Music Releases For July 17th, 2012

(Stam1na - Nocebo)

"Ambitious and daring, Stam1na’s latest release Nocebo  treads the line between thrash and progressive metal terrifically, managing the stumble only a few brief times. This band clearly has a lot of heart, a lot of talent, and a great deal of potential. The melody concepts are original, and the power with which they are performed is apparent. None of the instruments seem to be lacking, as each does its part in balance with the rest of the players to produce this focused work. I’m enthusiastic about Stam1na and believe Nocebo might be the work needed to take them to the next level.

That said, Nocebo was not my favorite release of 2012 (that honor still remains with Woods of Ypres for Grey Skies and Electric Light), however it also come across as the type of album that takes time to grow on you. Recommended to fans of thrash and prog, maybe to melodeath fans too (since finnish metallers can’t seem to help but throw that influence in, and no complaints here!)" -Heavy Metal Now

"Matisyahu blasts off with his 4th album Spark Seeker, produced by Kool Kojack (Nicki Minaj, Travis Barker, Ke$ha). This bold new studio album finds the one-of-a-kind vocalist and songwriter exploring uncharted territory with help from an expansive cast of collaborators. My musical tastes are all over the board, he says in reference to a record that mixes ancient traditional sounds with futuristic electro beats, rapping with singing, songs of the spirit with songs of the body. My music is about searching out inspiration wherever it lies. This album is about seeking that spark within. 

Since first emerging on the international stage in 2005, Matisyahu has established a reputation for transcending boundaries- from the stripped-down roots reggae of the gold-certified Live at Stubb s to the trippy ministrations of the Grammy nominated Youth to the polished pop eclecticism of Light. Then, in 2010, he returned to the venerable Austin venue that introduced him for Live at Stubb s, Vol. II, demonstrating that all of his travels had only strengthened his connection to his musical bedrock. Selling over 2 million albums worldwide, it was a whirlwind half-decade journey, one that earned Matisyahu a place in pop culture at large." -Amazon

"San Diego quartet Pierce The Veil are back with their new album Collide With The Sky. Haunting acoustic guitars and subdued screams in ‘May These Noises Startle You In Your Sleep Tonight’ soon turn into an explosion of chaos beginning with ‘Hell Above’. Grabbing listeners’ attention from the start it keeps them fixated during the unrelenting twelve tracks. Despite the lack of calmer songs, Collide With The Sky is a furious assortment of roaring melodies, pounding drums, strong guitars & piercing vocals from front man Vic Fuentes leading the way on each track." -Our Zone Magazine

"While that irked me, I didn’t feel as if I wasted my time listening to The Future Again.  Many parts of the album I found very enjoyable.  The drive of 'Port Hole' and 'I Have a Knife' got my adrenaline running and the guitar work had me nodding in approval with a grin on my face.  “The Constant” was a really neat tune with bits of NWOBHM riffing, oldschool hardcore shout-alongs, and some great leads I found reminiscent of BTBAM solo spots.  I also got a kick out of the great use of the ‘Meshuggah’ style of percussive playing peppered throughout the record, in particular on the opener 'Mechanical Heart'.

These guys got chops and there’s hints of originality that would make them stand out if they were to put some more effort in creating a complete package.  At 28 minutes a listen to The Future Again won’t waste much of your time but in the end will leave a burning desire for something more fulfilling.  I do have hope that there is something in this style of ‘youngster’ music as these guys proved that there is a ray of hope, but I’m ‘old’, and want a complete meal." -A Metal State of Mind

"Mark Tremonti has sold over 40 million records worldwide with the rock juggernaut Creed and with fan favourite Alter Bridge. Axesmith/songwriter Tremonti showcases his mighty talents on his first-ever solo project. From the first riffs of album opener 'Leave It Alone' to the final notes of the closer 'Decay' it is apparent that Mark's playing and songwriting are at a new level. Mark Tremonti is ranked 'fourth greatest heavy metal guitarist ever' in Total Guitar magazine." -Amazon

"In this manner, the nature of the entire album follows the same structure that many of the individual tracks follow. Opening with a deceptive calm, building up to a breath-taking climax, and slowly–but barely–descending to a calming conclusion, Redirect takes the listener on a slightly linear but completely enjoyable journey. The album not only is a stellar collection of individual songs, but a behemoth of an experience which begs to be listened to as a whole–something that cannot frequently be said for a metalcore album. The touches of spacial atmosphere, hints of post-rock, “djent”, and groove that are sprinkled throughout the album, along with the welcome niche the clean vocals have found themselves save the album from what could have been its great undoing–monotony. While it is a masterful creation, it is a long album. Long, however, should not be mistaken for overbearing or obtrusive, as Redirect is just long enough for the listener to find themselves lost in, without begging to find their way home." -Me Gusta Reviews

