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Slipknot Premier New Track “Custer” and Track Listing

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Slipknot have been all over the news in the metal world, with speculation of new members and constant news going around.  It’s either vastly exciting or overkill on marketing on Slipknot’s part.  The new album however most likely deserves this constant news coverage.  “5: The Gray Chapter” is an album long time coming for Slipknot, it’s been nearly six years since their last album.  It is a blend of old sounds, like the darkness of “Iowa” and “Subliminal Verses” mixed with the hooks from “All Hope is Gone”.  It has Slipknot’s core and heart put into this album.  They put a lot of the pain from bassist Paul Gray’s death into it, but also some resolve.  It’s an album with mixed emotions, coming together in one layered beast of an album.

I personally have mixed feelings about this album.  Although I like the throwback to Iowa and older albums and am glad Slipknot are back, I crave more.  I find my preference for metal to be too advanced for just another Slipknot album, or any Corey Taylor project.  I crave a Slipknot album less about vocals and more about a stripped down, raw version of the band.  Maybe it’s just me, but Slipknot and Stone Sour have blended into one band because of Taylor’s active presence.  Not that it’s a bad thing, but I expect the bands to be vastly different.  Maybe the core of the album is completely different from Stone Sour, but the vocals are becoming one in the same.  Maybe Corey in his old age is lacking the dynamics he once used to possess so well, or maybe his projects are so much a part of him and his image he cannot differentiate.  Shawn Crahan and company surely make Slipknot what it is, trying to balance every piece of music in such a dark way.  Maybe that’s why this album is still so good; Each member balances each other out and blends into one signature sound that is Slipknot.

Regardless of my opinion, all fans should be pleased and relieved to have a new Slipknot album.  “5: The Gray Chapter” is surely a bit different than last releases, but it is classic Slipknot that millions of metal heads swear by.  Of course as a planet based on comfort and conformity, change is not always welcome in music or anywhere on Earth for that matter.  The change of members, melodic sounds, and a new emphasis on clean vocals may turn a lot of people off.  Luckily, Slipknot are out to make the music they want to and not what negative pricks on the internet want.  Either love it or hate it, Slipknot is back and slightly different.

Stream new song “Custer” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdBqOCS8LmM

The .5: The Gray Chapter track-list is as follows:

1. XIX
2. Sarcastrophe
3. AOV
4. The Devil In I
5. Killpop
6. Skeptic
7. Lech
8. Goodbye
9. Nomadic
10. The One That Kills The Least
11. Custer
12. Be Prepared For Hell
13. The Negative One
14. If Rain Is What You Want

Bonus tracks:

15. Override
16. The Burden

Job For a Cowboy Release New Funky Track, Sun of Nihility

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Job For a Cowboy release new track Sun of Nihility, off their new album released November 11th, 2014.  It’s a funky, dark, death metal track that their fans will foam over.  I personally am not a fan of the vocals, the lyrics are unintelligible and the vocals become abrasive after awhile.  The best part about this band for me is the bass lines by Nick Schendzielos.  It is rare to hear a prominent bassist these days in rock/metal.  The band stems from hardcore punk and death metal, but this new song is something else.  At first listen, I thought it was Opeth or Mastodon, until the vocals came in.  Check it out and don’t be afraid to say what you think.

Listen to Sun of Nihility here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDo-VEam_JA

New album, Sun Eater, comes out November 11th

Nightwish Announce 2015 North American Tour With Delain!

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Exciting news in Symphonic Metal today!  Nightwish announce a huge North America tour in 2015, with special opening guests Delain.  Nightwish are also releasing a new album estimated to be released early next year, probably before the tour begins.  The band are currently working on the album in Finland, whilst Delain are still in North America touring with Sonata Arctica and Xandria.  Marco Hietala, bassist for Nightwish, made an exciting statement about the tour:

“Hi to all!  Our work on the new album has been going with serious productive speed and comfortable ease at the same time.  It´s going to be great to get it out to you and play these pieces live.  And with this announcement it will obviously happen quite soon!  Here are the dates for the North American shows.  Come on over and we´ll raise hell and kick some arses together!”

