Music Review: Tattoo The Devil - "The Descent EP"

The Chicago music scene is so alive with different styles and sounds. You will never grow tired of discovering new bands and new styles in this city. Some bands will blow your mind with creativity and passion, where some will just plain bore you to tears. A new band called Tattoo The Devil has caught my attention in a big way! Being a music lover I'll listen to almost anything if I find it appealing to the ears. And TTD are not only appealing to the ears, but they also excite the senses with their brand of progressive metal.

The bands latest release, the "Decent EP", is a 3 song taste of what to expect from their upcoming full length due later in the year. The music is brilliant and captivating, played with fierce intensity and drive. If you like Euro metal, New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, prog metal or power metal, this band has a little bit of all that rolled into a sound all their own. The opening track "The Decent" is riff heavy and melodic with beautifully layered vocals. It starts out hard then goes into a piano and string based mid section that is both gothic and medieval. But at the same time the song never loses it's heavyness. They put a new spin on an old style of music with powerful playing and lyrics that send the imagination into overdrive.

This talented sextet, Lance Ferrel (vocals), Christopher "Dizzy" Lee (guitar/backing vocals), Dominick Camillo (guitar), Mario Camillo (bass), Chris King (drums) and Zak Auble (keyboards), bring a different flavor to each song. These gentlemen are true musicians in the truest sense of the word. "Diegos Tango" has a hearty back beat, shredding guitar leads and an Italian flamenco feel that just gels so well together, but maintains it's metal credibility. The EP closes with "The Darkest Seed", with it's chugging guitars and melodic falsetto vocals, it;'s a great way to close out a killer EP. But as great as this EP is, it leaves this listener wanting more. Sometimes 3 songs are just not enough. But if the full length is half as good as this EP, I think the wait will be well worth it.

You'll be hard pressed to find another metal band with so much influence and talent wrapped into one tight package. The songs are well written and played and the choruses will have you singing along until your vocal chords hurt. If this band were around back in the mid-late 80's they would have been HUGE! But with the underground metal scene still alive, I see no reason why Tattoo The Devil can't be the next big metal band to come out of the Midwest.

4 ½ / 5 stars
 

Music News: New Punk Documentary To Premier In Chicago

Punk rock has been a musical force for over 40 years now. Starting with bands like The Stooges and New York Dolls. But it didn't really explode until the mad 70's with bands like the Ramones, Sex Pistols and The Clash. Punk as a genre has been documented on film numerous times over the years mostly focusing on the American scene. Films like The Decline Of Western Civilization, Another State Of Mind and most recently American Hardcore all focused on bands like Black Flag, Social Distortion and Minor Threat. And the English punk bands have been documented in films like The Filth And The Fury and The Clash: Westway To The World. So much has been made of the English and American punk scenes that other countries get lost in mix. But all that's about to change.

My friend Martin Nunez has documented the rise of the punk rock scene is his homeland of Chile in the new film PANK, Orígenes del Punk en Chile. The film will make it's American debut at the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival in April. This is Martin's first film and touches on how punk rock has changed the lives and social conscience of the people of Chile with interviews with bands and fans from all over the country. This is an exciting and well documented film from a talented up and coming film maker.

You can view the trailer for the film here. As it is in Spanish, you will have to use the CC option to read the transcript. The complete list of films and times will be posted this coming Friday (3/16) but in the meantime you can get tickets and special deals to the CIMM fest by clicking here.

Music News: Kevin Seconds/Kepi Ghoulie Live

Do you like punk rock, but also like the beauty of acoustic music? Do you have dreams of overturning the government, but also dream about Woody Guthrie? Do you have Minor Threat albums mixed in with Violent Femmes records? Well, then do I have a show for you! On Sunday March 18 the legends meet the next generation of legends when Kevin Seconds (7 Seconds) and Kepi Ghoulie team up with Love And Squalor and Brandon Harrod (The Larroquettes) for a night of acoustic energy that is sure to be must see show for the first quarter of 2012!

