This is pretty standard eighties style hardcore. I like
this type of stuff, but honestly, there’s plenty of other bands who’ve done this
kind of thing as well if not better already. No surprises, no songs that rise
above genre to stick in my brain. Yeah it’s sincere and it rocks, and if that’s
all it takes for you then check this out. For me, it’s just nothing special.
(Bob Ignizio)
Thursday started out as a
screamo band, a genre I pretty much despise. However, they've since moved
in a direction I find much more interesting. They've added a keyboard
player to their permanent line-up, done away with most of the paint peeling
screams, and in general matured as a band. I can still hear elements of
the band's earlier style, but those sounds are integrated well into a sound
that, to me at least, sounds kind of like eighties alternative bands like The
Cure or Simple Minds heavied up and with a touch of prog rock. I'd say
this has more in common with bands like The Mars Volta than it does with typical
screamo. 'A City by the Light Divided' boasts good vocals and
musicianship, the slick professional production you’d expect from a major label
release, and better than average songwriting. I can’t really ask for much
more from a major label rock album these days. (Bob Ignizio)
Towering Anvil – ‘Song For My
Ressurection’ (self released)
This is some pretty good instrumental prog rock. Maybe not
quite on a par with Zombi, but definitely worth checking out. It definitely
leans towards the psychedelic side of prog, and if that’s your cup of tea (as it
is mine) I think you’ll enjoy this 4 song EP. Supposedly there’s a full length
album coming soon, and I’m actually interested in hearing it based on the
material here. For more info, go to
http://www.myspace.com/toweringanvil.
Brother Ed and Brother Ant are back to save some more souls
on their long awaited second album, ‘North of Hell’. As on their debut disc the
sound is pretty lo-fi, but the guitars sound thicker and the drums hit with more
force. The guys even spring for some actual “production value” in the form of
guest musicians playing piano and harmonica on a few tracks. A lot of these
songs have been in the band’s live set for some time now, and they’ve clearly
been honed to perfection in these studio versions. Favorites here are “Johnny,
Jesus and Me”, “Gates of Hell”, “Devil’s Chrysler” and “I Can’t Bang You on a
Sunday”. To be fair, a couple numbers sounded less than divinely inspired to me
ears, notably “Angel Above, Devil Below” and “Run Devil, Run”. While there’s no
doubt the best way to experience Uncle Scratch is live, ‘North of Hell’ makes a
fine substitute for when you can’t make it to a gig. (Bob Ignizio)
This is pretty standard eighties style hardcore. I like
this type of stuff, but honestly, there’s plenty of other bands who’ve done this
kind of thing as well if not better already. No surprises, no songs that rise
above genre to stick in my brain. Yeah it’s sincere and it rocks, and if that’s
all it takes for you then check this out. For me, it’s just nothing special.
(Bob Ignizio)
Thursday started out as a
screamo band, a genre I pretty much despise. However, they've since moved
in a direction I find much more interesting. They've added a keyboard
player to their permanent line-up, done away with most of the paint peeling
screams, and in general matured as a band. I can still hear elements of
the band's earlier style, but those sounds are integrated well into a sound
that, to me at least, sounds kind of like eighties alternative bands like The
Cure or Simple Minds heavied up and with a touch of prog rock. I'd say
this has more in common with bands like The Mars Volta than it does with typical
screamo. 'A City by the Light Divided' boasts good vocals and
musicianship, the slick professional production you’d expect from a major label
release, and better than average songwriting. I can’t really ask for much
more from a major label rock album these days. (Bob Ignizio)
This is some pretty good instrumental prog rock. Maybe not
quite on a par with Zombi, but definitely worth checking out. It definitely
leans towards the psychedelic side of prog, and if that’s your cup of tea (as it
is mine) I think you’ll enjoy this 4 song EP. Supposedly there’s a full length
album coming soon, and I’m actually interested in hearing it based on the
material here. For more info, go to
Brother Ed and Brother Ant are back to save some more souls
on their long awaited second album, ‘North of Hell’. As on their debut disc the
sound is pretty lo-fi, but the guitars sound thicker and the drums hit with more
force. The guys even spring for some actual “production value” in the form of
guest musicians playing piano and harmonica on a few tracks. A lot of these
songs have been in the band’s live set for some time now, and they’ve clearly
been honed to perfection in these studio versions. Favorites here are “Johnny,
Jesus and Me”, “Gates of Hell”, “Devil’s Chrysler” and “I Can’t Bang You on a
Sunday”. To be fair, a couple numbers sounded less than divinely inspired to me
ears, notably “Angel Above, Devil Below” and “Run Devil, Run”. While there’s no
doubt the best way to experience Uncle Scratch is live, ‘North of Hell’ makes a
fine substitute for when you can’t make it to a gig. (Bob Ignizio)