HIM - Tears on Tapes

Finnish rockers HIM (aka His Infernal Majesty) will release their new album, "Tears On Tape", on April 30th, 2013 via Razor & Tie in North America and on April 29th, 2013 through DoubleCross (Cooking Vinyl's specialist rock imprint) in the U.K. and Ireland.

"For me, what it means is how songs —I'm not talking about our songs, but songs in general — can be milestones. You hear a song and it brings you to where you heard that song for the first time, or when it meant something really big to you. 'Tears On Tape' means that I appreciate the people who have really poured their souls and hearts out on tape, and showed that to the rest of the world for the better or for the worse. I wouldn't be here without those tears of Elvis Presley on tape." -Ville Valo

HIM's lineup consists of:

Ville Valo - Vocals | Mikko "Linde" Lindström - Guitar | Mikko "Migé" Paananen - Bass | Janne "Burton" Puurtinen - Keyboards | Mika "Gas" Karppinen - Drums

The eighth official album was recorded at Helsinki's Finnvox Studios with longtime producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (who has also worked with artists such as Apocalyptica, Amorphis, and Moonspell) and was mixed in London, England by Tim Palmer, who has worked previously during 2005's "Dark Light" and 2007's "Venus Doom".

"Basically, we're making what I'd call 'modern retro'.  We wanted it to be nasty, fucked-up, and messy, and have that punk-rock attitude. But then on the other hand, it would also have that Roy Orbison naive, sentimental, dream-like quality." -Ville Valo

1. Unleash The Red

2. All Lips Go Blue

3. Love Without Tears

4. I Will Be The End Of You

5. Tears On Tape

6. Into The Night

7. Hearts At War

8. Trapped In Autumn

9. No Love

10. Drawn & Quartered

11. Lucifer's Chorale

12. W.L.S.T.D.

13. Kiss The Void

First 2000 pre-orders will also get a deluxe digipak, complete with a bonus DVD that will feature five in-studio videos.

"I think because he (Mika Kristian Karppinen) had the ailment, we had the opportunity to reassess what we had.  It was a minuscule existential crisis. We had to figure out what we really want to do and if we really like each other enough to continue through the hardest times-or do we want to call it a day?" -Ville Valo

As a bonus, the [very exclusive and very limited] "fanpack", which is presented by Metal Hammer magazine and DoubleCross Records features some content that is not-to-be-found-anywhere-else.  Exclusively available from April 29th and for the following four weeks, the "fanpack" comes with a bespoke 132-page magazine edited by frontman Ville Valo himself that plays as the ultimate sleeve notes to the album, including:

* Full studio album + 2 bonus tracks ("Buried Alive By Love" and "The Kiss Of Dawn" recorded live in the studio)
* Giant double-sided door poster
* Exclusive interviews with Ville Valo and all members of HIM
* An extended track-by-track guide to "Tears On Tape"
* An interview with the architects behind the sound of "love metal" Hiili Hiilesmaa and Tim Palmer
* A detailed guide to HIM's extensive back catalog
* The true, exclusive story of the Heartagram
* An exclusive gallery from the band's own private collections
* Interviews by the band with as assortment of their own heroes


"HIM’s North American tour (which was due to kick off in Los Angeles on May 3rd at the House Of Blues) has been cancelled due to unforeseen medical circumstances.  HIM's lead vocalist Ville Valo has been diagnosed with severe asthma with presumptive pneumonia.   Tickets for all dates will be refunded at the point of purchase. HIM will be back later this summer as part of the Rock Allegiance tour." -Razor & Tie Records

Now the newest addition to the article would have to be the band members having a sit down and discussing the new album track by track.  Always great insight when you can get band members to share some personal insight and emotion that comes with their work.

Music Releases For February 26th, 2013

As I was coming this article last night, I realized that this week's releases were not anything that I was anticipating.  Some of the artists I have decided to sit down and take a listen to for the first or second time.  You get the hardcore metal releases from artists like Within The Ruins and Stratvarious, to the rock blend of Steve Wilson and onto the other side of the spectrum with Johnny Marr and The Mavericks.  I look forward though to checking a few of these out for my weekly fix.

So like I recall every week, head down to your local record store or your favourite online retailer to pick up a few of these album.  Show love to the community and buy great albums when you hear them!

The disc’s overall pleasantness and pasteurized charm are what save it from being wholly aggravating. There’s a breeziness to the upbeat yet atmospheric “European Me” that counteracts the plodding inconsequence of the title track, and one song, the slinky, textured “The Crack Up,” comes close to imagining what a truly inspired Marr solo album might sound like. -AV Club

Malo brings operatic drama to a voice that can soar with power or caress with romanticism. Original drummer Paul Deakin and bassist Robert Reynolds expertly handle grooves that perfectly set up guitarist Eddie Perez, keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden and a smoking horn section. "In Time" is a welcome reminder of why the Mavericks have always been so special. -Winnipeg Free Press

Emboldened by the presence and powers of bassist Nick Beggs and woodwind maestro Theo Travis, Wilson's third solo album covers a bewildering amount of ground. Based on a series of self-penned ghost stories in the tradition of Edgar Allen Poe and Arthur Machen, The Raven That Refused to Sing explodes into life with a stripped-down art-rock thud before morphing seamlessly into all manner of wildly evocative soundscapes, melodic crescendos and mellotron-drenched fever dreams. Honed to peak fitness by recent touring, Wilson's band whip up an electrifying storm of amorphous vitality, their grasp of light and shade ensuring that something as elaborate and adventurous as The Watchmaker never loses focus or fire. -The Guardian

