Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Review of "My Scarlet Sins" by Across the Street

  
     I want to preface this review by saying this music was all new to me and I really enjoyed it.  Considering it was a collaboration from multiple musicians that don't make up an entire band, it was especially impressive.

     "Today" is a somber ballad introduced by an emotional mix of acoustic guitar and piano followed by lyrics to follow suit, " Looking in the mirror, the reflection remains the same, but a stranger looks at me."  It tells the story of a mother marrying a much older man entirely too soon, and her son's struggle with it.

     "Take a good look at what you've done, this is your one and only son" is a key line in "Unforgiven".  Another acoustic ballad, referencing a mother who arranged to be unavailable for her son's wedding ceremony after finding out a civil union had already been performed, and the pain it caused the groom.

     I caught hints of Queensryche and Pearl Jam, with a whisper of Armored Saint in "Doubting Myself (Again)".  This track about someone questioning the basis on which decisions were made, teases as though it will be a ballad, then picks up and cranks!  "Make Believe" is a rough cut of a poem the singer's father wrote about choices we make, put into lyrical form.

     "What it Takes" pulls no punches right out of the gate, instantly reminding me of Alice in Chains.  Lyrics such as, " Try and tell me I'm wrong, cause you're not that strong, you can't just look me in the eyes and say...you're not that brave, when will you ever learn to see, you just don't have what it takes," speak of religious intolerance.

     You can check out all this music from Across the Street on ReverbNation:

http://www.reverbnation.com/acrossthestreet





Monday, January 14, 2013

Review of Act of Violence's Self Titled CD

 
      "This album was a journey fueled by our love for music and metal in particular.  A bunch of guys getting together with nothing to eventually produce this album.  Music is an escape from the daily routine, a way to vent, express one's self, or escape.  TRANSCEND"....Marcus McKenzie
 
      "Transcend" sets the stage for Act of Violence's self titled CD.  "Rise from obscurity.  Escape from reality.  This is the one thing you can't take away from me.  Rise......"  With Shawn Adams on vocals, Marcus McKenzie and Scott Mansfield on guitars, Jason Phelps on bass and vocals, and Chad Kerns on drums, this concoction of tracks such as "Dead and Gone", "Jeffrey Dahmer" and "Killing Fields" is just what metal fans need to quench their thirst.

     "Ahh Judy"  leads you through a downward spiral as the song progresses.  "Kill or be Killed" and "Lost Soul" initially take you back to the old school metal days, then quickly remind you this isn't 1985 anymore.

       Titus Rodriguez of Cleveland based metal/thrash band Feargrinder makes a guest appearance on "Fuck Humanity" and Aaron Ferguson and Eric Slone of Mithridium share lead guitars on "Kill or be Killed".

     This album took three years to make, well worth the wait, and is a must have for any metal collection.  Keep up with Act of Violence any way you can:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Act-of-Violence/107656899271349

http://www.myspace.com/actofviolence1

http://www.reverbnation.com/actofviolence