In A Bottle” (off “The Burning Red” )
“Bulldozer” (off “Supercharger” )
“Desire to Fire” (off “The Burning Red” )
“Frontlines” (off “The More Things Change” )
“The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears” live (off “Hellalive” )
“Days Turn Blue to Gray” (off “Through the Ashes of Empires” )
“None But My Own” (off “Burn My Eyes” )
Trust me … that doesn’t even scratch the surface …
Always a fan of the underground, I’d like to point you in the direction of Providence, Rhode Island, metal outfit Inner Self Lost. I’ve had a copy of the band’s four track EP for a while now, and every time I listen to it I wonder why these guys don’t have a full-length and a label backing them.
The band mixes hefty riffs with a thick, sludgy sound and vocals that shift from screams to heavy drawls (bordering on, but never fully stoner in quality).
The band has a pretty good Web site where you can read about the group, listen to samples and order the EP. I highly recommend doing so … support the underground (especially when the band is as good as this).
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…
