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2 Mar 2010

Project 86 - Picket Fence Cartel

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Artist: Project 86
Album: Picket Fence Cartel
Year: 2009
Label: Tooth & Nail Records
Website: http://project86.com/portal.html
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/project86
Twitter: @project86band
Buy: iTunes - Amazon - Official Store
Sounds Like: Blindside, Dead Poetic, The Offspring, Deftones, Static-X, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine, Sepultura, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, The Cure
Rating: 4/5 ♥♥♥♥

Who do you belong to? It’s the question Project 86 makes us on this new album “Picket Fence Cartel”. We all know that this band has a very particular sound, whether for Andrew Schwab’s wild voice, or Steven Dail’s resounding slaps (bass) and Randy Thompson’s roaring guitars, there’s always good reasons for each murdered album sounds great. It paints pictures and stories about the importance of seek beneath the surface. In addition it plotted how the power can corrupt even the purest heart, especially in the field of fame and that our souls are at stake. Produced by the genius Jason Martin (Starflyer 59, The Brothers Martin, Bon Voyage, Neon Horse), Ulrich Wild (Seether, Alice In Chains, Bon Jovi, Showbread) and by the same members of the band, so the result is wildly nice.

The album begins with “Destroyer” in a brutal crescendo that blends into the crunchy guitars, languid electronic accents that recalls Marilyn Manson: “Ready yourself for the end / Ready yourself because you cannot pretend / Ready yourself for the late, for the great / The Destroyer’s surrounded and cannot defend”. It has an atmosphere that burns slowly toward the apocalypse, as if Christ is condemning Satan while the Church echoes this sentiment. “The Butcher” (second single) tells the story of a man who threatens to kill Andrew with a knife, who never backs out: “Because there is no weapon / There is no blade / You wonder why I’m not afraid?  / I’ve erased all of my fear of the grave / You’ll never kill him that lives inside of me”. This reminds us that the Holy Spirit’s power can defeat any enemy and gives us the unwavering courage in the spiritual pursuit. The energy is concentrated in “The Spectacle Of Fearsome Acts” that sings about the shy chance to live this life and the consequences that our actions cause: “When evil rears its head, it’s life and death / Like david sowed his seed and his family bled”. Disturbing pianos and guitars that bleed through biblical figures like David and the destruction that he took for his sins. The first single from the album “Dark Angel Dragnet” percolates with drums, synths, powerful guitar riffs, addictive chorus and a devastating lyric: “Cancel my ticket booked to fire / Choirs of angels sing my name / Machete to that destination / New Destiny will curse the flame”. It screams the devil on doomsday, when he is being captured and ironically we shouted: “Enjoy those sips of sour poison / While I sit back and watch it rain”. The predominance of punk sentiment drums and guitars fuse in “Cold And Calculated” which recalls the sleepless nights that sin and the consciousness has made us live: “There is a reason you cannot sleep / You found the wages you’ve sown in greed / There is no solace in what you seek / You found that although you have gained it all you had to sacrifice”. This formula is reminiscent of Static-X and Marilyn Manson, but curiously in the final seconds the pulse gets down to give us a kick in the face with that unexpected departure. “Cement Shoes” opens with a simple guitar that slowly leads us to an alarming chorus: “ “Desperate / We will proclaim / That on our knees / We’re not ashamed / So we bow it to / Kneel before you / Just like a child here I’m not ashamed / No, we’re not ashamed”. Stickily nice tune that focuses on the power of Christ that holds us, but we also can be condemn. With dark synths “A John Hancock With The Safety Off” reminds us of the chaos that exists in media, but despite all this anguish and anger is replaced by our hope in Christ: “Cure the radio / Cure the airwaves / Cure the video / Cure the satellites”. Melodic and lyrically reminiscent of Mudvayne and System Of A Down. Once again the heartbeat of the album increases with “Two Glass Eyes”, whose main theme is about not being drawn by the charms of the world and cries out to God for his rescue, like a psalm: “Rescue me / Separate my desires / Capture these wicked men and release  my mind”. Punk trying to flirt with the guitar riff in a devastating heavy metal, which progresses to “Cyclonus”. Inspired by Ephesians 6, in a hypnotic, poisonous, sinister smile and a distorted terrifying voice Andrew gives us singing: “Devastator / Complicator / Bringer of pain / Why won’t you fly away?”. With a more commercial sense, “The Black Brigade” is a beautiful picture of Schwab’s repentance: “Straining on to run without remorse / Casting off mistakes that came before / In my mind I see a hallowed door / Open arm embrace, I’m reaching for”. The guitars seem to exploit and the background vocals are almost unforgettable. Finally, “To Sand We Return” is the perfect ending for this album. With an epic acoustic intermediate that reminds us of God’s sovereignty, and the obsolete humanity apart from God: “Who do I belong to? / Unchanging / Unbreaking / Unfailing / Creator / Immortal / Eternal”. With all the pleasures of this world, only a rock remains being constant and unchanging, Jesus Christ.

