Contact "First Contact" (2014)

Two years before "Zero Moment" the Pittsburgh based duo release this, their debut record, a shorter listen at twenty seven minutes between the four tracks its made of. Much like its successor a clean and animated assembly of synthesizer instruments play Progressive Rock with a VGM characteristic about it. Like in the first record the opening self titled track jumps right into the prog style with a bold, warm and thick synth lead that guides the song with an active melody. After this one the prog takes a back seat to a much calmer and ambient tone as the jovial leads give way to looping background melodies and accompanying strings. On "Terminal Point" a light Rock guitar fuzz's in with a fading overdrive in the opening moments and returns later to play a subdued solo with synths dancing between its breaks. It finds a terrific climax in the end as the guitar and drums continue to grow in volume.

"Distant Voices" slows the tempo down and lightens the percussion as we gently drift through a void of minimalism, with a quiet melody looping in the distance and various instruments taking the lead in a very subdued manor. Its executed brilliantly, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere that feels a little mysterious given the brooding baseline which pops in spaciously with its melody. Some light vocals creep in too, used to sound like another atmospheric synth.

"Icefall" builds up slow, starting with atmosphere its set the tone for another ambient track of subtly and slow progression. At the midway point it picks up pace with fast bustling synths and opens up into an epic setting that feels like reaching a destination. Each song is interesting in its own way and the band seem to sway between its Progressive Synth sound and what I could most accurately describe as VGM music with a hint of ambience. Both aspects are brilliant, even though they are executed well together I get a sense that something greater could come of their music. Either way its an enjoyable half hour of time spent.

Favorite Track: First Contact

Rating: 6/10

Oscillotron "Eclipse" (2012)

This record, Oscillotron's debut, is much like its successor, a synthesizer journey through the stars led by astral keys and stark minimalism, letting the waveform textures do the talking. Many of its songs mimic the same experience and feeling of observation, one has a sense of distance from events yet understands its magnitude as the record strolls through the cosmos. Overall its a little unpolished in comparison, fruity loop drum kits stick out to those who know them on "Oracle". The various synths achieve similar vibes but without as strong a chemistry to be truly engrossing like "Cataclysm" is.

These tones and key choices are a little louder, chirpier and focus less on subtlety and more so on the power of the alien melodies. There are moments where this clicks and the atmosphere is creaked further open. Mostly though the synths hammer away through spacey scales with a retro vibe similar to the early days of electronic music where it was more novelty. Its what makes the record different and that works well with a soft percussion track like at the later stage of "Assembly".

Another big similarity is the track "Terror", a slow and brooding song that builds up a menacing atmosphere of... you guessed it, terror! It progresses in a similar way to "Mutation" but doesn't find the same climax, it tends to fizzle out after a flat snare drum comes in. The watery sounds in the intro of "Eclipse" give a sense of confinement, as if in an underground cavern filled with water. The eerie background synth builds a sense of tension and the upfront buzz saws play out like a mischievous monster. Glitchy computer noises arise too and it gives off a confined vibe which was a nice shift from the otherwise distant nature. Its both a similar and different record but musically its aiming in the same direction but not pulling it off with the finesse its successor does.

Favorite Track: Eclipse

Rating: 6/10

Ill Bill "Septagram" (2016)

It's been a while since I heard the name but I'm glad I decided to pick up Ill Bill's forth and latest record. Brother of famed New York rapper Necro, Ill Bill has been on my radar for some time, 2008's "Hour Of Reprisal" was the last time I tuned in. "Septagram" is essentially what id expected but far easier to digest and to the point. At twenty seven minutes its a comfortable record of short songs that don't out stay their welcome, dropping a better selection of rhymes over samples and drum loop beats that don't have a lot of variation beside a generalized theme drawn together with audio snippets from some obscure horror movie featuring some form of evil villan.

Much like his brother Necro, Ill Bill's style revolves heavily around horror, violence, torture and gore. These guys are tapped into the same sort of subject matter you might hear in Extreme Metal music and that may be because these guys are also metalheads too, many of the lyrics drop references to Metal bands and musicians. With subjects along the lines of serial killers, Satan, murder and evil for fun its an entertaining listen if that's your thing. I like it but there isn't a lot of depth here. There's plenty of skin crawling lyricism and brutal lines with vivid descriptions but they rarely add up to much. "The Cycle" touches on a social conscious observation but the song is mostly led by Ill Bill's guests William Cooper & Trife Diesel. The beat behind this track is skeletal, not a lot of polish on the beat and to transition to its string section samples the audio cuts of completely. Not a complaint but an observation, for some reason it works pretty well. Ill Bill's energy and flow is lively and forceful as expected but a lot of the work falls on his guests who make up a large portion of the airtime. His guest Slane on the final track sounds and spits like a mid naughties Eminem, the similarity is uncanny.

None of tracks here particularly stick out, it generally flows with the same intensity and each beat brings a different flavor in a played out style that sounds like it could of been produced ten years ago. You'll have a better time with it if you like their Horror Rap niche but breaking it down its a pretty tame release from a rapper who's capable of much better.

Rating: 5/10

Revocation "Empire Of The Obscene" (2008)

With the band releasing their sixth full length in just a few days I thought it would be fitting to revisit the album where it all started, their debut. At the time I thought it was a godsend, a breath of new life that Metal music needed but around the time of their forth record my love for them started to fade. Its peculiar to loose interest but I reflect its when my interest in other forms for music really started to expand. Revocation are a balls to the wall Metal outfit with a modern style that unites the flame of old school Thrash Metal energy with a modern aesthetic and expanded song writing approach. I will always remember fondly discovering this record through music sharing blogspots on the day of its release. The cover screamed epic and what was inside was just what a fanatic metalhead like myself wanted at the time. All these years later its still fun but I am not expecting to be thrilled by their next record "Great Is Our Sin".

The album opens with a blast of energy, a vile angry scream roars out and the drums and guitar kick into a mean riff setting the tone for wild thrashing brutality. The second scream starts as a bree and transforms into a regular one before the song settles into itself at a fast pace. At the time it was to be expected, on reflection the hangover of bree's and squee's from the trending Deathcore scene sound stale and uninteresting. Its the records only downside, everything else still sounds as wild, energetic and fun as it did back then. The production should be merited for its clarity of all three instruments, the base has texture and is audible as a separate entity operating in the grooving realm below the guitars which as a lone force sounds mammoth in the rhythm riffs and with the backing of the bass still sound full on when playing out solos or leading the riffs into melodic phases. The drums sound crisp with a tight snappy snare and punchy kicks. There's lots of light hi hat cymbals rattling away, maybe only the crash and chine cymbals sound a little over loud at times.

Although a three-piece at the time, the band is essentially the brain child of guitarist David Davidson. As a classically trained musician his knowledge and ability to express shines through these songs which take a path from riff to riff and go through fantastic phases of tight, technical riffage with plenty of room for melodic leads and guitar solos to develop a grander scale. They feel without restraint and David fleshes his riffs and songs out with plenty of variation and progression that feels at times unnoticeable in there authenticity. Another aspect of this record I adore are the guitar solos. Almost every track has one and they are fantastic, a real throw back to the days where every song would feature a wild guitar solo. Whats best is that they are always relevant to the song, rather than being stitched in over a repeating riff, they often help the song get from a to b and more often than not in memorable style. These licks burst to life and erupt from the already energetic music. A personal favorite is "Exhumed Identity" where after a couple of illuminating solos have played out and the song is returning to its main theme, the instruments drop, a cry of "Guitar!" calls out and everything bust back into another wild solo to end the song with a classic attitude!

Reinforcing David's blinding guitar riffs the drums make a memorable show with a tight and precise performance. They are distinctly different in the way their groove and rhythm exudes from the fast shuffles and rapid pedal blasting that alternate restlessly through the songs. Lots of lighter cymbals are rustled with intricate patterns. Mini blast beats flick off and on like a light switch to create an overarching sense of groove. They are much like what you'd expect on a Technical Death Metal record and bring about a refreshing energy to the mostly Thrash sound at play. The chemistry of the three is crucial and for a debut this is a fantastic record to crash into the scene with, unfortunately for Revocation the critical response has been far ahead of their slowly growing fan base. I would of said it back then, I wouldn't of been surprised if this band would be grabbing main stage slots at festivals in 2016. Listening to it again Ive released in their development over the years this sound is now behind them and perhaps I never drifted away from it but from their newer material. Solid album without a moment of filler. Still exciting across the fifty five minutes all these years later.

