Thursday, September 30, 2004

Nightwish - Wish I Had An Angel

The lead track off the upcoming Alone In The Dark movie soundtrack.
Simple video that sees the band jamming in what looks like either a warehouse or somekind of tunnel entrace mixed in with clips from the movie. And the movie looks good from what was shown here!
As for the video, it may not be as artsy as their last video for "Nemo" was, but it's still pretty good. The song is also heavier with more close-up shots of the band and not just vocalist Tarja. And the bassist gets to growl in on the chorus.
Nicely done stuff.
Video Rating: ***

Exilian - Coincidence

New faces on the scene, Exilia's first video sees the band jamming in several live locations mixed in with footage of the band interacting with their audience. This actually looked good compared to most live taped videos, or maybe it was just the catchy tune of the song and chorus.
Vocal wise, the female singer here has a good strong voice to match the nu-metal sound of the band. She may not be a poster girl like Avril Levigne, but I'm betting she could kick Avril's ass any day of the week.
This is a good video, and I recommend tracking down an MP3 of this song.
Video Rating: ***

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Killswitch Engage - The End Of Heartache

The title track off their current album and the lead single off the Resident Evil: Apocalypse soundtrack.
This was a pretty simple done video featuring the band jamming in a dark room, and the camera zooms in on each member who pixelize into monitors each showing clips from the new Resident Evil movie.
Also of note is how they toned down the screaming part of the song so it's almost 100% singing. They mentioned before in an interview that this song was the closest they band ever came to writting a rock ballad, though I'm guessing they'll be more like it in the future.
Video Rating: ***

Sunday, September 26, 2004

Slipknot - Vermillion

The latest release from masked maniacs from Des Moines, Iowa, is also one of my favourite tracks from their Vol.3 (The Subliminal Verses) album, and also featured on the Resident Evil: Apocalypse movie soundtrack.
This video does the song justice as the storyline matches the lyrics of the song.
The video features a gothic girl moving around in a sort of stop frame animation, with everything moving around her a hyper fast speed while she moves at a slow frame rate. It shows here moving around town from her apartment, and growing a butterfly from a caterpillar in a jar. She then follows the butterfly around town.
The definate high-point of the video is when the band make their appearance like ghosts haunting and serenading the girl! The band put on human masks over their normal masks (I'm guessing the masks are of their actual faces) as the girl meets each of them while she walks through her apartment. Their look definately matches the environment.
Video ends with her chasing and catching a butterfly.
This is definately a great video, though they did cut it short from the original track and I definately would have loved seeing more of the band.
Video Rating: ***1/2

Friday, September 24, 2004

KoRn - Word Up

The newest video by KoRn taken from their upcoming Greatest Hits Vol.1 album is a cover of a classic '80s song by Cameo, also covered in the early '90s by Gun, who did a very fun hard rock version of the song.
This is a pretty fun video that shows the band as DOGS with their faces superimposed where the dogs should be. Weird and funny at the same time.
Video follows singer Jonathan Davis as a chihuahua as he strolls about a Mexican town known as "The Badlands". He gets up to some mischief like peeing on a guys shoe and such. He then runs into the rest of the band who chase him around till they end up in a strip bar and start partying down with the babe-alicious dancers!
Fun video, and I'm guessing with all the blurred out shots near the end, there's gotta be an uncensored version of this video somewhere.
Video Rating: ***1/2

Marilyn Manson - Personnal Jesus

Cover of a classic Depeche Mode song which sounds tailor made for the self professed Anti-Christ Superstar.
The video sees the the band jamming with images of famous political leaders in the background like Bush, Ghandi, JFK and Stalin. There's also a group of scantally clad woman bouncing about on paper rocking horses and posing seductively in confession booths with Manson acting the part of sinister minister.
Near the end of the video, the women become scantally clad nuns as we see a creepy image of Manson singing while holding a crying baby. He then drops the "baby" which shatters on the grown spilling coins everywhere like a piggy bank to end the video.
Creepy video with little nudity thrown in and the rare sight of Manson playing guitar. Worth checking out.
Video Rating: ***1/2

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

From Autumn To Ashes - Milligram Smile

No.19 on Revolver Magazine's Top 20 Best Metal Videos of the New Millenium (so far) list. This video sees the band jamming in a sort of old-school animation cell backdrop, and some weird bald guy slaving away in a dusty room writting up papers of literature which are scattered all over the place.
I like the part where the vocalist growls, but I hate when the drummer with his squeeky voice sings the chorus. And I thinks we hear more of him than the actual vocalist in this one.
The climax of the video sees the weird ball guy sow his mouth shut! Interesting video, but the track could have been better.
Video Rating: ***

