Alright, I'm gonna do a punk album review this time. Been a little while!

Makeshift3 has been around ever since mid 90's and I'm very surprised only few people are aware of them. I own all of their album but I decided to do a review on their most recent one, "Fluorescent Black", which was released several years ago in 2002 or 2003...something like that. This album is very decent and if someone want me to describe what Makeshift3 is like then I would definitely say a mix of MxPx and Emery. They play some songs in simple punk style but they also introduce a little of "hardcore" and screamo into the mix.

When I first saw couple pictures of the band members, I actually assumed they are just another lame "pop-punk" band that ruined the punk scene. I decided to give them a couple of listens on myspace clips and I was totally wrong. I bought their albums to give 'em a couple of serious listens. Boy, I'm glad I did that. Totally cliche but true....don't judge a book by its cover!

The album is very eclectic and jump around different shades of punk. There is some melodic punk rock songs and there are some songs that have strong hardcore style vocals. The vocals is the best part of the album. That dude can really scream! The guitar work is pretty much straightforward for punk band.

This album is good for a punk fans who appreciate different aspect of the punk genre such as punk rock, hardcore, classic punk, et cetera.


Best Song: Irish Sky-I just love this song and maybe I'm biased cuz I'm Irish.

Worst Song:Nine Year Love Song-actually almost a pop-punk song which I don't like in general but I do have to admit it's not bad for that style.


Here's some video clip with their music for you to listen.



Score: 6.5/10-not the best punk band ever but pretty decent.

www.myspace.com/makeshift3

Labels: christian, makeshift3, punk, review

The Human Abstract is one fantastic progressive metalcore band. They released one of my absolutely favorite debut album, "Nocturne" in 2006. A friend of mine introduced to a music video by them and that's what got me hooked on this album.

The production is pretty good considering its a debut album and the band put a lot of emphasis on clear production for vocals and the guitar works. The only complaint I have here is that I don't really hear the bass that well and the drums was more of a "background" noise on this album. I can tell the drumming was excellent but they put a bit too much focus on the guitar so drums got a little bit lost in the picture.

I really love the way the guitarists kept playing different riffs but at same time its all cohesive. There is no "samey" songs in the album and I can definitely tell the difference between each songs. That is very refreshing and something different in the metalcore scene at that time. A.J. is definitely talented guitarist and unfortunately he is not with the band anymore. That got to be the biggest blow for the band.

If you are bored of the typical metalcore and want something refreshing and different then I definitely recommend this album. Its really excellent and I still listen to it regularly after two years so far.

Best Song: "Vela, Together We Await The Storm" and "Crossing the Rubicon"- two of their most complicated and successful songs. Love almost everything about those two songs.

Worst Song: "Desiderata"-the least interesting song on the tracklist. Still a decent song though.


Here's a music video for you guys to check out. Its seriously good!




Score: 8.5/10 (lost some points for mostly inaudible bass and drums being background noise)

www.myspace.com/thehumanabstract

Labels: american metal, metalcore, progressive metal, progressive metalcore, review, the human abstract

Imagine yourself falling into a reality of pure blue water existence...that is what I felt when I listened to this vinyl on my record player. This is some excellent ambient music and I personally never heard of this band before I got a copy from the record label- Droehnhaus(in Germany).

The first side(A) has 3 very dark and doomy songs. None of the songs are fast at all...just very slow and ominous mood setting. I find it very fascinating to hear that while watching the record spinning around and around. The record itself is blue so it really fit the mood I think the band is trying to portray in the music. On the third song, there is something that is bit different. The beats I hear is pretty muffled. At first I thought it was some kind of mistake made during production but I realized that it fits the song really well. It almost give a suffocating feeling which makes sense.

The another side(B) is much more uplifting but not entirely happy, happy, joy, joy feeling. It's almost like I'm being pulled slowly out of the watery existence...like I was in the deep then floating slowly up to the surface. It's definitely interesting feeling and I really dig it a lot. The sound is much more soothing and calm than the first side.

I strongly recommend this album for people who are into ambient/noise and want to have a true musical and visual experience. This album is only released on vinyl so you better have a record player to play it.

Best Song: Phantom Ringer-the first song and the darkest. I just love the vibe I get while listening to the album. It's almost like I was "born" into the dark and watery existence.

Worst Song: Floaty Ghost-second song and a little too "samey" to the first song in my opinion but still a great song overall.


Score:8/10

www.myspace.com/mystified

Labels: ambient, droehnhaus, drone, mystified, reviews

A 2 song EP by a Braizilian Doom Metal band, De Profvndis Clamati. They sent the songs to me through myspace and I decided to give it a couple of listens. I have to admit this is nothing what I've expected from a South American band. I don't mean to be stereotypical but I usually expect more of lo-fi and brutal sound because that's what I've heard from majority of the South American bands. This one is definitely a big exception and I really liked it.

