This has been out for a while, but the band just sent it to
me so I’m going to review it. If you’re familiar with Midnight Syndicate at all
then you pretty much know what to expect. ‘Vampyre’ is yet another collection
of gothic/classical soundscapes perfect for setting the mood at your Halloween
party, role playing game get together, or any other suitably creepy occasion.
Ominous sythesizer lines, eerie choirs of fallen angels, and clanging church
bells are the musical palette Midnight Syndicate uses to paint their portraits
of terror. If you’re one of those people that likes the atmospheric into pieces
that are mandatory on most black metal albums but hate the blast beats and
barking vocals that inevitably follow this is for you. ‘Vampyre’ isn’t the sort
of thing I’d want to put on all the time, but when the mood strikes there’s not
much else out there to satisfy those dark musical desires in quite the same
way. Plus I just have to respect a band that has managed to sell buttloads of
discs all on their own by doing something unique. (Bob Ignizio)
Hailing from Columbus, OH, O.A.R. (that’s short for Of a
Revolution) more or less play music in the vein of the Dave Matthews Band. It’s
jam rock without the jams, with the focus on the songs rather than extended
solos. It works nicely on numbers like the reggae inflected opener “Dareh Meyod”
and the darkly melodic “Mr. Moon”. Other strong tracks include “James” and
“Road Outside Columbus”, but a few too many songs have the feel of filler.
That’s probably not so much a reflection on the quality of the songs themselves
as it is the fact that so many of the songs are mid tempo ballads. One or two
more rockers like the aforementioned “Dareh Meyod” would have helped break
things up a bit. One or two songs where the guitar takes the solo instead of
the sax would have been nice for variety, too. But what the hell do I know;
these guys were selling records like hotcakes on their own even before they
signed to major label Lava. If you like the sort of mellow feel-good music
produced by Dave Matthews and later period Blues Traveller you’ll probably want
to check this out. (Bob Ignizio)
I’m not much of a fan of hardcore music in general, or
straight edge bands in particular, so I was surprised to find I really liked
this album. That’s because this band seems to dislike the same things about the
genres as I do, namely the macho testosterone fuelled crap that most hardcore
today has degenerated into (skewered on “Why Are You Here”) and the tendency
towards preachiness many straight edge bands indulge in. The band still deals
with the straight edge philosophy, but rather than criticize those who make
other choices the band saves their anger for one time straight edgers who never
took the movement seriously on "Anchors Aweigh". The band also shows
sympathy for a friend caught in the depths of heroin addiction on "Rememberance
Day". Other than that, the songs deal mostly with politics both of the
international variety and within the hardcore scene itself. In particular the
recent war and the man who led us into it provide subject matter on "Patriotic
Cattle Call" and "The 23rd Letter". Sonically Over My Dead Body has much more
in common with hardcore originators like Minor Threat than modern bands like
Hatebreed, a definite plus in my book. It isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but the
songs are well written and memorable. Fast and aggressive enough to get a
friendly pit going but without negativity and posturing. Well worth a
listen if you’re a fan of the style. (Bob Ignizio)
This is the second thing I've heard from I... Hate records
(Lakewood) and to say I'm baffled by what all they have coming out would be an
understatement. Wake Up is a rock act with some breakdown parts reminiscent of
jazz music's better side. Think of all the mainstream rock that occurred in
1977 and move it to now with the instruments in the hands of local musicians who
are VERY proficient at what they do, add some DIY ethic and Indie rock
sensibility and you’d get Wake Up. Although the vocals are somewhat uncreative
(just about everything has been done already so not a major detractor) they
suffice and compliment the music well. ‘Barassicatournifortii’ is an epic tune
whose best part has a marching beat with guitars that kind of skank and solo at
the same time. I get the feeling that anyone of these players could improv in a
really good jazz act. ‘Jamboree’ is a good follow up track with a swinging up
and down feel and a lyric that makes me wonder if singer Nick Adams spent time
in Britain (“...fill all your pockets with gold” is the exact line that is
pseudo U.K.). I must say the musicianship is out of this world but the
songwriting also keeps the listener on edge with classic rock/jazzy/punk/indie
rock parts. Bring your safety goggles because the average listener might not
survive this barrage of music--scratch that, damn good music. Local music has
me excited again as I... Hate Records has another keeper/giver here in Wake Up.
