Yob, the Oregon doom trio will be following 2014’s ‘Clearing The Path To Ascend‘ with the new album ‘Our Raw Heart‘ which is scheduled to be released June 8th via ‘Relapse‘. This is an album that looked as though it might never come when singer/guitar player Mike Scheidt faced incredible odds following a life-threatening medical emergency . Thankfully, Mike has recovered because ‘Our Raw Heart‘ is a beautiful and emotional piece of music that is a modern Metal masterpiece!
There will always be heart in music. There will always be power in music. There will always be thought in music. Combine them together and you get The Human Project. The group are a melodic, but technical, punk band from Leeds in the UK. Their debut album ‘Origins’ was issued in 2013, and the long awaited follow-up ‘Clarion Call’ will be released in 2018, accompanied by touring across the UK, Europe, and Japan.
The band paint on a political canvas and nail their colors to the mast with songs about the cutting of public services in the UK and the vote to leave the European Union (Brexit), both of which they argue against.
The band released the very catchy “That One Percent” in advance of the album. Expaining what it means, vocalist/guitarist Luke Yates comments, “the everyday, on-the-ground results of the austerity regime are this kind of bland injustice, laughably obvious in the way it is targeted, and, in the way it is backed up and spread by people with vested interests in the media, but unfortunately inescapable for most ordinary people.”
‘Clarion Call’ took over five years to write and was eventually brought to life by producer Andy Hawkins.
To nail my colors to the mast, this album is a monster of epic proportions and is likely to be in my top ten of the year. In true Frankenstein tradition, it is built on sounds and thoughts taken from many genres, but has been pieced together with real care and attention. Where the record differs from Mary Shelley’s creation is that the monster did not know why it had been created. Here, The Human Project know why they created the album and the vision they have is second to none.
The album’s box of secrets is wrenched open with the thoughtful lament of “Desperate Times.” There is soft piano and clean guitar, as the fabulous vocals kick in. The singing is a key(sic) to the record and raises it above any other release in the pop punk genre. I am afraid I don’t know who sings what, as all the members take vocal duties, but all do brilliantly. It is like fusing progressive rock harmonies to fast ascending punk riffing. The whole collection reeks of class (ironically, given the band’s championing of equality).
My ears were drawn to “That One Percent,” which spits out the band’s disdain for the Conservative political party’s behaviour in the UK with their policy of austerity in terms of public spending being cut. It is a tune that lives long in the memory and, once inside your brain, keeps looping as a mega ear worm – you have been warned!
“Knocked For Six” smacks your sensibilities with aural overload. The high register vocals absolutely make this song. It has a sound that is arrestingly unique and familiar at the same time. The guitar tone is also a pleasure to hear; fuzzbox in 4K for sure.
Although the ball of wax moves at a million miles an hour, there are some moments of quieter reflection, like on “Carrion,” allowing listeners to breathe before the technical beauty of “What We Always Do” comes striding onto the playlist and the adrenaline surge runs us to the end of the collection.
Suffice to say, I love this album so much that I would marry it, if I could. Human in name, gods in musical terms. The best album I have heard for a long time.
‘Clarion Call’ will be released on CD, Digital and Vinyl on Friday 6th July 2018 and is available for pre-order now here: www.thehumanproject.bigcartel.com.
THE HUMAN PROJECT online:
www.twitter.com/humanprojectuk
Double-Barrel Vasectomy is one of the many projects from the one and only Anthony Leasgang, we have written about him multiple times now but I have to say this project is something different and most definitely slamming. The project had been alive for some time now and finally Anthony (with the help of Eli Vincent and Rich Fahringer) had decided to fire up the old engine and start racing. So put your seat belt on because we are about to kick off!
2018 for Boston, MA extreme death metal quartet REVOCATION is just getting better every day and so is for the fans. A few days ago the band announced that they will be releasing their follow up to 2016’s album and it is titled, ‘The Outer Ones‘. The upcoming offering will be made public on the September 28th via Metal Blade Records. To get the party already started the band will embark itself on a month long tour of North America starting this September 17th and run through October 20th. The support bands are equally ruthless. EXHUMED, RIVERS OF NIHIL and YAUTJA will be supporting REVOCATION on what happens to be their first North American headlining tour in several years. See confirmed dates below.
Oh man, what an episode. The podcast has truly gone global on this one. Morgan Lander of Kittie calls in to the podcast. We talk about their new documentary “Origins/Evolutions”. Morgan and I discuss the history of Kittie and what were we all thinking with our fashion choices! Morgan also sets me straight on the Canadian delicacy, the back bacon sandwich. This was a fun trip down memory lane.
First up on the episode is my chat with Matt Karpe, author of Nu Metal: Resurgence. Matt is also the host of the Head For The Barricade podcast. Matt and I discuss the history of Nu Metal and his latest book.
Music on the episode from Kittie, Mudvayne and Skindred.
