CD Reviews

Otep – Generation Doom – Review

Published

8 years ago

May 7, 2016

Ron

otepgenerationdoomcd OTEP

Generation Doom

Released April 15^th 2016
Napalm Records

Generation Doom is Otep’s 7^th full album. This CD is a masterpiece which blends Otep’s exceptional writing skills and ability to be open with the pure anger and beautiful serenity of her feelings. Crushing screams and furious flows blended with the rest of the band’s harmonies remind the listener that Otep is still a force to be reckoned with.

“ZERO” starts off the album, and boy does it ever start kick the album into high gear. With as many fucks that one can comprehend and then even more with an undeniable guttural scream. “But I don’t give a fuck, I don’t give a fuck, I don’t give a fuck, fuck, fuck, zero fucks I don’t give a fuck”.

“Feeding Frenzy” doesn’t let up after “Zero” has you pinned to the ground. This song has a very SEVAS TRA feel to it. Brutal and honest with that metal flow.

“Lords of War” is an perfect example of political awareness without being overly political. “I’d rather be in battle than at peace, I’d rather be a wolf than a sheep, I’d rather be in battle than slaughtered like cattle, The weak can sleep while”.

“Royal” is a cover of Lorde’s song. Once again proves that Otep have the ability and guts to take a song of any genre and make it not only there own but kick fucking ass doing it.

“In Cold Blood” is a beautiful yet sad song. With this track Otep lets us get a glimpse of the personal spaces of her mind. This song is by far one of my favorite on the album. It perches Otep and her gorgeous vocals on top of the female singers of the genre. “Somethings wrong with me for thinking somethings right with you. Now I’m lost inside the smog, choking on the shame”.

“Down” is a track that makes you want to throw your fist and throw out the deuces too. Blending hip hop and metal the only way Otep knows how.

“God is a Gun” “There’s a monster in the garden you call him god . There’s a monster in the garden eating you alive” Blasphemous to some, Glorious to others . This song will still make you think.

“Equal Rights, Equal Lefts” has a more hip hop feel to it. With amazing lyrics like “ He called me a dyke, I called him an ambulance” and “ I’ll always get more pussy than you”. I admire songs like this where a band can stretch beyond what is expected of them and still deliver quality.

“No Color/Lie” Both of these songs show such a depression and aggression from past relationships and how they leave you saddled with all the baggage.

“Generation Doom” Pulls you right back into fast, hard ,and forceful anger. “I don’t care what you fucking say just say it to my face”

“On The Shore” The last track on the CD not only brings an eerie sound but again letting Otep shine with her perfect lyrics and beautiful voice . Such a great way to end the cd.

This is by far my favorite album since HOUSE OF SECRETS, and is right up there with SEVAS TRA. Go out and get this album is you like truthful lyrics mixed in with different emotional music.

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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CD Reviews

Phasers Engage: A deep dive into the debut album of inter-dimensional travelers and the music they make.

Published

14 hours ago

April 14, 2024

Ron

“Departure Initiated” is the debut album of Phasers Engage. It’s a fun instrumental jam from outer space .

I’ve never been a huge fan of instrumental bands. There are a few I enjoy, like John 5 and the Creatures and Apocalyptica, and even with those bands, I can only listen to a little at a time or see them live. I feel like Phasers Engage would be a great band to see live.

There are parts of the album that I super dug, the heavier, darker, and spookier parts and the lighthearted, fun, and whimsical parts as well. This album reminds me a lot of Mr. Bungle, minus the vocals. The album has seven songs and feels like it conveys an interesting story via sounds and codes. I feel like if they would have added some vocals, even silly, nonsensical lyrics, it would have heightened the album much more, in my opinion.

The band is very good, and the instruments are played with precision, and you could tell the band was having fun making the album. It’s for sure an album to check out. If you’re into instrumental inter-dimensional sound waves and jams, then this album is right up your alley.

Check the band out on Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/PhasersEngage?mibextid=eQY6cl

About Author

Ron

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CD Reviews

SCAREFIELD DEBUT ALBUM “A QUIET COUNTRY”.

Published

4 days ago

April 11, 2024

Ron

Newcomers SCAREFIELD just released their debut album, “A Quiet Country.” Inspired by 80s horror movies, I thought that this sounded right up my alley, also combining the love of thrash and heavy metal.

Opening up the album with “Ancient Evil,” this track sets the tone for the album. Thrashy guitars, killer drums, and power metal vocals.

The album has 11 tracks. Each track is delightfully titled with a horroresque feel. Songs like “Altar of Fear,” “Child of the Corn,” “Primitive Shadows,” and “Shiver”.

I really dug the album as a whole; I loved the concept, the artwork, and the guitars shred on this album. The shreds remind me of old-school metal, and in a good way. My favorite tracks would be “Altar of Fear,” “God of Terror,” “Always,” and I also loved their version of “House of the Rising Sun.”.

My only criticism of the album is that at times the vocals are too clean for me as a thrash/horror themed album, which is understandable since the singer, MARKUS KRISTOFFERSSON is from Sweden, and you know the Swedes love their power metal, but they also love to have their vocals a lot cleaner. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy the vocals; I actually love his voice, and at times throughout the album, it gets heavy and gnarly, which was amazing.

Overall, I think it’s a very successful album and is worthy of being in anybody’s collection who is a fan of this type of metal. I look forward to seeing what SCAREFIELD does in the future. Hopefully we can get an American tour, with the resurgence of the youth getting into this style of metal, I feel that American mosh pits will be going crazy for those fast guitars and drums. I would love to see them play with The Burning Witches.

