Following the release of Wonderful, Glorious's predecessor, 2010's Tomorrow Morning [which was the closing of the trilogy started with June 2009's released Hombre Lobo (the second part being January 2010's release of End Times) – see reviews by yours truly, of the chronologically latter albums, posted 24/02/ 2010 and 23/08/2010 respectively for more details], Eels as a band (mastermind Mark Oliver Everett alias E, plus guitarists The Chet and P-Boo, bassist Koool
In 2005, one of the most influential metalcore bands, I Killed The Prom Queen, decided to call it quits. Drummer JJ Peters started killing time by writing new music and recording every single instrument himself. The result was the Rep Your Hood EP by the Australian hardcore band Deez Nuts.
Hailing from the water district in Argovia, Switzerland, this quartet consisting of singer Florian Siegrist, guitarist Matthew Lewis, bassist Vito Marella and drummer/ backing singer Alain Liesch claim a difference from the usual Prog Rock/ Prog Metal type of bands, as they neither indulge in the (and I quote) “...drug-infused '80 organ wanking, nor fiddle 24-minute tracks consisting of one single guitar solo in 7/8...”!
Essentially what you get with Colossus is another entry into the world of groove math sludge metal that is already populated by the likes of Baroness, Truckfighters, Black Tusk and Kylesa. While fanatics of that particular little niche might be the ones to get the biggest kick out of Colossus, the overall unoriginality of the album is very unfilling.
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, a small mountain town where most inhabitants spend their lives handcrafting complicated mechanisms for the luxury watches the country is renowned for, and also the hometown of Louis Jucker, Jonathan Nido, and Luc Hess, respectively the bassist/ backing singer, guitarist and drummer of Berlin based experimental Metal act The Ocean since...somewhere in 2009, I guess (The Ocean have had a stable line-up since Fall 2009, with the threesome and the band's originator, Robin
Hailing from Slovenia, Chains must be one of the most obscure bands out there. The project was formed in 2010 and released a first album, called Of Death, in 2011. When Hour Of 13’s Lord Samhain joined Chains, the style changed a lot, yet without losing the elements of the origins.
Colleagues Erik and Tim having reviewed this Brighton based English Alternative Rock duo's second and third albums Fire Like This and In Time To Voices (reviews respectively posted 01/03/2010 and 26/03/2012 – both still available in this website's “Archive” section), I don't really see a reason to do a full history-of-the-band, but, if indeed you need one, then google the band's page at Wikipedia too keep yourself busy!
In 2009, the Glasgow guys in Bleed From Within were quite fast compared to Bring Me The Horizon. Perhaps because their singer looks a bit like Oli Sykes. Well, those people drew conclusions a bit too fast, as Bleed From Within turned out to be a solid new band, being part of the NWOBHM. They stand up in a world taken over by pop music and easy rock songs.
They hail from Switzerland, and play a style of music that’s a mix between hardcore and punk, with lots of indie influences, and sometimes even some poppy elements in it.
Is it a band I like? I might have back in my younger days, when the occasional experiment was welcomed. But nowadays? I doubt it.
One of the finest labels for those with a liking for 70s influenced style stoner rock is Californian label Ripple Music, whose latest releases (Mos Generator, Grifter, Stone Axe, Devil To Pay, Mothership) maintain the quality and reputation with energy a-plenty.
