American prog-death metal band Rivers Of Nihil return with their self-titled fifth album. A bombastic 10 track offering of sci-fi sounding heavy hitters. This album is non-stop heavy fun from start to finish.
It’s hard to talk about the tracks in detail since most of them don’t follow the basic song structures, there’s parts which sound like verses and choruses and completely different parts that also sound like verses and choruses.
It’s hard to talk about the tracks in detail since most of them don’t follow the basic song structures, there’s parts which sound like verses and choruses and completely different parts that also sound like verses and choruses.
But I actually really like the fact that the band can write complex songs which keep on changing throughout. It definitely keeps things interesting. There’s plenty of great moments sprinkled throughout the tracks.
The use of clean and harsh vocals is done really well, either separately or together. The drums are absolutely pounding, plenty of blastbeats and groovy sections. Some nice groovy but growling basslines, and the guitar work is very impressive, from the chuggy riffs to the flashy solos.
The use of clean and harsh vocals is done really well, either separately or together. The drums are absolutely pounding, plenty of blastbeats and groovy sections. Some nice groovy but growling basslines, and the guitar work is very impressive, from the chuggy riffs to the flashy solos.
There’s some synthy moments to really capture that sci-fi sound. But what really surprised me was the saxophone, which comes in at a few different points in the album. The last instrument I would have expected on a progressive death metal album, but it works really well.
Despite the lack of in-depth track breakdowns in this review, I can honestly say there’s not a single bad track on this album. It’s a blast to listen to in its entirety! The songs are well written, the band play extremely well and the mix is great. They’ve done a cracking job with this one, and I highly recommend giving it a listen! 10/10
Peter Murphy - Silver Shade (Metropolis Records) [Mark Young]
This is as late as I can possibly get and for that its apologies all round. Peter Murphy has been around since the late 70’s and is formerly of Bauhaus one of the pioneers of gothic rock with their debut single Bela Lugosi’s Dead. I’ll be honest, I’d heard of Bauhaus but never heard their music. By the time I’d started getting into music they had split up and I was getting into thrash so it kind of passed me by.
Despite the lack of in-depth track breakdowns in this review, I can honestly say there’s not a single bad track on this album. It’s a blast to listen to in its entirety! The songs are well written, the band play extremely well and the mix is great. They’ve done a cracking job with this one, and I highly recommend giving it a listen! 10/10
Peter Murphy - Silver Shade (Metropolis Records) [Mark Young]
This is as late as I can possibly get and for that its apologies all round. Peter Murphy has been around since the late 70’s and is formerly of Bauhaus one of the pioneers of gothic rock with their debut single Bela Lugosi’s Dead. I’ll be honest, I’d heard of Bauhaus but never heard their music. By the time I’d started getting into music they had split up and I was getting into thrash so it kind of passed me by.
However, there was a kind of exposure to early 80s pop/new wave via school discos and of course Top of the Pops. Its likely you are wondering where he is going with this but bear with me as this exposure has at least given me a frame of reference for the style of music on this, the latest release. So, going into this I had no idea what it was going to be like, because I’ve stopped researching the bands prior to listening to them. No preconceived ideas.
And being honest, I wasn’t enamoured with it, it immediately reminded me of those dark days, of music that I had nothing in common with and meant nothing to me (oh Vienna...). But stick with it because if you are a fan of electro pop with a rock sub-strata to it then this is right up your Strasse.
And being honest, I wasn’t enamoured with it, it immediately reminded me of those dark days, of music that I had nothing in common with and meant nothing to me (oh Vienna...). But stick with it because if you are a fan of electro pop with a rock sub-strata to it then this is right up your Strasse.
Swoon, it lands like Billy Idol and once you get on its wavelength, the album becomes a different proposition and is basically like a soundtrack to a John Hughes film with sci-fi leanings.
It’s apparent that he can arrange music that makes you want to dance (the progressions on Hot Roy and the driving movement of Sherpa as it moves into a climbing chorus) it is music that manages to sound fresh whilst reminding you of those simpler times of only three channels on the tv. And a remote control you plugged into it.
What you find is that is this is an album that doesn’t settle in one spot. The Artroom Wonder is another track that on the surface just plods along until it hits the chorus and then just takes flight. The thing is that you can hear him in so many bands that have come through as well as those that maybe ‘borrowed’ ideas (musically and stylistically) from him too.
I think that Xavier New Boy is one of the best things I’ve heard in ages, it has a timeless quality with a build that could have only come from these fair shores. It builds and builds, using descending patterns to build that tensions and then it rises, with a fucking excellent emotional payoff. Top class, absolutely top stuff.
Glad I stuck with it now.
Glad I stuck with it now.
Sailmaker’s Charm shows that writing songs that move amongst moods and feelings is as easy as drawing breath. Its understated for the most part and although you know there is going to be a swell to it you don’t care because it is such a good feeling that comes from it.
The way that he can pull this stuff together is amazing to me, the progressions that are chosen and the little touches used make each of the songs shine so well. Each of them has a unique energy with no missteps or low points and there are no weak/filler songs on here. None at all.
