Tag Archives: Album Review

Album Review: Mason Hill’s “Against The Wall”

Posted by caemanamelio on

Mason Hill’s debut album “Against The Wall” has been generating quite a buzz in the UK and it’s easy to see why. The effort is a powerful display of modern rock that is perfect for fans of artists like Theory Of A Deadman, Nickelback, and Shaman’s Harvest.

The effort kicks off with the slow intro track “Reborn,” before really blasting off with “No Regret.” The latter gives you a sense of what to expect from the rest of the record, catchy post-grunge tracks comprised of great musicianship and impeccable vocals.

As one moves further through the record, they will continue to find bangers such as the title track, “Broken Son,” and “D.N.A.” These three songs find the band at their best. They are infectious, anthemic, and keep the listener wanting more.

From there, things slow down a bit with the ballad “Who We Are,” before picking back up with “Find My Way” and “Hold On.” “Hold On” in particular is especially killer with a riffy, Black Stone Cherry vibe that you can’t help but jam to.

That energy then carries over to the power ballad “Out Of Reach” and the rockin’ “We Pray.” However, things start to slow down again with “Where I Belong,” which offers a more emotional side of the group’s sound as they bring everything full circle by ending with “Reborn (Prologue).”

All in all, “Against The Wall” is an amazing album from a band that have the potential to make it big in the future.

Album Review: The L.A. Maybe’s “Dirty Damn Tricks”

Posted by caemanamelio on

The L.A. Maybe, the band featuring Alvi Robinson, the man who famously lost his job to audition for AC/DC in 2016, will be releasing their new album “Dirty Damn Tricks” on Friday (March 26) and it is a must have for any rock fan.

The record opens with “Mr. Danger,” a song that sounds like it came straight out of the Australian rock scene, whether it be AC/DC or Airbourne. The track pumps the listener up, before “Sucker Punch” breaks in with more of a Guns N’ Roses sound.

As one moves further through the album, they will continue to find hard-hitting tracks such as “Oh Sugar” and “She’s Reckless.” The latter has a sound reminiscent of Charm City Devils and it definitely stands out as one of the highlights on the effort.

Straight up rockers aren’t the only thing that the band have to offer either. After “She’s Reckless,” the group begin to slow things down a bit with “Peace of Mind,” before going full-on power ballad with “When I’m Gone,” which has a southern tinged musicality that almost resembles songs like Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Tuesday’s Gone” at times.

After “When I’m Gone,” things pick up again with “Take Me Away” and “Sweet.” “Take Me Away” is especially catchy with an 80s vibe akin to acts like L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat. That song gives way to the final tracks on the album, “Fake” and “Up Next To You,” which wrap things up the way they started, with blasts of AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses style hard rock.

All in all, “Dirty Damn Tricks” is an amazing album that only further proves the fact that rock music is alive and well.

Album Review: Small Town Titans’ “The Ride”

Posted by caemanamelio on

Small Town Titans will be releasing their new album “The Ride” on Friday (November 13) and I was recently given the opportunity to listen to it early.

The effort blasts right out of the gate with the straight up rocker “Rufflin’ Feathers.” The track is chock-full of masterful guitar work combined with crushing drums and powerful vocals. Things only continue to get better as “The Man” completely hooks you, before one of the album’s highlights, “Behind The Moon,” hits you with a dose of soul.

“Behind The Moon” is followed by the catchy “Let Me Breathe,” the rocky “Universal Limits,” and the slow jam “9 To 5.” The latter, which serves as another album highlight, kind of gives off a country vibe, before things pick up again on the band’s grungy cover of Marcy Playground’s “Sex And Candy.”

As fans move towards the end of the record, they are greeted with the heavy as hell “When It All Comes Down,” which is sure to be a crowd pleaser when it’s safe for bands to play live again, and the infectious “Junkie For You (Hey Mama).” Those songs pave way for the title track, which closes the album by taking the listener on an epic, eight-minute journey.

All in all, “The Ride” is a killer hard rock record that has the potential to take the band to new heights.

Album Review: Magnolia Bayou’s “Strange Place”

Posted by caemanamelio on

Mississippi’s Magnolia Bayou will be releasing their new album “Strange Place” on September 24 and it is a must have for any rock fan.

