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Tuesday, May 20, 2003

Review: Deftones - Self-Titled

artist: deftones
album: self-titled
label: maverick records
released: 5/20/2003


by: eduardo moutinho

Alright folks, I think it is only fair to let you all know that next to hopesfall, the Deftones are my favorite band. Yes, the Deftones. These guys are the reason that a blood.sweat.tears even exists, as they converted me from my gangsta rap lovin' shizzle fo dizzle stage to a rock obsessed one. Not to say that I dislike rap now, I'm just not engulfed by it as I used to be. You can attribute the sudden shift of musical tastes to the song "Be Quiet and Drive," a track from Around the Fur, the Deftones' second album. Hearing that song sparked something inside that started the snowball rolling down the hill that is the musical chamber of my mind. To this day, that song is tied with "The End of an Era" by hopesfall as my favorite song.

Anyway, it's a real shame that the Deftones are put in the same vein as Limp Bizkit, Korn, Mudvayne, and the lot. They're on a completely different plane, always reinventing themselves, and actually showing musical prowess as they do it. From Adrenaline to the album that I'm reviewing as you read, Deftones, you can see an impressive evolution of sound. Plain and simple, the music on Deftones is not nu-metal, not in the least. It's atmospheric, and dare I say, spiritual.

The music exhibited on this release is deep, heavy, and uncharacteristically slow-tempo. Not to say that the Deftones haven't penned these types of songs before, but the stuff on this album has "epic" written all over it. Chino Moreno's vocals are more haunting than ever. It's almost like he's narrating some viciously fascinating dark opera. Songs like "Hexagram," "Minerva," and "Moana" are such narratives, alluring and captivating. While there are songs that seem to stem from the Deftones' chaotic beginnings, like "Good Morning Beautiful" and "Bloody Cape," that are relatively heavy and more upbeat through and through, the overlying theme of the record shines through on every single track. This is truly an outcry by the Deftones, to reaffirm their foothold as leaders of the first generation nu-metal bands. What makes me laugh though, is that they're doing it by not playing nu-metal. In fact, maybe they're trying to establish a foothold in the experimental rock genre. This is more new Cave In than it is Saliva. And that my friends, is a good thing.

As far as the musicality of this record goes, it's top notch. Considering the history of the Deftones, how they went from a group of friends that got some free instruments because a certain band member got an unexpected amount of cash from his father to a world famous group that managed to author the music on this record, is really amazing. Along with Moreno's unique and well executed vocals, Stephen Carpenter's guitar is as atmospheric as ever, evident on songs such as "Needles and Pins" and "Hexagram." Chi Cheng and Abe Cunningham follow suit on both bass and drums respectively. Also, DJ Frank Delgado finally comes into his own as the forgotten fifth member of the band, as his compliments are actually integral parts of the music, unlike his ghost-like debut on the last record, White Pony. He's not the kind of pseudo hip hop DJ type that has been plaguing many bands of the genre, rather, he adds an even higher level of atmosphere and mood to the music. You won't hear any scratching by this guy. The song "Lucky You" is all Delgado, as it's basically a techno rock ballad, accompanied by exceptionally hollow-sounding vocals by Moreno. It's a complete departure for the band, even by the standards set forth by the pure rock tracks on this album.

In conclusion, this is by far the most experimental collage of tracks that the Deftones have ever put out. This is the kind of album that might disillusion a large portion of the band's fan base, as its slower, more involved tracks may leave certain listeners uninterested. Yet, in the end, I commend the band for doing this and not taking the Durst route, by following the MTV horde. I'm still proud to be a devoted fan of the Deftones, and that's a lot to say, because I loved the other bands I mentioned in the second paragraph, but now I find them to be quite the joke.

favorite song: “hexagram”

rating: 93%/100%

listen to deftones

Saturday, May 17, 2003

Review: Limitpoint - We Call This Life

artist: limitpoint
album: we call this life
label: aggrevated music
released:


by: rob tatum

Well, if you are a fan of punk, you might dig this EP. As for me, I can’t get over the fact that Limitpoint sounds like a cross between the Bouncing Souls and a Drive-Thru Records band. When I first put this in, I seriously thought I was back in 1999 listening to the Bouncing Souls at Warped Tour.

