Animals As Leaders - Weightless

Think Shawn Lane playing with The Dixie Dregs and you may start to appreciate the sweet progmetal coming out of this outfit.If you're a fan of the podcast, you're probably aware of my penchant for instrumental guitar in its myriad forms. From Andy McKee to Steve Vai, I'm just a sucker for great music that stands on its own without the need for vocals or a songwriter's esoteric, lyrical musings. I also have the tendency to be drawn to the more technical stuff like Watchtower, Cynic or Spastic Ink. The strange thing is that while I am drawn to the promise of ultimate musical satisfaction (incredible talent coupled with beautiful melodicism), the two rarely go hand in hand (cough*Meshuggah*cough). This is where Animals As Leaders (AAL) comes in.

I'd only recently heard about the prodigious talent of guitarist Tosin Abasi when Ragman suggested I review AAL's latest CD, Weightless [Prosthetic Records], and what a revelation this group is. Call them instrumental progressive metal, djent, or whatever, but their music is as melodic as it is complex and that's what a lot of the so-called technical metal bands seem to forget; it's not about sheer technicality for the sake of it - you have to actually make listenable music as well. Say what you will about pop music, but the reason it's popular is the pleasing harmony of melodies that stick in your head long after those vacuous songsters have aged and gotten real jobs like the rest of us. The heart of the band is Tosin's incredible guitar playing. Armed with his custom made 8-string guitars, the self-taught, Washington, DC native is a bonafide monster with many notable influences, and there's a distinct (and welcome) Shawn Lane flavor to this latest smorgasbord of instrumental complexity. Let's hope there's more to come from this band. I'm especially looking forward to a forthcoming live DVD shot in Atlanta last July.

The Bottom Line: If you're into a heavy version of The Dixie Dregs meets Shawn Lane, you might want to check out Weightless. There's some controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the "djent" subgenre, but if the name applies to bands that sound like Animals As Leaders, I'm all for it!

Standout Tracks: Isolated Incidents, Cylindrical Sea

- Genghis isn't even looking in his guitar's direction, oh no...

Halcyon Way - Indoctrination

How many CD's can you pick up today by just looking at the cover artwork?  Not that many, I'm sure; But on the rare occasion a band catches my eye, which draws me in, then I'm obligated to check them out.  The latest band to do that to me was Halcyon Way.  Their covers are so odd looking, that it make you want to check them out, and if you do, you will not be disappointed.  Halcyon is a power metal band from Atlanta that mixes thrash with power metal.  The songs are well crafted mixing in melody with brutality. 

Steve Braun's vocals are melodic, which always add a nice touch to a power metal band.  This band reminds me of Into Eternity mixed with some Testament, but a little more straight foward.  The band has the power metal thrash vibe working, but they also mix in some classic metal aspects into their music as well.  Soaring vocals with killer guitars, it don't get much better than that.

Indoctrination is more like an EP than a full length.  The CD only contains 7 tracks, with the last 2 tracks being a cover and radio edit of a tune from their debut.  The band cover the Sammy Hagar tune Stand Up, which was made popular in the movie Rockstar by the faux band Steel Dragon.  Unfortunately Halcyon Way as well as Sammy Hagard can't pull this tune off as well as Steel Dragon.  It was cool to hear this cover, but I would have much rather heard another original track.  The 5 previous tracks on this CD were so strong, it almost killed the momentum of the CD, by them adding in a cover.  All in all a killer release that will kick your ass this way to Sunday.  Check it out.

Bottom Line:  A new band showing that they've got what it take to make it.  A solid, but short platter of killer tunes, executed with precision.

Standout Tracks: Tracks 1 thru 5

-Ragman is wondering what Clive Barker would think of the artwork for this record.

Beggars and Thieves - We are the Brokenhearted

When a band you dig disappears for awhile, it is sort of a homecoming when they release a new album.  That is the way I felt when I heard Beggars and Thieves had a new CD coming out on Frontiers.  The band hit the ground running with their much underrated debut in 1990, but was killed by the grunge movement a few short years after it's release.  The band has stayed active over the years, releasing new music sporadically, but unfortunately has not broken through.  Fast forward to 2011 and the band has just released their 4th full length studio album, We Are the Brokenhearted, which might be the best of their 20+ year career.

