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I associate Credence Clearwater Revival with images of thick jungle and helicopters taking off in rice paddies bc their songs were used in like every movie about the war in Vietnam.

Review:“How Did We Get So Dark?” by Royal Blood/Released June 16, 2017

British rockers Royal Blood had a swift rise to fame off of their 2014 self titled debut album. Powered by singles such as “Out Of The Black” and “Figure It Out” the record reached top ten positions in numerous countries and made the duo a household name much more quickly than normal in today’s rock world. After the whirlwind of touring and praise for Royal Blood’s debut, the question arose of whether or not the band could strike gold again with their follow up. Well the time to prove themselves has come with the release of their sophomore effort How Did We Get So Dark?

On the band’s first album Royal Blood held a strict rule of keeping the recording authentic with no overdubbing and no extra instrumentation that the band didn’t use live. This approach paid off with the album sounding raw and gritty despite being well produced. With HDWGSD however the band is apparently more open to adding extra elements with overdubbed backing vocals being very prominent throughout the record as well as moments of piano on songs such as “Hole In Your Heart”.

Another difference with the new record is the songwriting. A trademark of the band’s sound is the old school, hard rock method of writing songs around distinct, central riffs. While that method is still found on tracks such as “Where Are You Now” and “Hook, Line & Sinker” a bigger focus is put on more modern rock songwriting. With varying degrees of success.

While the band displays that they don’t need the flashiest riffs to make a good song with tracks like “Sleep” and “Lights Out” mid album efforts such as “She’s Creeping” and “Look Like You Know” create a bit of a lull in the record. Regardless it’s still good to see that the band is trying to take steps in expanding on how they write songs.

Royal Blood is still at their strongest when they use mammoth riffs as a song’s anchor. “Hook, Line & Sinker” will have listeners air-guitaring for a long while and the groove of “Lights Out” will make you dance as well as bang your head. The track also displays Mike Kerr’s talent for being able to write a solo without need for a second guitar to hold down the rhythm. The duo’s influences are very apparent on songs like the title track which sounds like it was ripped right out of Queens Of The Stone Age catalog. And “Where Are You Now?” bears an uncanny resemblance to Black Sabbath’s “Children Of The Grave”. Neither of these are a bad thing.

With How Did We Get So Dark? Royal Blood has managed to avoid the sophomore slump and expand on their range of songwriting albeit with some growing pains. The band isn’t reinventing the wheel with this record and didn’t surpass their debut. But the album is still strong with fans of the first record having plenty to enjoy on the new one. A solid effort all around with plenty of bass heavy bangers to keep rock fans entertained. 3.5/5.

-Donte M

Score: 3.5/5

Favorite Track: “Hook, Line & Sinker”

Highlight Tracks: “Lights Out”, “Sleep”, “Hole In Your Heart”

#Royal Blood #how did we get so dark?#stoner rock #bass rock #rock duo #british rock #queens of the stone age #Black Sabbath #sludge #hard rock #riff rock #music review #The Haystack #Haystack

“Within Here Lies Pain” by The Human Tragedy (Kentucky,USA)/Metal/Released Feb 2017

The musical genre of heavy metal has often been called a modern equivalent to classical music with both styles often sharing a focus on technical proficiency, epic themes, and songs that progress in complex arrangements. As such, the hybridization of orchestral instruments with distorted guitars was a natural fit for many metal artists and made famous by bands such as Epica, Nightwish, and Within Temptation. While European bands have been the deepest well for symphonic metal, the style has also influenced American musicians with many looking to expand on the textures of heavy metal.

Kentucky metal band The Human Tragedy formed in June of 2014. Their first release was the 2014 EP Echoes From The Hall which featured current Creature Of Exile front man Johnny Martin on vocals. After adding the milestone of opening for Sepultura to their history the band released their first full length album Within Here Lies Pain in February of 2017.

Within Here Lies Pain is a nine track affair that runs just shy of 50 minutes which is fitting for the ambitious song structures The Human Tragedy goes for. The band combines uptempo and aggressive instrumentation fitting for melodic death metal with haunting orchestral arrangements giving every track a dark yet epic feel. Driving, direct guitar work is machined forward with tasteful, groove centered percussion. The restrained guitar and drum work provides plenty of room for the song’s symphonic elements that lead the way in every track. Unlike other symphonic metal bands like Epica and Nightwish, The Human Tragedy employs exclusively growled male vocals putting them more in line with artists such as Children Of Bodom and Septicflesh.

Opening track “Leech” is one of the most balanced tracks of the album and puts more emphasis on traditional metal instrumentation with orchestral strings acting more as icing on the cake than the focal point of the song. The following track “Losing Grip” ups the aggression and is one of the fastest songs featuring tremolo picked guitar work and distinct piano lines. “Digitally Dying” features rare electronic elements and metalcore inspired guitar work complete with a breakdown and a big chorus that’s sure to make the song a fan favorite. “Bound” is the personal favorite of the album and displays the band’s talent for song arrangement. A highly dynamic track with constant tempo switches, melodic segments, blast beats, guitar solos, and more all contained in just over six minutes.