As the album continues, it becomes a little more poppy. There are of course the typical “oh, oh, oh’s” thrown in and sappy lyrics here and there. I guess that the most irritating aspect of this release is that the band appears to be pretty decent musicians, but with the intertwining of the genres, they lose base with what they have to work with. The guitar work is pretty good, but nothing extravagant. I don’t necessarily hate this band, but I wish they would pick one genre and go with it. Maybe it’s the singer, maybe it’s the drum beats, but I can’t help but think late 90’s punk even in the most melodic pop parts. I guess that they could actually be just playing what they want to play, and maybe they aren’t trying to mix anything, but if that’s the case, then they have a long way to go before I would want to hear anything else from them.

Unless you are in love with pop punk or the Bouncing Souls (hehe), you probably won’t like this much more than me. As with any disappointing release, I try and look for positives, and with Limitpoint, there are a few. They have musically ability, but they need to lose either the simplistic punk beats, or the poppy sing alongs.

favorite song: "Simple"

rating: 69%/100%

listen to limitpoint

Review: Point Line Plane - Self-Titled


artist: point line plane
album: self-titled
label: xeroid records
released:

by: rob tatum

I really have a hard time only focusing on the negatives of an album, but there is no way around it with this. It is flat out balls awful. I never thought I could sum up a review with just two words, and well, now I have. Point Line Plane is two members, one on drums, and the other on keyboards, singing some of the most irritating garbage I have ever heard. Musically, there is nothing but a drum beat with some random ass keyboards, one part sounds like an organ, while the next like a bass guitar. For the most part it’s blistering fast and the vocals are incomprehensible. There are some slower songs, but they are just as irritating. The music almost takes a dancy feel to it at times, which is an improvement over the grindcore that occurs in some of the songs. The short instrumental interludes make it even worse.

If you happen to be a fan of the Blood Brothers, Mogwai, grindcore, techno, and keyboards, then you might actually like this. If you are a fan of all of that, then you need your head checked. Listening to this was a complete waste of my time. I repeat my conclusion: Balls awful.

favorite song: none

rating: 25%/100% (for the couple drum fills that were decent)

listen to point line plane

Review: Malicious Intent - Demo

artist: malicious intent
album: demo
label: none
released:

by: rob tatum

Can you say metal? I think these guys can. I don’t know if it’s the name that gives it away, or maybe it’s the brutal intro of "Welcome to the Revolution" and crazy metal frenzy that follows. This band is probably best described by comparisons to Slayer or Hatebreed.

The music is heavy, intense metal with a touch of hardcore and hard rock. The vocals are deep, hoarse screams similar to Slayer. The demo didn’t come with lyrics, and I can’t really comprehend much of it. There are some parts that I like, especially the riff in "Shadows Grip", but I just can’t get over the vocals. They are just terrible. Maybe I need to warm myself up with some Slayer before listening to this, but it does nothing for me.

I’m not a fan of death metal. Bottom line. I guess if I was, I would venture out to Jersey and check these guys out. I like some metal, but this is not that metal.

favorite song: "Shadows Grip"

rating: 56%/100%

listen to malicious intent

Review #2: Shai Huld - That Within Blood Ill-Tempered

artist: shai hulud
album: that within blood ill-tempered
label: revelation records
released: 5/20/2003


by: eduardo moutinho


Shai Hulud is an interesting band to say the least. Named after a strange, worm-like creature, from the novel Dune, with a former singer now playing guitar for New Found Glory, and with band members who wield Bert and Ernie sticker-clad guitars and prosthetic limbs, this band sure has its quirks. But I can, at least, say one sure thing about them, they sure know how to melodicore.

Although Shai Hulud has been around the block for a while now, they’re still coming into their own when regarding the scene. Amazingly, their first show in Denver was as recent as the summer of 2002. Fortunately, for the band, they can now call themselves well traveled when it comes to the continental United States. With this newfound fame on the west coast and mid west, they couldn’t have selected a better time to drop their latest CD, That Within Blood Ill-Tempered, for us all to enjoy.

Granted, much has happened for the group during the uncomfortably lengthy time period between this release and the last. As mentioned above, the first singer of the band left to devote all his time to playing guitar for pop punk princes, New Found Glory. This left Shai Hulud with a difficult task on their hands, to find a new singer capable of replicating the distinct vocal styling of their former singer. Thankfully, this task was completed with impeccable results. The new, Abercrombie-esque, pretty boy singer, validates the term “looks can be deceiving” as he sounds completely identical to the now MTV-friendly former vocalist.

