Music Review: Into Your Own - "That Mask You Call Yourself"

Music review written for EMURG.com.

 

 

When I listen to new music for the first time, a lasting factor for me is when a band’s gritty and powerful sound and lyrics are personal and from the heart. Into Your Own is no exception to this. Many of the songs concocted by these Niagara Falls, NY hard rockers on the album That Mask You Call Yourself reflect the town that the band grew up in and the conditions they faced along the way. The town that they hail from has a high crime rate that overshadows the idyllic beauty that the Falls themselves are known for having.  This truth resonates strongly with the band and makes the heavy and upbeat power of their music even more relevant and thought-provoking to us as listeners.

That Mask You Call Yourself opens up with the song “Now Or Never”. This is a good choice to open such a poignant and reverberating album because of how fluid yet thrashing it is instrumentally. The addition of turntables by DJ Six helps to give this song another dimension of awesome and I liked it because it stood out rather than getting lost in the background as some DJs in other bands seem to do. Paul’s vocals also reminded me somewhat of Hellyeah’s Chad Gray, being both rough around the edges at times yet clear and polished as well.
 

Music Review: Throwing Gravity - "It's Not The End

Music review written for EMURG.com.

Throwing Gravity is:

Nick James - Lead Vocals / Rhythm Guitar

Jesse Triplett - Lead Guitar / Background Vocals

Sam Hindmarsh - Bass Guitar / Background Vocals

Chris Scott - Keys / Programming

Tom DuPree III – Drums

 

Rock quintet Throwing Gravity is a band based out of Nashville that undoubtedly will end up taking the mainstream rock scene by storm. As a band that has already begun to rack up and stellar stage presence by sharing stages with bands such as Second Hand Serenade, Parachute, Chevelle and Evans Blue. It seems only fitting that these Tennessee rockers would ultimately achieve the same level of acclaim as these other major players that they’ve jammed with live.

After a tenuous first few years with a fair share of ups and downs, (including a name change and several album recording obstacles) Throwing Gravity has finally released the new album, It’s Not The End. Though I’ve drawn similarities to other favorite bands of mine, including Theory of a Deadman, Adelitas Way, and Shinedown.  I also have noted that the band has a fresh and unique sound all its own, with an album that is equal parts emotional ballads combined with energetic rock anthems.

Music Review: Our Waking Hour - "Seconds to Save Her"

Music review written for EMURG.com.

Our Waking Hour is:

Vocals – Blaine Beckman

Drums – Aaron Harvey

Guitars/vocals – Erik Seime

Bass – Joey Villefranca

Too often, many modern hard rock and metal bands just use sheer, pointless anger and screaming as their main focal point through their music. It’s good that there are still new rock bands that preserve real moral fiber and emotion balanced with a sound brimming with adrenaline and energy.

San Antonio rockers, Our Waking Hour, is one such example of an alternative/hard rock band that doesn’t need to conform to a “scream blindly and angrily at the world” kind of mentality with their music. Their message, as portrayed in many songs on Seconds to Save Her, is one of inspiration and hope. Furthermore, it is delivered in a way that is pulse-pounding, cutting edge, and thought provoking.

The album starts off with a short “Intro” that begins with eerie chimes before gradually picking up pace to segway into the first actual song of the album, “Seconds to Save Her”. This song got me hooked on the dazzling and emotional sound that Our Waking Hour weaves throughout the rest of the album. They achieve this sound by blending energetic drumming and guitar vibes, sprinkled on with just the right amount of dramatic emotion and rich vocals. From this track, I found that Our Waking Hour’s overall sound was most reminiscent of the band Red. However, they do have their own original sound that, in some ways, has a more soul-searching aura about it.

Music Review: Edisun - "Edisun"

Edisun is:

Ethan Isaac – vocals

Jonathan Svec – guitar

Joel Kelley – guitar

Todd Budich – drums

James Cruz – bass

Going into this review I had already heard Edisun’s single, “Wide Awake”. It quickly became a song that I listened to on my IPod repeatedly. I was eager to explore the rest of Edisun’s debut album more thoroughly, and found that it still exceeded my expectations. One of the things that blew me away about this quintet from Connecticut was that they are able to blend together classic and modern rock and make it sound amazing. Their jazzy sound stems from blues rock and classic rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden, and U2, while adding in an energy and modern flare found in recent hard rock and alternative rock bands like Stone Sour. It is this clever blending of the old and new that gives Edisun an original sound to be appreciated and craved.

