Skindred - Volume

Now regular readers will know that nu metal stalwarts Skindred are somewhat out of my wheelhouse - but I've decided to cover them regardless simply because I'm kind of curious. As I dug into their new record Volume I was charmed by how weird these guys can get whilst sticking pretty strictly to a nu metal sound. There is a rather distinct artistry to what Skindred are doing here, and while yeah it's not for me, and yeah it sounds exactly how you'd expect a band formed in 1998 to sound at this point in their career there is something strangely endearing about this record.

The songwriting overall is very tight and allows for some exciting diverse moments. It's nicely distributed so as to never come on too strong but rather lightly dazzle you with moments of almost Faith No More like madness. The vocal lines are surprisingly powerful, giving an anthemic power to songs like No Justice. You can tell that Skindred are trying to write songs that will resonate with the masses and maybe even score that radio hit. That being said - they do it well, and the poppy hooks nicely contrast the general sense of youthful rebellion communicated by the record. What I'm trying to say is that Skindred continue to build on their legend and it makes for a very good time.

What more can I say? Nu Metal is back in full force and in some ways you have to admire it. This bastard son that no one wants to accept is strangely potent, even in 2015. With Rage Against The Machine riffs balancing against My Chemical Romance choruses Skindred have been able to create a tasteful balance that rarely flies too far off the rails. Momentarily weird and overall a good time, one would be hard pressed to find real complaints about this record - and maybe, just maybe, Skindred are up for a new life.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/skindredofficial

Dir en Grey w/Dagoba in Paris (@Le Bataclan, 26/05/2015)

As some of you might remember reading in my review for the bands' latest record, Dir en Grey is a band that holds a very special place in my heart, considering that they were the very first band I had seen live back in 2007. Nevertheless, far from ever reaching any level of exacerbated fanboyism, I have always kept a critical eye on the Dir en Grey studio and live efforts.  With that being said, last weeks' show at Le Bataclan was one I had been very excited and curious to see. It had been nearly 8 years since my very first live show with Dir en Grey, 8 eventful years during which the band have taken yet another unexpected turn towards a more ambitious, richer sound. As I showed up nearly 2 hours prior to the scheduled opening of the doors, I found myself absolutely floored as I approached the venue to find hordes of fans, forming what seem be a 200 meter long waiting line.

Scheduled exclusively and especially for this Parisian date, Dir en Grey had the luxury of being able to invite none other than one of France's biggest metal acts' to open up the show: Dagoba. Decorating the stage were banners and flags displaying the art for the bands' latest album to date, titled "Post Mortem Nihil Est". As with any show opening up with a leading act from the French metal scene, tonight’s' festivities could not have started off any less enthusiastically. With a packed venue waiting for them as they took to the stage, the band was greeted by a roaring audience cheering as loud as one would for a headlining act. Now I'm going to give it to you guys straight: I've never been a fan of Dagoba. I've tried, but they're just not my thing. When I heard that Dagoba were going to be opening for the show, I frankly could not have cared any less. With that being said, the band absolutely killed it tonight. With a tremendous amount of energetic stage presence and a tight, well locked-in performance supported by a freaking massive sound, the band put up an outstanding opening show, setting the crowd ablaze from the very start of the show. The groove metal act even managed to open up an impressive moshpit as well as two walls of  death during the course of their set. Vocalist and bodybuilding enthusiast Shawter got the blood pumping in the crowd with his impressive screamed vocals and his occasional post-grunge inspired vocals which I've never been a fan of (though his delivery was top notch). The guitars did lack a quite a bit of detail, with the middle and high end of the guitar being barely audible, though thankfully this didn't come in the way of the bands' trademark headbang-enforcing grooves. While I may not be a big fan of their music, this was a class-A performance worthy of the bands' reputation. Well played, guys.

