Funnels... "Funnelvision"

AX-RC
2017

Released back on January 14th (with apologizes to it's creator for the tardiness in addressing it),  "Funnelvision" is the full-length debut from Funnels...(aka Dumphop). Funnels... (pictured below and henceforth known as "F" for practical reasons) is not only the drummer of  Inconvenience Store, but a mad studio magician when it comes to experimental mashup music! By my own admittance I am terribly out of my depth when it comes to genre in question, but I know what I like and I quite enjoy this. With synths and samples to spare, F slices and dices his way through popular music and odd sound bites in order to create spaced out music that (constantly) keeps you guessing as to what is coming next. With the provided help of my teenagers, Smash Mouth memes and the like are not foreign concepts, but I was still pleasantly surprised by the way in which  F remixed everything and then threw it down. While this might not sell all that well to the headbangers and the punks, "Funnelvision" is spot on as far as matching to the beat of your own drummer is concerned. In this case it's the drummer for a noise rock band...

PS: I can't be the only person who thinks F looks a lot like the actor Craig Roberts. Or can I? Either way, it's meant as a complement. Especially seeing as they are both talented artists who I greatly respect.

Free Metal Monday: Soma-Patior

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Available as a free download at the link below, "Patior" is the latest (possibly only?) release from Athens, Greece-based Soma. And for this particular band (who should not to be confused with the long-defunct UK death metal band of the same name or the dark ambient/techno project of Australian composers David Thrussell and Pieter Bourke.) it's all about black metal. Or rather it's black metal of the an experimental nature with the two-track "Patior" clocking in at over ten minutes in length! On paper it's very likely that none of that sounds particularly inspiring or interesting (and Lord knows the blah artwork doesn't help matters much!), but there's more to this band then meets the eye. For you see somewhere in between all the black metal/experimental madness that is "Patior" one can find crude traces of traditional heavy metal and it's that little extra addition (as well as the band's choice to lean closer to fundamental black metal) that makes all the difference! Whether that ultimately appeals to your senses or not this one is free so you really can't go wrong!

http://somathathurts.bandcamp.com/album/patior

Aurelio Valle-Acme Power Transmission

Nuevo Leon Recordings
2014

Best known for his time spent with the experimental rock group Calla (a Brooklyn, New York-based band which he founded in the late nineties and continues to front (even if it's been seven years since Calla's last album, 2007's "Strength in Numbers") some seventeen years later!), Aurelio Valle is another modern day artist whose talents are not strictly limited to music. Indeed, Aurelio Valle is a visual artist in addition to being a singer, guitarist and composer and on his self-produced nine-track debut outing he puts all of his skills to the test with the end results falling just short of  the magical marker we've come to know as brilliance! Named after his landlord's auto parts store, "Acme Power Transmission" was amazingly enough recorded in 2013 in Valle's own apartment under an elevated subway line! That bit of knowledge might not come across as all that impressive or innovative, what with the single argument that their are hundreds of similarly sensational (evolutionary experimental) albums which have been recorded in some of the most unusual places, but given the sheer depth of this recording it should not be so easily dismissed! Especially given the circumstances that surround Valle's break from music. Having spent several years away from the underground rock scene (during which time he worked day jobs in both a motorcycle repair and in a tailor shop!) Valle seems to have used the break in the action for his own advantage. Few artists come back so strong, so focused upon recording an album that shadows who they are as an individual. In spite of it's all-too brief length, "Acme Power Transmission" feels fully-evolved. There is a story that needs to be written here as this is one of those rare albums where everything seems fleshed out, moving from one part to another as if Aurelio Valle is drawing a story board to a movie in the making. Musically you could use the term "soundtrack rock" as "Acme Power Transmission" does convey that feeling. More specifically it starts where Calla left off and then ends where myth and realty collide! And it's all by way of eighties synth lines, improvisational brass beats, indie rock, post-punk and what sounds like experimental recording with found instruments. While there is a modern approach to Valle's musical experimentation one almost has to move backwards in time to the late eighties/early nineties when home recordings started to really catch on and magazines such as Alternative Press were providing coverage to a new movement within the avant-garde scene. At any moment I felt as if I could have been transported back to that amazing time thanks to "Acme Power Transmission" and for those who where there you'll understand all too well the magic that was felt when new music started to appear that defied any known classification. Aurelio Valle's solo album is just that, without classification or real form other than to say that it's this (soundtrack music, synth rock, experimental rock, post-punk, goth rock, etc.) and that (seemingly found instrumental, noise pop, electro rock, drone, piano-driven instrumentation, etc.) while so much more! And it's glorious! Bleak yes, but glorious nonetheless. And it's all for he taking...

