Nonpoint - The Return

In the interest of full disclosure I have to say that Nonpoint is one of my favorite bands.  I was first turned on to them with the release of their major label debut Statement in 2000.  They were basically riding the nu-metal wave and fit the typical rap-rock hybrid at the time.  But something was different about them.  They had Spanish influences ("Orgullo" was sung completely in Spanish).  They had dynamic songs.  They had good lyrics that brought you on a journey (see "Mindtrip" or "What a Day").  They were simply better than most in the nu-metal scene.  Over the years they have evolved, but they've still stayed hard rock and heavy metal at the core.  Their latest release is curiously titled, being that they have never really gone away.  Within the past couple of years some members have changed, but the heart of the band: drummer Robb and singer Elias has remained.  They also never stopped touring or releasing records.  I own all nine of their albums and have seen them in concert seven times.  The most recent was a few months ago when they opened for Megadeth.  They definitely made some new fans that night, but I can't believe that people are still just discovering this band.  As a scientist, I think I can remain objective while I discuss The Return.

The album opens with "Pins and Needles."  It establishes the sound of the new lineup which isn't that much of a departure from the previously self titled album.  This song has a simple chorus, yelling verses, good rhythmic guitars, and some soloing.  Following this is "Breaking Skin" which will be the first single.  This song kicks it up a notch in terms of energy with driving rhythms and full on angst in Elias' vocals.  Then things slow down a bit and I was a little disappointed by this.  The next few songs are kind of generic sounding and didn't really move me.

The energy and tempo pick up again with "Take Apart This World"  It is certainly one of the hardest hitting on the album, but still nothing like "Bullet With a Name,"  or even "Rabia."

I certainly hear BC Kochmit’s influence on the guitars in "Forcing Hands" as it sounds like some of the riffs could have been found in one of his previous bands Switched, Dark New Day, or Eye Empire (all worth a listen).  BC is a cool guy too.  I actually met him back in 2002 when Switched was opening for Nonpoint.
**Correction: BC Kochmit did not write or play on this album. He is currently touring with the band and writing new material. (cited BC's Facebook Sept 30)

Chris, Brad (BC) Kochmit, and me after a gig @ Birch Hill 6/14/02

Chris, Switched singer Ben Schigel, and me after a gig @ Birch Hill 6/14/02

Chris, Elias, and me after a gig @ Birch Hill 6/14/02

Other highlights include "Never Ending Hole," the most retro-Nonpoint-sounding in many ways, but with backing vocals and a shredding guitar solo that is bringing something new.  My favorite song right now is "Never Cared Before." I thought Robb was gonna pound through his drum heads as he demonstrates his Animal persona on this one for sure!  It is fast and hard hitting and includes a heavy breakdown.  

This album is definitely taking the band in a new direction.  I think Nonpoint is just getting started with this new lineup and it is going to take some time to develop.  The songs just seem to lack the focus and intensity of the past.  I think the writing has been simplified and stripped down.  They are playing around with some different guitar sounds and layering techniques, but I still think that Elias’ voice is carrying a lot of the load.  Still, there are some rockers here that will be nice additions to the live set and that keep me optimistic about this band's future.  I'm hoping to catch them the next time they play Starland Ballroom in November.  Look for me in the pit!

Robb and me at Wellmont 11/29/13

Latest Nonpoint lineup at Wellmont - 11/29/13 

 

Godsmack - 1000HP review

Godsmack - 1000HP review

Godsmack has always been a solid hard rock band and, while they don't reinvent the wheel with 1000HP, I think this keeps them relevant and is a nice addition to this year's collection.  I was excited about their new album coming out and the fact that I should finally get to see them on stage this year at UPROAR on Aug 26th.  I decided to give a song by song commentary and rate each one. 