Did I mention there is also a veritable who’s who of the music world on this? From NiN to Tool to Boy George (contributing vocals to the bonus track Let The Flowers Grow) and it shows the level of respect that he commands. You should do yourself a favour and check this out. 9/10
During this time of writing he was joined by Jon Christopher Davis a Texas based singer songwriter who abandoned his solo project to form The Speaker Wars with Lynch. Recording in Nashville, this album has a rock, with a strong vein of country, blues and Americana, blue collar music like The Heartbreakers used to make.
Joining the duo were Jay Michael Smith on guitar, Brian Patterson on bass, Steve Ritter on percussion, and Jay Brown on keyboards but for me Davis is the shining star of this record, his soulful Petty-meets-Henley delivery is just perfect for the organ-drenched It Ain't Easy, the gritty strut of Taste Of Heaven while Never Ready To Go and The Forgiveness are classic Petty, I Wish You Peace meanwhile takes the Wilbury route, with a bit of The Beatles goes Hollywood.
Lynch has butted heads with Mike Campbell in the past, leaving a bitter taste, so we may never see the original members of The Heartbreakers ply together again however The Speaker Wars is the closet we're gonna get for a long while. For anyone who loves that soft, bluesy Americana of Tom Petty or The Eagles that is inspired by country and gospel then The Speaker Wars will take pride of place on your record shelf. 7/10
Hexecutioner - Tornit (Self Released) [Rich Piva]
Hexecutioner is a fuzzy, sludgy doom trio out of Washington State who are tuned down way low to bring you some very cool and heavy psych-tinged goodness with the four tracks on their new record, Tornit. The record has an almost trance-like vibe to it, with a rhythm section that doubles down and vocals from Erin Gravina that are hauntingly beautiful in the most sludge possible way.
The riff on the opener, Skookum, just crushes, and is a constant across this hypnotic sludge dirge. There are no fancy tempo changes here, just crushing fuzzy doom, and it works great for the full nine-plus minutes. The track Submission is flat out filthy, especially that riff, and it works perfectly with the echoey vocals and a drum and bass combo that never quits. Heavy.
Did I mention there is also a veritable who’s who of the music world on this? From NiN to Tool to Boy George (contributing vocals to the bonus track Let The Flowers Grow) and it shows the level of respect that he commands. You should do yourself a favour and check this out. 9/10
The Speaker Wars - The Speaker Wars (Frontiers Music Srl) [Matt Bladen]
What do you do if you're Stan Lynch, long time drummer of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers and that band no longer exists? He was a part of the band until 1994 but after leaving he put to use that decade of touring experience to shift to a production and song writing side of things. Lynch has been a writer for many artists, including The Eagles, Tim McGraw and even Toto and he twiddles the knobs for many others but he's been squirrelling away songs for a while.During this time of writing he was joined by Jon Christopher Davis a Texas based singer songwriter who abandoned his solo project to form The Speaker Wars with Lynch. Recording in Nashville, this album has a rock, with a strong vein of country, blues and Americana, blue collar music like The Heartbreakers used to make.
Joining the duo were Jay Michael Smith on guitar, Brian Patterson on bass, Steve Ritter on percussion, and Jay Brown on keyboards but for me Davis is the shining star of this record, his soulful Petty-meets-Henley delivery is just perfect for the organ-drenched It Ain't Easy, the gritty strut of Taste Of Heaven while Never Ready To Go and The Forgiveness are classic Petty, I Wish You Peace meanwhile takes the Wilbury route, with a bit of The Beatles goes Hollywood.
Lynch has butted heads with Mike Campbell in the past, leaving a bitter taste, so we may never see the original members of The Heartbreakers ply together again however The Speaker Wars is the closet we're gonna get for a long while. For anyone who loves that soft, bluesy Americana of Tom Petty or The Eagles that is inspired by country and gospel then The Speaker Wars will take pride of place on your record shelf. 7/10
Hexecutioner - Tornit (Self Released) [Rich Piva]
Hexecutioner is a fuzzy, sludgy doom trio out of Washington State who are tuned down way low to bring you some very cool and heavy psych-tinged goodness with the four tracks on their new record, Tornit. The record has an almost trance-like vibe to it, with a rhythm section that doubles down and vocals from Erin Gravina that are hauntingly beautiful in the most sludge possible way.
The riff on the opener, Skookum, just crushes, and is a constant across this hypnotic sludge dirge. There are no fancy tempo changes here, just crushing fuzzy doom, and it works great for the full nine-plus minutes. The track Submission is flat out filthy, especially that riff, and it works perfectly with the echoey vocals and a drum and bass combo that never quits. Heavy.
Bind My Foe is twelve minutes of pure heavy that a band like Ufomammut would be proud of. A quiet night out on the porch, crickets and all, opens up Rogue, until a gigantic beast appears out of the woods to destroy all in its path via killer riffs.
This record is heavy. Some might say it is a bit repetitive and the songs are too long but if they are they really don’t get the power of Tornit. Hexecutioner have gone a long way in perfecting hypnotic doom sludge with the four tracks on their new and excellent record. Heavy. 8/10
This record is heavy. Some might say it is a bit repetitive and the songs are too long but if they are they really don’t get the power of Tornit. Hexecutioner have gone a long way in perfecting hypnotic doom sludge with the four tracks on their new and excellent record. Heavy. 8/10
No comments:
Post a Comment