A boatload of new music, some free

Once in a while, we miss some interesting new music, letting it just pass us by, so occasionally we have to make some time to catch up on stuff we missed.  Today we have a lot of stuff like this to share with you. 

First, Above the Earth has a new self-titled EP out.  The cover art is at first enticing, then not all that interesting, then just plain bad.  Thankfully, this doesn't speak to the quality of the music.  Above the Earth is a difficult band to describe, as they blend elements of shoegaze, instrumental, progressive rock, and post-rock into an interesting fusion of excellent sounds.  This band features a guitarist from the Russian extreme metal band Kartikeya.  If you listen close enough, you can hear the tendencies of metal through spiralling guitar leads and solos that permeate several of the tracks.  This EP also features lovely female vocals.  Give the EP a listen below.


There is also a new track out from The Chromatics.  If you are not familiar with their work, you need to stop what you are doing right now and check them out.  One of their songs was used on the great ambient soundtrack to Drive.  This is dream-pop meets electronica that emits plenty of good vibes and singable melodies.  The new track is a cover of a Joy Division track.  You can listen to this track below.  Hit the link to the soundcloud page to download this track for free!


Third, a band called Magnets have released a new EP.  The band describes their music as heavy shoegaze, and this is a fitting title.  Classic shoegaze tendencies collide with heavy, crunchy, distorted riffs.  This is a different take on the shoegaze/metalgaze sub genre and it is plenty impressive.  The vocals are as vast as the oceans, leaving little to be desired.  Check out the stream from Magnets' bandcamp page below.


Last but not least, I have to give a mention to a new track from Gems.  Rarely do I describe pop music as great, but I was amazed by what I heard the first time I listened to this track.  Pop music is simply not my specialty, but I recognize good tunes when I hear them.  This track, entitled, All I Ever, is fantastic.  It is generally straight-up pop with some subtle dream-pop atmospherics thrown in, but with outstanding vocals.  The track is available for free download from Gems' soundcloud page, which you can link to from the player below.  Take a listen to this track and get it now!  Thanks for reading and enjoy!!

The Top 12 Albums of 2012 Numbers 6-4

Part three of my four-part series on what I feel were the 12 best albums released in 2012 is today's post.  Many great full-length albums were released this year, which made choosing only 12 for this list a chore.  It has been an exceptionally fun chore so far.  If you have been following this series, you will know that I have detailed seven remarkable albums already.  We have three more for your listening pleasure today.

6. Mono-For my Parents.  This Japanese post-rock group flies under the radar for the most part, even amongst post-rock circles.  With "For my Parents" they have released an instant classic.  This album straddles the line between post-rock ambiance and orchestra in a way few other bands can manage.  From start to finish, this album certainly sounds like it could be a film soundtrack, all while retaining classic post-rock atmospheres and complex, looping melodies.  Mono is in my opinion one of the best post-rock bands in the world.  "For my Parents" is as good as it gets.  It doesn't get stale with repeated listens and sticks with the listener long after the exceptional play-length has run its course.  This is simply an album you have to hear.  Check out the track below.


5. Anathema-Weather Systems.  Progressive rock is truly a wide world of unusual-sounding music that follows few standards as far as song construction and melody goes.  Anathema has been around for a lot longer than one might think, having started out in metal with their first release.  "Weather Systems" shows a lighter tone, flush with dreamy melodies, atmospheres, and progressive brilliance.  Most tracks are light progressive rock wrapped around introspective pianos and soulful acoustic plucking.  The vocals are astounding, providing an even deeper layer of beautiful melody and emotion.  You don't have to be a fan of progressive music to enjoy this release.  That is the beauty of it.  This music should appeal to a wide and diverse range of musical tastes.  It was difficult to decide on the right track to share with you, but I have chosen this one.  Listen to it below.


