tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80054982024-03-12T19:48:36.101-05:00Rick Gebhardt's Semi-Useless ThoughtsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.comBlogger1496125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-13799508773731065682012-09-06T09:29:00.002-05:002012-09-06T09:29:25.790-05:00As I Lay Dying - Awakened Album Review<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008SVS0DW/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008SVS0DW&linkCode=as2&tag=decoymusicm06-20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B008SVS0DW&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=decoymusicm06-20" /></a>As I Lay Dying have been a staple of my metalcore playlists since discovering Beneath the Encasing of Ashes in college, late 2001. And since 2005, they've been a perennial favorite, once they became laser-focused on their cultivation of slick, aggressive, melody-infused, modern metalcore. From then to now we've seen them getting slightly more refined with each release, demonstrating an evolving maturity and the ability to hold off stagnation. From Shadows Are Security to An Ocean Between Us to The Powerless Rise As I Lay Dying grew stronger with each album, setting the bar for high-quality metalcore a bit further up each time. And when we were treated to 3 new tracks on the compilation album Decas, each of them pointed to their next full length, Awakened, being a further progression forward for the band. Listeners were given a small taste of Awakened a couple of weeks back with the track "Cauterize," which was a song that, uncharacteristically, took a few spins to sink in and catch on. Because of this, I began to feel a bit wary for Awakened.<br />
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With the full album finally in hand and numerous listens put in, that wariness was warranted. Before I get lambasted by As I Lay Dying fans everywhere, let me point out that this is a very solid album. If it was released by any other metalcore band, it could be a career-maker. However, we're talking about As I Lay Dying, one of the reigning kings of the metalcore realm, so the bar is set a bit higher for them. As mentioned previously, "Cauterize" turned out to be a very catchy track after multiple listens and it, in fact, turns out to be one of the catchiest songs on the album… which is the album's main problem.<br />
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Unlike past albums where there were at least 3 or 4 songs that stood head and shoulders above the rest (think "Confined" or "Nothing Left" or "Vacancy" for examples), Awakened almost completely lacks standout songs. Yes, this leads to a very level and consistent album, but it also treads dangerously close to "forgettable" territory as well. Knowing that this album was very quickly written and recorded, that may be what ultimately held the band back.<br />
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Let's be clear, however, that if you are an As I Lay Dying fan, you will definitely love this album, maybe just not as much as their other efforts. There are some classic AILD moments that will stand out, such as the breakdowns on "Defender," the always well done combination of melodic vocals mixed with aggressive instrumentation as seen on "A Greater Foundation," and "My Only Home," which is as close to a standard AILD song template as you'll find. There are great moments, for sure, which I don't want to go unmentioned, but that's really the expectation for As I Lay Dying, so when they aren't firing on all cylinders all of the time, it's noticeable.<br />
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Beyond the general feeling of being unmemorable, a few songs stand out as being particularly weak (again, by As I Lay Dying standards). "Resilience," being the 3rd track of the album right after 2 relatively great songs, is somewhat generic and feels a bit phoned in with some slightly forced cleans and a couple of repetitive sections. "Whispering Silence" sees the band being their most radio-rock-friendly. Outside of the interjection of some harsh vocals, this song is primed for radio play, which may come across to long time fans as a softening of the band. Lastly, "Overcome" takes a little bit too long to really get moving. The intro section could have been cut or beefed up a bit to make it a stronger start to the song.<br />
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As a whole, Awakened is still a very competent album, but it is a bit of a side-step for As I Lay Dying. I wouldn't say they've taken a step backwards, but they are shuffling their feet as they figure out how to keep stepping forward. Given time, this may grow on many, but it may also lead to a growing desire in fans for another new album sooner rather than later.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-70470939680795360682012-08-31T07:27:00.000-05:002012-08-31T07:27:15.979-05:00Rick's Discoveries Volume XXVIWhat's going on in my life will definitely influence what I listen to. When I'm depressed, I naturally gravitate towards doomy and gothic music. If I'm head-in-the-clouds happy, it's usually pop-punk or upbeat hardcore. Anger leads to deathcore. And so on… so with this eclectic mix of albums in front of you, I think it's safe to say I've been all over the place lately, both in music and life, but here's to hoping my scattershot listening habits at least net you a new album or two to check out!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ESSENCE.BAND">Essence</a> - The Defining Elements</div>
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<br />At a very basic level, you can look at this album as an intro, an interlude, and 7 tracks of August Burns Red worship and you wouldn't be wrong. Not many metalcore bands trying their hand at the ABR style of metalcore do it very well. Essence, on the other hand, does. And that's all you need to know. If you want quality metalcore, here's an album for you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/katabaticband">Katabatic</a> - Heavy Water</div>
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<br />Any band that can bring to mind Isis in any way is going to get me to turn my ear their way. Katabatic evoke some Isis moments as they craft a mixture of atmospheric sludge with some post-rock leanings. The majority of these 7 tracks churn and ooze their way through your speakers, methodically pulsing and riffing as they move from beginning to end. At times it also almost feels like there's an upbeat undercurrent behind some of the band's riffs, but it is usually crushed under the weight of the band's thick wall of sound.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LANDSCAPESUK">Landscapes</a> - Life Gone Wrong</div>
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<br />I really miss Modern Life Is War. They called it quits to soon. Luckily you can hear the echoes of their brand of hardcore in bands like Landscapes. This entire album is played at the mid-tempo, boiling-under-the-surface pace that MLIW was known for. You can also taste a bit of Defeater coming through from time to time. The emotional punch that this album packs into 30 minutes is stunning. Hardcore fanatics should not skip this album.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/THEREALELP">El-P</a> - Cancer 4 Cure</div>
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<br />This is a great year for experimental hip-hop with releases from both Aesop Rock and El-P. Unlike Rock's latest, which was laser focused on letting Rock's rhymes take center stage, Cancer 4 Cure is more so about big, booming beats and creative song structures. El-P still puts his flow on full display, but it isn't always the center focus, making many of the songs to be found extremely dynamic. Hip-hop fans, this is a can't miss album that you must check out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cypress-Hill-x-Rusko-EP/454267164603065">Cypress Hill & Rusko</a> - Cypress X Rusko</div>
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<br />I really should hate this, and I'm sure most of you will actually hate this, but if you want some wobbly, brostepping hip-hop, you could do worse. The combo of pot-obsessed Cypress Hill and dubstep artist Rusko should have failed miserably, but if you find yourself looking for something that's banging to hammer through your headphones while hitting the gym, this should do. I'd actually be interested to see a full album collaboration between these two.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScottKelly.official">Scott Kelly</a> - The Forgiven Ghost in Me</div>
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<br />Kelly is known to most as being the voice of the legendary Neurosis, but he has a solo career that is just as dark, but not nearly as heavy. The Forgiven Ghost in Me is Kelly's third solo album, and it finds him continuing to craft haunting and depressing contemporary folk songs. These songs are sparse, desert-like affairs, but are so expertly put together that there is no way they won't elicit a sense of heartbreak and world-weariness inside of you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/glasscloud">Glass Cloud</a> - The Royal Thousand</div>
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<br />Here's a novel combination--post-hardcore, djent, and some prog metal. And, believe it or not, it actually appears to work! This album swings from moments that are more aggressive than Periphery's heaviest moments to post-hardcore passages that wouldn't sound out of place alongside something from Hands Like Houses. There's a bit more leaning on the heavier side of the spectrum, but the lighter moments are not simply there to give you a break--they're actually very well done and fit within the structures of the various songs. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Inborn-Suffering/117955402733">Inborn Suffering</a> - Regression to Nothingness</div>
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<br />Death/doom metal is a tough genre to get into. You usually need lots of patience, have to have an appreciation for the genre's aesthetic, and you can't be scared away by wails, shrieks, and tempos slower than nearly any other genre. I don't often possess those traits, so it's a special death/doom album that can capture my attention. Inborn Suffering, despite most of their songs delving into 10+ minute territory, don't wear out their welcome. It's most likely due to their propensity to simply stretch and slow down the death/doom approach of band like Ghost Brigade orSwallow the Sun instead of falling into the trappings of adding in some funeral doom influences. Whatever it is, this is a spectacular death/doom metal album.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/whileshesleeps">While She Sleeps</a> - This Is the Six</div>
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<br />This was a surprisingly release in that it made me fondly remember some of the things I loved about listening to bands like Trivium (before they turned into horrible Metallica wannabes), Unearth, Sanctity, and early As I Lay Dying--raspy vocals, full-on attacks on your eardrums, and a sense of genuine aggression. Whereas so many bands today seem to fake the metalcore approach (and you can hear the fakeness in most bands if you listen for it), this album feels aggressive with a purpose. The couple of instrumentals are really the only downside to an otherwise stellar metalcore album.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Polarizationmusic">Polarization</a> - Chasing the Light</div>
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<br />The best way to describe this album is to say that this is very similar to what a combination of an instrumental version of TesseracT plus Dan Dankmeyer plus a bit of Paul Wardingham would sound like. If your tastes are anything like mine, simply mentioning those three names together should have you salivating. Chasing the Light is exactly what you'd expect when thinking of those names and the, by now, well-established djent template. It's 11 prime cuts of djent goodness!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-12256858332677624502012-08-23T09:40:00.000-05:002012-08-23T09:40:04.686-05:00Abel - Make It Right Album Review<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008JTSNU8/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008JTSNU8&linkCode=as2&tag=decoymusicm06-20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B008JTSNU8&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=decoymusicm06-20" /></a>In the past I've had a hard time when it comes to listening to Abel's music, mostly because of the extremely blatant and over-the-top Christian lyrics (see my comment in Decoy's review of <a href="http://www.decoymusic.com/reviews/abel-the-honest-love">The Honest Love</a>). The underlying music was always a very competent emo/indie blend that's usually easy on the ears--inoffensive, measured dynamics, and just enough differentiation to stand slightly above background music. Those lyrics, though, were just too much to get past.<br />
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On Make It Right, Abel has matured greatly, shedding some of their tendencies to be simplistic songwriters and stick to overtly preachy lyrics. That's not to say they don't sometimes revert to some of these tendencies, but even from the outset when listening to "I'll Be Waiting" you know that this is a different band as they have a newly found edge to their music; there's a fury there that wasn't there before.<br />
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After the solid opening, "Fire Walk With Me" comes across as possibly one of the best songs on the album. Starting off with a chanted beginning, the song is able to capture the Christian beliefs of the band without being too cheesy, let's the band create a catchy indie emo vibe, and still introduces some southern flavor to the whole thing. If any song demonstrates how much this band has grown up, this is it.<br />
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In growing up, Abel also hearken back to the good ol' days of the early 00's emo scene where bands like Further Seems Forever, The Juliana Theory, and Jimmy Eat World reigned supreme. You can hear hints of each throughout the album at different points. Abel never directly rip off these stalwarts, but they are easily identified as influential components that guided the direction, whether blatant or not, of where Abel have traveled.<br />
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What keeps them from being mere clones is a combination of infusing their songs with an easy-going, southern, pop-rock component while also pulling in some minor, modern, post-hardcore tics. These tics mostly revolve around some of the more aggressive moments, like on the aforementioned opening track, or on "Fine Lines," or "Daughter," where they sometimes feel natural… but not completely in the band's wheelhouse quite yet. They add some much needed dynamics, but sometimes pull you away from the feel of the rest of the album.<br />
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It deserves mentioning one last time--these guys have definitely grown up, demonstrating that in some cases a band simply needs time to get to a point where they are confident, experienced, and mature enough to put forth a solid album. Abel are now a follow-up album away from cementing themselves as masters of this genre.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-31046903307729191692012-08-18T10:54:00.000-05:002012-08-18T10:54:00.570-05:00Spot On Energy Misses the Mark<br />
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I've been battling a very open addiction to caffeine for more than a decade now. I've come to terms with my addiction and have established a somewhat stable routine. I only binge on caffeine to assist in medicating migraines when they pop up. Otherwise, I've been quite good about sticking to a few cups of coffee and a Diet Coke in a day. Every now and again, I'll crack open a Monster instead of a Diet Coke, but I think I've finally moved past the days of needing to ingest pots upon pots of coffee every day.<br />
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However, that's not to say I'm still not intrigued by the crazy caffeine related products that pop up from time to time. When I noticed that someone made a caffeine patch, I figured I had to at least give it a try, and I'm glad I did because it proved that patches, while a nice novelty, aren't going to replace your usual liquid consumption of caffeine.<br />
