While
time will tell whether this Cleveland instrumental band really does have an
infinite number of sounds, they certainly do their best to provide sonic variety
on ‘Radio Whales’. Songs range in intensity from the contemplative and
melancholy to joyfully aggressive power riffing, often in the same track. The
traditional rock foundation of bass, guitar, and drums is augmented by all
flavors of keyboards, synthesizers, and electronic percussion. There’s even a
sample of a didgeridoo on the percussion workout “Duidre”. There are elements
of metal/hard rock, synth pop, indie rock, experimental electronica, and even
beatnik jazz and gypsy folk music on “The Red Human-Headed Bull”, the only track
with vocals, albeit spoken ones. But rather than sounding like a mish-mash of
styles everything blends together cohesively. It’s hard for me to think of
another band to compare this to. Maybe members of Ozric Tentacles, Depech Mode,
and 5ive Style getting together to jam. Favorite tracks are album opener “Fast
Fashion”, “Kiss My Converse”, and “Mouth to Hand” but it’s all really good. And
if you’re one of those people who think of instrumental music as “background
music”, let me assure you there’s plenty to pay attention to here. Rock/pop
music doesn’t need vocals to have hooks, as ‘Radio Whales’ ably demonstrates.
(Bob Ignizio)
Liquid
Earth is one damn difficult band to classify, that's for sure! Actually, the
principle band I'd compare them with is Canada's Tea Party, but seeing as to how
so few of you out there actually know who Tea Party is, the analogy doesn't go
far. Imagine a darker vision of Led Zeppelin doing a psychedelic jam with the
lead singer of Tonic at the helm, and you're getting close. This is truly
genre-splitting music at it's best, appealing at the same moment to both the alt
crowd and traditional metalheads. The lyrics are deep, and lead singer Matthew
Besco's voice is hauntingly melodic while being totally original. Guitarists Tim
Rose and Tony Dallacheisa are skilled musicians who know when to rip and when to
hang back...a rare feat these days. The rhythm section of bassist Dave
McCandlish and Tyler Grace are tight but loose, another much sought for but
rarely achieved state. The production on this EP could have been better...the
guitars need to be louder...but that's a small matter that is easily fixed.
Overall, the ‘Falling Down’ EP has left me wanting more, and looking forward to
this band's first full-length album. The Heathen Hippy gives it four original
stars. (Taliesin Govannon)
This
album blew me away twice. The first time, it was when I first listened to it.
’Vermin’ is a stunning tour de force of symphonic black metal, the kind of album
you play for someone who's never heard the genre before to show them how it's
supposed to sound. The guitars are memorably melodic and yet punishing, the
drums are machine-gun perfect, the keyboards accent without overpowering, and
the vocals are the right blend of ominous and extreme. What blew me away the
second time was when I learned that it was almost all the same person! With the
exception of the drums (which were supplied by Reno Kiilerich), everything on
the album is played by Galder (who also plays guitar in Dimmu Borgir). This is
the true product of single vision, and it's a vision I want to see more of. Not
only is the playing great and the production superb, the songs themselves
outshine anything I've heard in a long time. This is everything I expect
symphonic black metal to be, and this album will define the style for years to
come. If you've never heard this kind of music before, or are already a fan, do
yourself a favor and pick up a copy of ‘Vermin’ today! The Heathen Hippy gives
it five awestruck pentacles. (Taliesin Govannon)
Well, the
promise that Penetrator showed on their three-song preview of this album is
borne out by the full disk. This album is kickin, and it's a refreshing old
fashioned chunk of heavy metal, with no extraneous tags or sub-genres needed.
This band has taken everything good about arena metal from the 80's (melody,
great riffs, catchy hooks, etc), and weeded out everything bad from that era (preteniousness,
posing, ceese ball lyrics). Fans of Armored Saint, Omen, Virgin Steele, and
Yngwie Malmsteen will love this album. This band is definitely one to watch!
The Heathen Hippy gives it four studded leather wristbands. (Taliesin Govannon)
While
time will tell whether this Cleveland instrumental band really does have an
infinite number of sounds, they certainly do their best to provide sonic variety
on ‘Radio Whales’. Songs range in intensity from the contemplative and
melancholy to joyfully aggressive power riffing, often in the same track. The
traditional rock foundation of bass, guitar, and drums is augmented by all
flavors of keyboards, synthesizers, and electronic percussion. There’s even a
sample of a didgeridoo on the percussion workout “Duidre”. There are elements
of metal/hard rock, synth pop, indie rock, experimental electronica, and even
beatnik jazz and gypsy folk music on “The Red Human-Headed Bull”, the only track
with vocals, albeit spoken ones. But rather than sounding like a mish-mash of
styles everything blends together cohesively. It’s hard for me to think of
another band to compare this to. Maybe members of Ozric Tentacles, Depech Mode,
and 5ive Style getting together to jam. Favorite tracks are album opener “Fast
Fashion”, “Kiss My Converse”, and “Mouth to Hand” but it’s all really good. And
if you’re one of those people who think of instrumental music as “background
music”, let me assure you there’s plenty to pay attention to here. Rock/pop
music doesn’t need vocals to have hooks, as ‘Radio Whales’ ably demonstrates.
(Bob Ignizio)
Liquid
Earth is one damn difficult band to classify, that's for sure! Actually, the
principle band I'd compare them with is Canada's Tea Party, but seeing as to how
so few of you out there actually know who Tea Party is, the analogy doesn't go
far. Imagine a darker vision of Led Zeppelin doing a psychedelic jam with the
lead singer of Tonic at the helm, and you're getting close. This is truly
genre-splitting music at it's best, appealing at the same moment to both the alt
crowd and traditional metalheads. The lyrics are deep, and lead singer Matthew
Besco's voice is hauntingly melodic while being totally original. Guitarists Tim
Rose and Tony Dallacheisa are skilled musicians who know when to rip and when to
hang back...a rare feat these days. The rhythm section of bassist Dave
McCandlish and Tyler Grace are tight but loose, another much sought for but
rarely achieved state. The production on this EP could have been better...the
guitars need to be louder...but that's a small matter that is easily fixed.
Overall, the ‘Falling Down’ EP has left me wanting more, and looking forward to
this band's first full-length album. The Heathen Hippy gives it four original
stars. (Taliesin Govannon)
This
album blew me away twice. The first time, it was when I first listened to it.
’Vermin’ is a stunning tour de force of symphonic black metal, the kind of album
you play for someone who's never heard the genre before to show them how it's
supposed to sound. The guitars are memorably melodic and yet punishing, the
drums are machine-gun perfect, the keyboards accent without overpowering, and
the vocals are the right blend of ominous and extreme. What blew me away the
second time was when I learned that it was almost all the same person! With the
exception of the drums (which were supplied by Reno Kiilerich), everything on
the album is played by Galder (who also plays guitar in Dimmu Borgir). This is
the true product of single vision, and it's a vision I want to see more of. Not
only is the playing great and the production superb, the songs themselves
outshine anything I've heard in a long time. This is everything I expect
symphonic black metal to be, and this album will define the style for years to
come. If you've never heard this kind of music before, or are already a fan, do
yourself a favor and pick up a copy of ‘Vermin’ today! The Heathen Hippy gives
it five awestruck pentacles. (Taliesin Govannon)