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Zeroking – Kings of Self Destruction (Review)
Zeroking – Kings of Self Destruction (2012, Vanity Music Group)
1. “Dead Rock Star” … 4:49
2. “Forget Vegas” … 4:52
3. “She Said” … 4:52
4. “Showtime Revolution” … 4:04
5. “Southern Lady, Ex-Godiva” … 5:09
6. “Stone Cold Bitch” … 3:54
7. “Love Is Dead” … 4:33
8. “Kings of Self Destruction” … 3:27
9. “Girls of California” … 4:48
10. “The Party’s Over” … 4:32
11. “Black Friday” … 3:53
12. “Valentine” … 4:28
13. “Leaving Los Angeles” … 6:32
14. “Valentine” [Studio Outtake] … 4:37
15. “Stone Cold Bitch” [Acoustic - Live] … 4:04
16. “Girls of California” [Single Edit] … 4:06
Band:
Andy Haught – Lead Vocals
Shane Day – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Paul First – Bass, Backing Vocals
Chris Webb – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Producer: Steve Riley
Caught somewhere between old school and new school Huntington, West Virginia’s Zeroking are a band that should be all over radio… NOW!!! These guys describe themselves as “a hard rock/metal party” and that’s pretty accurate. Zeroking brings influences from bands like Guns N’ Roses and Motley Crue but adds a modern hard rock touch of their own just in the way that Hinder and Buckcherry have done. Any fan of Buckcherry & Hinder should find plenty to like here. The band has found a great middle ground for classic rock and new rock. Zeroking fits modern rock radio stations and fans of Adelita’s Way, Sick Puppies, Sixx:A.M., Skillet and Pop Evil will like these guys.
The band wastes no time by opening the album with “Dead Rock Star”. My favorite track on the album and would be my choice as a single. Very catchy stuff that will appeal to the new old school and old school. ”She Said” is a modern hard rock song that I could also see getting play on radio. “Southern Lady, Ex-Godiva” has a southern rock swagger to it that will draw comparisons to Buckcherry or the last Hinder album. ”Love Is Dead” is another great tune that has single potential with lead singer Andy Haught sharing vocals another Huntington native Stacee Lawson (whose voice reminds me of Stevie Nicks). Through the sleaze & swagger of the rest of the album, the album starts to wind down on a sensitive note with “Valentine”. This is a really good ballad and, again, could be a single. “Leaving Los Angeles” is a great semi-laid back rock rock/pop tune that closes the proper album (the final three tracks are alternative versions) and sounds like Sixx:A.M.
Zeroking are a band that have a lot of things going for them on Kings of Self Destruction. The production is very well done and the songs will appeal to a broad range of hard rock fans. They are old school and melodic enough for ’80s fans yet current enough to grab the ear of fans of the modern rock scene. Check this album out and help spread the word about this great young band.
Highlights: “Dead Rock Star”, “She Said”, “Southern Lady, Ex-Godiva”, “Stone Cold Bitch”, “Love Is Dead”, “The Party’s Over”, “Valentine”, “Leaving Los Angeles”
http://www.facebook.com/Zerokingfans
http://www.myspace.com/zeroking
http://www.reverbnation.com/zeroking
Buy ‘Kings of Self-Destruction’ at Amazon.com
Drug Under – Forgive and Forget (Review)
Drug Under – Forgive and Forget (2012, Down Boy Records)
1. Forgive and Forget
2. I Need To See
3. Borrowed Time
3. Never Again
5. Echoes
6. Down
7. Change My Ways
8. All The Lies
9. It’s Over
Band:
Romero – Vocals
Eric Greenwall – Guitars
Pat Searcy – Guitars
Aaron Greenwall – Bass
Mike Crisler – Drums
Producer: Mark Obermeyer, Jerry Dixon & Erik Turner
Never judge a book (or album) by its cover! When this Denver, CO.-based band was first brought to my attention, going by the cover art and knowing that the label is owned and operated by Warrant’s Jerry Dixon & Erik Turner, I assumed Drug Under was going to be the type of hard rock act that drew heavily on ’80s influences. Not so. They are a modern hard rock/metal act that fits right in with the rest of the bands on active rock radio these days.
