Saturday, May 31, 2014

Aaron Lopez- Barrantes Soothes the soul with his voice

Aaron Lopez-Barrantes, Is a 25 year old singer songwriter based in New Orleans, where he composes and writes all of his music. Lopez currently plays as the resident singer songwriter/guitarist at the historic Maison Dupuy Hotel in the French Quarter. He released his debut album “ALB” in June of 2013. In the past year, He’s played acoustic sets on New Orleans, WWOZ radio, Loyola Radio, and toured the Midwest and East Coast with Chicago based Great Divide Band.

The song “Stay The Same” has a blue grass sound with a hint of country. His voice is excellent reminds me of Dave Matthews. His voice is very calm, soothing, and relaxing. You can simply drift off into the sunset listening to this track. His lyrics are catchy and flow off his tongue well. I like the acoustic aspects of this song; He plays up tempo notes with portions of country from synths. This track is good for a long summer ride or just open up a cold beer by the bonfire outback.

“Scared of Heights” is one of my favorites off the album!  The guitar work here is unique and is played with an interesting style that you don’t hear much making it unique. I also like how he mixes in the brass instruments for the bridge of the song. The vocals are placed very well and give it great rhythm. His vocals are basically amazing to put it simply and how instruments build up midway through then slow back down to the original pace is absolutely fantastic!  He tells a story through this song, and it’s relatable which I like a lot. It reminds me of the band Chicago in some ways, but Aaron Lopez manages to put his own touches to it developing his own style and sound.

“Parachute”  Is another standout song, His voice is mind blowing and sounds even better with the classical instruments backing his acoustic guitar. I like how he mixed several instruments throughout this track, piano, acoustic guitar, and the violins it makes the song standout with a bit darker emotion. His voice is soothing and lyrics are great and have his own touch that gives life to the song.  His chorus is awesome and unique. “I think I’ll use a parachute and just float on down.” It’s interesting and intriguing to the subject matter of the song.


Aaron Lopez is an excellent artist and did an awesome job with his album “ALB” if you haven’t listened to it check it out! He’s relatable to Dave Matthews Band and Chicago. He has his own touch that gives him a great sound that shouldn't go unheard. He’s on the right track of getting himself known by touring, hopefully he catches on because talent like this is one in a million. A lot of great artists go unnoticed, but in the age of internet it makes it a little easier to find awesome music that’s not played on the mainstream radio. ALB is an excellent album and I would recommend it to anyone even people who aren't into the genre. I look forward to see what this guy releases in the future because I think it will be great! 

links:

The LEL Brothas Strike Back with the new album Pandemic sweeping the earth

The LEL Brothas all hailing from California, but formed in Prescott Valley, Airzona in 2006. They’ve achieved a lot in their career including 2007 song Dislocate charted in Southwest USA #54 of top 102 for the year, their 2011 hit “Hatas” was placed on Blockbuster video game Rock Band 3. They’ve also toured all four corners of the world. They are also gearing up for a video shoot for their new album Pandemic featuring the song “MR My Way” with Epic productions and youbloom.
The group features DJ Clone and Nytmare and includes Hype Man who performs with them live who’s known as LEL Step Brotha.



The song Hatas has a catchy hook and chorus. The beat is up tempo and they the Emce’s flow well on the track. The song is what I would like to call hype music. It’s something you would jam in the car before a party or if you’re in the gym. The lyrics are catchy and are what I like to call “fresh rhymes” The song structure is excellent with fitting chorus and hooks. Their production is also top notch.
“Drank Game” is a party song. The beat is very dance esque and made for a party. The vocals also follow suit with the title.  Grab a mixed drink or vodka straight and bounce to this. If you don’t well then you missed the point. His vocal style is different which makes him stand out from other Emce’s. I like the style and how they flow on the tracks.  I could see this being played on the radio or at clubs as a “hype” song. It’s up tempo and catchy just what people at the club like. Grab a drink and play the drink game.
“Big Basic” Is one of my favorites. It features a chorus by a female emcee and her voice is on point. The rhythm of the beat is up tempo and hype. The lyrics focus mostly on drinking, but they manage to fit in stellar rhymes and lyrics. The hook is catchy with “you can’t catch me” it gives the track a different feel from their other tracks and gives it a change from their other tracks. I can see this one getting radio play, or being played in the clubs. The synth is also dope on this track. The variation in the song from bridge to chorus makes this one a banger!   




