Crystal Castles - III (Album Review)

The first track Plague, in which is their first single, brings you in through a distortion of noises and Alice’s fainted screams, it becomes a perfect entrance into what is a diverse, dark and captivating Album. Kerosene’s deep bellowing bass and chipmunk voices featured throughout the song, along with Alice actually singing calmly reflects on a the new sounds Ethan is capable to mix  and the new direction crystal castles have taken, but its not to disappoint.

III still ventures into full blown drops and screams which throw you into energetic dances, the whole album hardly gives you time for a break as Wrath of God and Affection set up that signature Crystal Castles madness. Then takes you to Pale Flesh which proposes hip hop bass that sweeps through your body and is one of the more relaxed toned tracks. Lets take it to two of the highlight track, Transgender, a dark building track with crashing high hats, deep bass, indescribable synths and brought all together with perfection. Telepath is the only featured instrumental track of III and showcases Ethan’s talent to create such upbeat and energetic sounds. As the last track rolls around ‘Child I Will Hurt You’, a whole new direction of style is imposed and it takes on a very soft, calm, almost ballad style song. Alice sings calmly and softly and Ethan has created a somewhat dream dimension of sound, which finishes off a pure energetic album.

Crystal Castles III is out November 12. You must catch The due in action at either there Big Day Out appearances or at their Sydney or Melbourne sideshows in January next year.

Rating 

5/5

By Blake

Foals - Inhaler (Single Review)

Echoes of a looped distorted guitar opens Foals just released single 'Inhaler', in which breaks into a groovy jam as lead singer Yannis announces  “Sticks and stones may break my bones, you make believe”. 

You are then taken into a new dimension of foals as the drums become heavier along with heavy guitar and bass, as Yannis screams “I can’t get enough space” as foals are possessed by an essence of led zeppelin. Yet it is that breakdown after a breakdown which drives out a rough and groovy sound and throws you into an energetic dance.  

If their up and coming album ‘Holy Fire’ possesses any of these sounds in which ‘Inhaler’ does fans will be in for a treat.

‘Holy Fire’ is out February 11. You can also catch foals at next years Big Day Out.

Rating

5/5

By Blake

King Gizzard - Gig Review (6th of October 2012, The Tote)

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard on a splendid Saturday night were to pop my Tote cherry and in style they did so. But firstly I must praise opening act Dreamin Wild, this 4 piece act convinced the audience that progressive rock was still progressing and their 5-7 minute instrumentals blew minds including my own. 

As the 7 piece progressive blues piece crowded the stage, their set from start to finish had only one gear and where keen to set out a hard hitting one which they convincingly did so. Their distorted vocals, thrashing guitars, beating bass and drums along with harmonica work that really set out a rocky blues vibe that the sold out Tote ate up, and which the lead singer swung from the railing and very frantically attempting crowd surfing which the front group of women could care less about, did not end up so well. 

But body slamming into the ground did not stop King Gizzard from jamming and finishing with their psych footy anthem “Footy Footy” ending which was a fast passed, energetic set and a great one to say the least.

Rating

3.5/5

By Blake

Pond - Gig Review (23rd of September 2012, Corner Hotel)

The Corner Hotel hosted Progressive rock group Pond on a divine Sunday evening in which became a pure energising set kicking off with ‘Leisure Pony’ off their recent release ‘Beard, Wives, Denim’. It was lead singer Nick Allbrook’s quirky personality, which created, an electrifying atmosphere in which saw him dive into the crowd in their first two songs.

After an energetic entrance ‘eye pattern blindness’ calmed the crowd and nick until the mind blowing guitar riffs kicked in and from then on in every minute topped the next. Playing some new songs, which will be featured on their next album fans, have something to look foreword to as they include incredible instrumental collaboration, verging on some slower heavier sounds. ‘Moth Wings’ and ‘When it Explodes’ saw the crowd ‘explode’ into energetic dancing, crowd surfing and dancing on stage, and Pond with their upbeat indescribable sound.

After another new song all was halted on stage as they announced they was to be no encore and proceeded to jam on stage as nick walks on and off stage. Blasting into ‘Betty Davis’ the crowd was mostly a jolting joy of limbs flung about as Pond finish what was an energetic, musically inspirational set.

Pond, are set to play Laneway Festival February next year.

Rating

4/5

By Blake

Muse - The 2nd Law (Album Review)

So, in my previous posts i have been extremely critical over Muse, and to be honest i am not gonna stop. Their lead single Madness grew on me like wildfire and i still cannot get over how the direction of their music is going. But this album has so many different directions that you don't really know what they're trying to achieve.

The Reistance was released in 2009 and might I say was a terrible album. They had a few standout tracks on it like Uprising, Resistance, Unnatural Selection and Mk Ultra. So once hearing they were releasing a new album I instantly thought that it wouldnt be that hard to top it, but Survival was released around the time of the Olympics and well lets just say, i was wrong.


The album is called The 2nd Law. The track listing is as followed.

1. Supremacy
2. Madness
3. Panic Station
4. Prelude
5. Survival 
6. Follow Me
7. Animals
8. Explorers
9. Big Freeze
10. Save Me
11. Liquid State
12. The 2nd Law: Unsustainable
13. The 2nd Law: Isolated System

I am going to give an individual review of each track and a rating for the track out of five.

