alternative rock

(8/10) Nothing's second strike is called "Tired of Tomorrow". The band from Philadelphia released their debut "Guilty of Everything" two years ago and I was already at that time impressed by the quality of their songs, something that raised the expectation when it comes to the second album of this four piece.

After having heard the album several times I can assure you, that "Tired of Tomorrow" became at least as good as the debut. I actually think, that it's a bit better since the band grew over time which enabled them to get even more out of their alternative rock sound.

Domenic Palermo and his gang starts with "Fever Queen". It's a robust wall of sounds that marks the beginning of this tune. What follows is a melancholic rock song that implements a picture of fragile beautiness in your mind. The song is reduced to it's minimum, something that doesn't go for the sound which is rich and organic. "Fever Queen" is creating with little means a feeling of trance, that includes a warm expression.

Another song, another mood. "Vertigo Flowers" is a bit faster than the opening double. Here we are talking about a swinging and almost light-hearted rock song that comes with a good melody. What both mentioned tracks have in common is the wide soundscapes Nothing creates. Actually this is something they do with each of the tracks on "Tired of Tomorrow".

A steady drum beat kicks-off "Nineteen Ninety Heaven", something that continues through the entire song, accompanied by a gentle guitar and soulful vocals.

But also grunge comes back in the sound of Nothing. Esp. "Curse of the Sun" and even more "Eaten by Worms" bring back a certain Seattle-vibe, not in the silent moments, but the downtuned guitar parts show some parallels with Nirvana & Co.

The title track is the last one on Nothing's second longplayer. I can understand that the guys have chosen this song as the name giver for the record. The number is great and special. It is an intensive composition that is mainly build on piano and vocals. This tune is the one, that has probably the most emotional depth. It catches you immediately with its beauty, covered in grey shades.

Nothing started successfully with their debut and the four-piece continues their journey on the new album "Tired of Tomorrow". With such an album the guys do not have any reason for being 'tired of tomorrow'. They should approach the future with full energy and curiosity about what's supposed to come.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Fever Queen
2. The Dead are Dumb
3. Vertigo Flowers
4. ACD (Abcessive Compulsive Disorder)
5. Nineteen Ninety Heaven
6. Curse of the Sun
7. Eaten by Worms
8. Everyone is Happy
9. Our Plague
10. Tired of Tomorrow

Label: Relapse Records

Genre: Alternative Rock

Release Date EU: May 13th, 2016

(9/10) Münster, Germany is a city that has a rich cultural scene that generated bands like Black Space Riders, Eat The Gun and ... Long Distance Calling. All these bands have in common that they found their own style with their own trademarks. It's hard to put them into a certain box, label them and done.

In case of Long Distance Calling we can conclude that the guys found their own niche, consisting out of prog rock, avengarde, post-rock and indie-rock, sometimes even pop. The band combine these styles into an almost unique sound which they constantly developed since almost one decade.

What impresses me is the range of musical expressions the guys from Germany offer on their new masterpiece.

"Getaway" marks the beginning of an exciting journey through sounds. Imagine Barclay James Harvest meets Styx to interprete the title track of the cartoon series "Captain Future". This sound weird, indeed. But in the end all this fits together very well, ending up in a n instrumental song that comes with big keyboard-based soundscapes which are guiding you through a musical outerspace.

After such a beginning it's important to "Reconnect". The keyboards are still playing an important role while guitars get more to the forefront. And it's the first song on the album that includes vocals.

Let's jump a bit further on the tracklist. "Trauma" is the next level of Long Distance Calling's heavy sound escalation. It's again an instrumental that includes mighty guitars reminding of Rammstein. To make things even more exciting, the guys reduce this sound cocktail to a grooving bassline in the middle part of this track which is well done counterpart to the loud riffing from the start.

With "Presence" the new disc also included a short interlude, reflecting on the time machine that's part of each of us.

"Momentum" and "Plans" are next, tunes that can easily keep the high level of this longplayer. And they are a kind of prologue for the actually masterpiece entitled "Flux".

