BMG Announces Details For Soulfly Box Set

Courtesy: BMG

BMG is going to re-issue four of Soulfly’s albums this summer.

The company is scheduled to release the new box set, The Song Remains Insane June 17 on CD and vinyl. The collection culls the band’s first four albums — Soulfly, Primitive, 3, and Prophecy — into one collection. All four albums will be presented in their standard release editions and will be complimented with an extra disc of bonus tracks, previously released on various pressings of those albums.

Many of the bonus tracks featured in the extra disc are actually featured in the expanded edition of the band’s debut self-titled album, which was released in 1998. Those tracks are ‘Cagnaceiro,’ ‘Ain’t No Feeble Bastard,’ ‘The Possibility of Life’s Destruction,’ ‘Tribe (Tribal Terrorism Mix),’ ;Quilombo (Zumbi Dub Mix),’ and ‘Umbabarauma (World Cup Mix)’. The disc also features bonus tracks from Primitive in the form of ‘Terrorist (Total Destruction Mix)’ and ‘Soulfire.’

Pulled from the Japanese release of 3 is the band’s cover of Pailhead’s ‘I Will Refuse.’ Speaking of covers, the band’s cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Under The Sun,’ which was featured in a special digipack release of 3 is also included in the bonus disc. The lone previously unreleased track is ‘Berimbau Jam.’

The collection’s full track listing is noted below.

SOULFLY Eye For An Eye No Hope = No Fear Bleed Tribe Bumba First Commandment Bumbklaatt Soulfly Umbabarauma Quilombo Fire The Song Remains Insane No Prejudice Karmageddon

PRIMITIVE Back To The Primitive Pain Bring It Jumpdafuckup Mulambo Son Song Boom Terrorist The Prophet Soulfly II In Memory Of… Flyhigh 3 Downstroy Seek ‘N’ Strike Enterfaith One L.O.T.M. Brasil Tree Of Pain One Nation 9-11-01 Call To Arms Four Elements Soulfly III Sangue De Bairro Zumbi

PROPHECY Prophecy Living Sacrifice Execution Style Defeat U Mars I Believe Moses Born Again Anarchist Porrada In The Meantime Soulfly IV Wings  Soulfire Cangaceiro Ain’t No Feeble Bastard Possibility Of Life’s Destruction Chaos Soulfire I Will Refuse Under The Sun Tribe (Tribal Terrorism Mix) Quilombo (Zumbi Dub Mix) Umbabarauma (World Cup Mix) Terrorist (Total Destruction Mix) Berimbau Jam

In other Soulfly news, the band announced in January, that Fear Factory founding member and guitarist Dino Cazares had been tapped to join the band on the road for its winter/spring 2022 tour. The tour launched Feb. 7 in Las Vegas, NV and ran through March 19 in Gallup, NM.

Soulfly front man and founder Max Cavalera and his brother Iggor (who together also founded Sepultura) are now mapping out their tour performing two classic Sepultura albums, Beneath The Remains and Arise. The schedule for that tour is noted below.

TOUR DATES:

May 22 – Sun – Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM

Link: https://holdmyticket.com/event/389143

May 23 – Mon – Jake’s – Lubbock, TX

Link: https://www.stubwire.com/event/maxiggorcavalera/jakessportscafeandbackroom/lubbock/26070/

May 24 – Tue – Amplified Live – Dallas, TX

Link: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/Max-and-Iggor-Cavalera/471477?afflky=AmplifiedLive

May 25 – Wed – The Hall – Little Rock, AR

May 26 – Thu – Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN

Link: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/max-iggor-cavalera-return-brooklyn-bowl-nashville-tickets/11877385?pl=bbowlnash

May 27 – Fri – The Loud – Huntington, WV

Link: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/4175255/max-iggor-cavalera-returnbeneath-arise-huntington-the-loud

May 28 – Sat – Maryland DeathFest – Baltimore, MD

May 31 – Tue – Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY

Link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00005C63F2557582

Jun 1 – Wed – Toad’s Place – New Haven, CT

Link: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/3819443/max-iggor-cavalera-returnbeneath-arise–new-haven-toads-place-of-new-haven

Jun 2 – Thu – XL Live – Harrisburg, PA

Link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/02005C630C308AE3 

Jun 3 – Fri – King of Clubs – Columbus, OH

Link: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/Max-and-Iggor-Cavalera/471469?afflky=TheKingofClubs 

Jun 4 – Sat – The Forge – Joliet, IL

Link: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/max-and-iggor-cavalera-return-the-forge-tickets/11874985

Jun 5 – Sun – Piere’s Event Center – Ft. Wayne, IN

Link: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/4181683/max-iggor-cavalera-fort-wayne-pieres-entertainment-center

Jun 6 – Mon – The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN

Link: https://thevogue.com/events/max-iggor-cavalera-june-6-2022/

Jun 7 – Tue – Delmar Hall – St. Louis, MO

Link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/06005C66E21494AE

Jun 8 – Wed – Royal Grove – Lincoln, NE

Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/max-iggor-cavalera-tickets-290924321477

Jun 10 – Fri – Oriental Theater – Denver, CO

Link: https://holdmyticket.com/event/390934

Jun 11 – Sat – Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT

Link: https://www.24tix.com/event/932738126

Jun 13 – Mon – Elks Temple Spanish Ballroom – Tacoma, WA

Link: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/2822299/max-iggor-cavalera-returnbeneath-ariseall-ages-tacoma-mcmenamins-spanish-ballroom-elks-temple

Jun 14 – Tue – Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR

Link: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/5046050/maxx-iggor-cavalera-returnbeneath-arise-portland-hawthorne-theatre

Jun 16 – Thu – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA

Link: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/MAX-andIGGORCAVALERA/471196?afflky=GreatAmericanMusicHall

Jun 17 – Fri – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA

Link: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/MAX-andIGGORCAVALERA/471206?afflky=GreatAmericanMusicHall

Jun 18 – Sat – The Belasco – Los Angeles, CA

Link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/09005C64CB6868FB

Jun 21 – Tue – Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX

Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/max-and-igorr-cavalera-return-beneath-arise-tickets-291566442077

Jun 22 – Wed – Scout Bar – Houston, TX

Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/max-iggor-cavalera-return-beneath-arise-tickets-291064580997

Jun 23 – Thu – The Rock Box – San Antonio, TX

Jun 24 – Fri – Rockhouse Outside – El Paso, TX

Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/max-iggor-cavalera-tickets-291102233617

Jun 25 – Sat – The Marquee – Tempe, AZ

Link: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/max-iggor-cavalera-marquee-theatre-tickets/11877005?pl=themarquee

More information on BMG’s new Soulfly box set is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.soulfly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoulflyOfficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSoulflyTribe

More information on the Cavalera brothers’ upcoming tour is available online at https://returnbeneatharise.com.

