Rob Zombie, right now, is an artist whose name seems to be on every English rock music fan's lips. He finally made his return to the UK live scene after 12 years in support of his new album, Hellbilly Deluxe 2, and has had rave reviews from every show.
The album, however, seems to divide opinions. A sequel to Hellbilly Deluxe, number 2 seems to lack the epicness of the first. Taken as a stand alone album, there's plenty stand out tracks though, Mars Needs Women and Sick Bubblegum to name a couple. Sick Bubblegum has a very catchy, singalong 'chorus' of sorts in 'Rock, motherfucker', which gets you nodding and singing along before you can stop yourself.
In a way, there seems to be a forumla Mr Zombie sticks to on this album, which is by no means a bad thing. He writes about what he loves, which is horror in all it's forms, and it works well for him.
John 5 being the guitarist on Hellbilly Deluxe 2 was one of the best moves Rob Zombie made in making the album however. His guitar tone and tight, stylish solos bring a lot of the songs to life when coupled with Zombie's trademark vocals.
Previously mentioned, Mars Needs Women is the best track on the album for me. With an acoustic section at the beginning before diving in to a pounding drum beat to accompany the chants of 'Mars needs women, angry red women' and what can only be described as squealing guitar work from John 5. There are a few tracks which are just as good that follow, but nothing which can better it.
Overall, Hellbilly Deluxe 2 is a great album for existing Rob Zombie fans, but for a newcomer looking for his best work, the first Hellbilly Deluxe is better form. There are parts of his old sound in the new offering, but there's certainly no Dragula-esque masterpieces present here.
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Dropkick Murphys - Going Out In Style (Review)
Dropkick Murphys are one of those bands that you'll feel the need to move around to, no matter if you're a fan or not. Their latest album 'Going Out In Style' shows exactly that, with the familiar upbeat punk that they are known for. Going Out In Style tells a story, making it the band's first concept album, and traces the life of an immigrant character named Cornelius Larkin. The story traces over Cornelius' live after his passing, from both his point of view and the band's views of his life.
Regardless of the fact this is an album telling a story, each of the high energy songs can be taken as a singluar entity and enjoyed just as much. With guests such as Fat Mike and Bruce Springsteen on title track Going Out In Style and Peg O' My heart respectively, it shows how well respected Dropkick Murphys are in the music world, and shows that music does not have to be serious and complex all the time.
The album begins with a energetic and fast paced track 'Hang 'em High' which on one hand is typical Dropkick Murphys, but on the other is different to the rest of the album as both Al Barr (vocals) and Ken Casey (bass) alternate on main vocals. The contract between their voices adds an extra element to the song, which makes for interesting listening. The brash, aggressive voice of Barr is a lot different to the uplifting calm of Casey's, but it works perfectly.
Following the opening track is the title track of the album, which is a personal favourite of mine. It sums up the band and album for me, which is a group of guys who would be able to take the most subdued person and make them unable to stay still. Listening through the album makes you feel like you're at a live show, and there's very few albums can do that on every listen.
Slowing the pace a little, Memorial Day is one of the tracks on the album that shows their ability for diversity. The track is more pop-like than punk, but it shows that change isn't always a bad thing. Granted, it will divide listeners down the middle, some claiming Dropkick Murphys have ''sold out'' and aren't sticking true to their roots, but there will be the fans that appreciate a little change of direction, albeit for a single track.
Another of the many gems on Going Out In Style is Peg O' My Heart. Infused with the vocals of Bruce Springsteen and powerful riffs, the gang vocals just top off a song where the cover is better than the original.
When you reach the end of the album, you've been on a journey through a man's life, but feel like you should be reaching for another drink and partying late in to the night. Going Out In Style is complex and diverse, but Dropkick Murphys have not sacrificed an inch of their energy or passion to reach their goal, they've added to it. Dropkick Murphys create the kind of high-energy tracks that the music world should be thankful for, and Going Out In Style just proves that age is irrelevant when it comes to being a truly great band.
Regardless of the fact this is an album telling a story, each of the high energy songs can be taken as a singluar entity and enjoyed just as much. With guests such as Fat Mike and Bruce Springsteen on title track Going Out In Style and Peg O' My heart respectively, it shows how well respected Dropkick Murphys are in the music world, and shows that music does not have to be serious and complex all the time.