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I ordered a sampler pack from <a href="http://www.spotonenergy.com/">Spot On</a> and in reading the label, I found there's only 20 mg of caffeine per patch, which is pretty minimal. To put things into perspective, your usual cup of coffee usually has in excess of 100 mg. Spot On suggests you apply two patches at once (getting you 40 mg of go-juice), so if you buy 20 patches, realize you're only really getting 10 servings. Also, if you want to replicate the amount of caffeine you get in a cup of coffee, you're going to have to put 5 or more of these patches on yourself.<br />
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I tried an application of two patches, both of which were square, not round (as you'd assume from the packaging). And... it didn't do much. I maybe got a little bit of a pick-me-up, but it was nothing like a good ol' cup of joe would get you. And when you want to take them off, they don't come off easily. The adhesive is quite... adhering! I made the mistake of putting one patch on the inside of my arm where it got applied over a few hairs, which are no longer on my arm but are still attached to the patch. So at least you know the patches won't accidentally fall off while you're wearing them! They also left some sticky residue on my arm, which is kind of gross, but it did eventually rub off.<br />
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So, really, at the end of the day these supposed magic caffeine energy patches aren't really worth the hassle, price, or effort to use. I'd suggest just sticking with coffee or your favorite diet soda instead of getting these things stuck on you. It's a great idea... I think... but the execution just isn't there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-24391045718347760952012-08-11T07:01:00.003-05:002012-08-11T07:01:32.503-05:00Rick's Discoveries Volume XXVWant to know what the key to true happiness is? New music. So here's some stuff to check out. Go. Be happy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/officialsinew">Sinew</a> - Pilots of a New Sky</div>
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<br />Progressive alternative rock has been a genre with some stellar bands cropping up in the last few years, as well as seeing stalwarts releasing superb efforts of their own. Sinew, on their sophomore effort, channel some of the best there is in the genre. They would fit right at home between listening toPorcupine Tree, Karnivool, Oceansize, and Junius. And if you even think about questioning Sinew's prog cred, just listen to the 13+ minute epic "The Descent to the Heart of Mount Sadhana." <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/oddland">Oddland</a> - The Treachery of Senses</div>
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<br />I'm surprised that there haven't been more progressive metal bands that try to marry some of the currently trendy metal styles (ie: djent, tech-death, etc.) with more classically accepted prog metal stylings (read: sounding like Dream Theater). Oddland take a stab at doing the new meets old sound by planting themselves firmly in the traditional prog metal realm while adding some slightly mechanical, TesseracT-ish guitar tones, some Opeth-like melodic sections, and even the occasional Leprous-like non-metal musical diversion. But don't be fooled by the name-dropping of those bands; Oddland is still very much a traditional prog metal band… they're just trying to evolve the sound a bit, and it definitely works!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/3pillmorning">3 Pill Morning</a> - Black Tie Love Affair</div>
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<br />Radio-rock is not usually my forte. There are some decent bands in the genre, but it feels like for every 10 Years I find there are about a hundred versions of Shinedown I have to wade through. 3 Pill Morning are one of the few decent bands to rise above the usual radio-rock fare. They have 10 Years' pacing, the occasional Chevelle tonality, and the chorus creating ability of Thousand Foot Krutch. This leads to an instantly listenable album, even if it's been done before. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/headspaceonline">Headspace</a> - I Am Anonymous</div>
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<br />Headspace is probably best described as a proggy prog rock band with some heavy prog metal influences. Yeah, if you haven't guessed, the name of the game here is… prog. You've got lengthy tracks, solos, multiple movements within songs, hints of pretentiousness… it's all here. So if you enjoy bands likeDream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Ayreon, or Fates Warning you should feel right at home listening to I Am Anonymous. It'll satiate any prog lover's appetite.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://endevor.bandcamp.com/">Endevor</a> - 296 Above Parallels</div>
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<br />How do I classify this album? It's definitely leans in a post-hardcore direction, but it's also filled with some pretty meaty riffs throughout… not a song (other than the intro) clocks in under 5 minutes… there are pieces of sludge metal influence to be found… but there's also some Junius-esque prog rock elements. And then you have the well placed piano and keyboards throughout. It's like you tossed together Hands, TesseracT, Emarosa, Junius, andCaspian into a salad bowl, tossed heavily, and had it for dinner… the ingredients are very diverse, but the combination simply can't be beat.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bendthesky">Bend the Sky</a> - Origins</div>
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<br />Australia, you are simply the country for good music nowadays. Bend the Sky will wow you with their mastery of symphonic & progressive styled instrumental metal. The key to a good symphonic metal album (in my mind) is well placed, accentuating, appropriate keyboard usage while the key to progressive metal is fluid movements throughout songs and a strong sense of being able to create necessarily complicated soundscapes. Bend the Sky does both of these things supremely well. It's like you mixed Dream Theater, Katatonia, TesseracT, and Within Temptation together, but kept vocals out of the mix. It's lovely.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/mutinyonthebountytheband">Mutiny on the Bounty</a> - Trials</div>
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<br />It's pretty much a given that we'll never get old Minus the Bear back. That doesn't mean their influence can't still be felt in other bands, such as Mutiny on the Bounty. Whereas MtB have changed their focus to hone in on catchy songwriting, MotB feel solely focused on showing how technical they can be in the math/indie/post-hardcore realm. This isn't a bad thing at all, but it can leave you exhausted at times as you try to digest everything the band is doing. Thankfully, they toss in a few breaks, allowing you to catch your breath for the next intricate salvo of guitar and bass noodlery.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/violetmusic">Violet</a> - The Brightside</div>
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<br />I'll admit right away that at times Violet try to stretch themselves a little too far, but I'd rather see a band pushing themselves than playing it safe. OnThe Brightside you'll no doubt pick up some Dance Gavin Dance influences, most notably in the combination of the clean vocals (which are very Johnny Craig-lite) and harsh vocals (which are slightly better than Jon Mess). There are some musical flourishes that are very DGD-ish as well, but you also have some more standard post-hardcore approaches to be found. I think these guys can really take off if they iron out some of their vocal issues (both vocalists really try to stretch their ranges too far). <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bt">BT</a> - If the Stars Are Eternal so Are You and I</div>
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<br />With all of my recent infatuations with dubstep and related styles of electronic music, I've sometimes forgotten about some of the artists that originally got me into electronic music. BT was one of those artists. He's slowly evolved throughout his career from doing more straight forward trance to soundtracks to ambient. With this album I think BT is at his strongest, creating sprawling audible landscapes, texturing his ambient style with some glitch and mellow dubstep elements. He demonstrates here he knows how to craft fully realized compositions that completely utilize their run times (4 of the 7 tracks on this album are 11 minutes long or longer). Epic ambience has never been a term I thought I'd use until I heard this album.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lornnn">Lorn</a> - Ask the Dust</div>
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<br />As soon as you flip this album on, you'll instantly feel way cooler than you actually are. It'll feel like the world is moving in slow motion while you smugly take everything in; you're above it all and you know it. This album feels custom-crafted for slo-mo cinematic scenes. There's a deep low end that anchors everything, while pieces of downtempo dubstep litter the IDM landscape created. There's even a faint trip-hop vibe to some songs. Just go listen to this already and bask in your newfound awesomeness.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-32770321670771101742012-08-07T08:47:00.002-05:002012-08-07T08:47:51.942-05:00A Hero A Fake - The Future Again Album Review<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008C7H60U/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008C7H60U&linkCode=as2&tag=decoymusicm06-20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B008C7H60U&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=decoymusicm06-20" /></a>You may or may not have complained about having to learn geometry in high school, wondering when you'd ever need to know what a rhombus was or when you'd use a logarithmically expanding curve. Since you may not have loved geometry, math, statistics, or any of those other classes you'll "probably never use," I'll keep it simple (something A Hero A Fake also did this time around… but I'll get to that shortly) and talk about a simple bell curve shape since A Hero A Fake's career trajectory, to this point, seems to fit it perfectly. So class, let's take a look at the figure below!<br />
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When Volatile presented A Hero A Fake to the metalcore world, it was pretty rough around the edges and there weren't a lot of fully realized, high-quality songs to be found. However, there was a lot of potential there that could be tapped, so on the figure above we see the band starting out around a 2 rating at the beginning of their career.<br />
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With Let Oceans Lie we saw exactly what A Hero A Fake was capable of. They tapped into their potential, creating some very solid, if slightly derivative, Between the Buried and Me styled progressive metalcore. The trajectory that the band was on from Volatile to Let Oceans Lie promised even greater things for the band in the future.<br />
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But then we have The Future Again… and with it gone are many of the progressive elements, replaced with breakdowns, underdeveloped songs, continued weak vocals, and a real lack of anything substantive. A Hero A Fake has regressed backwards to the level they were at when they first released Volatile which, if we extrapolate out further into their future, doesn't bode well for them.<br />
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Setting the graph above aside, it was quite a let down to sit through the extremely short 8 track album that is The Future Again. Even though it's classified as a full length, I'm hesitant to treat it as one. At under 28 minutes, it feels a lot more like a glorified EP to hold over fans until an actual release. It also feels like it was rushed out the door. I'm not sure if the band's intention was to purposely scale back their progressive metalcore tendencies to stick with a much more simple metalcore template, but they're definitely not flexing as many of their musical muscles as they had in the past, so when you listen to it alongside their other albums, it feels very, very lazy.<br />
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It should be noted, however, that this album is extremely polished and if you ignore the band's history, it's a relatively capable effort. But I just can't bring myself to look at this release divorced from the rest of the band's career, especially when they can still make a decent song that gives glimpses of where they could go, such as "Princess of the Sun," the album's closing track which, being the best of the album, leaves you begging for the band to give you more.<br />
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Let's collectively hope that A Hero A Fake isn't going to stick to this bell curve trajectory because it only foretells a horrible remainder to their career. Instead, I'll hold out hope that we're actually looking at a sine wave pattern, which would mean their next album should be back up to the level of Let Oceans Lie!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-61458054165266102012-08-02T07:42:00.002-05:002012-08-02T07:42:55.249-05:00The Halo Effect Book Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136181.The_Halo_Effect" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Halo Effect: ... and the Eight Other Business Delusions That Deceive Managers" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172077272m/136181.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136181.The_Halo_Effect">The Halo Effect: ... and the Eight Other Business Delusions That Deceive Managers</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/447403.Philip_M_Rosenzweig">Philip M. Rosenzweig</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/352202147">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I've always loathed business books and management books because they all usually set out with the goal of providing you with some magic formula that will make your management style or business transformational! Data tells us so! The thing is, just like any magical investing formula, if it actually worked EVERYONE would be using it and it wouldn't be some secret that has been a mystery up until the publication of said book and after publication everyone would be using it. There is no magic bullet, and I'm glad The Halo Effect illustrated that.<br />
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However, this common sense principle of "no magic bullet" was stretched pretty far throughout this book. The first half of the book is simply examples of contradictory feelings on companies dependent upon performance and then illustration after illustration of halos existing. This is all good and well, but the point is made pretty quickly and I felt there was a bit of padding here.<br />
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Categorizing the different issues with some of the past business books was actually the most interesting piece of the book and it was a small section towards the end. I would have loved a more thorough breakdown of past business books and how their "results" were tainted by the various styles of halos. Alas, what is there is at least engaging. <br />
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At the end of it all, this is a good counterbalance to the myriad of management books out there that make you think you can do one specific thing to be a better manager or create a better company, but I feel it left a lot of unexplored territory on the table.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4113528-rick">View all my Goodreads reviews</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-18534634207833225182012-07-25T07:59:00.001-05:002012-07-25T07:59:40.951-05:00HavocNdeeD - Distoria Album Review<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008ECONPO/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008ECONPO&linkCode=as2&tag=decoymusicm06-20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B008ECONPO&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=decoymusicm06-20" /></a>Last year I listened to nearly 1,000 albums that were released in 2011. This year, I'm on pace to hit that total again, if not significantly exceed it. When I sit back and actually think about those numbers, I realize that there is rarely an album that truly sticks with me. There's the occasional effort here and there that gets me to perk up and that might even get me to toss them on a year end list or something, but when I look at my musical catalog, there's probably only a group of 50-75 albums that I ever want to actively listen to. These albums stand out because they are either wonderfully unique or they exemplify the peak of a genre. One of those albums was the self titled effort from Innerpartysystem. It was something new and fresh at the time; I'd never heard an amalgamation of pop, electronics, new wave, and rock quite like that before and, frankly, haven't since. But then HavocNdeeD went and released Distoria…<br />