Left with a heavy opening set to keep up with, I will admit that I had my doubts as to how well Dir en Grey was going to measure up to Dagoba's. Fortunately, Dagoba's set wasn't the only pleasant surprise waiting for me that night. The band stepped to the stage, dressed all in black, to the deafening cheers of an ecstatic audience. Vocalist Kyo's makeup had visibly made its comeback, albeit in a less extravagant fashion. Sporting a blonde pompadour haircut and a face blackened by eyeshadow, Kyo came off as a character from a Shinya Tsukamoto movie, which can only pass off as a good thing by my book, despite my reserves regarding some of the bands' more "image-conscious" phases. Interestingly enough, the setlist for this tour was entirely dedicated to the bands' latest album with the exception of the 3 encores, with 14 of the albums 16 tracks being played. Whereas one may regret not hearing some of the bands' previous material, seeing the album being played practically in its entirety allowed fans to further appreciate the bands' most recent material in a more wholesome, immersive context. The band kicked things off with "Soshaku", the 2nd track off of their latest album, an interesting yet smart choice for an opener. The instrumental buildup of the song got the crowd growing wild with impatience.

It was as soon as Kyo nailed that first high note leading to the explosive chorus that all of my doubts regarding his vocal performance vanished into oblivion. An unexptected cold shiver ran through my entire body, from my head down my spine and gave me instant goosebumps, as though I had been struck by lightning. Vocalist and lyricist Kyo was absolutely mesmerizing from start to finish, from his stage act to his incredible vocal performance. Whereas I've always steered clear of the  fanboy/girl obsession surrounding the vocaist you can't help but be blown away by the sheer amount of charisma displayed by the frontman, from his hypnotic dance moves and gestures to his violent headbanging. As to the vocalists' reputable vocal skills, I was very, very impressed to see how much Kyo's vocal performance had progressed. His vocal performance seems considerably more focused and controlled. While not always pitch-perfect, Kyo's vocals never fail to capture our utmost attention and shake us to our core as he sheds out every bit of energy and emotion into his performance. Furthermore, I was absolutely floored to hear how fast he manages to switch between so many vocal styles and technique, particularly on "Uroko", one of the most impressive songs of the evening performance-wise. Steering away from mere showmanship, one can only admire the bands' focus on building an atmosphere and conveying an emotionally powerful set. Overall, this was a performance one can only expect from such a band with such a consistent lineup.

 

I had made my way to the Bataclan on that sunny afternoon expecting a mere nostalgic trip down memory lane, but what I ended up getting exceeded far beyond my expectations. After a soon-to-be 2 decade long history, Dir en Grey shows an impressive tendency to breathe new life into their career and have truly lived up to their tour name by proving themselves as an unstoppable force in the metal and rock scene.

Robin

Thank you to Peter and Pirate Smiel GbR everyone who made both this amazing show and this live report possible!

Dagoba Setlist

Setlist (Official, from Light Engineer)
1. Soshaku 咀嚼
2. Chain Repulsion
3. Sustain the Untruth
4. Un Deux
5. Uroko 鱗
6. Tōsei 濤声
7. Rinkaku 輪郭
8. Kūkoku no Kyōon 空谷の跫音
9. Magayasō 禍夜想
10. Phenomenon
11. Behind a Vacant Image
12. Cause of Fickleness
13. The Inferno
14. Revelation of Mankind

Encore
15. The Final
16. Saku 朔
17. Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami 激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇

Coal Chamber - Rivals

I'm a bit too young to have been into nu-metal the first time around, so I'll be honest, this is the first time I've ever really listened to Coal Chamber. I'm realizing that, while it's not totally my cup of tea I see how it informs a lot of modern metal and their new record Rivals is a surprisingly fun, bouncy and oftentimes punishing release that shows me the power that this kind of music can have. From the chaotic noises of I.O.U. Nothing it becomes immediately clear that Coal Chamber want your head and are back to find blood.

The fact of the matter is that Rivals while not especially challenging is a joy to listen too. It's easy to get into these infectious grooves, at times I might even go so far as to compare the tracks off Rivals to some of the more chipper Lamb of God stuff. Every song is expertly composed and there is a vibrant sense of professionalism to the sonic assault on Rivals. One of my favorite aspects of the record, forgive my geekiness, is the drum sound, it really drives the album home and adds a lot of flavor to the music. Precise and oh-so-tasty Coal Chamber manifest their rhythmic assault to beat you in the gut with every crunching chord.

