The Good, The Bad, and the Absolutely Horrid!

Summer is coming!  Are you ready?

There's lots of stuff happening right now and in the near future.  Some of it has a lot of potential in the "Wow this is freakin' awesome" department.  Others... not so much.

We Will Miss You, Chi

Before I get started on all of the news-related items, I would like to take a quick second to send my condolences to the members of the Deftones.  For those who may not know yet, Deftones bassist, Chi Cheng, passed away on April 13th, at the age of 42. He had been in a four-year battle for his life following a car accident in 2008.  An article, posted by Loudwire, contains a message from Chi's mom that's very touching.  It also holds the following quote from Deftones frontman, Chino Moreno.

“When I was 17-years-old, I moved out of my parents’ house and moved in with him. We’ve been best friends most of my life. I’ll just be doing some random thing in my life and he’s always in my thoughts. The whole band feels very strongly about him and he’s always been a part of things.”

If you want to read the full article, you can find it here.

Now on to some of that "freakin' awesome" stuff...

Icon For Hire

My first exposure to the band, Icon For Hire, came with my connection to Pop Deflators.  I instantly liked their style and their sound.  I find them to be a lot like Paramore, but a little less emo. A recent headline has stated that Icon For Hire is currently back in the studio working on a new album! No real details have been released on this except that the album in set to come out later this year.  The group has posted a lot of pictures and sneak peeks on their Facebook though.

Also making the awesome list is the news about Tooth & Nail Records.  In case you missed it - the are officially independent!!  This is truly awesome when it comes to the music front.  Tooth & Nail has always put out some quality rock in it's day, and now that they have the freedom and flexibility that comes with independence, I'm sure that they will continue and improve on their sonic offerings.

On the flip side of that great news... The Almost has pushed back their release date for their new record, "The Fear Inside Our Bones".  The new date has been pushed back to June 11th, but they have made a metric ton of stuff available for pre-order.  Be sure to find out all the details by checking out their pre-release website, or by clicking on the link on Tooth & Nail's Facebook page.

Lastly, not making any list of awesomeness what-so-ever, is the new single from Skillet.  I saw this link on my Facebook page, and clicked on it.  Less than a minute later, I was ready to throw up or throw my computer across the room.  IT'S HORRIBLE!  I've been losing my taste for Skillet since they came out with Comatose.  This new single, called "American Noise", comes off their upcoming record Rise. It continues the sell-out streak that has become the essence of Skillet songs.  All they know how to do is appeal to the eyeliner-wearing emo crowd of 3 years ago (also known as the neo-goths).  Come guys, if you're going to do something, PLEASE go back to your original sound from the early 90s.  I liked the blend of techo-rock that you had.

Skillet - before they sold out

Stay close music fans!  I've got some CD reviews coming your way from bands like One Less Reason, XFactor1, and Madlife.

Eyeliner On The Run

Hello blogosphere!

This post is full of things that could potentially bring tears to your eyes.  The amount of crying depends on whether or not you are scared, sad, or joyful...it's your pick.

Bye Bye MCR

First up, (because I can't resist the urge to laugh) is the news that My Chemical Romance is officially calling it quits!  To the emo-crowd, this is sad news, but to the rest of us...meh.  The band has yet to give a rhyme or reason for the sudden split, but you can be sure that black eyeliner will be running in rivers after this news.  Cheer up emo-kid...it'll be okay.  You still have Fall Out Boy and Panic At The Disco to listen to while wearing your skinny jeans. If you care to know more about this split, check out this article.

Also in the break-up news section is the U.K-based band, Attack! Attack!.  Unlike MCR, these guys have given a reason for their departure, and have included some news of a farewell tour that will start in April.  You can find these details by checking out the article from our friends at Rocksound.

Disturbed 2.0

A while back, in a post called "Change On The Horizon", I talked about David Draiman's new band Device.  They recently released their first single "You Think You Know".  I was expecting something a little different based on what has been said, but I was disappointed in the result.  Device sounds almost exactly like Disturbed!  For those who are fans of Disturbed, you can rejoice. For those like me, who were expecting something a little more....original - sorry, not today!  The biggest problem I had from listening to the single, found here, is the lack of passion in the lead vocals.  Where's the fire? Where's the drive?  In any case, my opinion is my own.  You are entitled to yours.  Be sure to give it a listen and leave some comments for me.

