I suppose we all reach a point where we need to minimize the b.s. and totally rock out. For me personally, the end of my current fascination with off the radar music feels real near.
Especially after listening to the new one from SOAD
System of a Down - Mezmerize REVIEW: B/B+
Maybe I grow tired of underpowered acoustic music ... and music that blends into a huge indistinguishable, new wave/colege rock ball of crud -- supposedly this album is one of a two parter, the other half to come out later this fall
What a fucking revelation it was to listen to the track, B.Y.O.B. -- in many ways it was a kick in the ass to me to remind me that at heart I am a rockhead/metalhead extraordinaire -- the rock vibe to it that reminds of big sized Godzilla crunch guitar riffs and 80s thrash/punk-hardcore
And I suppose if I were to closely look at the lyrics on this album, they would be as politically abrasive, left, and incisive as they always have been with SOAD. I happen to be very agreeable to the political views of the album, some may not but I suppose one should know about it going in, that is, if they didn't already know
I suppose it would not be terribly forward to say to someone unfamiliar to SOAD that this album fully rocks ... it most certainly does, but in a way that is unique to the band -- there are goofy funky breakdowns, breakdowns that have an eastern flavor ... like east Asian, lines that resemble flamenco... well suffice it to say, there are a ton of interesting musical things going on that have a profound groove besides just rocking out
There are a few missteps here and there ... hard to describe but it's like that fine line where cute becomes annoying. It seems like they hit on an area that dabbles on the edge of getting annoying, then they shift it into something cool or rocking. I suppose perhaps the more hardcore SOAD fans would say, that's the point ... I guess I'm a fan but not THAT much
What is admirable about their style on this album is that they just charge straight ahead, there's no half stepping, no stopping to jack around. It is a loud statement type album that hits you in the face, ears, mind, whatever. In some ways, I wonder what would happen if they dropped the eccentric aspects of their sound and just put down a metal album ... I think it would be something
Highly recommended, perhaps not as obviously a hit as "Toxicity", but a very solid effort from SOAD ... also a good fresh bit of air for me ... B/B+
My test drive single recommendations for those that hedge their bets are: B.Y.O.B., Question!, Radio/Video, and Cigaro ... and for a revisit to the topic of "Welcome to the Jungle", Lost in Hollywood
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