I can’t say this type of rock that features an alternative influence and crunchy guitars is a favorite of mine but Drug Under has their moments where they really shine. “I Need To See” and “Never Again” have the most commercial appeal, I think, and are my favorites. Very cool songs that should be on radio. “Forgive and Forget”, “Borrowed Time” & “Echoes” all have enough of a hard driving edge to keep those that just want to bang their heads satisfied. “All The Lies” and “It’s Over” are of particular interest to me. There’s some nice melodies in the melancholy moments of both of these rockers that show potential for this band to write some great ballads later down the line.
Forgive and Forget is an album sure to appeal to fans of the modern rock/metal scene and ’90s rock/metal. While I am not going to say that Drug Under knocked it out of the park on this release, it’s still an enjoyable listen that shows this is a talented band that has a bright future.
Highlights: “I Need To See”, “Never Again”, “Change My Ways”, “All The Lies”, “It’s Over”
Black Veil Brides – Rebels
Black Veil Brides – Rebels (2011, Universal Republic Records)
1. “Coffin” … 4:15
2. “Rebel Yell” … 4:38
3. “Unholy” … 3:25
4. “Rebel Love Song” [Extended Director's Cut Music Video] … 6:50
Band:
Andy Biersack – Vocals
Jake Pitts – Guitar
Jinxx – Guitar
Ashley Purdy – Bass
Christian Coma – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Zakk Wylde – Guitar (“Rebel Yell”)
Just six months after releasing the glam/metalcore Set The World On Fire album, the Black Veil Brides are back with an iTunes exclusive EP featuring one new original song, two covers and a music video. Truthfully, I couldn’t care less about the music video to “Rebel Love Song”. That seems like it would’ve been better suited to be included as a bonus on STWOF since that’s the album the song comes from.
I recently read excerpts of an interview with lead singer Andy Biersack who made it sound like BVB were looked to spread their wings beyond the metalcore scene. They don’t want to do anything fancy or “mature”, they just want to play & write fun rock songs. “More Motley Crue, less W.A.S.P.” is how Andy put it. “Coffin” will still appeal to their goth & emo Hot Topic fan-base but it’s definitely a song that shifts away from the metalcore sound into a regular ol’ modern metal sound that’s comparable to Avenged Sevenfold.
Just as Avenged Sevenfold’s M. Shadows moved away from the awful screaming metalcore style of “singing”, Andy seems to be doing the same as well. He still screams but it’s not as abrasive as before and certainly sounds in place on Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” and KISS’ “Unholy”.
Yes, the ’80s influence is coming through even more. “Coffin” itself is a good song and stands up to the best from STWOF but if “fun” is what BVB is going for these days — then they’ve far beyond exceeded that with their covers of “Rebel Yell” (Zakk Wylde guests on this one) and “Unholy”. Their versions are great. A very powerful, heavy sound has been given to both and this especially suits “Unholy”.
I am very interested in seeing what is coming on the next album. I have a feeling that just like Avenged Sevenfold once these guys further break away from metalcore, they’re going to be one of the great modern metal bands.
http://www.bvbarmy.com
http://www.facebook.com/Blackveilbrides
http://twitter.com/#!/OfficialBVB
Sixx:A.M. – Codependence [single]
Sixx:A.M. – Codependence [single] (2011, Eleven Seven Music)
1. “Codependence” … 3:37
Band:
James Michael – Vocals, Drums, Guitar
DJ Ashba – Guitar
Nikki Sixx – Bass
Producer: James Michael
On the same day the band released 7 (an EP featuring stripped down and rearranged versions of previously released songs) for download, Sixx:A.M. also released the song “Codependence” exclusively through iTunes for FREE. “Codependence” comes from the This Is Gonna Hurt sessions and while it was previously unreleased here in the United States, it appeared as a bonus track when the album was issued in Japan.
