Thwomp in the House of Boo - This is the Hunger of Bears

In today's world of music, it's rare to hear a band with originality. The whole needle in the haystack metaphor comes to mind when looking through the stacks upon stacks of carbon copy, MySpace friendly bands whose songs run together from chug, to sing, to 4x4, to puberty. It's a shame to say too, because there are a handful of bands out there trying to develop their own substance, but unfortunately, so much is taken away from them by teensters waiting to get signed by the next guy living on his mother's couch.

Fortunately enough though, look no further. Out of the rolling hills of Verona Kentucky comes a Mario named band called Thwomp in the House of Boo, or TITHOB for short. Their debut, This is the Hunger of Bears came out some time ago, but for the sake of people who care about music's sanity, I figured I would throw a review of their record at you.

From start to finish, this is a spazzy heavy outlet that will leave you scratching your head (in a good way) wondering where you've just been for the last half hour. Though the band takes a undertone metalcore outline of heavy chugs and growling vocals as the basis of their musical ADD formula, they quickly flip it on its backside to redefine the sound.

The record is at its very core a heavy music record, however it draws bits and pieces of Sonic Youth esque distortion to give it a tossed salad type of feel. Though you may be listening to what sounds like some sort rock riff such as the beginning of "All Day Grillet" the records first actual song, you find yourself amidst an atmosphere of screaming noise and distortion later on, somewhat reminiscent of early Post-Hardcore bands such as Heroin, Antioch Arrow, or even genre defining At The Drive-In.

The band utilize a sense of noise among their breed of rock/post hardcore ideas very well, and perhaps the most exciting part of this record, is how young the band is in their musical endeavors. Great bands progress, but even this record has such a sense of outward progression already.

The only low points on this record lie in the recording, which you can't really expect much of on a basically independent band's debut album. The guitar tones are quite crunchy, but the mix itself is actually decent, and the mastering is perfect. The other drawback could be the vocals. At times, the deep growling seems a bit out of place for this band, but hey, you can't really knock a band pushing the boundaries of originality.

This record is a must have for fans of early post-hardcore, even people growing listening to bands like Thursday, considering TITHOB uses quite a bit of aggresive rock style riffs.

FINAL GRADE: A-

New Metallica Song - My Apocalypse

UMMMM
WOW!!!!

Thrash much?

Metallica Song Has Production Issues

As most may know, or maybe you don't.
But the new Metallica single has garnered quite a few complaints. Not because the song isn't good, because it's great, but the song has some mixing and mastering issues. The song distorts all the way through, and even clips on some parts.

I wonder who is getting fired over this...
because honestly, it's inexcusable.

[link]

Underoath - Lost in the Sound of Seperation

Over the past few years, Underoath have walked around the music scene witha huge X on their backs. Seemingly being the poster boys for our generations underground community. Their breakout record They're Only Chasing Safety became the sing songy scream songy anthemic record in which has been used as a blueprint for hundreds of carbon copy bands. 2006's Define The Great Line was supposed to be their opus, and with no pun inteded, their defining record. The record saw a decomposing of the hooky choruses, and a peak at the darkness in which the band gave a sense of.

To me, Define... was just a glimpse of what the band was capable of. While some where hailing them for what was their career record, I just sat back thinking... "there has to be more to this."
In my mind, I was right with the follow up to 2006's acclaimed record, this years Lost in the Sound of Seperation.

Judging by their single that was released quite some time before the actual release, it would seem the band fell into a lull of sorts. Simply reminiscing on what Define... had offered us. Something scary to most bands, especially Underoath, considering they ARE the poster boys.
Instead the album is absolutely everywhere. From beginning to end, the album has an omniscient, and creepy feel to it. With it's technical guitar composition, to the whaling noise in which they have fully invested themselves in.

Songs move along nicely, absolutely unpredictable, and the band has fully embraced, and bridged the gap between their biggest influences in which they have been so vocal about. Bands like Botch, and At the Drive In.