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Trivium Announces Details For Upcoming Livestream Concerts

Courtesy: Atom Splitter PR

Trivium will host two livestream concerts in December.

The announcement was made Monday through a news release. The document states the concerts are scheduled to take place Dec. 11 and 18. The concerts will come less than a year after the band’s 20202 livestream concert event, A Light or a Distant Mirror.

The details for the concerts are noted below.

LINEUP:
SATURDAY, 12/11:
FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY PRE-SHOW
3:30PM-4:00PM ET
THE HANGAR | IN WAVES 
4pm ET/1pm PT/9pm BT/10pm EU  

SATURDAY, 12/18: 
FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY PRE-SHOW 
3:30PM-4:00PM ET 
THE HANGAR | DEADMEN & DRAGONS 
4pm ET/1pm PT/9pm BT/10pm EU

The upcoming concerts will hold a special meaning for the band. That is because they will mark the debut of the band’s new headquarters, “The Hangar” and its online portal. The band’s livestream concerts will all run through the portal, and it will also be the site from which fans can purchase band apparel and other items.

The first of Trivium’s upcoming concerts will mark the 10th anniversary of the release of the band’s album, In Waves. According to comments from guitarist Paolo Gregoletto, the second concert, dubbed ‘Deadmen and Dragons’ “is the celebration of the last two years — two albums, The Hangar, the Metal Tour of the Year, and of course A Light Or A Distant Mirror.  The moment we knew that touring was off the table in 2020, we shifted focus back to the creative process. This stream is the closing of this unexpected chapter of Trivium and the beginning of a new one full of many exciting possibilities with The Hangar.”

Fit For An Autopsy will serve as support for each livestream concert.

Tickets for each livestream concert are available to purchase at a discounted price of $20 through Wednesday. Their price increases to $25 from Thursday through Dec. 14. Virtual general admission tickets are $15 each for the separate shows.

Tickets will allow access to each concert for three days. Admission includes an in-stream chat. Meet and greet sessions are also available. Additionally, audiences can enter a drawing to win a guitar from Trivium when they purchase tickets.

More information on Trivum’s upcoming livestream concerts is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.trivium.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Trivium

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TriviumOfficial

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

‘Trivium Has Crafted One Of Its Best Albums And One Of The Year’s Top New Hard Rock & Metal Albums In ‘In The Court Of The Dragon’

Courtesy: Roadrunner Records

Veteran metal act Trivium is a band whose members clearly do not let a lot of grass grow under their feet.  A little more than a year after the band released its then most recent album, What The Dead Men Say, the band released another album, this time in the form of In The Court of the Dragon.  Its release Oct. 8 came on the heels of an extensive tour with Lamb of God, Megadeth, and Hatebreed, and leading into upcoming shows on Slipknot’s annual Knotfest.  One would think that with that tour and everything going on with the COVID-19 pandemic, the band would not have turned out this impressive record so soon, but somehow it managed to do just that.  The album is a strong new return from the band, too.  That is evidenced through its musical arrangements and lyrical themes alike.  ‘Like a Sword Over Damocles,’ one of the album’s early entries, does well to prove that true.  It will be discussed shortly.  ‘The Shadow of the Abattior’ is another example of how this record’s musical and lyrical content make the album so interesting.  It will be examined a little later.  ‘The Phalanx,’ the album’s latest single and its finale, is one more way in which the album’s overall content shows the record’s strength.  It will also be examined later.  When this song and all of the others featured in this 52-minute record are considered together, they make In The Court of the Dragon one of the best of Trivium’s albums to date.

Trivium’s recently released album, In The Court of the Dragon, is among the best of the band’s records to date.  The band’s 10^th album, it offers much for audiences to appreciate through its musical and lyrical content alike.  ‘Like A Sword Over Damocles,’ one of the album’s early entries, does well in itself to support the noted statement.  The five-and-a-half minute song’s musical arrangement is a full-on modern metal opus that will appeal to even the most diehard metal purists.  The opening riff and chants conjure thoughts of doom metal before things change and the arrangement turns more decidedly in a radio friendly direction.  That is due in part to the melodic hard rock choruses, which are comparable to the choruses from so many Sevendust songs.  Yes that’s quite a range, but it is definitely there, at least in the ears and mind of this critic.  The whole is a fully immersive composition, complete with raging guitar solo, that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.  The lyrical theme that accompanies the song’s musical arrangement makes for its own interest.

According to comments from guitarist Corey Beaulieu, the theme here is lifted from the original story of the Sword of Damocles, who traded places with King Donysius II of Syracuse.  Damocles learned a valuable lesson about virtue in the end.  Beaulieu said of his thought that stemmed from his research into the story, “What happens when the person who’s questioning you has your job and responsibility?”  He added that bassist Paolo Gregoletto built on that concept and the pair came up with the final lyrical presentation.  The influence of that story is evident throughout the song’s lyrical presentation.  Just as interesting is that it is a story that even in this format, will resonate with any listener because such situation rises in the real world daily.  Keeping that in mind, the lyrical theme and musical arrangement together make clear why ‘Like A Sword Over Damocles’ is a strong example of the power of this album’s overall content.  It is just one of the ways in which the album’s strength is displayed.  ‘The Shadow of the Abattoir’ does its own share to show why this album shines.

‘The Shadow of the Abattoir’ is, while not the album’s longest song, one of its longest.  It clocks in at seven minutes, 12 seconds.  Over the course of that time, the song takes listeners in a range of directions, opening with a classic metal style sound in its contemplative approach.  Front man Matt Heafy’s vocal delivery is one of the most interesting points of the song’s musical arrangement.  That is because the richness and bass in his voice sits somewhere between Metallica front man James Hetfield and Slipknot/Stone Sour front man Corey Taylor.  Again, yes, it sounds like quite the range, but it is there, and it makes for reason enough to hear this song, too.  When this is all considered against the song’s more fiery verses, the contrast between verse and chorus makes the song even more interesting in its musical side.  It is just part of what makes the song stand out.  The song’s lyrical content adds to the song’s interest, too.

