Mag Electric Debuts New Single, ‘Thorn In My Side’, Companion Video

Courtesy: Cowgirlzen Entertainment

A new week is here once again, but as another week gets underway, independent rock act Mag Electric is doing its part to help people get through another week.

The band did so with the premiere of its new single, ‘Thorn in My Side‘ and a companion video Sunday. It is fitting that the band premiered the new single and video late Sunday night, considering Monday is a thorn in the side of every person in this world.

He he did not specifically note Monday as that proverbial thorn, drummer Bill Peluso did say in regards to the song’s lyrical theme, it is a commentary about how we all deal with those proverbial thorns in our side, regardless of what they may be.

‘”Thorn in my Side’ is Mag Electric’s hard rock expression of life’s annoyances and problems,’ Peluso said. “Brought about by daily struggles most everyone experiences in all walks of life, the song expresses a response to the thorn in your side in your own life. All wrapped up in a psychedelic hard rock package, ‘Thorn’ figures to be a song rock fans can relate to as we go through life picking thorns out of our own sides.”

The musical arrangement featured in Mag Electric’s new single, which is the second from the band behind ‘Iron Horse,’ is an interesting presentation in its own right. The controlled guitar and bass pair with front man Jack Simchak’s vocals to make the whole a work that is easily comparable to works from Type O Negative, just not as melancholy in its mood. Simchak even sounds so much like Steele through his vocal delivery. The comparison is incredible.

The video for ‘Thorn in My Side’ is its own unique presentation. It features the band performing its new single against a very distinctly psychedelic video effect that harkens back, stylistically, to the kind of videos made in the 1960s and 70s.

More information on Mag Electric’s new single and video is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://magelectric.bandcamp.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/magelectricband

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Type O Negative Debuts ‘Love You To Death’ Live Video

Courtesy: Nuclear Blast Records

Nuclear Blast Records re-issued Type O Negative’s 2007 album, Dead Again late last year, and in celebration of the album’s recent re-issue, the label and the band’s remaining members premiered a new video for the album’s single, ‘Love You To Death’ this week.

The video premiered Wednesday. It was recorded at one of Type O Negative’s classic performances at the famed Wacken Open Air Festival. The performance in question is also among the bonus content featured in the album’s re-issue. It was also featured in the album’s 2008 re-issue. Neither that re-issue nor this latest re-issue mark the exact year during which the performance took place.

The news release announcing the video’s premiere does not note the year during which the performance was held, either.

Nuclear Blast Records’ re-issue of Type O Negative’s Dead Again is available now. More information on the album’s re-issue is available along with all of Type O Negative’s latest news at:

Website: https://typeonegative.net

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/typeonegative

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Type O Negative’s ‘Dead Again’ Gets Little New Life In Its Latest Re-Issue

Courtesy: Nuclear Blast Records

When Type O Negative first released its seventh album Dead Again in 2007 through Steamhammer, the album proved the be the best performing record of the band’s career, debuting at No. 27 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. Ironically, the album would also end up being the band’s last, as former front man Peter Steele passed away three years later in 2010. The album’s success was likely due to the fact that the album saw such a noticeable change in the album’s arrangements, leaning in more directions throughout its body.
A year after its initial release, Steamhammer re-issued the album with a bonus DVD front loaded with bonus live content, interviews and music videos. Now 14 years after that re-issue’s release, Nuclear Blast Records is scheduled to re-issue the album again in a new anniversary presentation with much of the bonus live content featured in the 2008 re-issue. That bonus content being at the center of the album’s latest re-issue, it will be the focus of this review. The content itself is a positive and will be discussed shortly. The presentation of that content however, is somewhat problematic. This will be discussed a little later. The band’s performances of the songs is, together with the songs themselves a positive worth noting, too. It will be examined a little later, too. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the album. All things considered, they make this latest re-issue of Dead Again leaving audiences honestly wanting for a little more.

Nuclear Blast Records’ forthcoming re-issue of Type O Negative’s 2007 album Dead Again is sadly, a celebration of an impressive album that does not do the record full justice in its new release. That is not to say that the record is a total loss. The bonus live content featured with the record is the primary reason that it survives. Totaling 10 tracks in all spread across more than an hour and 10 minutes, the bonus live performances featured here were largely carried over from the album’s 2008 re-issue from Steamhammer. The songs pull from almost all of the band’s albums up to that point, save for its 1991 debut album, Slow, Deep and Hard. In other words, the songs present a relatively clear cross section of Type O Negative’s catalog up to that point. The only difference between the content in that 2008 re-issue and this re-issue is that that Wacken content featured in that release was on DVD while it is strictly on CD in this case. So in short what audiences get in the bonus content is largely the same content featured in that 2008 re-issue. It means that audiences who did not get their hands on the 2008 re-issue will not be losing out, nor will those who did get the re-issue.

