I've spent about a week working out what I should write in this post, I've wanted to write about this band for a long time, so hopefully I do them justice! Any comments on my writing or on your own opinion on the band are welcome!
Riverside
Similar Bands include Porcupine Tree, Wolverine, Spoke's Beard
Formed in 2001 by Piotr Kozieradzki and Piotr Grudziński, Riverside are a polish, progressive band who have released 3 successful albums and have made a great impression on the progressive rock scene. However, although they have clearly made a big impact on most of Europe, I have seen very little of them over here is the UK. So I've decided to write a little bit about them in the hope of promoting them over here a little bit.
History (Referenced from Official website, http://www.riverside.art.pl/en/biography)
Riverside currently consist of Mariuzs Duda- Bass, Vocal, Piotr Grudzinski- Guitar, Piotr Kozieradzki- Drums, Michal Lapaj- Keyboards. Riverside released a self titled EP in March 202, the recording and issue was self funded. This EP consists of some of, in my opinion, the best tracks the band has released including “Out of Myself” and “The Curtain Falls”. This is where the band started to build an identity for themselves and developed a very individual sound. They then went on to release their first album “Out of Myself” in April 2004 through Mystic Production and Laser's Edge. “Second Life Syndrome” was released in 2005 witch was followed by “Rapid Eye Movement” and then “Anno Domini High Definition” in 2009. The band have also released several singles and EP's over the years including “Loose Heart” (2003) and “Panic Room” (2007).
Both Piotr Grudzinski and Piotr Kozieradzki were part of small time metal bands for many years before they decided to form Riverside in 2001. Both men had ambitions to play music that were more melodic and ambitious but still with some metallic sounding groves. Mariuzs Duda has a very broad taste in music, and has never believed in restricting himself to one particular style. Duda joined Riverside with an impressive musical portfolio, having previously played keyboards in progressive band Xanadu, Duda was also skilled on the Bass, guitar and had an excellent singing voice. As soon as he demonstrated these skills the band new that he would be an invaluable asset to them. Mariuzs Duda also has his own solo project, "Lunatic Soul" witch is definitely worth checking out.
Music
Riverside have a very distinctive sound. There is never a time in any of their tracks where an instrument or part is redundant. Even if they are not always in the fore ground, everyone of the musicians knows their place in the music and how they fit and, and each part is equally as important as the next. The band have experimented with many different styles ranging from quiet, ambient, instrumental pieces to angry, emotional and melodic metal tracks. This is certainly a mix that is uncommon in today's music scene, but Riverside have found a way to make this unorthodox mixture work in an incredible fashion. Every album taking you on an epic emotional adventure starting with anger, moving to despair before taking us to hopefulness and joy. And this is why I think they are a band should have more promotion in this country, they are an excellent band with some crazy and yet brilliant ideas about music.
Second Life Syndrome is one of my personal favourite albums. This is because the music in this album is so diverse, and emotional, not just in the lyrics, but in the music, in the sounds used and the vocal technique. Every track in this album tells its own story, and when you listen to the music you feel like you are a part of that story, that you are there with the band, sharing their experiences, their angry, their sadness and their happiness. This is something that is common with many other progressive bands, bands like Rush and King Crimson also use music to tell stories often folk story's and ancient myths. What separates Riverside from these bands is that although the band took influence from these bands, Riverside do not sound like these bands. I think that this is mostly down to modern technology, and the bands own personalities. Riverside use a very clear and electronic sound on the guitar during their heavier songs, along with a hard but distinctive distorted sound witch gives them their edge and aggression. The keyboard sound is very modern and flowing, often used as an atmospheric background to some of the band's more sinister tracks, but also taking some amazing lead lines in some of the tracks. I really enjoy listening to Second Life Syndrome as a whole album, one of the harder tracks of the album “Artificial Smile” really demonstrates what I am trying to get across about the anger and aggression in some of Riverside's tracks. The track opens with a fast tempo guitar riff before the whole and join in to make a huge sound to almost a violent feel to the song. Although Duda started the track with a melodic vocal line, the emotion is clear in his lyrics and as the track continues his voices hardens into a furious growl. In the middle of the track there is a soft instrumental part where Piotr Grudziński takes the lead. “Conceiving You” is one of the softer tracks on the album. It starts with a slightly eerie sounding piano line with Duda singing over the top. The song appears to be about someone or something that causes the character great pain, but and the same time, loves them very deeply. The track gives a very ambient feel, and it is very easy to just sit back into this track and to just feel the music.
