This CD
surprised the hell out of me...mainly because I really liked it. Sure, it's pop
music, but I can enjoy good pop music, and the new album from Embrace is pretty
good in spots. Songs like "Ashes", "Wish ’em All Away", and "Glorious Day" have
enough chunky hooks to stick in your head for hours afterward, always the mark
of a good pop single. I also liked the production, which features a spacey,
Brian Eno-esque vibe like U2 circa 1984. My only complaint is that The songs
were a bit too similar for my tastes. One song bleeds into another, and I found
the album had actually repeated when I wasn't looking. If you like one song off
of this CD, you'll probably like all of them, but that's just because they all
sound vaguely the same. Still, this is a fine diversion, and fans of Coldplay
will go ga-ga over it. The Heathen Hippy gives it three and a half jangling
guitar chords. (Taliesin Govannon)
Roaring back with a new
lead vocalist and new album is Falconer, the Swedish power metal masters. While
I hate all of the sub-genres foisted upon bands these days, I can say one thing
- "power" is an apt word to describe falconer. Their songs feature power
riffing, power drumming, and throaty and powerful vocals that blend into a sound
that is at once both fresh and classic. I really can't say enough good things
about this album. When it comes to good old fashioned heavy metal, this band has
it all. The guitar playing is pounding and melodic, the drumming is thrashing,
and the melody lines are melodic as hell, with sing-song choruses that stick in
your head long after the CD is done. This is like Manowar with really good
playing and all of the cheese factor stripped away. It's like Dio jamming with
1988-era Metallica. Or maybe ‘Painkiller’-era Judas Priest blended with Iced
Earth. Well, you get the idea. I've tried to pick out some outstanding tracks
from this album, but I can't...they're all great! One of the best of the year.
The Heathen Hippy gives it five studded-leather wristbands. (Taliesin Govannon)
Jerry Fels – ‘How to Make Enemies
and Influence Strangers’ (Nobody's Favorite Records)
Boston singer songwriter Jerry
Fels is one of the most unique voices in underground music today. His past
releases have garnered decent reviews, but it's his most recent that will have
people looking his way. His style has undergone some maturation here. In the
past, Jerry has been known for his humorous, yet emotional approach, and while
that still surfaces on some tracks, these songs seem to have a less silly feel
to them. That may be because Fels’ voice has really come a long way. His
harmonies are spot on, and the recording on this disc is phenomenal. His
guitars are the same way, they sound amazing. This record is already slated for
my year end “best of” list and it's only July. My favorite songs here are “The
Things We Are Made Of”, and “E.L.T.S”. With lyrics like “the more you talk the
more things stay the same/the more you talk the less things change”, it's a song
about how people need to prove they have it the hardest. My jaw dropped when I
heard this record, it's fucking incredible. (Eddie Fleisher)
From
the great white north comes Goat Horn, a truly impressive band that plays heavy
metal, with no "isims" or other labels to get in the way. Their latest,
‘Threatening Force’, is a blistering slab of superior metal played with a
dedication to metal's history that transcends mere "retro" and shows a vitality
that plants them firmly in the 21st century. I really love this CD, I have to
admit. It reminds me of all of the classic metal I listened to in my youth, and
that still has a place in my collection today. While I love the prog metal
coming out of Europe these days, there's just something to be said for straight
forward head-banging riffs and melodic yet powerful vocals. Sure, the lyrics
aren't great poetry, but whoever said metal had to be poetic? Lines like "I
live for heavy metal...and that's just what I do!" (from "Right Heavy Metal")
are great to shout out at a concert by band and fans alike, and I hope to get
the chance to do just that sometime soon! This six track EP (Well...ok, five.
The first track isn't a song, but an interesting noise called "Drum Roll" that
sounds like a snare drum rolling down the stairs) is a rare find for the true
metal warrior, one that remembers when metal was metal and Iron Maiden ruled the
stage. One of the best releases of the year! The Heathen Hippy gives it four
and a half fists in the air. Check them out at
www.GoatHorn.com. (Taliesin Govannon)
This CD
surprised the hell out of me...mainly because I really liked it. Sure, it's pop
music, but I can enjoy good pop music, and the new album from Embrace is pretty
good in spots. Songs like "Ashes", "Wish ’em All Away", and "Glorious Day" have
enough chunky hooks to stick in your head for hours afterward, always the mark
of a good pop single. I also liked the production, which features a spacey,
Brian Eno-esque vibe like U2 circa 1984. My only complaint is that The songs
were a bit too similar for my tastes. One song bleeds into another, and I found
the album had actually repeated when I wasn't looking. If you like one song off
of this CD, you'll probably like all of them, but that's just because they all
sound vaguely the same. Still, this is a fine diversion, and fans of Coldplay
will go ga-ga over it. The Heathen Hippy gives it three and a half jangling
guitar chords. (Taliesin Govannon)
Roaring back with a new
lead vocalist and new album is Falconer, the Swedish power metal masters. While
I hate all of the sub-genres foisted upon bands these days, I can say one thing
- "power" is an apt word to describe falconer. Their songs feature power
riffing, power drumming, and throaty and powerful vocals that blend into a sound
that is at once both fresh and classic. I really can't say enough good things
about this album. When it comes to good old fashioned heavy metal, this band has
it all. The guitar playing is pounding and melodic, the drumming is thrashing,
and the melody lines are melodic as hell, with sing-song choruses that stick in
your head long after the CD is done. This is like Manowar with really good
playing and all of the cheese factor stripped away. It's like Dio jamming with
1988-era Metallica. Or maybe ‘Painkiller’-era Judas Priest blended with Iced
Earth. Well, you get the idea. I've tried to pick out some outstanding tracks
from this album, but I can't...they're all great! One of the best of the year.
The Heathen Hippy gives it five studded-leather wristbands. (Taliesin Govannon)
Boston singer songwriter Jerry
Fels is one of the most unique voices in underground music today. His past
releases have garnered decent reviews, but it's his most recent that will have
people looking his way. His style has undergone some maturation here. In the
past, Jerry has been known for his humorous, yet emotional approach, and while
that still surfaces on some tracks, these songs seem to have a less silly feel
to them. That may be because Fels’ voice has really come a long way. His
harmonies are spot on, and the recording on this disc is phenomenal. His
guitars are the same way, they sound amazing. This record is already slated for
my year end “best of” list and it's only July. My favorite songs here are “The
Things We Are Made Of”, and “E.L.T.S”. With lyrics like “the more you talk the
more things stay the same/the more you talk the less things change”, it's a song
about how people need to prove they have it the hardest. My jaw dropped when I
heard this record, it's fucking incredible. (Eddie Fleisher)
From
the great white north comes Goat Horn, a truly impressive band that plays heavy
metal, with no "isims" or other labels to get in the way. Their latest,
‘Threatening Force’, is a blistering slab of superior metal played with a
dedication to metal's history that transcends mere "retro" and shows a vitality
that plants them firmly in the 21st century. I really love this CD, I have to
admit. It reminds me of all of the classic metal I listened to in my youth, and
that still has a place in my collection today. While I love the prog metal
coming out of Europe these days, there's just something to be said for straight
forward head-banging riffs and melodic yet powerful vocals. Sure, the lyrics
aren't great poetry, but whoever said metal had to be poetic? Lines like "I
live for heavy metal...and that's just what I do!" (from "Right Heavy Metal")
are great to shout out at a concert by band and fans alike, and I hope to get
the chance to do just that sometime soon! This six track EP (Well...ok, five.
The first track isn't a song, but an interesting noise called "Drum Roll" that
sounds like a snare drum rolling down the stairs) is a rare find for the true
metal warrior, one that remembers when metal was metal and Iron Maiden ruled the
stage. One of the best releases of the year! The Heathen Hippy gives it four
and a half fists in the air. Check them out at
