alice in chains

Alice In Chains (Singer/guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Inez and singer/guitarist William DuVall) release “The One You Know”, the first new song of the quartet in five years. It's the first song from the upcoming, so far untitled,  new album. Click HERE for the video.

Furthermore Alice In Chains is on the road in North America and Europe and here are the dates:

May 4 – Charlotte, NC – Carolina Rebellion

May 5 – Virginia Beach – WNOR Lunatic Luau

May 7 – New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom

May 8 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom

May 10 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy

May 12 – St. Louis, MO - Pointfest

May 13 – Somerset, WI - Northern Invasion

May 15 – Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre

May 16 – South Bend, IN - Morris Performing Arts Center

May 18 – Columbus, OH – Rock on the Range

May 19 – Philadelphia, PA - WMMR BBQ / BB&T Pavilion

June 16 – Leeds, UK – O2 Academy

June 17 – London, UK – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

June 20 – Stockholm, Sweden – Grona Lund

June 21 – Halden, Norway – Tons of Rock Festival

June 22 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell

June 24 – Clisson, France – Hellfest

June 25 – Zagreb, Croatia – INmusic Festival

June 28 – Padua, Italy – Sherwood

June 30 – Bezirk-Landstrasse, Austria – Arena Open Air Wien

July 1 – Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Park

July 3 – Berlin, Germany – Huxley’s Neue Welt

July 4 – Cologne, Germany – Live Music Hall

July 5 - Werchter, Belgium - Rock Werchter

July 7 -Montreux, Switzerland - Montreux Jazz Festival

July 8 – Belford, France – Les Eurockeennes 30

July 10 – Milan, Italy – Ippodromo Snai San Siro

July 13 – Madrid, Spain – Mad Cool Festival

July 14 – Lisboa, Portugal – NOS Alive

July 17 – Tel Aviv, Israel – Caesarea

July 18 – Tel Aviv, Israel – Caesarea

Aug 22 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Aug 25 - Seattle, Washington - White River Amphitheatre

Aug 26 - Portland, Oregon - Sunlight Supply Amphitheatre

Aug 28 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amp

Aug 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Palladium

Aug 31 – Riverside, CA – Riverside Municipal Auditorium

Sept 1 – Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl

Sept 3 – Tucson, AZ – Tucson Music Hall

Sept 4 – El Paso, TX – Abraham Chavez Theatre

Sept 6 – Austin, TX – ACL Live

Sept 7 – Houston, TX – Revention Music Center

Sept 8 – Dallas, TX – Pavilion @ Toyota Music Factory

Sept 10 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theatre

Sept 11 – Kansas City, MO - Midland Theatre

Sept 13 – Denver, CO – Fillmore

Sept 14-16 - San Diego - KAABOO

Sept 15 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theatre

Oct 14 - Sacramento, CA - Aftershock Festival

Oct 21 - Durant, OK - Choctaw Grand Theater

(8/10) The first thing that stands out is the band's unusual name. Giraffe Tongue Orchestra sounds strange and give you no idea of what to expect. It was a surprise egg for me too, but when I read who's part of this band things got clearer.

Giraffe Tongue Orchestra is William DuVall (Alice in Chains), Ben Weinmann (Dillinger 
Escape Plan), Brent Hinds (Mastodon), Pete Griffin (Dethklok) und Thomas 
Pridgen (The Mars Volta) which means that you can expect some more unconventional rock and metal music. And indeed, the songs on "Broken Lines" sound special, experimental, heavy and psychedelic. The guys added a certain level of underlaying complexity to the songs, each of them filled with twists and tweaks. All this makes the album exciting and very entertaining since the listener will be constantly surprised by new moves that mostly couldn't be foreseen. Having said this I also have to address the fact that the album stands like a rock. Giraffe Tongue Orchestra manages to keep the flow throughout the entire album which makes even the more progressive songs very approachable.