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I nearly skipped over this EP simply because of the band's horrendous name. It screamed late 90s or early 00s nu-metal and the album art wasn't doing them any favors to dispel that assumption. Luckily, as mentioned earlier, I am an insatiable monster that craves new music from every source and genre possible, so this eventually hit my headphones. Nearly instantly I knew I found something different, something that was going to make me keep coming back. "Breathing in Seconds" was the closest thing I'd heard to the amalgamation Innerpartysystem put forth years back. The pulsating undercurrent of industrialized beats stretched to their extreme, guided the methodical pace of the song, allowing the vocals to float above it all while a heartbroken piano line pulled at you… this song… it's moody as hell and you can't escape the grasp it will have on you.<br />
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But as quickly as HavocNdeeD hooked me, they almost lost me. "At Last," the second track on this EP, is the one oddball of the bunch. Instead of sticking with the moody electronics of the rest of the EP, they delve into a country and Americana influenced approach that, on its own actually isn't all that bad, but as a part of this EP comes across as something zooming in from way out there in left field.<br />
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From there, however, the EP gets back on course and continues to play with the combination of modern electronics, absolutely spot-on downtempo pacing, melancholic (almost nu-metal-ish crooning) vocal lines, utter coolness, and infusions of dubstep (not brostep, drop-heavy, Transformers-raping-each-other shit, mind you, but churning wub-wub bass lines and movements). After the first two tracks, which are easily the best and worst songs on the album, the trio seemingly goes through a growth and evolution of their unique sound.<br />
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"Vision" carries forward the themes and vibe of "Breathing in Seconds" but pulls back just a bit in intensity, which allows the new mix of "Headspin" to come through with full force when it follows. The pulsating bass lines are coupled with grimy, distorted, buzzingly huge electronic pushes that guide the vocals and show the first hints of the dubstep influence, an influence the band wields expertly.<br />
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"Waiting Game" lets the dubstep tendencies of the band fly free, being the most aggressive, cathartic, and booming track on the album. I'd be remiss to note that this could easily fit at home between efforts from Bassnectar or Flux Pavillion, but it's so well done that it doesn't feel like a contrived shoe-horning in of a currently popular sound.<br />
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Then you get the closer, "Where Do We Go," that puts together all of the individual pieces of what HavocNdeeD worked with on this EP. There's a further exploration of dubstep wobbling, haunting vocals, thick bass undercurrents, and methodical pacing. It's completely evident that this trio are a mature band that can expertly create a sound that is wholeheartedly unique, while uniquely utilizing pieces of genres that are already oversaturated well known.<br />
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If you've been waiting for the second coming of Innerpartysystem, here you have it, after a fashion. If you crave some serious electronic and dubstep flavored music, here you have it. And if you want a sure-fire inclusion for your year end EPs list, here you definitely have it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-68890164411145756612012-07-21T08:13:00.005-05:002012-07-21T08:13:55.006-05:00Rick's Discoveries Volume XXIVAfter <a href="http://www.decoymusic.com/blog_posts/1080">my last article</a>, which lacked the usual metalcore and hardcore entries, I wanted to make sure I touched on those genres and their closely related brethren because there are, despite what I may have insinuated in that article, some great bands and albums in those genres that seem to be sliding underneath everyone's radar. So here are some recent heavy picks that should keep your workout mix fresh!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/skycameburningofficial">Sky Came Burning</a> - Patent Pending</div>
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I readily admit that some of the songs on this album are not very good (and with only 9 tracks, that's usually a bad sign), but some really tickle the nostalgia center of my brain. There are some definite bits of Killswitch Engage throughout, along with some hints of Static-X (mostly in the vocals) and early 2000's metalcore to be found. The album is a little rougher than most modern metalcore albums; there isn't that glossy sheen coating everything. This rawness helps the band feel more "real" than a lot of their contemporaries, even if they're not exploring any new territory.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/callejon">Callejon</a> - Blitzkreuz</div>
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I've been paying attention to Callejon for a few years, noting they had potential, but they never seemed to capitalize on it; they were always a bit just below average. On Blitzkreuz, however, they've finally pulled it all together to create a fun, electronic-tinged melodic metalcore album. Not quite as trendy as many current metalcore bands, Callejon put a lot of focus on melody and making songs that are catchy as opposed to making sure they stay within their genre's strict confines. Imagine It Dies Today mixed with a modern Bullet For My Valentine flair and toss in some hip-hop flow from time to time (I realize that sounds horrible, but it's only slightly awful). <br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/fteos">From the Eyes of Servants</a> - Change the World</div>
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If you don't pay close attention, it would be pretty easy to mistake Change the World for a new Comeback Kid album. The only things that are missing are a few big, catchy choruses. Beyond that, this is a solid hardcore effort that falls into the same vein of what you'd hear from Verse orThis Is Hell (earlier career). There's not a lot else to say other than this is very, very solid and plays to the genre perfectly.<br />
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<a href="http://galaktikcancersquad.bandcamp.com/album/the-gathering">Galaktik Cancer Squad</a> - The Gathering</div>
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Just ignore the band name. Yeah, it's lame, but that shouldn't detract from enjoying a hefty compilation of the band's previous works into one nice package. The Gathering is 74 minutes of black metal tinged atmospheric sludge metal. Predominantly instrumental (there are a few harsh black metal vocals here and there), Galaktik Cancer Squad excel at creating epic, lengthy compositions that channel the spectrum of bands from Isis toWolves in the Throne Room. This effort comes at you with a full wall of sound and rarely lets up.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GuardiansWI">Guardians</a> - The Alignment</div>
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Progressive metalcore is like candy to me, and The Alignment is a big ol' Snickers bar loaded with breakdowns, start/stop riffs, melody, and punishing drumming. Take some of the best parts of August Burns Red, Architects, Misery Signals, and After the Burial and you've got a good sense of what to expect from Guardians. There may only be nine tracks on this album, but all of them are executed perfectly, getting the most out of every moment.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Signal-The-Firing-Squad/10150119481220077">Signal the Firing Squad</a> - Abnegate</div>
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I initially wrote these guys off after their debut, Earth Harvest. Their brand of deathcore with technical elements seemed sloppy and wasn't really all that compelling. On their sophomore effort, however, they've transformed into a deathcore band that has some stellar technical moments. Their riffs are precise, thick, and bludgeoning when they need to be. I'm still not a huge fan of their fairly standard and uninspiring deathcore vocals, but everything else about the band exemplifies what is needed to make a successful technical deathcore album. <br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Tigerscoutband">Tigerscout</a> - Home Less</div>
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Imagine a much more pissed-off version of La Dispute mixing it up with some early Thursday and maybe even a tinge of The Chariot, but also staying true to the traditional screamo aesthetic. There's a lot of musical craziness and abrasive passages swirled together into this 11 song EP (many tracks don't even break the 2 minute mark). There's no room for fat on this effort, and that's absolutely perfect.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aviynband">Aviyn</a> - Aviyn</div>
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If you hate the Rise Records sound, move along. If you find yourself sometimes drawn to it, then you could do a lot worse than Aviyn. Ever since the early 2000s, I've loved metalcore that fully utilizes the harsh/clean approach. Bands like From Autumn to Ashes and Beloved were two of my favorites. As time has progressed, we now have a newer take on the sound they started. You have bands like The Devil Wears Prada and The Air I Breathe and Of Mice & Men who have made the harsh/clean style of metalcore more aggressive, breakdown filled, and keyboard tinged. Some hate it, but I enjoy it. And it is this latter class of metalcore bands that Aviyn falls smack dab into the middle of. If those band names are appealing to you, then you shouldn't miss this album. Just don't get your hopes up for their Deftones cover… it's kind of lacking.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChokingonIllusions">Choking on Illusions</a> - Guide Me Home</div>
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I feel like there are less and less melodic hardcore bands around today. The scene has shifted to metalcore and deathcore or gleaming, shiny post-hardcore. Even melodic hardcore heavyweights The Ghost Inside went a bit soft on their last album. Choking on Illusions don't play that game. They're quite comfortable playing melodic hardcore that would feel right at home in the early to mid 2000s, often eschewing breakdowns in favor of more traditional hardcore elements. They do slip into a few metalcore tropes here and there, but it's pretty rare. Instead you'll hear influences ranging from Comeback Kid to No Trigger to Strike Anywhere. <br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/writethisdownband">Write This Down</a> - Lost Weekend</div>
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When <a href="http://www.decoymusic.com/">Decoy</a> covered Write This Down's <a href="http://www.decoymusic.com/reviews/write-this-down-write-this-down">debut album</a>, it was noted that the album was a bit all over the place, traversing many of the trendy genres of the time. On their sophomore album, this is still the case, but they've narrowed down their focus a bit. The majority of the songs on Lost Weekend have a southern rock/metal bend to them, but that doesn't stop the band from still treading into the realms of metalcore, pop-punk, and straight up alternative rock. You can hear bits of Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, He Is Legend, Chevelle, Anberlin, and Taking Back Sundaystrewn about this album, sometimes to good effect, other times not as much. Still, this is a compelling album simply from the standpoint that the band is not afraid to branch out and take chances on seemingly every song.<br />
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<a href="http://enablermke.bandcamp.com/album/all-hail-the-void">Enabler</a> - All Hail the Void</div>
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There is no slowing down the pace of Enabler's hardcore/metal concoction. This is piss & vinegar infused, distorted, abrasive, crusty, metal-tinged hardcore. It's like the members of Enabler took the best parts of the bands they used to be in (ie: Harlots, Shai Hulud, Earth Crisis, Trap Them) and fused them all together into a rage-filled album intent on punishing you in all the right ways.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-2143858566248669052012-07-10T10:07:00.000-05:002012-07-10T10:07:32.184-05:00Rick's Discoveries Volume XXIIIDuring the last month or so, I found myself listening to tons of metalcore and hardcore--much more than I usually do. Because of that, I think I took notice of bands that fell outside of those genres a bit more as they were a distinct change of pace from what was usually coming through my headphones. What that means is this batch of discoveries will be a bit more diverse than some others. Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://aerodyne-flex.bandcamp.com/">Aerodyne Flex</a> - Transmissions</div>
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If you had Between the Buried and Me listen to a bit of Devin Townsend's heaviest efforts and mix in some Corellia, you'd get a close approximation of what Aerodyne Flex sounds like. There aren't as many odd flourishes as you'd get with a BTBAM album, but there are definitely a lot of time changes, as you'd hear with BTBAM. There's also a healthy interspersing of ambiance and atmospheric slow-downs to temper the intermittent breakdowns and sledgehammer riffing.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hypomanie/223353617702684">Hypomanie</a> - Calm Down, You Weren't Set on Fire</div>
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Be still my beating heart! It's true, you have found a blackglaze band that actually has solid production values and focuses on the "glaze" instead of the "black." Yes, there are still some underlying bass rolls and distorted guitar movements, but it's all there to accentuate the post-rock leaning shoegaze that Hypomanie uses to tug at your heartstrings, instilling an overwhelming sense of melancholy and bittersweetness. Fans of Alcestwith an appreciation for post-rock will definitely be fans of Hypomanie.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/69chambers" style="background-color: white;">69 Chambers</a><span style="background-color: white;"> - Torque</span></div>
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I'm a sucker for female fronted hard rock and metal, so it's no surprise that I liked 69 Chambers' Torque. There are easy comparisons to make to All Ends, Lacuna Coil, and your favorite radio-friendly post-grunge bands. The majority of Torque sees the band playing grungy hard rock with some alternative metal tinges here and there. All of the songs are pretty easy on the ears and smooth going down… but it is a little overlong. With 14 songs on the album and half of them clocking in over 4:30 each, you may find yourself getting worn out, but taken in small bits 69 Chambers give you some great female fronted hard rock.<br />
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<a href="http://www.myspace.com/musicleander" style="background-color: white;">Leander</a> - Szividomar</div>
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Leander comes to us from Hungary, bringing with them a combination of modern groove metal and alternative metal. I hear bits and pieces of mid-career Machine Head throughout the album, but with a lot less suck than mid-career Machine Head. You shouldn't have a hard time banging your head and air-guitaring to Szividomar, but unless you know Hungarian you'll have a bit of a difficult time singing along!<br />
