Trust Divided - Revolt - Single - Released 18th October 2014

Trust Divided

Revolt

Single

Released 18th October 2014

 The awe-inspiring Trust Divided

Trust Divided – Louisville, KY

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/trustdivided

Genre: Hard Rock

Biography:

Formed in the summer of 2009 in Louisville, KY, Trust Divided are a hard rock band built on the hard work and dedication of its four members.

Ever just clicked on a link and thought ’Holy Cow?’ well I can safely say it is one of ‘those’ moments as Trust Divided have been good enough to send over a link to their brand new single ‘Revolt’

For the experience of that 'Holy Cow' moment listen to this if you never do anything else again!

Even before I started to review it I kept playing it over and over – it’s so damn addictive! It is harsh and full on engaging. So reviewing it was the next step and what a good time I am going to have here!

If I can sit still long enough, and stop closing my eyes and singing at the top of my voice I may get some work done! But it is so hard to remain unflappable when you hear something of this quality!

To say this is just incredible would be an understatement... this single has tested the margins of my sanity and widened them a whole lot more! Set against a deafening backdrop of destruction the vocals are quite simply immense.

Excuse me while I make noises that resemble licking of the inside of a teacup! This is really good stuff – no not the tea – I mean this single - it is sonic anarchy!! Maybe it’s a perfect valid human experience when fluffy feathers short circuit the brain – no gobsmacking exception here at all!

I am just trying to deal with the emotional fallout while getting a jolt of anger from the pounding these rhythms are giving me. It has to be the strongest track yet from Trust Divided.

In the opening moment its ballast rips you off your feet and in one traumatic blast would keep a town lit for several years non-stop! Crazy shit, I kid you not! It is music that will play with your emotions like a Cat and Mouse saga!

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“The collective elements are all fused neatly together, spiking in all the right directions that make this a total winner!”

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I can instantly connect with the challenge the band have set and I am enjoying the rousing frenzy that has been unleashed!

Three minutes and ten seconds of total harmonic blitzing is for me just not long enough! I want to dive into its ravenous, pulse ripping grooves and immerse myself in its riveting seduction for a whole lot longer! Hence replaying it over and over to fully bathe in its glory.

This is simply ‘brain fruit’ and I need my five a day! As the music swells it is like a gigantic solar flare has erupted. It is tantalizing and the twists and turns are spine-tingling!

The collective elements are all fused neatly together, spiking in all the right directions that make it a total winner!

Tumultuous, and heavy it swipes with an iron fist! The video accompanying the single is poignant and vibrant and well rewards with scorching rhythms and ferocious beats ripe for enjoyment!

I thought ‘Welcome to the Fight’ was brilliant but ‘Revolt’ has exceeded expectations. Gawd only knows where this will lead the band now, but in my opinion there is only one place for this band to be and that is at the top!

As with the volume on 11 it seems only fitting for Trust Divided to steal 11/10 as this single is richly rewarding and satisfying until its short end, and I feel their future has well and truly been cemented with the release of this mighty single.

The powerful and most important message remains – ‘REVOLT!’

11/10

Members:

Vic - Vocals,

Chase - Lead Guitar,

David - Drums,

Bryan - Bass Guitar

The Funeral & the Twilight - Falling Corpse - 9 Track Album - Released 20th September 2014

The Funeral & the Twilight

Falling Corpse

9 Track Album

Released 20^th September 2014

The Funeral & the Twilight

The Funeral & the Twilight – Minneapolis

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/The.Funeral.And.The.Twilight

Listen/Buy here:

http://thefuneralandthetwilight.bandcamp.com/album/falling-corpse

Genre: Dark negative rock

Make this man into a girl

The bristling tones of drums ring out to some striking guitar and demonic bass hooks, joined by the yodelling tones of Benjamin, It is so difficult not to react with the tapping of feet as the surge of intensity increases into a fuelled and engaging magnitude of all out strangeness.

Crusaders of Death

This is a more balanced track that is tempered with sonically engaging rhythms and hypnotic beats. Imposing and swiftly edging toward bruising swagger.

