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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
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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

Album Review: Highly Suspect – Mister Asylum

By
Luke Spencer
-

The rock world gets gritty and low with Brooklyn’s Highly Suspect and there “No F’s Given” attitude.

https://vimeo.com/129743221

 

Text Review:

Low and soulful blues rock is a style that is NOT focused on in the current radio scene.  The only time you can even come close to hearing anything that deep is when you walk by a local dive bar in a big city.  It’s a shame because there is something extremely natural and relatable with everything in this style, from the lyrics to the low bass line.

So when a big name media outlet like Rolling Stone even acknowledges that a band with this sound is an upcoming band you need to know, then it is definitely something worth paying attention to.  A three piece group from Brooklyn whose attitude can be defined as “no f’s given” also sends a message as a band worth noticing.

Gritty blues rock bands like Highly Suspect should remind people what can be done with just the basics.  Vocals.  Guitar.  Bass. Drums.  No special effects, no digital layering, just raw music.  There is a very personal and close feeling when listening to music like this and it’s hard to explain until you put in your headphones and just listen.

Mister Asylum marks the Brooklyn natives first full length LP.  Playing music like this in a market dominated by nu-metal and screaming is not an easy task and can easily be swept under the rug if it doesn’t leave an impression.  Leading with the single Lydia, a song about a past relationship, Highly Suspect set an instant impact with gravelly vocals and a great build.

When I first heard this song on Octane I was instantly swept up in the vocals.  There is a raw talent here and a fire in the expression.  It all stands out well and is very audible in front of some fantastic bass and drum rhythms.  Hearing the lyrics “I can’t Breath” shouted just resonates with some great imagery and this song just feels emotional and powerful.

You can hear an audible passion in Johnny Stevens and the Meyer brothers’ performance in this song.  It truly feels like this track is something you can hear just as clear and loud in person as it sounds on this recording.  Lydia is a fantastic way to introduce new listeners to a band.

One remark I must make about this song is that while it shows the vocal talent well, Lydia does not come close to demonstrating the instrumental talent that these three possess.  There are tracks in Mister Asylum that show the abilities that Highly Suspect are capable of – from deep rhythms to absolutely brutal guitar solos.  As far as blues rock goes, this album offers a fantastic hybrid of the sub-genre into the rock world with varying speeds and intensity.

Where Lydia was a great introduction to the style of Highly Suspect, songs like Lost are the ones that showcase what the band is capable of.  A majority of tracks on Mister Asylum tend to resemble the style of Lost more than Lydia, but only in the most positive of ways.  While there are tracks that bring the tempo down to an extremely low tone, there are others who set the room on fire.

With ten tracks at an average of about four minutes, you get the impression that these three took their time in creating this album.  It was a work that took years as opposed to a stretch over a few months where the band tried to flesh out some time to add to three good songs.  Even if not every second is absolute poetry or a musically composed masterpiece, you can definitely tell there is drive behind it all.

Normally when you hear someone describe their personal motto as “No F’s given”, you tend to be a little turned off.  In the case of Highly Suspect, you can hear it in their music that it’s a life motto in a good way.

Overall, Mister Asylum is an album worth checking out for any gritty rock fan looking for a new group to follow.  And just like Rolling Stone suggested, this band is one you need to know about, because if they continue to grow from an album like this, then the sky is the limit.

Album Review: High On Fire – Luminiferous

By
Luke Spencer
-

Oakland’s metal kings High On Fire offer a new light to thrash fans and a new headache to crotchety old next door neighbors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3S98xE_RKg

https://vimeo.com/129394357

 

Text Review:

You will be hard-pressed to find a band more ferocious and guttural than Oakland’s High On Fire.  While many metal bands go through drastic style changes or may have their intensity tempered, High On Fire is one of the best examples of a band who’s fire can’t be extinguished.

The growling of Matt Pike’s rhythmic vocals paired with long thrash metal tracks has not only stood the test of time, but continues to stand as a testament to the band’s ability.  Since 1998, High On Fire have toured the world several times over and played bands ranging from Mastodon and Baroness to Dethklok and Andrew W.K.

Luminiferous marks the band’s seventh full album.  While the release of this album is in June 2015, the album’s first single “Slave The Hive” has been out since December of 2013, as a sponsored music video from Scion AV – meaning fans have been waiting for a full album after this single for over a year and a half.

While a wait like that can drive many fans and listeners insane with anticipation and in some cases cause people to forget, High On Fire’s sound is unique in that once you hear them, you know you won’t forget.  On the Press Release promoting the new album, it stated that “Luminiferous is the unequivocal culmination of the band’s characteristically unhinged yet entirely focused savagery. ”

Hearing that a band like High On Fire is focusing their talent on specific political and world problems is something that can cause eruptions to listeners not used to hearing aimed anthems.  But with songs like Slave The Hive, you can already tell that their targeting the world elite and their corruption will have an extremely loud message.

Slave The Hive is truly brutal in every sense.  What I love about this song is that not only does it jump in with both feet to the volume, but High On Fire take their time with letting each instrument be heard before the vocals start blowing out your ear buds.  The bass and drums are extremely deep and hearing Pike scream “Slave The Hive” becomes truly hypnotic.