There is a lot of different influences in those two songs. Very slow...almost funeral doom style but there is significant amount of folk influences which is interesting because I don't think I've ever heard any of that in other South American bands so far. I really enjoyed the guitar work on this EP. The drums is pretty good but nothing special.

I'm bit disappointed that there's only two songs and I think it should be considered a demo instead of a EP. I was left wanting more and bit disappointed that I only have those two songs. That can be a good thing because I'm definitely interested in picking up whatever they are going to release.

I'm not going to do best/worst song because...well there's only two songs! I have to say I really liked the song "Love May Sink By Slow Decay" better out of the two songs.


6/10 (lower rating because its only two songs..argh! Also the drumming was alright..need to be improved)

http://www.myspace.com/deprofvndisclamati

Labels: american metal, brazillian metal, de profvndis clamati, doom metal, review, south american metal

Cosyns is one of several projects by the man, Derek Corzine. Some of you might know him from Aletheian, Bloodlined Severed, and Whispers From Heaven. He's very talented musician and I guess he decided to start an instrumental metal project. Yes, you heard me. Instrumental. Now, don't get me wrong...I am not fan of instrumental music in general because it's hard to keep it interesting without the vocals. However, this is really good stuff! Technically there are lyrics but we, listeners, will have to figure out from the rhythms in the songs. Derek decided to use Morse Code concept with his music and pretty much "sing" the lyrics in Morse Code. I have to admit this is very interesting concept but he's not the first one to do it. Meshuggah has constructed many songs this way and so have few other bands. However, I think it's first time someone done an album in Morse Core in its entirety.


The one thing I really don't like is the programmed drummer. He does it well but I know he knows a lot of drummers so I think he should brought someone in to do the drums for him. That's just my opinion. The guitar work absolutely slays! I'm not surprised because that is his specialty and I expect it to be top notched work.


Best Song: Christ Wept- the first song on the EP. It only have one sentence in lyrics which is Christ wept. At first I was hesitant because I thought it might be bit repetitive but its really not. It's very well thought out and I absolutely love the guitar works on this song. Drumming was pretty good even though it was programmed.

Worst Song: Outward- still a very decent song but this is where the drumming is starting to annoy me. Other than that its still a great song.


Score: 7.5/10 (would've been much higher if he used a real drums)


www.myspace.com/cosyns

Labels: aletheian, american metal, bloodline severed, cosyns, derek corzine, instrumental, progressive metal, review, whispers from heaven

I downloaded this demo off blabberdownload.com (legal download site-free!) and I'm glad I did. This is a really good thrash metal stuff! Last Rites was formed last year and to this day they still don't have a record label deal. That pretty much surprised me because this is some good stuff. The only issue I have is the production as it is bit shoddy. I'm not really surprised because this is demo so can't really expect an excellent mastering.


Virtual Flesh- first song on the demo. It's pretty much a decent song. I could say there's almost nothing special about this song. However the riffs are great and the drumming is excellent on this song. I'll have to say its a little too fuzzy but that's mostly due to the production issue.

Degradation of Humanity- this is a good introduction to what Last Rites is all about. Good thrash metal with passionate lyrics. I would prefer this song to be the first one on the demo but track arrangements is not that big deal to me. I can always just choose to listen to this song first.

Anima Christi-last song on the demo and my favorite. I really love the riffs in there and the vocals is awesome! Definitely show the potential Last Rites has and I believe they will put out excellent albums. This is what thrash metal is all about!

Score: 6.5/10-mostly due to production...I just hate the fuzzy sounds.

you can download this demo for free at www.blabberdownload.com

Or check them out at www.myspace.com/lastritesmetal

Labels: american metal, christian, last rites, review, thrash metal

Alright, I know this is not something I normally would review but I actually enjoyed this album and I think some people would. This is a hard rock album and the main guy behind this band used to be in Huntingtons, a punk band. I am not sure but i think this album is a debut album for Main Line Riders but I could be wrong. (EDIT: its actually their second release)

The production is actually really good. I'm impressed and I really like the guitar riffs. They are soo groovey and very catchy. That is definitely the key in hard rock music. It's heavy but at same time very catchy. Their music and vibes definitely remind me of AC/DC with their fun songs. The only main differences are that they aren't Aussies and to be honest, they can't beat the Young brothers!

One thing that I don't like is the songs are too close together. There's almost no breaks in between so it feels like a constant roller coaster and personally I prefer the breaks so I know when a song ends and the new song begin. Other than that, it's pretty much a solid release for me and a great start for the band.

Best Song: Chrome and Steel- love this song...very catchy and I kept replaying this song the most.

Worst Song: "Coming Home"-a ballad and slower song...not really my thing.


Score: 7/10

www.myspace.com/mainlineriders

Labels: christian, hard rock, huntingtons, main line riders, retroactive, review