In this world of weed and money (to quote some famous rapper) Wake Up is the
joint that I would want to peddle because if I...Hate didn't give them away it
would be a seller (bling bling). And no, you can't have my copy. (The Nate)
This has been out for a while, but the band just sent it to
me so I’m going to review it. If you’re familiar with Midnight Syndicate at all
then you pretty much know what to expect. ‘Vampyre’ is yet another collection
of gothic/classical soundscapes perfect for setting the mood at your Halloween
party, role playing game get together, or any other suitably creepy occasion.
Ominous sythesizer lines, eerie choirs of fallen angels, and clanging church
bells are the musical palette Midnight Syndicate uses to paint their portraits
of terror. If you’re one of those people that likes the atmospheric into pieces
that are mandatory on most black metal albums but hate the blast beats and
barking vocals that inevitably follow this is for you. ‘Vampyre’ isn’t the sort
of thing I’d want to put on all the time, but when the mood strikes there’s not
much else out there to satisfy those dark musical desires in quite the same
way. Plus I just have to respect a band that has managed to sell buttloads of
discs all on their own by doing something unique. (Bob Ignizio)
Hailing from Columbus, OH, O.A.R. (that’s short for Of a
Revolution) more or less play music in the vein of the Dave Matthews Band. It’s
jam rock without the jams, with the focus on the songs rather than extended
solos. It works nicely on numbers like the reggae inflected opener “Dareh Meyod”
and the darkly melodic “Mr. Moon”. Other strong tracks include “James” and
“Road Outside Columbus”, but a few too many songs have the feel of filler.
That’s probably not so much a reflection on the quality of the songs themselves
as it is the fact that so many of the songs are mid tempo ballads. One or two
more rockers like the aforementioned “Dareh Meyod” would have helped break
things up a bit. One or two songs where the guitar takes the solo instead of
the sax would have been nice for variety, too. But what the hell do I know;
these guys were selling records like hotcakes on their own even before they
signed to major label Lava. If you like the sort of mellow feel-good music
produced by Dave Matthews and later period Blues Traveller you’ll probably want
to check this out. (Bob Ignizio)
I’m not much of a fan of hardcore music in general, or
straight edge bands in particular, so I was surprised to find I really liked
this album. That’s because this band seems to dislike the same things about the
genres as I do, namely the macho testosterone fuelled crap that most hardcore
today has degenerated into (skewered on “Why Are You Here”) and the tendency
towards preachiness many straight edge bands indulge in. The band still deals
with the straight edge philosophy, but rather than criticize those who make
other choices the band saves their anger for one time straight edgers who never
took the movement seriously on "Anchors Aweigh". The band also shows
sympathy for a friend caught in the depths of heroin addiction on "Rememberance
Day". Other than that, the songs deal mostly with politics both of the
international variety and within the hardcore scene itself. In particular the
recent war and the man who led us into it provide subject matter on "Patriotic
Cattle Call" and "The 23rd Letter". Sonically Over My Dead Body has much more
in common with hardcore originators like Minor Threat than modern bands like
Hatebreed, a definite plus in my book. It isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but the
songs are well written and memorable. Fast and aggressive enough to get a
friendly pit going but without negativity and posturing. Well worth a
listen if you’re a fan of the style. (Bob Ignizio)
This is the second thing I've heard from I... Hate records
(Lakewood) and to say I'm baffled by what all they have coming out would be an
understatement. Wake Up is a rock act with some breakdown parts reminiscent of
jazz music's better side. Think of all the mainstream rock that occurred in
1977 and move it to now with the instruments in the hands of local musicians who
are VERY proficient at what they do, add some DIY ethic and Indie rock
sensibility and you’d get Wake Up. Although the vocals are somewhat uncreative
(just about everything has been done already so not a major detractor) they
suffice and compliment the music well. ‘Barassicatournifortii’ is an epic tune
whose best part has a marching beat with guitars that kind of skank and solo at
the same time. I get the feeling that anyone of these players could improv in a
really good jazz act. ‘Jamboree’ is a good follow up track with a swinging up
and down feel and a lyric that makes me wonder if singer Nick Adams spent time
in Britain (“...fill all your pockets with gold” is the exact line that is
pseudo U.K.). I must say the musicianship is out of this world but the
songwriting also keeps the listener on edge with classic rock/jazzy/punk/indie
rock parts. Bring your safety goggles because the average listener might not
survive this barrage of music--scratch that, damn good music. Local music has
me excited again as I... Hate Records has another keeper/giver here in Wake Up.
In this world of weed and money (to quote some famous rapper) Wake Up is the
joint that I would want to peddle because if I...Hate didn't give them away it
would be a seller (bling bling). And no, you can't have my copy. (The Nate)