Within Here Lies Pain is a solid full length debut from The Human Tragedy. A record that holds all the aggression and traditional elements a metal fan could want with the added flavor of accessible orchestral arrangements to take their compositions to the next level and set the band apart from other “meat and potatoes” extreme metal acts. While Scandinavia may still be the Mecca for symphonic metal, The Human Tragedy proves the style can bear fruit in the states as well.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Bound”

Highlight Tracks: “Digitally Dying”, “Losing Grip”, “Becoming”

For Fans Of: Children of Bodom, Septicflesh, Katatonia,Scar Symmetry, Symphonic Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Black Metal

Artist Links: Facebook, Bandcamp, Reverbnation

“Take Your Time” by Jasper The Colossal (Dayton,OH)/Alt Rock/Released Feb 2016

For the better part of a decade Dayton, Ohio’s Jasper The Colossal has been performing and touring their brand of punk-leaning alt rock to much positive reception. Formed in 2008 as a four piece, the band is now a trio comprised of bassist/lead vocalist Paige Beller, guitarist Moriah Yux, and drummer Sarah Kouse. The group has released one EP, Prehistoric, and two albums:2012′s Liar and 2016′s Take Your Time.

The band takes many cues from 90s alternative and indie rock. Upbeat compositions come in abundance with catchy vocal melodies beefed up by adept usage of backing vocals. The body moving, punk tempos are imbued with a sense of depth with the heartfelt lyricism of Paige Beller. Beller’s voice balances relatable emotion with confident grit that harks back to bands such as The Donnas and The Runaways.

Take Your Time displays a great leap in songwriting quality from the band’s previous effort Liar. Compared to the band’s previous work there is a much greater diversity in song structures and tempos and a greater ear for catchy hooks. The power pop choruses and accessibility never feel cheesy with the strong vocal performances and lyrical quality on display with every track. While most of the tracks deal with the familiar themes of relationships and twenty-something angst, the band finds their own unique way to discuss these topics.

The album opens with “Slayer Kinney”, the title a homage to one of their likely influences,Sleater Kinney, it features an infectiously catchy guitar riff and vocal melodies that display frontwoman Paige Beller’s range. “I’m Awake” slows the tempo down and is a more moody track featuring well performed vocal harmonies and a simpler lyrical structure emphasizing repetition. Personal favorite “Warm Body” is the most punk sounding track of the record with an upbeat rhythm, more distorted bass and guitar than other tracks, and the song’s title gang shouted for the chorus making it ripe for live audience participation.

Jasper The Colossal’s growth as a band is more evident than ever with this latest release. Balancing adept songwriting with earworm pop hooks, and strong vocal performances from all three members. Take Your Time is the magnum opus of their career thus far. Balancing the realms of punk, indie, and hard rock, Jasper The Colossal prove they’re more than just another girl group.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Warm Body”

Highlight Tracks: “Slayer Kinney”, “Fail”, “I’m Awake”, “Grow Up”

For Fans Of: The Breeders, L7, The Donnas, Sleater Kinney, Female lead Punk, Alt Rock, Garage Rock

Artist Links:Website, Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp

“77″ by We The Fierce (Chicago, IL)/Blues Rock/Released July 2016

The blues has been around nearly as long as the electric guitar has. The musical style was the basis for rock and roll and while numerous genres and sub-genres of rock have come and gone, blues rock has never really went out of style. Every era of rock music has had notable blues-inspired bands, including today with the rise in popularity of artists such as Highly Suspect, Wolfmother, and Clutch. Following in this vein is the hard hitting duo from Chicago known as We The Fierce.

We The Fierce is comprised of guitarist Jay Langston and drummer Dixie Duncan. Having performed, recorded, and toured together in previous projects, the two musicians decided to form a duo together in October of 2015. After gaining a following with their energetic live show and bombastic sound despite their simple set up, the band recorded and released their debut EP 77 in July of 2016.

The band embraces blues rock with open arms with their bass heavy, riff centered compositions with a heavy focus on groove. The songs are all typically slow to mid tempo giving the record a dirty, sludgy feel that echoes Black Sabbath and early Clutch. Unlike other bluesy two piece bands such as The White Stripes and Royal Blood, the band doesn’t venture much into showy, complex riffs preferring instead to beat their listeners over the head with pure, wall-of-sound power and simpler chord to chord guitar work.

