Continuing the comprehensive 40th anniversary editions of Rush studio album we get to the 1982 album Signals, the record that firmly established Rush's move towards synths. In the 80's electronic music was becoming the norm so the Canadian trio began to really incorporate this change in music on this album.
Following their most popular album Moving Pictures, Signals is Rush evolving into the decade, their ninith album and shift in direction hailed by single Subdivisions, those huge synth walls coming from the first minute and becoming a major part of the track, merged with Alex Lifeson's intricate guitar parts, Neil Peart's expressive drumming and emotional/reflective lyrics, it's become a Rush classic but was removed from the dual guitar wielding, prog monster of the 2112 and Hemispheres. More pop driven and dare I say accessible this is the style Rush would continue with until they began to fuse both of their history's together in the late 90's/2000's.
Co-Produced by Terry Brown, their long time collaborator, even to this day it stand out for its shift in sound and futurisms such as the conversations between Colombia astronauts and ground control on Countdown and the rise of the digital age which is dealt with on Digital Man, the repeating binary sequences and one of Peart's best drum licks. Signals also is where Geddy sounds the most comfortable with his voice, not as nasal as he has been previously, the poppier sound was a benefit to his vocal, displaying his virtuosity on both the bass and the keys too. So if you've heard the album you already know what it sounds like, this isn't a remaster or remix it's the 2015 remaster with added extras.
There's three distinct versions including a Dolby Atmos version and a limited edition box set featuring a lithograph of Neil Peart's lyrics. It's also wrapped in some new artwork from Hugh Syme plus lots of 7" singles, backstage photographs while the Blu-Ray has the album mixed in Dolby Atmos which sounds amazing! There's no extra tracks though just this career changing album from the greatest band Canada has ever produced, if you're a true fanatic or want the Atmos version then this is great pick up. Let the re-release campaign continue! 9/10
Devildriver – Dealing With Demons Vol 2 (Napalm Records) [Zak Skane]
Beginning with a curve ball of an introduction that consists of their ambient delayed effected guitars which you would hear on a Bad Wolves song, as a result my ears are pricked with interest before the classic bouncy grooves that we are accustom to come striding in. With the main riffs holding a modern technical metal vibe with its string skipping prowess but also still sticking to it’s roots once matched with the stamping drum beats and the spitting venomous flare from front man Dez Fafara. Mantra takes it back to early Devildriver with it’s classic down picked guitar riffs matching the energy of the double kick driven grooves and the catchy choruses.
Devildriver – Dealing With Demons Vol 2 (Napalm Records) [Zak Skane]
Beginning with a curve ball of an introduction that consists of their ambient delayed effected guitars which you would hear on a Bad Wolves song, as a result my ears are pricked with interest before the classic bouncy grooves that we are accustom to come striding in. With the main riffs holding a modern technical metal vibe with its string skipping prowess but also still sticking to it’s roots once matched with the stamping drum beats and the spitting venomous flare from front man Dez Fafara. Mantra takes it back to early Devildriver with it’s classic down picked guitar riffs matching the energy of the double kick driven grooves and the catchy choruses.
Nothing Lasts Forever’s bowel rumbling intro and pummeling dark sounding riffs accompanied with Dez's ferocious lyrical delivery leaves this to be the most angry song on the album. There is some interesting ambient atmospheric clean sections in Summoning and Through The Depths pushes the bands limitations with the use of; exotic guitar scales, blast beats, strategically placed double kick drum grooves and an outro of orchestrated gypsy sounding violins.
The Mastodon influenced closing track The Relationship Is Broken keeps the sonic brew interest till the last note is struck. Devildriver have always been a band that have been consistent and true to their sound and their audience and this album is no exception. With the interesting elements that started off tracks such as I Have No Pity, Nothing Lasts Forever and Summoning I wish they rode more on those in the writing process to generate something different. 7/10.
Currents - The Death We Seek (Sharptone Records) [Zak Skane]
The modern metalcore act Currents are back with a their darkest album to date The Death We Seek. With it’s title track we greeted with every element and subgenre of metal being thrown at us at 100 mph, stemming from the brutal low tuned deathcore sounding breakdowns accompanied synthonic effects, followed by tech metal leads and blackmetal inspired blastbeats. Living In Tragedy gets groovy with it’s caveman simplified grooves, bouncy riffs but also Breaking Benjamin styled soaring choruses which is also carried on in the technical yet anthemic Unfamiliar.
Currents - The Death We Seek (Sharptone Records) [Zak Skane]
The modern metalcore act Currents are back with a their darkest album to date The Death We Seek. With it’s title track we greeted with every element and subgenre of metal being thrown at us at 100 mph, stemming from the brutal low tuned deathcore sounding breakdowns accompanied synthonic effects, followed by tech metal leads and blackmetal inspired blastbeats. Living In Tragedy gets groovy with it’s caveman simplified grooves, bouncy riffs but also Breaking Benjamin styled soaring choruses which is also carried on in the technical yet anthemic Unfamiliar.
Other highlights on this album is the technical, ambient crushing sections of So Alone and Over And Over, the ear punishing low rumbling assault of Vengeance that would possess anyone with the energy to break necks upon listening and the moving and meaningful tracks of Gone Away and Remember Me and Guide Me Home. This album is just another example why Currents are on the ones to watch list. From back to front this album will promote every emotion that the listener is capable of. From tear jerking atmospherics to lyrics to neck snapping breakdowns this band gives it all. 8/10
The Unresolved - Convalescence (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
West Midlands rockers The Unresolved have are very much classic rock, opening this album with old school rock n roll, I'm talking 50/60's here but from there they change into several types of hard rock all of which is radio friendly and driven by a number of influences, from the Zep stomp of Manifesto, through the swaggering blues rocking of Snake Eyes and the surf rock of Chinese Whispers.
The Unresolved - Convalescence (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
West Midlands rockers The Unresolved have are very much classic rock, opening this album with old school rock n roll, I'm talking 50/60's here but from there they change into several types of hard rock all of which is radio friendly and driven by a number of influences, from the Zep stomp of Manifesto, through the swaggering blues rocking of Snake Eyes and the surf rock of Chinese Whispers.
Now the music is decent but it is a little all over the place stylistically, Moonlight Sonata is very bloody slow but without much emotion to it. I feel that Convalescence is an album by a pub band, nothing offensive but nothing outstanding, the vocals as well I find a little annoying. It'll get you jigging in your seat but not going to crazy. 5/10
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