Pantaleimon-The Butterfly Ate The Pearl

Grass Girl Music
2013

"The Butterfly Ate The Pearl" makes album number five for England's Pantaleimon. And Pantaleimon is really "just" Andria Degens. Or for the most part. There are some guest musicians, but really this is the living and breathing art work of Andria Degens. This singer/songwriter is also a multi-instrumentalist and a talented/inspiring one at that! And Pantaleimon is her vision. Now, describing Pantaleimon is both simple and complicated. Simply stated this release, which was co-produced with Hugo Race, is psychedelic rock. Well, slowed down, progressive (or downright experimental if you want to be technical about "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl") and slightly dark and melancholy psychedelic rock, but still, it is what it is. When you slice into an album like "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl" though you get the sensation that there is so much more to the music of Pantaleimon. If only you could put your finger on exactly what that extra something is. It's there and it's not as if it is hidden, but putting into words seems like a rather fruitless endeavor. So the best hope that can be offered is that for Pantaleimon, who are rumored to have evolved into a different entity with "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl", psychedelic rock is a means to an end. Perhaps Andria Degens has taken Pantaleimon and helped it to emerge from it's own cocoon into a beautiful butterfly? That very well could be the case. I can't say for sure where Pantaleimon was prior to a release such as "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl", but where Andria has landed with album number five should be duly noted and yes, praised. Even-keeled and easy on the senses, "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl" (as both an album and a title track) had all the hallmarks of a lazy Sunday afternoon, mid-summer, where dreams and reality collide and you take in the beauty of nature while wishing that moments like that could go on forever. That isn't to say that "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl" is all "sunshine and lollipops". It should be stressed that Pantaleimon's latest work, while on the lighter side of psychedelic rock, is darkly romantic. It moves about at it's own pace and it does so without the need to add fake layers of glittery kitsch pop. And for that, a fresh approach at honest reflection, "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl" is all the more pleasing and warrants repeated listens!

Young Magic-Breathing Statues

Carpark Records
2014

Young Magic, a Brooklyn, New York-based act (by way of Australia (producer Isaac Emmanuel who, prior to 2010, first conceived of Young Magic as being some sort of solo project ) and Indonesia (vocalist Melati Malay) with the New York underground dance scene serving to split the difference!), are on their second feature full-length project (or is that soundtrack in this case given the hazy sound-scape vibe?) with the recently-released "Breathing Statues". As an endearing (if oddly cold and abrupt) female fronted psychedelic rock band dressed up in electronic garb (and made over with atmospheric post-shoegazer tricks of the trade) a group of Young Magic's potential could easily slide between studio-project and potential (full-fledged band on the run) live outing and no one would blink an eye, but how exactly does that work-out when it's just you, your stereo and nothing but silence serving as the starting point? Mostly, given the experimental nature of all of this (even as it's meant to be absorbed via familiar waves of (pick and choose) synth-lines and mystic percussion), it comes across as if it's more of a pattern of carefully-assembled electronic components then music as, well, real music but it still serves a point...whatever that might be. At it's best it's all sincere and relaxing, putting one in the proper mood to embrace computerized sounds, process them and then fall in line with the new standard of inorganic song-structures. And it's hard to argue against the process when it certainly pulses through your body making you move involuntarily. That's not to say it's (to take a page from R.E.M.) music meant for "Shiny Happy People". Not in the least as there's a dark underbelly to "Breathing Statues". Far from warm and fuzzy, Young Magic's "Breathing Statues" is often bleak! Of course I alone could embrace that as I've long-loved dark wave, post-rock and goth rock (the more bitter the better!), but it's the lack of real instrumentation that holds an album like this chained to the ground. Had "Breathing Statues" taken a moment to breath, relax it's constricting song-structures and embrace the full-possibilities at the disposal of indie bands these days then this one could have been great! Instead it's a so-so album that means well, but doesn't deliver on it's promise.... 