The LEL Brothas are a hiphop group that you shouldn’t sleep on! Be on the lookout for Epidemic because it’s a party hype banger! If you like to drink and hit the clubs then you need to bump this one, I think people will be asking “damn who is that?” Everything from sick beats to aggressive flow’s with party lyrical content. And who doesn’t like to drink and jam some tunes and loose themselves in the club to some bangers? I think people will pick up on these guys fast!  You’ll catch me cruising to the beach with this album, will I catch you?


links:
twitter.com/LELBrothas
Facebook.com/LELNation
Instagram.com/LELBrothas
Youtube.com/LELBrothas
www.LELBrothas.com

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Jiggley Jones Brings a new sound to the Dirty South






Jiggley Jones is an award-winning Americana singer/songwriter from Eastern Pa. He is the 2013 International ndMusic and Entertainment Association Songwriter of the Year, a 2-time 2014 New Music Award nominee, and a 2014 Independent Country Music Association Award nominee for Best Americana artist. His debut EP, No Spring Chicken, spent more than 6 months on the roots music charts, receiving international airplay on more than 300 stations. The follow up, ...A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A Light... was just released earlier this month. It's his first with Lamon Records Nashville. 

Jiggley Jones has a very seductive voice with relaxing piano and guitars. A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A light is an excellent addition to the Indie scene.  The genre is relatable to soft rock with blue grass elements.  The song Early Morning Light begins with a catchy guitar rhythm later adding the addition of the piano which gives the song great melody. His voice is calming and has a sedative sound on this track; it’s almost like a lullaby to pass out in the summer time.
Hope in a Bottle begins with a country style, but the vocals are more classic rock, he reminds me a little bit of how Axle Rose used to sound. The vocals are very profound and stand out through the song. The instruments are nice and fit the song at an easing tempo. The lyrics are nice and mellow calming like a cool breeze passing through your hair. I really like the melodies and the drums don’t override the vocals, their calming and at a lower volume so the guitars, piano, and vocals stand out a bit more. I think this is my favorite track off the album. It seems to have this very calming tone and great production quality. I think this is radio worthy and the repetition in lyrics doesn't get redundant at all, because it sounds excellent!

Walk On Me begins with a dark over tone which catches my ear very quickly. I can tell this one really means something deep down. The piano is soothing in the darkness and his lyrics seem to be questioning the present and future about his significant other.  I also really like the layering of the vocals it makes them stand out that much more. He sings from experience and expresses his feelings well. The song is relatable for anyone who has been shunned by someone else.  The guitar solo in this track is spectacular. I wasn't expecting it at all, but it fits the melody of the song very well with the down tempo beat. This song speaks volumes with the song stricture and great rheumatic patterns.


Jiggley Jones is an excellent artist and it shows in his musician ship and lyrics. I can see the mainstream appeal here his music is catchy and melodic respectively and the song structures fit that mold. I think Jiggley Jones will gain a lot of fans after this release and become more popular as they progresses as a musician. 


Friday, May 16, 2014

Ulises Is Ready To Launch His EP Six to The Multiverse





 Ulises has come out with a versatile banger EP titled "6" ready to be released on May, 22nd. He ranges from genres such as pop, dance, and hip-hop and does them all extremely well. The production quality is excellent and is definitely something that can be compared with what you would hear on the radio. His vocals are catchy and have this vibrant feel to them. You can tell that he put a lot of time and soul crafting each and every song.

