Other music reviews
Beggars Ball :: Fight This Town (2006) CD [True Grit]
Tracklisting: 1. Low Life Blues (04:07), 2. Starbanger (04:20), 3. Live out Loud (03:44), 4. Fight This Town (02:57), 5. Life in a Lie (03:30), 6. Deadman's Lullabye (04:51), 7. American Vocal (03:22), 8. Anti_Hero (04:29), 9. Demon Seed (03:52), 10. Famous & Filthy (03:56)
Los fucking Angeles, the mecca of money and plastic human beings. Beggars Ball are here to fight that crap. But then again, none of the guys are a native-born LA dude. I think you've guessed it already, that BB aren't wanking around with glam rock?!
BB's streetrock on a piece of plastic has the energy of a thunderbolt and is as dirty as female crotch not washed for a week. This sounds more "southern" than "western", just check out bluesy 'American Vocal'. Well, heavy 'n' groovy guitar playing is something like Dimebag Darrell loved to do sometimes; let the rock flow. 'Starbanger's chorus is actually fucking close to Pantera's Walk' with its "walk!" shouts, heh, I think I don't need to mention the song is heavy as fuck? Straight from the first riff, 'Low Life Blues' makes you thristy as fuck for beer. 'Anti_Hero' is like driving on yer motorbike through hot dusty desert road, and the title song itself like having a freefall from high sky. Vocalist sounds like he has drunk something else than milk for last month, but he does his job well. BB doesn't invent the wheel, but they have energy and vibe and what I like; they're heavy! Plus they got a bunch of good tunes.
One thing on this album sucks and it is the drums sound. They don't punch enough. However, it's predictable, as this was recorded on 8-tracker at the band's rehearsal place. The last three songs have more punchy sound actually, especially 'Famous & Filthy' sound very warm.
One to crank up when you are drinking beer like you never drank before or cruising with your car. Something to empty your mind from everyday crap in life to. Crank it up and drink it up! - Reviewed by Lane 06-28-2006
The official Beggars Ball website: www.beggarsball.com
Dropkick Murphys :: Blackout (2002) Digipak-CD + Bonus DVD [Hellcat Records]
Tracklisting: 1. Walk Away, 2. Worker's Song (Handful of Earth), 3. The Outcast, 4. Black Velvet Band, 5. Gonna Be a Blackout Tonight, 6. World Full of Hate, 7. Buried Alive, 8. The Dirty Glass, 9. Fields of Athenry, 10. Bastards on Parade, 11. As One, 12. This Is Your Life, 13. Time to Go, 14. Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced
I saw Dropkick Murphys' older video on a telly and it grabbed me. Punk, real punk, with Irish folk being the other part of the band's music. Yay, really cool, indeed. I've always liked this bagpipes and drunken sing-along songs. Okay, the band come from Quincy, Massachusetts, USA. The band's roots lying deeply in the soil of Ireland, it can be surely heard.
So, punk it is. First 20 seconds of 1st single cut 'Walk Away' sound soft, but then some harsher and harsher vocals start coming in. Okay, we're getting there... Guitars get more biting and soon it explodes into a male choir chorus. What a build-up for a song! I wanna go to a pub now!!! Fuck, I can't, there's soon Iron Maiden live from Roskilde on a radio and can't miss it. Next monday I go see them here in Finland. But, my point is that this is a fucking party record, even though lyrical subjects might be partly anything else than something to party about. Workers' anthem, a father leaving his family, people sent to Australia, knotty relationships, miners trapped under dirt waiting to die etc.
Musically, this varies from straight punk (eg. 'The Outcast') to folk songs (surprisingly when looking its title, 'World Full of Hate'). And everything between the two. I certainly like songs with Irish touch more. Harder songs are great bursts of energy, calmer are beautifully emotional. 'Black Velvet Band' (a tradiotional song), 'Worker's Song' and 'Fields of Athenry' are covers. There is no boring moment during this 47 minutes. Sound is great and transmits the energy of the performance well. Vocals are varying, because of two lead singers and 3 backing vocalists plus female vocals on 'The Dirty Glass'. Some are clean, some are more "whiskey", if you catch my thought. And a lot of shout-along -choruses!
