Archive for the 'Music' Category

Trench reviews The Strange Case Of… by Halestorm

Published on April 22, 2012 by Trench Reynolds in Music. 0 Comments Tags: , .

I’ve been a huge fan of Halestorm since I saw them at the Uproar Festival in 2010. I loved their debut album, I thought it was almost flawless. I bought the ReAnimate EP when it came out and was amazed how they could take some crappy songs and make them into amazing covers. I bought the Mz. Hyde EP when it came out. That had 4 songs from the new album on it and I thought that if the rest of the album is this good it will be better than the first one. Alas I overhyped the new album to myself because it didn’t quite reach the punch of the first album.

Don’t get me wrong this is still a phenomenal album. In my opinion Lzzy Hale is the best female rock musician since Joan Jett. She write with a raw sexuality without being overly crude that some female artists do to overcompensate for not being male. This album has a lot of that but not as much as the first album.

Also when I bought the new album I thought it was too ballad heavy but the more I listened to the album the more I realized that some of the ballads are really really good.

The main reason that The Strange Case Of… isn’t as good as the first album is because it has more skippable tracks than the first album. On the first album there was only one song that I didn’t really care for. On this album There were two tracks that weren’t my cup of tea and one of them was a bonus track. I find the song American Boys, which is one of the skippable ones, reminds me too much of early 90s hair metal.

While it sounds that I am trashing this album this is not the case at all. Halestorm is one of the most entertaining bands I’ve listened to in quite a long time and The Strange Case Of… is definitely a hard rock album that not only kicks ass but will also having you waving your lighter in the air.

4 fedoras out of 5.

Now here they are with my favorite song off the album I Miss the Misery.

Review of Th1rt3en by Megadeth

Published on November 10, 2011 by Trench Reynolds in Music. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Just like I said about Iced Earth’s Jon Schaffer, Dave Mustaine is conspiracy theorist and ego-maniacal prick but he’s also a musical genius. However that did not translate well on Megadeth’s new album Th1rt3en.

While Dave’s conspiracy minded lyrics were great on United Abominations it was annoying on Endgame and just downright boring on Th1rt3en. Not to mention while the guitar work on this album is amazing more than half the songs on this album are just mediocre at best. To be honest I only liked about 5 songs on this 13 (natch) track album.

2 1/2 fedoras out of 5.

Here’s Sudden Death which in my opinion is the best track on the album.

Review of Dystopia by Iced Earth

Published on October 24, 2011 by Trench Reynolds in Music. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

I’ve said before that Jon Schaffer is a conspiracy theorist and ego-maniacal prick but he’s also a musical genius in my opinion.

I was a little apprehensive to hear this album because I know nothing of new vocalist Stu Block. I was a huge fan of Matt Barlow and an even bigger fan of Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens. Stu holds more than his own on this album and is a worthy successor. He even sounds like an amalgamation of Matt Barlow and Ripper. That’s a compliment by the way. Jon Schaffer has once again struck gold with his choice of vocalists.

This album is a theme album much like Horror Show was. In case you haven’t guessed the theme of the album is dystopia. Schaffer’s writing here is excellent as always and continues to be the American Iron Maiden by writing a few songs about dystopian movies such as V for Vendetta, Soylent Green and a personal favorite of mine Dark City. Something that bugged me about this album though was it seemed like some of Schaffer’s other project, Sons of Liberty, bled into this album. Minor annoyance though as I actually liked Brush Fries of the Mind even though I didn’t agree with all of its subject matter.

Now I’ve been a fan of Iced Earth since Something Wicked This Way Comes and every album since then has had a personal anthem for me on it. This album is no different. It’s not the song Anthem as you might guess even though that is one of my favorite tracks on the album. My anthem from this album is End of Innocence that Stu Block wrote about his mother having terminal cancer. That really hit home for me as most of you know my mother passed away this year from cancer. Thanks to Stu and Schaffer I now have a definitive song to remember my mom by. And when I say thanks to them I really mean it. It is a personal thank you.

There’s not a bad song on this album but it’s not as epic as the two Something Wicked Saga albums.

4 1/2 fedoras out of 5.

Here’s End of Innocence. I miss you mom.

Would he look upon us now in anger and disgust?

Published on July 4, 2011 by Trench Reynolds in Music. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

For Independence Day I present to you Valley Forge by Iced Earth. Listen to the song, listen to the lyrics and ask yourself if we deserve what we have.

Halestorm collaborating with Weezer?

Published on June 26, 2011 by Trench Reynolds in Halestorm and Music. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Halestorm

Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo Working With Halestorm On New Album:

I love Halestorm. Personally I think they’re one of the best rock bands to come along in decades and Lzzy Hale is the best female talent since Joan Jett. Having said that I’m not surprised that Rivers Cuomo of Weezer is helping Halestorm with their next album.

Granted I am far from a huge Weezer fan however even I know that Rivers Cuomo knows his music no matter what genre.

I don’t know if they can top their debut album but it’s looking pretty good to me.

Aiming for heaven though serving in hell

Published on June 6, 2011 by Trench Reynolds in Music. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Since today is the anniversary of D-Day how about a little Sabaton with Primo Victoria.

I can’t imagine the horror that all the Allied troops must have faced.

You made my heart melt yet I’m cold to the core

Published on June 4, 2011 by Trench Reynolds in Music. 0 Comments Tags: .

I like Adele because for once she’s a pop star with a great voice and not just ‘a look’. I also lover her southern sounding style even though she’s from the UK. Unfortunately I only liked a handful of songs off of 21.

2 1/2 fedoras out of 5.

Doro Pesch to sub for Ripper on some Dio Disciples dates

Published on May 17, 2011 by Trench Reynolds in Music. 0 Comments
Doro Pesch

According to Blabbermouth the former frontwoman of Warlock, the ever amazing Doro Pesch, will be subbing for Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens on some dates of the European tour for Dio Disciples. Dio Disciples is the band formed in the wake of Ronnie James Dio’s death in order to perform the music that he was working on at the time of his death.

A lot of people will probably grouse at this saying that a chick can’t sing Dio songs but I disagree. If any woman was to carry the legacy of Ronnie James Dio it would be Doro Pesch. As evidence I submit her cover of Egypt (The Chains Are On).

I think the master would approve. All hail his name. \m/

Every night a tearful rosary

Published on April 28, 2011 by Trench Reynolds in Music. 0 Comments

I’ll miss you mom.