Bite Me! CD Reviews A - F

Adema – Insomniac’s Dream (Arista)

Funny how a recording of seven songs now is now referred to as an EP.  I remember a time when seven songs constituted a full album.  Damn, I feel old.  Somehow, I doubt Adema remembers those days.  Oh well, whatever.  Insomniac’s Dream, the prelude to the band’s upcoming sophomore effort, starts off with “Immortal,” a new track that is featured in the Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance game.  This decadent tune reflects a darker side of Adema that many may not have known existed.  Bongos add a nice touch to the commendable cover of Alice In Chains “Nutshell”.  Chris Vrenna also deserves a round of applause for his sinister remix of “Freaking Out”.  However, Sam “Severs” mix of “The Way You Like It” wasn’t as cool.  “Do What You Want To Do” is the only live offering on this ‘EP’ and, quite frankly, it blows.  The song should have been left off or included with the enhanced portion of this disc, which includes some cool clips from Deadly Alliance and three videos.  -NIN

Amateur God – Near Life Experience (Wampus Records) 3/4

Amateur God is the brainchild of Blaz Erzetic, an ambient techno artist from Slovenia whose ominous compositions would fare well in a David Lynch movie or a B rated vampire flick.  This ethereal offering is a comprehensive piece of work that piles together standard hard metallic beats, droning ambient textures, mellow acoustic rhythms, and mild vocal samplings.  The end product is an eclectic blend of dark moody compositions that are best enjoyed on a moonlit night or under the guise of candlelight.  Amateur God’s songwriting structure is solid; however there is room for improvement.   -NIN

The Ataris – So Long, Astoria (Columbia)

So Long, Astoria is The Ataris major label debut after many years and CD’s for Kung Fu Records.    The Ataris have rightfully earned a huge fan base from extensive touring and their quirky brand of punk-emo – the question was, would this translate to a major label?  And would their fans make that transition without the traditional cry “Sell Outs”?  I am happy to report that So Long, Astoria should make new fans very happy, since The Ataris now sound just like every other punk-emo band, and fans from the Kung Fu days will be disappointed at first.  The quirk is gone, and in its place are production values that can only be bought.  The urgent nature of previous recordings is gone, everything is polished up real nice for the kids.  You be the judge – if you like the new single “In This Diary” you will enjoy the entire CD.  If not – go listen to Blue Skies, Broken Hearts…Next 12 Exits, a far superior Ataris CD and the best by them.  [Note: So Long, Astoria debuted at #24 on the Billboard Charts today.  Congratulations, guys.  –J]

The Beautiful Mistake - Light a Match for I Deserve to Burn (The Militia Group)

Indie rockers The Beautiful Mistake are neither beautiful nor a mistake.  They’re attractive yet generally not at fault.  Their ambitious hard rock-pop is well played, but feels familiar.  Co-vocalists Josh Hagquist and Shawn Grovers’ pained screams sound curiously calculated to serve the song rather than based on true rage.  That said, the extremely dark “Stabbing Backwards,” a song completely filled with pain, rejoices in the final line “And I will rise above you.”  The sorrow continues in the mellow and melodic “Circular Parade”.  With lines like “It binds my heart. It blinds my eyes so I give in. I don’t want this anymore. You’re in my circular parade of failure,” it is clear The Beautiful Mistake have their issues.  The pride of Riverside, CA, The Beautiful Mistake recorded Light a Match... with Ed Rose at Red House Studios in Kansas maximizing his ability to make them sound like an angrier Get Up Kids, whom he also produced.  With striking lyrics, I wish their production didn’t sound so produced. -Brendan McMahon

