This week I restarted taking college classes. And honestly, I want to buckle down and focus on the five classes that I have. If you've ever read the very first posts on the sidebar you'll know that this blog was born during my first semester of college. So what gives?What the hell is the difference this semester?
I may have bet someone I was going to ace all of my courses this semester. There may or may not be a large sum of money on the line. And I'll be honest, I'm a simple guy. I wake up in the morning with a finite amount of fucks to give. I can't be spending thirty hours every week writing and editing if I want to also knock out thirty hours of studying. As you can tell math
It hurts the hell out of me to take any kind of time off. (I used to write on here every single day.) but I think that's the best decision right now.
I won't be gone long. And I'll drop in from time to time.
Look who came crawling back to Joe's Not Diary to finish up the review series on All Hail the Yeti?
I knew you'd be back. I didn't know if I'd be back. After two straight weeks of this shit, I can tell you one thing for sure.
I'm fucking tired of listening to All Hail the Yeti. Let's get this over with.
This week we're reviewing their self-titled album. So yeah, let's get to it.
Ooh, this one is already off to a way better start than the last one. The vocals are just nasty. Connor Garrity (Can I stop saying 'the vocalist', now? It's been two weeks. I know the whole lineup by name.) sounds like a hobgoblin every time he shrieks out those lyrics.
Speaking of, Deep Creek is about a ten-foot-tall swamp monster. At this point, I don't know if it's a real legend or AHTY made it up. Which is exactly what I would expect from a band named "All Hail the YETI." Not songs about Jonestown and hating scene kids.
This is an earworm and my description cannot possibly do the song justice. Give it a listen.
When the Sky Falls
This song is badass. There's no gap between the beginning of this track and the end of the first one. It immediately kicks off with rapid speaking from Connor that morphs into pained shrieking and beautiful singing. I don't know what happened between this record and the last but Connor sounds so much different. His screams sound nasty. And we get to hear all the different shades of his voice throughout this song.
From what I can tell (I didn't fucking write it, so I'm not 100%) this song is about Satan influencing another Angel to follow him before being cast out of Heaven. Good stuff, so far.
Suicide Woods
Y'all remember a couple years ago when Logan Paul was in hot water for going to the Japanese Suicide Woods, cracking inappropriate jokes, and showing dead bodies on YouTube? This song and video are about the same Suicide Woods.
With 100% fewer career-derailing jokes
and punchable faces.
This is an okay song. The simplistic guitar riffing and the lack of a solo make it seem more reminiscent of Southern rock. Someone in the comments of the YouTube video said that this song has Nickelback level guitar playing. That's about right. The spoken parts feel like they're pulled right out of a Mushroomhead song. (Which just makes me want to go listen to Mushroomhead.)
I don't know what the fuck the song is about because half of these songs don't have their lyrics posted anywhere and I'm definitely not going to be the one to transcribe them. My money is on it being about someone killing themselves, though.
The Art of Mourning
Now, they went all out on this one. This is one of their best songs. When I think All Hail the Yeti, 'The Art of Mourning' is one of the first things that pops into my head. This song is damn near as perfect as those balls Tom Brady deflated.
This track opens up with a unique rendition of 'O, Death.' And then you hear one of the most metal harmonica solos ever. (What're there like five in existence, tops?) All while the bass and the drums pound.
The refrain of this song always gets stuck in my head. Connor's horrid screaming layered under his sweet singing just makes that last one so much more memorable.
And unlike the last few songs, I can definitely tell you the story of this one. Back in the Old West, a soon retiring killer for hire finds his family assassinated. So he hunts down the motherfuckers that did it and brutally kills each of them. It's basically an Old West version of Old Man Logan with a little bit of Punisher mixed in. I also like the way the song repeatedly asks, "This is justice, but what does it prove?" It's as if it doesn't want you to feel good about the poor guy getting his revenge.
The Weak and Wounded
So this one is more of a prelude to the following track. It's a creepy interview session between a doctor and a possessed patient. The whole thing reeks of creepiness and claustrophobia. And it segues right into the next track.
After the Great Fire
I don't know if it's the choir of children, how tortured Connor's screaming sounds, or the groovy chugging during the verses but this track is just perfect. The solo just seems neverending. The samples tie in just enough for the lyrics to keep you satisfied but still wondering. The harmony on every "After the Great Fire!" gives the line 300% more impact and melody. And I also think it's awesome towards the end when Connor starts chanting "I am the devil, I am the smoke!"
