FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE" (2018)

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - "AND JUSTICE FOR NOW"
(Running time: 47:20 minutes; 13 songs)
("Prospect Park"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, due to this incredible hot weather… god damn it, I'm sweating my inner organs out, day by day a bit more, I swear… I don't see a chance to sleep anytime soon this night… not that this would be any different to all the nights over the last weeks… and after this weather steals day by day also a lot of my energy and so I haven't done again far less up here the last days then I wanted I thought, yes, I'll now get at least this one here finish'n'ready done and bring this up as a late night post and so without any further ramblings here we go finally one more time again: Here and now you get my anyhow already too far long overdue record-review on the (brand)new FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH full-length-album "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE" released pretty to very recently via "PROSPECT PARK" in this year of 2018 on CD and also on limited CD (as well as on vinyl, too) but after I so far still only own the regular-CD-version my record-review here'n'now will be or better is solely on this one. I will spare me any words about all this… hm... hype'n'farce'n'stuff that's sort of always surrounding FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, yes, I like their musick, their songs and albums, so more and some less like mostly always, and live they totally convinced me and this is all I have to say and you need to know right here and right now. Their precursor release "GOT YOUR SIX" was still sort of okay but at the end of the day simply too dull, too constructed, too predictable, too forced-hard, and simply too flat and too one-dimensional, too boring to really be grapping for more than a few spins and this macho-like rebel-attitude simply too crappy delivered and too superficial done and too unauthentic embossed to be to anyone who's older than eighteen a serious 'thing'. In my book their by far weakest release to date. So I wasn't really that excited when I finally saw "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE" in my local media-store but due to a very 'consumer-friendly' price I finally anyway took it with me anyhow even without having that huge expectations. But, yes, the 'things' thankfully and finally changed again with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE", hell yeahr, because the guys created finally again a really good and a damn strong album that's very emotional, melodic, anthemic/hymnal, and in a sort of very often symphonic-melancholic way very heartfelt and soulful and this for all the right reasons and it's finally and thankfully again pretty to in parts also very multi-facetted and variation(s)-rich marked by strong and exciting and especially all in all really pretty grapping songwriting that takes you on an intense ride with a bulldozer-like onwards plowing pick-up-truck down a dirty and dusty highway through some desolate landscapes but with a bright and powerful shining red-flaming sun finally again dawning at the horizon with huge and honest emotions shaking you all the ride again and again, all pushed forwards by fantastic multi-facetted and really larger-than-life vokillz, brilliant done and very diverse guitar playing, and a stunning and heavy rhythm section, all driven forwards by very skilled musicians and songwriters in the driver-seat(s), yes, and so expect a very strong bastard-child born and bred in nearly equal parts by PANTERA, BRAND NEW SIN, and NICKELBACK, yes, some great cover-versions and suprisingly strong lyrics, a drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, and a broad and fat widescreen production-sound then round it all nicely up, yes, and I have clearly to say that I am really in love especially with the sort of more 'balladesk' tracks and so I would and do recommend you especially "SHAM PAIN", "BLOODY", "WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE", "STUCK IN MY HEAD", and "WILL THE SUN EVER RISE" to you and also the more harder and harsher and heavier hitting "TOP OF THE WORLD" and "ROCK BOTTOM" really conquer massively and I have also to say that you won't find a real weaker or truly weak song on this album, yes, just that you know it. Okay, that's it, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH seem to be finally back on track again with "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE" and I can calmly and how-ever clearly recommend it to you, yes, and then that's it for now again.

(8 of 10 points)

https://fivefingerdeathpunch.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - "BLOODY" (2018, "AND JUSTICE FOR NONE")

CKY - "THE PHOENIX" (2017)

