Cobalt, Eater of Birds

Cobalt, Eater of Birds, (2007-profound lore records)

Had a good listen to this bands two albums, first in this album and the second in near matching in quality "Gin" from 2009 and I have to say I am shocked upon looking at the net near no real coverage of the band at all.

So here we have another entry to the band that should have gigantic but is not. But here we have a problem the band consists of two people. Yup so no real live presence at all and also they seem to really keep themselves to themselves. But in music world and more so music fans that really does not matter. Remember PIL in the 1980s with the Album, Single, 12" stuff they done many fans had no idea who was on the tracks at all.

Much like PIL this is pretty much as far from Top of the Pops as you will go, the band are in the Black Metal area of the shops but I feel it can be listened to by many alt music fans. Yes it is heavy and at times very much making the filling rattle but the feel of the music is so amazing. When the first track 'When Serpents Return' really puts this album where it is happy. Starting out with an all out BM blast of drums vocals and guitars so much so my lunch is moving with the music due to how loud I have it.

But that is why I have it here it is so well done the riffs are here and grab you like the first track bounds into a very repetitive style of riffs much like a punk band would do. Little bits of lead guitar sweep over the two speakers to move the music about. It is not so much a metal feel but a punk maxed out sludge sound.

Second track has that great into blast beat drum start but the band love to speed up and it seems to move into a kind of old school metal feel near like Iron Maiden when they do the galloping feel in their older stuff. Heavier and louder of course.

It is not all out metal and 'Witherer' finds the band in a kind of ambient mood, with the drummer used as a kind of orchestra conductor dictating where it all should go. It really is amazing stuff. And we are not at my personal highlight yet. 'Androids, Automatons and Nihilists' the track mixes acoustic and electric guitars really well with haunting vocals from Jarboe of Swans fame. This really is a stand out track it has to be heard, only Jarboe could make the album come into this area of real scary music the mixture of acoustic and the heavy distorted guitar has been done so many times but she really makes this her own.


Prepare to look over your shoulder.

The band ends pretty much as it started in all out excessive noise but all fitting in the right way to make the listener want more. Many heavy albums can really be hard to listen to more so when they are 40m or so but this is shear pleasure, it really does show what the style of music can provide and as I say where does it fit in? It is metal but it is punk and for me it is art. Much as PIL made Album and have people scratch their heads as to its content... this is the same.


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Oh I must say the album has bits of Phil McSorley's 29 minute long acoustic/ambient song "Ritual Use of Fire." This song is available in its entirety on the Landfill Breastmilk Beast EP

Burzum, Hvis Lyset Tar Oss

Burzum, Hvis Lyset Tar Oss (Misanthropy-1994)

Recorded in September of 1992 this album along with three others were recorded in just over a year. Each for me are well worth buying and highlighting “Filosofem” from 1996 as it really is two completely different sounding albums.

This album is a concept album and in English is called If the Light Takes Us. Much of the Black Metal world was all about volume and speed where this music rewound all that back. This is far more of an ambient album. But the influence is there.

"Det som en gang var" ("What Once Was") starts the album with a guitar sound that has been made to sound very empty owning to the concept of the album. He messes about with synthesizers and guitars multi tracking to make a sound I really do not think could be done live. Well up to a point where a full band sound kicks in and all the rock fans out there will recognize some classic elements of riffs and rhythm. All still played while there is a droning in the background. About now you are shocked that it is all done by one person, every instrument, mixing and production was all done by one person. I think this is the key here as most people would most likely get someone else to play drums due to not being good enough but on this album it really does work very well. The production is not crystal clear but that is the whole point as well.

What is new here is the mix of ambient and metal in the same songs and at the same time. None of this one minute intro of building music up to a big guitar blitz. This is all here at once. Fourteen and a half minutes fly by.

"Hvis lyset tar oss" ("If the Light Takes Us") brings us back to a style most would see as BM but again there is that droning guitar sound. Same goes for track three "Inn i slottet fra droemmen" ("Into the Castle from the Dream") this has more of a repetitive nature to it. Not that far away from a drum and bass sound. The screams and growls keep you where you want to be though. Saying that the vocal work on this album is really kept to a minimum and I think that is helpful to many new ears on the style of music. Track three has most of the vocals on the whole album. And to those like me who can’t speak Norwegian you will not know what he is singing. There are plenty of pages on the web with translation and the lyrics are really nothing amazing. First verse of track three is “Between misty vales, Between gloomy mountains, Under gray clouds, In the black night”

Lyrics are never this style of music’s strong point. Well it is one of those reasons it exists. Can’t sing well it is not needed. Same as in track four "Tomhet" ("Emptiness") why bother writing bass, guitar and drum parts when you can use a synthesizers to make the epic feeling of nothing. I have read some say this track is a filler track and for me they are wrong it is my stand out track. I once went to Norway and got the train from Oslo to Bergen and got off at a stop in-between and went for a walk in the mountains of Finse. With 2hr wait between the trains I had a good listen to this music and it really does sound right. There is more to the track as it builds up and it really catches you unaware. I won’t ruin it but is for me a fantastic track. Other times I listen to it is on long flights more so at the start of the flight just to settle me down a bit. It has that effect on you.

