FROM FIRST TO LAST- Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has A Body Count. (Epitaph) Great album title. Interesting mix of extreme metal and contemporary punk rock. The lyrics are thought-provoking, as are some of the song titles (“the one armed lover vs. the flying guillotine”; “I like you better before you were naked on the internet.”). Baby Daddy
FUNERAL DRESS- A Way Of Life (SOS Records) For 15 years these guys have been one of (if not the) best Punk band in Belgium. Now with this new release on California’s SOS Records exposes this cool old school style punk rock to American audiences. The songs stay in the party theme. There also is a cool cover of Men at Work’s classic Down Under. Good Stuff! LB PAUL GENG Mnemo Sync(Syne?) (www.PaulGeng.com) Paul dedicated this album to the memory of his mom. Folkpop with lyrics about love and prayer and relationships: as plain and ordinary as milk and cookies, and as boring too. Lame! DB GOD LIVES UNDERWATER UpOff The Floor (Megaforce Records) These veterans of the industrial music surge of the early to mid 90’s have got a new CD here. It sounds like Marilyn Manson mixed with the GLU sound and lyrical style. In other words not as sick and demented and that’s meant as a commendation. A great rock sound that gets the body moving. Recommended! MTC
GRANIANOn My Own Two Feet (www.granian.com) Acoustic licks over pop and rock with a folk flavor. Scary? DB
GUTTERMOUTH- Eat Your Face (Epitaph) Hands down my favorite punk rock album for 2004. Witty lyrics and solid punk rock sensibility and no consideration for political correctness. The opening track Party Of Two pleads for the end of the 2 party political system which is a dream of mine two. Singer Mark Adkins “I get bored with serious topics like George Bush Stinks and The government’s a bowl of crap, I love you, I love you also bores me terribly. I’d rather make fun of all those a-holes doing that.” and he does! I love The Next Faux Mohican with lyrics “Now That alternative rock is finally dead, and all the white kids look just like Eminem, Remember Michael on his Victory Tour, back then he’s black, now I’m not....sure?” I also can’t get Hot Dog To The Head out of my head. I keep humming it or singing it. People are looking at me like I’m an idiot. Well too bad, how about a Wiener to the face to put you in your place? Schnitzel to the lips? MTC
GRAVEFiendish Regression (Century Media) Why there is so much hate for Christianity in the death metal from Norway and Sweden? This 6th release from Sweden’s Grave is just another installment that easily fits the mold. Graced with sacriligious artwork on its cover, this CD is relentless black metal. You can feel the hate rip through the speakers and through your soul. Not for the squeamish horror fans, this is real blasphemous stuff. MTC GRIZZLY BEARHorn Of Plenty (Kanine Records) The CD case comes covered in fake fur and what’s inside is just as pompous. As light as a cloud and after 2-3 tracks (any 3) this grows quite tiresome to say the least. Should have released an EP. I mean with this much pretension you know something had to be released. 13,14,15 Time’s Up! LB HALFACRE GUNROOMWrecked (Deathwish/ Icarus) Deep sedate Nick Cave vocals doing rock ballads with a slice of country. A bizzare mix that actually works. Melodic darkness with tales from the pains of love. Move over White Stripes there’s a new player. LB THE HAUNTED-rEVOLVEr (Century Media) Speed thrash metal trash from the gutters of Sweden. Reeling from the loss of their drummer to Cradle Of Filth this one just doesn’t capture the excitement 1998’s self titled debut album. Guest Lou Koller from Sick Of It All on Who Will Decide spice it up a bit, but this ain’t a single. LB HOLLYWOOD ROSEThe Roots Of Guns And Roses (Deadline) Here you go the original demo tapes from GNR when they were called Hollywood Rose complete with talking and drumstick clicks between the songs. Not bad and certainly better than anything Axel can offer today. That being said besides diehard fans who really needs to hear this? MTC