The most noticeable difference on this album is Johansson’s brilliant and refreshing key work. The album is filled with keyboard pops and over the top bombastic finger play shown in “One Must Fall,” “Fantasy,” and especially “Halcyon Days.” Many fans have been lulled into the prototypical Stratovarius sound from Johansson over many years, and now he has raised the bar. There is a jolt of excitement to every song, sort of an amalgamation of Olof Morck’s work in Amaranthe and a splash of “Rage for Order” era Queensryche. This shouldn’t scare away any longtime fans of the group, it’s the most upbeat and exciting that I have ever heard the band. -Metal Underground



Overall, Kunst is another exceptional album from Sonietzko and crew. While there are some meaningful, serious lyrics, generally I found this to be very fun album—this tone obviously set by the tongue in cheek opening track. The guitars (something more industrial bands need to hear the beauty of) are powerful, the percussion driving, the synths excellently placed for maximum effect and the vocals by Lucia, Sascha and guests are commanding. The production is equally exceptional as would be expected from artists who have perfected their craft with “29 Years of Conceptual Continuity”. Taking all of this together, Kunst is a must have album. -Coma Online

I have no direct criticisms of the record itself. It's a well written, intelligent contribution to metal. The only thing is they haven't expanded much on their sound. But to reiterate what has already been stated above, this is a good thing because Within The Ruins brings such an awesome sound to begin with.

And the not so surprising final verdict is... "Elite" makes for a great listening experience through and through. It's incredibly heavy, fun, and moshable to boot. Expectations were set and the band delivered. -The Circle Pit

NIN 2013/Hesitation Marks

Nine Inch Nails are touring this year.

"I was working with Adrian Belew on some musical ideas, which led to some discussion on performing, which led to some beard-scratching, which (many steps later) led to the decision to re-think the idea of what Nine Inch Nails could be, and the idea of playing a show. Calls were made to some friends, lots of new ideas were discussed, and a show was booked - which led to another, which somehow led to a lot of shows.

The band is reinventing itself from scratch and will be comprised of Eric Avery, Adrian Belew, Alessandro Cortini, Josh Eustis, Ilan Rubin, and me. The first shows will begin this summer, followed by a full-on arena tour of the US this fall, and lots of other dates worldwide to follow through 2014.

Lots of details and dates to come. See you soon.

TR"

***UPDATE***

Nine Inch Nails is back in full swing and has been confirmed by Trent Reznor.  See the details regarding the reformation below:

“I’ve been less than honest about what I’ve really been up to lately. For the last year I’ve been secretly working non-stop with Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder on a new, full-length Nine Inch Nails record, which I am happy to say is finished and frankly fucking great.

This is the real impetus and motivation behind the decision to assemble a new band and tour again. My forays into film, HTDA and other projects really stimulated me creatively and I decided to focus that energy on taking Nine Inch Nails to a new place. Here we go!” -Reznor

("I am proud to announce that the tour lineup now includes the incredible Robin Finck. The addition of Robin to the mix of players I've assembled makes this band incredibly powerful and versatile. We are deep in the rehearsal process and it feels exciting and great to be back at this. Lots of information, surprises and sweat headed your way. Stay tuned!  TR")

According to the press release the core live lineup for the band will consist of:

Alessandro Cortini | Josh Eustis | Robin Finck | Ilan Rubin

The album is slated to have 14 tracks, as well as 3 remixes + audio interview with Trent for deluxe package owners.  Now track listing yet for the album, but at least we have some album artwork to boot.  "Hesitation Marks" will be set as the new album title and will be released on September 3rd, 2013 via (newly inked) Columbia Records.

("Hesitation Marks" album artwork)

1. The Eater of Dreams
2. Copy of A
3. Came Back Haunted
4. Find My Way
5. All Time Low
6. Disappointed
7. Everything
8. Satellite 
9. Various Methods of Escape
10. Running
11. I Would for You
12. In Two
13. While I'm Still Here
14. Black Noise

Alternate album covers are going to be available as well for collectors.  Check them out below:

"It feels sparse, and it feels minimal.  It's hard for me to do that. I've realized over the years that if I have 100 tracks, I'll use 110 tracks. This was really about economy. It was just a weird puzzle of grooves.

I don't think it's a gentle record. I do think it's more subversive in how it gets you. It's not about everything being at 11 and the pyrotechnics of sound and scare tactics, which I've definitely used in the past. But it doesn't feel like the middle-aged, I've-given-up record either." -Reznor

Credits for the album are as follows:
Produced by: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Alan Moulder
Mixed by: Alan Moulder
Mastered by: Tom Baker
Artwork by: Russell Mills
Art Direction by: Rob Sheridan

Additional Musicians:
Pino Palladino
Lindsey Buckingham
Adrian Belew
Eugene Goreshter
Alessandro Cortini
Ilan Rubin
Joshua Eustis



Nine Inch Nails seems to be on a warpath and Reznor is the best man for the action.  The group unfolded everything in one swoop.  By that, I mean reformation, label deal, new single, new album and new tour.  All in a span of a few months.  What a marketing ploy!  This has got me uber excited to see them again when they head back to Toronto.  Ohh, my apologies folks.  Did you see the North American tour for Nine Inch Nails: Tension 2013?!