This blog is about albums that missed the big time. This could never have made it big but looking at the last few years of Black Metal and bands headlining 60,000+ festivals and making big money then yeah the payoff never happened. Can’t do this live and I would never want to see it live. But what a great album.

If you like this check out “Filosofem” as well.

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My trip to Norway in 2012 on Flickr

Pain, Rebirth

Pain, Rebirth (Stockholm-1999)

Remember Napster? This album for quite some time was only available in Sweden and the reason I got this was due to Napster. Back then you could talk to the people you shared music with. Got chatting to a death metal fan from Sweden who recommended this to me. So downloaded it (Well it was free).

A bit of background here as it is important. Peter Tägtgren was at the time well known within metal fans as the leader of death metal band Hypocrisy he was also used many times by bands as a producer. His own studio was used for many classic metal albums, his own band were still going but his desire to make other music was so strong this album came about. Well it is his second under the name Pain. All writing/instruments are by his so it really is as solo as you can ever get. It was nothing but a side project but the album had a two hit singles in Sweden. Not sure if that was ever expected as the deal was simply kept to Sweden, this is where Napster came in to a music fans help. Import copies were very expensive back then. So I only ever had this on MP3 till a few years ago. 

The hit singles in "On and On" and "End of the Line" are so much fun and a real mix of styles. industrial and rock are mixed well but the ending sound is very surprising, strangely it feels more like pop music. Not so far away than what could be in the dance clubs. It can get you dancing much like "On and On" as the music is very repetitive but the vocals are all clean. As I say Peter was a death metal vocalist so a real change of style for him. But it all works. "End of The Line" has some nice loops and guitar samples that really show how good he is in the studio. Again the vocals help keep a tune and the ears are interested.

One of the songs I always loved was "Crashed" an all out rock track but it has keyboards as the lead tune at the intro but still feels very rocking. The guitars on this album are there but with little distortion it helps the overall sound balance out and I think that is why many fans of dance music took notice. "Suicide Machine" is another song I like, a little bit heavier again but the electronic side is obvious, more mixing of the guitars and samples. It really should not work but you find yourself singing along with it.

One track that mixes the guitars into what I could only say is a beat is "Parallel to Ecstasy" it is very interesting as the riff side of the guitar sound feels like it is made faster and looped to feel like a dance beat but it is a distorted guitar. Great stuff, I could see this all being released in the UK as a white label promo (white label is where no info is on the disc making DJ/radio listen) and getting many people interested.

I really do wonder what would have happened if this was put out with a big label as at the time Stockholm Records was not as big as it was. More so outside of Sweden. Perfect label would have been Deconstruction. Give this a go it was listed at the time as industrial/electronic rock but it really is more than that. Very catchy I remember friends into dance music asking me for a copy of this in 99. Always loved how they were enjoying it so much but always adamant they don't like rock music.

Now easily available it has had many reprints so the cover may well be different.

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Classic Album Review Cryptopsy, Whisper Supremacy

Cryptopsy, Whisper Supremacy (Century Media-1998)

I was watching a tv show here in the UK called Room 101. The show is like a panel show where three guests choose things they want to put into Room 101 a fictional place where once it is in it never comes out.
One of the shows guests Sara Cox (A UK pop radio station presenter) choose to put in death metal as she simply can't get it. Now as far as I was concerned till this album I never got it. Or at least wanted to really get it but this one is the one that got me into that whole style of music in a big way. Saying that I would never have vanished it like shy may have tried to do simply due to not understanding it.

So if you fancy giving this a go this is a great place to start. This album was under a sub genre called technical death metal one I really still don't think exists even now as it is unfair to call any music technical but it is a way of helping to describe the music as well as the change in direction.

This music really was invented much like metal music in Birmingham, UK. If you have never been I can tell you the music fits so well. The city was a big part of the industrial revolution and many think it may never have happened on such a large scale if it was not for the size of the output in Birmingham. So this music really does accompany the cities historical past well.

A wall of noise is an easy description but track one "Emaciate" feels like that a barrage of drums and guitars greet you a few seconds in. But it does all fall down to a sort of technical conclusion and starts off in a direction I would describe as not wanting to stay static. Unlike many other bands of this style I can see how you can move to it as it is non stop energy. Bit like hardcore made fast and with added volume.

