Thank you for visiting Flabbergaster Music.
Follow me on Twitter! Follow @chrisflab
*Also, if you band needs a logo or any design work done, I can offer you a good quality product for a low fee. Email me at the e-mail address above.*
03/14/2013
Forsake It All - Endless Lens ep
This is my third time reviewing Forsake It All. I must say, without a doubt, they have improved. With their latest release, Endless Lens, they have shown vast signs of maturity with their song writing process and creativity. Even though they continue to sift through line up changes(even up untill completion of the ep,)Forsake It All may be seeing their best formation as of yet.
With a spine chilling intro, you'd think you were listening to the background music of the opening title sequence to a zombie apocalypse film. Its creepy with anticipation. The first official song, Passion, is unamely the album title in its content. Toward the end the guitar gets a little playfully eccentric. Being that Forsake It All is a Christian band, certain songs like Tides and The Dreaded One, reference Old Testament activity(If they were grouped into one song it could be named Floods and Giants). Navigating in a new direction, they are starting to get more friendlier with clean arpeggio opening riffs. My personal favorite is Hollow Crusade for reasons mentioned in the previous sentence. The intro and outro to Endless Lens are like night day. Destructive on one end--beautiful on the other. It's as if this 7 song ep takes you on a melodramatic journey with a blissful and soothing conclusion. You'll have to check it out for yourself to form your own experience.
Last, the cover design is the most professional and alluring. In my opinion, art and concept has always been a strong component to an album, and in this case it provides an image that accomodates the music. It matches the theme and intrigues the curiosity of the viewer.
01/25/2013
The Fulfillment releases debut EP, "Origins."
Here is another addition to the rapidly-growing Denver hardcore scene. They are young, energetic, and baritone. They are The Fulfillment.
New to the game, The Fulfillment releases their debut ep, "Origins." Immediately after an intro that plunges into the first track, Double Duke, you get a taste of metal core sensation, nasty growls, and breakdowns that crush the ground beneath the stage. Towards the end you will be romanced with an eccentric piano drift. Its a bit imaginative, to say the least. The Fulfillment are pretty responsible with their alternations between growls and clean vocals, but don't get comfortable because they don't last long.
Origins is reminiscent of Thrill Seeker(August Burns Red's debut), where the heaviness is unforgiving and unsettling--a bit unpredictable, too! The recording quality is raw, unconventional, yet you resonates with the style, and hopefully, you!
Recommended if you like: I The Breather, Impending Doom, and MyChildren MyBride.
Give The Fulfillment a like on Facebook by clicking here
12/22/2012
Leftmore - Dog Catcher
Here is a simple record that has a lot of heart. The more I listen to this album, the more I like it!
While attending the cd release show for Dog Catcher at The Blacksheep in Colorado Springs, I was handed my copy of this album. I was pleasantly bewildered to be handed a bracelet instead of a compact disk (like my generation was used to but slowly becoming irrelevant). This bracelet was a flash drive with all the music, artwork, and media for the new album. Innovation wasn't a moment too soon.
Joe Ziegler, Leftmore, doesn't wait on anyone. He takes his own initiative and creates his own opportunities. He books and supports his own tours. He's personable, funny, and keeps his audience engaged. His acoustic act is playful, full of heart, and serious at the same time. His lyrics are catchy enough to remember, and he always has a way of putting things into perspective.
Dog Catcher is an acoustic album. It's charming, serious, and a little confrontational all rolled into one. Fans of Death Cab For Cutie and old school Dashboard Confessional will sport a wide a grin. The Charts, The Marks, The Farce opens Dogcatcher and lyrics like, "The doctor always said I had a big heart, I never knew exactly what he meant. I like to think of it as all a good thing, that I had space for all my friends," demands the listener to stop and listen, begging the question: what will he say next? Golden Thread is sing-a-long-able although the lyrics, "A fractured heart's the fraction parts all makin' us a whole," are a bit of a tongue twister. It was written to commemorate a friend Ziegler lost while writing material for his next release--he had the inspiration for the song as he drove home from his funeral. Words I Deserve has a touch of Johnny Cash's style added to it and below this article, there is a video for it.
If you're into simple, but meaningful acoustic music, give Dog Catcher a listen. Click here to check it out on iTunes.
12/21/2012
Fit For A King joins the Solid State Family-Debut Album, Early 2013!
The underground hardcore scene just recieved a vigorous surge of melodramitic heaviness.
Baritone bands have been steadily re-emergent for a while now. Here is one that seems passionate and promising.
If you ask Ryan Kirby where his life is currently, he might respond with, "I am blessed and excited for what God has in store for us." Recently signed to Solid State records, Kirby is the lead vocalist for Fit For A King, from Tyler, TX. Their self-released debut album 'Descendants' was successful enough that it caught the attention of Solid State Records(August Burns Red, Under0ath). With influences ranging from As I Lay Dying to White Chapel, these guys are earning their place on the roster amongst them.
