Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Music Releases For July 29th, 2014

Well this is a grim looking release week folks.  Unless you are looking for some quality material from Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Theory of a Deadman, Dark Lotus, or a soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy, then unfortunately AFGM cannot accommodate your needs.  With all respect though, some of this material seems to be getting quite the positive reviews (such as Tom Petty and TOADM) so the quality is still there...just lacking quantity and selection.

So I'll keep it short, show the love and buy the album from a local record store, online retailer, or an authorized digital source.  Cheers and enjoy the tunes.  I know I will be.

(Eric Clapton & Friends - The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale)

The Breeze is officially credited to Eric Clapton & Friends, and sure enough there’s a slew of high-profile guests here, most prominently on vocal duty. Clapton himself still does a fair share of the work himself in that respect - his turn on ‘Call Me the Breeze’ is endearingly rough and ready - and there’s varying degrees of success when others step up to the mic. Mark Knopfler’s performance on a very Straits-y ‘Someday’ is a treat, whilst Tom Petty steals the show on ‘I Got the Same Old Blues’ and ‘The Old Man and Me’; he clearly has a genuinely keen understanding of the Americana/blues crossover that Cale played such a crucial part in nurturing.

The difficulty with The Breeze is that, like most of Clapton’s late-career releases, it’s not going to win over the casual listener, and that’s kind of the point of it; to introduce Cale to the wider audience he always deserved. Purists will lap this up, but ultimately, as lovingly constructed a tribute as this is, there’s an unavoidable sense that Clapton is preaching exclusively to the choir. -Drowned In Sound

(Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Hypnotic Eye)

Nearly 40 years in, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are beyond the point of needing to give a shit. Yet the amount of heart and soul on their latest album, Hypnotic Eye, is clear.

A modern throwback, Hypnotic Eye recalls the band’s early Shelter Records releases. After the heavy-handed blues of Mojo, Hypnotic Eye is unabashed rock ‘n’ roll. The charging “Forgotten Man” is classic Petty. Even with its sense of purpose made clear, there is no urgency on the part of the Heartbreakers. Unhurried playing on the organic jam “Faultlines” and the Spanish-inflected meditation “Sins of My Youth” highlight the cohesiveness of the band. -Pop Matters

(Theory of a Deadman - Savages)

Canada! A Canadian band! THEORY OF A DEADMAN's fifth album "Savages" is probably their most ballsy and daring and its great! Being on the same record label that has TRIVIUM and had KING DIAMOND/MERCYFUL FATE this better be an awesome release from Roadrunner Records.

"Savages" features Shock Rock/Heavy Metal god Alice Cooper, given a small section of lyrics and providing backings during the chorus, this is also one of the weakest songs on the album yet its still an incredible song so think that through with some awesome instrumentals and very catchy lyrics.

If you like yourself and well done, well paced Hard Rock check out "Savages" so you can stop thinking i'm crazy! -Metal Temple

(Dark Lotus - The Mud Water Air & Blood)

*No reviews as of yet

(Various Artists - Guardians of the Galaxy OMPST)

Whatever the precise plot machinations that led Guardians of the Galaxy to rely so heavily on the Super Hits from the '70s doesn't quite matter when it comes to regarding the soundtrack. Here, the record works as a sampler of the soft rock and Yacht rock hits that are familiar not only from constant exposure on the radio, but also their use in movies. "Hooked on a Feeling" played a pivotal role in Reservoir Dogs, "Spirit in the Sky" opened up Miami Blues, "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" was in Boogie Nights, "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" has been in countless films and TV shows -- as has almost everything else here with the possible exception of David Bowie's "Moonage Daydream," which touches upon the space age futurism of this comic book caper. -All Music

2014 Rockstar Mayhem Recap

So where do we begin with this festival we call Rockstar Energy Mayhem?

We can start with a 12pm arrival time.  That seems like the best place.  Already a lineup of about 100+ was formed outside the gates with an hour left to go before opening time.  Eager young fans along with parentals (or guardians) flocked the gates for some of the opening acts they were familiar with.  Also some die hard fans looking to get a front row spot for their favourite act.  Being that we were waiting for additional people to our party (and also looking into press passes), we did not end up inside the venue till closer to 1:45pm.  Seems like a long time to be waiting outside but I was out of luck obtaining a pass through the normal channels of this festival.  Thankfully, I have some friends on the inside who were generous enough to hand over a pass to me.  Then the fun begins...



Missing the performances of both Erimha and Islander, I caught the final few tracks of Upon A Burning Body and made myself a little sweet spot to shoot for Darkest Hour.  Just in case anyone was wondering, my press pass didn't come in till later in the day so I slapped on my 70-300mm zoom lens and caught some spectacular shots whilst moving through the crowds (and avoiding the circle pits).  After a great set from Texas Hippie Coalition and a funny ass speech from front man Richard "Big Dad Ritch" Anderson about smoking grass, Darkest Hour (seen above) kicked off their set with a new track "Wasteland" and set things off right!  Mushroomhead followed shortly after and really turned things up a notch with their unique stage show and outfits (see below).



Keeping the day going, we moved over to the Victory Stage for the first time that day to catch Ill Nino (seen below).  The first and only time catching these guys was in London, ON in 2005 so this was a long time coming.  You want to know the shitty thing about their set?  It wasn't the band at all...it was the sound!  Seriously, I like to think I've been to enough shows to gauge sound levels.  I am not sure what the sound guy was doing but it definitely forced me to walk away from their set after only two songs!  The levels were pushed WAY too loud and when your ringing in your ear turns to a buzz/vibration it's time to walk away.  Hopefully I'll be able to catch them another time with some better sound.