With Explosions In The Sky:
09/28 St, Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
09/30 Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center
10/01 St. Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena
10/03 Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
10/04 Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre
10/05 Cleveland, OH – Wolstein Center
10/07 Auburn Hills, MI – The Palace Of Auburn Hills
10/08 Pittsburgh, PA – Petersen Events Center

With Godspeed You! Black Emperor:
10/11 Boston, MA – TD Garden
10/14 Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
10/15 Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
10/18 Washington, DC – Verizon Center
10/19 University Park, PA – Bryce Jordan Center
10/21 Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
10/22 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
10/24 Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena

With Gary Numan:
10/30 Sunrise, FL – BB&T Center
10/31 Orlando, FL – Amway Center

With Explosions In The Sky:
11/05 San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center
11/08 Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
11/09 Phoenix, AZ – US Airways Center
11/11 El Paso, TX – Don Haskins Center
11/13 Broomfield, CO – 1st Bank Center
11/15 Las Vegas, NV – The Joint
11/16 Las Vegas, NV – The Joint
11/18 Portland, OR – Rose Garden Arena
11/19 Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
11/21 Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
11/22 Seattle, WA – KeyArena

With Autolux:
11/24 Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
11/25 Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome

"Tension picks up where ‘Lights in the Sky’ left off.  This is the full-on NIN live experience realized as we never could before." -Reznor

New music video already available as well?  Well, slap my industrial ass and give me some of the new stuff!



“We are thrilled at Columbia to work with a true renaissance artist like Trent Reznor on the return of Nine Inch Nails and an exciting new chapter of innovative music from them.” -Rob Stringer (Columbia Records Chairman)

("Came Back Haunted" single)

[For the connection between the new album and The Downward Spiral]

"I felt very aware that it's 20 years later, and I'm still that guy.  I know that guy, and I feel for him. I don't resent him, I don't miss him. But how would things feel on the other side of that now, in a much more stable life place, mentally and physically, and with a new family?

The incentive has changed. It's not about, 'I'm going to kill myself if I don't get this out of my head.' But the excavation and the architecture behind it, the motivation behind it, is similar." -Reznor

Pre-sales have already begun over at NIN's official site, here's a snapshot of what's being sold:

So, after a hiatus that lasted but only a few years, is everyone as excited as I am for new NIN?!  I was fortunate enough to get front row for their last show in Canada before this hiatus but this just puts me right back in the saddle as I plan to grab tickets for their October 4th show in Toronto.

Who's coming with me?!

Orion Music + More Festival 2013

Set to take place in the heart of Detroit Rock City, this year's OM+M is going to Belle Isle, right where the Detroit River meets the mouth of Lake St. Clair.  I for one an very excited to see the festival so close to the Canadian border, as well as being close to AFGM operations here in Toronto.  Not to shabby for a 4 hour drive down the 401 highway.  This is just a shot in the dark but I feel Metallica and OM+M chose this location for two reasons:

1. Detroit has a long standing history behind its music roots and some of the most notable musicians (Iggy Pop, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Jack White, Smokey Robinson, and more) of past and present are from the city.  This looks like it is meant to revitalize the city's national/global image and bring some good ol rock n roll (as well as some well needed funds) back to the city.

2. The festival and isle border the Canadian city of Windsor.  The Windsor border is the largest crossing of it's kind between the two countries.  This makes ALL Canadian fans eager to get their passes and scoot across the border for some cheap(er) beer and some great tunes!



"Last year's Orion Music + More Festival was hands down the highlight of the Metallica calendar. A great time was had by all, especially the band members.  The fact that it also resonated with enough of our fans and friends that it warrants another go-around in '13 is beyond exciting. I can think of no better place than the Motor City, with its rich and diverse history of music, for the second ride on our Orion festival train. Bring it the fuck on!" -Lars Ulrich

So of course the announcement of the bands wouldn't as fun if they didn't have some sort of visual media to go along with it.  Luckily enough, the festival (C3 and Metallica) launched the promo video for the festival as well.  Check it out below:


Here's a listing of the 2 day lineup in case you missed a few from the video:



One of the biggest changes you will see this year for the festival is the expansion of the electronic dance tent that will be headlined by Bassnectar.  Other perfomers like like Dillon Francis, Dirtyphonics will be seen on this stage.  A massive dubstep contingent comprising Borgore, Datsik, 12th Planet, Adventure Club and Destroid is being prepared as well.

"For that, we have to blame our kids.  Hetfield and I went with our kids to watch Skrillex at a festival we were both playing, and we were blown away by his presentation – he had 25,000 kids going insane. We thought, 'We’ve got to get that!'  A lot of those guys come from a background in heavy music, and you can hear it – Bassnectar is a huge metal fan. A lot of the rock fans might be skeptical, but when they see it’s about energy and unison, they’ll relate to it."-Lars Ulrich

Detroit will also see the return of James Hetfield's Custom Car & Motorcycle Show, Kirk Hammett's Crypt, Lars Ulrich's Hit the Lights Film Tent and Robert Trujillo's Vans Vert Ramp alongside the Metallica Museum and many other fan favorite attractions. 

Tickets will go on sale at 10am (EST) on Friday, March 1st, 2013 for a cool price of $150 for the two day festival ($750 for VIP).  And another killer bonus of this festival is the return of NO SERVICE FEES!