Beatsteaks – Living Targets (Epitaph) 1/4

Hailing from Berlin comes the Beatsteaks, a rambunctious unit whose retro rock musings will have you salivating like Pavlov’s dog.  The group’s urgent delivery compliments faster tunes and accentuates slower songs as well.  Comprised of twelve energetically charged tracks, Living Targets is guaranteed to set your stereo ablaze.  Adrenalized riffs, phat hooks, and lots of snarling attitude fuel such vibrant offerings as “God Knows,” “A-Way,” and “Run Run”.   Haunting vocals and distorted effects add an eerie feel to “Disconnected”.  The melodic strummings of “Mirrored” & “Soothe Me” serve to balance out the madness.  This fiery collection ends with the breezy “Summer.”  This song is destined to be an anthem long after the season ends.  -NIN

Bombshell Rocks – From Here and On (Epitaph/Burning Heart) 3/4

Adventure is the name of the game on the Swedish punkers’ third release, From Here and On.  Much like Husker Dü, Bombshell Rocks’ music changes direction at every bend.  The high-energy rockers that make up this diverse offering are spiked with a wide variety of influences.  On the surface it appears that Bombshell Rocks suffers from a slight case of multiple personality disorder.  But, luckily it works to their advantage as the album’s appeal lies in its versatility.  The band member’s disparate tastes can be heard in the country twang of “By The Blink of an Eye,” the tambourine chimes of “Dream, Dream, Dream,” and the unforgettable melodies of “Cheated Again”.  Blurring the lines between thrash and punk “My Own War” pushes the adrenaline levels into the red and is by far the heaviest offering on this disc.  To say the least, From Here and On is anything but dull.    -NIN

Brazil – Dasein (Fearless Records) 3/4

Brazil gives a whole new meaning to artistic.  The hardcore noise outfit constructs some seriously heavy music that truly defies classifications.  Unfortunately, this is not a compliment.  Dasein starts off with “Monolithic,” a song that will remind old-skool metal heads of Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law”.  From there the band goes off on a number of weird tangents, and the points kept dropping with each track.  With its beatnik poetic musings, “Cannon” was the biggest penalty scorer overall.  Brazil has a bad habit of smothering their songs with dark atmospherics and spaced out melodies and “Saturn Parkway” is a good example of such.  “Life Death” sounds like something Devo would have penned if they suffered from PMS. (Thankfully, they didn’t).  The progressive “It Keeps The Machine Running” brings this quirky offering to a close.  If you like odd, non-directional music you may be interested in what Brazil has to offer.      -NIN

Breaking Benjamin – Saturate (Hollywood Records)

This may be a new category that has not yet been coined.  If that’s true, remember your heard it here first - Sunny Metal.  Listening to Breaking Benjamin’s Hollywood Record’s debut, Saturate one can only think of metal that is not heavy, hard, or nü but simply sunny.  While taking in Breaking Benjamin one tends to notice some of the easier to swallow metal bands of recent.  Bush is the first and obvious influence.  Mix that in with a dose of Alien Ant Farm, Lit, and some neighborly Live from Breaking Benjamins’ home state of Pennsylvania and you get the happy, hard rock picture.  It’s hard not to be caught by the catchy chords of the disc’s opening tracks “I Wish I May” and “Medicate”.  Lead singer Ben Burnley’s vocals could fit in with any hard rock station in America.  Aaron Fink’s guitar is powerful without intimidation.  Rhythm section Mark James Klepaski on bass and Jeremy Hummel on drums pound away with sunny metal steam.  One has to wonder when Gwen Stefani will ask Breaking Benjamin to open a tour for No Doubt.  -Brendan McMahon

BT – 10 Years In The Life (ffrr / Reprise)

10 Years In The Life is a comprehensive overview of BT’s extraordinary musical career of the past 10 years.  This blistering release is packed with so many dance floor gems that it’s hard to single out a few.  Brian Transeau may be the godfather of trance but this double CD set spans far beyond.  10 Years In The Life chronicles BT’s dedication to shaping and redefining electronic dance music on a global level.  Dub, trance, D&B, breakbeat, electronic progressive, and various combinations of house are all represented on this exuberant mix.  Disc one features some of the artist’s finest original creations from Ima, ESCM, and Movement In Still Life.  Disc two includes some of BT’s best remixes and collaborative works to date.  The icing on the cake is the booklet that is included with this set, which contains the artist’s comments and the history behind each song.  It’s really a nice touch.  If you buy one album a year, make it this one.  Your dance collection is not complete unless it contains BT’s 10 Years In The Life.  -NIN 