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<a href="http://jairus.bandcamp.com/">Jairus</a> - Streams Over Sad Parades</div>
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Jairus have been flying under the radar for over a decade, mostly because they don't release much in the way of new music. I've been a fan ever since I picked up The Need to Change the Mapmaker thinking it was a Junius album I'd never heard of. What's odd is that the two bands aren't so different from one another. Jairus takes the space rock approach into the post-hardcore realm, infusing some bits of well placed aggression that counterbalance the Hopesfall influenced space rock of the rest of the EP. Again, we're treated to only a morsel of Jairus' musical talents as there are only 3 songs and an interlude clocking in for a total of 13 minutes to be found here, but it's definitely worth it.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MaLLyMPLS">MaLLy & The Sundance Kid</a> - The Last Great…</div>
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MaLLy has had a presence here in the Minneapolis hip-hop scene for a few years. Up until The Last Great… he's shown tons of potential, but hasn't quite been able to nail down an album that exploits that potential. Here, however, he's finally found his groove and puts forth a great conscientious hip-hop effort that sounds a bit like a mix of Childish Gambino (his slower numbers), Atmosphere (their newer efforts), and a bit of Aesop Rock. Add to this some guest spots from K. Raydio, Brother Ali, and Claire de Lune and you have a pretty rock solid hip-hop effort.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/anatomyofthebear" style="background-color: white;">Anatomy of the Bear</a> - Anatomy of the Bear</div>
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I'll get my biggest criticism of this album out of the way right now--this album is overlong. That being said, Anatomy of the Bear's self titled album weaves its way in and out of the various post-rock sub-genres, focusing predominantly on the ambient side of things. There are moments of Sigur Ros' beauty, God Is an Astronaut's pacing, and The American Dollar's ambience all over the place. If you're a post-rock fan, this will cover all of the bases for you, just make sure you have the endurance to make it through as it is a 70 minute journey.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thechant" style="background-color: white;">The Chant</a> - A Healing Place</div>
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On their third album, it looks like The Chant have perfected their form of gothic rock topped with hints of ambient, alternative rock, and progressive rock. Sharing a lot in common with Paradise Lost and Katatonia, The Chant focus on lengthy compositions that provide plenty of time for the listener to get lost in the dreary, downtrodden atmosphere the band creates. With only one song under 6 minutes in length, The Chant don't rush anything and, for them, it pays off immensely.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FailEmotionsband">Fail Emotions</a> - Speed of Light</div>
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Ever wish that Enter Shikari was more electronic and less post-hardcore? Or that you could hear an early version of I See Stars without the extreme dosage of suck? Then Fail Emotions are right up your alley. They're very electronics heavy and layer their post-hardcore/metalcore influences into the electronics. Usually it's the other way around, but not here. With this inversion of the usual in this genre, you'll no doubt find yourself more inclined to have some dancing tendencies instead of moshing/spin-kicking to the songs.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/gigawattissteve" style="background-color: white;">Gigawatt</a> - Detritus</div>
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Please note right now, there's a healthy amount of Meshuggah worship on this album. If you can overlook this fact (which isn't really that big of a deal, unless you're burnt out on djent), you'll find a solid progressive metal album with some lengthy compositions. Besides the Meshuggahinfluence, you'll also hear a bit of Nemertines in some of the dissonant playing patterns and dirty guitar tones. The focus of this album is mostly on big, meaty riffs and less on technical wizardry, which works out quite well.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-12922700297157256592012-07-05T08:13:00.000-05:002012-07-05T08:13:36.529-05:00Gideon - Milestone Album Review<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0083TS782/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=decoymusicm06-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0083TS782" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0083TS782&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=decoymusicm06-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a>It was only a little over a year ago that <a href="http://www.decoymusic.com/reviews/gideon-costs">Decoy Music took a listen to Gideon's debut album</a>. The general consensus was that the band was far from doing anything unique, but they knew how to get a head bobbing or a toe a-tapping with their brand of mosh-centric metalcore. In the scant amount of time that has passed since Costs, not much has changed for Gideon other than a tightening up of their sound and a phasing out of some melodic elements. <br />
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Whereas it was quite noticeable that The Ghost Inside explored a more melodic angle of the metalcore realm with their latest, Get What You Give, Gideon keep their feet firmly planted in the ass-kicking, breakdown heavy, abrasive, non-melodic metalcore realm and go heavier than they did onCosts. You'll notice quite early on that there's a menacing angle to many of the songs. For example, the guitar groove during the last chunk of "No Acceptance" is downright murky, while the many breakdowns found on the album are often void of any surrounding melodicism. The occasional melodically tinged guitar line can be heard here and there, but it is the exception, not the rule and is most noticeable in the Misery Signalsinfluenced bridge guitar lines in "Overthrow."<br />
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As with any beatdown inducing metalcore band, there is a tendency to get hit over the head with a few too many breakdowns. This is a problem here, but not as bad as with a band like, say, Emmure, who seem to write songs consisting only of open chord breakdowns. Gideon also don't fall into the trap of trying to make each breakdown heavier than the next. Yes, there are some moments where they try to go full-on gargantuan, but many times you'll find yourself treated to more traditional hardcore flavored slabs of heaviness.<br />
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In a genre that doesn't have a whole lot of potential variety to begin with, Gideon actually does a pretty solid job at making an effort to give genre fiends exactly what they're searching for--a succinct album with little filler (sorry, but "Milestone" just feel out of place and wasting time), plenty of meat, aggression to spare, and no obvious laziness in the songwriting department. There's not much more you can ask for from a modern metalcore band.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-42595829091389454432012-06-29T11:44:00.001-05:002012-06-29T11:44:53.843-05:00Ethereal Architect - Monolith Album Review<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0083CVCPY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0083CVCPY&linkCode=as2&tag=decoymusicm06-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0083CVCPY"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fQpaxxQQL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Ethereal Architect gave us their self-released debut album Dissension way back in 2007. At that time, despite some of the album's shortcomings, <a href="http://www.decoymusic.com/reviews/ethereal-architect-dissension">I saw a lot of promise</a>. Now that the band has had five years to put together their sophomore follow-up, again a self-released effort, have they found a way to extract their potential and grow as a band? Well… maybe…<br />
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What's striking to me is that Monolith is very similar to Dissension. The band have not made a departure from their progressive metal roots, but by staying so close to what they've already done I feel like the five year wait was overlong. This could have been released a year after their debut, or even a week after, as it is so similar. This isn't necessarily a huge detraction, but it does lead to some slight disappointment, especially after such a lengthy wait.<br />
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Barring this lack of progression, you'll still find a very solid and well put together progressive metal album with shades of power metal and solos a-plenty. This time around some of the power metal leanings are a bit more pronounced, mostly in the progressions of some of the songs. Take "Oceans," for example, and follow its patterns of acoustic guitars setting the stage (and providing some accentuating touches throughout), the very melodic structure of the song, and the concluding soloing fadeout into falling rain. These are all very power metal oriented traits, but executed with a bit of a prog metal feel.<br />
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As mentioned in my review of Dissension, Ethereal Architect's David Glass rips out riffs and solos galore, and that has not changed one bit here. There are still many meaty riffs to be found, some with a definite thrash metal bend, but most staying in the traditional metal realms, while the solos continue to be flashy, but not to the point of feeling excessive or gratuitous. There is even a bit of flamenco in "Mercury" which caught me a bit off guard. It's the small flourishes like this and the choral vocals at the beginning of "Revolutions" that show the band thinking about pushing their boundaries, but not wanting to stray too far from what they know.<br />
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Adam Contreras is still solid vocally, but does try to push his range a bit more this time around, sometimes feeling a tad strained when reaching for the higher notes. This doesn't happen often and he drives the songs forward when he needs to, but also disappears at the right times to let the rest of the band strut their stuff.<br />
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At the end of the day, Ethereal Architect are a cut above the majority of the unsigned bands out there. They've polished their production, they've created interesting songs, they're extremely solid musicians, and they've stuck with it for more than half a decade (which is longer than most flash-in-the-pan bands you see today). Hopefully Ethereal Architect get their big break soon. They're ready for it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-35939197189345844992012-06-21T10:10:00.000-05:002012-06-21T10:10:04.170-05:00Vampires Everywhere! - Hellbound and Heartless Album Review<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0080R7QKM/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=decoymusicm06-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0080R7QKM" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0080R7QKM&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=decoymusicm06-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a>Some days I wonder what it must be like to be a poor, depressed, unliked teenager in today's high school environment. I'm assuming it must be light years worse than when I was in high school (which is the late 90's if you're curious). No doubt when Rachel won't talk to Billy because he's weird it must be so much tougher on Billy today than 15 years ago, and when you don't get a date to the prom it must be even more devastating than it used to be. At least I'm assuming things must be worse based solely on the popularity of bullshit bands like Vampires Everywhere being popular with the teenage, depressed, melodramatic, sad crowd. I can't imagine how bad things must be getting that kids would actually <em>choose</em> to lock themselves in their room, cover themselves in faux-goth makeup, and listen to this contrived <strong>Marilyn Manson</strong> rip-off crap.<br />
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The more I listen to this album, the more I imagine this is the soundtrack that spoiled suburban kids probably use to feel "edgy" or to piss off their anesthesiologist mom and VP of sales dad while complaining about how hard they have it living in a gated community where they have nothing better to do than listen to <em>Hellbound and Heartless</em> in their room on their parents' hand-me-down "old" Bose stereo. It doesn't go nearly loud enough to play crystal clearly through the door of his own private bathroom. <em>Life is so hard!</em><br />
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Even disconnecting myself from that imagery, I can't disconnect from the fact that this is nothing more than a deliberate, cheap, rip-off of what <strong>Marilyn Manson</strong> did 15 years ago. The pseudo-satanic song titles and anti-government, anti-cool-kids, anti-popularity, anti-anything lyrics? Done better. The industrialized metal riffs? Done twice as good before the members of this band could even contemplate playing instruments. Hell, if you can listen to "Kiss of Death" once through and tell me it's not 100% derivative of <strong>Manson</strong> (if not outright copied), I will slap you in the face, kick you in shins and call you a filthy liar.<br />
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Vampires Everywhere steal absolutely everything from the <strong>Manson</strong> playbook; this includes their look (which is as pathetic as it is contrived) as well as going for a industrial-goth cover song to include on their album. In this case, they rape "Rape Me" from <strong>Nirvana</strong>. Do we need to keep going? If you don't get the picture by now that you'd be doing yourself a disservice by even thinking about turning your ear towards this band then, frankly, you must have a truly horrible life and I honestly feel sorry for you.<br />
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Ok… one last appeal to anyone on the fence, especially if you're a teenager with a still developing musical palette… I'm going to be as blunt as I can…<br />
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<strong>This. Album. Is. Awful.</strong><br />
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Is that clear enough? I really hope so. If not, I fear for today's youth.<b><br /></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-21810617922437123202012-06-20T13:44:00.000-05:002012-06-20T13:44:59.248-05:00Collaboration in the Cloud Book Review<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9075414242/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=decoymusicm06-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=9075414242" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=9075414242&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=decoymusicm06-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a>Everyone is talking about "the cloud," but what is it really and how does it apply to today's IT landscape. And how does it make things better? How does it facilitate collaboration? If you haven't at least talked about how the cloud could fit into your IT organization, you're falling more behind than you should be.<br />
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It's pretty well established that collaboration is of utmost importance in today's businesses where teamwork is key and making collaboration as efficient and friction-free as possible. The biggest tool that is aiding collaboration is the concept of the cloud and, from it, the proliferation of social that it enables. <br />
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This book, while presenting a superb overview of the topics in its title, doesn't really bring anything paradigm shifting to the table. What it does is gather into one book all of the disparate topics that are somehow related to cloud revolution.<br />