Many people hear a band like Slipknot and seem to wrongly at times call it death metal but if you hear that and then give this a listen it is a whole planet of difference. Most death metal bands have no gimmicks at all. Not that dressing up is a bad thing they just do not need it. The music is all it is about and one of the few styles of music the fans really do only care about what the next albums drum sound is like.

Talking of drums it again was a shock to hear such good playing, well recorded too. The music was as clear as a bell and each and every drum fill makes the room shake. It is that fast I really do not know how someone can play like that live, but I have seen them and yest it is like that. "Cold Hate, Warm Blood" was a popular song in the few pubs I visited that played this music. I think some of the reason I like this album so much is that the vocals really are not always there and the bad can be heard. The vocals on this track show that with a very quick verse and what sounds like a chorus only once.

All the music here is very deceiving as it does sound so easy and for many not hard to play at all. But listen closely the band is really working so hard. In between all the noise there are little passages of music not so much of a tune but like those zig zags you get outside schools. Such jagged and fearsome looking you would never ever park there.

Clocking in at 30 minutes it is that length it can be heard in total and for me enjoyed easily and it never feels to last too long. The sort of album to listen to when pissed off and I really do mean it when I say it helps. Many other bands at the time seemed to be obsessed with gore and gruesome covers on the album. Nothing wrong with that but when the music is crap I always stayed away. Till this album really blew the doors open.

Thankfully the style was not placed into room 101 and was saved by the presenter who thinks the fans deserve respect for what they support so passionately. In a time where music to many is nothing but background noise that can be streamed for free and never discussed. Try ignore this and try playing it in work the next time. See the reactions from people?! that is what music can do. Hey if you still don't get it you get my respect as you gave it a go. But one day when you miss the train and its an hour till the next one and it makes you very late. That anger does not need to be bottled up... and you can play this twice ha ha.

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Album review Street Dogs, Fading American Dream

Street Dogs, Fading American Dream (Brass Tacks Records-2006)

The Dropkick Murphys released a cracking debut in Do or Die. Lead singer  Mike McColgan left as he wanted to undertake a career elsewhere. He may have not understood the impact that first album had as the band went on to become one of the best American punk bands in a long time. Even the second album was fantastic helping to launch the band into a world audience.

A few years later Mike McColgan decided he wanted back in music and again a punk band was his goal. With many fans of the Dropkick Murphy knowing of him there was an reason for making album so this one is album number three. And what an album.

There is no messing about here you know what you are getting. Not much unlike the Dropkicks the music is fast and intense punk rock. Take out the obvious Irish influences and add in more loud guitars it was all done at 100mph. Jut the way I like it!

Songs have some really strange inspirations like "Fatty" about a fat kid being bullied. But the lyrics make you think. "Do you remember back in high school, that kid we all picked on, know one backed him, ever liked him, he takes carries that with him today". The song goes on to show the strength of that kid and not giving up. A song that could be used for so many other things.

The recording quality is very professional, and it should be. The whole band sounds great here and above all sound punk. Mike McColgan has to be one of the best vocalists ever in punk music. As I say the first Dropkick Murphys album is still a real important album, his voice helped to make that so.

"There Is Power in a Union" Is another highlight a Billy Bragg cover and for me way better than his version. The power and intensity in this could bring down companies alone. I had my own troubles with my work over the years and I fought them the whole way even to the point of seeing a lawyer just to know where I stand. This song is why I done it , Again Mike singing "let's Fight" is the difference from Bragg and him. Listen to this on the walk to work to pick up a redundancy letter and I will dare you not to fight back.

Some songs have even crossed that line of comedy while still being serious. "Tobe's Got a Drinking Problem" is about a band member who has that little bit more than he should. The song is delivered in a comedy way as I think he has managed to control his drinking. "I swear on almighty God that I am never drinking again" is a key lyric.

There are many Irish influences on here but a little less than the Dropkick Murphy went on to include on later albums. "Shards of Life" shows a full on folk sound with a nice mix of rock music. It is a welcome lighter structure and just as catchy tune with dobro, pump organ and acoustic guitar giving that classic Irish feel.

A fantastic all round punk album that fits so well in 2006 and even now it means just as much. There are some amazing lyrics on this album and that is something that punk music really can miss at times. Politically aligned to one side and for many people they may not like what they have to say. But they have to, the skill here is in the music and how good it is. Many Boston bands have a history of being great fun good time bands and this is right up there. Adults like me will feel the lyrics, the kids will love the music and for us all an album that uses the punk rock name properly. A rare album indeed.

This album is out of print but copies are about check sellers on Amazon

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Classic Album Review, PJ Harvey, White Chalk

PJ Harvey, White Chalk (Island Records-2007)

I have always enjoyed all of the output that PJ Harvey has done and also loved her side projects with John Parrish (Check out 2009s A Woman A Man Walked By). But this album commands respect from me. 