4. Silversun Pickups-Neck of the Woods.  This was a highly anticipated release that was a very rewarding listen.  Upon listening to the first track, any and all concerns over the quality of the music were swiftly washed away.  "Neck of the Woods" is an alternative masterpiece, condensing head-nodding rhythms and subtle atmospheric nuances into a well-rounded indie-alternative rock sound.  It is unfair how often this band is compared to Smashing Pumpkins.  This is mostly due to the vocal work, which sounds better and better each time you listen to it, whereas Billy Corgan's vocals became nasally annoying far too often.  Most tracks begin with slower tempos and build toward a climax while incorporating acoustic passages and profound shoegazing moments.  Silversun Pickups is a difficult band to classify under any single genre, and that is what makes the music so remarkable.  This is an outstanding, hooky alternative release that is as memorable as any other.  Since we have already shown you the fantastic lead single, Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings), here is another standout track.  Thank you for reading and enjoy!!

Coheed and Cambria-The Aftermath: Ascension

Today we have a guest post for you, courtesy of our friend and fellow blogger, Marin Sabin.  Visit his blog at www.metalmusikmayhem.blogspot.com and find some great metal music.

Hello all,

Today’s album review is the latest effort by Coheed & Cambria titled The Aftermath: Ascension which was released on October 9, 2012. In case you are not aware on this wonderful band, here is some background from a previous blog I wrote on the band

            Coheed and Cambria is an American band from Nyack, New York that formed in 1995. They are truly one of the great contemporary bands that consistently release great music. One problem: Coheed and Cambria doesn't quite fit into any one genre, they could be included in heavy metal, progressive rock, post rock, and alternative rock. Their sound is like if Rush met Pink Floyd, and then mated with Iron Maiden. The driving forces behind the band are lead singer and guitarist Claudio Sanchez and lead guitarist Travis Stever. All of their albums are concepts based on an original tale called The Armory Wars with each album progressing the story further. Their album, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness is one of the best albums that I have ever heard.

Their latest album follows the story line of the Armory Wars, and is their best album since Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. This latest release may be in the running for best album of the year. From the beginning to end, there isn’t a more complete album with the highlight of the album being “The Key Entity Extraction, I-IV” and “Mothers of Men.”

I would highly recommend that everybody go out and purchase this album. You will not be disappointed.

Here are a few of the tracks that I enjoy from the album.

First, "Key Entity Extraction II: Holly Wood the Cracked" 

Second, “ Key Entity Extraction III: Vic the Butcher”

Finally, “Mothers of Men”

I hope that you have enjoyed my guest spot,

Thanks,

Marty Sabin

Top 12 albums of 2012: Numbers 12-10

Picking the top albums of any year can be a tricky business, especially when you don't ascribe to any one genre of music.  Literally thousands of new albums are released every year, and from such a large pool, every list will be very different.  The following few posts will be my picks for the top 12 albums of 2012.  I will pick the very best of each full-length album I have heard (in my opinion) and briefly review it here, as well as embed players of a select song from each album.  This is a fun activity both to write about and to read about.  So, without further ado, here are numbers 12 through 10 on my end-of-year list.

12. Sybreed-God is an Automaton.  Sybreed has, over the years, crafted a unique sound the embodies elements from both extreme metal and new wave music.  This new genre is dubbed 'deathwave'.  Vocals switch between uplifting and soaring clean vocals to vicious screams amid chugging metal riffing, blast beats, and near constant synths to give the music a powerful, epic vibe.  Sybreed has released three full-length albums, and this is their best effort yet.  The music sounds dark and is extremely riveting.  The eye-catching cover art was created by Seth Siro Anton of Septicflesh, who has a distinctive style.  Check out the track I have selected below.  This illustrates what Sybreed is all about in my opinion.

11. Between the Buried and Me-The Parallax II:Future Sequence.  This full-length album is a follow-up to the band's previous EP, "The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogs".  This disc is a progressive behemoth that is flush with energy and emotion.  From face-ripping roars to melodic cleans, the vocals are as good as any progressive metal band.  The energy of the music is powerful progressive metal with death-like leanings and peaceful melodic passages.  Upon listening to the song below, you should understand why this album made my year-end list.  It was highly anticipated from the get-go and did not disappoint.


