Seriously, The Real Thing runs the gamut from thrash, rapping, a bluesy piano-oriented song about a pedophile, and a totally badass ‘War Pigs‘ cover—that album is insane. Look into it if you haven’t heard it yet. In fact, go out and listen to their whole discography. You won’t regret it.
- JR
Axl Rosenberg has just made my day. Faith No More have been busy touring everywhere except the United States (BUT WHY?! FUCK), and while in Argentina of all places (YOU MEAN THERE’S MORE DEMAND FOR FNM THERE THAN HERE!?!) they played a mysterious song that no one seems to be able to place. Unless it’s something super obscure, it doesn’t appear to be a cover. Could it be a new Faith No More song? It certainly sounds like it is. If so, I am beyond excited. A new Faith No More record would make my decade. Here’s hoping!
- JR
The discovery of a new band is always exciting. Will it be something you’ve heard countless times? An experience that leaves a bad taste in your mouth? Or is it a treat from which you cannot stop consuming? I wanted to take a trip back in time to reminisce about bands/albums that not only introduced me to heavy music, but kept me coming back for more…
From The Archive: Mr. Bungle – Mr. Bungle
[This week on From The Archive, both Dormition and Alkahest weigh in on Mr. Bungle's self-titled debut record.]
Our love of Mike Patton is well-known around these parts, as we’ve already reflected upon his work with Faith No More, Fantômas, Peeping Tom and his one time collaboration with the equally insane The Dillinger Escape Plan. So it was only a matter of time until we covered his other band, the experimental and genre spanning Mr. Bungle. Having formed back in 1985 with all the members still attending high school and taking their name from a 1960s children’s educational film, Lunchroom Manners, Mr. Bungle released four demo tapes during the late 80s until finally being signed by Warner Bros. Records. Their debut self-titled album, Mr. Bungle, which was produced by jazz experimentalist John Zorn, was released on August 13, 1991, and upon first listen, there’s a lot to take in, as the band mixed metal, funk, ska, carnival music and jazz into one of the most unconventionally structured yet cohesive sounding albums I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening too.
The discovery of a new band is always exciting. Will it be something you’ve heard countless times? An experience that leaves a bad taste in your mouth? Or is it a treat from which you cannot stop consuming? I wanted to take a trip back in time to reminisce about bands/albums that not only introduced me to heavy music, but kept me coming back for more…
From The Archive: Korn – Korn
Dan’s busy this week and I had just realized that I have never bothered to reach into his brainchild article From the Archive. I thought I could use the platform to talk about an album that I feel is greatly under-appreciated in the metal community, and that’s Korn‘s 1994 self-titled debut album, an album that—like it or not—influenced an entire movement of hard rock and metal for decades to come.
Korn holds a special place in my heart, as they were my favorite band in my teenage years, bridging the gap between radio-friendly hard rock and hip hop and into the realm of metal. Korn get a lot of flack from fans of extreme metal though, and I can see why. You can blame them if you like for bands like Disturbed and Limp Bizkit and whatever other nu-metal bands that saturated the market in the late 90′s and early 00′s. However, before the trend and rise to fame and eventual journey into rap-metal aesthetics, Korn’s debut album is a raw and emotional record that really created a sound that wasn’t heard before. Korn took cues from grunge and heavy metal to form this aggressive and twisted being that really was new and exciting.
The discovery of a new band is always exciting. Will it be something you’ve heard countless times? An experience that leaves a bad taste in your mouth? Or is it a treat from which you cannot stop consuming? I wanted to take a trip back in time to reminisce about bands/albums that not only introduced me to heavy music, but kept me coming back for more…
From The Archive: Faith No More – Angel Dust
Faith No More, a band that needs no introduction as their name is very well known in the music industry. They’ve been hailed as one of the most influential rock bands of the late 80s and early 90s, while also being a major influence for many of todays alternative rock/metal bands. Whereas their first two albums, We Care A Lot and Introduce Yourself saw the band combining elements of funk, hip hop, alternative rock, punk and even a touch of avant-garde, it wasn’t until their original vocalist, Chuck Mosley was replaced by Mike Patton that the band began to take shape and evolve their sound.