No Service Charges. No Surprises. No Kidding.

That’s right. The price you see is the price you pay. Our service charge-free pricing means that no service fees will be added to the published ticket price. We want to de-complicate the ticket buying process by making it clear and simple, with no surprises waiting for you when you check out. -OM+M

"Our idea was to bring North America the kind of festival experience you get in Europe, which is all about diversity and new experiences. When we first proposed this, people were like, 'Why isn’t Metallica doing a metal fest?' That surprised me; we weren’t interested in doing that. Admittedly, a lot of things we put together could’ve been weird, but we were stunned how people really vibed on it." -Lars Ulrich

***POST-FESTIVAL UPDATE***

So the weekend has left so abrubtly that we are now thankful for the people who pulled out their cameras and recorded some of the footage (for all those not able to attend the festival in Detroit).  On the schedule, a group by the name of DeHaan was scheduled to perform.  For those wondering, DeHaan was the name of a character in their upcoming film "Through The Never".  Metallica threw us a fast ball and we swung...and missed.  The guys came out on stage and ripped everyone some 'metal up your a**' and played their debut album "Kill 'Em All" is it's entirety!  Check out the footage below:

Part I:

Part II:

Part III:

How To Get Your Band Ready For The Studio

You can always count on Metal Injection to find some good videos that pertain to not only metal musicians, but artists and bands in general.  In this segment, we see some fine folks from Spectre Studios giving tips and tricks for what to expect and what to prepare for when entering a music studio for the first time.



I have to agree with Metal Injection on this one and give warning that some of these tips are things you already know.  But remember the old saying "there's a select few that ruin it for the rest"?  Well, some of these tips are a direct result of people asking odd questions through phone, email and in person.  So for those out there heading to a studio soon, these are some great videos to watch.



As you probably already have seen while watching the videos, the guy uses quite a bit of profanity.  So minors beware.  haha

Heaven Shall Burn - Veto

So I haven't really followed these guys as of lately.  I became a HSB fan when discovering Caliban and a slew of European metal bands that have resonated deep within North American metal culture.  I also had the chance to check out their live performance back in April, 2008 when they rocked out at The Annex Wreckroom.  Long story short, smallest venue for some wicked 'walls of death' or as I like to refer to it as 'Braveheart-ing it'!

Very much a die hard fan of their LP "Iconoclast" and heir first single "Endzeit", I am eager to hear what they have in store for the upcoming release "Veto", which will be released via Century Media Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway: April 19 

Rest Of Europe: April 22

Australia, New Zealand, Finland: April 26

USA, Canada: April 30

1. Godiva 
2. Land Of The Upright Ones 
3. Die Stürme Rufen Dich 
4. Fallen 
5. Hunters Will Be Hunted 
6. You Will Be Godless 
7. Valhalla 
8. Antagonized 
9. Like Gods Among Mortals 
10. 53 Nations 
11. Beyond Redemption 



“Veto” deluxe digipaks will come with a bonus live CD titled “500.Live“. That additional 15 track live opus captures the bands 500th live show, which took place on December 21st, 2012 in their hometown of Saalfeld, Germany.

1. Counterweight
2. Profane Believers
3. The Only Truth
4. The Omen
5. Voice Of The Voiceless
6. Behind A Wall Of Silence
7. Combat
8. Forlorn Skies
9. Whatever It May Take
10. The Disease
11. Trespassing The Shores Of Your World
12. Endzeit
13. Black Tears (Edge Of Sanity cover)
14. To Inherit The Guilt
15. The Weapon They Fear


“It as an icon regarding the fight for social justice. The image also represents a contemporary issue: i.e. today’s leading class being isolated from the people and the conflicts arising from that. It is also a great way to show our fans how current problems and topics can be reflected and derived from historical artworks." -Maik Weichert

So far, only one single has been released (not official so chances are it'll get shut down soon).  Check out the single "Last of the Upright Ones":



"The song is dedicated to Thomas Sankara, a relatively unknown revolutionary whose fate is closely linked to Burkina Faso which can be translated to 'Land of upright/honest people' or 'Land of honest people.' It's a very heavy track." -Weichert



To celebrate the release of "Veto", HEAVEN SHALL BURN will play three exclusive release shows in Europe:

More information as it comes in!

Puscifer's Bohemian Rhapsody

Don't even know what to think of this one.  Check out the oddly beautiful cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" being performed by Puscifer.  It's got all the creepiness and humour packed into one.  The clip features overdoses of makeup, vintage style video, and comedian Dina Martina, is a 6 minute toast to overdoing lipstick and of course to none other than Queen.



"Bohemian Rhapsody" is featured on Puscifer's new EP release "Donkey Punch The Night":

1.  ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – “O.G. Mix”

2.  ‘Breathe’

3.  ‘Dear Brother’

4.  ‘Balls To The Wall’ – “PIllow Fight Mix”

5.  ‘Breathe’ – “Drumcell rework”

6.  ‘Dear Brother’ – “Denton rework” (Big Black Delta)

7.  ‘Balls To The Wall’ – “Silent Servant El Guapo Mix”

8.  ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – “Sonoio rework”

Periphery - Scarlet

Of course I am going to chat a bit about this!  This has to be one of Periphery's most interesting music videos to date.  With the original concept of it being in space, it really's hard to take the music video seriously though with the introduction of a mustard bottle space ship, and with the ketchup/mustard filled eating session/fight that ensues.



