Funeral for a Friend-Conduit review

Recently I have been working with an electrician who is designing electrical conduit for a food processing facility.  There is a ton of conduit in this building, so finding out where each line is routing is time-consuming and complex.

Funeral for a Friend's latest album, on the other hand, is neither complex nor is it a time-consuming listening experience.  In some ways the band picks up where they left off with on the not-so-overwhelmingly received "Welcome Home Armageddon".  My own opinion of the previous album notwithstanding, "Conduit" is a good FFAF album, just not the best.

We are huge fans of FFAF here.  We own either CD or digital copies of every single full-length album they have released.  "Conduit" is every bit as good as "Welcome Home Armageddon," but not quite up to the standard set with "Hours" and "Memory and Humanity."  We believe this band to be bar-none the best Welsh rock band out there.  Granted, there are not that many heavy-hitters from the Kingdom of Wales, but FFAF is the best.

Whereas the previous albums were harmonic rockers, "Conduit" shows us a different aspect the band has been trying to incorporate more and more through the last two albums.  Listeners of metal, straight-up hardcore, and punk will identify with the subject matter and delivery of this album.  FFAF is still very much a rock band and indeed graces listeners with numerous harmonic hooks, but what "Conduit" truly is, is a post-hardcore release.  This is perhaps most similar to the earlier tracks from "Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation." 

My only problem with this release is indeed a fairly major one, and complex at that.  The structures evident in the 11 tracks are the simplest melodies and riffs FFAF have ever constructed.  These 11 tracks more often than not render themselves so simple that the simplicity detracts from the creativity in the song-writing.  The tracks on this album average under three minutes apiece, with the longest just 3:39.  The shortness of the tracks leaves no room for extended vocal melodies, guitar leads, or solos.  These items have been FFAF staples for years, so having none of these to chew on leaves plenty to be desired.

"Conduit" is still a solid release that should appeal to both true fans and casual listeners.  The album is simply too short in my opinion.  Check out the title track and Spine below.  As always, thanks for reading and enjoy!

Our top Rock bands

Today we are rockin' out at ThinkMuzik.  This is our final 'top' list before we get back to more 'normal' posting (or as normal as it can get around here).  The trouble with rock is that it is such a broad term and can encompass numerous different styles.  Since we already covered alternative, we can rule out a ton of bands.  Today we'll focus more on what we constitute as straight-up rock music. 

All three of my picks could be considered as metal since they rock so hard, but I don't really term them as metal because a) the music isn't especially metallic, and b) the vocals are not in line with what I'd normally consider metal. 

3. Funeral for a Friend. Kristy talked about this band in our top metal bands post.  I'm talking about them here.  This Welsh band combine standard rock melodies with post hardcore riffs and in between melodious singing and hardcore shouting.  Being that there is a lot of post hardcore influence with this band, you get a lot of toned-down, progressive-style riffage and a healthy dose of vocal hooks.  The song I have chosen is the title track off their latest effort, "Welcome Home Armageddon."


2. Chevelle.  I talked about this band in our top alternative bands post.  Chevelle can be considered both alternative and progressive rock.  To me they are more firmly entrenched in the prog scene.  They cite Tool as one of their biggest influences and are compared to Tool way too often.  Though the band plays traditional prog rock, that doesn't mean they don't also create great riffs and amazing vocal melody.  Check out Face to the Floor from their latest effort, "Hats Off to the Bull."


1. Within Temptation.  I also considered Nemesea and Delain because those bands are a lot like Within Temptation.  However, I still think no one pulls off the Within Temptation sound as well as Within Temptation.  This Dutch band is fronted by an amazing vocalist in Sharon den Andel.  She doesn't dabble too much in the (sometimes annoying) operatic singing and carries great range and melody.  They also incorporate lots of symphonic sections playing in harmony with the rock-based guitars and drums.  They have been at it a long time and have never produced a bad record.  Check out Shot in the Dark from their latest album, "The Unforgiving" below.


Kristy's top three follow.

I get to choose my top three rock bands and let me tell you this  is not an easy decision since 80% of my music collection is rock.  So I decided to narrow it down by the artists that I have the most music from.  I am excited to share my list with you.  Let down your hair and pull our your air guitar cause here they come.

3. Matchbox Twenty: Push.  Although these guys aren't hard rockers they can definitely play their instruments.  I have been a fan of this group since they came out in the the mid 90's.  Rob Thomas has the ability to make his lyrics believable and so they have mass appeal.  This song has great vocals, and power full lyrics.  When asked what this song was really about Rob explained in an interview that it is about a man in an abusive relationship.  So give it a listen and see if you like it.