The self-titled album opens up with the song, “Wide Awake”, which starts the album off on an energetic note. This song is not only the one that is most familiar to me, but is also the one that I still find the most addicting. From the opening guitar line, this song gives off the vibe of a lively party song that kicks the door down with its signature chorus and vocals “Riot in this Town!” The guitar riffs, stylish drum beats, and Isaac’s versatile vocals work well in this single and highlight Edisun’s unique sound in this opening track. Regardless of how good the rest of the album and the band’s future work may be, this will likely be one of the songs that define Edisun later on.

Music Review: Concordia - "Clarity of Perception"

Concordia is a fresh, new five-piece hard/alternative rock band that originated in Cleveland, Ohio in late 2011. Concordia is a testament to just how varied and innovative bands in the hard rock spectrum can be. In one sense, this band is a pure driving force of melodic sounds and instrumentals, but they do so in a way that is powerful and adrenaline pumping all the same. I consider them to be a soft, melodic band with the energy and vigor of a metal band. It can be so rare nowadays to find a band with that uplifting “feel good” melodic sound, but with backing edginess and adrenaline that gets your blood flowing in the process.

Concordia’s debut release, Clarity of Perception, opens up with the track “Spoon-fed Sheep.” This was rightly chosen to be the opening track because it is easily one of the best if not the best on the album and it will likely be one of the defining landmarks for the band. This is my favorite track due not only to its harmonious vocals and a sound not all that dissimilar to Linkin Park (particularly vocalist Eric Emery’s striking similarity to Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington), but also because of the lyrics and the song’s overall pronouncing message.

The song, as evidenced by the lyrics, is largely political. The song deals with the idea of our government’s controlling, manipulating and lying to us while covering up their own vices. After a good keyboard opening, the song soon delves into the first set of lyrics that had my hooked on the song from the start. “Details of the crimes are never found. Secrets, all the lies are disavowed. Photos burned to hide the protected. While our freedom’s rejected.” I can really level with and understand these lyrics and this, along with the fluid instrumentals, really get me fired up and ready to rally behind the band’s beliefs. This opening song did an exemplary job at showing listeners what the band is capable of and how they use their melody blended with raw power to express impacting topics and emotions through their lyrics.

Music Review: Nine Lashes - "World We View"

Although I am a huge fan of many top-runner Christian rock bands such as Switchfoot, Skillet, and Red, I occasionally find myself skeptical when exploring new Christian rock bands out of fear that they may not live up to the hype of other rock genres. Luckily, with the case of the up-and-coming five-piece band Nine Lashes, I found myself astounded by what I’ve heard and pleased with the views that they present and the sound that they’ve weaved. The band’s core message centers around their faith, as evidenced by their name; “Nine Lashes” being a tribute to the wounds that Christ took before his sacrifice. However, the band’s central creeds presented in their music are also ones of inspiration and hope that fans of all types and backgrounds can rally behind.

World We View, the debut album for this Birmingham, Alabama quintet, opens up with the song “Anthem Of The Lonely.” The track, also the band’s first single, is aptly the most powerful song on the album in my opinion, and is the song that will likely be Nine Lashes’ trump card as they launch themselves to new heights with the release of World We View. This song is an ample reflection of what raw power the band brings through its pulsing, elemental guitar riffs, emotional and motivating lyrics, and an overall sound that gives me newfound respect for Christian rock bands and the intensity that they can bring to their music as Nine Lashes does.

 

The song’s title was spot on for the lyrical message of not only the song, but the whole album. This message being that one must take a stand for what they believe in, even if doing so makes you a loner. Throughout the debut track, I found myself enjoying multiple sounds all at once; the adrenaline-pumping riffs throughout, vocalist Jeremy Dunn’s smooth yet pronouncing vocals, and the overall instrumental sound that is uplifting and inspirational while possessing enough raw energy to send you into a frenzy. “Anthem Of The Lonely” may well become my personal anthem as I explore this album (and the band’s future music) further.

