CircleCount geeft je een betere kijk op Google+

2013-05-18 11:22:35 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I totally dislike the new Google layout. It's getting worse and worse everytime I come back here. Too many colours, too big pictures, too little space to post any meaningful text.

2013-05-18 11:20:12 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

2013-05-13 20:54:58 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Celestial Fury - We All Float Down Here Pt. 1 (song review) |self-released, single, 2013| 5/5

Djent is a relatively new music genre, derived from metal. The music scene needs a variety of genres not just to categorize bands and market songs but also to form new subcultures. These new subcultures will often speak for an entire generation, its interests and dislikes. The Djent style may grow to the size of Grunge (which to me was the last meaningful and well tagged landmark of a Rock subculture) or may be left only in hands of those passionate about it. However, it's undoubtedly one of the most intense styles of music locked within usually instrumental, experimental arrangements, characterized by polyphonic rhythm and performed with low tuned 6, 7 or even 8-string guitars.

"We All Float Down Here Pt. 1" is a song drawing on Djent roots. The idea is based on two... meer »

2013-05-09 14:01:15 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

A new video by Sit Kitty Kit. Song review: http://industrialrock.net/php-files_en/articles.php?article_id=420

2013-05-06 17:34:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Dead Day Revolution - Children of the Night (song review) |self-released, On Our Own, 2013| 5/5

Los Angeles based trio, Dead Day Revolution was founded by Mike Sandoz (vocals/guitars) and Skeeter Joplin (drums) in 2009. Bass player, Cristian Sturba joined the band soon after. This viral and actively social collective of musicians has been working on a debut album for the last two years. Here is it’s foretaste.

"Children of the Night" is a title well known in both literature and music. The original song, by Dead Day Revolution sounds truly passionate. It is performed with a rebellious drive, quite typical in Punk-Rock music. How else would this style of musicians express their opinions if not making it loud and noisy? Yet the vibe remains positive.

The track starts with noisy guitars that basically take the lead. The riffs are then joined by solid,m... meer »

2013-05-02 14:40:20 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Watch a cover of Mad World song (Tears For Fears) by +Fake Empire  & +File Transfer Protocol  on YouTube. The cover version is available as a free download.

2013-04-19 08:42:50 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Malcolm Tollan - What Will I Do Without You (song review) |Texas Rose Records, The Malcolm Tollan Project, Vol. 4, 2011| 4/5

It's not a secret that music has its biggest impact during the teenage years or at least into early your 20's. Then your taste turns to more specific tunes or genres which could still change years later, yet you continue to return to the songs you loved as a youngster. Even though they may sound old-school these days. These specific songs touched a hidden part of you back then and now let you reconnect with your younger, emotional ego. Regardless whether the songs bring good or bad memories, they're always about the intense issues you faced in your past.

If you grew up in the 70’s and still miss the Hippie culture, you can jump back into that time again by listening to "What Will I Do Without You" without needing to dust off any oldL... meer »

2013-04-08 20:45:45 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Brazilian composer Marinho Nobre, previously known from NYC industrial metal/hardcore band Kx released a new album entitled World Citizen. Recorded in the scope of over four years at several locations worldwide, with a wide array of musical influences and guest musicians, World Citizen is an untamed journey through the musical mind of Marinho Nobre. With accents of Middle Eastern, Latin, Indian, Celtic and Aboriginal meeting Classical and Urban beats, World Citizen evokes many musical cultures blending them into one big celebration
http://www.worldcitizencd.com/p/credits.html
Interview (2009) http://industrialrock.net/php-files_en/articles.php?article_id=269

2013-04-08 20:40:21 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Progressivenz - To the Wolf (song review) |self-released, single, 2011| 3/5

Rhys Williams is a songwriter and composer hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand who performs under the guise, Progressivenz. Since the city suffered an earthquake in 2010, his music has been related to this tragic event. However not exclusively, Rhys writes songs in support of people who struggle with personal drama.
He operates within a few different styles of music, so don't be surprised when a song fitting the Blues vibe is followed by a track with a touch of Electronica.

"To The Wolf" could fall under the category of Experimental Sound Design, but includes heavy guitar riffs. It's not arranged in a classic song structure. Instead you'll hear a 7 minute long composition, filled with multiple themes.

