Podcast #158: Question

Foi um prazer conhecê-lo, Kiko!How many times would you buy the same album? Seems like lately remastered and expanded versions of our favorite CDs are coming out like hotcakes. But is it just hype or something actually worth buying a second time? Join Genghis & Ragman as they discuss this tantalizing topic as well as current happenings in the metal world. Next, the boys scurry down to a local recording studio to have a chat with Angra guitarist Kiko Loureiro who discusses his latest solo album, Sounds of Innocence, as well as how he distinguishes his solo work from his day job in Angra.

DVD of the Show: Dio - Finding the Sacred Heart - Live in Philly 1986

Beer of the Show: Salt Lick Pecan Wood Smoked Saison (Jester King Brewery)
	Appearance: 4.0 Aroma: 2.5 Palate: 3.0 Taste: 3.0 Overall: 2.75	"Ragman recuses himself as a non-sour beer lover, but Genghis likes this unusual farmhouse ale from a local fave brewer."

Standout Tracks: Deceit - Out of Project; Dio - The King of Rock n Roll; Blackwater Rising - Dance With the Devil; Newsted - Soldierhead; Metallica - Ride the Lightning; Angra - Salvation Suicide; Kiko Loureiro - The Hymm, El Guajiro, Ray of Life, Reflective and Conflicted

Ragman's Classic of the Show: Kiss - Under the Rose

Genghis' Classic of the Show: Pantera - 5 Minutes Alone

Ragman's Pick of the Show: Jorn - The Traveler

Genghis' Pick of the Show: Zed - Desperation Blues

- Ragman is proud to announce that the G & R show is the highest rated podcast on this site...

Podcast #158: Question

Sofy Major - Idolize

Yeah, Sofy Major is billed as a doom metal band, but this sounds more to me like classic proto-grunge - and it's great.There's been no shortage of late in the realm of bottom heavy retro rockers (i.e. sludge/doom metal). Sounding like the modern analogue of iconic metal forefathers Black Sabbath, French doom riffers Sofy Major has been slogging through countless countries leaving their pummeled, satisfied audiences wanting more. And their latest playlists will undoubtedly include tracks off their sophomore effort, Idolize.

While those that don't go for the swollen, fuzz-heavy riffs of the genre may find such music slow and plodding, there's no denying that there's an energy here. In fact, tunes like Bbbbreak get downright punky, giving a lift out of the muddy din like an exhilarating breeze on a hot evening. And that's where Sofy Major sets itself apart from other similar bands. While some songs sound like a car crash in progress, there are others that sound like classic Soundgarden in the early stages of grunge; power and melody delivered in dirty jeans and tees rather than leather and pirate shirts. And anyone who grew up with that cathartic punky break from the machined razor of metal in the late 80s/early 90s will likely enjoy the earnestly manic music these Gallic rockers are putting out.

The Bottom Line: Sofy Major is a French band that sounds like it's stepped through time, from 60s' England, to 90s' Seattle, to modern Brooklyn, to rock, drink beer, "and chew bubblegum..."

Tracks To Make You Wanna Smash a Guitar Over an Amp: Bbbreak, UMPPK pt. 2, Slow and Painful, and Platini

- Genghis never really had a grudge against grunge like Ragman...

Havok - Unnatural Selection

"The more things change...", amirite? Havok's latest record kicks ass as it makes you long for the 80s.Colorado thrashers Havok have been riding the new wave of American thrash since 2004 thanks largely to the musical vision of frontman David Sanchez. Like a modern version of a young Dave Mustaine, Sanchez is angry about dirty politics, the erosion of civil rights, and the ever-present threat of annihilation. And he lets his guitar do the talking on the band's latest release, Unnatural Selection.

Decrying the modern evils in our society (sadly, pretty much the same ones we had in the 80s), Havok fashions thrash metal that sounds familiar but authentic. Lead guitarist Reece Scruggs lays some tasty shred over Sanchez's crunchy riffage and defiant sneer, while Pete (Webber, Drums) and Mike (Leon, Bass) hold down the bottom end like champs.