This is the grand finale on "Trips". It's a twelve minutes epos in which Long Distance Calling pulls out all the stops. Beautiful arcs of melody create a dreamful soundscape that surrounds you with warmth and comfort. The song builds up along the way and harder guitars make it to a powerful one, something that adds new variants to the tune. It's this correlation between beauty and heavy that is the main thrill of this wonderful composition, that is, by the way, another instrumental.

Long Distance Calling soothed my short distance flight. "Trips" is an album that shows an awesome band at it's best. "Trips" is so far the best album of Long Distance Calling, a record that has to be part of each serious record collection. My expectations has been high, but "Trips" is exceeding those.

(9/10)

Tracklist:

1. Getaway 
2. Reconnect 
3. Rewind 
4. Trauma 
5. Lines 
6. Presence 
7. Momentum 
8. Plans 
9. Flux 

Label: Inside Out

Genre: Prog Rock

Release Date EU: April 29th, 2016

(8/10) Mark Tremonti releases his highly anticipated new solo album "Dust" in the coming days, which is, I guess, a great moment for all fans of the iconic guitarist. "Dust" was recorded already during the "Cauterize" session. Tremonti had material for two full-length records and what makes more sense than splitting it up into two releases. By doing this Tremonti can easily bridge the waiting time till the next Alter Bridge album will see the light of day somewhere later this year.

"Dust" comes with 10 tracks that aren't throw-outs from the "Cauterize" session. Each of the tunes on "Dust" can easily handle a comparison with the predecessor.

The album starts pretty heavy. "My Last Mistake" is the name of the opener that is introduced by an enormous riff. This song is real stuff for headbangers and one of the most powerful tracks on the album. I like these downtuned riffs "The Last Mistake" provides. And I like that Tremonti has chosen this number as the opener. It's a real energizer that brings you into the right mood for the upcoming nine songs.

"The Cage" includes the pleasure of slow, almost Sabbath-like, riffs in the middle part before Tremonti unveils again his virtuosity. In the end it's a typical Tremonti song that's spiced-up a bit.

"Once Dead" doesn't sound very optimistic and indeed, it's one of the darker tracks on the album that has some raging instrumental parts combined with a melodic chorus. This interplay give the tune the tension needed and it shows why Tremonti once said that the harder tracks become Tremonti ones.

The title track has an acoustic beginning and spreads a certain ease, something that doesn't last for too long. But to my surprise it's not a giant break that kills the silence. The tune slowly builds up to a moderate paced Tremonti song that is beautiful. It's a song that differs a bit from the rest of the album and I'm surprised that "Dust" became the name giver for the entire album. Anyhow, an emotional moment on "Dust" and a good song too.

"Catching Fire" starts gloomy and dark, something that characterizes the entire song, esp. in the verse. Towards the end it gets more soulful again. "Unable to See" is more a rock song than a metal track, at least in the beginning. After such a soulful start things get harder again and the tune develops into a real anthem that should become a fix part of the Tremonti setlist.

"Dust" offers what you expect, well done Tremonti songs that are slightly harder than Alter Bridge. Each of the tracks is a little highlight in itself and the entire album will be a treat for each Tremonti/Alter Bridge fan.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. My Last Mistake
2. The Cage
3. Once Dead
4. Dust
5. Betray Me
6. Tore my Heat Out
7. Catching Fire
8. Never Wrong
9. Rising Storm
10. Unable to See

Label: Fret12 Records

Genre: Alternative Metal

Release Date EU: April 29th, 2016

Some news from H.I.M. singer Ville Valo. He teamed-up with British guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite (MGT) for recording an ABBA cover. The guys have chosen "Knowing me, Knowing you" but unfortunately it became a quite bloodless version of this exciting ABBA song. But get your own opinion.

(8/10) Cult Of Luna's new album comes with only five song, but these pack a punch. In the end this record provides you with 55 minutes of confusion, experiments, intensity and depth, unveiling a new approach to post-metal.

The guys from Cult Of Luna slightly changed their sound by adding the New York based singer Julie Christmas, known from the noise rock bands Battle Of Mice and Made Out Of Babies.

"A Greater Call" feels like the calm before the storm. With its speherful melodies it marks a peaceful beginning. But something in your head tells you, that this can't go on forever. And this silent voice insight your head is right. It's a ear-splitting scream that turns the atmosphere into almost the opposite. The song develops to a raging post metal track that includes pure despair. It's also the first time Julie Christmas appears. The singer from Brooklyn is cautiously adding her crystal clear vocal parts as a background. One thing gets clear already at this stage. Julie Christmas' contribution adds something to Cult Of Luna's sound that might lead to different reaction. In my opinion the singer makes Cult Of Luna's sound wider and offers new opportunities.

Christmas' part in the second song gets far more to the forefront. It seems like the band used the opener to slowly introduce Christams before she gets the full spotlight in "Chevron". The track is more confusing than the opener and it's especially Christmas' vocals that are hard to follow. Anyhow, after a first stage of confusion things get more thrilling each time you listen to the song and the album.

The nine minutes long middle part "The Wreck of S.S. Needle" is the masterpiece of "Mariner". It has a dark beginning with samples and Christmas' vocals. But like with the opener you can see/hear the evil coming closer. Christmas screams one's mind to the heavens which gives this more silent track a depth that is mind-blowing. Listening to her voice actually brought Dawn Crosby from Détente to my mind. Of course the Swedes from Umeå do not play thrash metal, but it's these intensive screams that are similar to Crosby's. "The Wreck of S.S. Needle" is an uncomfortable journey that ends up deep in the listeners soul to stay there for quite a while.

The counterpart to such an unsettling song is called "Approaching Transition". This sphereful track is keep silent with some attempts of being more heavy. But in the end it's a melancholic tune that has a greater level fragility.

The closer"Cygnus" is a mixture of all heard before. It features Christmas' special vocals, he typical Cult Of Luna screams, slow and intensive riffs and a brutal level of intensity.

"Mariner" is an album that demands something from its listeners. These five songs are laid-back music. You have to undertake an effort to dive into Cult Of Luna's new sound construct, but I can tell you that it's worth it since it is in the end rewarded by great songs that stretches boarders of metal.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. A Greater Call
2. Chevron
3. The Wreck of S.S. Needle
4. Approaching Transition
5. Cygnus

Label: Indie Recordings

Genre: Post Metal

Release Date EU: April 8th, 2016

(8/10) A new Black Stone Cherry album is like walking on a slagline. If the sound of a new record moves a bit too much towards the left it will become too much mainstream and too little rock. And if the movement is a bit too much to the right it gets too heavy for some fans the band gained over all these years. Especially with having the latest 3 Doors Down output in the back of my head, I was very curiously looking forward to see if Black Stone Cherry can keep the balance between commerciality and own roots.

After having listened to "Kentucky" I can confirm that the four-piece is in balance. It might be true, that the Southern rock moments moved a bit towards the back, but the new longplayer is still full of heavy alternative rock/metal tunes that stand like a rock. The new songs are dynamic and energetic, built on powerful guitar lines and a tight team play between the four band members. It pays back that Chris, Ben, Jon and John are playing together already since many years, something that gives the sound a certain continuity.

Songs that stand out on "Kentucky" are "In Our Dreams", a track which is a bold smasher that starts, after a short acoustic interplay, with a mighty riff. This tune is rolling over you. It's a well-done mid-pace rocker with a bridge that reminded me of Nirvana.

Black Stone Cherry covered Yardbird's "Shapes of Things" on their debut and also this time there is with "War" a cover song on the the album. Black Stone Cherry took the Edwin Starr's classic and created a rocking version that comes with a lot of power and has a good punch. The lyrics speak for itself and they are so much valid nowadays, still.

The silent moments can be found back on "Kentucky" too. "The Rambler" is one of these soulful songs, this time written in cooperation with Shinedown guitarist Jasin Todd. The songs got even more emotional depth knowing, that Chris Robertson lost his grandfather while the guys have been in the studio.

"Kentucky" became an emotional album of a band that got mature without losing the rebelious spirit of rock'n'roll.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. The Way of the Future
2. In Our dreams
3. Shakin' my Cage
4. Soul Machine
5. Long Ride
6. War
7. Hangman
8. Cheaper to Drink Alone
9. Rescue Me
10. Feelin' Fuzzy
11. Darkest Secret
12. Born to Die
13. The Rambler

Label: Mascot Records

Genre: Alternative Metal

Release Date EU: April 1st, 2016

Muenster-based Black Space Riders provide fans with some more songs from the "Refugeeum"-session. The band releases an EP that's called "Beyong Refugeeum".

The disc will be availbale from May 13th onwards and will come with the following tracklist:

1. Willkommen
2. Freedom At First Sight
3. Droneland
4. Starglue Sniffer
5. Vrtx Rmx (Bonus Track)
6. Gravitation (Bonus Track)

"Starglue Sniffer" is one of the tracks and the band unveiled a video for this tune.

(8/10) Even tough I'm more into metal, I always had a certain interest in industrial rock too. Regardless if it's Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson or Ministry, I have to say that the power those bands create(d) by using samples and keyboards is massive.

Filter also belongs to these bands and the guys release their new album "Crazy Eyes" in April. It's the band's seventh longplayer and it follows the pretty much guitar-oriented "The Sun Comes Out Tonight".

"Crazy Eyes" takes a different approach, meaning Filter goes back more to the early days in the 90's. Mighty guitars are less present on the new release. This time it's more an oppressive industrial sound that gets the spotlight. A bigger contribution to this result comes from a cooperation with old friends of the band. Producer Ben Grosse as well as Michael Tuller have been part of "Crazy Eyes" and next to these two guys it was Johnny Radke and Danny Lohner that have been in on it too.

Richard Patrick created together with his renewed band, (Oumi Kapila (g), Ahsley Dzeigian (b), Chris Reeve (d) and Bobby Miller (key) an album that is very intense. It is a dark and gloomy longplayer that has it's first highlight on pole position.

"Mother E" starts with some creep whispers accompanied by some samples. This build up very fast and the whole thing ends in almost desperate screams of Patrick. In addition "Mother E" comes with a cold industrial beat that emphasises the frantic expression of this track. A really cool start of "Carzy Eyes".

Compared with the opener "Take me to Heaven" is a swinging industrial song that comes with a catchy chorus and a lot of melodies. Those two songs show already the width of musical variations you'll find on "Crazy Eyes". You want to have it even broader? No problem. 

"Welcome to the Suck (Destiny not Luck)" has a silent and acoustic beginning. The song stays on a low tempo, but intensity increases over time. In the end it's the tension between loud and quiet that creates an atmosphere that's somewhere between rage and despair.

All in all "Closed Eyes" is a cold and angry industrial rock album that fits very well into now-time.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Mother E
2. Nothing in my Hands
3. Pride Flag
4. City of Blinding Riots
5. Take me to Heaven
6. Welcome to the Suck (Destiny not Luck)
7. Head of Fire
8. Tremors
9. Kid Blue from the Short Bus, Drunk Buck
10. Your Bullets
11. Under the Tongue
12. (Can't She See) Head of Fire, Part 2

Label: Spinefarm

Genre: Industrial

Release Date EU: April 8th, 2016

(7/10) Some good news from Belgium, metal outfit Fields Of Troy released their album "Hardship" which sounds pretty good. It's actually the band's second disc recorded by the renewed band (only bassist Jürgen Elias is still on board). The debut was published already back in 2011 and was named "Black Rain".

The sound of Fields Of Troy can be described as alternative metal that sounds more American than Belgium.

After a short intro the 'real' album begins. "Cold Eyes" is the name of the opener that reminds of some Tool in the verse. It's the intonation that leads to this comparison while the guitars are very much US-inspired alternative metal.

"402" is one of the more aggressive song with some screams from frontman Louis Soenens included. Still the melodic parts don't go short. Especially the chorus is an almost catchy one, but however, the mighty riffs are definitely in the forefront.

Talking about riffs, there is a lot of Tremonti in Fields Of Troy's sound. The mentioned opener "Cold Eyes" is one of these tracks and "By Now" is another. The latter comes with some female vocals done by Mayken Hoessen which results in a song that has some potential and might get some airplay.

"The Passenger" is a more silent track that is a well placed break in the middle of the tracklist.

To sum up: Good album, good musicians, good rock music.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Cold Eyes
3. 402
4. Chapel of Hate
5. Copper Shores
6. The Passage
7. Sting
8. By Now (feat. Mayan Hoessen)
9. Static Flow (Bonus)

Label: Dice Industries

Genre: Alternative Metal

Release Date EU: February 28th, 2016

(9/10) Before I listened to this album I had a hard time to imagine a combination of sounds that reflects psychedelic rock a la Monster Magnet, UK indie rock the Oasis style and Coldplay's mainstream rock, all spiced up with some Beatles-based roots.

But Desert Mountain Tribe proves that this mission isn't a 'mission possible' and the result is really mind-blowing. Now, reflecting on the above mentioned influences it isn't a too big of a surprise that the band comes from the UK. London is the homebase for this quartet that embarked on their journey of rock a few years ago.

The first release was an EP that came out in 2013, followed by the band's first European tour. The full-length debut was released a few days ago and is named "Either That or the Moon".

Desert Mountain Tribe recorded eleven songs that made it to this longplayer, each of them a thrilling surprise. Since I missed the starting days of this four-piece, I haven't had any specific expectations. As open-minded as possible I pressed the 'play' button and already the first song showed me that the upcoming 60 minutes will become quite interesting.

"Either That or the Moon" contains songs that are really great, tracks you want to listen to over and over again. I can't count anymore how often I have listened to the psychedelic "Way Down" with it's hypnotic groove. This tune is one of the best ones I have heard since quite a while. Simple Minds meets Monster Magnet, that's what it is. You think this is impossible? Check it out.

"Heaven and Hell" is another number that comes with a psychedelic vibe, this time kept darker than the mentioned "Way Down". "Runaway" instead is a pretty straight-forward indie rocker that at least reminded me of Oasis, just a bit harder.

One of the more silent moments on this album is named "Interstellar" which has a lot of Coldplay in it. I like this nine minutes intergalactic trip that shows again all the capabilities of these guy.

Desert Mountain Tribe" released a 2016 highlight that for sure will get more rounds in my player. Really good stuff which I can recommend.

(9/10)

Tracklist:

1. Feel the Light
2. Take a Ride
3. Midnight Sun
4. Heaven and Hell
5. Runaway
6. Enos in Space
7. Way Down
8. OC Dream
9. Interstellar
10. Coming Home
11. Leave it Behind

Label: Membran

Genre: Psychedelic Rock

Release Date EU: March 4th, 2016

(6/10) Five years are a long time and especially in rock biz you might get out of sight as a band. Multiplatin rockers 3 Doors Down did release their latest album "Time of My Life" in 2011 which means that it took them, for various reasons, those five years before coming back with "Us and the Night".

I'm not sure if the five years absence had a very positive effect on the band that had with songs like "When I'm gone" a real alternative rock hit.

"The Broken" is a melodic rock tune that brings you in the right mood for this album. The tune starts with a certain pop appeal, mainly created by some keyboard samples. "Us And the Night" contains mainly easy digestible rock music that is made for the mainstream market.

The trip continue with "In the Dark", a song that's a bit more dynamic and also contains some harsher guitar riffs. One of the best tunes on the record is called "Believe It". It's a bit of a faster one with a catchy chorus, followed by the very rhythm-based "Living in Your Hell". The songs is good, but the swinging melody gives me the impression that 'living in your hell' isn't too bad.

Of course there must be a half-ballad, this time called "Inside of Me". The number is emotional and touching, but it's not a real smasher since it misses an own character.

The absolute downer on "Us And the Night" is called "I Don't Wanna Known". This tune is missing any hardness and I would almost go that far saying that this isn't rock anymore. It's just trivial. Actually 'I don't wanna know' this song. And bad enough, the same goes for the cheesy closer "Fell Fom the Moon". Where are the old 3 Doors Down as we know them from "Away From the Sun"? If you loved this album, keep your hands off "Us And the Night".

Unfortunately "Piece of Me" doesn't bring back the hard rocking guitars either. The next ballad that will create a lighter overflow during some live shows but for the rest it is taken off the shelf.

Last but not least the album is with less than 40 minutes rather short.