It’s been twenty years since Morgan Lander helped start the Canadian metal band Kittie (with sister Mercedes and original bandmates Fallon Bowman and Tanya Candler) in London, Ontario. They brought one of the heaviest and most fierce acts we had seen to date, and this is for all bands not just girl bands. There was a thing or two the guys could have learned from the harsh anguish they brought to their music, and I’m sure plenty of their male counterparts took notes and learned from Kittie’s quick rise to stardom in the metal world. Their debut album ‘Spit’ was what got everything started in 2000. The album still to this day is highly regarded as one of the best metal albums of that era. ‘Spit’ was was certified gold by the RIAA and sold at least 600,000 copies in the United States. Keep in mind when ‘Spit’ was recorded the members of the band were only 15-18 years of age. Kittie went on to release their sophomore record ‘Oracle’ in 2001. It was also in 2001 that guitarist and backing vocalist Fallon Bowman left the band. Her infamous growls on the song “Brackish” instantly made her a fan favorite. They followed ‘Oracle’ with the release of ‘Until the End’ in 2004.
Kittie incorporated nu-metal influences as well as incorporating speed, groove and death metal vibes. The combined chemistry of Mercedes and her sister Morgan gave the band this flare that wasn’t seen or heard with other bands. Kittie went on to release ‘Funeral for Yesterday’ (2007), ‘In the Black’ (2009) and ‘I’ve Failed You’ (2011). One of the saddest things the band had to deal with more recently was the death of bassist Trish Doan who passed away in 2017. Vocalist Morgan stated after Trish’s passing “She with her boundless energy, 10,000 ideas and a fiery, vibrant light that could never be extinguished, even now.” In the time spent in the band Trish added an amazing creative element to the Kittie and we were all saddened by her passing. Though ‘I’ve Failed You’ was the bands last release as of now in 2011, they started filming a documentary about the band in 2014 that would include all the past and present members of the band as part of a 20 year anniversary for the band. On August 30, 2017, the band announced the reunion of the original lineup for a one night only concert. They performed on October 27, 2017 in their hometown of Ontario. The show also coincided with the launch of the documentary. Whoever was in the crowd that night witnessed something that most of us would give anything to see. Kittie not only formed in the late 90’s but they molded the whole metal scene and they worked hard to get to their rightful place at the top.
Talk Toomey: The Metal Nexus Podcast host Joshua Toomey welcomes Kittie vocalist Morgan Lander on this week’s episode of the podcast. Morgan talks about everything that is currently going on with Kittie and the recent documentary showing their history titled ‘Origins’. Toomey and Morgan also talk about forming the band and sometimes coming down to just looking for anyone that played an instrument. Morgan even talks about touring in the earlier days with much heavier bands like Nile and it made them need to go out with a chip on their shoulder. Morgan also talks about trying to get all the former and current members of the band together and playing a couple shows maybe in L.A. and New York and do something similar to what they did on ‘Origins’ documentary. You can hear the entire interview below.
Critically-acclaimed power-trio KEN MODE will release their long-awaited new album ‘Loved‘ on August 31. The new album represents yet another high-caliber step forward in the group’s caustic sound, delving deeper, and darker than ever before. This vicious full-length may be the group’s quintessential statement of violence and despair made sonic. Pre-orders for ‘Loved‘ are available across multiple formats here.
Metal guitarist, Ralph Santolla has just passed away yesterday, Wednesday, June 6th, 2018 at age 48. After entering a coma following a heart attack last week, it was confirmed on Tuesday that he would be taken off life support the following day. Santolla’s mother, Sue Santolla-Rocha made this statement yesterday on her Facebook page: Continue reading
First show in a while, and ohhhh, what a doozy! Gotta love supporting such a huge variety of incredible bands ranging from Rap to some of the heaviest Metal has to offer and everything in between! Some of the best music available today remains in the underground and, invariably, right around the corner, no matter where you live. Well, June 1st at 1904 Music Hall served as the launch point for SuckerPunch’s release of Underground Anthem reviewed here. Not only was I stoked to hear some bands that I have heard and loved again, but also for the bands I have not heard of. Not only are they beyond talented, but I made some new friends and hope that you will give them a shot once you read my review of the CD release party. Enough chatter. Let’s get down to it!
If you were at a rock festival recently and saw a fan on stage or walking around with a striking hand-painted guitar with the festival’s logo blazoned on the body, you more than likely witnessed a RONZWORLD GUITARS axe in all its one-of-a-kind glory!
Although RONZWORLD GUITARS have been featured and awarded to fans at festivals across the country for years, RONZWORLD founder and artist Ron Williams is now pleased to announce his next venture. This summer – in partnership with The Music Experience, a traveling consumer exhibit present at live events – RONZWORLD has launched the Official Festival Guitars Experience for a rock, alternative, and country music portfolio of festivals produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, ASK4 Entertainment, AEG, Live Nation and Ledge Entertainment. Continue reading
