Search for the Hidden Gem (2010 - vol#2)

By Mike Cavanaugh 

With football season climatically over, and really who would have thought the Saints at 20-1 to start the season would win it all, I can now turn my attention to the Olympic spectacle that is curling.  If I could only remember where I put my lucky broom I’d be batting a thousand.  

Clandestine

 Self Titled

 www.clandestineband.com

 Style (Rock / Progressive) 

There’s something to be said about presentation because I grabbed this one from the pile because the CD arrived in a large clear envelope containing a decent glossy band picture on the front, a bio written on stylized paper, and interesting thought provoking artwork on the CD cover.  But all fluff and no fold still makes for wrinkled cloths.  In all honesty, if I came upon this band live on stage I’d give them a glance because the female lead singer isn’t bad on the eyes.  But after the visual stimulation waned my ears would tell me to keep steppin’.  That’s not to say the music is awful because it’s not.  What I’m saying is that the songs aren’t inspiring enough to keep my focus.  Musically I can hear these guys know a thing or two about scales, music theory, arrangement, tempo, etc and I really dig the progressively gritty raw muscle sound.  But what’s really sending me off to get another drink is the vary thing that made me stop and stare in the first place, the singer.  Vocally she’s in tune and can belt out a note effectively, but unfortunately she doesn’t posses a quality of voice that keeps my concentration.    

 Rating 2 ½ (just OK) 

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 Fat Wreckchords

“Wrecktrospective”

www.fatwreck.com

Style (Punk) 

Sometimes a milestone celebration CD comes along that deserves recognition.  For this go around I’m honoring the 20 year history of Fat Wreckchords (pronounced Fat Records) and wish Fat Mike, founder and also lead singer and bassist of the punk rock band NOFX, another 20 years.  Fat Wreckchords is an independent record label for the punk rock masses based out of San Francisco.  I won’t play it off like I know anything about the punk movement or that I know a damn thing about any of these bands on the 3-disc release.  However, I do know the sound that gets me motivated and energized and this stuff does the trick.  This enormously complete release consists of 3 disc’s with each different from the other.  Disc 1 contains 33 songs and represents the greatest hits from the record label.  Disc 2 contains 28 songs representing an array of unreleased demos and other rarities, which in itself is a cool thing to have in a collection.  And finally disc 3 (27 songs worth), contains the entire Fat Club 7″ series for the first time on CD.  Included with the release is a large pull out poster that contains every single Fat Wreckchords every released.  The punk artwork alone is truly amazing and speaks volumes to the personality and culture of what being “truly punk” is all about. 

Rating 4 (an outstanding collection of Punk)

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 Maura Kennedy

“Parade of Echoes”

 www.myspace.com/maurakennedy

 Style (Indie / Singer Songwriter) 

I can sum up this CD in three words and the first two don’t count - FORCED, FORCED, and FORCED.  Like a skipping needle on an LP, the consistency of the contrived labor running through these 13 songs and the photos is eerily spooky how close the CD titled nailed the description.  I’m sure inside there’s an artist with something on her mind, but maturity, examination, and understanding of the best method for delivering such thoughts to the masses needs to be evaluated because the musical path is definitely not getting’ it done.  If Ms.Kennedy and Phoebe from Friends were having a battle of the songwriters at Central Perk I’d rather hear “Smelly Cat” on a continuous loop than anymore of Ms.Kennedy’s whimpering attempt at tormented longing.  Ms.Kennedy’s writing, musicianship, not to mention her desperately pushed, lazy, and often out of tune vocals, remind me of those awful hippy songs of the 60’s I despise so much.  

Rating ½ (at least with “Smelly Cat” I know in advance the cat smells)

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 The Fall of Troy

  “In The Unlikely Event”

  www.thefalloftroy.com

 Style (Alternative) 

This musical genesis explodes into your ears with ambitious ferocity and exceptional musicianship.  At first listen I was ready to write this trio from the Pacific Northwest off because none the songs related well commercially.  But I stuck it out for one main reason, Thomas Erak.  Thomas Erak is both singer and guitar player, and though his vocals are a cross between a mediocre American Idol karaoke contestant and a hardcore howler monkey, it’s his guitar playing that sparked my rubbernecking curiosity to see what’s happening up ahead.  To say Erak shreds on guitar is simply understating a fact.  Erak’s six string musicianship is fresh and exciting, and much different from those lame ass guitar shredders who keep saturating our ears with the same ol’ same ol’.  Erak plays with an unrelenting and unsympathetic energy, sharply changing direction faster than a cheetah chasing lunch, and smartly placing his licks within rhythms and choruses that actually make sense.  The song writing style for this trio is high octane up-tempo with an unimaginable amount of tangents.  The nearest comparison I can think of is Rush intensely fueled by a three-way cocktail of cocaine, red bull, and 10cc’s of adrenaline.  This CD is a great example of skilled musicianship (all three musicians to be exact).  However, my one knock against the music is the same that almost sent me away in the first place, which is the lack of marketability and commercial stamina to garner attention from outside the industry people who already know these guys for their playing ability.    

 Rating 2 ½ (low because the songs aren’t catchy)

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 Taking Dawn

   “Time To Burn”

  www.takingdawn.com

  Style (Rock) 

The bio tells me these guys are out of Las Vegas and are inspired by rock and roll bands like Bon Jovi, Skid Row, and the like.  Musically though, I hear more mythology based anthem style rock ala Iron Maiden.  Complimenting the music, the CD artwork’s symbolism projects a mythological path with fire and brimstone, an Austrian Military Merit cross (made famous by the Red Barron), and an ouroboros.  I’m just a little confused by the bio when compared against what I’m hearing and seeing to know where this band is heading.  My confusion aside, Taking Dawn’s sound is intense, loud, energetic, fun, and full of youthful exuberance and definitely something I’d stick around to check out in a club.  One problem I hear though, which is both good and bad, is that this bands sound is incredibly full and built for large venues and stadiums.  An interesting problem if taking Dawn is cutting their teeth on the club circuit because the fullness of their sound in a small club may be too overpowering.    