Kevin Seconds has been touring non stop the last few years as a one man show playing his brand of acoustic music that meshes his acoustic singer/songwriter music with his roots in hardcore punk. Fans know Kev as the in your face singer for the legendary Reno, NV band 7 Seconds who have recorded such modern day classics records as The Crew and Walk Together, Rock Together. But Kev has grown as a musician and a songwriter with his acoustic albums and live shows. Don't miss his triumphant return to Chicago.

Kepi Ghoulie is best known as the singer for Groovie Ghoulies According to sources close to the man he's been on tour for like 12 years straight. Come on out and see his new band playing this intimate show featuring an all acoustic set. It's a show not to be missed.

Love And Squalor are a punk band from Chicago who have been making a name for themselves playing multiple shows and bringing their infectious brand pf punk to the masses. The band is currently set to release their new album Among The Ruins, Rejoice later this summer. Check them out playing this rare acoustic set before they plug back in and melt your face off. It's a once in a lifetime set.

Brandon Harrod is the drummer for Chicago's own garage rock super heroes The Larroquettes. But he's also a talented singer/songwriter in his own right who's released 3 solo albums so far. His latest album Wide Open Sun is a favorite here at Critical Mass. Check him out and see why we dig him so much.

The show will be at Township (formerly Panchos) located at 2200 N. California Ave, Chicago. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased here.

Interview with Jared Michael Pihl from Mourning Rain

 

 Critical Mass: Thanks for taking the time to talk with Critical Mass. For those new to Mourning Rain, can you give us a little history on the band and how you got started?

Jared Pihl: No problem at all. Mourning Rain started with myself on guitar/vocals and Natalie (Rose) on the bass around the summer of 2010. We met Devin (Justman), who is a very talented drummer, in November of 2010 and jumped right into a steady routine of rehearsing that hasn't stopped to this day. The three of us have a very similar outlook on music, so we clicked right away. Which is very rare.

CM: I hear so many styles of music in the bands sound, and it's all amazingly great! How would you best describe your sound to people who have not heard you yet?

JP: Thank you. That is probably the single hardest question we are asked and it's also the most common for those who have not heard us yet. The best way to describe us is a hard rock/psychedelic band with some funk/jazz/alternative sprinkled throughout.  

CM: Again, there are so many styles going on in your music I have to ask, who are some of the bands musical influences?

JP: We try to keep our music original while staying true to the musical tastes of each member of the band. I have always loved hard rock and blues, all the guitar heroes of the 60's, 70's & 80's. That's where I come from with music, while Natalie is a big fan of the bands like the Deftones & Nirvana. Devin comes from a more classic music background, bringing a more jazzy, funky and progressive feel of bands like Rush, James Brown & Porcupine Tree. But I think we all share a common love for effective rock music with a strong sense of melody. 

CM: I have had the chance to hear the 4 songs the band currently has up on Facebook. Are those tracks available for purchase on an EP or demo?

JP: No, those tracks were recorded in a very timely fashion with no money. My brother, who is sort of an amateur recording technician and also a talented bassist in his own band, The Things They Carried, recorded us very quickly with his equipment as a favor. So between the fact that the quality isn't at all on par to what we are aiming for and that we didn't pay to record the songs, we did not feel it necessary to charge our fans money for it. Those tracks are like a sampler for what is to come, we hand those songs out for free to those who come to our shows.

CM: Are there any plans to release an album or EP in the near future?

JP: Yes. We are in the process of choosing a studio to record in our area of Long Island. We will most likely record a 5 or 6 song EP within the next month or two, it seems like the only logical step forward at this point in the band. Things have been moving very fast since the three of us got together and it only seems right to take the band as far as it can go.

CM: Have any labels approached you guys yet as far as releasing your material at a later date?

