Hammers Of Misfortune- "The August Engine"

re-released August 3, 2010 on Metal Blade Records

This is the re-release of the second album by Hammers Of Misfortune, "The August Engine", originally released September 16, 2003. Their overall sound has changed a bit, dropping most of their death metal influences and incorporating slightly more folk elements. "The August Engine, Pt.1" starts off things with a strong hint of thrash, reminiscent mostly of Iron Maiden. It's a rousing start to this album and it shows off the musicianship of the group. "Rainfall" takes a slightly different, folky direction, mixing in gentle harmonies and melodies. "The August Engine, Pt.2" digs deeper into the band's thrash and progressive influences, offering plenty of room to expand. After the first few songs, it may end up tedious to some ears but bear with it. "Insect" breaks up the slumber with a hint of folk at the beginning. At 1:40 in, it morphs into a thrashing beast, shedding off an old skin and taking on a new skin. "Doomed Parade" is another strong track that effectively combines thrash, prog and folk elements and should be the way to close out this album. That isn't the case as "The Trial And The Grave" brings on the doom. It's slow and ominous with lyrics that fit. In fact, the lyrics for most songs are very well-written and much like their debut album, they tell a story to anyone willing to listen. This is yet another excellent album from Hammers Of Misfortune.

FCC: Clean

Try:All, but especially 1,2,5,6

01. The August Engine, Pt.1

02. Rainfall

03. A Room and a Riddle

04. The August Engine, Pt.2

05. Insect

06. Doomed Parade

07. The Trial and the Grave

4.5/5

A refreshing indie experimental noise album. Characterized as “skilled musicians who excel at building intricate compositions that come over as loose and casual” by Pitchfork Media, this album holds true. Full of rhythmic buildups, lingering textures, and a fair amount of feedback, the instrumentals are abstract yet pleasing enough to the ears for repeated listening. Ethereal vocals guide the tracks and bring the structure necessary. Atmosphere: grungy drawnout calming ambiguity, yeah!

Sounds like: a fragmented Sonic Youth

Play: All tracks, 1, 4, 5, 6,

FCC Clean

Headstunts is the anagram entitled 4^th album by New Zealand garage rockers The Datsuns (think Tom Marvolo Riddle aka Lord Voldemort). Energy ridden, muffled punkpop is what comes to mind. Guitar laden, distortion friendly, upbeat music with cheeky britpunk unisex vocals. A few tracks stray from the album’s norm including a psychedelic and/or rockabilly feel. Overall lyrical style: sing a verse and then shout the title of the song as the hook, you know the type. A tad memorable with a pinch of forgettable.

Sounds like: The Von Bondies, a more distorted Hives, less melodic Strokes, eh

Play: 1, 2,3, 6, 8, *12

FCC Clean

Hammers Of Misfortune- "The Bastard"

re-released August 3, 2010 on Metal Blade Records

Metal Blade has re-released all four albums from Hammers Of Misfortune. This is their debut album, originally released in 2001. Their music is described as progressive metal with elements of doom metal and NWOBHYM. In terms of lyrical structure, think of this album as a play in three acts with three central characters (The Bastard/Sapling, The King and The Chaos Dragon). In fact, as you're listening along, read the lyrics. Their overall sound is reminiscent of bands such as Baroness, Mastodon and Pelican. "When The Dragon Is Summoned" starts off Act I with a slow, doomy feeling before picking up in a thrashy manner, maintaining an even pace. Each song builds up and if you're curious, each song is essentially part of the dialogue between each character, with a strong focus on the conflict between The King and The Bastard/Sapling. Each song escalates in pacing up until midway through the first act,"You Should Have Slain Me". The dialogue between father and the (bastard) son comes to a close with a sound that's sad and epic, signifying the end to a tenuous relationship. "An Oath Sworn In Hell" starts off Act II as one of the strongest tracks overall, with an ominous sound that complements the beginning of the end of the conflict between The King and The Bastard/Sapling. The conflict comes to a bloody end on "Tyrant Dies", with the son emerging as the victor. "The Prophesy Has Two Meanings" starts off Act III with a slightly more upbeat feel to it. The music feels formulaic at times but still manages to stick to the theme. "For The Ax" marks the battle between The King and The Chaos Dragon, in which the latter is slain, leading into the "Troll's March". "Sacrifice/The End" marks the end of this this album. In my opinion, this is quite an interesting album with a concept that defies convention (at least in my world).  It's epic and certainly progressive. This album was just the first of several releases, each with their own concept. Fans of progressive metal, NWOBYHM and doom will certainly enjoy this album.