The song "Love Frontier" is one of my favorites on the EP. The vocal patterns are stellar with magical melodies. The back track has a very dance groove sound to it. I can definitely see people hitting it off at the club to this track. The instrumental is up tempo and has its "drops" where everything seems to reach this new realm of calamity then picks right back up from where it started. It's like taking a ride on a rocket ship and just blasting off. It's truly that perfect summer track for a night drive. The chorus is phenomenal, and I love the synth to support the vocals. The bass also "bumps." Sometimes you get those dance tracks where the bass doesn't pound, or it pounds to much, but this is perfect. The synth gives the song an abstract sound with spacey aspects.


The song "Sodalicious"  Is very creative and interesting. The beat is up tempo and contains heavy bass. His verses are very experimental and different. He changes his voice with ease, and adds a chorus that is very distinct with unique lyrics. The beat has a lot of different sounds going on and gives the song depth. I like how Ulises takes a risk by changing up the pace through the EP. We heard mainly pop/dance songs and now he manages to fit a hip-hop/rap  song in all while making it work not just well, but extremely well. I think this track really shows off his talents and shows what he can do. He's very multi-talented and not afraid to show that by leaving his comfort zone.


The song "Sugar Cane" is another one of Ulises better tracks. His vocals are phenomenal, I can hear a resemblance of "Usher" here through the R&B style. His voice fits the song structure well with the melody and layering of his vocals. The instrumental has a very spacey synth backing track that makes you get lost in the sound. I can see this song being played in raves, though it's not as dance friendly it's still a great track to just chill out to. The production is phenomenal and you can hear the emotion through his voice. This style really fits him and his voice. His vocal range is also limitless hitting high notes, and staying in key.



When hearing 6 you better be ready to put your dancing shoes on because Ulises brings it! The EP is very versatile covering several genres which keeps it entertaining. You also wont be hearing any filler tracks through this EP.  Ulises fills 22 minutes of celestial awesomeness! Get aboard for take off because this one will lift you off your feet!


http://www.ulisesworld.com/



Nicholas Wolex brings back soul with the release of the EP If You Had

Nicholas Wolex is a artist hailing from the United Kingdom. The release of his 7” inch “If You Had”/”No Regrets” will be supported by several performances around London entitled “An evening with N Wolex” during which the audience will be treated to personally scored music sheets that accompany the delicate performances, harking back to the time of live classical music.

As the world moves forward further into the digital age, N Wolex hopes to preserve the legacy of a human voice speaking for the unspoken and unseen. The tonality, the journey and drama that can be conveyed by the cosmic coupling of music and lyrics.

With the release of his two song EP that contains stellar production quality and unique vocal patterns. N Wolex' first song No Regrets has a great relaxing piano backing beat. Her voice is very powerful and she's able to get her point across. Her melodies are very catchy and her ability to diversify her range is spectacular on this track. Her harmonies are entirely synced with the beat and are very well done especially when she layers her vocals. The layering gives the voice and song a lot more power and makes the chorus "I don't want no life of regrets" that much more profound. Her voice also comes much more natural. She doesn't have to mask her stellar voice behind vocal effects like auto tune.

The second track on the EP is titled "If You Had" This track has a lot of soul influence in it. The track begins with a great backing beat, and followed by her powerful voice. The one thing I notice in this track that stands out most is the drums, and the involvement of more instruments. The instruments make the song a lot more complex which I like. Her voice also goes very well with the males voice both of them sound great together and make an outstanding duo. "If you had showed me the love I wont be so lonely" Sounds phenomenal especially with how the verse is repeated, followed by the wicked piano backing track. When he sings in tenor vocal range it sounds absolutely fantastic! This is by far my favorite track on the EP.

Though the EP is only two tracks totaling 8 minutes and 20 seconds E Wolex really executes their talent on each of the songs. He's a great composure and has an ear for what works for him. I think his EP will be a huge success that will hopefully inspire him to release a full album to fully showcase his talents.