The track begins with gentle synths and modified vocals giving... meer »

2013-04-08 20:39:36 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Phil G Band - Reality (song review) |self-released, Eureka, 2013| 4/5

Phil Gibbons (guitar, vocals) and Marco Degiorgi (lead guitar) who founded the Phil G Band have been playing music for many years. However, both band members don't seem to be too desperate to become rock stars or in the least, don't rely on making big money from the music industry. They work in Saudi Arabia where they both compose and perform live for their own pleasure.
Since the British/Italian duo share similar music interests, a simple collaboration resulted in the recording of a whole album entitled, Eureka. For the purpose of recording it, Phil and Marco were accompanied by session drummer, Tom Hooper who at one time played with Grace Jones and Christian Garrick, also with a bass player known as, “The Gov”. Matt Butler who is better known for his work with Paul McCartney, Phil Collins and MickJag... meer »

2013-04-08 20:38:31 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Paper Dolls - Quietly Killed (song review) |self-released, DILF Parade, 2012| 3/5

American duo Matthew 'Sosam' Banks and Ramon 'Saysong' Madera founded Paper Dolls in 2012. Despite the young age of the band, the musicians have recorded two albums so far - DILF Parade which is still available for a free download, and the recently released, Here's To Getting On With It: Part One. Beyond that the band publishes new songs weekly, appearing to either be following the new Indie DIY business method or simply enjoying their own creativity.

"Quietly Killed" was released on DILF Parade. The song is built upon repetitive and simplified arrangements and falls into a Punk genre definition. However, there's some duality in Paper Dolls’ music. The seemingly airy, chaotic and hallucinatory mood of the song results from solid calculation. While a dirty guitarc... meer »

2013-03-19 10:58:18 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Joel Smith Project - Kahless |single, self-released, 2013| 5/5

It's often enough to have good guitar arrangements and perform them skillfully in order to make a song sound interesting. Still, the entire composition needs a few more instruments involved, to cooperate with the guitars and get the most from the track. It’s clear that Joel Smith doesn't need an entire band to achieve this goal. This Californian musician writes, arranges and performs his music alone, and yet all the songs he’s released sound so right.

"Kahless" is the most recent production from Joel Smith Project, released in 2013. The song begins with innocent sounding acoustic guitar. However when the drum beat enters, you could suspect that layers of something heavier may be coming next. As a matter of fact, predatory riffs replace the acoustic part easily and so the song’s atmospherechang... meer »

2013-03-12 19:09:51 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

My new CD artworks.

2013-02-26 22:50:22 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Alex Von Z - Life's Addiction (song review) |self-released, Life's Addiction EP, 2012| 4/5

American musician, Alex Von Z belongs to this group of creative Indies who know well, how to draw and prolong fans’ interest. He seems to utilize the new music business model. The year of 2012 looked especially fruitful judging by his discography - Implicate Order EP was released in October and Life's Addiction EP two months later. The newest release includes 3 brand new songs and "Life's Addiction" opens the tracklist.

"Life's Addiction" begins with a drumbeat, dictating the rhythm and preparing the way for some classic hard rock sounding guitar riffs. Bass joins next, cooperating very well. Yet it’s the guitars that are the most vital instruments in this song. You can hear a bit of soloing as well as extended high-note bridges and fills. Thecor... meer »

2013-02-26 16:52:27 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Carved In Ashes - Lupus Homini (song review) |self-released, The Drowned Silhuette, 2012| 4/5

Carved In Ashes is a Finnish band from Helsinki formed in 2009. Their musical style can be described as progressive rock or art-rock. So far they've released two EPs - Neversary (2010) and Drowned Silhouette (2012).

The phrase, homo homini lupus comes from the Latin, meaning ‘the worst enemy of a human can be another human’. The above is proven when considering political, economic and religious wars observed across the ages, but is also noticeable yet no less harmful on a daily basis. These issues commonly come out of jealousy, greed and competition amongst both individuals and groups of people.

The song title, "Lupus Homini" is a neologism build upon a reference to the above phrase. The track was released on Drowned Silhouette EP and lasts over 8 minutes,an ... meer »

2013-02-25 16:01:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Update - BONUS: If you submit 1-2 albums (must be between 11-20 songs max) for my professional music review, I can also do a promotional interview inc. 3 original questions (via email). Both will be published on Fabryka Magazine and major social networks (Last.FM, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Myspace, LinkedIn). Required music genres: metal, rock, guitar driven industrial, dark ambient, soundtracks. More info about this bonus.