DVD includes the band's new promotional video 'Gonna Be a Blackout Tonight', an usual "playing in the from of camera" stuff. Also two live pieces are included. Nice, but nothing special, at least for me. Why 'Walk Away' promo video isn't here puzzles me. However, didn't cost any extra.
Get some people around and do not forget whiskey, beer, whatever and have a party to this one! Excellent punk record and my only second (Relapse sent me Genocide Superstars' latest album, but that's very different to this one), but not the last one. At least I need to check out Dropkick Murphys' older stuff now. - Reviewed by Lane 06-29-2003
The official Dropkick Murphys website: www.dropkickmurphys.com
Genocide Superstars: III (2003) CD [Relapse Records]
Tracklisting: 1. The Hateball Is Rolling..., 2. Destroyer of Worlds, 3. Mord II, 4. Final Descent, 5. Hatestomp, 6. Stairsweeper, 7. Air / A Prelude to Hell, 8. Superstar Destroyer, 9. Dangerdanger, 10. Superstar Confession, 11. In Misery Embraced, 12. Like Roadkill, 13. Warchild, 14. Outlaw Song
It reads on their official biography: "...punk in veins of Discharge, Motörhead, Misfits, Dwarves and G.B.H.". Sure, I agree, with my shitty smelling knowledge for punk rock. Might not be nothing new under the sun, but still very energetic and what's the most impotant: Dirty. Vocals are truly boozehound-ish. Three-throat (all except drummer) assault with nice duets and "oooo-oooo-oo" choirs.
Slight metal leanings are heard in many of these fourteen fuckers, best in twin guitar melody on 'Hatestomp' and 'In Misery Embraced' darker melodies and vokills. 'Air / A Prelude to Hell' is a Motörhead-like marching heavy rock anthem. Grindcore murderers' Nasum's Mieszko abuses the second guitar here, as he does his throat.
Genocide Superstars' rusty punk rock is best flushed down with massive amounts of something alcoholic. Not exactly my cup of tea, but I won't puke while listening this. And this my friends, is a good sign about the quality of Genocide Superstars. Only thing is that this is very familiar drunk punk mayhem. Everybody looking for a heavier punk album, try this beast. - Reviewed by Lane 04-22-2003
King Remedy: Rock'n'Roll Is not Dead (2006) CD-single [Vallankumoustuotanto]
Tracklisting: 1. Rock'n'Roll Is not Dead (02:47), 2. Let It Go (02:46), 3. Fell Like You're too Old? (02:35)
Helsinki-native King Remedy are a pure rock band. There's no tricks, just driving music. The problem is, that King Remedy are too joyful for my liking. And even they promise to kick asses, they don't kick mine. While the main riff of the title track is pretty irritating, the others don't offer too much in the way of memorable riffs. Or even a bit individual, but I don't think they are trying to be that way anyways. The production of this single is too lame. It simply doesn't kick ass. King Remedy are definitely too tame for me, period. - Reviewed by Lane 12-05-2006
The official King Remedy website: www.kingremedy.com
One Eye Shut :: Last in Line (2005) CD-single [Vallankumoustuotanto]Tracklisting: 1. Last in Line (03:11), 2. Crash'n Burn (04:22)
One Eye Shut, who come from Helsinki, formed in 2003. The band's second strike is 'Last in Line' single. OES play heavy rock music, both sound- and feelingswise. Something like mixing North American rock (bits from glam to alternative) with Finnish melancholy. Although "melancholy" is too strong a word here, perhaps.
Both songs appearing here are OES originals. The title track is a rolling rocker, that sticked to my head right at the first listen. Something like a heavier and rougher newer Hanoi Rocks style song. 'Crash'n Burn' is slower bass-heavy roller, not as catchy as the title track. Not anything too original musicwise, but this trio seems to have indentity. Instruments are all well presented, thanks to the tight and sweaty performance. Vocals are pretty simple. Not much singing skill, but when it is kind of whiskey-rinsed it's good. Sound's also on rough side, but it should be that way. If OES have more music with this quality, it's time to start working on full-length album.
