Album Description

European edition of single for this smash from Trent's hit debut from 1989. Contains different cover art than the U.S. release & three mixes of 'Head Like A Hole': Slate, Copper &Opal, the last of which is not on the American release. 1990TVT release. Slimline jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Opalicious
Just leave the 'Opal' mix of Head Like A Hole on repeat and you will never tire of it. Definitely worth the extra bucks.

The people giving this 5 stars are liars
Pretty Hate Machine era remixes aren't good. This has basically the same junk that you're going to find on the 10 song Head Like A Hole remix album. This is really unnecessary even if you are a collector. I've been a NIN-fanatic for about 3-4 years and at one point in time I had everything they released because I felt the need to complete the whole set of Halo's. I was a NIN-sheep, what can I say. Don't make the same mistakes I did. Don't buy this.

Opal = Credibility
Can you believe that this came out in 1989???

Anyway, this single has a special place in my heart as I picked it up very early and it was on constant rotation before my performances as an actor. Yes, I could have put on the other Maxi-single version with like, 10 Head Like A Hole versions, but the Opal version, available only here, is really fantastic.

A credible, simply brilliant song and single, worth the dough even for medium-level NIN fans...

Yes, it is that good
I hate to say the exact same as everyone else... but I will anyway. Get this CD just for the "Opal Mix" - it is that good. Completely different - awesome.

Besides, look at the cover, isn't that just friggin' wild?!?!

Opal yourself!
True NIN fans would get this for their collection, mainly because the first two songs are on the US version of it. Thankfully, he chose the best two to put on the import version, along with a all new, awesome, dark remix of HLAH. This may remind you even of a Meat Beat Manifesto song, but without a doubt, it's a excellent cd for a NINie to own. ... Read more

Reviews (125)

Life On Display
From the very first notes of "Away From Me" to the proclamation that Wes has "Nothing Left To Lose" to the punked out "Cloud 9" and ending with the "Time Flies" song which is a tad like a Pink Floyd song Puddle of Mudd have made them selves a solid rock CD. Life on Display features the single "Away From Me" as it's first track and the second single from the CD " Heel Over Head"; however the other ten tracks deserve and demand your attention also. "Think" starts out with Wes Scantlin simplying telling the listener to "Wait....Wait....Wait....you never want to wait." Then asking the listener to "slow down stop and think..."
The punked out Cloud 9 track was actually written by Scantlin when he was a teenager. The CD is solid all around, the lyrics, the guitar playing by Paul Phillips is once again excellent, Doug Ardito has a great opening line in "Already Line" with his sumptuous base playing and of course last but never least Greg Upchurch can be heard throught out the disk banging the drums like an animal. I would highly recommend this CD to any and all.

One Of The BEST of 2003
I love this CD. It's my 2nd fave of 2003, behind Blink-182.

Away From Me: Great lead off single. The most aggresive song on the album. 5/5

Heel Over Head: Great song, not quite as good as Away From Me. 4/5

Nothing Left To Lose: The intro to this song is amazing. Then it gets better. 5/5

Change My Mind: It's really slow, and it really makes you think about what you're listening to. 4/5

Spin You Around: This is my least favorite song on the album, but I'm still giving it a 4. 4/5

Already Gone: This is the best song on the CD. It's very heavy just like Away From Me. 10/5

Think: Just like Change My Mind, this song makes you think. But for some reason I like this better. 5/5

Cloud 9: Great fast-paced song. I wasn't expecting something this fast. 6/5

Bottom: Great song. It reminds of Bottom of a Bottle by Smile Empty Soul. 5/5

Freak of the World: So many people can relate to this song it's not even funny. But I love this song. 7/5

Sydney: This is an amazing song. It blows my mind how well this song was done. 5/5

Time Flies: Another amazing song. It's the longest on the CD and you should appreciate all 7 minutes of it. 5/5

Major Improvements
This sophomore offering from PUDDLE OF MUDD will tell the tale of whether or not their fast track to fame will last. From listening to this album it would be fair to predict that they will continue to ride their wave of popularity. One of the most notable differences between this album and their debut is the concentration of sincerity. Songs with the lyrics "smack your ass" from the debut paved the way for them to become a more serious band. As many thought before, they were just out to have some fun and make some kick ass hard rock and roll. Now, with their second album, you will see a different, more driven aspect of their music. This doesn't detract from their engaging sound but it does shed light on their musical composition aptitude. Cuts on the album like "Spin you Around" and "Think" work well as driving, hard rock songs with just enough melody to keep you singing along. If it is at all possible to envision, take ALICE IN CHAINS harmonies and song constructs (obviously remove the darkness) but tune it up a notch and drop in vocals that will remind many of Kurt Cobain and that is right about where PUDDLE OF MUDD is. If you bought the first CD then there is no reason why you shouldn't buy the second one.

Pile of Crap
This album really pisses me off. PUDDLE OF MUDD proved how cool they were with their more than average debut "Come Clean", but now they just seem just really, really crappy.
"Life on Display" really starts out sounding incredibly promising with the lead single 'Away From Me'. My friends, this song ROCKS. The melody is SICK and ridiculously catchy, giving it a fabulous vibe that I simply love. After this song though, the album kinda capsizes.
'Heel Over Head' is, undeniably, a GOOD song. But there's just not much to the tone and emotion of the song, so that the song just feels empty and wasteful, and the whole time I long for the skip button, aching for something with some spirit...but, unfortunately, the rest of the album is about the same.
Some tracks, like 'Freak of the World' and 'Time Flies' are fun and a little catchy, but there's nothing about them or the entire record that is truly admirable and great. This album just annoys me now, to the point where I can't even look at the cover without gettin' pissed off.
So if you want an empty listening experience, pop this in and feel your mind ooze slooooooowly awaaay...

More irrelevant fourth-tier grunge
In this day and age, we don't expect rock and roll bands to reinvent the wheel. As long as they're competent musicians and songwriters and have maybe a trace of originality, I'm content with that. Which brings me to Puddle Of Mudd.

You want to talk about getting a lucky break? Frontman Wes Scantlin approached music industry impresario / reviled Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst with his demo tape, and evidently Durst liked what he heard enough to sign Puddle Of Mudd to his Flawless label. Come Clean came out in 2001, and let's put it this way - if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then these guys are clearly enamored with Nirvana and Alice In Chains. Musically they pretty much paid homage to these bands throughout the whole album, and went multi-platinum with their derivative sound.

Now comes their follow-up effort, Life On Display. Sophomore jinx? If you liked Come Clean, absolutely not - this much is true: They aren't fixing what isn't broken, hoping that they'll hit paydirt once again. I suppose you could call them consistent, and that's true to a degree.

But in all of their mimicry of the Seattle-area rockers, they forgot one important element that was great about those bands - the conviction and depth of the songs themselves. Say what you will about those bands, but they addressed song topics that were seldom covered before - they were a breath of fresh air when radio stations were mostly playing hair-metal bands and their songs boasting about partying and their prowess with the ladies.

Puddle Of Mudd's biggest flaw comes to light when you listen to the lyrics - with only a few exceptions ("Spin You Around", "Sydney"), they're all one-dimensional rants about ex-girlfriends that did them wrong., and they're all written in the banal prose of a high school dropout. The best lyrics can be a window to the writer's soul, and to that end we are to believe that Scantlin is "drowning in a pool of misery", that he is "the freak of the world", and that he's "gonna sink in the ocean". Sure Wes, but obviously that's nothing that wads of cash and an actress girlfriend can't fix, right? And we haven't even covered vacuous songs like "Think", "Spin You Around" (with the irritating chorus "If I saw you dancing / I would spin you around" repeated incessantly), or "Cloud 9" ("Trash, bash, kill myself, eat a bunch of trash / Trash, bash, get some cash and spend it on some drugs" - yeah, Wes, we can really feel your pain now). Scantlin tries to convince us that he's a tormented individual, but the lyrics are more likely to induce laughter than sympathy.

In summary: An unoriginal band that compounds it with ridiculous lyrics, Puddle Of Mudd are a band that borders on self-parody. They would be tolerable if they spent more time on their songs, but they sold so many albums before using the same lazy approach to songwriting, so why change now? You can do worse than this album, but you can also do far better. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The title of White Zombie's first mainstream success promises some good, trashy fun, and boy does this album deliver. White Zombie is not a nihilistic, the-world-is-rotten heavy metal band; on the contrary, one doubts that they're in danger of taking anything too seriously, and the humor is audible in every riff. La Sexorcisto is rife with distorted guitars, snippets of dialogue from horror movies, and songs about fast cars ("Black Sunshine"), loose women ("Grindhouse (A-Go-Go)"), and the generally weird. Don't think about it too hard; sit back, relax, pop a cool one and crank up the stereo until it shakes your ceiling. -- Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (325)

Orgee
This album is good, in a sense. I greatly enjoy it, but am happy I didn't buy it. (I downloaded it.) It takes a while to catch onto the songs... My first impression for most of the CD was more "Wtf? How can people love this so much?" But after listening to the songs repeatedly, I started to muster up a love for the whole album. Blue Monday, the first single, is a re-make of the New Order song, and is a more dance-able version, but really did not deserve to be a single, and I don't think it should've even been on the album. Remakes jsut shouldn't be on an album. Period. I adore the stong 'Stitches'. 'Fiend' and 'Fetisha' are really the only other 2 songs you instantly catch onto. The song 'Pantomime' flat down is the worst song they've done... 'Dizzy' is repetative, and redundant. And is only okay for the first 3 or so times.

I love Orgy's look, eyeshadow, eyeliner and funky hair. But they are (sadly) grouped in with Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Marylin Manson, when they really don't sound like them, and only are because they're with Korn's record label, Elementree.

I must admit, they are a semi-sellout band because of being assiociated with Korn and the likes... But Jay does have an interesting voice, and Amir with his G-synths makes for quite an interesting sound. Overall, I do enjoy their music, I just think they could have done a better job...

It's just sad when a band's on TRL for their first album, and then wins an MTV music award.

A breath of fresh air in this age of pop and rap metal
This album is one of the best ones that I own. I think that Orgy has serious lasting power and they won't just be a flash in the pan like most bands today. This cd has a very futuristic sound that I've never heard before. Like a hardrock-alternative-techno type sound. Jay Gordon has a great voice and he doesn't need to scream, he's an actual singer. The most unusual part of the band is Amir's g-synth, not too many people play that, and he can get some twisted sounds out of it. The strongest tracks on here are Stitches, Blue Monday (originally done by New Order in 1983), Gender, and Revival (with Jon Davis from Korn), but every track is good. I bought this at a used record store a few years back, but it's definitely worth every penny it costs to buy it new. I'd also recommend their next album, Vapor Transmission because half of it is already online and those songs are very good.

"Special Dirty Thing"
This CD served as my introduction to Orgy's music. Appropriate, in that it was their first full-length album. How could I have missed out on this music for the last six years? Orgy is capable of pulling together elements of hard rock, metal, synth-pop, and excellent, clean vocals so seamlessly and effortlessly. The lush array of instrumentation, rather than clash caustically, only serves to enhance the sumptuously dense listening experience. Though at times their messages may, at first glance, appear discordant and mottled, there are important statements to be discerned here. This band most certainly has something new and wonderful to offer the non-conformist music-appreciating public.

Jay Gordon is most certainly a noteworthy vocalist. He has the ability to portray the emotions of the lyrics without the yelling, screaming harsh vocals that seem to plague this genre of music today. I love his ability to sing in a deep, low, husky voice without sounding grating on the ears.