For context, this song (and all of the samples) is based on a psych horror movie called Session 9. I've personally never gotten around to watching it but everyone that has says it's amazing. And All Hail the Yeti liked it so much they wrote a song about it.
It's a good listen.
Bloodguilt
This is another amazing track. The drummer kicks it off perfectly. The vocals are on point from the very beginning. There's a very interesting guitar lick during each pre-chorus. In fact, the guitar work is completely on point here. Especially during that breakdown. My favorite part of this song, and possibly the entire album is the way they scream the name of the song over the last few seconds of the song.
All it takes is one listen to know what this track is about; a nappy-headed ho that left my man Connor for some other bro. Snoop Dogg would certainly approve of the thrashing this song gives her. Fuck her.
I Am Wendigod
It honestly feels a little weird that we live in a world where no one thinks I'm a weirdo for knowing what a wendigo is. (Thanks Until Dawn.)
This song encourages the listener to feast on that tasty human flesh and blood and become a fucking Wendigo. Why?Because the fucking Wendigod says so. (Once again, this is exactly the kind of track I'd expect and want from a band called All Hail the YETI)
This track really ain't nothing special instrumentally. There's a short spoken introduction that's in some kind of native tongue.
To be honest, this song feels like it was made specifically for an AMV.
I guarantee you that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Axe Murder Hollow
I swear that these guys have Zakk Wylde ghost-guitaring on some of these tracks.
This was definitely the fucking heaviest track so far. Nonstop screaming on top of endless chugging and abusive drumming. I don't know what the fuck "Axe Murder Hollow" is but it's definitely the perfect name for this song.
I wasn't too much a fan of that whole minute of feedback noises in the beginning though. This isn't Metal Machine Music. Guitar feedback is not ambiance, it's just guitar feedback.
Ruby Ridge (Every Knee Shall Bow)
Ah, the early 90's gun control crises.
For those of y'all who don't know, Ruby Ridge was an 11-day standoff between gun enthusiast, (and alleged white separatist) Randy Weaver, the F.B.I. and the U.S. Marshalls. It left Weaver's son, wife, and dog dead, and a community of fellow gun enthusiasts pissed the fuck off. The OKC bomber even cited it as one of the incidents he was seeking revenge for. Looking through the lens of today, it honestly probably could've been handled better.
But we did get this dope-ass song out of it.
This song sounds pretty good. It's got the usual groovy riffing, screaming, and singing. The big difference here is that the lyrics are really telling a story this time. Connor sounds uniquely pissed off.
Judas Cradle
This may possibly be the best song on the album. This is the only track on the album (or that I've ever heard from AHTY) that actually sounds upbeat during the chorus. I love how fucking tortured Connor sounds at the end of the song. The track fades out with incoherent screaming, riffing, and gang vocalizing.
I know I say this a lot but that's definitely fitting, given the title of the song. The Judas Cradle was a medieval torture device that consisted of a huge erected pyramid whose tip was inserted into the victim's business end. And then they forcefully lowered you down onto it.
You can picture the rest.
This is a very different track instrumentally. And I dig it. This was the perfect way to end the album.
Or at least it would have been.
This song has fifteen minutes of swamp ambiance tacked onto the end of it. And after actually listening to it for a few minutes, instead of fifteen minutes of genuine ambiance, it seems more like fifteen minutes of the same twenty-second loop of crickets, birds, water, and frogs. Which sucks, because I actually felt awesome for the first minute and a half. It gave the illusion that I had been listening to some kind of exotic concert in a swamp and now that their performance was over, the band was sailing away on some wooden raft. But about three minutes in, it feels like you're just sitting there listening to royalty-free nature sounds. Which is exactly what the fuck you're doing.
And guess what happens after those fifteen minutes?
No, seriously guess!
If you guessed literally anything, then congratulations on knowing how to end a record better than All Hail the Yeti. Because the correct answer is "fucking nothing. "
I'm so done with this band, right now.
Final Verdict / What Do I Think?
I don't know what the fuck happened on the album I listened to last week. This record was awesome. All Hail the Yeti is basically Pantera with more violent screaming and tad bit less groove. And I can dig that. I've listened to some more of their recent stuff and they have broken that repetitive mold on Screams From a Black Wilderness. And I mean broke it.
My biggest issue with the band is their lyrics. Even when it seems like they're saying something deep, if you read along to the song, 75% of the time it's either completely nonsensical or simplistic.
I know I'm railing on them, but I've been listening to this band since my first few days of High School. I'm definitely going to keep listening to them. Just no time soon.
Join us next time when we tackle Deathcore behemoths All Shall Perish!
