January 21st, 2008Rock music to plug your ears to
Rock ‘n’ roll used to be dangerous. The statement sounds almost absurd as soon as it leaves the lips. But still there was a time when Elvis’ hips and John Lennon’s activism seemed like greater threats to national security than the population of C Block at Guantanamo Bay.
Sure, the excitement is still there. But let’s be honest: Things have changed. If parents are still going to freak over little Johnny listening to The Jonas Brothers, they probably have bigger problems than little Johnny listening to The Jonas Brothers. But while rock music by and large has made a move toward more theatrical and arguably “safe” aesthetics, some still bravely practice the past.
Here are four records from 2007 that prove just that. Coliseum, “No Salvation”Remember when Anthrax was more than just a substance that could kill you? Probably not, but don’t worry, neither do Coliseum. But while “No Salvation” may tremble and bleed with the kind of 100 MPH attack of speed metal perfected by bands like Anthrax and Metallica in the ’80s, these boys clearly took some notes and then promptly started re-writing the book.
Tunes like the punishing “Seven Cities” carry on the speed metal torch but hold high their influences of metal-core heroes like Converge. But what really gets the jaw dropping and ears pounding are cuts like the epic “Profetas,” which employs both the urgency and ire of The Refused while crafting a metal riff so sharp it’d scare Black Sabbath.
Pissed Jeans, “Hope for Men”If music were manners, Pissed Jeans possesses all the class of a schizophrenic off his meds. Screeching, writhing guitars slam face first into walls of static and apocalyptic bass distortion. Buzz saw crafted riffs shred gruffly through droning, drugged-out madness (”Scrapbooking”). It wouldn’t be naive to assume “Hope for Men” doesn’t contain much at all. But when you jam this much punk, hardcore and noise into one small package, that’s to be expected.
Singer Matt Korvette barbarically channels everyone from Iggy Pop to David Yow of The Jesus Lizard on tracks like the primal attack of “I’m Turning Now.”
