I came across with Balance and Composure recently I must say. And I guess that the reason is their low profile. Consisting of five members the band delivers a strong punk/indie rock sound, which I happily listen to, since it suits every occation.
They've collaborated with the pop/hardcore Title Fight, releasing a split. By the time though the band was called The Erection Kids. Their second collaboration was with Tigers Jaw, on Run for Covers Records.
They are now on their summer tour, heading of to Australia and around the US, with several bands. We will expect their upcoming album, "Separation" on No sleep Records.
I now give you a small taste, from their new song Quake.
What do the bands Million Dead and swedish Refused have in common? Well except from the genre or the hardcore punk, the name million dead, is a lyric from Refused's song The Apollo Programme was a Hoax. The band was formed in 2000 but after five years they led it to an end. The vocallist Frank Turner launched his solo career after the split. (collaborating and touring with artists such as Chuck Ragan, Brian allon, Matt Skiba a.s.o)
They released their first album Smiling at Strangers on Trains in 2002 after being signed to Integrity Records. They videoclip below created a greater dispute (watching it you might understand).
Their album Harmony No Harmony was recorded after Cameron Dean's checkout (he got married) in only 8 weeks, featuring their new guitarist Tom Fowler. On September 2005 they announced though their career's withdrawal.
“irreconcilable differences within the band mean that it would be impossible to continue”
I must admit that since we begun the broadcasting on www.indiegroundradio.com I've been listening to alot of music....alot...different bands, genres what so ever.One of the surpsises though was the duo Idiot Pilot.
With a very different sound, using electronic influences, they manage to give a powerful, majestic meaning in their songs, supported by Michael Harris amazing vocals. It is also worth mentioning that Idiot Pilot has collaboarated with Deftones, and the guitarist and other half Daniel Anderson, featured on guitar on the album B-sides & rarities, at the song Teenager(Idiot Version.)
The band was formed 2003, and released their first selfproduced album Strange we Should meet Here the same year. After that they got signed to Frank Sinatras' label Reprise Records (which is now run by Warner Bros). Two years after they released their second album Wolves, on which Travis Baker from Blink-182 and Chris Pennie from Coheed and Cambria (even played in Dillinger Escape Plan) guested on the drums.
Sadly the band announced their "break up" in January this year. But at least we will expect a compilation of unreleased material till the end of the year.
Owing to yesterday's live I just had to make a post about the Canadian hardcore/ punk band Comeback Kid. Despite the fact that I only saw 3 songs, the live was really strong. The crowd was amazing, the air filled with electricity (eventhough the heat was at the highest levels) and Comeback Kid increased the pressure. Closing with Wake the Dead, I think that everything came to a point where nothing could go wrong. There just ain't no words.....
One thing though was that the song- lineup was exactly the same as 3 years ago when I first saw them on West Coast Riot in Goteborg in Sweden. I guess we will experience "Symptoms & Cures" (released 2010) on the next live!
Reading about the band I was pleasently surprised to know that CBK was initialy ment to be a side project, since the formers Adrew Neufeld (vocals) and guitarist Jeremy Hiebert were also playing in the band Figure Four (which is now on a time- out). Since 2002 the band's popularity has been growing, mostly word of mouth, since the scene is rather social, we might say....
Starting off with Facedown Records they released their first album in 2003, Turn it Around. Their most recent release Symptoms & Cures was with Victory Records, as their previous ones like Broadcasting and Wake the Dead.
For more info you might check out their myspace, and even Victory Records.
Since I've now reached to a point where I can't really decide if Im a punkrocker, a rocker or what so ever, I came to conclude that it doesnt matter. I just love music. And I will always be open to new suggestions and bands.
Today's dedication goes to a band which has followed me and been around for many many years. I'm talking about Queens of the Stone Age. With their latest album Era Vulgaris (a title refearing to an ordinary Era/ Epoc) I just have to admit that they won't refine or "re- tune" their sound.
Formed in 1997, in a place called Palm Desert, it's needles to say why they tend to play what is called stoner rock. Well I don't know if they're stoned while compossing and writing the music (everything from mushrooms to coca cola) but I surely Like it! With the ginger Josh Homme in the lead (after leaving Kyuss) who is also cooporating in side projects such as Desert Sessions, Eagles of Death Metal, Them Crooked Vultures, Troy in the guitar ( former of Perfect Circle), Joey Castillo (who started of his drum-career in Wasted Youth and has also played in Danzig), handsome Dean Fertita (keyboards) and last but not least Michael Shurman playing the bass in the band since 2007.
Funny thing is that when Josh Homme was asked, why they didn't name the band "Kings of the Stone Age", he just answered that it would be too macho.
They've released 5 albums so far with Era Vulgaris (2008) being their latest one. My favourite is the album Songs for the Deaf released 2001 and might be their most commercial release. Of course it's hard to compare but I must admit that Songs for the Deaf stands out.
Albums
- Rated R (1999)
- Songs for the Deaf (2001)
- Lullabies to Paralyze (2004)
- Era Vulgaris I (2006)
- Era Vulgaris II (2008)
And of course expecting their new album which's recordning started off this Januari. I hope it will be out by the end of 2011.
I now give you my very own top 5 in a random range
Mosquito Song (Songs for the Deaf)
Make it Wit Chu (Era vulgaris)
Song for the Dead (Songs for the Deaf)
Burn the Witch (Lullabies to Paralyze)
Millionaire (Songs for the Deaf)
" This record was supposed to sound bizarre—like lightning in a bottle. We also were extremely fucked up. It even sounds that way to me, like a crazy person. The radio interludes are supposed to be like the drive from L.A. to Joshua Tree, a drive that makes you feel like you’re letting go—more David Lynch with every mile."