We managed to catch the last song of Veil of Maya, but I wasn't in a position to take any shots without risking my lenses getting damaged (it was a rough crowd).  Being that we wanted to ensure a good spot for Body Count, we hung out near the Sumerian Stage and attempted to watch other bands on the Coldcock Stage from a distance.  Cabin fever sets in and I have the urge to grab a few snaps of Miss May I as they were tearing up their set!



This is when I got the call from my buddy letting me know he has my press pass.  Scooting through the crowd, I managed to get to the front gate of the stage where my pass was waiting for me.  I left the guys from my crew in their front row spot, explained to them the situation, and bounced to the Coldock Stage just in time for one hell of a set from Suicide Silence.  Seriously, these guys were energetic, passionate and had something to prove to this crowd of potential naysayers (being they have a new singer now).



They were probably one of the favourite bands to photograph because of reasons above.  They just wanted people to get into the music and head bang along with them.  This set the stage quite nicely for the HUGE crowd waiting for BODY COUNT!  They were a very sought out band for most photographers and even had multiple musicians hanging around for a chance to check them out.  One of the best moments happened to be when Ice-T brought his dog to the stage.  Somehow, they dog got off the leash and started making it's way into the crowd.  This prompted my buddy Shaun to jump into action and try and grab the dog before it went missing.  Ice-T's wife Coco Austin was right behind him going after the dog.  Long story short, they got him back on the leash and back on stage.  No harm no foul.  And what a set to follow.


"My name is Ice 'Mutha Fuckin' T Bitch!"


That pretty much rounded out the day for moi.  The remainder of the performances from Trivium, Asking Alexandria, Korn, and Avenged Sevenfold were indeed main stage worthy.  My friends and I were located in the 400 section (aka a little further back) of the venue since the lawn seats were automatically upgraded.  I guess this was a lack of sales for the back seats of the venue.  Either way, worked out well for us as we got closer to the stage.  So the basic rule of thumb is three songs for photos.  I spent the evening jumping between the photo pit and my seat in the 400s to have another beer and rock out with my buddies.  Even I have moments of being a total fan and headbanging!

(Trivium)

(Trivium)

(Asking Alexandria)

(Asking Alexandria)

(Korn)

(Korn)

(Avenged Sevenfold)

(Avenged Sevenfold)

So all in all, the festival was a great success and everyone I attended the concert with had an experience to take home with them.  Art and Jason got front row for Body Count's ENTIRE set, Luis and Victor managed to get onto the floor when Korn hit the stage, Geoff was planted at the side of the stage for Suicide Silence, and I ended up getting my press pass.  Looking forward to the 2015 edition!

Monday, July 28, 2014

Random Music Quotes: Petrucci

"I think it's great for the progressive community. It's been a style of music we've been playing since the beginning that we just kind of naturally latched on to, just because of the influences that we had when we were younger, but it's always kind of been this thing on the outskirts, and now it's great to see younger bands and more splintering of the style and the genre and it's just exploding, so it's great." -Petrucci

(Photo courtesy of Markus Hillgärtner and John Pretucci)

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Wolves At The Gate Streaming "VxV"

So I had the chance to spin this on one of my epic bike rides around Toronto.  I don't think I could find a better excuse to listen to new music then blasting it while cycling down the endless trails and parks.  Even though most would argue metal as a choice for a bike ride, I enjoy my distortion to keep me pumped when hitting big hills and dodging through traffic.

So much like the previous release from Wolves At The Gate, the new album is solid!  If you're a fan of the music itself, the the lyric content shouldn't make THAT much of a difference.  I guess this is in response to folks who question bands based on their 'Christian' labeling.  I try my best to move past that.  It's one of those small personality flaws that shouldn't make an effect on the entire album.

But anywho, back to the album.  The haunting radio transmission introduction (also named "VxV") kicks the album into high gear as it flows into "Return", which is very fitting for the song and album.  After that you have a few great heavy ass tracks such as "Dust To Dust" and "Wake Up" before the album starts to mix between ballad and anthem.  Tracks such as "Relief", "Rest", and "The Bird and the Snake" act as a buffer zone and bring the tone down a bit between distortion and melody.  However, after a few of those tracks the album jumps right back into it with "East To West", "The Convicted", "Wild Heart", and "Majesty In Misery".

The album does a great job closing out with a 6.5 min conclusion track called "The Father's Bargain" that I assume is reference to god.

Whoa, such is my love and pity for all.
Whoa, no man can pay, I’ll make a way.
Whoa, such is my love and pity for all.
Whoa, no man can pay, I’ll make a way.

Makes sense right?  It gives the album [somewhat] an epic conclusion and finish off strong.  So what are you waiting for?  Check out thew tracks below and let me know your thoughts!  “VxV“ was released on June 10th, 2014 via Solid State Records.





Wolves at the Gate have definitely improved since Captors. Even though the record was highly regarded by many, VxV makes it clear that they were weren't operating at full potential. While it's hard to say whether or not VxV is the peak of their potential, it is clearly evident that they are at least one step closer to reaching it. -Jesus Freak Hideout









A haunting mix of instruments and pastoral prayer lead their message, proclaiming that our sins have been counted, right up the the screams of "Wake Up" with drums crashing around like a building crumbling apart.  The band wastes no time getting to the message that the gate is broken and the wolves are among you. -HM Magazine









Wolves at the Gate are offering up a nicely produced album full of post-hardcore and metal goodness. Some may complain that there isn't anything quite like "Man of Sorrows" here, but I would argue that's not a bad thing. One: There has been an improvement in the lyrical aspect of the song writing in general, and two: "Why would you want another song just like that?" Fans should be in love with this album and I don't blame them. This is just another example of why the Christian metal scene as the edge over its secular counterparts. -Jesus Freak Hideout



Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Music Releases For July 22nd, 2014

It's a lovely release day here in Toronto!  The sun is shining, the amps are warming up, the drums are being freshly tweaked...and I am here typing away about all the awesome new albums hitting shelves today!  Rock has got you covered.  Saga, Fozzy, and YES will have some old school big rock sound to go along with their epic ballads and heavy riffs.  Common and Hed PE bring the groove to this week's releases, while we also say goodbye to Anberlin as they release their final installment as a band.