Now while the bonus content featured in this re-issue is a direct carry over from the 2008 re-issue of Dead Again, the presentation of the content is problematic. Maybe it is just this critic’s own audio equipment, but the audio mix of this content is a concern. Far too many times in each performance, it seems like Steele’s vocals are being washed out by the instrumentation. This happens both in the 2007 Wacken Festival performances and the other live performances. As a side note, it should be pointed out that there is no indication anywhere in the liner notes about where and when the other live performances were recorded, so that is another problem in itself. Getting back to the audio mix and production, the sound, again, is a concern. It leaves one wondering if the audio was already such an issue in the album’s 2008 re-issue. If it was and nothing was done, then someone definitely should be held accountable. If not, then someone should be held just as accountable for allowing it to be so muddied. It is enough to make a person want to skip through the songs just to see if the next song is any less messy.

As problematic as the sound issue is with the live content’s re-issue, it is not enough to doom the re-issue. To that end, there is still at least one more positive to note. That positive is the band’s performance of the live content. One thing that is indisputable from one live performance to the next is the dedication that the band put into each song. The band members give each song their fullest attention, ensuring audiences are fully engaged and entertained. What’s more, Steele’s playful banter with the audiences show just how laid back he was. It exemplifies why so many people respected him as a front man and person. The result of those positive performances is a general effect that together with the songs themselves, makes them worth hearing at least once. To that end, audiences who already own either the original 2007 release or its 2008 re-issue would be well advised to just hold onto those releases.

Nuclear Blast Records’ forthcoming 25th Anniversary re-issue of Type O Negative’s Dead Again is an interesting presentation. That is due entirely to its featured bonus live content. The bonus live content featured here is a direct carry over from the album’s 2008 re-issue. The only difference between the re-issues is that the Wacken 2007 performances were on DVD in the album’s 2008 re-issue and on CD in this re-issue. The fact that the same material was carried over ensures that no audience is left out regardless of whether they own the 2008 re-issue. The audio mix of the live content is problematic to say the very least. Far too often throughout the 10 total live performances, it seems like Peter Steele’s vocals were washed out by his band mates. That is not a stab at them by any means. Rather it is a concern on the side of those charged with ensuring the best possible audio quality in each performance. The band’s actual performances in each song works with the songs to make for at least a little more engagement and entertainment. The band’s performances themselves ensure audiences engagement and entertainment even despite the issue of the audio. That makes the bonus content at least somewhat appealing. However, it still does not eliminate the concern caused by the audio mix. To that end, this bonus content that accompanies Dead Again‘s latest re-issue does a little at best to fully celebrate what was and is one of the most important of Type O Negative’s albums if not its most important.

Dead Again is scheduled to be re-issued Friday through Nuclear Blast Records. More information on the album’s re-issue is available along with all of Type O Negative’s latest news at:

Website: https://typeonegative.net

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/typeonegative

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.

Slow Crush Debuts ‘Blue’ Video; Announces New Tour Schedule

Courtesy: Quiet Panic

Hard rock band Slow Crush debuted the video for its latest single this week.

The band premiered the video for its single, ‘Blue’ Thursday.’ The song is featured in the band’s latest album, Hush. The video features live footage of the band as the song plays over the visualization.

The song’s musical arrangement has been marketed as shoegaze. The reality though, is that the slow, grinding, down-tuned approach to the song gives it more of a goth style sound and approach a la Type O Negative. That is especially the case when the keyboard line is factored into the mix.

No information was provided about the song’s lyrical theme in the press release announcing the video’s premiere. The lyrics provided with the video hint at the song centering on the all too familiar topic of a relationship.

Courtesy: Quiet Panic

In other news, Slow Crush has announced a new live schedule in support of Hush. The tour is scheduled to launch April 8 in Brooklyn, NY and to run through May 24 in Philadelphia, PA. It features performances in cities nationwide, such as Atlanta, Ga; Dallas, TX and Chapel Hill, NC.

The tour’s schedule is noted below. Tickets are available here.

