blood.sweat.tears music syndicate | est. 5.02

Sunday, June 29, 2008

A Warped Weekend

Hi Everyone,

So I spent the day out in the sun, dealing with large crowds, and listening to a variety of music.

Over the next week or so, I'll be posting 3 new interviews, as well as summary of the day's happenings.

Keep rockin'.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

A Hardcore Catharsis

There’s a silent war being waged against creative hard music. Driving tempos are being replaced by comatose adagios. Rawness is giving way to repose. Folk is the new metal.

I may seem melodramatic, but underground rock is truly taking the edge off. It’s becoming lackadaisical—lobotomized by simplicity. Aggressive sub-genres are getting forced into anger management.

So many talented bands are disintegrating. And so many other bands are changing. Or as I look at it, devolving.

Yet there are other off shoots of underground rock that are thriving, nourished by bands that play music antagonistic to the kind that I love and write about. Music that doesn’t push the envelope—or push much of anything.

For every Taken that goes into oblivion, a new Tilly and the Wall gets its wings.

Should we really need to argue the artistic merit of Glassjaw versus Head Automatica?

It’s unbelievable. I feel like a renegade in a crowd of hipster conformists. My kind dwindles as each day passes, folding under the pressure of obnoxious condescension.

Are we a bunch of children? Clamoring to sing-along to silliness? I’ve had enough of the keyboards, clapping, and cavorting. If I wanted to get into a trance, I’d listen to more trance.

Audiosurf—Play with Your Playlist

Along with underground music of the hard variety, gaming is one of my big passions in life. Unfortunately, the two rarely come together. And no, I don't count games like Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Aerosmith isn't hardcore. The Rolling Stones have never played a breakdown during their soon-to-be-if-not-already supernaturally long existence. The closest I've come to hearing Poison the Well in a game has been through custom playlist support, when applicable. That doesn't count.

So that brings me to Audiosurf.

The game is simple enough. You pilot a ship on a track and collect colored blocks. The music determines the rhythm at which you do these things. Here's the brilliant part, you provide the music. Audiosurf adapts the game accordingly. Simply put, there are as many levels in the game as there are tracks on your hard drive. Very cool stuff.

Here's some footage of the game in action, featuring two of my favorites—Unearth and At the Drive-In.

Unearth—Failure

At the Drive-In—One Armed Scissor

To learn more about Audiosurf, click here.

Review: Saosin—Saosin

Artist: Saosin
Album: Saosin
Label: Capitol
Released: 9/26/2006


BSTscore: 88

When I think of Saosin, I always scratch my head a bit. I've never seen a group explode to prominence with one EP, and I've never seen a group maintain said prominence over a span of three years with only one EP. That, however, is Saosin in summation.

Maybe it's because the EP, Translating the Name, has a great sound. Imagine screamo with a dash of post-hardcore and a sprinkle of pop. It's an aurally addictive combination—a recipe destined for success.

Count me as a fan. I, along with many others, clamored for the long-anticipated self-titled new album.

Saosin is solid. Notwithstanding the mostly never-heard-of and relatively unsubstantial Saosin EP, this release marks Saosin's major label debut, and it shows. It's got a few too many layers of polish, which takes some of the edge off the sound. "Bury Your Head," for example, is the overly made up twin of the more naturally beautiful original demo. Which brings me to the other issue I have with Saosin. It's a glorfied b-sides album. "Sleepers, "Come Close," "I Never Wanted To," "Follow and Feel," "Bury your Head," and "You're Not Alone" have been previously recorded in some other form. While most of these are good, particularly "Sleepers," the inclusion of the tracks take away from the album's novelty.

Some of the new songs are welcomed additions. "Collapse" and "Voices" are the standouts. "Voices," is a true triumph, standing as the flagship song on this release. The track showcases Saosin's remarkable ability to create catchy songs laced with memorable melodies, fast pacing, and tight musicianship. "Voices" is Saosin at its best and signals the arrival of Cove Reber, the band's new singer.

Reber's vocals marry nicely to the music. While many still prefer the band's previous singer, Anthony Green (now with Circa Survive), my problem does not lie with Reber's voice. It lies with his songwriting. Reber's lyrics are basic and boring, and they bring little to the music.

The musicianship is excellent, as expected from Saosin. The drums have been downplayed, but still provide plenty of that signature percussive punch. The guitars are great as well. Just listen to the end of "Collapse" to get a taste of the instruments in harmonious action. The mastering process relegated the bass lines to a nearly non-existent role, which is unfortunate. But the drums and guitars are so good, I barely noticed.