It should be noted at this point that the band openly stated that the album’s lyrical content is based on mythologies that its members developed due to their own interest in literary mythology.  That aside, the songs still manage to relate to audiences.  This song’s lyrical content continues to prove that in its chorus as Heafy sings, “Don’t go searching for the battle/You won’t find any beasts to slay/You’ll rip yourself to pieces/You’ll drive yourself insane/In the shadow of the abattoir.”  An abattoir being a slaughterhouse, one cannot help but wonder which myth led to this kind of content.  That aside, the very message still connects with listeners.  In this case, the message comes across as being that of not going to look for trouble, because when you go looking for it, you will find it, just not in the way you might think.  You might find your own trouble in yourself.  The verses seem to build on that message as each finds the subjects in bad situations because they apparently went looking for those situations so to speak.  From the snow covering a path in the song’s lead verse, to people apparently succumbing to the sun and its heat in the song’s second verse, to a ship singing after going through dark waters in the third verse, these are all situations in which people found themselves in trouble because they put themselves in such situations.  This is all just this critic’s interpretation.  Hopefully it is somewhere in the proverbial ballpark.  If so, then it further shows why the album’s overall content makes the record so worth hearing.  It is hardly the last of the record’s most notable songs, too.  ‘The Phalanx,’ which closes out the album, is one more way in which the record’s musical and lyrical content combines to show the LP’s strength.

The musical arrangement featured in ‘The Phalanx’ opens in a decidedly almost orchestral metal fashion before soon transitioning into a more pure metal approach.  The seven minute, 16 second’s opening movement lends itself to comparisons to works from Megadeth and Avenged Sevenfold what with the guitars and vocal delivery style and sound. As the song progresses, it eventually returns to the more symphonic metal style approach and sound used in the arrangement’s opening bars, leading to something of an ABA pattern here.  The whole of the composition is a powerful presentation that will engage and entertain audiences easily in its own right.  When it is considered along with the song’s lyrical content, the whole becomes even more powerful.

In the case of this song’s lyrical theme, it comes across as a story of a man who sees the fallacy of war.  It would be interesting to know what myth the band came up with for this story and from what myth the band got its inspiration for the song.  Regardless, the way in which the song’s subject makes his revelation clear is moving.  Considering the mood that the song’s arrangement sets, that revelation gains even more power.  The combination makes the song stand out that much more as a key example of how much this album has to offer audiences.  When this song and the others examined here are considered along with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole shows that much more why In The Court of the Dragon successful.  All in all the album proves to be, again, one of the band’s best records to date.

Trivium’s recently released 10^th album, In The Court of the Dragon is among the best of the band’s albums to date.  Its strength comes through its musical and lyrical content alike.  That is proven through all three of the songs examined here, one of which is among the album’s current singles.  When it is considered along with the album’s other singles, the other songs examined here and the rest of the album’s works, the whole makes the album one of the best of this year’s new hard rock and metal albums. 

In The Court of the Dragon is available now through Roadrunner Records. More information about Trivium’s new single, video and tour schedule is available along with all of Trivium’s latest news and more at:

Website: https://www.trivium.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Trivium

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TriviumOfficial

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Trivium Announces New Album Details; Debuts New Single’s Video

Courtesy: Roadrunner Records

Fans of Trivium will not have to wait long for the band’s next album.

The band is scheduled to release its next album (its 10th), In The Court of the Dragon Oct. 8 through its longtime label, Roadrunner Records. The band made the announcement Thursday through a news release. The album will come approximately a year and a half after the release of its most recent album, What the Dead Men Say.

In The Court of the Dragon has already produced one single — its title track — and a companion video to that song. The band premiered the video for the album’s second single, ‘Feast of Fire’ Thursday.

The musical arrangement featured in ‘Feast of Fire’ is an interesting presentation. That is because of the juxtaposition of styles and sounds in the song’s verses and choruses. The verses is a stark contrast to what audiences have come to expect from Trivium with its melodic hard rock style complete with clean powerful vocals. It lends itself to comparison to works from the likes of Alter Bridge, Sevendust, and Tremonti. The choruses meanwhile present more of the band’s familiar metalcore leanings. The two styles and sounds are drastically different, but are so well-balanced throughout the song.

The video is interesting in its own right. Shot and directed by John Deeb at the band’s “headquarters,” “The Hangar” in Orlando, FL, it features the band performing its new single together. That footage is paired with footage of the cover art for the band’s new album being loaded onto a plane and delivered to the band as the song plays over the whole.

Bassist Paolo Gregoletto talked about the band’s new single in an extensive prepared statement.

“There’s always that one song you aren’t expecting when you begin writing a new album,” he said.  “It could be a riff written on the spot in the rehearsal space, a lyric that pairs just right with a melody, or in the case of ‘Feast Of Fire,’ sitting right there in front of us in the middle of a demo that [guitarist] Corey [Beaulieu] brought in. We were well into pre-production at Full Sail when we all decided that something about the demo we had tracked was good but could be even better. Our producer Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God, Soulfly, Papa Roach) even had in his notes: ‘Bridge is special, maybe so special it needs its own song.’ We tore the song apart and began again on the spot.”

Gregoletto added, “We went into this album knowing we had time to consider everything and anything that came about during this period, and if need be, we could start again if it didn’t feel right given that no touring was on the horizon.”

He continued, “I had the words ‘Feast Of Fire’ written in my running list of notes for lyric ideas that I try to amass before we record. Something about the phrase stuck out to me. It felt like the missing piece of the story we were trying to tell with this album, a climactic moment and a real centerpiece for the narrative.”

He concluded, “After all these years, I’m still blown away at how a song can really appear out of thin air and take the album to a place you weren’t expecting. Those are the moments we are always looking for when making a record.”

The track listing for In The Court of the Dragon is noted below.

IN THE COURT OF THE DRAGON TRACK LISTING:
“X”  
“In The Court Of The Dragon” 
“Like A Sword Over Damocles”  
“Feast Of Fire”   
“A Crisis Of Revelation”  
“The Shadow Of The Abattoir”   
“No Way Back Just Through”   
“Fall Into Your Hands”   
“From Dawn To Decadence”   
“The Phalanx”   

In other news, Trivium is scheduled to tour alongside Hatebreed, Megadeth, and Lamb of God this summer. The bands’ tour schedule is noted below.