The album begins with a energetic and fast paced track 'Hang 'em High' which on one hand is typical Dropkick Murphys, but on the other is different to the rest of the album as both Al Barr (vocals) and Ken Casey (bass) alternate on main vocals. The contract between their voices adds an extra element to the song, which makes for interesting listening. The brash, aggressive voice of Barr is a lot different to the uplifting calm of Casey's, but it works perfectly.
Following the opening track is the title track of the album, which is a personal favourite of mine. It sums up the band and album for me, which is a group of guys who would be able to take the most subdued person and make them unable to stay still. Listening through the album makes you feel like you're at a live show, and there's very few albums can do that on every listen.
Slowing the pace a little, Memorial Day is one of the tracks on the album that shows their ability for diversity. The track is more pop-like than punk, but it shows that change isn't always a bad thing. Granted, it will divide listeners down the middle, some claiming Dropkick Murphys have ''sold out'' and aren't sticking true to their roots, but there will be the fans that appreciate a little change of direction, albeit for a single track.
Another of the many gems on Going Out In Style is Peg O' My Heart. Infused with the vocals of Bruce Springsteen and powerful riffs, the gang vocals just top off a song where the cover is better than the original.
When you reach the end of the album, you've been on a journey through a man's life, but feel like you should be reaching for another drink and partying late in to the night. Going Out In Style is complex and diverse, but Dropkick Murphys have not sacrificed an inch of their energy or passion to reach their goal, they've added to it. Dropkick Murphys create the kind of high-energy tracks that the music world should be thankful for, and Going Out In Style just proves that age is irrelevant when it comes to being a truly great band.
Friday, 25 February 2011
Black Spiders - Sons Of The North (Review)
In 2010 and the early months of 2011, Black Spiders seem to have been caught in a whirlwind, skyrocketing them in to the mouths and ears of many.
Sons of The North is the debut album from a group of guys who have worked solidly since forming to make it, releasing EPs and taking any support slot they could amongst lengthy headline tours, and they deserve everything they've acheived so far. Sons Of The North opens with a track called Stay Down, which makes a perfect opener for an album such as this. It sets the pace perfectly, which assaults your ears with fast paced and engergetic music, lyrics that get stuck in your head, riffs that can send shivers down your spine and a solo that will sound gigantic in a live setting. You'd think that following Stay Down would be difficuly, but the tracks that follow are just as great at the one preceding them.
The album goes from strength the strength with tracks such as the fantastic 'KISS Tried To Kill Me' which has been a favourite in setlists for a while.
Another stand out track is Mans Ruin. It wouldn't sound out of place on an album by many bands, but there's still something that sets it apart from the norm. As with every track I've heard by this band, on both this album and previous releases, the vocals and lyrics just grab you, and mixed together with the sludge-esque guitar and bass riffs, form a song that you know will be huge, given the chance.
Overall, the album is one of the best of the year so far, sticking to a formula that works for the band, but still bringing something fresh to a somewhat stagnant mainstream scene. There does not seem to be one bad moment in the 10 tracks on what can only be classed as an outstanding debut. The majority of these songs will work fantasically when they're played live, and if they sound even half as good as they do on record, I would love to be at those gigs.
Influenced by: Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Motorhead
Top track: KISS Tried To Kill Me
Sons of The North is the debut album from a group of guys who have worked solidly since forming to make it, releasing EPs and taking any support slot they could amongst lengthy headline tours, and they deserve everything they've acheived so far. Sons Of The North opens with a track called Stay Down, which makes a perfect opener for an album such as this. It sets the pace perfectly, which assaults your ears with fast paced and engergetic music, lyrics that get stuck in your head, riffs that can send shivers down your spine and a solo that will sound gigantic in a live setting. You'd think that following Stay Down would be difficuly, but the tracks that follow are just as great at the one preceding them.
The album goes from strength the strength with tracks such as the fantastic 'KISS Tried To Kill Me' which has been a favourite in setlists for a while.
Another stand out track is Mans Ruin. It wouldn't sound out of place on an album by many bands, but there's still something that sets it apart from the norm. As with every track I've heard by this band, on both this album and previous releases, the vocals and lyrics just grab you, and mixed together with the sludge-esque guitar and bass riffs, form a song that you know will be huge, given the chance.
Overall, the album is one of the best of the year so far, sticking to a formula that works for the band, but still bringing something fresh to a somewhat stagnant mainstream scene. There does not seem to be one bad moment in the 10 tracks on what can only be classed as an outstanding debut. The majority of these songs will work fantasically when they're played live, and if they sound even half as good as they do on record, I would love to be at those gigs.
Influenced by: Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Motorhead
Top track: KISS Tried To Kill Me
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