This is an easy record to get in to, and I could definitely see myself jamming it a lot in the future. In a world where so much is bleak and filled with torment Rivals speaks to balancing the two. While the lyrical content tends to be pretty dark, there is a sense of fun in the bands music, it gives you a chance to look beyond the general shittiness of modern life and guides you towards a sublime sense of peace. Maybe I'm over-romanticizing what is essentially a nu metal comeback record, but I feel that there is a sense of hope guiding this band over the top.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/coalchamberofficial?fref=ts

Upcoming show: Dir en Grey - "The Unstoppable Life" tour 2015 - May 26th in Paris

On tour promoting their latest effort ARCHE released back in december, Dir en Grey will be making a stop at Le Bataclan in Paris on May 26th.
Throughout the course of their career spanning over nearly 2 decades, the band has become known for their highly unorthodox and unique brand of metal music, constantly breathing new life into their formula by pushing their sound forwards into unknown territory with every single full-length release (thanks to an ever expanding range of influences ranging from Nu-metal, Metalcore, Progressive Metal and Post-metal amongst others).
Thanks to the bands' leanings towards constant experimentation and innovation, Dir en Grey have not only earned their place as one of Japans' biggest names in rock and modern metal with consistently sold-out tours and hundreds of thousands of records sold, but they have also been getting high praise from metal fans and critics worldwide.
Having shared the stage with bands such Deftones, Korn, Killswitch Engage, Dagoba and Linkin Park amongst others, Dir en Grey have taken the rock and metal world by storm with their relentlessly heavy and chaotic riffs and bittersweet melodies led by charismatic frontman Kyo's extremely ecclectic and unique vocal performances.
With their ninth and latest full-length release ARCHE, the 5-piece from Osaka have yet again reinstated their singularity in todays' metal scene with an album combining elements from both their older and newer material without ever breaking the band's sense of progression.
Armed with a stellar repertoire and a reputation for ferocious live performances, Dir en Grey are sure to put up a show you're not going to want to miss out on!

Robin

Further infos at:

http://direngrey.co.jp

https://www.facebook.com/direngreyofficial

https://twitter.com/direngrey_jp

You can get your tickets through these links

Fnac : http://bit.ly/1yKKdmJ
Digitick : http://bit.ly/1FhgDxc
Ticketmaster : http://bit.ly/1v4eb9U

VIP Pass + Tickets : http://direngrey.seetickets.com/
Ticketless VIP Pass  : http://bit.ly/1MEZa3X

"The Unstoppable Life" tour dates:
17.05.15 - (BLR) Minsk - Re-Pubilc
18.05.15 - (PL) Warsaw - Pogresja
20.05.15 - (DE) Berlin - Astra
21.05.15 - (DE) Dortmund - FZW
23.05.15 - (UK) London - O2 Academy Islington
24.05.15 - (UK) London - O2 Academy Islington
26.05.15 - (FR) Paris - Le Bataclan
27.05.15 - (NL) Eindhoven - De Effenaar
29.05.15 – (DE) Nürburg - Grüne Hölle Festival
31.05.15 – (DE) Munich - Rockavaria Festival

Dir en Grey - Arche

Despite my love-hate relationship for the band, Dir en Grey are a band whose work I've always paid close attention to. Over the years, the band has come to personify every aspect of what I love about Japans' approach to western music. During the course of their 17 year career, this 5-piece's musical output has been ever changing. Starting out as an experimental visual kei outfit, the bands' sound has gone through an incredible amount of changes over the years. Whether it be with Nu-metal, Metalcore or Progressive rock, the band has drawn influences from whatever style of music is making waves in the rock and metal world at the time, offering a unique take on the genre with every new release. Recently however, Dir en Grey has seemingly taken a decision to step back and focus on creating music that they can claim as their own.
Now, after the ambitious and ferocious album that was Dum Spiro Spero in 2011, the unclassifiable metal outfit returns with a new full-length effort titled Arche.

As the album title suggests, Dir en Grey re-explores the sounds of their early career with a fresh new perspective with this latest release (Arche meaning "Origin" in Greek). Considering that Arche draws influences from most of the bands' musical "phases", it would not be far off to call this a retrospective album. What this means is that this full-length release marks the return of some of the eerie melodies and lunatic song progressions from bands' J-rock and Nu-metal phases. Some of the songs on here such as "Chain Repulsion" or "Cause for Fickleness" could even fit on an album such as 2005's  Withering to death. One of the strongest elements that gives the album an old-school Dir en Grey feel are the clean vocals that are much more prominent this time around.
Arche however does not turn its back on the bands' more recent efforts by any means, quite on the contrary. The album still stays in the continuation of it's more recent releases, with its linear song structures, dense atmospheres and crushing low end guitars.

