Game Review: Brütal legend

Yes I know this is a music blog, but anybody who enjoys metal music will be interested in the new game from Tim Schafer. The game is essentially heavy metal compressed into one world, and you control Eddie Riggs (named after Iron Maiden's mascot, Eddie, and the artist who created him, Derek Rigs) voiced by Jack Black, and you have been transported to this world to save them from the dark powers taking control.

It is a sandbox game (like GTA but...) and you can travel round the huge map and embark on a whole array of side quests, gaining points to buy upgrades. The soundtrack is pure heavy metal, with a huge soundtrack to keep any metal head pleased. There are cameos from Lemmy (off of Motorhead), Rob Halford (off of Judas Priest) and Ozzy Osbourne (Off of Ozzy Osbourne...and Black Sabbath) just to name a few.

All of this should be enough to make any metal fan's mouth water, but I will issue one warning, if you don't like RTS games, you may have issues with this. The game turns into an action RTS about an hour in, and the gameplay changes for many of the main quests. It's still the same fighting gameplay, but you can fly around and command your troops to destroy enemy merch booths and stages. It sort of comes out of the blue for people not expecting it, especially as this aspect is barely mentioned in the previews and interviews.

If you enjoy heavy metal, open world action, and RTS type games, then this game is very much worth your money. If you enjoy any 2 out of those 3, then buy all means get this game. It is alot of fun and the soundtrack leaves little to be desired. I just feel the game could be improved by a more action based style rather than an RTS.

Rating: 8/10

Album Review: Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions

As many of you may agree, there are in fact 2 Biffy Clyros. The first is old school Biffy as heard on Blackened Sky, The Vertigo of Bliss and Infinity Land. The other is Puzzle Biffy (as heard on the album Puzzle if my naming doesn't point that out).

I say this because Puzzle had a very different sound to the first 3 albums. Many old-school fans have stated that Puzzle is far too mainstream. They have a fair point, as Puzzle has a very radio friendly sound with songs such as Folding Stars earning them mainstream fame. Many Biffy Clyro fans felt alienated by this change in direction (I personally love the album, as well as older Biffy).

This has left the band with a bit of a dilemma in which direction to go. Do they stick with the mainstream sound and continue their mainstream success, or do they go back to the old sound and please their longer standing fan base.

In there new album, Only Revolutions, they seem to have decided to try and please both sets of fans. There are very Puzzle-esque songs such as The Captain, That Golden Rule and Mountains, but the album is also full of albums that would fit very well into their older albums, such as Bubbles, Born On A Horse, and God & Satan.

This approach works on the level that every Biffy fan will have songs on this album which they will enjoy (and they will, this is both Biffys at their best). However the album only works as a whole if you like both the mainstream and non-mainstream sounds. I personally do, and think that this is a very good album, although it's hard to shake the feeling that Biffy have sat on the fence a little bit. If you like everything Biffy Clyro have done up to this point, then buy this album, you won't be disappointed. However, it's hard to recommend the album to anyone else. Maybe get the songs that suit you from itunes.

I love this album and feel it has many great tracks, but I feel that I am unable to recommend it to everyone, so that damages the overall score

Rating: 8/10
Stand out songs: The Captain, That Golden Rule, Mountains, Born On A Horse, Many of Horror

Get a free Spotify account - No invites required

You may have heard of Spotify, it's a great service which allows you to listen to free music legally, with short adverts played after so-many songs. This is great as it allows you to listen to all the albums and songs you want without worrying about your favourite bands frowning in your face.

If you visit the Spotify home page it will inform you that for a free account you need an invite. This is a fabrication and they are dirty liars (Well actually I think this is a loophole, but whatever).

All you need to do is follow this link and you can fill in your details and download Spotify right now.

Happy Listening!

Album Review: Rammstein - Liebe ist für alle da

As you may know I have already done a review of the music video for Rammstein's "Pussy" (Wasn't so much a review as me pointing out that it was hardcore pornography). Well now their 6th studio album has been released, and what can I say, the album is absolutely fantastic.

Liebe ist fur alle da (Translates as "Love is there for everyone if wikipedia is to be trusted, my German is a little rusty) delivers everything you could ever want from a Rammstein album, from immense sounding orchestras, to catchy heavy riffs, to the odd slow song, this album is simply Rammstein showing us what they do best.