1. 1000 HP - The album opens with the title track.  The verses talk about the rise of Godsmack from Boston circa 1995.  The chorus is super huge and anthemic.  I can't help sing along "Turn that shit up louder!  Make it all go faster.  Play it through the witching hour.  Take it to one thousand horse power!"  There is also a pretty nice guitar solo about 3/4 of the way through.  This is just a really great hard rock song and one that I could play over and over again. (8/10)

2. FML - The second track has some dirtier riffs and is one of those songs that is just about releasing pent up frustrations.  It is a decent song, but I think lyrically it lacks a real identity.  Sully sings "Don't try to change me" and then "Fuck My Life" and I get a little confused.  Are we hating the haters or are we self loathing?  Pick your pity party and stick with it. (6.5/10)

3. Something Different - This song has more of a driving rhythm.  I like the lyrics "Don't feel you ever have to speak to me that way."  They could be applied in so many different situations that it lets the listener make their own meaning of this song. (7/10)

4. What's Next - This sounds like classic Godsmack to me.  It's a song with fast rhythms, haunting echo on the background vocals, a big sing-along chorus, questions about the meaning of life and the looming certainty of death.  Pretty kick ass. (8/10)

5. Generation Day - Here we start off rocking pretty hard, but then go into a lengthy slowed-down breakdown that is almost like a dream sequence.  The hard riff and chorus then pick back up for a strong finish.  Yelling "generation dayyyyyyy" is enough to get stuck in your head and make you want to go back to this song. (7/10)

6. Locked & Loaded - With choppy riffs and a heavier sound than some of the other songs, this one really pumps.  To break up the song structure there is a breakdown with even faster chords and chanting lyrics two thirds of the way through and then some nice guitar work at the end.  As the song fades out Sully says "How'd you like that one Frank?....hahaha, fuck him!" which is obviously directed toward Nikki Sixx who has been in a war of words with the band since they had a falling out after touring together in 2009.  The song "Cryin' Like a Bitch" was also supposedly written about Sixx.

7. Living in the Gray - This track is definitely solid, but it kind of gets lost in the course of the rest of the album and comes off like a filler.  On its own, I could hear this on the radio and like it.  It's just not the kind of track I would skip to on a cd or put on a playlist. (6/10)

8. I Don't Belong - This song picks up where the previous was lacking.  We have another good balance of riffs and solos.  We have lyrics that a lot of people can relate to.  I could see this becoming a single, but I don't think it is quite as strong as What's Next.  (7/10)

9. Nothing Comes Easy - The lyrical themes are similar to the previous song, but the guitar work and drum rolls found here gives the track an older, more classic sound.  It kind of seems like a mash up of 80s and 90s hard rock in a good way. (7/10)

10. Turning to Stone - This is the slowest song on the disc and kind of haunting.  It is nothing special musically, but an acoustic version is going to be on the The Walking Dead Season 4 Soundtrack: Songs Of Survival Vol 2 and should fit well. (6/10)

My view of Godsmack from Uproar 2014 Camden, NJ

Ted Nugent @ Wellmont Jul 22, 2014

Ted Nugent @ Wellmont Jul 22, 2014

The following is a recap of one of my favorite concert experiences.  If you weren't there, you missed out - plain and simple.  If you thought Ted Nugent was a washed-up has-been, you are sorely mistaken.

First of all, kudos to "the Nuge" for keeping ticket prices low.  I got fourth row balcony seats for $20.  General admission floor tickets I believe were only about $65.  A big FUCK YOU to the township of Montclair, or whoever they commissioned for parking services, as they were trying to charge patrons $20 to park in what are normally municipal lots.  When I first started going to shows at the Wellmont, parking was free.  When I saw Megadeth there a few months ago, parking was $10 which I was a little annoyed about, but it was still reasonable.  Especially because it was winter and I didn't want to walk.  To charge $20 when that is the cost to attend the concert is absurd.  My buddy and I parked a few blocks away for free.  I intend to walk to the venue whenever possible from now on.

Secondly, I was amused by the 50 or so picketers outside the venue.  I didn't get a good look at all of the signs or hear the chants, but the few signs I did see said "Love Not Hate" or something to that effect.  True, Ted is an outspoken republican who supports the NRA and hunting, but I have never heard him preach hate or do anything harmful to animals besides kill them and eat them.  It seemed kind of stupid to picket to me.  Ted addressed this by saying that if you still have haters after all the years he has been around, he's doing something right.  He also said he would play them "the greatest love song of all time" and then busted into a blistering rendition of "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang!"  In my opinion this was the second most memorable song of the night.

