(Jay-Z - Magna Carta Holy Grail)
[This one was a lil harsh but definitely raised some questions]
Here’s how it worked: Samsung purchased a million copies of “Magna Carta” in advance, then, via the app, made the album available to subscribers five days before its widespread release. In exchange, users were asked to share access to their social media accounts, their phone calls, their GPS location and more. If the medium is the message, we finally had an answer to that fan-or-customer question.
And now who would want to be either? Throughout “Magna Carta,” the 43-year-old pretends he’s a threat to a system he’s so eagerly become a part of, as if his life as a champion capitalist is some perpetually escalating act of subversion. Hooray? Rooting for this man in 2013 is like rooting for Pfizer. Or PepsiCo. Or PRISM. -Washington Post
(Butcher Babies - Goliath)
AFGM: Butchered, Taped and Ready To Rock
[Decided on two reviews since they were at both ends of the spectrum]
Quite simply, Butcher Babies sounds just as you would expect them to – meaningless riffs, sub-par melodies, sufficient drumming and a vocalist who sings only when she isn’t screaming incoherently. There’s also the fact that they employ thrash on “I Smell A Massacre” djent on “The Deathsurround”, punk on “Give Me Reason” and pop on “In Denial” which show that the band is still trying to determine exactly what sort of sound that they’re going for. But signs point to crowd pleaser, hence the band’s already notorious “nipple tape” image and its possible detrimental effects on the youth. The lyrical nature also seems to be the same, about distressed relationships and things that you can’t do to these said individuals without being jailed for the rest of your life. -New Noise Magazine
The look depicted in this video is what the girls have been known to wear in nearly every show they’ve performed, proving that they aren’t afraid of their sexuality. But that’s not all this band is about. This band is about stepping as far out of the box as their minds will allow and showing that they embrace being different! Every track on the album has a perfect spot and, if done any differently, I don’t think this album would have turned out as great as it did. I wish I had some lyrical content to go on, because I’d really love to be able to decipher a meaning behind some of the tracks. But nonetheless, go pick up your copy of “Goliath” on July 9th through Century Media and discover the wild side of metal! -New Transcendence
(Like Moths To Flames - An Eye For An Eye)
Thus, breakdowns and the like are still at the core of the band’s music, but the majority of them are extremely enjoyable as tracks like “My Own Personal Hell” and “Nothing But Blood” contain points potent enough to send chills down one’s spine. Give the group credit for attempting to branch out, too, as “In Dreams” finds the entire band coming together for a post-hardcore-leaning cut which carries a genuinely uplifting atmosphere within the midst of an album focused on the darker corners of life.
Have Like Moths To Flames discovered a unique sound? Not just yet. That said, An Eye For An Eye’s pissed-off metalcore offerings provide more than enough exciting moments to warrant a listen while also ensuring the security of the band’s prime position within the music scene. -Under The Gun
(Battlecross - War of Will)
Of course, this record isn’t perfect. I’m guessing you all saw this coming, but there are a few tracks that, while pretty good, don’t do much for me. “The Will to Overcome” doesn’t distinguish itself as anything more than typical death metal. Album closer “Never-Ending Night” is also guilty of this. I can’t quite put my finger on why I liked these tracks less than the others; I just know they failed to grab me the way the rest of War of Will did. The Bottom Line: American melodeath is alive and well in the capable hands of Battlecross. Get your grubby little fingers on this one. -Ear Buddy
A few new faces I have been hearing buzz about but have not had the chance to listen to yet, such as These Hearts, Fake Figures, Skylar Grey, letlive, and Atoms For Peace (aka Thom Yorke's side project). All set to tantalize the ears of you folks. Soul Embraced happens to be the one album I have been following. Listening to their album "Dead Alive" a few months back and really hoping for some new material, my thoughts were answered in the form of "Mythos". Well, at least you all know what I'll be listening to today. haha
...this album has left me with a bittersweet taste, though majorly bitter. Though this band shows a lot of promise as far as instrument writing is concerned, they have a tendency to drop into chugging all too often on this album, making any momentum the song has stop dead in its tracks. This album shows that These Hearts, as a band, are at a crossroads: they either go heavier and become another Chunk! and succeed on the scene circuit, or go into more pop-punk stuff and follow that genre’s rise back to popularity. The choice is up to them, but if they keep to the formula used on Yours to Take, they might not last. -Megusta Reviews