CKY - "THE PHOENIX"
(Running time: 30:45 minutes; 8 songs)
("Entertainment One" & "SPV"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, me again, next post, next record, next review, yes, and this time on the new album of/by a band that I also just recently discovered this very year of and in 2017, for what the damn bloody fuck reasons ever, and here and now it is all about the brandnew CKY full length release "THE PHOENIX" released still pretty recently in 2017 via "ENTERTAINMENT ONE" and "SPV"; and eight years that passed by since its proper actual full length precursor album "CARVER CITY" from 2009 the albumtitle is maybe pretty 'programmatic' or sort of. After CKY were (without any kind of justification) more or less (beside some cool shirts back then) totally unknown to me I will spare me any band introduction and will jump straight and direct into the action, yes, and I will do so this time with naming you the probably biggest "What's wrong with it? That's wrong with it!" part of the whole album... it's simply by far too short, its running time is way too damn short, point and fact. Beside this... damn it... this is a damn strong and really fresh and exciting and mostly nicely varying and diverse metallic as well as grungy modern Alternative (Hard) Rock album that leaves you truly demanding for more. Beside this there aren't really negative points. Surely not all is gold but really pretty much and it is all on a strong and really fucking good level of quality and with the lead voacls, hell yeahr, the singer is so incredible strong with his very cool and smooth and yet very forceful style and way of singing and intonation, oh yes, this is really, really damn very, very strong and a pretty unique and a the songs and the music very strong marking feature of CKY's music on "THE PHOENIX", bloody hell yeahr, with such a singer and such lead vocals delivered by such a singer you already have one hell of  a huge plus already from the get-go on your side and so do CKY here on and with "THE PHOENIX" and this without a single doubt. Beside the really outstanding vocals we get a big and strong guitar work that's really stunning and dustdry boneshaking heavy and yet very sensitive and melodic and above all really grooving as hell and wafting with smoothe and chilled tones and that's packed up full with grapping playful elements and shines with a lot of passion and soul in a really just nothing but cool (and also pretty unique characteristic) way and this with the riffing and in the rhythm department as well as and maybe even especially with some bombing lead and solo work, yes, also the guitars are a true trademark of the sound and music of CKY (at least here on "THE PHOENIX"). Then there is the strongly present walking and talking bass and the stunning and nicely massive drumming adding beefy meat to the bones of "THE PHOENIX" as well as a cool organ that's really enriching the songs in most parts heavily. The songwriting is also pretty fresh and focusses beside some nice surprises and play- and soulful moments especially on the strong arrangements of the rhythmic structure with their strong organic grooves and their in most parts strongly rousing alignment. And here definitely a bunch of skilled musicians is at work, yes, just for the record. Maybe imagine a very self-contained mixture out of AUDIOSLAVE, DANKO JONES, DEFTONES, some new METALLICA, a bit of CREED, and some PUDDLE OF MUDD, hm... maybe, and you get a good first impression of where to start with your imagination of what is waiting here for you with CKY's "THE PHOENIX". At the end of the day a bit more variations and a bit more diversity to the grooves and the rhythm structures and "THE PHOENIX" would be even more better but also so anyhow CKY delivered a really damn strong album here with it that also comes with strong lyrics, a beautiful artwork, and a pretty natural and yet fat'n'heavy production sound that's a perfect match to/with the music and my personal favorites are "REPLACEABLE", "DAYS OF SELF DESTRUCTION", "UNKNOWN ENEMY", "HEAD FOR A BREAKDOWN", and "BETTER THAN GET EVEN", yes, so maybe start your listening sessions with this most precious gems. CKY delivered with "THE PHOENIX" a really damn strong album that I can only recommend in a very sure and calm way to you, point and fact.
(8 of 10 points)
https://www.facebook.com/ckyalliance/?fref=ts (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

CKY - "HEAD FOR A BREAKDOWN" (2017, "THE PHOENIX")

BLACKLIST LTD. - "STILL LIMITED" (2017)

BLACKLIST LTD. - "STILL LIMITED"
(Running time: 34:21 minutes; 10 songs)
("Kernkraftritter Records"; 2017; CD):