Some kind of abstraction

This is a lot slower than the previous two tracks and ambles its way through a strong structure with modest beats and riffs alike. One of the longer ones on the album.

Only Death

Is a right rampage which intensifies almost instantly with demonic screeching vocal edge and powerful drum beats veined with tempestuous bass hooks! The potency is concentrated with lavish and lingering effects.

Its name cannot be spoken

If a track could be cursed, it would surely be this one! The strange devilish sounds ring out in a dreamy haze of destruction, abrasive and creepy. Growing with antagonistic flair and prowess, it constantly twists and turns into a myriad of madness as it evolves.

Baalberith

Moving to a more rhythmic structure but none the less strange and impacting as its humongous tones and squally vocals edge toward their conclusion although not sure where that is as the surprise element is not knowing which direction it will take.

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“A strange concoction of gloom and devilry works so well ‘live’ if for the full-on effect of seeing Noah’s gigantic frame tossing his sea of hair in time to the mighty warped rhythms that are dealt like a blow to the gut!”

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Bad Man

A slow mesmeric track that engages in a twisted kind of way. It constantly inflames with a demonic haze of brittleness and expelled in a strange kind of ritual.

Why don’t you love me?

There seems to be a lot of shoe tapping here perhaps that’s what shoe-gaze is as this track comes to life in an unusual manner. It is coloured with a wondrous and dramatic wash of cinematic hues and steadily grows.

Nobody in his right mind

Another strange and angular creation that slowly parades its art with heaps of sultry swagger. Penetrating the emotions and injecting them with a wavering tone of muscular rhythms.

Summary

I have to say that I get it now – the difference between the earlier album and later album is that with the later version it has more activity and more experimental features, although it is still pleasingly strange.

I know ‘live’ that TFATT are crazy and very engaging and feel that their strengths lie in giving a live performance to show off their creative talents as the album needs those three guys to perform their live rituals rather than just having people listen on CD. It's like they offer you roses but they are made of barbed wire - clever!

Personally I prefer the bands later material but it is good to compare the two. It is kind of bewitching and very distinctive, most definitely Topsy Turvey if nothing else, and taunts, poking a finger right into the eye until it smarts thus grabbing your attention.

A strange concoction of gloom and devilry works so well ‘live’ if for the full-on effect of seeing Noah’s gigantic frame tossing his sea of hair in time to the mighty warped rhythms that are dealt like a blow to the gut!

9/10

Track List:

Make this man into a girl

Crusaders of Death

Some kind of abstraction

Only Death

Its name cannot be spoken

Baalberith

Bad Man

Why don’t you love me?

Nobody in his right mind

Members:

Benjamin Jones – Vocals/Guitar

Brandon Keegan - Drums

Noah Schafer - Bass

The Funeral & the Twilight - The Cross of St Peter - 6 Track E.P - Released 28th August 2010

The Funeral & the Twilight

The Cross of St Peter

6 Track E.P

Released 28^th August 2010

The Funeral & the Twilight – Minneapolis

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/The.Funeral.And.The.Twilight

Listen/Buy  Here:

http://thefuneralandthetwilight.bandcamp.com/album/the-cross-of-st-peter

Recorded by Ali Jaafar and Tony Williamette

Mixed by Ali Jaafar

Mastered by Tony Williamette

Genre: Dark Negative Rock

Since catching The Funeral & the Twilight’s breath-taking set at The High-Line in Seattle on the 12^th October, I have been keen to hear some of the band’s earlier material to see how it compares to their later tracks and now I have the opportunity of not only listening to it but reviewing it too! This CD goes back four years and gives a more organic view of the band.

Witches Part II

The dulcet lilting tones of Benjamin’s are prevalent on this track and immediately send shivers down the spine in this one minute thirty one seconds of ambiance that sonically expresses a stroll into the asylum that is TFATT.

I Have Returned

This has a sneaky rhythm that can boast a tongue in cheek attitude as it raucously ignites into a stirring seduction. Clad in twisted charm and emotional bait.

