Black Tusk - Tend No Wounds (EP, 2013) Review

Black Tusk "Tend No Wounds" 

Summer 2013, Relapse Records

Facebook

Black Tusk are known for their talent in creating riffs, they already have three damn good full length albums out and about. They are energetic, electrifying and addictive, because of their easy-to-go-with rock 'n' roll sludge, they come in handy when you need a trip, or a good time generally. These are exactly the elements this new EP lacks, throwing it down in the dungeon of mediocrity.

For some reason, every instrument sounds weaker to me. The guitars are shy, like they are afraid to play faster or heavier, at least more consistently. The drumming is pretty bland, even the vocals do not have the power they can have, if one considers their first albums. As a combination, it feels like Black Tusk are for some reason holding back. The production can't really help either, since the tracks are sloppy, poorly composed and unoriginal. I can't feel the movement i am feeling when im listening to their other stuff, the whole thing sounds like something a newcomer school band would release.

After a short riffing intro, the first song "Enemy of Reason" has a typical riff that literally anyone into metal could think of. I can't recall the times i've thought of that riff in my head or heard it in various hardcore bands, it would be nice if it was the first time a band played it, but it has really worn out. Surely not what one would expect from this band. The second song "The Weak and The Wise" is even more mellow, and the starting riff reminds of Sweet Dreams. FUCKING SWEET DREAMS. Whatever happened here. These two tracks have the major flaws to me, then follow two more that have nothing to offer, so i won't hesitate talking about them at all. A small portion of hope was restored with the last track "In Days of Woe" , which has a middle-paced but interesting riff, that might just sound nice because the rest of the tracks are worthless.

I don't know if they did that intentionally, because there is not much experimentation here. I was hoping for a better outcome from this band, and i will listen to the new album when it comes out, even though this new record was a rabbit punch for me.

DAMAGE: 1.5/10

Alice In Chains - The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013) Review

Alice In Chains "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here"
Spring 2013, EMI Records

Facebook

In the unplugged album of Alice in Chains in 1996, there was a sentence on Inez's bass: Friends Don't Let Friends Get Friends Haircuts. It was directed to the members of Metallica, who had then cut their hair. Today, Alice in Chains cut their hair as well. Years have passed, the blood boiling attitude of youth has faded away, right? And Alice in Chains are now... What?

"Black Gives Way To Blue" was a decent album, it might not fill the holes completely, but it had something. The absence of Layne Staley was obvious, but Jerry could still hold their sound together and that new singer seemed talented. Tragic news though, Mike Starr passing away a couple of years ago. Two founding members of the band are now gone. News of another album struck me with an amount of doubt, even though i always give them some space, since they are one of my favourite bands. Sadly, "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" does not live up to my expectations, since it barely touches mediocrity.

Maybe its because i generally disapprove the band's decisions and management the late years, they have stepped into the world of mainstream music, they are softer and easy-listening, comparisons with their first years are inevitable. The once depressive angry songs, are now mellow and unimpressive. The record starts with two solid songs that have the groovy slow riffs and the melodic vocals, a classic characteristic of them. A typical AiC fan will enjoy this two songs, as a substitute to the band's good years and a need for new music. From there on though, there are only a couple of songs that worth listening to. It might sound good to a person that has just found out about them, or a person that is into rock artists that promote themselves with video clips on TV, but it huts a little to the fan of the other side. I know a band might change throughout the years and they are free to do so, but this effort is not of their calibre. Five good songs out of twelve is not a good statistic, compared to the masterpieces they have released in the past.

"Phantom Limb" has a catchy intro, and a great build up, the main body is sweet as can be, generally it is a kick ass song. The rest of the songs around it though, are weak and lack emotion. I think that is the main disadvantage of the whole album. It sounds good the first time, everyone's talking nice about it, about how they reproduce grunge, but it really lacks the emotion and power it should have. Im a passionate fan of their first albums not just because they are better albums, they also have that rebellious attitude of teenagers on crack, you can feel they deliver. They are not 18 anymore, progress is natural, right?

In general, im not satisfied with this new album. It seems they have decided to change, im not judging on that and i will stick to the albums i like. AiC of 2013 are a different band, compared to AiC of the early 90s, and it will not be a band i'll be listening to from now on.

DAMAGE: 4.0/10

Karo - Heavy Birthday (1988)

Album: Heavy Birthday
Genre: Heavy Metal / Hard Rock
Label: Frontrow Records
Quality: CD-Rip 320kbps
Website: No freaking website (Listen instead)

Ι had informed everyone about a treasure chest full of colourful happy goods disguised as a dirty bag in a garbage bin. I had, in my Wolfcry post a couple of months ago, so i believe its time to get started with the Heavy Metal Alliance. Why is it called like this? Because i thought it was a sweet name about five minutes ago and since they all were an unexpected gift around the same style, i should label them as a gang.

So, first and proud member of the HMA (Already into acronyms, see? Its popular) is the one and only album by the german Karo, a mix of hard rock with some 80s heavy metal elements, nice and nostalgic about the particular era. Keyboards are also used in the songs. The frontman later recorded some other albums, but i do not really care.

Download (Depositfiles) Download (Filestock)

~~~~~

And some subjects irrelevant, because hey, this is a personal blog:

1) All hail the HMA.
2) Im writing an exam on Linear Algebra tomorrow and im sitting here doing nothing for you. Not because im addicted to this awful and dark thing, for you.
3) This song is awesome. You heard me.
3) I might post a big package tomorrow, depending on my mood, which depends on the results of number 2.
4) The Living Doorway is up again. All of us, the rest of the bloggers, shall rest.