Buy the album here: https://hypeddit.com/scarefield/aquietcountry

Check them out here: https://www.scarefield.com

About Author

Ron

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CD Reviews

Alestorm – Voyage of the Dead Marauder

Published

1 month ago

March 11, 2024

J. Scott Holland

Another solid (most likely plundered) offering from the pirate metal scalawags known in these parts as Alestorm. The five-song EP Voyage of the Dead Marauder washes up on these shore on March 22, 2024, via Napalm Records. This new effort is produced by Lasse Lammert of LSD-Studios, who has worked alongside genre mates Gloryhammer and Wind Rose.

With the new release, ALESTORM is “Scraping the (bottomless) Barrel” for the fifth time for what is their eighth album , following the international success of the previous Seventh Run of a Seventh Rum album that was released in June 2022.

If you’re an existing fan of their trademark pirate-style metal, then Voyage of the Dead Marauder is a batch of good new stuff. If you’re not a fan, well, maybe you should listen until you are. (This is how I learned to like country music, by the way.)

The first track is the title track and features German hurdy-gurdy musician Patty Gurty sharing vocal duties with vocalist and keytar player Christopher Bowes. The song is in the same vein as “Captain Morgan’s Revenge” from the previously mentioned Seventh Run of a Seventh Rum album. Patty sounds great, but I’m willing to bet she was the only sober one.

Apparently, you can be a pirate anywhere, including the desert and the Great White North. Alestorm proves this with the song “Uzbekistan” as they reminisce about the time they invaded the lands of shifting sands and ultimately turn the President of said land against them. Next up is the tale of a simple farmer who was forced to become a pirate due to governmental tyranny in “The Last Saskachewan Pirate.”

“Sea Shanty 2” is an instrumental offering and would fare well with a watering can full of tequila at one of Alestorm’s live shows (see the lengthy list below if you the need to fulfill this desire).

“Cock” is the last track, and I can hear all of you snickering jut from the title, but wait until you listen to it you immature bastards. The second time you hear it, you’ll be singing along to the tale of an enchanted dream about a Leprechaun who pulls out his schlong.

ALESTORM are:
Christopher Bowes – vocals, keytar
Gareth Murdock – bass
Mate Bodor – guitar
Peter Alcorn – drums
Elliot Vernon – keyboard

ALESTORM Live 2024:
UK & Ireland Tour 2024
w/ Korpiklaani & Heidevolk
21.02.24 UK – London / O2 Forum Kentish Town
22.02.24 UK – Norwich / LCR UEA
23.02.24 UK – Nottingham / Rock City
24.02.24 UK – Bournemouth / O2 Academy
25.02.24 UK – Bristol / O2 Academy
27.02.24 UK – Belfast / Limelight
28.02.24 UK – Dublin / Academy
29.02.24 UK – Cardiff / SU
01.03.24 UK – Birmingham / O2 Academy
02.03.24 UK – Oxford / O2 Academy
03.03.24 UK – Glasgow / O2 Academy
05.03.24 UK – Manchester / O2 Victoria Warehouse
06.03.24 UK – Liverpool / O2 Academy
07.03.24 UK – Leeds / O2 Academy
08.03.24 UK – Newcastle / NX
09.03.24 UK – London / O2 Forum Kentish Town

“Tour Of The Dead Marauder”
w/ Elvenking & Glyph
19.03.24 US – Cincinnati, OH / Bogart’s
20.03.24 US – Grand Rapids, MI / Elevation
22.03.24 CA – Toronto, ON / The Concert Hall
23.03.24 CA – Montreal, QC / MTELUS
24.03.24 US – New Haven, CT / Toad’s Place
26.03.24 US – Pittsburgh, PA / Stage AE
27.03.24 US – Detroit, MI / The Majestic
29.03.24 US – Milwaukee, WI / The Rave
30.03.24 US – Omaha, NE / The Admiral
02.04.24 CA – Winnipeg, MB / Park Theatre
03.04.24 CA – Saskatoon, SK / Coors Event Centre
05.04.24 CA – Edmonton, AB / Midway Music Hall
06.04.24 CA – Calgary, AB / The Palace Theatre
08.04.24 CA – Vancouver, BC / Commodore
09.04.23 US – Spokane, WA / Knitting Factory
10.04.24 US – Boise, ID / Knitting Factory
12.04.24 US – Sacramento, CA / Ace of Spades
13.04.24 US – Santa Ana, CA / The Observatory
15.04.24 US – Tucson, AZ / Rialto Theatre
16.04.24 US – Albuquerque, NM / Sunshine Theater
18.04.24 US – Oklahoma City, OK / Diamond
19.04.24 US – St. Louis, MO / Red Flag
20.04.24 US – Indianapolis, IN / Old National
21.04.24 US – Nashville, TN / Marathon

Festivals 2024
28.06.24 FI – Sulvilahti / Tuska
05.07.24 DE – Rock Harz / Ballenstedt
11.07.24 HU – Dunaújváros / Rockmaraton
12.07.24 CZ – Vizovice / Masters of Rock
13.07.24 AT – Area 53 / Leoben
14.07.24 NL – Pirate Metal Party / Helmond

About Author

J. Scott Holland

Scott is one of the newest additions to the Empire Extreme team of misfits. He is a printer by trade, who moves to the beat of his very own drum. He is also an avid cyclist and seeker of new music and bands,

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