Let me go back to the beginning.  So, the doors opened at 7PM and by the time we found free parking and walked into the theater it was almost 7:30.  I asked the usher if there were opening acts and he told me there would be two of them.  It turned out there was only one and they didn't start until 8.  No doubt a ploy to sell more $8 beers.  Fortunately, the openers played for about 45 minutes and they rocked.  The band was Pistol Day Parade who are also from Detroit.  I had never heard of them before this night, but they picked up a few new fans for sure.  They are straight up rock and roll in the vain of Pop Evil, Sick Puppies, or Shinedown.  There are two guitarists, which gives the band a nice full sound.  The singer has a gritty rasp to his voice which I like, but he can also smooth it out when he wants too.  Except for the drummer, the other guys in the band sing back-up and they are quite talented as well.  The musicianship and the sound were pretty tight.  I was impressed, especially for an unknown band.  Highlights were songs like "New Life, Not Today, and Even When High."  Their next to last song was a cover of "In the Air Tonight."  At first I was thinking this was a bad idea because its been done before and it is a hard song to make sound fresh.  They definitely pulled it off though.  They did the classic version justice and managed to make the sound heavier at the same time.  They finished up with their current single "Rockstar's Girlfriend."  This song is definitely their most commercial, complete with a very simple chorus and "na na nas".  Even though it's a little too poppy for my taste, it was hard not to sing along.

After their set I wanted to go pick up a cd and try to meet the band.  The drummer was the first band member at the merchandise booth and it turns out his name is Jason and so is the bassist!  All of the guys were very cool and willing to chat.  We learned that they got picked by Ted to be the support band without having ever met him before.  I thought it was cool that he picked them from a list and was loyal to his hometown of Detroit.  I was a little bummed that the band didn't know Nonpoint nor their cover of "In the Air Tonight."  Hopefully, they will remember to check it out and I will have taught them a thing or two about a good band!  The other bummer was when I bought my cd the merch guy said it's normally $10, but they were told to "price match" so it was selling for $20.  WTF is this crap!?  I don't know for sure, but I'm betting this was the venue that set this rule rather than Nugent's camp.  This is wrong on so many levels.  The bands should be able to set the price for their own stuff.  It is their property and they are the ones that should be able to judge what is a reasonable price for both the fans and themselves.  I hope the band gets the extra profit, but I'm sure the venue is taking a cut.  Bastards!  Anyway, I got the cd signed by all of the guys, so that made it worth it for me.  Maybe the next time the band has to raise prices they could at least throw in a couple of free stickers or something.

At 9:30 Ted Nugent and his band came out.  They played for over an hour and sounded amazing.  Ted kept boasting that his band is the tightest in the game and he may be right.   Derek St. Holmes (61) plays guitar and is lead singer on some of the songs.  He is an amazing guitarist and even a better singer.  Ted is almost 66 and he still rocks as hard as when he was in his heyday in the 70s.  His new single "Shut Up and Jam" worked into the set well with classics such as "Hey Baby, Turn It Up, and Cat Scratch Fever."  At one point, Ted paid homage to the originators of rock by giving shout-outs to Bo Diddly, Chuck Berry, and multiple mentions of the recently deceased, Johnny Winter.  This shows the class act that Ted is.  I also liked that his only backdrop was the American flag.  He played about six guitars throughout the set.  Each one sounded like it was made for him.  The finale in the set was the best song of the night, "Stranglehold."  After that the band went offstage for a minute before returning for an encore of "Great White Buffalo."  My ears were still ringing the next day, but it was definitely worth seeing these two awesome rock acts throw down.

Rock Flag Still Flies - album reviews 2014

Diary of a Madman, "Rock Flag Still Flies" 7/15/14
by Jason Bink

You could consider this a continuation of my last “state of the union address” for hard rock.  This one is entitled "Rock Flag Still Flies" because that is how excited I am about some of the latest releases of 2014.  Chevelle and Rise Against can also be found on iTunes for $7.99 which is a damn good bargain.  I'll give you my brief summaries of each album in chronological order of release.