The Bottom Line: This is straight ahead thrash metal that sounds like it came out of a time capsule from 1982 - and it is glorious. Like the cheeseburger, let's hope Havok's brand of music is around for a long time to come for an authentic, tried and true, American pleasure.

Tracks To Make You Want To Give Congress The Finger: I Am The State, Give Me Liberty...Or Give Me Death, Is It True, Under The Gun - shit, the whole album kicks ass!

- Genghis can't stop moshing and air guitaring all over the damn office...

Between The Buried And Me - The Parallax II: Future Sequence

How have I never gotten more into this band before? Between The Buried and Me rocks the shit out of the concept album.Developing a story line they began with their EP, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues, North Carolinians Between The Buried and Me (BTBAM) have released their first concept record, The Parallax II: Future Sequence, replete with everything you'd expect from such a project: extended jams, atmospheric vocals, and indecipherable monologues from the story's cast of characters. But don't worry, it's a great album…

Having been around since the turn of the century, BTBAM has managed to coalesce a variety of musical influences into an interesting melange of progressive and death metal, with touches of everything from Smashing Pumpkins to Queen to The Beatles. Pulling it off without sounding like it's all crammed in there for the sake of having it in there is what sets BTBAM apart from a lot of other bands. And The Parallax II: Future Sequence presents a deft application of this talent over the course of its 72 minutes and 42 seconds.

What stands out for me, having not listened to BTBAM before, is their ability to move between an authentic modern death metal sound to movie soundtrack to progressive metal jams in a way that serves the story of the album with a good sense of forward momentum; tracks like Autumn, Parallax and Goodbye to Everything provide the perfect amount of space in between massive tracks like Lay Your Ghosts To Rest and Extremophile Elite. In less capable hands I could see this sort of experiment quickly becoming muddled and (ultimately) ignored, but the fearless lads of BTBAM handle this insanity like pros.

The Bottom Line: Throw the psychedelic vocals of latter-day Beatles, the spaced out metal of Mastodon, the intricate arrangements of Dream Theater, and the brutality of death metal into a pot, stir, and let simmer for a little over an hour. Set the table, and sit down to a satisfying meal of concept album rock courtesy of the mad geniuses of Between The Buried And Me.

Tracks to Listen, this is an old school concept album jam, so do this right: Get baked, plug in your best pair of [over the ear] headphones, light some incense and candles, turn out the lights, lay down on the living room floor, and crank this motherfucker up, you savvy?

- Genghis has a favorite new album…

Bangladeafy - The Briefcase

It's kind of crazy that there're aren't more metallic fusion bands around, but then again how many people play like this?If you’re one of those people that’s into the kind of jazz metal that makes most progressive music seem like a Miley Cyrus song, you might be looking for a band like Bangladeafy. Their latest EP, The Briefcase, is collection of short (all but one clock in under three minutes), frenetic tunes that sound a bit like Les Claypool after an 8-ball with a drum machine synched up to him.

But don’t let that pithy description give you the impression that the NYC duo of Atif Haq (drums) and Jon Ehlers (bass/keyboards/vocals) are without finesse and a whole lot of talent. Haq’s blazing staccato snare work is incredible in a kind of “this-isn’t-a-drum-machine?” way. And Ehlers’ bass work is quite simply jaw-dropping when you see it.

The Briefcase may be short, but the music is intense and shows a variety of melodic moods; Show Me The Gold evokes the European flair of spaghetti western soundtracks even at its breakneck pace. And tunes like Tubes can veer off into an almost metal vibe where things get a little brutal while maintaining a sense of melodicism.

The Bottom Line: Like Metal Blade’s Trioscapes, Bangladeafy is another band comprised of talented musicians melding the fury of heavy metal with the sophistication and melody of jazz fusion into something amazing and different. Check them out.

Tracks to Make You Headbang Your Pork Pie Hat Off: Tubes, Show Me The Gold, Fruit Flies

- Genghis was awestuck by Bangladeafy's Show Me The Gold video...