Everybody’s praise Bowie and his brand new “The Next Day” album, which comes after a heart attack and a serious 10 years gap. The 66 year old Bowie announced the release of his new album at his 66 birthday.
True, between the fabulous 2003’s “Reality” and this brand new album we had “Toy”, in March 2011, Bowie’s previously unreleased album from 2001 (another 10 years gap fulfilled), which leaked onto the internet, containing material used for “Heathen” and most of its single B-sides, but, that was just a bitter-sweet delicatessen for inpatient fans and “pour le connaisseur”, isn’t it?
The cover for “The Next Day” was designed by Jonathan Barnbrook, and it plays on the iconic cover of 1977’s “Heroes” – witch was the second installment of his Berlin Trilogy with Brian Eno, while the cover photo was shot by Masayoshi Sukita. And somehow “The Next Day” it’s a trip back to Berlin, a journey in the search of lost (and eventually find) love, soul, spirit or anything else. Or a seek and hide with Mr. Death. But the first released single, “Where Are We Now?” take us back to Berlin literally and emotionally. So, Ziggy Stardust is back and he’s gonna eat your heart out! Read more David Bowie – The Next Day (2013)
Thot – Rhythm.Hope.Answers – single (2013)
Thot are back. “Rhythm.Hope.Answers.” it’s their brand new single, available even for free download (name your price), but any donation will be appreciate it and re-invested in the music production of their upcoming new album.
Grégoire Fray, the brain and conductor of this self-declared Vegetal Noise Machine are here to give us a wake-up call while this world seems to sink in its own filth and hypocrisy. Still, can turn around and look the other way, but that wont change a thing. And well, you will not be able to change the world if you refuse to make some changes in your life and you are not willing to get involved in the things that going around. Not your problem? Seriously? Read more Thot – Rhythm.Hope.Answers – single (2013)
Sky Burns Red – Who Are You, EP (2013)
Somewhere between the classy and powerful, genuine Brit rock of John Waite (The Babys/Bad English) and the groove oriented, grungier Indie rock in the vein of Kings of Leon or OK Go, it’s Sky Burns Red, a promising young band from U.K.
From the deepest depths of the Swindon music scene surfaces SkyBurnsRed, an eclectic rock band with a orchestral twist. Although guitar and violin would rarely associate under normal circumstances, the haunting tones of the classical instrument become electrified and entangled in the heavy rock foundations creating the bands striking sound. Read more Sky Burns Red – Who Are You, EP (2013)
Fragment – Temporary Enlightenment (2013)
Merging shoegaze flavoured gloominess and endless distorted guitar chords; slow pulsing electronic layers and bitter sweet clean vocals; cinematic tension and mechanical monotony; Thierry Arnal, the one-man army behind Fragment, is back with his new album entitled “Temporary Enlightenment”. This is a quite dizzy mixture of alternative rock and drone, post-modern psychedelia and slowcore, dream-pop and shoegaze, a bridge build of sound and noises, but on solid emotional pillars, between Sunn O)))) and Sigur Rós, between Pink Floyd and Candlemass, and everything ever-after and above.
Not an easy listening, not refreshing, probably not gonna make you feel better or released, but it’s gonna make you feel miserable and eventually make you cry, but that’s alright. Crying it’s not something you should be ashamed of. And “Temporary Enlightenment” have several quieter, less weighty and depressing moments as well (like the nice acoustic “From This Moment”), so, no need to be desperate, there is still a pale stain of hope. Read more Fragment – Temporary Enlightenment (2013)
ZEUS! – Opera (2013)
Luca Cavina (Calibro 35, Craxi, Incident on South Street) : distorted Bass and Vocals and Paolo Mongardi (Fuzz Orchestra, Ronin, FulKanelli, ex-Jennifer Gentle) : distorted Drums, started this project in October 2010, aiming at “using the minimum in order to get the maximum and is: not metal, not punk, not math, not noise, not prog, absolutely not jazz-core, neither post-whatever” – as they firmly declared.