Buckethead - Bermuda Triangle (Catalyst Entertainment)

Presenting a record that will only drive the KFC-chapeau wearing guitar shredder further down into cult obscurity.  Avant-garde guitarist Buckethead, who recently replaced Slash in G 'n R for no discernable reason other than a paycheck, decided to take a major step towards minimalism with his new album of instrumentals.  The results aren't going to please ambient fans, and they sure aren't going to please Buckethead's fanbase.  Expecting him to shred, instead he puts together too many acoustic guitars and keyboards with 19 mostly short tracks that come off as brief delusions of boredom rather than the experimental histrionics that he's adored for.  I hope he's found a good girlfriend or something so we can have an explanation as to why he's gone so soft. - Repojay

CKY – Infiltrate, Destroy, Rebuild (Island)

CKY is more than just a band - it’s an entity.  And the group’s fans will attest that CKY is a lifestyle as well.  However, life for the CKY campers is about to change because the Pennsylvania quartet have broken out of the skate punk mold and applied a new wave sheen to their trademark riff-heavy sound.  Infiltrate, Destroy, Rebuild is less manic and much more open-minded than its predecessor.  The first time I heard this record I thought I was listening to a different group.  I pulled it out just to make sure that it was CKY and not some random band.  Come on.  Do you really expect to hear cheesy synths on a CKY record?  Well, they are on here and “Frenetic Amnesic” is loaded with them.  The 4/4 disco beat of “Plastic Plan” also threw me for a loop.  However, the Black Sabbath inspired riffs of “Shock & Terror” were easier to digest.  A majority of the songs follow the poppy verse/soft chorus formula, which posed the question: Is CKY going through an experimental phase?  A glimpse of the band’s old self peeks through sporadically (“Flesh Into Gear” being one of those moments).  The album’s closing track, “Close Yet Far,” sheds light on the awful truth…the CKY boys have grown up.  -NIN  

Claire Voyant – Love is Blind (Metropolis) ½

One of the better acts on the ubiquitous Metropolis, Claire Voyant features an ethereal female vocalist (Victoria Lloyd) and a backing band willing to work within the confines of such.  It works for an ambient background, but upfront I wouldn’t have Claire Voyant as a constant spinner in my CD player due to the fact that they can cure insomnia.  Nice for the genre – recommended.  -J

Clockwise – Healthy Manipulation (RCA)

You’re kidding, right?  As much as Clockwise and RCA would like, 80’s rock isn’t coming back in its purist form, and we’re all better for it.  -J

Congress of the Cow (M-Theory Records) 

Usually, I love it when publicists highlight the tracks they think reviewers will want to hear.  Congress of the Cow needs to fire their publicist.  The tracks highlighted are some of the weakest on the CD (not only that, but highlighted track 7 – “The Lie” which was actually track 8).  Not that their self-titled CD isn’t weak – it’s just not really really strong.  I love independent music – but this brings to mind the multitude of nameless, faceless independent bands of the mid-1990’s – they all tended to sound alike, have the same guitar swish, the same swagger and loudness with not so great songwriting.  Apparently Congress…is great to watch live.  So was Gwen Mars.  I wish them the best of luck and a swing of the pendulum in their direction.  –J