Not simply just a good album to me but as someone who plays musical instruments I have to respect how she really went out of her comfort zone on this album. A very risky thing to do. Away with the classic drum, bass and guitar band set up and move onto learning new instruments from scratch. Also add in a real change in vocal style and you have the makings of what could be a bad album.

But what did happen is Harvey committed herself as much as she could to the piano and other instruments to gain just what she needed to write an album. Now she can call herself a multi instrumentalist with credits outside of guitars including zither, harmonica, harp and cigfiddle.

How does it all sound? Well it is a simple album as you really can't do that much in a studio all on your own. But it is well done and written so well. She really evolved her songwriting skills here. "The Devil" has the blueprint for this album. Simple piano chords and her voice singing just a little too much higher than she may like. But it seems to work. The harmonies help to give the music stability but they are rarely used showing her control of the sound so well. Any producer would have put many on this to fill it up.

Second track 'Dear Darkness' has bleakness at the heart. The music is moving and also very gloomy so not one to play on a summers day at a BBQ. 'When Under Ether' is a real stand out track telling story of an unborn child, no reason given from what I can hear. Very much a thinking album. Title song and again another highlight 'White Chalk' makes you wonder why you have this on at all. But nice little acoustic passages and her voice convince you this is well worth the listen.

This album was made with much the same people as all her others but it really does sound that much removed from her past albums. Many artists try to do this and fail very badly, this album back when it came out made some new fans but I do remember fans being split on this one. Even her live performance was changed dramatically with PJ removing the traditional band format even from the live performance. Wearing a Victorian style, full length dress and playing many of the instruments live while sitting down is as close to folk you can get. It was more of a one woman show, but simply so much different than the busker you cross the street to get away from.

The album was a hit in the UK and sold ok but really it should have been bigger and people know that. The next album was four years away and on a similar style as this and BANG! people got it, Mercury Prize winner and praise that should have happened in 2007. So people were a little late, so what but those who were late missed out on a better album.

White Chalk is easily available on CD and LP from Amazon

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Type O Negative, October Rust

Type O Negative, October Rust (Roadrunner-1996)

I really think this band are so overlooked. I know so as I did the same. I did buy this in the late 90s but never really liked it as much as I do now. Could be my age but I don't know why it took so long to love this band so much.

The album before was a big hit going platinum in America and cementing the band into the gothic style. But they really are just a rock band. As always all music has to be put into a sub genre. Call it metal if you like but it is still just rock n roll.

The dry humor here is what I love starting with a joke track then onto the music. "Love You to Death" is such a catchy song, nice keyboards and sample added with Peter Steele's utterly unique voice opens the album up well. Same goes for his bass playing and "Be My Druidess" shows how to make a sound with a bass guitar in a way that you have to have a go. The down tuned style is at times so un inspiring for many people but there are so many positives here as the songs are very catchy, you will be sing along at times and again it is listed in the metal section.

The big song "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend" will guarantee smiles and it is such a great song, it should have been number one, could have been in the 80s but would they take it a seriously back then? The album is so well made that I was shocked to read that all drums were programed and you really can barley notice. I think they have made such a nice little sound unique to themselves you really do not notice much of the technical side of the music.

This album was not received as well as the other albums they done and a reason was for it being more ballad like music. But it is done so well and with such a great song writer in Steele they even cover a Neil Young song (Cinnamon Girl) and do it so well in there own style of music. It may seem to be a serious album and it is as the album deals with loneliness and death but the humor is so important here as it is so hard to write funny music. Here we have a funny, serious, heavy metal pop album. Has anyone ever done that ever since?

The album is easily available but the box set is great value as all the other albums are really good.

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Nevermore, This Godless Endeavor

Nevermore, This Godless Endeavor (Century Media-2005)

Looking over past albums I have chosen you can see I like heavy metal. But much of the metal world to most people can sound and also, be quite boring. If you can't get into say Slayer and Metallica you may think you don't like that style of music. It may sound to old for you as they have been about for years. Or you just want a more modern sound, something big where you can hear the hard work in the music...

Why not give it one more go. Nevermore are an American band who have been about from the mid 90s. They have done some great albums but this is a real stand out album. Not so much as a good set of tunes but good everything. Production, sound, engineering, musicianship and of course some great riffs. The band have always done a kind of old school thrash sound that has modernized with the black metal sound.

Best way to get an idea is to listen and first track "Born" is all you have to listen to for an idea on the sound here. At times metal does sound better when underproduction helps to give that raw edge. But this band seem to be on another planet here and every single thing that they play you can hear as crystal clear as possible.

