CD Reviews
Yigga Digga – Faded Glory (review)
If you like thick, chunky palm muted riffs, & flashy guitar leads, coupled with a skilled rhythm section and vocals HEAVILIY reminiscent of 1990’s era
Share this:
Yigga Digga – Faded Glory
By JJ Ulizio
2016 is seeing all sorts of album releases. Amongst said releases this year is “Faded Glory” the new full length from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Yigga Digga. If you like thick, chunky palm muted riffs, & flashy guitar leads, coupled with a skilled rhythm section and vocals HEAVILIY reminiscent of 1990’s era James Hetfield of Metallica and Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity then this may just be an album for you.
The album kicks off fast with the title track and the bands signature chunky riffs with a galloping double bass drum beat and a choppy rapid vocal style that sets a strong pace for the rest of the disc to keep up with. The second track though, takes that established strong pace and slams it into a wall with a slower ballad-like tune called “Slave to the Life”. That being said, I feel this is the strongest song on the album. Solid songwriting, good melody, heartfelt lyrics, catchy hook at the chorus, harmonized guitar leads, but ill placed in the track listing after the pace established by the first track.
Through the course of songs like “Memory,” “Into Eden,” “Wendigo,” “Wishing Well,” and pretty much the majority of the album the band falls into an AC/DC like cookie cutter pattern. They start off with a solid and catchy metal, or a stoner rock riff and then they get on said riff like riding a horse into battle with the occasional vocal hook followed by a guitar lead and solo.
The song “Cutter” has different feel to it. Starting off with signature Yigga Digga palm muted guitar riff while the drummer plays a repeating beat rolling across his toms, it started to take on almost a Godsmack feel to it when sharp female vocals began, and quickly put that thought out of your mind. Reminiscent of Joan Jett, it was an interesting and flavorful offset to the feel of the rest of the song. Reaching vocal highs reminiscent of 80 style punk during the verse and crashing hard back into the rock metal vibe for the chorus. This track stands out as a different kind of flavor. Off putting at first because I wasn’t expecting it, but on repeated listens I found myself enjoying it more and more.
The album closes out with a rock/metal interpretation of Johnny Cash’s 2002 release “The Man Comes Around.” A valiant attempt to put a unique spin on one of the last songs Mr. Cash wrote before his death. Solid riffs and gruff vocals, but as much as I really wanted to like it, it just falls flat. A great cover song keeps the feeling and emotion of the original, while putting unique spin on it. They did put an interesting spin on the instrumentals of the song, however the feeling and emotion Mr. Cash conveys on his version just gets lost in the heavy riffage.
The musicians in Yigga Digga are extremely skillful and talented. I can imagine this album on rotation with the beer drinkers in the rock bars. If you like catchy riffs, catchy hooks, and guitar solos or are fans of mid 90’s radio metal then this album is for you. The album drops at their CD release party on 06/10/16 at The Smiling Moose in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more info on where you can find Yigga Digga or where you can pick up their music check out their live shows visit their website by clicking here.
Buy Yigga Digga’s “Faded Glory”:iTunes | Amazon | Google Play | Yigga Digga’s Official Store Follow Yigga Digga: |
|
About Author
Share this:
CD Reviews
Phasers Engage: A deep dive into the debut album of inter-dimensional travelers and the music they make.
“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
Share this:
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
Share this:
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
Share this:
Phasers Engage: A deep dive into the debut album of inter-dimensional travelers and the music they make.
SCAREFIELD DEBUT ALBUM “A QUIET COUNTRY”.
DECAPITATED & SEPTICFLESH ANNOUNCE THEIR’CANCER CULTURE OVER NORTH AMERICA 2024′ CO-BILLING TOURWITH KATAKLYSM AS DIRECT SUPPORT & ALLEGAEON
YOU WANT BLOOD?YOU GOT BLOOD. THE BLOODIEST BAND IN THE WORLD…….GWAR
KK Priest comes to Baltimore and brings with them LA Guns and Burning Witches.
KMFDM:Baltimore Soundstage
DROPKICK MURPHY St Patrick’s Day Tour: Warren Ohio
Alestorm – Voyage of the Dead Marauder
INTERVIEW WITH OF VIRTUE
Ministry – HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES
TWIN TEMPLE BALTIMORE SHOW REVIEW
Pantera came in Baltimore and not only brought the metal they brought the legacy of Dime and Vinnie with them.
JOURNEY ROCKS BALTIMORE
DROPKICK MURPHY 2024 Tour
ZOMBI RELEASE “BODIES IN THE FLOTSAM”
INTERVIEW WITH TWIN TEMPLE
FIRST JASON: LOVEDRAFTS INTERVIEW
BEARTOOTH : PITTSBURGH SHOW REVIEW
NIGHTMARE AFTER XMAS 8
YEAR END BASH: TOURIST INN SHOW REVIEW
Collective Soul “7EVEN YEAR ITCH” Greatest Hits 1994-2001 Vinyl
INTERVIEW WITH JIM SUHLER OF TEXAS SCRATCH
-
Interviews8 years agoInterview with Alex Terrible of Slaughter to Prevail
-
Interviews7 years ago
Interview with Alex Terrible of Slaughter to Prevail
-
Reviews2 years agoChaos and Carnage Tour 2022: Pittsburgh Review
-
Empire Interviews3 years agoInterview with Tawny Kitaen
-
Reviews2 years agoJohn 5 and the Creatures/The Haxans MD Show Review
-
Music News3 years agoBlueRidge Rock Festival 2021 Preview
-
Interviews3 years agoInterview with Little Miss Nasty
-
CD Reviews4 years agoBlack Crown Initiate- Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape Album Review
Kathy Meals
June 4, 2016 at 12:49 am
Yigga Digga has the talent and drive to go as far as they want to. I personally love them. They know how to ROCK the place and crowd. Some of my favorite things about this band are the same things that I love about the greatest rock and rollers we’ve seen in our time. First their best will grab you and then the words will blow your mind. Before you know it you’ll be moving every part of your body to that Yigga Digga beat and be looking for something else you have that you could move. They know how to give you more of what you came for. And they’re not done yet. The emotions that Lead singer Tommy expresses when he sings will make you feel them too. I am proud to say that I love this band and you will too.