Music Releases For August 14th, 2012

Hello everyone!  So were back with another week of some great album releases.  I was fortunate enough to check out The Faceless on Sunday to hear some of the new album by all means go pick it up, its's good!  A few others I have had the chance to preview as well (In This Moment, Yellowcard, Mike Oldfield) and I got to say you won't be disappointed!  So today, head down to your local record shop or your favourite online retailer and grab a few of these notable albums...

"The third full-length album from THE FACELESS is easily one of the most anticipated albums of the decade for the extreme progressive metal genre. This is the band s first release in over four years and for all intents and purposes it s going to be well worth the wait. This effort sees the group s leader, Michael Keene (guitars), enlist a new vocalist, bassist and additional guitarist to help him see his musical vision come to fruition and these new members have delivered tenfold. The new album, Autotheism, is a semi-conceptual record following a man s journey of self-discovery and transformation into the all-powerful God of his reality. It starts with his realization of the power he possesses and moves through every step of an ever-evolving reality that the future may have in store. Musically, Autotheism is expansive in all directions. It is a thought provoking roller coaster with the occasional sledge hammer to the skull and contains more dynamics and diversity than any offering presented by THE FACELESS to date. Look for THE FACELESS to tour the world extensively for this album cycle and prove that they are truly a band that can redefine a genre as their musical vision adheres to no boundaries. This is forward thinking music that is beyond the scope of anything currently out there." -Amazon

"The idea of assembling a collection of amazing artists from the progressive rock genre all on one record was an especially exciting concept to me. Inspired, I began writing and recording the 7 songs that would become this album. I then sent those recordings out to some of my friends and musical heroes from bands like King Crimson, XTC, Asia, Gentle Giant, and of course my former band Yes. Soon, I started receiving vocal tracks and guitar and keyboard overdubs from studios all over the world, which I then mixed at my recording studio in Los Angeles. Despite the distances in geography, however, the feeling of the entire production is one of musical and spiritual unity - The Prog Collective!" - Billy Sherwood

The biggest super group of Progressive Rock players ever assembled!

"Features performances by John Wetton (Asia), Tony Levin (King Crimson), Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Geoff Downes (Yes/Asia), Alan Parsons (Alan Parsons Project), Chris Squire (Yes), Rick Wakeman (Yes), Gary Green (Gentle Giant), Annie Haslam (Renaissance), Steve Hillage (Gong), John Wesley (Porcupine Tree), Tony Kaye (Yes), Colin Moulding (XTC) and more!" -Amazon

"2012 two CD collection from the British guitarist. The music of Mike Oldfield is some of the most spiritual, ethereal, reflective and sensual in rock, and above all, incomparable: it's no wonder he is a true British icon. Two Sides is a career retrospective, personally compiled and sequenced by Mike himself. The self-taught multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer has worked throughout his career across a staggering variety of music styles: from Folk and Progressive Rock to Jazz, Electronic, Ambient, New Age, World, Pop and even Disco. So it is fitting that a broad palette of his work is reflected here. On Disc One, he takes us on a musical journey through his more esoteric, experimental side, and on Disc Two you'll find his best loved tracks and hit singles." -Amazon

(CD/DVD)

"Last summer, over a span of six days, Incubus celebrated their 20th anniversary as a band by renting out a gallery in downtown Los Angeles to perform and connect with their fans in the most intimate of settings. The band documented this unique experience on high-quality video and stunning audio, making up the much-anticipated release, INCUBUS HQ LIVE." -Amazon

"After In This Moment's 2007 debut, the Los Angeles quintet took part in something called the 'Hot Chicks of Metal Tour.' More recently, Revolver named vocalist Maria Brink one of the 'Hot Chicks in Hard Rock.' But all that boob-centric press is just a distraction from the band's cathartic and colorful brand of metal, and — in particular — Brink's crotch-punching wonder of a voice. In a thoroughly male-dominated genre, she's the real deal — and on Blood, her band's fourth full-length, she's never been more hypnotic. Throughout, producer Kevin Churko helps balance creepy, electro-tinged art-rock and Hot Topic-styled metal-core. The results are intermittently fascinating: opener 'Rise with Me' is a simmering electro-orchestral stunner, with Brink belting some of the most powerful vocals you'll hear all year, regardless of genre. The industrial grind on title track 'Blood' is both demented and undeniably catchy, with Brink shrieking, 'I'm a dirty, dirty girl' over a souped-up bassline and atmospheric guitar fills. Meanwhile, on '11:11,' our hostess channels her inner goth-soul princess over gorgeous, wordless harmonies — sort of like Amy Winehouse drowning in a bath of acid. At its most conventional (like on the rote, quiet-loud metal-pop of 'Whore'), Blood sounds like R-rated Evanescence — a waste of such devilish talents. Elsewhere, In This Moment are up to some weird, wild, wonderful stuff." -The Phoenix

