Album of the Week 4/10 - 4/16: "Gore" by Deftones

     

     If someone told you something to the effect of, "I am willing to cut through razor wire in order to get to your heart," would you find it endearing or disturbing? Well, it doesn't matter! It doesn't matter because on their newest album release, "Gore", the Deftones (a renowned and insanely-talented Hard Rock/Metal group from Sacramento) craft lyrics with such content, all while disarming any negative connotations with their mind-blowing melodies and hooks. Odd lyrics and song/album names have become part of the Deftones niche, since they broke onto the scene in the mid 90s. Talent, plus weird, often equals powerful in the world of music. But, few bands have mastered such a facet of their work like the 'Tones. "Gore" has been highly anticipated as one of the biggest Rock albums of 2016, especially with singles like "Doomed User", "Hearts/Wires", and "Prayers/Triangles" being leaked to the radio waves. Before they embarked on a worldwide tour, the album dropped on April 8 and debuted at #2 on the Americans iTunes chart. In an interview with Noisey, singer Chino Moreno explained how the much of the album was based off of "juxtaposition".  He spoke about this in context to the album art, which depicts a flock of majestic flamingos, juxtaposing the title of "Gore".  

     There is certainly a theme of juxtaposing beauty and darkness on within the album, not just on the cover.  For instance, songs like "Doomed User" have an almost-upbeat chorus in the same song that says to "just leave" because one's "fuse has expired". In addition, on "Hearts/Wires", the very lyrics that were used to pose an opening question at the beginning of this review were used to depict a twisted, yet beautiful love.  Still, the part about getting to a lover's heart by passing through razor wire is only the tip of the iceberg. The most truly dismal, yet love-riddled line goes, "I drown in your sea/ I hope that you first save yourself/ And then come for me." Per usual, the Deftones have managed to twist their off-the-wall lyrics so that they are perfectly in-sync with unforgettable riffs that demand your attention. There is an honesty to the Deftones that is evident upon every listen, and this concept is ever-present on "Gore". Support the Deftones by picking up this album in tangible or digital form today! Also, check out our top 5 favorite tracks below:

Hearts/Wires

Acid Hologram

Doomed User

(L)MIRL

Prayers/Triangles

We give this album a 4.5/5! What do you give it? Any opinions or thoughts?  Let us know!  And...stream the album below:

Gore Full Album via YouTube

Once Again--New Music From The Deftones!!! "Doomed User" (New Single)

***New Tune Alert!***

     This Hard Rock/Metal Sacramento five-piece has been leaving a trail of bread crumbs for fans ever since they announced the debut of their upcoming album, Gore, for April 2016. Recently, the group leaked a single that followed their usual theme of weird radness, "Prayers/Triangles". The song has been eaten up by fans on YouTube, Spotify, and all sorts of other platforms. In suit, the group recently released another single, titled "Doomed User", on the Sirius satellite radio station known as Octane. This tune is heavier than the previously-released single, and packs quite a punch. Angst is immediate in the song, as singer Chino Moreno screams at the top of his lungs, "My fuse has expired!/ Just f**king leave here!" Give this new tune a listen! It is definite pump-up tuneage! Stream this ear candy below:

Doomed User (Official Audio) - Deftones

Album of the Week 3/13 - 3/19: "Isolate and Medicate" by Seether

     Seether has been going strong since the early 2000s, and they don't show any signs of stopping. This South African trio of Hard Rock masters showed us that they were back in action with more ear candy in 2014. Though this album is not incredibly recent, radio stations pummeled the airwaves with hit singles from the group's 2014 project, "Isolate and Medicate", over this past summer. You've probably heard some of these hits (i.e. "Words As Weapons, "Same Damn Life", etc.) on Alternative or Hard Rock stations. If not, you better jump on the wagon. The album has dark and cynical tones, as many of our Albums of the Week do. Per usual, we happened to have chosen an album with some freakish, yet rad artwork on the front. However, despite some of the angst within the songs, Seether also wants you to chill and enjoy the ride with them, as seen in the first lines of the track "Same Damn Life" ("Come smoke a cigarette/ And let your hair down").  The group even used this album as a platform to comment on recent social issues, as seen in the video for the track "Nobody Praying for Me", which depicts police brutality. Whether or not you agree with the side of the aisle that Seether seems to sit on regarding the issue, the video, along with the musical content, is compelling from start to finish. There is no question that this group still holds their seemingly-Grunge-influenced roots dear. Let's be honest, singer Shaun Morgan is like a taller, red-headed version of Kurt Cobain in both voice and wardrobe. Luckily for us listeners, this Grunge influence has not become stale or redundant. Check this album out, and check out our top 5 fav tracks below:

Words As Weapons
My Disaster
Nobody Praying For Me
Same Damn Life
Save Today

We give this album a 4/5! What do you give it? Stream it via YouTube below!

Isolate and Medicate (Full Album) via YouTube

Album of the Week 3/6 - 3/12: "Threat to Survival" by Shinedown

     Shinedown is a four-piece Hard Rock group from Jacksonville, FL that has always been known for hard-hitting tunes. However, no one expected them to launch an all-out musical siege on Rock airwaves when they started leaking singles over the summer, and leaving fans of the new tunes impatiently awaiting the release of their new album, "Threat to Survival". The LP finally dropped in September and fans (like us) had already memorized lyrics to singles like the hard-hitting and revolution-themed track "Cut the Cord". The track, which is arguably one of the best on the album, begs listeners not to blindly conform to society as it repeatedly shouts, "Don't be a casualty!/Cut the cord!" The group hadn't released anything fresh since 2012, and Shinedown is certainly making uo for lost time with their songs that are hybrids of catchy hooks, lyrics that provoke thought, and hard-hitting chords. Be sure to cut your cord and check out the new tunes below, which are Multi-Fret's top 5 fav tracks.

Outcast

State of My Head

Cut the Cord

Asking For It

Black Cadillac

We give this album a 3.5/5, and hope you find it just as refreshing! Stream the album below! 

Threat to Survival (Full Album) via YouTube