Thursday, May 15, 2014

Sprightly Moans Captivate The Minds of Classic Rock Listeners

Sprightly Moans released their 3rd EP titled Demo's III on January 30th 2014. The band has a old classic rock style with a Jim Morison like vocal approach. The EP begins with the song "Blushes All Around" The song has crunchy guitars with distinct vocals. The production gives it that classic feel. It's not overdone like a lot of bands are done these days. I also enjoy the southern style riffs.  The drums are also not your regular style of drum patterns. This guy likes to hit the crash symbol! Which I like a lot, and did I mention very lively distinct drum fills. The song structure is done well with great riffs and patterns. Everything within it seems to be placed well. The vocalist also doesn't rely on reverb to acquire his sound.
The second track on the EP "I wanna be Afraid"  begins with distinct drum fills and raging riffs that stop on a dime, to make the drum fills more profound to our ears. With the vocalist singing in key "I wanna be afraid" gets his point across in an very interesting way. I especially like the lyric "I HOPE ALL OUR PLANS WILL FALL APART" Makes him feel like he wants to feel hurt, or the emotional backlash from the situation. The guitar riffs are simplistic, but it fits the song and makes the drums that much more prolific. the lyric "Tomorrow we will hang our mouths on a nail" shows us pain, from doing wrong. Then the chorus "I wanna be afraid" tells us that he is unsure. which I like a lot because a lot of times we are unsure how we want things to end up. His voice has a very distinct sound and I think this makes him that much better. He sings in key and the singers melody is excellent especially with how the vocals are layered together.  

The third track on the EP "Love is Nothing Without Eternity" starts off very slow and relaxing. It has a hint of jazz, country, and just old school rock to it. The guitar is very mellow underneath the vocals which give the vocals a stronger sound. "Love is nothing without eternity, so you are coming with me." this lyric rings through my head when I hear this. It's like he's afraid of what his partner may do, and to be safe he wants his significant other's comfort and compassion even in death. The lyric "ease our throbbing minds." shows pain, from life and is based on the thought that death will ease pain. I think we can all relate to that at some point in our life's. Though the lyrics are dark the guitar melody is like a lullaby before going to sleep, or in this case death.



The three track EP is very enjoyable and will be a good home for any fan of classic rock. Often in today's music it's hard to find artists that go straight to their roots without mimicking them entirely. Sprightly Moans brings a fresh spun sound that will have their listeners captivated. I think these guys have a bright future and I look forward to their full album release. 



website
soundcloud
bandcamp
youtube

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Freddy Charles Is Not Human (I'm Only Human Review)

Freddy Charles is a one man band meaning he recorded everything from the guitar, drums, bass and of course vocals. His brand new album “I’m Only Human” is available on itunes, Spotify and other independent music stores. Freddy Charles has been recording since 2008 and has 7 records under his belt.  I’m Only Human has 13 tracks all together.

Need My Love is very is a very jazz soul filled track! The song reminds me a lot of Santana. It’s relaxing, warm and heartfelt. The vocals are excellent and very well produced with stunning choruses and lyrics. The drum fills are immaculate that fit the track very well. The drums give it a more jam out rock sound. He includes a lot of guitar solo riffing, which is great in its own regards if your into long jam out tracks to get you going.  It’s progressive in how it starts out, then picks up pace as the track goes on.
End of an Era begins with excellent guitar riffs that are somewhat dark in there regards, and even out with a solo. The vocals then pick up shortly after which again Freddy Charles has an excellent voice his voice is something you would hear on the modern day radio. I love the guitar pedal effects done through the track riffs with the vocals over it. IT adds an experimental feel to it. The progressiveness is excellent especially with the instrumental break in the middle. He ends the track like the beginning with an epic solo to finish off this master piece.

Put Me Down starts out more up tempo than some of the other tracks which is a nice change up. I can really hear the Santana influences here in the guitar, but this track falls more into the rock column rather than jazz although I can hear the influences. The vocals really make this track; Freddy Charles has a very powerful voice that soothes the ears especially with how a lot of music today is simply unnatural. Freddy Charles can belt out highs and lows like it’s nothing and still stay in key. Through the middle of the song there is a stellar jam session filled with guitar solos and amazing drum fills from out of nowhere. He really brings the heat on this track and shows off what he can do.