Though Japan often gets bonus tracks, sometimes those tracks aren’t really worth listening to in the first place, they’re just filler. Well, that’s not the case this time. “Codependence” doesn’t rate with the very best of This Is Gonna Hurt but I still like it. It’s much more straight forward than most of the tracks from the album making it a bit less memorable whenever James Michael is singing a chorus he can make the song sound like something you should be paying attention to. Even through the self-loathing and moody lyrics a lot of Sixx:A.M. come off sounding like really cool rock anthems and that’s what “Codependence” is to me.
But why take my word for it? It’s FREE. Go download it and listen.
http://sixxammusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sixxammusic
Sixx:A.M. – 7
Sixx:A.M. – 7 (2011, Eleven Seven Music)
1. “Lies of the Beautiful People” … 3:58
2. “This Is Gonna Hurt” … 4:46
3. “Life Is Beautiful” … 4:08
4. “Help Is On the Way” … 4:05
5. “Sure Feels Right” … 4:08
6. “Pray for Me” … 4:28
7. “Accidents Can Happen” … 4:09
Band:
James Michael – Vocals, Keyboards, Drums, Strings, Guitar
DJ Ashba – Guitar
Nikki Sixx – Bass
Producer: James Michael
One good thing about the digital age of music is how quickly a project can be announced to the public and then released. It was late November when Sixx:A.M. announced an acoustic EP was on its way and just a few weeks later it was digitally released on December 13th. I think it’s an iTunes exclusive but I’m not positive.
I’ve always been a fan of Sixx:A.M. Despite a few odd moments, The Heroin Diaries was good overall and This Is Gonna Hurt (which was released earlier this year) is absolutely fantastic with not a single foul track to be found. They’re a great live band as well. So when they announced they were re-working previous songs into an acoustic EP, I knew it was going to be good.
The whole acoustic thing isn’t really appropriate labeling though. The band has since backed off a bit on calling 7 an acoustic EP, preferring to say the songs are “stripped down”, which is the accurate statement. It’s not as if this is an “unplugged” performance. The production is still here, electric guitars as well, but the arrangements are different and acoustic instruments feature more prominently.
I like how James Michael didn’t lower his voice to a whisper just because the songs are “stripped down” and the tempo has changed. He’s still soaring on these songs when appropriate and he continues to prove himself as one of rock’s best vocalists.
I think “This Is Gonna Hurt” is a particularly beautiful song and stands out the most on this EP. The band has taken it in a completely different direction here and have turned it into a haunting piano-based ballad. Given Sixx:A.M.’s strong sense of melody and dark, emotive lyrics you can pretty much switch any of there songs from rocker to ballad or ballad to rocker and come out with great results.
The final words I have to say is that these were all great songs in their original form. They are all given a twist here on 7 and I consider the whole experiment a huge success. Sixx:A.M. itself has been a huge success in my eyes. They are one of the best bands to come along in the last 10 years and I’m anxious to see what else they have planned.
http://sixxammusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sixxammusic
Black Veil Brides – Set The World On Fire
Black Veil Brides – Set The World On Fire (2011, Universal Republic Records/Lava Records)
1. “New Religion” … 3:50
2. “Set the World on Fire” … 3:39
3. “Fallen Angels” … 3:45
4. “Love Isn’t Always Fair” … 4:13
5. “God Bless You” … 3:18
6. “Rebel Love Song” … 3:57
7. “Saviour” … 4:23
8. “The Legacy” … 4:40
9. “Die for You” … 3:43
10. “Ritual” … 3:30
11. “Youth & Whisky” … 3:30
Band:
Andy Biersack – Vocals
Jake Pitts – Guitar
Jinxx – Guitar, Violin
Ashley Purdy – Bass
Christian Coma – Drums
Producer: Josh Abraham & Christopher Walken
Hollywood, CA’s Black Veil Brides are among the current crop of Hot Topic darlings and while there are a few screamo moments on this disc, the band has much more in common with ’80s metal than some might realize. The cool thing is the band doesn’t try to hide their influences. They cite Motley Crue & KISS as big influences (which is obvious based on image alone) but have also stated Def Leppard’s Hysteria was the inspiration for the recording & production process of this album.