The album's forefront is a narrative on vocalist Spencer Chamberlains public struggle with substance abuse in the past year,and it seems the record starts off in a deep dark hole. Songs barely having any melody, barely any singing, highly bass driven, and minor chords fill tracks 1 through 4. The songs approach the heavier side of Underoath, and are enveloped in the description "DARK SONG".
This seems to be the case all the way up until track 5 "The End is Near". This is the transition track from complete darkness, as after this track it seems the songs get progressively lighter and more melodic, feeling clean vocalist Aaron Gillespie's incredible singing.

The songs from here are incredibly progressive and fast paced, and it isn't until the As Cities Burn esque track "Too Bright to See, Too Loud to Hear" that we realize this is truly a perfect record that has everything. Forget everything you ever knew about Underoath because this is the band that defines progressive music for our generation. If last generation had Zepplin, this generation has Underoath because for once, they have absolutely been the definition of progressing from record to record without repeating themselves. Rarely, if not ever do they replay any sense of what has made them famous. This is truly a perfect record.

FINAL GRADE: A+

Agraceful - The Great I Am

It's hard for me to pin point exactly where alot of musicians who are barely out of high school, or who should still be in high school are really coming from. It's just odd to me, it's also hard to find a sense of honesty in their music. I can honestly say, looking back on it, if the band I was in while in high school publicly released music, it would be an absolute joke. The thing about growing up a music lover is that you can look back on either the stuff you listened to when you were younger, or even the music you made and laugh.

In Agraceful's case, it's a similar fashion. This young band is the product of ex-Emarosa singer Chris Roetter re-uniting with old band mates to make a new record. The funny thing is, the band has been a band for less than a year, but luckily they have had a working relationship, and found a record deal in what I call the MySpace A&R label Sumerian Records.

With all that being said, the band's debut release The Great I Am is exactly what you would expect from a band of their nature. Simple song structures, low and high screaming parts for your teen angst, breakdowns galore, and oh yeah, you betcha, the ever so illustrious singing choruses.

For all parts, the band passes as generic, and something I honestly can't say is my cup of tee, and though I can't pinpoint it, the band does have some sort of different edge from their peers, however I will get to that in a second. Though the record is pretty cookie cutter, it is honestly catchy as hell and has stayed on repeat for the past few days because I can't get the melodies out of my head.

The record was produced by Grant Beachy at Electric Angel Studios (The Revival Sound, O Jerusalem). Yeah, you saw my bands name to the left, and guilty as charged, I do have a biased opinion. However, the production is pinpoint. Extremely stripped down and crisp.

Bottom line with this record and this band, is like their peers, it's hard to pass any sense of judgment because of how young they are. The key is to watch what they do on their next two releases, and therefore, see the sense of progression they endure. If it's the same thing, I would say write them off, however, i'm an optimist, and this record IS on my good side, so im excited to see what happens next.

FINAL GRADE: B

Book Chat With Rainn Wilson

Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute on the Office) has a video podcast called Book Chat With Rainn Wilson. It's hilarious. Here is the first episode, you can check the rest of them out on YouTube.

Anberlin - New Surrender

I have to admit that I was shocked when I had heard that Anberlin was making another record as soon as they were. The follow up to their highly successful, and impressive title Cities, is New Surrender.

This album is rough before listening, simply because of the fact that it's the follow up to what was probably their career defining record. From the start I have to admit I was scratching my head. The songs seem as if they would have been on one of their previous records, almost a digression of maturity. The songs lack presence, and the melodies aren't as straight forward as many of their songs, and like most Anberlin records some songs stick out as being good, but other are simply forgettable.

For most Anberlin fans, I think all will like this record, however this will not be the album they are remembered for, and i'm sure if they have a deep catalog, this may even be the one that is disregarded as whole. Not saying the record is bad, it just doesn't have the presence and larger than life power pop prowess in which was so apparent in previous releases.

Now that isn't saying this record doesn't have high points. Perhaps the best track is one of the better Anberlin songs i've heard in a while, the last track "Misearbile Visu" sounds like it came directly out of a Death Cab For Cutie record, and sounds quite impressive for the soul fact that it's different. Maybe it's not the direction I or most fans would want to see them take completely, but it's a good track.
Also pop heavy songs like "Haight St." will keep you singing over and over again. I actually love this song. There are some other really great tracks on this one, but I think the lowest point of this record is in the re-recorded version of "The Feel Good Drag" which was on of the more powerful tracks on their sophomore effort Never Take Friendship Personal. The song just sounds terrible re-recorded, and it's way too stripped down from the original. It sounds like a b-side.

