Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Helloween "Unarmed: Best of 25th Anniversary"

Helloween
Unarmed: Best of 25th Anniversary
Reviewed by Rob Acocella

Helloween did something very cool for their 25th Anniversary album: They put out a best-of compilation that isn't exactly a compilation in the traditional sense. What they did was take all the songs they considered to be the best from the last 2.5 decades and rearranged them with the help of a orchestra, a choir, and various other collaborators. What you have are brand new, more epic versions of all your favorite songs.

In theory, this is absolutely awesome, and when the album started up with "Dr. Stein" I was really into it. A few songs later I was still digging it, and then I hit the medley tune called "The Keeper's Trilogy" which combines "Helloween," "Keeper of the Seven Keys," and "The King For 1,000 Years." By the time this 17-minute monster was done, so was I. I really liked this new approach to their music at first, but after a while it got tired, and I think cramming those tunes into one track is what did me in. Everything after that sounded the same. Perhaps I need to be a more hardcore Helloween fan to really appreciate this kind of thing, but I really did like it at first, I promise you I did.

My guess is that even the long-time die-hard fans are going to either absolutely love this, or absolutely hate this. Let's face it, you either LOVE when your favorite band does something different with their songs, or you HATE when they do something different. I do give them a lot of credit for doing this and I can't say that it's lacking in musicianship, I just think the vision is lost on me. What I do like about it though, is that they didn't do what everyone else does and release the EXACT SAME SONGS you already own, just on one disc. People can make their own mixtapes, we don't need the artists to do that for us, so bravo for doing something out of the norm.

Rating: 2/5

Monday, August 2, 2010

L.A. Guns "Shrinking Violet"

L.A. Guns
Shrinking Violet (Reissue)
Reviewed by Rob Acocella

     L.A. Guns are back and have reissued their classic 1999 album Shrinking Violet. Released on Steve Vai's own Favored Nations the tracks are all here, including some great live cuts. Tracii Guns is still his badass self on guitar and with Jizzy Pearl on vocals what you get is one of the grittiest (re)releases in recent years. If you want to feel as though you are still partying on the strip like it's 1989 then pick up Shrinking Violet and relive your younger years when you had less debt, more nerve, probably more hair, and a lot less to lose. This isn't a release for someone looking to find a more polished, mainstream version of their favorite 80's band. This is just as nasty and dirty as the original, and that's the way Rock should be.

Rating: 4/5

Mutiny Within "Mutiny Within"

Mutiny Within
Mutiny Within
Reviewed by Rob Acocella

The Roadrunner Records self titled debut of central NJ band Mutiny Within has been out since February and these guys have been touring pretty heavily in support of it. This band took what started out as a Children of Bodom tribute band and turned it around into an original-song-writing monster. Mutiny Within showcases the band's ability to take from their influences while maintaining an independent sense of self. Blending both clean and growling vocals into a mixture of Melodic Metal and old-school Thrash this is the breath of fresh air the Metal scene has been waiting for. The music is so strong that vocalist Chris Clancy actually relocated from the UK to the states just to be a part of the band. If that doesn't show self esteem and determination, I don't know what does.

If you are looking for some powerful Thrash with a taste of Progressive Metal, then Mutiny Within is the band for you. Standout tracks include the album opener "Awake" as well as "Images," "Year of Affliction," and "Lethean."

Rating: 4/5

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Plaza of Fear: Fear Factory in NYC



Last weekend (7/25/10) Fear Factory returned to Irving Plaza in New York City for the first time in a while. I was lucky enough to be in the photo pit for this amazing performance. The chemistry between Dino and Burton is undeniable and with the incredible rhythm section of Byron Stroud (bass) and Gene Hoglan (drums) they are a force to be reckoned with.

Opening with the title track from their new album Mechanize, they made it clear to anyone who has not yet heard the new material that they were back to their classic sound with no compromises. The one-two punch of "Shock" and "Edgecrusher" followed.



We were treated to "Smasher/Devourer," "Acres of Skin," and "Linchpin" before launching into another new song called "Powershifter" which was quickly followed by "Fear Campaign." After the 2 new songs Burton and the guys reached way back to Soul of a New Machine and played "Martyr" before switching gears to the more somber "Final Exit."

After a brief break they came back out to perform what would be considered the encore of the night. Burton said a few words regarding BP and oil spill in the Gulf before going into "Demanufacture" which featured the chant "BP Must Pay" through the middle.  The show was closed out with "Self Biased Resistor," "Zero Signal," "Hunter-Killer," and of course, "Replica."



I've seen Fear Factory a few times now and this was easily one of, if not the best show they've ever put on. I followed up the show photos with a phone interview with Burton a few days later which will be a feature at ParagonMag.com in the very near future.  In the meantime you can view the rest of the photos from the show right here.

More soon,
-Rob