Tag Archive: Smashing Pumpkins

New Cloudkicker Due Out This Fall

Filed Under: General News, Upcoming releases

Jun.20, 2012

Everyone’s favorite one-man-band Cloudkicker has another release on the horizon! Cloudkicker seems to be putting out at least one new release a year, which is really quite something for a dude who approaches music as a hobby. Bands who are full-time musicians take years to come up with albums, even without touring factored in. Looking at you, Necrophagist and Wintersun.

Mastermind Ben Sharp gives us some insight, via his Tumblr Blogkicker:

If I had to sum up what things sound like I would use the words GUITARS and LOUD. Hell of a lot of guitars on this album. Like 6 tracks of lead guitars. If you read about how Butch Vig recorded Siamese Dream [Smashing Pumpkins] I’m basically trying to copy that—which should tell you something else about how it will sound. I’m using almost no reverb or compression. Oh and LOUD. It’s probably the loudest album yet which is ironic because it’s also the quietest. For you audio nerds, the quiet parts are around -10dB and the loud parts top out at ~-1dB. All that means is that it’s fairly dynamic and I’m not trying to squeeze everything as far as it will go. My goal is that when you TURN IT UP it will sound like you’re listening to a band play awesome music in an awesome space—not listening to a guy punch in and out until everything is perfect and the waveform looks like a brick. Personal preference.

There are seven tracks, it will probably be about 40-45 minutes. The longest track is 10 minutes long. I’m using a Telecaster and a Jazz Bass in standard tuning (except drop D). As I mentioned previously, you will definitely hear the Siamese Dream/You’d Prefer an Astronaut influence. But it’s also definitely post-Beacons Cloudkicker. There’s no china cymbal at all or passages that require a calculator and an excel spreadsheet (yes I’ve done that), but you can count the 4/4 parts on one hand. You might not even notice the odd timing parts, but they’re there. And in the midst of all the mid-90s arena-shoegaze will also be wacky influences like Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, Hans Zimmer and Battles.

When? Right now I’m aiming for late September/early October. It will probably be before that but I don’t want to rush anything.

So get stoked. New Cloudkicker is always a treat, and this one sounds like it’ll be a great progression.

- JR

Tags: Arvo Part, battles, Cloudkicker, hans zimmer, Necrophagist, Smashing Pumpkins, Steve Reich, Wintersun

Brendon Small’s Galaktikon

Filed Under: Reviews

Apr.18, 2012

Brandon Small’s Galaktikon

01. Triton
02. Prophecy of the Lazer Witch
03. Deathwaltz
04. Beastblade
05. Truth Orb and the Kill Pool
06. You Can’t Run Away
07. Arena War of the Immortal Masters
08. Dangertits
09. On My Way

[04/29/12]
[Self Released]

Whether you know it or not, you’re likely familiar with Mr. Brendon Small. He’s the creator and mastermind behind the cult animation hit Home Movies and more topically, Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse, which features the best-selling melodic death metal band Dethklok. With hit television shows and two Dethklok records under his belt, Brendon Small is at it again and spreading his wings for another musical endeavor in Galaktikon, a self-proclaimed “high stakes intergalactic extreme rock album.” Galaktikon sees Brendon Small trade in his death metal growls as Dethklok’s Nathan Explosion for a more melodic vocal approach, creating something catchier and almost operatic in some senses.

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Tags: Brendon Small, Brendon Small's Galaktikon, Dethklok, Devin Townsend, Galaktikon, Metalocalypse, Queen, Queens of the Stone Age, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Ziltoid

Brendon Small Shreds Over The Perils of Female Anatomy On ‘Dangertits’

Filed Under: Audio, New music, Upcoming releases

Apr.05, 2012

Brendon Small‘s non-Dethklok project Galaktikon is looming on the horizon, and I’ve been excited for it since it was first announced. The so called “high stakes intergalactic extreme rock album” is a bit of a departure for Small; while maintaining his sense of melody evident in Dethklok, Galaktikon will feature heavy use of melodic singing and a more rock-oriented sound with influences from the self-described influences including Smashing Pumpkins and Queen. Don’t worry though, it’s plenty metal enough.

While Galaktikon is largely a vocal album, Small doesn’t neglect his guitar talents, as evident by the penultimate instrumental track ‘Dangertits,’ which is now available for streaming over at Guitar Squid. It’s the album’s sole instrumental track, and as you can tell, it has that signature Brendon Small sound. Hell, it’s a couple of growls away from sounding like a Dethklok track. It’s great stuff. Go give it a listen.

Brendon Small’s Galaktikon is due out April 24th, which is the Tuesday before the season premiere of Metalocalypse on Adult Swim. Pre-orders for Galaktikon will be available next week! For more updates, visit the project’s Facebook page.

- JR

Tags: Brendon Small, Brendon Small's Galaktikon, Dethklok, Queen, Smashing Pumpkins

I Know It Aint Even Remotely Metal, But There’s A New Silversun Pickups Song Available

Filed Under: Audio, New music, Unmetal, Upcoming releases

Mar.26, 2012

Silversun Pickups are like the opposite of heavy, but we like to break the mold from time to time and listen to a fair share of non-metal. I enjoy a bit of post-rock and shoegaze (especially when fused with metal), and while those influences are plain as day in Silversun Pickups, they have been compared to both My Bloody Valentine and Smashing Pumpkins, if that’s something you can get behind. I dig em quite a bit, so I’d like to assume some of you would as well.

SSPU’s new album Neck of the Woods is out in May, and the promo ball got to rolling today with the streaming of their new single ‘Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings).‘ You can stream it below.

While I instantly fell in love with most of 2009′s Swoon, this song’s a bit of a grower and may need a few listens to sink in, which is good because the song’s atmosphere leaves a lot to be discovered. I’m definitely looking forward to Neck of the Woods. It’s due out May 8th on Dangerbird Records.

- JR

Tags: Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings), Dangerbird Records, My Bloody Valentine, Neck of the Woods, Silversun Pickups, Smashing Pumpkins

Metalocalypse’s Brendon Small Announces GALAKTIKON Project

Filed Under: General News, Upcoming releases

Feb.20, 2012

Brendon Small, creator (and pretty much everything else) of Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse and Home Movies, is finally poised to release his side-project this year with Brendon Small’s GALAKTIKON. Described as a “High Stakes Intergalactic Extreme Rock album,” GALAKTIKON seemingly rips a page out of Devin Townsend‘s Ziltoid The Omniscient and will be an over-the-top rock opera of sorts with influences from modern black metal, Queen, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer. Here’s what Brendon said in a statement:

“This album should be thought of as an audio comic book, an over acted chamber drama, a ridiculous premise that takes itself way too seriously all the way to the end,” states Brendon Small.

GALAKTIKON is pretty much Dethklok in a shiny melodic rock package, featuring legendary drummer Gene Hoglan and Dethklok live/studio bassist Bryan Beller, as well as retaining mixer/engineer Ulrich Wild. Obviously, this is quite the departure from Brendon’s work in Dethklok, but should be just as excellent given the roster’s quality!

Brendon Small’s GALAKTIKON is due out this April. We’ll follow up with more information as it becomes available! In the mean time, hit up the project on Facebook for up-to-date information!

- JR