Learn as We Do is an instrumental track that begins very mellow and is a great change of pace from songs like “Put Me Down”. I can sense a lot of emotion throughout this track. The lead guitar filling with stellar solo’s and the backing guitar using an effect that gives it a spacey feel, making you really just ride the notes. The drums are excellent and I love how he uses complex patterns throughout. Towards the end of the track, the song begins to get even more spacey where we hear samples of a voice saying “oh my goodness” I believe and it has a delay to it.



Freddy Charles hit this one out of the ball park! If you are looking for something that brings a Carlos Santana musical style with a mix of Pink Floyd and classic rock, then pick up “I’m Only Human”. This is one of the best rock albums I've heard in sometime. It’s very creative, and honestly doesn't get boring at all. Each song has its own unique style to it, with excellent music structure and patterns. The drumming, vocals, and guitars, are beyond what I expected. When you find someone that can make unique drum patterns you know you have found a diamond!


twitter

 Interview 
1. what are some of your influences? 
I draw from all styles of music, but mainly rock, jazz and blues.


2. do you plan on doing a tour or have you done any tours?
I have not toured. I'd love to do one though. It's difficult being that I need to assemble an entire band-but am up to the task for sure.


3. what do you think is wrong with mainstream music today?
I think it has just gotten so removed from anything remotely musical. It lacks melody, harmony and soul.


4. Are you looking to sign a record deal, or do you plan on staying independent?

Depends on the deal, I do things my way for the most part but would be open to work with a good label.


5. what got you started in music?
Started playing drums when I was 4 or 5. My dad put me on the set and then started me on the practice pad.


6. When you get writers block how do you break that? I stop trying to write. I don't get it to often anymore because I've completely changed the way I write music. Before, I'd hash it all out on a guitar and try to write everything in one shot. Lately though, I find that just being in the studio laying down all different types of tracks just keeps me creative.




Sunday, May 11, 2014

Rocketboat drops with a splash

Rocketboat, is a group of young guys that created a compilation of 12 songs for an album titled “Rocketboat” The album was released in the winter of 2012 and has remained underground. The group sound reminds me of the likes of My Chemical Romance, and System of A Down, but not as heavy. Rocketboat has a very punk rock feel to it as well as experimental elements.
No Consolation is one of my favorite tracks on the album. The intro is very chill and catchy with it’s melody. When the vocals hit their very firm and have great lyrical content. The vocalist voice makes pretty steady and has a great melody to it as far as the patterns in the song. The guitars are what I would like to call fairly experimental and more rock sounding. The solo is wicked, that adds that extra touch that a song needs to make it go from okay, to awesome.  The chorus is also catchy and fits the song structure very well. The ending ends with a more shouting style of screams, which I enjoy it adds a lot of emotion to the song especially when he shouts “listen to me”.


Olympia Gold has a very punk rock feel to it. The vocals are great and fit the song well. The guitars are upbeat and played at a faster tempo. They also have a good change of pace, especially when everything just stops on a dime and starts back up again. This track is also filled with a sick solo which is very much lacking in today’s music scene. The main riff is great but the lead guitar seals the deal with his creativeness and his diversity.  The drums are played well, I enjoy the tempo and the “pop” the snare gives throughout the song makes it feel very real, since a lot of today’s drums are programed.
The song Rocketboat begins with great grooves from the guitarist, and begins with vocals that are well done and well placed. The clapping that we hear during the track makes the song sound much more pop punk, but the riffs are more complex than your regular pop punk. I also really like the instrumental break through it where what I believe we hear some synth or a guitar effect that gives the song a very spacey sound to it. Half way through you think the song is going to end, but it picks back up and the tempo becomes much faster ending the song with waves of chaos from all the instruments. This makes the sound very futuristic with and adds “hype” to it. It all almost sounds like everything is just going to explode, or take off to Mars. After the song is called rocketboat.