On a support tour, Fit For A King may only occupy the stage for 20 to 25 minutes but it will be short, to the point, and chaotic (it's also common courtesy when setting out for the first time with another band, hint, hint...). Their show packs a lot of punch and time will tell what else it will do. Their Solid State debut hasn't even hit the shelves yet, and they are already embarking on some remarkable tours with notable bands!
While FFAK would like their forthcoming album to be a sign of their musical progress, it also sends a valuable message to its listener about life, trials, and redemption. Solid State has always been known for releasing meaningful albums into the mainstream music scene--providing a positive message to young people. This album has a deliberate message for anyone seeking newness of life and freedom from past mistakes. According to Kirby, the overall message is, "We can either destroy our lives or create something beautiful. Regardless of how much we have derailed our lives, we can always get back on track with God's help."
In the meantime, check out Descendants. It's heavy, filled with crushing baritone chords and metalcore riffs, harsh screams, and high-to-low ranging vocals. The guitar riffs cross between brutal and aromatic--like a shot of fragrance in a smoke filled room (The Faint, The Desolate is an example). A few tracks worth mentioning are: Ancient waters, Buried, and The Architect. Be sure to catch them on tour with Impending Doom in January of 2013!
In the meantime, click below to view their video "Ancient Waters."
12/09/2012
Penny Black
For nostalgic Further Seems Forever fans who were left unfulfilled...your moment of clarity has arrived like a late birthday card via snail mail!
After disbanding in 2006, Further Seems Forever left a huge void in the music industry and are back by popular demand!
Penny Black is the first Further Seems Forever album to feature a previous vocalist. Chris Carrabba has returned to fill his original role after leaving to pursue Dashboard Confessional. The last time Carrabba sang with Further Seems Forever was on their debut album The Moon Is Down in 2001, and left to 'woo' young girls with his acoustic before the album hit the shelves. I could say they are back to their roots, but their music has gotten thicker, with a few similarities intact. It sounds as if they have dropped it a step to keep up with their genre, as no one seemingly plays in E flat tuning anymore. The rhythm is still breaking its way out 4/4 with its 'mathie tangents' and their guitar riffs still drift off from time to time to explore the rest of the song.
Penny Black captures that yearning vibe that Further Seems Forever has mesmerized audiences with for the past decade. The album is uplifting, urging you to dream!
Penny Black's first single, So Cold wastes no time in announcing Further Seems Forever's presence and is recognizable to any FSF or Dashboard Confessional fan within an earshot of the tune. Rescue Trained would make you wonder if Carrabba is a young Bono at heart as he hits the ceiling holding his high notes. For some reason, I can't help but thinking that this album was influenced by the 80's decade, which had its strength and weaknesses.
It's good to have Further Seems Forever back and I am sure the staff at Rise Records are excited to deliver their encore.
Onward to Olympus - Indicator
Onward to Olympus releases their third Facedown release, "Indicator." These guys have always been heavy and have always worked hard on writing good music. Their first album was heavy and to the point, yet their last record, The War Within Us, seemingly felt seeker-sensitive, as it embarked on a venture seeking new horizons--this record is an 'indication' that Charlotte, North Carolina's Onward to Olympus have zeroed in on their style and have shown their path to maturity!
First, let me say that I am slowly losing interest in metal. It is so stagnant right now. However...I appreciate bands that can write a heavy album, yet still budge from their genre enough to allow their music to reach for the something else and be creative. Indicator has a way of captivating its listener's curiosity, and then surprising them.
Indicator has a short and slightly epic intro that leads into heavy metal-core action. Wolf's Jaw is Indicator's first single and even has a few radio friendly(can I say that?) parts the might even earn the band some well deserved media attention. With contributed vocals from their drummer during the chorus, I almost thought Tom DeLong had received a guest vocal invitation(I like Blink-182 and AVA, by the way--don't hate). Circles and Illusions has some jammy parts, Breakthrough offers a short 'break' before thrusting you into Division, which have some neat-and unpredictable, breakdowns to ensure a memorable live performance.
Overall, a good record and a stepping stone for the band. Hopefully Indicator will score some bigger tours and better opportunities for Onward to Olympus. They can handle it. This album see's the departure of bassist Justin Allman, who left to pursue other goals and remains close friends with the band. Thanks Justin! You did your time well!
War of Ages Return To Life with Album Number Five
War of Ages continues their quest to conquer mediocre Christianity by writing good-heavy music and filling the night with sweaty-energetic-circle pits! Needless to say, these guys are definitely not on cruise control. Their live shows are roudy and creates the perfect atmosphere for stage diving and circle pit action. Their music has become more polished with each album over
the past 2-3 years but their song writing is still intact and you can always count of their guitar work to be aromatic with bionic finger movement. Nevertheless, War of Ages’ music is well
written and certainly not garbage.
