Their previous album, “Hart Genossen von ABBA bis Zappa” was pointed out as his favourite record of 2009 by Clawfinger guitarist Bård Torstensen. About the same album Dweezil Zappa said: “Very well done. Normally, I don’t like people re-arranging my father’s music but this was a pleasant surprise.” Not at least, Randy Brecker said: “Panzerballett is the first band I’ve heard that really leads Music into the 21st Century!”
So, what Panzerballett are actually playing? This is an intense, extremely technical Jazz-Rock with some powerful Metal infusions. In-your-face type of riffs are smartly built-in into the classy, but modern flavored Jazz-Rock constructions. “Vulgar Display of Sauerkraut” sounds like Pantera versus Al Di Meola (I’m thinking of songs such as “Alien Chase On Arabian Desert”) – eventually. Double-bass drum slaughterings and killer riffs are merged with mystic flavored Jazz breakdowns. Read more Panzerballett – Tank Goodness (2012)
Junkyard Birds – Freewheeling Free Will (2012)
The kickstarter “High Heels And Leather Boots” reminds me of Iggy’s “The Passenger”, it’s an enjoyable ride, although it’s a genuine, “bad to the bone”, wicked and dirty, garage Rock anthem. And Iggy’s name, the reflection of his wild spirit returns here and there along the album. But more present it’s the ghost of Lemmy, with roots back to Hawkwind and wings spread out to Motörhead.
Junkyard Birds find their own noisy path of raw, loud and distorted Rock perfumed with Blues resonances and turning into Psychedelic and Stoner shades. Fans of MC5 or Stooges, as well as fans of Blue Oyster Cult, Hawkwind or Fu Manchu and Monster Magnet will definitively gonna enjoy the ride along Junkyard Birds. But sometimes they reminded me of Cathedral too. Read more Junkyard Birds – Freewheeling Free Will (2012)
Adler – Back From The Dead (2012)
Adler? Sounds familiar, kind of from a million years ago. Adler, Adler… Hell yeah, Steven Adler, the former GUNS N’ ROSES drummer who was fired on July 11, 1990 during the recording session of “Use Your Illusion” because of his cocaine and heroin addiction.
He managed to record “Civil War” only for the album, although Adler featuring on the infamous “Appetite for Destruction” (1987) and “G N’ R Lies” (1988). “The Most Dangerous Band in the World” were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, their first year of eligibility, featuring both Adler and his replacement Matt Sorum, but also keyboard player Dizzy Reed.
After G’N’R he reformed his old band Road Crew and briefly joined BulletBoys, which both proved unsuccessful. During the 2000s, Adler was the drummer and frontman of his own band Adler’s Appetite playing mainly G’N’R songs from the “Appetite for Destruction” era. Released a self-titled EP through the band’s official website in 2005, featuring Ratt singer Jizzy Pearl, former Slash’s Snakepit guitarist Keri Kelli, and former Ratt bassist Robbie Crane.
But this new band and new album are actually really a back from the dead attempt from this restless guy. Read more Adler – Back From The Dead (2012)
FiXTed for the weekend (Lot of FREE DOWNLOADS!)
Have some good stuffs from FiXT to deliver, and while I was pretty absent and jammed lately, I decide it to put up a playlist with all those tracks and serve them here and now together. Have some killer beats, tortured and contorted wobbling basses, fire starter and explosive anthems to moving the people of the dance floor, but not exclusively.
First of all we have a FREE DOWNLOAD (with the request to donate), the Figure’s remix of Citizen Cope’s “Lifeline”. Noah D’s release of “That Diff” it’s also available for free download. Producer/Composer Jack Trammell bring a free Track from the “Pillars of Creation” called “Critical Mass” where heavy bass music brutally crash into classic orchestral score. Dank ft. jACQ brings to our attention the new Progressive House Banger “Crystals”. Last but not least, we will closing this weekend fire starter playlist with another remix and Free Download by FIGURE who reworked the Deltron 3030’s track “Upgrade.” Turn up your loudspeakers and let’s start the banging!! Read more FiXTed for the weekend (Lot of FREE DOWNLOADS!)
Serments – Erotic Drive (2012)
While there are not too many woman fronted Rock/Metal bands, it’s pretty hard not to compare those bands to each other. This Parisian band reminds me mostly of the Göttingen based Guano Apes and Sandra Nasić got a serious competitor in Vanessa. Although, she’s got also something from Amy Lee of Evanescence as well, but they also reach out for some of the Portishead’s tumultuous sensuality sometimes. The music of Serments it’s a solid blending of Rock and Metal, a smartly textured braiding of electronic and acoustic elements where heavy riffs and spacious synth layers are efficiently assembled together. Sometimes Pop and Trip-Hop flavored, melodious elements are smartly sneaked into the gloomy and twisted atmospheric trips of the band adding a glamorous, smooth touch to their mainly dark and heavy tones. Also, the band introduced several Metalcore inspired, modern sounds in their mostly 90’s flavored Rock/Metal sound which gives to their rides a further intense and fresh breath.
