Podcast #170: Bio

Guitarist Dave Garcia chews the fat with G&R, leaving the lads feeling a bit...inadequate.Why aren't there more rock biopics? Sure, we've gotten a few about The Beatles and The Doors, but why aren't there more? After all, rockers seem to live the lives we wish we could, so why aren't studios clamoring to tell their (presumably interesting) stories? We can look forward to the upcoming Mötley Crüe movie maybe, but what's next? Join Genghis & Ragman as they discuss the bands they wish had movies made about them and who should be involved. Next, the boys corner Cage/Hellscream guitarist Dave Garcia for a one on one as he discusses his side project, Hellscream's debut release, Made Immortal, and the current status of Cage.

DVD of the Show: Pagan’s Mind – Live Equation

Beer of the Show: Red Velvet Stout (Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 3.5 Palate: 3.0 Taste: 3.0 Overall: 3.0	"A nice entry in Buffalo Bayou's Secessionist series with chocolate and espresso notes, though we'd probably prefer it on tap."

Featured Tracks: Vanishing Point – Let the River Run; Pagan’s Mind – God’s Equation; Sasquatch – Smoke Signal; Steel Dragon – Stand Up; Still Crazy – Scream Freedom; Cage – Bloodsteel; Hellscream – Phoenix (We’ll Rise), VII (Seven Sins), and The Great Collector

Ragman’s Classic of the Show:  Life, Sex and Death – Fuckin' Shit-ass

Genghis’ Classic of the Show:  Vinnie Moore – Meltdown

Ragman’s Pick of the Show: Falling in Reverse – Champion

Genghis Pick of the Show: El Drugstore – Hipster Tits

- Ragman is getting back on track...

Podcast #170: Bio

The Unguided - Fragile Immortality

Well, I gotta say, 2014 is starting out strong.  There have been many strong releases, so far, and The Unguided's latest release, Fragile Immortality, is no exception.  Picking up where they left off, with their stellar 2011 release, Hell Frost, these Swedes are back with a vengeance.  The Unguided mix the best aspects of Death Metal with Metalcore.  It is a mix of growls and clean vocals, over some killer melodic death metal.  It doesn't get much better than this.

For their sophomore release, Fragile Immortality, The Unguided give you more of the same.  This CD is chock full of melodic death tunes, with an alt vibe, mainly due to the vocal mix.  Think of early In Flames mixed with Killswitch Engage.  I guess another comparison could be to Scar Symmetry, because both bands are melodic, but can still crush your skull, at the same time.  The songs are well structured and memorable.  Oh, did I mention there is some killer shreddage?  This one is strong, from beginning to end.  Definitely one of my early faves in 2014.

Bottom Line:  Powerful melodic death metal, with an alt twist.  This is a band to watch out for in 2014.

Standout Tracks:  Every damn one of them.

-Ragman was glad the lads were able to avoid the sophomore jinx.

Vanishing Point - Distance is the Sun

It's hard to categorize Vanishing Point because their music can appeal to so many different genres.  It's been 7 years since these talented Aussies have put out new product, so I was frothing at the mouth when I heard that they were releasing a new CD, entitled Distance From the Sun. If you're not familiar with the band, then you should get acquainted with them real soon because they mix the heavy with the melodic as good, if not better, than any band out there doing it today.

 The new CD is definitely the best album the band has put out since their second album Tangled in Dream, full of great tunes, making it hard to pick out a favorite track because they all rock.  The great thing about this album is the variety. One moment you're singing along with the melodic Let the River Run and next you're banging your head to the uptempo track Walls of Silence. This CD has it all and will be an essential addition to any metalhead's collection.

The Bottom Line: Vanishing Point returns after a seven year hiatus to give us their best album in almost 14 years, a solid mix of power, progressive and AOR all mixed into one tightly wrapped piece of ear candy so sweet you may want to see the dentist after listening to this one!

Standout Tracks: Let the River Run, Handful of Hope, Walls of Silence and Circle of Fire

- Ragman would have made this one CD of the month had Genghis not beaten him to the punch (this one will definitely be one of the top picks of 2014)...

The Hospital

The Hospital is about a reality show, set in an old abandoned hospital, which many think is haunted.  It is basically a parody, of all of the ghost hunter shows currently on TV today.  The movie is set up that way, but then turns into something much worse.  The main characters post as ghost hunters, but are really only in it for a cheap thrill.  The hospital chosen for the show, is basically a front for the ghost hunters to have their way with the non-suspecting guests, but little do they know the joint is actually haunted. 

This was a fairly disturbing flick, due to the rape, violence an anal torture (OUCH!).  Seriously, not a bad movie.  The acting was descent, but could have been better as with most B-movies.  The special effects aren't bad either.  The thing that holds this one together is the storyline, because it is fun and interesting.  Yeah, it gets a little twisted at times, but that's what a good movie does.  If you're into some gore and torture, then this one is for you.

Bottom Line:  A B-movie with a good story and some descent acting to boot.  You get it all with this one, murder, rape and torture.  If that ain't enough, there is some paranormal activity thrown in for good measure.

-Ragman is going to stay away from abandoned hospitals.

Vanden Plas - Chronicles of the Immortals - Netherworld [Path One]

Vanden Plas does it again with their most ambitious project yet: a full-blown metal opera based on a hugely popular fantasy book series. Nice.I have been a big fan of Vanden Plas for years now, ever since The God Thing (1997), and a big reason why is their ability to create consistently great progressive metal music. Having only released 7 studio albums in their 28 years of existence, it's clear that this German band has ambitions above your average 18 month cycle of recording and touring like other metal outfits. And with the revelation that the best selling author in their homeland counts himself among their fans, it was perhaps natural that they should collaborate for the latest evolution of Vanden Plas' artistic career, Chronicles of the Immortals - Netherworld [Path One].

Based on Wolfgang Hohlbein's vampire series Die Chronik der Unsterblichen (The Chronicle of the Immortals), the author and the band crafted a modern metal opera that debuted on stage at the Pfalztheater in Kaiserslautern in 2012 to 25 sold out shows and standing ovations galore. An attempt to capture that thrilling experience with a studio recorded companion CD became such a huge undertaking that it had to be split into two separate albums, with the second album ("Path 2") being released next year. In order to fit the album format, lead singer Andy Kuntz took on the roles of most of the cast throughout the recording. In addition, some scenes were completely re-written, either becoming simpler (removing large choral arrangements) or more complex (i.e. more solos, and even added orchestration) as constraints dictated or opportunities allowed.

The long and the short of it is that this sounds like classic Vanden Plas, who've always displayed an artistic sense in their music beyond an otherwise by the numbers progmetal band, so this undertaking with Hohlbein just makes sense - especially considering the band's longstanding themes of mortality, spirituality, good and evil, and so forth. You might want to check out the book series, or even the comic book adaptation, to get an idea of what's going on since those sorts of arcane storylines don't always translate across the medium, surrounded by the sturm und drang of the music. But even without the story, this is some great heavy tuneage, ja wohl.

The Bottom Line: Fans of Vanden Plas already know that this is a kick ass progressive metal band. And Chronicles of the Immortals - Netherworld [Path One] is another damn fine release in that vein. The story of an immortal swordsman searching for truth throughout time, battling monsters of every stripe is a natural fit. And if you can't follow the story, you can still rock the hell out to some great balls and chunkTM.

- Genghis would love to see the stage production when it comes out on Blu-Ray...