Hard 10 |
June / July 2008Patrick Burke | Vanishing Point | Mystic Prophecy | Imperia | Ayreon | Nu World Disorder | Zero Hour | King's X | Southern Gentlemen | Willie Basse Patrick Burke "The Lettuce Pray Project" is the debut solo release from former Searching For Gladys vocalist Patrick Burke. It's a twelve song release that's a must have for those of you who are into melodic, radio friendly rock 'n' roll. Right off the bat, there's five songs on here that have the potential to be a hit single. Those tracks would be "Wanna Be," "And Finally," "Everything," "Stand, Shine & Sing" and "I'll Fly Away," all of which are catchy and they stick with you the first time you hear them. "Secondary Ordinary" is a little laid back and the way the song flows, you almost expect it to kick into high gear, which it doesn't do. Skip down to "Feel Me Crumble" to hear a more rockin' tune. The disc ends with two versions of a song called "The Captain." The first version is a ballad and it's a great song. The second version, which has a full band behind it, has more of a kick. When you listen to the album as a whole, it's a very solid, well balanced release...a collection of good songs and not a weak one in the bunch. "The Lettuce Pray Project" will give you hours upon hours of listening pleasure. I've had this one in my CD player so often, it's almost like it became one with my stereo. Seriously, it's that good. I don't think you'll be disappointed with this one. http://www.myspace.com/patrickburkemusic Vanishing Point This band sound like they're trying to be the Freedom Call from Down Under. This is basically "power metal lite", very similar to FC. To be honest, I wasn't all that impressed with VP. They're a little too melodic, and sound watered down. The guitars aren't pronounced enough (hardly any solos) and there's too many keyboards. The melodies are too sweet, the singer's voice is flat, and they really don't sound any different from other bands of this ilk. They are relatively good musicians, but nothing spectacular, and they don't stand out at all. It's just average power metal that's even lighter than usual. There's many (better) bands like this out there already, so even if you're a die hard power metal fan, you won't miss much by passing on this band. Mystic Prophecy Mystic Prophecy are a power metal band who really just sound like a thrashier Primal Fear. They made a splash on the metal scene a few years ago when they featured guitarist Gus G. in their ranks, but he has since left the band. Prophecy have all the right power metal elements in here-they play fast and melodic, with a hard, aggressive edge (a bit more so than most power metal bands), all the members are decent musicians, and they are firmly rooted in classic style metal. However, they really aren't much different from most other bands of this ilk, aside from being a tad edgier. There's really not much that makes them stand out from the crowd. If you already have CDs by bands like Hammerfall, Primal Fear, Dragonforce, etc, you don't really need this. As much as I love power metal, bands like this are starting to become interchangable, even if they are good. Imperia This band sound like they're trying to be the next Nightwish. Their style is very similar. They are female fronted, and play melodic progressive metal with a lot of classical/opera influence. They are also on the same basic page as bands like Stratovarius, Rhapsody, Theater Of Tragedy, Dream Theater, and Fates Warning, as well as the aforementioned Nightwish. Many of the songs are driving metal tunes, with crunchy riffs, but also very melodic, with complex, atmospheric keyboard arrangements, and actual classical intruments, like piano and strings, are used. There are also some ballads thrown in for good measure, and a number of different musical styles are explored. As well as classical, there are hints of folk, Eastern, Celtic, and other styles of "world music" throughout the album. Sometimes they have a tendency to overdo this, and drown out the metal side of things. Things do get a bit overindulgent at times. The arrangements are sometimes TOO complex and sophisticated, the songs overwritten in places, and the whole thing is a bit lengthy, at almost 70 minutes. Much of the time, the album sounds like a bunch of musical arrangements looking for a song. Sorry if I've used this analogy before, but there's too much frosting and not enough cake. Nonetheless, the band is very talented. Vocalist Helena Iren Michealson has quite a set of pipes. She hits a number of different octaves, going up, down and everywhere in between. She sounds operatic in some places, and in others, more folksy, a la Loreena McKennit. Her voice has a lot of emotion, sometimes sounding bright, sometimes mournful. The rest of the band also does very well. The playing and songwriting are very good, with a lot of skill and sophistication. They just need to cut back a little bit and not get carried away. Next time, write some actual songs, and tilt things more in the metal direction. Ayreon This is a concept album. Here's how the band explained it. THE STORY: Through technological advancement, Forever, a race of aquatic beings living on Planet Y, has found the secret of longevity. They have advanced to the point that they have become completely dependent on machines and are losing their emotions. A passing comet on a collision course with Planet Earth provides