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Album Review: The Amity Affliction – This Could Be Heartbreak

By
Luke Spencer
-

Australia’s metalcore group The Amity Affliction attempt to get deeply personal and emotionally wrenching in the band’s fifth album This Could Be Heartbreak.

https://vimeo.com/178620258

 

Text Review:

The term metalcore now is getting more meaning as the sub-genre is starting to finally gain appreciation do some of its bands now getting big recognition like Bring Me The Horizon and Parkway Drive.  Combining elements of metal and the hardcore punk scene ON PAPER sounds like something that shouldn’t pair.  But as time has gone on, bands have proven it can work.

Australia’s The Amity Affliction have been going strong in the metalcore scene since 2003.  Now with their fifth full album This Could Be Heartbreak, the band is going for something that is “deeply personal and emotionally wrenching” according to their press release.  With an album cover and title like “This Could Be Heartbreak”, it definitely gives the air of emotional.  Back in 2014 The Amity Affliction released their best-selling album to date Let The Ocean Take Me, which went platinum in their homeland and also landed in the top 40 selling albums on the US Billboard 200.   Emotional and deeply personal was a description that also applied to that album with many grim topics about personal struggles.  So if that is any indicator, then the 2016 entry won’t have a problem in holding anything back in emotion.

The most noticeable dynamic when listening to The Amity Affliction is the vocal duo of Ahren Stringer and Joel Birch.  There are many metalcore bands out there that incorporate a clean and unclean vocal switch well, but The Amity Affliction might have one of the better renditions of it as the clean vocals truly sounds straight from a punk band while the guttural but well defined screaming hits home on the metal side.  But even with the divvied up singing duties to include a cleaner melody throughout the songs, the overall style is still quite hard and heavy.  Just from the opening minute of the album you can easily get an impression of both the band’s style and the overall feeling of the new album.

The album opener feels like the highlight of the album.  At four and a half minutes it features every strong point of the band.  The alternating singing styles, some great drumwork that comes out clear and perfectly timed, a unique bridge to build onto the already grim mood that lyrics about death can bring, and a great guitar solo that sounds like it was stripped out of the hair metal days.

Along with everything I just described about I Bring The Weather With Me, the song also captures that description of “deeply personal and emotionally wrenching”, as does a majority of this album.  The first half really flows into each other at that sense as the tempo and mood don’t change a bit through tracks like This Could Be Heartbreak, Nightmare and Tearing Me Apart.  In these songs and a majority of the album it feels like The Amity Affliction are doing what they know how to do best.  It’s this metalcore writing style and playing format that suits them and they are utilizing it to their advantage.  As the track list goes on you understand how it really is their bread and butter.

Just like in the album opener, Tearing Me Apart has a well-orchestrated alternation between vocalists and the drums from Ryan Burt really hit hard and drive the song in terms of keeping the intensity at a high level.  The chorus is easy to sing along with and feels fluid from the verses in the song.  Even with Joel Birch giving a performance that includes a bit cleaner of singing to go along with his intensity, it still all feels like a solid performance.

One complaint about the album is that the metalcore format the band goes with is so consistent throughout This Could Be Heartache that it feels a bit repetitive after listening for a while, especially when diving into the second half of the album.  Tracks like Fight My Regret, Some Friends and Wishbone all become a status quo type feeling.  That feeling however might be to many fans liking, and regardless the album ends as strongly as it starts.

Even if the style of song does become repetitive after the first half of the album, the first half of This Could Be Heartbreak is still extremely strong and definitely gives the air of passionate musicians playing their hearts out.  There is a raw aggression combined with showmanship and musical talent that many bands would aspire to.  Overall, This Could Be Heartbreak is a good entry in the metalcore world and should satisfy any of the band’s past fans as well as listeners who enjoy two contrasting vocalists working together.  The Amity Affliction are still going strong and capable of delivering now five albums into their career.

7/10

Album Review: Skillet – Unleashed

By
Luke Spencer
-

Skillet attempt to make a more connected album in the band’s ninth album Unleashed.

https://vimeo.com/177595969

 

Text Review:

Being called a panhead to some may sound like an odd insult, but for many in the rock scene it’s a description for fans of Skillet, a band led by John Cooper who since 1996 has been working the old fashioned way with consistent touring and albums releases that gained more and more recognition and radio play over time, which led to two Grammy nominations and millions of album sales worldwide.