Conclusion
In my opinion, Riverside are a unique and very talented band, they are well worth listening to if you are a fan of prog- rock, or are just in search of something new to listen to. Ill leave you with this music video of “Panic Room”. This track will give you a feel for the band better that I ever could! Enjoy.
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Faith No More
Faith No More have been one of my favourite acts for years, so I've decided to write a bit about them, and the reasons why I like them so much and why I think they are well worth listening to.
Dubbed the God Fathers of nu-metal, the band have pioneered their own sound, a heavy mix of metal and funk. Releasing 7 albums over 12 years, and several successful singles such as “Epic” , “Evidence” and “Ashes To Ashes” the band were a long standing hit. They were well known for their eccentric live performances witch were often off the wall. Towards the end of the 90's, the members started to become more involved with other projects, before the band eventually spilt up in April 1988. The band went off in their own directions, but after 11 years, the band decided to get together again, reform the band, and go on a world tour.
One of the reasons that I love Faith No More is that they are so different from any other band, you only need to listen to one track to notice that. But it is not just individual tracks that set them out from the crowd. Over the many albums and singles that they have release, FNM have covered a world of completely different styles, covers and originals. For example, one of their biggest ever hits, was “Epic”. A heavy metal song with a slow grove, heavy distorted guitar, Hard hitting drums, old school rapping and, for want of a better work, an epic chorus. However another one of their biggest hits was “Evidence”. This song is more of a pop funk feel, with tasty guitars licks, a relaxed grove between the drums and bass, and with Mike Patton singing in a deep soft tone. If you listened to the two tracks one after the other, you wouldn't believe that they were the same band. And this is what I think makes FNM so special, because nobody else is doing anything like that.
FNM are best know for their heavier tracks, so I really think I should talk about them. Their heavier tracks are certainly very different from anyone else's. There is much more grove, and a sound that not many other bands use, witch is the mix of distorted guitars, and an electric keyboard. This technique creates a big wall of sound which is almost deafening live but it brings the music to life and everyone listening can feel that. Some of the tracks that they use this technique in are “Everything's Ruined”, “Kindergarten” and “Epic”.
One of the other things that set FNM apart from other metal groups, it that they heavily incorporate the use of Dynamics and grove in their music. A really good example of this, and one of my all time favourite tracks, is “Ashes to Ashes”. The tracks starts with a distorted guitar, on its its own, playing the main riff. The guitar drops out after 4 bars, as the band come in to start the verse. Consequently the volume goes right down and a mellow grove comes in. The keys sit underneath the vocalist, who is singing softly anyway. The guitar comes in during the verse, quietly echoing the main riff. And the pre-chorus comes in, the whole band start to crescendo and the heavy riff comes in before hitting the chorus where everyone plays as loud as they can making a big sound and then dropping down again for the verse. This makes the track so much more exciting, and interesting to listen to. And live it builds up an incredible atmosphere and then climaxing in the chorus's.
I had the pleasure of seeing FNM live at Download festival last year, and it was one of the most electric and energetic shows that I have ever been to. Even though it had been eleven years since they last performed, they still managed to get everybody moving, the atmosphere was incredible and FNM's performance was excellent and the band defiantly still had a sense of humour.. Possible the best show I have ever been to.
There is so much i could write about them, so much more that i want to. And i probably will. But for the moment, im going to leave you with this video of them performing "Caffeine" at download when i saw them.
Dubbed the God Fathers of nu-metal, the band have pioneered their own sound, a heavy mix of metal and funk. Releasing 7 albums over 12 years, and several successful singles such as “Epic” , “Evidence” and “Ashes To Ashes” the band were a long standing hit. They were well known for their eccentric live performances witch were often off the wall. Towards the end of the 90's, the members started to become more involved with other projects, before the band eventually spilt up in April 1988. The band went off in their own directions, but after 11 years, the band decided to get together again, reform the band, and go on a world tour.
One of the reasons that I love Faith No More is that they are so different from any other band, you only need to listen to one track to notice that. But it is not just individual tracks that set them out from the crowd. Over the many albums and singles that they have release, FNM have covered a world of completely different styles, covers and originals. For example, one of their biggest ever hits, was “Epic”. A heavy metal song with a slow grove, heavy distorted guitar, Hard hitting drums, old school rapping and, for want of a better work, an epic chorus. However another one of their biggest hits was “Evidence”. This song is more of a pop funk feel, with tasty guitars licks, a relaxed grove between the drums and bass, and with Mike Patton singing in a deep soft tone. If you listened to the two tracks one after the other, you wouldn't believe that they were the same band. And this is what I think makes FNM so special, because nobody else is doing anything like that.