Drummer Matt Halpern seems to be the odd man out here; captive POW of the mustard crew.  The tables turn towards the end of the video with Halpern's ketchup ship consuming the mustard ship.  OK, I don't think I can break this down anymore this morning.  There really is a serious/non-serious vibe to the video.  Something I would likely see on a South Park episode or something where taking a joking scene and spinning it with all seriousness involved. haha

Anyways the video dropped yesterday so it's still fresh, unlike the burgers and dogs by now.  Is Periphery on the verge of a deal with French's or Heinz?  Is it going to be out of this world?  OK, dry humour over...

Scarlet is taken from Periphery's second album "II: This Time It's Personal"

1. Muramasa

2. Have a Blast (featuring Guthrie Govan)

3. Facepalm Mute

4. Ji

5. Scarlet

6. Luck as a Constant

7. Ragnarok

8. The Gods Must Be Crazy!

9. MAKE TOTAL DESTROY

10. Erised (featuring John Petrucci)

11. Epoch

12. Froggin' Bullfish

13. Mile Zero (featuring Wes Hauch)

14. Masamune

AFGM: Periphery - This Time It's Personal

Evan Brewer - Alone

So what if I told you that a bassist from a hardcore metal band put out a solo smooth bass album?  Seems 50/50 right?  In this day and age with genre bridging, nothing surprises me.  But it's not too late for you!  Have you all heard of bassist extraordinaire Evan Brewer?

Evan plays bass for progressive death metal band THE FACELESS and has played for notable acts such as Animosity (2000-2009) and Reflux (featuring Tosin Abasi and Sumerian Record''s CEO Ash Advilsen).  So it's safe to say this guy's resume looks quite impressive so far.

Being that I couldn't  find too much info on this guy's musical education and childhood, it made me more determined to find out how this guys honed in on his talent and perfected it.  Luckily, No Treble website had the chance to sit down and chat with Evan about The Faceless and solo career.  here's what we got out of the interview:

NT: What got you started playing bass?

EB: Well, I came from a musical family in terms of my dad. He’s kind of a multi-instrumentalist and mainly a really good singer, but he’s been the type of musician that kind of dabbles in everything. If he’s going to make a song, he can play the guitar or the bass or anything, but he’s mainly a singer. So I grew up from an early age going to his band practices and just being around music a lot.

He tried to get me into guitar for a long time but I didn’t like it. I was playing on an acoustic and the tension was crazy and it was cutting up my fingers. I just couldn’t get the feel for it. You know, as a kid you’ll try things and get fired up about it for a day or two and then just forget. That was definitely my case with guitar. I just never really felt a calling to it.

Then in eighth grade we had a music class in my middle school. We had what I guess was the end of the music programs in schools pretty much. They somehow got a few guitars in there. The lady didn’t really know how to play guitar specifically, so she was showing us how to play some songs like Stand by Me with just single notes. I got weirdly addicted to playing that guitar with just single notes. I didn’t have a lot of interest in chords. I was showing my dad how I played and he said, “Yeah, you’re playing it like a bass. You should try this bass.” I started playing the bass that he had. It had super high action, but I still felt like I could play it better than I could ever play the guitar right off the bat and because the strings were thicker they weren’t cutting into my fingers. So inadvertently, I think that’s one of the main deciding factors about making me play bass. Simply because it wasn’t cutting up my fingers, I wouldn’t have to stop playing at any point.

Another deciding factor I think was just that at the time I started playing, popular music had a lot of really good bass players involved in it. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were all over the radio with the Blood Sugar Sex Magik album, which has some of the best bass tone and bass lines put on tape, in my opinion. Primus was on the radio all the time. You just heard more bass in general, so I think those two things just combined at the right time. I never stopped playing since then. Ever. That’s kind of how it went down.

So here is the album art and track listing for Evan's debut (and only thus far) solo record.  It's a small 10 tracks but filled with intense structure, timing, crisp clean sound.  And the best part?  Bass is the ONLY instrument featured on it.  Seems like it would be quite boring at first glance.  Who wants to hear a guy slap a bass for ten tracks?  That was the first impression I had with the album, till I gave it some time to sit down and listen to each individual track.


(You're welcome in advance for linking the entire album via YouTube.  Click on the track to listen to it)

Alone was released on June 28th, 2011 via Sumerian Records.  Album artwork was made by graphic designer Mauro Mazuera.

1. Actualize
2. Contraband
3. Currency
4. Altered Perspective One
5. Altered Perspective Two
6. Vertigo
7. The Decline
8. Degenerate
9. Looking West
10. A Climate For Change

For the first two tracks ("Actualize" and "Contraband"), take a moment and check out the live performance Evan did at The Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA.  This is where you can actually see the various sounds and tempos that Brewer tosses into his tracks.



Moving onto the next highlighted track.  The single "Vertigo" is absolutely one that stands out on the album.  Its very fast paced (I find) with a slew of ambient high bass notes in the background, while Evan just blasts through the main riff at a pace that only someone like Mike Keene (The Faceless) or Tosin Abasi (Reflux) could fully keep up with.

Onto my next duo of great tunes.  "Altered Perspective I & II" have me envisioning my evenings of chillin out in a music studio, sippin on a glass of beer or whiskey and just grooving along to these beats.  The part one really sets the stage for a build up with some warm sounds and a slow pace, where as part two reminds me of something I'd hear at an after hours lounge, mixed with the setting of a higher production porn flick.  Not knocking it at all, that's just what my collective thoughts brought me to.

