Jump to content

What Are You Listening To?


khaos

Recommended Posts

37 minutes ago, Thatguy said:

I listened to a bit of this because of the name. It sounds exactly as the band photo looks and is not my thing at all of course. It's really well played and nicely produced though.

There should be more slab related band names.

 

Hurá na Jih 49: Pekelnické boogie a příběh hochů z Doraville

I love Raging Slab. Legend has it the husband and wife guitar team of Greg Strzempka and Elyse Steinman met on the streets of NYC in 1983 (10th & 3rd) and discovered they had a lot of common musical influences including 70's hard rock as well as punk bands like Ramones, Iggy Pop and Black Flag. So of course they formed a southern flavored hard rock boogie band. Not sure where they were originally from, I've read Pennsylvania and I've read Washington DC but I don't know if either of those are true.

They got signed in the late 80's when record companies were all searching for an east coast GnR. But after their self titled major label debut they had a rough go of it with their record companies. They were stuck between the hair band era and grunge, but fit in with either. They had 2 albums rejected by RCA and then they put one out on Def Jam American who then refused to release their next one because they couldn't see any commercial potential. The band didn't want to make hit singles or repeat themselves making the same album over and over again, they wanterd to be quirky so they stubbornly stuck to their guns and their relationship with DJA atrophied, but they weren't ever officially released from their contract so they had to wait it out and could not release anything for the next 7 years. They never really recovered from that. Now they're just an obscure band from 30 years ago with a small dedicated cult following.

R.I.P. Raging Slab guitarist Elyse Steinman - Sleaze Roxx

Besides being a fan of 70's hard rock and punk and southern boogie, the other reason I feel a connection to Raging Slab is like me Greg and Elyse were born in 1961, and like my wife Elyse succumbed to cancer in 2017.

You said you'd like to see more "Slab" related names, you might be amused to learn they did have a private home recording studio which they dubbed "Slabby Road."

RAGING SLAB IN AMSTERDAM 93 PART 1

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, FatherAlabaster said:

I only found out about both of these projects when you posted that newest Vauruvā album, and I really enjoyed it. It's on my BC wishlist. Is the same guy also in Brii? 

Yes...Caio Lemos. He's also got one more band named Bakt. I haven't listened to it though, so no idea how they sound, but most anything he's involved with is probably worth a try

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...