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If you're a new IT professional or someone with an inkling about what you or your company can do technologically to help become more social and collaborative, this is a perfect starting point for you. Experienced IT professionals should already have this all filed away in your brain's knowledge locker by now. <br />
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If interested, you can download the book in pdf form <a href="http://www.sogeti.com/upload/Employees%20only/Collaboration%20in%20the%20Cloud/Book%20-%20Collaboration%20in%20the%20Cloud%20-%20OK.pdf" rel="nofollow">here.</a>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4113528-rick">View all of my Goodreads reviews</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-60003159772445312712012-06-18T11:02:00.001-05:002012-06-18T11:02:39.405-05:00Lions Lions - To Carve Our Names Album Review<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0080R7P6M/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=decoymusicm06-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0080R7P6M" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0080R7P6M&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=decoymusicm06-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a>The members of Lions Lions certainly have plenty of experience, already having released one album and a couple of EPs together and then having individually been a part of Vanna, Therefore I Am, The Jonah Veil, and A Loss for Words. Their full length debut in 2009, From What We Believe, gave us an inkling of what the band was capable of, but seemed unpolished and a bit rough around the edges. The pacing didn’t feel quite right. The vocals were a bit overproduced. There were some subpar tracks. But you also had some stellar songs, catchy choruses, and the building blocks needed for a breakout album.<br />
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Three years later they've offered up To Carve Our Names, but they have yet to fully rectify the issues from their debut and have actually introduced a few more elements that are holding the band back. It's clear that they are striving to fit into the current post-hardcore landscape, yet somehow want to stand out from everyone else. What they don't realize is that to stand out they need to eschew the conventions of the genre that they end up so heavily relying upon. Their Beloved-lite mixed with Saosin approach is still the bedrock that every song is built upon, but what they build on top of it isn't always making use of the best materials.<br />
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There don't appear to be any real systemic problems with the album (other than being slightly bland overall). Lions Lions know how to create a solid post-hardcore song that is competent and well put together. However, at times they try to put some flourishes into their songs that simply don't work. There's the occasional metalcore breakdown tossed into a song, along with some harsh vocals, seemingly only to attempt to show they can be heavy. It doesn't suit them all that well, but isn't as horrible as some straight-up metalcore bands. Then there's the slight pushing of the clean vocals into higher ranges, which comes off as unnecessarily forced and somewhat uncomfortable. There's no reason to go there. And the acoustic track? I know they've done acoustic numbers before, but it just doesn't fit. At least it's at the end of the album so you can skip it.<br />
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With all that being said, there is still that glimmer of promise shining through most of the songs, which might make the frustrating moments seem all that more frustrating. Lions Lions seem capable of much more than what they've created thus far. I'm hesitant to say that they'll reach their potential in the future as they seem to be floating a bit aimlessly at the moment, but I'll try to be optimistic and believe they'll get things clicking the next time around.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-84223270361631337502012-06-16T08:04:00.000-05:002012-06-16T08:04:17.595-05:00Always Engaged: My Natural StateIn recent weeks I've had a few conversations with both friends and coworkers about the enjoyment of peace, quiet, and the calm that comes from doing nothing. The genesis of these conversations were rooted around my seeming inability to be, in any way, not in motion or unengaged. I always find myself amazed with everyone's ability to simply... be. Whereas my natural state of existence is to be... doing something.<br />
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Looking at my average day, there's not a moment that I'm not plugged, doing something, listening to something, reading something, talking to someone, doing work, doing chores, doing something. If I try to sit for just a moment, I'm overcome with a myriad of thoughts about what I could be doing. "Stop sitting there and watching the grass grow, Rick. You still haven't finished that book you started and you could probably go for a run or maybe you should go check out the latest episode of Bob's Burgers, but then again you haven't done this quarter's bookwork for the LLC and you might want to send those few follow up emails you were getting around to...." is all my constantly churning brain can think about when I'm "doing nothing."<br />
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For me it's hard to imagine sitting still when there's so much to do and so many ways to multi-task! Taking the dog for a walk? Well, I'll throw on some podcasts I've been meaning to listen to. Some new post-rock albums to listen to? Might as well crack a book while I'm listening. Hockey game on tv? I'll brew some homemade beer while I'm watching.<br />
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This is my mindset. And I love it. I enjoy constantly being engaged. If there were ever a poster-child for the always-connected, always-on, always-multi-tasking generation... I'm it! I know it frustrates my wife to some degree since I'm always in a state of motion and can't sit still, but downtime equals wasted time in my head. There's simply so much to do, so much to take in, and so much I can experience every day that I can't help but feel like I need to cram as much in as possible. We've only got so many days on this planet, right? And there's no do-overs last time I checked. So I want to take in as much as I can every day.<br />
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And why am I writing this? Because I finished putting my laundry away, wrapped up the latest Bugle podcast, walked the dog, and didn't know what to do next. I hadn't blogged in a while, so figured I'd do that. Now I'm off to hit up the post office to mail some stuff and then I'll grab a book and read on the deck while it is still bearable outside. And then I have the whole day ahead of me. Let's do this!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-22626856650692708982012-06-06T16:06:00.000-05:002012-06-06T16:06:29.818-05:00The First 10 Pounds Were Easy...It was a few months back that I set a goal to myself to drop 25 pounds. Over this past winter, I found myself weighing the most I ever have in my life (around 225 lbs), was feeling frustrated when I exercised, and had stopped even trying to manage what I eat. It wasn't a good combination. I was out of shape, I knew it, and it pissed me off. So I told myself I'd change. Unfortunately just telling myself to lose weight didn't work. Instead I found out I actually had to change my habits.<br />
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Once I actually got in the mindset to do something about the round shape I was taking, I decided I needed to track my weight closely and do so over time. To do this I bought a good scale that measures to the 1/5 of a pound accurately and found a good weight tracking app for my phone. I also made a commitment to myself that I'd at least try to stick with things for a while before outright giving up.<br />
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I started at 224.6 pounds. It was ugly. I felt horrible. I struggled to run much more than a mile. I was hungry. I just wanted to quit. However, I didn't. Since I was being tracked and held responsible, I was motivated to try, and try I did. Slowly but surely, I saw some of the weight coming off. I'd fluctuate back up every now and again, but the overall progress was downward. I was happy! It was working!<br />
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...that is, until it wasn't. As you can see from the graph, things started to level out and stay leveled out. I found that I started feeling like I deserved rewards for good workout. I justified eating a bag of Oreos or an entire pizza by knowing I'd just run a bit more tomorrow. But eventually I couldn't exercise enough to offset my diet that had reset to where it was before I started this project, which is to say in a really bad place.<br />
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So I'm stuck and frustrated. 2/5's of the way to my goal and behind schedule I am tempted to give up. I'm not horribly out of shape. I exercise 5-6 days a week and keep active, but my diet is what's killing me. I have no willpower and I love food that's terrible for me. How could I get past this seemingly impenetrable barrier?<br />
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Go public.<br />
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So here I am, admitting I suck at my diet, but also noting that I have made some effort. My exercise regiment is pretty solid. I feel more in shape. However, my diet has gotten worse the better my exercise program has gotten. 215 pounds is less than 224.6 pounds, but it's still not 200 pounds. My new goal is to be able to break this plateau, work hard, manage my diet, and check back in a few months down the line and say I'm at 200 pounds, or at least closer to it than now.<br />
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Let's meet back here in a couple months.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-53087591773340759612012-06-05T08:41:00.005-05:002012-06-05T08:41:34.039-05:00Rick's Discoveries Volume XXIIThis is a pretty straight-forward Discoveries article. All 10 entries are heavy, hard-hitting, and focused on making you nod (or bang) your head. There is no diverging into post-rock, hip-hop, dubstep, alternative, or any of those "soft" genres. This time around it's only about smashing face and rocking out. That's it. Now go listen!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/whenourtimecomes">When Our Time Comes</a> - Test the Waters</div>
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<br />In most cases, I'm not a fan of EPs. It's easy to string together a couple good songs; making a full album that's engaging is tough. But when an EP is as good as this one, who gives a rip if you're only getting 4 songs? These 4 tracks are catchier than just about anything being put out today by your average Rise Records or Victory band. When Our Time Comes melds together the polyrhythmic style of djent bands like Periphery, the progressive rock sound of Dead Letter Circus, and the (high-quality) nu-metal leanings of Sevendust into one tight EP. These guys have officially planted themselves on my radar.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsmn">Reflections</a> - The Fantasy Effect</div>
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<br />I think I've finally exhausted myself on the standard djent sound. If bands aren't adding something to the mix I space out when listening. Thankfully Reflections add a significant amount of deathcore to the djent mix, as well as a few slight atmospheric tinges (they're not obvious, but accentuate a few songs). I hear a bit of Reflux throughout a few tracks, which is a refreshing throwback. The TesseracT influenced moments are very heavy in nature and give the guitars full focus. The occasional solo also keeps things from stagnating throughout the course of the album. All in all, this is a solid djent-core album.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thedeadwretched">The Dead Wretched</a> - Anchors Down</div>
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<br />I love the Australian music scene more and more every month. Here we have another solid band flexing their metalcore muscles. If you enjoy metalcore in the least, you're going to get a kick out of this album. And don't worry, this isn't any of that trendy mallcore metalcore bullshit that you find being pushed by the likes of Rise Records; it's simply a solid album that would fit alongside efforts from the best of Facedown's roster. The only weakness I see is the sometimes spotty clean vocals. With a little work, though, I think they can easily iron that out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sirenaband">Sirena</a> - The Past that Haunts You</div>
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<br />So I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Rise Records and their breed of artists. Mostly, I guess, I hate that I love some of their bands. They have been able to, as a label, create a "sound" that's very distinctly associated with them. Because of this you usually know exactly what you get with any band that signs to their label. Sirena isn't a band on Rise's roster, but I'll be damned if they wouldn't fit in perfectly. They have the deathcore breakdown infused melodic metalcore pegged perfectly. Think The Air I Breathe mixed with some Of Mice & Men or The Color Morale. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/newvegasband">New Vegas</a> - Overseer</div>
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<br />How do I classify this EP? I suppose it's technically a post-hardcore album, but it's a very progressive style of post-hardcore with songs that often take their time getting where they want to go (5 of the 7 songs are 5 minutes or longer). I hear elements of Hands, Dead Poetic, La Dispute andThrice throughout the course of Overseer. These guys really want to hit a lot of emotional notes, often succeeding, but at times it feels a bit overwrought. Still, the depth of this EP is really something to behold. The earnestness of many of the songs shows a band passionate about what they're creating. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lithiumdawn.bandcamp.com/">Lithium Dawn</a> - Aion</div>
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<br />Because djent has become so popular lately, many people (including myself) have often started just assuming that when a band says they're "progressive metal" what they really mean is "djent." Lithium Dawn are progressive metal, but they're probably only 30-40% djent-y. Yes, some tracks such as "Destroyer" lean heavily in the djent direction, but there are just as much Tool, Dream Theater, and Porcupine Tree influences to be found as there are from TesseracT. It's this conscious effort to stay decidedly in the traditional prog arena while only utilizing djent influences from time to time that makes Aion stand out from all of the rest of the "progressive metal" albums I've listened to lately. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://nottmusicofficial.bandcamp.com/">Nott</a> - Devouring Deities</div>
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<br />Devouring Deities is a single 22 minute song, but is broken up into 5 tracks for those of you with short attention spans. When taken as a single composition, you have a very well constructed progressive metal (in this case, read that as saying "djent") song that has a solid helping of progressive death metal leanings (mostly in the vocal department). There's obviously some nods to Meshuggah throughout, but it's not as blatant as you'd imagine. Definitely give this EP a shot as it shows a lot of promise from a new, ambitious artist. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://atomaweb.com/">Atoma</a> - Skylight</div>
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<br />I can almost guarantee you that you'll find this album on my top 10 list at the end of this year. It's an album you can throw under the progressive metal umbrella, but it is so much more than that. Even though that is the template loosely used by the band, they coat it with hefty use of post-rock (in the vein of God Is an Astronaut), lots of atmosphere, achingly beautiful vocals, tasteful electronics, and symphonic elements. There's not really a band to compare Atoma to. You could maybe think of them as an amalgamation of Katatonia, Dream Theater, Anathema, and the aforementioned God Is an Astronaut. You'll be hard pressed to listen to anything similar to this album this year. It is truly a unique experience.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/neobliviscaris">Ne Obliviscaris</a> - Portal of I</div>