Count the Stars – Never Be Taken Alive (Victory) 1/2

Count the Stars must watch a ton of sitcom television.  Every song on the album could be the theme song to a new WB teen show.  And that is a great thing if you are looking for sitcom soundtracks for the next cornflake love scene in the next Felicity episode.  Chris Kasarjian, the Captain of this (semi-) crunchy pop-punk band, packages his relationship sorrow into songs that should appeal to the kids ‘cause they are decent musicians.  But, when I am at the store and I’m buying the generic cereal cause its cheaper than the good stuff I at least want a really fucking good toy somewhere in it.  Something to brag about.  Count the Stars doesn’t offer anything in the way of surprises.  Turn off your television, the MTV is hurting your careers, pick up a music magazine pre-1990 and expand your mind kids.  Read some decent books to expand your thoughts so you can come up with some really outstanding lyrics, ‘cause I’m closer to hitting stop on the ol’ CD player than I am to feeling one tear of sorrow for you.  -Tim

Covenant – Northern Light (Metropolis)

The Swedish synth trio breathes new life into the electropop scene with their latest offering Northern Light.  This cyber-flecked disc is driven by deep droning tones, spiraling keyboards, thudding beats, and somberly intoned vocals.  The album’s tracks alternate between energetic dance gems, like “We Want Revolution,” and emotional synth-pop offerings, such as “Winter Comes”.  “Monochrome” derives its appeal from an assortment of enticing industrial undertones.  The pulsating techno beats of “Call the Ships to Port” are irresistible.  “We Stand Alone” highlights the band’s futuristic pop sound, and “Invisible & Silent” is a ballad worthy of a Bic salute.  Northern Light ends with “Atlas;” a track that stirs up fond memories of Depeche Mode.  -NIN

Damone – From The Attic (RCA) 3/4

Hook infused pop-leaning punk seems to be the current mainstream rage.  The only thing separating Damone from being lumped in with the boy bands of punk and Avril Lavigne clones is a 17 year-old tomboy named Noelle.  This little firecracker possesses more cred in her little pinky than “I will have a new look next year” Lavigne.  To their credit Damone’s material has more substance than the pack of poser punkers.  As far as mall-ternative teenie-bop punk-pop goes, the Massachusetts based unit isn’t half bad.  The bright shiny rockers that make up From the Attic are loaded with melody and fueled by an abundance of quirky tempos and dirty riffs.  Enjoyable, but if you’re over the age of twenty you may have a heard time relating to songs about hanging at the mall and other trivial teenager woes.  -NIN  

Deride  - First Round Knockout (The Music Cartel)

This sophomore release from Bergen, Norway’s own prodigal sons displays the powerful force that is slowly becoming Deride’s trademark.  With songs written and fueled by an alcohol-induced insanity, Deride’s energy and extremely powerful grooves make it difficult for a true metalhead to wedge this disc out of their CD player.  Even though Frediablo (singer / projectile guy on cover) states that the band’s musical influences are mainly ‘70s/‘80s style rock (AC/DC, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath), their sound seems to be more of a Pantera meets Ministry kinda thing.  -Colin Bowel

Diary of Dreams – Freak Perfume (Metropolis) ¾

More techno-industrial from Metropolis.  Yeah.  They’re all sounding like the bastard children of Skinny Puppy and Front 242 to me at this point.  And that really accurately describes Diary of Dreams who adds nothing original or inspired to the genre, and is weak comparatively.  Oooh, they have scary male vocals with a piano and electronic instrumentation with metronome beats.  Nope, not working at all.  -J

Digger – Keystone (Hopeless) 3/4

This boisterous pop-punk outfit has a unique and playful sound that many will find to be downright irresistible.  On Keystone, Digger shamelessly ropes the listener in with a full-on assault of driving beats and alluring riffs.  The band’s melodic injections are the secret ingredient that makes their material so easy to relate to.  This is an album you can sink your teeth into.  Stocked with fully realized hook-filled anthems, Digger’s Keystone will be an instant hit with the nü-punk crowd.  -NIN

Disarray - In The Face Of The Enemy (Eclipse) 1/2

Another triumph for one of the underground’s pure metal contenders.  It’s been more than three years since 1999’s Less Than Respect came damn close to breaking that year’s independent metal sales.  With the help of GWAR front man Dave Brockie on production, Disarray may have a chance to beat their old record.  With heavy metal and a Southern influence on his side, singer/writer /guitarist/founder Chuck Bonnett’s driving force has won votes the hard way – with a ‘For the people’ attitude and writing influenced by hard life experiences from lessons learned.   -Colin Bowel