When I talked about taking their time to set up each instrument and being able to hear what’s involved before the speed takes off, I think High On Fire may be some of the best at this – Luminiferous is further proof of that.  Continuing from albums like Devilution and Blessed Black Wings, this album continues in building a foundation with their instruments and only after that starting to show the focus of the song.

While some tracks on this album like The Falconist and The Cave are capable of bringing the album’s pulse down, at no point do you feel like the band isn’t living up to their expectations.  A foundation is built in the rhythm and these songs are just as deep and gritty as the full octane shredders.

A song like “The Cave” is proof that metal musicians are capable of much more than just playing instruments for ten minutes with the volume knob turned to 11.   The flow and line of songs like these give more introspective and insight to a band like this than any guitar solo could.  It’s the thrash that draws you in, but it’s talent shown in songs like The Cave that sinks the hooks into you.

Through nine long running tracks, High On Fire continue to showcase just how powerful they are years after their inception.  Even if every song in their 2015 entry isn’t something you’ll be begging to repeat as soon as it’s over, the songs that punch are the ones that leave a permanent mark.

High On Fire and this style of metal can be extremely intimidating to the casual rock fan.  Especially when matched with the growling lyrics of Matt Pike.  But for metal heads and guitar lovers, something like Luminiferous is beyond mandatory and a crime to not invest in.

Overall, Luminiferous shines more light on the talent that High On Fire possess.  Your teeth with rattle and your eyes will bounce if you listen to this new album correctly and will anger your crotchety neighbors in the best possible way.

Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK Lineup Announced! SLIPKNOT, FAITH NO MORE, MARILYN MANSON, DEFTONES & 30+ more!

By
Luke Spencer
-

The Monster Energy Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, CA has been announced with official dates and listed performers. 2015 marks the fourth year the Aftershock festival has presented today’s current and classic names in hard rock and metal, and this year continues the tradition with Slipknot, Faith No More, Deftones, Shinedown, Jane’s Addiction, Marilyn Manson, Coheed & Cambria, Stone Temple Pilots, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Bring Me The Horizon, All Time Low, Sleeping With Sirens, Eagles of Death Metal, Black Veil Brides, and many more.

The addition to an amazing lineup that will feature something for every rock fan across four stages in two days is probably one of the most exciting inclusions to a festival in years: NXT. The Orlando based developmental field for WWE features some of the best professional wrestlers from around the world (Japan, Ireland, UK, US, etc.) and brought them to one organization and present a full production show with high energy, fan interaction, amazing lights and stage spectacles, and a current wrestling product that fans of the sport can get behind. Seeing Finn Balor’s entrance is worth admission alone.

This year’s Aftershock is scheduled to his Oct 24th and 25th at Gibson Ranch just outside Sacramento. Some of the performers have spoken about Aftershock and their excitement.

Corey Taylor of Slipknot says, “We are really looking forward to playing AFTERSHOCK in Sacramento! A lot of great bands—can’t wait to see everyone, from Manson to Clutch. Sacramento won’t know what hit it when me and my friends are through.”

Deftones‘ Chino Moreno says, “We’re looking forward to being one of the headliners at AFTERSHOCK this year and performing in our hometown. It’s always special to return to the city that made us.”

The daily band lineup for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK is as follows:

  • Saturday, October 24:
    Slipknot, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Bring Me The Horizon, Black Veil Brides, Clutch, Hollywood Undead, P.O.D., Sevendust, Pop Evil, All That Remains, Helmet, Snot, Beartooth, Turbowolf, Art of Dying, Temperance Movement, Kill It Kid, Devour The Day, September Mourning, Stars In Stereo, Raveneye

 

  • Sunday, October 25:
    Faith No More, Deftones, Jane’s Addiction, Stone Temple Pilots, Coheed and Cambria, All Time Low, Death From Above 1979, Eagles of Death Metal, Sleeping With Sirens, Yelawolf, Failure, Glassjaw, Suicidal Tendencies, Issues, The Sword, Highly Suspect, ’68, Red Fang, One OK Rock, Madchild, Neck Deep, Pink Slips

Regularly priced weekend tickets go on sale Monday, June 1 at 10:00 AM PT at www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com/Tickets and www.flavorus.com. Ticket prices will be as follows:

  • 2-Day General Admission: $114.50
  • Single Day General Admission: $64.50
  • Single Day VIP: $119.50

I cannot recommend this lineup or experience enough. This many bands + NXT Live + THAT MANY CONCERT GIRLS is something that everyone should get behind. If you are even remotely close to Sacramento in the end of October or are able to make the trip, then get your VIP tickets and go. It will be a weekend worth saving up for and remembering.

You can find more details at the following sites:

 

NXT! NXT! NXT! NXT! NXT! NXT! NXT!

AFTERSHOCK_2015_FINAL_5_27_v2

All Time Favorite Albums: The Mars Volta – Frances The Mute

By
Luke Spencer
-

A series looking at my all time favorite albums.  This video is dedicated to 2005’s Frances The Mute by The Mars Volta.

https://vimeo.com/129066959

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