Though each song is notable in it's own right, some highlights on this album include:

Track 2; "Stitches" - One of my favorite songs on this album, and the first song I had ever heard by Orgy. Also the most radio-friendly.

Track 4; "Platinum" - One of the slower songs on the album, with superb instrumentation.

Track 7; "Blue Monday" - Excellent job of covering and updating the New Order song from the 80's!

Track 9; "All The Same" - One of the more guitar-driven songs on the album. Very powerful rhythm that will easily get stuck in your head.

This may have been my first CD by Orgy, but it most certainly was not my last. This CD is a must for any collection of gothic/industrial/synth collection. Overall, a breath of fresh air in a world of cookie-cutter music groups. Try to see them live if you get the chance, they rock!

Also recommended: Anything by gODHEAD!

Enjoyment emits from my soul
Dude, this is some really deviant artistic melodicious music.
Death Pop is the genre, of which they are the only band, and that's appropriate since their music undoubtebly cannot be categorized with any usual genre.

Just Download Blue Monday
I bought this CD a few years ago because I liked the cover of New Order's Blue Monday. It had a very aggressive, hard-hitting feel that was already behind the theme of the original song but not as forcefully in the original, synthesized delivery.

Imagine my surprise and dismay, then, when I discovered that, with the exception of that one recognizable track used to get people interested in Orgy, this CD serves best as a coaster on your coffee table. Track after track was just the same unmemorable garbage. The only good song was nestled in the middle of the junk, and it wasn't even Orgy's song! Don't get me wrong -- I like a lot of 90s synth-metal such as Ministry, Machines of Loving Grace, and NIN. But this CD was a total waste of (...) bucks. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Corrosive grooves, minimalist noise, and surreal banjo interludes make this weird and not very wonderful. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Sit around and have some Pork Soda children
This album is great. With all the bass, Les has to offer.Welcome to this world of great music.In my oppion, this album is one of a kind and a masterpiece. It's a combination of different kinds of music with Mr.Krinkle,My name is mud,Pork chops little ditty and more. Some people say it's not good like my brother and I say ''ok it's not good it's great''.It's the darkest album yet.I think their darkest song is My name is mud. I think thats 1 of the biggest reasons it's so dark and allong with Mr.Krikle and others. My brothers favorite song is Nature Boy. Mine is Mr.Krinkle. Hear it ,Primus,everyone thats heard knows persicely what I mean.Hats off and later days.

Primus' finest hour
One of the finest alternative rock albums of the 90s. Mixing the prog rock of King Crimson with the rock of Metallica and the funk of Stanley Clarke, Primus forged a unique sound that would only grow with each release, and this album is the finest selection the band has ever cut. Claypool's bass work is spot-on and brilliant (as usual), Ler Lalonde's guitar squawking fits better than on any other album, and Herb's drumming is as creative and exact as ever. The music is dark and percussive, with Claypool switching between basses constantly (he even sports an upright for three songs). There isn't a dull moment on the album, not even the bizarre transition pieces like Pork Soda and The Air Is Getting Slippery. The highlights include My Name Is Mud, DMV, and Mr. Krinkle, which feature classic Primus lyrical themes and the finest Claypool bass work to date. I would recommend this album to all music fans- not because it is perfect, but because it shows the beauty of a little imperfection.

Funked Up
This album is utterly weird, and rightfully so. After all, it is funk. Funk is a great genre; the problem is that it's not always executed in the best manner (Faith No More).

Primus are gods of music though. This is one amazing CD, from the hillbilly entrance to the rolling bass lines prevalent throughout; it's satire and art with insane musicianship backing it up.

It's hard to touch exactly what makes this CD so amazing, because it's so weird. But to give you an idea of what to expect - you have a standard band. There are drums, a guitar, a bass, and vocals. Les Claypool is the genius behind the vocals and Bass, and he's quite simply the most amazing slap bass player. The whole CD revolves around Les' slap, and he plays some of the craziest bass parts you will ever here. He does a lot of little bridges between his main bass lines, and they are all incredible.

Highlights on this CD include My Name Is Mud, Bob, DMV, The Ol' Diamondback Sturgeon, The Pressman, Mr. Krinkle, The Air Is Getting Slippery and Hamburger Train.

In my opinion, the best song on this CD is the excellently executed Mr. Krinkle. I'm sure many people have heard a classical bass before, but never like this. This is BY far, one of the best Primus songs.

This album reeks with talent, and weirdness. Before you shoot it down for not sounding like all the other stuff you hear nowadays, listen to all of it.

damn good
this cd is just good. bottom line. best primus cd ever.

Wow
What can you say about Primus?!?! I mean thier music is completely unique....they dont adhere to any scales/modes etc. They have thier own language and they do it superbly. Claypools bass playing is as pronounced as ever....but the tightness and musicianship of the other band members cant be overlooked. Fantastic. ... Read more

Album Description

Remastered reissue of their 1995 album along with bonus'Black Ash Inheritance' EP. Bonus tracks, 'Goliathas Disarm Their Davids', 'Gyroscope', 'Acoustic Medley' & 'BehindSpace'(Live). Digipak. Nuclear Blast America. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

In Flames I reside
One of their earlier albums, The Jester Race/Black-Ash Inheritance (a combination of a full-length album and an EP) remains my favorite in my now-complete In Flames collection. From the acoustic beginnings of the stunning song "Moonshield" (in my opinion, In Flames' best song to date), the five Swedes deliver an undeniably damn-near flawless performance with this one. It keeps one's attention through a balanced mix of heavy melodic "death" metal (I really hate calling it that, because death metal is such a bland, boring, and unimaginative subgenre in general) and mellow acoustic tunes, in a vein similar to fellow Swedish metal masters Opeth. But where Opeth makes long, epic songs with many tempo changes, In Flames' songs are typically average length with more predictable switches from the heaviness to the softer parts. The Gothenborg sound, originated by the band, may be a little difficult to get into, as it is somewhat of a primitive sound (deliberately, enhancing the atmosphere created by the music). In contrast to Opeth, In Flames concentrates more on heavy parts, whereas with Opeth, you often get a nearly equal balance of heavy & acoustic. Both schemes work well, and it's hard to decide which scenario is more appealing. Lyrically, In Flames is one of the more introspective bands, not focusing on satanism or killing religious people or any of that overdone and cliche [stuff]. Their lyrics make you think, and most people can relate to them. It's almost like a narration of life, albeit with somewhat of a dark twist thrown in at points.

So now, my faithful review-reader, I invite thee... open thy mind and check out In Flames today! If you're not a complete bonehead, you'll probably like what you hear (of course, if you don't like it, that doesn't necessarily make you a complete bonehead by default...).

Stunning
I'll dish out the standard. I am not a fan of death metal. I'm just not. I respect it as an art form, and a few bands have actually been able to take jarring, angular, noise and make it listenable(like Fear Factory or Cryptopsy). However, for the most part, death metal=yuck. Me+death metal=no. For the longest while, up until about last summer, I'd been hearing how great death metal was and how horrible nu-metal was and that people should check out bands like In Flames. Great, I said. Sure.

I listened to some samples of their music after curiosity pushed me to. I expected a wall of distorted sound coupled with blastbeats and Liquid Drano vocals to top it off. Instead, I got 30 seconds of perfection from the 3-minute masterpiece, "The Hive," courtesy of In Flames.

I am now a new man, exposed to melodic death metal and liking it for its amazing mix of folk music, acoustic guitar, occasional clean vocals, quality subject matter, melodic guitar, and awesome musicianship. In Flames' Jester Race is a perfect example, the very poster for what melodic death metal is.

The album kicks off with a Medieval-sounding acoustic jangle leading into "Moonshield," the opener. Other than a sweet, laid-back, solo, the song is pretty lackluster. Following it is the amazing instrumental, "The Jester's Dance," which has an addictive melody, and makes up for the previous song. Midtempo piledriver "Artifacts Of The Black Rain" comes next, and after hearing it, one will know why it is a highlight of the album. "Graveland" and "Lord Hypnos" are more average pieces, the latter being the better of the two simply for greater length and better executed guitar lines and acoustic-laden softer parts to serve as a dichotomy. "Dead Eternity" is my favorite song, for its blazing opening melody and amazing speed, hitting that of 80's thrash bands. The riff that comes in around 1:55 is worth the price of the whole album, and the solo is perfect. The title track is good for the first minute, while acoustic guitars provide a calm as a raging thrash riff builds in the background. However, the song soon becomes lackluster as well. "December Flower" is again amazing for its speed and has some more wonderful melodies. "Wayfaerer" is almost as good an instrumental as "The Jester's Dance," and has some keyboard effects, which greatly enhance the song, giving it an 80's feel. "Dead God In Me" is, sadly, also rather boring, but at least it has the speed to make up some.

The bonus tracks from the Black-Ash-Ineritance EP: "Goliaths Disarm Their Davids" is awesome. Similar riffs to "The Jester Race," but the chorus guitar line is far superior. "Gyroscope" is a classic song off Whoracle, "Behind Space" is a shoddy live recording of a classic song off Lunar Strain/Subterranean. The quality is bad, and the acoustic intro is missing. "Acoustic Medley" is just that--a medley of some of the main riffs from a hodgepodge of In Flames songs, done acoustically.

Special note goes out to the rhythm section, which is amazing in how tight it is. The lead guitarist, Jesper, is not the best guitarist in the world, and is nothing compared to Dave Mustaine, Chuck Schuldiner, or John Petrucci, but he writes better melodies and riffs than all of them put together, and gives each song its life and personality. The throat-man, Anders, also deserves recognition, simply because he doesn't try to emulate Cannibal Corpse, and takes on a Grover-esque growl rather than a Cookie Monster.

All in all, a great album. I am now convinced that melodic death is a welcome addition to my listening tastes, and the future of metal. I can feel it. For something heavier, and more interesting, with less fluid melodies, but a better singer and more epic songwriting, listen to Opeth. Soilwork and Killswitch Engage are also good bets if you like this CD. A classic for sure.

Wow...better than their new stuff...
The first two albums I owned by In Flames were STYE and RTR. I enjoyed both of them greatly. But I read many reviews from long-time fans who did not seem to appreciate the change of styles. So I went out and got Jester Race because I wanted to hear some of their old stuff. I now have all their CD's and can see where the depressed fans are coming from. Don't get me wrong, I still love Soundtrack and Reroute, but they are certainly more mainstream and less stellar than their earlier works. Jester, Whoracle, and Clayman are simply AMAZING. If you have only heard their newer stuff, you are missing out. If you are a fan of Reroute and Soundtrack, but don't like the older stuff, then you are obviously just a pathetic MTV watching pansy. If epic, melody-driven metal is what you like, GET OLD IN FLAMES!!!! Oh, and Moonshield is one of the best songs EVER by the way.

The Undisputed Gods Of Melodic Death Metal
This is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, albums ever in melodic death metal, or any genre. In Flames will never create an epic such as this again, but no more are needed, this album is just perfect.

Moonshield (10/10) - This killer kicks off the album to an amazing start. It is a great song and is undeniably catchy.

The Jester's Dance (10/10) - This is a perfect instrumental. In Flames are the kings of instrumental tracks, and this is their greatest, even better than the incredible Dialogue With The Stars.

