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Thrice – Vheissu

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Thrice haven’t been around for a while, however when they came back they proclaimed to have a new, ‘more mature’ sound. When bands say this I often worry as more often than not it means that the band are now taking themselves too seriously and as a result their quality is compromised in favour of an ‘experimental’ album of utter rubbish. Thankfully this is not the case here, with Thrice once again bringing out a brilliant album.

Opening track ‘Image of the Invisible’ will right away unveil the bands new sound, and this song is definitely one of my favourites on the album. Here the band show that not only have they matured musically, but their song writing skills have also improved tenfold and they are lyrically now better than they ever have been before. The band head into unknown territory on this album, with the opening track alone containing far more lyrical depth than everything the band have ever written before put together. I genuinely think that the band have spent a lot of time writing and planning for this release as they are musically sound here and lyrically sublime.

Tracks such as ‘Hold Fast Hope,’ ‘Music Box,’ and ‘Of Dust and Nations’ will remind hardcore Thrice fans of the music of old and will probably put a smile on their face for nostalgic value. Sure, these songs don’t have as much bite as their counterparts in ‘The Illusion of Safety’ or ‘The Artist in the Ambulance,’ however they still contain a lot of bite and I feel that they are much better written tracks than anything that appeared on either of these albums.

I remember way back when receiving a ‘The Illusion of Safety’ album sampler and being mightily impressed with what I heard. Back in 2002, Thrice were a driving force in what was then perceived to be the ‘Emo’ scene of the time along with bands such as Thursday and Taking Back Sunday, with homegrown talent in the form of Funeral For a Friend storming out later that year with the almighty Mighty Atom EP ‘Between Order and Model.’ Sure, back then Funeral For a Friend were nothing more than an underground phenomenon, however since then have shown signs of ‘maturing’ and have shown how that can not always be a good thing. Whereas Funeral For a Friend released the awful ‘Hours’ back in June and show that already they have lost it, with the release of ‘Vheissu’ in October, Thrice really showed that they are still a band that desperately crave and definitely deserve your full attention.

Thrice may lose a few fans with this latest release as it definitely shows a more melodic, less Hardcore sound for them – however I still think that they are one of the best bands at what they do and hopefully this will not be the last we hear of Thrice. They have been around for a long old time now, and show with ‘Vheissu’ that not only are they still writing great music, but they are also showing signs of maturity unrivalled by any other bands in the scene. Thrice have done a brave thing changing their sound so drastically here, but for me it has really paid off. I can’t wait till they come over next month with Coheed & Cambria.

Label: Universal
Release Date: October 17th 2005

Rating:
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We Are Scientists – With Love and Squalor

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There was a lot of hype about this New York based trio before the release of their album ‘With Love and Squalor’ as it was expected to be something really quite special. This is because the band had already done a Lamacq live session, and one of their songs was chosen to be Zane Lowe’s record of the week before the album was even released. Having been listening to this album for a good 3 months now, I can definitely say that this is one of the best albums that I have heard in a long time. The band sure knows how to write great music and as a result have come out with a 12 track album where any of the tracks from it could easily be used as singles.

This album kicks off with their debut single ‘Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt,’ opening the album in style and leaving you wondering how the rest of the album could possibly compare. Somehow they managed to do it though, and wrote an entire album of elegant Indie Rock masterpieces. There are so many standout tracks on this album; however ‘Cash Cow’ and ‘The Great Escape’ for me are two tracks that will never get old no matter how many times I play them. Since I got this album, it’s been on pretty much constant rotation on my CD player and I often find myself playing it while going about my day to day internet browsing also. This band writes catchy music, and ‘With Love and Squalor’ was almost certainly one of my favourite albums of 2005. I eagerly anticipate this bands next release as if it’s anywhere near the quality of this one then it is inevitably going to be something remarkable.