We Are the Brokenhearted is a nice companion to their debut.  The songs on this CD touch on the same vibe as the debut had.  Don't get me wrong the songs are not dated sounding, they just have that same classic vibe.   As with the debut the songs are well written and will stay with you.  WE Are the Brokenhearted contains a nice variety of rockers and ballads, that mix in a touch of blues.  The band has always had a bluesy edge, but with a melodic hard rock vibe. 

The CD starts off strong with the melodic midtempo rocker We Come Undone.  From the first note, you know you're hearing vintage B & T.  It has a cool melodic riff that is followed by the killer vocals of Louie Merlino.  Merlino still sounds amazing after all of these years.  Another highlight in this band is the melodic riff-age of guitarist Ronnie Mancuso.  Mancuso has a nice fluent style that is very tasteful and melodic.  The next track Oil and Water is the first ballad on the record, and would be a hit, if it got some airplay.  Actually the whole CD would be a hit with the proper airplay.   A solid lisen from start to finish that will stay in the CD player for awhile.  We Are the Brokenhearted is so solid, it could be the strongest hard rock release of the year.

Bottom Line: Beggars and Thieves are back and sounding better than ever.  A solid collection of hard rock tunes full of melody.

Standout Tracks: We Come Undone, Oil and Water, Stranded and Wash Away.

-Ragman thinks he may have one of his picks of the year.

Eric Carr - Unfinished Business

It is hard to believe that Eric Carr passed away 20 years ago.  Another rock soldier taken in his prime.  Eric left us with a lot of great memories and music.  Recently, Eric's family dug up some old demo's and released them as Unfinished Business.  Some of the tracks first surfaced on the Rockology release from a few years back, but this time they have been given the royal treatment.  Many of the songs on Unfinished Business have been re-recorded, with several guest musicians.  Some of the songs are the actual demos which have only been touched up in the studio, but the others are new versions. 

The songs that stand out the most on this CD are tracks that include vocals and are full tunes.  I really dug the lead track Just can't Wait featuring Ted Poley (Danger Danger) on vocals.   Alos, hat's off to our boys in Z02 for doing some killer rendition of All Hell's Breaking Loose.  Another treat was hearing the track No One's Messin' With You, which later became Little Caesar on Kiss' 1989 release Hot in the Shade. 

The CD is broken up with snips from Eric interviews over the years.  The only knock on the CD I have, is that I was hoping to hear more extensive interview audio.  The songs on the CD are dated and the production isn't the best, but this CD is a must own for Kiss/Eric Carr fans.  Most of the songs are well written and would have been interesting to hear had they been given the full Kiss treatment.  A cool memento for Carr fans.

Bottom Line: Getting to hear what could have been.  A nice memorial to a great musician, who was struck down in his prime.  Would be interesting to see Bruce Kulick get some of these tracks together and do them with his band and a solid vocalist.

-Ragman needs to talk to Mr. Kulick.

Europe - Live at Shepherd's Bush, London

I have to admit it has been along time since I have checked out something from Europe.  I was into the band in the 80's, but haven't followed their career since they broke up in the early 90's.  The band reformed in the late 90's briefly, but didn't really get things back on track until 2003.  Since they have reunited the band has put out 3 studio release as well as their new live DVD Live at Shepherd's Bush, London.  The set list on the DVD is a compilation of material which covers the bands whole career. There is a nice mix of the new and the old on this DVD.   I was really pleased to see that the band included some tunes from the Kee Marcello era (My personal favorite).

This DVD is a document of the band's Balls 'N' Banners tour from this year.  The DVD is well shot and visually looks great.  It is a concert video that gives you a sense of being in the first row, without being on Bluray.  I'm sure the Bluray version is amazing.  The band look and sound great.  Joey Tempest has not lost it vocally and commands the crowd, just as he did back in the day. Guitarist John Norum, shreds like a man possesed and puts on a killer performance.  The great thing about this video is hearing how heavy they are live, especially on the new material.  I was blown away when I heard the opening track Last Look at Eden, because it was so raw and heavy.   This was a solid watch from start to finish.

Bottom Line: Europe tearing up the stage and leaving you wanting more.  The band puts on a killer show  that leaves you wanting more.  Killer watch.

-Ragman is thinking that he is needing to check out the band's last record.