TRIVIUM ON TOUR:
8/20 — Austin, TX — Germania Insurance Amphitheater
8/21 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
8/22 — Woodlands, TX — The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
8/24 — El Paso, TX — Don Haskins Center
8/25 — Albuquerque, NM — Isleta Amphitheater
8/26 – Wichita, KS – Cotillion Ballroom (headline)
8/27 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena
8/29 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Federal Theatre
8/31 — Reno, NV — Reno Events Center
9/1 — Irvine, CA — FivePoint Amphitheatre
9/2 — Concord, CA — Concord Pavilion
9/4 — Portland, OR — Moda Center
9/5 — Auburn, WA — White River Amphitheatre
9/6 – Boise, ID, Revolution Concert House (headline)
9/9 — Tinley Park, IL — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago
9/10 – Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE w/ Black Label Society
9/11 — Danville, VA — Blue Ridge Festival*
9/12 — Wantagh, NY — Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
9/13 — Boston, MA — Leader Bank Pavilion
9/15 — Camden, NJ — BB&T Pavilion
9/16 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center
9/18 — Noblesville, IN — Ruoff Music Center
9/19 — Clarkston, MI — DTE Energy Music Theatre
9/20 — Cincinnati, OH — PNC Pavilion
9/22 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP
9/24 — Mount Pleasant, MI — Soaring Eagle Casino Amphitheatre
9/25 – Des Moines, IA – Knotfest Iowa*
9/26 — St. Louis, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis
9/28 — Minneapolis, MN — Armory
9/30 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
10/1 — Laval, QC — Place Bell
10/2 — Quebec City, QC — Centre Videotron
*Festival Date featuring all 4 bands.

More information about Trivium’s new single, video and tour schedule is available along with all of Trivium’s latest news and more at:

Website: https://www.trivium.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Trivium

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TriviumOfficial

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Trivium Debuts New Single, ‘In The Court Of The Dragon,’ Companion Video

Courtesy: Roadrunner Records

Trivium opened the weekend with its first new music in more than a year.

The band premiered its new single, ‘In The Court of the Dragon‘ and its companion video Friday. The pair’s premiere comes more than a year after the debut of the band’s then latest album, What The Dead Men Say.

The musical arrangement featured in ‘In The Court of the Dragon’ is an intense, heavy, guitar driven composition. Its thrash stylistic approach and sound lends it to comparison to works from Slipknot just as much as from Slayer. As an added note, Isahn (Emperor) composed the orchestration for the single’s opening.

The lyrical content featured alongside that musical arrangement is taken from a classic story, according to front man Matt Heafy.

“The title of the song came from a short story by Robert W. Chambers,” he said. “The story is filled with dread and uncertainty, and that felt fitting for the times we’ve all been living in for the last year. Rather than a direct re-telling, we decided to go a different route and build our own narrative around the music that we were creating.”

The video for Trivium’s new single is a nearly 10-minute presentation that tells the story discussed by Heafy. Even more interesting is its finale, which seems to connect back to the video for one of the singles featured in What The Dead Men Say. That revelation will be left for audiences to discover for themselves.

In other news, Trivium is scheduled to return to the road this summer with Megadeth, In Flames, and Lamb of God. The band’s tour is scheduled to launch Aug. 20 in Austin, TX and to run almost a month and a half, winding down Oct. 2 in Quebec City, QC. The tour features performances in cities, such as Danville, VA; Concord, CA and Boise, ID.

The band’s tour schedule is noted below.

TRIVIUM ON TOUR:
8/20 — Austin, TX — Germania Insurance Amphitheater
8/21 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
8/22 — Woodlands, TX — The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
8/24 — El Paso, TX — Don Haskins Center
8/25 — Albuquerque, NM — Isleta Amphitheater
8/26 – Wichita, KS – Cotillion Ballroom (headline)
8/27 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena
8/29 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Federal Theatre
8/31 — Reno, NV — Reno Events Center
9/1 — Irvine, CA — FivePoint Amphitheatre
9/2 — Concord, CA — Concord Pavilion
9/4 — Portland, OR — Moda Center
9/5 — Auburn, WA — White River Amphitheatre
9/6 – Boise, ID, Revolution Concert House (headline)
9/9 — Tinley Park, IL — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago
9/10 – Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE w/ Black Label Society
9/11 — Danville, VA — Blue Ridge Festival*
9/12 — Wantagh, NY — Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
9/13 — Boston, MA — Leader Bank Pavilion
9/15 — Camden, NJ — BB&T Pavilion
9/16 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center
9/18 — Noblesville, IN — Ruoff Music Center
9/19 — Clarkston, MI — DTE Energy Music Theatre
9/20 — Cincinnati, OH — PNC Pavilion
9/22 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP
9/24 — Mount Pleasant, MI — Soaring Eagle Casino Amphitheatre
9/25 – Des Moines, IA – Knotfest Iowa*
9/26 — St. Louis, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis
9/28 — Minneapolis, MN — Armory
9/30 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
10/1 — Laval, QC — Place Bell
10/2 — Quebec City, QC — Centre Videotron
*Festival Date featuring all 4 bands

More information about Trivium’s new single and tour schedule is available along with all of Trivium’s latest news and more at:

Website: https://www.trivium.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Trivium

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TriviumOfficial

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Corey Taylor To Celebrate Debut Solo LP’s Release With Livestreaming Concert

Courtesy: Roadrunner Records

Corey Taylor will celebrate the release of his new solo record next month with a livestreaming performance.

Taylor will hold what is dubbed “Forum or Against ‘Em” Oct. 2.  The streaming performance will come live from The Forum in Los Angeles, CA.  The concert is in support of his forthcoming album CMFT, which is scheduled for release the same day through Roadrunner Records.

CMFT has produced three singles and companion videos in the form of ‘HWY 666,’ ‘CMFT Must Be Stopped (ft. Tech N9ne & Kid Bookie),’ and ‘Black Blue Eyes.’  Pre-orders for the album are open.

The set list for “Forum or Against ‘Em” is expected to feature songs that Taylor has crafted with Slipknot, Stone Sour and with his own solo project.  According to information provided about the upcoming event, it will be a full concert presentation, complete with pyrotechnics and guest performance by the all-female dance troupe The Cherry Bombs.

Tickets for the pay-per-view event are available.  Ticket bundles are also available.  They feature extras, such as a t-shirt, hoodie, poster, and access to an exclusive acoustic set from Taylor.