Happy New Year and welcome to Season Two of the best way to spend your Sunday. (Yes, I know it's Monday.) We're starting the year off right with one of the best bands I can think of All Hail The Yeti! AHTY were one of the first metalcore bands I started listening to and they pushed me through highschool. I can't count the amount of times I would drown out the awkwardness of being an adolescent with Screams From a Black Wilderness.
And since that's the album I'm the most familiar with, that's the one we'll be tackling this week. You see, going forward, a lot of the bands we're tackling will have 100s of songs. Instead of reviewing them all in one day, I'm going to split them up by album.
Let's hop right into it. Something that sets All Hail the Yeti apart from any other band is that most of their songs tell a story or are references to pop culture. Before the Flames is no different.
The intro is wonderful. From the calm strumming to the crazy riffing to the expectant chugging of the pre-chorus. All accompanied by the unpolished screams of the vocalist. Then the cleans of the chorus that proclaim "We serve a lesser god!"
Although, I've got used to it over the years that post-breakdown, "Oh my God! What is happening?!?", is one of the funniest lines I've heard in a song. If you're not paying attention to the lyrics it's jarring as hell. Also, the melody with the screaming and singing towards the end is beautiful.
Plague Dance
Did you know that there was a plague that made a whole village spasm uncontrollably for three days straight? A literal plague dance. Unfortunately, that's not the plague this song is about but that's still metal AF. Here 'plague dance' refers to a ritual done to mourn for all of those killed by the plague. Which is still pretty metal. I also find the fact that the song kicks off with a Monty Python reference is hilarious.
Let the Night Roar
This song is about the Jonestown massacre. The title is a reference to the final sermon given before the sermon and a sample of it ends the breakdown. That breakdown kicks off with some amazing cleans and drumming. It sounds amazing.
Given the subject matter, the song repeatedly beckons you to 'smile and drink.' I don't have to go into detail about what that means. If you read along with the lyrics, the words of Jim Jones are screamed, while his followers' responses are sung. Something about that is morbidly fitting.
Mr. Murder
You may be thinking this is about the Stephen King book.
Ew, no.
This song is a tribute to the lead singer's best friend who passed away during the recording of this album. Metalcore legend Brock Lindow is featured, as he was also good friends with Mr. Murder. (I couldn't find anything on why they named the song that. Dude's name was Matt.) This is essentially All Hail the Yeti's 'Wish You Were Here.'
You can feel the emotion on this track as the vocalist is screaming way harder than usual. There are some references in the lyrics that are pretty personal. You can honestly tell these guys were genuinely best friends. Matt meant a lot to them. And the song hits home. Because we all have a friend like that, we never want to lose.
Lady of the Night
Groovy ass intro. Heavy ass screaming with a distortion effect for good measure. And then comes the chorus and it completely contrasts that. I love how the cleans and screams are layered during the chorus.
The bass is really prominent throughout. The guitar riffing feels really funky during the breakdown. Those last few riffs of the song accompanied by the 'Kill me! Lady of the night!' is the most badass thing of this album.
Witch is Dead
Y'all remember that scene in the OG Wizard of Oz when Dorothy first shows up in Oz and her trailer lands right on top of the Wicked Witch of the East? Did you know that All Hail That Yeti composed the 'Witch is Dead' jingle that the munchkins sing in that scene?
If you look closely you can see the vocalist making sure the actors get the words right.
Nah this one is about dumping (and possibly murdering) a chick who caused you a lot of pain. That ex that cheated on you with your best bro and then cheated on him with his uncle? This is a 'fuck you' to her. All Hail the Yeti are experts at writing relationship songs.
Instrumentally, this track is standard fare. Everything is on point. The good cop bad cop vocals hammer home the point of the chorus. There's some expert rhyming in the verses. The solo is brief but groovy. This one is a little bit more catchy and upbeat than usual. After all, it is based on a Wizard of Oz reference.
Daughter of the Morning Star
This one starts off pretty slow but it picks up the pace with the first chorus. And then the breakdown is straight insanity. But you already knew what you were in for with that title.
I want to say that this song is about a native witch killing some Christian settlers that disturb her home. The opening line of the song is "It was 1493" which is the year Columbus first docked in America.
Sun Will Never Set
These bros started sounding like Pantera, Mastodon, and something entirely unique all at the same time. The guitar tone is dirty and evokes Southern Metal. That distorted spoken interlude
The harmony between the vocalist and the bassist on top of the riffing sounds amazing. This track stands out. If anything makes me call All Hail the Yeti Southern Rock this song is it.