Overall, Saosin is Saosin. Aside from the forgettable lyrics and lack of new songs, I recommend this album.

Musicianship: 95
Vocals: 80
Creativity: 80
Impact: 95

Favorite Song: “Voices”

Listen to Saosin


Saosin—"Voices" Music Video

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Coming Soon, a Cavalcade of Content

Rob and I have been working on some behind the scenes formatting issues throughout the last few weeks, and I've been holding back new content until we got to a good point. I think we're there, so expect to see some juicy new vittles from me in the coming days.

I'm really excited about how things have turned out.

Plus, I'd like to send a big thanks to Rob for his hard work. In addition to all the back end matters, there have been some events that have kept me from working on the site. Rob, as always, has done a great job during this chaotic time.

That's it from me. Thanks.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Current Happenings

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know where things are for BST at the moment.

We've been working on some internals and we believe we have made some changes for the better. Our review format is finalized and all of the reviews that have been posted since the site re-format have been updated. Soon enough, you will see a large update from Ed, covering the things he has been working on lately.

Also, I've been transferring our old content. As you may have noticed, the columns to the right are starting to include more content. I'm hoping to move 8-10 reviews a week, and hopefully all of our content will be in the new format before too long. If you can't wait for that, you can always use the BST 2002-2007 link at the bottom right of the frame.

Keep your eyes out for new reviews in the next week. I've got a bunch of new material to listen to, so I'll pass along my thoughts to you very soon.

Until then, keep rockin'.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Review: Capital - Homefront

Artist: Capital
Album:
Homefront

Label:
Revelation
Released:
10/30/2007




BSTscore: 73

Long Island’s Capital brings an energetic brand of hardcore with Homefront. Pulling from the punk and hardcore sounds of DC and NY, the band’s sound is similar to Strike Anywhere and Avail. It’s melodic, yet aggressive and passionate.

The strength of the songs on this album lies in their simplicity. You won’t find elaborate solos or breakdowns, but the music is catchy and begs you to sing along. Vocalist Tommy Corrigan offers a clear delivery and very direct lyrics. The song "Disclaimer" has some of the best lyrics I've heard in a long time. Personal, yet not isolating. Keeping to their hardcore roots, the band gets their point across in a short amount of time, as some of the songs are better measured in seconds, than minutes.

I think the 13 songs on Homefront are a needed refresher in a genre that gets watered down at times. The band doesn’t overdo anything and plays to their strengths. The members experience in other bands give Capital an advantage over the majority of bands out there. I look forward to hearing more from this band.

Musicianship: 70
Vocals: 85
Creativity: 65
Impact: 70

Favorite Song: “Disclaimer”

Listen to Capital

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Review: 36 Crazyfists - The Tide and its Takers

Artist: 36 Crazyfists
Album:
The Tide and its Takers
Label:
Ferret

Released:
5/27/2008




BSTscore: 84

The Tide and its Takers is the latest release from 36 Crazyfists and the band’s first on Ferret. After the success of 2004’s A Snow Capped Romance, the band’s 2006 release, Rest Inside the Flames, almost didn’t see the light of day. With a new label in tow, the band is back and as strong as ever.

To accurately describe the band’s sound is a tall order. I would say that they are somewhere between metalcore and radio metal (nu-metal if you want to get technical). It’s just catchy enough to be played on the radio, but at the same time, heavy enough to scare off the weak (See “The Back Harlow Road”, “We Gave it Hell”, and “Vast and Vague”). This album is very diverse and has appeal to a wide variety of genres. The acoustic title track completes the album nicely.

The strongest aspect of 36 Crazyfists is how recognizable their sound is. This is, in large part, due to the vocals of lead singer Brock Lindow. His unique voice is unmistakable, giving the band a true identity. The only real comparison I have is Daryl Palumbo of Glassjaw, but more melodic and less eclectic. With a decent range and a good mix of actual singing to offset the screams, the vocal harmonies fit the music very well. Personally, I think the screaming on this album is much stronger and flows with the music better than the band’s previous releases.

I think The Tide and its Takers does an excellent job of capturing the band’s sound and energy. For those that haven’t heard the band’s past releases, starting with this release is a good place to sample 36 Crazyfists. I’m sure you pick up on the things that have impressed me through the years.