Okay folks, yes, and here's now already coming the next new review for you, trust your eyes because it's damn true, and this time again on another 2017 release and this time it's sort of a little bit of a special one because finally BLACKLIST LTD. are back, yes, the boys from my hometown hood Goslar City finally release with "STILL LIMITED" a brandnew record and this time with their... hm... 'new' singer and 'new' (second) guitar player and also this time via a label, yes, and it's the german "KERNKRAFTRITTER RECORDS" label that is releasing "STILL LIMITED", yes, and the record label deal is more than justified and also anyhow long overdue, yes, at least if you ask me. Okay, and after this introducing smalltalk, yes, now straight'n'right into the action, yes, so here we go one more time again: BLACKLIST LTD. play a sharp cutting and rousing, heavy and yet very melodical Modern Metal that offers also a lot of 'alternative tendencies' as well as 'emo impressions' and often crosses the borders to Metalcore with some slight portions of Modern Hardcore and the focus consequently lies on strong and consequent on the singing melodies and tension building arrangements, the big harmony lines and the hymnal rocking riffs and loud'n'wide refrains, yes, and also on powerful and nicely grooving'n'slamming and instantly 'moshy' mid- to up-paced parts, yes, and you know what, for (mostly) all the right reasons BLACKLIST LTD.'s focus is lying on this elements, for sure. And so expect a huge truckload full of smashing and yet (very) diverse guitars, very well-skilled, hard, harsh, and heavy as well as melodic, hymnal, and 'fluffy' rockin'n'grooving played and really marking the songs heavily and no matter if we look at or listen to the forceful riffs and the grapping rhythm arrangements or if we look at respectively listen to the very marking leads, yes, it's just all damn strong stuff, point and fact. A heavy-ass stunning rhythm section delivers the much needed loadable backbone to the music of BLACKLIST LTD. and adds a lot of beefy meat to "STILL LIMITED", thumbs up. Diverse and strong vokillz then give it all the crowning x-factor and from brutal throaty shoutings and slightly guttural screams to very sensitive and soulful sung clean singing we get it all and also all delivered in a pretty strong way. Also the vokillz as well as the guitar work is pretty charismatic, also owning a pretty special or unique tone or toning, yes, and I think this only adds only more quality to it all. Really strong, oh yes, a damn good album and fans of acts like or from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and CALIBAN to AT WITS END and ALIVE AT LAST will surely start moshing around while BLACKLIST LTD.'s "STILL LIMITED" is playing. Especially the catchy and melodic parts are really the hometown territory of BLACKLIST LTD., yes, the harsh parts they deliver also on point but by far not as strong. Just some too cheesy parts (also lyric-wise) will probably-definitely never be 'my homeground' but after all that's maybe also just me, who knows. My personal favorites or the for/to me strongest songs are "PREACH THE FAITH", "LEADERSHIP", "EGO", "RED OR GEAR", and "DELIVERY ON SUNDAY", yes, so start your discovery maybe with this shining gems first. I only miss some really big hits that this certain style of music definitely needs and some stuff is just too 'cheesy' for me, like above already mentioned, but this are only minor points of criticism and I have to say that I am really impressed of what the guys of/in BLACKLIST LTD. deliver us here with "STILL LIMITED", definitely, and it's a huge step forward by/for this anyhow strong band, yes, and you should also make sure to check them out live on stage; and I only hope that not again nine years will pass us by before BLACKLIST LTD. will release the succesor of "STILL LIMITED". Mostly good and interesting lyrics, a cool artwork, and a heavy and yet dirty production sound finally round it then all up. And for now I've said so much all I had to say right now and right here and so now I will close this review with pointing one last time clearly out that if you are a fan of the described music and/or the mentioned bands then BLACKLIST LTD.'s "STILL LIMITED" simply and definitely should be a part of your collection, yes, it's (mostly even highly) definitely recommended, yes, because it's for sure really a damn strong album, point and fact. Okay, and now, yes, good night my dear readers; and then and now more again soon.

(8 of 10 points)

http://blacklist-ltd.com/wp/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

BLACKLIST LTD. - "LEADERSHIP" (2017, "STILL LIMITED")

STONE SOUR - "HYDROGRAD" (2017)

STONE SOUR - "HYDROGRAD"
(Running time: 65:21 minutes; 15 songs)
("Roadrunner Records"; 2017; CD):