Return to Life is the follow up album to Eternal(2010), which turned a lot of heads while marking a turning point for War of Ages. Silent Night is the RTL's first single. Immortal is an album opener that grips you by the ears. Redeemer is listener friendly and the vocals are catchy enough to occupy your head for the rest of the day. M.E.B. is where the album takes a quick breather by throwing in an instrumental. Unite closes the album with a circle pit friendly jam!
To continue their on-going “War” theme, the album artwork is striking and brave! Return to Life is full of gang vocals, laments, and the clean vocal work accompanies the heavy screams by vocalist Leroy Hamp. No doubt, this band has earned their reputation in the Christian hardcore scene, and they have done it passionately, and fair!
Pick up a copy of Return to Life. Play it LOUD!
10/04/2012
SHPRO: Giving Music a New Image
Very seldom do you meet someone with a job as unique as Scott Hansen's. Working with musicians while conjuring music video treatments, pouring fake blood into a bathtub, urging fear into an actor, and capturing it on camera to keep a viewer on the edge of their seat.
Scott Hansen, founder of Digital Thunderdome/Scott Hansen Productions has given his personal touch to the art of music video making—rendering it as a mini-horror film saga. Hansen is refining the image of music and adding a twist to it...
Not all of his videos are spine-chilling, but he fills the void where he see's it and he fills it to the brim. An alumnus of Savannah College of Art and Design, Hansen might have begun as a comic book illustrator, but his interest in film making began at the age of five. Movies like Alien, Predator (yes, his parents let him and watch them), and Gremlins were intriguing enough for Hansen to let his imagination run away with him. His imagination has brought him this far.
His creativity is ghastly, breathtaking and has a shock value of a West Craven film. It’s also surreal, has a strong usage of lighting, and supplements the music. Working with bands such as Animals As Leaders, A Day to Remember, Impending Doom, Wolves at the Gate, and We Came as Romans, Scott Hansen has given them an engaging story line and a surreal atmosphere. Aside from the hardcore genre, he has also worked with Willie Nelson, which generated some reflective “hot box” memories. Nelson needed his dosage before shooting, and to relieve his shaking, ordered everyone to smoke up! While the list of bands he has worked with is lengthy, Hansen would hang up his 'director hat' if he ever got the chance to work with his all-time favorite band, Metallica. His job would be complete.
If there is any altruism behind Hansen and his work, it’s giving a ‘developing’ band their start, and and an image to grasp an audience. A good music video is meant to motivate listeners/viewers to buy a record or support the artist, and the industry needs a shot in the arm—BADLY! Before MTV took a backseat to reality television (and eventually YouTube), the record industry thrived in the visual aspect of a music video.
While the music world has kept Hansen considerably busy, he is moving toward crafting full-length motion pictures, and his first up-to-bat is “Project Fear” set to release in 2013. Project Fear, written by Carl Ball, takes place in Yosemite National Forrest, where an intended hiking trip turns into a senior thesis nightmare, as one of the campers has been an assignment to demonstrate fear on camera. Project Fear is a hybrid movie (traditional film making mixed with 'found footage'). You can learn more about it here.
Every director has a recipe for what their movies are made of. Hansen has always been the imaginative type, drawing inspiration from the people around him, every day occurrences, and short movies he has done in the past. When asked what he looks for in actors, Hansen will reply, “I look for people who interest me, or can even ‘wow’ me. I love actors who have a ‘LOOK,’ a strange feature that separates them from everyday people, people who aren’t “BRAD PITT” looking, people who look normal or out of the ordinary.” Every filmmaker has their preference, and Hansen is just one more of them.
There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Wanna be in a music video? Work on that ‘look.’
09/29/2012
09/14/2012
09/11/2012
08/28/2012
It Lies Within - Chrysalis
Five years of hard work are starting to materialize for It Lies Within. With their debut
release, Chrysalis, they are emerging quickly through extensive touring--grabbing the bull by the horns! How this band slipped through the cracks for so long
is a puzzling mystery, but they have survived the trenches and are on their way to
gracing the scene.
Chrysalis will have you in a brief trance while only clenching its fist to strike with heavy metal riffs and aggressive growls alternating with clean vocals. The first song, We, The Betrayed, is epic--opening the album with a heroic sensation. Home Is Where The Heart Is provides good chanting material for a live show. Sharp Tongue has a crafty metal-core opening interrupted by slow doom metal action. Moments and Memories is blatant 'in your face' circle pit drama followed with a mid-song drum roll breakdown! Filled with trance beats that plunge into confrontational metal fixation, again and again, before you can breathe! It Lies Within draws inspiration from bands like The Devil Wears Prada, Killswitch Engage, We Came As Romans, and As I Lay Dying. As busy as these guys have kept themselves(especially in the last year), they may very well share the stage with them soon.
I believe (and have always believed) that lyrics are a strong component to a "good" album. Lyrics that have meaning. Lyrics that reach out to the listener. Lyrics that take you on a journey or share in your private pain. Zachary Scott's lyrics are applicable and accomplish just that. In Redefined Identity he writes, "Redefine your own identity/The mistakes you made are just a memory." Something we all need to hear at some point in our lives. Maybe you'll find yourself within one these tracks!
