01. Introbra
02. Bring it Back
03. Gold Cobra
04. Shark Attack
05. Get A Life
06. Shotgun
07. Douche Bag
08. Walking Away
09. Loser
10. Autotunage
11. 90.2.10
12. Why Try
13. Killer In You
[06/28/11]
[Interscope]
What’s the point of reviewing a band like Limp Bizkit on a metal blog? Limp Bizkit’s comeback album Gold Cobra is their first release in nearly six years and has been the subject of hatred since long before its release. To slag an album such as Gold Cobra would be a pointless exercise in patience and I’d just be preaching to the choir, and to praise it would be the suicide of whatever credibility I may have. Really, there’s no win either way if I were to review an album like this for you folks, so I might as well just do it for myself.
01. Sounds of a Playground Fading
02. Deliver Us
03. All For Me
04. The Puzzle
05. Fear Is The Weakness
06. Where The Dead Ships Dwell
07. The Attic
08. Darker Times
09. Ropes
10. Enter Tragedy
11. Jester’s Door
12. A New Dawn
13. Liberation
[06/21/11]
[Century Media]
In Flames are one of those bands that will always be very near and dear to my heart no matter what. Being one of the bands that helped me gain an ear for the hard stuff, because of their accessible approach at death metal in their older material and the tuneful choruses of their newer material, they quickly became one of my favorite bands some years ago. I’ve since outgrown that predictable “modern metal” sound and began to notice a pattern in their work which indicated a push towards… something. At the time, I considered Come Clarity brilliant step in the right direction, and it took A Sense Of Purpose some time to grow on me once I overlooked some of the angst-ridden lyrics. But hey, I was going through some relationship troubles at the time and that line, “I feel like shit, but at least I feel something,” really spoke to me, y’know?
But I’ve gotten a little bit older and I’d like to think that my tastes have become a touch more refined since then (some would argue to the contrary, but that’s neither here nor there). It was pretty much a given that In Flames would continue on in in their “evolution,” which would no doubt be exponential after losing founding guitarist Jesper Stromblad. The band I fell and love with and traveled for hours to see on multiple occasions was changing before my eyes and I was a bit apprehensive, but optimistic. Then I realized that I felt the same way about Korn III, and we all know how that turned out. Even still, if any band is worth my effort and attention, it’s In Flames.
I know I’m putting myself in the opposition, but hear me out on this before the mindless among you start flinging out f-bombs and removing us from your bookmarks or RSS readers. I grew up on Korn, and they’re the band that got me out of more mainstream music and into heavier listening. I think it’s safe to say that without Korn, I might not have jumped ship from radio rock and hip hop. For years, they were my favorite band, so I still hold them in high regard as far as being influential and so forth. They’re by no means my favorite band anymore, but I still respect the dudes.
That being said, I disliked their latest album Korn III. It just felt like a soulless attempt at reaching back to an older sound—it just didn’t work for me. I still enjoy their later industrial-tinged work in See You On The Other Side and Untitled, though. The thing I liked about Korn is that each album sounded a bit different from the last, and to retread and backtrack like they did on Korn III messed with their evolution as a band.
So next month, Korn will be releasing a new EP with at least one song being a collaboration with dubstep artist Skrillex called “Get Up.” The riffs of Korn work well in the context of a dubstep influence, and admittedly the song is pretty catchy. “Get Up” is by no means intellectually stimulating or a bastion of musicality, but to me, it’s a step up from Korn III. It kind of reminds me of their Untouchables-era stuff with synth, and I don’t mind it at all. I know a lot of you are going to hate it before you even press play, but I can’t say I blame you.
I have no idea when the new EP comes out specifically because I didn’t look too far into it, but it’s not like anyone here cares anyway, so there you go.
