For Those About to Rock …
Before we begin the new music, we have two concert announcements. Apparently the Frank Erwin Center does still hold concerts, as they will host the Austin date for the Foo Fighters/Weezer show. Tickets range in price from $30 to $50 and go on sale this Saturday. The show will be Wednesday, September 14th.
If you prefer space rock over geek rock then write this down on your Star Wars calendar: Coheed and Cambria are planning a fall tour along with dredg, who just recently released the interesting "Catch Without Arms."
And now, bring on the music …
Bury Your Dead - Alive (Victory)
"Alive" is just what it sounds like. Bury Your Dead have released a concert in a CD/DVD combo that comes in a sweet custom coffin digi-pack. If you liked "Cover Your Tracks," then pick this one up.
Obituary - Frozen in Time (Roadrunner)
Why would these metal legends name their first CD since 1997 "Frozen in Time?" Because that’s what Obituary is, and there’s not a fucking thing wrong with that. As one of only a handful of death metal bands to make it "big," Obituary remind us all what American death metal can be. Look for Obituary to tour with Napalm Death and Dead to Fall sometime in September.
Opeth – "The Grand Conjuration" (internet single)
The Sad Swedes have decided to release an internet-only single that will not be found on their upcoming CD "Ghost Reveries," due August 30th. Cementing why there was a major bidding war for Opeth, this new single shows the band venturing into new territory as they have added a permanent keyboard player to their already astounding lineup. Opeth earned their place at Sounds of the Underground, and after their CD comes out, they will hopefully win a place with the American audience.
Pelican The Fire in our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw (Hydra Head)
Pelican returns to rock your ass … slowly… and with acoustic guitars on a few songs. Think Isis meets Godspeed You Black Emperor. Pelican have created an epic soundscape adventure that still remains interesting after multiple listens. They will also be in town next week at Emo’s.
A Perfect Murder - Strength Through Vengeance (Victory)
The sticker on their CD says "Pantera is gone. Metallica is old. A Perfect Murder is now." It should read more like "Thank you Phil, Dime, Rex, and Vinnie because without you guys, we would all be living in our parent’s basement and delivering pizzas for a living." But we guess that would be a pretty big sticker. Not bad … just nothing new. APM tread water as 1/2 of their songs are blatant rips off old Pantera riffs. You just wait to hear Phil scream "RE-SPECT" or "WHAT IS MY NAME." These guys can learn a lot when they support Soilent Green later this month at Emo’s.
Soilent Green - Confrontation (Relapse)
Once known as blues-core, these guys have developed a signature sound all their own. "Confrontation" mixes grind, death, and blues and makes this crazy musical gumbo that rots your brain. There’s nothing easy about this Big Easy band. "Confrontation" seems to borrow a page from Crowbar’s playbook as Soilent slows things way down on a few songs … but only right before blast beats and Dillenger shreds kick it up a notch.
And the Austinist "this one goes to eleven" pick is …
The Black Dahlia Murder - Miasma (Metal Blade)
The Black Dahlia Murder have finally done it. Stepping out of Carcass’s and At The Gate’s shadows, BDM put the American hardcore stamp on Swedish death metal. "Miasma" is full of punishing breakdowns and crazy guitar antics. The Black Dahlia Murder can be seen this summer converting kids on the second stage of Ozzfest.
See you in the pit.
