Inner Surge – Matrika / 7 Tracks / http://www.funender.com/music/bands/40/ / portalzoom@mailcity.com / Reviewed 17 April 2004 Starting out their CD with “Driven”, sounding like a mix of Tool and Damage Plan, Inner Surge really are a heavy rock band that knows what they are doing. While the recording on “Matrika” may not be the best, the musical talent of the band shows through, even if their originality is not as…
In Ink Please & The Foliage – How To Make Better Love (Split) / 2004 Fall Records / 10 Tracks / http://www.ininkplease.com / http://www.fallrecords.com /the_foliage / Reviewed 19 September 2004 Another two-piece band, In Ink Please enjoys a rich instrumentation and willingness to experiment that keeps individuals listening. The split starts off with “AQ75#3”, led by by Vanessa’s strong voice and a slightly-jangly acoustic guitar. Assaulting and pushing the track…
Infliction – The Silence / 2005 Cruz Del Sur / 11 Tracks / http://www.infliction.it / http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com / Reviewed 16 January 2006 This is an interesting mix; Italy’s Infliction mix together the most deep and heavy black metal with a goth/synthpop type of vocals that are first shown during a track like “Eyeseeblack”. Three styles of vocals dominate during “The Silence”; the gothic, slower style, the more thrashy, screamed out vocals…
Indifference – Born To Be A War Machine / 2003 Self-Released / 5 Tracks / http://www.indifferencemusic.co.uk / Reviewed 07 July 2005 Indifference’s EP came out in 2003, but immediately it becomes obvious that the music is still vital and worthwhile. The time that this disc has been sitting on the shelf has really given Indifference the time to age well, like a fine well. What follows on “Born To Be…
“How To Swim” will immediately catch the ears of anyone lucky enough to listen in; whether it is the splashy drums or the utterly bombastic arrangements that initialize the title, “Picket Fence” is immediately set up as a definitive release. Emotive vocals mix up with a scintillating arrangement that moves between Alkaline Trio, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and even Incubus. What results on “How To Swim” and the rest of…
In Civilian Clothing – We Made A Killing, We Made A Mess / 2006 Right Place / 11 Tracks / http://www.incivilianclothing.com / http://www.rightplace.tv / Reviewed 21 January 2007 In Civilian Clothing does not give individuals much of an idea what they will eventually sound like at the beginning of “Poets of the Great Salvation”. The style is sedate and the vocal style is quite and does not become powerful until…
It has been a number of years since we here at NeuFutur were last able to hear new music from Dutch (indie) rockers Bettie Serveert, and the initial strains of “Pharmacy of Love” shows that they have not let any rust accumulate. Approaching nearly twenty years in music, Bettie Serveert is an act that never really got the love in the United States that they should have. There are a…
In Case of Fire – S/T / 2005 Self / 4 Tracks / http://www.incaseoffire.co.uk / band@incaseoffire.co.uk / Reviewed 12 March 2006 While the sound of “Violence and Pictures” seems pretty hard from the start, what comes forth during the track is a much more nuanced brand of sound. This is not emo music, but rather a fusion of emo and rock that defies any easy categorization. Driven, intense and with…
In Black and White – The Thermocline / 2006 Self / 5 Tracks / http://www.in-black-and-white.net / Reviewed 25 December 2006 In Black and White do not give an indicator of how they sound on the front cover of “The Thermocline”. The cover is actually just a representation of the name of the band, with black and white text. The only ornamentation comes with a grouping of four penguins that are…
Imperial Leather – Something Out of Nothing / 2006 Profane Existence / 13 Tracks / http://www.communichaos.com/il/ / http://www.profaneexistence.com / Reviewed 02 March 2006 The two-tiered vocal attack that opens up the disc during the title track showcases the chaotic approach of the band that inexorably links the vocals to the music of the band. What is most interesting about Imperial Leather is the fact that they can create the 82…
“Afterglow Master” is the first track on “Honor Among Thieves”, and it comes forth as a completely unique style that is an extrapolation of Neil Young and Dave Matthews. While the track is vocal-heavy, the backing band comes forth with some serious fury. From this initial track, listeners will be caught on Pressner’s catchy melodies and solid instrumentation present here. The titular track follows up “Afterglow Master”, and showcases a…
“One Man Revolution” is a furious bit of hard rock that has more than its fair share of metal influences. Think about bands like Hellyeah and Black Label Society and one gets some semblance of what Darklight Corporation immediately assaults their listeners with. Instead of merely crafting a carbon copy of what is current, Darklight Corporation creates something unique that touches upon a number of distinct influences. The aforementioned “One…
It seems as California has been a rap scene that has seen its day; there are few up and coming individuals coming from that side of things besides Glasses Malone and Lil Eazy-E. It was surprising to see an unknown rapper – in this case, Swade G – rep Los Angeles and actually come out with a rap album that comes forth hard with killer beats. The disc itself begins…
“Manuel Is Back With Friends” may just be the most eclectic title that we here at NeuFutur Magazine have had the chance to review this year. The disc begins with “Can’t Go To Work Anymore”, a song that will win over listeners with an earnest set of vocals and an instrumental set that warmly invites through guitar and harmonica sections. “Hot Chicken Soup” has a similarly gleeful demeanor, with Bruce’s…
There are few acts that are currently crafting children’s music that are able to go forth and make their music compelling to a wider fan base, but that is exactly what Dr Mac does with his third installment of the “Ready To Rock Kids” line. “Reach Out” mixes light rock with children-led vocals. Unlike the Kidz Bop series, these tracks are crafted for children and as such, are able to…
“The Perfect Pitch” is the first track on “10 Movies”, and it is exactly what is needed for Schleusolz to properly introduce themselves and their music to those that may not be familiar with them up to this point. The bold horn-like synthesizer that is present on this track is confident, and acts like a movie’s introduction. With a pacing and an arrangement that has been influenced by classical music,…
As individuals may know, Schleusolz is coming out with two albums simultaneously – The Weinheim Experiment and 10 Movies. Both are coming out in the middle of this summer, and represent two different facets of the band’s inimitable sound. Where “10 Movies” is the more straight-ahead electronic release, “The Weinheim Experiment” is a title that really shows Schleusolz touching upon all the numerous musical genres that represent their formative years.…
David Christensen was a talented singer-songwriter that tragically took his own life in 2009. Those that were close to him took to their own instruments, creating a twelve-track memorial of his life and music. “Tribute Volume One” begins with “Let You Down”, performed by Devin Belle. Belle’s needs little more than a rich set of vocals and a guitar to bring tremendous emotion to the track. The addition of drums…
Ima Robot – Monument To the Masses / 2006 Virgin / 12 Tracks / http://www.imarobot.com / http://www.virginrecords.com / Reviewed 25 February 2007 It has been a few years since Ima Robot last had a hit, since 2003. However, it takes only a few minutes for the band to craft a song that will be their next big hit. This song is “Disconnect”, and the band seems to recall The Cars.…
I Live With Zombies – Demo / 2004 Upchuck Records / 5 Tracks / http://www.ilivewithzombies.com / ilivewithzombies@yahoo.com / Reviewed 08 February 2005 I Live With Zombies is one of the punk bands currently playing music. There, I said it. Enough with the four-hundred word ambiguously phrased bullshit, I’ve played I Live With Zombies a number of times on my radio show and each time I spin the disc I get…