Rocksound call them “The saviours of UK alternative metal!” while Kerrang!! consider them “An explosive mangle of Manson stage craft and middle finger metal!”. When the media praise an artist unanimously, I’ve become suspicious and precocious.
Good to know: “We are not some American band who will write a love song just to appeal to teenagers” said vocalist Stitch D, and listen to their songs, this 5-piece London based metal band delivering some kind of aggressive, wicked metal, something which might be described as the collision of Murderdolls with Static-X, a deadly mixture of Nu and Groove Metal. Brit-Metal or not, they sounds more American-like than similar to Iron Maiden or Bullet for My Valentine and find a loud, powerful way to put their riffs and noises in the right place and afterward punch them right in your face.
So, kicking all my skepticism and prejudices considering everything labeled “metalcore” lately away, The Defiled – almost surprisingly – are absolutely worth to listen. Probably if Pantera would form today they might sound pretty close to what The Defiled deliver. Also Slipknot fans might find this album highly inflammable!!! Read more The Defiled – Grave Times (2011)
alternative metal
Psychostick – Space Vampires vs Zombie Dinosaurs In 3D (2011)
The third strike of this so-called “Humorcore” band from Tempe, Arizona, will be released on August 16, 2011 and the band also made available the first two singles, “Political Bum” and “Beacuse Boobs” as free downloads on their web site in order to promote the album.
Quoting from their official bio: “a breath of fresh air has come for those who need a break from the standard angry rock or metal band. While many fans love the rush of loud and heavy music, it usually comes bundled with negative lyrics and attitudes”, Psychostick brings humor in Metal, adds dumb and funny lyrics to cutting riffs, pounding drums and the pulsing bass, reminds me somehow of Green Jellÿ, they add spices to classy Metal and sometimes full of shit life and boring, cliche-full (mainstream) music.
Read more Psychostick – Space Vampires vs Zombie Dinosaurs In 3D (2011)
Vampires On Tomato Juice – VOTJ (2011)
Trevor Le Doux (Vocals, Creator), Ben Wolf (Vocals, Creator), Lucius McCoy (Guitars), Donovan Crane (Guitars), Lord Daryl Khedora (Drums, Background Vocals) and M.Art.S. Lucrezia di Bathory (Bass, Background Vocals) want to notice the world they are here, so this “VOTJ” is available for free download on their web site. What they sound like? Imagine System Of A Down playing Helloween songs from the 80s or vice verse, the 80’s Helloween playing System Of A Down compositions. It’s goddamn serious, but it’s pretty funny. 14 songs plus intro, seems to be hell of an effort, the SOAD parallel persist through the whole album, maybe it’s a little bit too obvious, too conscious this influence. And maybe 14 songs it’s too much. Less songs and more carefully selected themes might worked better. I would stick to 10 songs. Read more Vampires On Tomato Juice – VOTJ (2011)
Cold – Superfiction (2011)
Fred Durst noticed Cold on the local scene in their hometown Jacksonville. Fred invited the band to record a demo and pass the recording to producer Ross Robinson who take them over and get them a deal with A&M Records. At the bottom line, Cold had two gold-albums and has sold over one million records. They break up in 2006, but reunited two years later and “Superfiction” is their first new album since 2005’s “A Different Kind of Pain”.
