The Devil Wears Prada

With Roots Above and Branches Below

May 5, 2009 Ferret

I know nothing about the movie starring Ann Hathaway and the ever so awesome Meryl Streep, and I know very little more about the like titled band from the Buckeye state. I do know that they’re Christian, hence the name, they have a keyboardist, and the lead singer also owns a clothing company. I also know that I’ve never liked the band before, but of course as you all know, I’m a close minded f__k and never listen to anything new and actually give a chance.

Back towards the beginning of the Maystache month Bk said I should listen to the new TDWP record ‘it’s rawkin’, he said. Of course I was skeptical and didn’t really feel like giving the band a listen, but I previewed the song Ben Has A Kid and boy was I was impressed. This band follows the whole metal-breakdown-sing songy chorus-breakdown formula that every other band in the world seems to abuse, but these guys seem to do it just well enough to please my eardrums. With Roots Above and Branches Below is a great listen from front to back and will have you banging your head until it hurts. The singy choruses are just catchy enough to be passable and the breakdowns are heavy enough to make you rewind the song back a minute or two to listen to the bombastic thing again.  So far in 2009 this falls just short of best metal of the year to Architects ‘Hollow Crown’ which was released back in Feb. Give that disc a spin, it punches you in the face. But I am quite sure both of these metal releases will fall farther down the list after Killswitch Engage and He Is Legend and August Burns Red and Darkest Hour come out, hopefully at least, those bands usually don’t disappoint. Give The Devil Wears Prada’s latest Ferret release a listen, you out to enjoy it. [3.5/5]

Mastodon

Crack The Skye

Reprise Records

March 24, 2009

I’m sure most of you out there in Bearsland have heard at least one song from this record, maybe seen the video for Divinations, hell-maybe even listened to the whole record. Mastodon’s latest release Crack the Skye is making major waves in the music industry, and rightly so, Crack the Skye is nothing short of amazing.

If you’ve never heard of the guys, let me inform you. Back in 1999 in  ATL these dudes got together and thought to make a grungy alt metal sludge proggressive kinda cd. In ‘02 the band released their first disc Remission, which was hmmm..eh I’d say. Then in 2004 Leviathan was released with a super cool Moby Dick artwork cover, also with some super cool tunes such as Iron Tusk and the uber cool Blood and Thunder (currently a track on Guitar Hero: Metallica). In 2006 Blood Mountain was let loose to high critical acclaim and a giant (and growing) fanbase. This disc contained the rad as hell song Sleeping Giant and spawned European tour with the almighty Tool. Skip three years and Mastodon releases Crack the Skye, the fourth installment of their concept records (this one being about a quadraplegic, astral travel, and Czarist Rasputin). And the cd has a bear on the cover.

Several months ago I downloaded the first two singles Oblivion and Divinations, both of which I enjoyed, nothing spectacular, but good nonetheless. A couple weeks ago the cd dropped and I purchatized it on itunes, my ears were graced with a very Black Sabbath-y, Ozzy esque record that delved deep into the creative musical folder. I don’t like Sabbath, nor do I like Ozzy, but I like, no love, this record. The songs The Last Baron and The Czar…(both clocking in at over ten minutes) explore the limits of rock music like none other in recent memory. With this cd Mastodon have set themselves on pedestal of their own in the current rock scene. They’ve raised the bar on their own creativity and will most likely find it very hard to top this record in years to come.  This record is my current fav of the year and will definitely find its way into my top ten maybe top five (if Darkest Hour and Killswitch Engage and Dredg and The Bled and He Is Legend and Circle Takes The Square and I’m sure I’m forgetting some, don’t suck.) Great job!! Mastodon, you rock. [4/5]

Closure in Moscow

First Temple

Equal Vision, May 5

A couple months back Brandon let me in on a band from down under named Closure in Moscow. These guys released an EP back in mid 08 entitled The Penance and the Patience. This six song disc was wildly solid and contained a slew of catchy and addictive tunes. The band brings to mind a mild, less angry Glassjaw circa Worship and Tribute era, a lot like the band Secret and Whisper if you’ve ever heard of them. Nowadays, via Equal Vision records, the band release their first full length entitle First Temple. Myself and Bk couldn’t wait to hear the disc. Brandon likes the music, I on the other hand…don’t. This cd screams The Mars Volta, and as all of my golden fool followers out there know, I detest the band. They’re the best example of a great initial cd with following records that go straight down the shitter, and all along with critical ass-kissing. I digress, sorry, I hate The Mars Volta, and I don’t like this cd. There’s nothing catchy about it, the singer comes off as being almost whiny, the guitar riffs aren’t near as imaginative and rockin as the Penance disc. But alas the music is different and talented and maybe later on down the musical road I’ll like it more. [2.5/5]