Chrysalis hits the stores September 4th! Go out and pick up a copy, and if these guys roll through your town, make sure you catch their live show. Stop by their merch table and say, "Hello." (Luxor Records)
Check out It Lies Within on Facebook
08/27/2012
07/24/2012
Captors: an Album That Matters!
Wow!...and for a moment I thought their debut ep "We Are The Ones" would be all we were going to hear from Dayton, Ohio's Wolves At The Gate! It looks like they are here to stay!
A straight-forward album with an ambitious opening track, Captors displays substantial musicianship and extensive heaviness. It has its "ebby flowy" moments but they matter! In my opinion--knowing when and where to let things drop off a bit is one of the key ingredients to a "good" album! While I admit I liked these guys from the get-go, I think they have gotten better and exceeded my expectations.
Captors first single Dead Man is catchy and the lyrics have significant meaning. Slaves has an acoustic opening that sounds like it was recorded with a tape recorder in a wooded livingroom floor(just the opening, the rest of the song is heavy and comes into focus very quickly), Step Out to The Water is energetic and straight-forward. Safeguards reminds us that while nothing in our lives are as stable as we wish they were, our faith can be as weak or as strong as we decide it to be. Man of Sorrows closes the album with a light-hearted mood filled with chants and echoes.
Wolves at the Gate reminds me of a young Thrice with a touch of Nickelback, Beloved(for those of us who remember them), and Under0ath...with their own direction on the horizon! Their clash between screaming and clean vocals work well together, and the mood is consistent!
Overall, Captors is written decisively and is a great start to their career, considering this is their debut LP. Make sure you pick up a copy when you get a chance! Solid State Records
07/21/2012
The Dawn Chose Orion
Here is a band from Denver, CO, who I think you should check out! They are forging their own path to share their music with the world! Here is what I have to say about them...
"The Dawn Chose Orion creates an epic atmosphere as their heavy riffs collide with surreal trance elements, and aggressive vocals! Their music is deliberate, well written, and they put a huge amount of effort into their stage presence!"
They were kind enough to let me "share" their music on Flabbergaster because they want you to hear it! Send them some love on Facebook!
07/08/2012
Forsake It All - Vanity Mirror
Forsake It All is a DIY Metal band from Colorado Springs, CO. Since their humble beginning in 2010, they have poured their hearts into perfecting their music and stage presence--ignoring all the criticism that advocated their departure. They remain dedicated to their mission as a Christian band, and one of the few in their scene, I might add. Their music has come a long way,--they just released their first concept EP, “Vanity Mirror.”
Vanity Mirror is complete with spiteful metal-core riff and spiraling screams mashed with clean vocals. Their guitar riffs are appealing if you are a sentimental metal fan and appreciate good musicianship.
Vocalist, Ian Ware, reminds me of a young Dan Weyandt (ZAO, vocalist). He is lyrically genuine and strong-minded. He is also creative in his delivery! The content for Vanity Mirror derives from a book he recently read called, "Something Wicked This Way Comes," by Ray Bradbury, which is about a carnival that visits a small town and enslaves its visitors,--leaving them captive to their own desires! Each song represents the novel in one specific area. The ep title represents a carnival attraction where people can enter, look into the mirror and see themselves as they would like to be.
The Shadow Show, the opening track, lyrically decribes the carnival as it pulls into town, insisting that something wicked is approaching. Mr. Denton on Doomsday could be considered a standalone track but accompanies the theme anyway, insisiting that no matter how how the level of self importance someone carries themself with, they will still bow before God someday. As Bold As Lions represents the courage of one of the main characters who is selfless, thinks of the needs of others, but ends up succumbing to failure in his own way. The concluding track, Darks' Carnival, focuses on the idea that whether you do what you think is right, or best for your own needs, the only solution is to turn toward Jesus.
Forsake It All is persistent enough to make a reputable name for themselves in our ever-evolving music industry. They are forging their own path--and a wide path, it is!
06/27/2012
The Overseer- We Search, We Dig
The Overseer are the newest edition to the SolidState family! They are emerging quickly with their debut release We Search, We Dig.
We Search, We Dig cuts to the chase quickly with the opening track, Secrets. It hits the ground running, and QUICK! For the past few months leading up to the albums release date Secrets occupied Spotify as a teaser song. It was catchy enough to be an attention getter and slowly allure curious-potential fans into their gravitational pull.
The Overseer is heavy, strong-minded, and their guitar riffs are even a bit eerie at certain moments. Their vocals are brutal screams clashed with spine-chilling chants and wails--which creates a different atmosphere that metal seldom accomplishes. Metal is so redundant these days because its so easy to scream into a microphone and then add a breakdown, that it has become extremely difficult for me to get excited about new bands. The thing I enjoy the most about We Search, We Dig, is that the music isn't one-dimensional like the majority of hardcore is seemingly coming to.