North American tour 2022 with special guests Cathedral Bells, Deserta & SOM:

APR 08 Knitting Factory BROOKLYN, NY

APR 09 Sonia CAMBRIDGE, MA

APR 10 Songbyrd WASHINGTON, DC

APR 12 Canal Club RICHMOND, VA

APR 13 Local 506 CHAPEL HILL, NC

APR 14 New Brookland Tavern COLUMBIA, SC

APR 15 Vinyl ATLANTA, GA

APR 16 Archetype JACKSONVILLE, FL

APR 18 Henao Center ORLANDO, FL

APR 20 House of Blues NEW ORLEANS, LA

APR 22 Secret Group HOUSTON, TX

APR 23 Meanwhile AUSTIN, TX

APR 24 Three Links DALLAS, TX

APR 26 Rebel Lounge PHOENIX, AZ

APR 28 Soda Bar SAN DIEGO, CA

APR 29 Lodge Room LOS ANGELES, CA

APR 30 Constellation Room SANTA ANA, CA

MAY 01 The Independent SAN FRANCISCO, CA

MAY 05 Fox Cabaret VANCOUVER, BC

MAY 06 Funhouse SEATTLE, WA

MAY 07 Hawthorne lounge PORTLAND, OR

MAY 09 Kilby Court SALT LAKE CITY, UT

MAY 10 Hi-dive DENVER, CO

MAY 12 7th Street Entry MINNEAPOLIS, MN

MAY 13 Cobra Lounge CHICAGO, IL

MAY 14 Hoosier Dome INDIANAPOLIS, IN

MAY 15 The Loving Touch FERNDALE, MI

MAY 17 Big Room Bar COLUMBUS, OH

MAY 18 Mahall’s LAKEWOOD, OH

MAY 20 Monarch tavern TORONTO, ON

MAY 21 Club Saw OTTAWA, ON

MAY 22 Bar Le Ritz MONTREAL, QC

MAY 24 Foundry @ The Fillmore PHILADELPHIA, PA

More information on Slow Crush’s new single, video, album, and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.slowcrush.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/slowcrushband

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Red Moon Architect Debuts “Live” ‘Journey’ Clip

Goth rock band Red Moon Architect is doing its part to help audiences get their live music fix.

The band debuted the video for its latest single ‘Journey‘ Feb. 3. The video is a “live” performance of the song, whose musical arrangement is quickly comparable to works from Type O Negative. While the instrumentation is clear and audible, the one downside here is that the vocals do sound somewhat washed out in the “live” setting.

Courtesy: Noble Demon

The premiere of the “live” ‘Journey’ clip comes more than three months after the debut of Red Moon Architect’s then latest single, ‘One Shines Brighter,’ which is featured in the band’s latest album, Emptiness Weighs The Most. That record was released in October. ‘Journey’ is not featured as part of that album.

Drummer Saku Moilanen talked about ‘Journey’ during a recent interview.

“‘Journey’ is one of my all time favourites that has only been played live for a few times. We’re happy to share this clip from our special stream gig and hope we can play this live for you all soon!”

More information on Red Moon Architect’s new single and video is available along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

Website: https://redmoonarchitect.bandcamp.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rmametal

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.

Ludovico Technique Debuts New Single; New Video, Album Coming

Courtesy: TAG Publicity

Goth rock band Ludovico Technique is taking on a familiar topic in its latest single.

The band debuted its latest single ‘Live as Myself‘ early this month. The song’s lyrical theme addresses the familiar topic of individuality, according to information provided about the song. According to the noted information, the composition, “is about expressing who you are inside, regardless of how society views you or tries to tell you how you should be.”

The musical arrangement that is featured in the new single is a heavy composition that takes influence from the likes of Marilyn Manson, Porn, and Skinny Puppy.

Ludovico Technique is scheduled to release its latest album, Haunted People in 2021. It is not known if the album will feature the band’s new single, which was mastered by Grammy nominee Stuart Hawkes (Lorde, Amy Winehouse, Ed Sheeran).

An official video for Ludovico Technique’s new single is expected to debut in early 2021.

More information on Ludovico Technique’s new single and album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: http://www.ludotechnique.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LudoTechnique

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.

Ashley Worhol Takes On Mental Health Issue In New Single, Video

Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group

Independent singer-songwriter Ashley Worhol debuted the video for her new single this week.

Worhol debuted the video for her single ‘Listen to the Wind‘ Thursday. The video places Worhol in a deeply forested area in a flowing gown as the song plays over the video.