Rating: 9/10

Erang "Our Dreams Are Made Of Dragons" (2016)

With little surprise a second Erang album hits us this year from the one man band who has pumped out twelve records in just four years. This installment in the ongoing journey revisits the origins, the "Tome" era where Erang's sound was distinctly more primitive, spooky and eerie. Over time his compositions have become more layered and visual, the vibe shifted into fantasy but still holding onto the Dungeon Synth ideals. With this new record Erang revisits the "Tome" era with a wealth of knowledge and inspiration from his musical journey to enrich an old sound which has been shadowed by such records as "We Are The Past".

From the first, through all the many listens Ive given this record the magic flows effortlessly through minimal compositions that inspire engrossing atmospheres. Dreams and dragons certainly come to mind as each of the songs spellbind us with eerie, mystical nostalgic wonder. You can travel deep into your imagination with these melodies which feel both human and of another world. Each melody and song offers its own tale but looking over the track listing these names further illuminate the experience with their suggestions for what might be taking place.

Like the older "Tome" records, a lot of these songs focus on two or three instruments dancing around one another with a lack of percussion. There's a select and complimentary pallet of instruments at work, all armed with subtle reverbs and are fine tuned to occupy the same spaces gracefully. No instruments clash or feel out of place, they compliment one another and more often than not a quiet underlying synth lays down soft notes, almost unnoticeable but deepening the atmosphere.

"The Saddest Witch" Is a brilliant, simple song that showcases these qualities. A gentle, foggy bell like lead creates the air of mystery and wonder before a counteracting saw synth comes in with a mischievous, curious melody that dances around the other. With a clash of cymbals the song elevates, the melodies switch instruments and a soft guitar takes place of the saw wave synth. Below them deep synths arise feeling buried in the reverb that washes away from the other instruments and cymbal clashes. "Children Of The Frozen Forest" is another song with a remarkable atmosphere through simplicity. In its opening stages a women's voice can be heard faint and distorted through the cold enchanted atmosphere. It starts to shift with eerie synths talking like voices and the sounds of winds bustling up slowly in the distance.

Much of the record follows simple principles, one or two melodies, shifts in tone and direction that never become extravagant. Its modest, direct and within that design and construct emerges inspired melodies, tunes and music that fires up the imagination. With such a large discography it can be tricky to picture where it rests in the frame. Revisiting some of the "Tome" records I hear the same spirit but with the instrument choices, use of reverb, composition and of course the music itself having matured vastly. "Our Dreams Are Made Of Dragons" is a quiet record, one that will creep up and charm you with its own realm of fantasy and imagination.

Favorite Tracks: The Saddest Witch, The Old Knight's Farewell, The Twins Troubadours Of Tadyar, Children Of The Frozen Forest

Rating: 8/10

Plini "The End Of Everything" (2015)

My introduction to Australian Guitarist Plini was via Sithu Aye who featured Plini on the "Invent The Universe" record. The pair have also released a four track split record, which I have yet to listen to. Although a one man band, Plini is a touring act too and so far has released a string of singles and three short EPs of which "The End Of Everything" is the latest. The band are currently touring as well as recording their full length debut, which after enjoying this I am looking forward too.

Much like Sithu, Plini is part of this post-Djent Progressive Metal scene and of a much more melodic persuasion and Jazz orientation. Every rush of energy and djenty grooves give way to lush soundscapes of instrumental subtleties, gracious lead guitars and dreamy synths. It can heat up somewhat with double pedal drums, chunky, metallic riffs but even in its heavier moments the sense of brightness and color that courses through never fades. The result is a very organic record that will shift gears without notice, one moment illuminated by the fire and the next acoustic guitars are playing lullabies over soft synths accompanied by lively Jazz percussion that dances around the kit softly. As an instrumental band Plini's dynamic guitar leads are the voice, forever an alluring force of adventure. No moment here drifts from the path and as a three track its only flaw is its length, clocking in at seventeen minutes it leaves much to be desired! I can't help but feel their debut could be something special.