The seven track EP opens with the groovy “Here I Am”. A fitting title for the first track, the song and its name acts as a declaration to ensure you feel the band’s presence. “Here I Am”’s swinging rhythm and the raspy voice of Jay Langston is equal parts lumbering swagger and confident style. “Mold” ups the doom and sludge vibe that may remind some listeners of Master Of Reality-era Black Sabbath. “Mercy” shows a softer, more melodic side of the band with an atmospheric vibe, falsetto vocals, and soul baring lyrics. Closing track “Your Love” showcases the importance of Dixie Duncan’s drum work to the band’s sound with his awareness of song dynamics. The percussion of this track acts as a secret weapon that controls the vibe of the song as well as being what drives it forward.

77 oozes confidence, style, and power that shows the experience and rapport of its two musicians. The heavy riffage, no frills percussion, and catchy vocal melodies are the base for a record filled with back to back bangers. We The Fierce are keen on making rock and roll in its most distilled and pure form. And they succeed at it with flying colors.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Here I Am”

For Fans Of: Black Sabbath, Clutch, Royal Blood, White Stripes, Highly Suspect, Blues Rock, Stoner Rock

Artist Links: Facebook, YouTube, Reverbnation

“Lost In Darkness And Distance” by Kill No Albatross (Burlington,ON, Canada)/Progressive Rock/Released May 2017

For our first feature of a band outside of America we take a look at Ontario, Canada’s Kill No Albatross. While a relatively new project having just been founded in November 2016, the band has a much longer history under their former name Gatling. Under the Gatling name the band has had some of their songs featured in the popular Rock Band video game series. As Kill No Albatross the band has just released a debut three track EP titled Lost In Darkness And Distance which was produced by Wayne Cochrane (Protest The Hero, Alexisonfire, Cancer Bats).

Kill No Albatross blend a number of elements to create their sound. A few elements of metal, the technical instrumentation and composition of progressive rock, and the accessibility and hooks of hard rock. The record’s three tracks are consistent in their use of atmospheric vibe balanced out with dexterous guitar rock making their more progressive influences such as Devin Townsend and Deftones more evident. Vocalist Kyle Collins sports a charismatic voice that ranges from raspy grit to emotional high notes that is integral to the band’s sonic identity.

With this first sample of music from Kill No Albatross the band is establishing their sound with some attention grabbing tracks that can gain the respect of discerning music critics while still grabbing the ears of more casual rock fans.It’ll be interesting to see what directions the band can push their sound to in the future with a larger display of songs that can allow for more variety. Lost In Darkness And DIstance already shows the band has a grip on balancing the heavy, the melodic, and the technical. And with those abilities mastered there is a deep well of creativity that can be unearthed in their music future.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “I Am The Night”

For Fans Of: Coheed & Cambria, Alter Bridge, Fair To Midland, Hard Rock, Progressive Rock

Artist Links: Facebook, Bandcamp, Twitter, YouTube

“Age Of Annihilation” by Creature Of Exile (Danville,KY)/Metal/Released Feb 2017

Formed in 2011, Creature of Exile has grown to be one of central Kentucky’s most prominent metal bands. The quintet features ex-members of other notable metal acts from the area such as Behind The Beheaded and Succumb To Demise and have shared the stage with international bands such as Dying Fetus, Fear Factory, and Abigail Williams. After five years of growing a fan base the band released their debut album Age Of Annihilation in February of 2017.

Creature of Exile’s punishing sound is rooted in modern death metal. However the band blends in elements of groove and thrash that makes for a sound that is diverse and dynamic. Frontman Johnny Martin is a powerful vocalist capable of monstrous guttural growls as well as higher raspier screams. All whilst keeping his lyrics easily discernible. The band often employs guitarist Jerrod Messick as a backing vocalist creating another unique dynamic to the group’s sound.

Rather than dwell in fantasy, Age Of Annihilation’s eleven tracks keep its narratives rooted in the horrors of reality. War, human nature, and religious criticism are all touched on within the record and Martin’s intelligible lyrics broadcast those messages loud and clear. After a brief intro the album begins with “Fatal Dismemberment”. A classic, no frills death metal track that beats the listener over the head with its intensity. The production on the album is top notch with the guitars loud and powerful, the vocals front and center, and every drum and cymbal strike clearly heard, Drummer Eric Lyons is the engine behind the band’s power with his double kick heavy play and affection for his ride cymbal sounding like machine gun bullets falling to the floor. The title track “Age Of Annihilation” showcases the band’s thrashier influences and is kept at a trim two and a half minutes. “Nightshade” puts a large influence on groove with catchy chugg riffs being interspersed with tremolo picked death riffs.”Cruci-Fiction” and “Entertainer Of Fools” deliver back to back thrashy offerings lyrically based around religious denouncement and criticism. The album closes on its longest track, “The Victim”, a seven minute ride that showcases every element of the band’s sound. Dynamic death metal song changes, atmospheric softer parts, direct thrash metal riffage, melodic guitar solos, and finally closing on mosh pit ready chugs.

