I was fascinated by the talent of Devin back in 1993 when he appeared as the vocalist on Vai’s “Sex & Religion” – so far one of the best albums of this Zappa discovered eccentric guitar-hero. But Devin (born May 5, 1972 – Happy Birthday!!!) picked up the banjo when he was five and began playing guitar when he was 12, started his own extreme metal band called Strapping Young Lad, played with The Wildhearts, also in a project called IR8 where Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica) featured on vocals and bass, Devin on guitar and Tom Hunting of Exodus on drums, made many appearances as guest on different albums – Punky Broaster, Front Line Assembly, James Murphy, Stuck Mojo, Unit:187, Zimmers Hole, Skinny Puppy, Paradise Lost, Soilwork, Lamb of God, Gwar, etc, – and released several solo albums beside he’s one of the very appreciated producers now days. We may say, Devin is extremely creative and busy. Read more Devin Townsend Project – Deconstruction (2011)
Yearly Archives: 2011
Polkadot Cadaver – Sex Offender (2011)
This may be one of the best albums of 2011 already and I became fan instantly and unconditionally. If this Spanish/Portuguese sound like “Polkadot Cadaver” don’t sound familiar, Dog Fashion Disco should ring the bell. Actually, “Sex Offender” is their second album, their debut album, Purgatory Dance Party, was released in November, 2007. When Baltimore based Alt-Metal act Dog Fashion Disco came to an end in 2007, it wasn’t the end of front man Todd Smith, guitarist Jasan Stepp Guitar and drummer John Ensminger musical output, they just get sick of living the vagabond lifestyle that a touring metal band requires, so they decided to start a (more) studio band. And Polkadot Cadaver seems to be the perfect form to unleash their schizophrenic musical madness. “Sex Offender” is extremely colorful and intense, full of great songs. Read more Polkadot Cadaver – Sex Offender (2011)
Dwarves – The Dwarves Are Born Again (2011)
Dwarves were pretty famous for their simple, loud, yet nuanced punk repertoire, and controversial lyrics and also became notorious for self-mutilation, on-stage sex, and taking hard drugs, and their live shows would often only last around fifteen minutes, occasionally cut short due to injury caused by spectators. So, Bobby Faust – the midget – and some naked chicks are back again. 😀 Singer Blag Dahlia (aka Julius Seizure, born Paul Cafaro), and guitarist HeWhoCannotBeNamed (aka Pete Vietnamcheque) – the only two core members of the group – are backuped by “Fresh Prince of Darkness” on guitar and returning drummer Gregory Pecker (aka Gnarlie Watts) and this is another noisy, trashy, scandalous punk rock album, dirty and absolutely lovely. For those who somehow never stumbled into the Dwarves before, it sounds mainly like a sex-maniac Iggy Pop in the most incisive The Stooges era met The Ramones. So, we’re doomed. 😀 Read more Dwarves – The Dwarves Are Born Again (2011)
Enfermos Terminales – Enfermos Terminales (2011)
Except the name of Augusto Pinochet we really don’t know much about Chile, isn’t it? Shakira is Colombian and Hugo Chávez from Venezuela, dude! From Republic of Chile comes Enfermos Terminales. “Enfermos Terminales” meaning “hospice” and has been around the punk/hardcore scene since 1996. The band has released many EPs and splits and also has participated in countless compilations punk /HXC /DYS, etc. Over the years, Enfermos Terminales has shared the stage with bands like the raw, Fun People, Loquero, BBS Parade, Fiskales Ad Hok, among many others. It take a while the preparation of what seems to be their first album “official”, but we’ve got 15 intense track which covers the whole existence of the band. Founded in 1996 by Pablo Patán Cortés and Antonio Mery – both vocals – the band gain appreciation of the local and national scene. Read more Enfermos Terminales – Enfermos Terminales (2011)
Nitro – We Are Nitro (2011)
Alexander Hacke (from Einstürzende Neubauten) teamed up with director, writer, producer and actor Fatih Akın in 2005 and made an exciting journey through Istanbul and its music scene. That’s how I discovered Istanbul and bands like Duman, Baba Zula, Orient Expressions, Replikas and few others. That was “Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul.” Later I saw the city with my own eyes and listen to bands suck as maNga. So, that from Turkey comes interesting bands it’s not a surprise for me anymore. Nitro delivering hardcore punk in the vein of The Exploited, the early sound of Suicidal Tendencies. “We are Nitro” consist in 14 pumping tracks and it’s an excellent debut album of this four piece band: Erdem Çapar – Vocal, Emre Manav – Guitar, Burak Özgüney – Bass and Alican ErbaÅŸ – Drums. Read more Nitro – We Are Nitro (2011)
Valerian Swing – A Sailor Lost Around The Earth (2011)