 Rating 3

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 Incite

 ”The Slaughter”

 www.inciteband.com

 Style (Hardcore) 

WARNING!!!  Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, go from a vente chai latte chilling with some smooth jazz to this hardcore monster.  This is the one time I really should have paid closer attention to the warning label.  Damn does this animal voraciously wake your ass up!  Playing through this CD I feel like a dogs chew toy that’s been mauled to only be saved by getting tossed into the rinse cycle of an old Whirlpool with a busted drum.  Four songs into the 11 total and I’m already worn out.  Talk about taking control with zero let up.  The last time I was in a moss pit I got a rib fractured by a dude pushing 300+.  Being in this bands moss pit all I can hope for is that the 300+ pounders will be too damn tired so the old guy can get in the mix.  These songs are imposing, intense, brash, full of raw muscle and power, exceptionally well orchestrated mayhem with killer punch, and exactly what good hardcore sounds like.

 Rating 4 ½ (HIDDEN GEM - the energy level start to finish is fantastic)  

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  Genitorturers

 ”Blackheart Revolution”

 www.myspace.com/genitorturers

  Style (Industrial Metal / Techno / Gothic) 

I dig the music but hate the band name.  That name is just too much to think about and spit out.  As for the music, I’m on board with about half the CD and am totally jacked up on the song “Devil In A Bottle,” which is rough around the edges with its raunchy and throaty female vocals accompanied by hard driving rhythms delivered like lustful pounding pile driving sex.  The bands sound and presentation is sexual, sleazy, aggressive, sex techno, gothic, and industrial.  Listening to the CD I’m picturing a Helmut Newton, Rob Zombie, and Manson collaborated gothic style dominatrix naughty Halloween party.  The female vocals are throaty and sexually gritty, the guitars are raw with that nasty grind quality, and the drums and bass back it all up with that back alley energy that’s both scary and unstoppable.  This CD, unlike many others, comes in pairs like butt cheeks.  One butt cheek (the first half of the CD) has the nasty, rip your cloths off roughness, and the other cheek (the second half of the CD) is a more lacy tantalizing tease.  There are a few songs on the CD I feel pull the energy level too far down with their 180° style tangent from rough grinding metal to industrial techno rave dance party.  I’ve listened to many CD’s over the last couple years and I honestly can’t recall any other band with two distinctly different musical personalities on the same CD.  Song number 3 “Devil In a Bottle” has strong possibilities on hard rock and metal playlist’s, and song number 8 “Cum Junkie” has strong possibility on the techno dance playlist.  I’m a little bummed out though I got the advanced media copy because it lacks all the full CD artwork.  Checking out the band pictures on their MySpace I can only image how over the top decked out in leather and latex dominatrix these guys and dolls are.  This is the first time I’ve come across Genitorturers and from what I’ve heard and seen I’d say these guys and doll will be musically and visually stimulating live for both sexes.  

Rating 3 ½ (careful with that riding crop) 

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 H.E. Miller

 ”Apocalyptic Dreams”

 www.apocalypticdreams.com

 Style (Indie / Folk)

 I don’t know if the U.S. military has any napalm still on hand but if they’re looking to unload some I’d suggest this dudes recording equipment.  This music is horrendously awful!!!  If given the choice to hear these songs again or to listen to a rooster crowing while using a jackhammer, I’d pick the rooster every time.  It was to be expected this stuff would suck given Mr.Miller is credited with playing all the musical instruments.  Might I suggest the next musical instrument be the silent cotton ball, although I’m sure he’ll suck at playing that too.  There are 14 songs too many on this 14 song disk which are absolutely pure misery to listen to.  And if the music wasn’t bad enough, Mr.Miller decided the songs needed some crappy low resolution 64kb first generation camera phone snapshots to help bring down the quality even lower.  Everything related to this chicken scratch has me picturing this hillbilly living out in the middle of nowhere sucking back mushrooms and moonshine.  Then I read on the website Mr.Miller is actually thinking about taking this trash on the road.  All I can say is I feel sorry for those craft shows and county fairs.  My sympathy goes out to the pigs and cows because at least the people can run away from the train wreck that is “Apocalyptic Dreams.” 

Rating 0 (by far one of the worst CD’s I’ve ever heard)

Search for the Hidden Gem (2009 - vol# 16)

By Mike Cavanaugh 

Dear Santa, forget my request for world peace and affordable health care.  Instead, all I want for Christmas is a healthier and more consistent offense line for my football team.  A better quarterback, one without happy feet, wouldn’t hurt either.  And while you’re at it could you throw in a new head coach.  Thanks.  

 The Last Vegas

“Whatever Gets You Off”

 www.thelastvegas.com

  Style (Rock and Roll)

 Listen up you radio station heads reading this review looking for something exciting and fresh.  This bands title track “Whatever Gets You Off” is absolutely 100% off the hook!!  A viable #1 with a bullet that if parlayed in the daily playlist with Buckcherry’s “Crazy Bitch” may result in a brand new sexual revolution.  To be honest it’s possible to match “Crazy Bitch” with a number of songs from The Last Vegas to get any party started.  Drawing from AC/DC, Johnny Thunders, The Sex Pistols, and GNR influences, The Last Vegas delivers what straight up, stripped down, whiskey drinking, snorting, and cavorting rabble rousing till scrambled eggs and sausage meets a tall Bloody Mary Rock and Roll is suppose to sound like.  In the two years I’ve been writing this review I’ve never before been this jacked about one song, or one CD.  And this ain’t no one hit wonder either.  The title track is backed up by raucously rhythmic tunes like “I’m Bad,” the first single released, “High Class Trash,” “Loose Lips,” “Cherry Red,” and “Love Me Bad” just to name a few.  Everything about this CD is top notch.  Each song is catchy with stick like glue choruses.  The kind of lyrical rhymes and musical arrangements most bands wish they could write.  Just be careful what lyrics you choose to sing out loud in the office.  Adding validity to the strength of this CD is the production which congeals all the moving parts into a flawless mix.  And for those of you inclined to keep tabs on the box score, The Last Vegas are the winners of the Guitar Center On-Stage contest and were selected by Motley Crue to open for them on tour.  Not a bad way to get your message and music out to the masses.     

 Rating 4 ½ (HIDDEN GEM - sounds awesome blasting through my car speakers too)

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  Vanity Blvd

 ”Rock n Roll Overdose”

 www.vanityblvd.com

Style (Rock / Glam)

 Judging by the band photo I’m betting these guys and doll weren’t even born when Motley released “Too Fast For Love” in 1981 or “Shout At The Devil” in 1983, but the 80’s glam scene influence from that bygone era is clearly evident.  The bands look is typical glam rock fashion 101: guyliner, black nail polish, teased up black and bleached locks, arm tats, wrist bangles, black concert t-shirts, yada, yada, yada.  Keeping with the script, the bands sound and song writing too is typical glam rock 101: a crunchy guitar complete with acceptable solo’s, a female vocalist with a strong voice, simple connect the dots melodies, sing along choruses, and a noteworthy production putting everything together neatly.  Though the songs are functional, the missing link is that “one” powerfully written and performed song needed to generate a commercial buzz.  Being located in Sweden can’t help either given all the death metal looming on their borders like Vikings ready to plunder.      