The effort kicks off with “Dig Deep,” a rockin’ track that lets you know right from the beginning that the group have something special going on. The music has a southern fried 70’s vibe complete with the kind of soulful vocals and bluesy guitar work that you can’t help but move to. This trend extends throughout the record as fans are treated with killer songs like “Sugarspell,” “From The Other Side,” and “Thieves.”

The infectious music isn’t the only thing that keeps you hooked either. The storytelling within the songs is amazing as well. This is especially true on tracks like “Sleepin’ In The Dog House,” which deals with a man screwing up and getting kicked out while the dog gets to sleep in his bed, and “The Robber,” which deals with a man confronting a home invader.

Aside from the original music, the album also features some exceptional covers including the band’s takes on Eddie James “Son” House’s “Preachin’ Blues” and Leon Everette’s “Hurricane.” The latter is so good that it actually stands out as one of the effort’s highlights alongside the aforementioned “The Robber,” the catchy “Tupelo” and the slow jam “Sweet Magnolia.”

All in all, “Strange Place” is a rock masterpiece that has the potential to take Magnolia Bayou to new heights.

Album Review: Static-X’s “Project Regeneration Vol. 1”

Posted by caemanamelio on

Static-X are officially back with their new album “Project Regeneration Vol. 1.” The effort features songs that Tony Campos, Ken Jay, and Koichi Fukuda tracked with unreleased vocal recordings from the late Wayne Static and it is a must have for fans new and old.

The record opens with an intro track, titled “Regeneration,” which contains a simple message: “the unexpected thing tragedy gives us is the opportunity to rebuild.” This captures the essence of the record, which took tragedy (Wayne’s death) and used it to rebuild the band to honor the frontman and bring kick-ass music to the people.

After the intro, things really heat up with “Hollow (Project Regeneration).” The heavy track gives fans the kind of ”evil disco” that they have come to love from the group. This trend continues as the song gives way to “Worth Dyin For.”

“Worth Dyin For” is then followed by one of the record’s highlights, “Terminator Oscillator,” which blasts the listener with a dose of dancy, electronic-infused metal. The infectious nature of the song progresses as fans are presented with the groovin’ “All These Years” and the vicious “Accelerate.”

As one moves deeper through the album, they will continue to find gems such as “Bring You Down (Project Regeneration)” and “My Destruction.” The latter just makes you want to move and it helps pave the way for the catchy “Something Of My Own (Project Regeneration)” and the ferocious “Otsego Placebo,” which happens to be another standout on the album.

Towards the end of the record, “Follow” breaks in with one last bit of aggression, before things get a little slower with “Dead Souls.” That song ultimately brings everything together by closing the album with a shot of emotion.

All in all, “Project Regeneration Vol. 1” is a killer album that will keep you hooked the whole way through. Make sure to check out the effort when it’s officially released on Friday (July 10) and keep an eye out for news on “Project Regeneration Vol. 2.”

Album Review: Hollywood Undead’s “New Empire, Vol. 1”

Posted by caemanamelio on

Hollywood Undead never disappoint and their new album “New Empire, Vol. 1” is no exception. The effort combines elements of rock, rap, metal, and electronic music to create killer songs that are sure to satisfy longtime fans.

The record opens with the hard-hitting track “Time Bomb,” which pumps the listener up right from the start. It then continues to reel you in with dope songs like “Heart Of A Champion” and “Already Dead.”

As you move deeper into the album, you continue to find gems such as the extremely catchy “Empire” and the hip-hop/EDM influenced “Killin It.” Those tracks give way to one of the effort’s highlights, “Enemy,” which will definitely be a crowd pleaser during the band’s live shows.

Towards the end of the record, there are more surprises as fans are treated with some cool collaborative tracks including the infectious “Upside Down,” which features Kellin Quinn (Sleeping with Sirens), and the rockin’ “Second Chances,” which features Benji Madden (Good Charlotte). Those songs lead up to the closer, “Nightmare,” which wraps everything up with an emotional dose of hip-hop.

All in all, “New Empire, Vol. 1” is a genre bending piece of art that will keep the listener entertained the whole way through. Make sure to check out the album when it’s released on Friday (February 14) and keep an eye out for news on “New Empire, Vol. 2.”

Album Review: Blacktop Mojo’s “Under The Sun”

Posted by caemanamelio on

Blacktop Mojo’s new album “Under The Sun” will be released on Friday (September 13) and I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to listen to it early.

