Jazz, Oriental vibe and an excellent sense of humor. “Music is all about enjoyment and that comes easiest when you laugh” says Rabih Abou-Khalil. Speaking of his new album and his band, Abou-Khalil said: “We’ve been playing together for nearly 16 years now. We know each other very well so, as you will hear, the band is very tight indeed.” This is also a quite multicultural project as well. Abou-Khalil – who plays oud – grew up in Beirut and moved to Munich, Germany during the civil war in 1978. Saxophonist Gavino Murgia are from Sardinian and sometimes he provide also vocals – for instance listen into “Bankers’ Banquet”. Frenchman Michel Godard is a phenomenal player of the tuba and its ancestor, the serpent, but he also plays bass. Luciano Biondini is a virtuoso Italian accordionist. Jarrod Cagwin sre form Iowa, USA, he is equally masterful with sticks and bare hands, and using both, western drum-kit and to Arabic frame drums.
Their music uses elements from Arab music traditions, together with many Jazz, Rock and classical references, particularly to the school of Ornette Coleman and Don Cherry, but also other influences include Frank Zappa, Bela Bartok, and such unexpected musicians as the Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener from Trinidad.
Since ’81 Rabih Abou-Khalil released over 20 albums and contributed to many more.
“Hungry People” it’s a direct reference to the “Arab Spring”. Read more Rabih Abou-Khalil – Hungry People (2012)
Reviews
Green Day -Tre! (2012)
Why I bother to write about this? Well, probably because I get into this trilogy and after two bitter pills, the deadly strike it’s unavoidable. While “¡Uno!” was not so convincing, and “¡Dos!” was even worst, “¡Tré!” it’s definitively the most forgettable Green Day release ever. And one by one, even some of their most devoted fans are starting to give voice to their disappointment. Honestly, really don’t get it why Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool and Jason White get so stubbornly ambitious to release a trilogy while they hardly had enough songs for a barley mediocre simple album? And who actually expecting stupid (piano) ballads from – even a Pop – Punk band? And after all, who needs a soft and sweet Green Day these days anyway? Not even my 5 year old son. He prefers Rammstein.
Green Day announced that ¡Tré!’s released date had been pushed forward to December 11, along with the cancellation of the rest of the year’s tour and a postponement of their early 2013 arena tour dates. They also announced that Armstrong will probably hit the rehab while he’s seeking treatment for his serious alcohol issues. Read more Green Day -Tre! (2012)
Let’s Murder the Moder Arts
Cut the crap and be brutally honest: modern generally speaking means quite tasteless or even worst. That’s a fact. Art is not about express yourself anymore, but about kissing asses to cash in eventually. It helps if you’re mindlessly gay or at least bisexual, if you have at least a Jewish promoter and – most of all – if you don’t have a clue what you’re talking, singing, painting, writing and generally, doing about. It’s better to be black, Hispanic or from China, Caucasian is so fuckin’ boring and ordinary! You need – it’s hopelessly mandatory – Facebook, Twitter and… Botox.
My name is… Picasso. Let’s Murder the Modern Arts! Read more Let’s Murder the Moder Arts
Navene K – Human Design, free EP (2012)
Navene Koperweis (aka Navene K), is an American drummer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer, best known as the former drummer of Animosity and Animals as Leaders. Koperweis started drumming when he was eleven years old. He has played for The Faceless, and runs his technical death metal band, Fleshwrought, where he plays all instruments.
Debuted on record with Hoods on their 2003’s album “Prey for Death”. With Animosity featured on three albums: “Shut It Down” (2003), “Empires” (2005) and “Animal” (2007). Under the moniker Fleshwrought released in 2010 the album “Dementia/Dyslexia”. Featured on the second album, “Weightless”, by Animals as Leaders in 2011 both as drummer and engineering.
Plays beside the drums guitar and various electronic instruments.
He is also a dubstep/electronica producer, and is currently working on his debut electronic album. A tasteful peak into his upcoming works it’s this free, four track EP aviable for free download from his Soundcloud and Bandcamp page. Read more Navene K – Human Design, free EP (2012)
Sorrows Path – The Rough Path Of Nihilism (2010)
Formed in November 1993, the Greece Sorrows Path on their second album delivered powerful, complex, quality Metal merging Heavy and Progressive elements with Death flavored intensity. Think of something like Iron Maiden playing Candlemass songs. Perfect and absolute stainless steel!
Technical and brutal, the 12 songs of “The Rough Path Of Nihilism” are both flavored by symphonic and Doom elements generating a massive sound and deeply dark, gloomy and epic vibe. Their music have a dark, tragic taste – which definitively reflects their own personal tragedy filled history.
Singer Angelos Ioannidis have a theatrical approach which mainly reminds me of Bruce Dickinson and Jon Oliva (Savatage).
“The Rough Path Of Nihilism” it’s an extremely compact, complex, flawless and unfortunately not enough known, publicized release. Read more Sorrows Path – The Rough Path Of Nihilism (2010)
Eric Burdon and The Greenhornes – Self-titled EP (2012)
When I said a few days back that I’m tired and bored of music because music became only the additional sub-product of an exclusively profit oriented industry and the true values (the music) were replaced by fad, predictable, patterned and instantly forgettable (background) noises. In this world, in this frightening circumstances, Mr. Burdon and his youngster new allies, The Greenhornes, delivered balm for my (ears and) soul.
In a world where nothing seems genuine anymore, 71 years old Eric Burdon, the man who led The Animals in the 60s and the War in the 70s, proves – once again – that music it’s music when it’s still played with soul.
While Burdon was ranked 57th in Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time; the Garage Rock band The Greenhornes from Cincinnati, Ohio, are less famous. Formed in 1996 by vocalist/guitarist Craig Fox, bass guitarist Jack Lawrence and drummer Patrick Keeler, they released four albums, one EP and one compilation. In 2005 Lawrence and Keeler formed The Raconteurs with Jack White and Brendan Benson which eventually bring them some more exposure.
Released on November 23rd as part of Record Store Day’s “Black Friday”, this 4 track self-titled EP it’s a raw, pounding, powerful modern Blues release flavored with noises and garage feel. If this is not genuine, don’t know what it is. Read more Eric Burdon and The Greenhornes – Self-titled EP (2012)
KomaH – Between Vice and Virtue (2012)
Death Metal fueled, massive, powerful Groove Metal easily related to Sepultura, but with roots back to classic Heavy Metal as well, the Belgian KomaH at their second installment seems even more determined and merciless then ever. And honestly, it’s hard to fail when have songs such as “The King of Raptors” which could be placed easily on any Pantera release.
Leny Andrieux – Vocals; Luigi Chiarelli – Guitar & Vocals; Antoine Goudeseune – Guitar; Nicholas Brynin – Bass; and Jonas Sanders – Drums are on rampage mode. Read more KomaH – Between Vice and Virtue (2012)
Panzerballett – Tank Goodness (2012)
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)