Supremacy: This to me sounds a lot like Rage Against the Machine crossed with rock opera. This song expresses the genius vocals that Matthew Bellamy has to offer, and has guitar riffs that are deep tuned that make you want to nod ya to the beat. 2/5

Madness: I have previously reviewed this song on this blog so I will not review it again. 3/5

Panic Station: Queen meets Stevie Wonder. But in a great way. I think this is hands down the best track off this album. Awesome guitar riffs, great drum beat, it has everything. This song has some of Matthew Bellamy's best vocals, and expresses the talent that the man has. If you were to check out any song on this album, this would be it. 5/5
Prelude: Clearly you cannot review a 57 second song.
Survival: See my rant earlier in this blog. 1/5
Follow Me: This song is different for Muse. I read about 3 weeks before this album was released as a stream that this song would have lullaby's and a more up tempo beat. Well how that is correct, hearing this song I was forced by my mind to look up some of these songs and the way they have been written, and I came across a site that said Nero, a drum and bass, dubstep and electronic music act, had a heavy influence, and a producer on this track. But might I say, as different as it is, it is still not the best. 2.5/5
Animals: I think this song comes as a surprise. Lyrics wise. Some of the lyrics are just out of character for Muse, and as much as i like this song, it is definitely not for the lyrics. The instrumental is great thought. 2.5/5
Explorers: This song is pretty average. But it sounds sort of similar to the old school Muse that we all grew to love. 2.5/5
Big Freeze: Man, is this song great. I love this song. U2 riffs incorporated with a stadium type of song sounds good to me. This is the most Musey-est song on this album and it is bloody awesome. I love it. Sorry for repeating myself but it is great. Lyrics are brilliant, instrumental is brilliant. Its great. 4.5/5
Save Me: Well this song surprised me, for one reason. It is the bassist singing. He has a good voice that is not recognised enough through each of their previous albums. This song and the next one is about his alcoholism. But this song gives off more of a love song as well. Either way i think it is a good song. 2.5/5
Liquid State: This song is sung by Chris again, and has the same meaning behind the other song he rote the lyrics for, but this is about being intoxicated. Great instrumentals for this song as well. 2.5/5
The 2nd Law - Unsustainable: I have reviewed this before so check it out. 0/5
The 2nd Law - Isolated System: This is a soft way to close this album. It reminds me a lot of the Exogenesis Symphony off The Resistance. I wasnt the biggest fan of it then and am still not now. 1/5

This is one of the most in depth reviews I will ever do. But the overall rating is not that high. Muse have gone mainstream and I dont like that direction they are going in.

The 2nd Law is available worldwide from the start of October, but certain sites are streaming it live for the week.

Rating

6.5/10

By Dylan

Animal Collective - Centipede Hz (Album Review)

Want an album that is energetic, lyrical, musically dense that no artist past to present has captured, Look past Merriweather post pavilion Animal Collective 8^th studio album and feast your ears to Centipede Hz, Animal Collectives newest release. 

Full of quirky electronic sounds mixed with abrupt drums, strong bass and even stronger singing ‘Moonjock’ kick starts in the most stylish of fashions leaping into, through a blend of eerie yet magical sounds to ‘Today’s Supernatural’ Animal Collectives first release single of the album. The song name represents the song with “today feels so supernatural” and this is the sound that Animal Collective captures across the album. 

‘Applesauce’ starting with “ I eat a mango and I feel like a little honey can roll” sums up the song instantaneously whilst mention of various other fruits in which come up within the song in which the band themselves would (maybe) be able to explain and again leads into through a vague distortion of sounds to ‘Wide eyed’. ‘Monkey Riches’ has a musical element that is mostly indescribable and is one of the strongest songs featured on the album being the longest as well. Concluding Centipede hz is ‘Amanita’ which captures the notion that “fantasy is falling down”. Starting off with a somewhat dystopian vibe a sudden mood is uplifted and tranced into a dancy atmosphere whilst “I’m going to bring back some stories and games” is repeated, finishing off an outstanding album in the most uplifting way, feeling like the whole album has thrown you through an adventure of sounds.

I highly rate this album 

Centipede Hz is available everywhere and Animal Collective will be on Australian shores for Big Day Out 2013. 

Rating

4.5/5

By Blake 

Favourite Friday - Dylan (Freaks and Geeks)

This song is pretty recent to classify it as one of my favourite songs of all time, but it is. This song is just so good from start to finish that I can listen to it over and over again. The song comes under the genre of Hip-Hop and Rap, and is performed by one of the best rappers around today, the mastermind, Childish Gambino. 

The song starts off with some strings than Gambino comes in and says "Alright, Gambino is a Mastermind" and from there it just gets ridiculously awesome. I cannot express the awesomeness of this song. He references the fact that he is in on one of the best television shows airing right now Community, and proves he knows how to rap. Knowing that makes it more brilliant that anyone can do whatever they feel like and if you love doing it, continue and make it your passion. One of the greatest talents this guy has is that he can rap under his breath and be appreciated for it.

Fuck I love Childish Gambino. 

This song is in my top 10 of all time and is arguably my favourite rap songs ever. 

Rating

10/10

By Dylan

Freaks and Geeks - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otPxoVQiIGo