(Saga - Saga City)

The only problem with Saga and Sagacity? They already have so many classic tracks and albums. They're fighting their own legacy so to speak and it's always difficult to please everybody. Damn solid and fine effort as always though. Or as Michael Sadler puts it: "For me this album marks a return to many of the signature elements that put Saga on the map at the onset of the band's career, while maintaining a firm grip on the here and now. The balance between past, present and future is the key and I think that's what we've managed to achieve. Quite simply, this is Saga... 2014"! -Rock United Reviews

(Fozzy - Do You Wanna Start A War)

Outside of those two missteps however, Do You Want to Start a War is great at showing just how good the band is getting. "One Crazed Anarchist" is a gritty, tough number with solid vocal contributions from Jericho and Ward and a touch of electro-distortion that rears its head a little louder in the late-stage breakdown. It's a remarkably complex song musically and in terms of production value and helps the LP prove that Fozzy has managed to sneak up on the hard rock genre and turn into one of the more enjoyable acts working in it today. -411 Mania

(YES - Heaven & Earth)

It’s no surprise that the LP’s highlights are more epic in scope, with flowery arrangements and plenty of instrumental fireworks. ’Light of the Ages’ is a shape-shifting gem, built on a lush Howe steel guitar that pings into the atmosphere. And the grand finale, the nine-minute ’Subway Walls,’ is the band’s finest prog epic since ‘Machine Messiah’ all the way back on 1980′s ‘Drama.’ It evolves from classical-quoting filigrees to math-funk madness (partially in 17/8) to a galloping coda with Squire and Davison harmonizing the word “Transcend” like two knights charging into battle.

Yes, ‘Heaven & Earth’ has its issues — it’s often tentative and sonically flat. But it also proves that, 47 years into their singular career, they’re still capable of greatness. -Ultimate Classic Rock

(Anberlin - Lowborn)

The band re-signed with Tooth & Nail Records for this release, and it's a homecoming that feels right. Lowborn is a far more intricate album than Anberlin's debut (and in many ways it doesn't feel like a standard Tooth & Nail release at all), but it demonstrates just how much the band has grown in over a decade's worth of experience. The band values the journey, however, and all parts of the band's history are represented as a result.

Above all, the band knows they are finite. But they also know that their music lives beyond themselves, making an album like Lowborn that much more special. It's a complete album in every sense, and the creative process that's present here marks a seasoned band that has diversified themselves in fine ways. Anberlin may be done, but their legacy is intact, and Lowborn celebrates that notion in a fitting farewell. -Jesus Freak Hideout

(Common - Nobody's Smiling)

After 10 albums, Common has one of the most compelling discographies in Hip Hop, in part thanks to this type of streamlined tracklist. Even his utterly skippable mishaps were cases of trying something new to him. Nobody’s Smiling is defiant, as full of commanding musicality as it is of Common’s own provocation. Of his recent output, it deserves to be the most touted since that 2005 darling. It’s one of his best since he started, and like the album itself does about Chicago’s current crisis, that says plenty. -Hip Hop DX

(Hed PE - Evolution)

'Evolution' is the band's ninth studio album, its first since 2010's 'Truth Rising', and is, arguably, the best thing released under the Hed PE (and many name variations) banner since their third, and breakout, album, 'Blackout', in 2003.

That's a bold claim, granted, but this new album really does hit every mark required, going so far as to hit several more that I never thought it would, realistically, reach or even make a grab for.

It could be that time is ripe for the reinjection of Hed PE's subgenre fusion into pop culture; possibly because bands like Skindred have made the rock/rasta mash-up more accessible - either way, 'Evolution' is a dozen-song-strong monster chomping at the bit, waiting to be unleashed onto an (admittedly unprepared and) unsuspecting public. -Uber Rock

The of course we move onto my bread and butter.  I am very much looking forward to the new Overkill album, as well as Ill Nino and War of Ages.  I have been following this new Overkill album a little more closely than others and so far (with respect to the singles) I have no complaints.  Being that I am seeing Ill Nino on Friday (and I just caught WoA back in March) I am very excited to see what song from the new album they are going to use to set the place off!  I haven't caught them in concert since their visit to London, ON while on tour with Disturbed (September 6th, 2005).

(Overkill - White Devil Armory)

Nothing on album seventeen is different than the sixteenth or fifteenth, and that may be a blessing or a curse depending on your individual tastes. It’s simply more gritty, rowdy, street-level speed metal from a band that’s been doing it forever and a day. It sure ain’t original, but it’s as violent as Hurricane Sandy and full of piss, vinegar and pastrami, just like the guys who created it. It’s also some of their most rabid and acid-drenched material in years, and that’s really saying something.

Ladies and gents, this is one bona fide bad ass album. Not a weak track anywhere, just in-your-face, confrontational smack talk metal designed to make the drunk asshole throw the first punch. What else do you want (or expect) from a New Jersey band? Shit just got very real. -Angry Metal Guy

(Ill Nino - Till Death, La Familia)

The attitude and aggression is evident in front man Cristian Machado’s voice from the first vocal to the last and the rest of the band is as heavy complimenting the sound.

