Razor & Tie All That Remains are a polarizing band. Frontman Phil Labonte isn’t afraid to speak his mind , and as the group’s success has increased, so have the haters. ‘A War You Cannot Win’ will have those critics complaining louder than ever, but the album should draw legions of new fans that will embrace ATR’s style. That style combines elements of metalcore, mainstream metal and hard rock, and ‘A War You Cannot Win’ is probably the band’s most melodic effort. That doesn’t mean there aren’t songs that pack a wallop. The proceedings start aggressively with ‘Down Thru The Ages,’ with Labonte using harsh vocals and a few higher-pitched screams. Clean vocals make their appearance as well, along with a searing guitar solo. Speaking of guitars, the dual attack of Oli Herbert and Mike Martin is impressive throughout. From darker riffs on songs like ‘A Call To All Non-Believers’ to shredding eighties styles solos, they are on point. When it comes to radio-friendly accessible songs, ‘A War You Cannot Win’ has a few. If you listen to rock radio, you have heard ‘Stand Up,’ an extremely catchy track. ‘Asking Too Much’ is another future radio hit, very melodic and memorable. The power ballad ‘What If I Was Nothing’ has a Five Finger Death Punch vibe and is an obvious choice for a single. Those that buy the album after only hearing the radio singles might be turned off by the harsh vocals, but the balance of those styles is what makes All That Remains who they are. The music might be formulaic, but they execute that formula so well it’s hard to hold it against them. By the last third of the album, there are a few misses. Jason Costa’s drum work gets some nice exposure on ‘Sing for Liberty,’ yet the track itself doesn’t stand out among the rest. They rebound with ‘Not Fading,’ but some momentum is lost with the nondescript acoustic instrumental ‘Calculating Loneliness.’ The tempo cranks back up along with a breakdown or two for the title track, which closes out the album. ‘A War You Cannot Win’ is packed with catchy singles and a polished production from Killswitch Engage’s Adam D. that will appeal to the mainstream. There’s also an ample supply of aggression and heaviness to satisfy metalheads. The combination should make it a very successful album.
AFP, Getty Images / Andreas Rentz, Getty Images It’s widely known that Marilyn Manson came up with his stage name by combining the monikers of actress Marilyn Monroe and infamous convicted mass murderer Charles Manson. The two names were chosen by Marilyn Manson because he felt that the pair were the two biggest icons of the 1960s. Apparently, the shock rock icon is pretty infamous himself in the mind of Charles Manson, as a postcard from the prisoner to the rock star has been leaked online. It seems as the name ‘Manson’ has come full circle from one infamous icon to the other. Although Charles Manson seems like a complete mental case, the notorious cult mastermind is one of the most quotable public figures in recent history. Some have even found deep meaning within the ‘ATWA’ philosophy of Charles Manson, which is an ecological mandate that stands for ‘Air, Trees, Water, Animals’ and/or ‘All The Way Alive.’ Whether or not Charles Manson’s handwritten letter to Marilyn Manson contains any sort of wisdom is up to the reader, but either way, it’s an interesting and bizarre read: To Marilyn Manson – It’s taken me a long time to get there from where I could touch M. Manson. Now I got a card to play – you may look into my non-profit, ATWA, and give Manson what you think he’s got coming for Air, Trees, Water, and you. Or I will pay Manson what you think Manson got coming – the music has make Manson into Abraxas Devil, and I’m SURE you would want some of what I got from what I got. It’s a far out balance. Beyond good and bad, right, wrong. What you don’t do is what I will do – what you did a sing-along, and let it roll and said how you saved me a lot of steps – I don’t need, it’s not a need or a want. Couped – coup. Ghost dancers slay together and you’re just in my grave Sunstroker Corona-coronas-coronae – you seen me from under with it all standing on me. That’s 2 dump trucks – doing the same as CMF 000007 Charles Manson As of this posting, there has been no word of Marilyn Manson responding to, or even having read the letter, but if he does, we’ll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, check out this video of Marilyn Manson covering Charles Manson’s song ‘Sick City.’ [Thanks to WGRD.com ] [button href=”http://loudwire.com/marilyn-manson-born-villain-is-my-comeback/” title=”Check Out Loudwire’s Recent Interview with Marilyn Manson” align=”center”] Charles Manson’s Handwritten Letter to Marilyn Manson MansonDirect.com
