Here I'll give my opinion on some recent releases. Again, some rocked and some sucked.
I was really looking forward to this as their album Locked & Loaded was one of my favorites from a few years ago. Unfortunately, they allowed Zardonic to produce and heavily influence this album. He's an EDM dude and as a result they used electronic drums and the sound is a lot less hard rock. It sounds like a completely different band. I hope this was a one-off experiment and not the future direction of the band.
Bush - Black and White Rainbows
Last year I heard some teasers from this album and I was intrigued, but not chomping at the bit for the release. It's finally out. The lead single is called Mad Love. It has a very catchy hook "Still got mad love for you baby," which sounds like it could be an olive branch extended to divorcee Gwen Stefani. That being said, it is a much poppier song than Bush fans may be used to. The slow songs and pop influence continues on songs PeaceS, Lost In You, Nurse, The Beat of Your Heart, etc. Dystopia is the closest track to their classic alternative sound, but even that fails to deliver the rock payoff.
Danko Jones - Wild Cat
Lead track I Gotta Rock has good energy, a driving rhythm, and a fresh take on a nostalgic feeling of letting loose and rocking out. The flavor continues with My Little RnR with a throwback rhythm and blues vibe with attitude. Going Out Tonight brings back the faster tempo. It literally is good music for getting amped before a night out. You Are My Woman sounds like it could be a Thin Lizzy song, partly because the guitar riff is almost a rip off of Jailbreak, but also because of the cool vibe. Title track Wild Cat has cool staccato verses. I prefer their 2012 album Rock and Roll is Black and Blue a little more, but this album is certainly a shot in the arm for the resurrection of rock.
Darkest Hour - Godless Prophets and the Migrant Flora
This has to be one of the most interesting album titles. The music is pretty brutal. It's melodic death metal. Given that DH are no longer contractually obligated to a record label and that they collaborated with former guitarist Kris Norris on some of the tracks, this may be the most pure they have sounded in a long time. If it wasn't constant screaming, I could listen to a full album in one go. But then again it wouldn't be death metal now would it?
Emmure - Look at Yourself
Emmure has more industrial and nu-metal influences than Darkest Hour. They're originally from Connecticut and now reside in Queens, New York. Vocals range from growls to blood-curdling screams. After 9 years and 6 albums with Victory Records, they released their new album with an indy label, SharpTone Records. The only original member is vocalist Frankie Palmeri. I'm no connoisseur of the genre, but I think they may have put out their best overall album with this one.
Eve to Adam - Odyssey
I was really looking forward to this as their album Locked & Loaded was one of my favorites from a few years ago. Unfortunately, they allowed Zardonic to produce and heavily influence this album. He's an EDM dude and as a result they used electronic drums and the sound is a lot less hard rock. It sounds like a completely different band. I hope this was a one-off experiment and not the future direction of the band.
Coming Soon
Art of Anarchy - The Madness; March 24
This is a rock supergroup made of twin brothers Jon and Vince Votta on guitar and drums respectively, bassist Jon Moyer of Disturbed, and former Guns 'N Roses guitarist Bumblefoot. Their first album had Scott Weiland on vocals... Looking to replace Scott they must've said to themselves, "Who can we get that is crazier?" The answer is Scott Stapp. You may remember a crazy story from 2015 where he disappeared from his home and basically held himself for ransom. He posted videos where he threatened harm to his family members. About a month later he claimed he was a CIA agent on a mission to kill president Obama. Scott has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and is now apparently receiving treatment and is on the mend. I previewed four songs from the forthcoming album and I gotta say that they sound pretty good. There are definitely influences from Disturbed on Echo of a Scream. No Surrender sounds like it could be a Godsmack song and then there is a G'NR-esque guitar solo. On Changed Man Scott sings passionately "I had to crash and burn to finally see the light" and begs "will you take me as I am? I'm not who I used to be. Give me one more chance because I'm a changed man; your love is all I need."
Incubus - 8; April 21
I heard Nimble Bastard on the radio and I didn't recognize it was Incubus, but I was like, I gotta check these guys out and then the DJ said who it was. Glitterbomb is also available to preview on iTunes and while slower it sounds more like vintage Incubus. It has been a while since they put out an album and I am definitely interested in what the rest of it will sound like.
New Found Glory - Makes Me Sick; April 28
They are without their founding rhythm guitarist and primary lyricist, Steve Klein, on this one. Released track Happy Being Miserable would suggest they haven't lost much from their signature power pop sound.
At the Drive-In - Interalia; May 5
They are reunited again. Governed by the Contagions sounds very Mars Volta influenced to me. Incurably Innocent is more in line with their post-hardcore sound. I'm digging what I'm hearing. This one will be interesting.
Seether - Poison the Parish; May 12
Since they are one of my favorite bands, I'm sure to pick this one up. The only released track so far is Let You Down and it has the chugging guitar and raspy grunge-like vocals that sounds familiar for this band. It's not their most rocking track, but I still have high hopes for the rest.
Linkin Park - One More Light; May 19
The released tracks Heavy and Battle Symphony confirm that this band is nothing like they were before. I am all for evolving your sound, but these are straight up pop songs. There is barely any guitars audible on these tracks! It is a disgrace to their rock fans and I can only imagine it is an attempt to cash in with the fans of adult contemporary music. At this point, they've sold out more than Metallica.