Strong Fork

Strange title indeed. It is quite refined in a mischievous way, coloured with lilting tones and a hazy backwash of sorts. It spikes with a dramatic flurry of backing vocals that give the track balance and attitude.

The Loving Cunt of the Woman You Know

Only TFATT could get away with a track like this. Its edgy beats and intensive sequences are strong and mesmerising and kind of manhandles the brain in a delicious slurry of chilling splendour.

Bury You There

An upbeat track that has plenty of rhythmic coaxing and irrepressible hooks that bind it together giving the listener something different to get wrapped up in as the choppy little track dives head first into an intriguing snare of sultry persuasion.

Witches Part I

Benjamin’s tones show an urgent and dramatic side as he forces out the lingering entourage that often scars with a reflective guise. The music is angular and frosty and builds in an eerie ambiance that employs uniqueness.

Summary

This is quite a memorable E.P showing off a jaunty side to TFATT without them getting too far carried away, although it can boast a tongue in cheek persona that has been noted and duly personalised within the tracks.

The unusual vocals from Benjamin harvest a solid blend of memorability in their own right, at least you could never mistake this band for anyone else.

I think they are working alongside their demons who are guiding them to make these unusual tracks that are textured with a simplistic but effective haze of coarse smothering.

8½/10

Track List:

Witches Part II 01:31

I Have Returned 02:27

Strong Fork 03:01

The Loving Cunt of the Woman You Know 03:38

Bury You There 03:09

Witches Part I 08:50

Members:

Benjamin Jones – Vocals/Guitar

Brandon Keegan – Drums

Dave Bloxsom – Bass

Additional Musicians:

Chris Krapohl (Guitar) Tracks one/three/six

Matthew Byrnes (Organ) Tracks four/five

Ali Jaafar (Backing Vocals) Tracks one/three/five/six

The Ersatz - Kill the False Inside You - 14 Track Album - Finisterian Dead End - Released 7th September 2013

The Ersatz

Kill the False Inside You

14 Track Album

Finisterian Dead End

Released 26th July 2013

Music that shocks!

The Ersatz – Nantes, France

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/TheErsatz

Listen/buy here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kill-False-Inside-You-Explicit/dp/B00E9P1L7S

Photography Cover - Danielle Tunstall

Mastering - Arco Trauma

Music | Lyrics | Mix | Artwork - The Ersatz

Genre: Alternative Shock Industrial

Biography:

“The Ersatz is an insurrectionary group anticipating the destruction of the government in place that alienates humanity, the conditioning that controls your life is the target. We’re just numbers, by-products of a lifestyle obsession.

We are overrated, we are no longer human but a palliative to our own lives, feeds and educated tasteless, indoctrinated by divine lullaby that dodge reality, lobotomised by ugly cultural mass mind and insecurity stuff created by governments puppets! Do we make our own choices? Take and become your own! Kill the false inside YOU! Be aware of The Ersatz within! And make it end!

KILL THE FALSE INSIDE YOU!”

Amen to that!

Exordium

A rather creepy and eerie track that is highly disturbing. Very unusual and creative in its own way. Its fresh approach is laden with sinister structures of sheer and unadulterated rhythmic pleasure.

Intruder under my Skin

Another unusual array but this time the harshness is more apparent and mesmerising with vocal steeliness and rhythmic swathes that lunge with hyper tones of addictive proportions – Great track!!

Mind’s Nails

Gnarly and grisly just how it should be!  The vocals seethe under a constant rhythmic flank of awesome! It stomps and parades a certain boldness with expectations exceeded.

Dead Space Parasite

Deep resounding thumps of drums again stomp to a swagger of catchy rhythms and leaves the emotions well satisfied. It intoxicates you in large amounts and offers a captivating presence with anthemic groove!

One More Scar

With a rather strange voice effect this track bristles into view and holds a rather eerie attitude.  The vocals are cleaner than previous and sung more in a punk vein although still captivating.

Obey Industry

Erupting from its core are a plethora of sampled voices that harbour a spacey theme with strange jangling and mutated ambiance. As the track fills out it scoops you along on its inventive and creative journey.

