The Mars Volta – ‘De-Loused in
the Comatorium’ (Universal)
Ambitious. That's the first word that I would use to
describe the debut album from former At The Drive-In members Cedrix Bixler
Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. This reviewer was a big fan of ATDI,
proclaiming their release, “Relationship of Command” the best album of 2000 and
a sign that rock was definitely not dead. ‘De-Loused In The Comatorium’ is
definitely an experiment. It's sixty minutes long, a concept album, has lot's
of sound effects, and at times is a sonic barrage that commands you to listen to
it. Now that's nothing completely new, but try to push that in today's market.
There are only two songs on this album that clock in under four and a half
minutes and both of them are interludes more than songs. Really only one track
on here could be pushed as a single, but then again I don't know if anyone
cares. This is an album for people who listen to albums. Try to imagine if
John Zorn and Bill Laswell decided to do a project that combined the music of
Fugazi and Santana with lyrics that are as cryptic as cryptic can be. The Mars
Volta has put together an album that makes you want to listen to it more than
once to decide if you like it or not. Producer Rick Rubin, love him or hate
him, has been quite successful in the past in taking chances with bands that
were non-typical for the times and making them work. I think that he has helped
make another gem of an album and given the public something new to taste. This
is an album that the current day rock fan will either cock their heads in
confusion to or flat out hate because they just don't get it. If they are
confused and intrigued, they will undoubtedly buy it and listen to it over and
over. If they hate it, they can go back to listening to Nickleback and combing
out their mullets. (Mr.Lee)
I think that
the editor-in-chief for this here zine has it in for me. Let me explain: Do you
remember the old Folger's Instant Coffee commercials where they switched the
unknowing coffee drinker's regular coffee with instant coffee? Well I got that
done to me. Except, for me, the switch was from my normal listening pleasure to
an audio-turd by the name of OmegaLord, the best thing to come out of a garage
since an old car battery. There are some who think that the sub-genre of Stoner
Rock is dead or dying; I don't think so, but these guys sure make it seem that
way. This self titled release is a perfect example of a band that is smart
enough to record and market an album without being smart enough to play on one.
The songs are amateurish and the lyrics are fucking horrible. See above for a
perfect example. It's from the song, “Bury The Sun” (really!), which is about
how vocalist The Reverend doesn't like the sun and all that heat stuff. I shit
you not. That's what you can expect from OmegaLord. I even tried to go over
this six song release a second time and see if I would change my mind, but I
didn't. I just realized that I wasted more of my time. (Mr.Lee)
Prism Theory – ‘In the Wake of a
Dream’ (Quality Independent Music/Latticesphere Records)
Remember when 92.3 extreme radio came to have their current
format? This band fits right on the bill with acts like staind, Godsmack,
Creed, Hoobastank, Trapt and any other mainstream bands I only hear when all the
good college radio stations have news or foreign programming on the air. I hate
this genre personally but fans of this whole nu metal thing should put on their
bondage pants and go up to the local independent record store with cash in hand
to buy this. I really am the wrong person to judge this. That said the
recording quality and tightness are the best aspect of this release, and Singer
Chris Imalay does a damn good job of sounding like he’s from staind or Godsmack
(dutdadutda...Get Back!). Instrumentally these guys capture a sound, the only
problem being that it is a sound already on the market. Excellent musicianship
but lack of originality drags this band down in my book. Don't fret though
boys, enough promotion will get you on Ozzfest or Lollapalooza sometime soon.
(The Nate)
This is only a demo, and one recorded before the band had
really gotten together, so it’s a real surprise how good it is. Also surprising
is the fact that this band, while being something of an Akron punk rock super
group (including members who have done time in The Nimrods, Rubber City Rebels,
and CD Truth), plays what can only be described as seventies hard rock/heavy
metal. If you dig early Alice Cooper, The Sweet, Grand Funk Railroad, The MC5,
The Stooges, The Dead Boys, The New York Dolls, and other bands from the decade
of bell bottoms, bongs, and muscle cars, then you ought to love this. Obviously
the style isn’t anything new, but like The Hellacopters these guys have songs
that stand up to anything by the bands that inspired them. I honestly loved
every one of the seven songs on here. The band has a tongue in cheek sense of
humor in their lyrics (I’d expect nothing less from ex-Nimrods Mike Raphone and
Dan Halen) but they treat the music with respect. I doubt even the most
die-hard Nimrods fan would recognize Dan Halen’s vocals unless they already knew
it was him. The guitar work is rock solid, with lots of acid rock soloing.