Chevelle - La Gorgola
Chevelle have become one of my all time favorite bands.  I was a little bit disappointed with their previous two albums, Hats off to the Bull and Sci-Fi Crimes, however.  La Gorgola absolutely restored my faith in them and cemented Chevelle as one of the best rock bands out there.  In fact, this cd has been played over and over again in my car this summer and I think that the first five songs alone make it better than their last two discs.  The lead single, "Take Out the Gunman" did not blow me away, although it actually grew on me a bit.  It is outdone by the songs that buttress either side of it, however.  "Jawbreaker" contains really sick bass lines and driving rhythms.  Pete repeats the word Jawbreaker a lot during this song,but so do I when I play it in my car on 11.  "An Island" I believe is one of Chevelle's best songs ever. It consists of heavy distortion and groovy hard rock riffs.  The lyrics about escaping the world for a while are pretty cool too, but honestly, there could be no lyrics in this song and I would still play it over and over again.  If you like hard rock, you need to check out this album.
Track commentary part 1 http://vimeo.com/105888376
Track commentary part 2 http://vimeo.com/106974429

Seether - Isolate and Medicate
Seether is another favorite of mine that I love to see live and whose music is always in heavy rotation on my playlists.  This is probably their weakest overall album, in my opinion, but its still about a 7 out of 10.  They tried to grab media attention with their lead single "Words as Weapons" which sampled the melody from "Mad World" (Tears for Fears) and rocked it out a bit more.  Good original lyrics, but as a result of the blatant rip-off, it doesn’t strike me as a strong Seether song.  "Suffer It All"  has crunchy guitar riffs and angry, choppy verses with a catchy smoother chorus.  It is a song about haters, doubters, and searching for inner strength to battle them.  This is more like the Seether I’m used to.  "Goodbye Tonight" sounds like it could have appeared on their previous album Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray, which means it is more poppy sounding, but it still rocks.  "See You at the Bottom," the likely second single, and "My Disaster" are two more strong songs that show off the kind of grunge-metal that Seether does so well.

Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls
So, Nostradamus himself could not have predicted what a flop that last concept album would be.  I predicted that the mighty Priest would come back to former glory, however, and they prove me right with Redeemer of Souls.  The song samples on iTunes sounded very muddy, but once I downloaded the songs and put headphones on, the song quality was much better.  It still has a lot of low-end and a somewhat cloudy mix.  I wonder if this was done on purpose to try to recreate more of a vinyl sound.  The disc does harken back to the days of Screaming for Vengeance but with some of the newer Angel of Retribution influence as well.  I honestly can't pick a standout track on this album and it will take me a few more listens to really capture it well.  Face to the fire, I'd have to say "Halls of Valhalla" does a nice job showing off some of the classic sound and also the evolution of the band.  Rob does some sinister growling on this one like I've never heard from him before as well as the soaring high notes that made him famous.  Suffice it to say, this album is the Metal Gods showing the new school what metal is all about.

Rise Against - The Black Market
This album begins with "The Great Die-Off." It’s ironic, because an album opener of this title lets me know that this band is still bringing the same mix of punk, metal, pop, and rock that I know and love from them and that the band is not going to die off anytime soon. Track 2 "I Don’t Want to Be Here Anymore" is introspective and anthemic.  It will probably be "The Eco-Terrorist in Me" that becomes a fan favorite, however.  This song is more like Rise Against of albums past, with their socially-conscious emo-punkitude.  Yeah, I just made that word up, but it describes their dynamic energy and balance of singing and screaming with all the angst and political conscience of Rage Against the Machine or System of a Down.  I love this song!

Upcoming albums of note:
Jul22
(Hed)pe, ‘Evolution’ (Pavement)
Ill Nino, ”Til Death, La Familia’ (Victory)

Jul 29
Adelitas Way, ‘Stuck’ (Virgin)
Theory of a Deadman, ‘Savages’ (Roadrunner)

Aug 5
Godsmack, ’1000hp’ (Republic)

Aug 12
John 5, ‘Careful With That Axe’ (60 Cycle Hum)

Rock on,
Jason

Buckcherry at Starland 2/22/14

Buckcherry at Starland 2/22/14

I had been looking forward to this concert as it was my first in three months, I had been on a huge Buckcherry bender and listening to all their albums in regular rotation, and it was to be the first concert for my brother-in-law ever (besides Trans-Siberian Orchestra).  They didn't quite sell out, but the place was packed halfway through.  There was a pretty big variety in ages and a good amount of females for a rock show.  It was a fun time and below is my chronological review of the show.

