Thy Art Is Murder - Holy War [NEW ALBUM Stream]

Well here it is! The highly anticipated new album from the guys in Thy Art Is Murder. We've definitely had a handful of deathcore releases this year so we'll have to see if this can stand apart from the pack and show some growth since Hate. These guys haven't always been my favorite deathcore act, but I can't deny that they sure do have some tasty jams. Definitely gonna be listening to this in the coming weeks and will probably be posting a review after my review of Psalms (new Lorna Shore).

ENJOY MY FELLOW METALHEADS!

I'M BACK! [Matriarch Review - Veil of Maya]

Hey everyone! I know it's been a while since I posted a review or anything, but I'm back. I will also be creating a new format for my reviews and be going a little more in depth. Midterms had me swamped with plenty of other personal issues but I will now be posting a review or an update at least once a week. Now that that's out of the way... the new Veil of Maya album dropped yesterday, and I'm gonna tell you all about it.

MATRIARCH

Matriarch is by far Veil's best written album to date. While some fans man not feel that this is Veil at their best, this is definitely their songwriting at it's best. This is the first album to incorporate clean vocals, and guitarist Marc Okubo said that was something that the band had been talking about implementing for quite a while, before they even landed their new vocalist, Lukas. While even I was a little skeptical of the introduction of cleans, they couldn't blend any better and Lukas' voice is truly outstanding. Alright here's where I may lose some of you. I actually think Lukas is an upgrade from Brandon. He seems to have a wider range of screams as well as a great singing voice that is proving very intuitive for Veil. 

For those of you thinking, "Oh this isn't Veil of Maya anymore", let's put those thoughts to rest. This is Veil of Maya. I can hear similarities to The Common Mans Collapse on tracks like LeeLoo and Teleute, while they manage to incorporate so many new sounds at the same time. This is by far the widest variety of sounds that we have seen to date on one of Veil's albums. However, some sounds and ideas do feel a little out of place and almost dumbed down compared to the rest of the material on the album. Matriarch is a masterfully crafted metal album and all the boys in Veil are showing what they have evolved into. 

Track rundown:

LeeLoo - Alright this one is something special. If you're looking for the good old chaotic riffs and mind boggling rhythms of TCMC and even id, this is going to be one of your favorite tracks on the album. It features an intro riff that will melt your face while you groove all at the same time. Lukas layers over some brutal screams and Sam is clean as ever behind the kit. Dan also sounds great as the bass isn't hidden in the mix and everyone's contribution is able to be picked out while listening. This track also features some really neat effects in order to create atmosphere, and the second half has some rhythms that will leave listeners lost, but more than satisfied. 

LeeLoo: A

Mikasa - This was actually the second single released from this album, and that's for a damn good reason. This is a kick-ass song, from start to finish. The heavy A sections give us plenty of what we want, but then we hear something new from Veil... choruses. Lukas really shines on this track because we are able to see the contrast from his screams and cleans so clearly. It's a track full to the brim with beautiful melodies and bellowing growls and exposes us to these new sounds of the band. 

Mikasa: B+

Three-Fifty - Being a personal favorite of mine from this album, I have a lot to say about this song. First of all, it's fast. Opens with a blistering intro and then transitions listeners into a slow-flowing break section featuring Lukas' cleans yet again. This slow section returns with more emphasis and we really get to hear a lot of Lukas on this track. The final third is where this one picks up. Marc's riffs just fit. It's as simple as that and he has clearly spent A LOT of time writing this album. There are also some great layers added for texture behind the main riffs and rhythms. 

Three-Fifty: A-

The Verdict:

So, is Matriarch worth your time? Without a doubt. This is some of the best work of one of the best modern metal bands around. Veil of Maya is proving to be like a fine wine, they are getting better with age. While many people will avoid this album all together due to the use of clean vocals, I really ask you to open your mind and give it a listen. I guarantee that there's at least one track that new and old fans alike can get down to. From start to finish this album just feels complete and full of wonderful musical ideas. I think that the inclusion of cleans has pushed them to new boundaries and will only further their music endeavors even after this album. 

Matriarch  = 9.2/10

Check out my favorite track from the album below!

PS - I was lucky enough to see Veil of Maya last night for the album release show. It was my first time seeing the band live with Lukas, and they played a great combination of new and old material. He really displayed his chops with some older tracks like "It's Not Safe to Swim Today" and "Resistance" while also absolutely slaying all of the cleans and screams from the material that he has written. Was impressed with the whole band as always and it was one hell of a show. 