Confirmed dates for the upcoming NIGHTWISH 2015 tour with Delain are:

04/09/15  Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY

04/10/15  Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA

04/11/15  Palladium – Worcester, MA

04/13/15  Capitole Theatre – Quebec City, QC – CANADA

04/14/15  Phoenix Concert Theater – Toronto, ON – CANADA

04/16/15  Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY

04/17/15  Agora Theatre – Cleveland, OH

04/18/15  Concorde Music Hall – Chicago, IL

04/19/15  Val Air Ballroom – Des Moines, IA

04/21/15  Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO

04/22/15  In The Venue – Salt Lake City, UT

04/24/15  Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA

04/25/15  Orpheum Theatre – Vancouver, B.C. – CANADA

04/26/15  Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR

04/28/15  Warfield Theatre – San Francisco, CA

04/30/15  House Of Blues – Las Vegas, NV

05/01/15  Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA

05/02/15  Marquee Theatre – Phoenix, AZ

05/03/15  Tricky Falls – El Paso, TX

05/05/15  Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX

05/06/15  Warehouse Live – Houston, TX

05/08/15  House of Blues – Orlando, FL

05/09/15  Revolution – Fort Lauderdale, FL

05/11/15  Marathon Music Work – Nashville, TN

05/12/15  Expo Five – Louisville, KY

05/13/15  Filmore – Charlotte, NC

05/14/15  Filmore – Silver Springs, MD

I am personally estatic about this tour.  Both of these bands are at the top of Symphonic Metal and release some of the best music of all time.  In my opinion, these are two of the best live bands of the 2000s.  They both are flawless live and have two of the most talented female vocalists I’ve ever heard (Floor Jansen from Nightwish/Revamp and Charlotte Wessels of Delain).  I saw Floor with Revamp in April of this year and her performance blew me away, her presence on stage is unlike anything I’ve experienced before.  So, don’t miss out on this tour or you will definitely miss a legendary show.  By your tickets as soon as possible, I expect a sell out tour!

At The Gates Reveal New Single and New Album

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Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal band, At The Gates, released their title track today.  Many people thought there would never be another studio album from the Swedes, but the band defied even their own expectations.  The new album “At War With Reality” is based on a literary genre called Magic Realism.  The genre integrates normal reality with magical things or people in great detail.  The band said they would never release another studio album after “Slaughter To The Soul” because they didn’t think they could ever top that album after nearly a decade.  The band from the beginning has had hiatuses, a break up, and several member changes.

The new album should be a large departure from their previous albums.  I expect a very modern, dark, heavy, melodic, and complex album from At The Gates.  Based on the tracks I have heard so far, I expect a high quality and diverse release from the band.

At War With Reality drops October 27th (US) 2014

Listen to the new track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoJYZITMZAI

Randy Blythe Announces a New Memoir and Lamb of God Album

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Randy Blythe was recently on Jamey Jasta’s Podcast and talked about his new Memoir and a new Lamb of God album.  He says the Memoir recalls the events and thoughts from when he was arrested, to the final day when he is released.  The memoir and album he expects will be released early 2015.  The album will also contain lyrics Randy wrote while in prison, possibly making for a very dark and angry album.

The Jamey Jasta interview with Randy also recalls what happened in Czech Republic and what he would do if he could go back to that show.

You can listen to the full Podcast here: https://soundcloud.com/jameyjasta/episode-19-randy-blythe-lamb-of-god

Slipknot Show New Masks Up Close

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Slipknot have updated and changed their masks for the new album, “5: The Gray Chapter”.  Some are completely different and some are just altered a little bit, but they’re still signature to each band member.  Obviously whenever a band changes their look or sound controversy arises, so there’s a lot of opinions on the new masks and songs from the band.  Personally, I’m just glad Slipknot are back and carrying on with music after such a tragic loss.

5:The Gray Chapter comes out October 21st, 2014

See the new masks in detail here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pG-IEE8apJY

I Talk About Gothenburg “Swedecore” and the New In Flames Album

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Gothenburg, the birthplace of Melodic Death Metal and famous for its “Swedecore” sound is one of my personal favorite inspirations for metal.  From the early to mid 90’s, the metal scene in Gothenburg has grown to be refined and full of variety, growing a heavy and huge metal scene in a beautiful city.

 

Gothenburg metal bands include Amaranthe, Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Dark Tranquility, and Entombed, At the Gates,  just to name a few.  There is no lack of talent in Sweden in general, but this one city has something magical.  There is a recipe for brilliant metal written in Gothenburg; Melodic guitars, dynamic vocals that switch between a growl and soft delivery, hard and loud pounding drums, and lyrics that seem sad but are truly inspiring.  This recipe never fails to wet my appetite for more Melodic Death Metal.  When I came across another influential band, In Flames, my expectations were high when put in the same category as the first bands I listed.  In Flames unfortunately fooled me into believing bands in Gothenburg will never stray away from the brilliance.