Disturbed – Believe (Reprise) 1/4

Believe is the metal album for the new millennium.  The disc showcases a whole different side of Disturbed - a leaner side.  This sophomore effort is reflective of the band’s maturity as musicians as the emphasis has switched from heavy to melodic.  The menacing Draiman sings more than he yells and on the epic “Remember” he proves that he can do more than just make bizarre animal noises.  Thankfully, the pierced frontman hasn’t gone completely soft.  His gravel throated bark still rears its head on such heavy-hitters as “Liberate,” “Intoxication,” and “Rise”.  The ballad-y “Darkness” is an interesting closer that suggests more surprises lie ahead.  All in all, it’s obvious that Believe will undoubtedly fare well with more sensitive types.  I, for one, liked the barbaric intensity of The Sickness, but, then again, I spent half my youth in mosh-pits.  -NIN    

downthesun (RoadRunner) 1/4

Slipknot fans have a new band to go crazy for and it’s called downthesun.  Meshing together the world of death and nü-metal, downthesun’s brutally intense debut derives its power from a vault of pent up angst and aggression.  This is the kind of album you listen to when the urge to break stuff can’t be ignored.  The rapid-fire double bass and blood curdling growls of “Pure American Filth” make it quite obvious that these mid-westerners mean business.  The vocal pairing of Aaron & Satone add to the insanity.  Aaron’s straightforward croons balance out Satone’s satanic screams.  The duo battles it out like good vs. evil on the album’s frantic but catchy offerings.  The psychedelic psycho jam sessions of “Revelations” and the insane rants of “Pitiful” confirm that this is some seriously fucked up shit.  With that said, I suggest you pick up downthesun and crank it all the way past 11 baby! -NIN 

Dragpipe – Music For The Last Day of Your Life (Interscope) 1/4

On a mission to end rapcore, Dragpipe harnesses the fuzzed-out fury of stoner rock and the grinding aggression of sludge metal to create their blasting amalgamation of high-energy rock ‘n’ roll.  Think Mudvayne on a speed induced acid trip.  If you like your metal with lots of crunch then you’re bound to break a few teeth over tasty submissions like “Chaos is Motivation” (the title alone says it all).  All the songs have their moments. “The Cruise” is a menacing track that pays tribute to Prong.  The thrashing stoner rock anthem “Simple Minded” sticks like glue.  “Puller” and “Quest In Time” are extreme offerings that deliver a sever blows.  “Fountain of Pain,”  “Seeds of Change,” and “Playing For Keeps” follow a more radio-friendly format but hardly take away from the outrageousness of this over-the-top album.  Why go to therapy when you can indulge yourself in Music For The Last Day of Your Life?   -NIN

Dredg – El Cielo (Interscope)

Dredg is a band that defies categorization.  Their complex and worldly sound spans all ends of the musical spectrum.  On El Cielo the artsy unit utilizes a prog rock template and brushes it with colorful strokes of organic splashes, Middle-Eastern accents, acid jazz arrangements, and scratching Latin rhythms.  The end result is an album that is surprisingly beautiful and richly unpredictable.  El Cielo douses the listener with gentle beauties in which Gavin’s vocals flow smoothly over odd time signatures and cascading melodies.  Each inspirational offering matches the group’s sharp intellect with their skillful musicianship.  The melancholy “Same Ol’ Road” will make you weep every time you hear it.  “Brushstroke: Walk in the Park” is a striking piano instrumental highlighted by orchestral accompaniments.  “Whoa Is Me” pays homage to the godfathers of Jazz.  “Brushstroke: An Elephant in the Delta Waves” leans heavily on Middle Eastern textures, while the drop dead gorgeous “Triangle” floats by on a sea of Bulgarian chants.  All in all, El Cielo is a tunefully captivating album that offers a tasteful view of things that inspire Dredge musically.  –NIN