Helms Alee-Sleepwalking Sailors

Sargent House
2014

It's all been one big lie friends. Ignorance is most assuredly not bliss. You'd have a hard time convincing me otherwise as I tragically unaware of Seattle, Washington's Helms Alee (bassist/vocalist Dana James, guitarist/vocalist Ben Verellen and drummer/vocalist Hozoji Matheson-Margullis) until only just recently. And with "Sleepwalking Sailors", the third full-length album from a band that has had a long history of releasing EPs and splits since only 2007, this is true bliss. As such, how can one claim to experience a feeling of bliss outside of the sounds of Helms Alee? That is a troubling question and one which may never be answered in a satisfactory fashion. Thankfully we can all move on and treat this as a learning experience. For those no sense in drowning in our tears about what could have been, time we might have spent in the comfort of this unheralded trio with shared vocals, female and male, when we can now embrace the expansive collection of textures and sounds that make up this featured full-length attraction! Blessed with an uncanny ability to maneuver emotional material over a vast and ever-expansive sonic landscape, which (somehow) is atmospheric without actually transcending into some sort of  "atmospheric" rock and/or metal sound, the members of Helms Alee carefully mask their own roots/personal desires so that the music at hand beautifully meshes, note for note, into one perfect creation! And that's exactly what amazes me most about "Sleepwalking Sailors". It's truly something how Helms Alee (playfully) goes about stretching rock's boundaries, covering everything from stoner rock, post-grunge, alternative rock and math metal to indie rock, post-punk and even doom metal(!), in a (seemingly) carefree fashion and yet, upon further investigation (over repeated listens which is an essential component of the whole "Sleepwalking Sailors" experience!), the material present on this Seattle rock band's latest is not just technically-sound, but in reality expertly-constructed in order to get the most out of every moment! To say that I was blown away by this recording would be a understatement as "Sleepwalking Sailors" is superb in just about every way that you can imagine! From production to content it's easily to see that everything about this band's third album has been touched up and tweaked. Even so, "Sleepwalking Sailors", is colorful and personal. Helms Alee has graciously extended an offer for each and every listener, one that encourages you to walk alongside this trio as they explore a world of creativity and imagination where anything and everything is possible! I would encourage each and everyone of you who reads this piece to join Helms Alee on this journey of discovery. It's well worth the time. You can find out more about Helms Alee on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/HelmsAlee) while you can hear this remarkable recording for yourself right here:

http://helmsalee.bandcamp.com/album/sleepwalking-sailors 

DRUKNROLL-Точка Кипения (Boiling Point)

Metal Scrap Records
2014

"Точка Кипения" is the official title of this Russian act's latest (their third overall full-length output since forming in 2006) with the translation being "Boiling Point". Between that piece of information and the fact that this is all in Russian then you should have a general idea about what this four-piece is offering (at least lyric-wise). It also serves as a bit of a head's up/warning that if you can't get past the language barrier that some releases come packed with then you should turn back now. For everyone else who has stuck around then let me just say that with this one (due for release here in the states in July from the looks of it) you get pretty much everything on the menu ad then some! And that's just in the first five tracks mind you! We start off with something akin to modern metal on "Злоба" ("Rage") before our attention is quickly turned towards the melodic rock/hard rock of  "Моя звезда"("My Star"). That in and of itself was odd (especially as that second track there features acoustic passages and all!), but then track three cuts in and it's heavy rock/thrash n' roll meets death metal with more then a few quirky time-changes to make you question just what the hell is going on with this bunch! Keep in mind the fact that you're but a third of the way through  "Точка Кипения" ("Boiling Point") and there are still seven tracks to go! And pretty much that's how it goes with this one. In-between this odd mash-up of progressive power metal and heavy thrash, with vocalist Alexandr "Horror" (Svartstorm, ex-Князь Тьмы) splitting his time between a hard rock style of delivery and a death metal growl(!), "Во власти глубины" ("In the Power of Depth") throws weird sound effects at you (apparently from the hands of lead guitarist Alexey "Alex Knip" Khuzhaev)  while challenging your ideas of what can and does pass for "modern metal" here in 2014! All of which brings up a good point about DRUKNROLL's latest. Is it by definition "modern metal"? Or is this band just extremely experimental in it's approach to music? Would you label this one adventurous or write it off as being far too schizophrenic for it's own good? The truth is I don't quite know. Some of ideas here are clearly clever and the combination of heavy metal/thrash metal and keyboards & sound-effects actually works. But there are other times when it's all a system overload and it's almost as if the band had one too many wild ideas for just one simple song and would have been better suited flushing these ideas out over several songs. If I was to grade it we'd be looking at a B- or maybe even a B. That's clearly not enough to recommend "Точка Кипения" ("Boiling Point") to everyone so this one would be better saved for those who are looking for something different and off the grid.


Russian titles:

1.	Злоба	05:00
2.	Моя звезда	04:35
3.	Самурай	04:36
4.	Во власти глубины	04:46
5.	Оборона Севастополя	06:01
6.	Белая смерть	05:29
7.	Десятая ночь	04:33
8.	Игра с огнём	05:06
9.	Бог морей	05:15
10.	Насыщение	04:44

Title translations:
"Boiling Point"
1. Rage
2. My Star
3. Samurai
4. In the Power of Depth
5. Defense of Sevastopol
6. White Death
7. Tenth Night
8. Playing with Fire
9. Sea God
10. Saturation 

 Special thanks to the Metal Archives for providing the track listing and subsequent translation.  