Rating: 5/10

Contact "Zero Moment" (2016)

Part of a string of albums Ive discovered recently, the duo "Contact" are part of the electronic music scene in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and on first listen you may not even be thinking "electronic music". Contact's sound and style is deeply rooted in Progressive Rock, specifically the likes of Sky and ELP. These bands made heavy use of organs and synths at the time and now in 2016 that's been revisited with modern electronic sounds while stripping back the Rock element. Essentially its progressive synth, the same sort of melodies and spirit but with the guitars as an occasional low hum in the mix which in this day and age brings a refreshing clarity to the styles of old.

After many listens I feel almost the same as my initial impression. This is so in tune with the prog sound that nothing was surprising, challenging or out of the ordinary. It felt more so like deja vu, as if you could hear the next note of every lead before it arrived. With pulsating buzz saws and soft marching baselines the atmosphere is set with steady rocking drum beats to let a lead or two dance in the spotlight, creating the theme and direction for the track. At times its almost cheesy, sounding like the theme song to an 80s cop drama but always too classy, its just a familiarity. Most of the songs build up slowly, generally introducing the instruments and letting the mood simmer before it finds its way to the main melody.

The opening two tracks are the best and as both reach their climax in the closing stages. I always felt as if the stage had been set for an epic to unravel but in a few bars the instruments drop out. I'm Probably to used to epic ten minutes plus songs. The rest of the song don't quite get back on the same level, exploring darker moods or more ambient tones, a couple of tracks feeling like they brush shoulders with VGM soundtracks. Its a great sounding record, an old musical style polished and revamped with modern instruments. I have to say thought the promise of the opening two tracks leaves the rest of the album feeling slightly disappointing in its shadow. It stirs up the atmosphere and emotion then drifts into a calmer setting. Either way its a very enjoyable instrumental record.

 Favorite Tracks: Zero Moment, Grand Detector, Sensorium

Rating: 7/10

Oscillotron "Cataclysm" (2016)

Here's a tip on how to find music you like, stalk people! No, joking aside the way I discovered this record was by reading a review of another record I recently enjoyed. I thought "this person knows what they are talking about" and decided to look at other albums they had talked about. Despite being vastly different I found a string of records from the Pittsburgh electronic scene and this peach from Stockholm Sweden that demanded my attention. David Johansson is the one man band Oscilotron, an electronic artist, who composed and recorded these spectacular 40 minutes in its entirity.

Much like its bleak, pale and near greyscale album cover, the music conveys a timeless sense of scale and atmosphere through somewhat colorless electronic instruments. With dense waveform synths and textural sounds they harmonize without melody, illuminating with a cold, lifeless and spacious vibe capturing the essence of the void. Its not all about the empty vastness, moments of this record perk up into life with adventurous, quirky melodies yearning a sense of exploration, journey and destination. In the track listening between each eventful musical moment there are slower, drawn out atmospheric pieces painting vivid soundscapes of the nebula. Its closing track is rather chilling, a brooding atmosphere of tension and unnerve that winds down with a sense of dimming light, creeping out while staring fate in the eyes.

It neither starts or ends in a "happy place" and for the most part doesn't convey much direct emotion. Listening to this record one will feel like an observer, watching over travelers who eventually meet there doom. Being disconnected from them directly we are treated to a dense and scenic atmosphere that will let your imagination run wild. For the most part a selection of luscious synths drone out their textures with subtle shifts and minimal melodies. These eventually lead to grander moments where the baselines pick up a rhythm, the drums cautiously take command and the synths will evolve into sturdy melodies along with the inclusion of a few other instruments, sometimes pianos, organs or event what sounds like an overdrive guitar in one song.

"Cataclysm" is an impressive record. So precise and focused it is an expression executed with vision. Every inch of sound feels perfected aesthetically and in terms of musical satisfaction it brilliantly drifts in and out of its ambience to strike with engrossing moments of magic. Exceptional record, one I feel will be with me for years to come!

