Monthly Archives: October 2007

Interview: Irritant

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Irritant are an up and coming metal band from the UK. For their age (late teens/early 20s), they’re amazing players. They’ve already come to the attention of some big names (Bruce Dickinson for one) and things are looking up for them. Bassist/vocalist Niall answered a few questions for me about the band’s past, present and future. RnRnMN: You’re all in… Read more »

Halloween Tunes

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Everyone has their own idea of what makes a good Halloween compilation. For me, it’s pretty simple: the Misfits. Not Samhain or Danzig, just the Misfits. Their corny darkness and B horror movie simplicity manage to encapsulate the holiday’s mix of fun and fright perfectly. Unlike Danzig’s approach to his subsequent projects, the Misfits never take anything too seriously and… Read more »

Review: Avenged Sevenfold – s/t

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Label: Warner Bros. Released: October 30, 2007 Avenged Sevenfold are one of those bands that makes me wonder what all the hype is about. It’s not that they’re bad, just that they don’t seem to really separate themselves from the pack so to speak. Their self-titled follow-up to their major label break-though, City of Evil, both justifies my question about… Read more »

Lance Hahn RIP

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Lance Hahn of long underrated J Church passed away on October 21 due to complications from kidney disease. See lancehahn.org to share remembrances of Lance and to find out how you can help his family who is faced with significant medical bills after his prolonged illness.

Review: Remove the Veil – Another Way Home

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Label: Facedown Records Released: October 16, 2007 Unlike most of the Facedown stable, Remove the Veil takes it’s cues from gritty hard rock, grunge and stoner rock rather than more technical metal. Interestingly enough, the album still fits well with the label’s catalog. Their ability to use this in a powerful hardcore format sets them apart from their peers. The… Read more »

Review: Fell Far Behind – Reaching the Red Line

Label: self-released Released: September 18, 2007 There are bands that do most things right, but the few things they lack make all the difference between being good and lousy. Fell Far Behind is just such a band. They have many of the pieces in place: They’re tight, they understand hooks, they’re polished and the production on Reaching the Red Line… Read more »

Review: Chiodos – Bone Palace Ballet

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Label: Equal Vision Records Released: September 4, 2007 After finding a fair amount of success with 2005’s All’s Well That Ends Well, Chiodos were in a position to coast safely into their next album. Instead, they chose to further break out of the emo-screamo scene that spawned them and follow their arena-sized prog-rock dreams. Bone Palace Ballet has some leanings… Read more »

Review: Chain Shot – Black September

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Label: Irish Voodoo Records Released: October 31, 2007 Chain Shot plays hardcore like they don’t often make it anymore. It isn’t overly metally or technical, just fast, hard and angry. They forgo the indulgent solos and the now dime-a-dozen growls. Instead, they stick to the raw passion that made hardcore exciting in the first place. The sons aren’t complex, but… Read more »

Review: Black Lips – Good Bad Not Evil

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Label: Vice Records Released: September 11, 2007 The Black Lips exude the dark undercurrent of lo-fi 60s garage rock, but unlike other revivalists, they haven’t filtered it through the present. Good Bad Not Evil is a minimalist affair with a harsh, thin sound made up of tinny guitar, echo-laden vocals, wild, loose rhythms and production right out of some hole-in-the-wall… Read more »