A Sign of the Apocalypse

In keeping with the on-going theme of "Reunions That Shouldn't Happen", I have found a headline stating that Limp Bizkit is setting up a come-back.  The only question that anyone could ask in this is a glaring "WHY?".  The once-popular rebellious rock/rap group lost their "cool" in the late 90s, but somehow think that they can keep with that same style and gain popularity again.  They have released a single called "Ready To Go" - but trust me when I say they are in no way, shape, or form ready to go.  They still feature the classic "pre-pubescent" vocals and immature nature that they had back in the late 90's.  If you feel like destroying your I.Q a little bit, check out the song by clicking here.

In order to make up for that last headline, here a good band.  Like Vultures is a fairly new band, but they bring the rock in a big way.  They even did a really great cover of Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Getting Back Together".  Personally, I think this is the way the song should have been.  Check it out below. You can find more of Like Vultures on Facebook and BandCamp.

As always, you are free to comment on anything I report on... good or bad.  What are your thoughts on all of these "come backs"?  Is the music industry that lacking in talent, or are the artist just trying to pay the mortgage?

Contesting Headlines

Welcome back music fans! You'll be glad you clicked on this one...

This time around we have some exciting news about the goings-on in the local Philly scene, sad news on the star scene, and of course - reviews of up and coming artists.

First let's get to the exciting stuff. Philly-based artists, Pompton Lakes, have entered a contest to play at Radio 104.5's 6th Birthday Show.  They've done really well to get in the top 25 bands, and YOU can help.  You can vote for Pompton Lakes by clicking here, and while your at it, register to WIN TICKETS to the show!  You can vote once per day until March 31.  Best of luck to Pompton Lakes!!  If you want to check the band out, be sure to visit their website, Facebook, and Twitter pages!

R.I.P Clive Burr

Former drummer of Iron Maiden, Clive Burr, passed away yesterday.  Reports say that he had been suffering from poor health for a long time now.  Burr had wrestled with Multiple Sclerosis.  He passed peacefully in his sleep at home. The band has released official statements on their website.  You can read more about this by clicking here.  Burr played with Iron Maiden from 1979 - 1982.  He was 56.

Another (less important) piece of news is a personal one.  I have joined the Philadelphia Chapter of The Recording Academy!  This means absolutely nothing in terms of the content of this blog, but I just thought I would gloat a little bit.....

Moving on.

Steal The Stars cover

The state of Ohio has brought us many great things such as, The Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, The Buckeyes (Ohio State Football), and a band called State Your Cause.  Their most recent album, Steal The Stars, released in July of 2012 and features a sound that parallels Lost Prophets or Disciple. They still manage to maintain a distinctive edge to remain unique too. In fact, certain songs on the album have more of a Story Of The Year kind of feel to them.  The album, as a whole, has a great balance from song to song.  There are also some great moving guitar lines!  As an added bonus, these riffs don't overpower the rest of the mix... nicely done fellas!

State Your Cause is currently on hiatus, but there is a side-project called F.A.M (From Another Mother) that features the two brothers in the band.  You can find the video "Catfish" by clicking here.


If you want more of State Your Cause, or if you want to beg them to come out of hiatus, check out their Facebook, Twitter, ReverbNation, or YouTube pages.  You can also find them on iTunes!

State Your Cause

That Left Turn at Albuquerque

Sometimes life takes unexpected turns, and things don't really end up the way we plan.  This is what this post is all about.

Vince Neil

Following the post about bands making come backs, the first strange piece of news is from Revolver Magazine. Vince Neil, front man for Motley Crue, was hospitalized during a show they were playing on the Australian leg of their tour.  The article, found here, states that when the band was nine songs in, Nikki Sixx came out and announced that Neil had been taken to the hospital for kidney stones.  The surgery was this morning, and all is reported to be well.  The only question that remains now is whether or not the fans get a refund.