Okay, back at it again, and it's like 'ordered', damn it, the weekend's finally here and a long planned concert trip with a bunch of good old friends is up... and now I feel a damn fucking strong 'cold' breaking pretty massively through - I can't eat how much I want to puke right now... wish me the best that tomorrow things will look somehow pretty different again so that I will be able to go on that trip and clebrate SIX FEET UNDER and a big bunch of other bands live. If this turns out to happen that way then this very post here will be for this weekend pretty much the only post, yes, if not then you will get more new stuff from/of/by me to read up here over this weekend. So, yes, now enough of the introducing smalltalk and of me bitching around and now straight into the action again, damn it, and this time here and now you get my record review on the new STONE SOUR album titled "HYDROGRAD" released this very year in 2017 via the almighty "ROADRUNNER RECORDS" label. I pretty much always liked SLIPKNOT, some of their albums more, some of their albums less, and some of their albums I totally loved and still love, definitely, but somehow STONE SOUR always were a band that I never cared that much for... or that I never cared anyhow for so far, to be honest. This sort of 'rockish' Alternative Metal or Modern Metal with that somehow always slightly sinister edge to it all never really appealed to me all this gone and passed me and us by years, hm, and now in 2017 with "HYDROGRAD" today I am not so sure if I maybe never ever gave STONE SOUR a real, fair, and proper chance and try in the past or if STONE SOUR somehow that much changed or became that far better than before over all the years or if it is simply just me who changed quite a bit over the last decade or so or if it is a combination of several of this possibilities or a combination of all of them... I really don't know it... but I know that STONE SOUR's "HYDROGRAD" is a truly and really damn strong and incredible fucking great album of Alternative Metal/Modern Metal or maybe also metallic Alternative Rock/Modern Rock that really surprised me a heavily and massively this very year. And it all started with their phenomenal catchy and anthemic single "SONG #3", a true and real hymn, that I listened to first, hm, I think this summer (or at least anyhow in the earlier half of this very year of 2017) when it was played on my favorite radio station over here and this pretty much back then on heavy rotation, yes, and STONE SOUR conquered me supremely, definitely, and it was pretty clear that I definitely need to get my hands on "HYDROGRAD", hell yeahr, and so I then finally did one sooner or later beautiful day, yes, and since then STONE SOUR simply sort of own me with this monster that is "HYDROGRAD", yes, and this also for all the right reasons. This album is so incredible rich and exciting and so full of different influences, musical impressions, emotions, moods, and so much filled with a very strong own identity and an unique character and this all on such a high level of skills, quality, songwriting, and musicianship, yes, no matter how hard I try I will not probably but definitely never do it justice anyhow (and I do always my best and try my hardest to do the bands and records I do reviews on as much justice as only possible for me and with not being an native-english-speaker that's even harder for me to do and especially in a case like this here and now), yes, but I will anyhow try my (very) best possible to do a proper review anyway on it, yes, and so further on here and now, for sure, but keep in mind that this will probably to definitely be just a (very) general description of what's going on here on STONE SOUR's "HYDROGRAD", yes, and one thing that I have to mention right here and right now is that this very one here is one of the most atmospheric and intense albums in its very own right and style that I have listened to in a (very) long while. Expect one hell of an exciting