DRUMS! man I wish I could hit one drum that sounded as good as this album. Pure utter gold, amazing playing from Van Williams, you think he is just hitting everything all the time but as the album progresses "My Acid Words" shows this man knows exactly what he is doing. Slowing down and barley playing to the music and evolving the album sound from one genre to another in a few drum fills. Amazing.

"Sentient 6" is the first time this album take a ballad feel and even then it is done so well, some nice keyboards and the normal slow timing to make the song feel more emotional but the riffs are here don't worry.

And in the middle a nice instrumental "The Holocaust Of Thought" it is more of a solo lasting 90 seconds, bit odd but if there was no track list you really would not have noticed. Again this album feels so right and it all fits well. "Sell My Heart For Stones" returns to the piano and acoustic sound of before but with some real emotional lyrics. The harmonies help build up what the song is about.

The band up to this point had quite a few albums out and I think they may have got an idea it was the time to make it bigger and "The Psalm Of Lydia" shows just what they can do. Dissecting the song there are 1000 ideas here. You need to listen so close and thankfully the next track is more like a classic metal song, solos and great mountains of noise.

Last track "This Godless Endeavour" titles the album and I see why. Again including many fantastic acoustic passages and that great voice. The bass and drums work so well here and at the start supply a great riff between them. The song is a little like a reprise of the whole album, brave thing to do as I have heard this done many times before and it never really works. But it does here. It could also be a teaser for the next album.

The band and the producer Andy Sneap could not have done anything else to make this better, no tweaks to any dial could have made a single riff or snare drum sound any better. All the planets were in alignment for this one. The press did not miss this one as well, I did see 10/10 in one and all were full of praise. Tours supporting the big bands must have been on the cards.

But the band had some back luck, illness in the band made the tours impossible. No record company can promote a band who can't tour. As they want to build up to the next album. So this album fell under the radar in a way. Well not now, give it a go. This album is my tester album to any new electrical equipment I get. Richer Sounds should give this away with all new amplifiers.

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Cheap Trick, Rockford

Cheap Trick, Rockford (Big3 Records-2006)

Album number 15 for this "Rockford" based band. Yeah it is named after the bands home town and why not. A band that always had there feet on the ground and from the early 90s were pretty much self managed. With the record company poking there nose in much of the time as soon as the deal was over it was time to move on. 1997 the released a self titled album that was for me a cracking return to form and a new start.

Here is an album that I think was not given any real mainstream coverage as people more likely assume the band is passed it or worse still just listen to the first few albums. Well you need to add this to the collection as it is fantastic. A proper all out rock album that pulls many a punch. It is like a mix of old and new with the catchy vocals we have all heard before.

Every track here is a great one and the album opens with "Welcome to the World" it feels like the band are having just as much fun as the listener. "Perfect Stranger" shows a band who can still play so well together. I know this is not just studio production as I have seen the band live a few times now and the are still amazing to see. Rick Nielsen may not run about the stage as much or as fast but hell they can play.

If this was the mid 80s this album would have sold bucket loads but 2006 and on there own label it really did not stand a chance. But I don't think the band care as long as the fans like it.

Any younger person reading this may remember the That 70s Show theme tune? That was this band! Think of that show intro but faster and more fun and you have the first half of this album.

I could review each track on its own but why bother as all have the same sound and it is great. A band that people can't rip off as all bands after them agree they were the most fun.

Those few of you who read this and get this album then you are in for a real treat and if you have never listened to a Cheap Trick album before then here is where to start. It has been well documented the band help influence the likes of Nirvana, the Pixies, Pearl Jam, Weezer, the Ramones and countless others.

By the way album 16 if fantastic as well, still on tour and going strong Cheap Trick, 1973–present

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Classic Album Review, Ramones, It's Alive

Ramones It's Alive (1979-Sire)

And a first for my blog. Well more than one first. The first band/artist to be in it more than once. The first live album and the first double album.

I can't do my usual and go thorough the album dissecting songs and trying to give you (or convince) a description of the content. I also will not insult anyones intelligence as if you read what I type you have an idea.

The band were on the road for years and due to this the time is right for a live album. Three albums in for most bands would seem a little bit quick. Not quick enough for this band. MC5 had the balls to make the first album they done a live album so nothing remarkable in having one three albums in. But for the casual fan the live record is a bit of a best of and for kids with little pocket money a chance to get em all.

The band fire though 28 songs pretty much the whole catalog the band have.  No bullshit solos, fake chit chat and all that is not here. As Joe Strummer said "people have things to do" in direction at how fast the bad were and agreeing that get it done now as we have other things to do.

Classic song after song is here all sound better and the band sound fantastic. Faster and angrier the LPs they done were fantastic but still after the first album they had to hold back in the studio. For many fans a live show was never going to happen, too far away or what ever. This is as good as a replacement you can have.

