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Album Review: Saint Asonia – Saint Asonia

By
Luke Spencer
-

Former members of Three Days Grace, Staind, Finger Eleven and more join together to form the new super group Saint Asonia.

https://vimeo.com/134806244

 

Text Review:

Back in 2013 a shockwave was sent to the rock world when Adam Gontier, the unique voice of Three Days Grace, announced that he would be leaving the band.  While fans of Three Days Grace were waiting to hear who would replace the vocals of one of Canada’s better rock imports, there were others who wondered where Gontier would venture to.

It wasn’t until almost two years later that we found out that Adam Gontier would return as the voice of a new band, and also that it would be the proverbial super-group featuring former musicians of bands including Staind, Dark New Day and Finger Eleven.

Saint Asonia marks the next supergroup to instantly grab rock media’s attention to see what will be delivered.  While supergroups aren’t always the success that a name like Audioslave or A Perfect Circle have, the potential of already successful musicians combining to produce something new is usually a promising experience, even if short lived.

The difficult task ahead for Saint Asonia will be to find a new identity outside of their former bands and sounding different from the music played previously.  In a quote from Gontier describing the album as diverse, he stated that:

“it’s got a bit of a metal vibe to it, but it’s definitely different than both Staind and Three Days Grace…It’s some of the heaviest stuff that I’ve ever written…but it’s also got a couple of the lightest, a couple of straightforward, acoustic guitar and vocal tracks.  It’s kind of all over the place…”

Now that almost two months have gone by since mainstream rock radio has been playing the first track by Saint Asonia, it’s safe to say that the new project has gained attention and also gained anticipation on what the band can deliver.

Despite the previously read quote from Adam Gontier, the song Better Place undeniably sounds like it could be placed in a Three Days Grace album.  The main difference though is that the guitar solo and chords are fantastic and do NOT take away from the singing.

The first time I heard this song I wasn’t blown away, but I later found out that the radio version I had heard was slightly shortened.  Listening to it in full as the album opener greatly improved my opinion and experience of the song.

While Gontier’s previously read quote said the album is “all over the place”, I personally think it’s the quieter more acoustically focused tracks that Saint Asonia shine.  While some of the harder riffed songs can sound a bit similar after the album continues on, the slower and more paced songs like Leaving Minnesota and Waste My Time are the ones that REALLY stand out as new material and something different.

While the album opener Better Place set a standard of what to expect for the harder sound, Leaving Minnesota ends everything very introspectively with a gorgeous melody.  Lyrically it’s easy to sing along with and you can hear the emotion in the vocals.  The acoustics are amazing and everything flows together.

Saint Asonia in many ways feels like a good group.  There is a drive here from musicians that love what they do.  Even if some of the harder tracks do sounds similar when compared back to back, it’s hard to deny that there is value here for a new project from the key members of many other successful bands.

It may not be clear how long Saint Asonia will last as a band or what the future plans will be after their self-titled album, but as for now, it’s something to enjoy.  It’s something people can get behind.

Overall, Saint Asonia offer a variety of hard and soft with very familiar musician styles.  If you loved Better place then you will enjoy this album, and if you in any way miss the days of Three Days Grace with Adam as their voice, then you NEED this self-titled release.

Regretting The Past: Nickelback – All The Right Reasons

By
Luke Spencer
-

There isn’t one right reason to listen to this album.

Photos: MODEST MOUSE

By
Luke Spencer
-

My photos of Modest Mouse live!  All photos were taken by Luke Spencer of 7/17/2015 in St. Augustine, FL.  

There was some great lighting at this show (even if there was a lot of smoke and a LOT of alcohol all over the place) and just about everyone was on the same page to have a good time.  There was a genuine good feeling in the crowd and the band played a range of their material from this years release to music from years back.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYbU0IJvD-s

 

Album Review: Finger Eleven – Five Crooked Lines

By
Luke Spencer
-

Juno award winning Finger Eleven return with their first album in five years with yet another new style.  How will this album’s change up compare to their many others?

https://vimeo.com/133311704

 

Text Review:

When a band changes their style it can be a defining moment of their talent and fanbase .  There have been many examples of a band progressing into something different and succeeding, while there have been others leaving fans confused and betrayed on why their group would change their sound.