Hybrid Children

More ungodly intervention as this track fires out an enthusiastic rhythmic pattern of persuasion of enthralling notes of equally enjoyable passion. Vocals return to their harsh state and a haunting keyboard melody ensues. – Another great track!

Embryo Born from Fire

Casting a dark shadow over the proceedings are more sampled voices and a harsh crust of noises that simply engage and simmer until finally bursting out of their restraints and igniting into a frenzy of melodic compulsion.

Spasm of Paranoia

Equally dark and robotic such is its strength to compel and enthral with large slabs of rhythms that stir and ferociously attack the senses. It is an emotional turmoil that wraps around the ears and wounds with intent to attention grab.

Put to Death

Bubbles with a sneaky rhythm and stalks. Battering the emotions into a submission that you don’t mind succumbing to. Under the weighty slabs of rhythms the vocals intertwine with harsh severity and burn with wild tenacity.

Winterguts

Pulsing rhythms start and then turn to a more levelled structure that offers a droning and imposing creativity. A most unusual track that is edgy and parades with evil mischief.

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“This album grips and grips so tightly it is bound to warrant further investigation. It is creative, unusual and very addictive. The intensity never lessens in fact it grows with each track!”

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System Failure

A delicious start offering highly pleasing keyboard melodies that hit like acid rain with a superb vocal that sounds like something from a space movie. Captivating with its rhythmic ebbing and flowing to the myriad of sampled voices and inescapable lures that warrant a full listening pleasure. Another superb track.

Kill the False inside you

The sound is like a heartbeat pumping against a hardened wind with stomping feet. Its breath escapes into a scream amid a choir of haunting voices, and a staged vocal accompaniment of harsh seething - again very unusual and pleasing to the ears.

Summary

This album grips and grips so tightly it is bound to warrant further investigation. It is creative, unusual and very addictive. The intensity never lessens in fact it grows with each track.

Its masterful bait fully engages the senses and emotions. It is a pity I never carried on my French lessons at school as the final track houses an evil voice that speaks French in a monotone ambiance.

The album expresses its unique qualities in such a crafted way that invokes a certain ‘Je ne sais quoi’ and has lots of contagious addiction added to its bulbous structures but kept within certain boundaries that still makes it pleasurable.

The keyboards are not over-done and add-in hints of haunting melodies that leave you transfixed.

It could be described as black judging by the names the band uses with a hint of punk - vocally, definitely industrial, but you make up your own mind, it matters very little as this album goes into overdrive and pulverizes the senses with relish!

‘The shock Industrial’ element to the album is for me a resounding success – anything that shocks musically is most welcome in my book, and The Ersatz do that with intrigue and ingenuity.

What is unveiled here are meaty slabs of industrial bred unpredictability. It is potent and punchy and emerges as an ultimate winner!

Definitely recommended listening - if it is the ‘shock experience’ you crave! This band hit the nail on the proverbial head

10/10

Track List:

Exordium

Intruder under my Skin

Mind’s Nails

Dead Space Parasite

One More Scar

Obey Industry

Hybrid Children

Embryo Born from Fire

Spasm of Paranoia

Put to Death

Winterguts

System Failure

Kill the False inside you

Members:

XXVII - VΩCΔLS.LYRICS

IGGDRAZYL - KΞYBΩΔRD. BΔCKVΩCΔLS.

BOIGA - LΞAD GUITΔR

THALICΩX - BΔSS

The Hate Colony - Navigate - 13 Track Album - Trøndercore Records - Released 1st August 2014

The Hate Colony

Navigate

13 Track Album

Trøndercore Records

Released 1^st August 2014

Hot new album from The Hate Colony

The Hate Colony – Trondheim, Norway

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/TheHateColony

Genre: Metalcore

Biography:

“This five-headed metal monster from Trondheim, Norway, is a living proof that Norwegian heavy music is not all about black metal. The Norwegian aggression, the Swede-inspired melodies, and the American ground-and-pound riffs, it all comes together in this brutal mix of genuine musicianship.  You like what you hear? Join the Colony!”