The track list consists of one-word titles--conveying the simplicity of the album. The album title comes from the second track, Dredge, where the lyricist talks about earnestly seeking something more than just our mundane, A to B lives. This band has spiritual roots, apparently. The Overseers debut single, Amend, is very melodramatic and has an alluring music video that has been a real eyebrow raiser since its release.
Make sure you pick up a copy of We Search, We Dig if they are in your area this summer, catch a show (Solid State Records).
06/26/2012
MyChildren MyBride-Self titled release
MyChildren MyBride are still heavy and sludgie, but their riffs have gotten a little creepier! For a brief moment, the intro song makes me think I am listening to Sing The Sorrow by AFI(which is one of my favorite albums) untill the heaviness emerges!
The album artwork, in itself, illustrates a change in mood for MCMB's third SolidState release--it's a bit dark and spooky, but still heavy enough for fans to get into.These guys have gotten a massive following since their debut, Unbreakable, and their moshie follow up, Lost Boy. They have transcended both the Christian and secular market while covering their ground. This album contains a follow up to their debut hit, On Wings of Integrity, and both tracks have similar tone and flow.
While MCMB's style remains intact, they have become a bit experimental. MCMB are still generous with their breakdowns, but they have gotten slower and drawn out. Dreamcatchers, God of Nothing, and Black Cloud all have the creepy intro riffs I mentioned above.
Overall, it's a good album and a slightly new direction. The last track contains a clip from a song off of their debut Unbeakable. I will leave it up to you to give it a listen and find out for yourself (Solid State Records).
06/24/2012
Sent By Ravens- Mean What You Say
I am convinced by this point, even on their second album, that Sent By Ravens has their style figured out. They won't seem to budge from it, not even the tiniest bit!
I will admit, they have gotten better! Their style is still the same but it is at a higher maturity level!
Mean What You Say picks up where Our Graceful Words left off, but the songs are catchier and more agreeable. The sound is a little thicker and the lyrics are more assertive. The track list flows better too! They've had that radio-friendly touch since the beginning but here it shines. A few tracks to check out are: Prudence, Listen, Learn from the Night, and We're All Liars.
Mean What You Say, starts with a deep breath from vocalist, Zach Riner, before yelling his first words into the studio mic. It's an album of ideas and brutal honesty about them. Sent By Ravens are deliberate writers. They are all about conveying concepts within their music. Everything from their album titles(and artwork), song lyrics, to even their band name has a significant message behind it. I will leave it to you to do your own research on the last one. You'll be glad you did!
Give it a listen. Make your own call (Tooth and Nail Records).
06/19/2012
The Dangerous Summer- War Paint
If this album had been released in 1997, it would have gone gold. Nonetheless War Paint by The Dangerous Summer has had a significant effect on me. It has crawled under my scalp and built its nest there, like a good album does for its listener.
This album feels like an album of mixed emotions. The moods are reflective, yearning, bittersweet, and even a bit confrontational. On the same note, it is also uplifting. It's lighthearted and deals with struggling relationships or remaining optimistic during hardships. The musicianship is simple, but well organized. The lead riffs are uplifting and a melancholy at the same time. The lyrics are catchy! They are full smooth(?) replies to difficult conversations. Things you wish you would've thought of yourself, and at the right time. Aside from the moods mentioned earlier, the album should put you in a good mood. It has that 'early morning glow' and good feeling that you get from an album you enjoy.
Tracks I recommend are: War Paint, Work in Progress, Good Things, Siren, I Should Leave Right Now.
Fans of The Fray , Counting Crows, or anyone who has ever been a tough place in a relationship where they were heavy-hearted, hanging on by a thread, or trying to find the right words to say, will appreciate this record. Give it a listen (Hopeless Records).
06/16/2012
Altars-Conclusions
Over the past decade, the Facedown roster has exploded with young, talented artists filling the night with brash-energetic hardcore and sweaty circle pits....nearly eclipsing competing labels!
After releasing their 6 song ep, Opposition, on Strike First Records and learning the ropes of the music industry, Colorado Springs “Altars” are now part of the Facedown family-ready to melt faces with their full length debut, "Conclusions." These guys are a breath of fresh air. Their music doesn't begin with the typical open-note breakdown that I know you must be tired of by this point. Its a fresh burst of rowdy, boisterous hardcore.
Conclusions is a passionate album. The duration is heavy, although it ebbs and flows a bit (but in a good way). The vocals are substantially heavy, their guitar work is energetic(and a bit sludgy, I might add), and their music is deliberate in its delivery. Conclusions is filled with 808 blasts that drop like air-bombs from WWII Kamikaze fighter pilots. The lead riffs are very echoey but accompany the heavy strumming very well. It creates a very 'yearning' atmosphere.