There's not much to write about this release, as it's this short a release. However, OES lifted up my spirit after wet Midsummer festivities. When listening to this single, it makes next weekend arrive faster! I'm sure about it. - Reviewed by Lane 06-27-2005
The official One Eye Shut website: www.oneeyeshut.org
One Eye Shut :: Days in the Sun (2006) CD-single [Vallankumoustuotanto]Tracklisting: 1. Days in the Sun (04:46), 2. Yearning (04:07), 3. World behind (03:50)
Helsinki's One Eye Shut plank down their second single. The band seem to have a straight flush of hard 'n' heavy rock building up in their hands. However, they don't seem to put out these releases very often (well, a year between these two singles), which might work against them.
The title song is a fucking fantastic piece of melancholic rock, coloured with some acoustic guitar, but ain't a soft song. It sounds a bit like the debut from The Black League, being one catchy song. A sure hit, if they can push this to right people. Jari's emotional vocals stand out like hell on this one.
'Yearning' and 'World Behind' sound like North American stuff, unhealthy mixing alternative rock and stoner rock. Definitely easy yet good beer listening session rock, or something to cruise your car to, but can't compete with the title song.
The sound is okay, but it could be heavier, definitely. The single's well recorded, no doubt about that, but I miss more punchy sound. - Reviewed by Lane 06-26-2006
The official One Eye Shut website: www.oneeyeshut.org
One Eye Shut :: Turds in a Punch Bowl (2005) CD-single [Vallankumoustuotanto]Tracklisting: 1. Everything Must Die (04:41), 2. Please Let Go (04:42), 3. Days in the Sun (04:50), 4. Yearning (04:08), 5. World behind (03:51), 6. Last in Line (03:09), 7. Crash 'n Burn (04:17), 8. Tonight (04:48) 9. Reflection / Last in Line (live) / Everything Must Die (live) (20:21)
Helsinki-based hard rocking trio One Eye Shut have released three CDs: 'Promo 2004' (demo), plus singles 'Last in Line' and 'Days in the Sun' (2005 and 2005 respectively). 'Turds in a Punch Bowl' compiles all three into same platter with two new songs (I should mention that 'Yearning' is the newer recording). Archaic Metallurgy has reviewed the two singles, so read them reviews, please.
It's weird, that on the band's website, 'Turds...' is assigned as the debut album, and on the Vallankumoustuotanto's site as a compilation. Well, whatever... I just wonder, why the shit the old songs weren't re-recorded, even though there's nothing badly wrong even with the oldest turds. Okay, 'Tonight' (a catchy, Finnish-sounding heavy stoner rocker with very familiar vocal melodies, but where from?!) and 'Reflection' (a heavy stoner stunner) sound demo level, even though good quality, recordings when compared to the newbiews. So, I'd like to call this as a collection of older material.
'Everything Must Die' starts this bacchanalia with heavy flapping bass and slowish stoner groove. OES trademarks are present from the second one: catchiness and rawness, in all instruments and also in the vocals. 'Please Let Go' pisses in your glass of beer with faster tempo and almost heavy metallesque riff or two. 'Last in Line' and 'Everything...' are featured as live bonus after 'Reflection'.
If your world is rocked by such names as The Black League, Black Label Society, Backyard Babies and Peer Günt, even Alice In Chains ('Days in the Sun' owes something to 'em, I'm positive about it!!!) and such grungesters, you should check out OES immediately! I like this One Eye Shut, they're one of the few rock bands I can listen to. Especialy now when it's mandatory to tip some beers during hot summertime. OES doesn't sound at all so unique, as the mixture of all the other bands mentioned in this review could truly sound, but no matter if this the compilation or the debut album, it rocks. So, grab a lot of beverage of your choice, stick 'Turds...' in a player and blast loud! - Reviewed by Lane 07-12-2005
The official One Eye Shut website: www.oneeyeshut.org
Plan E :: Best Kept Secret (2003) CD [My Kingdom Music]Tracklisting: 1. Fool (04:27), 2. Pure as Snow (05:22), 3. Shadow in the Dark (04:07), 4. Today Is the Day (04:58), 5. Near Life Experience (05:30), 6. The Blue House (04:13), 7. Sick and Tired (03:50), 8. Lonely Hell (04:22), 9. Best Kept Secret (04:09), 10. Rockstar / We (bonus track) (05:16), Shadow in the Dark (bonus video track)
Third full length album from Plan E has been revealed upon mankind. This Oulu-based non-guitar band started back in 1995 as an instrumental project. Mainman Jani Lehtisaari (also in Impaled Nazarene in 1996-2000) is the only original member left today. He played basses, keyboards and sung, while drums were handled half by Sir Luttinen (The Black League, ex-Impaled Nazarene) and Heikki Haataja (March Maggot).