Artifacts Of The Black Rain (10/10) - This is one of the greatest In Flames songs. It is flawless with amazing instrumentation. The lyrics are beautiful and amazingly poetic.

Graveland (10/10) is brutal and charges at you full force. This song is perhaps the heaviest of any song on this album (not including Black Ash-Inheritance). This song sends a message of peace, saying, "Each day of war is a failure for man".

Lord Hypnos (10/10) - This is a song that you can't get tired of. "Lord Hypnos" contains one of my favorite riffs. It eventually lightens up and has some of Jesper's amazing acoustic playing. The song returns to the way it was originally and ends.

Dead Eternity (10/10) - This is an amazing song. It is dynamic because it goes from being extremely heavy to being slow and dark. The way the instruments blend together with each other and Anders's singing is perfect. The solo in this song rocks.

The Jester Race (10/10) - The best song on the album. It is amazing and is beyond description. This song alone is worth all the money. This song proves that you can't beat In Flames, it just isn't possible. The solo in this song is just incredibly perfect, it is a shame that In Flames will never release a classic like this again.

December Flower (10/10) - This is a great song. Amazing solos in this song. The drummng is great in this song, proving that Bjorn should have stayed on drums.

Wayfaerer (10/10) - Great instrumental track. The keyboarding done by Kaspar Dahlqvist really adds a lot to this song. No matter how hard they try, no band will ever beat In Flames's instrumental tracks.

Dead God In Me (10/10) - This is a great song. Awesome riffage in this track.

Goliaths Disarm Their Davids (10/10) - This song can be described in one word, and that word is awesome. The riffs and solos in this song are perfect. This is one of the best In Flames songs ever.

Gyroscope (10/10) - This song has great melody and is beautiful while being amazingly heavy. It is featured on their Whoracle album as well as this.

Acoustic Medley - A great collection of parts of their songs played on acoustic guitar. One of the songs I recognized in this medly is "Artifacts Of The Black Rain".

Behind Space (Live) (10/10) - This song was on their Lunar Strain album and this live version of it is amazing. This is one of In Flames most brutal songs. The riffs and solos in this song rock. My only complaints are the fact that they took the acoustic part off of the end and Anders's voice sounds a bit shriekier than in the real version.

This album gets a 10/10 overall. It is flawless and is the defining moment of In Flames and the defining album of the Gothenburg style and all of Melodic Death Metal.

Best Band and cd ever
This is true music all the rapers and prepies will say you are wrong but i mean common if you compare this to good charlette you have never even heard REAL music. this cd is in flames best cd and might be the best in the world. I have never heard anythnig so deep in emotion and Power. if you are a fan of any type of metal pick this up you will be headbangingly gratefull ... Read more

Reviews (34)

There is not a stitch of dissapointment on this CD
A friend turned me on to Clutch through the songs "Juggernaut", "Escape from the Prison Planet" and "Texan Book of the Dead" . The later two appear on Clutch's self titled CD, and are why I bought it.

When listening to Clutch abandon any preconceptions on how "rock" is supposed to sound. This CD delivers follow up combinations like a prize fighter...there is no energy lost from the opening track to the instrumental ending.

Listen to the lyrics to appreciate Fallon's storytelling, feel the bass lines roll through under Maines' control, the insane guitar genius of Sult, and Gaster's mastership of the drum kit. In short, this is an album not to be missed. It's well worth the price of admission. Buy it.

Clutch=good
For those who think music can't be simultaneously heavy, catchy, and intelligent, the work of Clutch should serve as a thudding refutation. When it comes to Clutch, you can basically just take everything you know about heavy music and throw it out the window, because they bend genres more easily than Superman could bend a fork. Is it metal? Hard rock? Jam Rock? Stoner Rock? More like "E," all of the above.
What makes this self-titled second album lovable and durable above all is its extreme quirkiness. Every song stands out on its own, making for a collection of memorable tunes. "Big News I" boasts a deep bass groove and some hilariously inane lyrics, while its sequel "Big News II" and "Animal Farm" turn on the heaviness. "I Have the Body of John Wilkes Booth" and "Tight Like That" are solid slow-burning Jams, and "Spacegrass" is a soaring, multi-faceted epic. I could talk about every song, but suffice to that the variety on display here is truly impressive.
On top of the songwriting, there's a lot more to like about this band. Neil Fallon has quickly earned a place among my favorite vocalists. Sometimes he sings, sometimes he wails, sometimes he growls, but he always sounds like he's been gargling with gravel. Tim Sult is a terffic and versatile guitarist, who cranks out lots of thick, heavy riffs and insinuating lead lines. Meanwhile, the rhythm section of Dan Maines and Jean-Paul Gaster keeps up an infectious power groove in the background.
I don't think this is Clutch's best album, as I think they've been improving with the subsequent releases "The Elephant Riders" and "Pure Rock Fury." Still, the self-titled album and its predecessor "Transnational Speedway League" are still a good place to start. I like all kinds of heavy music, from classic metal right up to death metal (and beyond), but Clutch will always occupy a prominent place in my CD collection. If you like your metal mixed with some intelligence, you can't go wrong with Clutch.

if I could, I would give it 6 stars
man, I cannot say enough good things about this album. I first remember hearing a promotional copy of it before it was officially released, and I remember not really knowing what to think about it. It had a bluesy, Black Sabbath sound but had a raw, funkiness to it, but at the same time, was incredibly heavy... my first impression of the vocals was a cross between Tom Waits and Lemmy from Motorhead but with a set of balls the size of Texas. the lyrics are the most creative, inventive, original lyrics I've ever heard. Neil Fallon remains to this day one of my all time favorite lyric writers. Clutch's self-titled album just sounds better and better and better each time i hear it. I must have listened to this album a million times so far and I never get tired of it. I know alot of old-school Clutch fans don't like anything past the Transnational Speedway album, but I have alot of respect for Clutch for letting their music evolve and grow. this was a huge turning point in their musical style. before their music was much angrier and brutal. now, starting with their self-titled album, they have lowered the anger, and turned up the funky blues element in their music. this album grooves and yet is heavy at the same time.

clutch rocks
Why is this band not popular? This is probably my favorite album by clutch. Tight jams like spacegrass and tight like that should have this band selling millions of copies. Instead you have crap like metallica (st Anger)selling all those cds. Do your self a favor forget metallica and all the rest of the crap, and take a listen to clutch, a band that knows how to jam.

You'll never be the same
Transnational Speedway League was good. This album is just fantastic, easily in my top 5 ever. I literally had this in my car's cd player for over three months straight. I just couldn't get enough of it. Each tune is a force in it's own right, but as a collective work, it is legend. Clutch are just effing amazing, and if you ever get a chance to see them live, do yourself a favor, and go. You'll never bee the same. Ever. ... Read more

Reviews (91)

a debut that ranks among the best
I bought this album when it first came out back in '97, and at the time I thought it was a good album, but over time, I've realized it's one of my favorite records ever. The album was laid out perfectly, and even bigger treat, considering Travis got the record deal by performing for the producer in an airport.

The catchiness of the opening singles draws you in, while the introspective and incredibly beautiful ending tracks of the cd make you realize just how good DotN is. "Whimsical" and "Where I Stand" are easily my two favorite tracks on the album, but songs like "Touch, Peel, and Stand" will rock out for years to come.

If you like the big alternative groups of the early 90's, buy this album. If you like well written guitar pieces, buy this album. If you like music, buy this album. And while you're at it, buy the other two as well, they're both amazing works by a wonderfully talented artist.

The Last Great Rock Record of the 20th century?
Maybe not the LAST but it's certainly among the last. Days Of The New broke onto the rock scene a few years after grunge's demise with a grunge sound...but they played acoustic guitars. It was new, different, and I loved it. Travis Meek's vocals remind me of Jim Morrison or Layne Staley, which is certainly a good thing. This is by far one of my favorite albums, every track is great. If I had to recommend three I might say 'Face Of The Earth', 'Touch Peel & Stand', and 'Shelf In The Room', however I am hard-pressed to say that... they are all excellant.

Sadly, due to differences Travis Meeks fired his entire band (They have now reformed as Tantric, a slightly more pop-rock oriented band, but good nontheless) and while Days Of The New's following albums do not have the same magic as their debut, they aren't so bad altogether. Anyway, if your sitting her reading this review, and don't own the album, go out and buy it now, you won't be let down.

A great band with a unique sound.
I guess if you had to categorize "Days Of The New" they'd be called grunge, but the term "acoustic metal" comes to mind as well. I also must admit, though they're not a copy, the do remind me of "Alice In Chains", their slower melodic stuff anyway. Both "Shelf In The Room" and "Touch, Peel, and Stand" are excellent, and I think got some exposure, and the rest of the tracks are similar to those two. In fact, if I had to point out any flaws, it would be that most of these songs sound the same. But since they're all good, I guess that's ok. Overall it's a good disc, and it deserves a spot in any grunge fans collection.

Great rock album
Though this band wasn't around long, they recorded some great rock tunes, this amazing debut, then quickly released 2 other albums, then broke up and formed "Tantric", a mainstream/stereo ready type band. Anyway, back to this album. Right from track one "Shelf in the Room", you know you're in for a great ride, one of the best things about this band, was their amazing talent with acoustic guitars, great riffs, vocals, the whole bit. This album keeps you rocking until the last, and long final track "Cling" which runs on for over 15 minutes, with only a short period of silence between the bonus track. This is a great 90's rock album you definitely shouldn't miss, check it out!

great debut
excellent , to bad they went down hill from this one. i think DOTN 2 and 3 are ok but this ranks among my favorite cds of all time, plus i could only stomach so much of 2 and 3 ... Read more

Amazon.com

It may have taken until 1991 for punk to break as a commercial form, but the genre was hardly new. In that story, even Jane's Addiction were latecomers to the revolution. But it was the frenzied trailblazing rock of this quirky Los Angeles quartet that made the later successes of Nirvana, etc. somehow inevitable. In this recording of a hometown club gig, Jane's offer raw versions of songs that would appear in a more refined form on their debut album, along with a dubious cover of "Sympathy for the Devil." Hear a noticeably younger and shriller Perry Farrell while guitarist Dave Navarro plays out his Jimmy Page dreams across a punk canvas the rest of the world would soon discover. --Steve Appleford ... Read more

Reviews (34)

incredible promise
The band Jane's Addiction is one of the most important bands in the last twenty years of music. They brought rock and roll back to a music scene dominated by pop acts. This is their debut indie release. It documents their early life on the streets of Los Angeles. A series of live cuts including covers of the Rolling Stones "Sympathy for the Devil" and Lou Reed's "My Time." Not on the level of their follow up classic albums "Nothing's Shocking" and "Ritual de lo Habitual" this self titled album offers an early look at what will become one of the greatest bands of our time. An early version of the now-classic "Jane Says" and "Chip Away" are the best songs on this album.

Ear-blowing
Jane's Addiction is the only band I know who released a live debut album. Any other band would run too great a risk doing that. Not Jane's. They already had an incredible live reputation by 1987.

Particularly the first 5 songs on this live CD prove how good Jane's Addiction already were back then. The interplay of Perry's echoed vocals and Dave's juicy, voluminous guitar playing cause an eargasm, no more no less.
Compared to the band's 1988 studio debut "Nothing's Shocking", however, this is just an embryo. Later, as we know, it would grow into a voluptuous, beautiful girl.

