2| Roadrunner Coal Chamber |
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| Sorry about being late with this, but as most
of you know here in Attitude Towers we care little
for Dez and his cohorts. Anyway I’ve got the single to review so
here goes. Firstly note that it includes three songs- Loco
and Sway (The two songs which Coal
Chamber have built their career on) and a new song, Blisters. Ok so lets get it out the way, yes Loco and Sway are good songs although the remixes here seem pointless except for minor changes. Quite frankly if you’re looking to get into Coal Chamber buy this single instead of the album as you get the only two worthwhile tracks and only have to sit through one shite one. And in this case the shite one doesn’t sound like a clone of the two good ones, instead it drones on in a mildly irritating way. At a much cheaper price it sounds like a good investment to me and if you really want to hear Big Truck just tape yourself shouting it over the chorus of Loco and hey presto. In fact with Loco and Sway here you could actually make a whole new Coal Chamber album by just changing a few choice words. You all know what your getting, if you want this then buy it, I don’t care. Rating: ********** |
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Evemaster Lacrimae Mundi email: evemaster@geocities.com |
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| J.
Taskula (Vocals) |
T.
Mykkänen (Music) |
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| Evemaster
are a mixture between Iron Maiden and a Black Metal band, if
you can imagine that. If you think about the difference between Cradle
Of Filth and Hecate Enthroned (both reviewed in Attitude), then Evemaster are one step more accessible
than the latter. It's the same style of music but slightly more commercial, melodic,
easier to understand, and 'fun'; the repeated harmonies of "hallow
be thy name" in 'Whispers' are a prime example. All the backround atmospheric keyboards are there, but they don't take over, instead a more guitar and vocal driven approach is taken. The drumming, so often a major drawback on Black Metal, is actually really good. It doesn't try to take over or pummel you with double bass drums, instead going for a more traditional rhythmic approach. In fact, everything fits together really well. I'm not sure how much time they actually had in the studio to record and mix this, but although the general production is good, it could be better. This doesn't detract from the songs though, their strength shines through nonetheless. 'Archways' is a high energy rollercoaster of a song. Again it has clean vocals at points, atmospheric keyboards, a good structure, and generally is a good song. This and 'Whispers' are probably the best tracks on the album, while the epic sounding 'Lacrimae Mundi' doesn't quite seem to cut the mustard. If you would like to hear Evemaster, I'm glad to say that they will be featured on the upcoming Attitude compilation CD called 'burieddreams' due out towards the new year. |
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Relapse The
Dillinger Escape Plan |
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| Remember the review of Soilent
Green from the last issue? If not, read it here.
This CD is an EP from the same record company, and along similar lines. As with Soilent Green, I thought from the cover that it would be good, or
at least interesting. Well as Graeme said about the SG EP, it
was a bit pants. Would The Dillinger Escape Plan live up to
this dubious legacy? Well yes and no. Let's get it straight from the start, it is definitely better than Soilent Green. The style is not dissimilar so comparisons are totally justified, and TDEP appear to have more talent and better songwriting capability. That's not to say this is a good EP however, because it isn't overly great; there are many bands doing it better. It isn't as grindy as SG which is definitely a plus. If you like heavy weird shit along Relapse's usual lines then you might quite like it. That's all folks! |
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Holy Records / SPV Septic Flesh |
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| Hmm, Septic Flesh,
I’ve heard the name but know fuck all about them. Anyway what should be, if the
name’s anything to go by, a dodgy death metal band turns out to be something a bit
more interesting. What we have is an album split into three parts(The New Order, Testimonial
and End of the Circle) incorporating a number of styles. The layout of the album
suggests that it may be a concept album and certainly the style of material on offer would
back this up. Brotherhood of the Fallen Knights starts the
album off on an all grunting all heavy start, which is exactly what I feared. However
things pick up with The Eldest Cosmonaut (so obviously the