Plan E perform individual music. I quess it is rock with poppy as well as "schlager" elements. Quite simple all the way, but weirdly alien altogether. Also weirdly oldish yet something new (!). Every song is catchy. Plan E is so different from what I listen to (metal, that is). I thought it would be hard to get into, but it got me, insidiously. Simple (sometimes extremely) keyboard melodies above simple beats are warm, inviting, and there's different nuances. The keyboard sounds are oldish, bringing 1970s into my mind; some of the stuff is simply annoying, but most of it goes well. I thought I really can't stand them, but I do; it is hard to describe my sensations, but the music just grabs. Adventurous spirit is needed, though. The music is light, solitary heavier things are created by distorted bass. Mr. Lehtisaari's vocals are fragile, very calm. He hits the notes, but sometimes also searches for the right ones, but only when he sings higher.
This music makes me feel calm. Not a bad dose after five death metal albums, this one! While sounding like coming from 1970s, lightly artsy psychedelic trip, aura of something alien boosted my interest and this is definitely a grower. I soon found getting into those songs I first didn't like a bit ('Pure as Snow' still has tough, annoying keyboard melodies, he)... Since everything is more or less keyboard-driven, I guess electronic music fans will find this very interesting. As well as those who seek music with individual touch. Adventurous ones should try this, definitely, too. That's what some of the lyrics (make your own conclusions about 'em) are about; "forget hard times for a minute and fly." - Reviewed by Lane 11-17-2003
The official Plan E website: www.plan-e-tarium.com
Pump :: Against Everyone's Advice (2004) CD [Neon Knights]Tracklisting: 1. Dangerous (04:16), 2. Inside out (04:00), 3. Wasted (03:37), 4. It's too Late (05:30), 5. Reckless (04:44), 6. Shake (04:59), 7. No Fight - No Glory (04:34), 8. No Fool Like You (05:37), 9. I'm Free (05:54), 10. Waiting for the Moment (03:49), 11. Heaven Cries (Blood Red Skies) (4:11)
The band's called Pump and guys looking like still live in 1980s. Fast check on music and yeah, I knew it; sounds like 1980s hard rock. Who remembers American bands like Enuff Znuff, Poison and such hair rock abominations? This was my immediate picture of Pump.
I thought I knew Pump's hard rock was this annoying cherry style, but closer listening session proved I was wrong. Pump performs "beer drinkin', whiskey slammin', hotel trashin', chick bangin' - kick ass rock 'n roll" as they put it themselves. This surely works well in a party or just on the background while doing something. Nothing deep here. I like the metallic overtones that are prevalent throughtout the album. New wave of British heavy metal elements are aplenty, especially twin guitar play (fantastic fret-runs on 'Wasted' just kick ass!) is good fun. Pump sound sometimes a lot like Englishmen The Almighty on their two first albums so fuck those American influences because they aren't on a big part (annoying whistling and shouts on the beginning of 'Shake' is just this bloody cherry stuff I hate). Marcus Jürgens is another link to metal, since he used to sing for Brainstorm. Man sounds like a cousin of The Almighty's Ricky Warwick, too. Drummer Achim Keller's performance is rock-solid and he even kicks some double kick drum stuff. Majority of the songs are rocking, but of course there's two slow ones ('It's too Late' and 'I'm Free') and surprisingly they are okay songs, not too sugary. And as the band comes from the land of power metal, it plays a small part in Pump's music, too. 11 songs is a lot, but there's no real fillers. This was recorded at Area 51 Studios under the supervision of Tommy Newton and sounds crystal clear.
So, while this is basically hard rock, maybe some other metal head out there will find this bloody good fun too. Maybe it's that I was a teen in 1980s?! Like past kicking back or something like that, but I am fucking surprised of myself liking this this much. Clichéd or not, I don't really care. A tad heavier than hard rock usually is, Pump rock hard. - Reviewed by Lane 02-20-2004
The official Pump website: www.pump-rocks.com