Friday, January 30, 2009
BLACKENED
This Means War
Think Fast Records
Yet another all star lineup of hardcore goodness. You'll have to love this cast of characters since the band boasts a pretty impressive roster. Vocalist, Jay Reason (The Distance). Guitarists, Chris Legg (Fastbreak), and Wayne Lozinak (Hatebreed, Two By Four). Bassist, Chris Beattie and drummer, Dave Russo (Hatebreed) have collectively joined forces to put together a brutal batch of old school hardcore perfectly blended with a modern, metal feel.
TOP TRACKS: Every track is intense and worth every penny. My favorite on the album is Unfinished Business, a two minute throwback to the early 90s.
GDEVIL'S VERDICT: Could hardcore be making a third run at a golden age? All these band members these days are gathering together creating some really great side projects. I'm hoping Blackened is more than a side project and we get to see a lot more of them. Never heard of some of the bands these guys are a part of? Get on that. Fastbreak have been around forever. Hell they were like 13-14 years old when I saw them open for H2O years ago!!!
CANDIRIA
Kiss The Lie
Type A Records
The mystery that is Candiria. This band went from being the most hyped band in NYC and beyond to almost absolute obscurity in what seemed, at least to me, a blink of an eye. Personally I was never a big fan. I saw them open for Shadows Fall a few years back and remember my legs going numb from listening to some intensely long metal jam sessions followed by jazz, followed by death metal growls. If anything, Candiria was (or is) extremely diverse. I did a little homework and found out a few things about their sudden fall from the spotlight. The band was apparently involved in some sort of accident while on tour some time ago. They have since received financial settlements, some members have left the band indefinitely and others seem to still be a part of it. They had Kiss The Lie completed but the record label didn't want to release an album in which a band couldn't tour and promote. After some back and forth, the label eventually released the album and voila! Another Candiria album for its many loyal fans.
TOP TRACKS: Here's the kicker. I read on the band's Myspace page that when iTunes posted the album they screwed up the track listings. So I like a few songs on the album...a lot. But the names of the songs may not be the real titles. Anyway, according to iTunes, the following tracks rip shit up: Sirens, Legions, Splinter, The Sleeper
GDEVIL'S VERDICT: I'm glad I finally gave this band a chance. While they aren't my usual cup o tea, I can appreciate the diversity and changeups the band uses. They are, without a doubt, extremely talented. Vocalist, Carly Coma, can handle the barking and soothing, almost R&B like sounds while the drumming of Ken Schalk is amazing. Jazz to metal to jazz and back. It'll keep you busy that's for sure.
THE REDEMPTION SONG
Plays Dead In Stereo
Future Destination Records
What do you get when you fuse the vocal styling of The Refused with poppy, metal riffs? You get a little band by the name of The Redemption Song. you also get a good dose of what modern hardcore should sound like. Apocalyptic? Yes. But I wouldn't peg them for Shai Halud clones. Not by a long shot. There's enough gang vocals in here to satisfy the old school crowd and enough pop-punk-metal riffage to keep the new cats movin on the floor. An absolute keeper by all standards.
TOP TRACKS: This is the album that has been on repeat on the old iPod since i got it. I can't find a bad song even if I tried. Summer of Love, M.I.a, Semper Fi, My Love...is my absolute favorite on this album.
GDEVIL'S VERDICT: Much like the media and Obama, I have total man-love for these guys? Of course, leave it to me to start resurrecting a band which broke up in 2007. Does anything really stay dead in hardcore though? I think not.
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