Another Soulfly release it’s a strong reason for celebration, but when David Kinkade describe this is gonna sound-like “Arise on crack”, the excitement and expectations are rising even higher. The 8th studio album by Max Cavalera’s Soulfly will definitively satisfy all the band’s fans and eventually will bring a few new ones. Max seems unstoppable and restless. Hopefully not because of the….. crack. 🙂
With artwork from Marcelo Vasco, who has designed album artwork for bands such as Borknagar, Obituary, and Dimmu Borgir and co-produced along max by Zeuss (previously worked with bands like Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Bleeding Through, Throwdown, Chimaira, etc), “Enslaved” featuring for the first time new drummer David Kinkade (ex-Borknagar), and Tony Campos (former of Static-X, Prong, and Ministry) on bass, along guitarist Marc Rizzo and Max Cavalera on vocals, guitar, and berimbau.
Guests appearances on the album include Dez Fafara of Coal Chamber and DevilDriver and Travis Ryan of Cattle Decapitation, and on “Revengeance” feataturing Richie Cavalera of Incite, Zyon and Igor Cavalera Jr. of Lody Kong.
The album was recorded in late 2011 in Tallcat Studios in Phoenix, Arizona and it will be officially released by Roadrunner on March 13. On January 25, 2012 the lead single, “World Scum”, became available as a free download for 48 hours, with a video released on February 16. Read more Soulfly – Enslaved (2012)
Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise (2010)
Nicolas Jaar released his debut album, “Space Is Only Noise” in May of 2010 to critical acclaim, receiving a score of 8.4 “Best New Music” from Pitchfork and four stars from The Guardian. It was ranked #1 album of the year by Resident Advisor, Mixmag, Crack Mag, #2 by DJ Mag and #20 by Pitchfork. His track “Don’t Break My Love” also received BNM by Pitchfork in late 2011.
Probably I would never heard of if Justin Nozuka at the remix contest of “How Low” would not mention that he is looking for a remix in a deeper, ambient vein of James Blake’s “Klavierwerke” or Nicolas Jaar’s “Space Is Only Noise”. Read more Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise (2010)
VALVE – Self-titled EP (2012) free download
Contorted ant tumultuous, VALVE delivered a noisy and grinding debut EP which can be bought (name your price) from their Bandcamp page or downloaded for free from the link they offer on Mediafire.
The Parisian band delivering a very heavy and consistent modern Metal merging from Doom to Groove Metal and from Sludge to (post-modern) Metalcore all kind of different Metal sub-genres, but the result is very intense and intriguingly compact, crushing, cutting-edge Metal. In the nowadays over-dumping offering of so-called Metalcore products, VALVE almost miraculously find their own voice, path and sound and succeed to deliver a mature and quality product. “Siren” is my favorite track, although all the five tracks are equally and extremely intense and experimental, temerarious songs.
Definitively a nice surprise and a very promise full debut. Don’t hesitate, go and grab it!!! Read more VALVE – Self-titled EP (2012) free download
The Mars Volta – Noctourniquet (2012)
Mentioned The Mars Volta not so long ago because Adrián Terrazas-González, a past member and collaborator of the band because of his involved in the T.R.A.M. project.
The sixth full-length studio album of The Mars Volta is scheduled for release on March 27th, 2012. It is the first studio album to feature drummer Deantoni Parks, and the first not to feature contributions from both long-time keyboardist Isaiah “Ikey” Owens (De Facto, Look Daggers, Free Moral Agents, etc) and guitarist John Frusciante (ormer lead guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers). Cedric Bixler-Zavala – vocals, Omar Rodríguez-López – guitar, Marcel Rodríguez-López – keyboards and synths, Juan Alderete – bass and Deantoni Parks – drums delivered another colorful journey into the deep space of Progressive Rock having roots back to the 70’s psychedelia, but simultaneously looking into the big wide future. Lars Stalfors was in charge for engineer, mixing, but also for some additional synths, while Sonny Kay took care of the artwork and layout. Read more The Mars Volta – Noctourniquet (2012)
Galactic – Carnivale Electricos (2012)
Although I listen and I really enjoy lot of Jazz music, I’m the first to admit, I’m not an “expert”, and by the way, generally speaking I’m not an “expert” and anyone who claims he (she) is one, he (she) is a pretender (and liar). Gee! 🙂
Now let’s get back to Galactic.
Originally formed in 1994 as an octet, under the name Galactic Prophylactic, they delivering a mixture of electric Rock, Funk, Blues and Jazz. I get to listen them because behind the drum kit it’s Stanton Moore, who played in Corrosion Of Conformity, knowned him from Garage A Trois, the Stanton Moore Trio, Midnite Disturbers, played with jazz-funk keyboardist Robert Walter, with Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Boots Riley of the Coup on the project Street Sweeper Social Club, with Dragon Smoke and MG5. Read more Galactic – Carnivale Electricos (2012)
Cycler – Polymath (2012)
Cycler is the alias used by Ioan Bârlădeanu when he’s tripping into music. This journey kicked out back in ’97, first influences came from acts such as Kraftwerk, Photek, ZX Spectrum Orchestra, Plaid, Modeselektor, Amon Tobin, Haus Arafna, Yvat, Distance, Brazda lui Novac, but two years later he saw a HBO documentary about “rave parties” and pushed forward by The Prodigy, he split his rebellious spirit between heavy metal and big-beat.