It has been over 7 years, but Project 86 stills conquering us with his energy and raw honesty. Tooth & Nail, as we do, doesn’t get tired of supporting this amazing band. “Picket Fence Cartel” and its 11 songs, explore the spiritual aspects that the band had never covered. In conclusion, the veteran rock band knows what he does, and this time gives us a strong emotion and dynamics fragrant with a message of redemption that will impress old and new fans.

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¿A Quién le perteneces? Es la pregunta que nos hace Project 86 en este nuevo álbum “Picket Frence Cartel”. Todos sabemos que esta banda tiene un sonido muy particular, ya sea por la salvaje voz de Andrew Schwab (vocalista), o los retumbantes slaps de Steven Dail (bajo) y las rugientes guitarras de Randy Torres, siempre hay motivos de sobra para que cada disco suena asesinamente bien. Nos pinta imágenes e historias acerca de la importancia de mirar debajo de la superficie. Además nos grafica como el poder puede corromper incluso el corazón más puro, especialmente en el ámbito de la fama y entonces nuestras almas están en juego. Producido por los genios Jason Martin (Starflyer 59, The Brothers Martin, Bon Voyage, Neon Horse), Ulrich Wild (Seether, Alice In Chains, Bon Jovi, Showbread) y por los mismos integrantes de la banda, así que el resultado es furiosamente agradable.