12 tracks, kind of mediocre post-grunge/alternative rock mixture, they have a very few better moments, a couple of catchy riffs and some good choruses, but still, it’s thin for 2011 and not quite exciting generally speaking. Read more Cold – Superfiction (2011)
Seed From The Geisha – Talk peace to the wolf (2011)
“It all began with a seed… and the seed had become flesh…” Quite American rock, balanced between post-grunge and alternative metal, a mixture of emotions and youthful rage. Seed From The Geisha are made by the gathering of five Parisian musicians after they left their own projects to join together and at the crossroad of different influences they find their own flavored blending of rock and metal. “Talk peace to the wolf” was recorded at Sainte Marthe Studios during May 2009 and the album was released by M & O Music on March 28, 2011. Read more Seed From The Geisha – Talk peace to the wolf (2011)
Naisian – Mammalian (2011)
Far off from the Brit scene and tends, Naisian from Sheffield, brings to the surface a tumultuous, contorted metal with roots back both to the classic Black Sabbath sound and the mixture of sludge and post-hardcore riffs, in their music is a perfect balance between dark and noisy elements and sometimes psychedelic, other time warm and calm, spacy moments. James Borrowdale – guitar and vocals, Adam Zejma – guitar and vocals, Micheal Aitken – bass and vocals and Jordan Garlick – (only 
) drums, create a quite exciting and unique blending of intense metal and avantgardist surfing. “Mammalian” can be listen and downloaded (“name your price”) from the band’s Bandcamp page. It worth every minute and every penny. Read more Naisian – Mammalian (2011)
Skindred – Union Black (2011)
Skindred has sometimes been compared to Bad Brains, they got in their vain that hardcore explosion which made them one of the most exciting live acts in the UK, they reminds me of Asian Dub Foundation or the heaviest moments of Subsource, but as well they may be compared to Limp Bizkit. Alternative metal blended with dub and reggae it only can be intense, pumping, explosive. And this mixture formula, blending of metal/rock and punk elements with dub, reggae and electronica, since Apollo 440 and the beginning of the 90s, it’s not quite new, but it’s working efficiently when it’s made with nerve and taste. And Skindred for the past decade proof to have both. As usually, everybody reclaiming the paternity of the genre, but I think music it’s not exclusively about who was the first, but about writing good songs and express something, anything. And Benji Webbe since 1993 with Dub War and after their split in 98-99 and formed Skindred, done excellent works. Read more Skindred – Union Black (2011)
Absolution – The Other Side Of Nothing (2011)
On the other side of nothing there is Absolution. Stepping in the foot-prints of P.O.D., Godsmack, Drowning Pool and other acclaimed representatives of the post nu metal and alternative metal scene, this band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, delivering their second album. They heavily promoting themselves in support of their previous, critically-acclaimed EP “Theory Of Existence” sharing the stage with many great acts such as Ill Nino, Nonpoint, Drowning Pool, Tantric, Taproot, RED, Future Leaders Of The World, Ekotren, A New Revolution, Sick Puppies, Otep, CKY, Halestorm, Black Stone Cherry and many more, they gained an impressive following.
Powerful and melodic, passionate and adrenaline pumping, Absolution gained experience and reach its maturity. Read more Absolution – The Other Side Of Nothing (2011)
Deftones – Covers (2011)
To commemorate “Record Store Day“, Deftones released a special edition “Covers” album. This LP is a collection of classic Deftones’ cover tracks, pressed together on limited edition vinyl for the first time ever and only 3K of these will be available. Deftones play songs by artists like The Cure, Japan, Drive Like Jehu, The Cars, The Smiths, Lynryd Skynrd, Duran Duran. I like covers, actually I collect them and sometimes I find real pearls, interesting reinterpretations or new, unexpected dimension of some more or less classic tracks. To play one on one somebody else’s song, make no sense. It’s actually not the first time when Deftones delight us with covers,their “B Sides & Rarities” – Released in 2005 – compilation included cover songs from their favorite artists, ranging from metal, hard rock (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and post-hardcore (Helmet and Jawbox), to gothic rock, art rock and new wave (Duran Duran, Cocteau Twins and The Cure), so, they always have a “colored” taste, and this vinyl is colored and contrasting as well. Read more Deftones – Covers (2011)
Battles – Gloss Drops (2011)
Imagine the living room of a mental hospital where some guys left from the seventies high on some unknown substances are jamming with some drunk, but friendly aliens. Or anyway, something like that. It’s spooky, but controversially, it’s kind of exciting. And quit surprisingly, the guys from the band called Battles managed to control all that crazy sound battles. This is an experiment which sometimes sounds like the Nintendo games, but somehow simultaneously it’s goddamn serious. The band’s current line-up comprises guitarists and keyboard player Ian Williams (formerly of Don Caballero and Storm & Stress), bassist and guitarist Dave Konopka (formerly of Lynx), and drummer John Stanier (formerly of Helmet), and their benefit from the guest featuring of Matias Aguayo, Gary Numan, Kazu Makino and Yamantaka Eye. I think a permanent vocalist would do no harm, their music is kind of dense and more singing may bring some release and add a human touch. Read more Battles – Gloss Drops (2011)
