Posted in Reviews on September 30th, 2010 by Typhon
Genre: Hard Rock, Heavy/Nu Metal
Label: Independent
Up next, we’ve got a French band, who’s album I’ve been sitting on for a while. Abinaya plays a mixture of heavier nu-metal akin to the likes of Soulfly (and I’m not just saying that because there are bongos on almost every song) or Tool or maybe even Disturbed and hard rock. Now before the vast majority of you navigate away from this page to go download girl-on-goat porn, Corps isn’t a band that tries to piggyback on bands that were popular ten years ago. Abinaya takes what WAS exciting about a genre that grew incredibly stale all those years ago and turned it into something that resembles metal by adding their own lethal touch to it!
Vocally, there’s a lot of cleans that feels more like the vocalist was just pissed off and used the mic to vent his anger and pour his soul into every word. So even though the lyrics are in French, I still got the feeling that I knew what was being said… As for as the four and six strings are concerned it’s a case Yin & Yang: the guitarist flings a flurry of furious fireballs at the listener while the bass keeps things harmonious with it hypnotic bouncing and booming, calming and just. Well crafted. And then we get to the drum work. It’s pretty damn good… when you can hear it. Now, I don’t know if it was an error or by choice, but I could barely hear them most of the time. I mean, the double bass (when it happened) shot through ok, but mostly all I heard was the vocalist and guitar. Hmm…
Overall: Abinaya is goin’ places. You can quote me on that. I’m sure their next album will be harder and hopefully faster that Corps. And for that, I’m thoroughly excited!
Death Row? PENTAGRAM?!?! …A Place Of Skulls. Some say it’s progression. Some say regression. But none seem to hold them all around or in the same regard. I for one, can see and appreciate what Victor and Lee are shooting for; Hard rockin’ doom with some groovy breaks and soulful… ballad-ish-ness? Ok, that last bit caught me off guard and pretty much puts me out there with the rest of you going “Boooooo!” already.
As A Dog Returns is kind of preachy bit of music (but you already knew it was gonna be) and that takes a couple of points off from yours truly. Victor Griffen’s voice is spot on for the kind of stuff they’re peddling, but has seen better days, I’m sure. Griffen’s licks are pretty sweet when he gets into a weird acid rock kinda zone as well. Lee Abney’s bass is way the hell up in the mix, more so than I would of excepted regardless of the genre. On top of that, it’s pretty “meh” all things considered. The shining star of this trio is drummer Tim Tomaselli. He brings a groovy presence that As A Dog Returns truly needed. But it’s to little to late.
Overall: There are many spots in this album that remind me of radio rock while others recall times of doom metal’s heyday. But the latter are too few and too far between to really give a shit. I wanted to like As A Dog Returns, but it just didn’t take.
Genre: Doom, Sludge, Hard Rock, Psychedelic, Punk
Label: Candlelight Records
You know how sometimes if you’re drawn to a band because it has a member of another band that you like in it? Yeah. Sometimes you run into that snag. It’s that one where the new band that you’re checking out sounds just like the original band that that guy you like is in. Well, City Of Fire has two or ‘em. Both are from Fear Factory: Mr. Burton C. Bell and a Mr. Byron Stroud.
But as luck would have it, City Of Fire actually stood alone for me, for a while. I listened to their self titled debut album about three time, loving it more and more each time… and then I though, “this vocalist sounds awfully familiar…” A quick Google search later and boom! I found my familiars.
I guess it needs to be said that City Of Fire sounds NOTHING like any of these guy’s affiliated bands, not one iota. City Of Fire makes this album feel brand fucking new, yet all too familiar and simply approachable with it’s memorable melodies and cathartic choruses. Not a single song on this album gets too aggressive at all. It’s a pretty chill throughout (especially A Memory. Awesome fucking song!)
Burton’s voice is distinctly brilliant as always. He stays on the cleaner side of things for the majority of the time and only occasionally dips into his trademark gruff shout. As far as the stings go… they manage to bring the mellow on a level that’s almost overwhelming. There’s a weight to every chord that just crushes you if you aren’t prepared for it… which I guess kind of plays against my “chill” remark. But believe me, give it a second listen and you’ll wish the Q-Tip in your hand was a joint! Remember that bit of info when Spirit Guide creeps up on you. You’ll be wondering what classic family movie this album syncs up with…
Not to mention the all too awesome covers of two heavily influential bands songs: The Rain (by The Cult) and Children Of The Revolution (by T-Rex).
