Category: Album Reviews

They Were all Goliaths is an experimental progressive metal band from Bald Knob, Arkansas.  They are a group of friends who strive to make original music that has deep tones and riveting breakdowns.  They draw inspiration from such bands as Born of Osiris, The Plot In You, The Word Alive, The Browning and more.  They are an unsigned band that is not afraid to make music that is different than the usual post hardcore shit you hear now.   With a unique sound and solid riffs this band shows that they can create good music without a label.

THEY WERE ALL GOLIATHS incorporate keyboard synths along with the usual drum, bass, and guitar sounds.  Their EP is laden with keys and riffs that keep the listener on their toes.  The production is solid with good transitions between songs and vocals that keeps the energy flowing.  I especially like the song, This is Ours to Keep.  This song has many tempo changes and breakdowns that show the bands talent.  I thought the keyboards does add to the band’s sound, but at times sounds out of place.  They Were All Goliaths is definitely a band I would recommend checking out!  They are held down by no one and are not afraid to make creative music!

Aaron Watson-Vocals/Synth
Jonathan Mandrell-Guitar
Gunner Basinger-Guitar/Keys
Katulsa Wilson-Bass
Tyler Goetz-Drums

http://www.facebook.com/TWAGoliaths?sk=app_2405167945

Rob Born

Albany, NY based hardcore band Heal These Wounds (Innerstrength Records) play it like they mean it. Their self-titled 8 song release (12 songs if you ask my iTunes library…what the fuck?) is 33 minutes of crunchy riffs, heavy breakdowns, gut-in-throat vocals, and some solid melodic guitar interplay.

The group finds a good balance between the Metalcore of yesteryear and the newer sounding hardcore bands of today.  A great band for fans of the harder side. Though there isn’t much dynamic range in the vocals, and the music isn’t groundbreaking by any means, Heal These Wounds bring the heavy.

Overall, this recording is very good, certainly worth the $7 they are asking for it. There are a few moments when some of the tracks loosen up a bit, but pay no mind. I’d wager a guess it’s because the 5-piece puts in as much heart in the studio as they do on stage, making every attempt to destroy themselves as they tear through their songs. Something tells me if you put these guys in front of the right crowd, the ground will be a mighty shade of crimson by the time they finish up. Watch out for the UFC hopefuls in the pit during “Aurora.”

By the way, the Gary Coleman long sleeve and booty shorts with their name across the back in their merch options are totally rad, too. Smackity smackity. Check those out at Big Cartel, and give Heal These Wounds a “Like” at their Facebook.

http://healthesewounds.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/healthesewoundsny

-Greg Allis

Do you want to buy a last minute Christmas gift that will challenge your near and dear fan of Metal music? No, I am not talking about Lulu, that incredibly awful piece of art rock garbage starring Metallica with Lou Reed. I am going to suggest an album by a metal band that has taken a chance that most in the genre would not dare take. Quite simply, I am recommending that you pick up a copy of  Opeth’s newest record, Heritage, for your beloved metal fan.

Gone are the screams and howls of front man Mikael Akerfeldt. As matter of fact, a lot has been jettisoned and re-tooled here. Although the band still has quick brilliant outbursts of maximum crunchiness, the metal is gone for the most part. Ultimately, what the band has achieved, is taking what they have become famous for and dropping the loudness right out of the equation. Strangely enough, the result is one that works to perfection. Fans of Opeth’s rich metal driven back catalog, are having all kinds of reactions to this new album. Three camps of thinking are creeping up here: 1) Close mindedness to the new direction (a minority group at this point) 2) Unbelievable praise on the highest of levels for musical bravery and 3) People who did not dig it initially, who now understand that this is the band’s ultimate masterwork (the majority) In any case, it is a departure that is welcome and shows the band’s passion to create the best possible record that they can.

Now after getting all of the objectionable questions out of the way, it is easy to speak freely about what makes the record so timeless. It is beautifully dark, progressive, sprawling, and loud when it needs to be. The songwriting is a touch more reminiscent of the band’s overall influences. After listening to a song like The Devil’s Orchard, all I could think about was the King Crimson record, Red. It has that kind of vibe. In fact, that vibe is felt on a majority of this record. The use of Mellotron and Hammond based piano, helps paint a dark eerie landscape that accentuates the stop and start approach of attack. Also of note is the way in which the band has conceptually pieced together Heritage. It is obvious that this record was intended to be listened to in it’s entirety.

It’s a slightly old school idea but when we put out a record there are no ‘key songs.’ It’s the album that matters,” states Akerfeldt. “We’ll never have a ‘hit single.’ By no means would I want one song to be more important than another. We always put out an album and I personally enjoy listening to entire records. That is the kind of art that I like. I like bands with strong albums as opposed to just a couple of strong songs.”

There is a bottom line to this: give it a chance if you have heard it is not good. Other than Mastodon’s newest release, The Hunter, I can not think of an album that is anywhere near as good as this in 2011. Buy it as a gift, and watch your recipient try to figure out what is going on. It may take a couple of listens to let it fully absorb, but if that feeling of worth resonates…you will not hear the end of it!

