Hanoi Rocks & Dogs
D'Amour...Social Distortion and D-Generation ...all of these influences and more
can be heard on The Revelry, the debut album by California rockers Bullets and
Octane. This album is an impressive slab of melodic rock aggression, and that's
something you can't say that often. Listening to this album is like hearing a
prolonged primal scream, and yet the group serves up some killer hooks that
stick in your brain. Vocalist Gene (the band is identified only by their first
names) has a classic rock voice, striking the difficult anger/melody balance
with astounding ability. Producer Gilby Clarke has done a great job, making
everything crystal clear and yet organic. My main complaint is that the band is
so intent on showing you how hard they can rock that they never lay back
and let the album breathe. I'm not saying to do some limp ballad, but a few
more radical tempo shifts between songs would have been nice. Some songs blend
into each other, and this serves to short-change the album overall. Slayer has
never done a ballad in their careers, yet they know that to make the fast songs
sound fast they need a few slower pounders along the way. Once Bullets and
Octane gets this, then they will be unstoppable. Overall, though, I really
enjoyed this album. The Heathen Hippy gives this three melodic yelps.
(Taliesin Govannon)
Even though I've been reviewing
a lot of European metal albums lately, let me tell you...local Akron/Cleveland
is alive and well, and this three-song demo by the three-piece metal band Calo
proves that. Their web site says that they're recording as we speak, and if
this 3 song demo is any indication of what they're capable of, then I can't wait
to hear a whole album by these guys. Calo plays incredibly tight, solidly
rocking music that crosses genres and blows the listener out of their seat and
across the room. I can hear some Primus and Chili Peppers influence here, but I
have to listen close...they have assimilated their influences well, and can pay
homage without ripping-off. The beats are funky without being wimpy, the
guitars are heavy without being muddy, and the vocals are pissed off and
aggressive as hell. It takes a hell of a band to lead off ANY release with an
instrumental, but an inventive groove and some well placed sound bites (hearing
George Bush and George Carlin right next to each other was a howl!) make "Choke"
one satisfying instrumental slab. The other songs..."Of Red" & “Controlled"
have a punk-metal hybrid feel that the band pulls off WAY better than any of
those Nu-posers on MTV. My only complaint is that it was WAY too short. I
don't know if the band plans on offering this for sale, so you rock fans out
there better get on their collective asses, because this is too good to miss!
The Heathen Hippy gives it four words you can't say on television. For more
info go to http://www.calomusic.com/.
(Taliesin Govannon)
The
band's bio describes their sound as "Gothic Metal", but that does their sound a
disservice. Darkwell's blend of progressive metal instrumentation coupled with
powerful and expressive female vocals transcends mere "goth" and takes them into
the big leagues of European hard rock. Hailing from Germany, this is Darkwell's
third release and first with new vocalist Stephanie Luzie, and it definitely
satisfies. "Fate Prisioner" kicks things off in grand style, and "Strange",
their most recent single, continues the flow of superb musicianship and melodic
vocals. The songs are very strong, and there is nary a clinker in the bunch.
Standouts include the title track, "Hope Unborn", and "Far Cry".
Stephanie's vocal
lines are soaring without lingering too long in the stratosphere, and her style
reminds me of a metallic Kate Bush, and I mean that as a compliment. The rest
of the band is tight...they've played together for a while, and it shows. Fans
of Lacuna Coil will love this. The Heathen Hippy gives it four arch angels.
(Taliesin Govannon)
Deaf By Arms – ‘March Of The
Disposable Humans’ EP (Self-Released)
A pretty
good mix of punk rock and hardcore on this EP. The tracks are short, but sweet.
The vocals are screamy but not annoying. In fact, they have a very vintage feel
to them. I feel like I'm in high school listening to Gorilla Biscuits or Minor
Threat. And that's a huge compliment. The guitar and bass are slick and sludgy,
and the beats are dead on. I was really surprised by these guys. Usually today's
young punk is crap, but these guys have it going for them. I enjoyed all of the
EP, especially "Evil-lyn" and "To Overcome". (Eddie Fleisher)
Hanoi Rocks & Dogs
D'Amour...Social Distortion and D-Generation ...all of these influences and more
can be heard on The Revelry, the debut album by California rockers Bullets and
Octane. This album is an impressive slab of melodic rock aggression, and that's
something you can't say that often. Listening to this album is like hearing a
prolonged primal scream, and yet the group serves up some killer hooks that
stick in your brain. Vocalist Gene (the band is identified only by their first
names) has a classic rock voice, striking the difficult anger/melody balance
with astounding ability. Producer Gilby Clarke has done a great job, making
everything crystal clear and yet organic. My main complaint is that the band is
so intent on showing you how hard they can rock that they never lay back
and let the album breathe. I'm not saying to do some limp ballad, but a few
more radical tempo shifts between songs would have been nice. Some songs blend
into each other, and this serves to short-change the album overall. Slayer has
never done a ballad in their careers, yet they know that to make the fast songs
sound fast they need a few slower pounders along the way. Once Bullets and
Octane gets this, then they will be unstoppable. Overall, though, I really
enjoyed this album. The Heathen Hippy gives this three melodic yelps.
(Taliesin Govannon)
Even though I've been reviewing
a lot of European metal albums lately, let me tell you...local Akron/Cleveland
is alive and well, and this three-song demo by the three-piece metal band Calo
proves that. Their web site says that they're recording as we speak, and if
this 3 song demo is any indication of what they're capable of, then I can't wait
to hear a whole album by these guys. Calo plays incredibly tight, solidly
rocking music that crosses genres and blows the listener out of their seat and
across the room. I can hear some Primus and Chili Peppers influence here, but I
have to listen close...they have assimilated their influences well, and can pay
homage without ripping-off. The beats are funky without being wimpy, the
guitars are heavy without being muddy, and the vocals are pissed off and
aggressive as hell. It takes a hell of a band to lead off ANY release with an
instrumental, but an inventive groove and some well placed sound bites (hearing
George Bush and George Carlin right next to each other was a howl!) make "Choke"
one satisfying instrumental slab. The other songs..."Of Red" & “Controlled"
have a punk-metal hybrid feel that the band pulls off WAY better than any of
those Nu-posers on MTV. My only complaint is that it was WAY too short. I
don't know if the band plans on offering this for sale, so you rock fans out
there better get on their collective asses, because this is too good to miss!
The Heathen Hippy gives it four words you can't say on television. For more
info go to 
The
band's bio describes their sound as "Gothic Metal", but that does their sound a
disservice. Darkwell's blend of progressive metal instrumentation coupled with
powerful and expressive female vocals transcends mere "goth" and takes them into
the big leagues of European hard rock. Hailing from Germany, this is Darkwell's
third release and first with new vocalist Stephanie Luzie, and it definitely
satisfies. "Fate Prisioner" kicks things off in grand style, and "Strange",
their most recent single, continues the flow of superb musicianship and melodic
vocals. The songs are very strong, and there is nary a clinker in the bunch.
Standouts include the title track, "Hope Unborn", and "Far Cry".