Not every song works as well as the opener "Trip away" or the conscious, street-smart "Whores" and "1%". The covers of "Sympathy for the devil" by Rolling Stones and "Rock'n'roll" by Lou Reed don't leave any impression- these songs were only played for this record and didn't belong to the band's repertoire.

This album features 2 early versions of Jane's Addiction classics "Jane says" and "Pigs in zen", the best song ever written about pigs with a spoken part not featured on "Nothing's Shocking": "The pig is led to the slaughter/This he says is the price some pay for a simple life". Perry's lyrics- deep and insightful as on any Jane's Addiction album.

4 recommending stars for this ear-blowing live disc

Shockingly good.
Their other albums might have gotten more attention, but this debut from "Jane's Addiction" is just as good as the next two. In some ways it's better. The big difference is that this is live, and has a much more raw feel, and captures their sound before they got more popular. A much younger "Perry Farrell" adds alot to the music with his unique voice, and "Dave Navarro" plays guitar better than he possibly does today. Plus some absolute classic songs are on here, like "Trip Away", "Whores", "I Would For You", "My Time", and of course "Jane Says". There's also great covers of the "Stones" and "Velvet Underground". Anyone new to this should be greatly impressed, and any major fan will find this as essential as any other album.

Own this Album
For a live album, this disc is incredibly crisp & audible. You can hear the energy of the band and can't help but jam out. The tracks are a lot of fun... I particulary like the cover of the Rolling Stones' SYMPATHY. Not to mention, TRIP AWAY is a great rolling tribal beat that is easy to get lost in... awesome!

Bringing back the medicine train...
Probably the most incisive thing ever said about Jane's was a comment my brother made, just after we got out of one of their early gigs. Something along the lines of (my paraphrasing):

"You know, people make such a big deal about the hype, and the "new Led Zeppelin" thing that they forget the band just seems like four guys that want to play music."

Here's the proof. A no-frills, underproduced live album made up of some early "Nothing's Shocking" material, a few covers ("Sympathy For The Devil"; average--Lou Reed's "Rock&Roll"; quite good), and some all-around great pop tunes ("My Time", "I Would For You").

I'm not going to say I was there since the beginning; like most of us, I began with "Ritual..." and made my way back. And in this case, the search is worth the time spent on it. Disregard, however, the "Live 1986" album which is poorly recorded. ... Read more

Album Description

New EP that features an acoustic recording of So Cold + "Blow Me Away" which was written for the Halo 2 video game. ... Read more

Reviews (94)

I am SOO sorry, but, here is ANOTHER Now 16 prediction list.
I couldnt edit my 1st one, so, im doing another one, sadly. I am soo sorry if I annoyed anyone with it. But, these are ALOT better from the last. Here goes:

1. Beynoce featuring Lil Flip- Naughty Girl (Remix) (Hit)
2. Christina Milian featuring Fabolous- Dip It Low (Remix) (Hit)
3. Black Eyed Peas- Hey Mama (Hit)
4. Mis-Teeq- Scandolous (Hit)
5. Petey Pablo- Freak-A-Leek (Hit)
6. Kanye West featuring Syleena Johnson- All Falls Down (Hit)
7. Beenie Man featuring Ms. Thang- Dude (Pretty much Hit)
8. Britney Spears- Everytime (Hit)
9. JoJo- Leave (Get Out) (Hit)
10. Jay-Z- DIrt Off Your Shoulder or 99 Problems (both Hits)
11. Chingy featuring J. Weav- One Call Away (Hit)
12. Jessica Simpson- Take My Breath Away (Hit)
13. Los Lonely Boys- Heaven (Hit)
14. Janet- All Nite (Don't Stop) (Sort of a Hit)
15. Liz Phair- Extroidnary (Pretty much Hit)
16. Blink-182- I Miss You or Down (both Hits)
17. Yellowcard- Ocean Avenue (Hit)
18. Nickelback- Feelin Way Too Damn Good (Hit)
19. Lenny Kravitz- WHere Are We Runnin (Hit)
20. Hoobastank- The Reason (Hit)

Now, its kinda weird that some peeps are including Nina Sky's Move Ya Body, cuz, thats pretty new to be on here. So is Beenie Man's Dude, but, I put it in anywayz. And, I replaced Incubus with Nickelback, cuz, Nickelback is on Chr Pop, and Incubus isnt. Well see if Incubus still gets on, tho.

NOW 16
1. Britney Spears "Everytime"
2. Jessica Simpson "Take My Breath Away"
3. JoJo "Leave (Get Out)"
4. Black Eyed Peas "Hey Mama"
5. Lil Flip "Game Over"
6. Petey Pablo F/ Lil' Jon "Freek-A-Leek"
7. Nina Sky "Move Ya Body"
8. Kanye West featuring Syleena Johnson "All Falls Down"
9. Ja Rule "Caught Up"
10. Beyonce "Naughty Girl"
11. Usher "Burn"
12. R. Kelly "Happy People"
13. Christina Milian F/ Fabolous "Dip It Low [Radio Version]
14. Switchfoot "Meant to Live"
15. Yellowcard "Ocean Avenue"
16. Blink 182 "I Miss You"
17. New Found Glory "All Downhill From Here"
18. Evanesence "My Immortal"
19. Hooobastank "The Reason"
20. Usher F/ Lil' Jon And Ludacris "Yeah"
21. Ryan Duarte "You"

Number 20 would have to be Yeah and I also added Ryan Duarte for 21. And instead of Dirt Off Your Shoulder how about "Caught Up" by Ja Rule

4.5 Stars Actually
Not as good as 16 by a lot, but pretty good. It's My Life - No Doubt 2/5; Toxic - Britney Spears 2/5; Stand Up - Ludacris/Shawnna 3.5/5; Holidae In - Chingy/Snoop Dogg/Ludacris 5/5 (Favorite Song); Gangsta Nation - Westside Connection/Nate Dogg 0/5; Bounce - Sarah Connor 1.5/5; Shut Up - Black Eyed Peas 3/5 (Old); Gigolo - Nick Cannon/R.Kelly 4/5; Me,Myself,and I - Beyonce 4.5/5; Shorty Doowop - Baby Bash 1/5; I don't want you back - Eamon 2/5 (Edits every 6 words); With You - Jessica Simpson 3/5; Sunrise - Norah Jones 2/5; 1st Cut is the deepest - Sheryl Crow 3.5/5; Everything - Fefe Dobson 3/5; (I Hate)Everything about you 3.5/5; Feeling This - blink-182 4/5; Hold On - Good Charlotte 3/5; Falls on me - Fuel 5/5; 100 Years - 5 for fighting 4.5/5; As for Now 17, if I Like That by: Houston is on it, i'm happy.

4 and 1/2 stars is more like it...
Okay, i know it's a little late to do a review of Now 15 when Now 16 is coming out in like 1 week but oh well.

Now 15 wasn't the best CD. It's obvious that on every NOW CD, the producers try to mix in the good songs, the bad songs, the popular songs and the unpopular songs. In Now 15, they focused a little more on bad songs/unpopular songs then the actual good and popular songs. For example, how many times have you heard "I Hate Everything About You" by 3 Days Grace on the radio? What about "Gangsta Nation" by Westside Connection? They did put on some very note-worthy stars/bands like Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, and Blink-182. The only problem is that the songs they put on were way past their time. Beyonce is great. So is "Me, Myself, and I" but it was never popular. I love the Black Eyed Peas. They just so happened to put on their worst single "Shut Up" when "Hey Mama" was peaking the charts. Blink 182's "feeling This" was very popular, about a year ago! There is no excuse why they didn't put on "I Miss You".

Okay, there were very popular songs on here such as "Toxic", "It's My Life", "Holidae In", "Falls on Me", "100 Years", "With You", "Sunrise" etc... Etc...

But on the CD they rushed and put on some stars that were WAY too early to be popular like Sarah Connor, Nick Cannon, FeFe Dobson, Three Days Grace etc...

They also put on some veterans that I liked like Sheryl Crow.
My last commemt is about "I Don't Want You Back" by Eamon. Why did they put this on the album? I have no idea because it certainly doesn't match up to the qualities of the other songs. This song is just horrible. I thought that the Now Cd's were suppose to put on mid-bubble-gum artist's songs. Eamon is not a mid bubble-gum artist. Believe me.

I'm a big Now fan and I'm definetely going to go and buy Now 16!

Sorry, but here are some Now 17 suggestions already.
OK, I said I wouldnt to any more reviews until I get my rank back, but this dosnt count. Sorry if its wayyyyy too early, but I bet most of these wont get too old when Now 17 comes out. Im putting 20 tracks now.

1. Lil Flip- Sunshine<
2. Britney Spears- Outrageous
3. Petey Pablo- Vibrate
4. Kevin Lyttle- Turn Me On
5. Mis-Teeq- Scandolous
6. Jadakiss featuring Anthony Hamilton- Why?
7. Black Eyed Peas- Let's Get It Started
8. Twista featuring R. Kelly- So Sexy
9. D12- How Come
10. Ashlee Simpson- Pieces Of Me
11. Jessica Simpson- Angels (haha! Back 2 back sistas!)
12. JoJo- Baby It's You
13. Nelly featuring Jahiem- My Place
14. Lenny Kravitz featuring Jay-Z- Storm
15. Nickelback- Feelin Way Too Damn Good
16. Sugarcult- Memory
17. Modest Mouse- Float On
18. Blink-182- Down
19. Coheed & Cambria- A Favor House Atlantic
20. Seether featuring Amy Lee- Broken ... Read more

Reviews (57)

Very Good But It's Not Sinner
If you like those bands that angrily shout all the lyrics through their songs you'll love Desensitized. If you loved Drowning Pool's Sinner you might not like Desensitized.

The three surviving members of Drowning Pool and Jason "Gong" Jones will probably tell you that "Jason-Gong is not Dave Williams" (the original Drowning Pool singer that died tragically in 2002). And that's the problem with Desensitized. There will be many people buying the CD to get Drowning Pool, but instead they will get a new hard rock band with the same name.

The band rocking on Desensitized has three dudes from Drowning Pool and a guy named Jason Gong Jones at the mic. It is not the Drowning Pool that recorded Sinner. The band is calling itself Drowning Pool, but there is a big difference between the former Drowning Pool and the latter Drowning Pool.

Gone are the songs with anthem choruses like "let the bodies hit the floor", "reminded of you", "all over me" "a better way to follow through I'm far from done the truth is right there in front of you", "raise your hand if you're a sinner" and perhaps even "I don't care about anyone else but me"; these are replaced by what seem to be more short, angry, declarative statement choruses that are not recited repetitively to a head banging beat that the Drowning Pool that included Dave Williams was so fond of.

Desensitized is good hard rocking fun. But it is not the Drowning Pool that recorded Sinner. So keep an open mind when you push play on this new group's CD and don't be disappointed when you hear for yourself that "it is just not Drowning Pool". On this CD Gong uses that angry shout much more than Dave did. And that is ironic because he may be the happiest guy in hard rock to have landed a gig with CJ Pierce, Mike Luce and Stevie Benton.

Drowning Pool is back
People are saying that they are worse then before, that is just not true, even Dave Williams was a great person and a great frontman, Gong did a great job on this cd, and the rest of the band is the same. If you liked sinner, give this cd a chance you will like it

Soundtrack to the WWE
The cover says it all. I was hoping these guys would break up and fade away like Snot, but they had to keep going, get another cr@ppy vocalist and become even more mainstream. Here is radio metal at its best. I hate to repeat myself but LOOK AT THE COVER!!! Metal? I think not. Hopefully the new guy will die as well. Go ahead click the helpful/not helpful button, either way will make me happy. GOODBYE!!!