2013-02-14 13:25:54 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

New additions to Fabryka recommended albums available on CD Baby. Click here to preview & buy.

2013-02-11 22:57:33 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Theia Collides - Last Song (song review) |self-released, single, 2012| 4/5

Theia Collides is an American progressive rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As their bio says, their goal is to "create a lasting impact on the listener with every song, using conviction, high energy and improvisation". The track, "Last Song" shows this a true statement.

To begin with, Theia is the name of a hypothetical body the size of Mars, said to have hit the Earth approximately 4.5 billion years ago (about 30–50 million years after the Solar System began to form). The debris left over created the Moon. Science Fiction and Fantasy references are well known to progressive rock music. However, the best known characteristic is the tempo and time signature changes that feature frequently throughout compositions. This free-form method can be heard in "Last Song"a... meer »

2013-02-05 10:35:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Evestus - No God EP |self-released, album, 2012| 4/5
Genre: electronic, electro, industrial

01. Dirty [02:56]
02. Voices [03:56]
03. The Fall [04:27]
04. No God [04:21]
05. Sleep Forever [03:46]

Evestus is an Estonian band founded in 2004 by Ott Evestus. Initially a solo project, Evestus has turned into a four-piece band featuring Latvian drummer girl Tanya, guitarist Jan and HK playing bass and keyboards. No God is the fifth studio release from Evestus and includes five brand new songs.

The opening track titled "Dirty" begins with a synth usually heard in Electro music styles. Slightly distorted bass, drums and lead guitars follow. Additional layers of noise make Evestus sound more Industrial. The vocals, when performed in the same heavy-duty manner, match the arrangements well. The lyrics are dark and sound very imaginative:... meer »

2013-02-05 10:36:31 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Tooms - Disgraceland (song review) |Industrial Strength Records, Disgraceland EP, 2013| 5/5

"Disgraceland" - the brand new single by Tooms is an in-your-face answer to the current mainstream metal music promoted through high budget advertising campaigns. This composition breaks through these unoriginal metal songs, which are represented by initially aggressive riffs that fall into soft, tendentious melodies. Instead, Tooms have made their composition angry, for a reason.

When it comes to audio values, "Disgraceland" carries fervid sonic madness brought by punching drum beats, memorable enhanced guitar riffs and censorious, fighting vocals. Passionate throughout, the track is rowdy but remains solid Hardcore. The vibe continuously probes into listener's ears.

Tooms musicians, Karl Pryor (drums, programming and production), Idene Roozbayani... meer »

2013-01-22 10:12:56 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Surety - random songs review |self-released, 2012| 4/5
Genre: metal, hardcore

1. Tempered
2. Ransom
3. I Am The Influence
4. Few and Far Between
5. Desecrated

Surety is a heavy metal band located in Florida that was founded in 2012, however the musicians - Joe Page (vocals), John Page (lead guitar) and John Jones (drums) are by no means novices to the metal music scene. Their previous band which was formed in 2004 was called Metal Reign. They self-released a full length album entitled 8 Fingers of Whiskey and played a lot of shows in South Florida during that time.

A random selection of five Surety tracks were recorded during their recent live shows. You may notice great, predatory vocals which are underlined by high energy and a mean atmosphere amongst the songs. These aspects are spiced up with matching guitar, bass and drum arrangements... meer »

2013-01-22 10:11:29 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Closure - Closure EP |self-released, 2012| 4/5
Genre: post-rock

01. Closure - Assertion [05:05]
02. Closure - Tonight [04:18]
03. Untitled I [03:41]
04. Untitled II [04:00]
05. Aspect Deletion - Per Year (Closure RMX) [04:15]

What is it that describes natural beauty the best? There are many features you would list, but undoubtedly it's an intriguing balance with simplicity hidden behind the appeal and grace of a first impression. This description is exactly the feeling you may experience while listening to the debut EP by a one man German post-rock project named Closure that was founded by Carl Albrecht in 2010.