El álbum comienza con “Destroyer”, en un brutal crescendo que se confunde entre las crujientes guitarras, lánguidos acentos electrónicos que recuerdan a Marilyn Manson: “Ready yourself for the end / Ready yourself cause you cannot pretend / Ready yourself for the late, for the great / The Destroyer’s surrounded and cannot defend”. Tiene una atmósfera que se quema lentamente hacia el apocalipsis, como si Cristo le diera condena a Satán mientras que la Iglesia hace eco de este sentimiento. “The Butcher” (segundo sencillo) nos cuenta la historia de un hombre que amenaza matar a Andrew con un chuchillo, quién nunca se echa atrás: “Because there is no weapon / There is no blade / You wonder why I’m not afraid?  / I’ve erased all of my fear of the grave / You’ll never kill him that lives inside of me”. Esto nos recuerda que la fuerza del Espíritu Santo puede vencer a cualquier enemigo y nos da el inquebrantable coraje frente a la persecución espiritual. La energía se concentra con “The Spectacle Of Fearsome Acts” que canta acerca de la escasa oportunidad de vivir esta vida y las consecuencias que nuestros actos provocan: “When evil rears its head, it’s life and death / Like david sowed his seed and his family bled”. Inquietantes pianos y guitarras que sangran a través de figuras bíblicas como David y la destrucción que tuvo por sus pecados. El primer sencillo del álbum “Dark Angel Dragnet” se infiltra con tambores, sintetizadores, riffs poderosos de guitarra, un coro adictivo y una lírica arrasadora: “Cancel my ticket booked to fire / Choirs of angels sing my name / Machete to that destination / New Destiny will curse the flame”. Es un grito al diablo en el día del juicio final, cuando éste está siendo apresado e irónicamente le vociferamos: “Enjoy those sips of sour poison / While I sit back and watch it rain”. El predominio de tambores, y guitarras con sentimiento punk se fusionan en “Cold And Calculated” que nos recuerda las noches de insomnio que el pecado y la conciencia nos ha hecho vivir: “There is a reason you cannot sleep / You found the wages you’ve sown in greed / There is no solace in what you seek / You found that although you have gained it all you had to sacrifice”. Esta fórmula nos recuerda a Static-X o Marilyn Manson, pero curiosamente en los últimos segundos el pulso desciende para darnos una patada en el rostro con aquella inesperada despedida. “Cement Shoes” se abre con una simple guitarra que lentamente nos conduce hacia alarmante coro: “Desperate / We will proclaim / That on our knees / We’re not ashamed / So we bow it to / Kneel before you / Just like a child here I’m not ashamed / No, we’re not ashamed”. Pegajosamente agradable melodía que se centra en el poder de Cristo que nos sostiene, pero que también nos puede condenar. Con oscuros sintetizadores “A John Hancock With The Safety Off” nos recuerda el caos que existe en los medios de la comunicación, pero a pesar de toda esta angustia y enojo se sustituye por nuestra esperanza en Cristo: “Cure the radio / Cure the airwaves / Cure the video / Cure the satellites”. Melódica y líricamente nos recuerda a Mudvayne y System Of A Down. Una vez más el palpitar del álbum se incrementa con “Two Glass Eyes”, cuyo tema principal es no ser arrastrados por los encantos del mundo y grita a Dios por su rescate, tal y como un salmo lo haría: “Rescue me / Separate my desires / Capture these wicked men and release  my mind”. Punk que intenta coquetear con el riff de guitarra en un devastador heavy metal, que progresa hasta llegar a “Cyclonus”. Inspirada en Efesios 6, en una hipnótica, venenosa, siniestra sonrisa y una aterradora distorsionada voz que Andrew nos emite al cantar: “Devastator / Complicator / Bringer of pain / Why won’t you fly away?”. Con un sentimiento más comercial, “The Black Brigade” es una hermosa imagen de Schwab arrepintiéndose: “Straining on to run without remorse / Casting off mistakes that came before / In my mind I see a hallowed door / Open arm embrace, I’m reaching for”. Las guitarras parecen querer explotar, y las voces de fondo son casi inolvidables. Finalmente, “To Sand We Return” es el desenlace perfecto para este álbum. Con un épico intermedio acústico que nos recuerda la soberanía de Dios, y la obsoleta humanidad separada de Dios: “Who do I belong to? / Unchanging / Unbreaking / Unfailing / Creator / Immortal / Eternal”. Con todos los placeres de este mundo, sólo una roca sigue siendo constante e invariable, Jesucristo.

Han pasado más de 7 años, pero Project 86 sigue conquistándonos con su energía y su cruda honestidad. Tooth & Nail, al igual que nosotros, no se cansa de apoyar a esta sorprendente banda. “Picket Fence Cartel” y sus 11 canciones exploran aspectos espirituales que la banda nunca había abarcado. En conclusión, la veterana banda sabe lo que hace, y esta vez nos ofrece una emoción intensa y dinámica embalsamada de un mensaje de redención que impresionarán a viejos y nuevos seguidores.

Blindside, Dead Poetic, The Offspring, Deftones, Static-X, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine, Sepultura, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, The Cure.

27 Jan 2010

Thousand Foot Krutch - Welcome To The Masquerade

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Artist: Thousand Foot Krutch
Album: Welcome To The Masquerade
Year: 2009
Label: Tooth & Nail Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/thousandfootkrutch
Buy: iTunes - Amazon - Official Store

Once again the trio formed by Trevor McNevan (vocals, guitars), Joel Bruyere (bass, vocals) and Steve Augustine (drums), called Thousand Foot Krutch is willing to tear down our speakers with its roaring sound. The band has managed to win a remarkable respect in the secular and christian markets, thanks to his honest and shameless lyrics full of spirituality and hard rock. “The inspiration for the album comes from people who hide things in their lives” says Trevor, “masking their lives, hiding their frustrations”. Produced by Aaron Sprinkle (The Almost, Anberlin, Demon Hunter) and mixed by Randy Staub (Nickelback, Metallica), Canadians snatched attention from our minds and hearts to a level of awareness and hope through his fifth project entitled ‘Welcome To The Masquerade’.

