Grace Gale – ‘A Few Easy Steps to
Secure Heli-Camel Safety’ (Blackout!)
Manic screaming,
complex riffs, and time and tempo changes abound on Grace Gale’s ‘A Few Easy
Steps…’ album. This album has its interesting moments, but since the band
appears to be afflicted with ADD, those moments never last more than a few
seconds. I can’t say it’s bad, but it definitely isn’t my thing. Even the
sample of Dirk Diggler performing “Feel My Heat” couldn’t win me over. (Bob
Ignizio)
Ok, I
know that this is going to shock some of you who regularly read my reviews, but
this latest Napalm release...didn't really impress me. I know, some of you were
convinced that I was on Napalm's payroll because of all of the positive reviews
I've been giving their stuff, but this is one album that's a miss for me.
Hurtlocker is a quartet that plays muscular, bludgeoning metal with a hardcore
edge, and one that grindcore fans will probably find irresistible. I'm just not
much of a grindcore fan and, while this is a metal/grind blend, it's a little
too grind for my tastes. The songs are aggressive throughout, hardly ever
coming up for air, with vocals filled with abject rage. My problem was that
undiluted rage is hard to maintain, and this album loses steam about halfway
through. After a while it all sounds the same, and that gets a little boring.
The saving grace is the guitarwork of Tim Moe, who has an almost Kerry King-esque
ability to sound menacing even while blazing. If you like metal-edged grind,
then you'll probably love this one. I didn't. The Heathen Hippy gives it two
screaming rages. (Taliesin A. Govannon)
Pretty
standard issue eighties punk/hardcore. Probably fun to mosh too, reasonably
catchy, but nothing special. I Farm do a great job of capturing that sound, but
they don’t add anything to it. The lyrics are just as typical as the music,
reflecting a simplistic liberal view of the world we've all heard spouted before
by other punk bands. I'm more or less a liberal myself, but I can't stand
hearing the same trite, black & white diatribes against cops and republicans
rehashed here yet again on songs like “Lucy Likes the Cops” and “Young
Republican”. Lyrical content aside, this is okay but nothing to write home
about. (Bob Ignizio)
The Jena
Campaign are a wonderful 2 piece band from Rhode Island. I was greatly
impressed by their self-titled debut, as it could easily stand up against more
known acts in the indie folk genre. The vocals are great, as singer Matt
Maggiacomo delivers a strong performance throughout the record, but particularly
on tracks like "A View From A Window" and "You Lie". The album is also full of
banjo, mandolin, and even accordian, which are played by The Jena Campaign's
other half: Brad Mehlenbacher. I hear glimpses of Simon and Garfunkel, early
REM, Neil Young and even Patti Smith (on "If You Sing It, Sing It Softly"). A
lovely record from start to finish. (Eddie Fleisher)
Manic screaming,
complex riffs, and time and tempo changes abound on Grace Gale’s ‘A Few Easy
Steps…’ album. This album has its interesting moments, but since the band
appears to be afflicted with ADD, those moments never last more than a few
seconds. I can’t say it’s bad, but it definitely isn’t my thing. Even the
sample of Dirk Diggler performing “Feel My Heat” couldn’t win me over. (Bob
Ignizio)
Ok, I
know that this is going to shock some of you who regularly read my reviews, but
this latest Napalm release...didn't really impress me. I know, some of you were
convinced that I was on Napalm's payroll because of all of the positive reviews
I've been giving their stuff, but this is one album that's a miss for me.
Hurtlocker is a quartet that plays muscular, bludgeoning metal with a hardcore
edge, and one that grindcore fans will probably find irresistible. I'm just not
much of a grindcore fan and, while this is a metal/grind blend, it's a little
too grind for my tastes. The songs are aggressive throughout, hardly ever
coming up for air, with vocals filled with abject rage. My problem was that
undiluted rage is hard to maintain, and this album loses steam about halfway
through. After a while it all sounds the same, and that gets a little boring.
The saving grace is the guitarwork of Tim Moe, who has an almost Kerry King-esque
ability to sound menacing even while blazing. If you like metal-edged grind,
then you'll probably love this one. I didn't. The Heathen Hippy gives it two
screaming rages. (Taliesin A. Govannon)
Pretty
standard issue eighties punk/hardcore. Probably fun to mosh too, reasonably
catchy, but nothing special. I Farm do a great job of capturing that sound, but
they don’t add anything to it. The lyrics are just as typical as the music,
reflecting a simplistic liberal view of the world we've all heard spouted before
by other punk bands. I'm more or less a liberal myself, but I can't stand
hearing the same trite, black & white diatribes against cops and republicans
rehashed here yet again on songs like “Lucy Likes the Cops” and “Young
Republican”. Lyrical content aside, this is okay but nothing to write home
about. (Bob Ignizio)
The Jena
Campaign are a wonderful 2 piece band from Rhode Island. I was greatly
impressed by their self-titled debut, as it could easily stand up against more
known acts in the indie folk genre. The vocals are great, as singer Matt
Maggiacomo delivers a strong performance throughout the record, but particularly
on tracks like "A View From A Window" and "You Lie". The album is also full of
banjo, mandolin, and even accordian, which are played by The Jena Campaign's
other half: Brad Mehlenbacher. I hear glimpses of Simon and Garfunkel, early
REM, Neil Young and even Patti Smith (on "If You Sing It, Sing It Softly"). A
lovely record from start to finish. (Eddie Fleisher)