Dropkick Murphys - Live On St. Patrick's Day (Hellcat Records)

For a band doing the drunk punk Irish thing the Murphys aren't as creative as The Pogues were.  However, after 7 or so years of playing they've really settled into being a damn fun band.  This live memento, recorded on St. Patty's Day in their hometown of Boston, surely has a lot more spunk and energy than the recent Shane McGowan live record recorded on the same day.  And while they may not bust out an accordion, they do sing a Creedence cover, let someone propose from the stage, and sing a song that is PRO cops that's actually heartfelt and genuine.  Plus, you can hear the band and the crowd getting drunk and having fun.  Boston hometown pride ripples thru this disc making it one of the more enjoyable live recordings you could possibly own.  -Repojay 

The Fenwicks - Truth & Memory (Flip-Dog Discs)

There's little doubt in my mind that The Fenwicks, the self-proclaimed Afro-Celtic Yiddish Ska band, whip up a fervent following wherever they go with their zany energy, Superman-cape-wearing lead singer, and ridiculous onstage banter to fit their odd genre classification.  On disc, though, they are as grating as a Michael Bolton record remixed with "Metal Machine Music", especially because it's a live disc where none of the energy filters thru the speakers.  The banter reeks of "you have to know me to get me" and the Afro-Celtic Yiddish portion of their genre type gets only hinted at because the singer reminds you of it in his so-called witty repartee (in 5 of the 17 tracks on this disc!).  And it gets worse.  The final 2 tracks consist of a bad ska TV medley and a remake of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" where all the lyrics are changed to "blah".  These are neither Afro, Celtic, Yiddish, or good, for that matter.  Heck, they were barely amusing when this trend first started 10 years ago.  Now it's just painful.  -Repojay

Flashlight Brown – All That Glitters Is Mold (Double A Records)

This three song EP and the band’s live show were enough to garner Flashlight Brown some ink.  This energetic band mixes punk’s bombastic energy with the power of great guitar rock.  All That Glitters Is Mold is chock full of catchy, upbeat tunes that are fueled by harsh vocals, loud guitars, and plenty of distortion.  It’s a fun album that is enjoyable and easy to po-go to.  Visit the band’s site at www.flashlightbrown.com and keep an eye out for their full-length due out soon.  -NIN

Further Seems Forever - How to Start a Fire (Tooth & Nail)

Wait... What is this???  An emo album??  A good emo album??  Wow, it sure has been awhile since I heard one of these.  It seems the emo scene has been plagued with mediocrity and downright trash lately.  You have all these bands who think they are emo, when in fact they are just pop, and then you have bands with lead singers that have ovaries the size of watermelons; like the ovaries of Chris Carraba.  Which brings me to inform you that Ms. Carraba is no longer the lead singer of FSF and has been replaced by Jason Gleason.  Now all you emo girls and girls, uhh... I mean boys, don't need to worry.  Gleason is more than capable of filling Carraba's shoes.  Think of him as Carraba with no ovaries.  Now, with that said, this release is undoubtedly one of the better emo albums I have heard in a while.  It seems to be free from pop (as much as possible) and is put together well.  Instrumentally the melody and emotion come through very well.  You can expect the inspirational yet soppy lyrics typically associated with an emo band.  The biggest improvement, by far, is vocally.  I know a lot of you are stuck on Carraba, like a 14-year-old to Carson Daily's crotch, but believe me, Gleason's vocals fit the FSF style much better.  Favorite track on the album is "On Legendary," which is by far the most emotional track.  The only downside is that some of the tracks on the album are sleepy.  You don't see it throughout the disc, but it is apparent.  Besides, you can't expect much more from an emo album.  If you like emo I am sure you will like this, unless of course, you think Blink 182 is emo because they sing about their girlfriends being meanie-heads.  If this is the case, you can jump off a bridge.  -R-Lo