 Rating 2

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  Jude Davison

 ”Circo de Teatro”

 www.judedavison.com

 Style (Americana / Folk)

 The route unsure, a vagabond with merit steers into the wind, his destination dependent upon his imagination.  At a crossroads a choice must be made.  A glance left, a glance right, neither looks much different from the other.  A coin toss is a 50/50 guess, and rock, paper, scissors unlikely with only one.  What does the heart say?  What does the soul feel?  How painful the feet, matters only on how far the destination.   The years filled with experiences far and wide, reflection grand, his smile deep and true.  For the artist of this musical arrangement, 18 recordings to his credit means a lot of ground has been covered over the years.  For the listener wishing to explore, a diverse element of construction awaits.    

Rating 2 (a journey along a different path)

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 Romance and Noise

 EP

 www.romanceandnoise.com

 Style (Indie / Singer Songwriter)

 I’ve said before I only review EP’s if something strikes a nerve.  Well this definitely struck a nerve, and it sure doesn’t tickle.  I find the one honorable mention to be the name of the band, but after that it’s an endless freefall.  CD sales are tanking thanks to the $1 iTunes sale, and some well established artists say the only way an artist will make money is from the live show.  For indie artists this is a tough road to haul but one to pursue if there’s something worth giving.  However, if I was counseling the artist Carrie Grisham I would recommend some realistic soul searching because these songs are not destined for the stage unless playing to empty chairs equates to beer sales and making rent.  The song writing, singing and musicianship are lackluster, as lifeless as cardboard, devoid of depth or personality, reminding me of a hapless jelly fish floating aimlessly on the oceans current.  If given the choice I’d rather listen to paint drying over listening to this 4 song EP again.  I’m a firm believer that if not for the power of the almighty greenbacks there’s no way the recording engineer takes this gig.  Additionally, the artist bio picture I received is a wonderful unprofessional representation in its resemblance to a borrowed party picture her boyfriend took rather than an image befitting an artist serious about her craft.  Next time try choosing a picture without the cheap Cost Plus World Market green and white throw pillow in the background.  Abandon ship, this tubs sinking fast.          

 Rating ½ (only because I dig the band name)

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Since October

“This Is My Heart”

 www.myspace.com/sinceoctober

 Style (Rock / Alternative / Concept)

After pointless track 1 ends, track 2 blast out with ferocity and heavy beats reminding me a little of P.O.D., but soon after the songs progressively descend into a wasteland leading me to wonder if watching infomercials for the Shamwow would be a better use of my time.  Every musician writes a song with a purpose and message in mind.  Lyrically I can hear the passion within the writing and the singer’s voice, as well as the heart within the musicianship of the entire band, but this subject matter grows tiresome, predictable, and boringly flat.  Stringing the song titles together alone - “Emily,” “My Heart,” “Beautiful,” “Disaster,” “In This Moment,” “Guilty,” “World To Me,” ‘Live To Die,” “Follow Me Down,” “Waiting,” “Everything,” ‘Part of Me” - reveals the concept behind the CD.  The more I play through this CD the more I hear a whole lot of whining with too many issues unresolved.  In the end, this is an absolute mood killer.   

 Rating 1 ½

Search for the Hidden Gem (2009 - vol# 15)

By Mike Cavanaugh

With all the media talk about Healthcare Reform, Swine Flu, and some hoax about a kid in a balloon, it’s good to know we can still count on the little things like the leaves changing colors and the kiddies all scrambling to get their Halloween costumes picked out.  A safe and havehappy trick or treating to all.

 Drop Dead, Gorgeous

 ”The Hot N’ Heavy”

  www.myspace.com/dropdeadgorgeous

     Style (Hardcore)

Here’s another one for the “you’ve got to be kidding me” category.  First off, I love the name of the band and CD title.  However, a name and title that are cool and sexy only work for a rock and roll gutter crunch sleaze band.  A name like that doesn’t spell hardcore and is going to catch flack on the marquee with bands like Hatebreed, Underoath, or As I Lay Dying, resulting in a poser label regardless of the virtually unintelligible vocals.  Looking at the bio pics it wouldn’t surprise me if the poser labeling has already begun.  Next in the “you’ve got to be kidding me” category is the comment on the bio stating “unexpected twists and turns to its forceful anthems…a song cycle that sucker punches listeners and then sucks them in like a Hoover.”  Swing and a miss!  I’ll give the guys credit, the songs do exhibit force with twists and turns, but those twists and turns reminded me of my old Chevy pick-up that use to spit and sputter.   The song writing is a repetitive continuation of the last, following a prescribed path - chord to verse, verse to tangent, stop, start, tangent to bridge, bridge to chorus, ring around the rosey, hope, skip and a jump.  As for the anthems quote in the bio, exactly where are these found?  With so many stops and starts the crowd will get seasick chanting “Raalllph.”      

Rating 1 (only because I dig the band name and CD title)

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Entice

 ”Let The Fire Come”

 www.myspace.com/enticetheband

 Style (Pop / Rock)

This is a young band from Orange County and not enticing at all.  The musical style is a hodgepodge mixture of melodramatic theater with a dose of bubblegum alternative pop rock.  To be honest, this set of songs, let alone one song, is going to be a hard sell, so don’t give up the Jamba Juice day job just yet.  The first track, “Take A Number,” has a pop rock feel that might draw some attention from small market pop radio, but from track 2 on be prepared for some lame insipid crap filled with too much Casio keyboard, poorly written and performed droning and drowning elementary lyrics.  Aside from their existing chick friends and sisters it’s gonna be tough for this foursome to wean young girlie fans from the Jonas Brothers with these songs.  What I really hear is four dudes who’ve come from families with some cash and this CD is a reflection of all those music lessons the parents forced them to take.  The writing, musicianship, arrangements, and everything else related to this CD, come across flat and lacking any flavor, color, and heart.  Then again maybe that’s the point and I missed it.  Maybe the band’s intention was to produce something unscented and plastic. 

