CD Reviews

Black Crown Initiate- Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape Album Review

Published

4 years ago

July 30, 2020

It has been four years since Selves We Cannot Forgive was released, during that time Black Crown Initiate went through several pivotal changes. Soon after the release of the album guitarist, Rik Stelzpflug departs the band and was replaced by former The Faceless guitarist Wes Hauch. Then in late 2018 drummer Jesse Beahler and Hauch depart the band to be replaced by drummer Samuel Santiago (Gorod, Beyond Creation, Arkhon Infaustus) and guitarist Ethan McKenna. These changes led many to speculate what the future sound of the band may be, fast forward to early 2020 the band releases its first single, Invitation, which is a call back to the signature Black Crown Initiate sound. Invitation brings a solid promise that BCI has not stepped off the throttle but hammered down on it. The band also announced that there is a full length on the horizon. That new album is upon us now, set to be released August 7^th, Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape will mark the bands 3^rd studio release and 1^strelease on new label Century Media Records.

Invitation kicks off with a somber acoustic guitar accompanied by a clean singing passage which sets the tone, before the track really kicks off. Black Crown Initiate has had a knack for setting up the big reveals in their music, they continue to build the riff and build till they let it crash down which once could wonderous aggression. The band doesn’t just hit you over the head with heavy but also bring a melody along with it to sweep any remnants away once they are done. The music continues to progress while carrying along all the emotion, playing on the juxtaposition between heavy and clean vocals throughout the album.

One of my favorite tracks on the Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape is Years in Frigid Light. The song starts off with a lone guitar riff kicking things off before the whole band joins in. The song starts with a head bobbing sway guaranteed to get anyone to start headbanging. One of the standout performances is the clean vocals by guitarist Andy Thomas. Thomas has several vocal breaks where the distortion cuts out so when the band kicks in again it you are hit with a wave of heavy. The cleans come back later in the song driving the tune along, it is a great pairing of harmony and dissonance. The song just oozes progressive death metal from start to finish and clocking in at 6:44 mins the track takes its listeners on quite journey.

If you were a fan of BCI, Violent Portraits of DoomedEscape fits right in with the classic feel of the band. The new directions keep the music fresh while the band continues to give its listeners familiar ground to tread on. The band has retained its heaviness while refining their approach to giving you songs that tip toe the line of melodic and chaos. I would say this new album is a great addition to an already solid catalogue of music the band has. Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape is out August 7^th and will be available in your local music stores and streaming on most popular platforms.

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George Archibald

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CD Reviews

ALICE IN CHAINS “BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE” VINYL REVIEW

Published

1 month ago

October 3, 2024

Ron

Alice In Chains have Re-Released the 2009 album on vinyl. This album was the first Alice In Chains in 14 years and the first album with guitarist/singer Willam DuVall after Layne Staley passed away in 2002.

I was a huge Alice In Chains fan and was a big fan of both Layne and Jerry. When this album first came out I remember sorta pushing it the side only cause of sadness about Layne but after hearing “Check My Brain” I gave it a chance and was so glad that I did. This album is amazing and really put Alice In Chains back into the mainstream.

The vinyl not only looks super awesome but sounds amazing. If you’re a fan of Alice In Chains and into collecting Vinyl, this album is a must in your collection. It’s a great packed vinyl with 2 vinyls included.

Side A: All Secrets Known, Check My Brain and Last of My Kind. Side B: Your Decision, A Looking in View. Side C: When The Sun Rose Again, Acid Bubble, Lesson Learned. Side D: Take Her Out, Private Hell, Black Gives Away To Blue

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

VENDED: Album Review

Published

2 months ago

September 20, 2024

JJ Ulizio

9/20/24 sees the independent release of the full-length, self-titled debut album from Des Moines, Iowa natives Vended. Featuring vocalist Griffin Taylor, Simon Crahan on drums, Jeremiah Pugh on bass, Cole Espland on lead guitar, and Connor Grodzicki on rhythm guitar.

On this album they have taken more abrasive elements of nu metal as seen in the late 90s from bands like Slipknot and Soulfly and utilized elements of metalcore to slap a fresh coat of paint on the style. There are elements that remind me of the more modern and spastic styles of nu metal, similar to a band like Tallah.

Griffin’s vocal styling showcases mid-range screams as the main driving force bending the vocals. True to the nu metal elements, the rage and anger perceived from the screams are offset by the occasional catchy riff or fast talking, almost rapping stylized lyrics.

Crahan shows an impressive command of rhythm with his double bass drum. Driving each track forward with a machine gun-like purpose, which makes the more groove-oriented parts hit much harder. Crahan, in addition to the rest of the rhythm section (Espland and Pugh), all really work together well to keep the momentum moving forward while not sacrificing said groove.

While I wouldn’t call it album of the year or anything. It’s definitely worth checking out. Standout tracks: “Nihilism” and “The Far Side”.

Vended can be found on the usual socials. And the album is available on all streaming platforms. And physical copies can be purchased though https://www.officialvended.com

About Author

JJ Ulizio

JJ has been a contributing writer and huge asset to Empire and Empire Extreme since the very begining. He is always digging for new bands and has a true heart and desire to see the bands grow and succeed.

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CD Reviews

DevilSkin “Surfacing” EP

Published

6 months ago

May 22, 2024

Ron

It’s been 4 years since Devilskin’s last album, “Red.” The New Zealand band has followed up with their new EP, “Surfacing.”

This 6-song EP starts off with “Whale Song,” which just rocks and puts you right in the mood for what Devilskin is going to bring. I love Jennie Skulander’s voice; it works perfectly with the tone and grittiness of the album.

The EP has two covers on it. “Barracuda,” which we reviewed before and is a great cover song. The band also takes a swing at Dio’s “Holy Diver.” I am pretty critical about anyone covering Dio. Most bands try too hard to sound like Ronnie, which doesn’t always work out. However, I like this cover because the band takes their own path when covering it and makes it their own.

“Let Me Breathe,” “Insects,” and “Unborn” round up the rest of the EP. Which makes the EP a great listen from beginning to end. There has been a great resurgence of bands coming from New Zealand that kick ass. DevilSkin is on top of that list of bands. I hope that they make it over to the US soon so we can get a chance to check them out live. If you’re into a great rock EP and want to listen to something new and fresh, I recommend checking out this EP.

THIS IS A SPONSORED REVIEW BROUGHT TO YOU BY TAG PUBLICITY