The Audio Nut
Greetings music nutz
and welcome to the debut of The Audio Nut. Our goal here is to review some c.d.’s,
introduce you to bands and artists from all over the world, and feature a band
website that we feel is definitely worth checking out.
With this being the
first installment we will be trying a couple things that may or may not work. That
is where you come in. Yes, we are asking for your help. We want this to be a page
for music fans, so your input is needed and encouraged. You may contact us at
anytime at
theaudionut@nutzworld.net
This time around we
will be doing reviews for c.d.’s from:
1.
Muse
2.
Brand New
3.
Demon Hunter
4.
Shellac
5.
Emaciation
We currently have a
feature called The Double Scoop. This section will feature 2 c.d.’s from a certain
band. This time around we’ll get a double scoop of Demon Hunter.
The Blast from the Past segment
will include a c.d. from years ago. The band Shellac is our subject for now.
The Underground Spotlight will be on a band or artist that is not a
household name. In some cases they won’t even be on a record label nor have a
major distributor. Be sure to check out that bands or artists particular web page
or contact information if you are interested in finding out more about them or
purchasing their products.
We also have a feature called 7 Questions With… where we
catch up with a band or artist and ask them 7 questions.
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Reviews |
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Absolution
by Muse
5 out of 5 rating
Every so
often you will stumble across a band or c.d. that makes you
stop and say, WOW! Absolution was that exact thing for
me. The disc has been out in the U.K. since 2003 and I’ll
admit I hadn’t heard Muse until the single “Time is Running
Out” started getting airplay on my local college radio
station, but I wasted no time in finding out what the rest of
this disc had in store. I’m a skeptic when it comes to new
music; record companies and radio stations give us what they
think we will like, which to me usually is a bunch of crap or
a waste of money. I was pleasantly surprised when I inserted
this musical gem into my c.d. player. From “Intro” until
“Ruled by Secrecy” this recording is an emotional roller
coaster of the best kinds. Mixing elements of classical music
and super sonic rock Absolution has songs for all types
of music lovers. Whether it’s the pulsating rhythms and
chaotic genius of “Stockholm Syndrome” or the beautiful string
arrangements on “Blackout,” Muse delivers audible delights to
your ears.
I can’t say
‘this song is better than that song’ or anything of that
nature. To me practically every song on this release could get
major radio airplay. The band gets a lot of comparisons to
Radiohead, I can see a resemblance, but Muse has a totally
different depth to them than Radiohead does in my opinion; not
to mention they are a trio in which the singer plays guitars
and keyboards.
This is the
one for you if you like bands like Radiohead, Sonic Youth …
and you will know us by the trail of dead, or if you even like
jazz or classical music. I highly recommend you buy this c.d.
right now!
To find out
more about Muse and where to catch them on their tour of the
U.S. check out
www.muse.mu
DEJA ENTENDU by
Brand New
4 out of 5 rating
This disc starts off with a short and mellow, yet haunting song called “Tautou”
that slowly fades in and then fades out into the single “ Sic
Transit Gloria…Glory Fades”. This song like many on this
recording catches your ear and takes you on an eventful ride
along the Brand New highway. Just as “Sic Transit…” ends you
are carried straight into the next song; “I Will Play My Game
Beneath the Spinlight.” Other good songs to listen to are;
“Okay, I Believe You, But My Tommygun Don’t”, “The Quite
Things That No One Ever Knows”, and “Me vs. Maradona vs.
Elvis.” As you can see many of the song titles on this c.d.
are long, but the songs are the right length. I couldn’t find
a single track on this recording that I didn’t like, which is
rare these days when hearing newer bands. Brand New has a
great mix of musical styles and is one of my favorite ‘new’
bands.
By listening to their first c.d. Your Favorite Weapon they are
definitely headed in a good direction with their music and
song writing abilities. If you like bands like Taking Back
Sunday, Yellowcard, Queens of the Stone Age or any other
‘alternative band’ that may be in the ‘skater, indie rock or
underground’ scenes then you should do yourself a favor and
buy this c.d. now.