This record acts as the debut for the newly recharged Shai Hulud, and it delivers. That Within Blood Ill-Tempered doesn’t really follow the path of reinvention. Rather, the overall sound of the music on the album is more of the same, which in my opinion isn’t bad at all. Shai Hulud helped popularize melodicore, and they do it better than almost anyone. With clearly defined and crisp vocals, along with harmonic and solid string work, the group takes their much-emulated sound and runs with it.

If you’ve heard Shai Hulud’s releases, you already know what to expect. There is a lot of melody in the music. This isn’t Unearth. It’s heavy music, but it doesn’t leave you gasping for air after listening to it. It’s almost uplifting to hear the music that this band plays, as the melody is so prevalent. The singing is inspired, and the lyrics are somewhat understandable, an almost impossible thing to say about hardcore vocals. The short punk-influenced intervals make their appearance known during a few songs, as the drums go into double time and the rest of the music follows. This is Shai Hulud to the tee. I wanted this all along, and I’m happy it’s here.

The recording quality, which was my biggest concern coming into this record, is good. The vocals do come across a tad strangely. I’m not sure, but they seem a tad muffled and not at that optimal level that they could be at. But it’s a minor concern, as it’s something that I have become used to already. Other than that, this is the best-sounding Shai Hulud release I have heard.

As far as noteworthy songs go, I plan on going away from that with my reviews, as I think people should listen to the record and find their own favorites. But I would definitely say that my favorite songs are “This Song: For the True and Passionate Lovers of Music,” “Two and Twenty Misfortunes,” and “Given Flight by Demon's Wings.” They’re well-done pieces, that are the type that I can listen to repeatedly without getting bored.

As far as gripes go, I don’t have many, but I guess I do want to mention that there are a few corny intros to some of the songs. These intros consist of silly movie quotes, to make the song seem more epic, or even badass. I don’t like it; in fact, I find it to be stupid and cliché. Also, a couple of songs seem rushed as they have very few transitions, and seem to be a bunch of random parts thrown together to fill up disc space.

Overall, this is a very solid record, and I thank Revelation for sending it to us for evaluation. Shai Hulud is one of those bands that have managed to establish themselves as one of the leaders in the hardcore scene. They’re not a band that is out to advance music in general. They write what I guess I can call “feel-good hardcore.” This release was highly anticipated by the greater hardcore community, and I think it’s safe to say that it will be received with open arms.

favorite song: “this song: for the true and passionate lovers of music”

overall rating: 88%/100%

listen to shai hulud

Review #1: Shai Huld - That Within Blood Ill-Tempered


artist: shai hulud
album: that within blood ill-tempered
label: revelation records
released: 5/20/2003


by: rob tatum

With roughly three years between releases, Shai Hulud had a lot of expectations to meet with the release of That Within Blood Ill-Tempered. I am sure that I wasn’t the only one who got sick of hearing that it was being pushed back further and further. Well, finally, it has arrived, and let me say that there is little disappointment. I had feared that it wouldn’t be worth the wait, but this is by far their best release.

The first thing I noticed when I got the album was the packaging. It has one of those irritating sleeves (i.e. hopesfall, Snapcase, etc.), but inside the artwork is amazing. The booklet is a really different styled foldout/book combination. Another thing I enjoyed was how the key parts of the lyrics are emphasized in the booklet. It may not seem like a big deal, but it makes the book just that much better.

On to the music… it is very apparent that Shai Hulud made sure that everything was done the way they wanted. No cutting corners. Each song has so much detail and emphasis on perfection. There are amazing overlays and harmonies all over the place. The vocals sound much better than any of their previous releases. They were finally able to capture all the energy and passion into the recording. For those of you unfortunate people who haven’t heard Shai Hulud, they are one of the most intense hardcore/metal bands there is. The guitar work on this album is almost indescribable. There are so many great riffs and harmonies that I can’t really pick a favorite. The typical passionate lyrics that beg you to sing along are back. My favorite quote from this album is in the song "Whether to Cry or Destroy" and goes as follows, “Dare me to breathe, when I can’t catch my breath. Sway my temper’s balance. Only thunder gives me rest.” I could really go on and on about how great I think this album is. I just can’t stop listening to it. My only complaint is the sound clips, they aren’t really necessary and they seem a little out of place.