Rating ½ (I see an off Broadway musical in the future)   

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Carmine Appice’s Guitar Zeus

 ”Conquering Heroes”

  website - ?????  (too good to include a band or artist website)

 Style (Rock / Metal)

It sounds like the start of a joke, a seasoned veteran drummer calls his buddies to come over and jam and…  This 27 song 2-disk CD, according to the bio, is the culmination of an idea Carmine Appice had to write songs and have some of rock’s legendary axe slingers lay down the guitar licks.  Not a new concept by any means but a cool one requiring quite an extensive rolodex.  After all, these guitarists themselves are busy playing around the world supporting their own projects, so lending a hand to a comrade is quite a feat.  Sadly though, the best guitar work is saved for axe slingers personal projects.  Most disappointing is how unrecognizable and unrealized the unique playing styles for guitarists like Zakk Wylde, Slash, Brian May, Ted Nugent, and others are.  These are guitarists whose sound is unmistakable and easily recognizable even if playing the “Star Spangled Banner,” yet missing completely from these songs.  Also disappointing, making absolutely no sense, is how different the production value is between disk 1 and 2.  The production value for disk 1 is in the mud whereas disk 2 is brighter and cleaner.  A commonality between disks though is the overly accentuated bass line consistently competing for attention with the guitarists and drummer.  The song “Dead Wrong” featuring Dweezil Zappa is one of the better songs, but Zappa’s licks are embarrassingly buried, even during the damn guitar solo! I question the concept of this CD being centered around guitarists.  If it’s going be about your famous guitar buddies then stick the bass lines from journeyman Tony Franklin behind a padded wall and let the six strings shine!  As for song recommendations, aside from “Dead Wrong,” which is song 10 on disk 2, nothing jumps out.  Additionally, there’s no excuse for any artist in 2009 not include a website address on a CD.  We don’t care about the record company’s website, we care about yours.      

Rating 2 ½ (middle of the road only because of all the guitar talent)

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Blackhole

“Dead Hearts”

  www.myspace.com/blackhole

 Style (Hardcore)

No pussy footin’ around with this one, and I’m totally on board with the music Blackhole is putting out.  Sure the music’s got the typical howler monkey screams I’ve come to expect, but generally not love.  What really comes across is the musicianship and accomplished writing incorporating both hardcore and killer hard rock grooves with fuel.  In a nutshell, the groove is rough and sexy.  And I’m not talking sexy like some sweet innocent cheerleader type licking a cherry.  No, no, no.  I mean hot and sexy like a fire eating g-string wearing hottie with devilish intent to burn the hair off your sack and follow it up with hot wax poured down your naked chest.  And this coming from a hardcore group is something completely out in left field, given that most hardcore bands’ songs resemble the premature ejaculation of a 17 year old.   Blackhole delivers strong, intense, long-lasting rhythms and grooves, coupled with aggressive and energetic vocals with splendid song structure.  Because these songs have something sexy the chicks may like, this could be the one hardcore band to break the normal 90/10 sausage fest hardcore tends to attract at shows. 

Rating 4

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BulletBoys

“10¢ Billionaire”

 www.myspace.com/officialbulletboys

 Style (Rock)

I’m normally not a fan of resurgent 80’s bands because quite honestly those days were the best a band had to offer, but sometimes a band steps forward with a new CD worth mentioning.  The new songs from the BulletBoys are straight up rock and roll with vigor and stamina, unpretentious attitude, a smidgen of sleaze, loud guitars, hard hitting drums, raspy sexy vocals, all contained within consistent and well developed song structure.  Adding to the songs’ gravitational mass is a top quality production value blending all the moving parts together perfectly.  I dig all the songs on the CD but standing out most in my ears are “Blessed By Your Touch,” which really could work well with tweaking for radio, the radio mix bonus track “Road to Nowhere” and “Born To Breed.”  Only time will tell if this new disc will reach gold status like the band’s 1988 self titled release, helped greatly by the success of the single “Smooth Up In Ya,”  but at the very least the boys have put together a quality product to build upon.  The rest is up to management, radio, and the music buying public.  I’ve never seen this band’s live show (present or from back in the day), and I mean this as a straight up compliment, but my gut instinct tells me these guys would be a solid support band for a big name touring act.      

Rating 4 (well done after a 6 year layoff)

Search for the Hidden Gem (2009 - vol# 14)

By Mike Cavanaugh

From the great Vince Lombardi, “If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.”   Then again, Jimmy Carter said, “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” 

 Singlefaze

“Chapter II - Reinvented”

 www.singlefaze.com

Style (Indie)

Some things need not be reinvented and need not a follow up to chapter 1.  This CD is a perfect example of such a thing, and given how horrible chapter 2 is, I’m wondering how bad chapter 1 must be.  For starters, the sound coming from the female singer’s vocal chords is absolutely horrendous and painfully piercing in its annoyance.   Calling what she’s attempting singing is a disgrace to Webster’s definition of singing.  The best way to listen to these vocals would be underwater wearing a neoprene hoodie.  As for the band musically, at least what I can decipher through the bed of nails vocals is sophomorically simple, bordering on one - if not the worst example - of song writing 101 I’ve ever heard.  With the band’s choice of singers it’s really no surprise that the song writing is as poor and simple as it is.  The band’s bio on their website indicated their first EP utilized three singers.  Exactly what the three other members heard during vocalist auditions to award this female singer the job I’d love to know.  And how bad must the other two singers on the chapter 1 EP sound?  The band’s bio also stated that this new CD would give them an identity and Singlefaze would be a “major force to be reckoned with.”  Exactly what truth is that rubbish based on?  If that comment is coded to mean Singlefaze will be known as the club cooler this is true, because I don’t think there’s a fall-off-the-barstool drunk that could possibly stand to stay within earshot of this noise.       

Rating 0 (a band destined for “America’s Got No Talent” contest)

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 The Bolsheviks

“Action Reaction”

www.myspace.com/bolsheviksuk

Style (Indie / Retro / Punk)

Straightforward, non-pretentious, nothing too complicated is how I would describe this CD.  I’m not a huge fan of punk but I do like music with an attitude, lots of energy, and a bit off center, and this band’s new CD exhibits these qualities.  The songs aren’t great, and I may be going out on a limb, but I’m predicting these guys won’t win any song writing awards with this disc either.  Nonetheless, for whatever strange reason I know not, this UK punk sound stayed in my boom box.  The sound is unpolished and unrefined like a severely scratched and dented quarter that still works when dropped into the soda machine.  The production hasn’t been spit shined gleaming and spiffy standing at attention like so many contemporary so-called punk bands on the air waves hither and yon.  For these reasons alone, I accept the sound that is The Bolsheviks.    

