This is a continuation of the blog I started a couple of years ago in myspace; a list of interesting imho albums. Various genres, various artists, some of them known, some unknown...all for music's sake.
That's Right...MUSIC!
New album for the ultimate aggrotech band, Hocico, est. Distrito Federal 1994.
Need any more info? Hocico have already left their signature in electro-industrial/aggrotech with ALL bands of Mexico (or better say the Americas) trying to sound like them and posing the main stylistic opposition to the equivalent European style (:Wumpscut:, Suicide Commando, etc.). More trance-like and more aggressive than the more rigid and minimal European sound (which has more to share with industrial)
Hocico for 15+ years have been producing one masterpiece after another and their last album is WAY BETTER than their previous one, returning more to their roots
It is a Universal Musical Law that excellent bands keep 100% their initial character producing however more and more elaborate and perplexed soundscapes.
Hocico are bound by this law since 1994... Waiting to see them live (again...and again...and again...)
Cannibal Corpse need no special introduction cause they're probably the most famous anti-commercial band worlwide, with their releases being banned or regulated in many countries. Plus they're one of the oldest players around in the game; death metal/grindcore.
This review is gonna be short. After the release of Bloodthirst I've stopped keeping track of them cause they sounded repetitive (I am a big fan of their first releases, up to "The Gallery of Suicide"; after that they played good death metal, but no songs that will stand above the mean and remember them for ever...and nothing new in terms of syntheses...)
After ten years, I decided to have a listen to their latest release.
CD in the player, press play, and I listen to this
The first thing that hits me is a completely "dirty" bass riff in the vain of the legends Macabre (one of my favourite bands). Continuing listening to the track, is what I would expect of a band that has a 25+ experience and they evolve remaining 100% original; completely different feeling from the "flat" Bloodthirst, Gore Obsessed era...
I go to their website, check the band listing, the same...good news...And there, I listen to this
There 're no more words to be said. A 100% pure US Death Metal release by one of the most important bands that this genre has spawned...
Old-School Deathsters around the world, rejoice and enjoy
ps. I think I'll have a look at their previous releases as well, you never know...
Briefly, the story of AirMech is this (based on the cd booklet)
AirMech is a free-online game by Carbon Games. The way these guys chose to support themselves is to offer the players the opportunity to purchase things inside the game; things which do not directly affect the gameplay (good for them).
The game director, James Green, is a fan of FLA (good for him and us) and during the creation of the game he came in contact with Bill Leeb asking if he would be interested in writing a soundtrack for the game.
Leeb accepted, and here is AirMech.
Of course, this album cannot be judged as a proper FLA release but as a soundtrack by FLA. From this point of view, the album gets what is expected; 10/10
In a few words, this is a much more ambient-like release, maintaining 100% the character of FLA. I repeat, 100% FLA character. I've seen some discussions criticizing them for having some dub-step parts in a couple of their songs. Is that so annoying? I don't like dubstep, but its the way you use these elements (check Burial for example...). And of course, in that case, the mixture is amazing. Get over it and "see" music globally.
AirMech is exactly what I would expect from a professional who is asked to make a soundtrack; it must not be overwhelming and attract the attention of the gamer more than the actual game! The balance kept is amazing.
Of course we will miss two things. The extreme industrial parts which were so prominent in the FLA history and especially in their previous release, Improvised Electronic Device, and of course, the amazing lyrics and vocals of Leeb. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait a bit more for a proper FLA release.
Indeed, would someone expect a different result from one of the bands that defined electro-industrial?
FLA have only one major negative. They do not tour Europe as often. And having the pleasure to see them live during the IED tour, I have a thing to see them every year...
Really, who can be bothered of losing if he listens to such a track?
