One word of
warning: if you're looking for another bruising, beer-slamming, fist pounding
hard rock outing from Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society, then this is probably
not the album for you. Many who've heard this CD compare it to Alice in Chains'
"Jar Of Flies", and not in a derogatory manner. Though it's not quite *that*
mellow all the way through, it's still way more quiet and introspective than
we've come to expect from Zakk and the gang. You realize that something's amiss
on the very first song "Crash or High", a semi-acoustic bluesy piece that sets
up the rest of the album well. One favorite spot is the Beatlesesque
"Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow", with a groovy piano arrangement. Guitar freaks
still have plenty to make them drool over, including the lightening fast
interlude "Takillna". Other standout track include "Won't Find it Here" (where
Zakk sounds a bit like Chris Cornell), "House of Doom" (nice Byrds-like intro on
this one), and a truly impressive cover of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of
Pale", where Zakk does his best Gregg Allman impression with great results. I
love this CD, and will be listening to lots of it. Really, this CD is just what
the title implies: music for those times when pounding is just hurting.
Hangover music, indeed. The Heathen Hippy gives it four and a half aspirins.
(Taliesin Govannon)
These
guys blend punk and eighties underground metal in a way that reminds me of
another Cleveland band, the infamous Boulder. They’re a little more polished
sounding, especially in the vocal department, but the similarities are there
nonetheless. Likely influences include Motorhead, Venom, and Celtic Frost (note
the Tom G. Warrior-esque “Oooh” that starts off “Kick Me in the Heart”), and the
riffing and lead work is all metal, just stripped of its excesses. The attitude
and vocal style, however, are more punk inspired. All three tracks on this demo
are keepers. For more info, contact the band at
blackmarketmassacre@yahoo.com. (Bob Ignizio)
In ‘The Blues
Brothers’, Bob’s Country Bunker was a bar that hosted two kinds of live music:
country and western. But the Youngstown, Ohio band of the same name has spiced
things up with elements of rockabilly, garage rock, and sixties’ instrumental
rock. Of course, even their take on country leans a bit towards the rock side
of things. There’s plenty of twang, but the rough edged distorted guitars
probably wouldn’t go over well with the hardcore honky-tonk set. It suits me
just fine, though, as the band deftly jumps from one genre to another while
still maintaining a distinct sonic identity. Joe Shelby does double duty on
vocals and guitar. His guitar work is top notch, especially on the
instrumentals “Spaghetti West”, “Shitkickin’”, and the Ventures cover “Journey
to the Stars”. His vocals are pretty good, too, sounding very old-school
country on songs like “207 Miles” and “Down to the River”. I also like their
cover of the old country song “Truck Drivin’ Man”. I’d previously been familiar
with this song through the Cowslinger’s version (which I love), but BCB do it
slower and in a less campy fashion that works just as well. Overall,
‘Wellwater’ is a solid collection of songs with simple, raw production that
suits the material well. For more info, visit the band on the web at
http://www.bobscountrybunker.net. (Bob Ignizio)
John Butler
Trio's EP comes in a cool, very vintage looking package. Sometimes this would
be because something has to make you want to buy it, and the music lacks. But,
this is not the case with this record. This is a refreshing disc full of
unbelievable talent. Butler is a fantastic singer and a good musician, playing
acoustic guitars and some lap steel as well. The other musicians are also pretty
solid. The percussion is top notch. My favorite songs are the ones with
orchestral parts to them, like the opener "What You Want". Butler touches on
politics and the war in Iraq in the bluesy and country pickin' inspired
"Something's Gotta Give". The music is a mix of Rusted Root, Robert Randolph,
Robert Johnson, and Dave Matthews (if he was any good). I enjoyed this record
quite a bit, and it's not really something I'd usually be into. Check it out,
and be sure to catch the bonus video, too. (Eddie Fleisher)
One word of
warning: if you're looking for another bruising, beer-slamming, fist pounding
hard rock outing from Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society, then this is probably
not the album for you. Many who've heard this CD compare it to Alice in Chains'
"Jar Of Flies", and not in a derogatory manner. Though it's not quite *that*
mellow all the way through, it's still way more quiet and introspective than
we've come to expect from Zakk and the gang. You realize that something's amiss
on the very first song "Crash or High", a semi-acoustic bluesy piece that sets
up the rest of the album well. One favorite spot is the Beatlesesque
"Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow", with a groovy piano arrangement. Guitar freaks
still have plenty to make them drool over, including the lightening fast
interlude "Takillna". Other standout track include "Won't Find it Here" (where
Zakk sounds a bit like Chris Cornell), "House of Doom" (nice Byrds-like intro on
this one), and a truly impressive cover of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of
Pale", where Zakk does his best Gregg Allman impression with great results. I
love this CD, and will be listening to lots of it. Really, this CD is just what
the title implies: music for those times when pounding is just hurting.
Hangover music, indeed. The Heathen Hippy gives it four and a half aspirins.
(Taliesin Govannon)
These
guys blend punk and eighties underground metal in a way that reminds me of
another Cleveland band, the infamous Boulder. They’re a little more polished
sounding, especially in the vocal department, but the similarities are there
nonetheless. Likely influences include Motorhead, Venom, and Celtic Frost (note
the Tom G. Warrior-esque “Oooh” that starts off “Kick Me in the Heart”), and the
riffing and lead work is all metal, just stripped of its excesses. The attitude
and vocal style, however, are more punk inspired. All three tracks on this demo
are keepers. For more info, contact the band at
In ‘The Blues
Brothers’, Bob’s Country Bunker was a bar that hosted two kinds of live music:
country and western. But the Youngstown, Ohio band of the same name has spiced
things up with elements of rockabilly, garage rock, and sixties’ instrumental
rock. Of course, even their take on country leans a bit towards the rock side
of things. There’s plenty of twang, but the rough edged distorted guitars
probably wouldn’t go over well with the hardcore honky-tonk set. It suits me
just fine, though, as the band deftly jumps from one genre to another while
still maintaining a distinct sonic identity. Joe Shelby does double duty on
vocals and guitar. His guitar work is top notch, especially on the
instrumentals “Spaghetti West”, “Shitkickin’”, and the Ventures cover “Journey
to the Stars”. His vocals are pretty good, too, sounding very old-school
country on songs like “207 Miles” and “Down to the River”. I also like their
cover of the old country song “Truck Drivin’ Man”. I’d previously been familiar
with this song through the Cowslinger’s version (which I love), but BCB do it
slower and in a less campy fashion that works just as well. Overall,
‘Wellwater’ is a solid collection of songs with simple, raw production that
suits the material well. For more info, visit the band on the web at
John Butler
Trio's EP comes in a cool, very vintage looking package. Sometimes this would
be because something has to make you want to buy it, and the music lacks. But,
this is not the case with this record. This is a refreshing disc full of
unbelievable talent. Butler is a fantastic singer and a good musician, playing
acoustic guitars and some lap steel as well. The other musicians are also pretty
solid. The percussion is top notch. My favorite songs are the ones with
orchestral parts to them, like the opener "What You Want". Butler touches on
politics and the war in Iraq in the bluesy and country pickin' inspired
"Something's Gotta Give". The music is a mix of Rusted Root, Robert Randolph,
Robert Johnson, and Dave Matthews (if he was any good). I enjoyed this record
quite a bit, and it's not really something I'd usually be into. Check it out,
and be sure to catch the bonus video, too. (Eddie Fleisher)