(Skylar Grey - Don't Look Down)
One wishes Grey would approach her producers and patrons with the same no-bullshit persona that galvanizes her better songs. Does she want to be Sarah McLachlan, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Fiona Apple, Frank Ocean? It's impossible to tell behind the phalanx of producers (the exception being perhaps J.R. Rotem, whose contributions are at least consistent). When she has room to find a melody, as in "Clear Blue Sky" and "White Suburban," Grey sparkles. Her next album will tell whether she's learned to trust her own estimable instincts—or whether she's content to simply be an Interscope team player. -Slant Magazine
Difficult as it may be to put into words, The Blackest Beautiful is a record worth giving a spin. Do not be surprised when this album makes it on many end-of-the-year lists, being such a provocative record will certainly keep it in discussion for months to come. Below is the music video for the opening track of the record, “Banshee (Ghost Fame).” If you’re hooked, dive into the album. -Under The Gun
Starting as a side project from David Sroczynski and Living Sacrifice’s Rocky Gray, Soul Embraced has made a great impact on the metal scene since 1997. Being a former Solid State Records band (which ended on good terms), they have made a name for themselves as well as gained a following of dedicated fans. Mythos, Soul Embraced’s fifth full-length album has all of the heaviness and spiritual power that fans have grown to know and love. With a heavy consistency of double peddling and blast beats mixed in, this high paced album will keep you on your toes and make you want to mosh.
Soul Embraced have shown their ferocity and growth over the past fifteen years and are releasing their new full-length album Mythos on Tuesday, July 9th 2013. This is a great album and will please the ears as well as the soul with its hard-hitting death metal riffs to their heavy breakdowns. If you have the time or money, this record is well worth listening to. -Indie Vision Music
Despite being labeled a “gothic metal band,” there’s really very little in the way of goth going on here, as “Perils of the Deep Blue” definitely isn’t a Tristania release. The closest thing to that sound would be the backing choir chants in some songs, but they are presented in more of an epic symphonic style than a gothic one. In fact, much of the album could easily be used as a film score or fantasy video game music. There are also a few unexpected additions added in, like the classic rock singing on “Ditt Endelikt,” which also brings out some “Pure Moods” style atmospheric sounds to throw the audience a curve ball. The nearly 13-minute “Stille Kom Doden” is another trip off the beaten track, using spacey and atmospheric meanderings along the lines of Tiamat. -Metal Underground
A mere three months after the release of the Made in Japan audio-visual live package, Whitesnake are back with another amazing live album which covers on the first CD, the 2011 UK tour and on the second CD, recordings from all over the world. The tracklisting includes all the classic songs from Whitesnake that fans love: "Is This Love", "Ain t No Love In The Heart Of The City", "Fool For Your Loving", "Here I Go Again" and "Still Of The Night" along with rare cuts, Deep Purple classics and newer songs taken from the most recent releases "Forevermore" and "Good To Be Bad". -Amazon
So the usual rant folks, show some love to these musicians. Just because they have some fancy artwork and a record label doesn't mean they still don't need album sales. Hell, kill two birds with one stone and grab one at your local record shop. Both could use the love. If not, then make sure to grab a copy from an online retailer or a legal online source. Happy release day everyone, crank them tunes!
EPs:
(Flyleaf - Who We Are)
Who We Are is a pleasant showcase of a brand new track and live tracks to quench Flyleaf fans thirst. The EP is a statement that although no one can ever replace Lacey Strum the band surely has opened a new chapter in their career with Kristen May. Often many times when a lead vocalist departs from a band fans discount the new singer or say it will never be the same. This is clearly a wrong approach to take. You may sell yourself short of something different and beautiful. -Cryptic Rock
(The Used - The Ocean of the Sky)
Released through their very own record label, Anger Music Group - which is partnered with Hopeless Records - the band will also be selling physical copies of the EP as they embark upon Warped Tour around the US. -This Is Fake DIY
(Fake Figures - They Must Be Destroyed)
The group consists of vocalist Russ Martin from Hotwire, guitarists Travis Miguel of Atreyu and Heather Baker from the Iron Maidens, bassist Bob Bradley of Scars of Tomorrow, and drummer J Po of Nightfall. It’s been a little while since they released their debut EP, Hail the Sycophants, in 2011, so we’re curious to see what the new EP will hold. -Under The Gun
Singles:
(Atoms For Peace - Before Your Very Eyes)
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