Posts Tagged ‘influences’

Idiom-Movement

Dirt Track Records 2014 Included free with the March 2014 issue of Metal Hammer, “Movement” (which may have initially been released back in 2013) looks to be the latest from Exeter-based “alternative metal” band Idiom. I say “looks” because there are no other references to other recordings on the group’s Facebook page. Online, and indeed on iTunes, the album “We Can’t All Be Superheroes” (from November of 2010) is shown, but beyond that it’s anybody’s guess as to what else this band has done since first forming back in 2005. As for the second phrase in quotation there (“alternative metal”) that’s their description and not mine. For this lot (and this is none too surprising given Metal Hammer’s containing obsession with the better left dead genre!) is prime-time nu metal with just the faint hint of metalcore. Said to be influenced by the likes of Faith No More, Korn and Deftones the band comes across as more of the later and not more of the former. Descriptions have been made to the likes of Rage Against The Machine and System Of A Down and both tags are more then a bit fair. Admittedly this English metal band has a solid front-man in Matt Sharland and his companions (guitarist Kris Gibbs, bassist Grant Knight and drummer Dan Harrison) are none-too-shabby. The problem is music like this has been played to death and really it should remain DEAD and BURIED! There is nothing worse they hearing bands like this that have the HEAVY part down, but then are extremely limited because they refuse to allow their guitarist to let loose. That’s always been a issue for me when it comes to both nu metal and metalcore (the lack of solos) as you end up with (essentially) nothing more then a HEAVY rhythm guitarist! That said the band does have potential. You can sense that. But why restrain yourself? Why settle for being a second rate nu metal/metalcore band when you could easily take your influences (which would also seem to be the likes of Papa Roach, Korn, Ill Niño, P.O.D., DevilDriver and even Pantera) and with a few twists and turns of the dial turn them upside down and inside out creating something truly wicked and fresh? If that were to happen, and this band suddenly developed the urge to thrash their heads straight off(!), then I would ENTHUSIASTICALLY endorse this English act. For now though I just feel like shrugging my shoulders and saying “Eh”….

Green Day, ‘¡Dos!’ – Album Review

Reprise Green Day  have got love on the brain, while their toes are firmly dipped in the influences of eras gone by on ‘ ¡Dos! , the second album of their new trilogy. The disc even has a old-school pacing, clocking in at just under 40 minutes, but taking 13 tracks to get there. The quick-hitting nature of the songs makes the album a more immediate listen that seems to fly by. ‘¡Dos!’ comes across as a more cohesive collection than its predecessor (‘¡Uno!’) both lyrically and musically. The first part of the album follows the story of a man pursuing the girl that seems out of reach and the eventual comedown that follows, while the latter portion allows for a few steps outside the lyrical storyline. Album opener ‘See You Tonight’ and closer ‘Amy’ perfectly bookend the album with a restrained Green Day dipping into what feels like ’60s era Everly Brothers territory. The disc digs in with the out and out pursuit of the young woman on ‘F— Time,’ a song that almost brings to mind teens dancing the twist and a Georgia Satellites guitar lick thrown in in for good measure while singer Billie Joe Armstrong begins the courting process. ‘Stop When the Red Lights Flash’ continues the process, with the boast, “ Out of sight, out of mind, just give me one more time, I’ll make you surrender. ” For those looking for radio singles, ‘Stop When the Red Lights Flash’ seems like an obvious choice. But the wheels begin to come off with ‘Ashley,’ a frenetic track about the young woman of the singer’s desires falling further out of reach both romantically and in his desired interest. Highlights on the album include Armstrong’s exhausted lament on ‘Lazy Bones,’ a track that stands out from the rest of the disc and could potentially be its biggest single. Another standout, ‘Makeout Party,’ provides a showcase for drummer Tre Cool, who gets to steer away from keeping the beat to offer drum fills with reckless abandon while bassist Mike Dirnt fuels the song’s breakdown midway through. Current single ‘ Stray Heart ‘ was an obvious choice for radio play as well, as the bouncy feel of the track reflects the sound of ’80s era The Jam or more recently Weezer’s poppy side. It’s straight-up ear candy that instantly connects and is the poppiest track of a very commercial sounding release. For those looking for the hard-edged snarl of some of Green Day’s mid-2000s music, this album is not likely the place for you, but ‘¡Dos!’ does work extremely well as an infectious pop record with touches of early rock influences. Green Day will put a bow on the trilogy with the release of ‘¡Tre!’ on Dec. 11.