Which is hilarious, given that this is a song rejecting faith and the superficial for belief in what can be seen. Not a very Southern message if you ask me.
Fall of Core
There's nothing particularly interesting about the instruments here. But the lyrics are kind fo cringeworthy. This song is exactly what it says on the tin. It's a fuck you to (what All Hail the Yeti calls) posers and hipsters. This is the first time I've heard someone scream 'skinny jeans' and I never want to hear it again.
I hate scenies and posers as much as the next guy but I think it's a waste of time to dedicate a whole song to that. In fact, that makes you look like a grumpy elitist. Also, I don't think All Hail the Yeti are exactly the right folks to be calling out skinny jeans-wearing hipsters...
Maybe they're making an attempt at self-deprecation...
But if you hate posers so much that you feel like they're ruining your livelihood, then I guess it makes sense to write about it. To each his own.
Breaking the Wheel
This one isn't too different. The chorus is pretty catchy. And honestly I think that's the best thing about all of these tracks. At the very least the choruses are all pretty memorable. This is one of the few that will probably have you singing along.
The song is about indulgence and substance abuse. And not to get all general here but I'm going to have to take back what I said earlier. Most of these songs have lyrics that are either weird, or inconsistent throughout. It also doesn't help that some of the vocals are so incoherent that the words couldn't be transcribed. Honestly I hate to say this, but this song really highlights the fact that All Hail the Yeti don't have the best lyrics.
Nemesis Queen
This is the grooviest track of the record. This song is so groovy it sounds like Black Label Society with All Hail the Yeti's vocalist.
There's the constant riffing. The crooning cleans. The harsh vocals to contrast. And another catchy-ass chorus. And the guitarist unleashed his inner Zakk Wylde for that solo.
Angels Envy
Jesus Christ, I guess All Hail the Yeti is a metal band. This one starts off with a spoken and sang part and transitions into some hectic shredding and screaming. And then they repeat this for the next few minutes. Singing/ speaking and then a chaotic refrain. Then we get to the breakdown and it becomes 100% screaming. And I mean screaming. The vocals go up to 11 on the harshness. And then the track and the album end.
Wowee. That was a helluva track to end on.
Final Verdict / What Do I Think?
I already introduced AHTY as one of my favorite bands. I've been listening to them for years and that probably isn't going to change. That said, I really want to save my greater opinions on the band for next week.
As for this album, I've heard better. And I've certainly heard worse. It's consistent throughout. It doesn't suddenly switch genres in the middle of the record. (Oh, it happens. Just wait for All That Remains.) The production is pretty well-rounded. All of these songs, at the very least, have a catchy chorus. That's what keeps me listening to this band. Their songs get stuck in your head.
And honestly, it's so formulaic it kind of gets boring. Most of these songs follow a very specific structure. After a while, all of the songs meld together in my head and I can't tell them apart. To be honest, it sort of feels like I just listened to the same song 12 times in a row. Except it was slightly different every time.
I can't forgive that piss poor songwriting though. That's a musical sin.
Unfortunately, I'm starting not to like this band as much. However, we do have next week to take a look at their first self-titled album and a couple of other tracks. And I think that may shift my opinion back in the other way.
So come back next week for that. Or don't. I don't care.
Given that we're rapidly approaching the end of the year, I'm going to mix it up this week. I was thinking of doing a top ten albums of the year.
But then I realized I haven't listened to ten new albums end to end. This was a year where I really branched out musically and started listening to more country, rap and everything other than metal. And I discovered some cool artists. So why not talk about the artists that I discovered this year, instead? So without further adieu here are the coolest artists I discovered in 2019 -
Ghostemane
I've liked $uicideboy$ for a little while now. Ghost is featured on a good bit of their songs. I was surprised at how fastly he could rap and then transition into his signature nasally delivery. Initially I thought it was studio effects. But I gained mad respect when I found it was all him. Also he talks about some shit that you'd probably be more likely to hear in a metalcore or Black Metal band. The guy has a song named after Euronomyous. Nothing is trver.
Songs I'd recommend -
Gatteka
1000 Rounds
Mercury Retrograde
Toby Keith
I was listening to Rodney Carrington while studying one day and 'I Love This Bar.' autoplayed. I've loved Keith ever since. I've been called a poser for listening to him but I don't care. The songs can be funny or relateable and he can always carry a tune. Anyone who shits on Toby for not being 'real country' needs to get Nashville's dick out their mouths and be honest with themselves.
Songs I recommend -
I Love This Bar
Who's That Man?