Label: Virgin Records
Release Date: October 17th 2005

Rating:
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KoRn – Twisted Transistor

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Having been away for what seemed like an eternity (for some this will be a good thing, for others a tragedy), KoRn came back with this new track ‘Twisted Transistor.’ I don’t think anyone really knew what to expect from this track as having been away for so long, the band could have come out with anything. This single definitely reveals a new side of KoRn, with a new sound in tow, however the vocals are still very distinctively Jonathan Davis. When I first heard this track I didn’t really know what to make of it as it really is a change for the band, however now having listened to it a good few times it has really grown on me and rather than not knowing how to take it – I really like it.

I have yet to hear the bands new album, however if this single is anything to go by then not only will it be different to anything the band have ever done before, but it will also be well worth the wait. If I’m being honest then I haven’t really listened to the band properly for a good few years now as I got over my Nu-Metal days a long old time ago (god bless the late 90s), so if I get into ‘See You on the Other Side,’ then it will be a real bonus for me.

Label: Virgin Records
Release Date: November 21st 2005

Rating:
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Yellowcard – Where We Stand

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I think that some people may think that this is a new album from the band and they have had a massive progression in sound, however in actual fact it is a re-release of an album they recorded back in 1999 – and when you look at it in this light, it is really quite an impressive album. With a different singer, and less top heavy violin work this band really do sound completely different. Ok, so this album’s never going to be your favourite album, but still – for what it is, it’s certainly very good. I have a feeling that some Yellowcard haters may enjoy this record if they didn’t know who the artist was – it really is that different.

In ‘Where We Stand,’ Yellowcard created a far more edgy Punk sound, a far cry from the highly defined, perfectionist recording approach of the Yellowcard of today. Instead of being led by the violin, it is very guitar heavy with some good violin work and the occasional violin solo which show that even at a young age this band were highly creative and trying to do something new. One thing that is extremely noticeable from listening to this album is that Yellowcard were a lot faster back in the day and in turn had a much heavier sound. The drum work throughout this album is particularly impressive – it is hard and fast and really does shine through and stand out on this album.

I’d imagine that there’s a fair amount of die hard Yellowcard fans out there that would absolutely hate this album and never consider buying it had it been recorded by another band. I much prefer this album to ‘One for the Kids,’ the bands breakthrough album which I thought was out of tune and extremely dull to listen to. Although this album is far from being perfect, I really think that this band could have had something with this singer – I doubt they would have had the chart success that they’ve had with Ryan Key, but they almost certainly would have been a Punk sensation. There’s definitely something distinctly charming about this album which makes its rawness loveable and almost adorable.

Released: 1st August 2005
Label: Kung Fu

Rating:
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Brigade – Made To Wreck EP

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This is the debut release from London based band Brigade and is a remarkable effort for a band on their first recording. Brigade are a young band, however they sound great in this incredible 4 track EP and will no doubt progress into something even better before long. Not a single track sounds out of place with the bands epic guitar riffs, storming bass lines and crashing drum beats. The vocals also sound great here and really make way for an incredible EP, Mighty Atom have done good in signing this impressive young band.

The band kicks off the CD with a bang with opener ‘Made to Wreck,’ a song with an impressively strong guitar riff. It really kick-starts the EP and prepares you for something truly special. It is a track of epic proportions, gradually building and building into something great. Brigade has a knack for slowly building their tracks up and gripping you with their brilliant brand of music. I feel that in all 4 of these tracks the guitar work is remarkable and shows that the band have incredible ability. Not a single one of these tracks fails to impress me with its power, with the band showing that although they are young – they are not naïve in their ability, and with ability like this they will almost certainly go far.

I’d struggle to pick a favourite off this EP as I really did enjoy all of the tracks on display, however I can tell you that I particularly enjoyed ‘Safe Hands.’ I really like the drum work on this one and the vocals as ever sound incredible, with the sound of the guitars really pushing the sound on, making it sound edgy and different, however still in keeping with the bands incredible pop sensibilities. It’s a really strong track that I’d recommend to anyone to give it a listen as I’m 100% sure that you would not be disappointed.