album's best track that the band put it on the release twice, one with grunts and one with
singing). Sinister female vocals intertwine with depressing lyrics to produce an, if not
original, intriguing song. Following this is the Paradise Lost
rip off, Marble Smiling Face, which could be Hallowed Land except without the vocal line. So the album starts with three different but closely linked styles. However Underworld (Part 1) changes this when Septic Flesh decide to go operatic on us. The guitars and grunts disappear for an epic filled with orchestration and female shrieks. I can’t decide whether this is actually quite good or whether it’s the worst idea in the world ever, including Ice Warriors. Anyway different it is. Following this the band return to their Icon era Paradise Lost meets death metal routine for songs such as The Crypt which although not awful are still far from inspiring. Then they once again return to the realms of opera on the imaginatively titled Underworld (Part 2). Very much like the first Underworld this is interesting if only for being a positively awful idea. Closing with the grunting version of The Eldest Cosmonaut is perhaps over playing the strength of the song but there’s no doubt that it is the best the band have to offer. Septic Flesh is a strong band with interesting ideas if in some cases unoriginal and pretentious. While working for Attitude it has been a rarity to come across an album of this calibre. That is namely mediocre. It is neither piss poor nor is it an album of quality. I probably won’t record over it but that’s hardly a recommendation. I guess if you like this band then get A Fallen Temple. If not try and blag a listen of it (just to laugh at the opera bits). Rating: ********** |
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| Dingo Records The Bee Zoo email: rkudyba@yahoo.com |
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| 'I want you here with me' sounds like Brian Adams, but isn't (doh - Ed). This is a gentle introduction to The Bee Zoo and all the songs are brilliant. I like this album in case you hadn't guessed; if you can get it get it, and if you can't get it complain! I can't really explain it but I'll try anyway. All the way through the album you get the idea that the band are enjoying themselves and really enjoy what they are doing. The sound isn't in your face, it's just a happy cheery sound that lifts your spirits and makes you feel good. They keep changing it around to keep you interested. That's about it all I have left to say. IT'S F*!$ING GREAT but i don't know why. | |||
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Ces Jacuzi Down To Size |
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| This album kicks off with a track that I just
love 'Forbidden Dance', which after a short intro breaks into
a kind of Extreme type song (not much rythmn guitar, not that
this is a bad point). The second song, 'Brittle', is the same
style as song 1 (hardly suprising) but just a little slower. The next 4 just go by as they
are very similar to the first two. Then it's 'Eskimo Gin Again'
which suddenly picks up the speed and provides a very welcome change from the other songs
before returning to similar songs to the first 6. Although towards the end of this collection of songs from Ces Jacuzi. They pick up the pace and the drummer os allowed to strut his stuff in a fairly substantial drum solo (something i think more drummers should be allowed), before finishing with their best song which has a Black Sabbath type feel to it. This is also the fastest song on the album ('Threshold'). This is not an album I would play at a club or party as it is not very energetic, although the last songs add more speed to it. It would provide good background music to a gathering in a pub without interfering with any conversations happening, although it would provide ample distraction if nobody can think of something to say. |
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| Kevin Slick Various email: zslick@aol.com |
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| In total I was send four samples of Mr. Slick's work
spanning several years, two as a solo artist and two from a band he is in, Neo Pseudo. His work is guitar-based folk-pop-rock, often acoustic
sounding, with a very American sound (he is from Philidelphia). I've lost his biog
unfortunately, but if I remember rightly he has released many albums, 10 or so, over his