 

In Flames released Siren Charms on September 9th, 2014 as a very anticipated album.  In Flames mixes Melodic Death Metal influence with a more modern flavor on this latest album.  At first listen, I thought they were an American band influenced by Chevelle and Dark Tranquility.  I was shocked to find this band was from Gothenburg, Sweden, because of how mainstream and radio friendly this album appeared to me.  Upon more listens, Siren Charms does have its Gothenburg influences, you just have to listen harder to hear it.  It is not In Flames best album by any means, but Siren Charms dares to break out of the mold of Swedecore.

 

In Plain View opens the new album with a building heavy intro, breaking into a nice groove reminiscent of Arch Enemy’s guitar lines.  The vocals are cleaner on this one, on the whole album to be honest, and lacks some solid emotion throughout.  The album continues with Everything’s Gone, a faster and heavier track than the later with that same cool groove to it.  Unfortunately what came to mind on the clean vocals to me, is Marilyn Manson, but maybe you hear something different and less grading.  Paralyzed is dark and haunting with a dual guitar overlay and better sounding clean vocals from Anders.  I found Paralyzed to be a little more on the Metalcore side, but with Sybreed like vocals.  Next is one of my least favorite tracks on the album, Through Oblivion.  I feel like this song falls flat and is a serious low point in the album, losing the power and groove other tracks have.

 

With Eyes Wide Open, picks the album back up from Through Oblivion, into a more melodic and better composed sound from In Flames.  The song is begging to be one of those slow building epics and it achieves it well.  With Eyes Wide Open  is so good and different that it sounds misplaced on the album.  The title track on the album follows the epic, with a rhythmic driving sound and desperate vocal delivery.  Siren Charms inserts a much needed bit of emotion on the album.  One of the highlights of the album, is When the World Explodes, as In Flames go back to a more European metal sound.  This track features beautiful and enchanting vocals from Stockholm Opera Soprano, Emilia Feldt, which really add an amazing touch to this song.  The single, Rusted Nail, pounds and drives just like it went high on the charts in Sweden and also North America.  It is still one of the best songs on the album.  After that, Dead Eyes comes in and once again Siren Charms falls flat.  This song could honestly be left of the album and it certainly wouldn’t be missed.  Monsters in the Ballroom picks the album back up a bit, but sounds to me like 90% of what’s being played on rock radio right now.  The album finally closes with Filtered Truth, an apt disappointment of a generic song, lacking dynamics and anything to make me want to listen to this album again.

 

Siren Charms was disappointing and sounds like a complete departure from their legendary sound.  I can only hope that they will return to their roots after this flop of an album.

I review the New Opeth Album, Pale Communion, A Gothic Tribute to the 70’s

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Opeth-Pale-Communion-album-art

 

Swedish mood setting Progressive Metal band, Opeth, are back in 2014 with Pale Communion.  Over the years the band has had many lineup changes, but somehow stays the same in its glory and brilliantly composed music.  Opeth is famous for their ability to mix Progressive music and Death Metal with a Gothic influence.  Their music is some of the most dynamic and interesting music ever written. Thanks to frontman Mikael Akerfeldt, who started the band in 1992, Opeth dares to be unique, powerful, and unmatchable.  Pale Communion is a good example of everything this band has to offer.  The whole album is a throwback to the 60’s and 70’s, with a slow melodic and psychedelic sound.  It is brilliantly composed and played, each song flowing to the next.  This album doesn’t sound like anything I’ve ever heard in metal.

 

Pale Communion is another album from Opeth only featuring clean vocals, but they are as haunting and as beautiful as ever.  Eternal Rains Will Come is a perfect example of Opeth’s dark and Gothic side, with a chest piercing organ and brilliant drumming from Martin Axenrot.  The song twists and turns from a Gothic sound, to a late 60’s early 70’s sound  reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and The Doors.  I was pleasantly surprised with that song, but it does not set a tone for the whole album.  Each song differs in a virtuous sense, onto heavier songs like Cusp of Eternity and Moon Above, Sun Below.  Then it goes into a beautiful ballad, with a possible influence from Simon and Garfunkel, Elysian Woes.  Goblin is as enchanting as the tracks before it, with a slow building funky sound to it that is almost indescribable.

 

Pale Communion continues with a lighter hearted song, River, that breaks the album into a whole new tone and sound.  River is a perfectly crafted interlude to the album, with chilling and beautiful vocals.  It reminds you of the classic Free Bird by Lynard Skynard, but better than that even.  Voice of Treason has all kinds of different sounds and flavors; It’s a little symphonic, a little Gothic, and a little cinematic.  These past two tracks prove why Opeth is one of the best bands of all time, because of their ability to write anything and everything with such immense quality.  This fantastic album closes with the melodic ballad, Faith in Others, ending the album hopefully with goosebumps on your arms and hair standing on your neck.  The album is short, but it delivers a brilliant cinematic collection of tracks.