I’d say that this band still have a way to go before they reach the dizzy heights of super stardom, however with the ‘Made To Wreck’ EP they definitely have a decent basis for increasing their fan base and becoming somewhat of a cult phenomenon. This is definitely the best Mighty Atom band that I have heard in a while now.

Label: Mighty Atom
Release Date: September 12th 2005

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Test Switch Isolator – Let’s Dance

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It’s hard at times to tell whether ‘Test Switch Isolator’ are serious about what they do or whether they are a self aware parody of the Metal/Hardcore genre. Due to the general intelligence of the bands music and their impressive beatdowns, I’d tend to go with the idea that the band are serious, however it’s always a niggling thought that they may not be.

The bands screaming/growling is at times, in my opinion laughable, however when the band aren’t doing this they are actually quite enjoyable and really show that they do in fact have talent and aren’t just good at straining their throats and damaging their vocal cords. There is a good display of double bass pedal drumming on display on this CD and a fine show of guitar work. This band obviously has a fair amount of talent and can write good songs, however a lot of the time they just don’t seem to be trying. There are some jazzy tracks such as ‘This Rat Spawn Went to Market’ showing that the band can write some genuinely interesting and entertaining songs without having to scream and shout. These moments on the album have a real Head Automatica vibe about them, and this happens to be a band that I love. It is hard to even grasp the concept that it’s even the same band that has just been assaulting your ears by barking at you in previous tracks.

Having looked at the cover, I was expecting to dislike this album for being too Emo, however having listened to it I can reveal that I disliked a lot of it for being growly nonsense. When the band aren’t doing this they are a pretty good band, however more often than not they choose to annoy you with their screaming, and it just didn’t impress me. Some Metal/Hardcore is genuinely quite entertaining when the bands are just screaming down the microphones, however a lot of the time Test Switch Isolator just sound like they’re screaming for screamings sake and there appears to be no method to it other than to growl and hope for the best. There are some genuine fine moments of Metal however, don’t get me wrong – I just think that the needless growling ruins the record a bit.

Released: 29th August 2005
Label: Casket Music

Rating:
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Millionaire – Paradisiac

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This is the latest album from Belgium’s impressive rock band Millionaire. This album can be incredibly heavy while at the same time being impressively catchy and danceable. This is stoner rock at its finest, with a diverse range of sounds being produced here which will appeal to a varied audience.

This is a really refreshing album to listen to and if you listen to it will almost certainly get you excited with it’s fresh, energetic and heavy feel. The band really do have their own unique sound and this is what makes this album so special – the band are highly inventive and as a result have come out with an album of true greatness. I love listening to this album – it really is one of the most incredible rock records I have heard for a good while now. Right from the album’s opener ‘I’m On A High’ you know that this record is going to be something really quite special with it’s weird yet loveable feel.

There is definitely a considerable link to Queens of the Stone Age in the music of Millionaire, however if anything I would say that this band do it better. Millionaire are, to put it simply amazing at what they do and sound perfectly suited to the brand of hard rock music which they are playing. This band seem to have a knack for penning amazing songs, and have here created a record full of classics.

Released: 26th September 2005
Label: PIAS

Rating:
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King Biscuit Time – C I AM 15

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I was expecting big things with this track, having been a big fan of the Beta Band, however this song didn’t really touch me in the way I expected it to. It is far too repetitive and uninteresting for my liking – it starts off fairly interesting, however as the track progressed I felt myself getting really quite bored with the track and wishing it would end.

You can tell that there are a variety of influences in this track, and as a result, in ‘C I AM 15,’ Steve Mason has produced a track which is unique and different to what most people are doing at the moment, however it just doesn’t have that spark. It’s different and out there, however it might just be a bit too different for my liking, and as a result I cant fully appreciate this track.

It’s far from the standard of the Beta Band in my honest opinion as it just doesn’t grab me as they did, however it’s not a bad song despite lacking energy and inspirational qualities. I don’t dislike this track as such; I just feel that it could have been a lot more impressive.