Wish I Didn't Know Now
Elvis Presley
Yes, I already knew who Elvis was before 2019, don't insult me like that. I was listening to Danzig and everyone in the comments kept compari him to Elvis so I thought ,"Why not check it out?" And this may be a shocker but Elvis isn't overrated in the slightest. The stage presence of God. A voice I can only describe as masculine. And the songs are about something. Somehow Elvis crept onto my playlist.
Of course I recommend 'Suspicious Minds' but Elvis' discography is so varied I'd just start with that and explore.
Dethklok
I watched Metalacolypse when I was younger. But not being a metal fan back then, I couldn't really appreciate it. I just thought it was ridiculously violent.
But around New Year's 'I Ejaculate Fire' kept popping up in my recommended feed and I gave it a listen. Then I rewatched the show. It's chock full of metal references and cameos. But most of all Dethklok slaps. The guitars are always on point. It really says something when a joke digital band is better than most straightforward metal bands.
Songs I'd Recommend -
Awaken
Murmaider
Better Metal Snake
Bill McClintock
Bill McClintock is a mashup artist. As in he takes parts of songs and mixes them together with other songs in ways you'd never think of. And he's damn good at it. And guess what? He releases everything he does for free. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but the stuff he comes up with always manages to blow my mind. If you watch on YouTube make sure to read the comments. They're a riot.
Songs I recommend -
Everything She Wants Is South of Heaven
Eminence of Holy Wars and Creeping Death
Mother Was A Rolling Stone
DJ Cummberbund
DJ Cummerbund is another mashup artist. Except as Bill was tame and told you what to expect right in the title of the song. DJ Cummerbund is a zany. I've heard Megadeth mixed with Chris Brown. And the guy characterizes himself as Randy Savage. Also he is an actual DJ that you can request songs from, so expect a DJ tag before every song. But be warned this is a rabbithole that if you go down,you might not want to come back up.
Songs I recommend -
That Which I Desire
Earth, Sand, and Fire
WarMCA
Burt Bacharach
Burt Bacharach (you may know him from that scene in Austin Powers) is a songwriter who's been making hits for people like Dionne Warwick, BJ Thomas and the Platters since the 60s. I used to listen to Raindrops Keep Fallin on My Head every morning and YouTube would autoplay more of his songs after that. They're not called easy listening for nothing. His songs will get stuck in your head the first time you hear them.
Songs I recommend -
What The World Needs Now
This Guy's in Love With You
Close to You (I prefer the Michael Bolton version)
$uicideboy$
Some time this year I typed the words 'kill yourself' into YouTube and found the banger that is Kill Yourself Part 3. I always found myself coming back to it. Then early in this semester I made some friends that were diehard fans of $uicideboy$. Then we met a couple of other dudes that listened to them. So now I find myself listening to them every other day. They're different in a good way. They have a style that's distinctive and genuine at the same time. I fuck with it.
Songs I recommend -
Vices
Runnin Thru The 7th With My Woadies
$outh $ide $uicide
Bob Marley
Once again, yes, I already knew who Bob Marley was. I just never cared to listen to him. During the summer a friend introduced me to Rebelution and Iration ( some good bands I'd also recommend). I been hooked on reggae ever since. You already know Marley has to come in there some time.
Same as Elvis I'd recommend you listen to the essentials then dive a little deeper -
1. Is This Love?
2. Could You Be Loved?
3. Jammin'
Other Bands
Most bands I can't really say I'm a gigantic fan of but I'll admit they have one or two good songs. Some that come to mind are -
Vile
Defilement
Gamma Sector
Left to Suffer
Cattle Decapitation
Fallujah
Gorgoroth
Raheem DeVaughn
Iration
Rebelution
Danzig
Eddie Money
Alan Jackson
Join us next week when we resume our regularly scheduled review series with All Hail the Yeti!
I don't own any of the above pictures. All media is owned by the respective copyright holders.
Hello, hello and welcome back to the super-amazing music review series that you cannot read anywhere else (At least until Toilet ov Hell cuts me a deal.)
This son of a bitch is Alex Skolnick. You may know him as the former guitarist for Testament. Or as that music guy with the weird white streak in his hair. Or you may not know him at all. But don't worry, by the end of this, you're going to know him really, really, well.
Alex is really good at guitar. Like Dimebag levels of good. He's even played with the Trans Siberian Orchestra. (Remember the singer of Adrenaline Mob? He sang for Trans Siberian Orchestra. They only accept superhuman talent.) He's made everything from world music to jazz fusion. He eventually got bored with metal and formed a jazz group. Alex Skolnick is essentially a musician's musician.