Rating 2 ½

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Sean Rowe

“Magic”

 www.seanrowe.net

Style (Singer Songwriter / Blues / Folk)

I’d love to hear these songs played live in a bar with ambiance and character, maybe a bit lowbrow, to accentuate Rowe’s deep throaty vocals.  Rowe’s vocals remind me of those old southern delta blues players like Charlie Patton and Skip James, while in the same breath can also be compared to the gravely vocal style of Tom Waits.  The CD has 10 songs and each one is rich with character.  The songs are slow moving with wonderful timing and purpose allowing each lyric and note to linger and coagulate in your head.  The songs are slow paced and quite honestly don’t leave me in a very happy uplifted cheerful mood, but that’s the point.  Instead, the rhythms and Rowe’s vocal style remain stuck on the brain like a snapshot of a dark and dreary funeral procession slogging roughly through the rain.  The mood of this CD leaves a long and lasting impression, like the spot you see after looking at a bright light. 

Rating 4

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The Last Resort

“You’ll Never Take Us - Skinhead Anthems II”

www.myspace.com/thelastresortuk

Style (Hardcore / Punk)

Politics and personal opinions related to anything ethnical aside, this music from the UK kicks.  Each song is geared for the single purpose of getting your sorry pathetic butt up stomping around.  But do make sure your boot laces are tied tight.  The songwriting is straightforward with energetic rhythms and plenty of directed aggression.  The lyrics symbolize a tough life working in factories, living in poor towns with limited future, anger at the establishment, rabblerousing with those who try and take something from you.  What I like about this type of music is how honest it is.  When the singer delivers each lyric you feel his purpose and soul.  In a bar live this music will definitely generate a raucous crowd response on and off stage. 

Rating 3 ½ (don’t have to agree with someone’s politics to like their music)

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Dada Veda

“Love is the Best”

 www.dadaveda.com

Style (Folk / Country)

Are you kidding me? Really?  No, this has to be a joke, or at least one heck of a gimmick.  By the looks of this CD I’m thinking it’s gonna have an instrumental spiritual vibe given the yoga references, and the persona of the artist.  But no, this is a folk singing yoga master who’s writing and singing sounds more like a goofball public access TV children’s morning show host who runs around singing and dancing in sissy ass pastel colors.  Musically at best this is a country carnival sideshow complete with robes and an acoustic guitar.  And to think this music gets played during his yoga retreats, or at least that’s what’s written on the bio.  If that’s the case there’s one “must do” I’m definitely crossing off my bucket list.  You go in for harmony and chi enlightenment, but you come out wondering what the “F” was that.  I guess it’s to be expected with lyrical gems like “From Zero to Hero.”  I’ve heard of balancing the yin with the yang but this is full tilt off the charts contradiction.  The one and only bright spot is that profits (if there are any) from the CD help to support the Albanian Sunrise School (www.albaniansunrise.com), and at the very least I admire charitable work.      

Rating 1 (only because county carnival sideshows are more fun, and safer, than the rides)

********************************************

Search for the Hidden Gem (2009 - vol# 13)                                                     By Mike Cavanaugh

Horns up for “Roadhouse.”  R.I.P. Patrick Swayze. 

 Madina Lake

“Attics to Eden”

 www.madinalake.com

Style (Alternative / Rock Pop)

This is a typical alternative rock pop sound with quality musicianship, decent song writing, and is produced quite well, which I would expect since it’s produced by Dr. Dre.  What I like most is that the songs don’t have that overly produced cymbal crashing sound that permeates most of the alternative airwaves, nor are the vocals yelled at me as if yelling makes the lyrics cooler and more palatable.  The singer has good range and a voice that’s easy to listen to, which is another plus.  I’ve listened to the CD a couple times and am not fully committed to one song for the mainstream commercial radio push but there are a couple songs I could see making their way into the smaller radio markets.  Not a bad sounding CD for those into the Alt.rock pop sound. 

Rating 3

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Avian

“Ashes and Madness”

www.avianband.com

 Style (Power Metal)

Who’d have thunk Minnesota had a power metal band in its midst.  This sound is definitely not for the ice fishing/deer hunting crowd of the northern states, and in fact had I not checked out the band’s MySpace I would have bet this was a band from northern Europe.  Power metal has its point of acceptability and this surely isn’t it.  The CD’s song concepts and flow from one to the next are poorly arranged.  It honestly sounds like the band tried to write a concept CD, but with each song seemingly written just because they could, all that comes through is an over exaggeration showcasing musicianship.  The singer can clearly hit high notes, but more character is needed if you’re trying to imitate Bruce Dickenson or Goeff Tate.  As for the other players, because the singer’s voice is heavily on display and stealing the thunder with his high notes, the other guys are frankly performing in a back-up role.  I honestly can’t see this stuff going over well in any bar, in the northern states or elsewhere. 

Rating 1 ½ (make sure the ice is thick enough)       

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 Blind Boris

 Self titled

 www.myspace.com/blindboris

 Style (Indie / Bluegrass / Country)

First impressions say a lot but don’t always tell you everything.  Take for instance Blind Boris’s CD.  The CD came to me with crappy looking, cheap ass artwork, no CD title anywhere so I’m guessing “self titled,” audio levels too low and in the mud, and because of all this I’m already formulating a review that’ll blast this piece of shit off my desk.  But luckily I always listen to a CD before I trash it, and although I’m put off immensely by just the packaging, as will many other music fans be, luckily the music, song writing, and performing are not befitting my disdain for the packaging.  These songs are expressive, a spiritual journey given to struggle after struggle, characteristic of Americana songs telling of the long hard road, blending wonderfully the low-mid range gruff vocal and harmonies with an acoustic guitar and an electric one.  These are the type of songs I love to hear in a smokey dive joint with beer bottle condensation rings decorating the bar, each song touching and heartfelt, each having an effect on the listener, each unlocking those longing and sometimes painful memories noting the path taken to get to this point. 

Rating 3 ½ (spend some money on better packaging next time)

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 Arkaea

 ”Years in the Darkness”

 www.myspace.com/arkaeamusic

 Style (Hardcore)

There are some clear vocal similarities within the choruses sounding an awful lot like Chester from LP.  The CD I received is a promotional copy so for all I know Chester lent his screams.  The vocals as a whole rip to the bone like a rusty razor with that typical in your face, spit spewing, veins poppin’ out the neck delivery with the pitch a tab higher than the atypical hardcore howler monkey, which does make the lyrics a bit easier to understand.  After all, what good is writing wholesome sweet and loving hardcore lyrics if no one can understand them?  Musically, the songs sound like they were written with purpose and some thought going through verse, bridge, chorus, and back again instead of being the usual ballistic hardcore machine gun version racing to the climax with no foreplay.  The rhythms and beats in this set of songs are just as intense as the vocals, giving the whole CD a powerful core that live has the potential to fuel the pit.  However, the Chester style choruses do start to wear thin by the end of the CD.