New Ocean Media Bobaflex are sure to turn a few heads with their standout cover of Simon and Garfunkel ‘s ‘The Sound of Silence,’ and Loudwire is proud to present the exclusive premiere of the new video for the song. In the clip, the band members deal with an obsessed fan with murderous intent on her mind. Singer/guitarist Marty McCoy explains, “The idea for the video came from the song itself. ‘The Sound of Silence’ was written about the assassination of JFK, and how the nation felt as a whole during this tragic event. Today, we as nation experience the same feeling every time the news shows another unmeditated psycho, with a gun shooting innocent people, in places we thought were safe.” The video shows the fan’s growing obsession with the group through her shrine built at home featuring numerous pictures of the band. From there, she turns up at show after show before finally getting the nerve to hop in her car and speed off to find the group members to enact her plan. For Bobaflex, Simon and Garfunkel might not seem like an obvious choice. However, the hard rockers show they are more than capable with the vocal and musical skill to pull off the faithful and harmonic sounds that the original duo had for the first portion of the song before they finally rock-up the track, thus putting their own stamp on a classic. McCoy says, “Picking this song to cover was an easy choice. I had become a little disenfranchised with the way that music was being performed live. It seemed that everybody was using tracks with background vocals, guitars, and keyboards that weren’t really on stage. It had become so common that I wondered if we were missing the boat. Should Bobaflex be using tracks? The answer is … NO!!!! I was watching the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction one night and it all became clear. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel took to the stage with an acoustic guitar and one microphone. My mind was forever changed. Those two guys made music that was beautiful and real. The next day we were in the studio recording ‘The Sound of Silence’ and trying our best not to butcher it.” ‘The Sound of Silence’ is the third single from Bobaflex’s ‘Hell in My Heart’ album, which is out now. The group is currently touring , with dates lined up into late October. Watch Bobaflex’s Video for ‘The Sound of Silence’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/bobaflex-want-to-become-the-biggest-band-in-the-universe/” title=”Next: Bobaflex Share Their Ambitions” align=”center”]
You may have heard by now that Disturbed frontman has let the cat out of the bag that the band is going on an indefinite hiatus after they complete their current touring commitments. But it doesn't end there. Draiman has been on a rampage as of late, speaking his mind freely on Twitter, WHERE HE …
Black Candy Publishing AFI singer Davey Havok is certainly an accomplished and celebrated musician, and now the vocalist is about to delve into the world of books to make his debut as an author. In Havok’s upcoming novel ‘Pop Kids,’ the singer explores the modern teenage obsession with social networking, reality TV, internet porn, fashion, film, music, sex and drugs. The most recent AFI album, ‘Crash Love,’ was released back in 2009, and since AFI has constantly been releasing new material since their ‘Dork’ EP in 1993, fans may be wondering what exactly Havok has been up to since AFI’s 2009 record. In addition to his side project Blaqk Audio, the apparent answer is ‘Pop Kids,’ which has been given an April 4 release date by Black Candy Publishing. The publishing company offers an in-depth analysis of what readers can expect from ‘Pop Kids’: Acknowledging the power of popular culture to serve as both a corrupter and a creative force, Havok welcomes readers into a world where wearing the right clothes, listening to the right music, and indulging in a vicious cycle of self-gratifying behaviors is more important than anything else. Parents, teachers, and other adults are but vague shadows in the lives of these teens. Pop Kids may shock some readers with its unflinching portrayal of a generation weaned on modern media and the cult of celebrity. But according to Havok, this is a world that really exists. He captures it with his trademark use of wordplay and his eye for detail. Pop Kids is destined to become a classic story of teenage angst, nihilistic behavior, and longed-for redemption. A video teaser has also been unveiled for ‘Pop Kids,’ depicting a young male character staring into a fiery blaze, almost hypnotized as he flicks a yellow-and-black Zippo-style lighter open and closed. The teaser also contains an intriguing string of dialogue from within the mind of the video’s protagonist, creating a gripping osmosis of curiosity within the viewer. ‘Pop Kids’ will hit bookshelves on April 4, and a special embossed edition signed by Havoc himself is now available for pre-order . ‘Pop Kids’ – Official Trailer #1 – Prologue [button href=”http://loudwire.com/afi-girls-not-grey-top-21st-century-hard-rock-songs/” title=”AFI – Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs” align=”center”]