Formed in 2005, they draw serious attention among the Parisian scene starting with 2007. Read more Serments – Erotic Drive (2012)
Illogistical Resource Dept. – Catharsis (2012)
The apocalypse comes from San Francisco. Or just the catharsis. The nature try to get back at us? Eventually. God knows…. 😆 But wont save us from ourselves.
Dan Menapace – Bass and Synths, Jim Harris – Guitar, and Noa Appleton – Drums are explorers, soundonauts. “Speak” it’s a modern, reiterated “Astronomy Domine”, a tasty and gloomy evoking of past values, but also a brave step into the unknown and the future.
This is a groovy, sometimes blowing in your face, but mainly gloomy and atmospheric Rock machinery build to explore the universe of sounds and find new paths for creativity and expression.
Released on 14 November 2012, the 8 tracks of “Catharsis” lead us into the dark world of our worst fears and subconscious.
“When Frogs Attack” starts menacing, the Primus taste is definitively there, but Illogistical Resource Dept. add their own flavor as well. Wicked riffs and spicy grooves are blending into a powerful, catchy song, an excellent “door opener” for an album full of different blends and flavors.
“The Secret Box” it’s a more Psychedelic flavored trip with a charming, mysterious aroma. What Forrest Gump’s mom said about life, it’s go to “Catharsis” as well: “Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Read more Illogistical Resource Dept. – Catharsis (2012)
How To Destroy Angels – An Omen (2012)
Six new tracks, $5 download in MP3 or lossless format. There is no CD release for this EP, and the 12″ 180-gram vinyl it’s already sold-out. This is the second EP by Mariqueen Maandig, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Rob Sheridan, while their long expected debut album probably will be released next year. Post-Industrial? Sort of, but not quite. How To Destroy Angels it’s an extremely slippery something, not related to any genre or style, but incorporates different musical elements from experimental Trip-Hop to Post-Rock and Post-Industrial explorations. Far away from the contorted and furious expression of anger so typical for Nine Inch Nails, but in some moments similar to the spirit of the 2008’s “Ghosts” series, How To Destroy Angels are in the search for new, unexplored paths, virgin, untouched areas of the music. Quite a temerarious task for 2012, isn’t it? But Reznor once again proves that everything it’s possible with inspiration and boldness. Read more How To Destroy Angels – An Omen (2012)
Bad Brains – Into The Future (2012)
When music becomes boring, going back to the roots it’s always an option. And the ninth studio album by Bad Brains it’s both a classic and a fresh breath of Rasta-Hardcore.
Originally formed as a jazz fusion ensemble called Mind Power in 1975 under the spellbound of bands such as Chick Corea’s Return to Forever and John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra. Two years later, a friend of the band, Sid McCray, introduced the band to Punk Rock, playing for them bands such as the Dickies, the Dead Boys, and the Sex Pistols. They became obsessed with the new genre and changed their name to “Bad Brains”, after the Ramones song “Bad Brain”, but using the word “bad” in the sense of “good”.
The band developed an early reputation in Washington D.C., due in part to the relative novelty of an entirely black band playing Punk Rock, but also due to their high-energy performances and undeniable talent. In 1979, Bad Brains found themselves the subject of an unofficial ban among many Washington D.C. area clubs and performance venues – later addressed in their song, “Banned in D.C.”. The band subsequently relocated to New York City.
Widely regarded as among the pioneers of Hardcore Punk, Bad Brains recordings also featured elements of other genres like Funk, Dub, Heavy Metal, Hip-Hop and Soul. The band broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different singers or drummers. Among others, Chuck Mosley, former Faith No More singer being part of the group between 1990 and 1991. The band’s classic and current lineup is singer H.R. (Human Rights), guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer, and drummer Earl Hudson, H.R.’s younger brother.
Released on November 20, 2012 on Megaforce Records, “Into The Future” it is a tribute dedication to Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, a longtime friend of the band who died of cancer this year. Read more Bad Brains – Into The Future (2012)
Fear – The Fear Record (2012)
Originally recorded in 1981 in Sound City Studios, California, titled simple “The Record” and released by Slash Records on May 16, 1982, and it’s definitively one of the pillars of modern Hardcore, a milestone of Punk/Metal/Hardcore colored brilliantly with Blues/Jazz and all sort of unexpected, out of patterns inflections and infusions. So, why would Lee Ving decide to re-record it 3 decades away? One possible explanation might be a shity record deal with Slash and a better deal signed now with The End Records and the 30 years anniversary may be a great opportunity for some smooth and simple cashing-in. Anyway, this band and the original album deserves both respect and celebration. This re-recorded version surprisingly sounds pretty raw, the few small changes do not really makes any difference and as always, if you want the best, go back to the original.
Several songs have been rewritten to shock/offend less. The 62-year-old Ving and the world over the last three decades have been changed. Ving try to seem more mature, while the world play the card of being more enlighten, sensitive or something… Some people get offended nowadays if you sing lyrics like the one of “New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones”. Read more Fear – The Fear Record (2012)
Byzant At Christmas (in the memory of Tibi Blaga)
This one is dedicated to the memory of AB Byzant’s father, Tibor Blaga (9/6/1941-16/11/2012). Rest In Peace!