Favorites of 2014!!

Finally, I have my list of favorite albums from the whirlwind that was 2014. I know it's like 2 months late but whatever dudes. Hope you enjoy and make sure to check out something from this list!

Honorable Mentions:

- A Voice Within - Intervals

- Once More 'Round The Sun - Mastodon

- The Joy of Motion - Animals As Leaders

- Antemasque [Self-titled]

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THE LIST

10. Descensus - Circa Survive

9. You're Dead - Flying Lotus

8. From Parts Unknown - Every Time I Die

7. Run the Jewels 2 - Run the Jewels

6. Under Pressure - Logic

5. No Peace - Trash Talk

4. Tomorrow's Modern Boxes - Thom Yorke

3. Black Messiah - D'Angelo and The Vanguard

2. Language - The Contortionist

1. Lost Together // Lost Forever - Architects

Exotype [Self-Titled]

          Exotype aren't some new kids on the block in the metalcore scene. These guys have been pumping out deathcore since the early 2000's, but they switched over to the name Exotype and started to focus on metalcore blended with hardcore and dubstep in 2010. The simplest way that I can sum these guys up, is that they are essentially a heavier I See Stars. They are very well versed in dropped tunings and gettin' funky with chugging, but they also know how to nail down a poppy chorus and it seems that they have found quite a pleasing blend between electronic and metal. While many elements do sound very familiar and similar to other bands in this scene, Exotype fins a way to add in their own blend at times to stand separated from the pack.

           Let's start with the first track on the album: Stand Up. All in all this song is a solid opener and foreshadows everything on the album. We get to hear a nice heavy opening with very solid cleans from Steven McCorry. This song is very structured and has plenty of different sections and verses to keep listeners entertained for multiple listens. Other than that, this is a very standard song and is one of the most generic on the album. However, there is plenty more to choose from on this album if you are looking to explore this bands unique sound.

          Nanovirus was the first single that Exotype released once they signed on with Rise Records. Back when I first heard it, it reeled me in with an eerie electronic opening that goes straight into some nice mid range screams and heavy guitar tones. The digital effects on this track are almost perfectly mixed. They take center stage at center points and at others, the electronic effects are perfectly placed in the pocket and mix very well with the rest of the instruments. / is one of my personal favorites on the album for a few reasons. The variation of verses is excellent while maintaining a melodic motif that brings everything back together. This songs also contains a kick-ass breakdown around the 2 minute mark that once again blends the electronics with metal to give us one of the heaviest sections on the album.

          The last song that I want to mention is For Those Afraid To Speak. This is one hell of a track. Guttural screams make for an intense vocal track, however this is one of the tracks that best show off Steven's cleans as well. One detail that must be mentioned with this band is their transitions... when they go from a metal section to a chorus with electronics, they actually make it flow. Many bands have been criticized for suddenly switching gears mid-song, but Exotype made sure to include fills and small sections that help ease you into a different sounding part of the song. And while it is a much different feel, it never loses the essence of the song, and all of the tracks sounds very coherent. This track features excellent transitions between the metal sections and a chorus with a gorgeous chord progression.

          If you're looking for a band who has completely re-invented the metalcore genre, then look elsewhere. However, if you'd like to scratch that metalcore itch, Exotype should definitely be a band that you look into. I'm not saying that these guys fall into the mix of generic metalcore bands, I'm just saying that they don't reinvent the wheel. I am quite a fan of this first outing from Exotype and would like to see if they can take their sounds to the next level and try to create an even more unique sound on their sophomore album.

Exotype [Self-titled] = 3.5/5

Check out Nanovirus and the full album stream!

       

Lost Forever // Lost Together - Architects

          Architects have always been at the forefront of the metalcore scene. While not being one of the most known bands, they are definitely one of the best. With this new masterpiece from Architects, they've done it... They have reset the bar for all the bands in this scene and show us what can truly be accomplished in this style of music. Melodic lines are flushed in with sections full of aggressive riffs that truly perfect the modern metalcore sound. Sam's vocals are at their best here with his melodic screams and plenty of BLEHS to bring it all together. It is just a complete and coherent album that puts many of the other bands in this scene to shame with some of their recent work...