The first band to come out was called Machine Elves.  The lead singer had a mohawk and black eyeliner and came out with a megaphone.  The megaphone usually does not work for me unless you are Scott Weiland or Otep.  This time was no exception, but it didn't last long.  The band was rock and roll and kind of had an 80s vibe.  The highlight was definitely the two stage dancers they brought with them.  I have never seen this at a club show and especially not from an opening act.  One brunette and one blonde girl danced around stage and flirted with the singer during three different songs including one called "Stripper."  The songs were not terrible, but the musicianship was nothing special and the singer was average.  I told Youssef that this was good for a first band, but I don't expect them to blow up any time soon.

Next up was Trimm.  Three of the guys were bald and most of them had facial hair.  This is a local band out of Piscataway, NJ and they had apparently played Starland before as they kept saying that they were happy to be back.  This band leaned more toward grunge-metal.  They had good energy and I was digging their music more, but not enough to run to the merchandise booth.

The third band was 3 Pill Morning from Minnesota.  These guys came out in dress clothes, with the singer and bass player wearing ties (incidentally, their latest album is called Black Tie Love Affair).  This gave me a weird vibe at a hard rock show.  They were sort of emo, but only in the wrong ways for my taste.  I just couldn't get into them, although they had a few songs that were jamming and a few screams thrown in for good measure.  The crowd seemed pretty divided about these guys as well, although it seemed like the majority were engaged with the fist pumping and waving side to side.

Pre-headlining was Monster Truck.  From the first note, these guys had my attention and they just kept getting better.  The best way I can describe them is like a hybrid of Soundgarden and Winery Dogs.  They are bluesy with dirrrty riffs and Cornellesque vocals.  The lead singer has a huge mop of hair that flops around while he plays bass and sings.  They weren't flashy, but they were tight.  Again, the crowd was a little listless overall except for a few headbangers and foot-stompers.  A cute blonde behind me asked me who the band was and said that she was really digging them too.  Afterwards we chatted about Monster Truck being our new favorite band.  Her boyfriend concurred.  Wah-wah :(  I ran to the merch booth to pick up the cd called Furiosity.  Apparently they are from Ontario.  Unfortunately, the band members weren't around to chat or sign my cd.

Finally it was time for Buckcherry.  I had lost Melissa and Youssef and the place was so packed that I had to squeeze my way down the side of the floor to get a decent place on the floor, stage-right.  They came out blazing with "Lit Up" off their self-titled debut album.  From there they played a good mix of songs covering each of their six albums including tracks Ridin', Porno Star, Sorry, For the Movies, All Night Long, Tired of You, Fall, Everything, Out of Line, new single Gluttony, and of course Crazy Bitch.  Surprisingly they threw in a couple covers too!  They played a little bit of ACDC's "Big Balls," opened Crazy Bitch with a mashup of "Love Rollercoaster" and "Bustin' Loose" and later played Icona Pop's "I Don't Care" during their encore while Josh wore an NWA hat, lol.  Overall this was a really fun concert and, seeing them for the third time, cemented Buckcherry as one of my favorites.  I just wish they would make all their albums like their concerts and stay away from too many of the slow songs.  Oh, and to top off the night my sister, Melissa, caught a guitar pick from the "Filipino Nightmare," Stevie D.  Good time was had by all.

Rock review 2013

November 4, 2013 The return of Diary of a Madman! 

I haven’t written about music in awhile - partly because I’ve been preoccupied by other things and partly because there hasn’t been enough noteworthy music to write about.  I have been reinvigorated by some conversations with friends about following my passions and reenergized by a resurgence of some solid rock albums of late.  My goal is to get back to writing about once a month including album reviews, concert reviews, and other editorials.  This first issue of the year is going to be kind of a “state of the union address” for hard rock.