Now in 2016, Skillet will release their 9th full album Unleashed.  Many people who are familiar with the band know not only about their strong religious beliefs but also that Skillet have a very unique electronic style mixed in with hard rock elements.  Synthesized instruments, backup female vocals and a lot of motivational inciting style lyrics are common in the band’s music.  Unleashed is the next attempt at using those elements while still connecting with their fans.  As described by John Cooper: “I wanted to make an album that could make people feel the music.  I always aim to write songs to which people can relate, but this time I wanted to see not only how the songs would connect lyrically, but also how they’d connect musically.”

Hearing that a band wants to put out an album that feels connected throughout and flows from beginning to end has been, in my experience, a quality of great albums in the past.  It takes more effort to make songs interconnected with each other in different elements as opposed to a tracklist of good studio recordings.  Skillet has had a knack over the years for creating energetic and motivating songs.  There is a livewire feeling that carries the track and it makes their music feel engaging.  The album opener Feel Invincible has elements in that and is a good example of what to expect in Unleashed.

Feel Invincible was the first single to be released from the album back in June.  In all aspects it is the typical Skillet track filled with electronic effects and alternating singing lines between John Cooper and Jeni Ledger.  The opening guitar riffs and modded key notes have a great punch and the melody in the verses become instantly memorable as does the chorus.

The song does dip a bit when the song title is belted out and then the volume is lowered for the next verse, but it still feels wholly energetic.  It turns out that this song was very polarizing for many longtime Skillet fans and I kind of understand why.  While it definitely feels like a Skillet song and is energetic, it doesn’t quite capture the same fire the band has had in past years.

While Feel Invincible may be a bit polarizing, there are many tracks on the album that definitely capture the best at what Skillet is capable of bringing.  Songs like Back From The Dead, Out of Hell and The Resistence are the highlights of the album in that they are the ones that raise your pulse while showing off what the band is capable of, including some great guitarwork and hooks that make you want to replay a song.

The faster and heavier tracks on Unleashed are the ones that will get the most replay value on the album.  Back From The Dead has John Cooper at his strongest and it feels like he is letting loose and having fun with his performance and the guitars add the extra flair to have a song like this stand out as something special.

That being said, there are some tracks on Unleashed like Lions and Watching For Comets that feel a bit more toned down and melodic like ballads.  Some of these tracks do break up the flow when placed between more lively songs.  That is not a knock on their quality, but rather it takes away from the movement and flow when listening from beginning to end, especially when some of the best material is at the bookends of the album.

Over the years Skillet has proven how hard working they are and that they are dedicated to their fans, and with Unleashed it doesn’t feel like they phoned anything in.  But while the album title is Unleashed, there are many moments where the band sounds much more tempered and mellowed.  They have matured and are capable of being more serious in a melodic ballad style while in the next moment breaking the door down.  Overall, Skillet’s 9th full album should more than satisfy panheads and not be a regretful purchase for anyone who loves the more energetic side of the band. While some songs will definitely be played more than others, there is still more than enough to enjoy in Unleashed.

Tickets Available for 2nd Annual Rock Allegiance in Philadelphia, PA

By
Luke Spencer
-

https://www.facebook.com/rockallegiance/videos/vb.170407856353956/1065148010213265/?type=3&theater

Last year Rock Allegiance was a sell out on the edge of the river between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  This year the festival extends to two days and includes over 30 bands including Avenged Sevenfold, Alice In Chains, Slayer, The Offspring, Breaking Benjamin, Volbeat, Chevelle, The Cult, Pierce The Veil, Of Mice & Men, Ghost, Killswitch Engage, Anthrax, The Pretty Reckless, Baroness and more.