There have not been many bands that have gone through as many style changes over the years as Finger Eleven.  From the alt rock days of Tip to the harder and darker Greyest of Blue Skies to the more upbeat and pop-rock style level of Them Vs You Vs Me, this band has seemed to have a unique and different sound on every album they release dating back to the days of being Rainbow Butt Monkeys.

While many long time fans of Canada’s Finger Eleven may argue over which sound and album was best and may stay in want for a return from the days of Tip and Greyest of Blue Skies, the band has proven success even with the style changes in consistently selling albums and earning Juno nominations.

The tradition of changing styles from album to album continues with their 2015 entry Five Crooked Lines.  In the Press Release from the Bicycle Music Company, it opened with the statement: “When Ontario, Canada rockers Finger Eleven decided to start writing the follow-up to their 2012 album Life Turns Electric, the band members all agreed they wanted to do something different, they just weren’t exactly sure what they wanted to do.”

It has been five years since the last Finger Eleven album titled Life Turns Electric.  In June the music video for the featured single Wolves and Doors was released.  This was the first look at the band in years and was the first listen at the unknown direction of the next album.

The funk and style in the guitar work is what stands out in this song, along with an extremely impressive guitar solo.  It is reminiscent of past songs scattered throughout their discography but still unique for the band.  Lyrically it is a difficult song to get behind and sing along with.  That’s not to say the lyrics aren’t understandable, but it doesn’t give that instant desire to sing along.

I personally remember feeling this way with Finger Eleven’s self-titled album and the later Them vs You vs Me.  You can tell the talent is there and there is a passion behind the performance, but for some reason there is just nothing to attach to.

There are moments that will build hope and anticipation in this album and give you the impression that something intense is coming.  With those moments may come a few anti-climatic feelings where the expected explosion doesn’t deliver.

The opening of Gods of Speed is a great start to an album and has a great build, but it feels like the payoff isn’t there.  Once again the guitar riffs and rhythm are excellent and vocals unique, but it just feels underwhelming.  Like Wolves and Doors, you can tell the talent is there but it’s just hard to get into the song.

Throughout Five Crooked Lines there is a obvious sense that these men love music and love to be in the moment of the groove, but while listening you keep hoping for something more.  Whether it’s wishing for something reminiscent of their early works or something exciting to blow you away, you end up being only moderately satisfied with what is presented.

It is always admirable when a band is consistently trying new things and never satisfied with status quo.  The unfortunate side of that quality is that there will always be fans who wish for past works to relish in and want to hear more of a similar fashion.  No matter how talented the musicians are.

Overall, Finger Eleven have proven they still have the ability and desire to play with Five Crooked Lines.  While long time fans may or may not embrace the consistently rougher tone in this album, it is safe to say they won’t be turned off either.  As for new fans, it may be better to check out their past material to get acquainted with their best works.

Album Review: Cradle Of Filth – Hammer Of The Witches

By
Luke Spencer
-

The reigning kings of black metal return with new band members (again) and their eleventh full album.

https://vimeo.com/132898440

 

Text Review:

Black metal is a very polarizing sub-genre even to some of the most diehard rock and metal fans.  The dark arts, goat blood, demon summoning, ritual sacrifice, it all can be a little daunting to metal fans who are in it for the guitar shredding and not to hear a violent Harry Potter story.

To make a name and a career out of Black Metal can be a difficult task, but Dani Filth has been doing so with Cradle of Filth since the early 90’s and have been a staple in metal ever since.  Even people outside of the rock scene have heard the name Cradle of Filth and when your band name is known as common knowledge then you know you have made a huge impact in the world of music, one way or another.

Regardless of how many band member changes have occurred through the years, the name Cradle of Filth has continually delivered to their fans, and Hammer of the Witches marks the 11th full album filled with dramatic performances and a black hole level of darkness.  Now featuring two new guitarists and female vocalist, cradle of Filth now step forward yet again with expectations of living up to their past works.

In the press release sent out for Hammer of The Witches, Dani Filth says that: “Not only are the musicians who’ve recently joined the band fans of the band as well, but we really sat down and listened to what the fans wanted and expected from a new album,”…“That was half the fun. We were trying to fulfill different aspects in the best possible light. And we opened the floodgates to more ideas by undertaking things that way, but then we do have an extensive back-catalogue to draw inspiration from!”

Say what you want about constantly refilling positions with new people, but in this case replacing one guitarist with two and being open to ideas from both each other and fans is something to admire.  Especially from a band with nothing to prove.

