|
Friday, July 18, 2003
"'The Renaissance' by E-Town Concrete"
by
Bill Vogel III
July 18, 2003 A.D.
From diversity to brutality, E-Town Concrete does it all well. Their 2003 opus, "The Renaissance" [Razor & Tie Records], captures the multitude of influences reflected in their style. Just like their name implies, this amalgamation of varied qualities creates a solid, heavy sound.
Playing a loose, powerful form of Hardcore, E-Town Concrete fuses Melodic Hardcore and Metalcore dynamics. Clean and growled vocals explode within tight blasts of guitar roar. Funk rhythms permeate the waves of aggression, giving it a free-flowing groove. The result is a diverse, yet strangely cohesive feel.
The best of these tracks includes the Funky wallop of "Mandibles," "Baptism," "Battle Lines," "More Than Incredible," and the hellish growl of "The Heart Of The Wolves." E-Town Concrete kicks-it-out hard and hostile.
Overall, E-Town Concrete has a good one here. Let the Renaissance begin! Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Waterdown, Thursday, A Static Lullaby,
Silverstein, Hatebreed, Pressure 4-5,
OneSideZero, Boysetsfire, Taking Back
Sunday, Atreyu, Hoods, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 12:37 PM
"'Summoning' by Twelfth Gate"
by
Bill Vogel III
July 17, 2003 A.D.
When it comes to Power Metal, few bands can really cut it. But one band that can is Twelfth Gate. Their 2003 opus, "Summoning" [Crash Inc. Records], is as solid as they come.
Strong, Progress vocals sails through heavy, wandering guitar riffs. Rhythms are loose yet intense-melding the massive pieces of this hulking colossus together. Acolytes of the style will be well pleased by Twelfth Gate's skilled salvo of obliteration.
Songs of note include "Orpheus," the dark crunch of "Mortal Coil," "Malevolent Skies," "Waiting In Shadows," and "Forgotten Names." Twelfth Gate cuts a heavy groove.
Overall, this is one stellar performance. Twelfth Gate shows a promising talent for the Power Metal genre. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Nevermore, Meliah Rage, Terra Nova,
etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 9:41 AM
Sunday, July 13, 2003
"'So Long, Astoria' by Ataris"
by
Bill Vogel III
July 12, 2003 A.D.
One of the finest examples of high-grade, Pop Punk perfection has to be the Ataris. Point-in-fact, they tore-it-up on "The Jimmy Kimmel Show" (ABC) last night, doing a blistering cover of Don Henley's "The Boys Of Summer" and the original "In This Diary." The Ataris are the archetype for Pop Punk greatness.
Their 2003 masterpiece, "So Long, Astoria" [Columbia Records], is both melodic and metallic, featuring a slight Hardcore edge. Clean, yelled vocals dance through a maelstrom of churning guitars and hook-drenched rhythms. It's as catchy as it is intense, having enough teeth to make it truly glorious.
Out of this amazing collection of cuts, the best ones include the sing-able melancholy of "I Won't Spend Another Night Alone (New Version)," the retrospect wisdom of "In This Diary," "Hero Dies In This One," their killer rendition of Don Henley's "The Boys Of Summer," and the powerful "All You Can Ever Learn Is What You Already Know." The Ataris are an incredible band.
Overall, The Ataris have outdone themselves again with "So Long, Astoria." This is one band that just keeps getting better and better. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Unwritten Law, Donnas, American Hi-Fi,
Simple Plan, All-American Rejects,
Sum 41, Wakefield, Rancid, Blink 182,
Wheatus, Fenix TX, Green Day, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 6:23 PM
/// ///
|
|
|