Age Of Annihilation is a meat and potatoes metal album that combines the best of the classic sub genres. Equal parts shred, groove, and mosh all delivered with intensity and proficiency. Many metal debuts are more potential than excellence but Creature Of Exile already appears to be firing on all cylinders. If this record is just the base point the future is shining bright for metal in Kentucky.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Nightshade”

Highlight Tracks: “Entertainer Of Fools”, “Fatal Dismemberment”, “The Victim”

For Fans Of: Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Devildriver, Deicide, Slayer, Death Metal, Thrash Metal

Artist Links:Facebook, Reverbnation, Bandcamp

“Self Worth” by Actions Speak Louder (Orlando, FL)/Post Hardcore/Released Jan 2017

Actions Speak Louder is a five piece post-hardcore/metalcore band hailing from Orlando, FL. The group came together in 2013 and have shared the stage with the likes of The Word Alive, I See Stars, and Famous Last Words. In 2014 the band released their debut EP Self-Discovery and followed that up with their most recent release, the Self-Worth EP, in January 2017.

ASL play a high energy brand of electronic-infused post-hardcore and fit in well with the Warped Tour brand of metalcore acts such as We Came As Romans, Asking Alexandria, and The Word Alive. Chuggy, pit-worthy rhythms and breakdowns are contrasted with big catchy choruses and soaring clean vocals. While the band’s sound is fairly accessible they provide just enough aggression to entertain the hardcore and metal crowd.

Self-Worth’s six tracks are tightly knit with little filler. No track ventures far past the four minute mark and the energy is kept at a high level throughout. The record opens with a banger in “Beat The Odds”. Easily the EP’s most aggressive track, it sets an exciting tone that grabs your interest for the rest of the songs. “When All Home Is Lost” showcases the band’s electronic elements well with atmospheric synth providing melody over djenty guitars.”Tunnel Vision” is likely the most melodic track and features a well performed duet that features Conquer Divide’s Kiarely Castillo. The vocals of Castillo and ASL’s Byron Peck play off each other well and makes for a unique metalcore power ballad. Another guest performance is found on “Moral Duty” and features Strangers To Wolves’ Chris Parketney singing on the final verse. The motivational lyrics are ripe for a crowd sing along and fit well into the record’s overall positive message.

Self-Worth is an excellent display from a band on the rise and shows a considerable amount of growth over the previous record from the group. With a sound that’s powerful yet accessible and a message of finding the strength in the individual, Actions Speak Louder are a talent that are worthy of rubbing shoulders with the best of today’s hardcore acts. With such a marketable sound, major labels are sure to come knocking on ASL’s door in the near future. And with exposure to a larger audience the band could be poised to become one of the genre’s top tier acts and grow their fan base of #Actionists. Only time will tell.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Beat The Odds”

For Fans Of: We Came As Romans, Asking Alexandria, I See Stars, Vans Warped Tour, Post-Hardcore, Metalcore, Motivational Metal

Artist Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

“The Devil Never Comes” by Molly Rhythm (Philadelphia,PA/Trenton,NJ)/Experimental Rock/Released Nov 2014

In today’s crowded music world standing out is harder than ever. Nearly any musician with any level of talent can put their work on the internet and this has made an ocean of content for people to sift through in order to find nuggets of gold. It takes an artist of both unique sound and quality to set themselves apart from the pack. With so many sound-alikes out there it makes a band like Molly Rhythm a welcome breath of fresh air.

Formed in 2012 and hailing from the areas of Philadelphia, PA and Trenton, NJ, Molly Rhythm is a unique seven piece ensemble that features two female lead vocalists and brass instruments in addition to the more common guitar, drums, and bass. The band smashes together a dizzying variety of genres including alt rock, metal, and cabaret music all presented in a theatrical style that brings to mind underappreciated artists such as Stolen Babies and Dog Fashion Disco,

The Devil Never Comes is a 13 track(10 not counting the two skits and violin interlude) affair that follows the band’s seven track debut record It Is What It Isn’t. Despite the group’s eclectic influences and style the record keeps a consistent and cohesive sound throughout. One of the defining elements of Molly Rhythm’s sound is the symbiotic vocal performances of frontwomen Elissa Sapp and Nikki Nalbone. The two weave in and out of harmonies so effortlessly a listener could easily mistake the vocals as just one singer recorded with their tracks doubled. Nalbone especially displays a knack as a Jill-of-all-trades performing sung, screamed, and even rapped vocals on the track “Right Meow”. The instrumentalists of the group are no slouches either with guitarist Jon Rossi providing an adept balance of energetic lead and rhythm play. Drummer Collin Russert is a secret weapon behind the band’s power with fast paced punk and metal styled percussion and the brass section provides a unique flavor to the band’s overall sound.