Zeugen der Leere-Seelenwanderer

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Formerly known as Ruin of Remembrance (under which moniker "Second World" was released in March of 2012) and with the name change coming about in 2014, Zeugen der Leere are a studio project featuring Denny (vocals), Holger (guitars, bass) and Maximilian (programming). It the was the pair of Holger and Max who originally formed Ruin of Remembrance in 2009. At that time the project had no name and it was only after the arrival of (now departed) vocalist Timo that the (then melodic death metal) project really took off.  With the release of  "Seelenwanderer" (offered as a free digital download at the link below!) this German act has moved passed the (often-times) limiting stranglehold that is death metal (melodic or not) and settled into the role of a (modern-day) atmospheric dark/ black metal project. One must say that the change in style suites them as "Seelenwanderer" (featuring a quite capable cover of the Erkyss song "Forsaken Astronaut") was a pleasant surprise on what has (so far) proven to be a cold, "Are you kidding me it's mid-April mother nature enough is enough!", snow-covered day here in my part of Ohio! As is often the case with releases such as "Seelenwanderer" an open mind is needed as is a willingness to embrace the darker, slightly more off-setting edges of life. And, seeing as this is atmospheric (experimental) black metal it's not going to be for everyone. But, for those who set aside the time needed and deserved to take in everything that this well-designed release has to offer the rewards will be well-worth the investment! Memorized by the likes of "Tänzer im Nebel" and "Komplex der Vergessenende" I walked away from Zeugen der Leere's "Seelenwanderer" with the pressing desire to share this release with each and all of you.

http://zeugenderleere.bandcamp.com/

Yerbadiablo-It doesn't Work

Atomic Stuff Records
2013

 The 13-track "It doesn't Work", which was recorded, mixed, engineered & mastered by Luca Gomedi at High Distortion Level Studio between April 2013 and October 2013 and is the follow-up release to (previously-reviewed as noted by following link) "Jester In Brick Lane" (http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=Yerbadiablo), is the latest work of art from Italy's experimental rock/indie rock/garage rock (and one-time one-man project) outfit Yerbadiablo. First appearing on the scene sometime back in 2010, with multi-instrumentalist/founder (and as stated then lone member!) Nik (the Öyster) calling all the shots, the project has evolved into more of a full-fledged band resulting in a much more fluid and natural sounding affair. Although let's be clear up front one point. Even when stacked next to other (world-wide) experimental rock acts a band like Yerbadiablo is unlike any other act out there expanding the boundaries of rock and roll. And yet, as evidential by the growth and (what comes off as) natural progression between 2012's "Jester In Brick Lane" and last year's "It Doesn't Work", the group's latest still seems as if it's roots are firmly planted in this reality*! Now backed by a rather impressive group of players**, Nic (vocals, guitars, bass, percussion, synth, diablo toys) takes Yerbadiablo on many adventures over the course of these 13-tracks. The album's first single "Hemp Generation" is the opener on "It Doesn't Work" (which should really be called "It All Works"!) and it's pure/blissful garage rock and roll! It's a great way to start off an album like this and, while it's a bit rough (language-wise so heads up being you go blaring this one around Mom & Dad and/or the kiddos folks!), "Hemp Generation" (http://youtu.be/wnzqmPdyiJc) sets the course for what proves to be a amazing journey! Drawing upon their influences (really, it's a list of who's who that includes act both acknowledge and unacknowledged including Blue Öyster Cult, Tom Waits, The Black Keys, Green River/Motherlovebone/Pearl Jam, McLusky, The Rolling Stones, Infectious Grooves, El Tri, Ramones, Todos Tus Muertos, Pj Harvey, Deep Purple, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Sam the Sham, The Trashmen, MC5, The Stooges, (Detroit's) Death,  The Sonics,  Mudhoney, Grand Funk Railroad, King Crimson, Miles Davis, The Kinks, The Troggs, Lou Reed, The Clash, etc!!!!) Yerbadiablo makes easy work of early cuts like "El Viparo" (featuring tasty harmonica from Rick Martello this cut comes across as Iggy Pop collaborating with The Black Keys!!), the psychedelic "Eurozone" and post-grunge/alt. rocker "U.S.A. (United State of Alienation)" as they scamper along with (mellow) closure "Pink Clouds Purple Eyes" being the proverbial "X marks the spot" on the map! The sound patterns of the 60s & 70s end up being explored on "Black Beard" and (jazzy lounge/Spanish rocker) "Calavera y Veneno". Meanwhile "Ojos de Bruja" starts off like some sort of elevator (to hell!) music before switching gears towards something more (dangerous and dark) rock-oriented before "Rattlesnake Tail in the Belly of the Whale" opens the floodgates all the way with nothing but sick& sinister (and rustic and raw!) heavy metal pouring out! So, as you can see there are a shit-load and a half(!) styles coursing through this (garage rock) album and, unless you are unable to step forward and grab hold of something new and different, there remains "something for everyone" on "It Doesn't Work"! Highlights would be too many to list as Yerbadiablo makes everything work! Whether we're talking about the album's first single "Hemp Generation" (a saucy, sassy and sax-filled rock and roller!), (metal-like) "Rattlesnake Tail in the Belly of the Whale", (acid trip in the making?) "Eurozone" or the "Now, that's what I call punk rock!" track "Habemus Punk" (a gritty rocker that falls somewhere between 1970's New York punk of old and charming variety or early 80's Cali-punk) everything comes across as if it is perfectly suited for that particular genre! It's really hard to pull that off unless your fans first and you do everything with integrity and the mindset that you're paying homage to music you love for yourself first and then fellow-fans second! Yerbadiablo have really come a far way in a short amount of time so it will be really interesting to see where this act goes from here now that there is a (hopefully) steady/stable line-up in place! You can find out more on the group's Facebook page below and be sure to check out the video for the excellent "Hemp Generation"***!!  