The opening track Red Brick Army is declarative; affirming the bands mission. Scum is full of menacing guitar work. Lower is hasty circle pit material. Unknowing hits the ground running with fierce drumming and urgent bass riffs. Montreal has a sick, mid-song breakdown and gang vocal chorus's. The album concludes with the title track--wrapping things up and going out with a BANG!
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Conclusions by Altars. If you're looking for a shot in the arm, you won't be disappointed!
Also, if you can get your hands on their first ep, "Oppostition," it is worth picking up! Severance is my favorite song!
06/06/2012
Secret&Whisper-Teenage Fantasy
This album has been out for a while, but I want to talk about it anyway.
Watching a band mature is always rewarding for their fans. While first albums are an attention getter, sophomore releases are a milestone; either building momentum or destroying it. For Secret&Whispers’ sophomore release ‘Teenage Fantasy’, it is safe to say they have matured as a band, as they have progressed in their style; with a more vigorous tone and less passivity (although it’s still lurking around a bit).
Moving forward from their first release, Great White Whale, their new release Teenage Fantasy displays a heavier, more aggressive sound. The bass is thicker and scratchier, the guitar riffs are adventurous and melodic, and the overall sound is agreeable, where previously, everyone seemed to have their own style-unwilling to budge from it. The songs also have more momentum and the track list flows suitably. Singer, Charles Furney, still sings with his over-bearing high pitched voice that penetrates your brain like a corkscrew, but this time it is on an even playing field with the rest of the band instead of hoisting over them.
A few notable tracks from Teenage Fantasy are the opening tracks, “Youth Cats,” and “Warrior (Southern Arrow),” that give the album a strong kick off- engaging the listener for the duration of the album. Great White Whale had a slower build up, as the intro song was deliberate, and the second track was semi-heavy before getting into the swing of things while losing its anointing in the process. This time around, they cut to the chase fairly quickly. Warrior is a disarming song to listen to, if I might add, demanding attention immediately. Furney echoes a long note while shouting, “I’M THUNDERRRR” through the opening riff, which brandishes the magnitude of his voice. Other entertaining tracks include Bedroom Galaxy, Famous for a Century, and Blush. Midway through, the band will entertain you with a quick little intermission of instrumental fun in Petty Snarl.
While Teenage Fantasy is more aggressive and upbeat than their last release, the band does the let the album drop off in some areas; leaving room for slow melodies, which have their place in a good record if they are placed right. Regardless, the album flows nicely and the subject matter is novel and imaginative, as previous. It makes me sad this band is no longer together. (Tooth&Nail)
06/03/2012
To Speak of Wolves- Find Your Worth, Come Home album review
If any band on the Solid State roster reminds me of Norma Jean the most, it would be To Speak of Wolves!
After breaking in a new vocalist, former Oh, Sleeper merch guy, Gage Speas, through extensive touring, To Speak of Wolves has returned with their sophomore release, "Find Your Worth, Come Home."
The title to their album carries a great deal of meaning.
While their music is still sloppy and mathie, they have gotten better (and heavier. MUCH HEAVIER!) Their guitar work takes more initiative and adventure, while their previous material felt more rythmic and bashful. The distortion is thicker and nastier.
The opening track "Hivemind" wastes only 0:03 of your time, but only to clench its fists for the attack!
"Stand Alone Complex," the first single off the album, features guest vocals by Micah Kinard-Oh, Sleeper's front man!
"A Simple Thought That Changed Everything," is yearning with powerful vocal work that temporarily takes the album to another level and atmosphere. "Broken Birds," has an intro that reminds me of an early 90's Nine Inch Nails song.
At this point, most people know that TSOW's drummer, Phil Chamberlain, is Spencer's (Under0ath vocalist) little brother. The training wheels have come off and the band is busier. Under0ath has actually kept a fairly low profile over the past year.
Be sure to check out, "Find Your Worth, Come Home." To Speak of Wolves are forging a wide path.
05/31/2012
The Burial-Lights and Perfections album review
The Burial has taken a new direction. It's a good direction. It is nearly impossible to do anything new with metal these days, and don't think that bands aren't out there trying! At this point, it has taken the form of many (annoying!)sub-genres. Good song writing, still, is never a bad thing. The Burial have always been that.
After paying their dues on Strike First Records, The Burial has released their Facedown debut, "Lights and Perfections." Prior, they had a significant line up change that altered their playing and style. It's still heavy as balls but it has some groove to it. The drums are fierce and urgent. The guitar work has become more adventurous, and is full of ADHD outbursts! The solos are tastier, even! It goes without saying that their style has become a bit more experimental than before. Lights and Perfections is the type of album that takes its listener on a journey. It's a melodramatic journey with a variety of moments. Moments that are tense, yearning, and moments that gasp for air before taking another plunge! A few tracks to check out are : Salt and Wrath, Lights, Pearls; The Frailty of Matter, Sight and Sensation, and Perfection.