Taylor said in a recent interview, he was looking forward to the performance.

“I’ve been saying since the beginning, I’d find a way to bring this music and this band to the people,” he said.  “And I’m honored that the forum let us do just that.  It’s CMFT in its entirety.  It’s songs I’ve shared over the years.  It’s a celebration, and I’m so stoked to party with all of you.”

“Forum or Against ‘Em” is presented through a partnership between Danny Wimmer Presents and Taylor’s management company, 5B Artists + Media.

5B Artists + Media Founder/CEO shared Taylor’s excitement about the upcoming performance as he talked about the event.

“When Corey sent me a text saying FORUM OR AGAINST ‘EM I knew we had something truly special and unique,” he said. “The Forum is one of the most iconic venues in the world and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate his debut solo album!”

Additionally, Danny Wimmer Presents Founder and namesake Danny Wimmer said he was also anticipating the concert.

“To do a rock show on this scale, with an icon like Corey Taylor – while putting some of the behind-the-scenes heroes of the concert industry back to work – is an exciting step into the future,” said Wimmer. “We believe that Pay-Per-View is here to stay and we couldn’t think of anyone better to help us launch our new digital platform than Corey Taylor. He’s a global star, and his music with Slipknot and Stone Sour, as well as our amazing relationship with 5B, has helped to fuel DWP’s growth over the past decade. We can’t wait to get this show started.”

More information on Corey Taylor’s upcoming concert and forthcoming album is available along with all of Taylor’s latest news at:

 

Website: http://www.thecoreytaylor.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheCoreyTaylor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/coreytaylorrock

 

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Trivium Announces New Live Event Details

Courtesy: Atom Splitter PR

Trivium will perform live for the first time since April in a special event next month.

The band made the announcement Wednesday.  It will hold what it has dubbed “A Light or a Distant Mirror: A Global Livestream Concert Experience Live From Full Sail University” on July 10.

The ticketed event is in support of Trivium’s latest album, What The Dead Men Say.  It will feature a new stage show from the band and will be the first time this year that the band has performed songs from its new album live.

The band talked about the upcoming performance in a collective statement.

“We had to get creative when we heard there was no touring this summer,” the statement reads. “We held off on the Zoom concerts and asked our creative/production team to come up with the biggest real-time live metal streaming event of the summer and what we now have to present to you is our show called ‘A Light or a Distant Mirror.’ This performance will be 100% live and is not pre-taped. We will have a brand new epic stage set and lights, and we will bring it 100 percent. We are thankful to our friends at Full Sail University, who are providing us a first class performance arena and the Maestro broadcast team for streaming our show to the corners of the earth! We hope you can join us.”

Jay Noble, Full Sail University Vice President of Alumni & Event Production also shared his thoughts on the forthcoming event.

“Hosting this virtual concert with Trivium is a true full circle moment for us on numerous levels,” said Noble. “Before its release, the album What The Dead Men Say was recorded on campus in our flagship professional recording studio — the Audio Temple, with Course Director Darren Schneider serving as a Recording Engineer. That experience allowed us to welcome home Full Sail graduate and Trivium guitarist, Corey Beaulieu, alongside the entire band including lead guitar and vocalist, Matt Heafy, who can recall recording at Full Sail during his teen years. Through our latest collaboration with Trivium, we are excited to bring this unique livestreamed musical experience to Trivium fans, our university community, and audiences around the globe, during a time when music is needed most.”

Tickets for the show are $9, and are on sale now.  VIP bundles and exclusive merchandise bundles are available here.  A portion of the proceeds from sales will benefit the music therapy program at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, which is a non-profit hospital.

Pre-show happenings start at 3 p.m. July 10.  Terry Bezer, host of the Mosh Talks show on knotfest.com, will lead the pre-show events.  His broadcast will feature interviews with the band, clips from the show’s pre-production week and more.

More information about trivium’s upcoming live performance and What The Dead Men Say is available along with all of Trivium’s latest news and more at:

 

 

Website: http://www.trivium.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Trivium

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TriviumOfficial

 

 

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

 

Trivium’s latest LP Will Leave Listeners Having Plenty To Say In The Best Way

Courtesy: Roadrunner Records

Hard rock band Trivium returned this week with its ninth full-length studio recording.  The 10-song record is a strong new presentation from the band that will find a wide appeal among audiences through its musical arrangements and diverse lyrical themes.  From the band’s familiar metalcore sounds to heavier sounds, the record’s musical arrangements offer their own share of interest for audiences.  One of the most notable of the album’s featured songs that joins those elements comes late in the record’s run in the form of ‘Bending the Arc to Fear.’  It will be addressed shortly.  ‘Catastrophist,’ the album’s lead single is another work that does well in joining those two elements, and will be addressed a little later.  ‘Bleed Into Me’ is yet another example of the band’s ability to solidly join musical and lyrical content to keep listeners engaged again this time out.  It is just one more way in which What The Dead Men Say shows its overall strength.  When it is considered along with the other two songs noted here and the rest of the record’s works, the album in whole proves to be a viable choice for a spot on any critic’s list of the year’s top new hard rock and metal albums.

Trivium’s latest full-length studio recording – its ninth overall and eighth consecutive record distributed through Roadrunner Records – is another strong new offering from the band.  The album presents a wide range of musical arrangements and lyrical themes, offering listeners plenty to appreciate once again.  ‘Bending the Arc to Fear’ is just one way in which those statements are supported.  The song’s musical arrangement stands out because at points, its guitar riffs and time keeping couple with its vocals to create a powerful death metal style approach.  Within the same song, audiences also get something of a more metalcore approach.  The two genres are balanced well against one another, with the result being one of the album’s strongest arrangements.  It is just one part of what makes the song stand out.  That heaviness couples with the song’s equally impacting lyrical content to make the song stand out even more.