The most important thing about an average human brain is that it likes simple, repetitive tunes. Although, if they're too simple, the ears get bored. Therefore, a musician's ability to create unique atmospheres means a lot.... meer »

2013-01-14 18:38:36 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Kimmo Savilampi - Unending Hearts EP |Self-released, 2012| 5/5

1. Ghost [03:25]
2. Mardness [04:44]
3. Plead My Guilt [03:54]
4. Red Wine Sleepless [03:21]

Kimmo Savilampi, a producer, guitar player, singer and DJ who's also a musician in the Swedish band Harlequin Park came out with a mighty solo EP in 2012. Not only did he compose the songs based on both traditional and modern metal arrangements, but he also made a lot of his authentic ideas come to fruition by putting them in the music.

Unending Hearts contains a track-list that includes 4 brand new, high-energy and professionally composed songs featuring "Ghost" as the opening of the EP. The first thing you may notice when listening to the track is how rhythmic and compelling it sounds. You may find segments somewhat reminiscent of Megadeth, Testament as well as Ministry in the... meer »

2012-12-30 10:19:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

EB11 - System Breakdown (song review) |self-released, single, 2012| 5/5

EB11 is an alternative/rock band located in Tenerife, Spain which was initially a solo project founded by Eber Pitrelli (vocals, guitar) in 2006. Having much more to offer than just audio productions and studio releases, he decided to look for other skilled musicians to play live shows together. Presently, the line up of EB11 also includes Joaquin Tulian on guitar, drummer Manuel Conti and Alberto Delgado on bass.

It sounds like "System Breakdown" is one of most energetic songs the band has recorded so far as it encompasses the spirit of raw rock within a very well arranged composition. Short and cutting guitar riffs rhythmically support edgy, grunge-esque vocals while the drums and bass speed the heartbeat of the listener. The vocal sections are underlined by guitar arrangements giving them... meer »

2012-12-28 20:29:41 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Alex Von Z - Drawn (song review) |self-released, Implicate Order, 2012| 4/5

Spiritually driven music usually sounds pleasant to the ear as well as radio-friendly. Alex Von Z, an American musician from Colorado who sings in tenor as well as plays an acoustic guitar says he's inspired by artists such as Chris Cornell, Tom Petty, Blind Melon and Counting Crows. You will undoubtedly hear these influences in both the song arrangements and vocals.

"Drawn" carries with it a blues vibe, but also features songwriting ideas that are characteristic for both rock and pop genres. The arrangements are simple although very solid with a dreamy mid-tempo time signature that is supported by light rhythms. Not only are the choruses memorable, but the verses are very catchy as well. This is not a song which demands a lot of mental concentration or analysis to understand the message,... meer »

2012-12-26 11:06:00 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Insomniaddict - Farewell (electro mix) (song review) |self-released, single, 2012| 5/5

"Farewell" is a track for those who crave bouncy, oontzy electronica songs with hit potential to heat up the dancefloors, make girls in leather and PVC drown into a passionate kiss and cause heavy booted rivetheads to swing to a phat beat! However, not only should electronic music addicts dig this song, but also fans of pure metal. Huh? Indeed, Chris Poland (ex-Megadeth, Circle Jerks) had a guest appearance performing on guitar to give "Farewell" a fiery rock spin in the middle segments of the track during the choruses of the song.

Insomniaddict is the solo project of Ian Garner, a certified sound engineer (L.A. Recording School) who has been in different bands since he was 15. He has also been inspired by different, although consistently dynamic genres such... meer »

2012-12-19 11:41:44 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Gramilla - Paradox (song review) |self-released, Villains, 2012| 5/5

If you're a fan of rock or metal music and come across a band tagged with these genre names, your appetite for heavy tunes and brooding vibes increase immediately. In the case of Gramilla's song entitled "Paradox" which was released on their Villains album, you'll get these impressions pretty fast.

This quintet was formed in California in 2009 and is represented by the following musicians: Efren Pacheco (vocals), Kerr Leonard (guitars), Craig Leonard (guitars), Matt Bird (bass) and Arture Bezie (drums). After releasing their demo in 2010, the band then worked on their first full length album which features 10 songs and brings with it mostly alt-metal and hardcore rebellious sounds (don't miss "Every Mans Vice"!)