 

Pale Communion is a must buy for all Opeth and fans of rock and metal.

Review and Insight to German Metal Band Any Given Day

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1390082963_1386493105_cover

Germany is a region that contains most of the best metal, in my opinion.   With bands like Rammstein, Deadlock, Words of Farewell, Accept, and so many more, Germany is a great place for metal.  There are now over a hundred metal bands from the area.  You could say that Germany helped bring the genre to its high point with Wacken and Rock Am Ring, both epic annual musicc festivals.  People from all over the world say Wacken is the greatest music festival of all time, topping American festivals by a mile.  Wacken has been held for almost 25 years now, making it a historical festival.  Rock Am Ring has the sickest crowds with a three day attendance total at 150,000 rock and metal fans   Germany should certainly be credited with having such an amazing breeding environment for music.

 

There’s a lot of inspiring history, scenery, and people in Germany.  From the reign of the Holy Roman Empire in the 840s, the Holocaust, to the Berlin Wall, Germany no doubt has enough pain to influence music for centuries.  Pain creates many powerful songs as opposed to happiness, said by many famous writers from the dawn of music.  Maybe this pain combined with the beautiful scenery and advanced way of thinking (Compared to where I live in the USA, Germany is really advanced) is why German metal is so unique.  You can find anything from Symphonic Metal to Thrash and Death metal, and yet all these types have that signature German technicality.  It’s an interesting thing to find so much quality metal in one country alone, because it honestly is one of the universal languages in the world since the late 70’s.  I give much credit to Germany to influencing so many incredible musicians and metal bands.

 

I recently found yet another band that encompasses all the amazing qualities of this region’s metal scene.  A Newage Melodic Deathcore metal band from Germany, Any Given Day, released their latest album My Longest Way Home.  The album contains sounds that are reminiscent of old Killswitch Engage, Bury Your Dead, Divine Heresy, and the melodic qualities of Insomnium.  By that description, I expected a very moving but heavy album that would absolutely blow any “Metalcore” album away from the past couple years.  It wasn’t a hard feat, but Any Given Day succeeded all my expectations and more than a short review could cover alone.  Finding this gem of an album shined up the rather dull pot that I consider to be the genre of Metalcore.

 

My Longest Way Home is everything metal has been lacking for quite awhile.  It’s a mix of heavy chugging riffs, haunting melodic tracks, chest pounding growls, and technical musicianship with one word I crave to feel with music; Passion.  Passion can be heard front and center in this album.  From the middle of the first track Darkness Within, to the end of the last track Possession, the passion is almost tangible.  Every track in between is inspiring, gritty, powerful, and just superbly composed.

 

To continue with the review after Darkness Within, Dead and Gone is a chugging rhythmic track to open up the smallest and lamest pits around.   The Beginning of the End contains a dash of Thrash with Djent style guitars that Tesseract mastered so well, but Any Given Day integrated in a whole new way.  Anthem for the Voiceless is indeed an anthem, with intense heavy masterful vocals from beastly singer Dennis Diehl.  On to one of my favorite tracks of 2014, Home is Where the Heart is, a beautifully inspiring melodic death metal song with a haunting emphasis.  That song is unlike anything I’ve heard in my decade of journeying to find the best and most passionate music in the world.

 

On to My Own Sweet Hell,  a Five Finger Death Punch-like pounding track that trudges through the heaviest part of the album.  Yet again with this track, Any Given Day breaks out of the Metalcore mold.  Dead Forever is completely different from the rest of the album, with the slow building vocals and guitar.  The song is definitely slower and cleaner, but gives a fresh break in the album.  Never Say Die is an anthemic metal core track that may appeal to the lighter metal fans, even though it has a wicked breakdown towards the end.  If Tomorrow Never Shows sounds like an intense, heavy, angry break up letter that you’d never want to receive from Dennis, who delivers powerful and honest vocals perfectly in this particular track.  Possession launches the end of the album with a hard driving jam that once again proves this band is just as dynamic and technical as any German metal band.

 

My Longest Way Home is one of my favorite albums of 2014.  There is so many qualities about this album that surpass 90% of Metalcore bands out there.  Expectations of their next album are extremely high for me and I can’t wait to hear if they can progress and grow into a bigger band.  I hope this review convinces everyone to check Any Given Day out.

 

Any_Given_Days

 

LINKS;

 

http://www.anygivenday.eu/

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbomlWknAOQ

 

https://www.facebook.com/AnyxGivenxDay