Diamond Lil - Misfits Of Society EP [Review]

Finding a sound as unique as this is an achievement in itself, yet this band take this and have crafted six songs that stand out in this age of manufactured, run-of-the-mill trash. Taking influence from the bands that perfected the genre, Diamond Lil seem more intent on carrying the torch for rock and doing so on their own merits rather than copying the tried and tested sounds of the past, these 4 guys have created a sound all on their own blending new and old style rock to create a new Frankenstein like sound. It's a beast of epic proportions and they go for the throat on all six of the tracks that this killer EP boasts.



“Bottom Of a Glass” and “Sex Injuries” are blistering rock anthems with instantly memorable choruses that are perfect for sold out arenas, "Misfits Of Society" is a call to arms for all those fans of the genre who feel outcast because of who we are and what we like, and in a sense Diamond Lil are exactly as this EP title suggests, they are a misfit band in a scene of copy cats and manufactured artists, “Beautiful Nowhere” is the ballad moment of the EP that is powerful and fueled with emotion and soul that could bring a tear to the eye of even the hardest rocker. “Reach” is seven and a half minutes of gritty, raw, unrelenting emotive song writing, and before we know it we are down to the last track of this outstanding debut effort. The amusingly named “Barrymore (I want more)”, regardless of where the name come from, this powerful closing track keeps you throwing that fist in the air and banging your head just as every other track on this six song epic has done.

Rock is very much alive folks in the black country, be sure to catch these boys live, because if this CD is anything to go by, then we are all in for a treat!

The Omega Experiment - The Omega Experiment [Review]

The Omega Experiment are a member of that very selective club of bands that hit the ground running instantly, their self-titled debut album is a piece of musical virtuosity, following in the footsteps of their idols like Devin Townsend and Dream Theater, The Omega Experiment have crafted an album that is clearly modeled on their influences, but shows enough originality to separate them.

The album itself creates vast soundscapes that provide a bed for the technical and well written style of the music, it’s an album so well written that it is how albums should be, no singular track feeling out of place or ruining the grand scheme of things, its written to be listened to in a single sitting and not in parts or as individual tracks.

This is a musical journey, the album itself acting as a guide through whatever journey the music takes you. This is how albums should be and it is a prime example of how a fresh band like this can throw a curve-ball in the industry.

Their debut EP was given away for free via their band camp page (http://theomegaexperiment.bandcamp.com/album/karma-ep) which was well received by Devin Townsend in particular.

Moments of experimentation and disjointed structuring only mirror this groups influences more but they have contorted these influences and made a convoluted masterpiece through which their own creativity shines.

The Omega Experiment are to be watched carefully as the band have announced they have begun writing a sophomore effort.

DEVICE - Vilify [Single] [Review]

“Vilify” is aggressive, industrial, heavy and elaborate. It’s a taster of what’s to come from the new beast that is DEVICE, the new band featuring Disturbed front man David Draiman.

​

DEVICE is a different conception; any comparison to Disturbed just falls short as the only common denominator is Draiman himself; besides that this single is almost earth shattering.



“Vilify” is so well constructed that each listen unveils a new little secret that the song itself seemed to hold before, it teases with each lyric and each note of music that greater things are in store for the listener when the album drops



Draiman & Lenardo have created something bigger than the sum of its parts and should be more than proud with such a creation as its not often something as outstanding as this comes along to redefine the genre.



The members of DEVICE have found a new love for music it seems within this new entity and I for one cannot wait for the full album.

The Temperance Movement - Pride EP Review

In a world of such generic music and artists being contrived to please the masses, a band like The Temperance Movement shine through clearly. Showcasing their phenomenal talent is this debut 5 track EP. "Pride" is a prodigious statement, in the 5 tracks we are presented with, the band showcase their diverse style and song writing skills. Soul oozes from every note played and sung on this 5 track EP.

Kicking off the EP is “Ain’t No Telling”, a song that’s not written expressly for radio but is too catchy to not be a hit and have listeners singing along within the first spin of the track. The influences of blues and rock are blindingly obvious, but it’s not a bad thing, this band has taken a collection of inspirations and influences and created a Frankenstein like monster for their style, its awe-inspiring to hear a new band sounding better than most of their influences do right now.

“Only Friend” is what grabbed my attention and made me want to hear more from this band. If you heard it on the radio you would believe it was something written by a band beyond the years of “The Temperance Movement” as the craft Has been so well honed and perfected that it’s impossible to think this is on a debut EP.

“Pride” is the 3^rd track on the EP as well as being the title track for the EP, this is more laid back and a softer sounding piece, the band showcase the more diverse sides of the style they have perfected.

“Be lucky” follows suit building the pace, a “feel-good” track from which the band continues to diversify their style and sound, the whole EP is written to build you up when you feel knocked down.

“Lovers & Fighters” ends this EP on a soft note, bringing you back soothingly into normality after reminding you that new music does exist and new bands aren’t always run of the mill, soulless acts.

All in all this EP is extraordinary, it takes the influences of the past as a basis on which to build better and brighter things, these songs are a mere taste of the virtuosity of such youth and young blood in a genre that would have soon become based purely on nostalgia. “Pride” is not just the title of a track or the EP; it is something The Temperance Movement should have mounds of after releasing 5 songs like these.

