Well here are my thoughts about records recommended by @AlwaysEvolving21 Ignite – A War Against You Well, it’s really fun record to listen to. I really like this type of fast-paced melodic hardcore punk. Musically it kinda reminds me of Rise Against and I really like RA. Singer has really interesting voice. I think it will perfectly fit in some old school heavy metal music and reminds me of M. Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold. I couldn’t choose any hits but as a whole records flows perfectly. If you need music for great headbanging look no further! A Great Big Pile of Leaves - Have You Seen My Prefrontal Cortex? This record is the opposite. It’s atmospheric tender and arty and has so much different eclectic things. This type of records is made to listen a lot of times to find something new each time. Guitars and drums are insanely good. I think this is great record for night walking/driving. And if you are into arty but catchy indie rock than this album is for you. I will definitely listen to both of this albums again
if you wanna be a real teacher's pet, From The Kettle To The Coil is a sick, sick b-side to that album that perfectly connects it to their next album.
This round @JoshShulkin has recommended I listen to Two Inch Astronaut - Foulbrood and Stimpy Lockjaw - Stimpy Lockjaw. Two Inch Astronaut - Foulbrood - I remember checking this band out once before while downloading custom Rocksmith songs (it's a game like Guitar Hero but you actually play a guitar, note for note). I thought the band name was interesting and enjoyed the song I had played; it was full of melodic arpeggios, the occasional dissonance and an elegantly disheveled (thanks Max B) approach to structure. ...and then I forgot about them. So when this was recommended I got kind of excited to delve into their material. This album was very much like the song I played (hell, it may have been from this record). Fuzzy guitars coupled with pumping basslines and scattered drums bring on the band's heavy side. Songs like No Feelings show this style while also showcasing their use of dynamics for structure - the preverses and post-chorus dynamic shifts guide into their following parts which gives the band an opportunity to pull a 180. Utilizing dissonance to shift directions, these guys are all over the place. Their somber personality, full of clean slapback guitars and sprawling accented drumming, fill the majority of the album's run time. These moments showcase their firm grasp on melody which makes the frantic and fuzzy juxtaposition work even better. While no doubt TIA are amazing musicians, I feel like I need to be in the mood to listen to them (or keep it to small doses, 4-5 songs at a time). I definitely enjoy them but would never be a big, big fan. Since they are from DC, I wouldn't be surprised if they hit my area regularly and now that I'm following them on Spotify I should get some alert if they come through. I'd definitely like to check them out live. (+ - Liked it) Stimpy Lockjaw - Stimpy Lockjaw - I don't have any cool backstory about these guys... never heard the name before... didn't do any research on them... holy shit, they are right up my ally. @JoshShulkin hit the fucking nail on the head with this recommendation. I didn't even mention my affinity for jazz fusion in our conversation exchange. I LOOOVE classic jazz fusion Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Return To Forever, King Crimson and more modern bands like The Nova Collective, T.R.A.M., Native Construct and Brain Tentacles. This album is ~45 minutes of sheer jam. Virtuoso drumming, a djenty thump bass style, and guitar solos on piano solos on guitar solos on bass solos! The band has a heavy 7-string tone that fits a more metal audience. Rather than indulge the metal side, the band keep a more old-school jamming vibe which makes this music more akin to older 70's fusion acts than their contemporaries who tend to also incorporate more prog rock elements. The music is tough to digest initially (like most fusion) but I'd encourage anyone to give it a couple of chances and maybe focus solely on one instrument. I'll definitely be jamming this and recommending it to friends. I only wish it was available on Spotify - I had to stream it from YouTube to check it out. Definitely worth it. Highly recommended if you like any of the bands I mentioned above. Thanks for the rec @JoshShulkin! (++ - Loved it)
Glad you dug Stimpy Lockjaw so much! That's super cool you were already into Jazz Fusion haha, it worked out perfectly. I could've swore they were on Spotify, though, that sucks that they aren't anymore.
Thanks @Nate_Johnson for this sweet extra rec this session Veil of Maya - False Idols It’s easy not to take metalcore seriously. There’s a tendency to exaggerate a fear and worship of death that often comes with saccharine evocations of nature, despair and disdain for society. These land severely on the ears of those proud of the distance gained from their younger, nihilistic selves.The cover art for Veil of Maya’s sixth studio album, with the equally ominous title False Idol, seems to guarantee this. The collage depicts a forlorn and disassociative man devouring a squid against a psychedelic natural landscape in muted color. Emblazoned across his forehead is the Chicago outfit’s logo - implying their spellbound control. Such impressions often cause people to dismiss the genre altogether. However, this melodramatic concern for the moribund can easily be overcome with levity. Veil of Maya achieves this in spades with their execution of its staples. For the most part, the album fits squarely between its Emotive Hardcore and Metal influences. The result is a pure distillation of metalcore's more progressive side. To this end, it plays like a devout tribute to the Jones’ era of Killswitch. Unsurprisingly, the unceasingly heavy riffs accompanied by despondent growls quickly switching to open spaces for the clean vocals to shine is the core structure to most of these songs. What makes this record stand out is the smart production choices that give an urgent shape to the melodies. Some of these motifs are the subtle use of horror synth and post-rock crescendos buried in the back of the tracks. This embellishes the sense of dread during the bridges on ‘Fracture’ and ‘Overture’. The most impressive section of the album is the run between ‘Manichee’ and ‘Citadel’ where the band breaks away from the structure running through the majority of the songs. The depth of production combined with experimentation gives these tracks a unique groove. In particular, “Manichee” employs the use of strings and down-tempo vocals reminiscent of indie rock to add a sense of redemption. “Citadel” continues this theme with layered, supernal vocals in the style of the early work from The Dear Hunter, aiding in the graceful transition back to a space laden with doubt. This adept use of instrumentals cues the listener that they've reached the climax of the album without having to know the lyrics. Veil of Maya champions a refined and anthemic version of metalcore. It's certain to sustain the genre moving forward while drawing in new fans. In this sense, False Idols serves to break the stigma surrounding the genre through its own compelling pageantry.
If someone wants to take my partner for this week, I learned a news that broke my heart today and I feel like I need some time off. I'll be back later when I feel ready to, but right now I kinda feel like crap. I'll still post my review from last week soon. Sorry for the inconvenience.