CD Reviews

Deftones – Gore (review)

Published

9 years ago

June 1, 2016

JJ Ulizio

Deftones – Gore

By JJ Ulizio

On 04/08/2016 Sacramento, California based alt-metal pioneers Deftones released their 8^th full length studio album, and follow up to 2012’s Koi No Yokan, entitled simply Gore. This album has been noted with writing tensions between vocalist Chino Moreno, and lead guitarist Stephen Carpenter. Rolling Stone described it as Chino was “playing Morrissey to the guitarists of Meshuggah.” I wouldn’t quite go that far with it but you can hear the tensions and differences in the writing style through the progression of the album. To me the album almost sounds as if its arguing with itself on whether it wants to be more of an ambient sounding rock record with spacy guitars and haunting vocal melodies or the alt-metal that helped make the Deftones the household name they have become since their inception in the 1990’s. If that was a real fight then they decided to call it a draw because there are plenty of both elements on this album.

The album starts off with its lead single, “Prayers/Triangles.” Which takes you down the path of a standard Deftones radio hit with guitar feedback, ambient guitars, and Chino wailing over the chorus. The album quickly sets a trend similar to floating on the ocean, bringing you up and down. Songs like “Acid Hologram”, “Doomed User”, and the album’s title track “Gore” all give you the hard edged driving guitar riffs and rattling bass lines that keep them playing metal festivals. While tracks like “Hearts Wires”, “(L)mirl”, and “Xenon” seem to focus more on the ambient spacey guitar riffs, and Chino Moreno crooning through is signature haunting melodies.

My favorite track on the album, “Phantom Bride”, showcases the more melodic side of the band, which features Alice in Chains main man and lead guitarist Jerry Cantrell. The song starts with a subdued palm muted guitar riff. The song takes its time building up steam. It mainly focuses on the melody while that same riff keeps the rhythms of the song together, and an ambient type guitar slowly picks in the background adding an atmosphere similar to the spacey sounds that one would hear on a Pink Floyd album, except with Chino singing. A guitar solo more than midway through the song adds Mr. Cantrell’s touch to the song. It has a bluesy sounding style that leads back out into the chorus before building things up to the thick chunky metal riff. Then fading away to just cymbal hits that bring you directly into the album closeout with the musically choppy “Rubicon”

Is this a bad Deftones album? No. Is it their best? No. I don’t think it’s as good as its predecessor Koi No Yokan or albums like Diamond Eyes, White Pony, Around the Fur. I definitely think people who are already Deftones fans will more than likely enjoy it. I don’t think that it will be a good album to bring in new fans. Regardless of all that, it will be in my regular rotation for a while yet. So if you are a fan, check it out. If you’re not already a fan of the Deftones then ask your resident fan, everybody has one, what a good album to start with is.

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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Related Topics:Alice in Chains Deftones Gore Jerry Cantrell

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CD Reviews

Marilyn Manson is Back

Published

2 months ago

November 25, 2024

Ron

Marilyn Manson just released his 12th album “One Assassination Under God-Chapter 1” on November 22nd 2024.

This album in my opinion is the best album Manson has put out since Holy Wood. It has a feeling of albums old and new with little hints of Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals and Holy Wood.

The album opens up with “One Assassination Under God” which just gets you ready for what’s to come. With Manson Just finishing his tour, This is the Manson we have been needing for years now. He looks good and sounds great.

Putting out a few singles from the album , the overall feeling of this album is great. It’s been a while since I’ve like a full album of Manson, while this album isn’t perfect it’s as close as perfection of those early albums were. Of course I love the singles “As Sick as the Secrets we Keep” and “Raise the Red Flag” but I also really enjoyed songs like “Death is not a costume”, “Nod if you understand” and “Sacrilegious”

I think this new chapter of Mansons life and music is exciting , I hope we get more tours in 2025 and maybe some over the top stage shows like we did in the late 90s early 2000s. I feel the younger generation hasn’t experience a real “Full” on Manson show yet and it’s time for the King to take back his throne at the top of the Shock Rock mountain.

ALL HAIL MARILYN MANSON

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

BUSH 30th ANNIVERSARY OF “SIXTEEN STONE” VINYL

Published

2 months ago

November 20, 2024

Ron

I remember when this album came out in 1994 . I was 15 and really discovering all types of music. As being a typical teenage boy I seen the band name “Bush” and thought hmm I love bush, let’s check it out. It was such an amazing album from beginning to end.

The new released vinyl that just came out on November 17th is such a testament to this album being as great then as it is now. Listening to the vinyl just brought back so many memories of being an angst teenager that just wanted to heard. The vinyl package is amazing with lots of photos of the band throughout the years and the sound of the vinyl is so pristine.

I got my hands on the opaque red vinyl and just looks awesome spinning on the player. It’s crazy to think that this album has so many hits and no filler songs, even the songs that didn’t become hits are just as good as the hits.

With the hits being “Glycerine”, “Everything Zen” , “Comedown” “Little Things” and “Machinehead” but some of my favorite songs are not the hits songs like “Swim”, “Bomb” and “Alien” which is probably my favorite song on the album. If you’re a fan of Bush or this album or just want to dive into the mid 90s Grunge/Post Grunge era this is a key album to have in your collection.

About Author

Ron

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CD Reviews

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

Published

4 months 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