FCC: Clean

Try: 1, 6, 8, 12,14

01. The Dragon Is Summoned

02. The Bastard Son

03. On The Wings Of Vengeance

04. Hunting Tyrant

05. You Should Have Slain Me

06. An Oath Sworn In Hell

07. The Blood Ax Speaks

08. Tyrant Dies

09. The Witch's Dance

10. The Prophecy Has Two Meanings

11. The New King's Lament

12. For The Ax

13. Troll's March

14. Sacrifice/The End

4/5

5th studio from the Afro Roots star who's music radiates good vibes like the sun over Jamaica or a summer day in Ghana, his hometown. This disc packs soulful reggae with hints of world influences, not only from Ghana, but from traveling and/or touring in Israel, Finland, Jamaica, & more.

With melodic acoustic-driven tracks like "Jerusalem"(8), "Take it Slow"(11), and the stand out "Walls Tumbling Down"(4), his lyrics of social & global consciousness are evident but remain vague enough so as not to alienate any listeners. Track 8 also has world influences (obv.) along with afro-beat(ish) "Master Plan"(5) and "African Reggae Fever"(2) which could be herd while your plane flies over the jungle towards Ghana perhaps. Also slow rocking reggae cuts like "Head Up High"(10), head nodding "Freefall"(7), & solid sounds of "Extraordinary Women"(3) make this release well rounded with something for everyone (even whistling on "Walk the Talk"(9) if you fancy). Overall this flows nicely from start to finish with the track selection perfected & reggae-soul goodness delivered.   FCC clean

reggae sounds: 1,*3,*4,7        world/international > reggae: 2,*5,8

* Buy Hymns for the Rebel Soul and a % of the proceeds will go to Africa Live!, "a non-profit organization founded by Dawuni, whose mission is to preserve, restore, & reinvigorate the Ghanaian live music scene."

1. Download the Revolution   (4:41)    6. Road to Destiny    (5:11)

2. African Reggae Fever       (4:30)    7. Freefall                  (4:15)

3. Extraordinary Women       (5:04)     8. Jerusalem              (4:40)

4. Walls Tumbling Down       (4:33)     9. Walk the Talk         (4:54)

5. Master Plan                      (4:45)    10. Head Up High        (3:55)

11. Take it Slow (Love Love Love)  (4:12)

Awesome lo-fi girl band from San Francisco that is the surf static, punky awesomeness you'd expect from that coast these days. Post-punk riffs, tuff drums & bass behind ethereal lady harmonies. Kickass but not pretentious or annoying. Not the Vivian Girls, either. Music sounds like Mika Miko, vox sound like Brilliant Colors. It's like the chicks who smoke in the bathroom (playing instrumentals) asked the prom queen & her friends to sing vocals.

PLAY: 1 (sweeeet song getting a lot of buzz on blogs!), 2, 9

I cannot hide that this is one of my favorite bands...Screaming Females are so punk rock! They are so on edge and precise and screechy and eerily calm and make you want to barrel roll down a hill in fast forward. Marissa Paternoster is infectious and omnipresent with her Janis Joplin meets Alison Mosshart belt-it-out power vocals (you should watch this chick shred on the geetar!) that even though there is only one female in the Screaming Females, the plural is totally necessary. There are some slower tracks, some moderately paced, and of course, the quintessential yelping tracks ripe for the picking. These three scream, bellow, hollar, caterwaul, bawl and exude the definition of rock and roll. (see Merriam Webster).

fcc: clean

riyd: ShellShag, The Kills, Ty Segall

PLAY!!!!! 2, 6, 7, 1, 4, 5, 9