The band were recording four gigs in total with the idea releasing the best one. Before listening to the music recorded this was chosen as the fans ripped up ten rows of seats at the Rainbow theater and threw them at the band.

I wrote about the bands last album before as I feel it was a great album overlooked. This album is loved by fans but overlooked by press and even fans outside the UK as it was a UK release. There have been reissues on cheap CDs over the years but the original LP sounds amazing so if you see it in a shop for a few quid get it.

The album for me is a benchmark for live albums. The sound and all out balls on this is amazing. 30+ years later I have never heard a live album like it. Look at all the punk bands now, they rarely do live albums and this is the reason why. Don't bother it has been covered and with extras.

The concert was filmed for VHS but the tapes came out too grainy on VHS as the lighting was too poor. But the DVD format changed that and the Live DVD of the same name has this concert in glorious Technicolor. But only half the concert is present. This band were that good you can't film them.

I could go on for ever but it is a great album, sounds fantastic with an amazing track listing. Punk was said to have died in 78 this came out in 79 and the band had another fantastic album in Road to Ruin out the year between the albums recording and release. So buy Road to Ruin and this and you are covered.

It's Alive is available from Amazon and E Bay but the vinyl LP for me sounds the best.

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Isis, Celestial

Isis, Celestial (Hydra Head-2000)

I still think this is a new sound as there has been so few albums to do this so well. At the time it was called Sludge metal, doom, post metal and many others but it really is just loud rock music at the end of the day.

So ok it is not quite Little Richard but still it is just drums, bass and guitar. In 2000 the music world was being blasted by the likes of Limp Bizkit and Korn and others on the fringes of the metal world we all trying to copy that down tuned bass tone.

Isis were not easily led and with a fairly minimal idea for an album made one the the best metal albums in the 00s. The start of the first track gives and idea what is going on here. Sounds of someone typing on a computer keyboard. Sounds like someone hacking into something, could it be in the future or...

Well track one quickly leads into "Celestial (The Tower)" and the guitar noise begins. more like really big riffs that span the whole spectrum of sound. Like a machine digging away at the earth throwing up chunks or rock and dirt. Scratchy guitar parts add into the atmosphere. Singer Aaron Turner appears with screaming vocals that can barely be made out over the sound of the band. He says the album deals with the erosion of privacy as technology advances.

As track two "Glisten" thunders in you can feel as if the album is being made to hurry up a little, that feeling as if the connection will go. Leading back to what the album is about very well. The band work well together in delivering the big riff like noises. "Swarm Reigns (Down)" feeds off the rest of the album well. Now you feel a sense of desperation in the music. The dynamics on this album are fantastic, you really do feel something on each track. Something you just didn't get back in 2000 with other metal bands.

"De constructing Towers" yet again changes scope in the music, more of a jazz feel to it, guitars and drums are frantic. They keep on rolling as if no purpose, like covering up something. Ending with a single acoustic guitar. The music is so good you feel as if it really must have been done before but not to these ears.

With the end near "Collapse and Crush" sounds like its title, big slow doom guitars and strong guttural vocals accompanying the band. All the time still having the chugging guitar sound. This track goes into a nice clean guitar sound and at the right time too. You welcome it with open arms. The track does build slightly heavier but nothing like before. As I say the feel of this album is just amazing. "Gentle Time" closes the album with guitars and riffs that if sped up I feel would still sound the same.

Back in 2000 I was lucky to see some great metal bands like Pantera, Slayer and Metallica. But I was more exited about seeing this band in 2001. They don't sound that much different live as well. But the power and the simplicity is remarkable. With the world turning to baggy jeans and chains it would have been easy to miss this album. Not now as here it is, thanks to this blog a chance to hear an album that will never age or be cool.

Celestial is easily available but if you get the chance get the double album with the add on EP as this was to be a double album when recorded. One year later the second part was released "SGNL>05" is just as epic and essential. I may even review it later on.

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Silver Ginger Five, Black Leather Mojo

Silver Ginger Five, Black Leather Mojo (2000-Mercury Japan)

Made by the Wildhearts front man Ginger in 1999 and on a Japan label the album was intended to be his first solo album. He had worked with others just before this project like Alex Kane on the Stop Thinking album and the Supershit 666 superband. But this was all cards on the table, only he could make it work or not.

Well it is a funny one as I think he did do something with the album and that was to headline a large venue in London without even having the album out in the UK. It was a Japan only album for quite a while so any fans who wanted it had to pay quite a bit for a Japan import.

The album opens with what I would say is a solid first track “Sonic Shake” has all the ingredients you need for an air guitar fuelled three minutes. Big loud riffs that sound bigger as it gets louder, the drums are tight and the quality is here. The production is spot on and is need to hear all that is going on.

