Extrema - The Seed of Foolishness

Apparently, Mr. Political Goat is not happy about the current state of affairs in this country.My thrash itch needs scratching every now and then, but damned if Extrema didn't come along and do it wearing a sandpaper glove by way of their new masterpiece, The Seed of Foolishness.  Admittedly, I feel a little sheepish saying that I've never heard of this band considering the fact that they've been around over 25 years. Perhaps their relentless touring is why they have so few albums out, but if this is the kind of material they've been making for a quarter of a century, it's crazy that they aren't more widely known.

The Seed of Foolishness is only the band's sixth studio album, but they've clearly been honing their craft to a razor's edge. Their thrash opus screams with moral outrage in all of its crunchy metal fury at the evils of modern society - particularly about the well-worn subject of government malfeasance. And I can't stress enough my satisfaction in the delightfully heavy rhythyms reminiscient of 80s era thrash legends like Testament or Anthrax. Toss in the occasional Blue Murder-esque harmonized vocals and you've got metal that's right up my alley. 

The Bottom Line: If you're an old school thrash metal fan, you're smack dab in the middle of this album's target audience. So, squeeze into those skinny black jeans and lace up those Chuck Taylors, cuz it's moshin' time. [Note: Skateboard is optional.]

Tracks That May Make You Want to Buy a Jean Jacket: The Politics, The Distance, Again and Again and Ending Prophecies

- Genghis is ready to get back to normal now that school's finishing up...

Podcast #152: Goose

It baffles the mind as to who comes up with award nominee lists; is it the fans, or is it a bunch of folks so out of touch with the scene that they just check to see what's selling on Billboard to make their decisions? Who knows? Join Genghis & Ragman as they discuss this year's nominees for Revolver's Golden God Awards. As per usual, the boys' lists are quite different from the execs over at one of their favorite rags, but that doesn't stop 'em from throwing in their 2 cents. Tune in while the boys discuss each category in detail. Next, the boys chew the rag with Hatriot vocalist, Steve "Zetro" Souza, who discusses his new band and their latest CD Heroes of Origin - as well as his great love for horror flicks.

Video of the Show: Zakk Wylde with BLS - Un-Blackened

Beer of the Show: Voodoo Doughnut Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Banana Ale (Rogue Brewing Company)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 3.0 Palate: 3.0 Taste: 3.0 Overall: 3.0	"Don't let the description throw you off. This is a pretty good beer with complex flavors that warms up nicely."

Featured Tracks: Winger - Pull Me Under; Zakk Wylde - Between Heaven and Hell; Extrema - Bones; Halestorm - Daughters of Darkness; Periphery - Erised; Rush - Seven Cities of Gold; Steve Harris - Lost Worlds; In This Moment - Adrenelize; Of Mice and Men - Ohioisonfire; Slipknot - Dead Memories; Aerosmith - Legendary Child; Black Veil Brides - In The End; Exodus - Scar Spangled Banner; Hatriot - The Violent Times of My Dark Passenger, Suicide Run, Shadows of the Buried, and And Your Children Be Damned

- Ragman thinks the editors of Revolver laid an egg...

Podcast #152: Goose

Soen - Cognitive

Just looking at the cover of Soen's debut album makes you think "Lateralus". But this is a great album in its own right.First off, Tool fans are either going to love Soen or possibly hate them. I'm not in either camp really because - full disclosure - I never really listened to much Tool. So this either disqualifies me from making an accurate comparison, or it may just provide me with a bit more objectivity in reviewing the progmetal band's debut album, Cognitive.

Hailed as a progressive metal supergroup, drummer Martin Lopez (ex-Opeth, Amon Amarth), bassist Steve DiGiorgio (Sadus, Testament, Death, Iced Earth), vocalist Joel Ekelöf (Willowtree), and guitarist Kim Platbarzdis have crafted an album that sounds fantastic if very...familiar. A Tool fan friend of mine remarked when he listened to this, that while some bands pay homage to their favorite bands with similar riffs or themes, "Soen seems to want to ride in the same limo [as Tool]."