“Badge For A Cape” starts the album with a high energy bang that provides a good example of Molly Rhythm’s core sound. Punk and metal elements, horns, and their dual vocal attack are all featured. The song is relatively straightforward being under three minutes and is an accessible rocker that eases the listener into record before introducing the more artistic elements found later on the album. “Elephant Graveyard” is a popular live staple and has a music video which is featured above. The track’s slow,moody intro builds louder into a hard rock section and by song’s end dives into metallic hardcore revealing itself as one of the hardest hitting song’s of the album and is definitely a record highlight. Closing track “You’re Not The One” closes the album on a high note being one of the more dramatic offerings of the album and really displays the effect the saxophone and trombone can have in adding to the emotion of the band’s sound. None of the album’s songs however match the grandiose composition that the third track has: the extensively titled “Christmas Shopping While North Korea Has The Largest Death Camp In The World”. A seven minute epic that features a Spanish style guitar rhythm in the verses, an infectious chorus, and dynamic section changes seemingly inspired by the progressions of classical music.

Molly Rhythm’s dark cabaret rock has come to full bloom with The Devil Never Comes. The foundation the band created on their last recorded effort has been refined and eclipsed with them taking their high energy punk and metal and finding a way to up the theatrics and emotion with this most recent effort. With the unique skills and make up of its members Molly Rhythm still has plenty of room to explore and cover new ground most of their contemporaries could only dream to find. The Devil Never Comes is a must have gem for anyone wanting a diverse work of audio art in their musical collection.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Christmas Shopping While North Korea Has The Largest Death Camp In The World”

Highlight Tracks: “Elephant Graveyard”, “Badge For A Cape”, “You’re Not The One”

For Fans Of: Stolen Babies, Polkadot Cadaver, Dog Fashion Disco, The Dresden Dolls, Mr Bungle, dual vocalists, ska punk, female rock singers

Artist Links: mollyrhythm.com, Facebook, Twitter

“Wherever You May Be” by Friday Night Lites (Portland, ME)/Pop Punk/Released Nov 2015

Pop punk is a very hard genre to stand out in. It’s one of those music styles where, after its formula for success was established, nearly every band to come from the genre was just a watered down derivative of what came before. Every once in a while however a band comes around that can breathe new life into a style that most believe has been run into the ground. And that’s where Friday Night Lites find themselves.

Formed in the summer of 2014 in Portland, Maine, Friday Night Lites has been steadily growing a fan base with their high energy live shows and infectious anthems which earned them a slot performing the Massachusetts date of Vans Warped Tour 2015. After releasing the singles “I’m A Sandra Bullock Kinda Guy” and “Face The World” in 2014, the band released their “Bases Loaded” single in 2015 in anticipation for their debut EP Wherever You May Be.

The seven track EP follows many of pop punk’s classic traits. Pulse pounding percussion, loud power chords in the guitars, and anthemic lyrics sung at the top of the lungs leading the way. While it’s a formula that has been done plenty of times before, Friday Night Lites perform with such earnest and polish that they make the style sound fresh. Songs such as “Neck Deep” and “Bases Loaded” are high energy bangers that even the worst critics of the style will be hard pressed not to enjoy. The band does explore their softer sides on the disc as well with tracks like the power ballad “Blind Side” that also features some female guest vocals and the closing track “Glass” that is a short but sweet melody ride. “Call It A Day” is the personal favorite of the album that features the EP’s most catchy guitar work and punk rock gang shouts that add alot to any song when done right.

With Wherever You May Be, Friday Night Lites isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel but they definitely have polished it to a mirror shine and are able to rival any pop punk or emo big name in quality. With heartfelt lyrics and an aura of fun around their sound they can become a new favorite or a guilty pleasure if you like anything close to punk rock.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Call It A Day”

Highlight Tracks: “Neck Deep”, “Blind Side”, “Pretty Girl Takes The Square”

For Fans Of: Mayday Parade, All Time Low, The Story So Far, Pop Punk, Emo, Sports

Artist Links: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Bandcamp

*Pre-Release Exclusive!*-”Always Alive” by Sempervivi (Lexington,KY)/Indie Rock/Release Apr 8th 2017

Hailing from the city of Lexington in the center of Kentucky, Sempervivi is the brain child of singer-songwriter Derek Price who’s been a member of other notable area bands such as Stellar Kin and Analog Apostles. Price began Sempervivi in 2015 as a solo acoustic project and took influence from bands such as Saves The Day and The Get Up Kids. Coming soon on April 8th, Price is releasing his second EP of his Semperivivi project titled Always Alive via Bad Apple Records and follows his 2015 debut EP Artifacts.

The most notable change with Always Alive compared to Sempervivi’s first EP is the addition of a full electric band featuring experienced players from Lexington’s rich music scene. This provides the upcoming release a great deal more energy than the mellow acoustics of Artifacts. Rooted in guitar-centric indie rock, the record has a nostalgic 90s feel to it and contains relatable lyrics centered around themes such as love and family. Songs such as “So Close” and “ADHDAD” provide an adept display for dynamic songwriting and catchy riffs and “My Lullaby”, which was featured in acoustic form on the previous release, is displayed in full band form on this record and given new life. The upbeat percussion and lyrical positivity gives the tracks an upbeat and light-hearted feel and maintains the same focus on songwriting the project’s previous release displayed.