and grapping guitar work that is massively marking the music of STONE SOUR on "HYDROGRAD" and that combines imressions from very harsh and in parts even 'deathy' Alternative Metal/Modern Metal to heavy and yet very emotional and sort of slightly 'grungy' Alternative Rock/Modern Rock adding up very fresh done (sort of 1970's) Classic Rock moments, truckloads of slightly 'punky' forward pushing and driving Rock'n'Metal riffing, yes, and also Country and Gospel and totally (and in an all positive sense) reduced 'ambient sounds' to the whole mix, yes, and this all done first class, highest skilled, and all platinum styled; and expect also that the guitars shine in the brightest ways and colours in all 'sectors of playing' which means that no matter if we look at respectively listen to the very stunning and fantastic varying rhythm arrangements or the just larger-than-life (out)shining leads, or/and the high skilled and very diverse done solos, yes, and this all in every positive way absolutely over the top, yes, and the guitars also have a very unique special flavour and tone of their very own, yes, and that's only adding up to their larger than life greatness. Then prepare yourself for one of the most charismatic and unique-in-tone as well as most intense and strongly diverse lead singing voices that's around today, oh hell yeahr, and the delivery on "HYDROGRAD" is just absolutely outstanding phenomenal, from screaming outburtsts to cleanest singing we get here all and this all on the most supreme levels of skills, identity, and quality. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. That the rhythm section then finally is just a totally stand-out diverse and tight as well as just sheer forceful and intense affair should need no further explanation here and now, bloody hell yeahr. The songwriting is just incredible as well as 'amazingly' play- and soulful (in all positive senses) and I think you already could or should have a (very) good impression of the high(est) quality and the high(est) skilled intensity and diversity as well as stunning heavyness that's breathing powerful as well as atmospheric life into STONE SOUR's "HYDROGRAD", yes, and this in an impressive, in a very impressive way. And, just for the record, yes, the fine gentlemen in/of STONE SOUR are truly high skilled musicians as well. The whole album is a total larger-than-life masterpiece and also for sure one of the very strongest albums of/for/in 2017 (an anyhow very strong year music-wise), yes, here's all purest gold to pure platinum, definitely, but if you should really like to know my personal favorites then here they now come for you, yes, and this would be (in no particular order... maybe) "SONG #3", "TAIPEI PERSON/ALLAH TEA", "HYDROGRAD", "ST. MARIE", "WHEN THE FEVER BROKE", "FRIDAY KNIGHTS", "WHIPLASH PANTS", "ROSE RED VIOLENT BLUE (THIS SONG IS DUMB AND SO AM I)", "THE WITNESS TREES", and "MERCY", purest platinum, period. On top of it all we get absolutely awesome lyrics, very diverse, unique, interesting, and thoughtful, as well as pure beauty artwork, yes, and a very heavy and smashing production sound, oh god damn hell yeahr, turning STONE SOUR's "HYDROGRAD" into the real deal and to the complete package, point and fact. Okay, even I could go on and on, yes, I think so far for here and now I've said it all what there was to say so far to/about STONE SOUR's "HYDROGRAD", yes, and so I will close this anyhow already very, very long review with just saying that any sort of open-minded Rock and Metal fan desperately needs to call this outstanding amazing larger than life masterpiece of an album his or her own, for sure, and this best sooner than later or, the very best, go out and get it as soon as possible and this best instantly right now, hell yeahr, this here is one of the very best albums of 2017, yes, so much I can tell you already right now right here, yes, so go and get it and this best right now, period. And now, of course, cheers and good night.