Those who got heavily into their previous work, "Age of Deceit" and "The Winepress," will notice the new direction right away. The opening track, "Lights," starts with a low creepy/dissonant build up for 20 seconds-setting the stage for the 9 track journey set before you. Its got some fast-heavy shredding riffs along the way. The album atwork has taken a new direction also...it is more alluring than before and less striking! It's eye candy...but it serves a purpose!
05/30/2012
The Fray
It is no secret that this band has had an insurmountable amount of success in their short time in the music industry. Touring with U2 and playing packed out stadiums happens to be one of them. The Fray were all former classmates, but formed in 2002 after they all ran into each other in a Denver record store and decided to express their musical interests by starting a band.
I believe one reason why they have gone as far as they have is because their music appeals to more than one generation, and their lyrics are catchy. Their stage presence is breathtaking.
Produced by Brendan O'Brien (Korn, Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan) their newest release, "Scars and Stories" sheds light their musicianship and songwriting. It is their most radio-friendly album to date. It's passionate and reflective. The openeing track, "Heartbeat," has invaded radio airwaves for the last few months. Issac Slades chanting/moaning throughout the song breathes life into this track. After a few listens, you might find yourself humming it to yourself.
The following track, "The Fighter," has a neat little guitar/drum intro that motivates the rest of the song.
"Turn Me On," is energetic and playful(funny mood for such a song title, right?). "I Can Barely Say," reminds me of a melancholy Counting Crows song. "Munich" adds the likes of violins, and "48 to Go" is a roadtrip ballad from Colorado to California. Scars and Stories is an album that is hard to part with after one listen. It is an album from their heart. I think it is a milestone for their career and style.
Give it a listen.
The Fray opening for U2 in Denver.
05/27/2012
Hey Bastard!-Medusa album review.
Since Flabbergaster's last posting on Hey, Bastard! back in August of 2011, the "In your face raw factor" has not subsided one bit. Nor have their agressive drums and energtic power strumming-interrupted by an unpredictable breakdown. The guys have just returned from the studio with their latest release, "Medusa," produced by Joel Lauver (Haste the Day, Job for a Cowboy) at Burning Bridge Recordings. Joel also happens to be their vocalist.
I really don't know what category to what genre category to put these guys in(raw, dirty party metal, maybe?), but I can tell you that their music shines in the live aspect, as it thrusts itself toward thier audience, and then vice versa! Their vocals are very confrontational along with their menacing guitar work and fast drums.
Hey, Bastard! is very confident in their style and uncompromising in their delivery. Medusa is dramatic, harsh, and aggressive. It is not easy listening and demands a response. Instead, it is a fresh burst of raw, unrelenting, chaos. It makes me want to go in the kitchen and break all my dishes, or engage in some mad road rage. You can stream tracks off of Medusa and even pre-order now by clicking the link below. Enjoy. Be careful.
11/15/2011
The Weakenders
In today's day and age, musicians have become very self reliant in doing all their legwork and getting their music out into the hands of the public. Some choose to pursue it full time while others play music around their day jobs and for no other reason other than the fact that they enjoy it. Nashville, TN's The Weakenders is one of them. While the spelling in their name has been tweaked, it has a significant reference to their formation. When they first began, everyone lived in different states, and were only available during the weekends to practice. Now that everyone is within close proximity, they can devote themselves on a regular basis. I am reminded of Radio Head's original name, "On A Friday," because that was their original practice day. Personally, I love how they revert back to the days when bands had "The" in front of their name! Those days are missed!
Heavily influenced by The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, and The Beatles, TW plays Rock 'n Roll, and they play it well. Jamming in the Nashville scene (as sparse as it is), there is a lot of opportunity for growth and recognition because music (especially their genre) is alive in well, and the crowd turnouts are plentiful! While TW just started, they remain optimistic that they will receive the recognition that every musician yearns for. Aside from playing live music, they are also contributors to helping other make great music as two of their members (Joel and Eli) run a recording studio called, "Burning Bridge Recordings," and have only one goal in mind: To help artists make records that will live forever instead of polishing crap and helping them fake their way to success! One of their projects, Trenches, caught the attention of Solid State Records a few years ago and hit the shelves nationwide.
Visit their website to listen to their music. Their album "Everything and Nothing" is available for streaming. "Hazy Eyes," is my favorite track! Their music is lighthearted, playful, and complete with old school rock and roll bits and sounds (keyboards, 'whooing' in the background, and slow but steady guitar strumming). Give them a listen. Send 'em some love!
The Weakenders Official Bandcamp site
11/14/2011
Remember CD's, Anyone??
This post has been burning inside of me for a long time. Music is on the verge of some big changes that won't be popular at first, but those who don't like change will soon learn they dislike irrelevance even less.
Over the past decade, downloading has progressively changed the way we obtain and 'share' the music we love. It has its pros and cons, but its where music is headed. Personally, I am tired of shuffling CD's in my car, and my iPod Nano is becoming a close friend. A hard copy is only a burnt disc away, so it seems!