Let me show you what I'm talking about -
The Alex Skolnick Trio mainly specializes in making jazz covers of metal and rock songs. And doing a damn good job at it. If you've ever wanted to jam out to Dio with your snobby jazz enthusiast pals this is the band for you.
"Dammit James, this is the last time we play Detroit!"
"Damn right, because I'm about to shoot myself right now!"
This cover felt like Fade to Black for the first minute and a half. And then it transitioned into something way more jazzy and hopeful sounding. A more accurate name would be "The Long Hard Struggle to Fade to Black In A Completely Lit Room".
A cover of Fade to Black is only as good as that final guitar solo. And for the way they took the track, I guess it fits. I find it really cool that it becomes a double bass solo instead.
All that said, I just checked and I own six different versions (seven if you count a fan remaster) of this song. So I won't fully review it here. Not yet.
What Do I Think?
I definitely have a soft spot for covers of metal songs that change the genre.
Oh, you know it's coming...
But Alex Skolnick Trio isn't metal at all. They're just flat out jazz. Their covers are so jazzy to the point that if I heard one on the street I wouldn't even know it was a cover. And I'm not really a jazz guy. But my family is. So I guess I've found some kind of compromise.
So here's some background on this track. This one is a cover off Numbers From the Beast: An All-Star Tribute to Iron Maiden. Not going to lie this album is mostly the 90's thrash and glam bands everyone slept on and of course Ripper, Dio and Lemmy (because when aren't they there for something like this?)
Wrathchild has the distinction of having former Maiden singer Paul D'ianno on vocals so immediate points for that. Also, Frank Bello is on bass so that's a plus, too.
What can I say? D'ianno sounds better than he did on the original. The guitars sound beautiful. I mean it's almost impossible to play a Maiden song accurately and sound bad. It's Iron Maiden.
The main riff sounds kind of choppy. And some dickhead damn near mixed out the bass. But this isn't Maiden. This is one member of Maiden and five guys who were likely inspired by them. So whatever.
What Do I Think? / Final Verdict
I think they should record an actual all-star tribute to Iron Maiden before everyone gets too old. I mean with Ripper, Rob Halford, Metallica, Anthrax, and Ozzy. And let Steve Harris mix it so the bass doesn't sound like garbage. Paul D'ianno is definitely always down.
Alex Skolnick is an amazing guitarist. But I'm not a jazz guy so I'm not too eager to check out more of his stuff with the trio. And Testament is another story for another day.
Come back next week when we take a look at one of my favorite bands - L.A's All Hail the Yeti!
Hey, hey, welcome back to the thrashiest song review series on the globe! This is our tenth week! Cue the happy birthday music.
This week we're tackling Massachusetts Metalcore veterans Aftershock!
If you know metalcore you know this man -
That man up there is guitarist, drummer, vocalist, producer, and metalcore legend Adam motherfucking Dutkiewicz. He's probably most famous for being the lead guitarist of Killswitch Engage, (which he also founded, played skins for, and does most of the backup vocals and lyrics for)
This is one of his first metalcore projects. This band and fellow Massachusetts hardcore group Overcast eventually splintered into two different legendary bands (Killswitch Engage and Shadows Fall) and went on to influence the sound of the Massachusetts scene and metalcore as a whole. These guys are the grandaddies of modern metalcore. Every band out in middle America that sounds like a cheap As I Laying Clone, wouldn't be here without these guys (and a few other bands)
As for the lineup, ya boy Adam is on the axe. His brother Tobias, is taking care of vocal duties. Joel Stroetzel and Tom Gomes, the founding guitarist and drummer of Killswitch are on those same instruments here. And some guy named Chris Fortin is on bass. He was a sound engineer. For Kataklysm.
If you haven't blown out at least one speaker listening to Kataklysm, you ain't doing it right...
Y'all know I love KSE. With three out of the five founding members, will Aftershock hold up? Let's find out - (Also, all of these songs are off of their second album Through the Looking Glass.)
This is one of the dopest metalcore tracks I've heard in a while. As someone pointed out in the comments of the YouTube video, this feels like a precursor to Killswitch Engage's first few albums, in particular their self-titled EP.
You've got the harsh vocals. You've got the multiple breakdowns just littered with abusive chugging and double bass. There's a winding guitar riff a few seconds in that feels like a warning of something ominous around the bend. The only thing missing here is a chorus with a few cleans. Also, this is a perfect case of setting an atmosphere with a track. This song feels creepy, violent and angry all at the same time. This is what metalcore used to be.