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<br />Yes, we have yet another "progressive metal" album in this Discoveries article, but Ne Obliviscaris takes things in yet another direction, though.Portal of I is a showcase for sprawling, epic, moving songs that encompass a myriad of subgenres from folk metal to black metal to technical metal to even a bit of blackglaze. And, just for the hell of it, why not toss in a violin? Portal of I is the shining offspring of a love affair between My Dying Bride, Agalloch, Opeth, and Borknagar (yeah, imagine what that four-way must have been like…). Much like Atoma, expect to see this on some year end lists.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://appollonia.bandcamp.com/">Appollonia</a> - Crimson Shades</div>
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<br />I can't help but imagine that Appollonia sound a lot like what Mastodon might have sounded like during their Leviathan era if they added a bit more sludge to their sound. Crimson Shades has no shortage of distorted, buzzsaw riffs and they're complemented nicely by the combination of screamed out, yelled, and clean vocal approaches. The wall of sound that Appollonia creates is quite deafening at times, so make sure you're prepared for the assault they'll perform on your ears.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-44421783217858590992012-05-30T12:14:00.001-05:002012-05-30T12:14:24.281-05:00After - Edges of the World Album Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Grunge is a genre that is seldom touched any more, other than to maybe spice up the current hard rock song template. You have your Three Days Grace or Smile Empty Soul here and there that try to make the best of what they can do with the sound (which isn't much) while still maintaining their ability to attract radio play. You also have Alice in Chains and Jerry Cantrell trying to keep the sound alive single-handedly, but in comparison to the 90's, there's hardly a decent grunge album to listen to any more. <br /><br />After don't go full-on grunge, but they do utilize the aesthetic quite well to craft their mix of Finger Eleven, Incubus, and Alice in Chains. Unlike other lost genres such as cheesy pop-punk or nu-metal, grunge isn't a bad influence to have attached to your music. After realizes this and make sure to put it at the forefront just often enough to show you that their love for the genre is not something they're ashamed of, but instead something that they're quite proud of.<br /><br />The three original songs on this EP all feel like a combination of the aforementioned three bands (leaning much heavier on the Finger Eleveninfluence than the other two, though). "Days Ago" starts the EP off with what sounds like an unearthed Alice in Chains riff that leads into a strong, grungy, alternative rock effort. It's a very mature sounding song, and it would be well suited to be played on modern rock radio.<br /><br />"Bones" and "Edges of the World" aren't as grunge riff filled, but take on a more progressive alternative rock sound with some grunge leanings. It's hard not to hear a lot of very early career Finger Eleven throughout these tracks. My guess is a lot of that has to do with the methodical, midtempo pace that the band utilizes to deftly straddle the line between full on rocker and anthemic alternative power-ballad.<br /><br />The final track mixes things up with a grunge-ified cover of "Riders on the Storm" from The Doors. This song has been covered to death, but After do it justice and don't butcher it like so many others have before them. I sense a healthy respect as they transform the song into a distorted, riff-iffied new version.<br /><br />There's a load of promise oozing from this EP. Given that it is quite a feat to find bands willing to play in this space and do it well, you'd be quite remiss in passing over Edges of the World.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-48409356733749366242012-05-20T18:10:00.005-05:002012-05-20T18:10:46.049-05:00Rick's Discoveries Volume XXIOver the last couple of weeks, I retried a tactic I had previously used to find new, undiscovered music--I randomly picked albums to listen to from my long list of "artists to check out." It actually helped me develop this semi-diverse discoveries article while simultaneously whittled down my list quite a bit. It's amazing how many bands sound good on paper or on one song, but once you listen to more than a track or two they're simply awful. So after deleting plenty of items from my to-listen-to list, here are 10 albums that actually warrant your attention. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://soundcloud.com/maddecent/sets/zeds-dead-x-omar-linx-victor">Zeds Dead & Omar LinX</a> - Victor</div>
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<br />I'm really surprised there hasn't been more of a mixing of hip-hop and dubstep. The two genres seem like they'd be ripe to interbreed (and not just in remixing hip-hop tracks). In my search to find a good mix of the two, Victor has stood out as a great example of how to successfully mesh the two together. There's a solid foundation of brostep and dubstep that anchors Omar LinX's raps. Instead of feeling like the two styles are slapped together for novelty's sake, this feels like the two artists actively collaborated to compose a set of dubstep-hop tracks. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/blindambitionsuk">Blind Ambitions</a> - Breaking Free</div>
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<br />I'm very easily reminded of The Ghost Inside and Bury Your Dead as I listen to Blind Ambitions, which are two solid comparisons in my book. Their straight ahead metalcore approach is augmented by some melodic passages that sound very Misery Signals influenced. The vast majority of this album is focused on energy and aggression, however. The only issue I have with this release is the occasional resorting to beatdown style breakdowns, which I'm not the world's biggest fan of. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Klaypex">Klaypex</a> - Ready to Go</div>
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<br />It's getting to the point in the electronic music realm that there are nearly as many, if not more, subgenres than in the metal world. I can easily consider myself a metal subgenre snob, but in the electronic world, not quite as much. With Klaypex, I hear elements of house, dubstep, straight up electro, and other nuanced elements. That can be used to describe a lot of electronic efforts, though, so maybe if I said it sounds a bit like Neroteamed up with Daft Punk to re-do the Tron: Legacy soundtrack with a heavier emphasis on meatier tunes while utilizing the gorgeous vocals ofSara Kay in a few spots. That should sound like a good mix to you if you like dubstep, and it definitely is quite the combo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cyclopian">Cyclopian</a> - Cyclopian</div>
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<br />One of my biggest issues with most atmospheric sludge metal bands nowadays is that they all seem to be focused on making long, long, long, long songs that really don't do much over their runtime besides plod through the same movements over and over and over. Cyclopian do tread down the distinctly long track length path, but there's a sense of progression through each song. I feel like their tracks are actually going somewhere… just very slowly. It might help that they have some post-rock-ish influences here and there, which no doubt contribute to that sense of direction. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/7horns7eyes">7 Horns 7 Eyes</a> - Throes of Absolution</div>
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<br />If this band doesn't set the progressive death metal genre on fire, then I give up on it. 7 Horns 7 Eyes manage to do it all on their debut album, showcasing extremely mature songwriting that encompasses all of the tenants of prog-oriented death metal, while intertwining elements of atmosphere, technicality, and math (dare I say djent?) into what they weave together. If you're looking for band comparisons, you might as well toss into a blender the likes of Miseration, Vildhjarta, In Mourning, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Be'lakor and imagine what that would sound like after 60 seconds on the puree cycle. This could easily land in a number of people's year end lists; just you watch.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://johnnyrook.bandcamp.com/">Johnnyrook</a> - From Remorse We Learn</div>
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<br />I honestly thought that these guys would have blown up into the pseudo-mainstream by now. Having been around since 2002 and this being their third full length (along with an EP or two), they've shown they're dedicated to their craft, especially since each release is an extremely solid slab of emo flavored hard rock. On From Remorse We Learn you'll hear flashes of modern Thrice, classic Further Seems Forever, and a bit of a stripped down version of The Juliana Theory. The combination of Johnnyrook's ability to tap into my nostalgia and their just being damn good will keep this album in my rotation for weeks to come.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Adolfplaysthejazz">Adolf Plays the Jazz</a> - Form Follows Function</div>
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<br />This band is an odd, collective-style band, never having a set lineup and never worrying about having to fit into a particular mold. Having been in existence since 2002 and putting out 4 albums and 4 EPs, they definitely don't lack history. Their latest shows the band continuing to experiment with post-rock, shoegaze, cinematic influences, and a combination of both short and long compositions. You'll get everything from the sub-3 minute trip-hop number "Dust" to the 12 minute post-rock opus "Oddy." Diversity reigns supreme on this album, which is a fantastic thing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KillDevilHillMusic">Kill Devil Hill</a> - Kill Devil Hill</div>
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<br />I was turned onto this band since I saw that it involved Rex Brown of Pantera fame. Don't expect anything like Pantera from Kill Devil Hill, though. Instead of heavy-f'ing-metal, Kill Devil Hill play a grunge infused brand of hard rock. The best description I can come up with is saying they sound like a superhero team-up between Skid Row and Alice in Chains. It's not something you'd think would work all that well, but they manage to pull it off with aplomb. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dumbsaint">Dumbsaint</a> - Something That You Feel Will Find Its Own Form</div>
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<br />This album starts you off thinking you're in for a traditional post-rock album with "Rivers Will Be Crossed," and a competent post-rock album at that. However, by the time you get to the middle of the album you'll have jumped beyond the standard post-rock tropes and experienced a healthy dose of post-metal and Isis worship (sans vocals). In fact, you could swear that the bass lines in songs like "Lying in Sign" were stolen directly from unreleased Isis tracks. Yes, copying another band is usually frowned upon, but there haven't been enough bands copying that Isis sound I so much miss that I'll take whatever I can get, whenever I can get it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/A.I.Djent">A.I. (d)</a> - Disorder</div>
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<br />This album is… all over… and it's awesome because of it. At its core, this is a mathy, djent-styled metal album. However, there are enough outside influences (tech death, dubstep, Animals As Leaders, breakcore, breakdowns, etc.) to make this worn out template new again. There're passages that are perfectly discordant, others that are seamlessly awesome… some moments of menacing electronic-addled ambience… industrialized nightmare fuel… let's just say that my brain wanted to explode from the crazy that is this album.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-37139833768884872192012-05-08T14:33:00.001-05:002012-05-08T14:33:27.418-05:00Rick's Discoveries Volume XXAs I look over the list of albums below, I am pretty sure this is the most mellow list of releases I've put together to this point. I must be losing my edge. Either that or I've been extra moody lately. Or maybe I'm having a harder time picking out solid new listens in the heavier genres? Yeah, it's probably that one. With the vast majority of what I listen to trending into the metal and hardcore realms, it all eventually sounds the same, but when I listen to genres I don't have as much experience with, it's a tad bit easier to be amazed by something. So let's call this my "branching out" phase.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kaddisfly.bandcamp.com/">Kaddisfly</a> - Demos & Rarities</div>
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<br />I know, I know, it's not really a new Kaddisfly album, but this collection of 7 tracks will remind you exactly why Kaddisfly were at the top of the progressive alternative rock genre while they were in existence. While the songs aren't as expansive or "deep" as Set Sail the Prairie or Buy Our Intention; We'll Buy You a Unicorn, they do capture the airy, smooth approach of some of their more accessible songs. If anything, this collection will remind you to go back and listen to their past albums and love them all over again.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://throatruinerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/love-sex-machine">Love Sex Machine</a> - Love Sex Machine</div>
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<br />Is there such a thing as bite sized sludge with some doom influences? I suppose it exists and some band has done it, but is it any good? *Listens to Love Sex Machine* Huh, I guess I can confirm it is, in fact, totally good. There's not a lot of good comparisons that roll off the tip of my tongue for this album, but since I listen to a lot of atmospheric sludge metal, it's easier to put it in terms of how Love Sex Machine relates to that genre--it's the complete opposite. This is aggressive, raw, dirty, and unrelentingly heavy. Every song goes for your jugular, with the sole goal of ripping into it and tearing you apart. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/anoice">Anoice</a> - The Black Rain</div>
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<br />In most cases, bands that play around in the ambient post-rock subgenre stick to uplifting moods or to creating unobtrusive soundscapes. Anoice approach this subgenre from a different angle, creating a darker, melancholic, longing atmosphere. You get the sense that the inspiration for this album came from a heart-wrenching place, but the music, despite being melancholic in nature, doesn't tread into depressive territory; there's always an edge of hopefulness around the outsides of many of the songs. It's this melding of disparate feelings that drives this album.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/thebestpessimist">The Best Pessimist</a> - Love Is…</div>
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<br />Unlike Anoice, The Best Pessimist do approach the ambient post-rock subgenre quite traditionally, looking to craft airy soundscapes and uplifting movements. It's a great counterpart to Anoice, actually. I found both equally enjoyable, but when in completely different moods. The Best Pessimist likes to go for the long build-up approach when putting together songs, which is a perfect way to construct post-rock songs with lots of ambient, moody passages. The two-part "Above the Fog" really shows the band at the top of their game if you're looking for something to sample. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sauce.bandcamp.com/">sAuce</a> - Forge Through Future</div>
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<br />This album is all about the thick bass-lines, mid-tempo pacing, and booming sound. It's a great mish-mash of dubstep with some glitch, IDM, and other electronic influences. Unlike a lot of other dubstep, however, this album also created a very unique atmosphere that permeates the album. It feels like a cohesive composition instead of a collection of a bunch of disparate songs. You're not going to throw a bangin' party with this on, but you will have one hell of a chilled-out gathering if you keep this humming in the background.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://whennothingremains.bandcamp.com/">When Nothing Remains</a> - As All Torn Asunder</div>