Superior to Sinner
Granted Dave Williams was an amazing stage presence and just a
natural born front man, so good live in fact that I believe he was easily the overall reason Drowning Pool broke thru to begin with, I mean seriously, how many other singers do you see doing "bodies" as well. That being said I always thought "Bodies" while catchy, was really just over done to the point of true 14 yearold lamedness, some have tried to compare "Bodies" to Pantera's "walk" which is hillarious, they have compostional similarities but thats it.
On to "Desensitezed".
Not as heavy an album as I normal would buy but Far better than Sinner which did not flow worth a damn, and had maybe 3 songs that anybody ever listened to. I never bought the album nor ever had the urge to. Every song on Desensitized flows, is just as heavy as any on Sinner( btw, theyre are alot of tards on here thinking Drowning Pool was ever "Heavy" to begin with) and the new singer is just as good vocaly as Dave ever was, it makes me sick that DamagePlan couldnt have got this guy.
Desensitezed is a Heavy straight ahead Rock record, one that I listen to tracks 1-11 straight over and over again with no problems at all, which is a very rare thing for me being the picky sob I am. Its not a Pantera rip-off or anywhere close to Pantera, its just a good simple heavy straight ahead groove rock record, whats wrong with that?
It sure as hell better than kid rock.

Lost it's touch
After reading the reviews givin' already for this album, I have to agree... Drowning Pool is no long 'Drowning Pool'. They turned soft, something I hate... but, can't really blame them as Dave, the soul of Drowning Pool, died. Without his haunting screams in the music, it's just not the same. I have to give props for them making a 'decent' comeback in soft metal after one of there own passeed on. If you like headbangin, screaming-till-your-throat-bleeds kind-of metal, this is NOT for you. Good luck to Drowning Pool. ... Read more

Reviews (200)

..it will blow your mind.
The years we waited for this release finally paid off. This cd is about perfection. There is nothing raw and gritty about it, this is about absolute sonic perfection.

Not once does a song talk about some dopey teenage relationship. Not one song on this cd will remind you of anything you've ever heard.

Unfortunately, the cd is so overproduced that the live shows are just hideous. Hopefully they will survive on the strength of this release alone, because it is very strong. Not only are the songs perfect and precise, but the sound itself is completely original. Take all the power of rock and add in all perfect melody and beauty of electronic sound, and you have 30 seconds to mars. I can't think of a band to compare them to. They've taken an art that bands like Orgy and Deadsy had supposidly mastered and completely blown them away with the release of this cd. Easily one of the most original cd's I've ever heard. You can't afford to not buy this cd. You not only get good songs, you get a level of originality in rock music that I personally didn't think would ever be achieved again.

It gets the job done.
What do John Travolta, William Shatner and Jared Leto have in common? They are all well-known actors who have (for better or for worse) entered the music business. One of these actors' music is actually listenable, and I'll give you only one guess as to who that is.

30 Seconds to Mars is the brainchild of movie-star Jared Leto (Requiem For A Dream, Panic Room) and his brother, Shannon. No doubt, a lot of the music on here draws heavy comparison to Tool. Now, even though 30STM couldn't even touch that which Tool have accomplished, they are still more than worthy of your attention. Jared Leto has a nice, cool, smooth voice that far exceeded my expectations for his vocal abilities. His vocals are complimented very nicely by the brash electronic landscapes that are painted by the surrounding music (It is good to note that 30STM are simply composed of Jared and Shannon, with a full band for live shows). On one of my favorite songs, "Welcome To The Universe," Deadsy frontman Elijah Blue (stage-name: P. Exeter Blue) puts down some guitar work. I think that they are a perfect collaboration, and I would like to see the two bands tour together. However, there are some downsides to this CD, for starters, it is way too over-produced. At times, this CD feels a bit cold and mechanical and just a little carried away with the technology. Also, a lot of the songs sound like carbon-copies of each other. BUT, with 2002 being such a good year for new bands compared to 2001, you should not worry about picking this one up. As long as you don't hold your standards up too high, it satisfies.

Their Debut album has made them one of my top 5 bands
Incredible Cd, Jared Leto not only kicks ass in requiem for a dream but has an amazing band with great lyrics and mesmerizing sounds. its hard to pick a favorite but my top 3 are "93 million miles", "Echelon", and "Edge of the earth".

Nice Surprise
One day I heard a video playing on tv. It was so different from the usual Green Day knock-off bands you hear so much now. I only caught the last minute of the song but I didn't catch their name. I kept thinking "boy, that singer sure looks like that pretty-boy, Jared Leto, but it can't be!" I finally caught the video again months later, then got the CD.

Good music for me gives you de ja vu, but yet sounds like nothing else. Theme-wise, it seems to be about rebirth, beginnings, and ends. Musically, it combines guitar and synthesizers nicely (like Orgy does opposed to how some 80s metal did!). It creates a majestic feel (not apocalyptic or doomy feel).

It's quite interesting just trying to describe it. I wavered between a 4 and 5. The first two tracks alone got a 5 with me. I don't always subtract points for the use of cliches. Cliches are cliches because often they are simply true. For this being their first piece of work, they show excellent potential for evolution. It got a 5 in the end because it took me to a new place, and that's all I'm searching for in my music.

Not your average rock band
I first heard of this band when I went to see Incubus in concert and 30STM opened the show. My friend told me that he was Jared Leto from Fight CLub, but he had not heard their music either. Needless to say once they opened with what I knew later to be "Capricorn" I was amazed. Jared is an lively front man with blistering guitar and amazing voice. Once their 40 minute set was over I went to the concession area and purchaced their album. On the drive home we listened to most of the album. It was on a constant loop for about two weeks home and work.

Their music sounds as if you mixed a little bit of Tool, a dash of Pink FLoyd and then add a special seasoning. This is a gem from the very beginning to the beginning again. Quite possibly one of the best albums that I have in my collection and one of the best rock shows that I've seen. Truly unique and a breath of fresh air in the wave of disposable music.

Take a listen before you buy, but I think you will be happy with the results. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Imagine Frank Zappa composing the soundtrack for Ed Wood's Plan Nine from Outer Space, or the Residents unleashing a techno-dance project: that should give you some idea of Mr. Bungle's Disco Volante, an album of cheesy synthesizers, mangled disco beats, virtuosic playing, and juvenile noises. Like the Residents, Mr. Bungle is a Northern California band that obscures its true identity (it shares members with Faith No More) by prohibiting photos of its members and by using such funny names as I Quit (the drummer) and Uncooked Meat Prior to State Vector Collapse (the keyboardist). Like Zappa, the Mr. Bungle musicians like to show off their classical, jazz, and worldbeat influences in fast, difficult passages that are technically impressive but never seem to go anywhere.All but three of the album's dozen pieces feature lyrics, but the vocals are so deeply buried in the mix that the words are virtually indecipherable. The pieces are more accurately described as aural montages than songs, for short sections erupt and suddenly disappear, replaced by another passage just as well played and just as clever but with little connection to what preceded it. For listeners who enjoy the constant surprise of such arbitrary musical detours, Mr. Bungle provides much better musicianship than the Residents but less coherence than Zappa. --Geoffrey Himes ... Read more

Reviews (83)

A truly great album that will be appreciated by few
Now, as I am writing this review I have fresh in my miind the writing of all the people who have either loved or dislike this album. I have to admit I am a huge Bungle fan, and I love all their work, from the demos to their newest album California, but I am not surprised that some people dislike this CD. My best friend dislikes it with all of his heart, it is because this is music that not many are ready for. I encourage people to try Bungle just to see if they will like it, unfortunately most people will not. But none the less, this album is fantastic. Highlights of the album are: Chemical Marriage, the somewhat jazzy/circusy tune; Carry Stress in the Jaw/ The Secret Song, a song that changes gears so fast from sax solos to blastiing guitars with a song at the end with an old man doing vocals to a catchy riff; Desert Search fo Techno Allah, the name speaks for itself; Violenza Domentica, a haunting piece complete with blades sharpening, metal banging and chilling foreign lyrics; After School Special, good music with a rather odd ending; The Bends, a song named after the disease that haunts scuba divers which gives an underwater feel; Platypus, the most bizarre thing I've heard in a while(THAT'S A GOOD THING); and Merry Go Bye Bye, which starts as a slightly off beach boys act and moves into a metal finale(keep listening after the music stops for some audio of the band messing around). Although listeners may find this album bizzare, I encourage anyone who appreciates good music, or that is very weird, to buy this album to hear high quality musicianship and things you would have never expected to hear coming out of your headphones.

P.S. This album is nothing like their others, so do not expect California when you turn on your CD player.

Simply Stunning
My first experience with Mr. Bungle came only recently, and, to tell the truth I wasn't all that impressed. I was introduced to the first (self-titled) album, and didn't think it was all that impressive. I always assumed that Mr. Bungle was nothing more than the requisite "cool" band that psuedo-intellectual people just had to like.

Then I heard Disco Volante. Whether I have turned into one of those psuedo-intellectuals is up for debate, but let me tell you - this album is magnificent. Simply stunning. I put it with a assorted few other albums (King For a Day, Fool for a Lifetime, by Faith No More; and Chocolate and Cheese, by Ween come to mind) in which each song is its own entity, perhaps even better--its own world. Where else can you jump from the death metal jazz of "Carry Stress in the Jaw," to the electronic desert of "Desert Search For Techno Allah" to the gibberish & glockenspeil mix of "Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz" to the instrumental underwater tale of "The Bends"? Kudos to the band, whose talent and musicanship allow them to pull it off. Too often Mr. Bungle is refered to as a Mike Patton project, but the rest of the band is just as important, and truth be told, my favorite songs are mostly non-Patton numbers (stuff by Trevor Dunn, actually).

Despite the sheer variety of musical styles, this album does flow, as best as something can flow from death metal to jazz to techno to Italian movie music to God knows what. It is amazing to undertake, and is a must own. This album should be everyone's "if I were stuck on a deserted island" album. The possiblities are endless here, and if this was all I ever had to listen to, the sheer diversity of the work could keep it fresh for years to come.

Start Over
Clear you mind of all the files stuffed full of images and words you've gleaned from the music industry machine. Empty your heart of the fanship that adds flourish to the rhythm of every day life. Listen to this album while you're doing dishes or driving across the state to visit your brother.
Laugh your(....-ing)head off and get inspired to make some of your own (...t). Creativity creates creativity.

the most brilliant piece of music ever created
no album, by ANY band, could possibly pull this off. no band, except mr. bungle.
this album proved to me that mr. bungle could possibly be the most talented band that there ever was.
there are a lot of talented bands out there: radiohead, with their interesting way of approaching music; the dillenger escape plan, with their amazingly fast and technical music; sigur ros, with their large amount of uniqueness; but these bands don't even have the talent to create an album like disco volante. after hearing bungle's first and last album, i wouldn't have though they would be able to do it. but here it is.
"carry stress in the jaw" and "mary go byebye" are the best tracks. if you don't own this, well, it might actually be a good thing. at least you can still appriciate other music. i can't.

Get Hooked on Bungle
The first time I heard "Disco Volante," I didn't like it. I was already a big fan of their first record and I just wasn't ready for what I was hearing. However, for some reason, I couldn't listen to anything else. After a week of this, I conceded that I actually did love this record and suddenly, no other music could quite scratch that itch.