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Yerbadiablo/187711264596993

 *The group's last release (as can be read in my review!) left me "stranded somewhere in a state of confusion"! While their latest (which happens to be sung in both English and Spanish!) is still quite "wild and crazy", what with a track like "Imbunche" (heavily) relying on percussion (and being one of a few gems here sporting a cool ass sax solo!), the (almost there, but not quite) countrified/folk diddy "Diving Chamber" and the trashy punk rocker, "!Crash" serving as just a couple examples of the album's variety, it actually comes off as being (all-around) more grounded!

**Per the band's Facebook page the line-up also includes:
Pol-bass, vocals, guitars, percussion, sound fx, diablo toys 

Elvis-guitars, background vocals, percussion, diablo toys 

Gomez-drums, percussion, diablo toys  

Additional (guest) musicians include:  
Gabriele Bolognesi (sax on "Hemp Generation", sax & percussion on "Imbunche", clarinet on "Cazzillo Cramps", flute on "Black Bird". 

Il Demonio (guitar intrusion on "Ojos de Bruja") 

Ili (delay guitar improvisation on "Ojos de Bruja")

Rick Martello (harmonica on "El Viparo") 

***For the record I do not endorse the use of marijuana and/or any other narcotics so kids use your brains and think about the (potentially damaging) long-term effects before you do anything stupid!

Kimi Kärki-The Bone Of My Bones

Svart Records
2013

Due for release at the beginning of next month, "The Bone Of My Bones" is the first "solo" release from Finnish cultural historian, guitar player and singer-songwriter Kimi Kärki. Having previously worked with Reverend Bizarre, Lord Vicar, Orne, E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr and Uhrijuhla, "The Bone of My Bones" finds Kimi Kärki working on "experimental" folk music and doing it in such a fashion that one can help but hope that he devotes more time in the future to such an endeavor! For Kärki, who is a sought-after, highly-respected and well-traveled musician whose unique playing style has found a welcomed audience within the fields of progressive music, doom metal, electric ambient and yes, even the folk scene, an album like this one is an accomplishment and a thing of real beauty! If I had to to use only one word to describe "The Bone Of My Bones" it would be "relaxing" as this is one release that is easy to fall head first into and get carried away in it's dream-like atmosphere! The material presented here is said to be deeply personally and it's not hard to see why. This is one release where you find yourself deeply invested in what's unfolding as the music within Kärki's first solo release is heartfelt and genuine. To help out with his first solo release Kimi enlisted various friends and colleges from audio technician Joona Lukala to Anna-Elena Pääkkölä and Pirita Känkänen (two talented musicians from Turku area who enrich this album by providing beautiful female vocals!). Hexvessel's Mat McNerney is also on hand here and helps out by providing splendid guest vocals. And finally we have veteran musician John Richardson who is also Professor of Musicology at University of Turku! With all of these guests stopping by the result is a release that comes alive before your very eyes! "The Bone of My Bones" is a majestic, strong and ambitious undertaking that makes you feel as if your reading someone's personal diary, one that covers a life filled with love and despair. Simply put this is a wonderful, open-invitation release that is fashioned around the concept of sincerity and the overflowing emotional release that comes from a life lived to it's fullest. 