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<br />This album revolves around some pretty hefty, epic-sized tracks (most notably the two best on the album, the title track at 13 minutes long and "The Sorrow Within" at 12 minutes long) that the band uses to show off their mastery of melding the death doom metal genre with atmospheric and gothic influences. Imagine Swallow the Sun on downers… meeting up with My Dying Bride while they say hi to Paradise Lost. That gathering might start to give you an idea of what to expect with As All Torn Asunder, but you really need to take the entire album in as a whole, soaking up every brooding, dark minute there is. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/statefaults">State Faults</a> - Desolate Peaks</div>
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<br />I'll admit it, I've never been a huge Envy fan. I can understand how many would enjoy them, but they never clicked as well with me as they did with many others. But if you took the screamo focused portions of Envy's sound (removing the post-rock leanings) and mixed them with a bit ofPianos Become the Teeth, I think you'd get a good idea of what State Faults brings to the musical table. Their songs are taut, punchy, and aggressive, just the way classic screamo tracks should be.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Skyharbor7">Skyharbor</a> - Blinding White Noise: Illusion & Chaos</div>
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<br />I was extremely sad to see Dan Tompkins depart TesseracT as his vocals were part of the appeal of the band for me. Considering One is what I look at as the pinnacle of djent albums, saying that Skyharbor remind me a lot of them is quite the compliment. Supposedly Dan Tompkins vocal duties on this album were a one-off thing, but I'm hopeful he settles down with the band since this feels very much like the second coming ofTesseracT. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://intandem.bandcamp.com/">Intandem</a> - Demo EP Vol. I</div>
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<br />For a supposed "demo," this 4-track effort feels pretty fully realized, spanning nearly a half an hour and showing a band that seems to have their "sound" pretty well established (it might help that guitarist Kyle McKnight is from Threat Signal). There's a lot of progressive metal leanings throughout the album, but there are also some nice touches of mathy metal, radio friendly nu-metal, and even some keys here and there. I'm most reminded of a proggier version of Sevendust minus the screams. For me, that's a positive comparison. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edamame.bandcamp.com/">Edamame</a> - Greenhouse</div>
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<br />I've seemed to crave "chill-out" music a little bit more than usual lately and finding new albums that I can connect with isn't always the easiest thing. Fortunately, Edamame provided me with just the right combination of trip-hop, glitch, and instrumental hip-hop influences. There are even some great nature sounds added to the mix that give the album an earthy feel. Some tracks that focus a little too heavy on the glitch elements don't fare as well as the more trip-hop tracks, but it does keep the album from becoming too one-note.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-13317643842996224362012-05-01T15:09:00.001-05:002012-05-01T15:09:20.647-05:00Dessa - Live at the O'Shaughnessy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The O'Shaughnessy, at St. Catherine University in Minnesota, is a stellar theater environment with a balcony area that seems to extend upwards forever, giving most attendees a unique "looking down on the stage" view, as opposed to a standard balcony setting. I note this simply because it's a very different experience seeing a show from such an angle instead of the usual spot I occupy on the ground level of dirty hardcore venues. <br /><br />Dessa's O'Shaughnessy performance was unique and once-in-a-lifetime type of event for a few reasons. First, this was the largest audience that the Minneapolis area superstar has performed in front of, having sold out the venue. Second, the show was a conceptual piece that fostered collaboration between various local artists to create compositions to be debuted at this show. And, lastly, it presented Dessa in a wonderful spotlight role, allowing her to showcase her down to earth personality and vast range of vocal talents.<br /><br />The performance took on a three act structure with each act consisting of a duo of artists each performing a new solo piece, then performing a collaborative effort, followed by a performance from Dessa and her live band. The first duo to perform was Jeremy Messersmith and Cecil Otter. Messersmith is a local sensation who played his trademark singer-songwriter style on a tender new track, a duet with just him and his acoustic guitar. Otter, who is a fellow member of the Doomtree Collective with Dessa, followed with a short hip-hop piece leading into a song that Messersmith and Otter put together that showcased Otter's flowing verses and Messersmith's elegantly sung choruses.<br /><br />Messersmith's and Otter's opening warmed the crowd enough so that when Dessa walked to the center of the stage, decked out in a sexy red dress, the crowd erupted as she made her way through some of the Castor, the Twin reinterpretations of her songs from A Badly Broken Code. Her live band gave the performance a lively and authentic feel that is often unable to be mimicked by pre-recorded beats. The audience was enraptured by Dessa as she proved how powerful of a leading lady she is as she commanded the stage.<br /><br />The second act consisted of Aby Wolf providing a relatively tame indie-pop start, followed in stark contrast by Crescent Moon's emotionally heavy and aggressively performed solo composition. For their collaboration, they put together a playful number using simplistic beats, a catchy chorus and sly verses. I think it took the crowd by surprise in an unexpectedly great way.<br /><br />Again, Dessa came back to the stage and weaved her way through her mastery of pop, hip-hop, gospel, and indie stylings, never wavering or shying away. Keeping things light, she also shared some brief banter with her band and kicked off her heels, performing barefoot and loving it. Throughout all three of Dessa's sets, it should be noted that Aby Wolf provided backing harmonies and accentuating vocal contributions that filled out the songs, giving them a flush, full sound.<br /><br />The last collaborative duo was Black Blondie and Robert Robinson. The former started with an odd, almost Sleepytime Gorilla Museum-esque song that was at times grating, at times beautiful, and at other times just weird. Their performance was the only one that felt out of place. However, the entire audience forgot about Black Blondie the moment that Robert Robinson belted out the first notes of his solo song. His full-bodied, beautiful, gospel-styled voice filled the building with the sound of another age. It was so heart-warming to hear him fill the room with both his voice and his smile. The following collaboration between Robinson and Black Blondie further showcased Robinson's amazing voice while Blondie kept their oddness in check.<br /><br />The final set from Dessa for the evening had her performing her most diverse set, showcasing a number of her strongest songs. Again, her blending of genres is something that should be propelling her on to expanded future fame. I wouldn't be surprised if she was filling venues this size throughout the US in the coming years. Her vocal range, agile tongue, songwriting chops, and stellar live performances all point to her commanding stages wherever she may venture. If you get the chance to take in one of her performances, don't miss it. You'll likely not find a more engaging show.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-60664800186722054532012-04-23T07:54:00.000-05:002012-04-23T07:54:01.592-05:00Rick's Discoveries Volume XIXThe music that I listen to, in many cases, is reflective of the state of things in my life. When things are calm, simple, and stress-free my listening habits are pretty consistent to match that stability--I'll stick to the same genres and listen to stuff I know. When there's stress or upheaval or I get frazzled, I often spin through as many different musical styles, artists, and albums as I can. The more out of sorts things get for me, the more varied my listening habits. With that being known, the crazy mix of albums below is a reflection of my attempts to relieve the stresses of the last few weeks. So if you're scratching your head a bit reading through the list below… well… maybe you'll find something interesting you usually wouldn't listen to?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/amaranthemetal">Amaranthe</a> - Amaranthe</div>
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<br />You might as well start giving me shit for picking this album. Amaranthe's mix of modern MDM, metalcore, and power metal, all done with an extremely glossy sheen, is sure to turn off anyone looking for "deep" music, but if you want something to get stuck in your head for days, just listen to "Hunger." These guys are like the bastard child of Dead By April and Within Temptation, excelling at what each does best. The only missteps are the somewhat bland ballads. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/dirgewithin">Dirge Within</a> - There Will Be Blood</div>
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<br />Remember the bands Soil and The Blank Theory from the early 2000s? Yeah, that's right, those crappy nu-metal bands. Well, Dirge Within contains a couple of members from those bands, so you can only guess what to expect, right? WRONG. This is far from nu-metal schlock. Instead you'll find that There Will Be Blood treads much closer to the groove metal you'd hear from God Forbid, Shadows Fall, or even Machine Head. There's a little bit of metalcore here and there (mostly in the double bass rolls and occasional breakdown), but for the most part it's simply well executed groove metal with just the right mix of riffing, solos, and solid songwriting. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/leechofficial">Leech</a> - If We Get There One Day, Would You Please Open the Gates?</div>
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<br />Yes, the album name is a bit pretentious. Yes, Leech are a long-winded post-rock band. Yes, they strive to be as epic as Explosions in the Sky (but not quite as epic as Godspeed You Black Emperor). Yes, you will traverse numerous peaks and valleys throughout each song. Yes, there is a lot to take in during a single sitting. And, yes, most importantly, you will love every last damn minute of it. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/awitn">A Whisper in the Noise</a> - To Forget</div>
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<br />A Whisper in the Noise have been a Minnesota band perpetually on my radar. Having existed since the early 2000s, they've perfected their band of slowcore, ambient, post-rock-influenced art rock. I've always had trouble describing their sound, but at the core their breed of music is focused on the mellow, introspective side of things… perhaps something like an entire album of The Dear Hunter's mellowest works, but put through a Sigur Ros filter and given a significant tempo downshift. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/solitudeswe">Solitude</a> - Tied to the Anchor</div>
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<br />Bullet For My Valentine's debut album Poison was a spectacular blend of Metallica influences with a lot of modern metalcore appeal. I played that album to death. It's unfortunate that their follow up albums were utter balls. But that's where Solitude comes in to play. Tied to the Anchor feels like the sequel to Poison. Solitude may not have been trying to be Bullet For My Valentine Version 2.0, but when you listen to this album, you won't be able to think of anything else. Considering how much I miss the early BFMV sound, though, this is far from a criticism. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ruskoonfire.com/">Rusko</a> - Songs</div>
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<br />I know Dylan mentioned Rusko in his <a href="http://www.decoymusic.com/blog_posts/1068">dubstep article</a>, but I think he needs another mention, especially to have you take note of his latest release,Songs. This album sees Rusko going a little more in the dance direction, but there are still the trademarks of dubstep found throughout. Although, to set your expectations, don't go looking for tons of drops and brostep tendencies. Those elements are there, but are metered between many other influences.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.poetsofthefall.com/">Poets of the Fall</a> - Temple of Thought</div>
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<br />Most alternative rock that I enjoy leans in the "progressive" direction. However, in this case, Poets of the Fall play a very straight forward style of modern rock with some pop leanings here and there. Although, for as much as I enjoy this album, I have a hard time placing the influences (which is probably why I actually enjoy it). You could think of a slightly less upbeat Mae or a lesser hard-rock oriented Anberlin… but neither of those comparisons really does the band justice. Each song is very well crafted and thought out, and I feel like the band is very comfortable in their own skin since their sound is so natural feeling; not once do I ever feel like the band is forcing things. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/makemefamousmusic">Make Me Famous</a> - It's Now or Never</div>
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<br />This is really a band I should hate… vehemently. They play trendy keyboard infused deathcore. They ape The Devil Wears Prada a little too heavily at times. The singer sometimes feels like he's auditioning for Emarosa. There's more breakdowns than I know what to do with. The band name is terrible. The list goes on and on. But, the fact remains, I keep listening. Even though I logically should be turning the album off, I keep it on, I nod my head, I bounce my legs… I oddly feel like I'm enjoying the experience… but I shouldn't be… yet I am… help?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://allelsefails.bandcamp.com/album/ruins-punk-for-everyone-free-album">All Else Fails</a> - Ruins Punk for Everyone</div>
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<br />My love of cover songs raises its head once again. Here we see metalcore band All Else Fails providing their take on a number of punk songs. They show they have an uncanny ability to mimic the bands they cover, paying a nice homage to each, while not getting too experimental. They do a pretty spot-on cover of Type O Negative's "I Don't Wanna Be Me" that is nearly as good as the original. They put some life into "The Meaning of Life" from The Offspring. And they show their appreciation of 90's punk with various covers of Good Riddance, Bad Religion, Milencolin, andAlkaline Trio. All in all, this is a great covers album that doesn't feel cheesy or trite. Instead it feels like a nice tribute to those who have influenced the band.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.clifflin.com/">Cliff Lin</a> - This Is War</div>
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<br />Finally. This is a stellar marrying of industrial, electronics (with some dubstep), soundtrack aesthetics, and a sense of epic grandeur--all this while still sporting track lengths usually in the 2-3 minute range. Since he's had a lot of experience creating music for movie trailers and TV spots, this would seem only natural, but his compositions are great to listen to even without the backing images.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-24827166439223010722012-04-05T10:20:00.000-05:002012-04-05T10:20:30.708-05:00Rick's Discoveries Volume XVIIII'm on the 18th volume of this article series now, which means this series can finally buy lottery tickets, smokes, and serve in the military. It also means I've recommended 180 different bands throughout the course of this series, which is not a small amount, and I'm already also hard at work on volume 19. Before you know it, I'll be on volume 25… 30… 40… who knows how many bands will eventually get recommendations from me. It's actually pretty amazing to think about, that there's so many bands out there that I want to tell you about. I can't very well listen to everything, though, so I've added a section to Decoy Music for <a href="http://www.decoymusic.com/forums/categories/4/threads/5638">you to give your band recommendations</a>. Let's all celebrate our diverse, varied love of music!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ascariasis.bandcamp.com/album/ocean-of-colour">Ascariasis</a> - Ocean of Colour</div>