FNM are best know for their heavier tracks, so I really think I should talk about them. Their heavier tracks are certainly very different from anyone else's. There is much more grove, and a sound that not many other bands use, witch is the mix of distorted guitars, and an electric keyboard. This technique creates a big wall of sound which is almost deafening live but it brings the music to life and everyone listening can feel that. Some of the tracks that they use this technique in are “Everything's Ruined”, “Kindergarten” and “Epic”.
One of the other things that set FNM apart from other metal groups, it that they heavily incorporate the use of Dynamics and grove in their music. A really good example of this, and one of my all time favourite tracks, is “Ashes to Ashes”. The tracks starts with a distorted guitar, on its its own, playing the main riff. The guitar drops out after 4 bars, as the band come in to start the verse. Consequently the volume goes right down and a mellow grove comes in. The keys sit underneath the vocalist, who is singing softly anyway. The guitar comes in during the verse, quietly echoing the main riff. And the pre-chorus comes in, the whole band start to crescendo and the heavy riff comes in before hitting the chorus where everyone plays as loud as they can making a big sound and then dropping down again for the verse. This makes the track so much more exciting, and interesting to listen to. And live it builds up an incredible atmosphere and then climaxing in the chorus's.
I had the pleasure of seeing FNM live at Download festival last year, and it was one of the most electric and energetic shows that I have ever been to. Even though it had been eleven years since they last performed, they still managed to get everybody moving, the atmosphere was incredible and FNM's performance was excellent and the band defiantly still had a sense of humour.. Possible the best show I have ever been to.
There is so much i could write about them, so much more that i want to. And i probably will. But for the moment, im going to leave you with this video of them performing "Caffeine" at download when i saw them.
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Sonic Boom Six
Ive decided to start reviewing some of my favourite bands, of course this will be my own personal opinion of the groups, and it will be based on the material i have (i only have 2 Sonic Boom Six Albums even though i know they have released more than that). So im going to start by reviewing sonic boom six, I am going to review one of the albums that i do have, im not going to talk about every track, just some of the tracks that stand out to me, and why i think the album is really worth buying.
Arcade Perfect, Released October 24th 2007
This album is one of my all time favourite albums, I can listen to this album again and again. I love this album because each track is very idividual and has is own character but at the same time they are all unmistakably Sonic Boom Six. The band have a sound like no other band that i know of, they have mixed a heavy modern punk sound, with rap, reggae and electronic. This is so refreshing to here, particularly with todays music scene.
"While You Were Sleeping" is one of the heavier tracks on the album. the track starts with a dirty sounding punk riff on the guitar before the rest of the band join in on the accents making a really impacting introduction to the song. After that energetic intro the band then settle into a really nice clean grove and the vocalist comes in. I love this song because the music really fits the emotion in the lyrics and the story that is told in the song. Well the vocalist opens with "while You were Sleeping" in the first verse, the grove is soft and the vocal tone is quite gentle, almost although the band are trying to put you into an uneasy sleep. As the verse progresses, the track becomes more layered building up towards the heavy chorus. When the chorus comes in the heavy guitars come in and the vocalist becomes much louder and angrier as the true nature of the track is revealed. This is a track that really goes down well live because it goes from having really high energy to a chilled out verse giving the audience a chance to get into the track before the energy returns and people can really start jumping. The second verse is double time and the lyrics are a darker "Whilst you were sleeping, they riffle through your draws, While you were sleeping, was no concern of yours". The band reflect on this with distorted guitars underneath the lead vocals and slightly sinister sounding backing vocals underneath before leaping back into the chorus.
"Mean While Back In The Real World" starts with an epic introduction with a load horn section, distorted guitars and some great drum fills. The verse is really upbeat with a ska feel and rapping from the vocalist, accenting the last few words of every verse with horns and cymbals. The track is filled with really nice groves between verses, some really good skanking guitars and some very heavy sections. This song is clearly very angry and political and that is shown in the music and the lyrics. There is a really good horns break in the middle witch works really nicely. This song is really fun to play along to on the drums and if you've herd it a few times, it really hard not to sing along with the lyrics.
Sound Of a revolution is another that stands out from the others. This tracks starts with rapping from the lead vocalist over a grove between the drummer and the bassist underneath. And the track takes off with the famous punk rock phrase "F*** You I WONT DO WHAT YOU TELL ME". The grove continues with horns being added on the off beat giving the track more a a ska feel before the distorted punk rock guitars come in to make a heavy chorus. In the second verse one of the other member s of the band takes over on the rapping witch gives the track some good variety. If you are a ska/Punk fan this a really good track to listen to and i would definitely recommend giving this band a try.