"On August 14, 2012, Hear Music/Concord will release Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, a striking 17-track collection of Fleetwood Mac covers from a diverse band of creative forces that draw upon every era of the influential groups 45-year history. It includes daring contributions from Lee Ranaldo featuring J Mascis, Antony, Trixie Whitley, Billy Gibbons & Co., Best Coast, New Pornographers, Marianne Faithfull, Lykke Li, Karen Elson, Matt Sweeney and Bonnie Prince Billy, Washed Out, Tame Impala, Craig Wedren with St. Vincent, The Kills, Gardens & Villa, The Crystal Ark, and MGMT. 

Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac was produced by esteemed film and television music supervisor Randall Poster and Gelya Robb, the creative team behind 2011s highly acclaimed Rave On Buddy Holly (Fantasy/Concord); which debuted in the Billboard Top 20 and earned a Grammy nomination. 

Known for his work with directors Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson and Todd 

Haynes among many others, Poster was inspired to craft this loving tribute by his lifelong affection for Fleetwood Mac and encouraged every artist to make each song their own." -Amazon

"Korpiklaani have always been a nice example of a band who bring metal to folk music, rather than the other way around. Though despite the dark theme of the album and more sinister songs like 'Petoeläimen Kuola' (Predator's Saliva) than we might have expected, Korpiklaani are largely still the same band. Manala may be one of the heaviest Korpiklaani albums to date, but if you've already saturated your tolerance to this band in the last years, it probably isn't going to be winning most of you round.

With Manala, the band have given us an album that doesn't sound quite as laboriously churned out as the rest. It is a refreshing album as far as Korpiklaani albums go, and may give a few people a nice little surprise. Even to the end of the album 'Metsälle' (To The Hunt) is an enjoyable song, but Korpiklaani have such a distinctive style that the chances are you will already know if you'll want to bother picking this up or not." -Metal Storm

"From Long Island, NY comes a band that knows the meaning of follow through. Letter to the Exiles has persisted in sharpening their skill and sound, honing it into finely pointed hardcore-influenced metal even during the most formidable of times. LTTE know the struggle to keep moving forward is worth it; know that the creative push that allows them to write the honest and direct lyrics that comprise their new album 'Make Amends' is essential to what the band is at its very core. As a band we recognize that nothing is going to be given to us. But we also know that great things and great potential lie ahead if we just keep moving forward. Musically, 'Make Amends' promises to be aggressive, following in the immortal footsteps of the great NY hardcore and metal bands that have come before, while simultaneously exhibiting the band s ability to keep things progressive by interspersing the hard with the soft, and unveiling the moments of peaceful calm they have interwoven throughout the album." -Amazon

"Celebrating 20 years together, Insane Clown Posse is among the best-selling independent groups of all time, with 24 albums to their credit and over 11 million albums sold worldwide. Juggalos worldwide have something to really get excited about as The Mighty Death Pop is the most extensive release by the group to date! At its core, The Mighty Death Pop features 17 new tracks created with longtime ICP producer Mike E. Clark but the album is so much more. Three years in the making, The Mighty Death Pop includes collaborations with underground phenomenons TechN9ne and Hopsin!" -Amazon

"The album opens with 'Two Year Plan' which immediately had my head bobbing to its catchy opening riff by guitarists Skylar Sarkis and Nate Derby, with Devan Bentley chiming in shortly after with tight drum work. 'Two Year Plan' comes at you fast, and then ends abruptly leaving the listener bewildered. 'What did I just hear? Why was it so short? Why can’t I get this out of my head?!' are definitely some questions that ran through my own head, and I was very much intrigued and excited to listen to the rest of the album. After 'Two Year Plan' is 'Committee Circus', one of the longest tracks on the album. Usually long song and album lengths are things I really adore, but in the case of 'Committee Circus' I felt that the song dragged along and failed to hold my attention as well as other tracks on the album, such as the single 'Story Teller' and 'Tell Yourself', both of which are easily my favourite tracks on the record. Misadventures was meant to hit you fast, and then take off again while still remaining catchy and memorable, so, naturally, short song and album times (this record is just short of half an hour long!) are a given.

