August Short Bits

Adapted To the Sound
Artist: Blueprints of the Heart
Label: ©2008 Blue Duck Records
This Springfield, Massachusetts band brings an interesting twist to the acoustic rock landscape. Lyrically, there is a mix between worship-type and relationship-based songwriting. Aggressive acoustic intertwined with a pop sensibility should make Adapted To The Sound inspiring. Honestly, the drums in the mix were over the top, and a huge reliance on cymbals took away from the experience. The cover was way cool. I anticipated more. There is definitely room for growth. (thecannyshark#)

Side One E.P.
Artist: DW. Dunphy
Label: ©2008 Introverse
This EP is, in effect, side one of his “Modernism” CD. He writes for popdose.com at http://popdose.com/author/dw-dunphy/ Stylistically, Dunphy dabbles in synth-infused filmscore, early prog-rock leanings, and carefully pop-textured inventions, all done from his home studio. He lives in Red Bank, N.J. He has recorded a dozen solo records in as many years. For a lo-fi effort, this is amusing. (thecannyshark)

Another Golden Rage
Artist: Lanfear
Label: Nightmare Records
Lanfear’s Another Golden Rage is a well-produced speed metal offering with high, soaring vocals, furious drumming, and clean and fast guitars.  While the music itself is fairly mainstream for the genre, the lyrics are exceptionally well-written and deal mostly with issues of regret and pleas for mercy. (Dan Singleton)

Darkness and Light
Artist: Scelerata
Label: Nightmare Records
Darkness and Light is an ambitious effort whose progressive, speed-metal constructions will appeal to fans of Blind Guardian’s earlier work.  The album offers excellent guitar play, fast and complex, and they (Magnus Wichmann and Bruno Sandri) aren’t afraid to solo over the vocals either.  Lots of variety here by Scelerata, a band with a future. (Dan Singleton)

Team Rockit
Artist: Rockit Science
Label: ©2008 Fire-Tone Records
URL: http://www.teamrockit.com
Dirty and gritty rock and roll from Chicago, IL is Team Rockit. Rockit Science is their fifth release. Their brand of music lies somewhere between the Ramones and the Foo Fighters, It’s raw, indie rock for the club scene. No pretense here. Just fuzzy garage band utterances make Team Rockit the hard-working party band that they are. (thecannyshark)

 
Nightmare Records Technical Metals New Comers
Artist: Various Artists
Label: Nightmare Records
One of the best up-and-coming hard music labels, Nightmare Records offers a compilation of 15 new artists in the range of progressive metal to hair metal.  The cover art says it’s a Free Sample CD, so it’s presumably acquired directly from the label.  The album fittingly leads off with “April in the Fall,” from Suspyre’s A Great Divide, one of the best albums of 2007.  Other standout songs from the compilation include “Upload-Spirit” by the heavy yet technical Mindflow, “Shapeshifter” by Cloudscape, a melodic metal band with a bit of a Dream Theater vibe, and Evil Masquerade’s “Black Ravens Cry,” which features dark, gothic verses, a chorus that sounds like a heavy version of Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer,” and a shredding guitar solo. . (Dan Singleton)
 

*Bradley Snyder (thecannyshark) co-authors and writes for www.PneumaticTire.US, a web-zine chronicling the ongoing history of the Christian underground and independent rock scene.