Rating 3 (How the hell do you pronounce that band name?)

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 Michael Ubaldini

“Portable Record Player”

 www.myspace.com/michaelubaldini

 Style (singer/songwriter / rock and roll)

This one is completely missing the mark given the artwork and title, but bigger problems await within the music.  For the record, I dig the photos and artwork related to the old portable turntable, but this concept only works well for an artist with deep expressiveness and excellent storytelling singer/songwriter ability.  Ubaldini’s songs are neither deep or expressive, or worthy of bellying up to the bar to spin a yarn.  Ubaldini, who has no redeeming quality as a singer let alone songwriter, has a whinny midrange nasally pitched voice that kinda sounds like a cross between Bob Dylon and Tom Petty trying to sing an 80’s techno alternative dance song by the Spazmatics. Five songs in and I’m painfully regretting the next 12, if I even make it that far.  I’d have thought someone would have pointed out 17 songs is exceedingly too many unless they’re really good songs, or if there was talent desperately needing to be heard.  Because really, why release 10 or 12 painfully awful songs when you can clean out the junk closet and release 17 horrible songs with a voice that not only will make the young girls cry but more importantly make everyone pay their tab and leave. 

Rating 1 (only because I dig the artwork)

Search for the Hidden Gem (2009 - vol# 12)
By Mike Cavanaugh

Much praise to all the firefighters20battling the Southern California wildfires. 

Black Robot 
Self titled 
www.myspace.com/blackrobot 
Style (rock)
Any band with a guitarist named Yogi I’ve gotta give a listen to. If for nothing else, the endless “Which way did the ranger go Boo Boo?” joke possibilities. Luckily for Yogi and his gang (hey that reminds me of the 1973 series “Yogi’s Gang”) these boys know how to make the rock groove. The music blends a few influential genres into a sound that’s soulful, bluesy, funky, and smooth with an infectious rhythm. Vocally the singer has a consistent range with a little raspiness built in. The band also does an excellent rendition of J.J.Cole’s 1976 song “Cocaine,” which was re-recorded and made more famous by Eric Clapton. The CD is a strong reflection on Black Robot’s musical ability and my instinct tells me live these guys really bring the songs to life.
Rating 3 (”Where’s the picinic basket Boo Boo?” Couldn’t help myself)
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Guava Belly 
 ”it’s…Guava Belly” 
www.guavabelly.com 
Style (Indie / Progressive)
It’s been my experience that scientist are great with beakers and theories but not so good with song structure. This CD starts with a nice upbeat song titled “Time For Innocence,” which has a funky weird sounding production related distortion effect swallowing up the vocals, but for the most part, a few unnecessary tangents aside, the song is palatable with it’s reggae undertones lending itself to a party atmosphere. But sometime around the 2nd or 3rd song all I’m thinking is how lucky those people were on the S.S.Minnow heading off to a deserted island. To say the party has left is an understatement! These 15 songs, too many by the way, have so much stuff going on they’re a jumbled mess. The accompanying bio makes reference to the approaching train wreck with the description “sporadic punk…and funky math-rap…” Exactly what the hell is funky math-rap? Not knowing what it is may explain why I failed geometry. It’s no wonder Guava Belly’s best song is the first one on the CD because live that’s as far as they ll get to keeping a crowd interested.
Rating 1 ½ (x and y chillin’ in the club with trig swillin…)
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Empyria 
“The Long Road Home” 
www.empyriaproductions.com 
Style (Metal / Progressive)
My waste basket over floweth. I don’t know anything about this band’s 18 year history but what I do know is these 12 songs created after a 7 year hiatus will mean I’m not checking back until the next 7 year hiatus. I’ll give credit where credit is due because at least these musicians know how to play their instruments and the singer has a strong voice. However, there’s more to song writing than just rippin’ on the six string or wailing like a banshee. An interesting CD has quality songs, not a bunch of wonder bread songs. Granted, good songs don’t need to be complicated and the best songs generally are 2-3 basic chords with a killer hook. Empyria knows how to play the chords but where are the hooks? Where are the grooves to get the chickitas wigglin? Where are the raise the horns songs? Where is the song that’ll push its way onto commercial radio play instead of wallowing in obscurity on some internet radio station run out of some dudes basement?
Rating 2 (given for their musicianship)
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Halcyon Way

 “A Manifesto For Domination”

 www.myspace.com/halcyonway

 Style (Hard Rock)

Checking out the CD artwork before hitting play on my boom box I was guessing this was some progressive rock band pushing their mind altering new age perception of society, and they personally may be believers of the vortex because the artwork is thought provoking, but the music is pulse pounding hard rock written, performed, and recorded with consistency and direction.  In the group’s 5-shot photo, either the guys playing instruments are all 6’5” monsters or the singer, Sean Shields, is a short dude.  Whatever the case, just like Dio and Udo, small in stature singers doesn’t normally equate to a smal l voice.  Shields has a low-mid gruff and tough manly voice with good range and character sounding somewhere between Sully from Godsmack and Lane from Alice In Chains.  What I find impressive is how Shields belts out each lyric with aggression and growl like he’s trying to drive a rusty nail through the crowd standing in the back row.  Musically the band’s sound is similar in style to Godsmack and Alice In Chains with enough originality so they don’t get lost in the shuffle.  The songs have well placed harmonies with excellent pitch, plenty of crunch and grind in the guitars, and are complimented by a powerful drum beat.  Adding to this is an outstanding production blending all these qualities masterfully into a congealed powerhouse.  My only knock is

I’m not hearing “the hit” song. 

 Rating 4    

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 Stigmata

“The Wounds That Never Heal”

 www.myspace.com/stigmata518

Style (Death Metal)  

To celebrate the band’s 20 year hist ory, I Scream Records is re-issuing 21 tracks from the band’s catalogue; 8 from the “Hymns For An Unknown God” release and 12 from the “Do Unto Others” release, plus one live bonus track.  The songs are dark and dank with an intense consistency reminiscent of a never say die drill sergeant who hates your guts and is going to ride your ass until you puke your guts out.  What really gets me is how maniacally brutal the songs are written and performed without sounding stupid like a lot of European death metal can be with a howler monkey on mic and a jacked up energizer bunny behind the kit.  The band’s MySpace indicated this NY based band has only played a few shows live since 2001 so hopefully the fans response to this re-issue CD will be strong enough to pull them out of retirement to give the mosh pit a firm kick in the balls. 

