Slanderous libel and hearsay about heavy metal. Throwing Goats = Putting Up Devil Horns. Get it? Your fingers are horns and by pumping your horned fist, it's like you're throwing a goat? Nevermind, it's a visual thing.
Yo, this shit is hard as fuck! Seriously, this demo came outta nowhere and punches you right in the face from the moment the first song, “Scalp the Pioneer”, starts. This demo is 2 tracks, each with a nice blend of fast power violence-esque parts (I’m thinking Apartment 213), some sick 2-step/thrashy parts (like my boys in Ground do) and topped off with some of the nastiest breakdowns you’ll ever hear. STP does well in incorporating each of these elements into these two songs and these tracks will just pummel you from start to finish. Just heavy riffs, punishing drums and nasty high screams all mixed together that makes me wish this demo was longer and makes me want more. Definitely check this out if you’re into fast hardcore with sick breakdowns. 4.5/5 download, support and blast this shit outta your speakers. edit: this is actually just 2 sample songs for a release with more songs, stoked!
Do you like hard, dirty, metallic hardcore punk that sounds
like it came straight outta Scandinavia circa 1982? If so, you’ll definitely
dig this release by Dunning Kruger from Philly. I got to play with these dudes
a few months back and they definitely captured their harsh live sound within
this release. This tape is six songs of raw as fuck hardcore punk that clocks
in at around ten minutes. The riffs are metallic, while the drums and vocals
are more akin to those 80s Scandi hardcore and crust bands, so there’s a nice
blend that both punks/hardcore lovers and metalheads can enjoy. You can tell
that these dudes know what the fuck they are doing and what kind of sound they
are going for, as the recording itself sounds like there were no bullshit
studio tricks involved. I jammed these tracks a shit ton and I feel like y’all
should definitely check this out. 4/5 must download – Definitely looking forward to future releases
So like my review of the Shinobi tape, Carlos Danger! is a project that I may not do justice to in my review, but I actually found these songs to be quite catchy after a few listens. Death at a Birthday Party is six songs of acoustic pop punk with a vocal style similar to that style, with the occasional scream for some added emotion in a few of the tracks. Ryan’s riffs are super fucking catchy though and I feel like this ep is the perfect soundtrack for either a long road trip or for simply just chillin at the park (like me, right now). Maybe it’s because I am getting older and have experienced the early-mid 2000’s metalcore scene firsthand, but I feel like if this came out in 2002, Ryan would be an opening act on an A Long Winter tour (I mean that as a compliment, of course). Obviously I wish there were drums and a full band to accompany Ryan on these tracks, but as they are now, they are still interesting and worth a download. I’d be stoked as fuck if there were some drum tracks added to these songs in the future. 3/5 (4/5 if you normally listen to this kinda stuff) – I can appreciate the musicianship but probably not something I’d go out of my way to listen to on my own.
There’s something very familiar about Shinobi’s Tape No. 1, something that makes me feel super nostalgic as memories of late 80’s and early-mid 90’s grunge and alt-rock seep into my mind as the first song, New Wave, starts. I may not be the best person to review this demo, but each song is super catchy and I found myself humming along to Johnny’s vocals throughout the majority of it. While the songs are catchy, there is definitely sprinkles of heaviness, guitar feedback and punchy, punishing drums scattered about in each song (Ala Quicksand). The demo itself consists of 3 songs: New Wave, Ripoff and Bullet from a Gun. Out of the three, Ripoff is my favorite as it hits hard and never lets up. If you feel like listening to something that’s very different, something that sets itself apart from a lot of the other bands around the Philadelphia and Central New Jersey area, then definitely check out Shinobi’s Tape No. 1.--- 4/5 – definitely worth a download, would jam in my car.
I’ll be totally honest and say that I have never been a huge
fan of drum machine bands, or drum programmed bands. However, this demo (coming
in under 4 minutes) is an excellent blend of heavy grinding riffs and super
harsh vocals, so it’s easy to look past the drums. Jordan’s vocals are on
point, as always, and his style and range proves once again why he is one of
the best (and most underrated) grindcore vocalists around today (check Priapus or brainXtoilet if you haven’t already). The lyrics add a dissonance to each
song, along with feelings of rotting and withering—perfect for this type of
material. The demo itself consists of 6 short songs, filled with both heavy and
blast-tastic brutality that any fan of grindcore will be able to appreciate.