Photo courtesy of DreaPhotography

Recheck

The stabs of melodic groove come bounding from the speakers with a superb squall of vocal prowess. The music is a pleasurable roller-coaster ride of turmoil and tempestuousness that takes you by force and unreservedly rhythmic and enthralling.

Trigger

The waves of bubbling rhythm carry you on a bed of strong and impressive emotions. It is harsh and resoundingly heavy and malice ridden. The sonic stabs of melodic coaxing is powerful and engaging with tempting causticity.

The Letter

Is a rampageous onslaught that embeds itself into the ears, its lingering ruthlessness is well lasting and imaginative in its delivery while the melodic guitar imposes their startling rewards with ferocious velocity.

Blood runs Black

Is a stab in the arm with a dose of highly charged venomous intentions, pursuing the listener with a thrusting power that is likely to attention grab and have you reaching for the replay button. The textures are thick and deserving with their own compelling contagion.

Solitude

The melodies work well together here ebbing and flowing with a hot molten content that embellishes the aural. Constantly brimming with a mighty hunger that is greedy for recognition whilst being seductive and over rides the senses.

Domain

With a feisty slab of drumming and a sonic presence of guitar this track comes to light and simply explodes in a malignant haze of rhythmic enthusiasm. It is laced with its own hatred and a bold and forcible track that leaves no stone un-turned and comes to a tantalizing conclusion – This is superb!

When Worlds Collide

The icy stabs of choppy little notes flurry amid an acid rain of strong beats and tempestuous rhythm. For the first time on the CD the vocal can be heard as clean and mixed with a mighty growl – making this one intense structure and living up to its title. This track goes out with a bang!

Nothing Less

Unleashed and angry this track swipes with a frenzied claw of contempt as it twists and turns into a battering ram of pure and unadulterated poison. Injecting the ears with a rampant slurry of madness – but we expect ‘Nothing Less’

Interlude

An intense little classical piano ensemble that lifts the spirit and plagues the soul with a change of tempo and engages the senses sending icy slithers of back-bone chills through the body.

Dialogue

Back to the fire and brimstone this track lunges with a feisty sword that slashes and cuts to the bone. It is an emotional roller-coaster whose highs out weight its lows musically speaking, however the low growls are stunning and rewarding.

Pandemonium

Another track that flurries with excitement and invigorating textures built upon an overwhelming structure that delivers with a mighty fist to the throat! Distinctly enriched with angular riveting noise that feeds swiftly on the ears.

Path of Resistance

Holds a brooding ambiance that ripples with un-bounding qualities. It is laced with poignant rhythms and seething vocal adventure that laps at the ears and stimulates its victims with an absorbing presence.

Welcome to the Hate Colony

Invasive and formidable are just two words to describe this hate ridden cacophony of compelling and imposing landscapes. The vocal surges are bedlamic and devilish, while the beating rhythms are shrouded in a wash of sonic guitar bait.

Summary:

This is one superb album that houses a constant magnetic pull and delivers with an intent to lure the listeners into the cavernous grooves that pervade The Hate Colony’s world that is if it has not collided with another planet first!

Its blistering thirteen tracks are intense and are immediately attention grabbing! Best played loud for full on effect (Is there any other way?) but make note if you do, the scars will never heal.

The crippling barbaric beats and perfectly timed rhythms blend constantly ensuring the listener has a well-balanced array of structures to settle into like a comfy armchair.

The tones are crisp and that added little interlude is a welcome respite from the onslaught although equally impressive are the solid tracks that ooze a venomous bite!

If you wake up tomorrow feeling slightly angry – you can blame it on The Hate Colony!

Superb album – well worth a listen or six!!!

10/10

Track List:

Recheck

Trigger

The Letter

Blood runs Black

Solitude

Domain

When Worlds Collide

Nothing Less

Interlude

Dialogue

Pandemonium

Path of Resistance

Welcome to the Hate Colony

Members:

Lord Mordor - Vocals

T-Bag Joe - Guitars

Big Truck - Guitars

Sars the Virus - Bass

El Nigardo - Drums