Reviews by Todd West
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ARCKANUM - TRULEN Classic black pagan metal sans 1994. This re-release from Sweden's finest metal label Carnal Records continues in their long line of the darkest heavies. I keep waiting for something Carnal Records sends me to suck, but as of yet, and we are talking ten years here of reviewing their stuff, I have never once been less than impressed. This Arckanum is great stuff, what some call primitive dark metal. Really, it's just classic thrash, and I mean classic. While the production is definitely a bit cutting, with some metal purists, screetching, screaming and slashing is the only way to have it! Probably, since this was actually the second demo of this war machine operation, the over-the-top mids and high end can be forgiven. You, however, will not be if you are a true black metal seeker, and you pass Arckanum's Trulen by. Contact: http://www.carnalrecords.se CURT SHAW - CURT SHAW Heavy jamming with the best of them, Curt Shaw extudes the smooth percision of the craftsman deftly laying down smoking sweeps, running through classical modes like an understudy. He is without a doubt over the top, and he does not regret it one iota. If there is space, there is rip. A couple of breaks maybe here and there, but soon Shaw dashes back in and completely shreds. He has an excellent backup band in Nick Prysiazny clock perfecting the drums and Wayne Barry coming through like a tank on bass. Finest moment could be though when he steps back a pace from the blistering and puts more riff in his sweet (groove on the excellent "Egyptian Moon"). At times he is simply overwhelming fire power (listen to first of no-pun intending "I Am Not A Viking"). This guitar for the serious guitarist. He'll even slow his horse down a notch for the western-appalachian waltzy disc completer "The Trail". It is but a rare respite from all hell breaking loose! The man can tear it up! Contact: http://www.curtshaw.com TOWERSOUND - TOWERSOUND Classic power metal from France with very english roots connecting to bands such as Deep Purple and early Whitesnake. The guy Flod on the drums is really the band's motor when he's on (Bring Your Life to Light, Hell's On The Speedway) or sometimes guitar player Lonn shines (solo on Bring Your Life To Light). Though they do it well, the band just doesn't quite connect on the slower numbers (Shine Over Me, My Wild Rose). I'd say this is because they have a very Blaze type vocalist in Jon, everything sounds heavy. Overall the sound is not heavily processed, some might say stark these days, but it gets the point accross. Towersound offer the listener heavy metal has it was in the beginning. One for the archives. Contact: http://www.towersound.net ALL HEROES - BITE THE BULLET Cut above average emocore tinged hardcore. There's enough sloppy punk moments for the boys not to lose the faith, from the go you have dual vocals, strong melodic lines and progressive breaks. Yeah, it's more original than 99.9 percent of melodic facing fodder in the hopper, though it definitely has it's Bad Religion moments; so not so traditional as to be overly exceptional. Lyrics and vocal phrasing, how the signing is fit into the twisting and turning morass of guitar madness wrought by Ahmadi and Ageno, shows some tight family valued relations. This adds to the progressive edge allowing for on-the-spot injection. Metal guitar shows up often early also, which is another plus for punk flavored bands wanting some diversification. Where they boys break though, is when too much emotion and sappy invade the landscape. Though once again, the lyrics prowess comes through on the potentially beautiful "It Crumbles Away". Real songwriting. Stay tuned. Contact: Kevin Ahmadi, 5023-a Clayton Rd. Concord, Ca 94521. http://allheroesmusic.com kevin@allheroesmusic.com KENNETH L. KING - KENNETH L. KING Thoroughbred American, touching on a diverse talent of roots-style blending. Some of his stuff reminds me of vintage Marshall Tucker Band, with alot of both western and appalachin flavors. KLK presents his talents in straight clean productions, allowing for the strengths of his songwriting to show and not be covered with gloss and compression. He shows great insight and more than a touch of sarcastic humor (The Next Time I See You On The Moon). I can also hear alot of Waylon Jennings influence, with it's slight tejano accents. On "Dark Cloud" King comes close to perfection with a sinister voodoo groove lurking behind the delta blues. Kenneth's skills are strongest in the conglomerates, but never underestimate his country. Throughout his catalog his radio friendly music rarely fails to make an acceptable grade. Contact: http://www.myspace.com/kennethlking, kin2u2@yahoo.com, and his producer at: A Frosty J Productions, http://frostyj.com, 801-730-5818 WAMPUS RECORDS - FOLDBACK RECORDS 2006 Showcasing reissues, Wampus Multimedia's new imprint Foldback Records keep the level of artist product quality Wampus is known for out in front with releases from The Crowd Scene (Turn Left At Graceland), Alice Despard (two initial albums represented with Samsara and also Push Me Pull You spotlit here), Johnny J. Blair (Fire) and The Simple Things (President Foushee). Each release has three cuts on this sampler, with the emphasis on americana and a bluesy kind of folk via Alice Despard, classic pop via The Crowd Scene, alternative rock from The Simple Things and freak show sounding experimental electronica via the madness of Johnny J. Blair. Yup, diverse to say the least. Pick up the one sheets and publicity shots in the Foldback Records publicity kit at http://www.wampus.com/foldback/images/06_foldback_publicity.zip Contact: http://www.foldbackrecords.com THE CRAWDADDIES - SPICE IT UP The boys set the party off with a floor stompin' "Last Train To Clarkston", a diaster waiting to happen if there ever was one for the lead off song on an album, but The Cradaddies pull it off well, which gives one hope for the rest of the album. While there are shining moments (Betty Says, The Difference, Pump That Thing - one of the greatest head suckin' songs ever) and mucho rhythm, bass, and funked zydeco, I could also crave guitar or some mouth harp solos. It's almost too johnny-on-tha-spot. But that probably pays too, so best to have plenty of roast and grog to PARTY HARDY WITH THE CRAWDADDIES....this is bayou via Baltimore...OK, now I get it. Contact: Head On Entertainment, http://www.headonentertainment.com. http://www.thecrawdaddies.com WHEREWITHAL - 3 SONG EP Strong indie pop out of the UK with a touch of art school punk thrown in for reference. The most recognizable figure in the band is the definitive audio imprint of Stacy Hart's vocals and delivery. The music is no slouch though, with plenty of hook and variation of melody. The band is good at not repeating themselves, every song stands on it's own. If you can get ahold of this band's 7" vinyl with hand painted sleeves, I'd advise it. A colletible of the UK indie rock scene. Contact: http://www.wherewithalonline.com, http://www.myspace.com/wherewithal CLICK THE CRAZY COW ABOVE, OR HERE, TO GO TO THE NEXT PAGE! home page