Overall I really enjoyed this album. The riffs are different and complex. The time signatures are spot on and the vocals are very well placed and produced! It’s hard to find vocals done these days that aren’t over produced, or under produced I think these are right on point and fit the sound of the band very well. I would definitely check this band out and give them a listen if you’re into punk!



See more on their blog http://blog.rocketboat.com/2014/05/rocketboat-goes-blog/

links:

Friday, May 9, 2014

Dance of Atoms brings a new element to dance music with the release of Atom & Eve

 'Dance of Atoms' is releasing their debut EP  titled 'Atom & Eve'. It consists of  seven banging up beat dance songs. The official release of Atom & Eve is July 7th and will be available for $7. As implied by the band name, the tunes are infectiously catchy and entice listeners to dance. Lyrics range from topics of love, anger, jealously, joy, and more. 

'Atom & Eve' is available for digital download on their website www.thedanceofatoms.com but the physical cds will not be available until July 7th. The album will also be released on itunes, google play, amazon etc. 

Each 'Atom & Eve' physical CD cover is a personal and unique creation actually hand-made by the members of Dance of Atoms. The track listings, lyrics and album info are all hand-written as well. It will be a simple paper-fold design intended to be opened once and then preserved as either a poster or decor of some sort. There are only going to be 100 copies of these one of a kind creations initially made available to the public. (Again going on sale July 7th for $7)





Dance of Atoms created an EP that is very catchy  maintaining outstanding rhythmic song structures. The song "I still love you" is one of the elite tracks on this EP. The synth starts it off with a very catchy beat. The vocals are also stellar on this one. At times the song reminds me of Eiffel 65. The drum beat is fairly basic which makes it a easy song to dance to. I also like how the song changes tempo through out going from slower, to fast making them have a very progressive sound.  This is probably the most relatable song for people dealing with relationship issues. (and who doesn't deal with that) Regardless the song is catchy and  rhythmic. I can really seeing this one being played at the rave or dance club.  The next track on their EP is titled "The 80's" This one reminds me a bit of the band Orgy, which isn't a bad thing at all. I like the vocal patterns in this one along with the effects they use. The beat is up tempo and catchy. The lyrics are also well written. The break in the song is awesome 1:24 to about 1:50 you really get lost in the music. The chorus is great as well, and well placed. Then ending with a instrumental break, which contains wicked synth playing and up beat drums. 

Another great track off this album is a cover originally by the legends Queen. This track is very different from it's original form. It starts off with a similar sound as the original then quickly changes to a synth and almost dub like sound. I can really appreciate what they did here because they really made it there own. When we reach the instrumental break then begins the chaos created by the synth's, but then switching back to the familiar beat played through out the song. The steady changing of patterns and sounds make this one great because it's not your typical song structure, they went over and beyond when the break hits which I really wasn't expecting. 

I can change is the last track on the seven track EP that really stands out. It's relaxing and chill while maintaining an up style beat.   The vocals are pretty sweet on this one I think, Especially the girl's voice. The beat is also very catchy and rave like. I also think the chorus is pretty catchy, with the mixing of the guys voice and girls voice because they mesh together pretty well. Having dual vocals also gives the EP a good change in style from the other tracks on the album. 

The EP as a whole is well constructed and written. With Atom & Eve being their first release I think this band has a bright future. The production on each track is well mixed and mastered. There's some part's I don't like such as the auto tune on certain vocals, but I think that adds to the dance scene side of it. 




