June 12, 2008
Ra – Broken Hearted Soul ****1/2 (Album: Black Sun)
Review: This band is one of a kind…and it’s finally good to know that they finally came out of their cave and showed us what Ra is all about. The newest single from Ra is titled “Broken Hearted Soul” and this is off their new, long awaited album which hitting stores later this year. I’ve always like Ra and I have always respected them. They are one of those grungy/death bands that always gets your attention. This song is also kind of one of a kind, I like how the band mixes it up with it being slow at first then hitting it hard during the verses and the chorus. Now, you’re probably thinking to yourself “Mark, if you love this band and song so much, why didn’t you give it 5 stars?” Good question random voice in my head. The reason why I didn’t give it a full five star rating…they’ve been living under the rock of obscurity for awhile now and for a unique band like Ra…sometimes you have to keep the train moving and never stop it. That’s why. The new and long awaited album from Ra is titled “Black Sun” and is set to hit stores September 9 th. I’ve respected them and loved for awhile now…this album is definitely worth waiting for.
Myspace.com/RaMusic
Bullet For My Valentine – Hearts Burst Into Fire ****1/2 (Album: Scream, Aim, Fire)
Review: Now we come along to a band that is known everywhere you goes…let alone be it a CD store or a random concert or anything, Bullet For My Valentine is a band of it’s own. Bullet’s newest single is called “Hearts Burst Into Fire” and it is the third single off of their new album. I know what you’re saying…this song came out a month after “Waking The Demon” did (Which is the second single off of the album) Well, that’s how radio works! J This song, I think, is different from many other Bullet songs. Why? It’s got a nice smooth/upbeat rock sound to it and it’s not as heavy. I know Bullet is known for their hard, heavy, death stuff, but I have mentioned this before about other bands…sometimes a band can be as normal as any other band and in the long run…they’ll still sound the same. Thank you BFMV! The newest and possibly best album from Bullet For My Valentine is titled “Scream, Aim, Fire” and it is on the stores shelves right now. BFMV, in my opinion, is one of the greatest heavy metal/rock bands known in the world today…and I know that in the future…they still will be.
Myspace.com/BulletForMyValentine
Black Tide – Let Me ****1/2 (Album: Light From Above)
Review: When you see a band that is younger then you, and when you hear a band that is better then most of the “big” bands…you know you have something unique, and that’s Black Tide. The second single from Black Tide’s album “Light From Above”, is titled “Let Me” and let me tell you this, this band gets better and better with every song I hear. Like I mentioned earlier…when a band is younger then the best Rock Jock in the U.P. (YEAH!) you know they can rock and you know they have so many years to get well known and loved. This new one from Black Tide has a little slower beat then “Shockwave” has but it still isn’t bad. It still amazes me that this band can rock out and their basically at the age where they’re looking to go to college. Don’t you just love it! The debut album from Black Tide is called “Light From Above” and that of course is in stores and available online right now! I would usually say that this band is going to big in the near future…but I’m too late in saying that. Black Tide knows their stuff and look for them, in my opinion, to turn into the younger Metallica!
Myspace.com/Blacktide
Black Stone Cherry – Blind Man ***** (Album: Forklore & Superstition)
Review: This young band from Kentucky is another band that I can see shooting to super-stardom is just a couple years…and that band is Black Stone Cherry. The new single from Black Stone Cherry is titled “Blind Man” and it is song of the week inside New Music Thursday! You know, I usually make a Top 5 of my favorite bands and I honestly think that Black Stone Cherry is going to be in there soon. I got a chance to see them live at the U.P. State Fair last year, and let me tell you…every single person from this band is very nice and very respectful about their fans. I got an interview with them, I hung out with them, and after their set…they signed autographs for almost an hour! That makes me respect them about 150% more then I did before. Oh, I forgot about reviewing this song. Wait! I don’t have to. It speaks for itself. The second album from the BSC crew is titled “Fork Lore & Superstition” and that CD is set to hit the shelves on August 19 th. I don’t care what you have to say about this band…all I know is I respect them so much that I would love for them to come back to the U.P. and show them what it’s all about up here.
Myspace.com/BlackStoneCherry
Remember to tune in every Thursday night on the Aftershock for “New Music Thursday!”
Do you know or have some new music you want me to play? You think you know an artist on the rise? E-mail me with your suggestions… theshock@up.net
NEVER STOP ROCKIN’…unless you have to!