I write music and this record did a lot to open up my ears. Some of the passages were improvised in rehearsal, and then worked into the compositions. This gives the music the impression of being "free" (think ornette coleman, cecil taylor) while managing also sound structured and thought out. This is an ingenious way to write music, achieving the best of both worlds. For a great example of this technique, check out the middle a "Carry Stress in the Jaw." Spruance plays an ostinato riff on guitar while Patton, Dunn, and Heifitz all play the melody with voice, bass and drums respectively. This passage was improvised with only an Edgar allen Poe poem to dictate form. It was later manipulated and codefied to create what you hear on the record. (All of this has been confirmed in interviews in which band members have expressed disbelief on hearing that people were saying that they were improvising on the record.) It's hard to put into words, but listen to this passage and you will see what I mean.

There are so many innovations on this record, it is amazing how assured all of the music is. It is, as people were saying a few years ago, all good.

If you don't like it at first, keep listening. But be warned! You may get hooked.This music is so interesting, it might just spoil your appreciation of anything else you might be listening to. If this does happen, don't worry. Here is some more music to satisfy your new addiction:

Fantomas
Secret Chiefs 3
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
Carla Kihlstedt
Naked City and the entire world of John Zorn

Always be on the lookout for any music by Trevor Dunn, Trey Spruance, or Mike Patton. ... Read more

Album Description

Ten relentless tracks that tug at each individualheartstring. Formerly known as Shabutie for six years.Features guest appearance from the legendary Dr. Know. ... Read more

Reviews (105)

Great debut
Well, let's get it started:

1. Second Stage Turbine Blade...(No rating) I decided not to rate this song because basically...it's nothing. Not really a song.

2. Time Consumer...(10/10) This is an incredible song for CO&CA to start their musical uprising with. The verses are great, and the chorus is memorable. A good bass part also.

3. Devil in Jersey City...(9/10) People claim this song to be one of CO&CA's finest...however I disagree. Not that it's bad, but it's just not that special to me. Kind of cool they shot out at their old band Shabutie.

4. Everything Evil...(10/10) This song is just great. It goes through so many transitions, when it gets to the end its incredibly emotionally built up. "And she screamed 'Claudio-o!" One of their best.

5. Delerium Trigger...(10/10) This also is one of my favorite songs by CO&CA. The chorus is one of my favorites of all time, just the raw emotion it conceals.

6. Hearshot Kid Disaster...(8/10) Not one of my favorites. My friends adore this song...but there's not much to it for me. I really despise the guitar part at the beginning also. Good chorus saves it however.

7. 33...(8/10) Many concern this as one of CO&CA's worst, but they don't have any "worst." Just another somewhat plain song...I like the verse.

8. Junesong Provision...(9/10) Great song, especially the end of the song when it's building up through the bridge. Not too fond of the vocals near the beginning, or the slight break in the song when he sings at a simply annoyingly high tone.

9. Neverender...(9/10) Good song, I guess don't know much else to say about it. I like the "Point your gun in another direction" aspect of the lyrics though. Good chord progression throughout it all.

10. God Send Conspirator...(9/10) This is an amazing song, but I just couldn't size up to give it full points mostly because the hidden song seems to drag on way too long. Awesome song, I love the beginning.

***All in all, this is an amazing cd every music fan should own.

OVERALL RATING: 82/90, A-

Finally, something CREATIVE!!!!
In a year full of inspiring albums, this has to be one of the best. Coheed and Cambria doesn't just grab your ear - they grab your imagination. Emo rock that goes prog and gets screamy with tons of pop sensibility to boot. This album reminds me of being five... a fresh, imaginative sound and an absurd story line that's told with enough sincerity that you want so desperately to believe it. It's like your favorite fairy tale or comic book. As for the actual strength of the songs, they are excellent. At first listen, the band jumps around a bit, but after getting a feel for their sound, the transitions from power pop melody to screaming breakdown to epic crescendo will amaze you. The singer's high pitched voice and great range add to the versitality and whimsical feeling. The songs have just enough of a chorus or hook to have you humming them all day, but they are far from trite or shallow. Overall, very impressive. For fans of Sunny Day Real Estate, Cave In, Rush, Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World, Incubus (there are elements of every one of these bands)... or just good music. Definitely must be heard to be appreciated.

best cd ever by the best band ever
(see above) it kind of sucks that coheed is getting played on mtv but then again it doesnt but whatever. this is the best album ever.

Awesome from day one
These guys, are great. Especially since having them play a private concert for my high school music class back in 1996, and at our schools battle of the bands every year when they were known as shabutie. This is some of the best music you will ever hear because these guys are just down to earth people.

Ingenius
Coheed and Cambria are by far the most talented band to hit the scene in a WHILE. Their creative lyrics and story lines, matched with unique and sometimes eerie guitar riffs and piano intro/outros, leave you out in the middle of nowhere, but feeling incredibly deep into the music. You have to be a true lover of coheed in order to understand all of their wacky lyrics ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're going to pitch a movie about cyber-revolutionaries to plugged-in audiences, you'd best mind your MP3s and BPMs when choosing soundtrack selections. The cynical wireheads who flock to such high-tech conspiracy flicks as Brazil and Hackers are thrillseekers of the highest caliber, and The Matrix soundtrack meets this challenge faster than a speeding cyborg. The opener, Marilyn Manson's anti-consumerism rant "Rock Is Dead," paints an aural portrait of urban decay. Ominous sirens permeate the Propellerheads' drum 'n' bass track "Spybreak!"; mournful piano alternates with hard shiny beats on Rob D's "Clubbed to Death"; and Meat Beat Manifesto fills "Prime Audio Soup" with enough bleeps to make one imagine being trapped inside a motherboard in Hell. It may sound dismal, but the friction permeating this compilation of techno, grindcore, and heavy metal is energizing enough to make fans of these genres feel the same unity as a clandestine community of hackers. --Kristy Ojala ... Read more

Reviews (294)

Sounds great, even to a techno-newbie...
I don't have too much experience with electronica/techno music, but after seeing the movie, I decided I had to have this soundtrack. Though many of the songs can be found on other albums, this is perfect as a compilation of several excellent artists. I bought it for the Propellerheads' "Spybreak!" and Rob D's "Clubbed to Death" (the combination of the piano and the dance beat works very well), and found such gems as the tracks by Marilyn Manson, Prodigy, Deftones, and Lunatic Calm. All in all, this fits the movie perfectly and is great for those days when you just need to get a lot of power and rage out of your system... Comments to above reviews: Massive Attack doesn't usually allow their music to be added to soundtracks (very unfortunate, I know), and "Wake Up" can be found on Rage Against The Machine's self-titled album.

Deconstructing 'The Matrix'
I almost enjoyed this soundtrack more than the film, which was also entertaining despite the fact that I was expecting the typical Hollywood-violence. The soundtrack defies the current "grab-bag" mentality labels seem to be using to assemble soundtracks. I think the selection of songs and artists was a logical and brilliant one.

I believe that the "rock-meets-electronica" combination is effective here where it has failed so many other times. The remix of Rob Zombie's "Dragula" is a hyper-kinetic anthem washed in a blood bath of synthesizer effects that is both intoxicating and danceable. While "Du Hast" by Rammstein propels itself along with its razor-edged guitar riffs and computerized blips (in case anyone does not speak German, the song is about renouncing wedding vows). But the most pleasant surprise to me was the instrumental "Clubbed to Death" with its nimble piano, dark strings, and propulsive bass beats. This song is the "diamond in the rough."

Other highlights include older tunes from the Deftones (who I may now have to purchase - their song "My Own Summer" kicks hard) and the Prodigy's "Mindfields" from their TECHNOlogical breakthrough THE FAT OF THE LAND.

I recommend this soundtrack HIGHLY.

Kinetic. Aggressive. Dark.

Sorry about the confusion
yipeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!! this was good. I espesially liked that one song by Rammstein. I also liked that one by Rage. the others are crap exept Club to death which has kind of a morbid title but it rocks your socks. oooooooooooooooooooo mayralin manson is a he/she. when i was listning to Club to death I tried to do t. the matrix sound track was good. i thought the matrix soundtrak was totally rad. just kidding. but not really.

Almost perfect
I dont hate ANY song on this album. In fact I love just about every single song, most of my favorite bands from the electronica/metal scene are on this album. From Ministry's "Bad Blood" (which will wake you up, I can assure you) to Rob Dougan's modern masterpiece "Clubbed to Death" this soundtrack will give you engery!

1. Rock Is Dead, Marilyn Manson- (metal) Not his best song by far, still not bad, we know what he sounds like... 8/10
2. Spybreak, Propellerheads- (electronica) the music from the goverment lobby scene, very upbeat with a bit of spy thrown in... 9/10
3. Bad Blood - Ministry (metal) takes some getting used to, but once you get used to the noise its good... 8/10
4. Clubbed to Death [Kurayamino Mix], Rob Dougan- (classical, electronica) Beautiful, a masterpiece, i have never tired of this song, one of my favorite songs of all time, Rob Dougan is a god, check out his CD and you can hear him sing! also known as 'The woman in the read dress song'... 11/10
5. Prime Audio Soup, Meat Beat Manifesto- (elcetronica) just the name of the band rocks, good example of early 90's dance scene... 10/10
6. Leave You Far Behind, Lunatic Calm- (electronica/ techno) this song is used in many soundtracks, energizing and fast... 10/10
7. Mindfields, The Prodigy- (electronica) awesome song, awesome band to be sure to check out there CD, The Fat of the Land, perfect example of late 90's British dance music... 10/10
8. Dragula [Hot Rod Herman Remix], Rob Zombie- (metal/ industrial electronica) PURE ENERGY, this song packs quite a punch, insanly good... 10/10
9. My Own Summer (Shove It), Deftones- (electronica i guess) I never really liked Deftones, the song sorta drags, with no real structure, not my favorite... 7/10
10. Ultrasonic Sound, Hive- (industrial electronica) another song with bite, can really lose yourself in this song... 9/10
11. Look to Your Orb for the Warning, Monster Magnet- (electronica (?)) strange song, very dark, grundgy, me like! 8.5/10
12. Du Hast, Rammstein- (Metal/Elecetronica) wow, another one of my all time favorite songs, its in German of course, first time i heard it the voice made me jump, this will really get the heart pumping!... 10/10
13. Wake Up, Rage Against the Machine- (metal) not a big fan of rage, but I do like this song, the guitar of this band is amazing, but i dont like the singer very much, its a great ending to the movie and soundtrack! ... 8/10

all in all it gets alot of my favorite artists, but it's a shame bands like Crystal Method (who really deseveres to be on this album (if u like this album be sure to check out Vegas)) and Chemical Brothers arent on here...and of course a dozen metal bands...

its worth the money, almost every song is worth the price of the album!

I work on PC, and the best music to make best work is this!
I work on PC, and the best music to make best work is this! ... Read more

Album Description

"the apocalypse's doomy, amp-destroying fifth horseman...galloping mammoth metal" - SPIN

"unbelievably heavy...massive crunching riffs and drums that slam like vault doors" - REVOLVER

Massive power trio HIGH ON FIRE are a supersonic exercise in conquest by volume.Equal parts molten metal and earthquake panic, HIGH ON FIRE's MOTORHEAD-meets-SLAYER roar is outrageously loud and absolutely punishing.With Blessed Black Wings, guitarist / vocalist Matt Pike (ex-SLEEP) unleashes a devastating combination of bombastic guitar and howling war cries, weaving fantastical tales of supernatural beasts, forgotten battles and rivers of blood over an unstoppable bass and drum assault.HIGH ON FIRE are a class unto themselves, manhandling rock music while locking into grooves that transcend time. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

meh
it's basically just (early) Motorhead with more distortion.

art of self defense is 100 times better than this.

they're slowly slipping from a good stoner band to a mediocre motorhead cover band.