Crowdburn-Ignition

Discouraged Records
2013

Leave it to Sweden (Umeå, Sweden to be exact) to deliver another helping of fresh and exciting material in the form of a LP! I am beginning to wonder if  they just pass out instruments to newborns over there and then preach to them that their sole-goal in life will be to form either a rock and roll band or, in this case, a heavy metal one. It's possible right? Really though it does make sense that so many cool bands come from Sweden since we're talking about a place where youngsters (4th graders and up I believe?) are encouraged  to learn to play an instrument. I wish it was like that here in the States. Anyway, here we have Crowdburn who were formed in late 2010. I didn't bother with the band's description before I hit "play" so when brutal Pantera (by way of street level hardcore) kicked in I was like "Sweetness!". Then things got really interesting. Suddenly the group swung full circle and "Burning Crowd", the album's opening cut, when from this thrash/hardcore/groove number into heavy rock/heavy metal territory. Weird right? Well, actually it was cool...really cool. Here we have a "metal" that isn't afraid in the least to toss in any and everything into their sound. The difference between Crowdburn and "experiment" or "avant-garde" bands though is things never sound crazy, but rather natural. Well, there's that and then there's the fact that this 5-piece has heaps of talent and never tries to make things sound like their from another galaxy or anything. The band, which features a great lead vocalist in Aron Andersson, does a little bit of everything here. Or rather they experiment with a little bit of everything. Oops, I said the "experiment" word didn't I? Don't let that turn you off or scare you though. The guys in Crowdburn really keep things interesting, but it's also really intense so there's no way you could become confused and not realize just have HEAVY and LOUD these metal musicians are. On tracks like "Alligator" and "Fire In The Hole" the band rocks hard and thrashes even harder. These guys are NEVER afraid to lay some smack down on the listener even if they might be shaking things up music-wise. With a pair of talented guitarists (Christoffer Lindmark and Patrik Wall) making sure that the lead solos are every bit as sweet as they can be (you'll pick up on everything from Iron Maiden to Velvet Revolver!) an album like "Ignition" moves along smoothly. On bass you have a guy (Jonathan Holmgren) who keeps the bottom-end heavy and slightly fuzzy while drummer Andreas Grehn helps to keep this ship steady and on course while also making sure that the rhythm section doesn't get ignored! Even if you have a cut like "Sign Away Your Life", which almost sounds more like a 90's alternative rock number as interpreted by a modern metal act, throwing some (slight) confusion into the mix there's no denying that "Ignition" is a downright cool listening experience. If you can get past any preconceived notions that you might have about a heavy metal/thrash metal band pulling in everything from punk rock to acoustic rock then there's a wealth of treasure to be found on "Ignition". This one comes highly recommended my friends.

The Mezmerist-The Innocent, The Forsaken, The Guilty

Shadow Kingdom Records
2013

Before we take a look at "The Innocent, The Forsaken, The Guilty", which was originally released in 1985, please indulge me as I share with you a pet peeve that I have. Well, it's just one of many pet peeves that I have, but we're talking music right now so let's stick to that. When it comes to re-issues (like this one from L.A.'s The Mezmerist) I've been critical in the past as to what some labels consider "cult albums" and/or "cult bands". While now is neither the time nor the place to start naming names or highlighting what I would consider to be questionable record labels (let's just say that when it comes to some of these labels, and their re-issues, their idea of what is considered to be a "cult" release and my idea of what makes for a "cult" release usually vary by quite a bit!) let's just say that I cannot be the only poor sucker to have been roped in by some clever marketing with descriptions (we've all been had by the "recommended if you like band X, band Y and band Z) that prove to be far from the truth. When it comes to digging up old cult records though Shadow Kingdom Records seems to have a fairly solid track record. Let's mark this one down as a plus for the label. And that's a plus added on to the end of the letter A for something more akin to A+! Yes, this one is a real winner and the very thing needed to keep you and I from getting far too cynical about all these so-called "cult" re-issues. "Psychedelic Heavy Metal" is how the promo describes this somewhat mysterious US metal band. Lead by vocalist/guitarist Tommy Mezmercardo, who was the only common thread between this releases collection of two EPs (one officially released and the other one looks as if it was unearthed for this re-issue), the band's original release of  "The Innocent, The Forsaken, The Guilty" was in 1985. According to the Metal Archives it was actually recorded "partly in 1982 and partly in 1983", before seeing release later on in 1985. That would make sense as the bonus EP, which we'll look at in a bit, looks as if it was recorded sometime in 1985. First things first though so let's get back to the original release of the 4-track EP "The Innocent, The Forsaken, The Guilty". As it was limited to just 500 copies, which was a really short run for a LP like this, it naturally went on (years later) to fetch high prices on eBay. Today is a new day though and thanks to Shadow Kingdom Records a whole new generation of heavy metal fans and collectors will finally be able to get their hands on "The Innocent, The Forsaken, The Guilty". Now, while Shadow Kingdom Records isn't to far off with the "Psychedelic Heavy Metal" description I'd prefer to tag this one as "Psychedelic Heavy Doom Metal". When it comes right down to though The Mezmerist, or at least Thomas Mezmercardo, this was a group that experimented with lots of different sounds and textures. The first four tracks though, which made up the original "The Innocent, The Forsaken, The Guilty", are pretty close to the mark ("Psychedelic Heavy Doom Metal") while it's actually on the last three bonus cuts (which come from recordings done in 1985) where we see Thomas Mezmercardo relaxing the rules a little bit and adding new ideas into his music. I would kick myself though if I didn't bring up the most interesting part about "The Innocent, The Forsaken, The Guilty". So, before we get to the bonus cuts and all that jazz, we should mention that Thomas Mezmercardo was able to get none other than Bill Ward to play drums! And yes, his presence is most definitely felt and appreciate on those 4 tracks. Although there's not as much doom as would be expected. It's there of course, but we're also talking about some traditional heavy metal riffs and (odd indeed) Led Zeppelin-style hard rock. With bassist Roger Abercrombie filling in the last open spot, as both sets of recordings presented here feature "power trio" line-ups, the band merges the likes of Cirith Ungol, Mercyful Fate, Coven, Hawkwind, Rush and even Italy's Paul Chain (who is also a bit of a hidden gem) into their own little art form. These 4 tracks are nice enough on their own and it's cool to see them presented on CD like this. OK, as for the bonus cuts? They include "Kingdom of the Dead",
"No Family, No Friends" and (a new fave of mine) "The Jam". For these 1985 recordings
vocalist/guitarist Tommy Mezmercardo (who incidentally sounds to me like cross between King Diamond and Geddy Lee!) is joined by bassist Steve Conrad and drummer JR. These bonus cuts are also psychedelic and come packed with some doom and gloom, but they also bring to mind the punk and early new wave scenes. Or at least in my mind they do! Thomas Mezmercardo is a fantastic guitarist through-out all of these tracks and with each new song comes new arrangements that offer the listener something different. Truly this is a band that you have to hear to appreciate. Besides, any band that can have me simultaneously picturing both Mercyful Fate and Elvis Costello deserves a package like this! Ah yes, the complete package. Well, not only do you get the one disc with all these charmingly mysterious tracks, but then you've got this bonus DVD where Mezmercardo himself sits down and tells the story of how the band and everything else came together. So, you've got a nice CD/DVD package from Shadow Kingdom Records which seems like it would make more then a few collectors of cult recordings and doom fans happy. What more could you want?  
http://store.shadowkingdomrecords.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=4815