"Calling Delayed Reaction the best Soul Asylum album since Let Your Dim Light Shine might sound like damning with faint praise, given how spotty much of their post-Grave Dancer's Union catalog has been, but the truth is, this band hasn't sounded this enjoyable since the mid-'90s, and if it isn't a full-scale return to form, it shows they aren't a spent force, which is certainly how they sounded on The Silver Lining." -All Music

(Baroness - Yellow & Green)

"The kicker? Despite having an obviously intentional high level of accessibility to it, Yellow is still thoughtfully built from the ground up. The guitar work is incredibly dynamic, even if it completely lacks many of the rougher edges you have come to expect from this band.

That's the Yellow side. Green side is a totally different story. No, it's not back to actual sludge, but even further away. It's a really mellow ("The Line Between" aside), bizarre form of old school prog going on. Not quite as memorable or notable as Yellow, Green is well worth the listen if for nothing else than witnessing the contrast this band is capable of pulling off.

In the end, Yellow & Green is a toss-up. People expecting to hear Baroness revisit Red Album are going to be sorely disappointed. However, open minds may be quite impressed by this bands calculated maturation into a band built on well-structured riffs, diversity, and accessibility." -Metal Storm

"For The Fallen Dreams have achieved a career milestone with Wasted Youth, an album that chronicles the heartbreak, frustration, anger and despair surrounding broken relationships, hard-fought struggle and the determination to persevere. The Michigan based band has landed firmly at the crossroads between melody and ferocious heaviness with Wasted Youth, produced by Tom Denney, the former guitarist and co-songwriter of the similarly minded A Day To Remember. With a slot on this summer's All Stars Tour alongside Suicide Silence, Unearth, Dance Gavin Dance, The Word Alive, A Skylit Drive and more, along with the new backing of Artery Recordings/Razor & Tie and the band mission statement that is Wasted Youth, it's assured that the future of For The Fallen Dreams is right in front of them." -Amazon

"From the return of Dan K. Brown -- the bassist on all their classic efforts from Reach the Beach (1983) to Ink (1991) -- to its George Underwood cover art (the painter whose work adorned Reach the Beach and Phantoms), Beautiful Friction is a return to form for the Fixx, the synth-pop-but-almost-prog-rock group who made socially aware angst fly up the charts in the '80s with 'Red Skies,' 'One Thing Leads to Another,' and 'Saved by Zero.' This reunion effort is without a surefire hit like those, and at first listen, it is a bit light on hooks, but lead single 'Anyone Else' is strong enough to beckon any longtime fan's return, and the skeletal, funky workout called 'Girl with No Ceiling' brings to mind the Phantoms era -- kinetic in an 'Are We Ourselves' style. While that’s all good news, the real surprise here is how Beautiful Friction builds, from the first half's set of politically minded, Occupy Movement-admiring prog for the people, to the second half's blast of the Fixx as quirky new wave attack unit, featuring a whip-smart guitarist (Jamie West-Oram), a keyboard whiz (Rupert Greenall), a propelling drummer (Adam Woods), and a reliable, Bill Wyman-esque bassist (Brown). From the whirlwind 'Follow That Cab' to the slow-rolling, life-affirming closer 'Small Thoughts,' vocalist Cy Curnin leads the band on something akin to a mini-Fixx concert that's alive and familiar in feel, even when the material is new. Repeat listens make that initial uphill climb a richer, more purposeful experience, and with everything feeling vital past the halfway point, Beautiful Friction is a win-WIN for fans." -All Music

"To be honest, there’s more than enough content here to grab attention. Whether it’s the powerful 'Goodbye Love' sample from singer Guy in 'Bye Baby', to the eclectic but cohesive sound that runs throughout the LP, to the content that Nas never fails to deliver on, this is one of the few projects to be released in recent years that truly shows an artist improving while at the top of their game. If we weren’t too busy tallying his losses, we would’ve noticed all of the signs that showed he was plotting, most notably his stellar recent collaborations.

