Monthly Archives: April 2010
DESDEMON – The Awakening
DesDemon – The Awakening (2010, self-released)
1. “Acquiescence of Illusion” … 5:53
2. “A Soul in Exile” … 6:44
3. “Iago” … 8:23
4. “The Burning Martyr” … 4:41
5. “In the Absence of Light” … 11:40
Band:
Mistress Tina – Lead Vocals
Lord Metadox – Guitar
Ron “Pelagius” Porcelli – Bass
Dan Rhodus – Drums
Nicholas Gati – Keyboards
Additional Musicians:
Nicholas Main Henriksen – Keyboards
Hailing from NYC, DesDemon are a female-fronted band with a sound that the group’s press release describes as “blackened symphonic metal”. Certainly, DesDemon fits into the symphonic metal category but they also throw in bits of power metal, traditional metal and thrash metal. They are a band that seems to be on the come up because while I don’t listen to much symphonic metal I know enough to know that playing on bills with bands like Nightwish, Symphony X, Kamelot, Epica and Dragonforce is pretty cool. In addition to playing symphonic metal, the band itself is a concept “based upon a dark and twisted tale of a woman’s fall from grace, and her evolution to a darker side of life”.
The Awakening EP is the band’s debut and it’s a pretty good. It’s a very atmospheric affair the succeeds conjuring up that sense of darkness that the band’s concept is rooted in. Mistress Tina has a voice built for this type of music (while not going over board like she’s in an actual opera as some bands will do) and I really enjoyed the guitar work of Lord Metadox. When it comes to symphonic metal, I think keyboards often tend to get in the way of the rest of the song, but I’m happy to report that on this album it adds to and enhances the rest of the band & music instead of weakening them.
Though I honestly like all of these songs, my favorite track is “The Burning Martyr” which is more power metal than symphonic but the haunting “Iago” is another front runner but I’m not a fan of the growling she does later in the song. “In the Absence of Light” is an EPIC near 12 minute song that is really cool too and it features enough twists and turns that it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
The Awakening is a good debut showing from DesDemon, I hope a full studio album is not far behind because I’d be interested in hearing it.
Highlights: “Iago”, “The Burning Martyr”, “In the Absence of Light”
LO-PRO – The Beautiful Sounds of Revenge
Lo-Pro – The Beautiful Sounds of Revenge (2010, Rocket Science Ventures)
1. “Blame Me” … 3:19
2. “Texas” … 3:34
3. “A Life That’s Just Begun” … 3:44
4. “Wasting Away” … 3:32
5. “Ingenious” … 4:07
6. “Alive” … 3:42
7. “Hang On” … 3:54
8. “All I Have” … 3:43
9. “Say” … 2:06
10. “Clean The Slate” … 3:59
11. “Early Morning Anger” … 3:08
12. “Breathe” … 4:01
13. “Letting Go” … 5:09
Band:
Pete Murray – Vocals
Neil Godfrey – Guitar
Pete Ricci – Guitar
Jerry Oliviera – Bass
Tommy Stewart – Drums
Producer: Pete Murray, Neil Godfrey and Angus Cooke
Lo-Pro is a band that I am not familiar with at all. This is their second LP with the first, a self-titled effort, being released on Geffen Records in 2003. By the time of their debut, I had already begun tuning out radio (HA! Get it?) so even though they had a successful single called “Sunday”, I don’t recognize it even listening to it now. They toured with Staind’s Aaron Lewis and Three Days Grace and then found themselves without a label. They soldiered on and have rebounded with the Rocket Science Ventures label and are now part of one big happy family with the likes of Bruce Kulick and Black Robot.
The sound of Lo-Pro is pure alternative rock/metal with a sound similar to successful acts like Staind, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Trapt, etc., so I’m surprised they were even dropped in the first place. Then again, maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised since major labels have zero interest in nurturing artists. It’s a “move units NOW or move out NOW” mentality for those floundering corporations. Hm… This couldn’t have anything to do with the downfall of the industry, could it? Nah.
Though I’ve become a fan of a handful of ’90s alternative acts in the last 10 years, I never listen to radio these days and I don’t really care a whole lot for what new alternative bands I haven’t been able to avoid. So let me state that, perhaps, I’m not the best person to be judging this band (and who am I to judge anyway) but there a few tracks I like and Pete Murray has a standout voice. He has a smooth delivery throughout but what really impresses me is the times when he begins to wail. The guy can really scream and I was very impressed by his range.
This album is a collection of radio-ready alternative rock/metal so if this album doesn’t help put Lo-Pro back on the charts, it won’t be for lack of trying. If you want hard rock and heavy metal, they’re here. If you want soft introspective acoustic-based ballads, they’re here. Given a decent shot on radio, many of these songs can be hits.
Like I said earlier, this usually isn’t my type of music but this is still a solid effort in my eyes and Pete Murray really shines. More passionate fans of modern alternative rock will probably eat this album up with a spoon.
Highlights: “Blame Me”, “Texas”, “Wasting Away”, “Say”, “Breathe”
http://www.lopromusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lopromusic
JET BLACK KISS – Jet Black Kiss
Jet Black Kiss – Jet Black Kiss (2009, self-released)
1. “Car Crash” … 3:51
2. “Don’t Fade Away On Me” … 4:36
3. “We All Must Come Together” … 4:31
4. “Underground Thrones” … 3:42
5. “The Social Regime” … 4:14
6. “Illusions” … 4:12
7. “Let It Roll” … 4:28
8. “Psycho Baby” … 4:28
9. “Take Us Away” … 4:48
Band:
Robert S. Liam – Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums
Producer: Robert S. Liam
Jet Black Kiss (How cool is that name?) is a Los Angeles-based alt-rock act that is the brainchild of producer/engineer/songwriter Robert S. Liam (aka – “Simon”). From what it appears, Jet Black Kiss is very much a one-man project in the studio (this is Simon’s second release as JBK) but there is a full backing band being put together for live shows.
Jet Black Kiss is recommended for fans of My Chemical Romance, Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins and Motley Crue. That sounds about right and I would even add Filter and the Nikki Sixx/Tracii Guns “supergroup” Brides of Destruction to that list. Simon has put together a nice collection of alternative hard rock songs that have been spiced up a bit by glam, ’70s punk and goth rock. I’m often bored by alternative rock but on this release there’s enough melody and hooks to keep this self-titled effort interesting.
Had Jet Black Kiss been around in the late ’90s, I can see a number of these songs making their way to radio and airing alongside Filter, Tool, Nine Inch Nails and Stone Temple Pilots. This isn’t a retro release but this type of alternative rock isn’t heard much from anymore and Jet Black Kiss certainly doesn’t fit into the mind numbingly generic “post-grunge” genre that unfortunately still dominates modern rock radio.
There are a number of notable tracks but there are three songs that stand tall above all else: “Don’t Fade Away On Me” is where I get the Filter vibe, even Simon’s vocals remind me of Richard Patrick here, “We All Must Come Together” is one of the album’s heavier numbers and “Illusions” is that late ’90s hit the band could have had, heavy yet catchy.
Overall, this is an enjoyable release and that surprised me considering I’m more of an ’80s rock/metal-head. Simon & Jet Black Kiss are an outfit I’ll be keeping an eye on for future releases and this release is well worth checking out for fans of any of the other bands I mentioned.
Highlights: “Car Crash”, “Don’t Fade Away On Me”, “We All Must Come Together”, “Illusions”, “Psycho Baby”