the opportunity to revitalize their race; Forever harness the comet to carry their DNA to a new home on Earth. When the comet and Earth collide, the cataclysmic impact exterminates the dinosaurs (the Fifth Extinction), but from the ashes of destruction, humans arise. At first, the experiment with seeded DNA seems successful: through the humans Forever vicariously relive the emotions they experienced before the age of machines. In order to help mankind overcome their physical ailments and mental limitations, Forever speeds up human evolution. But the result is tragic: people develop a similar technological dependency with their emotions waning just like Forever and moral development not keeping pace with their capacity to invent. Forever must find a way to save mankind from its imminent self-destruction...or should they? This is an EPIC two disc set with a running time of 102 minutes. We're talkin' "Lord Of The Rings" EPIC here. This album is just so larger than life, it's amazing. It's obvious that a lot of time and effort was put into it and the end result is just....WOW...words alone can't describe it...and a single listen won't do it justice. You need to spend some time with this release in order to take it all in. It's not an album that you can throw on just to listen to or play in the backround while you're doing something else. As for musical style, the simple way to slap a tag on it would be to say that it's a progressive album which, really, that's what it is. But, there's so much going on within the music that you can't just say, "Yeah...progressive" and leave it at that. It's melodic power rock, there's a touch of folk rock, classical, it's heavy in some places. It's a work of art...that's what it really is. Various musicians/vocalists all come together to make "01011001" a "space opera of epic proportions," as it states in the bio. This is, without a doubt, the greatest album that I've heard all year...and I don't think anyone's gonna be able to top it anytime soon. There's just no way. It should also be noted that "01011001" is available in three editions. First, there's a double CD in a standard jewel case. There's a special edition in a box with a 28 page booklet and a bonus DVD. Finally, there's a limited deluxe edition in a fold out slipcase with a 36 page booklet and a bonus DVD. Regardless of which one you get...you're in for a musical listening experience like no other. Nu World Disorder Okay, well, here's a rather impressive band. I say that because they blend a wide variety of musical styles into one nice, neat little ass kickin' package. On their MySpace page, they have their musical style listed as metal/rock glam. Can't argue with that because I can hear all of those elements in their music. I also happen to hear a lot more though. I'm talkin' punk, sleaze, speed and thrash. Maybe not a lot, but, it's all there. When you think about it...all those musical styles in one place...doesn't really sound like a good idea. It would be hard to combine everything and come up with a single sound. I've heard a release or two where the band tried to shove as much as they could into their music and the end result wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Honestly, it sounded like a bunch of noise. Nu World Disorder makes it work...and they pull it off rather well. This isn't an album that's all over the place. It's very solid release. On top of it all, they also throw a sense of humor into the mix. They're serious about rockin' your face off. But, they wanna have a good time while they're doing it and they want you to feel good while you're picking your face up off the floor. There's some serious musical talent here. No doubt about it. The band also has a DVD available called "Live At The Silo," which is well worth checkin' out if you wanna see the band in action. They've really got their act together and this release will back that up. From the first song to the last, they give the audience more than 100%. I believe the release is sold on a DVD-R. That's how the copy was that I recieved. But, it's a high quality, totally professional recording...one that you won't be disappointed with. Bottom line...Nu World Disorder is gonna be huge. If that doesn't happen, seriously, I would lose faith in the music scene. Yes...they're really that good...and they deserve to be noticed. So, if you're lookin' for the next big thing...believe me...it's right here. You can take that to the bank. http://www.myspace.com/nuworlddisorder Zero Hour Zero Hour play progressive metal. Like many bands of this genre, they are very influenced by bands like Dream Theater and Queensryche, but Zero Hour are not copycats. They have a distinctive sound of their own. They are heavier and darker than most progressive metal bands, and they don't use keyboards. Keyboards are often (over)used by many prog bands, but ZH don't use them at all, and this works to their advantage. It give their music more of an edge, and it doesn't become oversaturated with keywork, as happens to many other prog bands. ZH doesn't need to use keyboards anyway. The four musicians are talented enough to make their music stand out with just guitar, bass, and drums. They take this standard lineup and increase the sound tenfold. Vocalist Chris Salinas sounds influenced by Queensryche's Geoff Tate but he isn't a mere knockoff. He goes way up high, way down low, and everywhere in