It is clear from the mix that Kyo's vocal performance is the centerpiece of the album. The vocalists' amazing vocal range and versatility is yet again on full display on these 16 tracks. Alternating effortlessly between operatic clean vocals, beautiful falsettos and ferocious low growls and screams, it comes to no surprise with such a performance that the vocalist be frequently compared to the likes of Mike Patton.
As for the instrumentation, the songs on the album balance out calm moments featuring beautiful reverberated drums and clean tones with heavier sections featuring fuzzy, muddy distorted guitars. Unfortunately, the clarity of the distorted guitars seem to have been neglected a little in favor of the vocals, making it pretty hard to make out what is being played. As a result, the intrumentation on the album relies a lot more on timbre and dynamics and rather than "riffs". While this may not necessarily be a bad thing, the overall composition of the songs does not make up for the blurry rhythm section. The lack of progression and buildups cause some of the slower songs to linger about and die out without any sense of closure.

As a whole, Arche still remains a relatively well-paced album that manages to string various elements from their past records together into a cohesive whole. Despite a slight lack of progression on a few tracks as well as some mixing issues, this latest album is a nicely paced listening experience that has quite a lot to offer for old and new fans alike. With this 9th installment, Dir en Grey prove how gracefully they have matured as a band by offering a new take on their past efforts.

Robin

Dir en Grey
Arche
Firewall Div.

Official website
http://direngrey.co.jp/
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/direngreyofficial

Icon of Destruction, Sound of Memories, Zero Negatif and Bleed in Paris

It's Saturday night, regular readers know what this means, another show. While the venue was kind of out of the way and frankly subpar, all four bands I saw gave it their all and gave me reason to see them again. These are all groups who have a prominent role on the French metal scene and it was fun to see them all playing together. Now as I sit in my apartment and listen to my dumb neighbors having a loud and obnoxious party, I cast my mind back, to an evening spent with friends and brethren, metal family time that I wouldn't miss for the world.

First up was Icon of Destruction, a memorable symphonic death metal group who I first saw live a little more than six months ago at Openwall Fest. I was immediately struck by how memorable and powerful some of their songs are. On tracks like Under Darkened Skies as soon as the keyboard kicked in I was taken back to when I first heard them play. It speaks to the enduring power of this group and makes me want to see them again, Icon of Destruction know how to play death metal and bring their crazed attack to the audience on the wings of eagles from hell. One of the most promising Parisian bands, let's just hope they can hold on to one guitarist for more than two gigs.

Sound of Memories were up next and they absolutely killed it. I've seen these guys four or five times live now, but this may have been their best performance from a purely musical perspective. Their singer Flo has come to a much better understanding of how to use his voice and bring the attack to the fore. Meanwhile, the band has employed a lower tuning which allows for the bass parts to really shine through and creates a crushing bottom end. Sound of Memories are always an exciting live band, but tonight they shined brighter than ever before, thus really getting at the true magic of the music. This is a group who don't screw around, they deliver tight, powerful sets you won't soon forget.

The penultimate group was Zero Negatif and I must say their unique blend of nu metal and modern hardcore was pretty interesting. These guys have a unique approach and it was cool to dig into their sound. In particular, their bassist is simply insane, choosing to simply jump into the pit after his bass amp blew out. Overall Zero Negatif have some exciting tracks with a punishing groove and wicked beats. Nevertheless, these guys still could develop their sound a bit more to become truly distinct. As is though, this is a very solid local extreme metal band and longhairs from Ile-De-France should definitely check these guys out live if they get a chance.

Bleed were the final group I got to see and they were even better then when I last saw them in February. A few things struck me here that I didn't even register last time. First off, they have a new bassist, which allowed their singer (Who was having what seems to be his last gig with the band) to be a lot more flexible. The guitar solos are truly impressive, blistering and vicious, filled with all sorts of juicy ideas that will grab your ears. This is a band you need to see live, even if their modern metal looks might suggest the contrary, these guys know how to bring the heavy stuff. Thrash metal to tear your ears out, this group has big things in store for them.