Surprisingly, BVB is made up of some good talent. Pitts & Jinxx are a very good guitar duo and have no problem playing fast & furious while firing off solos. Vocalist Andy Biersack can growl and scream with the best (worst) of the current trendy metal crowd but the guy can actually sing too and that’s when this album is at its best. Thankfully, the screaming is kept to a minimum on Set The World On Fire and the band doesn’t come across as the cliched angry, disenfranchised or depressed youths like so many other bands from the metalcore movement.
With elements of glam metal, speed metal, power metal & metalcore, the Brides bring what I would call extreme glam metal to the masses. Their look and sound is heavy and unique enough to interest the wrist-cutters but there’s enough of an ’80s metal influence (featuring catchy choruses and slick production values and even a power ballad thrown in) to grab the ear of those that are fans of the Age of Aqua Net.
By the way, my copy of the album came with a mini fold-out poster of Jake Pitts. How cute.
Highlights: ”Set the World on Fire”, “Love Isn’t Always Fair”, “God Bless You”, “Saviour”, “The Legacy”, “Ritual”
http://www.bvbarmy.com
http://www.facebook.com/Blackveilbrides
Cold – Superfiction
Cold – Superfiction (2011, Eleven Seven Music)
1. Wicked World … 3:36
2. What Happens Now … 3:42
3. American Dream … 3:38
4. The Break … 3:45
5. Welcome 2 My World … 3:30
6. Emily … 3:36
7. The Crossroads … 4:18
8. Delivering the Saint … 4:24
9. So Long June … 4:41
10. The Park … 3:40
11. Flight of the Superstar … 3:30
12. The Ballad of the Nameless … 3:29
Band:
Scooter Ward – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Zac Gilbert – Guitar
Jeremy Marshall – Bass, Backing Vocals
Sam McCandless – Drums
Producer: Jeremy Parker & Kato Khandwala
Apparently at some point Cold broke up after their last album (2005′s A Different Kind of Pain). After being disappointed with the average Year of the Spider (2003), which came after the great 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage (2000), I decided to sit out A Different Kind of Pain. From most accounts, I didn’t miss much. Oh, and for the record, their self-titled debut is terrible.
Now it’s 2011 and Cold has reformed and released brand new album that sometimes sounds like what I’ve come to expect from Cold and sometimes not. Even Scooter Ward’s vocals change from song to song. Listening to the debut single and opener “Wicked World” (which sounds like a song that could’ve been on 13 Ways…) it’s the Scooter we all know but then “What Happens Now” and “Welcome2MyWorld” are so different I’m questioning whether it’s even Scooter singing. Not to mention neither song particularly sounds very much like the Cold of old and “What Happens Now” kind of reminds me of 30 Seconds to Mars. Unfortunately, there are no band credits for some reason anywhere in the booklet other than “All Songs Performed by Cold”.
The third song on the album (and second single) is yet another departure in sound with Scooter’s vocals on “American Dream” falling somewhere in between those he did on the two previous tracks, fitting a much more generic “let’s get this on radio” post-grunge vocal style. The song itself reminds me of a band like Daughtry and is the most commercial track on the album.
By the way, I need to point out one really annoying thing on this album — the drums. It sounds like a drum machine was used for some of these songs and it really bugs me as it just seems to loop the same exact repetitive beats on a number of the songs. It just sounds so lame and limp. If in fact a machine was not used, maybe it’s time for a new drummer.
