Eclectic Vibes

by Andrew Frey

Reviews From: Hard Rock
Seven Kingdoms - The Fire Is Mine

Seven Kingdoms - The Fire Is Mine

Seven Kingdoms
The Fire Is Mine
Label: Nightmare / Sony / RED

Furious melodic progressive thrash metal with epic choirs is the order of the day for the third release from this Florida group. Led by the amazing female vocals of Sabrina Valentine and recorded at Morrisound Studios by legendary producer Jim Morris (Iced Earth, Obituary, etc) this release has the backbone to explode onto the metal scene and do some serious damage. 

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Tusmørke - Underjordisk Tusmørke

Tusmørke - Underjordisk Tusmørke

Tusmørke
Underjordisk Tusmørke
Label: Termo Records

Immediate flashbacks to early Jethro Tull flooded my senses on first listen, only to give way to other obvious influences from Gong, Can, Caravan, etc. While their name means twilight in Norwegian, their retro prog-psych music is twisted with a dark dose of Nordic folk and folk magic while being played out in atmospheric analog format thanks to the antique equipment that was used for its making.

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Clutch - Earth Rocker

Clutch - Earth Rocker

Clutch
Earth Rocker
Label: Weathermaker Music

Ten albums in, and they are still hot as fuck! Self-admittedly wrought with more forethought, focus, and polish than some of their prior releases, Earth Rocker will knock your socks off. Their hard-rockin’ antics and usual sardonic lyrics have never sounded better.

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Suicidal Tendencies - Thirteen (13)

Suicidal Tendencies - Thirteen (13)

Suicidal Tendencies
Thirteen (13)
Label: Suicidal Records

Wow! Mike Muir is still making music! After a 13 year haitus, ST comes back with a heavy-hitting album filled with what they are known for: blistering. thrashing punk with some great funky interludes filled with the irascible wit and wisdom of Mike Muir. 

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Beefus - The Itching Below

Beefus - The Itching Below

Beefus
The Itching Below
Label: Ys Records

Madison’s musical mad scientists are back with more fractured, nonlinear globular grooves fitted with fantastic farcical lyrics and warbled vocals. Disturbed, depraved, and outrageous musical experiments of the most uncouth kind. And at all times, watch out for that itch.. 

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ASG - Blood Drive

ASG - Blood Drive

ASG
Blood Drive
Label: Relapse

Somewhere between the vocality and alt pop of Jane’s Addiction and the infectious sludge metal of Baroness is where ASG (Amplification of Self Gratification) find their strongest footings. This mega-riffing North Carolina crew knows how to pour on the body-waving grooves and mate them with melodic vocals to scorch your lobes.

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Valient Thorr - Our Own Masters

Valient Thorr - Our Own Masters

Valient Thorr
Our Own Masters
Label: Volcom Entertainment

Balls-to-the-wall slip sliding stoner sludge metal from North Carolina has never sounded so good! Pulsing and pounding riffs and rhythms spiral and surge, blistering with unvarnished intensity and brilliance. Grab hold! 

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Delain - Human Contradiction

Delain - Human Contradiction

Delain
Human Contradiction
Label: Napalm Records

Still having a soft spot for female fronted symphonic metal, I was pleased to find that the Dutch band Delain’s newest delivers an ample amount of crashing metal attacks juxtaposed against delicate refrains and floating synth driven atmospheres. Charlotte Wessels demonstrates an emotional but not overpowering vocal approach, which propels their overall musical ferocity and gothic undertow to new heights and depths.

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Brownout - Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath

Brownout - Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath

Brownout
Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath
Label: Ubiquity

Take the Austin-based Latin funk band Brownout, add congas, horns, zest and psychedelics to choice catalog selections from Hard Rock and Heavy Metal godfathers Black Sabbath and you get Brown Sabbath, their funky, salsafied cousins. They make it surprisingly hard to decide whether to bang your head or dance your ass off to these 7 classic tracks.

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The Werks - Inside A Dream

The Werks - Inside A Dream

The Werks
Inside A Dream
Label: The Werks

Psychedelic shredding flows into jamming dance rhythms before being hopping up with a slap bass flurry and ear bending harmony vocals on the newest (and greatest) release from The Werks. This Ohio based quartet harnesses their technical prowess in ways hereto before un-assembled, allowing them to deliver a blissful transformational swipe across the musical spectrum. The dream is alive and they are appearing LIVE 3/11 at High Noon Saloon in Madison, WI and 3/12 at Miramar Theater in Milwaukee, WI.

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Helmet - Dead To The World

Helmet - Dead To The World

Helmet
Dead To The World
Label: earMusic

Helmet’s 8th studio album and their first in 7 years finds scene influencing band leader Page Hamilton and crew delivering fuzzy warm hypnotic riffs through a surprising variety of styles and approaches, while still managing to weave in signature counter-intuitive rhythmic approaches and combinations. Some of these experiments work better than others, but overall manage to deliver a solid release. How does this play out live? Find out on 12/15 at High Noon Saloon in Madison when they appear with openers Local H.

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Evanescence - Synthesis

Evanescence - Synthesis

Evanescence
Synthesis
Label: BMG

Focusing on orchestra and electronica, Synthesis revamps and recomposes the groups top hits, plus 2 new songs, into a full symphonic experience. The amazing Amy Lee is the conductor and focal point of this touring extravaganza, playing piano and singing her heart and soul into this highly acclaimed and award winning music. A grandiose occurrence!
Appearing on 12/5 at Orpheum Theater in Madison, WI.

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