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.stonesour.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

STONE SOUR - "SONG #3" (2017, "HYDROGRAD")

PAPA ROACH - "CROOKED TEETH" (2017)

PAPA ROACH - "CROOKED TEETH"
(Running time: 34:02 minutes; 10 Songs)
("Eleven Seven Music"; 2017; CD):

And already back again, yes, and so now here comes the next dose for you and in this particular case here now you get my record review on the 2017 PAPA ROACH album titled "CROOKED TEETH" released via "ELEVEN SEVEN MUSIC" earlier this very year. "CROOKED TEETH" is the 8th full length studio album of/by PAPA ROACH in their pretty impressive career that once started way back then in 1993, yes, that's quite a while now. I would bet that "LAST RESORT" from (and together with) their "INFEST" full length record from back then in the year 2000 was and so far perhaps pretty much still is their very, very biggest hit and even it feels now-a-days sort of like centuries ago with that much water went and still going down the river since then, yes, but still PAPA ROACH are around and so now here in 2017 we are today and they are still rocking out new tunes and records, yes, and their newest one is their current new 2017 full length record "CROOKED TEETH" and it is my first experience again with them since their "GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER" release from years ago back then in 2004, yes, and so you see that before "CROOKED TEETH" PAPA ROACH were pretty much completly off-my-radar-screen for many, many years and for over a decade now already, yes, and I would probably never have thought that this would change any day again - and then finally one day I listened to their phenomenal outstanding new track "HELP" on my favorite radio station and instantly I needed to get my hands on their new record, yes, and so I did and so now here we are. So, okay'n'yes, we have 2017 and PAPA ROACH are (finally) back again with "CROOKED TEETH" and the once Nu Metal and/or Alternative Metal (or maybe also heavy Nu Rock and/or heavy Alternative Rock) 'spitfires' are hitting the scene one more time, hell yeahr, and they have a damn strong new album on board that they carry with them bringing it to us. Maybe we do seek any new larger than life and/or über-surprising total(ly) 'Whoooaaa!!!' moments without that much success after all but after nearly twenty-years of existence and cultivating their (especially today pretty much) very own style'n'music and delivering it today through'n'through on a damn high quality-level that's maybe also not that important anyhow anyway after all, however, and or but especially it's after all not that much important then when we get a big bunch of more than only decent but really damn good'n'strong new tunes, yes, and so PAPA ROACH did with "CROOKED TEETH", point and fact. PAPA ROACH's "CROOKED TEETH" is massively filled with heavy crunching and powerful forward smashing guitars that also offer and deliver a wide variety of catchy, anthemic, and in all positive sense 'poppy' melody lines that shine through in a bright way via great guitar leads and in general a mostly very strong melodic work that really add(s) a lot to the anyhow really damn strong, and forceful, and rousing rhythm work and grooving arrangements that in combination with a pretty cool and nicely varying songwriting really mark the songs strongly and heavily and in the very most parts for all the good and right and justified reasons. Then we have the strong and bright shining and very diverse lead vocals that cover a wide distant territory of different styles from hard shoutings and loud aggressive tonings over clean and clear, melodical singing to very competent and charismatic Rap parts, yes, and all done and flavoured with a strong own unique identity to it and all done very, very and 'highliest'skilled. All is then backed and fired up by a massively stunning rhythm section, full of sheer force as well as 'fluffy' diversity. Hip Hop styled grooves'n'beats and 'poppy' electronical rhythms and beats and melodies then round it all finally up, yes, and this in a convincing fashion'n'manner. The songwriting is in most parts also pretty strong, varying, and diverse as well as powerful, and full of highly energetic dynamics. That this fine gentlemen also know damn good how to play their instruments which means that they are very skilled musicians should be clear anyhow but for reasons of completness I do mention it here anyhow. Very strong and heartfelt and soulful and touchin'n'movin' lyrics and a first class loud blasting production sound then round it all up, yes, as well as a very 'unattracting' artwork, okay, but that's after all anything but very important. My personal favorites are the highly energetic "BREAK THE FALL", the smashing title track "CROOKED TEETH", the stunning and very massive grooving "BORN FOR GREATNESS", the über-catchy "AMERICAN DREAMS", the highly sensitive and very melodic "PERISCOPE", and the über-anthem "HELP", oh hell yeahr, all definitely pure platinum stuff. The not mentioned songs are mostly gold, precious'n'shiny, even some silver is there to find as well, hm, but anyhow PAPA ROACH's "CROOKED TEETH" is a damn good and a really strong album, definitely, that I can calmly and clearly recommend to you, yes, so best just go out and get it promptly.
(8,5 of 10 points)
http://www.paparoach.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

PAPA ROACH - "HELP" (2017, "CROOKED TEETH")

BODY COUNT - "BLOODLUST" (2017)

