Again throwing myself into the metalcore arena just right between Shadows Fall, God Forbid, Killswitch Engage (they aren’t here for show, more later) and the likes, well why not, i’m bored, here comes As I Lay Dying, i actually thought their previous effort wasn’t bad at all, especially because it seemed a bit rougher and i liked the “downthesun” like explosions, so i heard there were some lineup changes, that can go either way, so let’s dive into Shadows Are Security.

Holy Shit, this seems like Killswitch Engage, really it’s not bad per say, just not that original, their single Confined is a perfect example, pummeling drumming with a melodic guitar stuck on “repeat the same catchy riff” mode, with a basic structure and catchy chorus, nice, production wise it’s almost cristal perfect, i think that just adds a little bit more for this kind of music, there are a couple of more interesting tracks, but basically they all follow the same formula to some extent or another, i can highlight, “Through Struggle” for its groovyness and for not going quickly after the formula, hummm maybe “Morning Waits” for being the best one of the bunch, well balanced and catchy and “Illusions” for it’s more rough thrashy feel.

Well Killswitch Engage’s “The End of Heartache” does come to mind, it’s when Killswitch attain a more commercial success, by softening their approach and overall improved production, the same can be said of As I lay Dying, these bitches sold their ass and now they have all the “bling bling” in the world, hehehe, just kidding, commercial success is not the same as “selling out” and As I Lay Dying is playing what they want and what they have always played, they are just doing it better, so if your into metalcore and all this softhearted music, then As I Lay Dying is a safe bet.

As I Lay Dying - Confined

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I tend to think of bands like Static-X, are in the same group as Machine Head or Chimaira, they are known but they aren’t the bomb, in case of Static-X much like Mudvayne, their debut album, was oh so much fun, far from excellence but enjoyable, but time has it’s way and it seems with time the band had it’s uppers and downers, mostly downers, then they release their fourth full length, and it seems they are up to “Start A War”, sure…. Static-X? Start a war? Jeez Batman hold me tight.

Ok let’s have a look at Start A War, Static-X use a very straight forward formula, simplistic guitar work, very by the numbers drumming, average metal vocals (not very good on the more heavy screaming) and the use of electronics to accentuate the music (since everything else doesn’t really help), there are a couple of palatable tracks, like “Enemy” with its fast pace and actually a catchy chorus, “I Want To Fucking Break It” because it has circus music, “Night Terrors” well it’s classic Static-X stuff (sounds like post “Follow the Leader” Korn, well all of their last album sounded like Korn, or is it the other way around…) and probably “Just in Case” because it’s a bit different, the rest are just filers or “beyond the point of reason” moronic tracks.

Well even thought this is incredibly dumb down music, i tend to sympathise with Static-X since they seem to be doing this on purpose, dumb down music for dumb down people, its supposed to be simplistic catchy music, how are people going to scream the chorus, especially if it’s someone like Behemoth, GRAUUGLLLL doesn’t sound that good…hehehe, is this great music?, hell no, it’s trash, but its the kind of trash that doesn’t offend that much, and that a lot of people seem to like, hey whatever makes everyone happy, if your into pseudo tech metal with bands like Reaktor or Sybreed, then Static-X is for sure the cream of that crop.

Static-X - The Enemy

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So a new one from aphex, ohhh excuse me, AFX, well almost, i checked it out and these Chosen Lords, are not a album per say, they are a mix from the 41 tracks on Analord Volumes 1-11, a collection of individually released vinyl only EPs.

Much like those bands that still strive in analog times (dismissing the digital “rearranging till it’s perfect”) because it sounds right, and it gives a underlying feel for the music, aphex went that root with this series, going for vintage electronics to create this music, kind of funny since he was one of the first to truly embrace full digital, the fact is the musics on lords seem more constraint and do have that feeling of old school techno, i don’t know if that was, what he was trying to do but, even simple things like fade in fade out, seem irregular and don’t have the same crisp digital feel, it’s very reminiscent and as such is quite enjoyable, it’s unpretentious at best.

So this is one of those albums, that’s difficult to pinpoint, i can say that, its a lot of fun, not so aggressive or over the top aphex twin i do enjoy, but it’s quite funky, sure the tracks don’t feel like an album, but they weren’t suppose to be, they do tend to stay on the same set of sounds, maybe because old hardware doesn’t have never ending archive of samples, but that just adds to the retro sound, well on the album itself, i do like “Fenix Funk 5″, for it’s almost “Aphex Twin” like drum arrangement, and great samples, also “Crying in your Face” its a lot of fun, with those really funky retro acid sounds, there are a lot more gems and all the tracks are fun to ear, if not for the simple arrangements.

Ohhh why oh why, have you forsaken me, well i’m more a “I Care Because You Do“, “Richard D. James Album“, “Windowlicker“, “Come to Daddy“, “Digeridoo” kind of guy, but nevertheless, aphex never lets down, overall quality and production are always of the highest standard, and these are some sweet tunes, not ground breaking, but nevertheless real nice, so give it a try, i did.

Aphex Twin - Fenix Funk 5

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Kaiser Chiefs, well well well, play a very sparkly british pop/punk/rock with some help from synthesizers, so this is happy happy music for the happy happy people, how do i know them? were else, “Predict A Riot” was a constant on radio, and i’m not that a big listener but did get it a couple of times, these acts seem to be rolling like crazy, Franz Ferdinand does come to mind, but i have that tingly feel between my legs that this two aren’t all the bunch, so i drink a cool orange juice to get that happy happy feeling, before i listen to this album, am i going to see any riots?

The album starts with “Everyday I Love You Less And Less”, it has that feel of a jingle, quite catchy, even though this is a downer music i like it, it has a lot of synth in the mix, then comes the “beat to death” “Predict A Riot”, this is their trademark track, it has all, their lalala’s the super synth catchy chorus, and the downbeat lyrics, really nice and i still find it amusing, then comes “Modern Way”, with a conga or cowbell start hehehe, funny shit is it me or the songs don’t have anything to do with the lyrics, so this one is one of their more calm ones, nice, then comes “Na Na Na Na Naa“, well it’s na na na alright, another jingle like songs, a little bit silly, again loads of synth, “You Can Have It All” another slow one, “Oh My God” bring one of those…i think this is a cover from someone, well a little bit boring.

“Born To Be A Dancer” is again a little bit devoid, not that catchy, “Saturday Night” again a bit of a let down, this all seem to be unfinished and unbalanced, “What Did I Ever Give You?” carols? this album is getting a bit boring, songs don’t seem to have the same flare and imagination than on the start, “Time Honoured Tradition” ohh another jingle like song, well its a bit better, but not as much as the first songs of the album, “Caroline, Yes”, seems like another cover song, not that good, and again uninspired, last track “Team Mate” brings another slow calm song to finish it off, nothing really to add about this one.

Well kaiser for sure are a radio band, since a full length album seems to be too much for them, they seem to run out of steam, and tried to make up in the end … badly, the first part of the album is great and really catchy, but the rest is a shame, with really uninterestedly weak songs, so if you like itunes, buy yourself the first 4 tracks and you’ll be really happy happy (actually 3 of those are free downloads online, why is that?), or else …. just buy a used copy.

Kaiser Chiefs - Predict A Riot

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