Monday, August 4, 2008 When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold
Rhymesayers
Told you we listen to hip hop too! Yes people, there is such a thing known as GOOD hip hop and Atmosphere has been pumping it out for a few years now. If you don't know who or what Atmosphere is or about here's the skinny. Atmosphere consists of Slug and Ant (Slug spittin the lyrics while Ant lays down the beats…I think... give me a break, I'm a metalhead by birth!). Regardless of who does what, the sixth full length studio album, When Life Gives You Lemons…, is aptly named. The overall message is do the best with what you have and stop bitching. Not the usual message conveyed in today's hip hop is it? No it's not. That's because this is underground shit. The rhymes are very personal and everyone can relate to them. You don't have to be sporting 50 inch rims on a Bentley to appreciate Atmosphere, and that is what I enjoy most about this album.
Besides the lyrical content the music behind the words is pretty damn solid. The rhymes dominate the album but Ant uses a diverse range of sounds to compliment them. Live instruments are chosen more over turntables and samples. The result is a more real feel and a great album to add to any collection.
TESTAMENT
The Formation of Damnation
Nuclear Blast Records
The trash metal gods from Cali are back!!! And holy shit they are fucking pissed! There was once a time when what was known as the Big Five ruled the metal scene. The Big Five consisted of thrash metal bands, Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer and Testament. Some people argue that Testament wasn't included and the Big Five was actually the Big Four but whatever. Testament never gained the notoriety of the others during its time but purists know the deal…Testament was the shit. And with their first release in seven years they show they still know how to play with the best of them.
The Formation of Damnation has been described as a mix between albums The Gathering and Practice What You Preach. They aren't breaking any barriers here but they are taking thrash from the roots and showing a new breed of listeners what it was all about. Fast, speed-heavy riffs with intense drumming. Guitarist, Alex Skolnick, who has previously denounced metal, is back in the lineup. Don't fret. Any feelings the guy has had towards metal have been put to rest. The guy is flat out good and adds the perfect compliment to the drumming of Paul Bostaph, the rhythm of Eric Peterson and the vocals of Chuck Billy. That's 80% of the original lineup boys and girls! It's like a fucking history lesson listening to this album.
Lyrically the band tackles a variety of topics ranging from current events to politics to religion. I believe The Evil Has Landed is the first song to ever reference the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City. I'm sure they'll be people out there who will say that they shouldn't have went there but I say its about fucking time. What better way to get some people to open their eyes then to put it to the ungodly sound of thrash? Other great tracks include the title track The Formation of Damnation and F.E.A.R. (which was written by Skolnick). Overall the album is a scorcher and made this old headbanger dig up his old thrash collection.
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