album reviews
Reviews of albums old and new from iconic artists and up and coming musicians alike.
Pvris — All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell: Album Review
Lead singer Lynn Gunn marches through a destructive atmosphere, she fights against the droves of demons which rack her brain, and she tries to overcome the strips of darkness which pummels the light. She’s damaged, there’s no doubt, but she’s an angel, shifting between rooms filled with love and hate. And on new record All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell, Pvris quiver the spines, their output is of struggle, but redemption comes. Gunn sings with pride, she pushes her bellows like red alerts, and she has written lyrics of her broken past, a past blotted in fear.
By Mark McConville8 years ago in Beat
Album Review: Bobaflex 'Eloquent Demons'
Bobaflex has just issued their latest album, Eloquent Demons, the follow up to 2015's Anything That Moves and their first for new label Thermal Entertainment. It's the group's eighth album overall since their Mason, West Virginia origins which date back to 1998; a long and often painful band history that includes various lineup and label changes and even label bankruptcies among other various temporary setbacks.
By John Parks8 years ago in Beat
Lil Uzi Vert - Luv Is Rage 2
Will his new release solidify his place in Hip-Hop? How did we get here? Since bursting onto the scene in 2015 with Luv is Rage, Lil Uzi Vert has been a magnet. He has managed to keep polar opposites talking about him—both his haters and his fans. After several mixtapes, a feature on “Bad and Boujee,” and the success of “XO Tour Life,” his career has skyrocketed to new heights.
By Rap Disciple8 years ago in Beat
Green Day: American Idiot—A Saving Grace
In 2004, a band from California revitalized their careers with a record which sent shockwaves through the industry. That band was Green Day, an act predominantly hooked to punk, a group of aging rockers looking to latch onto the prize once more. The prize would be acclaim from critics who thought the band was derailed, falling wayward, giving up. But they were rekindling their brand as punk showmen.
By Mark McConville8 years ago in Beat
Brand New: A Retrospection and a Record of Wonder
It came like a red alert, it startled many minds, it now dazzles with its emotional entanglement, proving that the New York band Brand New love to surprise. They did so with their new record Science Fiction, an album which truly resonates, and an opus, formidable in its execution. With all the hype surrounding it, 500 copies of it were sent to unsuspecting fans who pre-ordered. This sent shockwaves through the industry, it managed to create a storm of bewilderment, but nobody complained.
By Mark McConville8 years ago in Beat
Neck Deep: 'The Peace and the Panic' – Album Review
Pop punk is a strained genre and it has many acts under its umbrella. But, there’s always a shiny gem, a diamond in the rough pushing through for glory. That band is Neck Deep, an act raising hairs with their brand of loud, unapologetic, emotive, sneers. Led by vocalist Ben Barlow, they add a sense of intelligence to a scene which has somewhat faltered over the years. This stems from lacklustre releases and a bloated formula, sounds which imitate, and that’s not good for a genre that should be celebrated for its glittering past.
By Mark McConville8 years ago in Beat
Review: Rob Markman's 'Write To Dream'
From covering rappers as editor and writer for platforms like Complex, VIBE, The Source, MTV, XXL, to currently holding down the position of Head of Artist Relations at Genius—Rob Markman has now embarked on a new venture. Last month he released his official debut album, Write To Dream, and it was a surprise to everyone. A pleasant surprise, that is.
By Sadé Sanchez8 years ago in Beat
Review of Tyler, The Creator's 'Flower Boy'
Tyler, the Creator has released his fourth studio album, FlowerBoy—the follow up to his 2013 CherryBomb. The 14-track album features the likes of Frank Ocean, Lil Wayne, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell, Estelle, Rex Orange County and more. On the production side, Tyler enlisted... well just himself. Yup, Tyler produced and wrote the entire album. Surprised? Not really, his name is "the Creator” and well he's always been the master mind behind his albums. The guy is a creative genius, you should expect this by now. What happens next is not much of a surprise either.
By Sadé Sanchez8 years ago in Beat
Dry The River - Shallow Bed
In 2009, Dry the River made their name through numerous festival performances and charity gigs. Although they were members of post-punk hard-core bands, their folky gospel sound is refreshing to the ear. Shallow Bed, their debut album released in 2012 is far from disappointing with a distinct depth across the album acquired by the effective layering of instruments.
By Maddie Christy9 years ago in Beat
Album Review- ACCEPT -Rise of Chaos (Nuclear Blast Records)
Legendary German metal stalwarts Accept have just released their new album Rise of Chaos, the follow-up to their 2014 release Blind Rage and their first since yet another lineup change. On the final track "Race To Extinction," vocalist Mark Tornillo sings, "We can change this story, adapt and compromise, balance is mandatory, open your eyes. Is this the race to extinction... a race to the end." He's singing about deeper world issues of course, but in the opinion of some longtime fans, he might as well be singing about his band and their place in the 2017 metal landscape.
By John Parks9 years ago in Beat
Positive Metal
If the Deftones would constantly have two guitar players on duty, this would be it. Welcome! Grab a chair, lean back, and get ready to enjoy a good piece of art. Just as if you were about to drink great wine but with just a little bit of cork aftertaste. Whether the latter is pleasing or not lies in the ''mouth'' of the beholder (or ear, to be more precise).
By Pierre Feltz9 years ago in Beat
