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Breaking Benjamin 'Dear Agony'

Rise Against 'Appeal To Reason'

Chevelle "Sci Fi Crimes" Review

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Echoes The Fall 'Bloodline'

November 12th 2009 06:13

Echoes The Fall: The next big Christian Rock band?

Every now and then I discover a band that I think needs to be heard by every fan of the genre. Fortunatley or unfortunatley, Echoes The Fall are a Christian Rock/Metal band. I tend to not let my religion mix in with the style of music I listen to, but I think regardless of your religion, if you like hard rock, give this band a chance.

Their debut album, 'Bloodline', starts off with the powerful anthem 'Break Away'. From the catchy opening riff to the amazingly-done chorus, this is certainly one of the heights of the album. If you heard this on the radio, it's doubtful it could be recognized as Christian Rock, which is one of the reasons if you're NOT Christian, to still give them a chance.

The lead singer's voice is quite unique. I can honestly say I've heard nothing quite like his voice before, yet once you hear one Echoes The Fall song, you can recognize them all. From harsh screams to melodic, light vocals, this singer is talented. His voice should be one of the definitive key points that this band could very well make it big.

Their hard rock sound continues throughout the album with songs such as 'A Life Less Loved', 'Bloodline', and 'Your Move'. Catchy choruses, fast riffs, powerful drum beats, a rocking bass line, there's not much more to a great rock song, and does this album have many!

I easily rank Echoes The Fall up their with other great Christian hard rock acts such as Red, Skillet, Decyfer Down, and Thousand Foot Krutch. If any of those bands had Echoes The Fall as an opening act, not only would it get them more widely-known in the Christian rock community, it would also hopefully increase the chances that we will get a second album from the band, which I am praying for!

My last point will be the fact that the last song on the album, a cover of Survivor's 'Eye Of The Tiger' is a perfect example of what a good cover is. The song is still amazing, but Echoes The Fall manage to put their own style on it, so now we have a dense, heavier version of Eye Of The Tiger. Coupled with the lead singer's amazing, unique voice and it really is a very good cover of a universally known classic.

I'm awarding Echoes The Fall the "Unknown band everyone should listen to" award. If Echoes The Fall plays a club or theater near me, you can bet I will be there, singing along to whatever hard rock anthems off the albums they choose to play!

4.6/10

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Breaking Benjamin 'Dear Agony'

November 12th 2009 06:02

Breaking Benjamin release their fourth, and heaviest, album yet.

Breaking Benjamin are widely known throughout the hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, and post-grunge genres for their combination of catchy riffs, both harsh and melodic vocals, intense, often very truthful lyrics stemming from personal experiences, and a ton of other ways to describe their sound.

If I have to get one thing known about this album, it is the fact that while staying true to 'classic' Breaking Benjamin (We Are Not Alone, Phobia) they are able to diversify their sound through trying new things, and more often than not it works. So while retaining a recognizable sound, they can think outside of "Alright, does this work as a Breaking Benjamin song?"

The album opens up with 'Fade Away', a fast-paced song with a great drum beat carrying it, and lead singer Benjamin Burnley maintaining clean vocals throughout. 'I WIll Not Bow', the first single off the album, can be a prime example of how the band's sound has continued to evolve, yet within 5 seconds of hearing it, you know it is Breaking Benjamin.

Now, when I mentioned earlier that the sound had changed, it also means trying heavier stuff. With this album, the heavy, deep screaming by Ben Burnley is overlayed with or quickly followed by clean vocals, but that does little to hide the fact that the band wanted to try a heavier sound. 'Crawl' and 'Hopeless' are the prime examples of this. Easily the heaviest songs off the album, maybe in Breaking Benjamin's discography. But while they are the heaviest, they are not the powerfullest, which may mean Breaking Benjamin's heavier sound may best be focused upon in another record.

