Corey Taylor, who rose to fame as the frontman of both Slipknot and Stone Sour has announced his highly anticipated solo album CMFT is due out October 2nd via Roadrunner Records. He dropped his first two singles “CMFT Must Be Stopped” (featuring rappers Tech N9ne & Kid Bookie) and “Black Eyes Blue”. The album is available for pre-order at the link below and both songs are available on all streaming platforms. Listen here and check out a music video and a visualizer for the tracks:
The first casualty of the Metal touring and festival world due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has fallen. Slipknot’s Knotfest Japan, set to take place in three weeks on March 20th has been postponed until a later date TBA. The event is working with the band to reschedule at a later date. The band has postponed all of their expected Asia tour dates as well Fans wishing to keep their tickets may do so, as they are fully valid for rescheduled dates when they are announced. Fans wanted a refund will get one soon but have been asked to wait for imminent details to be announced. Knotfest Japan 2020 was to have featured Slipknot headlining both nights, along with Anthrax, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Man With A Mission, Maximum The Hormone and more! The first-ever Knotfest took place seven years ago in Council Bluffs, Iowa and moved two years later to San Bernardino, California. In 2016, Slipknot and Ozzy Osbourne joined forces for the first-ever Ozzfest Meets Knotfest, featuring both acts performing headlining sets on different days. Knotfest has expanded to an annual tour – Knotfest Roadshow, Knotfest Mexico, Columbia, the United Kingdom, France (Knotfest Meets Hellfest) and now Knotfest at Sea. Continue reading
Confession time. Up until two days ago when my editor sent me this assignment I had never heard of Crossfaith. So yeah, for a band that has been kicking since 2006 and consistently on tour it took me until their fourth LP Xeno (Razor & Tie) to acknowledge their existence. I am the definition of timeliness.
Anyways, during my lunch break I browsed the web out of boredom and realized that Crossfaith’s sound has been described as renown for combining metalcore and electronic dance music. Naturally when reading that combination of genres the first thing that comes to mind is “I’ve died and gone to hell.” Immediate visions of laptopcore bands like The Browning and Blood on the Dance Floor flooded the brain. Fuck me.
But don’t knock it till you try it, or at least that’s what the girl as the grocery store seems to always tell me. Look at the bright side, Crossfaith is from Osaka, Japan and the land of the rising son has fostered plenty of eclectic and talented metal bands such as X-Japan, Dir en Grey, and Maximum the Hormone. Just press play.
You only get one chance to make a first impression and Crossfaith for the most part hits the mark. Instead of the Hot Topic goth dance party I was dreading the music on Xeno was actually listenable. Multifarious to a fault, but still listenable. Pretty good, actually. However if you are looking for some dance party action then check out ‘Wildfire’ (featuring Skindred’s Benji Webbe) and it’s unholy matrimony of EDM and Reggae. And I can say with no shame that I blasted it out loud in my car.
That being said the tunes here are more in line with Slipknot, mid-career Soilwork and even some Linkin Park for good measure. Frontman Kenta “Ken” Koie leans more on his singing voice on this effort and it helps elevate songs like ‘Raise Your Voice,’ ‘Devil’s Party’ and the excellent title track to radio rock anthem status. In addition to Koie’s strong performance, much attention should also be paid to drummer Tatsuya Amano’s frantic bursts of aggression and producer Josh Wilbur’s (Avenged Sevenfold, Lamb of God) masterful work behind the studio board.
The one moment on Xeno that lost me was power ballad ‘Tears Fall.’ It’s an excellent showcase for Koie’s pipes and it does feature a tuneful solo from guitarist Kazuki Takemura, but it’s way too sappy to fully take seriously. So much so that you could sell it for parts to Bullet for My Valentine. While that gamble doesn’t pay off, Crossfaith pick up the pace again with ‘Paint it Black’ and the drumming showcase that is ‘Vanguard.’ But before the album comes to a close these Osaka natives get a another chance to play with dynamics and texture on ‘Calm the Store’ a melodic track that is much more in line with the aforementioned Linkin Park or Dead Letter Circus.
I feel slightly less hesitant about the melding of electronics and metalcore. Slightly. You done good, Crossfaith.
8.0/10
HANSEL LOPEZ