Despite Exile - "Re-Evolve" CD EP Review

In an interview with Metal Shock Finland, Italian metalcore crew Despite Exile described their songwriting process as “every song must be like a train that hits you in the face”. The band’s new EP, “Re-Evolve”, holds true to this promise and the disc’s three tracks (12 minutes) is a solid slab of prog-influenced Djent/Metalcore that can hold its own against established bands like Whitechapel and Meshuggah (both of whom the band cites as influences).

Despite Exile has been together for four years and the band released their self-produced debut EP “Scarlet Reverie” last year. “Re-Evolve”, the band’s sophomore disc, continues in the same view as its predecessor. This time out, the band has added Djent into their sound along with tighter production, which brings out the balance between the band’s brutal riffs and blast beats, their melodies and vocalist Jei Durisotti’s rabid death metal growls.

The disc starts with “Oscillate” (which is streaming at www.bravewords.com) and this track sets the tone for the disc with melodic guitar leads layered on top of driving groove-based riffs and a rumbling bass. “Perfection Neutralized” continues in this vein but the guitar work is a bit more slashing and aggressive than its predecessor and this song also adds gang vocals on the almost-melodic chorus. The band changes paces and slows down a bit on the final track, “Mechanical”, which contains some soaring epic guitar leads and a mid-song breakdown that is sure to get the pit going.



This new EP is evidently a ‘teaser’ for the band’s first full-length which is in-progress and the band expects to be in pre-production soon.

Links:
Despite Exile

Meshuggah - "Alive" DVD/CD Review (Nuclear Blast)

It is hard to let a Meshuggah CD slip through the cracks but I'm afraid that I did. This DVD/CD set came out in February on Nuclear Blast and documents the band's 2008-09 obZen World Tour.

I was only sent a copy of the CD for review so I can't comment on the DVD. The CD contains twelve of the twenty-three tracks on the DVD (strangely, in different order):

1. Begin (Outtakes)(DVD)
2. Perpetual Black Second (Tokyo)(CD/DVD)
3. Twenty Two Hours (Outtakes)(DVD)
4. Pravus (Tokyo)(CD/DVD)
5. Dissemination (Outtakes)(DVD)
6. Bleed (NYC)(CD/DVD)
7. Ritual (Outtakes)(DVD)
8. New Millennium Cyanide Christ (Montreal)(CD/DVD)
9. Cleanse (Outtakes)(DVD)
1. Stengah (Montreal)(CD/DVD)
11. The Mouth Licking What You ve Bled (Montreal)(CD/DVD)
12. Machine (Outtakes)(DVD)
13. Electric Red (Tokyo)(CD/DVD)
14. Solidarius (Outtakes)(DVD)
15. Rational Gaze (Tokyo)(CD/DVD)
16. Moment (Outtakes)(DVD)
17. Lethargica (Toronto)(CD/DVD)
18. Communicate (Outtakes)(DVD)
19. Combustion (Toronto)(CD/DVD)
2. Humiliative (Montreal)(CD/DVD)
21. Infinitum (Outtakes)(DVD)
22. Straws Pulled At Random (Toronto)(CD/DVD)
23. End (Outtakes)(DVD)

Meshuggah's strength has always been their live show so the CD doesn't disappoint. The performance on the disc comes from the band's show at the 2008 Loudpark Festival in Tokyo along with cuts from the band's North American run of shows last February. One of the tracks includes "Bleed" which was filmed at Irving Plaza.





Meshuggah is touring in Europe next month and here are the upcoming tour dates:

July 01, 2010 -- Peace & Love Festival, Borlänge, Sweden
July 02, 2010 -- Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, Denmark
July 09, 2010 -- Getaway Rock Festival, Gävle, The, Sweden
July 10, 2010 -- Sonisphere Festival, Madrid, Spain, Yes, Spain
July 16, 2010 -- Hegyalja Festival, Tokaj, Hungary, Same, Hungary
July 17, 2010 -- Zwarte Cross Festival, Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands, Guessing, Netherlands
July 30, 2010 -- Qstock Festival, Oulo, Finland

Links:
Meshuggah

Starring Janet Leigh: Live Footage & Interview from "Metal As Art" Tour, NYC 3-4-10

Metal Blade/Ironclad Recordings band Starring Janet Leigh was in town last week for a show at Fontana's, which was also the final night of the "Metal as Art" tour. The death/math-metal band has been touring behind their debut CD, Spectrum, which was released in 2009.

I had the chance to catch up with Matt Z. ( Guitar), Matt N. (Vocals) and Justin (Bass) before the show to talk a bit about Spectrum, the current tour and what's next for the band.



Starring Janet Leigh's set was great; the band plays death metal that is punctuated with some serious jazz breaks that is comparable to Mr. Bungle or a harder, more out-of-control version of Candiria. The music shifts from brutal chugging riffs to intricately played jazz notes and polyrhythmic drumming in the blink of an eye but all of it sounds very purposeful and focused.

Links:
Starring Janet Leigh