Through the Looking Glass
This is an instrumental track that takes that creepy, euphoric atmosphere from the last song's intro and ramps it up to eleven. I can't really do it justice with words.
And at this point, I guess it's time to address the elephant in the room. This album is based (at least metaphorically) on Alice in Wonderland. It really juxtaposes all the references with some creepy shit though. Which I guess is justified because Lewis Carroll was very likely a creep, himself.
Case in point the album art. What the fuck is up with Alice's face?
Jabberwocky
I really don't want to keep comparing this band to other bands, but Jesus Christ, this song sounds exactly like Shadows Fall. This just goes to show you how much these guys influenced what the Massachusetts scene eventually became.
This track feels like pure chaos. The drums and the bass are perfectly mixed so they pound hard. Every time Adam D and Tobias scream at the same time it sounds like a soundbite of an insane asylum. The way the tempo speeds up halfway through just amps up the chaotic feeling of this song. I will admit that I didn't much like the two minute calm outro. It sounded good, but it felt like a lackluster end to a fiery track.
The lyrics are about a fierce monster that feeds off flames and destroys worlds.
Yeah, I guess that checks out.
My Own Invention
This one is way different. It's the only track so far that features any form of clean chorus (In the form of Adam D talking). The brief guitar interlude after the intro sounds all too familiar. If I haven't heard those same notes on every single Killswitch Engage album, I'm deaf.
These guys had a fun time making this one. The way Toby and Adam take turns screaming during the outro is fucking hilarious. This is also the only track I could find a live performance of. And they are indeed having a good fucking time.
Infinite Conclusion
This track is definitely the heaviest. The drum and bass intro is something right out of an Anthrax song. Tobias' snarling is so nasty it sounded like grindcore for a little bit. Stroetzel plays this weird riff all throughout. It's also pretty easy to miss but Adam D displays some nasty gutturals under the entirety of each chorus. It sounds like a whole new instrument. There's a weird sound throughout that sound like someone knocking on wood. And then it all ends with carnival fanfare.
Nothing creepy here. Nothing at all.
Awaking the Dream
And that fanfare leads into the last track. It's an instrumental, that starts off pretty calm. Joel and Adam are playing a calm song. Then the keys kick in. And then the screams. And then that sound from when you move your finger up the guitar string too fast.
The one that sounds like a zipper breaking off ...
And this track is five minutes of that. Creepy noises and calm guitar playing. It wraps everything up in a fuzzy, Boston sepia-toned bow.
Final Verdict / What Do I Think?
This is a good band. This sounds like early Killswitch Engage / Shadow Falls with a different vocalist. The only thing is, they did it first. Adam D and Joel Stroetzel make for an awesome guitar duo. Adam D and his brother are perfect on vocals. My only complaint is that the vocals were mixed terribly (Likely intentionally). They were so muddy, I couldn't understand a single word, even with the lyrics right in front of me.
Unfortunately Aftershock has been disbanded since 2004. Toby is hard at work with Lego (He even wrote a few Bionicle comics!) and no one seems to know what the hell happened to Tom Gomes after he left Killswitch. So we probably ain't getting no reunion. Fingers crossed for a remaster, at the very least. I'd eat that shit up.
Join us next week when we tackle a guitar god's jazzy side project Alex Skolnick Trio!
Good morning (or whatever time it happens to be wherever you are) and welcome back to the best song review series in the galaxy!
This week we're tackling a little band named Affiance -
Ever since I was an edgy teenager in High School, I've been trying to find a metalcore band that has decent cleans and brutal screams. I don't listen to metalcore anymore because I found two bands that satisfied those goals. Issues was one of those bands (And we'll talk about them a lot, lot later.) Today we're talking about Affiance.
Affiance's vocalist, Dennis Tvrdik, is one of those guy's who can sing to a degree that he surprises you. He hits notes so high, that you'd swear he was channeling Mariah Carey.
Disclaimers before we get into this. This album is obviously politically focused. I'm passionate about politics. This review is going to get political. And given that this album dropped in 2012, it's not about who you think it's about.
So this album kicks off with a sound grab of Walter Cronkite reading President Kennedy's eulogy the day he was assassinated. That's fucking bold. And the song lyrics are even bolder. It talks about how the public is being lied to and how those in power will be overthrown and killed for their deceit. The last line of the song is a passionate "Your death will not be in vain!" Make no mistake, this is protest music.
And everything is on point musically. Dustin Davidson of August Burns Red provides the everpresent bass lines and his talent shines. The drums go from fast to slow back to fast. The guitar work is beautiful. The tone and the riffage during the verses is very distinct. Also, the chugging during the chorus provides a nice contrast to Tvrdik's high pitched singing. This is a strong track to start off with.