Some of the best material they've written yet.
High on Fire snythesize everything about metal that I like. Obscure references to occult authors (Lovecraft), riffs referring back to the greats (slayer and celtic frost), yet making all these things distinctly their own and even, at times, outdoing their forefathers. Each musician has stepped their performance up a notch and what you'll notice first and foremost is a new sense of dynamics. I would have never expected something like The Face of Oblivion, with its shifting rhythms and various movements, out of these guys. Whereas SBT's droning riffs created mental landscapes for me to get lost in, this album is much more direct and effective. I also find myself paying more and more attention to Dez's drum work, really astounding. Joe fits perfectly as well, though his bass should have been more present in the mix than it is. Though SBT is still my favorite, it would be silly to deny that this album is anything other than a step in the right direction for these guys. They are without a doubt the best thing to happen to metal in a while and they seem to be inspiring a new wave of classic, 80's-esque metal. See them live.

Thick, dirty slabs of sound
"Blessed Black Wings" is a curiously anachronistic album.It's as if the last 20 years of metal (thrash, death, black, grind) never happened.Instead, High on Fire mix equal parts Motorhead and Black Sabbath, creating thick, dirty slabs of sound.Close sonic cousins could be Nirvana's "Bleach" or the Probot album, itself an exercise in retro-metal fetishizing.Thundering drums, godlike riffs, and bluesy solos gallop by with nary a Swedish influence or hardcore breakdown in sight.This is beer-drinking, hammer-of-the-gods stuff, for indulging the inner caveman (or cavewoman).

Blessed Be Your Senses After Hearing This!
High On Fire was born in late summer 1998, a scarce six months after Matt Pike left his former band, Sleep. This is their third album, and it features new bassist, Joe Preston (ex-Melvins)! Trying to describe this album is like trying to descibe the force of Mother Nature.I won't even pretend to be able to put into words the primal fury unleashed on this disc, but I am arrogant enough to try.Here are my ratings of the songs based out of 5 *****:
"Devilution" - VERY heavy pounding, rolling drums introduces this tune and the record. A thrashed-out, scorching guitar and flying bass lines join the maelstrom. The drums are VERY heavy! The rhythm is skull crushing in its strength. Matt Pike's gutteral vocals add a menacing stroke to this whirlwind of destruction. Matt's guitar solo is as blazing as the tempo, and he lays this down with a brutally heavy rhythm pounding alongside him. The carnage ends with a repeating, thunderous rhythm.Simply devastating! Rating - *****
"The Face Of Oblivion" - A tribal sounding drum rhythm, accompanied by strong thumping bass and chunky guitar starts this tune.The tempo is super heavy and crushing! Matt lets out some truely viscious screams. Fantastically hard drumming from Des Kensel, he is a true force of nature unleashed! The tempo changes after Matt's guitar solo, as an unaccompanied electric guitar with acoustic guitar overlayed slow the song down. The drums and bass make a ferocious reappearance and they lay down a heavy , slower melody as Matt's vocals come back "The blood I shed for you was devine. So turn your head and leave it denied." Great drumming by Kensel closes this tune. Another masterpiece! Rating - *****
"Brother In The Wind" - Animalistic drumming along with pounding bass and guitar, again introduce a song.The tempo is dense and the rhythm voluminous.The drums and bass try to smash your senses into dust. Guitar solo by Pike is blazing! Another sonic juggernaut! "Where have I wandered my father? Led like a lamb to the slaughter. Truth has awakened the dreamer. Hand I the keys to the keeper." Ahem, that would be me, thanks. Rating - ****
"Cometh Down Hessian" - Ethereal, airy guitar gives way to screaming feedback and thrashed-out tempo.The rhythm is HEAVY, PULVERIZING, CRUSHING! Matt's vocals are Lemmy-esque and the melody during the bridge is very Slayer-esque (ala "Show No Mercy"). The tune repeats and a killer guitar solo with hammering drums and bass clears out the cobwebs and ends this track (multi-tasking at its best! This tune kills! Purely mind blowing.Rating - *****
"Blessed Black Wings" - The titular song for the disc begins with a "Reign In Blood" type melody.The drumming and bass are AGAIN thunderous! Pikes vocals roar in and the song structure turns kind of Sabbathy, but with uber drumming! The tempo picks up alot of energy and Pike gets in a few blazing guitar breaks in-between the roaring drums and bass. Matt puts down some agonizing screams as a Slayer-esque rhythm with VERY HEAVY bass and drums wail along.This is a piece about drugs and the difficulty in quitting them. "Pleasure's treasures leave me hypnotized. Blacking out, follow the trail of lies." AWESOMELY CRUSHING! Rating - *****
"Anointing Of Seer"- This a more punkish tune.The drums have heavy cymbal playing and the guitar riffs are kind of punkish.The song still has the heavy bass lines. A great guitar solo to end the song.Rating - ***
"To Cross The Bridge" - Acoustic and electric guitar open as pouding bass and drums fade in and out. The guitar then sets the melody and bass and drums blast in. Heavy cymbal crashing again with surging bass and guitar. A slower tempo to start. Pike's singing is slow and measured. The rhythm section simply obilterates all in it's path! This is a tune about a conquered people and their thirst for revenge. Another murderous song. Rating - ****1/2
"Silver Back" - Another thrashy song. This is about "High On Fire" being the baddest mofo's on the planet. "Drive the fist into your face and blacken your eye. Unearthly sounds rumble guts and stomp your insides." It does more than that! Rating - ****
"Sons Of Thunder" - An instrumental that tries to re-create the force of thunder and put it on wax. The rolling drums are elemental in it's drive and force. Fantastic. Rating - ****
Overall, this release IS a force of nature! Matt's vocals are a cross between Lemmy and Venom, and the music is a cross between Slayer/Motorhead/Venom/Sabbath.I put Sabbath last because they are the least represented, but the influence is there. If you like any of the afformentioned groups, you will LOVE this! This is the heaviest album I have heard in a while.There is a bonus disc with this, and this is a DVD of a live concert of the band!There are 6 tracks the group plays, and three of them are from this release (Devilution, Brother In The Wind and Cometh Down Hessian) it is just amazing watching the group play! The bonus DVD ALONE is worth the price of purchase! Trust me, screw gasoline! Your automobile will run on the energy put out on this disc! AWESOME! Get It NOW!

2 songs off CD on their website
Since there are no samples here, you might want
to listen to them at http://www.relapse.com/ecards/highonfire/
where they have Devilution and Face of Oblivion running (full length, I think). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Deliverance evokes the sounds of a kinder, gentler era of heavy rock, a time before there was moshing. In those days, if you wanted to end up prone on a crowded coliseum floor and get stomped on, you just drank and smoked until you passed out where you stood. With this record Corrosion of Conformity, one of the most influential and caustic punk bands of the mid-'80s, make a dramatic shift toward groovy, Southern-fried metal &aacute; la Lynyrd Skynyrd, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and ZZ Top, and they do it quite convincingly. Fans of their previous releases may not think that's a good thing, but this album might snare a whole new crowd of devotees. --Adem Tepedelen ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Corrosion of Conformity Stands As A Benchmark
Just like another reviewer, COC's "Deliverance" album was the first COC album I got my hands on years ago. It was given to me by a friend who was into all sorts of hard music. The music overall is very groove driven, but has all sorts of tempos ranging from relaxed to frenetic. Pepper Keenan's guitar and vocal skills are great, and I hope he keeps producing COC albums once finished working with Phil Anselmo on Down's various works. Some people like to classify COC as 'stoner metal', but I just like to think of them as good ol' rock n' roll with both heavy and southern influences. 'Clean My Wounds', 'Broken Man', and 'Pearls Before Swine' will always be some of my favorites, but by far my most favorite on the album is 'Senor Limpio'. As a whole, the album is fantastic and I just love to throw this in when I'm in the mood for something to rock the house but not too fast or crazy to give me a headache. I highly recommend this to fans of Metallica and Down (considering Pepper Keenan does the main guitar work for Down so the riffs sound very similar). Check this out and enjoy!

An overlooked underrated classic
When I first started listening to C.O.C. a few years back "Deliverance" was the album that introduced me to them. And what an introduction it was, six years later and this is still one of my all time favorite albums. "Albatross" (which I just found out the other day that a music video was made for it) and "Clean My Wounds" are catchy and simplistic, but are undeniably heavy and remain live staples for C.O.C. today, while acoustic instrumentals "Without Wings" and "Mano de Mono" add an emotional impact to the album. "Seven Days" is my all time favorite C.O.C. song though, the lyrics are tied into the crucifixion of Christ and the guitar harmonies are really pulled off well and has a solo nearly reminiscent of Slayer. "My Grain", "Senor Limpio", "Broken Man", and the title track are favorites of mine as well, and "Deliverance" is rounded out as my favorite C.O.C. album with "Wiseblood" a close second. If you have never listened to C.O.C. before but you like Pantera or the Down albums then any C.O.C. album is recommended.

A long-forgotten gem
I was looking for music to review for amazon recently and one of the cds I came across was Corrosion of Conformity's "Deliverance". I bought this cd back in '95 or '96. It was awhile after the album was released. I bought it because I loved the song "Clean My Wounds". I'm not a big metal fan but I fell in love with the song almost immediately. It was nothing like the metal music I was exposed to back in the '80s and early '90s. CoC's music. The music is melodic and heavy enough for both genders to enjoy. I was really moved by the acoustic instrumentals "Without Wings" (my personal favorite of the two instrumentals) and "Mano de Mono". I was also moved by the ballad "Broken Man". "Deliverance" definitely delivers. It is truly one of the best hard rock albums ever. I wish there were more bands like Corrosion of Conformity. They managed to make music that would appeal to all types of people.

Heaven's Not Overflowing with albums like this!
It still seems odd to me, even today, that this record was made. It seemed to come out of nowhere. COC was basically a minor league hardcore act who went metal and recorded one Sabbath inspired sludge metal album before issuing forth this slab of absolute brilliance. Still, who would've expected them to embrace Southern Rock so completely and then graft it on to Heavy Metal in a way that was so completely original. It amazes me that they were able to do this so perfectly on the first try. This album is a metal/hard rock milestone. It takes Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top and early Metallica, smashes them all together, and then runs them through an old rusty whiskey still in some backwoods swampland down south somewhere. The result is "white lightning" in a bottle. They then repeated the formula with "Wiseblood" which is almost as good. After those two albums, they mellowed out a bit, shortened their name to COC and cut "America's Volume Dealer" which is also great. I have to give the nod for best album to "Deliverance" though because it was the point where new ground was broken and the quality of the songs is very high throughout. If you like this album, you should also check out "Nola" by DOWN (which features members of COC, Pantera, and Eyehategod). Down is similar to COC but darker and little more metallic and abrasive (maybe a little more Sabbath and a little less ZZ Top in the mix) and definitely worth hearing!

very, very good
Noticed that this album was only rated 4 stars at the time, so thought I would throw in my 2 cents. This album is great. Good rhythym section and riffs throughout. Not a thrash band, like a less intense Down or Crowbar. Every song on here is excellent. I highly recommend this and Wiseblood (also by the same band). ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Oceanic Evolution.
Unlike any older Isis releases, "Oceanic" is not ultra-heavy but now it is elevated to incredible intricate sonic architecture that relies on extreme progression, dynamics, and rich texture. The songs flow in and out of heavy and clean parts, like waves of the ocean, seamlessly with incredible melody. The songs really keep on changing, never leaving a boring feeling or any repetitiveness (except for the "intermission" songs.)