Though certainly not an uplifting or hopeful album, Superfiction is not as dark, angry or aggressive as previous releases. It shows the band moving more towards the typical post-grunge hard rock sound that radio deems permissible. Ward’s vocals are much more melodic and he does not scream or sound as angry as he has in the past. Even when he says “fuck you” on “The Crossroads” there doesn’t seem to be much conviction behind it though I think musically this is one of the few songs that somewhat reminds me of what I’ve come to expect from the band.
I gave this album a shot out of nostalgia and because it could be picked up at a low price. It’s not a bad album at all. The band is still in emo mode but they are a bit slower, softer, more melancholy and more in line with current hard rock trends than I would have liked. I don’t think the album will gain any new fans (“American Dream” didn’t even chart) but longtime Cold fans like myself will find enjoyable moments on this album even if it those moments aren’t worth getting excited over.
Highlights: “Wicked World”, “What Happens Now”, “American Dream”, “The Crossroads”, “So Long June”, “The Park”
http://www.facebook.com/coldofficial
http://www.coldarmy.com
Saving Abel – Miss America
Saving Abel – Miss America (2010, Virgin Records)
1. “Tap Out” … 4:07
2. “Stupid Girl (Only in Hollywood)” … 4:19
3. “Contagious” … 3:37
4. “The Sex Is Good” … 3:31
5. “Bloody Sunday” … 3:47
6. “I’m Still Alive” … 3:48
7. “Mississippi Moonshine” … 3:13
8. “Angel Without Wings” … 4:16
9. “Miss America” … 3:40
10. “I Need You” … 3:47
11. “Hell of a Ride” … 3:44
Band:
Jared Weeks – Lead Vocals
Jason Null – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Scott Bartlett – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eric Taylor – Bass, Backing Vocals
Blake Dixon – Drums
Producer: Skidd Mills, Marti Frederiksen
Even if you are only vaguely aware of the current hard rock scene, it’s hard not to know who Saving Abel is. Their 2008 self-titled debut featured that ‘girl-in-tight-denim-with-a-tramp-stamp’ album cover which helped to get them noticed (which I know caused me to physically pick up the album and look). It was hits “18 Days”, “Drowning (Face Down)” and the platinum-selling single “Addicted” (which my ex-girlfriend had as her ringtone) that pushed that album to 500,000 copies sold.
While I have never listened to that self-titled debut in full, I did catch the band in concert once (as openers on a bill that included Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold and Papa Roach) and Miss America seems like more of the same: melodic post-grunge with a touch of southern rock. It’s all easily digestible for mainstream rock radio, not necessarily bad but not necessarily noteworthy either. It’s All-American Nightmare-era Hinder but without the hooks, aggression or attitude. While “Addicted” ending up wearing out its welcome (at least to my ears) it was at least catchy for a good while and I don’t hear anything on Miss America that grabs you like that song did.
I do happen to like “Tap Out”, seems like it would be a good choice to open a live show. It’s actually the intro to the song that holds the most promise though, as if it was a sign of something heavier coming but no such luck. “Contagious” rocks a tad bit harder and “The Sex Is Good” is a cool acoustic-based rocker that at least thematically continues on with the tradition of “Addicted” (Nickelback would be proud!). “I’m Still Alive” is the type of up-lifting anthem that is ready-made for radio. “I Need You” is another feel-good anthem, the better of the two I have mentioned and probably my favorite track on the album.
When it’s all said and done, Saving Abel is maybe playing it a bit too safe on their sophomore effort but it’s still well within the confines of what will please any fans that the band amassed with their debut. For myself, as I said before the entire album is easily digestible but perhaps it’s also easily disposable.