This is a soulful, explosive, flowing, ever-changing, complex and elaborate instrumental album. I actually hesitate to say instrumental rock album because Valerian Swing are far beyond any particular label and box, this is metal, rock, even jazz sometimes, eventually contemporary heavy music. Many times technicality kill the soul of the music, but this is not the case of Valerian Swing, extremely complex themes, impressive breaks, twists and turns make their music dynamic, but without loosing anything from its sensivity and expression. Incredible depths, incisive riffs, colorful lyricism, different moods and tones are revealed by this extremely young, but very talented trio from Correggio, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Formed in 2002 by Stefano Villani, David Ferretti and Alan Ferioli, only one year later including of Johnatan and Davide on vocals they recorded their first five track EP which gained excellent reviews and it was followed by explosive live shows around northern Italy, sharing the stage with established Italian underground bands. Read more Valerian Swing – A Sailor Lost Around The Earth (2011)
Enemy Logic – Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind (2011)
Enemy Logic is a 4 piece metalcore band from Cork, Ireland. The title “Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind” sounds pretty exciting and provocative, so, I get into it. Started in 2002 as Windfall on a hard rock path, in 2008 they turned to a heavier sound and approach and shift their name to Enemy Logic. Classic thrash riffs, raw death like vocals, but also melodic hooks and emotional vibes are merged into one, European taste-like metalcore. With influences from bands such as The Sorrow, Caliban, Heaven Shall Burn, Arch Enemy and Soilwork, Enemy Logic find their own way, blend melodic death and crushing thrash sounds onto their own noisy and groovy aggression. Read more Enemy Logic – Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind (2011)
Minkus – The Shape Of Things To Come (2011)
Merging thrash and groove metal traditions, Minkus from Switzerland sounds like a collision between Pantera and Overkill or some any other Bay Area sound-like classic thrash combo. Still, this music breathing and crushing, it has edge. Death Angel is another name that coming up listening Minkus. Minkus from Switzerland because once again this name is used by a few other bands, a punk band from Omaha, Nebraska, US and another ska/punk band from Oakland, California, US. Gabz – vocals, Akouel – guitars, Giro – guitars, SM – live guitar, Zarch – bass and Vulvic – drums delivered 10 groovy, intense metal tracks, the classy taste of them having a nice, cutting edge modern shape, but somehow this kind of metal never really have age. Read more Minkus – The Shape Of Things To Come (2011)
Atlantis – Mistress of Ghosts (2011)
I still don’t get it, how it comes that some guys seems to be pretty creatives, but when it comes to choose a band name, something I believe it’s pretty important by the way, they just fuck it up or simply shitting on their self? “Atlantis” is a name used by probably half of the planet for different products, including band names. And it was already a rock band in the 70s using this name in Germany. Gilson Heitinga started writing songs under the name “Atlantis” in the winter of 2005/2006. While choosing a name he wasn’t really inspired, the songs he wrote are pretty interesting. Otherwise the name actually fits the music. Releasing the debut “Carpe Omnium” in 2007 and on the good tradition of Trent Reznor, formed a live band including Sander Bolk, Carlo Leijtens, Gido Leijtens and Marijn Slot. Singed for the Nottingham based label, Field Records and “Mistress of Ghosts” is Gilson’s second full-length album.
This is a gloomy, contorted incursion in a world made of enigmatic noises, glowing textures, delicate sounds and expressive shades. Read more Atlantis – Mistress of Ghosts (2011)
Draconian Incubus – Undead (2011)
Resurrect Jim Morrison or take Ian Astbury, or Glenn Denzig and bring them to a rehearsal with Fields Of The Nephilim and the result may be pretty close to what Draconian Incubus produce. And this band from San José, Costa Rica sounds just great. I’m wondering how many people can show me at first where’s on the map Costa Rica… Gloomy, perhaps a little bit evil, but they rocking hard and Julio Salazar have guts and voice. J.C.Dijeres – guitars, Paola Cascante – drums and Jose Carfax – bass, obsessed by Aleister Crowley bring to life a dark universe. Recorded live sometime between March and April, 2011, they said “This is not an album, This is not an EP, This is not a single, This is Real Love, Hallelujah!” and well, you can get your share of this magic potion because the 6 track material is available for FREE DOWNLOAD on their Bandcamp page. Read more Draconian Incubus – Undead (2011)