            The early 2000s was a big time for rock with the popularity of nu-metal.  That was followed by a wave of screamo bands and then a small resurrection of thrash and hardcore inspired outfits.  The last couple of years have been pretty disappointing for rock.  Ticket sales are down, cd sales are down, and most hard rocking bands haven’t been able to put out back-to-back releases with any degree of continuity or growth.  I had to resort to reminiscing through my back catalog listening to things like Buckcherry, Rob Zombie, Taproot, and Mudvayne.

            Slowly but surely, a few glimmers of hope emerged throughout this past year. First, Ill Niño put out their new album Epidemia that harkens back to their major label debut mixing equal parts aggression, chugging guitars, and Latin percussion.  I still think they were at their best in terms of lyrics and overall composition of songs on Revolution Revolucion, but Epidemia is a step up from their last few albums.  Then, Device brought back some of the original nu-metal magic that made Disturbed popular.  David Draiman’s new band has the angst and hostility that had faded when Disturbed got commercial and went more melodic with their sound.  Then Filter mounted a comeback.  They too captured some of the energy and anthemic rock from their younger years on their latest album The Sun Comes Out Tonight.  Some other noteworthy releases this year include new albums by Oleander, Pop Evil, Skillet, Soil, Devildriver, Trapt, and Mindset Evolution.

            There have also been some new bands that have caught my ear.  The Winery Dogs are kind of a throwback band that have blues and classic roots with good lyrics and hooks, sounding sort of like Chickenfoot, but with a style all their own.  Gemini Syndrome is a new hard rocking group that could really be something big if they get some publicity.  My uncle says they rocked live too.  Eve to Adam is another band that is on the rise and is carrying the torch for dynamic heavy music.  There is not a throw away track on their aptly titled Locked and Loaded.

            It’s not all good news.  Korn and Blue October took big steps backwards, in my opinion.  Queens of the Stone Age, Sick Puppies and Black Sabbath all released albums much softer than expected.  Others that have had some breakout moments are struggling just to make ends meet.  Ozma and MadamAdam are looking for fans to donate toward their recording sessions.  Nonpoint has similarly taken to social media to solicit funds to help them expand their touring schedule.  Is this a sign of a lack of label support for hard rock or just a new way for bands to connect with their fans?  I think its both, but only time will tell if this becomes the new normal.

Eve 6 @Starland 5/11/12

After being a fan for about 14 years and four albums, I finally got to see Eve 6.

I went with Jeff Schonfeld.  After a little pre-gaming at my apartment, we got there after Breathing Blue had played and when The Hollow were on.  These guys were decent, but not great.  Their best song is "RunAway" which sounds like a complete rip off of the melody from Lit's "Pictures of You."

Then came Fall From Grace.  These guys had more energy and a more diverse sound. Their best song is "18 & Out."  After waiting around outside after the show for Eve 6, I ran into the guitar player Brian and then the lead singer, Tryg.  Both were friendly and happy to talk.  They said they had a good time even though they were "barely" getting paid and only sold 15 cds the entire night.

The Audition came on and I had been excited about seeing them since listening to the latest album, Great Danger, on Spotify.  First of all, they didn't sound nearly as good as the album.  Secondly, I think they were wasted because the playing was sloppy and the singer was wandering aimlessly instead of with whatever rhythm there was.  First time I have been disappointed like this in a long time.  What made it bearable was meeting this cute chick, Brett.  Too bad after getting a free drink outta me she took off.  I was gonna try and talk to her again later but I got distracted when Eve 6 came on and I was trying to mack it to another chick who then said she was not single.

Eve 6 came on and Jeff and I moved down to the floor for a closer look.  The venue was only about half full so this wasn't difficult.  The band sounded great and played a mix of old and new material including Open Road Song, Here's to the Night, At Least We're Dreaming, Leech, Promise, Victoria, and closed with Inside Out.
Setlist: http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/eve-6/2012/starland-ballroom-sayreville-nj-1bdfa10c.html

I was disappointed that we waited 30 min afterwards by the buses and Eve 6 never came out.  Supposedly Max wasn't feeling well, but the other guys didn't come out either.  You would think after having a new album out and trying to regain support that they would be a little more appreciative of the fans.  Despite that I enjoyed seeing them and rocking out while striking out.  Overall a fun night and another favorite band checked off my list.