Back From Hiatus/Updates

Hey friends,
Sorry for the long vacation from the blog. My excuse is honestly because there weren't a SUPER whole lot of great reviews, however, I will have a few coming up soon.

Also, im going to be changing up the format a little bit, not only am I going to review music, but a whole SLEW of other things, including movies, books, games, and even news which I will be doing frequently.

Hope to get some guest reviews on this thing as well.
Anyways, hope everyone had a good holiday. We're FINALLY getting some snow here in Lex.

Love
-jayeMOSH

Chiodos- Bone Palace Ballet

Chiodos was kind of the cinderella story of two years ago. The post-hardcore outfit from Michigan didn't do too much new, they did something before ALOT of bands, but nothing new. If anything they switched the singing screaming ratio from 60:40 screaming, to 60:40 singing, and put the ever so inviting "brootal" breakdowns, the band's follow up was highly anticipated.
Recorded close to my home in Lexington KY, Bone Palace Ballet upon first listen was anything but stellar. The production was sub par, the progression seemed forced (along with the songs) and ultimatly, due to the amount of bands that have carbon copied them, the band all around just seems distasteful.
The saddest part of this album was the fact that the song named after the town in which it was recorded in, is maybe the worst. Dancy rhythyms reminding me of My Chemical Romance just sent chills down my spine. Chills of frustration.
The songs do seem like a progression from the old material, however it just doesn't seem honest. You see, when bands genre's have been saturated in the fat of mediocrity, some bands, instead of embracing what they have created, instead; will try and adjust or change (which is different form progressing).
Bottom line is this is the defintion of the sophomore slump (even though technically I gues it's their third record) and is probably one of the worst releases of the year.

FINAL GRADE: D-

Between the Buried and Me- Colors

Cinematic is a word I frequently associate with BTBAM. One of the most intriuging bands of our generation in metal, the band has def. lived up to their promises of a "progresseive death metal album."
This is not in vein of alot of the trendy, un-polishing bands myspace has cranked in the last few years; but instead, a band of music lovers, making the music lovers CD.
Colors flows, song to song like a stream of running water that turns into some kind of mad current, pulling listeners into its ferocious undertow.
Musically, nothing short of a phenomenon, and comes across as somewhat thoughtful. Vocally, I personally am obsessed, some of the singing (not screaming) on this record reminds me of Queen, it's just so epic.
The songs themselves feature tidbits of diverse musical influences, ranging from African tribal, to classical, to even country, and there is a little bit of metal in there as well.
The songs, and the record however do seem a bit drawn out and exhaustful, and while the record is good, it just doesnt contain the long lasting effects of their previous releases, nor can I say if there are any classics like their are on the older records (Mordecai, Alaska, Selkies...).

FINAL GRADE: B+

The Bled- Silent Treatment

The Bled has been a band of both surprise, and dexterity. Over the length of three different full length releases, listeners have often been confused and disorientated about their progression.
Their debut Pass the Flask was monumental in the since that it's prowess as a debut record was giant.
Their second release had alot of people scratching their heads at first glance, and I can honestly say that I flurried the release with hatred upon its arrival. But after more listens, I can see what they were trying to accomplish, and I think Found in the Flood has some of the best song writing in post-hardcore, or whatever it is.
The Silent Treatment is a return to the moshtastic textures of Pass the Flask but has the aesthetics and melody of their previous endeavors.
Mostly this record is establishing for this band, which is both awesome, and depressing considering this band has been around forever. Seriously why has it taken them this long?
Nonetheless, I love this record, I think it was written amazingly, and it has set in stone (for now at least) that this band can freaking write.
One thing though that has honestly killed would could have been a SUPER record, is the fact that I loathe the production of this record.
I think maybe a greased up deaf guy with expensive equipment must have mixed it. The kick drum is SOOO overpowering, it drives the breakdowns WAY too much, and almost acts in the same principal as a guitar. The guitars during breakdowns sound like a very trebley bass, and are indistinguishable. Bottom line is that it JUST WASNT MIXED WELL.
This is a good record, and something I would recommend people pick up, the sad part about this, is it just isnt phenomenal, which I think for some reason really wanted from this band, and standing next to some of the other incredible releases this year, it's more like a featherweight than a heavyweight.

FINAL GRADE: B

As I Lay Dying- An Ocean Between Us

As I Lay Dying is one of the iconic bands of the 2000's. A band that has been looked up to by a generation of youngsters for their blending of just about every heavier rock style one can think of. Blending the obvious base of metal and hardcore, with punk music influences, classic metal, noise, and on their latest release thrash metal.
Perhaps the most mature release from AILD to date. the record flows alot better than previous records, and you can def. tell the band is trying to establish a more iconic sound. I think the shear speed of this record is something to be looked at. It's fast past, knuckle driven metal songs, and it rocks like the Anthrax of a new generation. Forget bands like Avenged Sevefold, Bullet For My Valentine, and the Showdown; As I Lay Dying is a representation of this generations great metal.
Bottom line is this band is the epitamy of a group of extreme metal heads that jam with infleunces of so many. Yeah maybe they listened to At The gates too much, and maybe they played "Madhouse" on Guitar Hero too much, but this band is exciting to watch as they are perfecting the wheel in which their four fathers invinted.

FINAL GRADE: B+

As Cities Burn- Come Now Sleep

As Cities Burns debut record Son I Loved You at Your Darkers will go down as one of the best debut's in the post-hardcore history, and while Come Now Sleep is quite the progression, it might not be as much of a departure as most fans of the bands were expecting.
Since their last release, the band has underwent an extreme lineup change, including lead vocalist and bassist. Instead the bands backup singer has stepped up to the mic and showing of intense emotional singing which comes as a breath of fresh air amongst the auto tuned carbon copies of music today.
the writing on this record is superb, mixing fresh indie rock grooves, with incredible post-hardcore undertones, and even agressions on songs like "This is It, This is It."
Bottom line is there isnt much to say about this record other than it's a little more chill over all, very melodic, a little too shoegazy for me, but over all one of the best, and most thoughtful records of the year.

FINAL GRADE: A

Every Time I Die- The Big Dirty

Every Time I Die is one of the penacle bands of our decade as far as heavy music goes, and in my opinion, probably one of the most copied bands in the last two or three years. Hell, people don't even realize it, but Underoath almost carbon copied them on Define the Great Line.
There mix of noisy off beat time signatures, mixed with A-Tonal chords, and poppy sing songy hooks has been the bearer of poseur bad news since TDWP signed up for their MySpace profiles.
At any rate, ETID never fails to deliver, NEVER. The ultimate party-core band, ETID's ALWAYS witty lyrics are extremely aprarent on their latest release. Not really the bIGGEST progression from i've seen, but it is there. Since the last record, the band has become a little more serious with the tones of the record, but don't expect seriousness from this band for a second.
Musically, the days of the chorus are gone, replaced by the technical guitar work of their past releases.
This record reminds me mostly of Hot Damn but with the southern qualitites, and attitude of Gutter Phenomenon.
I think the best way to describe ETID is...

Hot Damn is like a high school kid crashing a college party
Gutter Phenomenon is the college party
and The Big Dirty is like a REALLY bad hang over, and the only remedy is more alcohol
Bottom line, great record from an iconic band.

FINAL GRADE: A-