Bad Religion - "True North"

The time has finally come and Bad Religion are back with 16 new songs and a promise: trying to keep things short, fast and punk. Well, that is true, and that is what a lot of people have been asking for since many years ago; specially, after the controversial The Dissent of Man, a good example of the bands latest efforts in trying to combine the classic sound with newer/modern ideas. While that will probably keep the most hardcore (pun intended) fans happy, I think the album lacks that variety, but that's maybe more of a personal preference, since I tend to enjoy when the guys go off track and do something different.

According to the interviews, the band were really moved by Pennywise's excellent effort from last year, and they wanted to show that they can still rock the house. Well, that's pretty clear when "True North" opens the party. The first part of the album goes on the same track, from "Robin Hood in Reverse", a typical example of 21st century Bad Religion, to the energetic single "Fuck You". "Dharma and the Bomb" brings the 1st surprise with its rock-n-roll riffs and a more friendly pace, leading to the slow and dark "Hello Cruel World" (think of "Infected"), my personal favourite at the moment.

After the intermission, "Vanity", the fastest tune on the album, brings back the hostility and opens the way for "In Their Hearts Is Right", a cool tune with some nice harmonies on the chorus. "Crisis Time", kind of a slightly less inspired version of "The Resist Stance", brings things a bit down again, but "Dept. of False Hope" keeps the flame alive. After another section pointing out to previous eras of the band, we get "My Head Is Full of Ghosts", another high point that will get you dancing around the room and pogoing to the furniture. "The Island" and "Changing Tide" close the album in a respectable way, on the tone of the record.

In conclusion, it's a solid album which stays good from start to finish. In my opinion, it lacks a couple of stronger anthems and a bit more variety like we got on the previous efforts, but it will help the band get the credit lost with the previous album amongst punkheads.

Rating: 7.5/10

Edguy - Age of the Joker

Tobias Sammet is one of those people working between the hammer and anvil. He wast first criticized for doing the same thing all the time. Then, he was criticized for turning into the opposite direction. Was he ever going to find the middle way? Well, apparently he just did.

Edguy's 9th studio album follows the way of its predecessor, 'Tinnitus Sanctus', with more strength and style.

"Robin Hood" and "Nobody's Hero" pleasantly take us back to 'Hellfire Club', opening the way for "Rock of Cashel", a good representation of the old Edguy sound, and "Pandora's Box", a more modern attempt almost in the way of the latest Avantasia releases. After another upbeat sing-along tune like "Breath", Sammet sings with irony about the criticism he's gotten lately from the metal media, about the "Two out of Seven" his last record got almost globally.

After that, the 2nd part of the album drags a bit in repetition (although not in quality), but we still get an interesting ending with "Behind the Gates of the Midnight World", with a really cool riff and some epic parts, and "Every Night Without You", a nice ballad to play while playing around with your metal (or even non-metal) special friend.

In summary, it's a good progression from 'Tinnitus Sanctus' and the confirmation that the forgettable 'Rocket Ride' is left behind. Keep working Tobias, you still have some more magic inside... and see you in less than a month!

Best moments: Rock of Cashel, 2 out of Seven

Rating: Don't worry, it's not a two out of seven... more like a seven (point five) out of ten :)

Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Massa

We had to wait until march to get to the first candidate to be album of the year. Well, actually 2, since new Burzum is already around, but we'll get to that when it's time.

Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Massa proves that Finland and the Nordics in general keep leading the metal styles with more than 2 words on their name. In this case, melodic-death-ambient-folk-metal; ok, I made that up, but I'm sure it's something similar.

The album is hard to describe. It consists of 7 songs, with 4 long ones and 3 shorter tunes in the middle as a transition from one anthem to another. Basically, it's something on the style of Burzum: powerful guitars, death vocals and some folk parts that show up under the general tone without breaking the grim spirit.

Although the album does not feature a single low moment, "Huuto" is the point where it takes off to an even higher level. A long anthem that visits powerful and soft moments and it makes you wish it never finishes.

Don't listen to this if you're mainly (and only) into brit-pop or ska-punk, but if you feel open minded let Moonsorrow take you into a trip you'll never forget.

Rating: 9/10.

Best moments: Huuto.

Goodbye Credibility

To be frank, I wasn't even going to review this. It'll be fast, though, so why not.

The most used adjective when referring to this album before its release was "mature". It was hard to believe that, but the album surpassed any of our expectations; on the wrong direction, unfortunately (and that comes from someone that enjoyed "The Best Damn Thing").

The promised return to the style of Let Go has turned into a transvestism of styles, in a total "Girlfriend" meets "I'm with You". Go and check out "Smile" or "Push".

The albums goes way downhill from the start with the laughable "Black Star" and the single "What the Hell". At least it doesn't hide its intentions. Luckily, it isn't as stupid and kind of takes off at some points: "Wish You Where Here" actually reminds of better times for Avril and "Smile" actually has a great chorus, but you have to survive the atrocious verses to reach there. After that, you get some hit and miss mid-tempo ballads until the end.

Goodbye Lullaby brings a couple of questions to the table. Did Avril actually write the songs (at least the lyrics) for her first two records? If so, did she write the songs/lyrics for this record? If so, we must conclude she's not only not maturing with age, she's also becoming stupid with the years. Maybe we'll have to ask on her forums.

Rating: 4/10. Uninspiring and totally forgettable.

Best moments: The "Bad Reputation" cover (only if you bought the special ed., if you bought the regular one I feel bad for you).

Time to review some real stuff now that we got this out of the way.

Welcome message blahblah

Hi.

As some band would wisely say, "God knows the world doesn't need another blog / But what a waste it would've been".

I'm some random guy that likes spamming his Facebook wall with musical references, songs, videos... and as we all know that goes fast into oblivion without many chances to get it back.

So, I've created this space to waste some net space with my senseless music spam. Some album and concert reviews too. What kind of albums and concerts? Well, expect anything from Anal Cunt to Clint Mansell, going through Bob Dylan, Operator Please, Metallica or Avril Lavigne.

So, less talking and more action.