Always Alive hearkens back to the pop friendly, singer-songwriter indie rock of a bygone decade and pays homage to that era beautifully. The head nodding and catchy compositions can easily become favorites of alternative rock fans anywhere. Sempervivi will be performing a CD release show for Always Alive on April 8th at Al’s Bar in Lexington, KY alongside Home Grown Head, Ezra, and Wesley Saylor.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “So Close”

For Fans Of: Dinosaur Jr.,Counting Crows, Dave Matthews Band, Indie Rock, Alternative Rock

Artist Links: sempervivi.com, Facebook, Twitter

“Murals” by The Past (Lexington,KY)/Progressive Rock/Released 2014

Central Kentucky trio The Past was formed in 2007 around the talents of singer-guitarist Michael Tyree, bassist JT Butcher, and drummer Drew Charron. It wouldn’t be until 2014 however when the band released not one but two debut records. Transcending Consciousness and Murals, the latter of which is featured here. With a live show that incorporates audio samples, psychedelic visuals on a projection screen, and dazzling musicianship The Past has been growing their fan base at a steady pace with each performance.

The Past is aptly named for their strong influence from the prog rock giants of previous eras such as Genesis, Porcupine Tree, and Pink Floyd. While the genre is known for it’s strong focus on adept musicianship, the trio finds a happy balance between displays of virtuosity and accessible song writing. This middle ground allows the group to spark interest in casual music listeners and those of more discriminating tastes alike.

The seven track album begins with the record’s shorter and more conventional compositions. Opening song “Waves” is notable for its unique effects-laden main riff and Santana-esque soloing. “Time Moves Too Fast” is the album’s shortest song clocking in at just over four minutes and features a memorable chorus with a distinct reggae tinged section. “This World I Dream” puts a larger focus on groove with the play of bassist JT Butcher standing out strongly on the track. “Pride” begins the more “proggy” half of the album and is the longest song clocking in at over eight minutes. The track is very reminiscent of Rush’s work with all three instruments showing great interplay during the longer instrumental sections of the song and a sampled speech is featured in the latter half of the track. “Listen True” brings things back to more conventional territory and is another song that’s more vocal-centric with another strong chorus featured.”Take Me Back To Nowhere” is one of the more dramatic compositions with several section changes and song dynamics being used. Closing track “I Thought I Could Change The World” is another eight minute epic that blends all aspects of the trio’s sound into one great composition. An overall fast paced track that employs keys, another earworm chorus, and blistering guitar work that makes for my favorite instrumental expose of the album.

While The Past takes obvious influence from the artists of yesteryear the band puts enough of their own spin on the prog rock sound to be their own entity. Enough melody to be accessible and more than enough pure talent to wow listeners. The well recorded and produced Murals is an excellent show case of the band’s skill and is a must listen for music fans who enjoy complexity as well as something to sing along to in their collection.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Waves”

Highlight Tracks: “This World I Dream”, “I Thought I Could Change The World”

For Fans Of: Rush, Genesis, Kansas, Coheed and Cambria, Pink Floyd,Prog Rock, High Skill Musicianship

Artist Links: thepast-band.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

“Self Titled EP” by Hexenkraft (Hell-or Michigan maybe...)/Synthwave-EDM/Released Sept 2016

Little is known about the artist known as Hexenkraft. All that’s known is that a four track EP was released in the fall of last year under the name and that supposedly Satan is behind it. In any case my interest was sparked and I gave the EP a listen.

The four track EP displays a dark and haunting brand of synthwave EDM. While purely electronic in its composition it takes hints from the mood and energy of metal music to give it a distinctly sinister vibe. The eponymous title track alternates between a slow tempo dubstep-like groove placed at its beginning and end with a dynamic faster paced section in between. “The Devil Rides Out” mostly keeps to a body shaking dance pace for most of its duration with a tension building bridge in its middle. “BlackSynth Cyborg Death Squad” is a more deliberate structured track that seems to borrow a bit from industrial. The structure of the instrumentation could easily be replaced with live guitars and drums and be a a moody metal track. “Inspirati a Diablo” roughly translates to “Take In the Devil” and is a slower paced track that notably features audio samples from a film mentioning evil deeds done by a man possessed.

