Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Music Releases For November 27th, 2012

So there wasn't a whole heap of albums coming out this week, but I have been eager to hear these for some time now.  A couple of these bands (specifically I Am Abomination & The Very End) struck really good chords with me on their previous albums so I have been eager to hear what both groups have been up to in the last few years.

Now let's not forget some Canadian artists as well.  The legendary Tea Party have made the return to the stage in early 2011 and has been touring around the world to get their name back on the map.  The guys have since released a two disc live compilation while touring Australia in 2011.  We also have notable east coast musicians Hey Rosetta dropping a new EP for the eager fans waiting to hear new material after a very successful run with "Seeds."

And of course we need not forget the album that started it all.  Rage Against The Machine members and fans alike welcomed in the 20th anniversary of their self titled debut album.  There has been much hype surrounding the release considering the band has no plans to record and a new album (as of yet) and hasn't hit the stage in quite some time now since their return as a group.

So as usual folks, make sure to head to your local record store or an online retailer to grab a couple of these albums, or at least preview them.  I know I will enjoy this week's selection and hope you do as well.  Cheers!


So with Mestis, we finally discover what Reyes is all about as he makes a name for himself as not just a guitarist, but as a composer. Basal Ganglia does sound a bit like one would expect out of Reyes given his previous body of work, which just goes to show that he has already made a real impact in Animals as Leaders’ musical direction. The high-brain sounds of jazz fusion and progressive rock meet with slight Latin flourishes throughout the EP’s sixteen minute runtime to capture a musical self-portrait of Reyes and his compositional skills. While his claim to fame insofar as prog rock/metal culture is concerned comes from technical guitar prowess, Basal Ganglia focuses more on the big musical picture and does a better job of evoking an emotional and thought-provoking atmosphere than that any of Reyes’ projects thus far. -Heavy Blog Is Heavy


With their first album, Hanzel und Gretyl laid out their plans to party through the end of civilization. Now, Germanophile duo Kaiser Von Loopy and Vas Kallas return with Born To Be Heiled. Banjo, driving guitars, and percussion deliver a machine-precise musical blitz, as the lyrics offer a compelling blend of rock swagger and an interesting take on the German language. Holy Shiza indeed! -Amazon


Moving away from the religious overtones, 'The First Snow' is a slowly building ballad as Baker uses a quiet moment from the winter as a chance for an introspective look. Less a happy Christmas carol for the kids as it is an acceptance of life, the cool musical choice compliments the thoughts well.

The seasonal session is wrapped up with a look back in 'New Year Song,' which, like the others, starts off quietly and builds to something more, this time a singalong trumpet-led 'Auld Lang Syne.'

To wrap up, this auditory gift to Hey Rosetta! fans is a holiday album not too filled with jingle bells and clichés that it will disenchant the bah-humbug types, but it’s still a set of songs fit to be brought out with the wreaths. -The Omega


While the bonus material is nice, they won’t likely reinvent people’s appreciation for the record, which is more or less foolproof as it is. But the reissue should call people’s attention back to a record that, over time, has only grown in stature as one of the most vital and enduring musical statements of its era. And with hope for fresh Rage tracks growing dimmer and dimmer with each passing year, fans would be wise to get as much mileage out of the band’s back catalog as they can. -Consequence of Sound

You can read more about the anniversary details in my previous article post:

AFGM: Rage Against The Machine - XX


(translated from German) CONCLUSION: hardness, melody, groove - the three pillars on which the concept of stability is THE VERY END supports are so massively strong as ever. Razor sharp riffs and machine-gun drumming worked in close proximity to subtle melodies, epochal punches with the punch of the Klitschko brothers and fragile thoughtfulness close here a covenant for eternity. Seemingly contradictory works hand in hand, and the drawer in which THE VERY END at the end of the day, but just to be stuck wearing, although the title "Thrash Metal", is the musical diversity of the band but again insufficient. What a plank! -Musik Reviews 


The Tea Party is a Canadian rock band with blues, progressive rock, Indian and Middle Eastern influences, dubbed "Moroccan roll" by the media. Active throughout the 1990s up until 2005 when the band broke up, The Tea Party released eight albums on EMI Music Canada, selling 2 million records worldwide, and achieving a #1 Canadian single "Heaven Coming Down" in 1999. The Tea Party toured Canada on twenty-one occasions and Australia on twelve. In November 2002, The Tea Party toured Canada with symphony orchestras reinterpreting a decade's worth of shared songwriting. The band broke up in 2005 due to creative differences, but re-united in 2011 to play several Canadian tour dates during the summer. During the tour it was decided to continue and the band has now reformed. Live From Australia: The Reformation Tour was recorded in 2012 during The Tea Party's Australian tour and showcases the band bursting with renewed energy. -Amazon


While most records can be either vocally driven or guitar-driven, Let The Future Tell The Truth is strangely both. Each song goes not as the guitar or vocals go, but as in tandem they both interweave. The guitar is just as technical as always and compliments, in both timing and mood, the vocals extremely well, especially for being so fast. Filling in dead space is the familiar noodling, sweeping, and tapping the band is so well known for. The vocals on the other hand, inch out the guitar as the highlight of the record. While near every fan of metal has at one point in time heard guitar play similar to this, the degree of catchiness exhibited in the vocal arrangement and melodies is top tier. -Sputnik Music

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