August Burns Red

August Burns Red lead guitarist, JB Brubaker, has opened up about the bands history in the studio.  He shares the top 5 memories (good and bad) in the history of the bands recording experience.  They have more memories to make very soon too. The band is currently in the studio tracking for their 5th album due out in late summer.... they need to finish up the Warped Tour first.  Want to find out what the top 5 memories are?  Make sure you read this.

Another Lost Year

Also making the list of unexpectedness is a band called Another Lost Year.  Hailing from North Carolina (NC), these guys have done pretty well for themselves.  They have been featured on Nikki Sixx's radio show, and have been on tour with the likes of Flyleaf, RED, and 30 Seconds to Mars. Their first single "War On The Inside" met with some success and the second single from the album Better Days, called "Writing On The Wall", is due out soon.  The band features a sound that is similar to mid-90s Creed, or 12 Stones, but with more of a metal edge on certain tracks.  The unique vocal stylings, and balanced instrumentation make for an album that is very easy to listen to, and get stuck in your head.  The unexpected shock, for me, came with the song "Angels".  Out of nowhere came this stunning female vocal part, it really added an awesome element to the song!

Better Days cover

I would definitely recommend this album to anyone who is a fan of good, solid, rock records.  The only downfall (if one is to be had) is the slightly "canned" approach to the music. Otherwise, the mix is great. All the instruments and vocals are balanced where everything has it's own voice without overpowering.

Be sure to learn more about Another Lost Year (ALY for the fans) by checking them out on the web, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Haunting Truths

In a previous post, I had covered the new album by Adler, Back From The Dead.  In the post, I talked about the vintage 80's style sound that the record had.  Well, if that wasn't enough for you, then this next post is just for you.

Adler has recently announced that they will be going on tour.  The "Back From The Dead" tour will start its U.S. leg on March 2 and make it's way east as the summer closes.  The European crowd isn't left out in the cold either. The European end of the tour starts in September.

Under My Skin cover

Speaking of 80s kinds of sounds, here is another "classic" sound for your enjoyment.  Modern Superstar takes pages from a number of hair-metal bands such as Bon Jovi's gang vocals, Motley Crue's  guitar sounds, and shades of Axl Rose in the vocal melodies (including a great falsetto).  My personal favorite part of the mix goes to the drums - naturally.  The drum mix is really solid, and has a great snare sound!  Overall, the record - called Under My Skin - has some good things happening.  There are sonic walls of sound, but you aren't overwhelmed.  The album has nice breaks in the sonic profile that allow you to digest what you're hearing.  Depending on how you look at it, Modern Superstar may be one of the only bands I've ever known to mention texting in a song.  Not just in the song, but the chorus! The title even reflect the culture, "Txt U Gud'Bye"...nice guys.

Modern Superstar

Not everything is perfect on this album though. Some of the stylistic choices fall flat, as well as some of the guitars solo work. The second half of the album, in general, seems slower than the first, and some of the effects are overdone or awkward.  Overall, the lyrics seem lethargic in nature. I was hoping for more energy in the vocal lines, especially with a Motley Crue influence.



Be sure to check out more of Modern Superstar on their website, Facebook, Reverb Nation and Twitter!




While we're on the subject of "classics", allow me to mention some reunions that are currently happening - which in my opinion, SHOULDN'T!

Wang Chung, most noted for their extremely "poppy" snare sounds and the song "Everyone Have Fun Tonight", has come back.  Tazer Up released in December of last year.  This is the first all new album from the group in 23 years!  If you're interested be sure to give it a listen here.

Also making the comeback list is Black Sabbath.  They are currently in the studio working on a new record.  I'm honestly not sure about this piece of news. I've never been a fan of Ozzy, but I know a lot of people are.  My honest question is, can he still do it?  Not only him, but the rest of the band, do they still have it?  I guess we will find out.  If you want to hear about the album, and read some interviews with Sabbath's members, be sure to check out Revolver Magazine.