Though this isn't their best effort, I think it's worth picking up, just don't go out of your way to learn the words to every song, simply because I don't think most of them will end up on set lists down the road.

FINAL GRADE: B-

The Showdown - Back Breaker

The Showdown rather it was live, or on their last record Temptation Come My Way, the band could be perceived as a complete joke. Temptation was my pick for worst album of the year last year, and it was tough considering they produced an extremely impressive debut album. Their first record was a Southern Metal onslaught, complete with songs about battle, blood, and war, something that fit the demeanor perfect.

On their latest release Back Breaker, the band has rekindled old flames of straight forward metal, and even taking tidbits from Temptation, and chocking them into a mixture that works.

Gone are the cheesy lyrics about Christian perseverance, and back are songs of victory, and war, all themed around Greek mythology (song titles labeled as Achilles, Aphrodite, and Odysseus), the lyrics on this record are just as heavy as the music.

Musically, it's straight forward metal, with Metallica/Pantera esque choruses that do just fine. Some standout tracks are songs like "Back Breaker" "You Will Move" and "Give Us This Day", perhaps the heaviest track on the record. Its weak point comes in "The Hellhound Awaits" a ballad that seems like a B-Side from Temptation.

Bottom line is that this record is one of THE HEAVIEST I've heard this year, and all in all The Showdown is back to their old ways and I couldn't be more excited.

FINAL GRADE: A

Set Your Goals Eulogy Records Contract Bought Out, Self-Releasing Next Album?

Caught wind of this over at Lambgoat.
You can read their story here.

In the story, the band talks about self-releasing their next record. Could be one of the first bands of their size to decide to do this.

We'll see what happens.
Good luck to them.

Updates...

Hey people who read this...
Which I have no idea who does. But hey... I guess i'll post blindly.

Anyways, sorry I haven't been posting as much, i'm still busy with the summer winding down, but I got to go to the aquarium yesterday which was pretty sweet.

I'm gonna have a few CD reviews for people, i've had some people ask me to review some CD's that recently came out, including the new Norma Jean, Wrench in the Works, and I just snagged the new Sounds of Animals Fighting.

Also more random tidbits of news as always.

Take it easy.
Check back.

Also follow me on TWITTER

Comic Booking

So to continue with my little comic book adventure that I started with re-reading The Dark Knight returns...

I finished Wolverine Evolution this past weekend and it was great. Then I sat around and thought of ways to feed my addiction without actually buying another graphic novel, and remembered I had Marvel Civil War 1-6 sitting on a shelf, never been read.

So...
That's what i'm working on now!
Haha

I'll keep you updated

Metallica- Cyanide (OFFICIAL NEW SONG)

If you're as stoked about this as I am, this should put alot of questions to rest. If the rest of this record is like this... Metallica is back as far as im concerned.

This song definitely has a Kill em All/Ride the Lightning/Black Album feel to it, with a little bit more agro sense.

Sounds great.

Nice Record Covers

Buzzgrinder posted this, and my love for Graphic Design is re-posting it.
This blog posted a list of really nice album covers. Actually im not even sure what the list is for, I didn't even read it haha... just looked at the covers.

Check it...

[link]

Reading the Dark Knight Returns

So recently I picked back up The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller (Sin City, 300). It's an amazing graphic novel that i've had for a while, I just don't think I ever finished it.

Anyways...
For those kinda looking to explore their imaginations...
I recommend picking it up like I have and reading it as a sequel to the Dark Knight movie. It offers quite a bit of closure/continuity to the story. It picks up in the future when Bruce Wayne/Batman is older. The Joker is also older but starts up his tricks again. Harvey Dent is dead, but Two Face reigns. It's pretty sweet to read it this way, even going so far as reading it with Ledger's Joker voice in my head. That's pretty sweet. Batman also has a tank like in the movie haha.

Read it
It's good times.

I See Movies Because I Like Certain Actors

I do... I can't help it.
And in this case I like Michael Cera, although his characters are always generally the same, I love him, and honestly he just hasn't been in enough where i'm tired of it.

Check out this flick...