Favorite Songs: Twlight, Mutation

Rating: 9/10

Death Grips "The Money Store" (2012)

Whatever curiosity lead you to this post I'd highly recommend opening a can of worms and giving this record a listen if your open minded with music. I became aware of Death Grips back in 2013 and despite initially not understanding the record I couldn't give it up thanks to the enthusiasm of music critic Anthony Fantano and this video which really helped me understand what the record is about. That video will say so much more about it than I ever could and so I thought id take personal reflection on what this record has done for me musically. Honestly music has never felt quite the same since, this one effected me so much Ive felt my horizons expand and my love of music grow ever since it cracked open for me. That didn't happen for at least ten listens or so, I would take a long walk every day dedicating my focus to it and slowly but surely it started to creak open and reveal its magic. I still find the experience strange as I'm accustom to abrasive, noisy music, perhaps not in the more electronically oriented style though.

In a nutshell Death Grips comes of as erratic, noisy, ugly and dissonant. Off kilt sampling and grizzly waveform rumbling baselines collide between solid percussive grooves with a lot of glitchy sounds splicing into the rhythm. Over the top of it MC Ride shout raps with a ferocity and unchained energy that makes up a huge part of the trios character. MC Ride may be one of the most exciting rappers of this generation, not for slick rhyming patterns or clever word play but for taking a different approach and pushing the boundaries of what is defined as raping. At many times he will sound more Punk than Rap has he shouts his way through songs. Lyrically its similar to Wu-Tang Clan's "free association" rhyme style where sentences don't often form a coherent line of thought but create an atmosphere or scene through its words, "Concussion blinding, not my fault, ankles tied to cinder blocks" for example. His delivery further expresses this artsy approach with free flowing spits that have a knack for a catchy hook yet break freely away from the beat or restriction of the beats tempo.

This knack for a hook is one of the remarkable things about the record, when peeling back the layers of its sound and slowly making sense of it all it becomes apparent that the songs are basically poppy, bouncy and catchy in nature. Loaded with lyrical hooks the accompanying instrumentals are strangely satisfying in their noisiness. The percussion is tight and banging, the core of the beat rocking but always feeling slightly obscured by experimental sampling and dense percussive noises that crop up in certain songs. Its melodic or tuneful value is twisted and distorted in this mess but they still carry the weight a good melody can.

From one song to the next it never lets up and each song here feels like an island, there is no formula or consistency to what can happen, each track is truly unique. "The Fever" and "I've Seen Footage" are the albums party tracks, toning down some of the eccentricities and giving the overall groove and hook more love. "Punk Weight" and "The Cage" get wild with noisy samples and electronic instruments going to extremes, unafraid of peaking the bass to extremes. Its remarkable, all thirteen tracks offer so much wild and eccentric delight to delve into, you could talk about them all endlessly as each track is loaded with oddities that culminate into wild, unchained, banging music. Death Grips are the most exciting band of the millennium and couldn't recommend this album more. Modern classic.

Rating: 10/10

Head Of David "Seed State" (1991)

Some bands, some records get buried by time and English Industrial Metal outfit "Head Of David" are one of those bands who have drifted into obscurity. In this Internet age its just about possible to find copies of their records and small discussions about the group. They often cite their relation to other important Industrial Metal groups, like Justin Broadrick of Godflesh who also played in Napalm Death (early) and Techno Animal. He was in the band before leaving in 89 to be replaced by a drum machine. Fear Factory's cover of their cult classic "Dog Day Sunrise" is about the most exposure the band ever received and it may just be their influence and contribution to the sound of that era has been vastly overlooked. Either way "Seed State" is the bands farewell record and not what the band have been praised for. Its an Industrial Rock record with Metal aesthetics that wasn't particularly well received at the time and has vastly been forgotten about, its videos on youtube only scraping a few hundred views per song.

So why this record? Its a personal favorite of mine for a handful of songs that catch a vibe I really dig. I picked it out last week after years since I last enjoyed it and felt like talking about it. The record is musically mediocre and its production is sloppy, muddy and unpolished. It only favors the lead guitar, my favorite aspect of the record. Through this muddy wash of Industrial noise the leads sing out with a gorgeous tone and reverb that lays some deeply nostalgic and epic 90s feels over a chunky, mechanical rhythm section. These leads are often short riffs played over and over, quite often with stereo shifting effects. Slightly noisy and often shifting into chords they burst out of the music with a freedom and wild energy that's reflecting the mood of the times.