-Erik Jensen

Glens Falls, NY has been housing an epic indie rock treasure in the form the quintet Cosmonauts.  Their upcoming release entitled “The Demise of Daniel Raincourt” (Jan. 14^th, 2012) contains five tracks of intricate story-telling ear candy. Ethereal layers of tasteful and coherent instrumentation serve as the stage for massively memorable and dramatic vocal hooks. The dark, cryptic melodies cleverly employ rich dynamic changes and spoken background parts, all of which are sure to have anyone singing along by their second listen. The singer occasionally sounds pleasantly akin to Andrew McMahon of Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin. The lyrics lay out chapters to an ongoing character narrative, not unlike Coheed & Cambria that forms another unique characteristic to Cosmonauts’ material.

As if the clever songwriting were not reason enough to check it out, the production is spot on, clear, and adds all around to the bands desired tonal vibe. While only five tracks, “The Demise of Daniel Raincourt” definitely weighs into the full-length bracket, with most tracks over five minutes and the last exceeding nine. From the ominous verses and purely infectious, soaring vocal climaxes of the first track (Daniel’s Letter), to the twisting turns and goose-bump raising movements of the closing/title track, the record has a firmly definitive vibe and feel to it, without sounding at all like a bunch of all-to-similar songs, a plague of many modern bands across the genre lines. These guys pull from a wisely vast span of rock, pop, indie and various stylistic influences to accompany their schooled variety of instrumental additions to the usual guitar/bass/drums; including delicate piano to head turning flamenco guitar riffs. Several sudden time and feel changes within some songs almost throw the listener off briefly, but are precisely executed and impressive.

Listening to the record from front to back yields a very smooth and complete listening experience, as each unique movement seems to flow into the next. This band without a doubt is a threat on all plains, from diverse and tasteful musicianship to powerhouse vocals and song-crafting prowess, and will certainly be making a stir anywhere they bring this music. The band has put out a steady flow of material in their brief career so far, and has already independently moved well over 1,000 copies of their debut E.P. They also have a 7’’ out on Kentucky based Little Heart Records. Watch out for these space age rock contenders, Cosmonauts doesn’t seem to be leaving orbit any time soon.

For more on the Cosmonauts –
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CosmonautsMusic

-Chris Parmelee

The post punk movement is alive and well, and really taking hold in Upstate, NY. Add another formidable band to a list of intelligent riff monsters in our region. The 5 piece Oneonta band, Galleries, is  sufficiently astute in the game of raucous 3 minute mini anthems. Their full length feature album, Breathe and Repeat, drives this home with confident authority. Not content with resting on their laurels, the band recently completed their newest EP, It’s All In The Timing. Recording and releasing two different records in one year can be a daunting path. Galleries seems to have been able to pull this off quite effortlessly. In the process of recording their newest release, they were also able to grow by a mile musically. I think that is what I find most impressive about this band overall.

It’s All In The Timing is 4 songs of high quality, high intensity, in your face power punk. The track, Two More Years, is a great example of a slow tempo half song that lunges into a another galaxy with it’s Dead Milkmen style relentlessness during the remainder. Strategy is great within this band, and they deliver more of the same on other tracks like Last One Out, and A New Beginning. Of significant note, is the song Payback. This track is easily the best on this EP. It is complex and filled with gang style vocal madness that is up their with the best in the industry.  It also shows that while there is a formula in place, the band does not get stale within the boundaries they have set for themselves.

The EP is available for download on ITunes, and it is unclear when the piece will be officially released in physical form. For now, I highly recommend that you spend a couple of dollars and download these tunes online. I promise you it will be worth the scratch.

Tracks:
Two More Years
Last One Out
Payback
A New Beginning

For more information on Galleries –
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/galleriesny

-Erik Jensen

Straight out of Watertown, NY comes a band full throttle and punching you right in the face with some wicked guitars, thumping bass, and adrenaline fueled skins. Chaotic Embrace brings the fury, knows what they like, and make no apologies about it. As the bands description section on Facebook states:

“…blended with styles of metal and hard rock ranging from Sevendust, Tool, 40 Below Summer, Disturbed, and many more.”

They go on to list more influences such as:

“…. Nonpoint, A Perfect Circle, Rage Against The Machine, Bullet For My Valentine, Five Finger Death Punch, Deftones, Korn, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Puddle Of Mudd, and much much more…”

Fitting, because I can hear most of those influences in their five-song EP, these guys have a very cool vibe going on that is both talent and definitively radio friendly. I can embrace that after too many crap songs with some dude screaming like a wounded sea lion. Not Chaotic Embrace. This three piece unit can jam; they have plenty of power, then hit some cool bridges, and groove into something that gets the ladies hips moving. That, for this writer, is a bonus every time. They throw in the deep-seated growls where it matters as a point of emphasis and not as the focus.