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Saliva - Survival of the Sickest

The title track off their new album. A really fun video with Josey Scott and the crew jamming away at a concert, and two hot chicks driving hot rods racing to get to the show when they find out both have the hots for Josey.
Lots of high speed action as the girls finally reach the concert venue and both enter the band's dressing room at the same time just as the concert ends. Saliva return to the dressing room to find the girls waiting for Josey!
Fun video and song to go with it!
Video Rating: ***1/2

On that note, Saliva vocalist Josey Scott was also featured in the October issue of Revolver Magazine in the "Rock-Star Rides" column, with Josey's 2001 red Corvette as his favourite ride. Seems the guy is also notorious for ripping up the roads in his home state of Memphis, and the local cops even know him well enough to not bug him about speeding!

Monday, September 13, 2004

Slayer - Bloodline

The number one pick by Revolver magazine readers for Best Metal Video of the New Millenium (so far). Taken from their 2001 album, "God Hates Us All", which coincidentally was released on September 11th, This is an awesome video featuring TONS of blood dripping down as the band plays, mixed in with scenes of them in their gear, in suits, and playing while covered in blood!
Some other fun scenes include a kitten licking blood off the floor, a kid skipping around before dropping a teddy bear on the blood soaked floor, and the climatic ending where a priest removes his belt, looking like he's gonna do something nasty to a school girl, but instead hangs himself!
Great video that matches the doom and gloom atmosphere of the song!
Video Rating: ****1/2

Sunday, September 12, 2004

October issue of Revolver

Just picked up the latest issue of Revolver magazine yesterday. For some reason last months issue never made it to these shores. Dunno why, it was the Warped Tour 2004 special, to follow up the OZZFEST 2004 special the previous month, but that issue made it here. So what's up with that?

Anyways, there's some interesting stuff in this issue, with a big feature on Lamb of God, who I still think are over-hyped. But Revolver say the praise is deserved. Also a feature on the 20 Best Music Videos of the New Millenium (so far). SO, I thought I'd produce the list here and give my two cents on them.

The 20 Best Metal Videos of the New Millenium (So Far)
1. Slayer - Bloodline
2. MuDvAyNe - Dig
3. Slipknot - Wait and Bleed
4. Dimmu Borgir - Progenies of the Great Apocalypse
5. Marilyn Manson - mOBSCENE
6. Avenged Sevenfold - Unholy COnfessions
7. Sevendust - Praise
8. Metallica - St. Anger
9. In Flames - Cloud Connected
10. Tool - Parabola
11. Every Time I Die - Ebolarama
12. KoRn - Here To Stay
13. Killswitch Engage - Rose of Sharyn
14. Pantera - Revolution Is My Name
15. As I Lay Dying - 94 Hours
16. System Of A Down - Chop Suey!
17. Lacuna Coil - Heaven's A Lie
18. Lamb of God - Ruin
19. From Autumn To Ashes - Miligram Smile
20. Shadows Fall - Destroyer of Senses

I'll admit I haven't seen all the videos on this list myself personally, but some of them that I have seen like Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, Metallica and some others I don't think belong here. But since this was voted for by the Revolver readers in their last issue, I can't really complain much if that's their taste.

Sunday, September 05, 2004

Lost Prophets - Last Train Home

I dropped the ball on this one! I missed the chance to get the major label debut by British hardcore rockers Lost Prophets last year despite enjoying the 2 singles they put out, cause I had written them off as a Incubus/Hoobastank clone. And when their new album "Start Something" hit CD stores here I again didn't pick it up! Luckilly, it's still widely available so I still have the chance to get it, And I definately will after watching the two videos they released thus far!
This was the first video off the album, which features the band playing on the back of a moving trailer through a narrow alley surrounded by fans on both sides and on the rooftops. We also see a group of teens on their way to the event.
The main selling point is the song which has a feel-good vibe to it. Add to the fact they pull of some great catchy riffs and the melody sticks in your head easilly. Definately a recommended video!
Video rating: ***1/2

I saw the video for their 2nd single "Wake Up (Make A Move)", on MTV last week, which was another killer track that got me interested to get the album. I'll definately get the album, but I'm also spoilled for choice since I also have a vested interest in getting the 311 Greatest Hits '93-'03 CD, which to my knowledge there is only ONE copy available in the whole city! Decisions decisions! Check back to see what I finally decide on.