At one point, the video portrays Worhol as battling what are supposed to be dark hands that tug at her from every angle. The hands are meant to represent her own inner demons.

The song’s very subtle, piano-driven arrangement is a work that will appeal to fans of Amy lee, Type O Negative and Nine Inch Nails. Its lyrical content comes from a personal place, according to Worhol.

Worhol discussed the song’s lyrical content in a recent interview.

‘Listen to the Wind’ is extremely personal to me because I wrote this song using myself as an experiment,” she said. “I struggle with anxiety almost on a daily basis and wanted to compose something that would physically make me feel relief. Anytime I would start to have an attack, I would go to the piano and play different chords and melodies to see if any of them physically made me feel better. Which, I found some that did. Once I realized what helped calm my emotions, I knew I wanted to write this song in hopes it might also help heal others who struggle with anxiety as well.”

‘Listen to the Wind’ is my escape,” she added. “Nature is my escape and it is a constant reminder to cherish the small details, watch animals and bugs roam freely, smell the flowers as they move in the breeze and most importantly, listen to the wind and feel the warmth of the sun beaming down on your face.  For anyone out there who struggles with anxiety, you are not alone. You will never be alone. You are in my thoughts and prayers and I am right there with you.”

Along with discussing the song’s lyrics, Worhol also noted how the lyrics and music tied into the song’s video treatment.

“Not only did I want to compose a song but I also wanted to show in art form what my anxiety feels like visually,” she said. “This is what led to the filming of the music video for this emotional track. I took this time to be vulnerable and truly showed what heals me, which is nature, and what I feel physically when these attacks occur…On set while filming, I allowed myself to have an attack. There was a take we were shooting where I was supposed to sing along with the track and the moment the song turned on, I couldn’t sing. At that moment I knew this was the time to truly capture in the raw what happens to me during an attack and I let the camera capture every second.

Porn Announces Release Date For New LP, ‘No Monsters In God’s Eyes — Act III’

Courtesy: FM Music Management

Goth-rock band Porn will release its new album next year.

The is scheduled to release its new album No Monsters In god’s Eyes — Act III March 27, 2020.  The album is the third in a trilogy, which started with The Ogre Inside — Act I in 2017.

A trailer for No Monster’s In God’s Eyes — Act III is streaming online now here. The album’s track listing is noted below.

 

20 – Dead in every eyes
21 – High summer sun – Part 1
22 – A lovely day
23 – Low winter hope – Part 1
24 – In an endless dream
25 – Low winter hope – Part 2
26 – Sky outside
27 – High summer sun – Part 2
28 – Some happy moments
29 – God’s creatures
30 – Low winter hope – Part 3
31 – Among dark red roses
32 – Mr Strangler’s last words
Digipack – 13 tracks – 59 minutes

Porn, which has shared the stage with acts, such as Murderdolls, Front Line Assembly and Hanoi Rocks, got its name from The Cure’s 1982 album Pornography.  The band claims as influences, bands, such as Type O Negative, Nine Inch Nails and Tool.

More information on Porn’s new album is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

 

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PORNtheband

 

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

Modern Mimes Debuts ‘Mind Lies’ Video; Announces New Live Dates

Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group

Modern Mimes debuted the video for its latest single this week.

The band debuted the video for its new song ‘Mind Lies‘ Wednesday.  The neo-goth act’s video presents its members — Adi Elcida Hernandez and Ernesto Paez — performing their single in a dimly lit backdrop.  Hernandez is, for some reason, eventually covered in a variety of paint as the song and video  near their finale.

The debut of ‘Mind Lies’ comes more than six months after the band debuted the video for its cover of Type O Negative’s hit song ‘I Don’t Wanna Be Me‘ and approximately nine months after the band debuted its lead single ‘Stare.’ ‘I Don’t Wanna  Be Me’ was even fully endorsed by the surviving members of the band and has received almost 28,000 views since its debut Nov. 10.

‘Mind Lies’ and ‘Stare’ are both taken from Modern Mimes’ album The Gray.  The album is available now.

Modern Mimes is scheduled to tour in support of The Gray this spring alongside Wayland and Eve To Adam starting May 22.  The bands’ tour is scheduled to run through June 1 and feature performances in cities, such as Madison, WI; Merriam, KS and Boyd, WI.

The full track listing for The Gray is noted below.

The Gray Album:

1.	Stunt Double

2.

The Gray

3.	Black Swan

4.