Released: 26th September 2005
Label: No Style

Rating:
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CKY – An Answer Can Be Found

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I’ve never really been a particularly big fan of CKY, however have in the past have found some of their tracks to be vaguely enjoyable. I didn’t really know what to expect from this album as some of what I have heard of this band has been really dull so was unsure as to whether the band would shine through or slowly fade into obscurity with this new full length. Sadly, the band seems to fade away with an album devoid of any particularly memorable tracks.

If you take stoner rock, combine it with Metallica laden guitar riffs then you will get somewhere close to the sound of CKY. I don’t consider myself to be a massive fan of Metallica, however I will give them the credit of being a hell of a lot better than CKY are on this album. They take the riffs, but they just don’t pull it off in the way that Metallica do – their music here lacks energy and just drones along, never really getting close to being at all exciting to listen to. Having listened to this album a few times all the way through, I can honestly say that no tracks have stood out to me. Sitting through the entirety of this album was a chore – the band really is boring and I fail to see how anyone could possibly get enjoyment out of listening to it.

The band are signed to Island, however I somehow doubt that they would even be signed to a remotely major label if their drummer wasn’t the brother of TVs mad man Bam Margera. Sure, the band has never got massive but it’s not because they haven’t had the opportunity – it’s because their music is awful. I advise you to steer well clear of this album – they may have famous links but it doesn’t change the fact that their music is dire.

Label: Mercury Records
Release Date: July 4th 2005

Rating:
Review Star

The Suicide Machines – War Profiteering Is Killing Us All

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The Suicide Machines are a band that have been around for a long old time now and in their time the band have released from amazing albums, seemingly getting better and better at what they do as time has progressed. They have released five albums before ‘War Profiteering Is Killing Us All,’ the last of which being 2003s classic, and their Side One Dummy debut ‘A Match and Some Gasoline.’ The band seem to have upped the ante since the last time round, and in doing so have arguably recorded one of their best albums to date. ‘Battle Hymns’ will inevitably always be my favourite Suicide Machines album as it really is a classic, however this new album certainly comes close.

There are some great tracks on this album, with songs such as ‘Hands Tied,’ ‘Ghost on Sunset Strip,’ and ‘Nuclear Generators’ really standing out. In fairness, there aren’t any songs on this album that aren’t really good, but for me these are just the tracks that stand out the most when I listen to this album. ‘Nuclear Generators’ I found to be particularly interesting as it really does push the boundaries of Ska and Hardcore, blending the two genres perfectly and as a result coming up with an awesome track. ‘Hands Tied’ reminds me of ‘High Anxiety’ with its upbeat Ska feel, however I feel that it is a far superior track as it feels much more natural this time. The upbeat nature of ‘High Anxiety’ seemed a bit too forced for my liking, making it overly cheesy – but ‘Hands Tied’ works really well, sounding amazing from start to finish.

The CD is given the perfect finale with the incredible track ‘95% Of The World Is Third World’ and it really does end the album off in style. Much like opener ‘War Profiteering Is Killing Us All’ it is full of bite and fills you with excitement when you listen to it. The Suicide Machines are a fine example of a band that can fill you with excitement when you listen to their music, with the opening and closing tracks being prime examples of this here. The band always seem to like to begin and end on a high, but then again this is no surprise seeing as most of their back catalogue of songs can be considered as highs – The Suicide Machines are a band of few errors and inconsistencies.

I urge you all to go out there and buy this album right now – The Suicide Machines are a quality band and have once again come up with an album of an extremely high standard which combines perfectly elements of Punk, Hardcore, Ska and Reggae. My only fault with the CD is the length, once again the band have managed to record an extremely short album clocking in at just over half an hour in length despite being 14 tracks strong. It’s a sign of the bands quality that despite the albums short length you are left feeling extremely satisfied when the album comes to an end, you will know doubt be after more but will be satisfied nonetheless. Another great album from one of the 90s finest examples of Punk Rock, I can’t wait to see them live and watch them perform these tracks in the flesh.

Label: Side One Dummy Records
Release Date: September 26th 2005

Rating:
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