The longest song is a minute and six seconds, so if you have a short attention
span, you will enjoy this release. 3.5/5 – worth a download, would listen again.
I didn't enjoy this. Nothing stood out. It was all pretty lame.
Like all of their late-catalog, there are moments of good guitar work, but the abundance of weird clean parts, dancey programmed drums, pop rock parts and the menagerie of variously styled, but ultimately saccharine, breathy and effects drenched vocals ruin it for me. This album, in particular, has more than you average number of pop-metal parts and there's a children's children's choir in multiple songs.
At times, it sounds like late period Offspring, of which I am also not a fan, although I would blast through an Offspring Challenge.
In light of how little this record impacted me, let's see what other people had to say:
Amazon 1-star Review:
I had the displeasure of listening to this album a few times in the past few days at work and on my commute. Unfortunately, this album was very poor compared to In Flames' other works... There isn't a single track from the album that I can recommend.
Amazon 5-star Review:
Great album. I heard other reviews claiming that there was a nu-metal touch, like that's a bad thing... Very mature and evolved album that follows their current trend of albums, only better.
Four reviews from Youtube, which I can only assume are, respectively, two positive reviews and two negative reviews:
It also teaches us that the Russians speak Spanish, and also that liking the new In Flames is un-American.
All in all. I think current In Flames sounds like they'd be the dopest, phatest, most turnt Christian Metal band. So bad. I'm so happy this is over. 0 Goats.
"Forgettable" is how I would describe this album. I listened to it on Friday and, as I sit here on Tuesday, all lasting impression is gone. This album came and went and was fine, I guess.
I have notes from when I listened to it, though:
The all clean vocal songs make it feel more proggy, which isn't terrible, I guess. Like listening to the second Sons of Aurelius album:
After falling in love with the first Sons of Aurelius album:
Ultimately, it took some getting used to, but I like both albums now. I commented that, similarly, maybe I could get to like newer In Flames. That was past-Josh. Present Josh is much less open-minded.
It's more industrial metal or nu-metal than or Alt Metal than other In Flames.
There are several notes saying that I'm not enjoying it.
I compared part of a song to Creed.
I apparently really didn't like when the World Exploded (dumb title).
I noted that my mind wandered alot, again. For instance, how does writing in In Flames work? Like, does one guy come in with some heat like "Hey guys, I have this gnarly metal riff" and everyone gets pumped and Anders is like "yeah, then I can cry-yell over this part and we'll layer in some synths" and everyone just begrudgingly agrees, because they're getting paid, or are they all on board with this nonsense?
I commented that Rusted Nail started promising, but would turn bad, then it turned bad.
I don't remember much about this listen, so here's what other people have to say:
The album Charted well, for the most part. #1 on Swedish, Finnish and US Hard Rock charts
It was not universally loved, #87 on French charts - they do not give a shit about alternative metal.
Allmusic.com says it's:
"a bit too casual... a solidly written and executed metal album" and that fans of the bands latest material will likely enjoy it.
An About.com reviewer says it's:
"not the abomination some have made it out to be."
Sputnikmusic says it's:
"an unforgivable misstep containing oversights in both songwriting and execution that such a veteran band should be able to spot and correct."
I think those are probably accurate-ish. Ultimately, the guitar work is on point. The vocals and the general performance are not. If this is your thing, whatever it is, then it's a great example of this thing. One with stellar guitar work and dynamic song writing at times, synth washes and very emotive vocals at others. It strikes me as music that would get angst-riddled teens into Soilwork and Dark Tranquility. Ultimately, not for me.
So what now, you ask? The Challenge is over, you say? There are no more In Flames albums, you propose! NAY, I SAY TO THEE!
I found Battles on a Russian metal blog. Up next, 2016's Battles!