I don’t usually hate on bands just for the sake of hatin’, especially bands that I actually enjoy (yes, I am among the minority here at HBIH who calls himself a Suicide Silence fan), but I stumbled on the below video of Krank TV’s ‘Day in the Life of Chris Garza’ and I couldn’t help but post it here:
The thing is just amazingly, awkwardly, hilariously bad the entire way through and bursting at the seams with laughs. Highlights include:
-When the Krank guy asks Garza about his guitar inspirations, he cites Dimebag Darrell, Munky(!), and Jimi Hendrix as his top influences. He goes on to say that “Munky and Jimi Hendrix” are his top two guitarists ever. Let that sink in for a second. MUNKY…. and Hendrix. Sorry dude, I fully agree with you on Hendrix-I think he’s the best guitarist ever to walk the earth. But putting him in the same breath as Munky?? from Korn?!? I used to be a Korn fan, but come ON. I don’t even know what else to say about that….
-When Chris is jamming out on some new Krank amp, the interviewer/Krank amp guy tells him his tone is a lot like Dimebag’s used to be. Then, of course, this compells Chris to break out the riff from “Walk”. Ugh, barf….you really telling me that Chris Garza, the rhythm guitarist for one of a million deathcore bands out there, sounds like the one-in-a-million Dimebag fucking Darrell, dude?
Like THIS guy?!
NOPE. Quit shitting on the legend’s legacy with these comparisons please.
I know it’s Krank’s job to wine, dine, and pretend to worship the artists they are courting. But man, they are so awkwardly and blatantly failing at it that it makes me wonder if filming this shit is doing everyone more harm than good.
Anyway, Suicide Silence’s new album is due out sometime this summer if any of you care.
01. Children of Cybertron
02. Area 64-66
03. Dogs Get Put Down
04. Demons With Ryu
05. Solar Flare Homicide
06. Eulogy of Giants
07. Bohemian Grave
08. 4 Poisons 3 Words
09. Cries of Credo
10. Last Words To Rose
11. A Voice From Below
12. Drug Dealer Friend
13. My Name Is Thanos
14. Lights Bring Salvation
15. Word of Intulo
[02/15/11]
[Victory Records]
By now Emmure should automatically trigger something in your brain. Whether it’s a psychological defense mechanism that makes Korn sound as good as Atheist or just pure, unbridled rage and anger, there should be some sort of kneejerk reaction to this six letter travesty. If, however, this does not happen simply because you don’t know who they are, then let me explain. Imagine the most uncreative, derivative musicianship that revolves around chugging and notoriously generic breakdowns. Then add a minute amount of vocal talent that gets wasted by horrible “talking” passages and you have Emmure
So, Speaker of the Dead, Emmure’s 4th album. Four albums usually means you have a pretty decent career and are worthy of resigning and making albums, but keep in mind this is their fourth album in a 5 year timespan. Yes, in a world where the standard is every other year, Emmure have vomited a whopping four albums since 2007. Its gotten to the point that records to Emmure is like babies to whores. Fathoming how they make so many albums is nigh impossible because they’re certainly “worthy” enough for Victory Records to be their label and there is certainly a “demand” to see them live. Then again, you probably only need a week or two to write the material. All this aside, there is good news! Speaker of the Dead is…
01. Freelance Terror
02. My Urge To Kill
03. The Ugliest Joke
04. Oblivion
05. Sin Spitter
06. Saw Blade
07. The Traveler
08. Head Pile
09. The Children Of The Riot
[01/11/2011]
[False Prophet Records]
So let’s air the dirty laundry then. Monsters are the first band signed to False Prophet Records, the label owned by Emmure‘s Frankie Palmeri who may be quite possibly one of the most hated groups ever, next to bands like Limp Bizkit. Obviously, post-ironic beardcore this is not: it’s tough-guy deathcore. Now as time goes on, I find myself enjoying more and more tough-guy deathcore; bands like Defiler and Oceano, mostly because it’s just funny and so damn over the top. However, my main problem with it is that when I’m laughing I can’t tell; am I laughing with them or at them?
This week’s submission for Bands That Made YOU Heavy comes from a friend of mine, Epi. If you want to share your story about how you got into heavier music, we want to hear it! Shoot an email over to mail(at)heavyblogisheavy(dot)com!
Back in 8th grade, I was listening to some rap, 80′s rock, and mainstream rock. Metal was a genre I wasn’t familiar with yet. One day while in class a friend of mine shows me a magazine—Revolver, I believe. Mudvayne was featured in one of the articles.