As for the most powerful song(s) on the record? Well, that's certainly a debate. Personally, I found 'Lights Out' and 'Into The Nothing' to be the best two songs off the album. Those looking for Breaking Benjamin's lyrics focusing on a war inside one's self and dealing with both emotional and physical pain need look no further than the title track 'Dear Agony' which is clearly single material as it has a catchy opening riff and transitions into a powerful, meaningful anthem. 'Without You', 'Give Me A Sign', and 'Anthem Of The Angels' all seem to focus on someone close to one's self, or metaphorically, themselves in the third person. They are light on the screaming, but probably some of the most meaningful on the album.

Overall, Breaking Benjamin does not disappoint with their fourth album. However, if there was one negative I would have to give the album, that would be the lack of a definitive signature song for this album. You could argue that 'Dear Agony', the title track, would be the most recognizable. But 'I Will Not Bow' was the first released, and one of the most widely known Breaking Benjamin songs now, so shouldn't that be it? Regardless, it is up to the listener, but to put it into a perspective for a Breaking Benjamin fan, this album lacks a 'Diary Of Jane' (from their third album 'Phobia', which went on to be their signature song) meaning it won't have specifically one song associated with it widely.

Breaking Benjamin show they can expand their sound without changing it drastically. They've managed to put more meaning into their songs, added a more layered sound, and even tried some heavier stuff. This album won't disappoint Breaking Benjamin fans, and it will surely gain them new ones. This is without a doubt one of the best albums released this year.

4.8/5

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Rise Against 'Appeal To Reason'

November 12th 2009 05:44

Rise Against are a melodic hardcore band with alternative influences.

Rise Against have always been a name cast alongside genres such as 'hardcore punk' and 'melodic hardcore'. Their often fast-paced beats with powering lead vocals and catchy riffs are only half of the formula of success for Rise Against, as the lyrical content ranges from politics to enviorment issues and personal issues.

Their latest, and fifth album, overall, 'Appeal To Reason' seems to be full of both new and familiar Rise Against material. The album kicks off with 'Collapse (Post-Amerika)' a quic-paced in your face melodic hardcore track with a catchy chorus and fist-pumping riffs.

This song style is continued in the third track (and first single off the album) 'Re-Education (Through Labor)' This song seems to have a very personal, yet global meaning. Everyone will interpret it differently and find a way to relate to it.

The album continues in Rise-Against fashion for the remainder of the track list, with notable songs including 'From Heads Unworthy', 'Savior', 'Audience Of One', and 'Elective Amnesia'. There are few slow songs on the album, giving it an overall fast-paced feel and if the idea of the album was to make it leave an impression on the listener for a bit after you've finished listening to it, then in that regard it certainly succeeds.

This album will not disappoint Rise Against fans, though you have to wonder how much longer this tried and tested Rise Against formula will continue working past 5 albums deep. One thing's for sure, this album will not disappoint even a remote Rise Against fan, but it's unlikely to recruit any new ones if you're already not a fan of the band's melodic hardcore style with meaningful, relating lyrics.

4/5

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Chevelle "Sci Fi Crimes" Review

September 19th 2009 00:22

The cover art of Chevelle's latest

Chevelle have already made a name for thelselves with 4 previous albums (Point # 1, 1999, Wonder What's Next, 2002, This Type Of Thinking, 2004, Vena Sera, 2007) Loved by many, Chevelle keep the hard rock/alternative metal scene fresh with metaphorical and abstract lyrics, mostly written by frontman/lead guitarist Pete Loeffler. The band's new bassist, Dean Bernardini, who played on the band's 2007 album, returns. Drummer Sam Loeffler (Pete's Brother) also returns, so the line-up is the same as it was for Vena Sera

[ Click here to read more ]

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Rock Review

September 18th 2009 23:38

Here, I will be giving my opinion on rock/metal albums. I will mostly be reviewing new albums, but sometimes I'll throwback and review a classic. I usually try to have the album playing while I review it, to give me the feeling that I am experiencing it and to convert those feelings while listening to it into a review.

Although I might review some metal albums, most of my reviews *could* be classified as rock.

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