Highlights: ”Tap Out”, “Contagious”, “The Sex Is Good”, “I’m Still Alive”, “I Need You”
http://www.facebook.com/savingabel
http://www.savingabel.com/
Sick Puppies – Tri-Polar (Deluxe)
Sick Puppies – Tri-Polar (Deluxe) (2011, Virgin Records)
Disc 1
Tri-Polar
1. “War” … 3:13
2. “I Hate You” … 3:28
3. “Riptide” … 3:11
4. “You’re Going Down” … 3:07
5. “Odd One” … 3:47
6. “So What I Lied” … 3:42
7. “Survive” … 3:12
8. “Should’ve Known Better” … 3:52
9. “Maybe” … 3:29
10. “Don’t Walk Away” … 3:48
11. “Master of the Universe” … 3:33
12. “In It for Life” … 4:05
13. “White Balloons” … 3:39
Disc 2
Polar Opposite
1. “You’re Going Down” [Unplugged] … 4:09
2. “Riptide” [Unplugged] … 3:21
3. “Maybe” [Unplugged] … 3:30
4. “Odd One” [Unplugged] … 3:44
5. “Don’t Walk Away” [Unplugged] … 3:42
6. “All the Same” [Unplugged] … 4:16
7. “White Balloons” [Unplugged] … 3:24
B Sides
8. “Dead Space” … 3:12
9. “The Pretender” … 3:08
10. “Til Something Breaks” … 2:47
Bonus Track
11. “Monsters” … 4:08
Band:
Shimon Moore – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Emma Anzai – Bass, Backing Vocals
Mark Goodwin – Drums, Backing Vocals
Producer: Rock Mafia, Ross Hogarth
Tri-Polar (Deluxe) is a two-disc reissue of the band’s 2009 album Tri-Polar on Disc 1 with Disc 2 holding 2011′s Polar Opposite unplugged EP and a handful of B-sides.
I wasn’t too familiar with Australia’s Sick Puppies before listening to this album. I really one remember them from a blurb in UK’s Classic Rock magazine awhile back. In regards to the current hard rock scene, I know the praise about them has generally been positive and they’ve had a number of U.S. rock radio hits but the only song that rang a bell with me was “You’re Going Down”. “You’re Going Down” is a decent radio-ready tune but didn’t knock my socks off and I was expecting more of the same from this album. Rock radio is full of that generic post grunge guitar crunch and I was thinking that was going to be the case here.
When I finally had the chance to sit down and listen to this album, I was very happy to hear there is a much softer, melodic and introspective side than a song like “You’re Going Down” would have you believe. Not that this isn’t a hard rock album — it is! It’s just that there are so many catchy moments throughout the album with lyrics that I find easy to relate to.
“Odd One”, “Riptide” and “Maybe” were great choices as follow-up singles from the original album but “I Hate You”, “So What I Lied” and “Should’ve Known Better” also had hit potential to my ears. Based on Disc 1 alone, I am now a Sick Puppies fan.
Onto Disc 2, the Polar Opposite portion is acoustic-based with some orchestrations thrown in on a song such as “White Balloons”. These stripped down numbers only further show that Sick Puppies have more to give than angry hard rock tailor-made for radio. It’s a deeper, more thoughtful side that I hope they continue to explore. All of the Polar Opposite tracks come off just as well as their Tri-Polar counterparts (“All the Same” comes from 2006′s Dressed Up as Life) and it’s interesting to hear a different take on them.
As far as the B Sides go, those are fairly enjoyable as well with “The Pretender” really standing out as something that should’ve been on the album itself. The bonus track “Monsters” is a moody rocker that I also enjoy.
While comparing Sick Puppies to bands such as Hinder and Avenged Sevenfold is like comparing apples to oranges to pineapples, this group really shows a lot of promise for a long and fruitful career. Like those bands I am glad they have more to offer when it comes to their albums and they seem like they are not afraid to grow and offer up something different. Tri-Polar (Deluxe) shows a band that rocks hard, writes songs that can stand on their own when stripped down and they can also produce thoughtful tracks such as “Odd One” and “White Balloons”.
What a great young band.
Highlights: “I Hate You”, “Riptide”, “You’re Going Down”, “Odd One”, “So What I Lied”, “Maybe”, “Don’t Walk Away”, “Master of the Universe”, “The Pretender”, “Monsters”
http://www.sickpuppies.com/
http://www.facebook.com/sickpuppies