While the title ‘Bending the Arc to Fear’ could easily be construed to reflect everything going on in the world right now (bending the curve, etc.) audiences will be glad to know that it has nothing to do with that topic.  Rather, it has to do with the lack of personal privacy that humans have nowadays.  Simply put, it is inferred to address the overreach of “big brother.”  That is inferred right from the song’s outset as front man Matt Heafy sings, “A strain of vigilance/Deep roots that all connect/We wait so diligent/Watching you/An engine of suspicion/A web you can’t escape/Crossing all lines to listen/Breaking through/Prey upon you/The weak inherit all our scorn/Prey upon you/The fragile bones now ripped and torn/These eyes show you/Bending the arc to fear/This heart will prove/Bending the art to fear.”  From there, the chorus repeats itself, so there is in fact only one verse here coupled with the chorus.  Heafy’s screams throughout are skin to the sound of Hatebreed front man Jamey Jasta’s vocals.  Yes, it sounds odd, but it works, considering the work of Heafy’s band mates.  The noted theme of loss of personal privacy is relatively clear as Heafy makes note of “Deep roots that connect” and “An engine of suspicion/A web you can’t escape/Crossing all lines to listen.”  It all comes across as making mention of how we as a people are being monitored everywhere we go.  Considering the issues of illegal wiretapping, facial recognition, smart phones being used to trace people’s travel and other related items that rose to attention in the early 2000s, this content holds water.  It’s not some conspiracy theory.  It is real life.  The anger over this among the matter that is exhibited both lyrically and musically in a fashion that will connect well with listeners.  Keeping that in mind, the song in whole leaves no doubt as to why it is one of the record’s most notable works.  It is just one of the album’s most notable songs.  ‘Catastrophist,’ the lead single from Trivium’s new album, is another of the LP’s most notable works.

‘Catastrophist’ is an interesting addition to Trivium’s new album.  That is because of how closely similar it is to some of Slipknot’s more melodic hard rock opuses.  From the guitars to the drums and right down to Heafy’s own vocals, it would be easy for listeners to mistake Trivium for Slipknot in this song because of the close similarity in the sound and style of each band’s work if they took in the song, not knowing it was by Trivium.  As is the case in ‘Bending the Arc to Fear,’ the fiery energy in ‘Catastrophist’ does well in its illustration of the anger exhibited about the world’s ongoing crisis of humanity.

The noted theme is itself exhibited well here.  Heafy sings in the song’s lead verse, “Who has the means to save us from ourselves/To pull us from the vicious cycles feeding back again/Consume and feed/Degenerate/We damage just to liberate/Bought and sold before we could even breathe/I feel like we’re falling/A lifeline just out of our reach/I feel our collapsing/The arrogant numb to our needs/You’re a catastrophe/The one who’s come to devastate/Catastrophist/You stole our innocence/You’re a catastrophe/The one who’s come to devastate/Catastrophist/We never had a chance.”  He continues in the song’s second verse, “How far along before we fade away/So deeply out of focus/But it seems we never cared/Deflect/Deny what flows inside/The poison springs internalize/Bought and sold before we could even breathe.”  Heafy returns to the song’s lead verse and chorus once more as the song progresses through its nearly six-and-a-half-minute run time, pushing home the message again of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.  Given, it is a familiar message, but it is a message that regardless, never gets old.  That reminder that we need to step back and check ourselves is always welcome, since we as a race are so quick to forget to do just that.  Keeping that in mind, this song proves to be just as engaging and entertaining in the bigger picture of WTDMS as ‘Bending the Arc to Fear’ and the rest of the album’s works.  Even with that in mind, it is just one more of the record’s most notable works.  ‘Bleed Into Me,’ another of the album’s singles, is deserving of its own attention.

‘Bleed Into Me’ presents a musical arrangement that, again can be easily compared to more recent works from Slipknot.  At the same time, it can also be compared to works from the likes of The Veer Union and Sevendust through its melodic hard rock approach.  The song’s foundation is built through its bass line.  That foundation is strengthened through the equally solid time keeping and old school-influenced guitar work.  Heafy’s vocal delivery puts the finishing touch to the presentation.  The tone of the song does well in illustrating the emotion in the song’s lyrical theme, which seems to hint at dealing with some very personal feelings.

The seeming message about addressing unresolved thoughts and feelings is inferred as Heafy sings in the song’s lead (and only) verse, “Bleed into me/An ounce of your empathy/Eyes lock/You can see/A ghost/An invisible city/Bleed into me/Those feelings you’re harboring/The silence says it all/Tragedy/The look before the fall/Struggles and dreams mix into one/The grim rituals have only begun/No use in leaving/I’ll drift off before you are gone/Before you are gone/As it bleeds into me/Let it sink in for you/tell them the story/Tell them the truth.”  From here, Heafy repeats the song’s chorus multiple times over against the work of his band mates.  It seems rather obvious that this song is addressing some unresolved concerns between the subject and another individual.  It goes without saying that this is a topic to which many listeners will relate just as much as the topics in the other songs addressed here.  Considering, again, the emotion generated through the song’s musical arrangement, the two sides work well together to make the song even more powerful. When the impact of this song is considered with that of the other two songs noted here and the rest of the record’s songs, the whole of What The Dead Men Say will leave listeners having plenty to say about the album.

Trivium’s latest full-length studio recording What The Dead Men Say is some of this band’s best work to date.  It is a work whose musical arrangements and its lyrical themes ensure listeners’ engagement and entertainment from beginning to end of the 46-minute presentation.  As noted here, there is a song whose lyrical theme focuses on unresolved personal matters, a song about the current state of the world, and government overreach (for lack of better wording).  The musical arrangements that accompany those themes do their part to heighten the songs’ interest.  As if that is not enough, there is also a song that protests war, one that addresses people who are so willing to walk over all others just for the sake of their own personal success and even one about the matter of the R. Kelly case (supposedly).  Considering all of this, and the lyrical and musical and lyrical content featured in the record’s other songs not addressed here, the end result is a record that is deserving of its own spot on this year’s list of the top new hard rock and metal albums.  More information about What The Dead Men Say is available along with all of Trivium’s latest news and more at:

 

 

Website: http://www.trivium.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Trivium

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TriviumOfficial

 

 

 

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Trivium Debuts ‘Bleed Into Me’ Video

Courtesy: Roadrunner Records

Trivium gave audiences yet another preview of its new album What The Dead Men Say this week.

The band debuted the album’s new song ‘Bleed Into Me‘ Wednesday.  The video is a continuation of sorts from the video that accompanied the album’s lead single, ‘Catastrophist.’

The musical arrangement at the center of ‘Bleed Into Me’ is a heavy,  brooding work that incorporates some old school metal influences into its whole for a song that will connect with listeners. Front man Matt Heaggy’s vocal delivery adds its own touch to the whole of the presentation.  The song’s lyrical content presents its own depth.