Fair to Midland01. Heavens to Murgatroyd
02. Whiskey & Ritalin
03. Musical Chairs
04. Uh-Oh
05. Amarillo Sleeps on My Pillow
06. A Loophole in Limbo
07. Typhoid Mary Sends Her Best
08. Short-Haired Tornado
09. The Upset at Bailey Bridge
10. Rikki Tikki Tavi
11. Golden Parachutes
12. Bright Bulbs & Sharp Tools
13. Coppertank Island
14. Three Foolproof Ways To Buy the Farm
15. The Greener Grass
Hard and Alt Rock acts are tough calls to make when the primary flavor your tastebuds are accustomed to is metal and the like. However, the best rock bands seem to be ones rooted in prog, which we indulge in greatly ’round these parts — like Karnivool, who broke out last year with their amazing sophomore release Sound Awake, and Fair To Midland, who are poised to release their fourth album Arrows & Anchors. My experience with these Texans is ashamedly limited. Their hit “Dance of the Manatee” back in 2007 was pretty sweet, I thought, but my tastes weren’t aligned properly at that point in time to warrant a spin of the whole album Fables from a Mayfly until after I came across Arrows & Anchors. Even in my short-term knowledge of the band and their sound, it’s clear that Fair to Midland are the American counterpart to Australia’s Karnivool.
Chris has called upon you guys to check out newer Basick Records signees Circles once before, but I felt it appropriate to remind you that their debut EP is coming down the pike this spring. Here’s a brilliant description straight from the PR blurbs:
Set for release via BASICK in Spring 2011, the band’s debut 6-track EP ‘The Compass’, combines musical influences from technically minded bands such as Periphery and Textures, whilst simultaneously drawing lyrical and vocal comparisons to the early works of Incubus and Faith No More.
They aren’t just blowing smoke up the asses of music enthusiasts—this is actually probably the most accurate official description of sound I’ve seen for quite some time. Come to think of it, the vocal work in Circles does seem to draw a subdued Mike Patton influence, which I can dig immensely.
Be on the lookout for Circles’ upcoming EP The Compass, which hits stores May 16th via Basick Records.
- JR
The discovery of a new band is always exciting. Will it be something you’ve heard countless times? An experience that leaves a bad taste in your mouth? Or is it a treat from which you cannot stop consuming? I wanted to take a trip back in time to reminisce about bands/albums that not only introduced me to heavy music, but kept me coming back for more…
From The Archive: The Dillinger Escape Plan w/Mike Patton – Irony Is A Dead Scene
The last time I spoke about these guys was back in November of 2010, where I discussed my love for their self-titled EP. Now I must return to this band of mischief makers simply because they are not only a gnarly band, but for a short period of time, combined their forces with one of the most legendary voices in music history. The sheer manic nature of both these parties coming together and making music is simply a treat for ones ears and mind. They only released an EP, but the 4 tracks contained within were enough to create an everlasting impact…
Dear sweet Lord, it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these! If you’re new to Heavy Blog or do not remember, this is where the highlights of our music submissions end up for you to feast your ears on! We hope you enjoy!
This time on Hits From The Inbox we have progressive metal band The Ciem Show. They’re sound is accurately self-described as “Progressive / Experimental Metal with Doomy tendencies… recommended for fans of Meshuggah, Devin Townsend, Arcturus, Ulver, … King Crimson, and Faith No More.” Niiiiice. Their vocalist is certainly channeling some Strapping Young Lad-era Devin Townsend. Check out their album Lifelike Scenes below in its entirety.
If you dig the album (and you know good and well that you do!), you can download the album for free here.
The band are unfortunately having trouble finding a drummer. Here’s what bassist/guitarist Christopher had to say about their situation:
We are located in New Jersey and are currently suffering from a common, but deadly disease: Currently Seeking Drummer Syndrome (CSDS for short.) We have been suffering from CSDS for the better part of three years now, and if a cure is not found soon enough, we may never be able to perform live. Ever. Our previous drummer succumbed to an even more deadly disease, Apathia Sleeplatea Headupassia (in layman’s terms: laziness with a bit of the crazies), shortly after recording his parts for Lifelike Scenes..
Ouch. Are you a drummer in or around New Jersey? Hit them up on Facebook if you’re interested!
- JR
Angel Dust just has to be one of my favorite albums of all time. If you haven’t heard it, go and find it now because it’s a damn classic.
- JR