Sure, it took forever for them to release another full length, but Shai Hulud has definitely reasserted themselves as one of the best bands in hardcore. I don’t want to have to wait three or four years for the next release, but if it comes out anything like this album, I would be willing to wait.

favorite song: "Whether to Cry or Destroy"

rating: 96%/100%

listen to shai hulud

Sunday, May 11, 2003

Review: Life As Is - Apparitions of Resent

artist: life as is
album: apparitions of resent
label: none
released: spring 2003

by: rob tatum

One of the greatest things about music is that it doesn’t necessarily have to be groundbreaking to be good. The Denver/Boulder hardcore scene has been sort of stagnant for the last couple years, with exceptions here and there (i.e. Shogun, One Dying Wish, As We Speak, etc.), so when I first heard Life As Is, I was really happy to see a band that knew exactly what they were good at: straight forward, energetic hardcore.

Apparitions of Resent is the first full length from the Northglenn, CO five piece. The album clocks in with nine songs right around half an hour in length. Musically, LAI is similar to older Snapcase (Steps, Lookinglasself era)mixed with a bit of a metal twist. Most of the songs are simple in structure, but the thing that I enjoy most is the energy harnessed within each one. I am impressed that they were able to carry over the energy from their live show into the recording. The guitar work is the most impressive aspect of the music, as they combine melody, metal, and everything in between. It really enhances the flow of the songs. Vocally, LAI attempts to combine heavy screaming with occasional melodies. The screaming is accomplished really well, but some of the melodies are a little off key. Outside of that, there is little need for improvement. Lyrically the album is somewhat angry, with most songs encompassing a general attack at ignorance, selfishness, and revenge. There are also parts about personal struggle, for example, from "The Impossible Becomes Possible while Floating in the Red Sea", “in that one fatal moment I bask in its newfound paralyzation, struggling to get to the surface, the sea wishes to keep its hold.” I also liked the Boondock Saints monologue at the end of "Saintly Presentation."

After listening to this quite a few times, and analyzing almost every note and word, I really do like the direction this band is headed. I can definitely see the difference between the older material and the newer stuff. Sure, I really like some of the older songs, but the newer songs are much more complex and melodic. If this band stays together, I envision only good things for them.

favorite song: "The Impossible Becomes Possible while Floating in the Red Sea"

rating: 81%/100%

listen to life as is

Friday, May 2, 2003

Review: Various Artists - Broadcast International


artist: various artists
album: broadcast international
label: point five limey records
released:


by: eduardo moutinho

Compilations… There’s something about them that I have to talk about before moving on with this review. There are three types of compilations, for the most part. One type is the straight up, block of similar bands putting out similar-sounding songs on one single record, which usually accounts to a fairly easy to follow listen. The second type is the “bands that are in the same ballpark but different areas of the field” kind of effort, that gives the listener a taste of all sorts of different sounds. Then, there is the “bands coming together for a common cause” kind of compilation, exemplified by recent Weezer and Ramones tribute records. While I think the idea of a compilation is a great one, I just can’t seem to really get into them for one simple reason: I’m very picky. I like a band for a specific set of reasons that are particular to that group. So I tend to prefer to search and pick out a band myself instead of having it served to me on a platter. To summarize, many times, I tend to walk away unsatisfied by compilations because only a certain percentage of the music hits my ear right.

This is the problem with Broadcast International for me. While I’m happy and excited about seeing another upstart Colorado record label like Point Five Limey Records, I can’t let that cloud my judgment when reviewing this record. I’d like to emphasize the fact that a compilation is a collage of songs by a group of bands. Therefore, I will dispense ratings on a band-by-band basis, just like a show review.

a perfect kiss: I must say, that the strongest band on the record also happens to be the leadoff hitter for this effort. Why I have had two baseball metaphors so far in this review, while hating baseball, I don’t know. Anyway, this band is trying to tackle the uncomfortably saturated emocore scene, and seems to have a sound that can give them some much-desired isolation. This ensemble has two songs on the effort, “In Spite of My Angel” and “Angels.” Hopefully, those tracks aren’t back-to-back on the band’s actual album to prevent redundancy. Anyway, both tracks showcase A Perfect Kiss’ strong points. The vocalist has one of those emotional and non-monotonous screaming voices, combined with strong singing. The vocals fit the music quite nicely. The music itself is straightforward, yet effective. The musical timing of the band is well done. Interludes, changing of drum times, and a few other things are rightfully placed, making the music flow well. Both of the songs displayed are a good selection, as one is slow and building (“In Spite of My Angel”), and the other fast and driving (“Angels”). Overall, this is a great start to the compilation.