The drumming throughout the entire album is really impressive. Well actually, the drumming itself isn't really technical or fast, but it is so fitting and blends in so perfectly with the music. The clean guitars add rich melody and atmospehre.

The vocals are deep, harsh screams, but not too fast or aggressive. They aren't really the best but they certainly fit the type of music. There are a little bit of semi-clean vocals also. They are really used more for rhythm than melody. Large parts of songs are instrumental anyways.

"Carry" is a very interesting song. It is progressive in a different way, providing an incredible musical buildup. It starts out with almost nothing and keeps adding melodies along the way, eventually leading to the vocal, heavier part of the song, which doesn't stop evolving and growing.

After the first four songs, you have a little intermission full of sound effects, and then two very different songs:
"Maritime," a short, simple melody that truly has an "Oceanic" feel, makes me fell like i am exploring the underwater world on a tropical island.

"Weight" is probably the most inventive song on the album, maybe even my favorite song on it. This song is a bit monotonous on first few listens. (I can really see Mogwai comparisons for this) and relies on the same theme throughout the song, adding and changing some things along the way. It is very minimal, but also complex in a way that is hard to describe. It starts out with a soft, underwater sounding melody and eventually leads up to an amazing finish with female vocals. It provides visuals for the imagination: I think of a scuba-diver getting sucked into an undertow and getting gradually pulled towards the bottom of the ocean because of unavoidable water pressure rapidly getting heavier, eventually leading to his death. Whatever you imagine, this song defanately has a extremely stressful, helplessness, and fearful feeling, but in a very good way.

This is one of the CDs in my collection that just took a really long time to fully appreciate, so if you happen to be really interested and then when you finally hear it you're dissapointed, give it a lot of time. Isis is beginning to evolve into a truly unique band and hopefully they will continue to do so.

Objectively a classic.
This album instantly wins the distinction of being in the top 1% of my collection. It's a classic. There are nine songs, all but two of which are between seven and eleven minutes long. The songs build and fall, ebb and flow, much like, well, an ocean (and with the nautical titles, I think we have a theme on our hands...). For those that didn't know them before, ISIS was an extremely heavy band, somewhat similar to Godflesh and Neurosis, and now comparisons to Godspeed You Black Emperor wouldn't be too far off. ISIS' heavy edge has been somewhat tempered on Oceanic, but it's all for the best. They've finally come into a territory that belongs solely to them.

It's unique and beautiful. Though this is heavy music, it transcends any categorization of "metal" or "hardcore." There is melody soaking through this album, and it's not trite and repeated like standard pop melody; rather, it is unique and fascinating. This record achieves the ideal of being beautiful and heavy at the same time, and this isn't just hyperbole. The songs and album are never boring or repetetive despite their lengths; they rise from quiet and atmospheric introductions and build to torrential pounding rhythms, and subside again as they came. The guest vocals of Maria and Ayl (from another great Boston band, 27) are a stellar inclusion, and really round out some already amazing songs. The album is an odyssey; I can't stop listening to it.

Even if I weren't a fan before this, this album would instantly convert me. I give it a 13 out of 15 on the Gnosis2000 scale: a classic, one of the best albums ever made. I recommend it to everyone, whether a heavy music fan or not. Give it a chance, and you'll love it.

2nd dose....
This is my second dose by Isis, the first being "the mosquito control EP". I describe their music as "Chaotic metal infused with screaming and dreamy mellow interludes". I had heard that this band had the hardest guitars possible on a record. Nope, try "Norma Jean" for that! This band has to grow on you as the singer doesnt sing or growl but yells at the top of his lungs. Not award winning yelling either. What shines is the music itself. Long interludes of dreamy rock. Think if Pink floyd went indie today. It sometimes goes from mellow to loud banging guitars and screaming to low background singing. It's unique and interesting. Not alot out there like it. My first band I'd heard that sounded a bit like Isis was Warlord's: Rock the Foe Hammer. This is a unique recording. Check it out.

Eeeeeeeeexcellent...
"Oceanic" wasn't an especially easy album for me to review, and it might not be an easy album to listen to at first either. The songs on it are extremely lengthy, typically pushing the ten-minute mark. Vocalist Aaron Turner's harsh, almost feral howls are virtually indecipherable, and they can easily sound awkward and out of place for at least a couple of listens. And if you're looking for traditional verse-chorus song structures, forget it. In their place are a series of meandering, unpredictable tracks that rarely seem to go anywhere. It's very easy to write this album off as boring, pretentious, or any of the other labels that are often applied to music with such blatant progressive tendencies.

However, after awhile all of that comes to mean less and less. At bottom, "Oceanic" is one long mood piece divided into nine parts, generally taking metal and hardcore as a starting point but exploring a much larger range of musical and emotional territory. While this album is often brutal in its heaviness, it's a different kind of heaviness, relying more on atmosphere and dynamics than most of ilk for a truly comprehensive listening experience. Rampaging metal shares space with quieter, more contemplative moments, all integrated into a whole to form some truly epic and complex songs. Isis aren't the only metal band to mix aggression and calm, as Opeth have been doing it for years, but Isis are able to accomplish the trick even more seamlessly than those Swedish maestros. Sometimes the guitars slice and dice like buzzsaws in traditional metal fashion, but just as often they churn out sweeping, semi-melodic riffage or subtle tonalities that are more ambient than percussive in their effect. And these guys think nothing of embarking on a three- or four-minute instrumental interlude.

The album's best song, "False Light," provides a convincing demonstration of just what this band can do. It starts out as a hard-driving metal tune that's highly reminiscent of the mighty Neurosis, filled with intricate riff structures, vicious screams, and drumbeats that resemble nothing more than a herd of elephants. Then it effortlessly segues into a mellow instrumental passage, driven by gentle guitar tones and a loping bassline, lulling you into a false sense of security just in time to turn the heaviness back on with a vengeance for its punishing conclusion. On the similarly excellent "Beginning of the End," "Other," and "Hym," scenes of intense sonic violence and more subdued moments build and recede into each other, creating a dynamic effect that has rightly gotten Isis compared to post-rock greats like Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Another brilliant study in contrasts, "Carry" might sound for a few minutes like it's going to be a nice instrumental break until Aaron's vicious howl and some volcanic riffage bursts out of nowhere until about halfway through. Not to worry though, the next two tracks really do provide a nice instrumental breaks, providing the kind of soothing soundscapes that befit the album's aquatic theme. The hypnotic, repetition-oriented "Weight" throws a major curveball, replacing Aaron's throaty stylings with snatches of haunting, ethereal female vocals that blend perfectly with the fragile intensity of the music.

Well, I think I've typed enough by now, but you probably get the point. If you're into creative heavy bands like Candiria, Meshuggah, and the above-mentioned Opeth and Neurosis, you should check this album out. Period.

Great album ruined by incoherent bellowing
There's no doubt the music on this record is awesome, but everytime the singer opens his yap is a tragedy. The monotone, inarticulate bellowing ruins what are otherwise moving passages. The vocals are best when used as ambient background effects to accompany the music. This could have been a totally instrumental release in my opinion, and I would've given it four stars. I'm so sick of bands with "singers" that do nothing but bellow. Yep, you're pretty angry dude. YAWN! ... Read more

Reviews (69)

Perfection Achieved
Wow! Dredg is possibly one of the most original, perfect bands in the business. I remember the first time I heard them. I was blown away. I now spend my time looking for live bootlegs. Their music can at times seem very simple, but listen closely and there's some real complexity there. They can jump from one style to another and have it all make perfect sense. The weirdest part about "Leitmotif" is the fact that it is a concept album. It tells the story of a man who is morally corrupt and must search the earth for the cure. And it all flows so well. But I have one warning. Because of this story-telling style, this disc cannot be played on random. The band expertly cuts off and begins songs a few seconds before the end or a few seconds after the beginning of a track quite often, making it hard to listen to on a random mode. This band FORCES you to listen to it straight through and by the time you're done, you will be so thankful for that. It is truly a standout effort.

Non-comparable!
This is by far the best CD i ever owned. The music and art work in this album aren't comparable to anyother band, even Tool and Radiohead which are 2 bands i really really like! It starts of with "Symbol Song" and from their it takes you on a musical journey. Songs like Lechium and Yatahaze are extreamly graceful and poetic, but they still have the hard rock edge.

Gavin has great singing voice for this type of music, but since this was recorded as an indie record in 1999 or 1998 and now re-releast in 2001, the voice track isn't that great. But it's still worth buying buying for sure for any random music fan. If you have this album, download Of the Room, the new Dredg demo for their next album in April 2002. It's as good as Leitmotif except the tracks are well recorded.

So for everyone you likes music for it's grace and poetic meaning and not for it's cheap gimics, lame beats and sell-out artists, I highly suggest you to buy this album soon and get ready to look at music in a way you never looked at it before.

Absolutly Amazing
This cd is one of my favorites. the sound that comes from this band is surely not like anyone else. This band needs to be recognized

This is amazing!!!!!!
This band is amazing!!!! I chose this album at random to download (illegally) beack about a year ago. At first listen I was in love with it, so I tossed the downloaded copy and bought it. This band needs support. All 11 songs on this are great event thought 5 have vocals. This band would make it without Shannon (vocals) even though he is great also. This album is greater than their first record release El Cielo even though that is a masterpiece. And it is sad to see that the mainstream world passes greatness like this by no one noticing it, no radio, no TV, nothing. The only time I see this band is a frequent passby on the scroll bar on IMX. This album is one of the best of all time. This album mixes together perfect and that is part of what makes it great. Not great lyrics but the power of the band makes up for that and more. BUY THIS ALBUM even if you have never heard of them! any music fan will enjoy this. ANY

A sound for sore ears (for the most part)
The music world today needs Dredg. Their music is unique and uncompromising. Their style is distinct and defined. Their songs are complex yet clear. You will notice this 30 seconds into the first track. Throughout the album you'll hear many beautiful musical pieces. And their songs are inspiring and spiritually uplifting. (Unlike Linkin Krap and other bands these days who only sing about anger and hatred. I think the world has seen enough of that already.)

The downfall of this CD is the vocals. While lead singer Gavin does sound very sincere, his voice (on this CD at least... El Cielo is a different story) is decent at best... but sometimes he really doesn't sound good, especially when screaming. He doesn't scream often, but it would have been better if he hadn't screamed at all. (Especially in 'Penguins in the Desert').

One other shortcoming is that there's only about 40 minutes of music. There's about 5 minutes of weird radio-frequency sounds at the end of track 5 (which I usually skip and go to track 6 - I'm guessing most people do the same). Then there's an 8 minute silence at the end of track 10, before starting up again as (what I believe is) a demo track, which is not too interesting. I usually skip this also and go back to track 1.

All in all, a very good CD, which re-introduces good music to the world. Definately worth owning. ... Read more