‘Translation’ – the first tune hits all of those points perfectly. It’s one of those tunes that grab your attention and leaves you waiting for the explosions that feel like are just below the surface.

‘Stop the Lies’ – comes through next with a haunting sound, harmonics in all the right places and a definite Five Finger Death Punch vibe.

‘Jasmine’ – begins with a simple, yet evil little intro that jumps into an up-tempo staccato attack, never getting out of hand and fitting the song perfectly. These guys like the big sounding chords and tempo changes within the songs.

‘Harmonik’ – has me thinking both Sevendust and Disturbed right away, that deep chunk of the guitars and pounding drums.

‘Stifled’ – brings more of the same. The band has a sound and they go with it as well as anyone.

The band sounds polished on the EP, they have a modern rock sound and vibe that you will hear on any modern rock radio station every day. I personally like it and look forward to catching them live to see if it holds up onstage. I did miss any guitar solo that stood out. That would be my only advice for them to add in somewhere in the music. I’ve heard a lot about this band and how hard they work, always playing. From what I saw they play in a lot of different places. That should be a lesson to those that seem to always be at the same bar, get out and spread the sound!

For more information on Chaotic Embrace-
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chaoticembracenny
-David Garlow

Albany, NY based Engloria is on a distinct path for greatness within the national music scene. Judging by the response to their current studio release, the Drive EP, the industry brass are poised for a major label bidding war.

The songs on the Drive EP do not signal the re-invention of the wheel. You will hear the formulaic luster that catapulted the likes of artists like Chris Daughtry and The Goo Goo Dolls. These bands, like Engloria, share a similar style of writing up tempo and easily digestible power pop songs. Engloria  can also can pen a killer power ballad, another trait that the aforementioned bands did with excellence. In this genre of over saturation and cookie cutter-like production, this band will rise above. I say this because the band writes nothing but tight little nod your headers. It is jubilant music, even when the music signifies love lost. That is a skill learned through incessant songwriting. Creating a vibe of joy in heartache takes maximum effort. The ability to create that vibe makes the song, Made For You, a ready for radio hit. Up tempo material like the song, Drive, show the more aggressive side of their repertoire. It is radio anthem driven and sits alongside such as it’s parallel equal.

The time is now to check these guys out. I have always found it fun to watch the success of a band ready to break out. With an increasing amount of airplay on terrestrial and internet radio sources, the public has definitely put the label of “Most Likely To Succeed,” next to their names. More than likely, with an exclamation point. Engloria’s increased pattern of spreading out within the touring game is paying dividends. That point is on display in New York City, where they are slowly building a mini empire of new fans.

I highly recommend this band when you are preparing to take your next substantial road trip. Bring a copy of the aptly titled Drive EP. It just night make your day.

James Stewart – Vocals, Guitar, Keys
Devon Scott – Guitar, Vocals
Michael Gleason – Bass
Brandon Stewart – Drums

More information on Engloria-
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/engloriamusic

-Erik Jensen

All is fair in love and small town alienation! This is a message that rings clear on Lie Captive new full length release, “The Hopeless North.” In Lie Captive, Plattsburgh, NY has a future national export with the power of a jet propeller. The drive and fury of this 3 piece band from the North Country is on par and in tune with the crushing sounds of Thursday and The Get Up Kids. The lyrical content is just as blistering. Take hold of  the vocal gang attack of Tyler Oliver and Chris Parmelee. It is the secret ingredient in this hardcore jambalaya.  With the release of “The Hopeless North,” on Death To False Hope Records, the rest of the country is getting a chance to hear this first hand.

Although all lyrics are open to interpretation, you can not overlook the themes of townie based mediocrity that surface here. It is also apparent that Lie Captive are not down with the mundane trappings of that “life moves at a slow pace” vibe. Between the vicious interludes of freight train like precision, the band delivers tiny doses of their rage against the redundancy machine. In the song, Weight of Meager Pay, the band references, “Ignorant fools and shady bars.“ When you juxtapose that against the title of the song, it signals an ultra wise observation that screams, ‘we live in isolated every town America.’ Although the band may not realize it, the social commentary that they bring forth here is something that many need to absorb. This rings true for the many that live in the epicenters of self defeat by self obliteration. They do not stop there. On the song Lit Screen Commodity, the band rages, “This is the disingenuous era.” The band clearly has so much to say, and a surplus of venom behind the approach involved. One of my favorite lyrical rants on this record is in the song, The Vast Dreams of Simple Minds. “You run from honesty like a fucking disease,” is a classic new era slogan for the self oppressed world at large.

I have been able to sample many records from Upstate metal and hardcore bands this year. “The Hopeless North,” is a time capsule of thoughts and velocity that can not be overlooked by those seeking to find great new music. The future of this band looks extremely bright. In a world of fake convictions and dim hope, the truth can set you free. And on this record, the band attacks the fabric of our world of ho-hum fabrication. Go get em’ Lie Captive!

For more information on Lie Captive-
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/liecaptive
http://deathtofalsehoperecords.com

-Erik Jensen