long career. The latest release I was sent was his 1996 solo album 'Traveler', and it certainly a competent piece of work which while being enjoyable to listen to does nothing to say "buy me". It's very laid back stuff, which I kinda like, and for that reason would be really good to have on while studying, or for our more matured reaaders - while having a dinner party. Some of it ('Moving' for example) actually portrays a similar feeling to Sabbath's 'Planet Caravan' while being totally different musically. The production isn't top-notch, but overall it is a fairly enjoyable album if you're in the mood for relaxing. His other solo release I was sent was 1993s 'Initial' which is basically along the same lines as you might expect, except it is definitely more upbeat with slightly more Byrds-esque structures (shoot me if I'm wrong) and singalong choruses. Again, a fairly reasonable background listen. I don't like Neo Pseudo as much though. They seem more 'cheezy' if you know what I mean. More 80s style, kind of Fleetwood Mac, although I quite like FMs 'Tango In The Night' from 1987. There's nothing wrong with the musical ability on show, but the songs seem not so well put together, and more boring if I'm honest. This is despite the fact that it is more upbeat than the solo stuff. I find it hard to put into words exactly what it is about Neo Pseudo that turns me off, but there is something there. Hmm. I think I might have it. I think perhaps the four members of the band are all capable musicians who all want input into the songs, so they all try to add layers on top of each other thereby ruining what might otherwise have been a good song. It works sometimes though, like on 'Only Animals'. Anyway, enough of my ramblings. You might get to hear a couple of his solo tracks on the forthcoming Attitude rock CD sometime early next year. |
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Raggedy Aneurism / Exxplorer |
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| These two releases, the first a demo and the
second an album, both feature the vocal talents(?) of B.W. Hocking Jr.
Unfortunately his voice is utterly annoying and at times out of tune, made worse by the
double-tracking. Exxplorer sound like a cross between a late
80s rock band ala Ozzy Ozbourne (hail!), and late Skid Row. Guitar wise I wouldn't exactly say they're strong, but
they have a few good riffs even if they are overshaddowed by the vocals and lead guitar.
Basically I can find very little good to say about this CD, mainly down to the dodgy
vocals. On to Raggedy Aneurism. This band is completed by David E. Williams if you've ever heard of him. No? Join the club. Lets ignore the slightly dodgy recording quality, it's only a demo afterall. From the cover and song titles I knew that at the very least it would be an interesting listen. Song titles such as 'Hitch Hiking Teenage Girls Are Gonna Die' and 'Violent Pop Song' certainly got me interested. Musically they actually have a fairly good base to build upon with some enjoyable riffs, but it just isn't quite there if you know what I mean. Oh, and of course the vocal style takes away from the guitar, being similar to Exxplorer. If the songs were rewoeked by another (or dare I say a better) band I think they would be excellent songs. Perhaps Metallica or even Slayer wound be possible choices... Lyrically they seem to have an obsession with children, and certainly like to write very frankly. Examples such as: "You feel so alive when you sleep with the dead", "the only thing which saddens me about the death of Curt Cobain is that he didn't kill his wife", "Picture a girl, so submissive", "Little boys, firing their toys", "Welcome children, welcome", and "Tiny victims die so soon" are commonplace in this mish-mash of aggression and an attempt to show a teenage confusion and hormone rush. Promising. |
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| Holy Records / SPV Stille Volk Hantaoma |
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| Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I thought Attitude was an e-zine catering for the more extreme forms
of music such as metal, punk and goth. I know that metal has recently seen an influx of
bands playing more "traditional" forms of music but Stille
Volk are just ridiculous. Starting of with medieval lutes the band continue along
this vein for the whole album. Not a sniff of a distorted guitar or a growly vocalist. Ok
I suppose it may be original but if I want to listen to the soundtrack to a Robin
Hood album I’ll buy that instead. The music is well crafted and is probably
played faithfully with all the traditional instruments but this matters little when you
find yourself falling asleep after five minutes. To be fair the whole album would be better if the French/Belgian? singer decided to fermé la bouche and just play. The basic problem is that Stille Volk are probably the best around at recreating medieval music but as I listen to Slayer this matters fuck all to me. No I’m sorry but this is total and utter crap best reserved for a spot in a field at Glastonbury where everyone’s too stoned to care. Rating: ********** |
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