JP: As far as labels, managers or promoters, we have not ventured into that territory yet. I'm getting the feeling it will happen very soon, probably after we record our EP. We are very concentrated right now on fine tuning our setlist with a lot of live shows and hard work practicing. We have been a band for a little over a year now and are working our way through the trenches of the Long Island/New York rock scene, which as many would tell you is overcrowded with a certain scene right now. We look forward to meeting any label or manager who approaches us but you have to be careful with the business side of things with a band, we're not going to rush into anything without thinking it through first.

CM: I know the band plays out around your hometown. But have you ever played outside of New York? And are there any plans to take the show on the road at some point?

JP: There are always plans to take the band further. Right now we are working nonstop booking shows whenever they come up and making our live show as good as it possibly can be. We haven't played outside of New York yet, but we are sure that is definitely something that will happen very shortly up the road.

CM: Is there a website you wanna plug where fans can get in touch with the band, find out about upcoming gigs, news and new music?

JP: As of right now, we are working on our own website but you can find any info about us on our Facebook page. There you can find our free downloadable songs, upcoming shows and lots of pics and videos.

CM: Thanks again for taking the time to talk with Critical Mass. I really appreciate it. I really dig what you're doing and hope to hear some new music in the near future. Thanks again. 

JP: No problem at all, it was my pleasure. We have more demo songs that will be posted on our Facebook page soon and we're hitting the studio to record some proper tracks. See you soon.

Music Reviews: Lili Champ - "Vientos"

Music is an international language that can reach far beyond any country or language barrier. If the music is good and you can feel the energy racing in your heart and pumping in your veins it won't matter where it comes from. And if we don't look outside of our own backyard from time to time we may never find the musical beauty that awaits us in other lands far away. Santiago, Chile's own Lili Champ are trying to show that punk rock is also an integral part of that language with their debut album "Vientos".

The 8 songs on "Vientos" are so powerful and melodic that you'll forget that 6 of the 8 tracks are in Spanish. Kicking off with "Entrevientos" the band shows a strong sense of melody and great pop/punk hooks that any fan of bands like NOFX or The Queers would thoroughly enjoy. Complete with a chorus packed with "whoa oh oh's" it's just a great way to kick off the album. "Cheap Bad Coffee" is a fast paced romp with great guitar riffs and a frantic bass and drum beat. This is one of the 2 tracks that is in English. But that shouldn't matter. It's just a GREAT tune!

The band isn't just playing hard charged pop/punk. They also pull out a couple folky jams in the form of "Entrecerros" and "5to. Piso" where they play jangly chords over less aggressive vocals in the style of Against Me! and even Dropkick Murphys (minus the bagpipes). The band, Gaston (bass/vocals), Matias (guitar) and Pato (drums) really play well together on this album showcasing a strong bond that's obvious on tracks like "Westerlies" and "Ciclon". They have gotten the pop/punk style down to a science and they're not afraid to wear their heart on their sleeve with intensity and drive.

Whether the band is singing in Spanish or in English, you'll be singing along in no time. It's just that good and catchy. I could see this band playing on a bill with Millencolin , Teenage Bottlerocket and NOFX and fitting right in. Greatness speaks for itself even if it's in a language you may not be familiar with. But don't take my word for it. Check out Lili Champ on your own and let the music speak for itself. This is by far one of the best albums I've heard this year. Good job gentlemen!

4 ½ / 5 stars

 

Music Reviews: The Wrong Boyfriends - "Wrong Fucking Century Darling"

Being able to write reviews has given me access to so many bands from all over the world. I'm grateful to get the chance to hear bands I may not have had the chance to hear otherwise. And The Wrong Boyfriends are one of those bands. They are a cool band from Helensburgh, Scotland who play what I would consider 60's inspired punk rock. Others may not be able to categorize the bands sound. But I'll do my best to describe it as such.