The album opens with "Rammlied", with an opening that sounds like a tense scene from a horror movie, until a choir begins singing. Then Till Lindemann's vocals add to the intensity, until the thunder of drums and guitar hit you with a shout of "Ramm Stein!" This sets the tone for the rest of the album. From the heavy riffs of "Pussy" and the album's title track, to the softer "Fruhling in Paris" and "Roter Sand", this album has everything you want for a Rammstein album. As Rammstein say: "Ich brauche mehr!" (I don't know what that means but it's probably awesome).

Rating: 9/10
Stand out tracks:Rammlied, Fruhling in Paris, Pussy

Album Review: Kiss - Sonic Boom

In 2008 Kiss surprised the world with an unexpected u-turn when they announced their first studio album in 11 years, after years of denying that they would be returning to the studio. On October 6th they released Sonic Boom.

If you want an album that is bursting with originality then I'm afraid this isn't it. Don't get me wrong, this is a very solid album, it just does nothing new that hasn't been done in previous Kiss albums. What you get is classic Kiss, with heavy riffs, melodic singing, and more guitar solos than you can shake a stick at (although not many people shake sticks at guitar solos). If you're a fan of Kiss, then buy this album, you won't be disappointed, but non-fans won't find anything to convert them that isn't done better in previous albums.

With Sonic Boom, Kiss have not reinvented the wheel, but they've kept the wheel rolling in classic Kiss style.

Rating: 8/10
Stand out songs: Modern Day Delilah, Russian Roulette, Stand, All For The Glory

10 albums you should get right now (unless you already have them obviously)

Here is a list you've probably read a million times before on a million different websites, with a billion times less exaggeration. But I figured this wouldn't be a music blog without me listing 10 albums that I feel are just wonderful. If you feel this post is too long, then feel free just to scroll through and maybe check out my stand out song for each (but don't leave it to me to give you permission, although I'm flattered if you did). Here they are, in to particular order:

Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape

The second album from Dave Grohl's Foo Fighters is by far their best effort. "Monkey Wrench", "Hey Johnny Park" and "My Hero" are all songs that are loved by all Foo Fighters fans. However, it is "Everlong" which makes this album stand out. It is the Foo Fighters at their very best, their Stairway To Heaven if you will.
Stand out song - Everlong

Pink Floyd - The Wall

Ask anyone what their favourite Pink Floyd album usually the answer will be Dark Side Of The Moon, which is a very valid answer, as it is a truly great album. The Wall, however, is a much more experimental album. It also has a theme of isolation, symbolised by the wall, which runs through the entire album, which is considerably longer than DSOTM. The album is an experience as much as it is enjoyable. "Another Brick In The Wall (Part II)" is arguably the most well known Pink Floyd song. However, "Comfortably Numb" is the stand out track for me, the song i find myself going back to the most on this album.
Stand out song - Comfortably Numb

AC/DC - Back In Black

After the death of singer Bon Scott, it seemed like it was the end of the road for Aussie rockers AC/DC. However, the band remained strong, bringing in replacement singer Brian Johnson. Their comeback album was the classic Back In Black. Brian Johnson has a very similar singing style to Bon Scott's, allowing the band to keep the same sound that had made them so successful. "Hell's Bells" opens the album with the chimes of a church bell, before the sound of Angus Young's guitar kicks in, a really epic opening. The title track "Back In Black" is by far the most well known AC/DC track, with the reassuring lyric "forget the hearse 'cause I never die" showing that Johnson will live forever and therefore the band will never need another replacement. "You Shook Me All Night Long" though is probably my personal favourite AC/DC song.
Stand out song - You Shook Me All Night Long

The Beatles - Abbey Road

Possibly the most notorious album artwork in history. Why Is Paul McCartney wearing no shoes or socks? Is it because he's dead?(Craziest conspiracy theory ever) It's hard to come out with a stand out song, because this is an album I prefer to listen to in its entirety. However, I will choose "Octopus's Garden", because it's mental.
Stand out song - Octopus's Garden

Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have had so many great albums it's hard to pick just one for this list. Californication ran close to being on the list, but this album packs a bit more punch in my opinion. The title track "By The Way" and "Can't Stop" are both fast paced songs which translate well live, and the song also features slower more emotional songs such as "Dosed" and "Tear", with many great tracks in between. This album contains everything that is great about the Chili Peppers
Stand out song - By The Way

Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet

Bon Jovi's most commercially successful album is a true classic, featuring many of the bands greatest songs. "You Give Love A Bad Name", "Livin' On A Prayer" and "Wanted Dead Or Alive" are 3 of the biggest hits from the band, and all feature on this album, as well as a number of other tracks which are still consistently played live
Stand out song - Livin' On A Prayer