You Will Be Replaced
The awesome guitar work and drumming continue on this track. The loud kick particularly complements the riffing during the chorus and that final breakdown. Tvrdik's singing really stands out on this one. He emotionally holds onto every note and then releases them like a precious dove. And after the solo starts he snarls out the name of the song. Bro doesn't really scream much but when he does it sounds nasty.
I'll admit that I don't really understand how the lyrics are supposed to fit into the overall concept of the album (a rebellious political campaign) The first verse is about fighting back against the words of the powers-that-be. But the rest of the track is about facing your weaknesses and maintaining a legacy. It's good shit, but the first few lines seem kinda tacked on. I guess you can't always win them all.
We the Machines
Boy, these mofos tore that breakdown up. First, the vocalist sings that last note like an angel, then screamed the next like a demon. Then the guitarist blasts off with a Kirk Hammet-esque solo.
The lyrics talk about how technology is very likely affecting us in a negative way. You know something that modern psychology (and Black Mirror) has been beating over our heads for the last few years. I'd call this a cliche but I'll cut these guys some slack for saying this in 2013 before the rest of us realized we had a problem.
Bohemian
This track features Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire (I've never personally listened to them, but he's a nice addition. And at this point, we've reached the Jesus part of the record. (Yes, this is a Christian band. Obviously. No one but a saint is capable of talking about the government without saying 'fuck' 900 times.)
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but this song seems to be about how Jesus sees you every time you sin and feels bad.
He saw you merge without signaling and it broke his heart.
Jerk.
Y'all already know I'm not too big on the Jesus stuff, but to each his own. The song still sounds amazing. I love that Mullins and Tvrdik swap the chorus' towards the end. The song ends with Mullins singing the chorus and Tvrdik repeating the refrain. I could definitely see them tearing this up live.
Peace of Mind
(Favorite Song Alert)
Dammit, I never realized how much I loved this song until I found myself singing along and headbanging. This is a damn near perfect track. The intro is just the perfect storm of aggressive and harmonic. I love how they keep the same riff throughout each verse. During the chorus, the bass and the drums pick up the aggression that riff provided. The solo isn't anything too special, but it's fast and heavy. Like a solo should be. And this track features one of my favorite musical moments in metal. The high note right after the breakdown. Tvdrik reaches Justin Hawkins (from The Darkness) levels of high-pitched.
That high note is as badass to me as the thunder in 'Raining Blood', or the bell in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls.' That is a badass music moment.
Jericho
This track kicks off with one of the best riffs of the album. The drums and the bass pound the whole time. The drummer abuses the kick during the chorus. Despite that, this track has a peaceful feel to it, instrumentally. The lyrics are where most of the heaviness comes from on this track.
Jericho is the historical city in the Bible that gets destroyed when the Jews blow up the walls with loud music and kill everybody. These lyrics similarly talk about kicking in the doors of corrupt jackasses and taking back the power. Pretty badass.
The Campaign
Ah! These boys know how to craft a title track. The first line is "Welcome. How nice of you to finally join us." As if they're breaking the fourth wall and saying to the listener, "This is what you've been waiting for." And they definitely saved the best for last. Everyone is going all out on this one.
The track blasts off with some heavy-ass chugging accompanied by some prominent drumming. The vocalist is singing these lyrics with all of his heart. By the time we get to the chorus, it feels like the climax to an epic battle. And they ramp it up for that second chorus. The drummer is all over his kit. The guitarist riffs and chugs fast as hell. And the solo is one of the most epic of the whole album. This definitely feels like a title track.
And this one is about fighting until every single person knows their worth. You know, wholesome shit? That man on the cover suddenly looks less of a politician and more like a motivational speaker.
Dan Peña, anyone?
Final Verdict / What Do I Think?
These guys are hands down one of the best metalcore bands. They're up there with Killswitch, Asking Alexandria, and All That Remains, in my book. They have everything that makes a great metalcore band. Ridiculous talent. Heartfelt lyrics. An amazingly talented and charismatic vocalist. I may not have loved every song on this album, but my biggest complaint is that some of the lyrics were a bit inconsistent. That's not even that big of an issue. So you already know that I've got the rest of their discography queued up.
Very unfortunately, Affiance went their separate ways in 2017. However, as late as October of 2018 they're still on good terms with each other. So fingers crossed for a reunion.
Next week we mosh with one of the granddaddies of Massachusetts metalcore - Aftershock!