Don't get me wrong, this is a really great album and I'm loving its thrilling mix of Opeth-y vocal arrangements and use of dynamics, Tool's rhythmic power and diversity with a touch of Sevendust's heavy, aggressive sections. Music is sometimes best when it takes separate elements of previous efforts and transmogrifies them into an exciting new experience that starts with the comfort of familiarity, leading into the excitement that comes from challenging your expectations. Nobody's splitting the atom here, but they are making some great music.

The Bottom Line: Tool lovers shouldn't be offended, but embrace the music of Soen as one of the better forms of a particular sound. It's great music in and of itself, and I look forward to more of it.

Songs to Make You Say "This sounds awesome...and familiar": Fraccions, Oscillation, Canvas, and Slithering

- Genghis needs to check out more Tool...

Pink Cream 69 - Ceremonial

Yes, Pink Cream 69 is one of those bands that has strayed a little away from the original formula to keep things interesting.  Unfortunately, that has not worked for them over their past few releases.  They have put out some solid tunes, but not a solid CD from start to finish.  

Over their career, the band have been fairly regular, in regards to releasing new music, but it has taken 6 years, to get their 11th studio album, Ceremonial.  Over the past 10 years or so, it seems like the band have gotten a little off-track, due to all of the side projects, that the guys were in, but Ceremonial, seems to have brought them back to their roots.  The last few releases were fairly lackluster and had the band ditching some of the their melodic sensibility for a heavier sound, but for me, it didn't quite work.  Ceremonial brings the band back to true form, and could just prove to be their strongest release, since Sonic Dynamite in 2000.

Ceremonial starts in fine fashion with the melodic hard rocker, Land of Confusion.  It is a nice opener, but might have been better suited,  later in the running order.  It is a killer tune, that is slower and bit more epic, than most opening tracks.  I like these kinds of tunes closer to the middle or towards the end of a disk.  The next track Wasted Years, takes the listener back about 20 years reminding us of when hair was big and spandex were in.  It is an up-tempo melodic hard rocker, with a very catchy chorus.  The cool thing about this disk, it that it has lots of nice variety.  A really nice mix of rockers with a few ballads.  Out of the ballads, my favorite is The Tide, which is so strong that it should be a hit.   The production is heavy and crisp (Props Dennis Ward), which keeps this material from sounding dated.  Great solid hard rock, with a little AOR mixed in.  If you were ever a fan of this band, then this is a disk you must check out.

Bottom Line:  PC69 sounding stronger than they have in years.  Solid melodic hard rock from one of the greats.

Standout Tracks: The Tide, Land of Confusion, King For One Day and Passage of Time

-Ragman thinking that a little time away, did the lads some good.

Pretty Maids - Motherland

You know, Pretty Maids is one of those bands, that is fairly consistent with every release.  They do have their slip ups now and again, but after 30+ years, I think you're allowed to have a few mis-steps.  That being said, their latest release, is the furthest thing from a mis-step as you can get.  Motherland is the best thing that the band has put out in years.  Not to say, that they haven't been putting out great music, because they have, but this new CD is so solid from start to finish, that you can't deny it.  The band is firing on a ll cylinders on this release.  

Fresh off the stellar live release It Comes Alive (2012), the band has delivered once again with Motherland.  The CD starts off in fine form with the opening track Mother of All Lies, which is a mid-tempo rocker full of melody and vigor.  Classic Maids, with the catchy chorus and melodic guitars.  It is a killer track like this, that proves that vocalist Ronnie Atkins and guitarist Ken Hammer have not lost a thing over the years.  They just keep getting better with age.  The following track To Fool a Nation, probably my favorite, has an infectious guitar riff that is constantly running though my noggin.  If that doesn't get you, then the chorus will attack your ears, and show no mercy.  Killer track.   I could go track by track, but what's the point?  This CD rocks, and there is no way around it.  If you dig solid melodic hard rock then this is for you.

Bottom Line: Another veteran hard rock/metal showing that they still have the goods after 30 years. Pretty Maids sounds fresher and stronger than in the past couple of years.  

Standout Tracks: To Fool a Nation, Mother of All Lies, Bullet for You and I See Ghosts

-Ragman is thinking that he needs to make a treck to Europe to see the lads do this live.  Anyone want to lend Rags a few bucks, to make this happen?