The debut of ‘Bleed Into Me’ follows the release, most recently, of another of the album’s songs, ‘Amongst The Shadows and the Stones.’  The band debuted the video for the album’s title track and second single March 26.

The track listing for What The Dead Men Say is noted below.  The album is scheduled to be released Friday through Roadrunner Records.

 

 

WHAT THE DEAD MEN SAY TRACK LISTING:
“IX”
“What The Dead Men Say”
“Catastrophist”
“Amongst The Shadows And The Stones”
“Bleed Into Me”
“The Defiant”
“Sickness Unto You”
“Scattering The Ashes”
“Bending The Arc To Fear”
“The Ones We Leave Behind”

 

Trivium is scheduled to join Megadeth and Lamb of God on their summer tour starting June 12 in Bristow, VA.  The band’s run on the tour is scheduled to go through Aug. 1. Following some time off, Trivium will rejoin Lamb of God and Megadeth starting Oct. 2 in West Palm Beach, FL.  That leg of the tour is scheduled to run through Nov. 13 in Reno, NV.

The bands’ tour schedule is noted below.

 

 

TRIVIUM ON TOUR:
SUMMER 2020:
WITH MEGADETH + LAMB OF GOD:
6/12 — Bristow, VA — Jiffy Lube Live
6/13 — Charlotte, NC — PNC Music Pavilion
6/14 — Raleigh, NC — Red Hat Amphitheater
6/16 — Virginia Beach, VA — Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
6/17 — Wantagh, NY — Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
6/18 — Camden, NJ — BB&T Pavilion
6/20 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center
6/21 — Boston, MA — Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion
6/23 — Syracuse, NY — St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
6/24 — Providence, RI — Bold Point Park
6/26 — Darien Center, NY — Darien Lake Amphitheater
6/28 — Burgettstown, PA — S&T Bank Music Park
6/29 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
7/1 — Detroit, MI — DTE Energy Music Theatre
7/2 — Mount Pleasant, MI — Soaring Eagle Casino Amphitheatre
7/3 — Indianapolis, IN — Ruoff Music Center
7/5 — Atlanta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
7/7 — Cincinnati, OH — PNC PAVILION
7/8 — Cleveland, OH — Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
7/10 — Chicago, IL — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/11 — St. Louis, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/12 — Nashville, TN — Nashville Municipal Auditorium
7/14 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP
7/16 — Austin, TX — Germania Insurance Amphitheater
7/17 — Houston, TX — The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
7/18 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
7/20 — Albuquerque, NM — Isleta Amphitheater
7/21 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Federal Theatre
7/23 — Irvine, CA — FivePoint Amphitheatre
7/25 — Auburn, WA — White River Amphitheatre
7/26 — Portland, OR — Moda Center
7/29 — Salt Lake City, UT — USANA Amphitheatre
7/30 — Pocatello, ID — Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre
8/1 — Concord, CA — Concord Pavilion

FALL 2020:
WITH MEGADETH + LAMB OF GOD:
10/2 — West Palm Beach, FL — iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
10/6 — Birmingham, AL — Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
10/7 — New Orleans, LA — UNO Lakefront Arena
10/9 — Corpus Christi, TX — American Bank Center Arena
10/11 — El Paso, TX — Don Haskins Center
10/14 — Springfield, MO — JQH Arena
10/16 — Kansas City, MO — Sprint Center
10/21 — Columbus, OH — Schottenstein Center
10/23 — Huntington, WV — Mountain Health Arena
10/24 — Bethlehem, PA — The Wind Creek Event Center
10/27 — Quebec City, QC — Centre Videotron
10/28 — Laval, QC — Place Bell
10/30 — St. Paul, MN — Armory
10/31 — Green Bay, WI — Resch Center
11/2 — Omaha, NE — Baxter Arena
11/3 — Sioux Falls, SD — Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
11/5 — Denver, CO — Pepsi Center
11/7 — Las Vegas, NV — Mandalay Bay Events Center
11/10 — Spokane, WA — Spokane Arena
11/11 — Nampa, ID — Ford Idaho Center Arena
11/13 — Reno, NV — Reno Events Center

 

More information on Trivium’s live dates with Lamb of God and Megadeth, its new album and more is available online now at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.trivium.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Trivium

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TriviumOfficial

 

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ITM’s Seventh LP Not As Lucky As It Could Have Been

Courtesy: Atlantic/Roadrunner Records

Goth metal outfit In This Moment has, over the course of its life, proven to be a hit among the metal masses.  The band has released six largely well-received and successful albums and toured with some of the biggest names in the rock and metal community.  The band hoped to continue that success when it released its seventh album Mother on March 27.  The result has been the exact opposite with this album, though.  This 14-song record has proven to be the band’s most divisive record yet.  The reason being the band has clearly gone in a starkly different direction this time out than the band’s previous works.  That direction in question is what comes across as a much more mainstream direction.  Gone are the shredding guitars and powerhouse vocals that came to be a trademark of the band’s past albums.  They have been replaced by lots of electronics that at times lead to comparisons to work from the likes of Linkin Park at some points, to thoughts of Korn at others and even other well-known nu-metal acts at others still.  It goes without saying in listening to this record that it is hardly the band’s best album, but at the same time, the band should be applauded for taking a risk and changing things up.  The album is not a complete failure, though.  Late in the record’s 54-minute run, the band gives audiences something at least slightly memorable in the form of ‘God is She.’  This work will be discussed shortly.  ‘As Above So Below’ is another of the works that stands out in this record.  It will be addressed a little later.  ‘The In-Between’ is one more of the record’s most notable entries.  It will also be addressed later.  All three of the songs noted here are interesting work in their own right.  When they are considered along with the rest of the album’s works, the end result becomes an album that while clearly not the band’s best work, is still worth at least one listen.

In This Moment’s latest full-length studio recording Mother is an intriguing new offering from the veteran goth-rock outfit.  That is because stylistically speaking, it is such a stark departure from the band’s previously releases.  Rather than being the decidedly loud, shredding work that those albums were, the band largely opts here for a darker, more brooding approach for the majority of the band’s now seventh album.  While that approach makes up the majority of the album, the album does not stick to just that approach throughout.  There are some heavier moments, such as in ‘God Is She,’ which comes late in the album’s run.  The song’s arrangement does start with the noted brooding approach, but that approach is only used in the opening bars of the song.  Roughly 35 seconds into the song, the song goes full goth-metal, with  heavy, crunching guitars and eerie piano line.  The addition of the more melodic sound of front woman Maria Brink’s vocal delivery rounds out the whole to make this arrangement stand out even more.  The whole of the noted elements makes the song’s arrangement stand out as one of the album’s best compositions, if not the record’s best work.

