2008 Woodie Awards
New rock albums aim to please
by Drew Nelson
Issue date: 9/4/08
Section: Music
Dragonforce
If Dragonforce spawned from Greek mythology (their lyrics might imply so), Pegasus would most certainly be its mount.
The London speed-metal kings return from 2006's "Inhuman Rampage" with the kind of effort you'd expect from them: blinding precision.
Like a medieval knight, singer ZP Theart sails amongst the friction-fingers of guitarist Herman Li like he's commanding armed peasants to victory. "And the morning light the high/The darkened days gone by/And the sun will shine again across the blazing skies," Theart wails on the seven-minute epic, "The Fire Still Burns."
Of course, this type of gale-forces-atop-skyscrapers attitude is what Dragonforce excels at the most. Never mind the album's artwork, which features a bionic-looking heroine wielding a weapon that "Halo" creators could only dream about. It's all in a day's work for the band.
Fans of Drangonforce signatures will appreciate cuts like "Inside the Winter Storm" and the aforementioned. But expect more punchy crawls like "A Flame For Freedom" and the Kirby's Dreamland-esque "The Warrior Inside."
Don't be confused though. There's no pink puff here.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Slipknot
When a new "Grand Theft Auto" game is introduced or a newly-conceived state fair food is so unorthodox you simply must try it, public reaction is usually the same.
But Slipknot tends to leave all ambiguity out with its new material. "All Hope Is Gone" is no exception.
Frontman Corey Taylor weaves back into his roots as easily as his other various projects. Apocalyptica, Dream Theater and a soon-to-be-released Anthrax album have all been graced with his presence. But Iowa is where his heart is - even if that heart pumps sheer darkness.
The band's fourth album in a historically above-average collection of headbangers exudes a ton of that, save for Taylor's obvious love of buttery melodies on tracks such as "Snuff" and "Dead Memories." He releases restraint, however, on the good majority, lacing "Gematria (The Killing Name)" and "This Cold Black" with the diesel grunt of farm equipment (select band members are ex-corn detasselers).
Still, the second single "Psychosocial" remains the gem. And with plenty of radio play, we're bound to get our fill, like a deep-fried Snicker bar on a stick.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Staind
As far as stage presence goes, Staind is flatter than a Diet Rite. Guitarist Mike Mushok thrashes a little as the wooing Aaron Lewis makes like a statue enveloped in skittered strobe lights.
It's not that they can't be crazier - they've put out their fair share of wall-quaking rock since they formed in 1995. It's that Lewis has got too many irresistible melodies to be focused on much else.
More driving chart-topping singles and words of personal reflection fill the plastic of Staind's sixth album, which was produced by Jonny K of Disturbed and 3 Doors Down fame.
Contrasting as usual, the stormy "Break Away" precedes tracks like "Tangled Up In You," an acoustic song that's rumored to be on Lewis' solo cut currently in the works.
Inconsistencies aside, some pieces are too drab ("Raining Again") and bluesy ("Corner") - an approach that Staind has handled before but makes us regret now.
If you dig this sort of mix, then you'll probably praise Lewis' sing-song set. "Believe" is catchy, but don't expect another "Mudshovel."
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Drew Nelson is a Reporter staff writer
If Dragonforce spawned from Greek mythology (their lyrics might imply so), Pegasus would most certainly be its mount.
The London speed-metal kings return from 2006's "Inhuman Rampage" with the kind of effort you'd expect from them: blinding precision.
Like a medieval knight, singer ZP Theart sails amongst the friction-fingers of guitarist Herman Li like he's commanding armed peasants to victory. "And the morning light the high/The darkened days gone by/And the sun will shine again across the blazing skies," Theart wails on the seven-minute epic, "The Fire Still Burns."
Of course, this type of gale-forces-atop-skyscrapers attitude is what Dragonforce excels at the most. Never mind the album's artwork, which features a bionic-looking heroine wielding a weapon that "Halo" creators could only dream about. It's all in a day's work for the band.
Fans of Drangonforce signatures will appreciate cuts like "Inside the Winter Storm" and the aforementioned. But expect more punchy crawls like "A Flame For Freedom" and the Kirby's Dreamland-esque "The Warrior Inside."
Don't be confused though. There's no pink puff here.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Slipknot
When a new "Grand Theft Auto" game is introduced or a newly-conceived state fair food is so unorthodox you simply must try it, public reaction is usually the same.
But Slipknot tends to leave all ambiguity out with its new material. "All Hope Is Gone" is no exception.
Frontman Corey Taylor weaves back into his roots as easily as his other various projects. Apocalyptica, Dream Theater and a soon-to-be-released Anthrax album have all been graced with his presence. But Iowa is where his heart is - even if that heart pumps sheer darkness.
The band's fourth album in a historically above-average collection of headbangers exudes a ton of that, save for Taylor's obvious love of buttery melodies on tracks such as "Snuff" and "Dead Memories." He releases restraint, however, on the good majority, lacing "Gematria (The Killing Name)" and "This Cold Black" with the diesel grunt of farm equipment (select band members are ex-corn detasselers).
Still, the second single "Psychosocial" remains the gem. And with plenty of radio play, we're bound to get our fill, like a deep-fried Snicker bar on a stick.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Staind
As far as stage presence goes, Staind is flatter than a Diet Rite. Guitarist Mike Mushok thrashes a little as the wooing Aaron Lewis makes like a statue enveloped in skittered strobe lights.
It's not that they can't be crazier - they've put out their fair share of wall-quaking rock since they formed in 1995. It's that Lewis has got too many irresistible melodies to be focused on much else.
More driving chart-topping singles and words of personal reflection fill the plastic of Staind's sixth album, which was produced by Jonny K of Disturbed and 3 Doors Down fame.
Contrasting as usual, the stormy "Break Away" precedes tracks like "Tangled Up In You," an acoustic song that's rumored to be on Lewis' solo cut currently in the works.
Inconsistencies aside, some pieces are too drab ("Raining Again") and bluesy ("Corner") - an approach that Staind has handled before but makes us regret now.
If you dig this sort of mix, then you'll probably praise Lewis' sing-song set. "Believe" is catchy, but don't expect another "Mudshovel."
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Drew Nelson is a Reporter staff writer
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