The result of Nas turning his recent pain into progression and piecing it all together positively is Life Is Good, a project that’s almost destined to be a contender for album of the year. For those needing a definite answer, you could say that Nas is back, but for those who are in the know, it’s more accurate to say that Nas never truly left; he’s been here the whole time. Most were just too busy watching thrones to notice.  No diss." -All Hip Hop

"Truth be told, I was pretty on the fence about the previous two Hellyeah releases. They both feature some good songs, but most of them are a dime a dozen for my taste. However, Vinnie Paul and his musical partners in crime finally managed to hit the proverbial nail on the head with Band Of Brothers.

The songs are infectious and before you know it you’ll be singing and tapping along like a maniac. I believe I’ve found my record for the summer. Right now, time to pour a nice cold beer, fire up the barbeque and give Band Of Brothers another spin. I’m sold!" -About.com

"I think every song Slipknot has ever written is a greatest hit, so it was hard to narrow it down, but at the same time there's only four records, so we did stick a couple of live songs on. It all falls together the way it needs to." -Shawn Crahan (aka 'Clown')

"The production of The Union Of Crowns bothers me a tad as it sometimes seems muddy in comparison to Portraits – especially the disparaging difference noted in tracks “Lionheart” and “Royal Blood” – which were presumably recorded before the rest of the full-length. It’s an easy flaw to overlook, as the songs flow wonderfully and their content makes up for any production flaw. Other than that (I know I’ll get called out for this), the album is just a tad lengthy. It clocks in at about 54 minutes – two minutes shorter than Portraits if you include the three songs that that were included in the US release – and marketed elsewhere as the On Waxed Wings EP. The length doesn’t bother me particularly, as The Union Of Crowns flows a bit more smoothly than Portraits, but it may become a bit taxing for the impatient listener.

Overall, The Union Of Crowns is the perfect follow-up to Bury Tomorrow’s debut; it expands on everything the band did to solidify their characteristic sound, from the vocal dynamics, to the instrumentation, to the album’s overall 'medieval' theme. The album is a pleasure to listen to, and is a strong contender for my favorite melodic metalcore album of the year. Let’s just say Killswitch Engage have to blow us away if they want to take the title from Bury Tomorrow. Oh, and a side note? I dare you not to bob your head to the chorus of 'Sceptres.' It’s just that good. Trust me." -The New Review

"Before heading out on the Summerland 2012 package tour -- a traveling showcase for '90s alt-rockers headlined by Everclear and also featuring Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, and Lit -- Marcy Playground assembled the rarities compilation Lunch, Recess & Detention. Offering B-sides, alternate takes, demos, covers, and even an extended 'Disco Superfly Remix' of their signature hit 'Sex and Candy' (along with an acoustic alternate take of the same song!), this, needless to say, is for the devoted but anybody who hasn't stuck with the band throughout the years may be surprised with what they find here. These odds and ends showcase a looser band than "Sex and Candy" suggests, one with a broader musical range and a sense of humor, albeit a sense of humor that is often undercut by a sincerity that is a shade too earnest, a trait that almost becomes a liability on their too-faithful covers of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' and Neil Young's 'The Needle and the Damage Done.' Nevertheless, the raggedness of Lunch, Recess & Detention is appealing and goes a long way toward illustrating why the faithful consider Marcy Playground as more than a one-hit wonder." -All Music

"Luckily the journey is so enjoyable, because the destination itself is quite boring. 'Solipsis' plays with one chugging melody and some vocoder, but cannot stand on its own and disappears into the grand waste of time, 'Parallel Trance'. I’m not sure what The Contortionist were going with by closing with such an empty synthesizer exercise, but it didn’t quite work. All in all, Robby Baca and Cameron Maynard are still the kind of guitarists that make you curse your own feeble hands for not being able to come up with anything like their work. Christopher Tilly and Joey Baca still have an otherworldly sense of rhythm and syncopation. Intrinsic is a largely-enjoyable piece of progressive metal.  But when a friend asks me for The Contortionist, I’m still going to hand them Exoplanet." -The New Review

"Saving Abel combined meat and potatoes rock with their eponymous Gold-selling 2008 debut, which topped the Billboard Heatseekers chart. The record spawned the platinum single 'Addicted' and the followup barn-burners, 'Drowning (Face Down)' and the emotional '18 Days.' Their second album, “Miss America,” topped the Hard Rock chart and imprinted the hearts and minds of radio listeners with the title cut, 'Stupid Girl (Only in Hollywood)' and another Top 10 single, 'The Sex is Good.'

After blazing their own path with two full lengths, six top ten singles with two of them reaching number one, SAVING ABEL is ready to break new ground with 'Bringing Down The Giant.'" -Hard Rock Hideout