links:
thedanceofatoms
facebook
youtube
twitter

Semtex kicks summer off with a bang with the release of EP Versitile


Semtex is a dubstep artist following in the footsteps of his predecessors zomboy, koan sound, and Flux PAvillion. Semtex is an electronic and dubstep meshed sound. He released his first EP "Into Existence" in 2013 and has recently released another EP on May 4th 2014 titled Versatile. Versatile is very well produced with a chill club style sound. The EP has four songs starting with the track Northern Lights which contains amazing synth's and changes throughout the track. The song is up tempo and fairly mellow. Northern Lights also doesn't contain that "wub wub" sound that you hear in hard style electronica. I can really see this track being played at parties and at a club. It makes me want to get up and dance, or get a lift in. If ZYZZ was still around I believe this would be his tune. He keeps the drums simple and to the point which I like while focusing more on various synth sounds, which are very fresh for the style of music. The next track on the EP is titled Crystal blue has a Nintendo like sound to it which I really like. The track contains these progressive stops and "re-up's" which make it a great jam to get your day going. The drums are more up-tempo when they are present. This track has that "liquid" like sound to it, that makes my brain simply melt in a good way. The change in song structure and patterns is also very refreshing and nice. The next track is titled Versatile. Versatile has a very progressive and up beat sound. This one is truly a banger. The synth is very wild once it hits it's peak which makes his sound expand beyond what I was expecting. The song structure here and set up is great, it has this squeaky synth sound, that adds depth to the track. The final track on the EP is titled space-invader. With a song title like that I was expecting a gamey sound. And I was right! It's like listening to an advanced version of classic Mario. I say advanced because The track on the EP absolutely rules. It has it's peaks and it's come downs which again give the song depth. I really want to go collect coins on banjo kazooie after listening. 2:16 to 2:55 is absolutely amazing! The build up is beyond epic and very creative. The synth style here is very unique before it kicks back into the previous synth line.

This EP is and should be an Electronica/dubstep favorite. The synth style is very much his own and unique.Especially with tracks like Space- invader. The wall of sound that is created here creates an array of awesomeness. Versatile is truly something awesome that should give his fans, and fans of electronica something to look forward to. I can't wait to see what Semtex comes up with next.


links:
Semtex music


Saturday, May 3, 2014

Zero Verdict progressive rock that dominates

Zero verdict is a progressive rock/metal band from Oulu, Finland. Founded in 2013, The band has members from bands Myon, Vermivore, Machina and King's Ruin. The band's first EP is titled "Clarity" and is being released in digital format which can be found on their bandcamp and reverbnation page.



Zero Verdict really blows the roof off the house with this one. The vocalist has an excellent voice. His range is phenomenal, and he can really hit the high notes. Not to mention the production quality is very good. My favorite track is titled "the perfect white lie". The guitar work is done very well with catchy riffs at an up tempo speed. The music as a whole is very refreshing with great drum patterns. The vocals are what make the track amazing for me. The chorus is really something special with a voice that reminds me Iron Maiden. The track also has a wicked solo strategically placed within the song structure which adds to the song's heaviness.

Another one of my favorites off this EP is titled "alone" the track begins with a stellar opening riff, with an acoustic guitar backing behind it. The song then mellows down, to full acoustic, where the voice then kicks in, which packs a punch lifting this track to new heights. The song then quickly shifts to a faster tempo with the dominating opening riff by the lead guitarist. The song is 6 minutes and 45 seconds long, which is longer than typical songs, but each second is worth it! The style and changing of riff patterns is done swiftly and well. Alone also has an epic guitar solo which lasts nearly a minute. The song is a great jam to relax to or get a lift in. It's one of those song's that can fit any mood. The next track on the EP is titled Lost in a Haze. This song is very progressive, starting with the lead guitar which is using an guitar effect which makes the sound dream like or puts you in a trance. The voice is also great, with nice lyricism. The drum fills also support the guitar and vocals by not being overdone. The track's guitar work is superb throughout the song with another magnificent solo that can't be out done. The band really collaborates well with each other and enhances each other's play significantly. The last track on the EP is titled "Clarity" This one starts out very mellow and a bit darker than the other tracks as far as the overall sound goes. The vocals dominate the intro with light guitar play backing his vocals. The song has a great build up and picks up momentum throughout the song. The track ends how it started very mellow and relaxing as the guitar fades out.