BODY COUNT - "BLOODLUST"
(Running time: 41:04 minutes; 11 songs)
("Century Media Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey folks, back on track again. A little bit 'exhausted' after today again new ink was 'integrated' into my body, yes, but all is (more than) fine. And look, we are also finally back in 2017, review-wise, like promised/announced. So, okay, here we now have the current 2017 release of/by the legendary BODY COUNT titled "BLOODLUST" and released via (the german based) "CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS". My last encounter with them... whoooaaa... it's decades ago and was and still is named "BORN DEAD", a true classick. The first two BODY COUNT albums were and are absolutely killer records in my book and of pretty huge importance for/to me and my personal 'development'. Don't ask me why I lost them then out of sight, and even the precursor album, hm, I think titled "MANSLAUGHTER" or so and released one or two or so years ago, sort of, totally flew under my radar. And then 2017 hit the scene and I listened to almighty "THIS IS WHY WE RIDE" and "NO LIVES MATTER" via YouTube for the first time and then... fuck it... then it was damn fucking clear that I definitely would need to call this Album finally my own again. And so I did. And fuck this damn bloody world but how great BODY COUNT's "BLOODLUST" is, what a monster of an album, yes, absolutely a masterpiece, and this lyric- and musicwise. This is one hell of a great and fantastic Crossover fusion out of Hardcore, (Thrash) Metal, Hardcore Punk, and Rap, melted together in a total devastating and in every sense and way more than "just" relevant Crossover Metal cocktail that takes no prisoners and knows no regrets. ICE-T and 'his crew' are back, and perhaps sort of better than ever. Crushing and smashing and yet still very diverse and soul- and playful guitars really shine on the whole album, no matter if in (pretty organic) grooving and catchy anthems like the larger-than-life "THIS IS WHY WE RIDE" or in incredible shredding and sawing purest through and through SLAYER-esque sledgehammer Thrash Metal slashers like the breathtaking "RAINING IN BLOOD/POSTMORTEM 2017" or in fantastic harsh yet hymnal as fuck and often Beatdown fueled beasts of songs like "THE SKI MASK WAY", "NO LIVES MATTER", "BLOODLUST", or "BLACK HOODIE" or in an sort of epic killer song like the mighty opener "CIVIL WAR" featuring MEGADETH mastermind Dave Mustaine, all is done high skilled, incredible intense, very diverse and multi-layered as hell, soul- and playful, yes, and still it's all the time beefy and bulky, bonesmashing and headcracking on one hell of a demolishing level.  Beside the totally blasting guitars the fantastic and so incredible unique and charismatic lead (Rap) vocals delivered by ICE-T and nicely backed up by very strong co-vocal(ist)s and broad and fat widescreen gang back up chants are the next biggest marking trademark of BODY COUNT's "BLOODLUST", and for all the right reasons. The totally precise, versatile, and massive to the point played and delivering rhythm section then is the final puzzle-piece rounding "BLOODLUST" in an impressive way up. The songwriting is not only incredible intense and done in a high skilled way, but also very fresh and just damn strong, and that this fine gentlemen know how to play should be clear anyway anyhow. The lyrics are very strong and outspoken, political, critical, and socially aware, yes, and all on a very high level of quality, I love it. ICE-T and BODY COUNT in best form, in absolute best form, and this lyricwise and musicwise, point and fact. A very sinister artwork, that's a perfect match to/for/with the very tight dark, angry, pissed off, militant, gladiatorial, and intense atmosphere of "BLOODLUST", and a full and heavy first class production sound then round the complete package finally up. My personal favorites are "THIS IS WHY WE RIDE" (my absolute favorite), "NO LIVES MATTER", "BLOODLUST", "BLACK HOODIE", "CIVIL WAR" (featuring MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine), "THE SKI MASK WAY", "ALL LOVE IS LOST" (featuring SOULFLY's & the CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's very own Max Cavalera himself), and "RAINING IN BLOOD/POSTMORTEM 2017", so maybe check out this songs first - but in all honesty, nearly every song is a total killer, and only "GOD. PLEASE BELIEVE ME" isn't really kicking me, hm, but maybe that's just me. So, yes, any fan of Hardcore (Punk), (Thrash) Metal, Rap (Metal), and Crossover (Hardcore/Metal) should get his/her/their hands on BODYCOUNT's "BLOODLUST" because this is for sure one of this year's highlights for all of you, and with saying this I mean for all of us. And so, yes, enough words had been spent, for sure, so go out and (finally) get it as soon as possible. Damn fucking great!!!

(9,5 of 10 points)

http://www.bodycountband.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band, do and check it out)

BODY COUNT - "THIS IS WHY WE RIDE" (2017, "BLOODLUST")

BODY COUNT - "BLACK HOODIE" (2017, "BLOODLUST")

GODSMACK - "1000HP" (2014)

GODSMACK - "1000HP"
(Running time: 49:33 minutes; 11 Songs)
("Spinefarm Records"; CD; 2014):