"A Climate For Change" has been my unofficial morning alarm for quite some time now.  It is a great soothing track that finishes off the album and has a jazz fused vibe to it.  The track revolves around higher pitched bass leads with some odd electronic atmosphere in the background.

With this strong songwriting packed alongside an incredibly full and rich production that allows the songs’ unique qualities to shine, Alone satisfies in a different way than other instrumental shred-fests. It’s a wholly unique disc that deserves the ear of any instrumental music fan. -Revolver

For those interested, Evan will be releasing his sophomore album in the near future, so check his official websites to keep updated.  I also wanted to give a special thanks and shout out to Sumerian Record's George Vallee for hooking me up with a copy of Evan Brewer's album.  Without it, I wouldn't be writing the article.  Cheers!

What's Going To Be The Next Gangnam Style?

Not a huge article here but more of a personal thought.  And what a better place to do it then to have you all sit down and potentially read this (haha).  It just dawned on me that with the short (but big commercial) success of PSY into Western culture, it will be interesting who the next big star from a foreign country will be, or who we push to be the next.



With no real factual information, data or marketing stats, but given the current trend and the easiness it is to transition for guest to main I personally have money set on his dancing partner HYUNA, who has been on the scene since 2007 with Wonder Girls, 4Minute and Trouble Maker.  The songs that she creates may not necessarily resonate the same way we reacted to Gangnam Style, but that won't stop producers and industry honchos from pushing it down your throats.



The 20 year old has already had quite the career in Korea and has now been announced as the poster child for Guess clothing's new line "G".  She has also been listed by SPIN Magazine as top 20 songs of 2011  with her hit "Bubble Pop" (40,000,000+ hits on YouTube).  What SPIN had for comparison is beyond me.

Not diving too much into pop culture because there are plenty of 'infotainment' places like MTV, Billboard and others to tickle that fancy, plus there were too many things to ponder/laugh/question.  What was with the American sports jerseys?  Dance moves, yes.  Vocal range, ummmm?  Lyrical content?  Well, can't be any worse than what we already deal with in North America (coughyousastupidhoecoughbabybabybabyohhcough)

Anywho, the prediction is in place.  Let's see pop culture take its toll.

Music Releases For February 19th, 2013

Well I think I got more than I could ask for in light of last week's hits.  I knew that the lack of releases last week would sure enough bite me in the ass.  Well, it's going to be an interesting (short) week ahead of me here with the vast selection I get to choose from.  I have been eager to get my hands on the new Dark New Day album, as well as the new Wednesday 13 (totally underrated musician) and this obscure album I sought out titled "Son of Rogue’s Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys" (the original album was released back in 2006).  Sounds like an odd album I am looking forward to hearing, and hopefully leads me into the original album.

Some other notable albums have caught my attention as well from other genres, such as Armin Van Buuren's new State of Trance and the mellow rockers Atlas Genius.  So all in all, a slew of great new music this week.  Make sure to show love for your local record shops and if need be then your online retailer to grab a few or all of the albums.  Cheers!

Armin van Buuren will release the 10th edition of his popular A State Of Trance (ASOT) compilation series. This release commemorates the 10-year anniversary of van Buuren’s weekly radio show of the same name, heard by more than 20 million people per week from around the world. Bursting with exclusive tracks and remixes and seamlessly mixed by the world’s #1 DJ, van Buuren proudly presents A State Of Trance 2013. -PR Web

Most of the songs extend to about the three and a half minute mark, and are notable for their craftsmanship. While there are moments that it’s convenient to say “Hey, this kinda sounds like _____,” enough counter examples emerge to acclaim the quartet on their own accord. These guys can write a catchy tune with meaningful lyrics while keeping the music interesting—no small feat.  If Atlas Genius qualifies as pop music in 2013, bring it on. -Glide Magazine

Out of the vault and into the world comes Dark New Day's "Hail Mary" release which hits stores TOMORROW Tuesday February 19th!! The original follow up to the band's debut release "Twelve Year Silence" is right where "Hail Mary" picks up with 12 tracks featuring members of Sevendust and Evanescence. With anthems such as the lead single "Goodbye" and title track "Hail Mary" this is a must have for any fans of Dark New Day. Top notch production and well crafted songs are what to expect from this slab of pure heavy rock. Available at a low price at Best Buy, FYE, and other fine retailers, as well as digitally and online. Don't miss out on this piece of Dark new Day history!! -Pavement Music

Fatboy Slim has an instant connection with his home crowd. There is not one moment throughout the show where you cannot hear them. Cook does not need to prompt them to sing along or encourage them to join in – they do it anyway and by the time he ends his set with the huge anthem "Praise You" his own music becomes in danger of being overshadowed by the singing crowd.  Fatboy Slim will always remain an artist that is widely respected but recently he has drawn criticism for energy-void shows. This album shows that he is back to his best, feeding off an infectious crowd and performing like a man in his twenties and showing us why he will be remembered as a dance music legend for a very long time. -Alt Sounds

At its core, though, Reach Beyond The Sun is a very earnest hardcore record with much more to absorb than simply the surface level. If you’re just trying to mosh, though, Shai Hulud still can bring it. Another strong release from one of the most consistently solid bands in hardcore. I can’t say it’s anything truly groundbreaking, but there’s no real need for that when you’ve dialed in your sound as well as Shai Hulud have. -Under The Gun