"Paradox" is the second song, however one... meer »

2012-12-17 16:28:26 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

2012-12-17 16:28:18 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

2012-12-11 12:19:39 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Cofein - Never Give Up! (song review) |self-released, Superdangerous, 2012| 5/5

When you hear a female voice carving and accenting a rock song with such memorable passion, you probably won't stop listening until the track is over. Edit Unjian is the lead singer for Bulgarian rock band Cofein, so if you enjoy female voices in the vibe of Masha Mysmane (Exilia), Sandra Nasic (Guano Apes), Heyley Williams (The Paramore) or Danni Monroe (The Dirty Youth) combined with dynamic and heavier rock arrangements, you should reach out towards Cofein as soon as possible.

Initially, the band formed in 2003 and was called Tiramisu. Until 2007 they were covering songs rather than making their own. They were also submitting tracks for various contests including the annual biggest European music festival called Eurovision which is as popular as the Grammy Awards. Cofein's song reached... meer »

2012-11-26 13:57:34 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Andrew Appletree & The Neptune Riders - 59 To The End (song review) |self-released, Dragonfly, 2012| 3/5

"59 To The End" is a song performed and recorded live at Zen Recording studio by Andrew Appletree (guitar,vocals, music, lyrics) and The Neptune Riders featuring Aimee Trachtenberg (vocals), Barry Waddell (guitar), Bryan Thompson (drums) as well as Stephen Paul Connelly (guitar piano, bass guitar).
It was released on the Dragonfly album in 2012 and is featured as the last track on the record.

First of all, the intro brings an atmosphere well suited to a live recording where the musicians are synchronizing before the performance of the song. You'll hear "Hold on!" calling for patience, followed by the sound of spontaneously touched strings, then drumsticks dictating the rhythm and somebody taking a deep breath. I believe this may have been left... meer »

2012-11-24 19:46:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

These Green Eyes - Paramedic (song review) |Blackledge Music, Relapse to Recovery, 2009| 4/5

This quintet, founded in New Haven, Connecticut comes up with emotional music based on melodic alt-rock arrangements. These aspects of songwriting have been playing an important role in many radio rotation lists throughout time. A fact which remains true regardless of the daily program schedule being pop or rock oriented. Most ordinary listeners don't require distracting music to be touched by its message and it seems the musicians who comprise the line up of These Green Eyes had this in mind when they were writing the song "Paramedic".

“Paramedic” is a short track (3:47) and basically begins with no intro. Memorable verses come instantly and they are filled with Colin's vocals along with a rhythmic mix of guitars performed by Jeff and Greg, drums by Mark and bassby ... meer »

2012-11-23 16:43:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Here's Win The Day at 2012 LA Music Awards in Hollywood. Congrats!

My song review:
- on Google+ https://plus.google.com/b/110672807017683277156/110672807017683277156/posts/4rCcVLmqZLn
- on Fabryka Magazine http://industrialrock.net/php-files_en/articles.php?article_id=449

Song submission received via +MusicXray at http://www.musicxray.com/profiles/2250?afid=732413c0913f012ed2a11231380d8abc

2012-11-19 10:37:46 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

File Transfer Protocol - The Gargoyle Studio Sessions (2010-2012)
self-released, 2012
Rating: 4/4
Genre: Industrial rock
G+: +File Transfer Protocol 

01. World of One, 02. Rain, 03. Shadows, 04. Attrition, 05. Ivory Towers, 06. The Singularity, 07. This Machine, 08. 99%, 09. Regime, 10. Subversion

The true industrial rock scene has seemed to be dead for some time now, but this is not a secret for die hard fans. Provided that the United States has been the genre's homeland where it found success in the 1990's, European bands have come up with a few new industrial musical sub-genres over the course of the past 5 years that are personified as i.e. electro rock defined by more melodic arrangements. I cannot say however that these modifications have increased the chances for a revival of the original scene. Nonetheless, there are still new bands being... meer »

2012-10-31 17:02:27 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

We have a verified Google+ page now ;) Hopefully it's a step forward towards a vanity URL.