Althrough this is a quite rough and tumultous adventure out of most people’s musical and lyrical comfort zone, this is definitively a genuine and creative act of art, something actually (and unfortunately) damn rare these days. Read more ZEUS! – Opera (2013)
One Morning Left – Our Sceneration (2013)
If you think it’s the perfect time to wider your musical horizon while the music became boring – which it’s actually f*ckin’ true -, One Morning Left might be your perfect choice and from where you kick out. Merging trance flavoured electronic layers, dubstep drops and mad wobbling, with death metal rooted extreme metal butcheries, One Morning Left delivers all. This is fun and simultaneously deadly serious. Screaming like a slaughtered pig (Mika “Miksu” Lahti), or singing loud and clear (Tomi “Tomppa” Salonen), banging on techno beats (Veli-Matti “Vesku” Kananen) or heavy basses (Tuomas “Tumppi” Teittinen), murderous guitar riffs (Ari “Arska” Levola), blood vomiting growls and total brutality – One Morning Left covers all. And – surprisingly – this sounds great and make sense! Or not really surprisingly. Geerally speaking, Scandinavians delivers quality stuffs. Eventually, in the particular case of One Morning Left, blame it on the Finnish climate, Scooter, Lauri Tähkä and the mental hospitals… Read more One Morning Left – Our Sceneration (2013)
Dirty Shirt – Freak Show (2013)
The circus it’s back to the town! Run and hide while you still can, the freaks are out of leash! Or just turn up the volume, dig out from the corner of your soul your rusty air-guitar and bang the hell out of your head!
Formed in 1995 in a small town called Seini from Maramureş, Romania, by four young and enthusiast musicians, Dirty Shirt released their third (and deadly) album these days. The vivid mixture of Western, Industrial fueled Hardcore Metal and Eastern folklore never sounded better and more cohesive. It’s a rarely happy marriage between different sounds and aromas, a smartly conducted collision of cultures and concepts. Although, Dirty Shirt reminds me of Tankard, Leningrad Cowboys and Faith No More, and they have solid roots back to the late 80’s, mid 90’s metal, this still sounds powerful and alive. Alternative metal, smartly layered and tastefully flavoured with nu-metal, metalcore and genuine (home made 🙂 ), secret ingredients. Read more Dirty Shirt – Freak Show (2013)
Electric Worry – Back to Motor City, EP (2013)
Pierre (Bass – Vocal), Léo (Guitar) and Batiste (Drum) are the members of the French stoner rock band Electric Worry and ” Back to Motor City” it’s their four track debut EP – Digital album: name your price/free; limited edition CD for €5 at their Bandcamp page.
Although they choose their name inspired by the American band Clutch (track 6 from their 2007’s released, eighth studio album entitled “From Beale Street to Oblivion”), and they are singing in English, as a genuine French band, I did not find one single word in English about them on their official internet profiles and pages. Well, my French sucks – a lot – merde!! On the other hand, translator softwares are freaking fun, so, I’m not gonna bitching more about it. But if the band really thinking of reach out a larger audience over the borders of France, at least an official bio in English, would be nice.
But then again, this is a cool band (I mean f*ckin’ heavy!!) and they worth – at least – a listen. Read more Electric Worry – Back to Motor City, EP (2013)
KMFDM – Kunst (2013)
Spawned in Germany during 1984, KMFDM (Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid, loosely translated as “no pity for the majority”) pioneered the crossover between techno/dance and heavy metal with their signature industrial sound. Moving to Chicago in the mid-80’s KMFDM was the pride of WaxTrax! Records during the label’s peak. They relocated to Hamburg, Germany in October 2007.
Led by German multi-instrumentalist Sascha Konietzko, KMFDM has released seventeen studio albums and two dozen singles, with sales of more than two million records worldwide. The current line up incorporates: Sascha Konietzko – vocals, guitar, bass, programming, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion; Lucia Cifarelli – vocals, keyboards; Jules Hodgson – guitar, bass, keyboards; Andy Selway – drums and Steve White – guitar. But we must mention a few former key members such as Tim Skold, Raymond Watts, En Esch, Günter Schulz and Mark Durante.
The forthcoming eighteenth studio album entitled “Kunst” it’s due for release on February 26, 2013 on Metropolis Records. Read more KMFDM – Kunst (2013)
Vuyvr – Eiskalt (2013)
Über brutality – total aggression. But it feels good and sounds murderous. Raw, unpolished, furious and totally grinding into the ground type of black metal with well determined roots back to the traditional Nordic sound, but simultaneously looking boldly into the future and exploring yet virgin outer limits of the genre. Vuyvr are the new Swiss challengers and they are definitively the most devilish offspring of some glorious predecessors as Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Samael or Coroner.
My favorite butcheries are “War Of 100 000 Centuries”, “Idolatry”, “Dead Trees Are Wandering At” and the epic “The Wyvern”. Read more Vuyvr – Eiskalt (2013)