Second track “Divine Imperfection” Continues the riffs, simple and fun. The song has such a great sing a long feel to it, helped with the harmonies and great lyrics. “Anyway but Maybe” comes crashing out of the speakers like a roller coaster that is coming off its rails. Big drum fills and bass that can easily take the roof off. Remember that production? Here it is, after that nice big build up you get Gingers vocals. Great lyrics and all the things needs for me it is a stand out track. 

A little bit of a change in pace “Girls are better than Boys” and “Brain Sugar” help provide more of the glam rock n roll that we all love. The two songs are very infectious and are nowhere near a filler track.  The latter track takes you back to sing along with even more great lyrics.

Again a little change in “Monkey Zoo” it is an all out hard rock song with that has touches of alt rock but still keeps the melodic sound of the album. The track has big keyboards to help give an orchestra sound to it. It is a slow song but never loses any attention.

“Inside Out” is a nice little acoustic number, catchy and melodic it is a nice campfire sing a long number.  The track sounds pretty much a throw away song but after a few listens it is a firm favourite.  It is one of those tracks that could be a big hit on the radio, say if it was on a film or TV show. Nice wee guitar solo here keeps the hands waving.

An all out rocker in “I Wanna be New” nothing fancy but loud rock music and a nice track to lead into one of Gingers oldest songs. Written for a Wildhearts album it has never seen the light till this album. “Church of the Broken Hearted” could make a Bon Jovi fan shed a tear. But add in the the big church Choir he is going for it in a big way. It is a good song and played very well great soloing that would make Slash gulp.

Overall this is a fantastic album and a real mix of rock music styles. With the music business in 2000 being much about Nu Metal bands many rock bands were pretty much not getting a look in. Same with this album it was not picked up by a UK label and even when it did come out it was on a small independent with no promotion. 

I think if this was given a good shot by the right record company there is no reason why it could not have done so much more. It had all the things needed for a classic rock album and easily provided all rock fans something to enjoy. I saw the band live once and it was a real treat. A second album was written but shelved due to lack of interest. 

Black Leather Mojo is easily available but try get the 2CD copy as it has extra demo tracks from the missing second album. 

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Classic album review, The Wildhearts, Endless Nameless

The Wildhearts, Endless Nameless (Mushroom-1997)

Yeah I know the band did sort of make it. Plenty of top 20 singles and a ton of touring in the UK and Europe placed this band into rock royalty. But there is a missing link and an album that splits fans so much even now 15 years later the album is still hated by diehard fans.

I think that hate is unfair, more intensive dislike is what I have felt from fans. But I really love this album. At the time it was a new start after the shambles of the East West record deal they signed a new contract with Mushroom records and done it in fashion on the entrance to East West records in London.

The band toured before the release of the album and one or two songs were played. Sounded good to most but in the studio they seem to up the levels on everything. I mean EVERYTHING the drums and bass got the same treatment. My stereo at the time just could not handle this one and the only way to hear it was on my headphones.

With the band in a drug fueled frenzy and an album needed by the record label I think they just did not have time to do anything that was well polished so they made the album all bands want to make. Plug in, play and fuck off. Simple but here the songwriting took a turn, the bass player wrote and sung on the first single. Sill charted as well and a Top of the Pops performance to eclipse anything was done.

I remember at the time looking at the screen in shock, it was just not anything like I have heard or ever heard. Noise that could make you vomit but rock out at the same time. The industry in 97 was very boring. Many indie bands had sunk without trace and the whole charts were dance and pop music only. Thank fuck for this album!

The drugs took the main spot in writing as well with titles like 'Junkenstine' and cover 'Heroin' making sure more singles were not possible even if the music could get radio play 'Pissjoy' has a chorus that has kids singing 'pissjoy na na na na na'. Singles 'Anthem' and 'Urge' were the most like a rock song but the heaviness of the music was just way too much for most. But for people like me who love new music and who were fed up with the crap on the charts it was like walking through a field on a summers day.

After a few listens and the shock of the production passes the tunes come through, mind you singing along and humming are things you just cant do with this album.

It is at the end of the day a riff album and any rock and metal fan should be able to tell a riff from noise. The band managed to record more than ten tracks here in this style. All B sides were the same and with some real stand out songs as well. Jason and the Scorchers cover 'White Lies' is as nearly as good as the original and the house shaking Zomboid will be played when the world ends.

Witness an album split the fans and critics and then wait a few years and see the many other bands jumping up and down with Nu Metal (Overproduced noise) hit the charts and make a mint.

As the first single goes,

I'm in love with the rock and roll world.

Endless Nameless is easily available via download and CD but a reissue in 2010 adds all the b side tracks as well. Worth it for Zomboid alone I say. 