10. Katatonia-Dead end Kings.  Katatonia has roots in mostly solemn, doom metal.  The new dist presents these elements of doom and mixes them with more refined progressive rock tendencies.  This album is fantastic from start to finish and does not contain a single poor track,  Each song is rich with melancholic melody and strong baritone vocals unlike any other band.  This Swedish band knows how to make high-grade music that toes the line between genres.  The track below is indicative of the entire record's sound.  You will be hooked. 


Thanks for reading, everyone and stay tuned for part two of my list coming tomorrow!

Decortica-11811 review

I know I am not likely the first to review any album.  Invariably, there are numerous other blogs, some of which will get to it before I do, and some of those can review albums before they are released.  Since I do not have that luxury, I am forced to join the fray just a little late.  Thankfully, there is no such thing as too many reviews of any one album.  Everyone will have differing opinions naturally, and that is to the advantage of the average listener, who may need a second opinion.

The newest album by New Zealand's Decortica, "11811", was released last week to generally positive reviews.  Oddly enough, it was the album cover, depicted above, which prompted me to give this album a listen.  While true that as far as cover art goes this is about as bland as it gets, I found myself intrigued.  I had never heard of Decortica before, so a surprise was surely in store.

Decortica performs alternative and progressive-styled rock and metal similar in some respects to Deftones.  Progressive rock and metal riffage wraps around excellent rhythmic drum work and mostly clean-sung vocals, but with a few screams.  This also sounds similar to what older Chevelle provided, but more decisively in favor of metal riffing.  Keyboards are used sparingly to create astounding atmospheres played against both new and old school metal riffing and excellent guitar leads.  As I mentioned before, If you like Deftones, chances are you will dig Decortica.

The problem with this album is that it is not widely available.  Neither Amazon nor iTunes has it.  So far the only reputable source from which to buy this is Decortica's bandcamp page at $17.99 in New Zealand dollars, which converts to about $14.50 in American cash.  This is a good album, but at some points sounds unsurprisingly familiar and even a little band.  While still certainly worth the purchase price, it is not the best alternative/progressive rock album out there. 

Take a listen to the album stream from bandcamp below.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Katatonia-Dead End Kings

There are a lot of bands which, though the music may be good, you can't take seriously based on the band name alone.  I'm not saying Katatonia is a bad name, just that there are one too many metal bands that choose to spell their names differently because a 'k' looks harsher than a 'c'.  That is, in my opinion, a shallow way of looking at it.  I'll admit it.  I never gave Katatonia a chance based on the fact that thier name starts with a 'k'.  I also admit this is not a great way to start a blog entry.  That's why I have moved it down further into the body of the text.  See, I can be sneaky, just like Katatonia, whom most still deem as a metal band.

Katatonia's roots are in progressive metal for sure.  This band sounds in some ways like newer-era Dream Theater, just a little harder, or newer-era Amorphis, just not as heavy--or somewhere in between.  The metal blogging universe has been talking about this album since news of its inception first hit.  This is because Katatonia is a long-tenured and well-respected band no matter which way you slice it.  I didn't realize that Niklas Sundin, from one of my favorite metal bands of all time, Dark Tranquillity, is part of Katatonia.

The best way to descibe this Swedish band's newest batch of music is as a blend of modern progressive rock with occasional metallic riffs, soaked with dark, atmospheric melodies.  Frontman Jonas Renkse lends plenty of fluid emotion to the mic, while beautifully strummed guitar melodies and an undercurrent of keyboard fill out the sound. 

Dead End Kings doesn't have a definite standout track, nor does it have any obvious filler material.  Instead, what we have is 11 delicious cuts of prime progressive rock.  This is yet another great album from a great band.  You don't have to be a fan of metal to enjoy Dead End Kings.  Bow to the majestic reign of Katatonia.  You will not be disappointed.  4.7/5 stars.  Lisen to First Prayer and Dead Letters below.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!