2012-10-20 16:51:30 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Man.Machine.Industry - Lean Back Relax And Watch The World Burn
(GMR, 2012)
Rating: 4/4
Genre: metal, industrial metal

01. To A Blood Red Sky, 02. We Are The Walking Dead, 03. Vivite Et Sinite Mori (Live & Let Die), 04. War God, 05. Lean Back Relax And Watch The World Burn, 06. The Cage, 07. Let Go, 08. Eighties, 09. What You See Is What You Get, 10. The Blind Leading The Blind, 11. Aim! Hold! Fire!, 12. Time, 13. (untitled)

Man.Machine.Industry comes from Sweden, a metal paradise where many very heavy bands have received international attention. Yet, it's the same land where a black metal music fan received unemployment money for claiming an inability to work due to his addiction to music.
The first and remaining impression is an element of 'straight-forward anger' from the beginning of this album all the way to the end. Although, there are... meer »

2012-10-18 09:36:09 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Prophets of War - Regeneration (song review) |self-released, Plains Of Desolation, 2011| 4/5, death metal, black metal

When you think of the origins of black metal bands you may have a few cold European countries such as Finland, Norway or Sweden come to mind. On the other hand, a big continent that is occupied by Tasmanian devils, kangaroos and koalas may be the last place you would think of. Prophets of War is an Australian metal quintet. After releasing the Road To The End Of The World album in 2010, they put out another record called Plains Of Desolation a year later.

"Regeneration" is the second track from this release. The song attacks the listener with a flood of graduating riffs that are accompanied by a wall of screams. The principal influences of the group seem to range from classic black metal to doom and death metal due to fast drum beats as well as bawling... meer »

2012-10-16 17:40:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Here's The Trouble Shooter which will be useful for experimenting with the sound of your guitar. Audio and video samples are included on the page.

"The Trouble Shooter is a desktop distortion box that boosts and blends your audio signal through 3 vintage mica wire wound (extremely rare) resistors and then branches off into two separate audio paths. One path takes the signal through another vintage silicon (Si) transistor gain stage, the other path runs through a vintage germanium (Ge) transistor gain stage. You then can mix between the two."

By +Johnathan Irish 

2012-10-16 17:38:31 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

It's my pleasure to present Retro Mechanical Labs, a maker of vintage Distortion Boxes:

"Retro Mechanical Labs which is a company based in Portland, OR founded by Johnathan Irish* in mid-2012, presents a series of Distortion Boxes for electric guitars. These Distortion Boxes are useful for rock, industrial, noise and experimental styles of music as well as soundtracks but if you're imagination is potent enough you can utilize a distorted signal path in any other music genres as well!

Each one of these Distortion Boxes are built by hand much like electronics were back in the golden age of DIY Ham Radio. The Distortion Boxes have their names such as the Trouble Shooter, Supreme Electron Fuzz and a few Electron Fuzz items."

2012-10-12 11:52:06 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Meet Prophets of War, a metal band from Australia getting ready to have a cool show on 10/26. I'm reviewing their song, it'll be published soon.

2012-09-23 17:01:11 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Win The Day - Live Again (song review) (self-released, Win The Day, 2012) 4/5

Here's a song with a positive pop rock or even modern gospel feel that has hit potential. "Live Again" opens this self-titled album that includes 14 other tracks by solo artist Charlie Gathe, who performs under the moniker of Win The Day.

The song brings very human-centered, optimistic and simple dynamics. The arrangements were written for guitars (Charlie owns a Rickenbacker), drums and vocals. You will also hear some neat repetitive choruses as well as a few nice guitar solos present in the verses.
"Live Again" has an epic, yet light atmosphere that may fit a short film that illustrates people fighting against the odds, an illness or struggling with other unfortunate life events and ordinary day to day issues. In fact, Win The Day made a high quality promotional video for... meer »

2012-09-19 09:03:19 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Here's a video for a song I was reviewing yesterday. It'll be published this week. #hitpotential

2012-09-19 09:00:45 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Joel Smith Project – My Shadow |self-released, Adam's Awakening, 2011| 5/5

The Joel Smith Project, a one man army, has come up with a new song entitled "My Shadow" which is a bit different to his previously released tracks. This time Joel ventured deeper into genres like hard rock, alternative metal and grunge, so the final mix sounds heavier as well.
The song opens directly with vocals and guitar riffs. The tempo is slower with low octave bass underlined by drums and a rhythm guitar that collaborates with them. The arrangement of the lyrics fit into the song very well, but the chorus sounds fantastic with echoing vocals that match the overall moods.

