My avenues for discovering new music are sundry and unpredictable at best. There are very few artists I monitor closely because I like to keep my ears open and my eyes unfocused. That way music finds me (instead of the other way around). More often than not, I find that I stumble upon some great artists and albums that were released months ago; they just took a non-direct route to locate me. Such is the case with Phoenix’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.
For me, truly great bands are born out of taking unusual genres and fusing them together. Truly terrible bands, however, are often born the same way.
It’s this high-stake gamble that makes modern alternative rock so exciting, nail-biting, amazing, and sometimes downright heartbreaking. When I was approached to review In Her Gentle Jaws, I was somewhat apprehensive. Although I had heard a few song samples, I wasn’t completely impressed. Despite that fact, I gave the album a listen, and then another listen, and another…and now I cannot stress enough just how wrong my first impression was.
Tampa, Florida natives ORDER OF ENNEAD showcased their unique style of extreme metal on 2008’s eponymous album, and they have finally returned to disport their latest effort, An Examination of Being. Originally formed as a side project of the now defunct COUNCIL OF THE FALLEN, ORDER OF ENNEAD draws influence from the black and death metal sub-genres, while incorporating an often-overlooked element of structure to their songwriting.
It is an inevitability that while music is constantly evolving, there will always be a throwback band attempting to relive the glory days in their respective genre. WHITE WIZZARD is that band, and their retrogression emphasizes a heavy metal heyday honoring the likes of DIO and JUDAS PRIEST. While imitation is allegedly the highest form of flattery, any metalhead will agree that emulating these heavyweights is an ambitious task, to say the very least. With that in mind, Over the Top proves to be a worthy effort on all accounts.
Orange County natives THROWDOWN have released their 6th studio album, Deathless, through E1 Entertainment. A definite stray from the band’s hardcore and metalcore roots, Deathless is an abrasive, in-your-face metal record that truly highlights vocalist Dave Peter’s extreme versatility.
It’s a truly rare occasion for me to not know where to start in reviewing an album. I can usually ramble for hours about any new music I’ve been listening to as long as I can find a listening ear on a patient, nonviolent person. With Field Music’s (Measure) though, there is so much to be said, and I’m struggling with where to start and how much to cover since I feel saying too much would ruin the wonderful experience provided on this album.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up (Measure) on recommendation from Amazon, but I saw potential, and after a few listens I discovered that these guys are like those friends you have who are so musically trained and gifted that it’s disgusting. The kind who can pick up a blade of grass, hold it between their clasped hands, and play the entire works of Bach in perfect key. OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a tad, but the songs are catchy, dramatic, and intelligent.
Swedish metal trio, KONGH, are preparing for the official US release of their progressive doom-metal masterpiece, Shadows of the Shapeless. Presented via Seventh Rule Recordings, Shadows of the Shapeless originally saw a European issue date in early 2009 through Trust No One Recordings (Isis, Cult of Luna).
While many bands do heavy well, KONGH pull it off better than most. Incorporating styles that mimic everything from Neurosis’ Souls at Zero to Opeth’s Deliverance, Shadows of the Shapeless offers listeners an opportunity to experience the best elements of doom, sludge, progressive, and atmospheric metal, all within the disc’s 57-minute run.
For nearly a decade, I’ve been convinced that traditional music has been tapped out and that the only amazing or unique albums would be found in the experimental scene. Lately though, with the emergence of breakout bands like Vampire Weekend, MGMT, Kaiser Chiefs, etc., my interest in Alternative Rock has been completely rejuvenated.
Case in point: the band Surfer Blood caught my eye recently. I initially picked up their new album, Astro Coast, from a recommendation on Amazon, not only because the sample clips showed great potential, but also because I don’t have a single album in my collection with a shark on the cover, much less a mixed up, mosaic of one. 
After repeated listens, I’ve developed quite a love for this album. It’s an addiction that goes far beyond the maritime cover. The album has a lighthearted charm throughout every song despite the stylistic fusion taking place. At first I didn’t know how to define their style since every song has a unique feel to it. I constantly found myself wondering, “Is this New Wave/Lo-Fi/surf punk? Is it Dance Pop/Ambient/Alt rock?” Honestly, I still can’t narrow it down, but it may be their desire to experiment with sound, as well as their brilliant execution of it, that makes Astro Coast that much more quirky, addictive, and harder to stop listening to.
For more info on Surfer Blood check out:
