The beer pours with a very dark brown, reddish tint; there is a small amount of an off-white head. The initial nose is not too assertive, with minor hints of hop and malt. Each sip is very smooth and provides imbibers with hints of fruits (berries, cherries), ginger, and spices (nutmeg, vanilla). The specific constellation of flavors changes as the beer approaches room temperature. Breckenridge’s Christmas Ale is one of the most approachable winter / holiday beers that we have had the chance to review. The alcohol content is hidden well amongst the different notes and flavors that swirl around here. Two or three of the Christmas Ales should be enough for an individual to have a great night.
I feel that the 7.4% alcohol of the beer provides enough warmth to stave off even the coldest night; make sure to pick up a six-pack of the Christmas Ale through the end of December. As this is a seasonal effort, the Christmas Ale will be gone before you know it. Visit the Breckenridge website for more information about the brewery’s efforts, the specific nuances to their beers, and a bevy of news updates.
Rating: 8.0/10
Christmas Ale / Breckenridge Brewery / 7.4% ABV / www.breckbrew.com / www.breckbrew.com/brews/christmas-ale
Paul Walker Dead
TMZ is reporting that Paul Walker from the Fast and Furious movies has been in a life-ending accident. While there is still no confirmation that this has happened, we wish the best for Paul Walker’s friends and family.
Country Thunder Arizona Brings Out the Heavy Artillery in 2014
Also headlining, The Band Perry, the family trio that embraces that old trusted adage of any good music – the hook. And they have a lot of great hooks. Add to that Kimberly Perry’s lusty, belting voice, and fans will be lost in the maelstrom of music that is The Band Perry.
Joining these three powerhouses, are some names everyone will know. The festival site will become a massive sing-a-long when the likes of Sawyer Brown, Craig Morgan, Mark Chesnutt, Joe Diffie, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band hit the stage. Joining these legendary acts are some of the hottest artists up and coming in country music. Enter Charlie Worsham, Will Hoge, and Chad Brownlee, with a few acts still to be announced and you’ve got the makings of an epic weekend of country music.
“We feel it’s important to get the right mix of talent every year,” said Troy Vollhoffer, executive producer. “We think we’ve gotten it right yet again. Our headliners are incredibly strong and we’ve backed them up with a good mix of hot, young talent, and classic artists who appeal to our entire demographic. We know that our fans are going to have a blast this spring!”
Four day passes are still available for only $99, but that price won’t last! Get your tickets today before they go up at midnight tonight to $130. A Country Thunder ticket is the easiest gift anyone can give and it’s an amazing value. Visit www.countrythunder.com or call 866-802-6418 to purchase tickets or for more festival information. Also receive CT updates directly to your mobile phone by texting ARIZONA to 74455. Like us on Facebook at: facebook.com/countrythunderusa and follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/countrythunder.
Set against the backdrop of the Arizona desert, Country Thunder offers its patrons much more than your typical music festival. With thousands descending on Florence, Arizona every year for the full-fan experience, the limitless activities include camping, thrill rides, amazing food, specialty item vendors, and much more. Electric Thunder, the latest addition to the Country Thunder experience is where the party keeps going all night long. DJs are spinning country, red dirt, and rock while giving a EDM/club twist.
Country Thunder radio partners include KMLE in Phoenix and KIIM in Tucson. Listen to our exclusive radio partners for giveaways and prizes you won’t find anywhere else!
Friday, November 29, 2013
Down Home Band featuring Jeff Estes Monrovia CD Review
Cajun Queen is a catchy bit of blues-rock that unites a strong instrumentation with a narrative that is weaved through the entirety of the album. The smooth, soulful vocals that listeners experience through this introductory track buttresses well with Broken Road. Broken Road has considerable pep and stands at the juncture of country and rock. Fans of the sixties C&W heyday, CCR, or contemporary acts like Mumford and Sons and The Avett Brothers. The much more cosy and emotive Son of Mine showcases a tremendous amount of emotion. This heartfelt love resounds loudly through the track, imbuing listeners with a warm feeling that will last for a considerable time. It is during Son of Mine that the instrumentation steps up its game; as each element pushes its partner to something greater, Monrovia becomes stronger.
Come On Home has a delightful bit of intense drumming that punctuates the band’s overall sound. The inclusion of these drums provides a bold and blooming aura to the track; the Down Home Band captures lightning in a bottle with this track. End of the World and Drink To Remember put an emphatic end to Monrovia, and showcases an act that continually experiments in the creation of the best possible sound. Visit www.downhomeband.com/ for more information about the act, their videos, and a way to purchase a copy of Monrovia. Here’s to hoping that the band can continue to be successful; the music contained here will have listeners rooting for the act.
Top Tracks: Come On Home, End of the World
Rating: 8.5/10
Down Home Band featuring Jeff Estes Monrovia CD Review / 2013 Self / 10 Tracks / www.downhomeband.com/
VANNA ANNOUNCE PREYING/PURGING 7"
Nov 30 – Another Hole In The Wall w/ Norma Jean – Steger, IL
Dec 05 – Modern Skatepark w/ Norma Jean – Detroit, MI
Dec 06 – Altar Bar w/ Norma Jean – Pittsburgh, PA
Dec 08 – T.T. The Bear’s w/ Norma Jean – Cambridge, MA
Dec 09 – Revolution w/ Norma Jean – Amityville, NY
Dec 10 – Empire w/ Norma Jean – Springfield, VA
Dec 11 -Kingdom w/ Norma Jean – Richmond, VA
Dec 12 – Blue Nile w/ Norma Jean – Harrisonburg, VA
Dec 13 – Masquerade w/ Norma Jean – Atlanta, GA
Dec 19 – Gamerchanger Venue w/ State Champs, Asightforsewneyes – Howell, NJ
Dec 20 – Santos Party House – New York, NY
Dec 21 – The Barbary w/ State Champs, Sworn In – Philadelphia, PA
Dec 22 – Palladium Upstairs – Worcester, MA
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Neo Tempus Yours Sincerely Official Album Release
Neo Tempus is a new artist / producer from Toronto, and he’s like nothing hip hop has ever seen. His image and style immediately make him a stand out in an industry that’s becoming more cliche by the day, and his music is so genuinely personal its hard not to relate. Preparing the release of his debut solo project “Yours Sincerely”, Neo has created a project that shuts out all influences and gives us a reflective album that touches on; Love, heart break, loss, chasing dreams by any means and is essentially the story of a true underdog.
As his debut offering, Tempus has officially released “Yours Sincerely” via his site www.CrimsonFace.com, Soundcloud.com, LiveMixtapes.com and Datpiff.com! The album is entirely self produced and was mixed and mastered at Metal Works Studios.
Recent releases off the album have been featured on blogs like: YouHeardThatNew.com (New Music Cartel, Complex Media Network), Best Of Both Offices (Complex Media Network), ThisIsWalder.com, HipHopChronicle.Uk, KillerHipHop.com, Rapdose.com, and Boi-1da.Net.
Neo Tempus also recently produced on Michigan rapper and newly signed Aftermath recording artist Jon Connor’s summer debut album release “Unconcious State” which charted in Billboard peaking at number 7 in the heat seekers chart and number 35 on the R&B/Hip Hop charts. Neo produced a record called “When I Was Young” featuring Chris Webby and Smoke DZA.
NIR FELDER Merges Genres on Debut Album, Golden Age, Available January 21 via OKeh
For guitarist Nir Felder, the song’s the thing. His debut album Golden Age (OKeh), out January 21, puts his skills as a composer and songwriter at the forefront of his creative design, supported by virtuosic technique, not the other way around.
The guitarist recruited pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman and drummer Nate Smith to help bring his unique musical vision to life. “They are musicians who understand the bigger picture of a song, and approach a song as a song, not just as a vehicle to express their own virtuosity,” explains Felder.
The album, as a whole, was not born of a concept, Felder notes. But the title does provide a unifying sentiment-one of ambiguity and duality. “The album is called Golden Age, and it’s more of a question than a statement,” he says. “We’ve seen a lot of change in recent years – in the music industry, in music technology, in our world, our country, and our city, New York. When I was writing this music, there was a lot of hope in the air, and excitement about change, but also a lot of insecurity and fear about the world post – 2008 economic crisis. It looks bad for the arts in New York City at the moment, and some people are nostalgic for the 1980s and early ’90s, when times were rough and unsafe but art and culture were flourishing. Was that a ‘golden age’? Is this one? Has there really ever been one? The question is always, according to whom? So, there is a lack of clarity about whether things are going great or they’re really bad, and the music reflects that.”
To augment the band’s instrumental take on those questions, Felder studied dozens of legendary speeches by politicians, civil rights leaders, and cultural heroes and mixed spoken-word samples from Mario Cuomo, Barbara Jordan, Jesse Jackson, Hillary Clinton, Malcolm X, Richard Nixon, Lou Gehrig, Elie Wiesel, William Jennings Bryan, Russell Conwell, and others into “Lights” and “Sketch.” The results are sweeping, cinematic impressions of history brought into the present moment.
Felder, a native of Katonah, New York, began playing guitar at 13. In the beginning, it was the blues that drew him to jazz: Albert King, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan-three masters of tone, with an exciting sound and the tradition of storytelling in their playing. Felder initially bought a $250 Mexican Stratocaster and put heavy strings on it “like Stevie Ray did.” He has played it ever since. Except for the acoustic guitar on “Bandits II,” that Strat is the only guitar on Golden Age.
In high school, Felder relied on guitar magazines, his imagination, and commercially available records for his musical education. In college, he caught the jazz bug, focusing on the roots of the music-Dexter Gordon, Charlie Christian-and falling asleep at night listening to Hank Mobley’s 1960 Blue Note classic Soul Station. By the time he graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston and moved to New York City in 2005, he’d won the Berklee guitar department’s Jimi Hendrix Award and the Billboard Endowed Scholarship for musicianship and academic performance. In New York, he hit the ground running, gigging immediately at Small’s with saxophonist George Garzone and rapidly amassing credits that include sessions and performances with Greg Osby, Terri Lyne Carrington, Meshell Ndegeocello, José James, Esperanza Spalding, Jack DeJohnette, Eric Harland, and the New York City Opera. It was not long before NPR labeled him “the next big jazz guitarist.”
In finding his own voice as a jazz musician, Felder did not follow the common practice of abandoning the styles and techniques he had already mastered (such as “bending strings and playing open chords”). “You hear a lot of great advice to play jazz guitar like a horn, like a piano,” he concludes, “but I don’t think it’s necessary to reject what the electric guitar was meant to be-I’ve kept one foot where I came from. That said, I’m ready to explore new sounds, and I have a lot of ideas for new projects, while in the immediate future I hope to keep this band together and continue in the direction we started on Golden Age.”
Nir Felder · Golden Age
OKeh · Release Date: January 21, 2014
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
What Model Citizens Premiere “Felony Heights"
Electro sensations, WHAT MODEL CITIZENS, have just premiered the new single, “Felony Heights,” via The Vinyl District earlier this week. The brainchild of Alex Musto, What Model Citizens has just released the album, Ohn E Amas, to the awaiting ears of fans and critics alike. The electro laced “Felony Heights,” is a vibrant taste of what the record has to offer.
soundcloud.com/what-model-citizens/felony-heights
What Model Citizens was created towards the end of 2009 as a means of exploring noise and feedback-heavy music grounded by a foundation in synth-rock. The band’s music is perhaps best described as a fusion of the noisy jagged guitar of The Gang Of Four with electroclash melodies of The Faint.
2010 saw the release of What Model Citizens debut, semi self-titled, album OH What Model Citizens We Be, followed shortly by 2011′s You’ve Been Set Up. Both albums defined Musto’s sound as grinding juxtapositions of tender synthesizer tones and heavily distorted guitar that beg ears to dissect the layers of sound while daring hips not to shake to the beat. Gritty and driving, OH What Model Citizens We Be and You’ve Been Set Up introduced Musto’s reverb-laden guitar heavy electronic sound with a driving tenacity.
Described as a mad-man with a music box wielding and electric anarchist sound, Ohn E Ama scaptures captures Musto’s energetic fury in What Model Citizens’ third album. Sharp synth punctuations, frenzied beats, and an overbearing sense of paranoia permeate throughout What Model Citizens’ exciting new record. Wild and exhilarating, Ohn E Amas distills Musto’s unique electronic sound to a danceable storm and firmly places What Model Citizens in New York’s post-punk electroclash traditions.
For more information on What Model Citizens, please contact City Bird Publicity:
Melissa Nastasi: Melissa@CityBirdPublicity.com
TRACKLISTING
01 Coming For Me
02 Carry Me With You
03 What Do You Know?
04 Inelegant Feelings*
05 Felony Heights
06 Acts of Sound
07 In Bits of Precious Time
08 We’ll Run**
09 Tin Man***
10 Too Late
11 Lyndon Baines Johnson Orders Pants and Thus Creates The Universe
SHOWS
12/6- Matchless – Brooklyn, NY
LINKS
Made in America All My Money Single Review
All My Money is a track that would work perfectly on rock rotation, as the band’s overall sound ties together the disparate works of acts like Papa Roach and Our Lady peace. The vocals touch upon a rich tapestry of influences including Kid Rock, Every Mother’s Nightmare, Moot the Hoople, and Cinderella, while the accompanying arrangements take up the standard of acts Foo Fighters and Guns ‘N’ Roses. All My Money stands at a juncture of rock styles, from southern rock to alternative and even to the hard rock of the eighties. All My Money may only be three minutes, but listeners will be provided with a great look into Made in America, their styles, and the camaraderie that unites them as a band. Listeners will be singing the chorus of All My Money long after the track ceases, an impressive boon for this up and coming band.
Visit the Made in America video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUmO5_L0edk or their Facebook at www.facebook.com/MadeInAmericaBand . Here’s to hoping that the band can move to the EP or LP format and be able to enjoy the same level of success that they achieved during this introductory single.
Rating: 8.2/10
Made in America All My Money Single Review / 2013 Self / www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUmO5_L0edk
Ducky Two Over Ten Single Package Out December 10
Following her critically acclaimed Air & U Turn Me Up singles, Brooklyn-based Ducky, aka Morgan Neiman, today announces a new single package, Two Over Ten- primed for release December 10th. The package will also include a remix via Portland-based producer Natasha Kmeto.
Never one to shy away from cutting-edge production & risqué lyrics, “Two Over Ten” finds Morgan exploring her more vulnerable side, with powerful lines like “you’re gonna make it hurt, and that’s okay- I like to feel afraid” set atop haunting instrumentation.
The “Two Over Ten” video, directed by Ben Dewey, reflects the minimalistic elements of the song, with warped cinematography to match the track’s shattering bass. In one scene, Ducky finds herself as a modern-day geisha, and in another, covered solely in fluorescent body paint. We encourage you to share & stay tuned for more from Ducky coming soon!
The “Two Over Ten” Video
HAERTS’ “WINGS” Featured As iTunes Single of the Week
HAERTS’ soaring single “Wings” has been named iTunes’ ‘Single of the Week.’ Download the song today: iTunes.com/Haerts.
“Irresistible,” exudes Stereogum, while Seattle’s KEXP says, “’Wings’ is about as flawless as pop tunes come.” “One of the most unstoppable songs of the last year,” exclaims Gorilla vs. Bear, while Under The Radar raves that the track soars “with shimmery, ’80s-evoking textures and the kind of cloud-climbing vocal work from [lead vocalist Nini] Fabi that can’t help but channel vintage Stevie Nicks.”
Also this week, Starbucks’ ‘Pick of the Week’ is Felix Cartal’s “Slow Motion” (feat. HAERTS). The track is featured on the compilation Dance (RED) Saves Lives, Vol. 2, which is available now.
HAERTS released their debut EP, Hemiplegia, this fall via Columbia Records. The collection, produced by friend and label mate Jean-Philip Grobler of St. Lucia, features breakout tracks “Wings” and “All The Days” in addition to “All For You” and the EP’s title track. HAERTS are currently in the studio recording their full-length debut, expected this coming spring.
HAERTS will end what’s been a spectacular 2013 by joining The 1975 for a sold-out show at New York City’s Webster Hall on December 17. In addition, the band will headline Rough Trade NYC on December 20. HAERTS has recently toured with Washed Out, Shout Out Louds, Atlas Genius, and Fitz And The Tantrums.
HAERTS is Nini Fabi, Ben Gebert, Garrett Ienner and Derek McWilliams.
www.haertsmusic.com
iTunes.com/Haerts
www.facebook.com/haertsmusic
www.twitter.com/haertsmusic
www.soundcloud.com/haertsmusic
OWSLA AND BRIDGES FOR MUSIC TEAM UP FOR NESTIVUS
In the season’s spirit of giving, OWSLA has teamed up with electronic music nonprofit Bridges For Music for their first annual Nestivus holiday charity drive. To mark the occasion, OWSLA is turning the month of December into an online advent calendar for users of its Drip.FM-hosted premium subscription service, Nest IV, releasing special gifts from the likes of Dog Blood, Jack Beats and more on a daily basis, beginning with a set of VIP Destructo remixes. To add to the festivities, the prominent label has lowered the rates for Nest IV subscriptions (which grant members first listens to OWSLA releases, access to Nest-only releases as well as a plethora of exclusive goodies) from $12 to $9 from now until December 24. All profits made from new and existing subscriptions for the month will be donated directly to Bridges For Music to assist in their building of a music school in Langa Township, Cape Town, South Africa, a township with a vibrant music scene where house music has become a driven force for the youth. Bridges For Music actively supports electronic music development in developing countries, leaving a positive impact in disadvantaged communities and helping to raise global awareness about local issues through music. The organization embodies the mantra that in our globalized world electronic music is a universal language for giving back and dismantling socio-economic boundaries between the rich and poor.
SUBSCRIBE TO NEST IV HERE: drip.fm/owsla
2013 World Series Champions DVD Review
The Boston Red Sox were the 2013 World Series Champions, and this documentary showcases the nail-biting intensity that marked each game of the World Series. The 90 minute runtime of this documentary provides ample time to go into the nuance of the team’s journey, all while touching on the individual contributions that fed into the victory. The clarity of the footage is astonishing, providing viewers with the next best thing to actually being in Busch Stadium or Fenway Park.
There are a number of additional features that are present on this release. This means that there is a crisp and clear copy of “The Beard Came Here to Party”, a music video meant to amp up fans, and a highlight reel of the most memorable moments of the series. A set of features look at individual players (Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz) and the whole team (the Red Sox Clubhouse). The massive amount of outpouring that the city of Boston had for their team is captured in another featurette; A&E have successfully captured all angles of the Red Sox’s rise to winning another championship.
A copy of the 2013 World Series Champions DVD can be purchased at a bevy of online and physical retailers. Look to spend around $20 for the DVD; a Blu-Ray version is also available.
Rating: 9.1/10
2013 World Series Champions DVD Review / 2013 Lionsgate / 90 Minutes / www.lionsgate.com
Monday, November 25, 2013
Sharp Practise Interview
“Steal With Pride” is your latest album. How did the release move from initial thought to finished effort?
The initial thought was very much in the mind of Nigel Clothier, our sole songwriter. Nigel wanted to mix sounds that were evocative of the classic albums of the 70s with lyrics about things that are happening right now and wrote about 14 songs which tried to achieve that. Four of those songs got lost along the way, leaving the ten tracks you hear on “Steal With Pride”.
Once the songs were written, Nigel took them to the band to work up from lyrics and chord sequences to performable pieces. At this point our producer, Niall Ladyglove, got involved and started to think about how the songs should sound to capture that 70’s feeling. A fair chunk of the work was trying to capture a more immediate, live sound while still taking advantage of the facilities that the studio offers.
We have our own 24 track set-up, so then it was a process of laying the basic tracks, building up the overdubs and trying out some options to see what works best. Fran Ashcroft masters our material and acts as a mentor to us, and he always throws in some subtle but highly effective suggestions to help capture the right mood or sound quality. We spent a lot of time, for example, picking the right reverb sounds on this album to mimic the less sophisticated spaces that classic albums tended to be recorded in.
Once we were happy with the album we also put a bit of thought and resource into the album sleeve to reflect the musical content, and also to picking the right track (“Hard Heart”) to shoot the first video for.
How does “Steal With Pride” fit into the larger tapestry that is Sharp Practise? How has your style evolved and changed over the period since you first started?
We’d have to say “Steal With Pride” is overall our most rocky and musically simple album to date. Sharp Practise started out as a vehicle for Nigel’s songs and our initial output was quite eclectic. The odd song really rumbled along (for example “Bed of Rhythm” on our second album “Radiocity”) yet we often enjoyed the odd acoustic interlude as well.
With the tightening of belts under the austerity measures in the UK (and elsewhere) we felt it was time to harden our music too. So it was out with the replacement chords in the second repetition of the chorus, the playing with chord extensions and the false intros, and in with the bluesier, more traditionally British rock sound that basically everyone in the band grew up with.
Who is inspiring Sharp Practise right now? Which artists or styles most influence your overall sound?
We’re getting into a bit of a Thin Lizzy phase at the moment and Nigel is beginning to think that the next album might draw on that with some 12/8 time signature songs and some Celtic influences. It won’t be a derivative of course, we have one guitarist and don’t intend to try and mimic the definitive Thin Lizzy twin guitar harmonies!
We’ve always had an influence from The Who (for example check out “Good Speech” on “Steal With Pride”). Our music over the years has tended to start out with one acoustic guitar and voice and then develop into full band arrangements so you’ll probably hear some Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Counting Crows and Crowded House in there somewhere. Having said that, we’ve always rocked a little so there’s some Free and Eric Clapton in the mix too.
What distinguishes the music on Steal With Pride from the rest of the music that listeners hear at the gym, the radio, or the club?
First of all the range of influences – even though we’ve tightened up our range for this album no two songs are in the same style, although they’re all definitely rock tracks. Secondly, there are moments when the music sounds like a car crash in a railway tunnel (check out the solo in “Burnin’ Blood), which is how we think all good rock music should sound. Not everyone has that aspiration! Finally, it’s the world view in the lyrics, which try to tell stories that most people can recognize and hopefully many people can relate to.
What artists have you most liked playing alongside? Can you tell us a particularly interesting live story?
We tend to enjoy playing most with young bands with great potential for which you can easily see a career in the music business opening up. For example, there’s a group in Bristol in England called Wolfhound that we played with on our recent UK tour who have talent, great songs and the whole package that should take them a very long way indeed.
We guess our most famous live story concerns a gig where our road manager complimented us afterwards on our professionalism. Of course, when you’re on stage you can’t see a thing because of the lights, so we carried on playing normally only to be told afterwards that a rather attractive young woman had spent most of the show flashing her bare chest at our guitarist!
What has provided more of your fans – Facebook / Instragram / Twitter or traditional word of mouth?
We’d have to say traditional word of mouth – we do occasionally tweet and we’ve just started a Facebook page but most of our internet presence has been through our website.
How should people find your music and the latest news about yourself?
The best place to find our music is to look for Sharp Practise on the CD Baby website – all our stuff is available there either as single song downloads or as physical CDs. The best place to get our latest news is our website at www.sharppractise.com and we’re always keen for people to get in touch directly with us via admin@sharppractise.com. We don’t bite, we do reply to every message and we don’t add anyone to a mailing list unless they specifically ask for that, so you won’t get loads of spam from us if you do e-mail us!
Do you have any thoughts for our readers at NeuFutur?
Just that music is a wide palette, so whether you listen, write, perform or critique there’s a place for you, and a place for all sorts of music. Not all music will be to your taste, and some can be very hard to listen to for any length of time, but if it’s made honestly and tries to communicate what’s in the musician’s hearts then it should have an audience, no matter how small or how vast.
NOCTURNAL BREED to release first album in 7 years
Norwegian metal outfit NOCTURNAL BREED will release a new album, its first in 7 years. The band is coming back with a punch of epic old school thrash metal with a blackened rock and roll undercurrent, under a title yet to be announced. Featuring ten new tracks, the release is set for February 2014.
Formed in 1996, NOCTURNAL BREED is made of present and past members of Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Aeternus, and Gehenna. The current line-up includes S.A. Destroyer on bass and vocals, Tex Terror behind the drums, as well as recently re-united with the band original guitarist I.Maztor and a brand new member, also guitarist, V.Fineideath. Alongside the new album – successor to 2007′s “Fields Of Rot” – the band has announced a headlining appearance at Hammerslag Festival in Tonsberg (Norway), on 14th of February (www.facebook.com/events/619762144754286/?ref=22), with more shows on the way.
Known for a vicious, melodic and straight forward thrash metal performance, NOCTURNAL BREED has debuted their entire previous album on-line, via Bandcamp. “Fields Of Rot” is available for listening at this location: agoniarecords.bandcamp.com/album/fields-of-rot
Details on band’s 5th full length release will follow soon.
Catch the band at facebook at: www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturnal-Breed-OFFICIAL/250907411181
Nota prasowa: Nowy album NOCTURNAL BREED! internetowy debiut “Fields Of Rot”
Norwescy thrash metalowcy z NOCTURNAL BREED wydadzą swój pierwszy od siedmiu lat album w lutym 2014 roku. Na krążku znajdzie się 10 nowych utworów łączących epicki, old-schoolwy thrash metal z domieszką czarciego rock’n'rolla. Tytuł albumu zostanie ujawniony niebawem.
Powstały w 1996 roku NOCTURNAL BREED zrzesza obecnych i byłych członków Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Aeternus oraz Gehenna. Zespół tworzą S.A. Destroyer na basie i wokalach, Tex Terror na perkusji, a także powracający do skałdu orygnialny gitarzysta I.Maztor, oraz nowy członek ekipy, również gitarzysta, V.Fineideath. Oprócz nowego albumu, Norwegowie ogłosili swój udział na Hammerslag Festival (www.facebook.com/events/619762144754286/?ref=22) w Tonsberg (Norwegia), gdzie będą headlinerem piątkowego wieczoru. Festiwal rozpocznie się 14. lutego.
W miniony piątek zagościała w internecie ostatnia płyta NOCTURNAL BREED, wydany w 2007 roku album “Fields Of Rot”. Można jej odsłuchać w całości na Bandcamp: agoniarecords.bandcamp.com/album/fields-of-rot
Więcej szczegółów wkrótce. Facebook zespołu: www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturnal-Breed-OFFICIAL/250907411181
For more information and shopping with Agonia Records visit: www.agoniarecords.com
For general info and order inquires contact: info@agoniarecords.com
For promotional info contact: promotion@agoniarecords.com
Agonia Records myspace: www.myspace.com/agoniarecords
Agonia Records facebook: www.facebook.com/agoniarecords
*NEW: Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/AgoniaRec
**NEW: Twitter: twitter.com/agoniarecords
ECID's "2PAC COBAIN" ft. Sean Anonymous and Rapper Hooks
At first glance most would think a skinny, blue-eyed hipster looking dude in a flannel with obnoxious Nike’s to match, would be in a post-electro indie-band. But this is the 90’s for the third time and one of rap’s most exciting new voices, ECID, is not your average newsstand heartthrob. Minneapolis native Jason Mckenzie, an only child raised by a single-mom, had a lot of time to himself growing up. But he was never bored. Ever. He started writing songs at age 13, released his first “album” before his 18th birthday and hasn’t stopped since. Released earlier this year, Post Euphoria volume 1 brought Ecid’s true charm to the surface with sexier beats and punchlines on steroids (and kush).
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Taylor Alexander Art EP Review
The Art EP may only have three tracks, but the variety of styles and approaches chosen on the CD ensure that listeners have a good idea about whom Alexander is and what he may do in the future.
Emiline is a track that could easily make it onto top 20 rotation. Alexander’s vocals built off of the work of Adam Levine and Chris Martin, imbuing their easy-going style with more nuanced and emotionally-intense vocals. The guitars and drums provide further trappings to the track, even looking back to the early work of Billy Joel. Dream Boy (& Song Girl) swings things over to a more country outlook, albeit with a smoothed-out set of vocals steeped much more in the pop tradition. No matter how distinct the instrumental and vocal sides may be during this track, what results in Dream Boy (& Song Girl) is something that is special. The inclusion of a second set of vocals establishes a wholly different style than has been heard so far on the Art EP, and represents a good transition to the ultimate cut, Deadly (which features Doc Optimo).
Deadly has all of the funkiness of early Justin Timberlake or John Mayer, while having considerably better guitar chops. Alexander has made one of the best EPs that we have heard so far this year, and establishing such a different style for each track has reaped considerable dividends for the performer. If you like what you have heard on the Art EP, make sure to visit Alexander for the latest updates regarding his music.
Top Tracks: Emiline, Dream Boy (&Song Girl)
Rating: 8.7/10
Taylor Alexander Art EP Review / 2013 Self / 3 Tracks / www.soundcloud.com/tayloralexandersound / www.tayloralexandermusic.bandcamp.com/
Ryan Cassata – Jupiter, It Won’t Be Long The Acoustic Sessions, Vol. 3 CD Review
Jupiter, It Won’t Be Long begins with I Don’t Really Wanna Go To College, a track that provides listeners with some semblance of the styles and approaches which Cassata will broach throughout this effort. Liberation is a track that touches upon the work of Contravene, The Devil Is Electric, and even Defiance, Ohio. There is a certain catchiness present to this effort that will make this a good fit for radio rotation. The tracks on Jupiter, It Won’t Be Long shine not only because of the solid vocals that are interspersed throughout, but also due to the rich production that allows each instrument and vocal element to shine brightly and as a whole. Dear Lucas is a track that stands at the juncture of punk and country; the rich folk and emotive elements make this into one of many must-listen tracks that are present on Jupiter, It Won’t Be Long.
Tell His Old Man is a much more dark and emotive track that builds off of the tremendous library of blues, infusing the time-tested trope with a much-needed boost of vitality. The Mob’s Rolling Cadillac showcases that Cassata’s efforts on Jupiter, It Won’t Be Long do not diminish. Listeners should be confident that they can put on the album at any point and find a heartfelt and impressive opus. Make sure to find out more information about Cassata at www.ryancassata.com/ ; the website provides all the information (music, pictures, and a store) that interested individuals may need.
Top Tracks: Jupiter, It Won’t Be Long, Tell His Old Man
Rating: 9.0/10
Ryan Cassata – Jupiter, It Won’t Be Long The Acoustic Sessions, Vol. 3 CD Review / 2013 Self / 8 Tracks / www.ryancassata.com/
Addicted to Pop S/T EP Review
Formerly of Broken Poets, Lana Antropova has just released new music as Addicted to Pop. Over the course of five tracks, the mystique behind the new act is explored and Antropova is able to forge a bold new course with her musical career. This self-titled EP begins with Outcast. Outcast has a high amount of energy and immediately privileges the instrumental side of things. When Antropova’s vocals kick in, the track subtly takes on elements of Lady Gaga and Madonna. I feel that the vocal/instrumental distinction is very natural; the instrumental side has no problem furthering the narration of the track while the vocals continually bolster the instrumentation during tracks like My Real Name and Fleeing Time. The World Around Us updates the electro-pop of acts like the Pet Shop Boys and Amber with a simply stunning set of vocals. As the track rumbles on to the chorus, the resulting change in tempo will permanently ensnare listeners.
Mail-Order Bride is the final effort on the EP; the track showcases a never-say-die spirit that has Lana infuse her style with electro-pop trappings. The track has a crisp and sparkling arrangement, providing the perfect highs and lows upon which the vocals rest. As Addicted to Pop moves to the chorus, the resulting tempo shift creates some of the most catchy lines we’ve heard all year. There is a certain undefinable quality to Addicted to Pop that stands out from the heap of music that we receive on a regular basis; I would like to see how Antropova tackles a full-length album under the Addicted to Pop nom-de-plume. Visit her Soundcloud or Reverbnation for more information.
Top Tracks: My Real Name, The World Around Us
Rating: 8.4/10
Addicted to Pop S/T EP Review / 2013 Self / 5 Tracks / soundcloud.com/addictedtopop / www.reverbnation.com/addictedtopop
Powder Hound Review
Powder Hound is a great blend of sweet and hoppy bitterness. The orange-red that pours from a can of Powder Hound makes the white head pop. An initial sip invites hints of toasty malts, caramel, and even touches of ginger. Piney and citrus elements are present as well, creating a nuanced and layered experience. The 7.2% ABV of Powder Hound provides a hint of a burn to moderate the sweet notes of the beer. The beer is able to maintain its hoppy backbone to the last sip. Rather than becoming muddled, the Powder House is a great beer that ensures the different flavors and touches stay separate. Everything works together in this effort to make one of the best winter/holiday/Christmas ales that we have had the chance to review.
Make sure to visit the Big Sky Brewing website of Facebook (www.facebook.com/BigSkyBrewingCompany ) for more information about the brewery and the array of beers which they produce. Powder Hound is a seasonal beer that is available from November to March; make sure to pick it up in cans or in bottles to experience a fulfilling and delectable division from the winter.
Rating: 8.5/10
Powder Hound Review / 7.2% ABV / Big Sky Brewing / www.bigskybrew.com / www.facebook.com/BigSkyBrewingCompany
Vaudeville Vendetta CD Review
The Messenger is a soulful track that deftly blends the instrumental and vocal sides of Vaudeville, creating a statement that is much greater than the sum of its constituent elements. The production of this track (and is present on the whole of Vendetta) allows the strengths of Vaudeville to be highlighted; V represents a distinctly different side to the act. Soaring upon hints on indie-rock, peppered by hints of surf and desert rock, Vaudeville is able to spin off in a bold new direction. The epic feel of V is countered nicely but the more rough and raw Into the Mouth of Madness. This track has a greater sense of urgency and takes up the rock of Queens of the Stone Age and Muse.
Restless Souls leads off with nothing more than a guitar and gains a darker and more brooding set of trappings when the drums kick in. The bold swaths cut by each instrumental inclusion showcase a band that is incredibly confident (and rightfully so) in the music that they create. Vaudeville creates tracks that may work in a specific genre or style, but there is nowhere on the album that the band is ever wanting for new content. With tracks like Bitter Prophecy and White Light rounding out the pack, Vaudeville is able to close off the album with the same emphatic style which opened it.
Make sure to visit Vaudeville’s websites for more information about the band and news about any live dates or additional releases. Vendetta is a solid album from the top to the bottom, and it provides listeners with a good introduction to an eclectic and electric band.
Top Tracks: Bitter Prophecy, Into the Mouth of Madness
Rating: 8.9/10
Vaudeville Vendetta CD Review / 2013 Self / 11 Tracks / soundcloud.com/vaudevillemn / vaudevillemn.bandcamp.com/