Inconvenience Store-Our Ambivalent Everything

Self-Release/Independent
2013

Inconvenience Store is a relatively young project with ties to experimental rock band Cynic The Old Man who, faithful readers may well recall, I covered here the past. Here we have former Cynic The Old Man member Jonah Asher Feintuck (guitar, vocals, visuals) teaming up with ex-Awesome Express member William Maranci (drums, vocals, keyboards) for what is, for lack of a better term, more experimental rock/alternative rock by way of post-punk rock and progressive hardcore. Now, while Inconvenience Store can trace their roots back to the fall of 2011 things didn't really start cooking until March 2012, when, as a full-fledged band, the group played at the Plugged In Teen Band Program in Needham, Massachusetts. By that point this young band had already had more then it's fair share of line-up changes with the current line-up being rounded out by bassist/backing vocalist Ossian Pages. "Our Ambivalent Everything" is the group's debut EP which falls under 30 minutes and feature 4 tracks of slightly off-kilter "punk rock". Pinning down the group's actual sound is a tough call/straight-up challenge as the material here really follows no even course, but instead leads with it's heart. With influences running from The Velvet Underground to Mr. Bungle it's quite the interesting trip although it's easy to get lost within these 4 cuts. You do have to give them props though for doing their own thing and not being afraid to let those creative juices flow freely. That's both good and bad (free-form creativity) you could very well argue when it comes to what this Needham, Massachusetts' 3-piece is trying to say with their music. It's good in that these tracks forge their own identity early on and the group seems much more confident in their delivery then with Cynic The Old Man, but it's bad as the obvious noncommercial nature of their music (which I would usual celebrate) could leave these three with a very small but niche group of fans. In the end it will be up to Inconvenience Store where they wish to see themselves going. Do they trim down the abrasive nature of the band to appeal to more listeners or do they stay the course and play music for themselves? They'll have to see how their music eventually evolves, but the promise is there and musically this one seems heads above Jonah's old band so they are headed in the right direction. In the end this is another one of those group's where you really need to give it a listen for yourself to see how it fits (hence the link to the group's YouTube channel below) and how it feels as my descriptions do leave a lot of vague in between space I realize....