These guys could take the easy way out and rest on their laurels, but in a cut throat music world of here today, gone tomorrow, they are digging in with their past, yet with an eye to the future – all with the love and support of their fans, whom they all feel are truly part of the Ill Nino La Familia. -100% Rock Magazine

(War of Ages - Supreme Chaos)


The album is still very much WAR OF AGES in tone and sound, I guess the best description for the new sound would be ‘post-metalcore’. It’s very heavy, and not only adds melody in the crunching breakdowns and vicious riffage, but ensures that the melody is carefully crafted and brutally original. The vocals are still predominantly belted out to an almost ‘rap metal’ pattern, with each verse ending in a mighty bellow to carry you to the next riff or verse.

I really love this album. It takes the lessons learned from the band’s entire back catalogue and steps up the game. WAR OF AGES have now delivered a benchmark album that comes across as very intentional in method and delivery, whilst still allowing for rapturous explosions of inspiration. This album will have existing fans of the band’s leading metalcore sound baying for more and winning new audiences from either sides of the metalcore metal fan spectrum. -Christian Metal Bro Alliance

That mixed with the new releases of Dog Fashion Disco, Crown The Empire, Fallujah, and Within The Ruins makes for an epic listening session this week/weekend!  Let's not forget that single EP at the bottom of the page either, as Four Year Strong release their first batch of material since 2011's "In Some Way, Shape or Form".

So the usual banter folks.  Go buy an album at a local record store or online retailer.  If digital is more savvy, then purchase it from an authorized source.  Cheers and have a great week!

(Dog Fashion Disco - Sweet Nothings)

The album seems to be incorporating an army of horns with a marching band of varying keyboard tones ranging from harmonious organs to reverberating xylophone keys. Todd Smith once again provides the fist-pumping choruses and catchy lyrics written like a demonic children’s book. The guitars are fast and merciless while the drumming keeps up the frantic pace. The album transitions to soulful breakdowns quite well hinting that the time off may have reinforced a goal towards quality disorder.

The members of Dog Fashion Disco have once again combined a collection of personal music tastes and warped ideas to create a fluid album that skips delightfully through every psychosis in the medical book. It’s rekindled my love for music with no rules or boundaries. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but for some, this music clicks on all the right cylinders. “Sweet Nothings” is an ominous trip through aggression, despair, love and loss, but with another album on the horizon, the future looks bright for Dog Fashion Disco. -Media Mikes

(Crown The Empire - The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways)

Rise of the Runaways is an album of fair size, and therefore offers plenty of content. Fans of the last two albums will find that Crown the Empire are gradually trying to expand upon their formula here, and it does work for the most part (though the band does still need a little more growth in their writing styles to better combine twisting elements). Personally, I think The Fallout may have been slightly more enjoyable, but The Resistance is also certainly a worthy release for its scene. Crown the Empire are most definitely talented musicians, and they could be onto something here. Maybe in an album or two, they’ll become unstoppable. We’ll just have to wait and see. -New Noise Magazine

(Fallujah - The Flesh Prevails)

Fallujah pulls from a strange bag of tricks and smashes them together. The combination of death metal with a lot of post-y elements, including some borrowed from that end of the Black Metal spectrum, has cemented a sound I would argue is recognizably Fallujah, signature in nature.

Fallujah are definitely trying to carve a niche for themselves, creating an ambience-heavy tech-death sound that has kept me coming back for more. I love what these guys are doing and can’t wait to see what comes next. I’d be picking this up if I were you. It’s masterfully composed modern tech-death. -No Clean Singing

(Within The Ruins - Phenomena)

Phenomena shows Within the Ruins becoming comfortable in their niche that they established with Elite. Songs like ‘Hegira’ and ‘Clockwork’ show that they can combine the heavy bounce with riffs that engage and intrigue the listener. These are just two examples, though. The album is chock full of crushing, chopped-up breakdowns and wonky melodies that will make your head spin. ‘The Other’ and ‘Ronin’ have mind-bending, head-nodding breakdowns that can’t be touched by other bands. ‘Enigma’ and ‘Ataxia III’ are excellent instrumentals that keep pushing forward and refuse to slow down. The former has musical nods to gaming legend Mario and possibly Inspector Gadget. The latter is without a doubt the best entry in the Ataxia series so far. ‘Eternal Shore’ and ‘Sentinel’ have ignorantly heavy breakdowns that will make you want to bounce up and down wherever you may be at the time of listening. Instrumentally, this record is a driving force to be reckoned with. -Heavy Blog Is Heavy


EPs:

(Four Year Strong - Go Down In History)

The five-song EP (their first release with new label Pure Noise Records) is a tantalizing taste of what’s hopefully to come when FYS drop their next full-length. The tempos are turbocharged; the guitar riffs intricate and unexpected. The EP has that undeniable energy of the band’s earlier records, yet the production glistens like FYS were still on a major label. Drummer Jake Massucco and bassist Joe Weiss blast rhythms with over-caffeinated East Coast fury and the group’s songwriting core—vocalists/guitarists Alan Day and Dan O’Connor—seem to have rekindled their sheer love of musically ripping people’s faces off. We even get to enjoy some old-school FYS gang vocals, like the soaring refrain that bookends the EP’s title track, reminiscent of “Enemy Of The World.” These are all excellent things. -Alt Press

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Error In Throat

So Rob Zombie walks into a venue...and then walks out two songs later.  HEYO!

So apparently (and thanks to my buddy Art for sending me this news) a few fans from Cadott's Rock Fest 2014 are a little hurt by the abrupt removal of Rob Zombie from the main stage Sunday (July 20th).  After belting out two songs from his headliner performance, the guy had to leave immediately and receive medical treatment for whatever issue was causing his throat to hurt.