This first offering from Hexenkraft is a nice taste of future things to come. The sinister and brooding style of electronic music is a nice change of pace from the happier and bright EDM that is popular today and would fit right at home at the most raucous nightclub hell has to offer. Future releases have already been announced so fans won’t have to wait too long for more offerings from the mysterious producer.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Hexenkraft”

For Fans Of:Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Coil, Industrial, Dubstep, EDM, Satan

Artist Links:Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp

“Offense Intended” by Them God Damn Bangs (Lexington, KY)/Blues Punk/Released March 11, 2017

I last wrote about Lexington’s uniquely named Them God Damn Bangs a year ago when they released their first record WRFL Live! that you can view —>here. Since that time they’ve grown into an even stronger draw in Lexington’s rock scene and have written a bevy of new material that has been compiled into their first studio album titled Offense Intended. With the new album comes a new line up since the band’s last release with new members Ryan Shelton on drums and Dawn Jones on vocals.

Them God Damn Bangs plays a high energy form of blues-infused punk rock. The majority of their songs are uptempo with fast paced power chords and blues style guitar leads. The male/female vocal interplay of frontman Josh Fayne and Dawn Jones is a defining factor of the band’s sound. And many of the songs feature oddball, irreverent topics and mid song, spoken word skits.

Six of Offense Intended’s twelve tracks are new songs not featured on the band’s previous live album. Loud and wild is the rule with nearly every track being a fast, sweat soaked affair. The one exception being “Grave Robber Grace” which is a softer, ballad-esque track. Many of the other tracks feature more offbeat topics such as the groovy “Stuffed Crust Punks” which is about “smelly kids who like pizza”. There’s also the live staple “Pepe Silvia” which is a reference to television series It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and features an audio sample from the show. Older set staples heard on the previous live album make a return on this record in studio version form such as the heavy rocker “Miles To Croatoa”, the swinging blues of “Bagga Bones”, and the irreverent “Whole Lotta Nothin” that features tongue twisting rapped verses from Fayne. Album favorite and closer “Five Dollar Shake” takes hints from the start and stop blues songs of the past mixed with the Bangs’ punk stylings.

With Offense Intended Them God Damn Bangs add a bit of cleaned up studio gloss to their raw sound without losing much of the punch. The band blends blues, punk, humor, and fun into a unique package that sets them apart from the usual punk rock outfit. The newer material of the album has shown a growth in the band’s songwriting and proves they’re never short on ideas. This first studio record is a fun ride and an easy one to get into and enjoy for all kinds of rock fans.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Five Dollar Shake”

Highlight Tracks: “Stuffed Crust Punks”, “Bloody Fucking Royals”, “Miles To Croatoa”

For Fans Of: White Stripes, The Hives, Von Bondies, Jet, The Vines, Punk Rawk, Multi-vocalist bands

Artist Links: Facebook, Bandcamp, YouTube

“Poison Words” by The Convalescence/Metal/Released April 2016

Toledo, OH metal monsters The Convalescence got their start as a side project in the spring of 2011. With their diverse sound and striking image the six piece swiftly gained popularity and festival slots. Over their career the band has shared the stage with notable acts such as Otep, Mushroomhead, All Shall Perish, and Cattle Decapitation among others. Their most recent release, 2016′s Poison Words, is The Convalescence’s third full length album in follow up to their 2014 album The Process.

Despite the band’s image of all black clothing and black metal corpse paint, their sound draws from a wide array of metal influences including death metal, metalcore, industrial, deathcore, and thrash. You’re just as likely to hear aggressive blast beats as you are djent grooves not only throughout the album but in the same song. However the group keeps a consistent sound filled with aggression and style.

While The Convalescence put a big focus on groove with their previous album The Process, the band has moved to a more balanced approach between grooves and blistering speed riffs. The vocals are just as dynamic with front man Keith Wampler delivering powerful growls and black metal high screams with adept control and discernible lyrics. Clean vocals are still sparsely used despite quality use of them on songs such as “Reflections” and “Watch Them Burn”. The band definitely focuses on the heavy first and foremost.

The first two songs of Poison Words are the pure, fast paced deathcore offerings of “I, Dreamer” and “Gazing Into Oblivion” with the latter also taking some hints from the melodic death metal sounds of bands like In Flames. With the third track “Faceless” the band starts to display its diversity with groovy djent riffs and electronic elements giving the song an industrial touch. The title track “Poison Words” plays almost like a three and a half minute breakdown with a chuggy, mid tempo main riff throughout the majority of the song and keys adding a distinct element to the song’s ending. “Reflections” is a definite high point of the album with its constant changes in speed and rhythm, catchy guitar work, and an unexpected earworm of a cleanly sung chorus. “The Mouth Of Hell” features haunting keys intercut with some of the fastest and most aggressive instrumentation of the album. “Lifeless In The Waves” has some of the grooviest playing of the record but still balances that with moments of blast beats and swift picking and a brief clean vocal performance from keyboardist Katie McCrimmon.