Ticket information can be found at http://rockallegiance.com/tickets/

You can also keep up to date with the festival on their following socials:

Twitter: @RockAllegiance / #RockAllegiance

Instagram: @RockAllegiance / #RockAllegiance

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockallegiance

Regretting The Past: Buckcherry – 15

By
Luke Spencer
-

Chuck Berry is rolling in his grave right now and he’s not even dead. Regretting The Past with Buckcherry’s 15!

https://vimeo.com/176553275

Album Review: Periphery – Periphery III: Select Difficulty

By
Luke Spencer
-

Periphery return with a whirlwind of prog metal brilliance in Periphery III: Select Difficulty.

https://vimeo.com/175851944

 

Text Review:

As a band continues in their career and the members mature it can be a turning point for where they decide to push themselves to be creative or to rest on their laurels and deliver something similar to what already has worked in the past.  With a standard rock band it can be easy to release the same material throughout the years, but when you are a six piece juggernaut of a band it becomes much easier to be creative and have more people involved in something new.

Periphery is that creativity pushing group that takes the name of prog metal and wields it like a flaming sword toward the current mainstream music scene.  And with each passing year it feels like the men involved have not been content with sitting still.  Guitarist Jake Bowen said in an interview: “For the past couple of years we’ve been refining our collaborative process as a band and we feel that it’s only getting better with the completion of this album. –Jake Bowen

After last year’s dual album Alpha and Omega cracked the top 20 of the Billboard top 200 albums it’s not a surprise for people who have been following the band that Periphery are not afraid to get heavy or dynamic in their music.  Throughout Juggernaut was 17 tracks ranging from melodic and sweeping to riff heavy and brutal.  Now with Select Difficulty we get a whole new entry of unbridled talent and creativity through 11 tracks, many of which are over five minutes long, and a form of escapism into the world that Periphery brings.  Verbally describing or comparing their sound however is extremely difficult to do, so it’s better if the music speaks for itself.

While The Price Is Wrong was the first released song from the album, Marigold is the track that caught my attention.  After two crushing and heavy tracks comes a song that is able to both capture that frantic energy but also turn it into a gorgeous progression in style.  The riffs becoming well fretted high notes and Spencer’s vocals gives a strong performance with his elevated singing pitch and the chorus launches this song to another level.  Even after the five minute mark where the tracks shifts into a connecting sequence filled with guitar feedback and effects this song still feels like a whole.  That trait is felt on many songs throughout Select Difficulty as well as many songs feeling like they connect at the seams.  Tracks like Marigold, The Way The News Goes and Remain Indoors feel separate but still flow into each other without losing momentum.

The heavier and louder tracks like The Price Is Wrong and Habitual Line-Stepper are definitely solid, but it’s the tracks that take their time a little more make use of the melody as well as incorporating more elements like background vocals and string selections that stand out most.  Songs like Remain Indoors and Flatline really create a gorgeous mindscape when listening.

Flatline fluidly goes from forceful in the first half to focused and paced in the second. The ferocious drumming and guitars all go from metering out in volume to a silk smooth transition to close the song.  All guitars involved create an atmospheric experience in this and many of the tracks on Select Difficulty and each one feels unique and memorable.

Only occasionally do you hear a moment in a track that doesn’t flow as well.  Three guitars all on full volume layering harshly or a vocal repeat that feels like it doesn’t belong.  But these moments are very few and far between.  Chances are you will like both the heavier and more melodic in this album, and also love the final track that is one of the best album closers I have heard in years.

It’s difficult to dive more into Select Difficulty without playing more clips, especially the harder tracks, but I can honestly say that if you have been a fan of Periphery in the past and enjoyed what you’ve heard in this review, then you will find more than enough replay value throughout the album.  Overall, Periphery have delivered another wildly created prog metal experience that does not hold back in pushing boundaries while still meeting expectations of the band’s fans.  Whether you enjoy the more tense style or more flowing, Select Difficulty is not a hard task to listen though.

9/10

Album Review: Megadeth – Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?

By
Luke Spencer
-

A look back at Megadeth’s 1986 album Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?

https://vimeo.com/175316568

 

Album Review: Cane Hill – Smile

By
Luke Spencer
-

Cane Hill brings a dark and heavy style in the debut album Smile.