Clarity is a prominent EP. I really look forward to see what Zero Verdict does in the future because this is very promising. The band plays very well together and fits perfectly like a glove. I was also very pleased with the recording production. Usually the drums over power the vocals, but it's not the case here. The vocals, drums, and guitars, all blend perfectly together. If you are into prong rock and metal then this EP is something you should check out!


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroverdict
Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/zeroverdict
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/zero-verdict/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ZeroVerdictBand
Bandcamp: http://zeroverdict.bandcamp.com/

Friday, May 2, 2014

Cityspeak Audio-Tech-Noir raises the bar for electronica music

Audio-Tech-Noir is Cityspeak's first album! Though this is CitySpeak's first album it's created by a veteran in the genre based out of New York who has worked on various projects with different names since he was a kid. The album is for those whom are electronica fanatics or those of you whom are into experimental, dance, chill out music. This album shows that music has no boundaries. It sends you on a vast pace of relaxing and up beat tempos with very Nintendo like sounds. One of my favorite tracks off this album is Fata Morgana, It has a great build up then just drops you off in the depths of the ocean part way through, then brings you back up to the surface. The track is much like riding a wave or roller coaster, it's not steady and that's what I enjoy most about it. The different patterns make it that much better. Another great off this album is Pris. Pris has a very robotic sound to it, It reminds me of being stuck in a twirling black hole waiting to escape the grasps of time. The sounds are very creative and refreshing. The artist really creates an entirely new world on this one, the drums become facade behind the wall of synth sounds which is great, because often the drums and bass dominate the sound. C-Beams is another great on this album. This track provides a feeling of being lost, as it builds up into this almost surreal sound. The sample that is used also provides an added effect to the emotion of the song. Without words this one truly speaks to the soul. C-Beams being just over six minutes really just takes you on a journey of its own. It has a blend of trip hop into it as well, which makes this a great track if your into relaxing electronic music. Departure is another great song on this album! It's very chill and gives you this feeling of purity where you can just sink into your chair and melt away with the sound. The sample of the girl’s voice adds more substance to the already loaded track. The feeling is very
Nostalgic I can really lose myself in the track.

Cityspeak really made something great for electronic and experimental fans.Audio-Tech- Noir goes above and beyond my expectations of what an electronica album should sound like. It truly breaks the mold of this over saturated genre. The album will send you on a whirl wind of past memories zooming beyond what is and was your life. Don't be afraid to get lost in Audio-Tech-Noir.





Links:
http://cityspeak.bandcamp.com/


http://facebook.com/cityspeakmusic/

Mr. P Chill takes underground HipHop BACK

Mr.P Chill Is a long time Hip-hop artist due to release a fresh album of liberation titled Persistence on June, 3rd 2014. It's been two years since his last release and may I say Don't sleep on this album, it packs a heavy weight title punch. Opening up with "The one word" Where Mr.P Chill tells us what to expect on the album with a brief overview of the album behind a nice beat. The album contains 17 tracks of ill beats and an old school style of rap flow. This kind of hip-hop has been lost in the archives, but Mr.P Chill has really brought it back! One of my favorite tracks is find our way home. This track has a very chill beat, something you can relax to with a very hard style of flow. It's a great mix because they complement each other well. His lyrical content is real and relatable. Another great track is Tomorrow, the beat is very different, but a good kind of different. You won't be catching this on mainstream radio! Even though it's probably better than Rick Ross. The samples are very well thought out and placed. Not to mention his flow of words is really something special. Nothing to lose will be an underground classic! The beat is new age, but not the typical trap beat. I also love the sample "freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose" It blends well with his lyrical content and speaks volumes about our society, without getting overly political. The album is great filled with a plethora of great rhyme schemes, flows and beats. Each track has its own "feel" to it and it's something you can chill to or go on a summer cruise. The beats are very old school hiphop, reminds me of something you would hear from Fresh Prince of Bel Air. He has solid hooks and great features that change up the pace of each track and his style that he hand carves on each track. The production quality isn't Jay-Z level, but it doesn't subtract from the amount of work Mr.P Chill put into this album! Check it out, and support underground hip-hop!