http://www.youtube.com/user/SilhouetteJudas?feature=mhee

The Pod-Assassins in the Mirrored Hall

Black Iron Records
2013

The Pod is a solo adventure (or project if you will) by Make guitarist Scott Endres. If you know about Make then you'll understand when I say that there has always been something about that band that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Make always felt to me like they stood somewhere between the light and the dark, tip toeing between both. It was almost as if there was this equal pull in their music, in the energy flow, that Make couldn't fight. It moved the band back and forth in all of these directions and the same could be said of  "Assassins in the Mirrored Hall". If you already know of (and appreciate) that contrast, and the overtly experimental nature of the Chapel Hill, N.C.act that is called Make, then you need read no further. The Pod should fit comfortably alongside your collection of Make material. Even though you don't have to like Make to like The Pod it's almost as if they are one in the same while being slightly different in their own "interesting" ways. The short of it is that just like how Make is an experimental band so is The Pod. It's both a continuation of Make and a vehicle in and off itself. While the all-encompassing "experimental music" tag would certainly apply to The Pod terms like ambient, noise, psychedelic and drone, along with "soundtrack recording", all pop up. These different creatures come out of the shadows and play in the moonlight. The Pod's music has a dreamy quality to it (or is it dreadful?) that makes you stop what you're doing and, as odd as it sounds, dares you to engage the music in serious discussion. This album is structure in a way as if it were meant to be the soundtrack to a movie that doesn't exist. How else do I describe the true nature of this project? How about another example. If you live in the Northern States you'll understand what I mean by this next statement. As you look out your window at the snow piling up it's with both a sense of despair and awe. For as much as the snow represents the cold, darkness of winter there is also something almost mesmerizing about all of this white snow that suddenly has been carved into what was once this beautiful background. You might be fighting the urge to give into your seasonal depression, and failing miserably, and yet there is a blissful peace to be found as the snow flakes swirl about and fall slowly to the ground. It's the balance of everything good and everything that is washed over in despair. That is The Pod. The music isn't really sorrowful or joyful. It's what the grey area looks like in between as translated into musical expression. The Pod requires that openness and honesty be your guide as you take that first step into this new world. If you have that on your side you'll find an adventure of your own.

http://thebandthepod.bandcamp.com/

French Metal Friday: Spekt-Cypher

Agonia Records
2013




Maybe it's cheating a little to review an album for a French Metal Friday piece, but it's been one of those weeks so I hope all can be forgiven. This is actually the 3rd release by the experimental black entity known as Spekt and it's an odd thing all around. I mean it's odd even by the standard definition of odd things that I hear regularly. There's no vocals for one thing. Instead of creepy black metal growls you get samples. It's ambient noise/industrial metal and all, but it's almost got this psychedelic air to it. There's feedback and a free-flowing exchange of ideas and textures. Really it just needs to be heard to be fully appreciated. Thankfully Braveworlds is streaming it live at the link below. Spekt remind me of what I like most about metal and that is that things never get dull. that is unless you allow things to get dull for you (as far as metal goes) which would be somewhat sad in my mind. Explore different bands and different genres. Leave yourself open to new ideas and don't be scared off by words like "experimental" or "different" as sometimes those are the best kind of bands/releases. "Cypher" is definitely experimental and different. It's also a nice change of pace and a sign that metal never really grows old.



http://www.bravewords.com/news/197028


For more news on SPEKTR visit: http://agoniarecords.com/

Cypher can be pre-ordered at: http://www.agoniarecords.com/index.php?pos=shop&lang=en

Burnt Books-Burnt Books

At A Loss Recordings
2013

 I wasn't quite awake this morning when I sat down to listen to this 9-track release from Columbia, South Carolina-based Burnt Books. Even with 2 cups of coffee flowing through my veins I was still wiping the sleep out of my eyes when I hit "play". All of that changed when album opener "Selfish Friend" kicked in and, literally, kicked me in the teeth. It's always good to see that real punk isn't dead (even if in this case it is like a science experiment gone horribly wrong!). Formed in mid-2011, and made up of musicians who played/still play in other local acts, this self-titled album is the band's "official" greeting (following a four-song demo that appeared early last year) and, as far as debut-albums go, it's a real punch in the gut. It's also a very interesting take on experimental punk. I might still be a little in zombie mode this morning, despite the wall of punk rock noise that came my way from this album, but there can't be that many punk bands out there that utilize the banjo right? That only made this release all the more unique. The banjo, as well as lead vocals, came courteous of Zoe Lollis and joining in on the fun are guitarists Matt Thompson and Chuck Sligh, bassist Joey Parker and drummer Troy Thames. Heaven help me because the only apt description for this release really is experimental punk  While it does feature it's fair share of heavy riffs (of both the punk and hardcore variety) and a mean & nasty rhythm it's a bit too deconstructed to fit into any one particular genre. Thankfully vocalist Zoe Lollis and the rest of the gang keep things interesting along the way so you don't mind as much when they assault your eardrums and burn down your house. Had I been fully awake when I listened to this album I'm fairly certain the result would have been the same. Either way I look forward to seeing what else Burnt Books has up their sleeves in the future.