Musicianship: 85
Vocals: 90
Creativity: 80
Impact: 80

Favorite Song: “Vast and Vague”

Listen to 36 Crazyfists

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Review: Belay My Last - The Downfall

Artist: Belay My Last
Album:
The Downfall
Label:
Media Skare
Released:
10/2/2007



BSTscore: 74

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this album. I had not previously heard of Belay My Last and I was ready to dismiss this as “just another band playing death metal” when I first put it in my CD player. I’m glad I made it past my first impression and gave The Downfall a few more listens.

This won’t be the first or last time I express my distaste for guttural, death metal vocals. With that said, I actually don’t mind the deep bellows from vocalist Jason Denney. His mix of raspy screams and clear growls is comprehendible and fits the music perfectly. For once, I don’t think the band would be better without the guttural vocals. The best comparison I have is The Acacia Strain. Another positive is that the band’s lyrics are passionate and angry. I like the fact that they are personal and I know that listeners can relate to them.

As for the music, it’s fast, heavy, and solid from start to finish. What I really like about The Downfall is that the songs flow really well. The trendy thing to do of late in this genre is to write a blast beat filled part, stop completely, play some technical riff, and growl away. Belay My Last stays away from this trap and I thank them for it. At times, the album is more metalcore than death metal, which is okay with me. Their sound may not be unique, but it is still a good listen.

Standout tracks for me include “Miss America”, “One More Foot in the Grave”, and the title track. The band exhibits an aggressive and effective approach as exhibited in the technical drumming and guitar work. Next time you are looking for something new or someone asks you for a good band they’ve never heard of, I definitely would give this a shot.

Musicianship: 80
Vocals: 75
Creativity: 70

Impact: 70


Favorite Song: "Miss America"

Listen to Belay My Last

Monday, June 2, 2008

Review: Shai Hulud - Misanthropy Pure

Artist: Shai Hulud
Album:
Misanthropy Pure

Label:
Metal Blade
Released:
5/27/2008



BSTscore: 91

So I still haven’t decided whether musical genius involves roughly five years between albums, or if it’s just procrastination (it probably has more to do with constant member changes, moving, etc.). To be honest, if Shai Hulud only released 3 albums in every decade or so, I think I would still be content. The waiting and anticipation is torture, but it’s what makes each song so fulfilling to the listener.

Shai Hulud is one of the true heavyweights in the metalcore genre. Their sound is one of the most unique and recognizable sounds of any band out there. Misanthropy Pure is the band’s 3rd full length and first since 2003. Within the first 30 seconds of the first track,
“Venomspreader”, you are quickly reminded of the power and beauty of Shai Hulud. Described in the words of main songwriter Matt Fox, “Too hardcore to be metal and too metal to be hardcore.”

My first impressions of the album were that it was much faster and rhythmic than That Within Blood Ill-Tempered, which is hands down, the most melodic metalcore album I’ve ever heard. This release seems to bridge the gap between the Chad Gilbert era Shai Hulud (A Profound Hatred of Man, Hearts Once Nourished with Hope and Compassion) and the Geert van der Velde incarnation (That Within Blood Ill-Tempered). Obviously the technical guitar work and layering (staples of the band’s sound) are apparent throughout Misanthropy Pure, but the bass lines and drumming are much more punishing and heavy (See the intro of “Chorus of the Dissimilar”). The song structures are fast paced and ever changing.

The most glaring change is in the vocal department, where Geert van der Velde has been replaced by Matt Mazzali (for those counting at home, yes, that’s 3 Matt’s in the band now). Matt’s vocals are much closer to Chad’s than Geert’s. Geert fit well with the melodic approach taken on That Within Blood Ill-Tempered, but would not have fit this album nearly as well. I don’t quite like Matt’s voice as much as Chad’s for this style, but he doesn’t try to overdo anything and fits the band well. The re-recorded “Set Your Body Ablaze” is a good basis for comparing Matt’s vocal ability to the band’s past singers.

Shai Hulud has survived major obstacles and yet has remained relevant in an ever changing music scene. I wouldn’t normally use sustainability to describe a sound or band, but I honestly think it may be the best description of the band. I have been listening to Misanthropy Pure for a week and half now and I still don’t have any desire to pull it out of the CD player. I’m crossing my fingers that I won’t have to wait until 2013 for something else, but if I do, I couldn’t have asked for much more to hold me over in the meantime.

Musicianship: 95
Vocals: 85
Creativity: 90
Impact: 95

Favorite Song: "Four Earths"

Listen to Shai Hulud