Stare *

5.	My Own Summer (Shove It)

6.

Mind Lies

7.	Final Days

8.

Crosses

9.	Goodbye Hello

More information on The Gray is available online now along with all of Modern Mimes’ latest news and more at:

 

Website: http://www.modernmimes.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ModernMimes

 

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

Corroded Will Leave Listeners Feeling Anything But Bitter On Its Latest LP

Courtesy: Despotz Records

Hard rock outfit Corroded released its latest full-length studio recording this week, and the album, Bitter, is another strong new offering from the veteran Swedish band.  Front man Jens Westlin explained the album’s title “comes from observing how the social climate is around the world right now…Everyone’s so dissatisfied and thinks that everyone else’s life is so much better than theirs, and if something goes wrong, it’s always someone else’s fault.  As a result of this, all power hungry leaders in this world thrive on the dissatisfaction of the people and gain power that way.”  He added that these views are what inspired the band’s new album both musically, and lyrically.  The band’s reaction to that situation is on full display early on in the form of the song ‘Cross,’ which will be discussed shortly.  ‘Scream,’ which comes later in the album’s run is another standout addition to Bitter, that shows quite well, the band’s response to everything going on.  It will be discussed a little later.  ‘Drown,’ which comes even later in the album’s run is another notable addition to the album’s overall statement about the world’s current social and political climate.  It will also be discussed later.  Each of the three songs noted here are key in their own way to the whole of Bitter.  When considered along with the other nine songs featured in the album not directly noted here, the end result is a powerful new offering from Corroded that will light a new fire within listeners and leave them feeling anything but bitter.

Corroded’s fifth full-length studio recording Bitter is another strong new offering from the Swedish hard rock outfit.  The new, 12-song record, which is the band’s second for Sweden-based Despotz Records, shows from start to finish, that the quartet can easily hold its own against its more well-known hard rock and metal counterparts.  This is proven early on in the form of ‘Cross.’  The song’s up-tempo, guitar-driven musical arrangement helps to support that statement.  The arrangement conjures thoughts of Five Finger Death Punch, Soil, Dry Kill Logic and other similar acts.  The fiery energy exuded through the arrangement, coupled with Westlin’s growling vocals does a commendable job of illustrating the anger and frustration that Westlin attempts to present in the song’s lyrical content.

That seeming mix of strong emotions is inferred as he sings, “Our mistakes…they have never ever been this clear/All the pain/And the misery/Every word that was said out of fear/Every thorn/In the side/The suffering we had to endure/We never stopped/It isn’t easy/There will never ever be a cure/Every breath that we take/Is a waste of the air we possess/All the s*** that we give….I won’t be nailed upon your cross/I will not take the pain for you/It’s time to own your mistakes/It’s time for you to fall.”  Westlin’s fire hardly dies in the song’s second verse as he sings of having to carry someone else’s agony and misery, and refusing to do so any longer before returning to the chorus’ powerful message pointing the finger back at the proverbial stone casters and finger pointers.  Guitarist Thomas Andersson, bassist Bjarne Elvsgard and drummer Per Solang are to be commended in their own right for their work throughout the song, and especially in its bridge as they work together to help illustrate that feeling of emotional strain that one goes through when one is blamed for something that happened to someone else.  Instead of being the fiery work that is exhibited through the rest of the song, it presents a certain vibe of someone trying to get over those feelings of self-guilt and realizing people cause their own problems in many cases.  It is a brief moment in the bigger picture of the song, but powerful in its own right.  When it considered along with Westlin’s unapologetic lyrical content and the rest of the song’s unflinching arrangement, the whole proves to be an unquestionably forceful response to that bitterness of which Westlin spoke, which led to much of the album’s creation.  It is just one of the album’s most standout entries.  ‘Scream,’ which comes later in the album’s run, is another notable addition to the album.

In regards to its musical arrangement, ‘Scream’ is a work that is certain to appeal to thrash metal purists out there.  Again, the similarities to Dry Kill Logic are front and center here.  At the same time, one can also argue influences from the likes of Overkill, Exodus, Anthrax and other similar acts, thanks again to the collective work of Andersson, Elvsgard and Solang.