Conclusion
It is very difficult for me write about the album as a whole because every song is different but i am going to attempt it!. This album has a very distinctive sound, it ranges from a very modern and tight punk sound to a mellow reggae sound right the way through to rap and electronic. And yet, the whole thing put together makes a surprisingly brilliant sound. This band arn't for everyone, but they are worth trying, and they put on a fantastic live show and are certainly worth seeing.
Arcade Perfect, Released October 24th 2007
This album is one of my all time favourite albums, I can listen to this album again and again. I love this album because each track is very idividual and has is own character but at the same time they are all unmistakably Sonic Boom Six. The band have a sound like no other band that i know of, they have mixed a heavy modern punk sound, with rap, reggae and electronic. This is so refreshing to here, particularly with todays music scene.
"While You Were Sleeping" is one of the heavier tracks on the album. the track starts with a dirty sounding punk riff on the guitar before the rest of the band join in on the accents making a really impacting introduction to the song. After that energetic intro the band then settle into a really nice clean grove and the vocalist comes in. I love this song because the music really fits the emotion in the lyrics and the story that is told in the song. Well the vocalist opens with "while You were Sleeping" in the first verse, the grove is soft and the vocal tone is quite gentle, almost although the band are trying to put you into an uneasy sleep. As the verse progresses, the track becomes more layered building up towards the heavy chorus. When the chorus comes in the heavy guitars come in and the vocalist becomes much louder and angrier as the true nature of the track is revealed. This is a track that really goes down well live because it goes from having really high energy to a chilled out verse giving the audience a chance to get into the track before the energy returns and people can really start jumping. The second verse is double time and the lyrics are a darker "Whilst you were sleeping, they riffle through your draws, While you were sleeping, was no concern of yours". The band reflect on this with distorted guitars underneath the lead vocals and slightly sinister sounding backing vocals underneath before leaping back into the chorus.
"Mean While Back In The Real World" starts with an epic introduction with a load horn section, distorted guitars and some great drum fills. The verse is really upbeat with a ska feel and rapping from the vocalist, accenting the last few words of every verse with horns and cymbals. The track is filled with really nice groves between verses, some really good skanking guitars and some very heavy sections. This song is clearly very angry and political and that is shown in the music and the lyrics. There is a really good horns break in the middle witch works really nicely. This song is really fun to play along to on the drums and if you've herd it a few times, it really hard not to sing along with the lyrics.
Sound Of a revolution is another that stands out from the others. This tracks starts with rapping from the lead vocalist over a grove between the drummer and the bassist underneath. And the track takes off with the famous punk rock phrase "F*** You I WONT DO WHAT YOU TELL ME". The grove continues with horns being added on the off beat giving the track more a a ska feel before the distorted punk rock guitars come in to make a heavy chorus. In the second verse one of the other member s of the band takes over on the rapping witch gives the track some good variety. If you are a ska/Punk fan this a really good track to listen to and i would definitely recommend giving this band a try.
Conclusion
It is very difficult for me write about the album as a whole because every song is different but i am going to attempt it!. This album has a very distinctive sound, it ranges from a very modern and tight punk sound to a mellow reggae sound right the way through to rap and electronic. And yet, the whole thing put together makes a surprisingly brilliant sound. This band arn't for everyone, but they are worth trying, and they put on a fantastic live show and are certainly worth seeing.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
End of the first year!
Well here i am, ive finished my first year of my degree at solent university. I have had one of the most fantastic years of my life, I have learned so much and my playing and musicianship ship has improved greatly. Ive met some amazing people and worked with some brilliant musicians, and had some great times. I still have a long way to go to reach my dream, so i can't wait to start the second year. :) How ever, i have a great summer to look forward to, i'm going for a week's course at Drum-tech, im going to be having more drum lessons, going to gigs, writing reviews but mostly, Ill be working at the sporty again! Bring on the Summer! :)
Friday, 7 May 2010
First Post
Ive decided to start writing a blog to express my feelings and opinions and to record my progress through university and in the music industry. Hopefully, one day i will be able to look back on this, and see how far I've come from where i started. I'm going to use this blog to write about my favorite artists and musicians, and to review gigs and albums that I attend and listen to. I one day hope to be able to write about music, and drumming in particular, professionally. Maybe writing this blog will be a start.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)