I have mixed feelings when it come to this album. "Us And the Night" gives you some positive moments but I must say that I have expected far more. The band obviously wants to reach the 'big crowd' and the songs on this longplayer will for sure support this approach. It feels like 'airplay' has been the aim with most of those tracks.

3 Doors Down moved from hard rockin' alternative band towards an exchangable mainstream group. Risks have been brought back to a minimum and the five-piece plays save. The new album is for sure no grand slam homerun, but sometimes also a bunt enables to score. It's just the question, if fans will love this approach. 

My hope is, that the guys will go back with their next album to the power of a strong hit with bases loaded.

(6/10)

Tracklist:

1. The Broken
2. In the Dark
3. Still Alive
4. Believe It
5. Living in Your Hell
6. Inside of Me
7. I Don't Wanna Know
8. Pieces of Me
9. Love is a Lie
10. Us And the Night
11. Fell From the Moon

Label: Spinefarm

Genre: Alternative Rock

Release Date EU: March 11th, 2016

Deftones will release their next album "Gore" later this year, followed by some touring activities in North America and Europe. In case you want to see the guys live on stage, here are the dates:

03/05 Costa Mesa, CA Musink Festival
03/16 Mission, TX Never Say Never Festival
03/18 Austin, TX SPIN Party at Stubb’s
03/19 San Antonio, TX Lonestar Events Center
03/20 Dallas, TX South Side Ballroom
03/22 Houston, TX Revention Music Center
03/24 Lubbock, TX Lonestar Pavilion
05/08 Concord, NC Carolina Rebellion
05/10 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
05/11 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
05/13 Pompano Beach, FL Pompano Beach Amphitheatre
05/14 Lake Buena Vista, FL House of Blues
05/15 Atlanta, GA Shaky Knees Festival
05/17 St. Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheatre
05/18 New Orleans, LA Orpheum Theatre
05/20 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theatre
05/21 Maryland Heights, MO KPNT Pointfest
05/22 Columbus, OH Rock on the Range
05/24 Sioux Falls, SD The District
05/25 Wichita, KS Cotillion Ballroom
05/26 Oklahoma City, OK Criterion Theater
05/28 El Paso, TX Neon Desert Festival*
06/03 London, UK The SSE Arena Wembley
06/04 Mendig, Germany Rock AM Ring
06/05 Nürnberg, Germany Rock IM Park
06/10 Paris, France Download Festival
06/11 Derby, UK Download Festival
06/14 Cologne, Germany Palladium
06/15 Berlin, Germany Columbiahalle
06/17 Aarhus, Denmark NorthSide Festival
06/18 Reykjavik, Iceland Secret Solstice

German riffonauts Black Space Riders will come out with a new EP later this spring."Beyond Refugeeum" is the title of this album that contains four songs from the "Refugeeum" session. According to guitarist/singer/keyboarder JE the tunes are slightly different than what was pressed on the album, even though they are 100% Black Space Riders. Let's wait and see what the guys from Muenster, Germany will provide us with.

(7/10) "Road Worn" is the new live EP from Austrian alternative rockers Midriff. The songs have been recorded on October 9th, 2015 in the VZ Komma in Woergl, Tyrol. The show was part of the "Doubts and Fears" promotion, the second album of the band that has been released in May 2015.

The EP features six songs, with most of them (four) been taken from the said second longplayer. The only two songs that's not from this album is "House of Pain"and "Broken Dreams",which was released in 2012 on the band's debut. It would have actually a nice treat if there would have been also a new track on this EP, since it have increased the purchasing incentive.

Anyhow, it is a matter of fact, that the guys from Tyrol rock very well and even though I only can refer to this EP, it feels like the guys being even better when they are playing live and on stage.

The sound of this live EP is absolutely OK and maybe even too good. By the way, there is hardly now audience that can be heard on this EP (except towards the end). Why is that?

"Road Worn" gives a good overview when it comes to Midriff's music and it might bridge the waiting time till the new album will be published. If this EP was neceassry after having released only two studio records is something each of you has to answer individually.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Outcry
2. Only a Pawn (In His Game)
3. Long Gone
4. House of Pain
5. Safehouse
6. Broken Dreams

Label: Office 4 Music

Genre: Alternative Rock

Release Date EU: February 26th, 2016