Trivium - In Waves

It's not a revolutionary album by any means, but it'll rock your ass pretty good, tell you what.It may seem silly to mention, but the cover for Trivium's latest album looks more like a minimalist poster for some new, atmospheric horror movie rather than the band's fifth studio album. And interestingly, the first track on the album seems to fit that mode with it's haunting piano, as if it were lifted from the next Silent Hill soundtrack.

But [Matt] Heafy and company's latest offering to the metal genre, In Waves, is more concerned with rocking the shit out of you than making you fear what's lurking around the next corner. And they do it with all of the bombastic energy and conviction you'd expect from the Floridian metal masters. There are a precious few in the current crop of young metal bands that tastefully blend the right elements of what's worked before in the genre without seeming like a throwback.

It's one thing to realize that speed is king once again, and that thrash is an enduring component of brutal, metal music. But Trivium makes sure to incorporate these elements as technique rather than gimmick, which shows them to be true fans of as well as creators of metal.  By the same token, many will no doubt criticize the band for not taking the next step in its evolution like some experimental prog band.  But look at the albums of Trivium's biggest 80s era influences (Metallica, Megadeth, Testament, et al) and I'd wager you didn't find much evolution in their music - and that didn't hurt them much at all.  Not every new album has to burst through boundaries, and there's something to be said for churning out respectable, dependable product.  Okay, off the soapbox. 

The Bottom Line: Trivium's new album may seem to some like a step backward for a band that's stood out in the post-metal-resurgence world, with the likes of Children of Bodom, as part of the new guard that's flying the flag of old school metal with a new school sensibility.  Sure, solos are more restrained - they've shown they have the chops - and production is less raw, but I dig what I hear, okay?   We get it, old school is cool, but this is the 21st century, is it not? I mean we're not talking Kanye 'Auto Tune' West-level overproduction here.

Standout Tracks: Dusk Dismantled, In Waves, & Black

- Genghis is ready for some more new metal releases...

Pretenders - Loose In L.A. [Blu-Ray]

One of the most recognizable female voices in rock pulls you into a night of some well-crafted songs in hi-def. Now this is how it's done.Truly, Chrissie Hynde is a classic rock and roll chick.  And seeing her do her thing in classic rock and roll style with her band, The Pretenders, playing what have become some classic rock and roll songs, is a really cool thing to see - especially on Blu-Ray.

And that's basically what you get for two hours on Loose In L.A..  Filmed at a sold-out show in the Wiltern Theater in the City of Angels on February 2003 (better late than never, eh?), you may hear Chrissie complain that her voice may not be up to par in the beginning (apparently necessitating a cortisone shot earlier that day), but you wouldn't know it to listen to this disc; she sounds a smooth as ever, singing her way through 26 songs from as many years of the band's catalog like the pro that she is.  The hi-definition looks fantastic and really takes you onstage with the band, with lots of smooth editing that shows the interplay that the band shares in an engaging way.  It really is one of those cases where it's practically better than being there.

It's a fairly standard package, with a 7.1 soundtrack - and one of the best mixed concerts I've ever heard - as well as the obligatory backstage footage and a video thrown in for good measure.  I wouldn't have minded if they'd thrown in more of the band's videos even with their old-school, low-def visuals for nostalgia's sake, but hey, you really can't complain with such a great show of Springsteenian duration.

The Bottom Line: If you're a Pretender's fan, you'll love this - especially since it's easily the best of their sparse live show catalog.  But if you're just a fan of good rock and roll and want to see how it's done by professionals, you won't be disappointed.

- Genghis really would like to see those classic MTV videos in hi-def...

Mr. Big @ House of Blues

One of the best bands to ever come out of the 80s is back with an incredible tour. HORNS UP!A few hours before the show, Ragman and I were waiting for Eric Martin backstage at the House of Blues in downtown Houston.  He was running late (a chronic problem apparently, and one that I share with him so it's cool), but he apologized profusely and gave us a great interview for our upcoming Mr. Big tribute show. Rags busted his balls a little trying to get him to sing us a bumper, and Eric said he wanted to save it for the show, explaining "tonight I'm gonna sing like gangbusters".  And that he did.

The whole damn band did, in fact.

The thing is, if you've never seen Mr. Big play live in their nearly 25 year history, you're missing out.  These guys know how to play a venue in the purest rock sense; old school all the way. Backstage, before the show, the other guys seemed non-chalant, even aloof, like they weren't sure if any of this was a good idea. But that night, onstage, they came out like it was the best thing they've ever been a part of. These guys are total pros, as any Mr. Big fan knows, and part of what that means is to give the audience what they came for, right? The new tunes were well mixed amongst a setlist of their best songs, including their slower ballads, and the energy coming off the stage could've powered a Vegas casino. Eric started out slowly, taking it easy on some of the higher parts like he was saving something for later.  Well played, since they ended up playing a 2+ hour long show with some great encores.

Bottom Line: There's not much more to say, except that these guys play their hearts out, complimented by an excellent sound mix (nice work, Michelle) that had every note as clear and powerful as you can have outside of a recording studio.  And while I'd be tempted to say if you're not a fan of Mr. Big's music, don't bother, I realize that's a crazy statement to make. Mr. Big is straight ahead rock and roll in the truest sense; there's classic boogie shuffles, hard driving rock, contemptlative ballads all layered with incredible musicianship. If you like rock and roll, you'll like Mr. Big.

In the vein of other amazing bands that can't seem to get regular airplay (e.g. Enuff Z'nuff, King's X), Mr. Big has never had the following it deserves outside of Japan, so I was thrilled to see this band back in a club. With any luck, it won't be the last time. About that, Eric Martin had this to say:

- Genghis can't wait to record the Mr. Big tribute show soon...

Thick Lizzy

Our own Turtlehead put a spin on an old favorite by marrying the smoky, malted flavor of Guinness Draught with the creamy indulgence of Häagen-Dazs' Java Chip ice cream to create a fantastic milkshake for a horrible Texas summer.  Praise his Southern ingenuity - especially the brilliance of topping it off with alcohol-infused whipped cream 

• 1 (14 oz.) can of Guinness Draught
• 1 (28 oz.) carton of Häagen-Dazs Java Chip ice cream
• Amaretto Whipanol Whipped Lightning
• Chocolate shavings

Blend Guinness and ice cream, top with Whipanol and dress with chocolate shavings.  Arm self with baseball bat in case women are around. Or don't.

- Genghis could sure go for another one of these as the temperature reaches 100°+ again...

The Metal Minute #7

Thought I'd forgotten, eh?  Okay, fair enough.  Well in this installment, we hear of Jag Panzer sadly calling it quits after over 30 years.  But taking the sting out of that news a bit we also hear of a new power trio with Mike Portnoy and John Sykes.  I don't know about you, but I can't wait to hear this new stuff.  Portnoy's on a friggin' tear with this supergroup business.

That's Doctor Bruce Dickinson to you, pal!  What's next, is Eddie gonna start wearing a monocle?

And finally, Sir Oderus Urungus has been ousted from the Red Eye show on FOX News?  What's the world coming to?  I mean what does it do to your ego when you're not good enough to be on a news channel's third-rate version of the Chelsea Handler Show?

Tune in to find out all of this crap on The Metal Minute and keep those HORNS UP!

- Genghis is keeping his fingers crossed...

The Metal Minute #7