As much as the song’s musical arrangement does for its presentation, it is just one part of what makes the song stand out against its counterparts.  The song’s lyrical content, set against that musical content, makes the song that much more engaging for listeners.  Bring sings in the song’s lead verse, “I am the God and the devil around you/I am the heaven and the hell you crave/I am the queens and the kings that you bow to/I am the name written on your grave/I am the sun that you bask and feed on/I am the moon that you howl to/I am the daydream bringing faith and conviction/I am the nightmare that you’ve been crawling through/So watch as I set fire to everything/Watch as I burn down everything/Anything/Watch as I destroy you/Watch as I turn into God/Watch as she/Watch as she turns into me.”  She continues in the song’s second verse, “I am the righteous/The touched and holy/I am the voodoo that you want to believe/I am the angels that hold and surround you/I am the demon you’re afraid to need/I am the temple that will bless and feed you/I’m the religion keeping you in chains/I am the cure that you pray will find you/I’m the disease running through your veins.”  This comes across as a female empowerment piece, all things considered.  The very note of “God is she – she is god” in the chorus refrain, along with all of the empowering other statements about burning it all down and essentially being the best and worst of all things, of being that which can give joy and which can give pain, is very powerful.  There is a lot of metaphorical language here, but at least in this critic’s mind, the metaphors come across as the noted statements of giving women a certain strength.  Going back to the song’s musical arrangement, the fire in that content couples with this seeming pro-female message to make this a work that lots of audiences will appreciate.

‘God Is She’ is just one of the works featured in this record that proves the album is worth hearing at least once.  ‘As Above So Below’ is another of the album’s most notable works.  The song’s musical arrangement boasts some of the fiery energy that made the band’s past works such appealing works, yet it goes in a decidedly different direction than those works this time out.  This arrangement is far more accessible for mainstream audiences, with its electronic elements and up-tempo aggro-metal sound.  The up-tempo arrangement boasts elements that make it comparable to songs from the likes of Linkin Park, Rob Zombie and even Sevendust.  Yes, that sounds like quite an odd combination of sounds, but it works here. When it is considered alongside the song’s lyrical content, which presents a seeming social commentary, the song in whole becomes even more powerful.

Brink notes at one point in the song’s chorus refrain what is the most telling portion of the song, “As above, so below/What you reap is what you sow/What you give come back three fold/As above, so below.”  That is pretty much the primary statement of this song.  It is complimented in the song’s lead verse as Brink sings, “I won’t lie/It’s quite tempting/Your handouts and your bones/I wont’ lie/They’re quite empty/Your promises and your stones/If you sell, they’ll buy/Don’t feel, just sign/If you sell, they’ll buy/Don’t think, stay blind/Give me control/Sign on the dotted line/Give me the control/She whispered softly/Give me the control/You’re crawling inside my mind/Give me the control/Don’t you fight me.”  She adds later in the second verse, “Watch me float away/I was never yours to save/It all comes back three fold/As above so below.”  This comes across as a seeming message of a person getting what a person gives.  That is illustrated in the statements about buying and selling, and doing things without thinking about the consequences.  It’s as if Brink is making a statement that whether a person tries to lie to others or lets one’s self be lied to, the consequences will happen.  Again, this is merely one interpretation.  Hopefully it is close to being correct.  The very fact that these lyrics can even generate discussion on such a topic (and discussions in general) shows the importance of said content.  When that seeming message about being aware of the consequences of our actions is coupled with the song’s mainstream radio friendly arrangement, it proves in whole to be another key addition to Mother.  It is not the last of the album’s most notable works.  ‘The In-Between’ is one more of the songs featured in this album that shows it deserves to be heard at least once.

‘The In-Between’ is another nu-metal style opus that might surprise audiences.  Once again, the comparison to works from Linkin Park is distinct.  One could even argue that the song’s arrangement also boasts a comparison to works from Otep.  This might turn off some audiences, while it might appeal to others, especially considering it is a direction that the band has not previously taken.  Again, that the band was willing to take the risk to go in such direction is to be applauded, simply because it is not an approach that the band is known for taking.  The emotional theme in the song’s lyrical content couples with the song’s aggressive musical content to strengthen its presentation even more.

Brink sings in the song’s lead verse, “My mother said that I was holy/My father said that I would burn/My mother said I was an angel/My father said that I would turn/So I believed these words and I turned on myself/’Cause maybe he’s right/maybe I’m worthless/Or maybe he’s wrong and my mother was right/I got a killer in me to give me purpose/Oh, I can feel a holy war/I can feel a holy war within/No, I can’t take a holy war/No, I can’t take a holy war again/Is this what you wanted/I’m gonna bring a little hell/I’m gonna bring a little heaven/You just keep wanting more/With your blood and your whore/I’m gonna bring a little hell/I’m gonna bring a little heaven/It’s a beautiful tragedy/You wanna be sick like me/’Cause I bring a little hell.”  She continues in the song’s second verse, “I was told that I was nothing/yet I was told that I was so pure/And I was told that I was dirty/yet I was told I was the cure/I ask myself am I God or s***/Am I the high, the low/I’m f****** worth it/And I ask myself/Am I love or hate/You are the reason why I have and why I can’t quit.”  There is little doubt as to what is being addressed here.  This is someone who has gone through a difficult childhood, which is, of course, a familiar lyrical theme of so much rock music.  That aside, it still hits hard here.  That is especially the case as the theme is accompanied by the song’s musical content.  The whole of those elements makes the song that much more notable.  When it is considered with the other two works addressed here, the trio shows without doubt that while Mother may not be the *ahem* mother of all albums from In This Moment, it is not a total loss.

In This Moment’s latest full-length studio recording Mother is a work that is a loss at least for the moment for In This Moment, but not a total loss.  It is a work that despite falling short in taking its risk, still has some positive points, as pointed out here.  Keeping all of this in mind, the album will appeal to In This Moment’s most devoted fans.  In the same vein, more casual fans will find it worth at least one listen.  It is available now.  More information on the album is available online along with all of In This Moment’s latest news and more at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.inthismomentofficial.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/officialinthismoment

Twitter: http://twitter.com/OfficialITM

 

 

 

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.