Escape The Fate @ Wiltern 11-21-09
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Agent Mooshead's Neil, Throw the Switch!
When a name like Agent Mooshead came to my attention only one thing struck my mind and that was the timeless classic "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show" why you ask? Well if you don't know who this funny going duo is you're down right crazy. Rocky is the flying squirrel sidekick of front runner Bullwinkle the Moose so put two and two together and this band name should struck somewhat a resemblance.
Or at least I think so, but any whom, this progressive experimental jazz combination takes the musical inputs of 6 members and dishes out the styling attitude that is "Neil, Throw the Switch!" A 9-track rhythm machine of harmonic architecture with such improvisation that this band alone provides its own brand of jazz that tends to create itself as each song plays itself through. Like "Neckface", "Tricycle", and "Mow Your Lawn", showcases the instruments craftsmanship with ease. The music just glides itself right through each tune piecing itself as the music slowly formats.
Concluding with such grace and smoothness the music just formulates over and over making each tune sound completely different and utterly unique in its own way. Agent Mooshead has a promising future ahead of them and this album is just the start of something totally unexpected come the future stances.
Ghoul Patrol Rocks the Night Away
Death takes its chances when entering the rock n’ roll zone, allowing metallers Jukka Pihlajaniemi (JP) (vocals) and Jani Rapo (JR) (guitar) of Ghoul Patrol to catch up with me recently via email to discuss the band’s lyrical meanings, how the band came to be, and everything else thrown in between. Just the fact that the band is the Ghoul Patrol makes this conversation that more interesting to get into.
1. How did the band come up with the name Ghoul Patrol, what does it symbolize?
JR: First, it sounded good and second, I wanted some old school horror movie/comics elements to the name. That's about it.
2. Why do you feel Death Metal/Rock/Metal has become complicated?
JP: At least in Finland the situation is that there are simply too many bands - and the overall level/quality of bands is pretty high. Rock 'n' roll and metal are still going strong, but maybe due to the global economy problems labels are afraid of signing anything out of ordinary.
3. What is your best fan experience?
JP: The best experiences are definitely from Scotland. The most memorable is probably one guy who wanted us to sign his prosthetic leg.
JR: ...Sure, and the human pyramid was quite fancy :)
JP: Scottish metalheads really do seem to know every trick in the book to entertain the band playing on stage!
4. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
JP: My lyrics are mostly about politics, human rights, religion - from my point of view. From this perspective the EPs don't differ from each other that much. The main point in the lyrics is not to preach but to give people something to think about.
5. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)
JR: I do all the songs by myself and some of the arrangements, Jukka does the lyrics and rests of the arrangements are done with the band. This method seems to work for us.
6. How much of the recording process was laid out before coming into the studio?
JP: We have a pretty good idea of the final result when we enter the studio. Of course we make some new adaptations or tweaks if you will on the fly.
7. What's behind the title and artwork of your most recent release?
JP: 'The 3rd Death Manifest' is our third and final EP. We wanted to state it in the title. It marks the beginning of a new era. We had many different ideas for the cover art but we decided to go with the simple one this time - and it works. I and Jani are responsible for the cover art of Ghoul Patrol.
8. What is your opinion on the Uusimaa Finland music scene?
JP: Competition is insane. Tons of great bands, few labels, limited opportunities to get visibility in the media and way too few venues to play in.
9. Are you happy with the way the new album has turned out, or is there anything that you wish you could go back and change?
JP: There's nothing I would change. We were very excited to work with Matias Kupiainen (Stratovarius) who recorded and produced the latest EP. You always have to analyze afterwards the songs/performances you've done and learn from it. We're constantly developing and looking to the future.
JR: I think there's no such thing as perfect and there are always some stupid little things you want to change after wards but in "The 3rd Death Manifest" I'm quite pleased. Matias did a great job!
10. How much longer do you think you'll have to wait before nailing that record deal?
JP: This seems to be a question in everyone's mind. Really hard to say - when the economic situation is what it is. Labels are afraid to make even distribution or licensing deals.
11. What can we expect from Ghoul Patrol in 2010?
JP: Ghoul Patrol will start to record the debut full-length album. Also we'll continue playing as many shows as we can - hopefully also abroad and overseas.
12. Where do you see the band say five (5) years from Now?
JP: The aim is of course to make Ghoul Patrol a household name among the metalheads. We'll still continue making albums and playing shows for the best people on the planet.
13. What will be the next single released from your latest release? Is there a set amount of time to wait between the releasing of singles or does the band or the label decide on this?
JP: I don't believe in singles. At least in Finland nobody really buys them and because we haven't got a record deal we don't release them. After we get a deal it will be up to the label whether to release them or not.
14. Anything else you'd like to add?
JR: Death 'n' Roll, All Night Long!
The Jade – Seconds Away From Salvation
When comes to the "break-down" of an album lyrically you get thrown a series of emotions, in this case we deal with "life, death, solitude, hope, faith and mental health" according to guitarist Pekko Mantzin of metal rock alternative The Jade straight out of Finland.
This mighty foursome have brought together some re-composed tunes that have been issued beforehand on their last set of self-published works but now that era is behind them, now is the time for us to bear witness to "Seconds Away From Salvation".