‘The Enforcer’ is unapologetic and bold. Sure, it’s only four tracks and does not contain a lot of lengthy variety, but the brief affair is developed, polished and quite slick. If this is a precursor or neat preview, something tells us the band's forthcoming studio album might feature in many end of year ‘best of’ lists. -Kill Your Stereo

Money For Nothing is comprised of six tracks that were recorded in the time TAS were apart of their former label Prosthetic Records. Prosthetic is planning on releasing this EP of rarities on February 19. -Under The Gun

With the seven deadly sins providing a thematic core, there is plenty of room for Buckcherry to please those diehard fans that demand hard-edged party anthems, not least on Wrath and their first single, Gluttony. Much like their obvious forebears Aerosmith, this band have never been afraid to pen a dewy-eyed ballad, and The Truth and Dreamin' of You are two of their best to date. However, it is the bleak and harrowing Sloth, which deals with the suicide of Todd's father when he was 10 years old, and the spiky spoken word sermonising of Pride that wield the most power. By putting themselves through the wringer, Buckcherry have produced their best album yet. -The Guardian

Is this album going to reap Wednesday 13 the critical acclaim and success that he so rightly deserves? Probably not. What it will provide is another solid addition to his impressive back catalogue, sitting itself comfortably just underneath the dizzying grandeur of ‘Transylvania 90210’. We find ourselves watching every other metal band greedily chase after the dubstep sound in an attempt to appeal to masses of screaming teenagers. It’s a relief to watch Wednesday 13 continue to carve his own way through the business, oblivious and uncaring towards current trends. The man is a true artist, and be it now or 25 years down the line, he’ll one day get the credit he is owed. -Stereoboard

For all those still in shock that Tool doesn’t plan on a 2013 release, the Drumcell industrial rework of “Breathe” offers a small glimpse into what may be possible on that outfit’s next effort.Due to the reliance on covers and genre-bending remixes, Donkey Punch the Night doesn’t arrive with the same comedic post-rock energy of Puscifer’s previous LPs. But it definitely isn’t as embarrassing as wrecking a Vespa. -Consequence of Sound

There’s not a bad cut on the packed compilation: disc one is almost 72 minutes long while disc two is over 68 minutes. The fullness adds a hallucinatory aura to the production and makes one philosophize, like the way one feels when looking out at the ocean. The vast scale of it makes one look inward in response. For those unable to get to the sea, listening to this disc will serve as a fine substitute.  -Pop Matters

Ozzy Osbourne - Ozzmosis

Wow, has it really been 18 years since this album came out?  I know it's not the likeliest of things to put on in the morning, even if the album received mixed reviews upon it's release.  But growing up listening to this with family hang outs was the memory that strikes when I put on the album.  My uncles were faithful to throughout the years to Sabbath/Ozzy, so it was always a treat to go for a cruise with them as they were cranking this album while driving around town.  This was also a great standard to throw on when slugging out my night shifts at the record store.  The Ozzman always made the shifts go by a little faster.



Besides No More Tears, this was one of the earliest albums I heard of Ozzy Osbourne before I just picked up the entire collection.  So all in all, Ozzmosis  was pretty much the album that made me a fan.  Last but best point of why I liked this album, Ozzy and I share a birthday...sweet.  :-)

Anyways, for factual reference, Ozzmosis was released on October 24th, 1995 via Epic Records.  Since Ozzy frequently went through certain personal throughout the 80's and 90's, here is what his line up was for this purposes of this album:

Ozzy Osbourne – vocals | Zakk Wylde – guitar | Geezer Butler – bass | 

Deen Castronovo – drums | Rick Wakeman – keyboards

Check out Ozzy's entire list of band members here.

1. Perry Mason
2. I Just Want You
3. Ghost Behind My Eyes
4. Thunder Underground
5. See You on the Other Side
6. Tomorrow
7. Denial
8. My Little Man
9. My Jekyll Doesn't Hide
10. Old L.A. Tonight



There isn't any formula that I use when listening to albums.  I basically pick out things that make this album stand out from the rest of the blur that is modern rock n roll.  Ozzy's vocals are always an instant indication of who's on the radio.  His higher pitched sound has resonated for 46 years (Ozzy's career began in early 1967 w/ Iommi).  Along with the almost anticipated pinch harmonics of Zakk Wylde, there are some sure fit songs here for any die hard rock/metal fan.  Some of the tracks that stuck out best to me over the years have been:

- Perry Mason (written by: Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, John Purdell)

Epic opening piece with organ and string accompaniment, which leads right into Zakk's build up.

- I Just Want You (written by: Osbourne, Jim Vallance)

Ozzy's depressive love story, where nothing else is attainable but the one thing he is looking for.

- Thunder Underground (written by: Osbourne, Wylde, Geezer Butler)

Chug chug, chug chug, chug chug, chug chug...

- See You on the Other Side (written by: Osbourne, Wylde, Lemmy Kilmister)

By this point in his life, Ozzy should be 1/2 expecting to kick the bucket and shows his affirmation of that through this track.

- Tomorrow (written by: Osbourne, Wylde, Purdell, Duane Baron)

I think the combination of vocal range and guitar/drum beats just overall made me wanna bob my head slightly.