The only thing that’s a bit off is the keyboards by Ron “Pete Sake” Mullens,
which are buried in the mix most of the time. Hopefully these guys will get the
chance to do a proper studio recording with a budget and realize their full
potential. In the meantime, this is a damn good demo that makes me want to get
out and experience the PA’s live. (Bob Ignizio)
Ambitious. That's the first word that I would use to
describe the debut album from former At The Drive-In members Cedrix Bixler
Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. This reviewer was a big fan of ATDI,
proclaiming their release, “Relationship of Command” the best album of 2000 and
a sign that rock was definitely not dead. ‘De-Loused In The Comatorium’ is
definitely an experiment. It's sixty minutes long, a concept album, has lot's
of sound effects, and at times is a sonic barrage that commands you to listen to
it. Now that's nothing completely new, but try to push that in today's market.
There are only two songs on this album that clock in under four and a half
minutes and both of them are interludes more than songs. Really only one track
on here could be pushed as a single, but then again I don't know if anyone
cares. This is an album for people who listen to albums. Try to imagine if
John Zorn and Bill Laswell decided to do a project that combined the music of
Fugazi and Santana with lyrics that are as cryptic as cryptic can be. The Mars
Volta has put together an album that makes you want to listen to it more than
once to decide if you like it or not. Producer Rick Rubin, love him or hate
him, has been quite successful in the past in taking chances with bands that
were non-typical for the times and making them work. I think that he has helped
make another gem of an album and given the public something new to taste. This
is an album that the current day rock fan will either cock their heads in
confusion to or flat out hate because they just don't get it. If they are
confused and intrigued, they will undoubtedly buy it and listen to it over and
over. If they hate it, they can go back to listening to Nickleback and combing
out their mullets. (Mr.Lee)
“Bury the sun, bury the sun
Remember when 92.3 extreme radio came to have their current
format? This band fits right on the bill with acts like staind, Godsmack,
Creed, Hoobastank, Trapt and any other mainstream bands I only hear when all the
good college radio stations have news or foreign programming on the air. I hate
this genre personally but fans of this whole nu metal thing should put on their
bondage pants and go up to the local independent record store with cash in hand
to buy this. I really am the wrong person to judge this. That said the
recording quality and tightness are the best aspect of this release, and Singer
Chris Imalay does a damn good job of sounding like he’s from staind or Godsmack
(dutdadutda...Get Back!). Instrumentally these guys capture a sound, the only
problem being that it is a sound already on the market. Excellent musicianship
but lack of originality drags this band down in my book. Don't fret though
boys, enough promotion will get you on Ozzfest or Lollapalooza sometime soon.
(The Nate)
This is only a demo, and one recorded before the band had
really gotten together, so it’s a real surprise how good it is. Also surprising
is the fact that this band, while being something of an Akron punk rock super
group (including members who have done time in The Nimrods, Rubber City Rebels,
and CD Truth), plays what can only be described as seventies hard rock/heavy
metal. If you dig early Alice Cooper, The Sweet, Grand Funk Railroad, The MC5,
The Stooges, The Dead Boys, The New York Dolls, and other bands from the decade
of bell bottoms, bongs, and muscle cars, then you ought to love this. Obviously
the style isn’t anything new, but like The Hellacopters these guys have songs
that stand up to anything by the bands that inspired them. I honestly loved
every one of the seven songs on here. The band has a tongue in cheek sense of
humor in their lyrics (I’d expect nothing less from ex-Nimrods Mike Raphone and
Dan Halen) but they treat the music with respect. I doubt even the most
die-hard Nimrods fan would recognize Dan Halen’s vocals unless they already knew
it was him. The guitar work is rock solid, with lots of acid rock soloing.
The only thing that’s a bit off is the keyboards by Ron “Pete Sake” Mullens,
which are buried in the mix most of the time. Hopefully these guys will get the
chance to do a proper studio recording with a budget and realize their full
potential. In the meantime, this is a damn good demo that makes me want to get
out and experience the PA’s live. (Bob Ignizio)