Click here to see my interview with Elijah Witt of Cane Hill at Warped Tour = Interview with Cane Hill at Warped Tour 2016

https://vimeo.com/174247123

 

Text Review:

The current trend of music throughout many genres is to play it safe and stick with a formula.  Don’t push too many boundaries but stand out enough to get people to talk.  Along with all that, the actual song can come second.  Once in a while however you will find a musician or band that holds nothing back and doesn’t care about the offended listeners while STILL trying to create something dark and unique.

Cane Hill from New Orleans is the next new band who is not afraid to get vulgar and profane in their hard and brash style.  As an upfront warning, their music and lyrics will not be for everyone.  To those who are troubled by hearing religious iconography in different terms than they are used to, including in negative ways, Cane Hill’s debut album Smile might be a turn off.  However, to lovers of hard rock with an industrial edge regardless of lyrical meaning, this might be up your alley.  The style and focus of the band is now very apparent in Smile.  As front man Elijah Witt describes it: “We’re more excited for this release than anything we’ve done as a band. I think we’ve finally figured out exactly what we are, and everything else was just a trial run. We’ve honed in on the violence and honesty that we’ve felt music has lacked.”

Violence and honesty is only the tip of the iceberg in Smile.  Just as the album cover showed this is not your typical rock album with a standard presentation.  There are shades of Slipknot, Marilyn Manson and especially Korn throughout the entire album, all while still keeping a unique identity in making something new.  The song (The New) Jesus and the accompanying music video is the best introduction possible to describe a band’s style and capability.  From digital voice effects to screaming and hard guitar riffs, the song doesn’t so much kick the door down but rather kick it open and wait for you to acknowledge it.

(The New) Jesus is as engaging and hard as it is unnerving.  Along with some intense brutal guitars and heavy pounding percussion in the back, Elijah Witt is able to switch from a melodic brood to screaming at a guttural roar at the flip of a switch.  Many people will make comparisons to Mudvayne and Korn and in good ways.  While some people may be turned off from the higher digital voice repeating the song title like a glitched out Siri, it’s also something that makes the track stand out and instantly identifiable.  And while lyrically the message will definitely turn away some people, it still can’t be denied there is creativity in the music and voice behind it all.

This writing style holds nothing back and there is a decent variety of song stiles in Smile.  Tracks like MGGDA and Fountain Of Youth stand with (The New) Jesus as being heavier while St. Veronica and You’re So Wondeful are much slower and darker.  Even with the speed change the songs almost all feel very intense and well-constructed though.

St. Veronica is the track that really hooked my attention when listening to the album all the way through.  The electronic effects meshed into the beat while Elijah Witt demonstrated more of his singing capability makes a great counter to the very heavy and loud style in (The New) Jesus.  Witt’s voice in the chorus and the mixing effects make this dark ambient style that matches the album’s vibe.

While the overall theme is heavy and pretty grim, there are a few tracks that will turn away even fans of that style.  You will be getting into everything you are hearing and then track six entitled Cream Pie comes and knocks you out of focus.  But even if there is a track or two that won’t be played as much, it’s undeniable that Smile has a lot to offer.

Not every type of music is going to be for everyone, and there are occasionally styles of music within a sub-genre like nu-metal or industrial that will also have a select listening audience.  There are times however that you can still point out the talent and quality of music a band can deliver, whether or not you are a fan.  Overall, Smile is that shockwave of a debut that many bands could only dream of.  Cane Hill have brought something unique to the table in order to shake the current formulaic and friendly radio scene up a bit.  If you are up for something a bit different with a lot of varying elements included, then you’ll get a Smile out of this debut.

Album Review: Switchfoot – Where The Light Shines Through

By
Luke Spencer
-

Switchfoot return with the band’s tenth full album about having hope and looking forward in Where The Light Shines Through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s46zpY5IYKM

https://vimeo.com/173799579

 

Text Review:

Switchfoot has now been playing their upbeat and peaceful brand of alternative for twenty years.  After nine full albums and no real line up departures the band remains one of the few who stays intact and strong in their career.  It’s a rare feat to have a band keep their name value over two decades and also be known as a staple for being genuinely good people who simply want to make music.  Now in 2016 comes the band’s tenth full album and marks the return to an independent label album release after many years with major record label companies.  While that sounds like a big change, a familiar face in John Fields is returning to help with producing who also was behind Switchfoot’s best-selling The Beautiful Letdown and several other of the band’s albums.