Newsted - Metal EP Review

Being A fan of Jason's work in Metallica, I was intrigued when news of this EP broke, and rightly so, hes taken full creative control and the outcome is somewhat reminiscent of Motorhead. Metal consists of only 4 tracks, but what these 4 tracks achieve are more than some full length albums never do!

"Soldierhead" kicks the EP off like a sledgehammer to the face, the aforementioned Motorhead influence is more than clear, but with enough originality to make this release one all on its own, Jason's vocals are outstanding and musicianship is phenomenal and a blistering solo only resonates the fact that their is some considerable force behind this release and its not just a fad or a half baked idea.

"Godsnake" is next and is a slightly slower song with a chugging driving force behind it, but whilst being slower, it is no less an unrelenting force than "Soldierhead". 

"King Of The Underdogs" opens with Jason singing melodically on what soon becomes on of those songs you instantly bang your head to, there's an underlying groove to this that would open up a circle pit in the most placid of crowds. Jason's melodic vocals continue throughout only occasionally returning to his Lemmy-esque vocal delivery.

"Skyscraper" closes the EP in true metal fashion, Jason screams "COME ON!" to call you to arms, rise up and bang your fists in the air, its a unifying song with pure groove and rhythm oozing from the music.

If Newsted continue on this path to greatness then the album's can only overshadow this EP, although with such a great statement like this to release initially, one can only ask, "Where Can Newsted Go From Here?" as they have already fine tuned their style and released a phenomenal debut.

Aerosmith - Music From Another Dimension! Review

Being A fan of Aerosmith for a few years now, I was extremely enthusiastic when it was announced that after all the debating as to whether or not they would record together again that they were indeed entering the studio to record their first album of original material in 11 years.

I for one am possibly one of the few who thoroughly enjoyed “Just Push Play” as an album. All this excitement however soon began to diminish when I began listening to “Music From Another Dimension!”

The album opens with “Luv XXX” and whilst some of Aerosmith’s trademark sound is there, it’s lacking soul and that raw blues emotion that makes Aerosmith sound so great is missing, as if the album is being recorded simply for the sake of it rather than to serve a purpose. 

I can only hope that given the albums 15 tracks it has to get better, but it doesn’t, its 15 tracks of what I can only describe as a band without new inspiration going through the motions and constructing an album of half-baked ideas (a lot of which sound awfully close to previous Aerosmith songs).

The Album’s first single “Legendary Child” is the first track on the album that is actually not as poorly thought out as the albums preceding tracks. It does however have a feel of it being an older track, it seems to remind me of previous singles and doesn’t give me that sense of excitement that Aerosmith once did, but it is considerably better than anything on the album thus far.

“What Could Have Been Love” is the next track on the album, and this thus far is the albums exceptional track, its true to Aerosmith’s style, the emotion and blues feel is there, and my hope for the album is somewhat rekindled by these 3 minutes and 44 seconds, and these are kept burning with “Street Jesus”, a fast paced track that’s reminiscent of the bands early days.

“Can’t Stop Lovin’ You” soon dashes my re-ignited belief in this album in an instant, there’s an almost country feel to the track, and it throws the already disjointed album into more disarray. This should have been left off and used as a track for a solo venture or should have been a solo track for Carrie Underwood with Steven as a guest rather than the arrangement it is in.

“Lover Alot” is written for radio play and may well be a radio hit due to the catchy style in which the lyrics are written and the bounce of the song itself and in this song we find another good track on the album.

The next few songs on the album become lost within each other and it’s hard to notice anything that makes any of the tracks stand alone, apart from Joe Perry handling lead vocals on “Freedom Fighter” (which features Johnny Depp on backing vocals, with which he doesn’t do too bad a job) and “Something”, Joe Perry it would seem could stand to learn a thing or two from Depp’s backing vocals, as it just becomes a monotonous drone without any sort of degree of musical inclination.

“Another Last Goodbye” closes the album, and an album that has been such a let-down as this can only end like this, with a poorly written ballad. If Aerosmith are going to continue writing music after this I hope they do it with conviction rather than for the sake of it.

As an Aerosmith fan I hope they work on what made this album poor, as a critic, I can only hope they step back and think about what they are doing before they do it.

Luminova - Luminova EP Review

Not many new bands really grab my attention, Most seem to be an unimaginative rehash of something that's come before, Luminova's Debut release however, is not unimaginative and is not a rehash as such, but more of a sum of influences that create an EP that could go toe to toe with the best of the best.

Consisting of only three tracks, the EP packs more punches than most full length albums that have come from more established bands in recent times.

"M.I.B." is a track filled with that spirit that gives you the sense of greater things are about to come, great vocal melodies, phenomenal fretwork, and thunderous drums drive this track on a road of relentlessness.

"The New" kicks off with a rolling drums and outstanding vocals before going into a very maidenesque harmonized guitar part, but the grit and attitude of this band soon shines through again and the track is a great follow up to "M.I.B." as it is indeed one of the great things that it foretold.

"Pain For Pleasure" closes the EP in the only way possible, with a bang. Its fast paced hard rock with a level of integrity that's hard to find in the music scene today, all too often have I seen bands that will release an EP or perform a gig and its all to obvious that the band lacks soul, and this single track is a testament to how much spirit this band has, and if its any indication of what this band is capable of, they are destined for great things

This is hard rock/ metal at its finest, the hunger and raw energy of a band determined to go against the grain.