Recent Reviews
7.5 out of 10 Stars
Review courtesy of Guest Reviewer Nick Smallwood on Otep's Hydra 2012
(Nick Smallwood is an 18-year old multi-instrumentalist who has played saxophone for 8 years, guitar for 5 years and bass guitar for 4 years.)
Otep is a band that has spawned a large following throughout the last decade, thanks to the Gothic poetic lyrics of the frontwoman, Otep Shamaya, whose name is also the origin of the band's. Hydra is the latest release, and said to be the last full-length album ever made, by Otep.
The easy-to-believe-as-a-Horror-Movie soundtrack is fittingly 13 tracks long, starting with "Rising".
This opening track starts out with spoken words layered over disconcerting noises to etch a very specific dark corner into your heart, for fear, violence, and anger. This morphs into a mantra with the lyrics "Rising like a hydra", repeated several times throughout the album.
Later on, the track "Crush" paints a picture of an overly attached woman who will never let the person of her affection leave. "If I can't have you no one can, you'll stay with me..."
"Voyeur" is this reviewer's favorite track on the album, simply because it is so delightfully twisted. The feeling the music lends you is one of watching an old, grainy video filming inside a murky house in the middle of the woods. Very Horror, very terrific. (Would 'horrific' fit here?)
"Apex Predator", the lead single off of Hydra, sounds more like 'Classic' Otep. If you haven't heard this track, please, stop reading and listen. Just remember to come back when you're done.
"Theophagy" is the last track on the album, and ends at about 6:22, with silence following until 16 minutes later, when there is one last treat for the listener.
Overall, the instruments on Hydraare used to paint a scene, while Shamaya's lyrics, words, screams, growls, and breathing tell stories of the darkest kinds of Human Nature. The drums beat like a heart, the guitars crunch through deafening dropped-riffs, the spoken tracks have a lot of creaking and other creepy sound effects to them, and plays into selling that horror-movie quality sound.
If you're looking for an album of just songs, this isn't it. But if you're looking for a very dark collection of stories, wrapped into a haunting soundtrack, this is your CD.
Alice Sweet Alice
Alice Sweet Alice is a band in the base genre of rock and sub-genres of alternative and post-punk. They are currently signed to the indie label “Cauldron Soundwerx Productions”. ASA is made up of Scott Martinez (Bass/Vocals), Ali Kat (Piano/Vocals), Billy Brown (Drums/Vocals), and Ron Bales (Guitarist). As of January 2013, their most recent album, “MANDALA”, is full of emotion and varies through the eerie depths of one’s soul to a more danceable sense of involvement. MANDALA can be deep and dark or light and sensual. Alice Sweet Alice can be related to Evanescence, Nirvana, Soundgarden, and other similar artists. They have plans to release a new album in May. The curious title “Ribbons & Stone” brings a question of what sort of new material Alice Sweet Alice has in store. How might such delicate things as ribbons be related to such brutal items as stone? Perhaps the album will contain musical stories of conflict either physically or emotionally. Maybe not. It could be that the album title is meant to be interpreted by the listener as whatever they see through their eyes and hear from their ears. It could tell the struggles of ones life as well as the carefree joyful times. The only way to find out is to listen to Ribbons & Stone when it comes out in May.
Black Veil Brides: Wretched and Devine
(Nick Smallwood is an 18-year old multi-instrumentalist who has played saxophone for 8 years, guitar for 5 years and bass guitar for 4 years. This is his second review.)
The kingdom of God is inside you and all around you, not in a mansion of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood and God is there. Lift the stone, and you will find God.
The track "Exordium" opens Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones, the new concept album from Black Veil Brides, the third full-length LP released by the band. In the last 6 years, the band has refined their sound from a metalcore/Post-hardcore band into a much more general rock band, as they were on their sophomore record, Set The World On Fire. Wretched and Divine continues BVB's usage of blistering solos and heavy drumbeats, although containing pop hooks, group chants and frontman Andy Biersack's artful, if sometimes obviously written, lyrics. The literal 'Story' behind the album is reflected on the artwork and each song helps paint a world of war and oppressive control by a 'unified church government' as Biersack describes, known only as F.E.A.R., fighting to stop a revolution by a group of Rebels known as The Wild Ones.
Throughout Wretched and Divine, the Brides show not only their already-refined sound as stated before, but also experiment with spoken-word "F.E.A.R. Transmission" tracks, an orchestral overture for the second half of the record, and at one point even electronic synthesizer-sounding beats. There is also backing vocals not only from bassist Ashley Purdy as in earlier releases, but also from Juliet Simms of Automatic Loveletter fame and a contestant on the television singing competition, The Voice, and guest vocals by Bert McCracken from The Used and Wil Francis from Aiden and William Control (Who is currently touring with BVB).
When I listened to this album for the first time, I heard not only BVB's tried and true sound through songs such as "I Am Bulletproof" and "New Years Day" but also heard some things that reminded me of other bands I've heard. In particular, the opening of "Devil's Choir" reminded me of "Danger Line"'s opening by Avenged Sevenfold, and "Done For You"'s similar sound to "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails.
The track "Lost it All" is the penultimate attack, setting up the final battle between F.E.A.R. and The Wild Ones, and concludes with a third Radio transmission asking the soldiers of F.E.A.R. to be prepared, which segues into "In the End", the last song on the album. After that track, there is one final F.E.A.R. Transmission to explain the aftermath of the battle.
Overall, if you enjoy concept albums or heavy rock-laden songs, pick up this CD. (The?) Black Veil Brides have done it again, improving their new sound. I expect this to stay in future releases, and personally I can't wait to hear more.
Black Veil Brides' Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones"
Anton & the Lone Stars: "Sequences"
Maddie K. is Music Lately's own techie, and this is her first review.
As the band's debut LP album, I'd have to give Sequences a solid 6 of 10 stars. After being sweetly serenaded by "Disappear, Me" and "Stop Running (Far Away)", while not being exactly my style, I can't deny that Anton Kellner & The Lone Stars have found a place in my heart, and my iPod.
Then there is "Recaption", with its real life vibe, and yes, I feel like ‘I’ve lost my damn mind.’ The whole set, from title track "Sequences", to "The Blues We Sang in Memphis", is a little bit like a country album done right. The slight twang to the vocals, the chords, there’s even violin, piano solos.
That is to say, the album feels a little slow, but picks up with "Staining", the guitar and the dual vocals moving more quickly. It’s got everything, from mike feedback, to questions no one can answer.
Anton and Co. have talent, no kidding, and I think we’re going to be watching them a little bit more than before, with their debut full length album “You Were The Fire” being released soon. Honest to god, if metal isn’t your thing, and country drives you nuts, I would full heartedly recommend you check out Anton Kellner and the Lone Stars.