"Hey Rock Fest'ers, we understand your frustration completely. We were frustrated right along with you. We again apologize for it taking a while for the show to be officially called by RZ. We were working backstage on every and all options including medical treatment for Rob to see if he could continue with the show. We were fighting for You. Let's all wish Rob Zombie a speedy recovery. Clearly there is something seriously wrong with Rob's throat, as this is out of character for him. Thx to Corey Taylor and Stone Sour, P.O.D, Redlight King and Thousand Foot Krutch for killing it on the final day of RF14." -Rock Fest

Regardless of fans feeling like they have been ripped off, let's recap here:

1. The Rock Fest weekend encompassed many huge acts including Aerosmith, Sammy Hagar, Five Finger Death Punch, Cheap Trick, Stone Sour, Alter Bridge, and others.  So not being able to see ONE HEADLINER is not that big of a 'rip off' as some 'fans' would put it.  (See what I did there! hehe)

2. Rob has been on the touring circuit for many, many years and generally given 110% at almost every show (at least through my experiences and video review).  So the fact that he walked off stage after two songs doesn't make me angry, it's actually more concerning than anything else.  Maybe if it was something more serious trollers would start to be a little more sympathetic.

3. If you are hurt over not being able to see him perform then don't feel too bad.  Like I mentioned in #2, he tours A LOT.  So there's a good chance you'll be able to see him once more (and doing a headlining tour for that matter).  I'm sure he feels equally bad about not being able to perform.

4. As a vocalist for many years, the NUMBER ONE thing I was told when having throat issues is to STOP TALKING!  The more you give your voice rest, the faster it heals and the faster you can get back to being the regular you.  Seeing that some fans wanted him to push through and do the show anyways, I ask them for a logical moment of empathy.  Why would a guy want to give a 50% performance, wreck his chords more, and suck even worse at his next show when he could simply call it a night and recoup for the next day?



So in closing, anyone who has sung a show before or performs live on a  regular basis knows that blowing out your vocal chords is not "sucking it up" or any other stupid cliche line you can insert here.  How about if he had a show the following night.  Do you think it's fair for those fans to also get a 50% show because YOU all thought he should just suck it up and sing?

Side note, I loved (*insert sarcasm here*) the Leader-Telegram's review of Zombie and Stone Sour.

"Taylor fist-pumped and danced and belted out hard rock songs over the band’s 14-song, 80-minute set. He told fans early in the set his voice was a bit sore, and he frequently grabbed water bottles between songs. Undaunted, he kept performing..."

Monday, July 21, 2014

Chthonic Pulling At Strings for Wacken 2014

Do you remember a time when your favourite band went above and beyond the expectations of a live show and gave you something extra special?  Give yourself a moment and try to remember one of those highlights in your concert history.  Despite the fact that Metallica [to my recollection] paved the way for strings and metal to combine forces (or Aerosmith at the 1991 MTV Awards), it's nice to see what east Asian metal band Chthonic has done the same for their upcoming performance at Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany (August 1st, 2014).



For a brief recap from the video, Chthonic has made plans to assemble both a four piece and ten piece orchestra alongside the Chai Found Oriental Orchestra with a variety of traditional instruments including ruan, hena, box zither, yangqin, flute, pipa, and sheng.  They have performed in prior years of the festival, but the special occasion will mark the first time on the revered main stage.

So whether you are a fan of the band or not, I hope this article brought back any memories of your favourite bands and what they did to essentially step up their game and give the fans something extraordinary.

Royal Game of Thrones

Any fans of Game of Thrones out there?  I tend to find myself glued to the TV each weekend from late March to early June to see what hoops the houses must jump through for their next adventure (and the fact I don't read the books makes the show that much more suspenseful).  Well it seems that even the Queen's Royal Guard couldn't help themselves and fancied a tune from the HBO hit show.



Video taken on July 15th, 2014, we see the group of about 30+ members doing some wonderful music while visitors looked on during the changing of the guard..  Now the question on all our minds is...what GoT house is Queen Elizabeth cheering for?!

It could be worse...you could have GoT's theme music in 80's retro or smooth jazz.

Random Music Quotes: Fuller

Music is nothing else but wild sounds civilized into time and tune. -Thomas Fuller


Motionless In White - Reincarnate

After seeing these guys at their ONLY sold out venue for their 2012 headlining tour, I was hooked on Motionless In White.  As a fan of shock rock and always looking to see what is the next best thing for stage performance, I was happy to see that the band is equally into their live image, delivery, and sound.  Overall making for an excellent show.  A very successful run of their sophomore album "Infamous" gave them them the chance to jump on some great tours and also release a deluxe edition of said album featuring remixes from Combichrist, Celldweller,  Ricky Horror (MIW guitarist), and more.

Unfortunately all good thing must come to an end...at least for some.  Drummer Brandon Richter announced his departure from the band in early 2014 to focus on other priorities.  You can read the official statement below:

"I'm announcing sadly I won't be apart of MIW anymore. I won't go into great detail to as why I chose to leave the band. What I would like to say tho is I'm extremely grateful to have been able to play music for all of you and meet and interact with so many amazing people. To the fans I have made I hope u continue to support me through my newly made changes and see what I do next! I am and will ALWAYS be here for all of you!! I am sorry for those who were wanting to see me perform in Australia and Warped but you have not seen the end of me. Bigger things are ahead and life chose to take me down a different path. Thank you again for all of you awesome fans and your support." -Brandon Richter

So of course one member's loss will not stop MIW.  The guys have been given great reviews for "Infamous", charting at #53 on the Billboard 200, #19 on Top Rock Albums, #9 on Top Independent Albums, and #5 on Top Hard Rock Albums.  The group jumped right back into the studio after their tour and pumped out another 13 blistering tracks that will have your mascara and eyeliner running after a listen or two.