Overall: Aside from some overly ambitious stuff that just didn’t seem to pan out to me (lots of silent breaks or long bouts of droning that just seem excessive), City Of Fire is hot, Hot, HOT!!! Recommended for fans of everyone from doom to hard rock to psychedelic shit to punk. It’s all here and it’s all great!
The second album out of three from Eagle Rock’s package, Black River is a very nice surprise. Especially considering that two of the members are from the Polish blackened death legends Behemoth, and this album is really nowhere near black or death metal.
In fact, it’s pretty much straight up cock rock right out of the pages of AC/DC’s Book of Writing. And damn it is an asskicker of an album. It’s hard, heavy, and pure fun. Lyrically, it’s about drugs, drinking, and fucking, so there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t own this.
8 out of 10.
Posted in Interviews, Videos on May 30th, 2010 by General Blaspheme
You’ve been a busy man of late, playing in a pair of bands. The big one that most people know about is Ritual, a black metal band. The other is a play on your own name, Ian Fleming and the Secret Agents. What kind of music do you play with this band?
Well, I guess it’s mostly straightforward rock. Lately I have been experimenting and sort of ignoring genre limitations.
Where do you think The Secret Agents will go? Any chance of going for a radio sound, or are you going to keep it just odd enough that mainstream rock stations won’t be playing you until midnight?
I honestly have no clue where IFSA will go. There have been some really big peaks this past year and also some deep valleys. “I Suck” has actually been played on mainstream rock radio and when the sun is out even. But I can’t seem to sell albums to save my life. It’s frustrating.
What kinds of gear do you use for your writings? Do you use anything vastly different between The Secret Agents and Ritual?
I use the same Steinberger and 5150 head I’ve had for years. A lot of Secret Agent stuff is written on an acoustic guitar and most Ritual stuff is done on an electric. But there is no vast difference.
As for Ritual, I know there have been ‘issues’ in the past, and not just in the band itself as far as who is in Ritual and who is not, but legal trouble. I just have no idea what kind of trouble there was. Could you explain what happened that Ritual was on America’s Most Wanted?
All that happened with Ritual regarding legal trouble is Robert spray painting a couple churches. Ritual was not on AMW. I was on the show as an actor playing a criminal.
How did you score the job with AMW? Do you still do acting at all?
I dabbled in acting when I was younger. Around the same time I was making the old Ritual records. I landed a few roles, usually as druggies or killers. It was fun but after a while I just went back to focusing on music. I still do little things here and there, been in a few music videos.
Since Ritual is just you, and only you, how do you keep yourself fresh? I know some one-man bands have difficulty with being able to write whole songs by themselves, let alone albums, and find themselves repeating things.
Well, I never worry about that. Music just keeps coming out of me. It’s been a long time since I put out any Ritual music so there is a ton of fresh material in my head. But I just make music that I believe is good and hope other people connect somehow. Robert and I have actually worked out our differences recently and there may be a couple songs on the new album co-written by him.
You’re working on a new Ritual album right now, correct? Does it have a title, and is there a label that you’re working with, or are you keeping it DIY and underground?
Yes, I am working on a new Ritual record. It will be called “The Resurrection”. I am doing it all myself so far with no label support. If a label offers a good deal I’ll consider it. No doubt it will be underground, regardless.
Where do you find your lyrics leading you for the new Ritual album? Any recurring themes?
The lyrics on The Resurrection are very much in the vein of the early albums. Themes like demons, executions, war, nightmares and rituals! There are some dark and personal introspective themes as well.
How about for the music, are there any riffs or even just simple chords that you’re finding rearing their heads every so often?
This album definitely has the classic Ritual feel, but it has been over a decade since the last record. It is full of new ideas, yet hearkens to the past. There will even be an ambient instrumental track much akin to the classics. A few of the riffs and songs on The Resurrection were actually conceived in the old days but it is mostly brand new material. I think it will really be a breath of fresh air for true fans that have longed for some fresh Ritual.
Outside of music, what does Ian Fleming do? Are you a day job type of guy? As for recreation, are you a reader, a writer, a movie goer?
I don’t do a whole lot besides music. I have a few of my own projects and mix other peoples music as well. I am a huge Lakers fan, I watch as many games as possible. I smoke a lot of weed and love beer. I do watch movies but not usually at the theater, can’t smoke or drink there.
Is there anything else you’d like to throw into this interview?
Live shows are planned in congruence with the release of The Resurrection so keep your eye out for us!