In closing, tonight was one of those shows that just gets at the spirit of the underground. It's not often that you find four bands this good on a bill and it speaks to the talent of Thanatos Productions. Icon of Destruction are simply one of the most memorable groups in the scene right now. Sound of Memories meanwhile have an approach that few bands can mimic, putting them at the top of the local melodic death metal scene. Zero Negatif are interesting to say the least and with some evolution will get at something greater. Lastly, Bleed understand the enduring power of their music and will thrash until death. So we join arms, hair beating violently, a legion of brothers and sisters, all in thrall to the eternal magic of metal.

Find the bands on Facebook!

Icon of Destruction: https://www.facebook.com/IconOfDestruction

Sound of Memories: https://www.facebook.com/soundofmemoriesofficiel

Zero Negatif: https://www.facebook.com/groupezeronegatif

Bleed: https://www.facebook.com/bleedparis

Prong-Ruining Lives

Prong is one of those bands that I've heard about for a long time, yet never really dug into. Then I got their new record Ruining Lives to review and I figured I would check it. Let's just say, I now regret years of ignorance, this is a band who craft unique and powerful metal songs made from a mix of styles. The way that they get at their unique brand of heavy metal is interesting to say the least and showcases the eternal might of this group of musicians. Capable of touching the heart and then beating the listener into a pulp, this is what heavy metal should sound like.

One of the first things that struck me about this record is the power of the vocals and the way that they nicely slot over breakneck rhythms. The singing is melodic, but has an incredible energy behind, giving an almost punk feel to some of the tracks. Meanwhile, the blaring attack of Tony Campos on bass is impressive, as always. One of the most talented bassists in metal, it is always a pleasure to hear him rip open the speakers as he does on Ruining Lives. The diversity of the songwriting is another element that really brings me into the music. Prong have an incredible ability to merge styles in such a way that they can dance between genres and yet leave the listener with a sense of completeness.

In closing, Ruining Lives may well have just ruined mine. I am now addicted to Prong's catchy choruses, pulsing rhythms and dedication to headbanging madness. These songs are worth many a spin and will force your body into a sort of unholy motion, a dance of the dead as you worship the eternal and primal might of Prong. Prepare yourselves ladies and gentlemen (Well lets face it, mostly gentlemen), this may be one of the best metal records of 2014. Addictive and fun, this album proves the enduring and mystical might of one of metals most fascinating bands.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/prongmusic

Soulfly at La Maroquinerie

So tonight, or rather, late this afternoon, I headed out to see Soulfly. I got to the venue pretty early on and had the joy of bumping into Tony Campos, and got to wish him a happy birthday. After getting into La Maroquinerie I was taken backstage to interview Max Cavalera for Hellfest, which was obviously an honor, later I met Gloria Cavalera who I must say is basically the coolest manager in the metal world. Afterwards I eventually made my way into the concert hall to prepare for the show. Let me just say, La Maroquinerie is a wonderful place to see a show and definitely one of my favorite mid sized Paris venues with great sound and an intimate vibe.

The thing is, Soulfly were the only band to play tonight (Asides from a brief and frankly dull DJ set) so there hour and a half long set was especially powerful. While the crowd may not have been warmed up at first Max Cavalera is one of those guys who can get a mosh pit going within seconds of just walking on stage. This man is a heavy metal legend and he knows how to use his status to give people a good time. As Soulfly blasted onto the stage I knew I was in for a good time, Max has an impressive roar and the band know how to really play. I especially dug Zyon Cavalera's (Max's son) playing, his raging beats kept the show going fast and furious.

As Max called for yet another circle pit I realized something magical about Soulfly. This is a band who have managed to unite a legacy that last almost thirty years and compact it into an hour and a half block. This is not the kind of band who can be taken lightly, Soulfly know how to put together a killer setlist. Going into this show I wasn't a huge Soulfly fan, but now I feel like I'm going to have to check out all of their albums, their was a lot of exciting stuff going down and the powerful sing a long choruses fit in nicely with ferocious thrash metal verses. Much more live violent than the albums would suggest, Soulfly get the pit going and keep bodies flying for the entire night.