Classic album review, The Icicle Works

The Icicle Works, The Icicle Works  (Beggar's Banquet-1984)

Liverpool in the 80s seemed to be engulfed in great music and bands that were all a part of the new wave of music coming out of the UK. The Icicle Works for me are one of the best bands and this one of the best albums.

The single "Love is a Wonderful Colour" managed to chart in the uk at number 15. back then that was such a big thing to do. Top 20 could make you overnight.

But it just did not happen for the band, the album went out and charted well but sales were far lower than what the record company would want. More singles and albums were released and in 1990 the band split.

Ian McNabbs voice on this album is fantastic, helped by his song writing, it is just so direct, no messing about with fancy harmonies here just his great voice and lyrics that seem to never age.
It is a guitar album but it does not take center stage and that is something I don't get, why was this not a big radio hit. "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)" was a single demanding top ten but it did not happen. Well here it did not. The band had a hit in America where they would tour but again the next album was not even looked at in America.

The music here is fast with a kind of erratic drumming on many of the songs that feels like a dance beat to most. This is great music to dance to, try as hard as you can to not dance to 'Nirvana'. Try not to air drum to 'Chop the Tree' and all the time singing along.

For me ten tracks and ten singles that any fan of music would instantly get. Everybody get love song, but not every song can be seen as a love song to the untrained ear 'Out of Season' is to most a song about weather. But the fact people did not buy the album means they could not have had a chance to work out the songs here.

Call it new wave or post punk it really just did not fit neatly into any of them and that is why you need this album. How about 'catchy post punk pop rock'? No?, well I did try. 

Every debut album is a bands best of album from the time they formed. This band could have done a double as the extra disc on the re issue is just as good. Seriously if you have £9 spare go get this album. You will thank me for it and even if it is for the top 20 single Love is a Wonderful Colour it would still be worth it.

Another four albums followed this one with each one changing the bands sound a bit that it made this just a little bit special.  Ian McNabb would move onto a solo career and make many more albums and even help sing and write songs on the Lightning Seeds multi platinum Jollification album.

The Icicle Works is available on a 2CD reissue from 2006 on Beggars Banquet now.
I also recommend the book Mersybeast by Ian McNabb more for understanding what the music industry was like in the 80s.

Classic album review. Jason and the Scorchers, LOST & FOUND

Some you may have missed.

Right I have ran out of stuff to moan about so I will hand over this blog (moan page) to some classic albums that people for some reason have missed. It will be a real mix of music so if you only like 90s music or only listen to rap don’t bother looking back again.

First up is the reason I am doing this as I am still totally shocked they never made it.

Jason and the Scorchers, LOST & FOUND (EMI – 1984)

This band formed and done three full albums (this being the first) and then split after not making it in 1990. Just a year later you had the alt rock explosion from the likes of the Pixes, Nirvana and REM. They would all go on to sell millions and change music history by killing the glam rock/metal crap of the 80s.

The band came about as Jason Ringenberg (Vocals) was told his voice was crap when he sung other peoples songs. He decided to form a band and do it himself and not long after the self funded debut came out. An EP called Fervor in 1983 got them signed to EMI and then a proper full on album to be made.

Mixing country and punk rock the band made a new sound and most of all a great sound. Hated by both country and rock they done something similar as REM as they were just not taken well with the AOR fans. Many big REM fans don’t know that Michael Stipe co-wrote a song with Jason and can be found on the first EP.

The band were getting a lot of heat from country fans as the cross of punk and country was so unpopular that people picketed the gigs. I think this helped fuel the band to make them hate them even more and the band entered the studio. 

With no real budget they could only really capture the bands live sound and record it. And by hell they did, this album rocks like a motherfucker from start to end. Opening up with a big guitar drum harmonica start that you will never hear ever again. ‘Last Time Around’ is one of the best starts to an album I have ever heard it just sets the whole band up so well and I am sure it made many mums and dads scowl in hatred. The second track is the anthem ‘White Lies’, a real punk song that should have been a hit. A good video was made but MTV just don’t get it. The band was only really able to play the south and try and exploit the country link. 

‘Shop it Around’ was released and even managed to top 40 in the UK. But the band was busy in the US and could not do anything about it. I often think that this was a big mistake as Top of the Pops would have loved a band like that and I do think UK country and punks fans would have got it. This is a rare album where just about all the songs could have been released as singles. ‘Broken Whiskey Glass’ again a popular song here and a song Jason is still mostly recognized for mixes the styles of music so well that you just can’t believe a band can do this all on one grove of a 12” LP

Even listening to this now it is so much fresher now than it ever was. The guitars sound so loud and sharp something you just don't get now. This is one of those albums when yo put it on you have to turn the volume down a little. The way this album sounds is like a blueprint for the alt rock bands who came along after them. 

The album is out in the UK as the EMI Years and has extra tracks included. In the US you can get it as a double album Fervor and Lost and Found.