"Reincarnate"  will be released on September 16th, 2014 via Fearless Records.  The album was produced in co-operation with Chris Motionless and Dan Korneff, who has worked with bands such as Crown The Empire, Dayshell, Pierve The Veil, Cavo, and many others for mixing duties.


1. Death March 
2. Reincarnate 
3. Puppets 3 (The Grand Finale) (feat. Dani Filth)
4. Unstoppable 
5. Everybody Sells Cocaine 
6. Contemptress (feat. Maria Brink) 
7. Break The Cycle 
8. Generation Lost 
9. Dark Passenger 
10. Wasp 
11. Dead As Fuck 
12. Final Dictvm (feat. Tim Sköld) 
13. Carry The Torch 
14. Sinematic (Acoustic Version) [Bonus Track]



“For those asking about who is playing drums for us, we are just going to be touring with a drummer from now on and remaining a 5 piece band. And lastly. The drums for #Reincarnate were performed and recorded by a close friend. You’ll find out when the album comes out. All is well!” -Motionless

Just an update, drum duties are being taken care of by Tom Hane, who is also the drummer for In This Moment.  Making more sense on how Maria Brink ended up on a track?  Or vice versa?  Same goes for Tim Sköld, as he handled production duties for their previous album.  So if you are lucky enough to have already seen then on Warped Tour then good on ya!  I'm sure that a headlining tour for "Reincarnate" will happen close to or shortly after it's release.



AFGM: Random Music Quotes: Motionless

AFGM: Is Chris Motionless The New Marilyn Manson?

Friday, July 18, 2014

Music Video Round Up For July 18th, 2014

Apologies in advance for those who loathe my video articles but there are just too many great clips out there to ignore.  So if you do not have the bandwidth to watch this video, then too bad!  Hahaha just kidding.

Mostly dealing with the rock and metal genre on this post but there are some great new tunes from bands like July Talk, Mike Semesky, Sons of the Sea, Betraying The Martyrs, The Word Alive, Marty Friedman, Eluveitie, The Fading, Overkill, The Defiled, Æges, Hellyeah, King 810, and Starve The Hydra.

So for the slower connections just load the article, go for a coffee/glass of water, return, play and enjoy!  This will surely be one of my playlists for the end of the work day and hopefully doesn't keep your eyes glued to the screen for too long.  Cheers and happy Friday!

*NOTE: There are hyperlinks in each title in case you want to stream directly from YouTube*



July Talk - Summer Dress:



AFGM: July Talk - July Talk

July Talk's self titled debut album was released on


Mike Semesky (feat. Aleka Farha) - Heartlines:



AFGM: Sumerian Ceremonials

"Heartlines" is taken from "Sumerian Ceremonials (Florence + The Sphinx)", which was released on May 13th, 2014 via Sumerian Records.


Sons Of The Sea - Lady Black (NSFW):



Sons of the Sea's self titled album was released on September 24th, 2013 via Avow Records.


Betraying The Martyrs - Let It Go:



This cover of "Let It Go" (originally from the film Frozen) is featured on BTM's latest album, "Phantom", which was released on July 15th, 2014


The Word Alive - Lighthouse:



"Lighthouse" is featured on TWA's third album "REAL." and was released on June 10th, 2014 via Fearless Records.


Marty Friedman - Hyper Doom:



"Hyper Doom" is taken from Marty's latest release "Inferno", which was released on May 27th, 2014 via Prosthetic Records.


Eluveitie - King:



"King" is featured on Eluveitie's upcoming release "Origins".  It will be released on August 5th, 2014 via Nuclear Blast Records.


The Fading - Till Life Do Us Part:



"Till Life Do Us Part" is taken from The Fading's latest album "Till Life Do Us Part", which will be released later in 2014.


Overkill - Armorist:



Overkill's new album "White Devil Armory" will be released on July 22nd, 2014 via eOne Music.


The Defiled - Infected:



"Infected" is taken from the band's latest album "Daggers", which was released on August 6th, 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records.


ÆGES - Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover):



This was a live performance of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" from their rehearsal space in downtown LA.


Hellyeah - Moth:



AFGM: Hellyeah Streaming "Blood For Blood”

Hellyeah's latest album, "Blood For Blood" was released on June 10th, 2014 via Eleven Seven Music.


King 810 - Fat Around The Heart:



King 810's debut record with Roadrunner Records ("Memoirs of a Murderer") will be out on August 19th, 2014.


Starve the Hydra - Echoes of Gods (Lyric Video):



"Echoes of Gods" is featured on STH's debut self-titled EP. It was released on February 14th, 2014.

Weird Al Commands Mandatory Fun!

He was my first concert EVER to attend.  I was just pushing 10 years old and my entire family was totally into what this guy was doing.  Originally discovered by my grandfather of all people (I'm hoping a family member can correct me if not true) and wanted to show his grand kids an experience like they never saw before.  Thanks to setlist.fm, I was able to pinpoint that June 4th, 1996, the bus load of grand kids were driven to Centennial Hall in downtown London, ON for "The Bad Hair Tour".  Even though I remember I was on good behaviour (as well as the rest of my siblings and cousins) I did feel bad for my grandfather having to watch over the group of us.  But I guess it was worth it as we still discuss the show to this date.

Here is the set list for that evening:

1. Since You've Been Gone
2. Gump
3. The Alternative Polka
4. One More Minute
5. Like a Surgeon
6. Melanie
7. Headline News
8. Theme from Home Improvement
9. The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota
10. Jurassic Park
11. Laundry Day / Chicken Pot Pie / Spam / My Bologna / Alimony / Syndicated Inc. / Another One Rides The Bus / Gee, I'm A Nerd / Achy Breaky Song / Phony Calls / Cavity Search / Green Eggs & Ham / Eat It
12. Smells Like Nirvana
13. Bedrock Anthem
14. Amish Paradise
15. Fat
16. Yoda

Definitely something that has been etched into my memories for the rest of my life.  It was pretty unreal to be listening to this guy for many years prior to a show and experience a live performance for the first time.  OI guess you could say it was my foot into the door for being the concert junkie that I am today.  A special thanks goes out to my grandfather for introducing me to not only Weird Al but also my love for live music.  I guess in an indirect way AFGM wouldn't have launched without that extra push early in life.