Journey - Escape

If you've gotten this far in your life without hearing "Don't Stop Believin'", then I suggest you open the link below immediately (in a new tab so you can keep reading this compelling post). One of the most singalonable (pretty sure that's a word) songs of all time, everyone who's ever heard it seems to know all the lyrics. The album also features Journey classics "Stone In Love", "Who's Crying Now" and "Open Arms"
Stand out song - Don't Stop Believin'

Green Day - Dookie

Green Day hit their most commercial success with "American Idiot", but 10 years earlier they had released "Dookie", an album that had huge success. The album is a Green Day sound that is long dead in the more recent albums. More punk oriented, this album features the classic tracks "Basket Case", "Longview", and "When I Come Around". This is one of the stand-out punk albums of the 90s.
Stand out song - Basket Case

Queen - A Night At The Opera

"Bohemian Rhapsody". There are many great things I can say about this album, nut just leaving the previous 2 words would probably be enough to justify this album's inclusion on this list. "You're my best friend" and "39" are also great tracks which stand out on this album, although it's hard to say they stand out when there are so many great tracks from start to finish.
Stand out song - Bohemian Rhapsody

Faith No More - The Real Thing

A band that are often overlooked when discussing influential bands, Faith No More are one of the most influential bands in modern rock music, kicking of the wave of nu metal, paving the way for bands such as Limp Bizkit, Korn and Linkin Park. And if Wikipedia is to be trusted (which it usually isn't) Metallica and Guns N Roses have both cited Faith No More as one of their favourite bands [citation probably needed]. This album is their most successful, featuring the tracks "Epic" and "From out of Nowhere", it's a definite must-listen if you haven't already.
Stand out song - Epic

My views on piracy

The big topic when discussing music on the internet is always going to be piracy. Ever since the days of napster, people have only ever been a few clicks away from owning any song they wish to get their hands on. It is my (somewhat controversial) opinion that this is a good thing. It allows me to hear albums that I otherwise would never. I still buy music, and i still attend concerts. I am spending the same amount of money on music that I would without piracy, only I have a much broader music collection, and am paying for concert tickets that otherwise I would not. I feel that piracy is aiding artists by massively increasing their fan bases, and these artists are only going to alienate their fans by voicing against it.

This article discusses the war on piracy led by Lily Allen, James Blunt and Tincy Stryder, all of whom have lots of money and have all been number one in the UK singles chart, and if I'm voicing my opinion, have done nothing for the music industry other than follow the pop template to please the masses who purchase singles, and also their record labels who pretty much set up this template. Against them are the Featured Artists' Coalition (FAC), which includes members of Pink Floyd, Radiohead and Blur. Pink Floyd who played a leading roll in experimental rock music, and Radiohead and Blur who both carried it on throughout the 90s and are both going strong today, and any one member of these bands has more talent in their little finger than the previously mentioned artists combined, but that is just my opinion.

So to summarise my opinion on piracy, I support it, and think it is a positive thing. The record industry has not lost any money from me, because I have the same budget on music purchases as i would otherwise. I also fully support the FAC in their bid to use piracy as a tool, rather than see it as an evil.

If you agree or disagree with anything I have said in this post, I'd love to hear from you, just clickity click on the comment button and discuss.

New Rammstein Video - Pussy

Let's kick things off with my take on the new Rammstein song and video. Now usually I would post a link to the video, but it features adult content. And by adult content I mean the video is basically not much more than hardcore pornography (It can be viewed in all its glory here, but obviously this is NSFW), The song is charmingly named "pussy" (I'm assuming it's about Till Lindemann's pet cat, although the lyrics massively contradict this assumption). The song itself is very good, with the classic Rammstein style, both heavy and epic. The uncensored video will blatantly not reach out much beyond the Internet, as it shows pornography that would make most adult TV channels blush. The most safe assumption to make is that the video is intended to shock, which it is successful in doing. The video features the band members as stereotypical porn characters, each having sex with a different woman. The footage starts as foreplay, but builds into a crescendo of hardcore shots including ejaculation. Now you don't get that in a Take That video, do you?

The cliche first post

Hi all, just a post to say what this blog is all about. I will be posting music reviews, my thoughts on music news, and just general chit-chat about anything relationg to the music world. Hopefully It'll be good enough so that some people will read it and not say "My dear lord this is terrible...". Stay tuned.