Nice sundays guys, so time to do something up here finally again. Next week is the first proper week of the new school year and so with starting it all up again and wanting to do it again in a proper way I really and honestly don't know how much time I will find the next days to do something up here because it will be an anyhow busy week with my family, my girfriend, our pets, this whole thing called work, sports (lifting weights and kickin' ass, ya know), friends and social contacts in general, yes, all this stuff called a "real life", you know, so yes, I'll try to bring up some new posts up here so that you have sort of at least a bit of enough fresh food for the coming days right now today up here. Okay, so yes, enough of the introducing smalltalk, here we go: First one today is my record-review on the so far still current and still newest GODSMACK album "1000HP" released via "SPINEFARM RECORDS" in 2014 (even the internet wants to tell me of 2013, but the backcover of my CD says 2014), and from this on we will work again up through the years of 2015 and 2016 up to a present 2017 record, we'll see how far we manage to do so today. So, okay, GODSMACK's "1000HP", as already mentioned, is right now the topic. Yes, it's already from 2014, but fuck it, hahaha, it's for all what I know still their somehwat actual output and that alone would sort of justify a review on it even today, but more important, I really think that this one went completly under the radar or was even sort of off-radar for the very most majority of people, so my Impression (not saying that this impression is fact and reality, but, yes, that's my impression) and I think that was and is pretty, hm, sort of sad because "1000HP" deservd and still deserves better. So, yes, here's my record-review on it. GODSMACK's last output before "1000HP" I was and still am aware of was "THE ORACLE" from 2010 and so four years after it "1000HP" hit the scene. I already talked about my impression that it went mostly off-radar, maybe it's just my impression, but I haven't read or heard much about it back then (not to talk about today) and I never saw much or any of GODSMACK around at least over here back then or since then and surely I never talked with anyone who anyhow cared about this one being finally out. I can't tell what's the reason for all this was/is, maybe GODSMACK aresn't anything "hot" for today's scene anymore or why-the-hell-else-ever, but I think it's sad - and I think GODSMACK in general and "1000HP" in particular deserv(ed) better. Back then when GODSMACK first ever hit the scene by the end of the 1990's I always thought that GODSMACK were always sort of wrong placed when everyone labeled them as New or Nu Metal, no, instead of KORN, COAL CHAMBER, or LIMP BIZKIT or so in my book always bands like ALICE IN CHAINS and maybe SOUNDGARDEN and even CREED and METALLICA's "LOAD"/"RELOAD" phase were much more influential for GODSMACK than all the other stuff and you always heard it in their music, especially in the tone, the emotions and emotionality, and also in the rhythm-arrangements. So you still do today, but surely GODSMACK anyhow evolved and developed quite a bit over the last sort of two decades or so. But the two biggest trademarks of their music are still there: The first class powerful and clear yet with strong force sung very charismatic vocals that add much tension and emotions to the songs; and the to the point played tight, sort of sinister toned and yet very rocking and hellish forceful grooving guitar playing, also adding to the strong emotions and the tight atmosphere of the tracks. The beefy and bulky, precise and tight rhythm section is then backing it all up massively and giving it a lot of punch. Yes, it's all here what you simply have to expect from a new GODSMACK release, but this time again they manage to put more fresh energy and sort of more honest attitude to it all so that they finally manage again to wipe away the bitter taste of staleness and lameness that harmed "THE ORACLE" really too strong back then, yes, so GODSMACK are definitely sort of back on track again, maybe or surely not with all songs but definitely with the bigger part of them, and that's just damn fine. It's very intense and the energylevel is pretty high again, the atmosphere and the emotions are very thick and it's all played perfectly to the point and really incredible tight. I only think that the overall tone is too similar dark, so that the taste of the whole album gets very similar at the end of the record, and also I would wish that as tight as the songwriting is, it gets in parts too monolithic and I would wish to see and hear GODSMACK adding again more fresh and exciting dynamics to their songs the next time around, some surprises, finally again. But anyhow, this is at the end of the day surely a good release that everyone into (heavy) Modern Rock and Modern Metal with an Alternative flair to it all should at least definitely check it out because songs like the titletrack "1000HP", "WHAT'S NEXT?", "GENERATION DAY", "LOCKED & LOADED", "LIVING IN THE GRAY", and "NOTHING COMES EASY" will definitely make you go nuts. Not all is gold, there's also a bunch of silver and even bronze on this here but there's also a lot of gold on it at the end of the day. GODSMACK are delivering with "1000HP" a good one and a much better and fresher one than with its predecessor "THE ORACLE" from 2010 and they seem to be (finally) back on the right track again. So, yes, give this one a fair try, finally, in case you shouldn't have done it so far, because it offers also quite a bunch of grapping and entertaining stuff on it. Pretty good lyrics, a great artwork, and a powerful production-sound we get as well.

(7 of 10 points)

http://godsmack.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

GODSMACK - "GENERATION DAY" (2014, "1000HP")