CD Reviews

Sevendust: Truth Killer Album Review

Published

9 months ago

July 27, 2023

Sevendust return with their fourteenth studio album, Truth Killer, via their new label, Napalm Records. The release showcases the original lineup, comprised of Lajon Witherspoon, Clint Lowery, John Connolly, Vince Hornsby, and Morgan Rose. Michael “Elvis” Baskette was at the helm and produced the album, marking his third collaboration with Sevendust. Truth Killer is slated for a July 28^th release.

The release starts off with “I Might Let the Devil Win,” which is a synth-pop style track that is reminiscent of something Muse may have left off one of their albums. The lyrics are excessively repetitive in this song, thus making it the definitive track to skip on repeated listens to the album.

This track sets the tone for what is an inherently sad album. Not in that it is poor quality, but in that it feels like a group who are one step away from slitting their own writs. I’m not even speaking lyrically, but dynamically, the sound is depressing. It is bathed in the type of sound that you would hear coming from a beat-up old car stereo on a cold and rainy night while a sobbing driver contemplates speeding up to wrap his car around an old oak tree or take himself and his car for a high-speed flying leap off a bridge to end his unbearable and miserable existence.

The second track, the title track “Truth Killer,” begins with some more of the electronic elements that are scattered throughout the entire album. The track presents Lajon’s most dynamic vocal performance of the album as he bellows, “I know all that I want is something to keep us alive when everything dies.” This continues the staring at your shoes theme that is present throughout.

The album falls in order with tracks like “No Revolution”, “Leave Hell Behind”, and “Holy Water”, which do not offer any particular surprises. The entirety of the album seems to be formula-driven and kind of simply rumbles along in the background.

Chalk full of homogenized guitar riffs that have been whitewashed by the production. One song leads to another without any discernible differences. It’s 40 minutes, maybe 50 minutes; who knows? It’s just an opus of mediocrity swallowed up with production that highlights the fact that this band is excessively overrated. The band, and I mean guitar, drums, and bass, gives the impression that they could hold their own, but are being held back by the lack of originality and style of the vocalist. His delivery is boring, and his performance is lackluster and tiresome.

You know when you go to a concert and the singer announces, “These next few tracks are off our new album that comes out next month.” and everybody streams to the beer vendor or the restroom? This album is the recorded equivalent of that very moment.

The one bright moment on the album is the closing track “Fence”. They seem to deviate from the previously mentioned formula and kind of let loose, which leads to a much more intense track and the standout performance on the album. Although it is not enough to elevate the release to something memorable.

About Author

Josh Drespling

Josh is the Publisher and creator of Empire Extreme and it’s sister publication Kingdom Extreme Magazine. He is an accomplished writer, photographer and graphic designer. He is always conjuring up new ideas and has a amazing passion for the music industry and all the things that surround it.

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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

2 weeks 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

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

SCAREFIELD DEBUT ALBUM “A QUIET COUNTRY”.

Published

3 weeks 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

2 months 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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