The energy exuded through this thrash-style work does its own commendable job of illustrating the urgency in the song’s lyrics; an urgency that seems to center on the issue of self-determination and not letting the currently bitter state of the world bring one down.  This is inferred as Westlin sings with his band mates in the song’s chorus, “Scream/Until your lungs give out/Don’t roll over and die/Shout/Until everything is said/Don’t give up…”  This positive message is coupled with an equally positive vibe in the song’s verses.  Westlin sings in the song’s lead verse, “Inhale/Let everything around go down/Find a moment of peace/React/The perfect storm is here right now/You are the center of its eye.”  Westlin’s message is relatively clear in this verse, especially considering the song’s chorus.  He is saying that we create the storm that surrounds us, and the way to survive that storm is to find our inner peace, to jet let everything out, not hold it in.  he even comes right out in the song’s second verse and states, “Exhale/Let matters fall right into place/Find a calm inside yourself.”  He goes on to say, “you are the center of the mass.”  Yet again, here we have a relatively clear statement of how we are the source and solution to all of our problems.  This is a positive message, from which plenty of listeners can and hopefully will take some enlightenment.  When it is coupled with that previously discussed musical arrangement, the whole is a song that is therapeutic in the best way possible, and yet another wonderful response to the negativity that is polluting the world right now.  It is far from the last example of the album’s clear ability to respond to the world’s current climate.  ‘Drown’ is yet another example of how well the band has responded to everything going on around the globe.

‘Drown’ is the penultimate addition to Bitter.  Musically, this song is another interesting composition.  The verses are once again up-tempo, guitar-drive, adrenaline-fueled sections.  The choruses however, are far more melodic.  What is interesting is that the song does not lose any of its energy in the choruses.  It just changes style, in turn, keeping the work moving forward.  The song’s bridge hints at some 80s influences through Andersson’s guitar work, which is not an entirely bad thing.  Of course, the song’s musical arrangement is just one part of what makes it stand out.  Its lyrical content leads it to stand out just as much as its musical content.

Westlin sings in the song’s lead verse, “Wish I could break the spell that binds us here/You know to each his own…Just go and do/As you please…It must be done my way/It must be done your way.  Some of his wording is difficult to decipher without a lyrics sheet to reference, but the seeming message becomes partially clear.  Later in the song’s nearly five-minute song, he goes on to sing, of looking back on a chain that has been broken and will not leave any marks.  This is just this critic’s own take, but it would seem that Westlin is speaking metaphorically here to address social control, with the chain being that control, broken.  That would explain Westlin’s earlier statement of “It must be done my way/It must be done your way.”  There is that problem of everyone wanting things in life their way, but we as a people do not have to let it be one person’s way or another, but rather our own way, regardless of what everyone else says.  We can respect others’ ways, but we do not have to live by those ways.  That goes back to the initial statement of “Wish I could break that spell that binds us here/You know to each his own.” It all seems to come together in a statement of not giving in to what everyone says one should do and be.  Again, this should not be taken as the only interpretation, but merely that of this critic.  Hopefully this critic is at least somewhere in the ballpark with that interpretation, as it would seem to be another response to the world’s negativity, as addressed by Westlin about the album’s overall theme.  When it is considered along with the seeming messages presented in ‘Scream,’ Cross’ and the rest of the album’s offerings, the whole of Bitter becomes a work in whole that will leave listeners anything but bitter.

Corroded’s latest full-length studio recording Bitter is a record that is certain to leave listeners feeling anything but bitter about the world after they listen from start to finish, to the 12-song record.  That is because of the messages presented in the songs, which come across as various responses to the world’s bitterness – responses that are in fact not overly bitter themselves.  That is evidenced early on in ‘Cross,’ which points the finger back at the finger pointers, and again later in the album’s run in ‘Scream,’ which seems to encourage people to get their negativity out (of course in a positive way), and even later seems to encourage people to embrace their personal identity, rather than give in to social control in ‘Drown.’  These are just some of the songs featured in this record that clearly address everything going on in the world.  The Type O Negative-esque ‘Black’ seems to address’ people’s self-imposed misery while the In Flames-styled ‘Breathing’ comes across as sending a message of not giving up even in the most dire situations.  The old-school metal style work that is ‘Testament’ is a defiant anthem that comes across as encouraging people to stand up for themselves against all odds.  Again, this is all this critic’s own interpretation.  Hopefully it is somewhere in the ballpark in each case, including that of the songs more directly discussed.  If indeed this critic’s interpretations are right, then again, this record proves that much more to be quite the successful offering from Corroded, and easily one of the year’s first great hard rock/metal records.  It is available now.  More information on Bitter is available online now along with all of Corroded’s latest news and more at:

 

 

 

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