Devildriver – Head on to Heartache E.P. (5/10)

2008

Apparently the bands name, DEVILDRIVER, is derived from the bell used by witches to drive evil forces away. As ambiguous as that sounds, so is lead vocalist, Dez Fafara (ex Coal Chamber), who sounds more like the daemons he’s suppose to be frightening.

The digital, download only, Head on to Heartache E.P. comprises 5 tracks that were not standard on previous releases except for the title track which was on The Last Kind Words. ‘Damning the Heavens’ was on the special edition of the same release. These two are the most appealing of the lot, sleeker and meaner for it. ‘Head on to Heartache’ possesses wonderful guitar solos but the regret is that there wasn’t more elsewhere. The remaining three were on the bonus edition of The Fury of Our Maker’s Hand. Additionally, ‘Digging up the Corpses’ was on the popular soundtrack, Resident Evil: Apocalypse. Subject matter is varied, ranging from superstition to infidelity. Musically, it ranges from groove metal to something heavier but without innovation or breakdowns marrying chants into anthemic relationship.

Summarily, the easy past access doesn’t make this much of a collector’s item but to the uninitiated it’s a good place to discover the band’s aggressive attitude.

sinning with Wicked Mike

Naglfar – Harvest (7/10)

2008

With the band named after a ship made from cuticles of the dead, we’re guaranteed dark metal. NAGLFAR combine black, death and the melodic Gothenburg sound that results in Harvest being a heavy yet accessible release. Kristoffer “Wrath” Olivius takes vocals for the second time on this, their fifth release. Lyrically, Satanic overtures are surprisingly ignored (but several excursions to hell are made) in lieu of cheerful topics such as suicide, resignation, and, even more surprisingly, redemption from God.

A healthy insertion of melody, well formatted lyrics, and the occasional song structure more simplified than many in the extreme genre, makes NAGLFAR affable. None of that detracts from the fact that the musicians are talented. ‘Into the Black’ is powerfully looming whilst ‘Breathe for Me’ contrasts with rapidity and effective breakdowns. By itself, the scream that heralds ‘The Darkest Road’ won me to the song. It’s an additional pleasure to find most tracks contained to the 4 minute mark without losing any dimensional power. The length exception is the closing, title track. ‘Harvest’ is atmospheric, battle music for a dark fantasy, and endearing enough to make me impatient for the apocalypse to arrive.

Their lack of experimentation is made up for by their ability to alter concentrations, giving time classic breaths between nightmare rides. Diversity is strength. Harvest is good mood muse for the dissatisfied…and i am one of those.

sinning with Wicked Mike

Summer ‘Swinging’ Rocks! for Knysna – gig guide

The Swing Café in Knysna and Wicked Rock are proud to announce South Africa’s best band line-up for the forthcoming 2009 holiday season. 17 bands and artists will make the Garden Route sing and scream. Join the fun! This is Summer “Swinging” Rocks!

Dec 02 – 7th Son – R40
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204471960089&index=1

Dec 11 – Rock Party #1: Heroes Wear Red, The Ragdolls, 3 More Than Zero & DJ Wicked Mike – R40
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179519013612&index=1

Dec 12 – Heather Mac & the Brills – R40
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193740803488&index=1

Dec 15 – Them Frog – R20
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=190494046820&index=1

Dec 18 – Napalma – R40
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179043435781&index=1

Dec 19 – Plush and Mali & Me – R40
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173631559737&index=1

Dec 23 – Southern Gypsey Queen – R40
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181408646362&index=1

Dec 29 – Stealing Love Jones & Boon – R40
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=325175400526&index=1

Dec 31 – New Year’s Icon Dress-Up Rock ‘n Roll Party with Boon (JHB) & DJ Wicked Mike – R50
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186095536235&ref=mf

And coming in January:
Jan 02 – The Hinds Brothers – R30
Jan 06 – Nat & the Beanstalks & Heather Waters – R20
Jan 09 – Gaia featuring Wendy Oldfield – R40

250 limited tickets per show on sale now at the venue.

www.theswingcafe.co.za
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112226562612

Our Impact Will Be Felt – A Tribute to Sick of It All (7/10)

2007

Hardcore punk from New York’s 22yr SICK OF IT ALL has produced numerous CDs, singles and EPs that have inspired countless bands. Evidence is undoubtedly in this tribute, Our Impact Will Be Felt, which has giants such as Sepultura and Stretch Arm Strong paying respect. As interesting are some of the smaller outfits shooting with all guns. The diversity of band backgrounds makes for an exciting compilation even though there are both good and bad renditions.