On April 26th ’07 made his main stage debut at the 2nd edition of experimental/electronic underground festival Cybermental at Bucharest followed by several other festivals and gigs along other Romanian artist of the electro scene like Matze, Brazda Lui Novac, Silent Strike, Clock:Divider, Luntaire, etc.
Cycler featured on several releases, the first was along Karsten Hamre (NO) on the project “The Flux Komplex”, and release of the album “Lost Illusions” through Trinity Records, Hong Kong. He also appeared on some compilations: “Diferenta 01” and “The DeviantArt Compilation” in 2008.
The time seems right for his debut album and Raumklang Music released it on March 1st Cycler’s debut album, “Polymath”. And if you enjoyed “Dizzy” , the latest album by Brazda lui Novac, definitively you don’t want to miss this one! Read more Cycler – Polymath (2012)
Paal Nilssen-Love, Mesele Asmamaw and Mats Gustafsson – Baro 101 (2012)
What’s the connection between two members of the avant-garde group The Thing (Paal Nilssen-Love – drums and Mats Gustafsson – saxophone), Ethiopian musician Mesele Asmamaw and the legendary Dutch post rock/avant-garde outfit The Ex? Room 101 of the Baro Hotel, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia on February 27th 2010.
The Ex has been going to Ethiopia for quite a while. The first tour, with Han Bennink, in the north, was in 2002. The next one, in the south, during 2004. Through all the new and improvised music festivals they play, The Ex has connection with many adventurous musicians. So they started a series of projects in Ethiopia. With breakcore pop duo Zea in May 2008, followed by Silent Block from France (tables full of self-made instruments, experimental electronica and much more), in May 2009. And then two projects with “Saxophone”. Not only they bring Friso Heidinga from the saxophone repair-shop Amsterdam Winds, who fixed dozens of instruments, but also great players like Ken Vandermark, Ab Baars, Mats Gustafsson, who performed in combination with The Ex members and Norwegian free jazz drummer Paal Nilssen-Love. And all cooperated with many amazing Ethiopian musicians and dancers. Like Getatchew Mekuria, Melaku Belay, Indriss Hassen, Misale Legesse and krar-player Mesele Asmamaw (who we knew before from the Mohammed Jimmy Mohammed Trio). Read more Paal Nilssen-Love, Mesele Asmamaw and Mats Gustafsson – Baro 101 (2012)
Skafandr – Glaz (2012)
Labeled “dub metal” and delivered directly from Saint-Petersburg, Russia, “Glaz” it’s an absolutely refrashing mixture of metal and dub, one of the most efficient and criminal combination of this genres far as I heard. We’ve got 10 perfectly groovy and killer tracks.Evgenii Rybnikov – guitar, Igor Rusinovich – guitar, Yuri Vitel – bass-guitar, and Kirill Soloviev – drums find not only the perfect balance between styles, but actually write a couple of great songs, which, we have to admit it, it’s kind of rare thing in the nowadays excessively patternized music… industry. In other words, Skafandr have soul. Read more Skafandr – Glaz (2012)
Voice Of Ruin – New Video and Free Download
Randy Schaller – voice, Nils Horngacher and Marc Chevalley – guitars, Erwin Bertschi – bass and Olivier Sutter – drums delivered a perfect picture of nowadays metalcore patterns and cliches, actually they do a pretty good job, but they didn’t managed to bring into it something from their own spirit. They delivering an instant burst of adrenalin, playing fast, pumping high-energy and rage in their songs and well, for some youngsters and a debut material, this is quite alright. Read the full album review HERE.
Watch Voice Of Ruin’s new video, “Dépendances” and grab their debut album for free here: MEDIAFIRE link. Read more Voice Of Ruin – New Video and Free Download
The Walla Recovery – With Trembling (2012), EP, free download
The cello-folk quartet The Walla Recovery delivering through NoiseTrade this 7 track EP for free download. Start they musical journey back in 2001, The Walla Recovery mentioning as influences bands like Yo-Yo Ma, Nickel Creek, Goo Goo Dolls, but reminded me of a more melancholic Smashing Pumpkins or The Cure as well. I like how the cello gives a dark shine for this songs, everything is smoothly arranged and gently performed. Labeled eventually “Chamber-Folk-Rock”, this is a very tasty experience. Warm and very humanly close.
So, listen and grab the download, consider leaving a tip if you’d like what you hear and want them to make more music. Read more The Walla Recovery – With Trembling (2012), EP, free download