The effort busts right out of the gate with “Lay It On Me,” a hard rocking track that lets the listener know that the band are not messing around. Between the powerful, soulful vocals, the masterful riffing, and the killer drum work, you’re hooked right from the start. This trend continues as “Set It Free” breaks in before transitioning into the catchy “Come Get Your Coat.”

As you continue to move through the record, you really don’t want it to end, because every song is as killer as the last. Each one has it’s own flair and it doesn’t really matter if you’re listening to a bluesy number like “It Won’t Last” or a hard-hitting track like “All Mine Now,” because you’re in for a treat either way.

This is true all the way up to the end when the infectious title track kicks in. The song is a perfect closer that offers everything that fans have come to love from the group. In fact, it’s so infectious that the listener will inevitably press play once again at its conclusion.

All in all, “Under The Sun” is an incredible piece of art that has the potential to take Blacktop Mojo to new heights in the rock world.

Album Review: Awake At Last’s “The Change”

Posted by caemanamelio on

Awake At Last will release their debut full-length album “The Change” on June 21 and I was recently given the opportunity to listen to it early.

Musically, the effort takes hard rock and mixes it with catchy pop-like elements that hook you from the start. For instance, tracks like “Unobtainable” and “More Than Animals” are able to maintain a heavier side, while also providing an almost dancey vibe that makes you want to move and sing along.

Lyrically, the album works to inspire feelings of hope and encouragement. The title track, which features Spencer Charnas (Ice Nine Kills), is a perfect example of this, because it gives the listener the sense that they can be “The Change” that can better their lives or even the world. The same can be said about songs like “Bigger Picture,” which tells fans to “be the flame that brings a light to a world so dark,” and “Fallen Stars,” which closes the record by saying “We’re stronger together.”

All in all, “The Change” is a solid hard rock album full of pop sensibilities and meaningful lyrics that will keep you captivated the whole way through.

Album Review: Dead Girls Corp’s “Bloody Noses And Hand Grenades”

Posted by caemanamelio on

Dead Girls Corp released their new album “Bloody Noses And Hand Grenades” last month and it is definitely a fun listen for fans of gothic, industrial, and new wave music.

The group kick things off with “Dead Girl.” The song does a good job of setting the tone for the album, but things really start to pick up on the second track, “From The Bottom.” This is a heavy, electronic infused song that can really pump you up. It is definitely one of the highlights of the record.

Things stay just as killer when “X’s No O’s” attacks the listener with heavy riffage, before “Alleys of Death” hits them with a 90s industrial vibe that is sort of reminiscent of Marilyn Manson. As that song ends, the band continue to rock on the industrial post-punk anthem “Ask For It.”

Things start to change a bit on the band’s cover of Billy Idol’s “Flesh For Fantasy,” which sees them further exploring their electronic elements. This trend continues as the intro to “You Can’t Change” comes in, before it turns into another post-punk track that has a similar sound to earlier songs on the album.

Once “You Can’t Change” ends, another one of the album’s highlights, “Promise Me,” gets its time to shine. This one is an electronic ballad that really showcases the more emotional side of the band. It gives listeners a chance to feel before the record rocks them again with the catchy track “V Day.” That song is followed by the modern rock sounding “Just the Same” and the heavy/angry sounding “Dynamite.”

The effort finally comes to end with “Worth.” It’s a fitting conclusion that seems to combine a number of various musical elements from the album into one more headbang worthy track.

All in all, “Bloody Noses And Hand Grenades” is full on gothic, industrial, new wave madness that will keep listeners grooving the whole way through.

Album Review: Iron Age Mystics’ “Pride Before The Fall”

Posted by caemanamelio on

Iron Age Mystics have been releasing their debut album “Pride Before The Fall” in four separate parts and each section is full of rockin’ tunes that carry a message. The record is a political statement about the pressing issues of today and that’s why you really have to pay attention to the lyrics. The highlight of part one is “Save It For The Revolution,” a bluesy track that takes on the current flawed system. The highlight of part two is “Down Deep,” a catchy song that focuses on people who try to make a humanitarian difference in the world. The highlight of part three is “Big, Bad Motherfucker,” another political anthem that even has a quote from presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. The highlight of part four is “You’ve Got The Power,” a groovy track that let’s people know that everyone has the power to evoke change. All in all, “Pride Before The Fall” is a political protest album with solid musicianship. If you like music that tries to make statement, this one is definitely for you.