between, hitting several ranges and octaves. Guitarist Jasun Tipton is a wizard, weaving complex spider webs with his six string, and cranking out some punchy power chords. His bassist brother Troy is just as nimble fingered. He plays like Steve Harris, but also with a jazz flavor. This is the best prog metal album I've heard in a long time. Instead of overdoing things and copying the genre's masters, like many bands do, Zero Hour take what's basic and make it sophicticated, but without sacrificing the metal side of their music. Sometimes less really is more. King's X King's X have always been a very and different and unique kind of band. They can't be pigeon holed into any kind of category, they have a style that's all their own. They are hard rock, could (arguably) be considered metal, even progressive, but their style is not the typical hard rock/metal sound, far from it. Their style is a number of styles put together, including classic rock, blues, folk, and 60s/Beatles. They put it all together and make up a unique style. They've been at it for two decades and have always stuck to their guns, playing their music on their terms, regardless of trends and musical climates. They have now made it to their fifteenth album, hence the title. This is definitely a King's X album, with their style written all over it. The kickoff song, "Pray", packs a punch. It's a hard hitting song with some mean, growling riffs, and a lot of Cream influence. Doug plays bass like Jack Bruce on this song, and many others. Another one that stood out was "Broke", another crunchy, bluesy tune that comments on the country's financial troubles. The songs on the album go from being pounding rockers with hard driving riffs to more laid back songs-songs like "Blue" and "Julie" with a 60s/Beatlesque style to them. King's X have always had a lot of diversity in their music, and this album is no exception. Doug Pinnick plays a mean bass, as always. Both he and guitarist Ty Tabor can really crank out those riffs, with drummer Jerry Gaskill backing them up with a ferocious, pounding beat. King's X are a band that can be mean and mellow at the same time, and there's not many bands that can do that. They've always been great musicians and songwriters, and their music has a message to it as well. They also know how to have a good time, as closing track "No Lie" suggests. It's a rollicking, bluesy rock song with a sense of fun, and some great guitar work. This song is bit more lighthearted than their other material, and is probably as close to "cock rock" as King's X will get. King's X celebrate their fifteenth anniversary (album wise) by cranking out another classic. Southern Gentlemen David Chastain is an awesome, and underrated, gutiarist. I think he's right up there with Eddie Van Halen, Satriani, Vai, Malmsteen, etc., but he's never gotten the props he deserves, and has spent the last twentysomething years playing on an underground basis. He has many projects going on, one of the latest being this band, Southern Gentlemen. This is their second album, and it's a smoker! They play high octane, blues flavored hard rock. This is 100% pure rock and roll, 100% pure classic. These Gentlemen pack a mean sucker punch! Dave's playing is as brilliant as ever! He lets loose and rips his fretboard asunder, with great skill! Vocalist Eric Johns sings in a rough and raw voice, and bassist Dave Swart and drummer Mike Haid make up a pounding rhythm section. All the songs drive it hard, pedal to the metal, with a lot of blues influence and a dark flavor. The music is rough, gritty, and raw, and totally ROCKS! This is pure rockin', the way it was meant to be. Southern Gentlemen are a tight little unit who play up a storm. No frills, nothing fancy or trendy. They just play in straight from the heart, and unleash a rocking Southern beast! Southern Gentlemen are hardly gentlemen, but if they were they wouldn't be rock and roll! Gentlemen or not, they are a great band who kick serious booty! And you can NEVER go wrong with a guitarist as great as David Chastain! Willie Basse You might not recognize the name Willie Basse, but he's no newcomer to the rock scene. He's been playing for over twenty years. In the 80s he founded a band called Black Sheep. This band featured many now-famous musicians (Slash, Paul Gilbert, and Randy Castillo, to name but three), but never hit the big time themselves. However, Willie has never quit. He's kept up his work in music, in one way or another,for the past two decades. This is his first album in a long time, and it's pretty rocking! He's a great guitar player-a shredder/guitar hero along the lines of Yngwie, Steve Vai, or Micheal Schenker. He plays classic 80s style, melodic metal, with an edge. Most of the songs are hard rockers with some shredding guitar work, and there are a couple of songs that go in a somewhat different musical direction. "Po Boy", for example, has a reggae touch, and also makes a political/anti war statement. He also throws in two ballads, "Avarie" and "You're Not There", with a sax solo in the former. This is unusual for hard rock. Willie is a very good guitar player, who has never gotten any props for his playing. That's so wrong, because he really can shred. Guitar aficianados and fans of classic/80s style metal should definitely check him out. He's helped many other musicians on their way to fame. Isn't it about time Willie got a break? |