In Alcatraz 1962 - The Drive

Them boys from up yonder in Virginny sure can rock that heavy metal, boss. Yessir. *spit*Formed out of Northern Virginia a few years ago, and featuring a sound honed by relentless touring, In Alcatraz 1962 is a band that should do well on any modern metal tour (Vans Warped, Jaegermeister, et al).  Their aggression is matched deftly with the tightness you'd expect from a group of serious-minded headbangers in songs that are aspirational as well as resigned - which I like, quite frankly. I'm a little tired of the whole nihilistic spirit that pervades most metal. Yeah, it's metal so we don't want to sound like a bunch of pussies, but if life's so damned tedious and depressing in its supposed meaninglessness, why even bother trying to make a living as an artist at all rather than just eating a gun? I mean, come on. Show a little backbone, will ya?

Luckily, the boys in In Alcatraz 1962, having eschewed that familiar rhetoric, can draw on their many influences to make some rocking energetic tunes on this debut about committment and The Drive to succeed. (America, fuck yeah!)

I dig the production on this album, courtesy of Don DeBiase at Studio D Productions (Modern Day Escape, Along Came A Spider, Vanilla Ice). This is a common complaint I have against inaugural releases from most metal bands trying to capture their road-honed sound with a new producer and what is likely their first time in a real studio. I think the band's years of live experience has clearly had a positive effect on their sound and I would love to catch them here in Houston some time. You might wanna do the same in your town.

Tracks That Make You Want to Plan Your Next Live Show: The Fatal Flaw, Over These Years, Winter Sun

The Bottom Line: Good old-fashioned American metal from a band that's earned their sound and a chance at a profitable career through hard work and committment. How's that for an American success story?

- Genghis is *this* close to moshing around the office...

Zombie Babies

Zombie Babies is about 2 hillbilly rednecks, that run an illegal abortion clinic in a Hotel/Casino.  Their practice is extremely low budget, as their surgery tools consists of only a coathanger.  On paper this could be entertaining, but in reality, not so much.  The story starts off with four couples going in for abortions at the same time, but with only 3 going all the way through with it.  Since it is a hotel, the guests stick around and eventually get picked off by mutant babies.  Zombie Babies is full of bad acting, 2nd rate jokes and really poor special effects.  I like a good B flick, just like the next guy, but this one got hard to watch.

Bottom Line:  Gore, goobs and boredom sum this one up.  A horror flick with a decent idea, but not excecuted well at all.  If you're going to watch this one, make sure you have lots of booze.

-Ragman had to nudge himself a few times during this one.

Dokken - Broken Bones

The new incarnation of Dokken has been together now, for about 4 years or so, and they seem to be gelling.  Broken Bones is the 2nd with this line up in tact.  We were teased with the potential of a Dokken reunion, before the release, but as always, we were let down at the last minute.  Seems like once the rumors died, this record was released. Broken Bones picks up where Lightning Strikes Again left off, but fortunately, with stronger material.  Lighting Strikes Again was okay, but not as in your face as the new disc is.  Don't get me wrong this one, ain't that in your face, like back in the day, but it just sticks with you more. 

The songs on the new disc have more substance and stay with you.  It's obvious that Don can't hit many of the notes anymore, but he does a nice job not pushing his range.  Anything that Don lacks vocally is picked up by guitarist Jon Levin.  Levin is a bad ass, and even though he is very Lynchy, I think he has carved in his style a little more on this release.  The CD is mainly full of midtempo rockers, with a ballad and a couple fast ones, thrown in for good measure.  The vibe of the record is subdued and comes off like a 2nd rate Under Lock And Key, which is not a bad thing.  There is some strong material on this release, which gets better with every spin.

Bottom Line:  Don and the boys showing they can still do it after 30 years.  The new line up proves that they can put out solid music, without tarnishing the Dokken legacy.

Standout Tracks: Best of Me, Blind, Burning Tears and Empire

-Ragman thinks that the next release may be even better, with the chemistry these guys are forming.

Podcast #144: Loss

Sure he's one dreamy Canadian, but the guy can sing his ass off too. Who is more important in the band, the guitarist or the vocalist and what happens if one leaves? Could the drummer or the bassist have the same impact? Join Genghis and Ragman as they discuss who's more critical to a lineup as well as what's currently going on in the hard rock/heavy metal world. Next, Harry Hess (ex-Harem Scarem) checks in to discuss his latest offering Living in Yesterday, and discusses the irony - or lack thereof - of recording with the majority of the HS lineup again.

DVD of the Show:  Stratovarius - Under Flaming Winter Skies

1st Beer of the Show: Lips of Faith - Peach Porch Lounger (New Belgium Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 3.5 Palate: 3.0 Taste: 3.5 Overall: 3.5	"This brew accompanies the blues while eradicating them at the same time."

2nd Beer of the Show: Dragoons Dry Irish Stout (Moylan's Brewery)
	"Don't know if the beer went bad in the bottle or if there's a market for mediciney beer..."

Featured Tracks:  Charm City Devils - Unstoppable; Stratovarius - Uncertainty; Dio - Black and Electra; Lion - Powerlove; Dark New Day - Come Alive; UFO - Mr. Freeze; Dokken - Best of Me; Lynch Mob - World of Chance; Harem Scarem - Saviors Never Cry; Hess - What If, Living in Yesterday, Don’t Leave Me; Harem Scarem - Warming a Frozen Rose; Hess - It’s Over, Harem Scarem - Hope

Ragman Pick: Vision Divine - Mermaids From Their Moons

Genghis Pick: Swallow the Sun - This Cut is the Deepest

Classic of the Show: Doctor Butcher - The Altar

Genghis Pick of the Show: Gypsyhawk - Frostwyrm

Ragman Pick of the Show:  ZZ Top - Chartreuse

- Ragman wants to know if someone said supersize?  If so, check this out.

Podcast #144: Loss

A Whisper In The Noise - To Forget

This Minneapolis-based alt rock duo sound more like they should be from Washington, circa 1990...Art rock implies a lot of things that are kind of antithetical to most heavy metal bands, leaving out the more progressive of the lot. But it's not all bad haircuts and self-loathing nihilism.

Of course, I say this as the guy that mostly ignores lyrics in favor of the musical vibe at hand; and that natural inclination is probably bolstered by my recent reading of Daniel J. Levitin's This Is Your Brain On Music (check it out, it's brilliant). And in the case of A Whisper In The Noise (AWITN), they actually make it pretty easy to ignore the lyrics with their ethereal crooning so heavily processed; it's like the soundtrack to a seance.

On the plus side though is the music itself. While nothing at all like the heavier stuff I tend to listen to, AWITN makes some very compelling and moody music. The beats sometimes remind me of Angelo Badalamenti's Twin Peaks soundtrack work in their dreamy, haunted retro-hipness.

The Bottom Line: Imagine the setting of a Stephen King novel with its tarnished nostalgia against the backdrop of a forgotten, cold, and windy Northeastern town; a once beautiful and familiar sight now mired in fear and regret. This is the soundtrack.

Tracks to Make You Cry for Laura Palmer: Black Shroud, Mayas Song, Your Hand

- Genghis is trying to remember some really good ghost stories now...