Tag Archives: Hip-hop

Linkin Park – One More Light

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It’s a tricky thing growing up and playing music. I don’t mean “former child stars gone bad, next on TMZ”. Most bands that hit the mainstream have something catchy, visceral, and often a magic quality about their talent. The problem is that once you’ve gotten a taste of that hot hot spotlight, usually a band or artist ends up uncompromising to stay in front of it. The few that don’t ever sell out, fight an uphill battle the rest of their careers. This is the fight Linkin Park have been in since about album three, and now they are in it again on album seven in almost 20 years, One More Light (Warner Bros.)Continue reading →


Ho99o9 – The United States of Horror

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If you were lucky enough to catch Ho99o9 (pronounced ‘Horror’ if you’re looking at that and wondering where to start) recently on tour with The Dillinger Escape Plan or on the festival scene then you know that this is a group who are equal parts unpredictable and excellent. Excellent because whether you’d heard any of their music before or not there is absolutely no doubting that you were walking around with a “What the fuck was that!?” look plastered on your face in the immediate aftermath.Continue reading →


Hear Zack De La Rocha Guest On The New Run The Jewels Album

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Former Rage Against The Machine vocalist Zack de la Rocha has done a guest spot on the new Run The Jewels album track ‘A Report To The Shareholders / Kill Your Masters ‘. You can hear the track below.Continue reading →


Video: Living Colour Release Powerful Who Shot Ya? Clip On Gun Violence

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Living Colour released their cover of the Notorious B.I.G. track ‘Who Shot Ya’ a few weeks ago, and now we have the powerful video for our viewing pleasure.Continue reading →


Fire From The Gods Vocalist AJ Channer Discusses His Narrative

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Fire From The Gods recently released Narrative on Rise Records, and it’s an album I feel everyone needs to hear. The power of the lyrics is only enhanced by the intensity of the music, and it makes for a great listen, no matter what type of music you enjoy. AJ Channer‘s words are truly heartfelt, and he brings the listener on an uplifting journey from the beginning to the end. I’ve been a fan of his work for years now, but this is his shining moment, and a stepping stone for what can only be an even brighter future.

I recently got to chat with AJ about writing, recording, and performing the tracks on this new record, and you can read our interview below. This is a man that has something to say, and after you read his words, I urge you to grab Narrative today!Continue reading →


Audio: Candiria Premieres A New Song And Announces An Intimate Tour

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The mighty Candiria announced a new record was coming our way back in 2015 when they signed a new deal with Metal Blade Records, and now we finally know when it’s coming us. Continue reading →


Body Count Names New Album – Bloodlust, Due In 2017

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After previously announcing their signing to Century Media Records, Body Count, the hardcore metal band led by Hip-Hop legend Ice-T have now dubbed their new album they are working on, entitled Bloodlust. The album is set for release in 2017. Bloodlust is being produced by Will Putney known for his work on the last Body Count album, Manslaughter, and Miss May I among others.

 

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Body Count Signs With Century Media, New Album In The Works

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Body Count, by Melina D Photography

Body Count, featuring hip-hop legend Ice-T, has signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. The band has entered the studio with producer Will Putney (Miss May I) to start recording its new album for a late 2016 release. Putney also steered Body Count’s last work, the acclaimed Manslaughter (Sumerian)

Ice-T commented on the signing:

“It’s cool to be a member of the Century Label Group alongside such a lot of well-established metal artists.


With our last album, ‘Manslaughter’, we tested the waters and got a great response from the fans and critics. Now it’s time to go kill it and make a more aggressive album and keep the Body Count style intact.

Will Putney is like a member of the band and has an excellent ear. He’s a great producer because he captures the true essence of our band’s sound. Once we are done writing the song, it’s his job to step in and make it sound better. He helps move the record in the right direction. We’re anticipating working with him again.

Once the record’s done, we’re going to shoot a lot of music videos and perform spot-dates on certain tests, etc.”