There is a guitar solo that is just as convincing as in previous songs Joel has released, although he arranges his guitar solos not to be overtly long or too intrusive. Lots of guitar players tend to show offw... meer »

2012-09-08 10:00:09 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

2012-09-08 10:01:32 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Uglyhead - The Garden (special edition)
Automation Records, 2012
Rating: 4/4
Genres: Experimental, goth, ambient, dark ambient, noise rock

01. The Path [05:54]
02. Through The Gates [08:47]
03. Between The Leaves [07:09]
04. Empty City [04:40]
05. Lichen [06:49]
06. Nerium
07. Drosera [10:51]
08. Kudzu [06:27]
09. Burgeon [08:09]
10. Blight [11:28]

Bonus Disc:
01. Amalgam [06:58]
02. Wilting [05:03]
03. The Merge [02:59]
04. Engorgement [06:07]
05. Pulchritudinous [03:19]
06. Surfeit [07:42]

Having over 10 years of musical experience, Uglyhead released their newest album The Garden in very special way. The album comes in a customized locking wooden case laden with an aesthetic mix of dry leaves and a cat skull. The Garden is undoubtedly a conceptual album. The song titles,... meer »

2012-09-01 21:04:13 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

I thought I'd share a new video single by Tempest & the Diaspora. I reviewed their album in 2011: http://goo.gl/wxXQv

2012-08-29 19:04:32 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Indighost - Torn (song review) (self-released, single, 2012) 5/5

Indighost was formed at the Guitar Institute in West London, UK in 2006. They independently released The Yang Collection EP in 2009 with 5 songs on the tracklist, however the line-up of the band has changed over the course of the past few years. "Torn" is a more recently recorded track that is a strong candidate to be featured on their next album.

The song brings with it an emotional feel. According to Indighost, "Torn" was inspired by the romantic tension between the main characters on the television series Doctor Who. The video for this track is also comprised from a montage of several scenes from the series. One thing worth mentioning is that "Torn" emulates the _Doctor_'s impending doom, hence the running feel of the rhythm that sounds as if it is catching up with Doctor Who as... meer »

2012-08-25 19:37:06 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Yesterday's Saints - Gates Of Valhalla (song review) |self-released, Yesterday's Saints EP, 2011| 5/5

If you're hungry for intense thrash metal music, here's an indie band with all the features necessary to become your next favorite rockstars. Yesterday's Saints gain their influences from a long list of amazing, yet highly ranked bands that include classics such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Manowar, Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Testament as well as music by Vital Remains, Obituary, Pantera, Chiamara, Iced Earth, Arch Enemy and Lamb of God. This degree of heavy influences will undoubtedly draw the interest of many heavy metal listeners. But wait, there's more... the band has also been recently promoted through the live circuit, opening shows in support of Sepultura, Death Angel, Korpiklaani and Moonsorrow.

Yesterday's Saints are originally from... meer »

2012-08-23 09:45:19 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

WUNTS & THE MMMPS - Are You A Girl Or A Boy? & PS! (song review) (self-released, single, 2011) 4/5 jazz/rock

This band originates from the United Kingdom - the land of major labels, where new born trends as well as the biggest music revolutions in history have undoubtedly made a world-wide impact. This has held true for artist from Great Britain for decades, although the United States had stolen the spotlight through grunge and nu metal during the 1990's and early turn of the century. Still, the U.K. music scene seems to be an affectionately small sized community that is thriving with well known musicians. These artist often cross paths, play in several bands, perform different styles of music, interchange line-ups, produce albums for their peers and integrate guest appearances for live shows as well.

The name WUNTS & THE MMMPS stands for Jimmy Wunts and his... meer »

2012-08-23 09:45:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Rosenedge - Brickwall (song review) (self-released, Ashes, 2012) 4/5 metal

Rosenedge is a band that Hails from Ashland, Ohio. They released their latest album entitled Ashes just a year after releasing their debut called Unknown. Vaughn Pokrzywa composed and performed the music on both albums, however a full line-up crystallized for the band at the time Ashes was near completion.
A mysterious and vibrating intro opens the track "Brickwall" which is the first song on the album. The opening prelude is followed by guitars, bass and drums which are utilized to structure the song arrangements with sounds that are repetitive and in tune with traditional rock and metal approaches. A moderate tempo makes this composition heavy, apart from the stylistic riffs.

Drummers play a very important role in rock and metal musical orchestration. The quality and frequency of the beat... meer »