 Rating 4 

Search for the Hidden Gem (2009 - vol# 11) By Mike Cavanaugh  

I think some modification needs to be made to the Gregorian calendar because damn did summer go flying by.  I just started getting my sunburn to the proper shade of lobster boil red and now I have to run off to K-mart to get back-to-school roller book bags for the kiddies.  Forget the bank bailouts, how about an extended summer break…     

Reno Divorce

‘Tears Before Breakfast” 

  www.myspace.com/renodivorceonline 

 Style (Alternative)   By the attitude and pace of these songs I’m guessing the live show is quite energetic.   However, judging only the CD, these songs aren’t doing anything for me.  The problem I have is related to the question “Which KROQ band does this band sound like?”  The song structure, sound, vocals, etc fall somewhere along the lines of Supersuckers, Social D, or whatever alternative harmony driven mainstream self-proclaimed punk band20KROQ and the like are taking kickbacks from.  The production is top notch but to be honest there’s nothing much here.  Sounds too much like everything on the so-called alternative FM dial. 

  Rating 1 ½  (sounds like a carbon copy of the FM dial)  ******************************************  

Before the Fall

“Slow Descent” 

 www.beforethefall.net 

 Style (rock)

No way is this a slow descent!  This is an outright terminal velocity freefall headed straight for oblivion.  If I happened to be walking by a club and heard this spilling out into the street I’d pick up the pace, opting instead to hear the polka band at the local Elks Lodge.  And if I was stuck in the club with this playing I’m shoving my custom fit ear plugs in my ear holes, grabbing a cocktal, and heading for the smoking area out back.  The singer is so bloody awful I’d be curious to know if there’s a heritage link to the pied piper.  Vocals this bad would surely be useful at getting rid of a pesky rodent infestation.  The song writing and production make me think this is a newly formed garage band.  Wherever this band rehearses I sympathetically send my condolences to their neighbors who have to put up with this rabble.    Rating ½  (got rats, call 1-800-before the fall) ********************************************  

 Tristan Clopet

“Duende” 

 www.myspace.com/tristenthemusic 

 Style (singer songwriter / bluesy)   Looking at the CD pictures and the accompanying bio pix, which are comically horrible, I was ready to sling this disc like a ninja throwing star at the fly buzzing through the office.  To put it=2 0lightly, Clopet is a goofy looking cracker with an F’ed up looking fro.  But I decided to give the CD a listen to see if the music was as bad, if not worse, than the pictures.  Luckily for young Mr. Clopet, his song writing, musicianship, and voice are much better than his appearance.  Despite his youth, Clopet’s voice has far more maturity than his appearance would indicate.  At times his vocal style is reflective of a deep soul/blues influence, but then switches to a contemporary hip-hop influence.  At first description this doesn’t sound like a good mix for a singer songwriter but Clopet pulls it off quite well.  Musically I’m drawn to the rippin’, up-tempo jazz/bluesy guitar playing in “Let It Go,” which is superb.  The song pace for this 6 song EP tends to layback but does showcase the ability of a songwriter with an excellent understanding of rhythm.  

 Rating 2 ½ (time to stop using the Hair Cuttery) *********************************************** 

Circle of Fate 

“Back to Life” 

 www.myspace.com/circleoffatemusic 

 Style (rock / metal)  

 Yikes is this female fronted band’s CD tough to get through with a straight face.  Immediately assaulting my cochlear nerve are the vocals, which are projected so absurdly overboard to try and prove relevance to her ability to carry a tune, or not carry a tune in this case.   Blaringly annoying is how every sung note sounds exactly like the last sung note with zero range and personality delivered with a vanilla “YOOOUUUU BROOOKKKEEE MYYYY HEAAARRRRTTTT” fashion song after song, in every damn song.  It would be a tough choice picking a winner in an MTV celebrity death match between this cardboard vocal style or those annoying Sit-N-Sleep jingles.  My gut instinct tells me the stage presence of this singer is no better.  Musically there’s some crunch, grind, and gutter in the instruments,20and I do like what I can hear through the riff raff, but the vocals are so bothersome like the smell of a wet dog in a small room that the music gets lost and shriveled like a grape left on the vine after harvest.    Rating 1 (looks like a longer then expected night at the Elks Lodge)     ************************************************  

Torpedohead 

 ”Lovesick Avenue” 

 www.torpedohead.de 

Style (Sleazy Rock) Alley cat struttin from a downtown Deutschland trash can, Torpedohead delivers a Sunset Strip style of infectious bubble gum sleaze rhythms bound to get the little chickita’s asses wigglin’.  Sporting sleeve tats, and fronted by a singer/guitarist with the last name Spacebrain, the songs are simply written, straightforward rock & roll with sing along melodic harmonies and some catchy guitar riffs.  Playing through the CD, they sort of remind me of the Bay City Rollers from back in the day but thankfully without the goofy hair.  However, because of the bubble gum nature of the songs, I’m on the fence thinking an all ages show might be filled with a bunch of teenie boppers looking for something slightly edgier than their beloved Jonas Brothers and Hanna Montana.  Music’s gonna need some beefing up to attract the interest of the sleazy Heather Locklear types if you catch my drift.     Rating 2 ½            ;

Search for the Hidden Gem (2009 - vol# 10)

By Mike Cavanaugh

The so-called king of pop is dead, Simpson and Romo are splitsville, and now a new form of matter (transparent) has been created.  What’s next, Octomom gets a reality TV show?  Oops, just heard the news.  Not sure what’s going on in the world of entertainment but at least the economy has stabilized.  Oops, jumped the gun on that one too.  Oh well, that’s what happens when you spend time fishing in the mountains.   

 Boozed

“One Mile”

  www.myspace.com/boozed

 Style (rock / punk / blues)

I feel sorry for the carrier pigeon given the task of delivering a German band’s CD by way of Italy.  Forget global warming, there must be something going on with the Earth’s magnetic poles because that’s one lost bird.  But good things sometimes come to those who wait for the mail, and this one I really dig.  The sound reminds me of the early American punk legends The Ramones.  It’s raw, organic, simply written, but performed and produced wonderfully with plenty of aggressive angst erupting throughout the disc.  After listening to this CD I’m betting the live show, unless these boys are sedated, is going to be an amped up, non-stop drag race from the first chord to the last.  The band picture looks like a bunch of late teens/early 20’s but the sound has more maturity, especially in the vocals.  I disagree with the bio’s picks for anthem quality songs.  I strongly feel “One Mile To the Moon” and the Westernhagen cover “Sexy” fit this description more appropriately.  In total there are 14 songs on this CD and all but one lived up to the quality of the others.    