To find out more about this band go to
http://www.brandnewrock.com or
www.interscoperecords.com |
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Double Scoop |
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Demon Hunter and
Summer of Darkness by Demon Hunter
Demon Hunter by
Demon Hunter 4.5 out of 5 rating
One of the newest Solid State Records bands, Demon Hunter has put out an
amazing self-titled debut. With songs like “Through the
Black”, “My Throat is an Open Grave” and “Infest” Demon Hunter
bombards you with a plethora of heavy guitar riffs and intense
music. From the beginning of first song “Screams of the
Undead,” until the last note of, “Gauntlet” this recording is
non-stop action. The only thing that might be considered a
downfall would be track #7 titled, “And the Sky Went Red”
which has lyrics in the cover but are not present during the
track. To me it was a clever thing to do, because it leaves
you with the question, ‘Where are the words?’ while it leads
into the next song “As We Wept” perfectly.
A very positive thing about this band is they don’t use profanity to try and
get their point across. Which seems to be unheard of in
today’s music in all genres. Don’t let the names of the songs
or the band scare you away from this recording, but if you
don’t like what some people call death or thrash metal then I
suggest you skip this recording. If you want to hear some of
the new brand of hard music, while embracing older style bands
like Pungent Stench, Metallica or Living Sacrifice then you
should get this c.d. as soon as possible. Fans of Slipknot,
ZAO, Machine Head, Pantera or other hard-hitting bands like
these should definitely check this c.d. out as soon as
possible.
Summer of Darkness
by Demon Hunter 4.5 out of 5 rating
Picking up where their last c.d. left off, Demon Hunter takes you down their
road of emotion and blistering music in this new release,
Summer of Darkness. The first song and single off this
c.d. “Not Ready to Die,” starts of the brutality and the band
continues to assault your senses as they drag you by your
heart and ears through these 13 powerful tracks. Summer of
Darkness proves this band didn’t hit a ‘sophomore slump’
like many of the bands that preceded them in this business.
The music has expanded and the poetic lyrics and vocal styles
of singer Ryan Clarke are exceptional. It is hard for me to
compare it to their first effort Demon Hunter because
while they are both similar the are yet very different. You
definitely need to hear the songs, “Beauty Through the Eyes of
a Predator,” “I Play Dead,” “Less Than Nothing” and
“Annihilate the Corrupt.” “My Heartstrings Come Undone,” is
probably the mellowest of all these tracks and has started to
get more and more airplay from radio stations that want to add
the band to their playlists, but also want to avoid ‘scaring
people off’ as one program director put it to me.
The band isn’t currently touring as they are in the studio to record their
third release scheduled for 2005. If their first two c.d.’s
are any indication of what is to come from this band then you
better brace yourself for release number three.
Be sure to visit
http://www.demonhunter.net and
www.solidstaterecords.com
Amazon.com
also has a deal where you can get both c.d.’s and free shipping. All of the bands listed above have
places on their websites where you can hear songs and view videos. I recommend you check all of them
out for yourself. |
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Blast From The Past |
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At Action Park by
Shellac 5 out of 5 rating
1994
TOUCH&GO RECORDS
At Action
Park
has got to
be one of my favorite c.d.’s of all time. The music style is
very raw and straightforward, yet imaginative and gripping.
Released in 1994 this 10-song disc is considered a lost
treasure by many and a favorite of almost everyone that has
ever heard it. Shellac is made up of the crafty guitar work
and vocals of Steve Albini, the driving bass of Bob Weston and
the shifty, yet precise and rhythmic drumming of Todd Trainer.
Albini is most famous for producing records for artists like
P.J. Harvey, the Pixies and Nirvana and is considered a
musical genius of the modern era.
This disc is full of movement and brilliant, yet catchy tunes. Bright spots
include Dog and Pony Show, Crow, A Minute, My Black Ass and
The Admiral. There is not a bad spot on this recording and it
is still a breathe of fresh air to a world that is stuck in
the pop culture 4-4 time signature that seems to rule our
lives.
I
believe they have new stuff coming out in 2005 so be sure to
check their webpage to see what is up. If you ever buy a c.d.
that I recommend it should be At Action Park. Do
yourself a favor and hear what you should have heard in 1994
You can check Shellac out at
www.southern.com/southern/band/SHLAC
How Do I
Get Mine?
