This time we go for a ride with the mortal, but invincible, Skatenigs.

Skatenigs
Stupid People Shouldn’t Breed (Parental Advisory)
1995 Megaforce Records

Grade: A

What can you say about this band of industrial metal outlaws? The Skatenigs take a very tongue-in-cheek approach to their music, while at the same time trying to get people to understand that racism and social equality are important things that need to be addressed in society. “Fight da Suckas”, “Stand Tall” and “Sh*t Authority” are all songs that fit that example; while songs like “I Got it Made” and “Roadkill” are more off the wall, boastful and downright inane in spots. This is the best album that the band released and I am not really sure what they are up to now. Truth be told… the Skatenigs are like Kid Rock’s outspoken uncle, who makes the family uncomfortable while laughing at the same time.

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Mankind is Obsolete
Rise
2005 Unsigned

Grade: A

http://www.mkio.com

From the first note of “Still Right Here” until the final moment of “Prayer” Mankind is Obsolete comes up with some astonishing music on Rise. Lead singer Natasha Cox reminds me a little of Madonna on this release with her sultry vocals and then all of a sudden she will rip your face of with an unforgettably eerie and edgy voice that only she can produce. The drums are more involved than their previous CD Metamorph, as Jon Siren drops a serious thumping on your ears, which blends well with his programming and the keyboarding work of Nathan Trowbridge. The bass parts by Gordon Bash are more present in this release, which adds an excellent element to this bands sound.  Mark Nurre is an exceptional guitarist and luckily he doesn’t get over looked when it is his turn to rock.

I am more awed with MKIO then the first time I heard them and I really didn’t expect them to have progressed in such an impressive fashion so quickly. “She”, “In This Ocean”, “Still Right Here” and “More Than What I Am” are all remarkable songs, which feature the talents and qualities of everyone in the band. Fans of Nine Inch Nails, Within Temptation, or Lacuna Coil will surely appreciate MKIO. If you had the pleasure of hearing their first CD I strongly urge you to get up and Rise as soon as possible.

Note: Check out an interview with Jon from MKIO in Issue 9 and a review for their previous CD Metamorph in Issue 8

Margarita
3-Song Demo
2005 Unsigned

Grade: A

http://www.margaritashamrakov.com
http://www.myspace.com/margarita

Whoa, this woman has a remarkable and commanding voice. This 3-song is just a teaser when it comes to the talents of Margarita. Just as soon as she has mesmerized you with her magnificent piano playing and musical composition the CD ends and you have to start it over. No negatives about this release at all, as it is full of shear heart and soul. Narrative and melodic lyrics blend superbly with the dominant and incredibly passionate music. I can’t decide which song I like best out of the three, but it’s a close race between “Tragedy” and “ What’s the Meaning of Life?” Fans of Tori Amos, Bjork, or P.J. Harvey will enjoy getting a taste of the mix Margarita is serving up.

Escape Plan
Escape Plan EP
2005 Unsigned

Grade: A

http://www.escapeplanrocks.com

There is a funky fresh mix of music here. Escape Plan has it down when it comes to busting out the grooves and rhythms. “Goodbye Paycheck” reminds me of “Stone Cold Crazy” by Queen vocally with a blend of some old style funk ala Bootsy Collins/George Clinton or older Red Hot Chili Peppers. This diverse group features a first-rate rhythm section along with good guitar riffs and smooth vocals. All four songs are bright spots on the disc and I am truly looking forward to hearing what they have in store for listeners and fans next. Fans of Incubus, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Hoobastank will take pleasure in getting away with Escape Plan.

Group36
The Next Step (Parental Advisory)
2005 Unsigned

Grade: A

http://www.group36.tk
http://www.myspace.com/group36

Group36 is a hardcore punk rock trio from Virginia that wants you to know that punk’s not dead; in fact it is alive and well.  This CD starts out with “Dead in the Streets” and continues to pogo along with great tracks like “Pollution Solution”, “Up Against the World”, and “Nothing Left”. G36 has a superb blend of the old style punk music that you can sing along to and also find meaning in; dealing with real life everyday topics that trouble the world over. Don’t expect to find a Good Charlotte or Blink 182 song anywhere on The Next Step, because this is more like your older cousins raw and aggressive punk rock and not your sisters’ bubble gum fashion punk. Fans of bands like Against All Authority, Agent Orange, and The Exploited won’t have any problem with taking the next step with Group36.

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...At Three Score and Five (and then some) He's Still Got the Jive
A review by Col. Lump

  Much to my delight, I discovered my dad's Beach Boys records when I was five. All the classics; Surfin' USA, Shut Down Vol. 2, Concert, Today, Summer Days and Summer Nights, and Pet Sounds, which even at that tender age I knew was special. I remember writing to the official Beach Boys Fan Club's address listed on the back of Today only to have it returned. I had a feeling something happened to the group after Pet Sounds.

  That something was the most famous unreleased album of all time: SMiLE. Unreleased until 2004 that is, a full 37 years after it's intended original release date of January 1967.

  The documentary Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of SMiLE, directed by David Leaf, celebrates this triumph and attempts to de-mystify some of the rumors surrounding the album without destroying the legend.

  To summarize the film; if you are a longtime, hardcore Brian Wilson fan you will not discover any new insights by watching this documentary. It is obviously geared towards casual fans who will probably be let down that SMiLE is simply the result of some very creative minds collaborating at the height of their artistic powers. Unfortunately, Brian Wilson's growing dependence on drugs, phobia of disappointing Capital Records, his father, and his bandmates, and an impending nervous breakdown nearly killed the album and himself.