The lead single "How Primitive Are You" is a fantastic is example of all that's wrong and right with this record. In one moment its a mechanical droning of thin guitars and grooving base guitar and drum rhythms and the next it bursts into life with the chorus lead guitar illuminating the songs atmosphere with two dense notes held for a moment before looping into a swift melody. It feels aimless and without progression, just simply existing in the moment and I adore that. Singer Burroughs's lyrics are simplistic, poppy and without depth, they come of like an attempt of something "catchy" for the charts in the case of this song. Asking over and over how primitive we are before stating we should go primitive. It comes of as trying to be clever without any real depth to the idea. This kind of cliched chart music lyrical style is prominent but it has its moments where it works, "Vulture Culture" for example is a catchy rhyme that in itself could say a lot to the listener.

The songs mostly compromise of short sequences played over as the verses between choruses, standard stuff but its constant repetition and lack of variety creates is the heart of the Industrial sound that pounds away and gives more life to the "breaks" which may simply come in the form of an extra vocal line or sound effect in a particular moment. Its balanced minimalism, its effect is reliant on the chemistry between drums and base guitar which sound very much like the works of Frank Klepacki on the Command & Conquer soundtrack from 1995. Big, bold baselines strutting short grooves between the rigid, pumping automatized drum machines. Its a niche of taste but I thoroughly love the moments of this record where it hits the mark, shame its not consistent throughout, some tracks are quite the lull.

Favorite Tracks: How Primitive Are You, Human Feel, Vulture Culture, Zen Walker

Rating: 8/10

Unlocking The Truth "Chaos" (2016)

"Chaos" is the much anticipated debut record of teenage band Unlocking The Truth from Brooklyn, New York. As three black males from the home of Hip Hop it is quite out of the ordinary they have found Metal but that's hardly whats remarkable about the trio. Established in 2007 the band weren't even teenagers when they got started out. Youtube is littered with videos of these three as kids playing on the streets of the famous time square in downtown New York. At a very young age front man Malcolm Brickhouse developed an admirable attitude for life, citing a strong work ethic and desire for following his dreams of making a success of his band. Considering the band have toured with Metallic at least one of those dreams has been fulfilled. For a debut record its a solid introduction to the band. In its best moments they show sparks of being a rather special act, however a fair few tracks drift into obscurity with underwhelming riffs fixed into standard song structures. The point though should be that their is much to get excited about, they show a ton of potential.

Pinpointing their specific sound and style isn't exactly easy but they do have a broad appeal about them. Its Metal that's not about extremities or some over encompassing theme or aesthetic. In Malcolm's guitar style can be heard hints of Slipknot, Metallica and Disturbed and in terms of style, Nu, Alternative, Groove, Heavy Metal and quite often Metalcore. Its a blender that gives the album quite a diverse set of riffs however the simplistic song structures tone down the differences on display. His singing style is also a strength for the band, laying down clean vocals with a force and grit to them that work great for the metallic tone. In moments he moves to screams but nothing menacing, on one or two tracks dropping in a slight growl. Lyrically the album is loaded with light digestible language, some of which is somewhat angsty and there are plenty of great chorus hooks that will get you singing along.

For a trio they sound full of power and strength on the record, the production gives the baselines a real thudding clunk and dense tone, the guitars fill out the space above with a welcoming, satisfying distortion tone that's got energy, spirit and aggression without over doing it. The drums sound fantastic, very roomy and authentic sounding symbols. The snare is sharp and the pedals sound fab, very deep and audible, the cutoff is fast but you can hear every kick so clear. Great mix for a reasonable record which does have a weak stretch between "A Tide" and "Numbing". These songs weren't quite to my taste however they did have some strong riffs. I think this debut really highlights their potential to do great and we certainly get a taste of what they are about.

Favorite Song: Monster, Made Of Stone, Ravens, Escape, Take Control

Rating: 6/10