So Al has been pumping out the albums since that day almost 18 years ago.  Keeping strong with releases such as "Running with Scissors" (1999), "Poodle Hat" (2003), "Straight Outta Lynwood" (2006), "Alpocalypse" (2011), and now his brand spanking new album called "Mandatory Fun"!  Here are a few details surrounding the new album:


1. Handy ("Fancy" by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX)
2. Lame Claim to Fame
3. Foil ("Royals" by Lorde)
4. Sports Song
5. Word Crimes ("Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams)
6. My Own Eyes (Style parody of Foo Fighters)
7. NOW That's What I Call Polka!
8. Mission Statement (Style parody of Crosby Stills & Nash)
9. Inactive ("Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons)
10. First World Problems (Style parody of Pixies)
11. Tacky ("Happy" by Pharrell Williams)
12. Jackson Park Express (Style parody of Cat Stevens)

It was released on July 18th, 2014 via RCA Records.  The LA Times described the album as "a stone cold masterpiece. Its goal remains the same since Yankovic changed the game with "My Bologna" and "Eat It": parodying hit songs to create gut-busting laughter. Thirty years later the Weird One hits every note."



At age 54 now, he is more popular than ever and rolling out new marketing ideas that will make some artists shake their heads.  Not only is the song choices enough of a marketing ploy in itself (using top artists that fans will automatically look to for criticism) but also a new concept regarding his music videos.  Since Al's music videos are as equally funny as the songs for them, he decided to try his hand at viral videos for eight straight days.

"MTV is not really music television anymore, the internet is essentially MTV. The internet consumes things very quickly, things go viral for a day — you can be famous for 24 hours. So I figured the best way to advertise my new album is every single day of release week, put out a new video people get excited about.

...they (aka Funny or Die, College Humor, Yahoo, and Nerdist) pay for the production of the video and hopefully, that will make people want to buy the album because the videos are essentially commercials for the album." -Yankovic



So that being said, we have compiled some of the videos as they are being released.  Hopefully this article does the same justice and the music video production in hopes you stop off at a record store and pick up a copy of this new album.  After giving it the initial spin, it's safe to say that "Mandatory Fun" is AFGM approved and high recommended for anyone who has a funny bone.







And not to mention the awesome live performances I was discussing earlier.  Check out his cut from Conan O'Brien's Summer Music series where we performs the first single "Tacky":

More to come so stay tuned!

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Music Releases For July 15th, 2014

I know I feel like my sentences are on repeat when it comes to releases each week, but I truly do find it hard to pick which albums I want to spin first.  Most of the time it's based on availability.  I am a fan of listening before I buy; only because of the amount of music I enjoy sifting through.  Some artists you grow to know and can automatically assume the material they put out will be to your liking.  Others we are not so fortunate on, hence why many labels and bands throw material out on the internet prior to release dates.  Not only does it beat the [illegal] downloaders to the punch, but it also gives fans a chance to critique and anticipate an album purchase.

Artists below such as Weird Al Yankovic and Jason Mraz you can assume that the material is not necessarily the same as previous albums, but built on a foundation of style that remains consistent with their album releases.  Other such as Morrissey and Loverboy I will have to revisit.

("Weird Al" Yankovic - Mandatory Fun)

Of all the musicians who came of age in the ’80s, the artist that’s remained the most relevant might be a surprising one: “Weird Al” Yankovic. The master accordionist/humorist has endured thanks to some savvy career diversification. Yankovic knows he’s only as good as his most recent parody, and so he’s always been a serious student of pop culture’s hot topics and new musical trends. But he’s also taken great pains to emphasize that he has more to offer than novelty songs or polkas. On every album, these lighthearted moments dovetail with shrewd social commentary and straightforward, earnest songwriting. -AV Club

(Morrissey - World Peace Is None Of Your Business)

As great as it is to find him grappling with overbearing fathers and feckless politicians, though, there’s an equal delight in hearing Morrissey just being Morrissey: no-one else, you’d wager, would make a song as simple as ‘Kiss Me A Lot’ feel like such a dizzying, romantic rush of driving guitars, or find such pathos in the crunching waltz of ‘Istanbul’, where a parent is forced to identify his wayward son’s corpse. And unlike the meat-and-potatoes rock of ‘Years Of Refusal’, it’s full of gorgeous and unexpected musical flourishes. ‘Earth Is The Loneliest Planet’ is a flamenco-indebted stomp, ‘Mountjoy’ a thing of strummed, slow-burn beauty and ‘Neal Cassady Drops Dead’ a splatter of fierce, snarling riffs in which Morrissey pays tribute to the beat poets in his own inimitable way, growling: “Neal Cassady drops dead, and Allan Ginsberg’s tears shampoo his beard”. It’s sad, it’s strange and it’s oh-so-funny. In short, it’s Morrissey. -NME

(Jason Mraz - Yes!)

While the 14-track set can get tiresome in one sitting, there's a more important place for "YES!" in the catalog of a singer staying in his lane, but eager to take the next step. "What's ironic is that I don't listen to my kind of music," Mraz also added last month. "But for some reason, when I sit down to make music, that's what it is. I'd love to compose songs like Radiohead or Wilco, but I have what I got." And what he's got, now, is an invigorating change-up record that shines in an already impressive discography. -Billboard

(Loverboy - Unfinished Business)

"Unfinished Business" could not be more appropriately titled since some of the songs on the album come from writing sessions that date back 40 years!  

