Music Video reviews

MNEMIC - Liquid - An awesome video by an awesome new Danish band. This was really good for the bands first video effort, which I guess means their record label sees lots of potential in their music. Video features lead singer Michael (he only has ONE name!) driving a fast car racing through the streets as scenes of the band jamming get thrown in here and there. Good effects used throughout and a catchy song too. 4/5

MNEMIC - Ghost - MNEMIC again! The name stands for Mainly Neurotic Energy Modifying Instant Creation by the way. Their second video effort seems a bit budgeted down as its mostly the bands jamming in a fixed environment, in this case a sewer (place your own 'career flushed down the toilet' joke here). Video is ok, but the video and song isn't as strong as Liquid was. 3/5

For more info on MNEMIC, visit their official web page: www.mnemic.dk

Six Feet Under - Amerika the Brutal - My fav death metal band, to which music videos are a rarity. This is an all animated anti-war video. the animation is South Park grade, so don't expect too much. Great tune and the video is watchable despite some scenes made to turn your stomach like puking and such. 3/5

Probot - Shake Your Blood - Dave 'Foo Fighter' Grohl's long awaited metal project where each track on the album features a diferent singer from various metal bands. This one features Metal God Lemy Kilmister of Motorhead. Cool video featuring lots of eye candy and a good sounding tune to it. 3/5

Fountains of Wayne - Stacy's Mom - End my reviews for today with a happy tune by a long missed band. The big eye catcher of this vid is Rachel Hunter strutting her stuff in everywhere and the band as kids ignoring her daughter, Stacy, that their dating and paying more attention to Stacy's Mom. Fun vid. 3/5

I got fined for this?!

I got a call from the bookstore to pick up the latest issue of Revolver magazine that I have a subscription to. So I go all the way to Imperial Mall and instead of using the Mall parking space, which I had to pay like 50cents for, I decided to use the public parking cause I thought I'd be in and out real quick. Wouldn't you know I forgot to note the date on my parking coupon and got fined 10 bucks for it!

I was excited to get this issue of Revolver as it covered their picks of the best albums of 2003. I flip through it only to be VERY dissapointed by their choices. Lamb of God album of the year? Yeah they gave alot of reasons why their no.1, but they forgot one reason: Revolver have been hanging with them ALL YEAR and even been sponsoring their shows! Why wouldn't they give the no.1 spot to their good buddies and financial investment? I'm not saying they don't deserve it, but I wouldn't give them the top spot. Of their list of the top 20, half of them were never even given a mention in the magazine throughout the whole year. Other choices just flat out boggle my mind and I could only see 3 bands I would agree on making that list: Dimmu Borgir, The Darkness and the afore mentioned Lamb of God. I'd also maybe give props to Turbonegro. At least Blink 182 didn't make the list.

Also in the mag was their picks of the top 25 greatest live acts of all time. Again I disagree with some of their choices, though I have never seen these live shows. Thursday in the top 5? Who? Exactly. What the heck happened to Korn? Why didn't they make the list?

The problem I see with their lists is that all the editors and writers have to agree together what goes where. I would have been more fun if each writer/editor got to gve their own top ten so there would be more variety like what Metal Edge magazine does every year.

CD Reviews

DOWNTHESUN - SELF TITLED (Roadrunner)

Another discovery by Shawn 'The Clown' Crahan of Slipknot. His first discovery was American Head Charge and their debut CD, The War Of Art has been playing in my car stereo for the past two years! But wouldn't you know when I searched the web to do some research on the band for this review, I find that they have already left RoadRunner Records and are searching for a new label. And the whole band has changed except for the two founding members, vocalist/keyboardist Church and Bassist Kuk.

This album originally came out in 2002, but sue me if I only managed to get it late December last year. I had some high hopes for this band after watching their first video, Medicated. Downthesun come accross as following the trend of Industrial Metal bands that are popping up everywhere. I would describe their sound as Slipknot meets Tool. Lots of heavy chugging guitars and screaming, but also a blend of melody near the end. The dual vocal blend of screaming and singing go hand in hand here. I found the overall album to be an OK listen but without the lastability of Slipknot or AHC. Hopefully their next outing can still hold the sound of this gem.
Stand out tracks - Medicated, We All Die, Listen.
Rating: 3/5
www.downthesun.com

DOPE - GROUP THERAPY (Recon/Artemis)

Dope have been around for awhile and have themselves seen many changes in their lineups and musical styles since their first release, Fellons and Revolutionaries (1999), followed by Life (2001), and now their third full length, Group Therapy. Since then, founding members Simon Dope left the band, guitarist Trip Eisen is now with Static-X, bassist Acey Slade has done time with Joey Jordison's Murderdolls, and the band is now just left with four members.

The sound of Dope has changed drastically over the years and Group Therapy is their best offering to date. Proven when this album made it on to many of 2003's 'Best Of' lists of many Metal magazines. Thirteen overall great diverse hard rock tracks as Edsel Dope stretches his vocal abilities to the max. Despite the loss of keyboardist Simon Dope from the line-up, Dope still maintain certain electronic qualities to their sound and even pull out an accoustic ballad. Highly recommended overall album, plus it includes thirteen full length videos for each track on the CD!
Stand out tracks - Falling Away, Bitch, I Am, Today Is The Day.
Rating: 4/5
www.dopeweb.com

DEVIL DRIVER - SELF TITLED (Roadrunner)

Ex-Coal Chamber frontman Dez Fafara's new band and one of my favorite new bands of 2003. Fafara finally broke away from Coal Chamber and creates one of the most brutal and aggressive albums of the year, completely blowing away anything he did with his ex-band straight to hell. There is ALOT of anger to be heard throughout this album as DevilDriver mix black, death and hardcore metal styes in one relentless sonic assault. They don't let up for a minute! Not much I can say but BUY THIS CD!!!
Stand out tracks - I Could Care Less, Die (And Die Now), What Does It Take (To Be A Man), Devil's Son.
Rating: 5/5
www.DevilDriver.com