The bands newest album "Wrong Fucking Century Darling" is 13 tracks of garage rock, post punk and hardcore music mixed together to make an exciting album. The album kicks off with the instrumental "Le Chroma". It features jangly distorted guitars, an easy mellow back beat and even some mild keyboards just for good measure. If upon hearing this track you think that this is the what the rest of the album will sound like, you're dead wrong. It goes into the next track "Boats" with it's "I Wanna Be Your Dog" sounding guitar attack and Stooges sounding vocal approach that's a complete 180 degree turn from the opener. You can see this band takes it's influences seriously on this album.

"Dreadnought" is by far the heaviest track on the album. Riff heavy and angry, this song is a standout for all you hardcore fans out there who only want in your face and pissed off music. But the band, Sean (vocals/guitar), Peter (bass) and Dom (drums), are not afraid to take on post punk with songs like "These Days", "Scientist" and "Coming Up For Air". There's even the Lou Reed sounding "Taking Turns On Sharon" which is kinda twisted lyrically, but musically brilliant. But even with trying to have a sound all their own, the influence is noticeable on most of these tracks which can be either a blessing or a curse depending on who the listener is. Between the groove heavy riffs, keyboards and just an all around garage style sound, the band definitely has a modern sound with 60's swing, which I think is kinda cool. Garage rock will never go out of style if done right.

I never had a problem with bands using their musical influences as a blueprint for their own originality. As long as it's not an apparent ripoff, it's flattering. But next time around I wanna hear more original and less of what's already available from The Wrong Boyfriends. I can hear the talent they possess. I just hope they can break out and truly make a record that all their own. All in all "Wrong Fucking Century Darling" isn't a bad record. The playing is great and the lyrics are quite good. If handled properly, this band could be really big.

 

3 ½ / 5 stars

Music Reviews: The Jackhammers - "Give 'Em Enough Dope"

Punk rock has had many different styles over the years. But the best punk rock is when a band simply plugs into an amp, hits the distortion pedal and just goes nuts playing loud and being obnoxious. It's just a basic animalistic instinct with true punk rockers. If people get it, cool. If not, even better! Glasgow's The Jackhammers play old school punk rock. Loud, fast, obnoxious, vulgar. The kinda punk that would make your parents think you've lost your mind. And I like it!

The bands newest album is called "Give 'Em Enough Dope". The title is a knock off of the second album by the Clash. But the sound is more 80's aggro in it's sound and presentation than The Clash were. But at the same time they tip the hat to bands like the Sex Pistols and The Damned on songs like "Punk Rules" and "Tourettes Lautrec". These are classic distortion driven songs that make you clench your fists and scream out loud in excitement. Get ready people, it's about to get rowdy in here!

The band, Jim Shit (vocals/bass), Andy Drankit (drums), Horace Cockpuppet (guitar) and Albert Scunge (guitar) play hard and keep it simple with 3 chord punk anthems like the 70's sounding "Flesh Gridlock" and "Bingo Wings Breakout". But they also have enough aggressive angst to spit out tunes with titles like "Used Rubber" and "The World Is My Toilet". It may be 2012, but these lads are still pissed off, ripped off and screwed by the world around them. And they don't care who knows or what you think about it! That is the sign of classic in your face punk rock. The sound that brought it into the world in the first place.

They wanna get the pit started with "Retard Masterplan" and it's none stop elbows and knuckles the rest of the way. The album is definitely made to slam to. It makes you feel the anger and frustration that they feel on tracks like "Bags Of Dogshit" and "You're All Dead". If you can't take it raw and in your face, I would suggest staying away from this album. If you can still get down and dirty slamming in the pit and raising your fist in unison, this album is for you. 

Lets face it, punk rock was never meant to be homogenized and kid friendly (take that Billie Joe Armstrong). It was meant to let society know that we're individuals who have a right to say, think and feel what we want. And let it be known that we WON'T conform to things we don't feel comfortable with. We have a voice and we're gonna use it to let you know what we think is wrong with the world. That way of thinking and punk rock in general may have gone to the dogs in recent years, but it's refreshing to see bands like The Jackhammers are around reminding us that this style and attitude is still alive and kicking.

 4 / 5 stars