Black Sabbath comes back

That's all for now!  With all these comebacks, and classic styles coming back, I wonder when grunge and punk are coming back?  Got some thoughts?  Leave some comments!

East Coast Showdown

Hello again everyone!

This post is going to be a little different than the usual routine.  Instead of just covering the news, you guys are going to participate in a vote.  I will present two bands on the East Coast, and you get to decide who you like better. Votes can be in the comments on the blog, or on the Pop Deflators Facebook page.

A Criminal Risk

First up is a newer band called A Criminal Risk.  Hailing from New Jersey, these guys are bringing back an old-school punk sound.  Their debut disc, The Art of Dropping Names, features a sound that is very similar to Less Than Jake.  For those who may not know what that is, they have a very late 90's indie-punk sound to them.  It reminds me a lot of my own days playing pop-punk (thanks for the memories, guys!).

Since this is their debut album, some allowance for vocal improvement is needed, and their track "Stand Alone" is appropriately named as the only real slow song on the record. Be sure to give them a listen by  checking out their website, http://acriminalrisk.bigcartel.com/.  You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Be sure to keep an ear out for A Criminal Risk's new single due out on 3-31, appropriately titled "331"!

Prospect Hill

Three cheers for Boston!!!  The next group, Prospect Hill, calls Boston home, and has created quite a unique blend of sonic goodness.  Their third album, entitled Impact,  debuted in August of 2012. It features fantastic musical journey in the way the disc flows from song to song.  They also have a great blend of sounds and textures laced through the entirety of the album. The only real hit-or-miss feature was the track "Say Uncle" felt more like filler than an actual track.  On the other hand, it did serve as a nice intro into "Come Alive".

The group sounds a lot like 12 Stones, with the lower guitars, and baritone vocals. However, I find them to be slightly more "mathy" in their approach to music.  "Mathy" is good, it means that they know how to count and keep interesting rhythms, much like Thrice (I still miss them).

I thoroughly enjoy listening to this, and I hope you do to. You can find Prospect Hill on their website, http://www.prospecthillmusic.com or on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.


















So here it is - the moment of truth.  You, the reader/listener, gets to decide who wins the East Coast battle.  Will it be A Criminal Risk or Prospect Hill?

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Just so you all know that I haven't completely forgot about the world of music news... here's a small tidbit of information...

Travis Barker, drummer for Blink 182 and a personal influence of mine, has recently announced that he will not be touring with the band on their Australian tour.  When asked why, he replied that he is not quite over the plane crash that almost claimed his life almost 5 years ago.  A replacement has been hired to fill in for Barker and assume the drum duties.  Why can't I get on that list for tryouts?  Oh well....

Still to come....

Some haunting details of comebacks and reunions.  Until then....

Love, Death, and Some Really Good Music

This post goes out to all the fans, metal-heads, or rockers - whatever you choose to call yourselves.

Ladies and gentlemen... I give you LOVE AND DEATH and the review of their album Between Here & Lost.

Between Here & Lost 

The thing I appreciate the most about Brain "Head Welsh, and the rest of the band, is that they kept that deep "throaty" sound that has become a signature of "Head's" style.  You know an album is good when, while listening to it, you have an insatiable urge to break stuff!  That is definitely the case when it comes to this record.  "Meltdown" is a great example of this.  In the first four measures of the song I was ready for a moshpit.

Another plus on the album's style is the surprisingly melodic chorus that appear on spots of the album, in songs like "The Abandoning" and "By The Way".  It creates this great euphoria when you are cycling through minor chords, and then all the sudden burst into a melodic chorus... nicely done boys!  Coupled with that are some great stylistic choices in the music, and some amazing effects.  Hats off to the producers and post-production team on developing that sonic magic!

Above all, the message of the music is clear. God is still represented in all the lyrics, and the life-changing power that comes with Him.   As an added bonus, be sure to keep an open ear for a pretty cool, fairly original take on "Whip It" - originally done by Devo.

Love And Death

You can find Love And Death in stores, on YouTube, Facebook, and their website.



Trust me when I say, that much much more is coming your way...including some reunions that should NEVER happen.

Stay tuned....