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Otep – Generation Doom

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OTEP Generation Doom album cover 2016 ghostcultmag

Otep has a new album out titled Generation Doom (Napalm Records). As a longtime Otep fan, I’m always well chuffed when they release new music. Music of course being a derivative term as what Otep does is more art for the ears than anything. The first thing I noticed with Otep’s Generation Doom is that it’s heavy! Generation Doom is a heavy metal album. You can head bang and thrash about the living room whilst listening to this album. The album opens with the track ‘Zero’. It doesn’t take long before you are screaming the refrain “I don’t give a fuck!” along with lead singer Otep Shamaya. The guitars are just gobsmackingly amazing. The drumming is heavy and thumptastic.

‘Lords of War’ was one of the first singles released. It is political in nature without beating you over the head. Otep raps above some dark and heavy backing tracks. But again, you end up singing along with her by the chorus. Another song that tugs at your heart-strings is ‘In Cold Blood’. It’s angsty for all the right reasons. ‘Lie’ is another intensely personal song that breaks your heart. All the anger and frustration at having to deal with a love that lies to you is embedded in ‘Lie’. The song strips you bear and says everything you wish you could say. Otep Shamaya’s writing style on Generation Doom is a thing of beauty as she can articulate the feelings and concepts most of us stumble over. In addition, her vocals range from the haunting to the guttural and it’s her vocal range that make the songs on Generation Doom an epic album. For me, the best part of the album is that it’s sing-along-able. In direct opposition to Otep’s last album Hydra, Generation Doom is a musical album. By that I mean that it’s less art and more music in a traditional sense. Each song is a bitchin’ collection of lyrics and metal arrangements. Generation Doom will please strict metal fans and longtime Otep fans alike.

8.5/10

VICTORIA ANDERSON

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Wildways – Into The Wild

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Wildways into the wild artery recordings ghostcultmag

It’s been quite a transformation few years for new Artery Recordings signees Wildways. Hailing from western Russia and operating until just a few years ago under a different name, this metalcore prospect comes up big on the US debut Into The Wild. The current wave of modern metalcore, bands with the ability to be heavy, but fluid enough to genre bend and flow well. Everyone aspires to this style, and fewer can make it there own sound. Wildways has done this big time.

Tapping into that millennial angst is easy. Try doing for a generation that would rather Snapchat then make a real personal connection. The kids in Wildways know this, and since they are their own audience, this helps them connect on real level. No fantasies or fakery, but real songs about personal problems. Tracks meld metalcore, EDM, rap (in English and Russian!), punk rock, and even thrash on occasions, coming on like the Linkin Park meets Parkway Drive in a game of carnival bumpercars. Big songs, tuneful melodies, verbose wordplay, and plenty of feel-good moments are the hallmarks of this album.

Opener ‘Skins’ is one of the longer tracks on the album. It’s a kitchen-sink type affair musically, building from a whisper to an emo-core roar of major proportions. Alternating between singing, rapping and screaming, it just kills. They have been a band long enough that they grasp dynamic and tempo shifts and are not just trying to spaz out the listener with changes. Props.

‘3 Seconds To Go’ is a hyperactive song that sounds like what would happen if you had Dragonforce and asked them to write for Enter Shikari or Chiodos at gunpoint. Again, vocalist Toli impresses. There is some baddass keys/programming going on here too. ‘Faka Faka Yeah’ will have the Atilla loving kids losing their shit. I can see this crossing over easily to pop fans. It’s still pretty metal, even though I have no idea what the hell this song is about. The album definitely gets stronger as it goes on with the best tracks being ‘Slow Motion’, the single ‘Princess’ (with mystery female vocals), ‘Don’t Give Up Your Guns’ and ‘Illusions And Mirrors’.

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Wildways have arrived and might be a good bet to be the next big thing. This is a good first step into a larger world, and we’ll be following along closely.

7.0/10

KEITH CHACHKES

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