Cancer Bats - Searching For Zero (Record Review)

Gotta admit that I was a little anxious when I first pressed play considering what other people told me about it so far, plus the fact that I basically dig pretty much everything that those guys put out thus far and had expectations due to that. That's why I let it rest for a bit before really adding my two cents to this.

Satellites was a considerably easy introduction seeing as it had been out for quite a while before the record release. While I can find something in every song that makes me go: "Hell yeah!" (Bass intro for Cursed With A Conscience, Sabbath drenched Beelzebub and Dusted, 2nd verse in Devil's Blood etc.) There's still something missing in it all.
Obviously it's still the Bats. Scott's guitar skills (which are specifically outstanding on this record!), Liam's rough vocals, their heavy grooves ... everything is there. Yet, it doesn't kick my butt with as much of a power as e.g. DSOL did. But hey, taste differs, bands develop and maybe it'll need a few more spins for me to get into or it'll remain this way. However, I'm still beyond excited to see those guys at my work place with While She Sleeps, especially since I'm pretty sure that All Hail is gonna be quite the rager for the pit people.

Favorite song(s): Buds, No More Bullshit

Overall: 6,5/10

Co-headlining tour with While She Sleeps through Europe is on now! Check their websites for a date near you: www.cancerbats.com 

Cheerio xx

Bad Brains - Self-titled (Record Review)

I've had some of their songs in a playlist for a while already but finally took on the task to give one of their records a full listen.

Firstly, I fricking love the vocal performance in nearly every song (especially Big Take Over). Sometimes it's hard to fully take in their one minute tracks (e.g. The Regulator) but they also somehow manage to make those songs seem a lot longer than they actually are. Don't ask me how or why. Got absolutely no clue. But they nail it.

To say I was a little puzzled when Jah Calling or Leaving Bayblon started would be quite the understatement. To go from hardcore to reggae without any transition or warning was ... weird but for some reason, it actually works with them. Already feared that I wouldn't be into it at all except for the tracks I already knew but I'm pleasantly surprised. Some parts are a little repetitive but I can live with that just fine.

Favorite song(s): Banned In D.C., Big Take Over and Right Brigade

Overall: 8/10

Cheerio xx

Stick To Your Guns - Diamond (Record Review)

I can't even count the times I've seen those guys live already. It feels like they stop by our venue every other month as if we're their summer house at the lake. But I had never just once listened to a song, let alone a full album.

Took me a few songs to get into it but I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard. To me, the record definitely grows stronger towards the end. Some songs are a bit too short to me (hardly time to take them in) and I'm a little unsure about the shouting in a few tracks. While short songs are nothing unusual in this genre, they need a certain power and lyrical strength to really last. Sadly, that's not the case with some tracks. Lyrically, I really dig the whole thing in general and there certainly are some parts that make me want to bash my head through a wall.

A+ for the drums on this entire thing.

Favorite song: Empty Heads

Overall: 7/10

Cheerio xx