'You Are The Greatest Threat (The Doctor Will See You Now)' closes out Misadventures fantastically. Like 'Committee Circus,' it’s one of the longest tracks on the album, but unlike the aforementioned track, 'You Are The Greatest Threat' managed to hold my attention, especially with the well placed gang shouts of 'I hear you talking in your sleep!' and Sarkis and Derby’s catchy guitar work.

Like I said before, I’ve never been into pop punk. However, Such Gold’s fantastic debut, Misadventures may have converted me. It’s catchy, memorable, and just plain fun to jam to. I strongly urge both pop punk fans and those who are like me and aren’t into the genre to give this album a listen. It’s something you definitely won’t regret." -The New Review

"One thing Yellowcard are always known for on each album is for writing incredible ballads. Last time around with 'WYTTSY', we were treated to 'Sing For Me' - a song dedicated to Key's aunt Stephanie who was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the time but now has sadly passed on. During the band's last tour, Key would perform the track solo acoustically and before starting to play, he would tell the audience each night about his aunt, who was one of the first Yellowcard fans and had been supportive since day one. Key again pays tribute to his lost relative on this album with 'Telescope', which is without a doubt one of the stand out tracks on 'Southern Air'. During the chorus, we are greeted with unexpected guest vocals from Cassadee Pope, We Are The In Crowd's Tay Jardine and All Time Low frontman Alex Gaskarth. What works essentially about this collaboration is that their vocals are only present during the harmonies as Key sings 'My only hope, you're my telescope'. It's the perfect combination, but anything more would have taken away the charm and passion of the song.

Last year, Yellowcard set the bar incredibly high with 'When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes' but what they have conjured up this year is a release which is set to rival their entire back catalog. The band have poured their hearts into 'Southern Air' and there is a tangible sense of passion behind each track. With so many new releases yet to come in the upcoming months, Yellowcard have already given 2012 a run for its money with 'Southern Air'." -Alter The Press

"Black Light Burns appears to be a much more focused outlet for Borland’s eccentric personality, but it also showcases what he is capable of as a musician and songwriter. The man knows how to write catchy songs which are very impressionable and are likely to get stuck in your head; for instance, the melody found throughout 'Torch From the Sky' is positively infectious. However, that being said, there’s not much happening on The Moment You Realize You’re Going to Fall that will solicit multiple revisits. The songs tend to blend together after a while, and truth be told, Black Light Burns isn’t trying anything that hasn’t been done before. Another qualm I have with this album is it’s unnecessary hour-long length; after 45 minutes, things get rather tedious. Not only that, there are several songs which seem very out of place and really dampen the overall experience, namely the final two tracks, “Grinning Like a Slit” and the instrumental title track, which sounds like a Limp Bizkit rehash.

There is potential to be found here, but Black Light Burns tries too hard to achieve a certain sound and ultimately fails to do so in their overreaching. That’s not to say this album isn’t worth a listen; there are certainly enjoyable moments, and it’s definitely entertaining to try and interpret Wes Borland’s bizarre lyrics. If Black Light Burns watches their step a little better next time, they just might not have to worry about falling." -The New Review

"The best part of Sin and Bones is how Fozzy has managed to blend classic hard rock elements with modern metal styles, which they do exquisitely on the seven-minute epic,  'A Passed Life'. With something of a brooding balladesque vibe the band roll through this one in a manner that recalls mid-era Metallica. Then in the song’s second half an undercurrent of keys come in with a thick Jon Lord (RIP), Hammond organ feel. The last minute-and-a-half of the song are an incredible collision of both styles.

That Jon Lord organ sound returns on 'She’s My Addiction' which kicks off with a bluesy riff, before jumping into a full on rocker that could have come off any Deep Purple album. An addictive chorus (no pun intended), female backing vocals, and a memorable groove. Somehow, DiLeo channeled Roger Glover.

The album ends with another standout track, 'Dark Passenger' and the album’s longest number, the mammoth, 'Storm the Beaches'.

Sin and Bones is a defining album for Fozzy, and a spot on this summer’s Uproar Tour should help hammer it home for unsuspecting metalheads. The guys in Fozzy grew up with some of the best heavy bands in the world, and now they tour with a new era of giants. Fozzy encompasses what is engaging from both. If you have not heard Fozzy yet, buy Sin and Bones. This is an album to own for any hard rocking metal fan." -Metalholic

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For previous releases, check out other great albums of 2012.