The Convalescence has displayed a great degree of growth with Poison Words and has managed to streamline their diverse influences into a more balanced package this time around. Never a band to be put into a box, the group displays mastery of several different styles that keep their compositions multi-faceted. This diversity of sound with their adherence to metal aggression is sure to appeal to a wide range of fans. With their constant touring schedule The Convalescence will only continue to grow to become a bigger force in the world of metal.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Refelctions”

Highlight Tracks: “Poison Words”, “Lifeless In The Waves”, “Faceless”

For Fans Of: Whitechapel, DevilDriver, Emmure, Lamb Of God, Keyboards in Metal, Corpse Paint, Fake Blood

Artist Links:Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

“Self Titled Album” by Fight The Fade (Tulsa,OK)/Post-Hardcore/Released July 2016

Tulsa, OK rockers Fight The Fade were formed in 2009 and began touring the following year, With a high energy live show and multiple well recorded releases under their belt the band has steadily been gaining a following and have earned slots in festival line ups such as Rocklahoma and the infamous Vans Warped Tour. In the summer of last year the band released their self titled third full length album.

Fight The Fade takes influence from a number of different artists genres such as alternative rock and hard rock but fit best in the realm of modern post-hardcore. Wall of sound style production is evident in their recordings with their use of heavy reverb, booming drums, and loud distorted guitars. Keys, synths and other electronics are also utilized adding a dramatic element to their compositions. Frontman Zene Smith is a powerful vocalist that has a soulful lilt to his voice that draws comparison to Jonny Craig, of Emarosa and Dance Gavin Dance fame. Smith’s emotion filled singing style well carries the anthemic songwriting and is a key factor to FTF’s overall sound.

Each of the album’s ten tracks tracks are never short on energy and power. Songs like “Legacy”, “Falling”, and album opener “Edge of Desire” put a big focus on mammoth choruses delivered with such conviction that listeners won’t be able to help singing along. “White Noise” includes a notable string section that gives the song a feeling of a cinematic epic. “Blue Windows” displays more of the band’s hardcore influence with its more aggressive sound and usage of screamed vocals. Album stand out “Colder” is a more calm track that focuses on moody, atmospheric elements and cleaner guitar tones.

Fight The Fade’s drive for perfection has turned them into a well oiled machine evidenced by this most recent beast of an album. The band’s focus on having big everything in their sound has made them into an arena rock act fit for the modern music scene. With every release surpassing the previous and no sign of slowing down the only direction to go for this quartet is up.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “White Noise”

Highlight Tracks: “Colder”, “Edge of Desire”, “Ascend”

For Fans Of: Emarosa, PVRIS, Starset, You Me At Six, Post-Hardcore, Alternative Rock, Arena Rock

Artist Links: fightthefade.com, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram

“Low Mimetic” by La Historia (Rockford, IL)/Indie Rock/Released March 2016

As modern indie music moves further in the direction of electronic pop, guitar centered alt rock seems to have been on a decline in the indie music world. The style is far from dead however as there is still plenty of indie rock to go around. And Illinois quartet La Historia is one of many acts keeping it alive and well. Formed in 2012, La Historia got their start writing and rehearsing in a hardware store outside their hometown of Rockford, IL. They recorded and released their debut EP Awake Enough in 2013 and following many regional shows and more writing released their first full length album Low Mimetic in March of 2016.

The band plays melodic indie rock that harks back to the alt rock explosion of the late 80s and 90s and is comparable to artists such as Dinosaur Jr and Husker Du. Emotively sung and written lyrics that ride on a wave of upbeat percussion and creative guitar interplay with just the right amount of fuzz and atmospheric effects.

The quartet keeps a strongly consistent sound throughout the album with mid to fast tempo head nodders being the general rule of thumb. Notable highlights include “Fall Right Through” and “Hope to Know” which are driven by swift dynamic percussion, energetic guitar work, and existential musings on life in their lyrics that are highlighted by well placed backing vocals. When the band does slow down on tracks such as “Please Do” and “Mornings, Lately” the melodies become even more worthy of sing-a-longs yet still keep enough guitar buzz and snare pops to keep your attention focused. Opening track “Quick to Find” pulls more from the early to mid 2000s post-punk revival with its more dancey rhythms throughout the earlier sections of the song and “Almost All We Have” is one of the more punk offerings of the record with its more fill heavy drumming and high treble bass lines.

In all, Low Mimetic plays as a great nostalgia trip back to the era when punks were first exploring sounds beyond the chord to chord fury the D,I.Y. movement was known for. Post punk driven by elevated musicianship and harmonious six strings rather than distortion and directness. La Historia brings back the 90s with a passion that shows in their music and gives plenty to enjoy for connoisseurs of alternative guitar rock.

-Donte M

Favorite Track: “Almost All We Have”

Highlight Tracks:”Hope to Know”, “Mornings, Lately”, “Fall Right Through”

For Fans Of: Dinosaur Jr., Husker Du, Brand New, Superchunk, 90s Alternative, Post-Punk

Artist Links: lahistoriaband.com, Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp

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