Then comes the first single and video drenched in darkness and imagery.  The title and first 30 seconds of the song matched with this video is enough to introduce any music fan what Cradle of Filth is all about.

The opening and buildup of intensity in this song are the big hooks.  Hearing the melodic singing of Right Wing of The Garden Tryptych and then being launched into brutal drum work and the screeching of Dani Filth all capitalize on what makes Cradle of Filth such a strong dynamic.

The track does have a changeup thrown just before the two minute mark that makes Right Wing feel like it takes a detour from the opening.  As a first single it definitely showcases the talent of the new band members and what to expect from Hammer of the Witches, but I truly feel there are many songs on this album that are stronger and more memorable.

The melody from some of these songs is absolutely heart-stopping.  The guitars and percussions create this gorgeous symphony of metal and in a majority of the tracks on this album every element meshes together and you are given an average of over five minutes per track of creativity and intensity.

Although the title of the track may be slightly unnerving, I love this song.  The speed and intensity of the guitars and the gorgeous string additions and key work all create this beautiful scene before Dani Filth turns it into a chaotic masterpiece.  Deflowering sounds like an intense soundtrack to a medieval battle to the death and in every way defines the black metal scene.

This album altogether feels like the band took countless hours poring over the details and the smaller moments to make something large.  The flow from beginning to end, with the exception of a few detours, create an extremely loud and vivid listening experience.  There is instant imagery coming out of almost every second of this album.

Despite many member changes over two decades and many different critics of their presentation, Cradle of Filth are undeniably talented and more creative than most bands could ever attempt to be.  Their eleventh full album proves this point, and possibly stands as their best work in a decade.

Overall, one of the best known British metal bands has proven they can still claim the throne in black metal as well as deliver a new dark masterpiece years after being in the game.  Even if you aren’t as open to the darker side of music, if you give it a chance you might just be blown away.

Support Rocked on Patreon!

By
Luke Spencer
-

Please support Rocked if you can via Patreon!  Every dollar helps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ge1Bm0WVUA

Just click the link in the video or click here = https://www.patreon.com/Rocked

Album Review: Failure – The Heart Is A Monster

By
Luke Spencer
-

After almost two decades, Failure return from a Fantastic Planet and offer an introspective theme filled with guitar effects and ambiance.

 

https://vimeo.com/132056401

 

Text Review:

Picking up from where you left off can sometimes be difficult when regarding music, especially when your last proof of work was 19 years ago.  It goes beyond fans waiting patiently for your next work but crosses into territory of introducing a new generation to your music, and in some cases, introducing the children of your old fans to what they use to listen to.

The last time we heard the atmospheric galactic rock of Failure was 1996’s Fantastic Planet.  After their disbanding it truly felt like you would be getting your hopes up to hear the sounds of Failure again.  Then, seemingly out of nowhere in 2014, news broke that the band has reformed and would be supporting Tool on their upcoming tour.  On top of that, we would be receiving a new album in 2015.

The only way I can explain the sound of Failure to someone who hasn’t heard is that they sound like the distant cousin to the grunge and industrial surge of the early 90’s.  Completely atmospheric backgrounds, guitar effects, and extensive sound production are included in almost every second of their music.

So after a successful pledgemusic campaign, we have The Heart is a Monster, an 18 track opus continuing the creative legacy that Failure is known for.  In a quote from Greg Edwards discussing the evolution in albums and story, he said that:

“Thematically we’ve moved from the outer space of “Fantastic Planet” to inner space…from the dislocation of one’s identity to the complete erasing of it by sleep and dreams.  I think we’ve used instrumentation in the service of mood and emotion to an even greater degree than on our previous records.”

Edward’s quote was proven in full effect with the album’s first single and the first new song from Failure in over 15 years,  Hot Traveler.  In many ways this song feels completely identifiable to Failure and absolutely unique to the rock scene.

The string bending and guitar effects are what define this song.  You can tell just by the first 30 seconds how Failure uses the tech and creativity in guitar effects to create the sound they want.  Lyrically it really grows on you with the chorus and hearing the echo fade of Ken Andrews vocals add a level of grit and groove to the song that most singers couldn’t match if they tried.

 

There are great songs like Hot Traveler in The Heart is a Monster, but what many people may never hear unless they listen to the album in full is the segues that connect everything together.  While many albums will blend the mood of each song to fit a certain flow, Failure uses full Segues to connect each track much like sinews connect muscle to bone.