And with the new album Where The Light Shines Through comes more inspirational and uplifting ballads as the title eludes.  These inspirational songs however came at the expense at some long and troubling times for the band.  In the press release for the album, Tim Foreman said: “We went through a lot, individually and as a band, in making this record…Not to be melodramatic, but it was a dark season for us, and this record became a source of light in the middle of a dark season…That’s how we landed on this idea that the wound is where the light shines through; this album is about being surprised by hope.”

Two months ago Switchfoot started releasing recordings and new tracks from the upcoming album and true to form it was exactly what was to be expected from the band.  The track Float delivered a deep rhythm that also captures the SoCal alternative surfer lifestyle wrapped up in just a few minutes.  In many ways this is a great description of Switchfoot to someone who has never heard the band before.

Float has that laid back summer vibe.  The type of sound you envision being played as the soundtrack to beach footage.  The baseline is the star of this track as it’s clear and consistent.  The rhythm revolves around it and rather than the chorus elevating from the verses it all feels like one continuous sequence.  Rather it feels like a group of guys jamming in the same melody and style without it wanting to end.

While this track isn’t bad, it gets repetitive quickly because of that continuous level feeling.  Although the bassline is great it doesn’t add enough to keep interest and Jon Foreman’s vocal delivery doesn’t give much of a dynamic performance as it feels more reserved and mellow.  While it’s not his character to really get overly loud, I feel like Float could have used SOMETHING to make it stand out a little more than a low tone sound over four minutes.

While Float may not have set Where The Light Shines Through on the best foot forward, there are definite gems on the album that truly highlight Switchfoot’s capability of making an inspiring and invigorating song.  It’s the tracks like I Won’t Let You Go, Live It Well, and Hope Is The Anthem that serve as the base and strong points of this album.  It’s when Switchfoot is able to build a track on an elevating sound that continues to raise in melody and energy while feeling uplifting that they shine.  I Won’t Let You Go starts with the slow build and has a natural progression and Jon Foreman feels more involved with the song.  It’s not a loud, bombastic track but it feels much more memorable than a track like Float and it makes you want to hear it again after it’s over.

The unfortunate quality of the album is that the tracks that have replay value and make you want to hear them again are somewhat few.  There aren’t many tracks that are flat-out unpleasant outside of an occasional brash sounding appearance from Lecrae in Looking For America, but a majority of the album is somewhat forgettable. But even with that being said, there are still some shining moments worth hearing.

Switchfoot have earned their success and award winning discography and with that the praise they’ve gained from their peers.  When they are able to focus and really make something work, it shines.  Unfortunately there are also a few misses along the hits.  While nothing is ever unbearable or low in quality, it can also sometimes leave you wanting more.  Overall, Where The Light Shines Through is an ambitious venture where a band reaches deep and really sings about hope and looking forward, but through that this album also doesn’t deliver much in sound we haven’t already heard.  The good does outweigh the bad in the entire play through, but admittedly there is a hoping for more and not getting something that completely satisfies.

Interview: Cane Hill at Warped Tour 2016

By
Luke Spencer
-

Elijah Witt of Cane Hill takes some time at Warped Tour to talk about how rock and metal are becoming weak, parties in Florida, and why kids shouldn’t sneak behind merch tables.

Please Like, Comment, and Subscribe! = Rocked on YouTube

You see my photos of Cane Hill at Welcome To Rockville by clicking here = Cane Hill at Welcome To Rockville

Please click here to support Rocked on Patreon = Rocked on Patreon

https://vimeo.com/173382259

Interview: I SEE STARS AT WARPED TOUR 2016

By
Luke Spencer
-

Interview with Brent Allen of I See Stars where he discusses the new album Treehouse, Warped Tour, and the current state of creativity in music.

You see my photos of I See Stars live at Warped Tour by clicking here = Photos of I See Stars at Warped Tour 2016

You can watch my review of I See Stars’ “Treehouse” here = Album Review: I See Stars – Treehouse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63IvKuoq0eE

https://vimeo.com/173286306

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