rating: 90%/100%

maria blonde: Here’s where Broadcast International
starts to wane a bit. This band has a really slow and somewhat boring sound. This is the kind of band that a Mineral fan would like to listen to. For me, it’s just not my cup of tea. Another gripe I have is with the singer. His vocals are somewhat low and on the brink of being raspy. There really isn’t one thing about this band that really interests me. There’s an overemphasis on attempting to establish atmosphere, along with an incredibly slow tempo to the songs. This is music you can play at a retirement home. Some people will dig this, and I can see talent. Yet I just can’t seem to understand how someone could become a devoted fan of this band. Good elevator music is still elevator music. Both songs here are somewhat similar too, which doesn’t help too much.

rating: 70%100%

alien 101: This band is pop punk to the core, following
almost every convention in the genre, from the “cool word plus number” name format to the simplistic lyrics. I give props to Point Five Limey, for throwing something in like this, even though it’s not the most original sounding stuff on the block. This band was probably put in here to give the album an almost universal appeal, not in its entirety, but in its variety of music. I don’t really want to go much into this band, since I’ll just repeat my somewhat cliché gripes with pop punk. To be brief, the music is excessively poppy, simplistic, and like I said before, there’s no actual meat to the lyrics. Just like with A Perfect Kiss, the song selection is good though, as both songs exhibited are somewhat different from each other. One is fast paced and very traditional pop punk (“Fire Spread”) and the other is slower and a more sincere effort (“Believe”) that still lacks any real worth. Overall, you’ve heard these songs before, in some form or another.

rating: 65%/100%

may sixteen: I really wanted to like this band as I heard
them. They are another emocore band that’s trying to come out and make something interesting. Yet, unlike A Perfect Kiss, they just don’t seem to have the elements that catch me. I really don’t like the vocals. The screaming is forced, and the singing is quite mediocre, having an almost gloomy drawl to it. It’s a shame really, since I did enjoy some of the music. I especially liked the guitar and drum work on “September’s Calling.” There are some decent moments here and there. Unfortunately, the bad vocals are quite evident, and hard to ignore. This puts the somewhat decent musical accompaniment on the backburner, making the experience less than satisfactory.

rating: 73%/100%

[the] k word: These guys probably saw what (the) kindercide did with their name and dug the parentheses idea. Anyway, this is the kind of band that you listen to, get your hopes up for, hear the vocals which then bring you back to earth. Yet, the vocals aren’t as disheartening as the ones from May Sixteen. Unfortunately, this is another band that while listening I kept wondering: “If this band had a good vocalist…” Nevertheless, they have a good indie rock sound that many of you will appreciate. It’s a little groovy, and a little catchy. It’s not bad at all. I enjoyed both of the songs provided. “Grindin’ On Some Flavor” had a nice bass line that you could nod your head to, yet it maintained a constant subtlety that is normal with these kind of bands. Overall, this is definitely a positive segment of the record.

rating: 80%/100%

to what end: I guess James at Point Five Limey realized that Broadcast International needs to start and end with a bang. Thankfully, he accomplished just that. To What End is the only other band on this album that I had quite a bit of enjoyment listening to. This is another emocore band, slightly harder than the others. The sound isn’t groundbreaking, and it’s more simplistic than A Perfect Kiss. The music is solid though, and enjoyable. Both of the songs are similar sounding, yet both are strong. The guitar work is good, and the other aspects of the music are solid. The vocals are strong as well, with the singer belting out his lyrics with repeated success, and the screaming is also quite good. Honestly, there’s not much else to say about this band’s showing on the record. To continue with the baseball references, this band is like a slightly overweight closer, that’s reliable to get that save on almost every occasion.

rating: 85%/100%

It is also worth noting that the artwork for Broadcast
International
is quite well done. The insert, while being simple, has its text displayed diagonally, which is a nice touch. This is a solid first release for Point Five Limey Records. I believe that with the lineup here it was all a one-time kind of deal, so I don’t expect to see any of these bands releasing records on Point Five Limey. But I can’t say I’m sure either. For a first release, something a lot worse could have been done. This is an interesting compilation, with something that will probably satisfy almost anyone. While this is the album’s greatest strength, it is also its greatest shortcoming. Yet, as they say, you can’t satisfy everyone. And I am an annoying person to satisfy. Also, it’s nice to see James trying to find some bands outside of the USA. Maria Blonde, May Sixteen, and Alien 101 are all European bands. Granted, if you’re reading this James, send me an e-mail and I could give you the names of some Brazilian bands that have that slugging potential… Damn I hate baseball.

listen to broadcast international