The involved musicians give you a certain framework of what kind of music you can expect. The album contains some kick-ass rockers, a segement the opener "Adapt or Die" belongs to. Grooving numbers like the moderate paced "No-One is Innocent" can be found on "Broken Lines as well as some anarchic punk moments that are included in the band's portfolio too. The raging parts of "Crucifixion" speak a clear language even though the main theme of the song comes with a more Tool-based approach.

Additionally there are silent and fragile moments can be found on "Broken Lines". "All We Have is Now" is one of these songs that show the very emotional side of Giraffe Tongue Orchestra while "Everyone Gets Everything They Really Want" follows with a funky expression that reminds of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

The title track "Broken Lines" is a song you have to wait for till the final end of the album. It's an tune that's full of breaks and pieces that go very well together. It's with its alternative rock elements one of the best songs on the album and a good choice for being the name giver for this thrlling and confusing release.

"Broken Lines" came from left field but it's a nice surprise of creative music that can reach a wider audience without being mainstream. Cool stuff.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Adapt or Die
2. Crucifixion
3. No-One is Innocent
4. Blood Moon
5. Fragments & Ashes
6. Back to the Light
7. All We Have is Now
8. Everyone Gets Everything They Really Want
9. Thieves and Whores
10. Broken Lines

Label: Cooking Vinyl

Genre: Alternative Metal

Release Date EU: September 23rd, 2016

(8/10) This is pretty cool stuff from down under. When you think about Australia it's of course the mighty AC/DC that comes to your mind first. But there is also a grunge vibe existing in Australia. At least this is something Tracer teaches us.

It was in the beginning of the new century when singer/guitarist Michael Brown started the band, together with his brother and a good friend of the guys. 

"Water for the the thirsty dog" is already the third longplayer in the band's history; recorded by Michael Brown, Jett Heysen-Hicks (b) and Dre Wise on drums.

What convinces me most is the energy and the unbound elan the guys spread on this record. The trio has, as said, quite some grunge roots. But what makes things interesting is the fact that they merge it with some traditional hardrock and even some stoner elements. This sonic cocktail is a really tasty one. And last but not least it is amazing how much Brown's voice sounds like Chris Cornell from Soundgarden.

This fact gives a lot of the songs a Soundgarden touch - just without the bad weather Seattle vibe. It sounds more like the positive grunge feeling - if this exists ;)

The start into the album couldn't be much better. The opening triple begins with the title track which is a post-grunge track. It rocks pretty well and makes appetite for more. The faster "We're only animals" follows before "Us against the world" reduces the pace of the record. The tune comes with a grooving bassline and has a powerful chorus. 

The mentioned stoner influences break through in numbers like "Astronaut juggernaut". It's a booming track that has the potential to become a constant factor on Tracer's setlists.

Alice In Chains made an impact on Tracer too. At least you can get this idea while listening to "The machine" - a song that is reminiscent of the Seattle legends.

"Water for the thristy dog" is a great new album of the Austrialian trio and if the third record decides between success and oblivion I guess we will hear more of Tracer in the coming years.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Water for the thirsty dog
2. We're only animals
3. Us against the world
4. Lazy
5. Astronaut juggernaut
6. Halfway to zero
7. The machine
8. Homeward bound
9. Owe you nothing
10. Tremors

Label: OMN

Genre: Hardrock

Release date EU: July 27th, 2015

(7/10) "Soulbender II" is not a really new album. It is actually the bands debut album with additional four new tracks. "Soulbender" was the first disc of the band with the same name. The record was release ten years ago and the reason why Soulbender got more attention than some other bands was the fact that Queensryche guitarist Michael Wilton is part of the four-piece. But it wasn't only Wilton who is more well-known. Also singer Nick Pollock is better known from My Sister's Machine - a band that had its peak in the 90's grunge period. So, Soulbender is a Seattle connection.