2. Aerosmith: Fallen Angels.  Steven Tyler has been singing rock since before I was born.  He has a unique sound all his own because no one can duplicate that throaty scream of his.  He has so many rock songs to choose from.  He is one of the few artists that I can stand scatting from and he opens this song with it.  Then the music begins and you know it's gonna be good.  Check it out below




1.  Bon Jovi: If I Was Your Mother.  Those of you who know me knew this was coming.  The very first time I heard Bon Jovi was when I was about 8 or 9.  I was at my cousins house and her parents had just left us to go shopping.  She cranked up the volume on the stereo in the living room and played Runaway.  I was in rocker heaven.  Ever since then I have been listening to them with my radio way to loud.  I think that this song rocks.  The drums and the guitar are fast paced and the vocals rock.  Enjoy and thanks for listening.

Our top metal bands

Hello, friends!  This is the second in our series of lists profiling the top bands we like from each genre we cover here at Think Muzik.  There is such a wide assortment of metal out there, so choosing our top three has been a difficult task. 

Here are my top three:
 3. Omnium Gatherum.  These Finns haven't done anything earth-shattering in the realm of music.  All they have done is pick a style of metal they like to play and excel at it.  They have consistently improved over their five releases, culminating in thier best effort yet, "New World Shadows".  Omnium Gatherum is extreme metal, but also quite melodic, featuring catchy lead guitar and solos, excellent growling, and tasteful clean vocals.  Keyboards play heavily into their sound but do not make up the structure of the music. Listen to Soul Journeys from "New World Shadows" below.



2. Textures.  Textures is a newer dutch band that plays a Djenty blend of melody and harsh metal that must be heard to believed.  The band successfully switch back and forth between melodic singing and harsh screaming.  The first time I heard this band, I was very impressed and waited patiently for their latest album, which was just as good, if not better.  Watch the Reaching Home video from "Dualism" below.


1. Dark Tranquillity.  Being one of the pioneers in the Gothenburg metal scene is one thing, but being able to constantly release great material is another.  Dark Tranquillity arose in the late 1980s in Gothenburg, Sweden, alongside such acts as At the Gates and In Flames.  Over the years, they have released 10 studio albums.  I own nine of them--all but thier first, while Anders Friden (from In Flames) was the lead singer.  Mikael Stanne has been providing the vocals ever since and really does an amazing job.  Clean vocals are somewhat rare from this band, but they do use them to great effect, particularly in thier latest album.  Listen to Dream Oblivion from "We are the Void" below.


Kristy's top three are as follows.

When Brad told me we were choosing our three favorite metal bands and then selecting a favorite song from them I kind of freaked out.  First of all I'm pretty new to the metal genre.  I have a few songs that I like from select artists but not whole albums.  I was kind of stressing because I didn't think that I had very much metal in my music collection.  But as I took another look I found some artists that I didn't consider metal but that Brad assured me would work.  Here are my three choice metal bands.  Keep in mind I am just starting a collection in this genre and so this might be wussy metal to those of you who like it a littler harsher than what follows.

3. Funeral For A Friend: On a Wire.  This song is off their album Tales Don't Tell Themselves.  This song is very mellow as far as metal goes but if you listen to other songs on the album the metal comes out more.  I like this song because I like the sound of Michael Davies voice.  I enjoy the guitar in this song and I like that it's melodic enough that I can sing along. 



2. Lacuna  Coil. Give Me Something More.  One thing you should know about me is I am a choir brat.  My favorite part of choir is the blending of male and female voices.  I really like this band because we get to hear two great singers Christina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro.  Both vocalists give this song something special.  Their voices harmonize really well plus there is great guitar and drums in the background.  This track is off their newest album Dark Adrenaline.  Check them out if you haven't heard them before.  They are amazing.



1. Apocolyptica: I Don't Care.  Let me just start by saying this band is the s*#t.  I really like them a lot.  I love that they are all professional cellists and that they incorporate their astounding talents into metal music.  This version of I Don't Care features Adam Gontier of three days grace.  I like the blending of his voice with cello.  This song has a great beat and for some reason unknown  to me it just makes me happy.  Plus did I mention there is an amaing piano cello duet towards the end of this song.  Amazing!! I can't say enough and I can't explain it just listen and see for yourself.