All of the above c.d.’s can be bought new or used by going to
http://www.amazon.com, your local music sellers or at
their respective webpages. |
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The Underground Spotlight |
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Planet in Bliss
by Emaciation 4 out of 5 rating
 The band Emaciation has been around for about seven years. In that time they
have had a few member changes, but the core of the group Kirby
Ray and Iron Aden have stayed together for the existence of
the band and have continued to intertwine themselves into a
song writing team that believes in what they do.
The term Black Metal may be new to some readers, but it has been around for
many years. If you have heard of bands like Immortal, Cradle
of Filth or Emperor then you have heard of Black Metal.
While many Black Metal fans believe that the majority of the ‘good’ bands come
from Europe. The Americas, both North and South have seen a
rapid emergence of bands that fit into this musical category.
Emaciation happens to be one of those bands. With their new c.d. Planet in
Bliss, Emaciation is continuing to bring their own style
of Black Metal to the table for all to witness and indulge.
With songs like ‘It Called to Me’, ‘Spoils of Brutality’, and
‘Ancient Fortress,’ Emaciation displays an all out assault on
the musical norm.
To call Emaciation a Black Metal band is to limit them in their style as they
mix old style trash and heavy metal influences in with opera
style female vocals, keyboards and sinister growls and
screams. Have no fear they also sing like (normal people) as
well to make their songs a whirlwind of chaos and emotion.
To an untrained ear or people unfamiliar with ‘independent bands’ the recording
may sound a little rough over all, but you have to dig deeper
and actually here the music this band has offered up on this
release. The single ‘Unspoken’ has been receiving some airplay
on college radio and other media outlets around the world.
Out of all their previous demos and various recordings, this c.d. is the best
release yet from Emac (as known by fans and friends). If you
like bands that are fast, hard and heavy like Cannibal Corpse,
Satyricon, Slayer or Extol you should visit the Planet in
Bliss.
You can find out more about Emaciation at
www.emaciation.tk
www.myspace.com/emaciation
For booking information contact
massmetal4@hotmail.com |
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7 Questions With... |
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 Brandon from Driven to Her Death
Q. Who are
you and what do you do in the band?
A. Brandon
May. Lead Vocals
Q. How did
Driven to Her Death come about and where did you get the name?
A. The name
was something that came to me when I was thinking about guilt
and how it could drive someone to take their own life. I don’t
support suicide, but it is a common problem among America's
youth and I felt the need should be addressed. We really came
together as a bunch of friend's who all wanted an outlet for
our musical talents and creativity.
Q. I here
there are plans for a c.d. what would you care to reveal about
that?
A. The CD
will have 10 songs on it. The disc is titled "This River Runs
Red" River Runs Red was a band name we kicked around for a
bit, but decided not to go with because it was too cheesy. We
might even include a secret track on it but don’t get your
hopes up.
Q. What are
your plans as far as touring and live performances?
A. We are
going to be featured on a disc which will have other local
area metal bands and a tour might come of that. Otherwise, we
are playing the "Monsters of Metal" show at The Camp in Cape
Girardeau, Missouri on the 8th of Jan. plus other shows are in
the making.
Q. If you
could be anyone in world history, who would it be? Why?
A. Well,
for myself I would enjoy being B.B. King. That guy has given
to many years to music in general. He has made some awesome
tunes and continues to earn my respect time and time again.
Q. Who are
some of your musical and non musical influences?
A. As far
as music goes I cite influences from ZAO and Ozzy to S.R.V.
and B.B. King. Non-Music I draw from a lot of artists such as
Van Gogh and Dali.
Q. What's
in your stereo (home and/or car) right now?
A. Right
now I am listening to the Age of Ruin CD “Tides of Tragedy”
and the new Converge CD “You Fail Me”
Driven to Her Death or DtHD is made up of
Brandon on
Lead Vocals
Derrick on Guitar
Corey on Guitar
Kenny on Bass and Vocals
Calvin on Drums and vocals
You can find out more about Driven to Her Death at
www.myspace.com/driventoherdeath
www.purevolume.com/driventoherdeath
The DtHD homepage is
www.geocities.com/driventoherdeath
And for booking information contact
driventoherdeath@yahoo.com |
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Featured Website |
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http://www.chevelleinc.com
This is the page for the band Chevelle. You can watch their videos, listen to a
bunch of their songs and check out band news as well as tour
dates.
Ideas,
feedback, insults or more information on any of the bands
email
theaudionut@nutzworld.net |
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