Metal

EP Review: HATE MACHINE "The Movement"

Jim Gilbert Album Reviews, Metal , , ,

405972_444534805577938_1470472091_nRochester New York’s very own “Original Metal Thugs” are back with this 5 song explosion- The Movement.  After dominating the Upstate NY metal scene in the late 90’s, the band has made a comeback and once again found themselves back at the top.

     The first track, Chainsaw Philosophy opens fast and furious.  The most refreshing element of this track is that after all these years, Hate Machine is sticking to their guns and not conforming to some of the terrible styles of “Metal” that make me wish I was deaf at times.  With lines like,”..Now, I’ve got a message for you. My knuckles pay the postage…”, the point of the song is clear.  Join the brotherhood or stay the fuck out of the way.
     While some might say that Track 3- Strings, steers off course a little bit.  This is the most catchy song on the EP and my personal favorite.  Vocalist, Jed Seaver demonstrates great ability to both sing and scream, while delivering passionate lyrics.  For any musician with a life outside of music, you can relate to the “Strings” that pull you in several directions and the sacrifice involved in following your heart.
     The overall sound is amazing.  There are crushing guitar riffs, tastefully done, and the overall mix is very clear. When a band goes away for while, the first thing that comes to my mind is whether or not the vocalist can still deliver.  Well, erase that thought from your head.  The cross over style of singing and aggression filled anger that made Hate Machine who they are is still in full effect.
     The only disappointing thing about this EP is that it is an EP.  I am eager to see Hate Machine put out a full length album.  If The Movement doesn’t get your head moving, you lack a pulse… and that’s another issue.
For more information on Hate Machine –

-Jason Acevedo

In Flames at Upstate Concert Hall, March 5th

Jim Gilbert Metal, profiles , , , ,

Be sure to catch In Flames as they headline their new tour in 2013.  They will be at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park, NY on March 5th with support bands: Demon Hunter, All Shall Perish and Battlecross.  Upstate Metal will be there to photograph and review the show.  We’d love to see you there, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick Glance: Promising Coraline

Jim Gilbert CNY, Metal

Quick Glance: Promising CoralinePromising Coraline

Genre: Metal/Post-Hardcore

I enjoy hearing bands in the early stages, before egos, creative differences, and obsession with studio perfection get in the way. It’s a rare thing to see a band in the conception period, and that’s how I got my first look at Promising Coraline. The songs they have up on their page are pretty poorly produced, but they make up for it by showing variety. They have an acoustic cover, a very down-tempo metal intro song, and a pop-punk/metal mix song. For having such poor production, they sure do get across what they have to offer. Their guitar work is very good, and the drums are pretty spot-on for the most part. The vocals have some room for improvement, but the low screams are pretty brutal. This is one of those bands that could definitely utilize glossy production for their pop-punk sound, so it’s interesting to hear them stripped down and raw. They are fairly new and have some work to do, but I see a lot of promise with this band. Most of the hardcore bands around here are trying so hard to be the heaviest one, outscreaming each other and going from breakdown to breakdown. It’s interesting to see a band go the other way for a change. Granted, they do get very low and pretty brutal at points, but there’s something very earnest about the sound they are aiming for. I liked hearing them do an acoustic song too because it shows a vulnerability that not a lot of bands are willing to show. In my opinion, you have to be willing to branch out and do some different things in order to stand out in such a great local music scene, and I think Promising Coraline are trying to do just that. They may not be for everybody just yet, but in time, I have a feeling that they are going to be a very well-known band in the area with a respectable following. From there, it’s up to them and their determination.

You can check out Promising Coraline here:

https://www.facebook.com/promisingcoraline

Rock on 315!

-Steve Sbiroli, 315 Music Reviews (Upstate Metal), BTLYAP

https://www.facebook.com/315MusicReviews