To gauge the work of producer Beinhorn, here is what he was working on prior and post Ozzmosis:

1994: "Blind Man" and "Walk on Water" - Aerosmith
1995: Ozzmosis - Ozzy Osbourne
1996: White Light, White Heat, White Trash - Social Distortion

I will agree with Erlewine's criticism (All Music) that "Occasionally, the guitar is synthesized, which is indicative of the album's main flaw -- on the surface, the music is hard and loud, but it actually sounds smooth and processed."  Not in any particular spot can you hear this, but slightly during the odd solo or power chord.  Aside from that though, it's a pretty cut and dry Ozzy album, with some interesting (and killer) artwork.

So in conclusion, the album is a great spin for me either on my way to work, Sunday afternoon chill music and even available to throw on at a party/concert/event.  Just be sure it isn't black tie affair ;-)

Jamie Cullum - Twentysomething

Ba da dum dum, ba da dum dum...

I still got the beat in my head from Jamie Cullum's "These Are The Days".  An avid fan of Cullum's work, I still like to spin one of his earlier albums of his career.  Twentysomething struck a wonderful chord as Cullum successfully blended soft rock, jazz, big band and crooner all into one great album.  Released back in 2003 ('04 in the US), Jamie has shown many music enthusiasts that getting a nice big contract from a record label won't necessarily change your style or music taste.  

Cullum's rise to fame occurred after Sony and Universal Records were locked into a bidding war to secure the next few releases.  Cullum's "Pointless Nostalgic" created a lot of interest from both sides, but it was Universal Records who won the bidding war with a contract to Cullum for 1 million pounds!  The labels took a big risk with such a huge contract and in the end, it paid off.  Twentysomething reached platinum status in the UK and in 2003 was one of UK's all time selling records.

1. These Are The Days
2. Twentysomething
3. Wind Cries Mary
4. All at Sea
5. Lover, You Should Have Come Over
6. Singin' In The Rain
7. I Get A Kick Out Of You
8. Blame It On My Youth
9. High and Dry
10. It's About Time
11. But For Now
12. I Could Have Danced All Night
13. Next Year Baby
14. What A Difference A Day Made
15. Frontin'

Like I mentioned before, Twentysometing is a combination of multiple music styles and genres that seem to blend into one great album from start to finish.  Adding a slew of covers, as well as original material allow Cullum to not only show off his chops as a writer, but also to give justice to those who influenced him throughout the years.  Covering artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Cole Porter, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead always comes with a risk.  Fans of these artists will gauge closely to see if the cover holds up to the original.

"The only reason I would take a break would be to write more songs and work on new music.  I'm always writing stuff, and I travel with my own little music set-up. You have to keep creative otherwise you go crazy." -Cullum



As much as I am a fan of Cullum's renditions, his original material (sometimes co-written by his brother Ben Cullum) is what resonated with me.  "These Are The Days", "Twentysomething", "All At Sea" are the tunes that I am bopping my head to and the ones that I am singing at the desk long after the headphones have been taken off.  The lyrical content for songs also seems to fit the theme.  The self titled song reminds me of myself in the first stretch of my twenties, deciding what to do and which path to follow.

"Maybe I'll go traveling for a year
Finding myself, or start a career
Could work the poor, though I'm hungry for fame
We all seem so different but we're just the same."

The one thing I have seen as a common in his songs (like most people in their 'twenty something' stage) is LOVE.  All you need is love right? haha

All At Sea:
Later on you could spend some time with me
If you want to
All at sea
Now I need you more than ever, I need you more than ever, now

These Are The Days:
I've thought you said that love would last forever
Leave and that the tears would end for good
I told you that we get through any weather
Maybe that didn't work out
But we did the best we could

The other nice thing about Twentysomething is that it can be atmosphere music in multiple environments.  I have been known to play this on random weekend afternoons for cleaning, while at my day job, parties and even on my health kick of running/walking/biking.  So in conclusion, I feel this will appeal to most age groups.  Whether young or old, jazz or rock, Cullum's cover says it best... "I get a kick out of you".

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You can also check out other notable reviews of Twentysomething:

Yet Cullum isn't all about cover versions. His own material (and that of his brother Ben) stands up well here - indeed both the title track and the breezily optimistic It's About Time are the highlights of the album. The Cullum Brother's lyrics are mostly light-hearted accounts of the travails and tribulations of twenty-something males, while All At Sea is a touching autobiographical tale of Cullum's loneliness while playing on cruise ships. -Music OMH

Cullum works best when he's not trying too hard to please hardcore jazz aficionados, but it's not too difficult to imagine his bonus-track version of Pharrell Williams' "Frontin'" turning some jazz fans onto the Neptunes. Showcasing Cullum's sardonic wit and lounge-savvy attitude, the album deftly flows from singer/songwriter love songs to jazzy barroom romps and reappropriated modern rock tunes. -All Music

He may have a million pound record deal now, but Jamie hasn't sold out. Resisting the temptation to lavish the cash on major changes, he's continued to invest wisely in great musicians and tasty arrangements. -BBC Music

Twentysomething is also very shrewdly produced (by George Benson and BB King producer Stewart Levine) to keep the more luxurious of additional instruments (strings, flutes, horn ensembles) in a subtly supportive role that always leaves Cullum's forthright, unadorned and already characterful voice way out in front. -The Guardian

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