I figured I would tackle a bunch of the albums that have been submitted to me over the last few months. This next collection were albums that do not quite qualify as metal. This is a metal site, so from this date forward, it will be very rare for me to review a non-metal release. I just wanted to get some stuff out of my email for now. Some of these were decent, some were unlistenable, but I tried. Again, from this point forward, I may not review a submission that is not metal. I will still likely listen to it, but I will probably only review it if it is truly exceptional.
BLACK DEPTHS, GREY WAVES: NEVER FOREVER SIMPLY DONE (2013)
I tried to parse that album title, and I just can't. I don't know what it means. The music is some sort of industrial/drone/noise, something or other. Two tracks, each one over 20 minutes, and just noise. Nope. Not for me at all.
Black Depths, Grey Waves.
COLD-FEET CONTROL: TALES OF THE BROKEN-HEARTED PT. II (2013)
Okay, what in the hell is this? It appears to be metalcore/screamo mixed with techno or something like that. Seriously, I cannot even get through this thing.
Cold Feet Control.
DEAD DARK SLIDE: FEEL THE HEAT (2013)
I have gotten three or four emails pushing me to review this thing so I finally relented. It was not worth it. Dead Dark Slide is a gothic rock band with a lot of Marilyn Manson-isms in their sound. The promo materials were incredibly deceptive, referring to this group as "industrial goth rockers" and mentioning "shredding guitars" and "death metal with a twist." There is not a lot musically going on. There are no riffs to speak of, just some atmospheric keyboard parts, drumming, and the occasional strumming on the guitar. This is basically a heavier version of The Cure or Bauhaus. Absolutely nothing metal about it, with the exception of the track "F-ck Haet", which does actually feature riffs and some more guttural vocals, but that's it. And since I am not a goth, this really does not do much for me at all. Pass. Some of you may like it, I am not among you.
Dead Dark Slide.
END ALL ELEGANCE: PROMO (2012)
Huh. This is decidedly not metal. It is definitely more of a rock feel, the occasional heavy riff complemented by some softer sounds. Definitely melodic and emotional. The songs are reasonably interesting but not really all that different from a million bands we have polluting the airwaves. Think most modern rock radio. It's not bad, but definitely not something I am all that interested in.
End All Elegance Soundcloud.
LAZY BONEZ: VOL. 1 (2013)
Lazy Bonez is billed as a "heavy metal-oriented" (bad sign there) band featuring some members of Tarot, a Finnish metal band. There are some decent-sounding songs on here, definitely some catchy stuff. "First to Go-Last to Know" is an interesting track featuring vocals from Marco Hietala (Nightwish) and Udo Dirkschneider (if you don't know who he is, you shouldn't be reading this site). But beyond that and the ridiculous "Poker Face" cover, there is not really a lot to say about the album. It is not original in the least. The talent is there and it is kind of a fun listen, but I would not say it is essential.
WHIPPING POST: THE CAT O' NINE TAILS (2013)
This one is kind of interesting because it really sounds like something that would have been released in the 1970's. The guitar tone, use of keyboards, and the vocals all sound very much like classic rock from the '70's. Think Kansas, Edgar Winter Group, Foghat, and others. There's something to be said for something like this, but really, why not just listen to the bands from that time period?
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