The 13-tracked plus the added bonus lays it out to an arousing 14 altogether, gives us the lyrical formula for every type of emotional need we may be enforcing. With that said “Solitary Soul”, is the opener that literally blows this album away, for instance the drums come in quick and easy while the guitars riff structure just sails right on through, the vocals capturing the whole emotional musical meaning.
Moving on with “"Roses Are Burning", you get thrown with that same vibe that you received with the opener. The music just impulses itself until it explodes directly at you, having all the instruments come at you all at once, the guitar’s structural work and vocal tactics clashing together with ease. Now "Drowning", and "King´s Cross", have the mellower effect. These are to be considered the “ballad songs” offered upon “Seconds Away From Salvation”.
Each compressing that real emotional stress that grips upon your heart and soul and unleashes itself slowly until your whole body is drained of your bodily fluids. When that being said and over with, The Jade has composed an arrangement of tunes that really captures what the band was going after when making this album, be just “Seconds Away From Salvation”.
theAttitude Aiming Straight for the Middle
This is not your ordinary EP oh no, this consists of 6 that's right 6-tracks that live up to what they're intended to do. Which is but of course to create music correct? Well that’s somewhat the answer. You do receive 6-tracks of your average take on what rock, metal, and industrial music is but where does it go, well it just so happens to go “Straight to the Middle”.
Being well known across the southwestern region known as Arizona, theAttitude formed just 4 years ago and since have not looked back. Brought on by musical veterans, vocalist Jim Louvau and guitarist Anthony Kirksey the two began to write and craft together songs with just one idea in mind. That they wanted to have absolutely no musical limitations whatsoever having coming from different backgrounds the more resources the merrier. Later on bassist Nick Ruggiero, second guitarist Jared Bakin, and drummer Kansas Farver completed this new adapted project.
This brings us back to the EP and the 6 so called tracks you get thrown into, "Best Days", and "Rebel Yell", are the major highlights enlisted here, but theAttitude is enforcing the music to establish this connection with its listener taking them to a whole another dimension. With the added industrial effects and mid bending guitar effects and solos aside from the occasional in-coming “screams” by Louvau – theAttitude has built a solid set of songs that not only can the listener relate to but accompany them on their own reality world. theAttitude's music simply combines The Dreaming meets War Tapes a take on a whole another rock zone.
Slant's Temptations
When you blend together some alternative mixed together with some rock with a dash of progressive thrown in for flavor what do you think it combines into mixing up too? Well something known to Los Angeles as Slant.
This self-titled sophomore release is a 16-track mix-up completely covering everything mentioned beforehand and then some, creating this overpowering effect that even the band mates themselves can’t seem to forget. Mentioning in a recent interview that “One Step At A Time,” is the top notch tune you should definitely be tuning into.
Besides that tune of course there are a handful of others that stand out, including "Price To Play," "Better Without You," "No Regrets," along with "Through My Own Steps," and "Another Day," each of these among all the others, are just the tip of really capturing what types of emotions Slant’s been through.
The instrumental work is done clean and clear having the guitar work to be heard fast and edgy picking up the pace throughout the entire album, while the lyrics just speak to you while you listen in to each of the words being directly spoken to you, each clashing together to sound off this unbearable sound wave of music.
Overall Slant’s self-titled debut efforts is an attempt at re-creating music in a whole another fashion building up the momentum through each time you listen.
The Friday the 13th Party-Nighters: Slant, The Attitude, and The Dreaming
What can be more exciting than to celebrate the most feared day of the entire year or pretty much whenever it pops up? I’m talking about Friday the 13th. This unlucky bad filled night or day of disaster, was actually a night filled with your modern rock n’ rollers just looking for a good time to party it up.
The night started off slow and easy then picked up the pace when the clock struck 9 sounding off nothing more nor nothing less than a fierce beating of a drum solo clashing into the soloing tactics of the guitar rhythms and undertones of rock n rollers, Slant. Their side structure curving all the right movements of their musical craftsmanship – building up the momentum required to thrill an overwhelming crowd of go getters.
After their departure an attitude had struck a chord with the so-called crowd goers, with The Attitude a Arizona sizzle with a California breeze in. These modern hard rockers nailed the crowd hard into the front row as the surrounding on-lookers just glared into the aggressive facial expressions, this band was intending to make. The crowd in the front shouted and cheered as one particular fan kept handing the singer a handful of napkins while he’d just look awkwardly and toss them into the air pulsing up his energy flow demanding that this boring crowd of on-lookers, get this party started!
Once that had been stated, the energy from the crowd slowly built upward as The Attitude’s set was drawing to its closing point. A brief intermission erupted before Los Angele’s own metal modern rock n’ rollers ripped it all up and everywhere you looked, The Dreaming. Who through together a 60 minute set-up that consisted of the old meets the new. Bringing together a brand new guitarist to the floor, new material to sing-along too and the old tunes that needed some dusting to keep the energy flowing.
Overall The Dreaming tossed out, “Let It Burn,” “Bullet,” along with a series of newer hits that will reappear within the near upcoming future that we will surly never forgets but rather be looking forward to receiving.
Written/Photographed By: Natalie Perez