  The interviews with such luminaries as Van Dyke Parks, George Martin, Elvis Costello, Hal Blaine, and others are delightful. The story moves along at brisk pace with minimal narratives, and the live footage with Paul McCartney in attendance comfortably filling the role of cheering fan is priceless.

  I also couldn't help but notice signs of relief on Beatle Paul's face as he listened to the performance. Relief that SMiLE was finally released in 2004. Relief that SMiLE was NOT released in 1967.

Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of SMiLE is part of the double DVD box set:
Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE on Rhino Video

 Col. Lump is the drummer for Richard's Nixon visit the Nixon's website at: http://www.richardsnixon.moonfruit.com

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The Common Men

Q. How did you come up with and decide on the name The Common Men?
A. So many bands try too hard to be important or overly poetic. The Common Men, in all of its blandness, is the response.

Q. If you had to pick a favorite song off of the disc what would it be?
A. "Exhibition." It's the oldest song on the disc at nearly six years of age. Songs do not have a long shelf life with me. I am a prolific writer. I have a bad habit of discarding nearly 75% of what I write within the first few months. Its longevity makes it my favorite.

Q. The Common Men now have an 'official' roster, are we to expect the group to record as a whole or are they just going to do the live shows?
A. As of right now the lineup exists to play shows. However, I hope in time we can record.

Q. Who would you say some of your biggest influences both musically and non-musical are?
A. Here is a short--but definitive--list: Joy Division, David Bowie, Luna Sea, King Crimson, and Interpol. San Francisco is one of my bigger non-musical influences. The urban decay and big gray buildings form the backdrop over which my music is meant to be presented.

Q. What would you say are some of the goals for the group?
A. For the band as a whole, it is to play shows. For me, I always look to learn more and grow more as a songwriter.

Q. What are you listening to these days in your car/home stereo?
A. Interpol - Antics. Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights. The Moving Units - Dangerous Dreams. David Bowie - Station to Station. King Crimson - Three of a Perfect Pair. Joy Division - Closer. I am also looking forward to the full length from The Editors in late July.

Q. Is there anything else you'd like to share with us about The Common Men?
A. I have no intention of going away any time soon.

http://www.thecommonmen.tk
http://www.myspace.com/thecommonmen

Skill of Lying

Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. Charles, I play guitar

Q. How did you come up with Skill of Lying for the name of the band?
A. It is from a philosophy class I took, basically according to Plato art is "the Skill of Lying" because it tried to make you believe that the art was the real thing.

Q. What are some of your goals for the group?
A. To be able to support ourselves solely through music and go on tour a lot more often. You know basically just be able to reach a much broader audience all over the world.

Q. Is there anything you'd like to tell us about The Amber Lighting EP?
A. Yeah, the Amber Lighting E.P. was our first independent release we actually had to get all the recording done in one day but it was a great time. Also we are re-releasing The Amber Lighting E.P. and it has been re-mastered and mixed also there is a bonus track on it. I was really happy with how it came out; I actually did a lot of the production on it.

Q. Who are some of your musical influences?
A. Thrice, Finch, The Receiving End of Sirens, Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, Avenged Seven Fold etc. It’s really a lot more diverse than that but it would take forever to explain. We all love so many different styles of music.

Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you be? Why?
A. The boring answer would be us, the fun imaginative answer hmm...maybe some amazingly accomplished musician like Steve Vai or more on the regular history side some powerful and great leader like George Washington, he set so many precedents and was adored by the American People.

Q. What are you listening to in your car/home stereo these days?
A. "Between the Heart and Synapse" by The Receiving End of Sirens, "The City Sleeps in Flames" by The Scary Kids Scaring Kids, "City of Evil" by Avenged Seven Fold
NOTE: Check out the review of The Amber Lighting EP in Issue 17
http://www.purevolume.com/skilloflying
http://www.theskilloflying.port5.com
http://www.battleofthebands.com/skilloflying

Army of Me

Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. Hi, I'm Vince, I sing and play guitar.

Q. How did you decide on Army of Me for the name of the band?
A. Well, we were a few different names before Army of Me, none of which seemed to fit us. The name Army of Me just seemed to describe us better, so we went with that.

Q. What can we expect from a live performance from Army of Me?
A. You can hopefully expect to see one of the best live bands you've ever seen. You can expect it to feel like when you wake up on a winter morning and see 2 ft. of snow on the ground and you know you won't have to go to work or school that day, so you go back to bed, and wake up feeling good as hell. Then you get up and eat a big hot bowl of oatmeal with sugar and cinnamon and maybe a banana cut up and mixed in.

Q. Who are some of your influences both musically and non-musical?
A. We can't help but be influenced by some music that we've heard in the past. Bands like the Beatles, Jeff Buckley, U2, Radiohead, Rufus Wainwright, Weezer

Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you be? Why?
A. I like being me.

Q. What are you listening to in your home/car stereo these days?
A. Yesterday, I listened to Coldplay X&Y and The Damnwells.

Q. Is there anything else that you'd like to share with our readers about Army of Me?
A. Army of Me would like you to have a very nice day.

http://www.armyofmeonline.com
http://www.popuprecords.com

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1.About a Burning Fire by Blindside
2.Absolution by Muse - Reviewed in Issue 1
3.Summer of Darkness by Demon Hunter - Reviewed in Issue 1
4.This Type of Thing (Could Do Us In) by Chevelle - Reviewed in Issue 3
5.Deja Entendu by Brand New - Reviewed in Issue 1