My friend Nathan says, "Technology is the great equalizer, and people have an easier time achieving their goals because of it." Technology has created an opportunity for making music easy to find and enjoy. Another friend of mine said he is ok with buying a t-shirt and some concert tickets if he can download the album for free.
I will admit that there are things I like and dislike about the changes in music and in the music industry, but am beginning to come to terms with it. I will admit that I still believe in paying and supporting an artist that is trying hard to make ends meet, but I also like the idea that music is easier to distribute and share, and bands have an equal opportunity to expose themselves without having to seek out help, and suffer under 'helps' terms. I will also admit that I have gotten lazy and enjoy streaming new music on Spotify just because its there, and I'm curious to check it out. CD's have become a pretty useless medium and I'm surprised people still buy them, at this point. The only significance behind them at this point is the artwork and layout,...but even then...that can't save a bad album if the music is terrible. You might as well just buy a poster and hang it on your wall.
The reason I started Flabbergaster.net was because I liked promoting and sharing bands with people and trying to get them to take an interest in their music themselves. I also enjoy reviewing albums and encouraging people to form their own opinion after giving it a listen.
We've gotten so used to checking out bands that were represented by record labels that it will take sometime to readjust our thinking. Personally, I think music will always be a business. Musicians will always need smart business people to assist (and screw)them!
Will the era of people not wanting to pay for music ever pass? Of course not. The era of people taking things without paying for them is never going to pass, and people have always been "sharing" music, even before our internet savvy days. Before people figured out how to burn CD's, they copied them onto cassettes. I have been guilty of both.
At some point, people will have no choice to pay for music on some level. If people want good quality music, they will have to absorb some of the cost. The ongoing debate is: how many people need to be involved in the production and distribution of music. The middle man is losing a lot of power as artists are finding ways to get their music to their fans without him. There are several talented musicians out there that often go unnoticed because no one will give them a chance, and now they have a fair opportunity to forge their own path. I'm all for that! Record labels don't need to evaporate completely, but they do need think of something, and FAST!
11/06/2011
Solid State Signs "Wolves At The Gate."
Solid State Records (A subsidiary of Tooth and Nail) recently joined forces with Cedarville, Ohio's Wolves At The Gate, and their forthcoming material seems promising and passionate. Solid State has done well with their band judgement over the past decade and have introduced some great artists to the music industry (UnderOath, August Burns Red, Demon Hunter, Norma Jean).
Their music is passionate, heavy and has duo vocalism. Their lyrics have meaning, and their tone has forceful energy. Even though they now have a reputable label behind them, they have proven they handle their own legwork. Always a plus. Labels are sketchy on investing in bands who won't invest in themselves, first.
The only thing that surprised me about them making the SS roster was due to the fact that one of the last bands they signed was "To Speak of Wolves." Could it be that wolves are becoming a rock icon, or did they just happen to have a good feeling about both bands?
The band has 3 songs available on Spotify. My favorite song is, "My Trials To Your Agonies, They Do Not Compare."
A release is anticipated mid November 2011! Give it a listen!
10/23/2011
RIP- The Bled!
Its sad, but true. After 10 years, 4.5 albums, 3 labels (Fiddler, Vagrant, and Rise), numerous line up changes and several tours, The Bled has decided to wrap things up. As I heard this news, I was taken back to December 2003 when I saw them rock the Cervantes Theater in Denver with Stretch Arm Strong and The Kinison! Their energy was more than present, and their stage performance is unforgettable.
Formed in 2001, The Bled began their journey to fill a void in the music scene of Tuscon, AZ while also using it as an escape route (touring, etc). Their first release, "Pass The Flask" released on Fiddler Records, got them a lot of attention very quickly and got them invited on a lot of good tours (Poison The Well, and Avenged Sevenfold were two of them) in no time. "Red Wedding," "You Know Who's Seatbelt," and "Ruth Buzzi Better Watch Her Back," were great live jams that I, for one, enjoyed hearing. However, they found themselves dissatisfied with Fiddler and were able to get out of their contract, moving onto Vagrant-a label they were quite fond of! The only irony in the situation was that Amy (who founded Fiddler Records) was hired as an A&R at Vagrant after her label went under. They were eventually dropped and then picked up by Rise Records, whose band roster is currently exploding with young talent! In 2010, they released their 4th album, "Heat Fetish."
Unfortunately, even you do have good experiences on the road, it eventually gets old, and the rest of your life tugs on you with a reminder that time waits for no one. After they began to write new material, The Bled simply decided that it was time to hang things up and pursue other ventures that were available to them, while they still could. Because they are not disbanding over inner turmoil issues, I remain hopeful that there will be a chance for a reunion in the future, when they have figured out their personal lives and are once again available to revive old memories! Regardless, they will be missed!
If you are able to catch The Bled on their farewell tour with Decoder, please mark your calendars and help them make the most of their last venture out!
Recent Comments