The flow and groove from these seques is what separate this album from many other current releases in today’s market.  It’s very rare and ambitious to fill an album with tracks focusing just on setting a mood and connecting point a to point b, but Failure has proven that it can work beautifully.

These segues do a better job of setting up an atmosphere and theme in music than many soundtrack composures and score writers could create with years of work.  Like what I said about sinews, the main tracks of this album would not be complete or be able to move without these segues.

I admit there are a few moments where the static and note resonance can be a bit overwhelming.  There are definitely tracks that will be played more than others.  But the truth is that this album is one that is meant to be played in entirety from beginning to end.  Over an hour of music and setting is offered and should be taken in as a whole.

There are many bands who you can compare one another to as soon as you hear them.  In the case of Failure, it’s very difficult to describe their sound by comparing them to another group because they are completely unique in their craft.  Originality can be rare in a genre filled with nu-metal and screaming, but Failure have proven they can still be successful at it.

Overall, The Heart Is A Monster is the perfect follow up to Fantastic Planet, even if it comes 19 years later.  Whether Failure is a blast from your past, or is something that is brand new to you, fans of thematic and atmospheric rock will not be disappointed here.

Album Review: Senses Fail – Pull The Thorns From Your Heart

By
Luke Spencer
-

Buddy Nielsen and company return and dive deep into personal exploration with their sixth full album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ivuL3lYBB4

https://vimeo.com/131836944

 

Text Review:

Adding too many elements to your style can sometimes over complicate the final result.  When making a good soup sometimes only three or four ingredients can make everything work, while overloading the broth will overwhelm your senses.  The same principle can be said for music.

So when you add elements of hardcore, punk, emo, and anything else that fits the mood – it can sometimes confuse the listener.  Senses Fail is one of the few bands that have a successful record of throwing in different musical styles and creating a quality result.

Although there have been maybe lineup changes and the only remaining constant is Buddy Nielsen, Pull the Thorns From Your Heart marks the 6th full album under the Senses Fail name and with it comes an extremely introspective dive into Buddy Nielsen’s life.  In a quote online, Nielsen said that: “This record (referring to the album) is the complete documentation of my transformative spiritual experience from the darkness to the light…I want this record to be more than just words and music but a blueprint for how through contemplative practice you can come love, grow and blossom out of the muck of life and into the light. It is not intended to motivate in steps or exact teachings but empower. It is above all a personal story of struggle and realization.”

From an explanation like that and an album title like Pull The Thorns From Your Heart you can easily sense that you are about to hear a personal story in many different expressions.  Combined with the track list of titles that deny any subtlety, it’s easy to see that a lot of personal experience was put in.

Back in April a music video was released for The Importance of the Moment of Death.  This song is the demonstration of the hardcore style that Senses Fail is capable of and has been known for in the past.

The chorus is what stands out as Buddy Nielsen’s personal message.  Hearing him scream “I want to believe” is a great example of his earlier quote about the album being a personal story of struggle and realization.  The drum work is excellent and keeps a deep rhythm, but the bridge and guitar feedback is what derails the song and can cause the listener to be taken out of the moment.

It’s that disjoint in the second half of the song that represents a problem when trying to combine so much into one song.  In order to incorporate so much emotionally along with different styles of music and having it all flow, you sometimes need time to stretch things out and make sure the flow feels natural.

The hardcore sound is something that Senses Fail knows how to do well, even if doesn’t always come across in every song.  There are several examples of when Senses Fail get more melodic on this album where the quality starts to stand out.

While songs like Moment of Death and The Three Marks of Existence try to get their point across in the hardcore scene, tracks like Wounds and Surrender slow things down and in my opinion work much better on this album.  Whether it’s because of the subject matter or just the pacing, these melodic tracks come off cleaner and more memorable.

While you can hear the passion and energy in these songs there is a rough transition from track to track. It doesn’t offer much time or environment to get into each mood.  As a result it comes off as a list of songs as opposed to a complete album.  Although the lyrics are a huge reflection of Buddy Nielsen’s self-realization, it’s hard to connect when there are so many rough transitions.

