Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Uz Jsme Doma - Cod Liver Oil
Uz Jsme DomaCod Liver Oil
Label: Skoda Records
Quirky, wild and zany jazz rock with a punk attitude. Comparisons to Zappa, Zorn and The Residents are actually appropriate here. This uneasy listening band from Prague sings in Czech and is not for the wimpy at heart.
• Uz Jsme Doma Website • Uz Jsme Doma WikiAscension Of The Watchers - Numinosum
Ascension Of The WatchersNuminosum
Label: 13th Planet Records
New brainchild of recently re-inspired vocalist Burton C Bell (Fear Factory, G/Z/R). This stab at emotive spiritually uplifting rock unfortunately comes off bearing a droning, nebulous, implosion of talent and musical fortitude. Not good.
• Ascension Of The Watchers Website • Ascension Of The Watchers WikiChip Raman - Edge Of A Song
Chip RamanEdge Of A Song
Label: Rosebud Records
This talented singer/songwriter has packaged art, heart and musical revelry into one cohesive package bearing his name and providing a nice platform for spreading his thought provoking, easy going compositions.
• Chip Raman WebsiteImperia - Queen of Light
ImperiaQueen of Light
Label: Locomotive Records
Orchestral bombastics are common place for this atmospheric, melodic, gothic tinged metal outfit. Led vocally by the beautiful and very capable Helena Iren Michaelsen (ex-Trail of Tears) the compositions posture from an aggressive yet progressive viewpoint that is as effective as it is entrancing.
• Imperia Website • Imperia WikiDreamscape - 5th Season
Dreamscape5th Season
Label: Locomotive Records
Progressive metal from Munich, Germany portrayed with theatrics and grandeur. The male vocals are sung with just the right finesse between intense and emotive plus the headbanging grooves are parted with a friendly amount of atmospheric interludes.
• Dreamscape Website • Dreamscape WikiEgypt Central - Egypt Central (self titled)
Egypt CentralEgypt Central (self titled)
Label: Fat Lady Music
Originating from Memphis, TN (not Egypt) this highly emotive, overly pimped and polished nu-ish metal is undeniably very hard rock radio friendly, but they appear to have sacrificed their integrity and sold their musical souls to get there. Yawn!
• Egypt Central Website • Egypt Central WikiFarmer's Market - Surfin’ USSR
Farmer's MarketSurfin’ USSR
Label: Ipecac Recordings
Improbable permutations of traditional Bulgarian melodies along with jazz, folk, and rock that have been percolated to oblique perfection. The songs often lead with uptempo folk rhythms that are broken with soundtrack-ish ambiance and other delightful distractions.
• Farmer's Market Website • Farmer's Market WikiID Guinness - Cure For The Common Crush
ID GuinnessCure For The Common Crush
Label: Guinness Records
A creative Canadian dripping on the goss of Bowie and Pink Floyd via his anthemic psychedelic rock platitudes with ambient quagmires and juxtapositions of frilly frivolity ultimately producing sustained excitement.
• ID Guinness WebsiteRyan Montbleau band - Patience on Friday
Ryan Montbleau bandPatience on Friday
Label: Self Released
This album, a tribute to the band’s good friend and backup drummer Denis Babin who died in 2006, shows off a zippy, zesty, robust and charismatic singer/songwriter with his band strutting a stoic resonance with a sturdy stance.
• Ryan Montbleau band Website • Ryan Montbleau band WikiDub Trio - Another Sound Is Dying
Dub TrioAnother Sound Is Dying
Label: Ipecac Recordings
Swirling metal, reggae, dub, jazz and a sphincter load of talent together with unscrupulous sounds in an elevator shaft of musical potential that also swings the fulcrum of nefarious fanaticism to produce outlandish yet cohesive results in a Melvins kinda way.
• Dub Trio Website • Dub Trio WikiKick To Tha Head - As We Think So We Are
Kick To Tha HeadAs We Think So We Are
Label: Turkey Vulture Records
Spurting raw punk rhythms coalesced by hardcore attitude, these short yet intense and guttural emanations examine pain and aggression via a curmudgeonous introversion of fantastic frivolity.
Mannhai - Hellroad Caravan
MannhaiHellroad Caravan
Label: Locomotive Spain Records
Heavy groove rockers from Finland with ex-Amorphis front man Pasi Koskinen handling the vocal crooning and cajoling. Their stoner rhythms have a tendency of headbanging their way into my heart and CD player.
• Mannhai Website • Mannhai WikiView More
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