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Album Review: Frank Turner – Positive Songs For Negative People

By
Luke Spencer
-

Frank Turner returns with a motivating sound in his sixth studio album Positive Songs For Negative People.

https://vimeo.com/135533625

 

Text Review:

Frank Turner has gained worldwide recognition and appreciation for his folk rock that incorporates quick acoustic guitar riffs and incredibly written lyrics.  Over the past few years his name has been a consistent go-to artist for many alternative fans looking for introspective lyrics and the perfect song to match any specific mood in one’s life.

There are musicians in the world who thrive for making the next big fight song or the next popular catch phrase chorus.  Then there are people like Frank Turner who are destined to never stop writing stories about broken hearts and bad luck.  So after so many years of songs and touring the world while being synonymous with alternative and folk, in comes a new album title that may offer something different.  Positive Songs For Negative People.  If this album title is an indicator of the direction for this new album, then it could be a great uncharted territory and something unique.

When the album was announced, Frank Turner said that “I’m very excited to finally be allowed to bring you all more news of my forthcoming new album. Positive Songs For Negative People is a record about defiance, about picking yourself up when you’re down, and the title reflects that.”  Regardless of whether you prefer the original writing style and sound that made Turner famous or are looking for a newer direction, you have to admit that there is an interesting idea here along with the appeal of music to help motivate you.  Again, with Turner making music to match a mood in your life.

As far as Frank Turner’s quote about writing music for people who pick themselves up when they are down, The Next Storm might as well be the title track.  The message is clear with lyrics like “But I don’t want spend the whole of my life inside/I wanna step out, and face the sunshine”.  Musically I feel like the song takes a while to pick up but finally finds a good rhythm after the first chorus.

As far as singles and album highlights go, this song is ok.  The problem with a track like this however is that once you hear it and if you’ve heard ANY of Turner’s past works, you know that the man is capable of more than a song like The Next Storm.  It is not bad in any way, but it feels like something is missing and there is a constant reminder that it could be better.

While there are songs on this album that feel like they need something more or are missing that extra punch or hook, there are the tracks with an amazing flow and lines that only someone like Frank Turner is capable of thinking up.

Mittens in EVERY WAY is a better track to feature off of Positive Songs For Negative People and not only carries the theme of the album but represents Frank Turner’s style and delivery much better than the first single.  The passion in his vocals when singing the chorus and the imagery of reading thousands of postcards all just adds up to this great build with the piano and percussion.

There are several songs on this album that leave a lasting effect the second you are done listening like Mittens and Get Better.  On the opposite side however are tracks that fail to hit the mark.  The issue isn’t that they lack quality or feel rushed, but that there is an underlying feeling that you can’t escape the knowledge that Frank Turner has done better than this in the past.  The saving grace are the tracks hit the target and leave a permanent mark.

Frank Turner has earned his recognition and success through the traditional way of touring the world and continuously writing.  Creating an album with a different theme also adds levity to his resume of talents.  But if time has proven anything, it’s that Frank Turner does have moments where his genius doesn’t shine in every song.

Overall, Positive Songs For Negative People is an album that is definitely worthy of belonging in Frank Turner’s discography and once again continues his record of great writing, but with every great track is one that doesn’t land.  While die-hard fans may be satisfied, new listeners may want to dig back into his album list before jumping into this one.

Tickets for Rock Allegiance on sale NOW!

By
Luke Spencer
-

Tickets are on sale now for the inaugural Rock Allegiance Festival in Philadelphia, PA this October. Tickets are at a discounted price until this Friday when the price goes up. If you are able to attend this festival then buy your tickets now. This one should be worth it when you are getting 20+ bands including Rob Zombie, Korn, Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, Bring Me The Horizon, in This Moment and more ALONG with gourmet food trucks.  Get your tickets early – save money – enjoy one of the best one day festivals this fall will offer!

 

You can get all the details here = http://rockallegiance.com/tickets/

 

ROCK.ALLEGIANCE.v8-ON-SALE

Album Review: Black Fast – Terms of Surrender

By
Luke Spencer
-

St. Louis, MO’s Black Fast come forth to prove that great metal can come from the most unlikely of placed with Terms of Surrender.

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

https://vimeo.com/135134916

 

Text Review:

Any rock and metal fan who grew up in St. Louis can confirm that St. Louis, MO is not a rock market.  In a city where either rap or country reign supreme depending on territory, it can feel like you are on the outside if you prefer any type of music besides pop-country and rap.

But somehow, even in a market where your genre isn’t on top, real musicians with passion can rise like beautiful roses growing out of manure.  And out of a big city where pop-country and rap are promoted by dozens of radio stations as opposed to two rock stations, rises a young group of well-trained musicians named Black Fast who are determined to shred the world apart.

These four men now signed with eOne have a lot to their name in a short time and without even their first fully released LP.  In 2013 metalsucks.net named them as one of the best unsigned bands and their self-released EP even gained year end nominations.  Combine these accolades with the fact that Black Fast have a guitarist and bassist with legitimate jazz degrees and you can understand just how much potential there is in Black Fast.

My first experience with Black Fast didn’t come through traditional FM radio though but though Liquid Metal.  They have been highlighting the new album’s promoted single To Propagate the Void and also the upcoming album release.  For a SiriusXM radio station that is known for cranking out the classics of metal on an hourly basis to take time and highlight a new group is huge.

While discussing the new album with Pure Grain Audio, vocalist Aaron Akin stated that: “I was excited, I was confident in the songs, and wanted to make a statement. Now, after having some time to chew on it and digest, I am extremely proud of the way this record turned out.”

Going back to Terms of Surrender’s first single, this was the introduction to Black Fast for many people who were listening at the right time.  And now that everyone is capable of hearing it, it’s the best first impression any metal band could ask for.

Everything about this track is brutal.  It defines what thrash metal should be. From an intense opening to raspy and consistently good vocals to AMAZING guitar solos to a never ending drum rhythm, TO Propagate The Void not only delivers what metal fans crave but also showcase just what these men are capable of.

And what’s better is that To Propagate The Void is the standard that is consistently met throughout the rest of this album.  Eight out of nine tracks on this album all reach over four minutes and not one second is spent as just a space to get from point a to point b.

Now that Black fast have their music in the public and available for purchase, this is the moment where people can find songs like The Coming Swarm and I Conspire, actually purchase the music, and then revel in the fact that there are still metal bands capable of producing this high quality and creativity at a younger age, especially in a generation where mixing effects and radio formulas are the norm.

Just like To Propagate The Void, everything connects, the vocals are on point, and the guitar work is absolutely fantastic.  It’s extremely hard not to get sucked into songs like this.  You can instantly see these guys playing their hearts out live on stage while listening to this song and at no point does the adrenaline slow down.

Terms of Surrender have every single element that you can hope for with a new band to get behind and a new album to purchase.  The tracks go deep, there is variety in the guitar work, passion in the performance, and every second of this album feels like it’s four men putting everything on the line to prove they have what it takes to become something in the music world.

It’s hard not to get excited when a new band is found that not only are starting things off on the right foot, but you find out about them right when the train is leaving the station.  In the case of Black Fast, it’s a train that has potential to melt the tracks and plow through the metal community.

Overall, Terms of Surrender delivers on every aspect of thrash metal you could ask for.  There is instrument work to behold and admire and vocals and rhythm that will make you happy to blow out every speaker you own.  If enough people buy into and support Black Fast starting with this album, then they could be around for a long time.

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.

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