JUSTIN'S ROCK REVIEWS W/C 25/11/02
MUDVAYNE / THE END OF ALL THINGS TO COME
Favourites of Slipknot, Mudvayne are the intelligent end of the rock spectrum and their follow up to LD50 is more focused, slightly more melodic but pretty much business as usual.
You have the hard-edged Slipknot sound tempered with a touch of Tool, (although the latter influence could be because Tony Bottrelli produced it). Songs like "Not Falling", "Key To Nothing" and the title track show the band off at their best, guitars held back on a leash with a slightly funky element and a sombre melodic content typical of Tool.
This is not going to win over vast fans, it's more like LD50 part 2, however this does not distract that this is a good modern Metal CD, worthy of the Justin Case seal of approval. Initial copies come with a DVD bonus disc.
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 63 mins + 13 TRACKS
HAMMERFALL / CRIMSON THUNDER
This is Hammer Fall’s 4th CD and all is well in the Hammer Fall camp, this is Power Metal in the strictest sense of the word and they take all their leads from Helloween and Iron Maiden and pull it off well.
Hearing “Angel Of Mercy” for the first time you would think that it was the Irons, even down to the patent Steve Harris bass line, you half expect Bruce to come screaming in an even the vocals are similar, still they do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I wouldn’t say it was harder edged than Renegade but it is more polished and better focused and leaves you wanting more. Whether this wins new fans remains to be seen but “On The Edge Of Forever”, “Hero’s Return” and the title track will keep the fans happy for a long while.
There is a limited edition, (as usual) which features a very good cover of the Yngwie Malmsteen song “Rising Force” and they even kept the interplay between the keyboard and guitar in, well done.
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 52 mins + 12 TRACKS (limited edition) 11 TRACKS normal
IMPELLITTERI / SYSTEM X
If you have not come across Impellitteri before he is an Italian Guitarist of some note and nearly 12 years ago Graham Bonnett guessed on vocals for several tracks on his Stand In Line album. System X see’s the 2 back together and working well, this is Classic Rock in the vein on Rainbow and the Blackthorne CD that came out 6 years ago.
Although this is a guitar album it has the emphasis on the material and not Chris’s talents as a guitarist, (which are considerable) and all the tracks are up-tempo and pull no punches. You only have to check out “End of the World”, “She’s A Nightime Lover” and “Why Do They Do That” to realise that this is top notch material.
One for the Classic Rock fans among us but those who are too young to remember this sort of music first time around will get a feel of what it was like when it was new.
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 41 mins + 10 TRACKS
THE HELLACOPTERS / BY THE GRACE OF GOD
Forget the Datsuns, The Strokes and the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and all those New Rock ‘N’ Roll bands, the Hellacopters have been doing this for over 10 years and this their latest CD is proof positive, if any were needed that they are alive and rocking.
If you like any of the aforementioned bands and haven’t come across these Swedes you are in for a treat. Like Hanoi Rocks, Backyard Babies the Hellacopters know how to pen a good tune and rock out at the same time. Kicking off with the title track with a single note being played on a piano before the guitars kick in with a great 3 chord sequence and as much melody as any Radio presenter could wish for, me included.
It doesn’t stop there either, as “All New Low”, “Better Than You”, “Carry Me Home” and “Rainy Days Revisited” prove, this CD is packed to bursting with good Rock tunes, nothing fancy just good music.
This gets the Justin Case seal of approval and you can hear a sample track of this on my downloadable show for November.
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 41 mins + 13 TRACKS
SYSTEM OF A DOWN / STEAL THIS ALBUM
When it comes to breaking the rules System Of A Down have no qualms about anything and nothing is sacred, no stone is left unturned. Everything about this CD is different, for a start they didn’t even want to release it, forced by songs leaking through the net they relented but they had strings attached, no publicity campaign, no booklet, just the bare essentials and what you have is not what you would expect, this is not just a bunch of Dog ruff demos or out takes but full blown songs which leave you thinking why weren’t they on the albums.
Let me put it into perspective, these are the songs they considered not good enough for the full blown release but somehow they bond together into a very cohesive package that leaves you thinking that this is as good as, if not better than the proper releases.
I have always thought that System are as mad as a bag of Ferrets and nothing on this CD leads me to come to any other conclusion but listening to the songs you get the unmistakable feeling that you are in the presence of genius, lets face it genius and insanity are different sides of the same coin. The opening track "Chic N Stu" (where they sing the toppings of Pizza’s, I kid you not), could if done by any other band been a pile of Poo but it isn’t, because of their unique attitude and style.
All the tracks are essential SOAD and will be lapped up by fans and yet to be fans alike, "Innervision", "Boom", "Mr. Jack" and "Pictures" will become well loved songs before Xmas. They still throw the odd ball in here and there, there is the acoustic "Roulette" the track "36", which is actually 46 seconds long but totally awesome.
If you liked Toxicity but want more only slightly heavier then getting this CD is essential, System fans will not be disappointed.
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 53 mins + 16 TRACKS