          Gravedigger is the first track and damn do these guys know how to start an album. This track kicks in with wickedly fast drums and then drops into some brutal guitar shredding and rhythmic "chug" patterns. Sam's screams sound as great as ever and he truly shines through in the chorus when the melodic line can even be heard through his screaming. This track stays heavy throughout before bringing us to a reprise of the intro and leading listeners into the heavy section of the song to finish it off and leave us wanting plenty more of this sound. Definitely one of the best tracks off of the album. 

          C.A.N.C.E.R is easily the heaviest track on this record. Architects skip the bullshit and take us straight in with some heavy tones that are heard throughout the song. The chorus showcases Sam's unique melodic screams once again while not diverting from their more raw and organic sound. Architects is one of the metalcore outfits that have managed to stay away from "pop" choruses and heavily produced effects which gives them a very natural sound and gives them a great appeal to people who enjoy hardcore and more metal-based music. 

          The Distant Blue is the last track that I'm going to talk about from this album. This one changes it up a bit from the rest of the album, which is understandable because it is clearly meant to be the closer. It features a half time feel with Sam howling at his upper range. It feels like a much more laid back track than the rest of the album which is nice for a closer rather than the typical fade out with a relaxing melodic line. They keep chugging and pounding the drum kit right up until about the halfway point where it becomes very "vibey" and ambient. It's a solid track that is quite popular due to the highs that Sam is able to produce here. 

          I'll be honest... I am very biased towards Architects because they are one of the first bands that brought me to the metalcore scene. However, it is clear that they have changed the game here and reset the bar for all other bands in the scene. Many bands have followed their footsteps but deter from the path somewhere in order to be more accessible, but Architects stay true to their sound and deliver one of the best metalcore albums in many years. Definitely pick this one up if you are into Architects or any bands associated with the metalcore scene. 

Lost Forever // Lost Together = 5/5

Here's one of my favorite tracks off of the album!! (Broken Cross)

Issues [Self Titled]

Ahh it's finally here... The first full length from Issues! The spawn of ex Woe Is Me members Michale Bohn and Tyler Carter, Issues is a new band on the scene that really doesn't fall into line with the rest of the bands in their genre. Featuring slick bass lines, bouncy guitar riffs and even disk scratching and synths, Issues brings a new flavor of style to this very generic scene of music. Already having released an EP and multiple singles, these guys aren't newbies and know how to get shit done. This album is coherent and filled with graceful choruses from Tyler and bone crunching breakdowns with Michael's screams over top. As of right now, this is easily a personal favorite of mine and will be on repeat for weeks to come. Let's dive into some of the tracks and break it down for you...

Sad Ghost features an erie intro that lets us know that this album is off to a wicked start. Bringing out the big guns early, listeners are treated to some nice guitar chugging and riffing with Scout on the turntable scratching away. This is of course right before we fade away into a fantasy world with Tyler's clean vocals. This man truly is one of the most talented singers in the industry today and is at his best on this album. This track features a nice repeating chorus while keeping some underlying heavy elements present to remind us that it could drop to that low guitar tuning any second. Bit of advice... prepare yourself for the breakdown at about 3 minutes, it's gonna make you move no matter where you are. 

I wouldn't say it's strange to find songs on this album with a pop sound, and Late is a perfect example. This track starts off with a very standard four on the floor bass drum and brings in some pop synths and effects to complete the sound. Tyler's voice is complimented very well with this style and it's nice to see the band experimenting with so many unique sounds. This track is filling with pop chord progressions and whizzing effects, but it still has the stylistic marking of Issues with AJ's guitar tone and Michael's screams in some verses. It's a solid track that shows the range of sound that this group is capable of creating. 

The last track I'm going to discuss is  Personality Cult. This one really brings all of the elements together to create one hell of a song. We get that sick intro with some nice ambience and FX before going into a harmony that leads us into the meat and potatoes. The rhythms start of slow and distant before building up to the faster section with relentless guitar riffing and Josh Manuel pounding away on the drum kit. There's also a strong balance here of the two vocalist's rather than focusing on one of them like most of the other tracks. Also, this track is more lengthy than some of there others so it progresses throughout while maintaining strong elements from the main melody/theme. 

To be honest, I'm very impressed with the material on Issues. I knew that it would be solid no matter what, but these guys have really raised the bar as far as diversity and the material on this album blows away anything that they had put out up until now. I highly recommend this album and even if you can't get into the whole thing I guarantee at least one song will have an element that grabs you and leaves you wanting more. Definitely pick this one up and support the guys in Issues!!!