Rating 4

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Reaching Hand

“Threshold”

  www.myspace.com/reachinghand

 Style (hardcore)

This Portuguese pony from the Chorus of One Records stable desperately needs time to fatten up.  I think my repeat button must be jammed because I distinctly hear every song (luckily this disc only had five) sounding just like the last one.  Oh, wait a minute, I hear a short lived groove in track 3 and 4, but there it goes.  I love the energy within hardcore but that aggression gets lost when bands like this write the same tired out hardcore guitar chords along with the same double kick machine gun sounding drummer juiced up on red bull.  Having a tattooed female howler monkey screeching in the mid-high range like an “I Am Legend” zombie with her panties chaffing does provide some nuances but more thought and effort needs to spent on writing quality songs to give the screeching more support.  Just like most hair metal bands started to sound the same in the 80’s, most hardcore bands are following the same course in the 00’s.  

Rating 1 ½

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Gonzales

“Checkmate”

 www.myspace.com/thegonzales

 Style (Alternative / punk)

Blowing up my CD player from beautiful downtown Italy, here’s another band residing within the Chorus of One Records funky house of hits.  For the sake of the old and cherished ruins, I sincerely hope “the boot” city officials don’t book this band for any outdoor events unless more cracks in the cathedral are desired.  Permeating like the smell of roadkill skunk, this band’s energy is non-stop and infectious, a credit to not only the band members themselves for writing and performing lively songs pulsating through the marrow, but also to the producer who let them do what they do best.  I am concerned about how much this foursome sounds like KROQ darlings Social Distortion.  Aside from both bands having recorded a quality and respectful rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” the sound similarities run distinctively parallel, like a younger brother following in the footsteps of the older.      

Rating 3

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 Star Off Machine

 ”Burn This”

   www.myspace.com/staroffmachine

  Style (Alternative / Power ballad)

Fire up the Kingsford and toss another CD on the barby.  Talk about apropos. This CD title is “Burn This?”  Now that’s spooky.  Warning, always be wary of acronym bands, and this one’s is STOFMA, which has to be the worst band acronym I’ve ever come across.  And if the acronym wasn’t enough to send me searching for more lighter fluid, the songs sure will.  Ever go camping when you’re a teen and there’s always that one guy sitting around the campfire with an acoustic guitar trying hard to sound cool while wooing some chick?  This CD reminds me of that.  The vocals and harmonies are heavily saturated with forced emotion coming across as self aggrandizing cardboard, and somewhere within the first song an epiphany surfaces in the form of all the constant sustained vocal notes resonating as “Cooommme Annddd Lissteeeennnn Toooooo Meeeee!!!!!”  I will at least acknowledge the singer’s vocal ability, which is quite strong and he is the standout of the group, but emotion can’t be taught.  For now I’m going to watch the hot dogs burn. 

Rating 1         

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 Discipline

“Anthology”

 www.myspace.com/disciplineband

Style (punk / hardcore)

I’ve never seen this band from the Netherlands live, and in fact this CD delivery is the first time I’ve come across the band’s music, but just from one listen my gut instinct tells me there are some things to be ready for.  For starters, remove your name from the liver donor’s list because there’s going to be some hardcore intoxication on tap.  Next, leave all valuable jewelry at home.  Then, head out to the drug store to stock up on an ample supply of bandages, ice, and antiseptics, or at the very least make sure your health insurance coverage is up to date.  And finally be ready for one rowdy, raucous, “this is gonna hurt” night.  Never have I come across a 2-disc anthology comprising a 45 song collection (compiled from four CD’s) from one band that’s stuffed to the brim so full of atomic energy that it’s actually too much for one sitting.  If you’re looking for some killer non-stop hardcore punk to dress up your suburban backyard party and scare away the Hanna Montana yuppies this CD collection is the shiznit. 

Rating 4

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 CKY

“Carver City”

 www.ckymusic.com

 Style (rock)

How lucky am I to pull two acronym bands out of the box for the same review column?  I might just have to parlay that luck into some Lucky Lotto from the corner Mobile gas station on the way.  For all those playing at home, CKY is short for Camp Kill Yourself.  I’m guessing the marketing profitability using the full name isn’t as lucrative as the acronym, unless of course it’s tied to the horror movie title it should be.  Hey, if that movie ever comes to fruition maybe CKY could play the Camp Kill Yourself weenie roast.  What a hoot that would be.  As for the music, it sounds a bit like Saliva.  The songs have potential but need more development to grind out those much needed hooks.   CKY employs the usage of orchestration filler, which normally I sniff out as BS over enhancement, but in all honesty it works for what these guys have written and is subtle enough not to draw too much attention.  The vocals are locked in the mid range with plenty of projected intensity.  As I stated earlier, the songs have potential but more needs to be invested in the rhythm and hooks in order to give the tunes more substance to get the chicks’ hips groovin’. 

Rating 2 ½  (On the right track, just not there yet.) 

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Dirtfedd

  “The American Nightmare”

 www.myspace.com/dirtfedd

 Style (hardcore)

Reading through the art jacket, and taking notice of all the military rhetoric, I’m guessing someone in this band played with those little green army men as a kid.  Or possibly the last book read by the band was “The Art of War” written in the 6^th century BC by Sun Tzu.  Or finally, maybe these guys are really big fans of Patrick Swayze and his performance in “Red Dawn.”   Red is the primary color for the jacket so the latter may be the best guess.  Whatever the explanation, musically the songs written and performed by Dirtfedd are done so with drill sergeant in your face “you’re dog puke” mentality and aggression, which given this is hardcore fits.  A couple changes from the hardcore norm though lie with the vocalist, who isn’t barking like some incoherent howler monkey, as well as the inclusion of keyboards.  And hardcore with keyboards is absolutely offensive, even more so when the keyboards are written in as sad filler.  As effective as adding salt to an open wound, the grooves in these songs concentrate more on blowing out your eardrums than inciting a mosh pit insurgence.  

Rating 1 ½  (drop and give me 20 you maggot!!!!!!)