Between The Buried And Me - Coma Ecliptic

Them boys from Raleigh are back to fuck you up with some progressive hi-jinks, and I couldn't be happier about it.Those mad North Carolinians are back with the follow-up to their amazing back-to-back concept albums, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues and The Parallax II: Future Sequence. I remember reviewing Between The Buried And Me's The Parallax II and really hearing them for the first time. I was damned impressed. Their seemingly effortless progressive metal stylings have all the virtuosic skills of Dream Theater layered with elements of more traditional, 70s era, progressive rock like Genesis or Yes, and inspired by the fearless audacity of genre-mixing artists like Queen. Don't get me started on all of the different elements going on in this seventh studio effort, it's kind of overwhelming some times.

Suffice it to say that as a concept album about a man trapped in a coma and seeing his life flash before his eyes over the course of 11 episodes/tracks, the narrative can get a bit fuzzy. But the music is nevertheless an impressive achievement of composition that never quite goes off the rails - even if it gets damn close. There are some really great moments on this album where melodic death metal, new wave, progressive metal, art rock, and even jazz intersect in an intoxicating blend that demands attention from progheads. I only wonder, as I did with the last album, how they're gonna top this.

The Bottom Line: Between The Buried And Me continue to make some of the most interesting, innovative and just plain enjoyable cross-genre prog metal in the business. If you're looking for something different and haven't heard these cats before, check Coma Ecliptic out.

Tracks To Headbang To While You Wonder 'WTF?': The Coma Machine, Turn On The Darkness, and Memory Palace

- Genghis wonders why he's passed up opportunities to see these dudes live...

Podcast #195: Newbies

On the prowl for some Canadian melodic metal? Then look no further, cuz Borealis is in the on deck circle.Do you have a favorite new band? More importantly, has a new band ever made you want to go back and check out the classics that apparently influenced it? Join Genghis & Ragman, as they discuss some of their favorite new artists and the effect that fresh blood has on these crusty, old, metalheads. Next, the boys chew the fat with Borealis vocalist, Matt Marinelli, who discusses their latest concept record Purgatory as well as their upcoming tour plans.

DVD of the Show: Black Veil Brides - Alive and Burning

Beer of the Show: Mud Turtle (Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 3.0 Aroma: 4.0 Palate: 3.5 Taste: 4.0 Overall: 3.5	"Buffalo Bayou Brewing does it again with a delicious Scotch ale that does a nice job with the pecan flavoring of the region."

Featured Tracks: Armored Saint - An Exercise in Debauchery; Black Veil Brides - Heart of Fire; Yes - Love Will Find A Way; We Are Harlot - Fly Too Close to the Sun; Falling in Reverse - Just Like You; Warmen - Alone, Danzig - Black Hell; Borealis - Finest Hour, Revelation, Rest My Child, Place of Darkness, and My Peace

Genghis Classic of the Show: AC/DC - Problem Child

Ragman's Classic of the Show: Trixter - Road of a 1,000 Dreams

Genghis' Pick of the Show: Lucifer - Abracadabra

Ragman's Pick of the Show: The Answer - Gone Too Long

- Ragman is getting ready for pumpkin season...

Podcast #195: Newbies

Night of the Pumpkin

Well, it wouldn't be Halloween, without a horror movie from Bill Zebub.  As with most Zebub movies, there's a death metal soundtrack, the acting is okay, the special effects are cheesey, but the story makes you laugh, which puts Night of the Pumpkin, right in line, with most of his releases.  Night of the Pumpkin is about an angry pumpkin man, that goes after some beach goers, that destroyed some pumpkins, at the local beach.  Why are there pumpkins at the beach?  Good question, I wish I knew the answer.  All I can say is Bill Zebub.

Night of the Pumpkin, was a fun cheesey horror flick.  It follows the same pattern of most Zebub movies, but this one, had a nice underlying story regarding, Jack O' Laterns, and their origin.  The main premise is that a Pumpkin man comes to take revenge on the beach goers, that destroyed his pumpkin babies, at the beach.  Not only do the beach goers get offed, but anyone with in a 10' distance as well.  This one was entertaining and will be played again this time next year.

Bottom Line: I would like a slice of cheese with my popcorn!  Zebub, once again delivering a fun horror/comedy.  This one strays a little away from the mold by adding a decent story line.

-Ragman is still wondering why there were pumpkins at the beach.

Vamps - Bloodsuckers

There hasn't been a band from Japan, that has perked my ears, up this high, since the first time I heard Loudness, back in the day.  Who's this band you ask?  Well they're called Vamps.  They are a mixed breed.  These guys can lay down some heavy grooves, but can switch gears, on a dime, and go 80's alternative on you.  Imagine if Cheap Trick, Bullet for My Valentine and say early U2 had a baby, and you might be close.  I did say they were a mixed breed, didn't I?  To be serious, these guys are a lot fun and keep you guessing from track to track.

Bloodsuckers starts off, with the really cool piano instrumental Reincarnation, before kicking into the U2 flavored, Zero, which is an mid-tempo rocker with lots of melody.  It has an atmospheric vibe to it, which reminds me of classic U2. It also has one of those catchy choruses, that will get you hooked instantly.  The whole CD is like this.  Vamps have a great pop sensibility, by creating melodic songs that hook you in.  Don't get me wrong, these guys can pack a punch too, like with the track Evil.  It is an up-tempo rocker, full of aggression ala Bullet for My Valentine.  A solid new band, that will most definitely make some waves globally.

Bottom Line:  If you like you songs full of melody and with an edge, then this is your band.  A solid platter of 13 tunes, that might just give your ear a cavity. 

Standout Tracks:Zero, The Jolly Roger, Replay and Inside Myself

-Ragman wishes that he could of caught these guys live in Tokyo, this past summer.

U.D.O. - Navy Metal Night

Hot off the heels, of his stellar release, Decadent, Udo Dirkschneider and Co., are back, with the live release, Navy Metal Night.  This live performance, was captured back in February of last year, prior to the release of Decadent.  This was a unique show for U.D.O., because they performed, with the German Navy Orchestra.  Imagine, U.D.O. songs with an orchestra.  To be honest, it wasn't something I was seeking out, but since I'm such a huge U.D.O. fan, I had to check it out.

The inclusion of orchestra's, with metal bands, is nothing new, but it had died off a bit.  After the success, that The Scorpions and Metallica had, many bands decided to give it a go, some good and some, not so much.  the idea got played out, but came off a bit fresh, in the case of Navy Metal Night.  It's the bands you don't expect to do it, that surprise you the most.  This one comes in Blu-ray, DVD and CD.

Navy Metal Night, does feature an orchestra, but the real stars are U.D.O.  The orchestra just adds a layer of sound, to the music.  I have to say I was amazed by how well Dirkschneider sounds live.  This guy is in his upper 60's, and has not lost anything live.  The band sound great as well.  I'm not a huge live album guy, but I really dug this one.  The only criticism I have, is that there were a few songs, included in the set, to cater to the orchestra, that I immediately reached for the skip button, other than that, this one's a keeper..

Bottom Line: U.D.O. sounding as great live, as they do in the studio.  The orchestra does thicken up the sound, and was interesting to hear in this recording, but I like it raw.  A solid show with a new element, which made, for a special night for the fans, as well as the band.

Standout Tracks: Heart of Gold, Animal House, Man and Machine and Stillness of Time.

-Ragman is looking for a wrecking ball to swing on.