Cries from the Quiet World: mayo 2017

martes, 30 de mayo de 2017

Hollow "Architect of the Mind"

Hollow were a progressive power metal band from Umeå, Sweden.

The band begun in the early 1990s when members met in the university town of Umeå. Tomas and Andreas had decided to start a band when they met during their military service, serving together in the same platoon. Originally called Valkyrian they decided to change their name to Hollow which they felt was more in tune with their musical style "The name Hollow reflects the constant void within, which we all feel from time to time".

Influenced by acts such as Queensrÿche, Crimson Glory and Elegy in 1995 they released a six track demo called "Speak To Me". In 1997 they released a self-titled Ep with four tracks which caught the attention of MM Records, a small independent label. They then went on to create two albums both released through Nuclear Blast Records, Modern Cathedral (1997) and Architect Of The Mind (1999).

Hollow chose to split up not long after the release of Architect Of The Mind.

Hollow is now a solo project of Andreas Stoltz, who in 2009 released the song "Descending" which was written in memory of Midnight, Crimson Glory's vocalist, who died in 2009.

In 2010 Polish record label Metal Mind Productions remastered and rereleased Architect Of The Mind and Modern Cathedral as a double pack.

Architect Of The Mind is a concept album on artificial intelligence. The album follows a story where a scientist goes almost crazy after his father dies and buries himself in work, eventually creating an artificial intelligence which he never expected this being to be so similar to himself. The album raises questions regarding creation and responsibility for the created, parenthood and religion as well.

Hollow "Modern Cathedral"

Anthrax "Volume 8: The Threat is Real"

Volume 8: The Threat Is Real is the eighth studio album by American thrash metal band Anthrax. The album was released on July 28, 1998 by Ignition Records and debuted at number 118 on the Billboard 200 chart. The record was produced by the band and Paul Crook. It features the song "Crush", which appeared in the video game ATV Offroad Fury for PlayStation 2 and in the game's soundtrack. Other released singles from the album were "Inside Out", "Piss N Vinegar" and "Born Again Idiot".

Stephen Thomas Erlewine, in a mixed review for AllMusic, wrote that the album is a continuation of the band's "writing slump" which started with 1993's Sound of White Noise. He said that there aren't many "memorable songs" on the record, and went to call it "transitional album" leading the band to "new, uncharted territory". Stephen Thompson of The A.V. Club found the album to be "aggressive to the point of being exhausting". Martin Popoff in his Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal remarks how the band put a bit of everything in the songs, including multiple speeds, "humor scattered here and there", "big grungy guitars", "meat and potatoes riffing and roaring vocals from Bush", while "experimenting with some different textures and dynamics". The result is not just "an accessible thrash metal record", as is typical with Anthrax.

Track 15 is a hidden track after 2:32 of silence at the end of track 14.

Recording information:

Co-produced by Anthrax.
Arranged by Anthrax.
Mixed at Platinum Island.

Mastered at Sterling Sound.

domingo, 28 de mayo de 2017

Deep Purple "Perfect Strangers"

Perfect Strangers is the eleventh studio album by the British rock band Deep Purple, released in October 1984. It represents the first (as well as the most successful and popular) album recorded by the reformed 'Mark II' line-up.

It was the first Deep Purple studio album in nine years, and the first with the Mk II line-up in eleven years, the last being Who Do We Think We Are in 1973. Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover arrived from Rainbow, Ian Gillan from Black Sabbath, Jon Lord from Whitesnake, and Ian Paice from Gary Moore's backing band.

The CD and cassette versions of the album contained the extra track "Not Responsible" (one of few Deep Purple songs with profane lyrics, as the word "fucking" can be heard in the song). The album was remastered and reissued on 22 June 1999 with the bonus instrumental track "Son of Alerik". The latter had previously been available as a B-side on the single "Perfect Strangers" in 1984.

The album was a commercial success, reaching #5 in the UK charts and #17 on the Billboard 200 in the US. Perfect Strangers was only the second Deep Purple studio album to be certified platinum in the US, following 1972's Machine Head. The tour was so successful that the band had to book many additional dates to the US arena tour, as tickets sold out very quickly. Their US tour in 1985 out-grossed every artist that year except Bruce Springsteen.

Deep Purple "The House of Blue Light"

The House of Blue Light is the twelfth studio album by The British rock band Deep Purple, released in 1987. It is the second recording by the re-formed Mark II line-up.

The album's creation was an exceedingly long and difficult process, which singer Ian Gillan compared to the recording of Who Do We Think We Are in Rome. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has said much of it was re-recorded. Gillan has remarked on how strained relations within the band compromised the album: "I look back at House Of Blue Light, there are some good songs on that record, but there’s something missing in the overall album. I can’t feel the spirit of this band. I can see or hear five professionals doing their best, but it’s like a football team, it’s not functioning. It’s like eleven superstars that are playing on the same field but are not connected by the heart or by the spirit". Added organist Jon Lord, "We made the massive mistake of trying to make our music current. We discovered that people didn't want us to do that."

Two promotional videos to the songs "Bad Attitude" and "Call of the Wild" were produced. Both of them feature members of the band.

Several tracks on the LP and cassette versions are shorter than those of the original CD released in 1987. The 1999 CD remaster used the original vinyl master tapes, and so its running time is correspondingly shorter than the original CD version as well.

1987 CD edition