Music Review: Echoes the Fall - "Bloodline"

Another review for EMURG.com music blog

Echoes the Fall is:

Jeromy Moorehead- Vocals (Current)

Mike Gable- Guitars

Mitch Gable- Drums

Trevor Keeling- Bass

Myles Byrum- Guitar

Former:

David Mackey- Vocals (Bloodline)

Bloodline, the debut full-length album by the five-man band Echoes the Fall, is a record that blends an original powerful sound with familiar styles trail-blazed by other popular bands of the last decade such as Trapt and Staind. The alternative rock quintet from Phoenix, Arizona manages to establish itself amongst other modern rock juggernauts with an album that doesn’t hesitate to make use of thumping, heavy instrumentals, satisfying choruses and opening verses, edgy and pulse-pounding riffs and others surprising amenities that will surely bring in a plethora of new rock and metal fans.

The album is kicked off with the opening track, “Break Away.” I was instantly hooked on this song

Music Review: Incura - "The Lost EP"

Music review I wrote for EMURG.com, the music blog I wrote for:

Incura is:

Kyle Gruninger - Vocals

Jim McLaren - Keys

Jon Olson - Bass

Gatlin Fitzgerald - Guitar

Phil Gardner - Drums

I was a bit incredulous going into this review due to having admittedly never heard of the band Incura, let alone listened to their music. However, this hesitation was short lived after one clean sweep of listening to the latest album by these Vancouver, Canada-based rockers. Perhaps the fact that I went into this with no expectations and no prior knowledge of the band is what contributed to my immense surprise when I heard a band with fluid instrumentals, clever and emotional lyrics, blended musicals styles and genres, and an overall revolutionary sound that will likely keep me and many other listeners coming back for more.

The 7-track album, The Lost EP, opens up with the song “The Greatest Con,” which I believe to be a wonderful opening to the album due to its fluidity, fast-paced instrumentals, powerful lyrics and entertaining chorus. From this opening track, you really get the package of everything that is to be loved and appreciated about this band. Vocalist Kyle Gruninger’s smooth yet edgy voice never seems

Music Review: "Nightmare" by Avenged Sevenfold

Album: "Nightmare" by Avenged Sevenfold

Label:

Warner Bros. Records

Key Personnel:

Vocals– Matthew Sanders/ M. Shadows

Lead Guitar– Brian Haner Jr./ Synyster Gates

Rhythm Guitar– Zachary Baker/ Zacky Vengeance

Bass– Jonathon Seward/ Johnny Christ

Drums– Mike Portnoy

Additionally (Drums/Backing Vocals/Piano): James Sullivan/The Rev

Release Date: July 27, 2010

Track Listing:

Nightmare

Welcome to the Family

Danger Line

Buried Alive

Natural Born Killer

So Far Away

God Hates Us

Victim

Tonight the World Dies

Fiction

Save Me                         

Lost It All (Bonus Track)              

Nightmare, the fifth studio album of Avenged Sevenfold, comes at a time of turbulence, doubt and sorrow for the American heavy metal band. The album marks the first record release since 2008 and, more importantly, is the first release since the tragic passing of drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan in December 2009. As such, the latest record

TV Review: "The Pacific"

Starring: James Badge Dale, Jon Seda, Joe Mazzello

“The Pacific” is a miniseries that raises the bar for HBO’s already-stellar reputation. From start to finish, the miniseries effectively mixes together brutality, terror, emotion and realism into one perfectly-constructed blend.

The series follows the stories of three U.S. marines and their experiences in the Pacific theatre of WWII; Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale), John Basilone (Jon Seda), and Eugene Sledge (Joe Mazzello). The series follows the three marines and their respective squad-mates across the grueling island-hopping campaign between the U.S. marines and the imperial Japanese army that took place in the Pacific theatre. From Guadalcanal to Okinawa, these soldiers endure torments at every turn, both physical and psychological.

The series is filled to the brim with suspenseful and shaking scenes that can leave even the most steadfast of viewers shaking in their seats. There was one scene in particular during the ninth episode when Sledge