The majority of the songs on this album are filled with big hooks and catchy choruses therefore"Unfinished Business" succeeds in doing exactly what it was meant to do... it gives the hardcore Loverboy fans some songs they have always wanted to hear while reminding everyone else why we loved these leather clad MTV darlings in the first place. -The Kansan

Then we have some hard rock acts such as Big Wreck, Rise Against, and Pennywise all dropping new albums this week as well.  Make sense since all three bands have either been touring heavily, or will be with the release of these albums.  Big Wreck just wrapping up some North American dates while Rise Against and Pennywise are set to embark on their own tours this summer/fall.

(Big Wreck - Ghosts)

For a band that planted their roots nearly 20 years ago, Ghosts shows Big Wreck taking that natural step towards musical progression. “This time around, it really feels like we are a band that has a direction and a thing that we are going for,” says Thornley.

This is a new, mature Big Wreck with a sound that should bring in new listeners and reacquaint themselves with old fans, while ensuring not to alienate the long-time Thornley/Big Wreck followers. Big Wreck appear to be on the verge of reigniting a flame and a passion, arriving at that place where all the pieces are starting to fit. -NMC

(Rise Against - The Black Market)

Musically, however, The Black Market is just more of the same. Guitars and drums launch their sonic onslaught, and choruses are still lined with crowd-ready woah-ohs and heys. Even "People Live Here," the album's acoustic protest song, directly echoes "Hero of War" from Appeal to Reason. The band manages not to compromise their sound, but on The Black Market, the formula is growing stale. -Exclaim

(Pennywise - Yesterdays)

The record starts off with a police radio broadcast before a waltzing bass line and some mosh ready riffage takes the listener right back to the glory days of independent punk rock. And immediately you know, this is a record that celebrates youth in all its nihilistic rebellion.

So Yesterdays is a record that sounds as if it was written by a bunch of snotty punk ass kids, but performed by seasoned veterans. And it ends with those kids in transition. The loss of innocence, but the start of something new. Much like Pennywise themselves right about now. All in all a fitting tribute to their scene, their legacy and to Thirsk himself. -Vandal Magazine

And finally we have the heavily distorted stuff.  While fans have been eagerly awaiting new material from I, The Breather and Volumes, the main focus for the metal world fell on Suicide Silence.  Since the untimely passing of former front man Mitch Lucker, the band has been on a hot streak of support from fellow musicians as well as the injection of new vocalist Hernan "Eddie" Hermida (formerly of All Shall Perish).  And for final thoughts, give yourself the chance to check out Betraying The Martyr's new music video for "Let It Go".  Yes, that's correct.  It's a cover from the film Frozen.

But anywho, as much as these artists give the impression they are financially stable it's still nice to throw a couple of extra bucks their way for support.  Stop off at a local record store, an online retailer, or a trusted digital source to grab some of these albums.  Cheers!

(I, The Breather - Life Reaper)

Vocalist Shawn Spann has felt lost at times, and his faith has helped him get back on track, as the inspirational metalcore tracks on I The Breather’s third full-length reveal. As the group’s name implies, its holy cauldron of low-octave, chop-infested heaviness and melodic, super-creative segments dish out the idea that the dude upstairs allows us to breath—and you’ll even hear some actual breathing on Life Reaper, which ends up sounding like a breath of fresh air on “Soul:Seek” and “Self:Restore,” two tunes that mix amp-cooking extreme rock and Korn-ish, electronica-fueled madness. Life is good when I The Breather get down to business.  -Revolver

(Suicide Silence - You Can't Stop Me)

Perhaps the most intriguing song on the album is ‘Ending Is the Beginning.’ It was originally recorded for the band’s 2005 self-titled EP. It’s interesting to hear the 2014 version of the band playing the early material, showing how much their chops have improved.

Suicide Silence’s songwriting has also improved. They add a little more variety to the proceedings than on past albums, such as the intro to ‘Sacred Words’ and the album closer ‘Ouroboros.’ ‘You Can’t Stop Me’ is an album that is a fitting tribute to Lucker, and serves notice that the band is taking the album title literally as they keep moving forward. -Loudwire

(Betraying The Martyrs - Phantom)

Picking up where ’11’s ‘Breathe In Life’ left off, Betraying The Martyrs continue to mix killer melodies, bilious anger, and wrap it up neatly with dramatic orchestral moments. Although circling the emotional chorus of ‘Walk Away’ and speedy riffing in ‘Lighthouse’ around an enjoyable, but oddly placed cover of ‘Let It Go’ [from Disney’s Frozen] does mean ‘Phantom’ takes a fair few spins to get your bonce around. Once it all sinks in, though, it’s clear that Betraying The Martyrs are one of the bands currently working their way through the ranks who are well worth keeping an eye on.  -Rocksound

(Volumes - No Sleep)

Equipped with two instrumental songs, the layout of the track listing is set perfectly. Opposed to being a barrage of disorganization I found myself flowing between tracks effortlessly, and arriving at the end of the album completely satisfied. As you move your way through the streamlined listing on this album, you’ll be impressed with not only the lyrical content but uniformity as a whole. There are no tracks that leave you wondering the purpose of the placement or if maybe it was something that was found randomly. No Sleep seemingly was crafted by design, and the effort from Volumes is reflected clearly. This album is not, however, a far cry off from their previous release. You’ll find fleeting moments that bring a rush of familiarity, reminiscent of the 2011 release Via in a good way. This band extracted the pulp of their previous endeavors, and improved in all the right places. -New Noise Magazine