However, the guys found together and started Soulbender. The band plays heavy metal with some grunge influnences. Based on the earlier mentioned, this isn't a big surprise. The sound of Soulbender is somewhere right in the middle between Nevermore and Alice In Chains.

After some line-up changes in the last decade the original band found back together in 2014 and that was the kick-start for the 'new' album. Four songs have been written, a deal with Rat Pak has been signed and a release was needed.

So the band recorded the four new tracks which are all quite good. The opener "Turn anger on" is a slower riff monster that grooves quite well. "Shoal" is a bit different. It's a more quite song with a sad undertone. The grunge influences are very present in this tune. Than it gets heavy again. "Slave to reality" has a roaring riff that builds the base for the song. Next to that it's the tight rhythm section that gives the tune the drive needed.

The drums open "Seraphim" before the guitar and the vocals join in. It's a depressive atmoshere spread by the song with an underlaying feeling of discomfort.

The other ten songs on "Soulbender II" are the well-known ones from the debut. Good songs too with a powerful sound.

All in all the album is OK. It is entertaining to listen to the songs and it is better than what Queensryche has released for many years. Hopefully Wilton has still enough time for Soulbender after the 'rebirth' of Queensryche. Would be good to get a completely new album from the band.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Turn anger up
2. Shoal
3. Slave to reality
4. Seraphim
5. Fix me
6. Clockwork and compass
7. Rabbit hole
8. The American dream
9. Samsara
10. Prime time
11. Shoot poem
12. This ocean
13. Hunger
14. Three towers

Label: Rat Pak

Genre: Heavy Metal

(8/10) Six records in 16 years is not a lot. Some bands would maybe not even survive such a little amount of releases, since nobody could remember them anymore.

This is different with Godsmack. It's their track record it's fortunatley not the amount of records, but the success of the different releasesn which makes the difference. It was in the beginning of the new century when Godsmack had the peak in their career. The debut "Godsmack" and the second release "Awake", incl. their best song called "Vampire", have been real highlights. Since than the band was a constant factor in alternative metal. They combined the Metallica sound from the 90's with some post grunge elements and by doing this, they created something slighty new.

The newest release got with "1000hp" a name that creates high expectations. Did they manage to transfer the 1000hp on the album? This was my thought before I started to listen to the album. 

The opener "1000hp" took all my doubts away. The title track sounds already like the engine of a Mustang. The name for the track couldn't have been chosen better. The raw power goes actually, with some smaller exceptions, for the entire album. This more than a song, it's a statement.

Next to the title track it is the slower "Something different" which is fascinating. It's the beginning of the track with the guitar and vocals only which sounds awesome. The song explodes in the chorus before it falls back to the more silent parts. The pattern continues throughout the entire track. Combined with the catchy hookline it becomes for me a highlight on the "1000hp".

If you want to know, why I was talking about Metallica in the beginning you should listen to "Locked & loaded". The riff sounds like one from the leaders of the 'Big 4' during the "Load" phase (just better); and it fits better to Godsmack than it does to the newer Metallica.

Someone said to me once that every rock/metal album needs a ballad. Godsmack shows that this statement isn't 100% right. "1000hp" comes without a real ballad. There are some more silent/slow pace songs on the album like "Generation day".  But I wouldn't consider even one of them as a typical ballad. The mentioned "Generation day" is not more than a damn cool rock song, but also not less. The six minutes are just flying due to the variations in the tune. Silent parts go hand in hand with riff-oriented power section. The result speaks for itself. A song which follows a similar pattern is "Turning to stone" - with five minutes another one of the longer tunes on the album.

Godsmack delivered an album which will be loved by the fans of the band. Godsmack trademarks are integrated in cool songs This is what you get with "1000hp". Start the engine.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. 1000hp
2. FML
3. Something different
4. What's next
5. Generation day
6. Locked & loaded
7. Living in the gray
8. I don't belong
9. Nothing comes easy
10. Turning to stone
11. Life is good

Label: Spinefarm

Genre: Modern Metal