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<br />I'm not sure what to classify the genre that Ascariasis plays within. Deathdjent? Djentcore? Pro-djent-ive deathcore? Whichever way you want to slice it, Ascariasis melds deathcore and djent together to create a mechanical, progressive, aggressive, unrelenting set of 5 tracks on this EP. It's kind of like Periphery got into a bar fight with All Shall Perish. So if that sounds interesting to you (trust me, it is), then go get this from the bandcamp asap.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/scornedembrace">Scorned Embrace</a> - Enclosures</div>
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<br />Talk about wearing your influences on your sleeve. Scorned Embrace are a mix of equal parts All That Remains and Killswitch Engage. Every song, every passage, and just about every moment of this album screams out either one band or the other (and sometimes both). Be it the vocals, the guitars, or the song structures. I usually abhor bands that blatantly rip off other artists, but in this case… it's actually pretty damn listenable!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/breakdownofsanity">Breakdown of Sanity</a> - Mirrors</div>
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<br />I usually am not a huge fan of straight-up deathcore (a lot of it sounds too contrived for my tastes), but I'll make an exception when something really interesting comes by. And Mirrors is definitely an interesting entry. This is very much a tried and true deathcore album, but there are some traditional metalcore elements that shine through, as well as a few mechanical, progressive elements. Don't doubt for a moment, though, that this album ever lets up--it doesn't. This is full-on, aggressive, face-smashing deathcore, but done tastefully.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://banaanapprovedmusic.tumblr.com/post/19517816072/gypsy-giants-despair-2012">Gypsy</a> - Giant's Despair</div>
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<br />Wow, talk about hitting a nostalgic nerve. Gypsy perfectly encapsulate the classic emo sound, embodied so well by bands like Jawbreaker and early Further Seems Forever. I also hear some hints of Puller and/or For Love Not Lisa during more than a few of the songs. But who they sound like specifically isn't that important. On a strictly genre-based level, Gypsy recreate the emo sound of the 90's from song structure, to chorus hooks, to production values. I feel like I'm in high school all over again.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thesunaesthetic.bandcamp.com/">The Sun Aesthetic</a> - Composure</div>
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<br />Between all the metalcore and progressive metal albums I listen to, I occasionally need something to bring me down; I need an album that is a calming hand on my shoulder after hours of smashing face. Composure is the most recent album to fit that mold. Imagine, if you will, a more ambient leaning God Is an Astronaut and you'll get a pretty good picture of the general feel of this album. Content with creating soundscapes and calming moods, there are few large crescendos, but plenty of movements that ebb and flow with ease. It is quite the relaxing experience.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://miloraps.bandcamp.com/album/milo-takes-baths">Milo</a> - Milo Takes Baths</div>
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<br />I'm not quite sure if you could really call Milo nerdcore or not. He has some tendencies to rap about nerdy topics, but he also hits on pop culture, his personal life, and general thought-provoking topics. His approach is also much more laid back and relaxed than most nerdcore. Imagine, I guess, a combination of MC Frontalot and Atmosphere's When Life Gives You Lemons… for a general idea of what to expect. The combination of the mellow approach and rapid, yet flowing, lyricism creates a nice, breezy EP to listen to.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wearetriumphant.bandcamp.com/album/the-feast">Caulfield</a> - The Feast</div>
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<br />Ok... so this is a deathcore heavy article... I must have been a little more aggravated than usual, but bear with me. In regards to this album, I'm just going to call this melodic deathcore. I'm sure that's a sub-genre, right? Imagine deathcore where the guitars (despite chugging along) at times take on some melodic progressions and undertones. Obviously not during the pre-requisite breakdowns, but during verses and bridges there's some hints of melody to be found. It feels a bit like Caulfield wanted to dive into the deathcore scene, but also was trying to hit the Misery Signalsdemographic. I won't complain about it since I'll take anything Misery Signals flavored. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.osiband.com/">OSI</a> - Fire Make Thunder</div>
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<br />Having been in existence since 2002, the duo of Jim Matheos (of Fates Warning fame) and Kevin Moore (who was the original keyboardist forDream Theater) have now put together 4 top-tier progressive rock/metal albums, and I'll fight anyone who thinks differently! Fire Make Thunderdoesn't stray too far from what's been established on their first 3 albums, so if you're a fan you know what to expect. If you're not, then imagine a mix of Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, The Pineapple Thief, and a healthy dose of electronic undertones. That may make OSI sound like an also-ran or copycat band, but they're definitely not. Their influences can very much be felt, but these songs have their own life.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Transcendsnj">Transcends</a> - Breathing in Oceans</div>
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<br />When you compare one band to another band, one that is a leader in their genre, it's hard not to get some flack if the band you're talking about doesn't live up. So let me state right off the bat that even though Transcends at times reminds me of a more deathcore-y version of Misery Signals, I acknowledge that they don't quite measure up to that high bar. However, if you enjoy deathcore, breakdowns, and some atmospheric metalcore, there's a ton to like here. The vocals are really the only aspect of the band that I think could use a bit of an overhaul. The yelled vocals seem forced and don’t come naturally in spots. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.falloch.com/">Falloch</a> - Where Distant Spirits Remain</div>
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<br />Man, do I love me some blackglaze when it's done well. Falloch brings forth an epic mastery of the -glaze with, fortunately, little of the black- in their debut album. Multiple tracks span the 10 minute mark weaving together a mesh of equal parts Alcest, neo-folk, Agalloch, and Celtic influences. Most blackglaze lovers will be saddened by the lack of harsh vocals, but the softer melodic tones provide a melancholic feel that suits the overall pallor of the album. If I would have discovered this before now, it probably would have been a contender for my year end top-10 list of 2011.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005498.post-12448435592953646182012-03-24T12:44:00.000-05:002012-03-24T12:44:49.421-05:00Rick's Discoveries Volume XVIIWhen I think back to the beginning of this millennium, before the internet was as ubiquitous as it is now, the choice for what albums you could possibly listen to were what was on sale at Best Buy, what your friends already owned, or what you might be able to find scouring internet file-sharing apps. And for a band to be in any of those categories, usually they had to have already made it. Now… well, it's a totally different story. Anybody can write an EP or album, record it, mix it, produce it, (optionally, autotune the hell out of it), put it up on the internet, and promote it. What this means is there is SO MUCH to listen to that I'm overwhelmed with the sheer volume of music I have floating around on my computer, favorite websites, and in my email. It's this sense of being overwhelmed that got me to start this article series--I hoped to help get some good releases to the top of your listening piles. So, here, toss these on your pile!<br />
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I've got a soft spot for well done hard rock and I've heartily enjoyed Under the Flood's previous two albums, so it shouldn't have been a surprise that I also dug A Different Light. Less "hard" than their previous efforts, the band almost has more of a pop-rock sheen instead of a hard-rock or alternative-rock aesthetic. I'm often reminded of Last Winter or a chilled out Trapt as I listen to this album. What it has going for it that most rock albums don't have is a genuine catchiness. The songs don't feel overly manufactured like a lot of what you hear that's popular in the pop-rock arena. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/maxkaron">Max Karon</a> - Will to Exist</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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I would be lying if I said that Max Karon doesn't worship at the Meshuggah altar. Many newer djent artists are trying to branch out into different realms, keeping the mechanical sound but adding something to it, but in this case, there are some serious Meshuggah overtones… and there's really nothing else to hide how blatant Max Karon's main influence is. That being said, anyone craving a solid, quite competent, instrumentalMeshuggah clone then this is your album.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RogueEmpireOfficial">Rogue Empire</a> - Rogue Empire</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Now this is an interesting approach to the progressive math metal genre--add a heaping dose of keyboards and electronics (but not in a gimmicky way), make sure to have extremely aggressive metalcore vocals, and then augment the djent-like proceedings with some well placed breakdowns. Heck, toss in some slight melodic death metal influences too for good measure. It may seem like a lot to pack into a 5 track EP, but it works very, very well. I'm quite anxious to hear these guys put together a full length album because this EP is simply not enough!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/arcticplateau">Arctic Plateau</a> - Enemy Inside</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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What if Porcupine Tree were more shoegazing and post-rock influenced? Sound interesting? Because that's what Arctic Plateau sound like. UnlikeAlcest or similar shoegaze bands, Arctic Plateau's songs have many post-rock elements (despite lacking epic track lengths) that define songs, and upon this strong bedrock, they slather on the shoegaze and progressive rock elements (even some blackglaze at times!) that make their sound something uniquely bite-size and effective (most songs are in the 3-4 minute range).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tribunalrecords.bandcamp.com/album/tribunal-records-100-cover-to-cover">Tribunal Records 100: Cover to Cover</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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I'm a sucker for cover songs. I love seeing how bands interpret someone else's songs. Sometimes covers are horrible, sometimes they're better than the original. For Tribunal Record's 100th release they've put together a 21 track collection of bands from their roster (past and present) covering songs of their choosing. This leads to quite an interesting and varied mix, which I quite enjoyed. How often do you have Vanisher coveringRob Zombie next to Century doing Seal next to Aria covering Coldplay or He Is Legend doing Third Eye Blind? Not too often!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/soenmusic">Soen</a> - Cognitive</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Need something to fill that Tool shaped void in your life? Centerum didn't do it enough for you? Well, then how about you give Soen a listen or three? Whereas Centerum (from the last Discoveries article) didn't dive all that deeply into the prog realm, Soen definitely does. Besides sounding extremely similar to Tool, you'll also catch some Riverside vibes as well. Now it would be foolish to write Soen off as nothing more than a copycat band. They're most definitely not. Yes, they play a style quite similar to Tool, but this album stands on its own merits. It's well written, expertly executed, and will stick with you.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LikeVegasDE">Like Vegas</a> - Machines</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Every now and again, I want to listen to something that makes me want to furiously break shit, usually when I'm staring at the treadmill or weight bench and need some motivation to get going (and a little adrenaline usually helps). Like Vegas fill this need nicely. What you have on Machines is 7 tracks of modern metalcore with none of that melodic shit or clean vocals (well, except on "Pathfinder" which has a guest vocalist). This is straight ahead metalcore in the vein of The Ghost Inside or Bury Your Dead that should get you pumped--nothing more, nothing less.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thewaning">Waning</a> - The Human Condition</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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I suppose you would classify this as black metal, but it doesn't feel like most traditional black metal. It has good production values, most of the songs are digestible lengths, and there's not as much monotony as you'd usually see… but Waning are still black metal at their core. There are a few blackglaze moments, but they're only an augmenting feature, along with some progressive elements, which sets Waning apart from the masses of untalented black metal bands that seem to play in the genre because it's easy to get away with being shitty (you just say you'resupposed to sound shitty, and all is accepted). This, however, is far from shitty.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sunpocrisy.bandcamp.com/album/samaroid-dioramas">Sunpocrisy</a> - Samaroid Dioramas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Is there a particular reason why "progressive" bands like to bloat albums with filler? No one needs intro tracks or outros or interludes… they're all superfluous, especially when they're minutes in length. So just cut it out already. With that rant over, Sunpocrisy have written more than a couple sprawling, epic progressive metal tracks on Samaroid Dioramas. Mixing pieces of The Ocean, Burst, and Cult of Luna Sunpocrisy's progressive metal is slathered in sludge without being straight up sludge metal. And, if you want, you can call it "atmospheric" as well because of the spacey in-between sections, but the meat of this album comes in the form of a few epic, 10 minute-ish (each) tracks that allow the band to show all the facets of what they can do.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/valkiriaepika">Valkiria</a> - Here the Day Comes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Valkiria are long-time veterans of the gothic/doom metal realm and with Here the Day Comes, I think they've finally broken through into the upper crust of the genre. Mixing a healthy dose of atmosphere with early-to-mid career Anathema aesthetic and keeping it close to what My Dying Brideand Swallow the Sun create album to album, Valkiria know exactly what they're doing on these 7 well developed tracks. Here's to hoping they break out beyond their home country of Italy.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15916797529791429382noreply@blogger.com0