Issues [Self Titled] = 4.5/5

Check out the band's brand new official video for "Stingray Affliction" off this album!!

Clear - Periphery

          Periphery has always been on top of their game. They are now a well known group that puts out some of the grooviest, hard hitting tracks that are always unique and well receieved. A while back, the group made an announcement about the new content that they were going to be releasing. Clear is an experimental album in which each track is composed by a different member of the band. This allows the album to have range of unique styles an sounds, but in the end it all flows together to create some of their best material to date. You're definitely gonna check this one out...

          Each member of Periphery has made it clear here that they know what they are doing when it comes to song writing. While there is obviously some collaboration on the tracks, each member was really allowed to make their tracks their own and touch it up with their own style. Zero is definitely the highlight on this album and it is no surprise that it is Misha's song. Misha is a songwriting master and has taken lead on writing most of Periphery's past material. This song starts off strong with some nice chugs and rhythmic variation before kicking it into high gear. As per usual, the guitar work is wicked clean and the tones are crisp and just mixed beautifully. The section with the climbing arpeggios is a highlight and just brings the track to a whole new melodic level. Extraneous by Nolly is another track that is getting quite a bit of praise. It brings us in with some crunchy chords and mean drumming, but soon progresses into a fury of time changes and chord progressions. While the name of the track suggests otherwise, this one has the perfect amount of Messhugah inspired chugs and offbeat hits to make it a stand out track on the album. Notice also, that the vocals have been left out of both of these tracks. While that is in no means an insult to Spencer's vocals, it shows that Periphery can still get shit done like old times completely intstrumental (even with Spencer's spectacularly improved vocals). On that note, the tracks with vocals present are much more melodic based, such as The Summer Jam. This is not a bad thing at all as Periphery has always been great at blending together the best of the heavy and the highs. Spencer's vocal range has definitely grown over time with some of his screams sounding better than ever here. 

          Clear is a great concept for an album and due to Periphery's killer lineup and natural talent, I'd say that is has been a success. This album is great from start to finish and while only 7 songs, they are all songs that will keep fans more than happy until future notice. 

Check out the full stream of the album on Youtube here:

Clear = 4.5/5

Hesitation Marks - Nine Inch Nails

          Nine Inch Nails has always been a very unique type of musical project. Seeing as how the only constant member is Trent Reznor, it can almost be said that NIN is a one man band until they are performing live. However, the latest entry in the now 9 album discography is some great musicianship on Reznor's part. While NIN doesn't have a definitive sound,  they sure are unique and mix together the best of all their creations into one mixing pot which becomes an album. This album blends dark electronic riffs with distorted guitars and Trent's voice to create some very memorable listening moments. 

          Come Back Haunted is one track off the album that has been garnishing universal praise. With a poppy synth whizzing around and some darker electronics lying underneath, it is a great piece filled with musical ideas that only Reznor could produce. Late in this track there is a distorted guitar solo that truly sticks out and blends perfectly with some of the darker harsher electronics on the song. However, this song is probably his best outing on the album, so it's not necessarily downhill from hear while listening, but it doesn't get much better. Everything is another track that stood out and really mixes it up with the rest of the album sounding a little darker and more electronically based. This song sound like a classic rock anthem but then it adds in the raw effects and electronics of NIN before returning to a more conservative temporary rock track complete with some very nice vocal harmonies. Personally, I like the way the album kicks off. We are given an eerie intro track that leads into Copy of a which is my favorite track off the album. It features a kick ass synth line that blends excellently with the digital back beat to create a very nice rhythmic context. Trent also uses some vocal effects such as echoes and plenty of reverb to make his sound fit the open ambient feel of the track. As it progresses we are presented some nice synth pads and backgrounds that really bring this piece together and make it one that I think anyone will enjoy. 

          I'm not by any means calling Hesitation Marks a bad album. By standards today it is an amazing entry into NIN's already fantastic discography, but I feel like there is just a little missing that could have made this a modern masterpiece. However, there are 17 tracks in the deluxe edition (14 in the standard) which gives the listener plenty to enjoy, and trust me you will enjoy it. I just feel as if Reznor could have given us a little more and taken a few more risks to make this album his best yet. 

Hesitation Marks = 3.5/5