[This edition of Bands That Made Me Heavy comes from my best friend Kaetlynn, whom everyone affectionately refers to as Kat. If you'd like to share how you got into the world of metal, we want to hear about it! Send an email over to mail(at)heavyblogisheavy(dot)com. If we like it, we'll post it!]
So I just recently came into the world of music that doesn’t just, for lack of a better term, suck. Though I still listen (and fight for) a multitude of older bands that seemingly everyone hates nowadays, I’ve grown accustomed to my new tastes. While I don’t hold a large arsenal of awesome music (Between the Buried and Me and The Dillinger Escape Plan to name a few), if it wasn’t for a few early bands that I magically found (and a good kick in the pants along the way) I’d still be listening to The Beach Boys and Creed.
I give credit to quite a few bands for helping me climb the ladder that led me to myself today: Slipknot, KoRn, All that Remains, Ill Nino.Since all ofthose have beendone by now (thanks guys), I’ll jump onto one of my earlier ones, Disturbed.
It’s finally happening, we’re running a contest! You can win a pair of lawn tickets to the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival featuring Korn, Rob Zombie, Lamb of God, Norma Jean, and more!
We are giving away two (2) pairs of lawn tickets to your choice of venue at the select dates below. All I need you to do is send an email to mail(at)heavyblogisheavy(dot)com with the subject titled “Mayhem” with your full legal name and the date and location of the show you wish to attend in the body. Winners will be chosen at random Friday, July 30th, at 8 PM. All of this is courtesy of MOG Music Network and Live Nation. That’s right, YOU HAVE ONE DAY TO ENTER. GOGOGOGO.
Here are the dates that are available:
8/1: Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood – Atlanta, GA
8/3: Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek – Raleigh, NC
8/4: Virginia Beach Amphitheater – Virginia Beach, VA
8/6: DTE Energy Music Theatre – Clarkson, MI
8/7: First Niagara Pavilion – Burgettstown, PA
8/8: Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA
8/10: 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheater At The Florida State Fairgrounds – Tampa, FL
8/11: Cruzan Amphitheater – West Palm Beach, FL
8/13: Superpages.com Center – Dallas, TX
Remember, the contest ends THIS FRIDAY at 8 PM, with two random winners chosen at that hour. Good luck, and spread the word!
- JR
[Edit: I apologize to those who were wanting to go to the shows later in July, but I had to wait for everything to get approved before the contest continued and these dates are the only ones available. If you already entered, you do not have to enter again. I'm sorry for any inconvenience.]
[EDIT 2: The contest is now over. Thanks to all that entered! Check your email to see if you won.]
My response to anyone getting butthurt over musical differences
Inspired by the inane ramblings of fanboys when their favorite band is under scrutiny. Everyone just needs to relax, take a deep breath and realize not everyone is out to laugh at your musical taste or bash bands simply for the sake of it. In fact, and I know this may come as a shock to many people, not everyone has the same musical taste!
Now, I like to consider myself well-informed of the internet and its happenings. Not only this, but its nature as well. I realize anyone can be an obnoxious troll, or that 12-year-olds can get their hands on a forum and make absurd and invalid fanboy arguments (see Xbox Republic), but I’ve come to wonder: is it just me or is everyone getting more uptight and angsty about a certain band not having 100% approval? Go on Last.FM, make a negative statement about a band or album and watch as the brigade of butthurt tremors the Earth in fury as they destroy the shoutbox with “fag”, “you’re retarded” and “you like x band so your opinion doesn’t matter.” In retrospect, everyone has musical differences. Bob may like T-Pain and Cannibal Corpse, but he may dislike Atheist and Death. Is it really that big of a deal? Is everyone suddenly fucking retarded? There’s a difference between making erroneous statements and having an opinion. Calling Cryptopsy crunkcore is a flatout lie, but not liking Cryptopsy‘s older work and enjoying their new stuff does not make a person ignorant, “untrue” or even stupid. The stigma of certain genres and bands is disgusting. Not everyone who likes Korn is an angst-ridden teenager nor is everyone who likes death metal weird and socially inept. But I’ll save that for another rant.
Limp Bizkit
In Flames
Emmure
Monsters