Sometimes when you listen to an album that doesn’t completely win you over, you can still ask if the pros outweigh the cons.  In this case, do the songs that come out loud or melodic in a good way outnumber the songs that come off boring or unmemorable?  In this case, the positive just barely outweighs the bland.  For every track that comes across fluidly, there is another that is lost in the shuffle.

Overall, Pull the Thorns From Your Heart undeniably sounds personal, but also does not leave much of a lasting effect.  Senses Fail is a name that has stood on its own merit for years now and should satisfy longtime fans, but casual hardcore and rock fans may be looking for something more memorable.

Album Review: Breaking Benjamin – Dark Before Dawn

By
Luke Spencer
-

Benjamin Burnley returns with a new lineup, returned passion and makes failure sound like a good thing.

https://vimeo.com/131483827

 

Text Review:

Some musicians have a rabid die-hard fanbase who will ALWAYS come flooding back no matter how long the wait or circumstances.  Bands like Tool and Faith No More are perfect examples that a band can go years without material and when they finally deliver, people become ravenous for wanting to hear the new music.

After five years of inactivity due to health scares, lawsuits, and line-up changes, Benjamin Burnley has regrouped with four new bandmates and Breaking Benjamin have returned to both the road and the studio.  As of 2015, the dark is finally over and the dawn has come for Breaking Benjamin fans.

When a decent amount of time off paired with band member changes all happen for a group, many fans will question if the new material will reflect or at least be up to par with past works.  When it comes to a bigger name like Breaking Benjamin, the outcry of betrayal would echo for weeks if the first album in years didn’t deliver what the fans were anticipating.

With Breaking Benjamin though, it’s safe to assume a few standards.  The lyrics brooding and self-reflective.  Fluid guitar work for both riffs and rhythm.  Vocals that elevate at the perfect moments to exclamate a chorus.  These are the consistencies Breaking Benjamin fans hope for.  This also it a smart way to write songs.

In an interview with The Pulse of Radio, Benjamin Burnley talked about his writing formula, saying that “I like to write songs that I like… and then it just so happens that the public likes it too… I don’t get too artsy with it or anything like that. Just cool riffs, good melody, good lyrical content, slap it all together and you’ve got yourself a record.”

The BEST example of this formula can be described with the song Failure.  It was the first single to come from the newest album and instantly gave a nostalgia trip to fans who have been listening for over a decade.

I love this song.  Especially the ending.  Hearing Burnley scream Failure adds a powerful capstone to a great flowing song.  The rhythm is vibrant and gradual and carries everything on this perfect ride that leads to a loud climax.  The lyrics give an air of a desperate person and greatly describe a person with experiencing nothing but Failure.

This song is the perfect example of why Breaking Benjamin have not strayed away from their past style and sound.  Failure sounds like it could be placed on You Are Not Alone or Phobia and it would flow perfectly with those albums.  This is telling that Benjamin Burnley is still on par with his writing and has not veered off from what made his voice and music iconic.

Many people can make the argument that if Dark before Dawn sounds extremely similar to the band’s past albums, then why do I need to listen?  There is some truth behind that argument, however in the case of Dark Before Dawn, you are hearing additional work in the same unique style.  The melodramatic writing behind amazing guitar riffs is what has kept Breaking Benjamin fans waiting patiently for years.

Hollow has the potential to be a hidden gem for Breaking Benjamin fans to come back to time and time again and that will never hit radio play.  Lyrically it is brooding and desperate and remorseful.  The bassline is fantastic in the chorus and the gradual build in volume throughout the track is the perfect example of what Breaking Benjamin is best at.

When I talked about how the songs here sound similar to all of the past work by the band, many detractors will say it’s more of the same.  In my opinion, there is no need for Breaking Benjamin to reinvent their own wheel.  Just because the band members have changed, or the spokes in the wheel have been replaced, doesn’t mean that the wheel won’t keep moving just as well.

Even after a myriad of events that happened to Benjamin Burnley on a professional personal level, his passion for music and drive still lives.  Some detractors may say that it’s more of the same, but sometimes you just can’t get enough of a good thing.  And in today’s music market, it’s nice to have artists who are reliable.

Overall, I can’t imagine a breaking Benjamin fan of the past not being satisfied with this album.  Even if not every song is a full on masterpiece, the songs that stand out will haunt your heart and are tracks that you will remember forever.

Regretting The Past: Metallica – St. Anger

By
Luke Spencer
-

St. Anger is the patron saint of sucking.

https://vimeo.com/130840594

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