As I made my way home from the gig I started to process what I had just seen. Soulfly had put on a show for the ages, showing that their unique and powerful brand of heavy metal music will never die. Bringing the rage and watching hardcore fans slam onto the stage I realized that Soulfly, and even Sepultura (As their were a LOT of Sepultura covers played tonight) are more than just bands, but indicative of a lifestyle. A band with a dreadlocked heavy master leading the charge, Soulfly are a simply magnificent live act, and this show captured the magic, and enduring glory of Brazilian heavy metal!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/SoulflyOfficial

Sound of Memories, Inner Reflections, Bleed and Dagara at Le Klub

Another night, another show. This time it was back to Le Klub, that legendary metal venue that I love oh so very much. This time in the much darker, dungeonlike lower room, I got to see some good friends and check out four top notch local bands, one, Sound of Memories, who I have covered many times before, another, Bleed, whose singer I am tight with, and two more, groups that full imprressed me with developed and interesting sounds. This was a great evening made special by some fresh top notch talent showing the magic of the underground.

Sound of Memories were the first band to play, fresh out of an interview with the noble Sons of Metal Webzine. This was the first time I got to see them play a full forty five minute long set. They debuted a new song and played a lot of their upcoming material. Let's just say that Sound of Memories have a bright future ahead of them, not only is this a band who grasp the unrelenting magic of melodic death metal, but they can deliver live. So while, sure, they still have a few minor issues they're working out because they are a new band, they are still a blast to see live. This is not a band to be taken lightly, and as they get more live experience in their upcoming French tour I can see them becoming a true metal force.

Inner Reflections were the next band up and their unique brand of modern thrash metal certainly got a mosh pit started. The thing that really appealed to me about this band was the amount of raw energy they brought to the stage. More than that, they are extremely tight live, the riffs executes with sniper like precision. Furthermore, the chainsaw guitars brought down lines torn from the guitar of the late great Hanneman. One thing I really dug with this band was the solos, they were extremely tasty and showed off a wonderful understanding of the magic of metal guitar. All in all, Inner Reflections gave more than just a metal show, they brought forth a full fledged transcendent experience.

Bleed were the penultimate group to play, and while I am familiar with their singers other group, Thanatic Eyes, it was my first time seeing these guys do their thing live. I was pleasantly surprised by the professionalism and tight set that they had. The bass attack is especially tight, giving a strong bottom end with a stunning forward momentum. Their is almost a Slayer like vibes at times giving added might to Bleed's unique brand of Death/Thrash. Though there weren't a lot of people in the room the mosh pit got pretty violent. I'd be excited to see them with a larger and more violent audience so more stage diving madness could occur.

The final band of this fine Thursday night was Dagara, a rather unique group who fuse African elements with a nu metal tinged brand of death metal and use two vocalists. Contrary to what that description might have you think, Dagara is actually really tight live and have a lot of cool ideas. While I would like to see them use the djembe more I liked a lot of their tracks as they were. This is the sort of group who you could go see again and again and still get something new out of their show. It was impressive to see that they had a lot of dedicated fans their too. Dagara are certainly starting to make an impact in the local scene and it would be excited to see them rip up the stage once more.

All in all, this was a great soiree showcasing groups who understand the spirit of the underground. Sound of Memories are rising stars, young men who get the spirit of melodeath in a way that too few modern bands really grasp. Inner Reflections are crafting new and unique sounds in a way that not a lot of their contemporaries really do, I'm excited to have gotten their album to review. Bleed showed me that Unscarred is not the only good Parisian thrash act and left me begging for more, hopefully they'll have a headlining gig soon! Finally, Dagara are unique, powerful, and very interesting, who knows where they'll go next? So dear reader I leave you with this, if the underground is what we live for, then tonight made my life worth living.

Find the bands on Facebook!

Sound of Memories: https://www.facebook.com/soundofmemoriesofficiel?ref=ts&fref=ts

Inner Reflections: https://www.facebook.com/InnerReflectionsOfficial

Bleed: https://www.facebook.com/bleedparis

Dagara: https://www.facebook.com/DagaraOfficial