The consistently astounding Rise Against gets the opener with ‘Built to Last’. Their balance between heavy and melody makes a warm welcome and is one of the best. Metalcore Unearth step up the aggression, paving the road for Hatebreed uncommonly accelerating with the 45 second flash of ‘Rat Pack’. Madball gets the chant/mosh factor right with ‘Give Respect’ which, along with Wall of Jericho’s Us Vs. Them’, appeared on SICK OF IT ALL’s 2006 Persistence Tour edition of Death to Tyrants. Melody kicks in for 4 tracks, featured by Ignite, Bouncing Souls, Pennywise and Comeback Kid. The latter two claim highlight status, Comeback Kid finding anthem quality whilst Pennywise is the biggest surprise with a much rougher edge than they’re accustomed to. 1994’s Scratch the Surface is well represented with 6 songs, Sepultura presenting the title track well, sans tribal drumming [grin].

Sure, Napalm Death’s recording quality is less than the rest and some artists such as Kill Your Idols, Bleeding Through and Himsa didn’t motivate but there are sufficient successes to make this a worthy addition to any hardcore collection.

sinning with Wicked Mike

H.I.M. – Uneasy Listening Vol. 1 – 5/10

2006

Uneasy Listening Vol. 1 is daftly titled because some H.I.M. detractors will find occasional treasures in this easy listening genre. It’s been called goth metal and love metal yet goth pop is entirely more appropriate and, here, nearer adult contemporary than anything else.

A positive is the press release claim that lead man, Ville Valo, rather than the label, chose these 15 songs from the previous 7 years. They include rarities in the form of B-sides, acoustics and remixes. Sometimes Valo displays strong lyricism (“love is a gun separating me from you”) but with every track being a concentration of consequences of the heart, it becomes too much, the entirety diluting the impact of an individual song. Additionally, a preponderance of melody makes for disingenuous melancholy. Simply put, clean production and zero dares makes pretty music and little else. The “little” is in the strings of ‘In Joy and Sorrow’ and the subtle ‘Gone With the Sin’. Imagine if ‘Salt in Our Wounds’ had reached full industrial potential? H.I.M. is just too hesitant. The exception is ‘Buried Alive By Love’, live and raw, and much appreciated for that.

Overall, Uneasy Listening Vol. 1 plays far too safe. The singer has a decent voice so there’s no reason not to extend it…nor should experienced musicians avoid creativity.

sinning with Wicked Mike

Suzanne Vega – Beauty & Crime (7/10)

2007

It took 6 years for SUZANNE VEGA to make this half an hour CD but calm panache and detailed imageries make up for the brevity. These are some wonderful songs here. It is deeply personal and frank, addressing topics such as the death of her brother, divorce and love for her daughter. 

Her voice still carries that wonderful husk as it rides, most times, atop trotting beats accompanied by skilful guitars. And it flies us into her adopted city, New York, where clever songwriting observes and discusses. New York is the woman, legs spread, inviting us all for conversations with its colourful people. 

“Out on the corner by the Fireman’s Monument, this was the place where all the fatherless teenagers went. Well the wind kicks in the smell of rain, the kids are gone but the soul remains. The graffiti’s gone and the walls complain, the flowers go but the earth must still remain.” 

Provocative and classy, Beauty & Crime is good as a whole but ‘Zephyr & I’, ‘Pornographer’s Dream’ and ‘Ludlow Street’ ‘are that extra special. It’s contemporary rather than alternate like her famous debut Solitude Standing was. It probably doesn’t belong in this rock site yet gets an appreciative nod and a good review because SUZANNE VEGA, simply, writes damn well.

sinning with Wicked Mike