The album opens with “The Invitation” with an atmosphere of epic poem starring by a screaming guitar that gradually grows and becomes adding successful drums and keyboards. Synchronously “Welcome To The Masquerade” resounds with impressive guitar riff and a message outlining the purpose of the album: “I’m not afraid, I’m not ashamed / I’m not to blame / I’m not ok / Welcome to the masquerade”. The aggressive “Fire It Up” (third single) hit you with heavy guitars and provocative voices yells: “I’m in love, with the feelin’ of pressure to the ceilin’ / Wake up with my intention to face opposition / Get raw, when it’s time to lay it on the line / To the wall’s where we’re takin’ it / Let your light shine, somebody fire it up”. This irresistible and vigorous song has been included in the trailer for GI Joe: the Rise of Cobra, as well in several video games. With an odd piano and powerful guitar riffs similar to Disturbed, “Bring Me To Life” (first single) is a song with a desperate intent that laments the pain and unhappiness that the enemy injected into our hearts. But we shouted: “Just, shut it! If you’re talkin’ to me / I’m sick and tired of all your lies / And what you want me to be”, then desperately asks God:” Bring me to life, breathe air into me / It’s taken me my whole life to do / All the things I’ve never seen / Bring me to life, breathe air into me / Take me from the darkness that I’ve been in / ‘Cause I just want to be free “. Another dose of adrenaline comes with “E For Extinction”, which starts slow but then flooded with innovative and uncontrollable screaming guitars contrasted with a lyric that talks about freedom, insecurity and a need for transformation. The sweet melody of the verse is broken in a ferocious performance in the choir with Seether and Korn influences: “When We Move / We camouflage ourselves / We stand in the shadows waiting / We live for this and nothing more / We are what you created”. Leaning over a similar sound to FM Static or Skillet, we find “Watching Over Me” that recognizes the presence of God who cares for our welfare in the midst of adversity: “I know you’re out there / And I know you care / ‘Cause I feel you watching like an angel over me” and ends with a spectacular symphony of violins. With an accelerated ’80s synthesizer, “The Part That Hurts The Most (Is Me)” shows us a beautiful performance by Trevor, and is the cry of a boy who longs to change his loving lifestyle, already tired of harm their loved ones and raise cries out: “No! Stay away from me / Get up! I’m trying’ to walk away / It just will not let up!”. The portrait of a person whose crisis is like a mask that does not want to use more, we find in “Scream”. But then comes a flash of promise, saying: “I’d give everything I am just to feel something”. Trevor shows us once again that his repertoire is filled with spiritual wealth. As in “Look Away”, a song which combines feelings of hopelessness and spiritual thirst in the reality of suicide, with acoustic brilliance, pure falsetto and inspiration: “I will not look away this time / Take all these cuts, and make them shine / And all this pain I’ve held inside / So I can find my way home again / I will not look away this time / Take cuts all these, and make them shine / Don’t want to be perfect, just alright”. Similarly, “Forward Motion” (second single) with condiments featuring pop guitars and upbeat pianos, encourages us to put aside our differences and work to achieve our main goal, to lead people to Christ’s feet. “Outta Control” and “Smack Down”, both are perfect examples of the versatility and creativity of the band. With messages of anguish and new beginnings rock influenced by the ’80s, but is a sound tha has been heard before in “Phenomenon”. Finally, “Already Home” is tempered with violins, acoustic guitars and sweet vocals. The message of this song is about God’s spiritual thirst, on new opportunities and worship: “The trouble with truth is it never lies / and the trouble with wrong that it’s never right / so I rest my head under your light”.

In each consecutive album you can clearly hear the growth and maturity of Trevor and Thousand Foot Krutch, and ‘Welcome To The Masquerade’ has too many reasons to be a potential classic. They are back to snatch and deepen youth carriers need to change, and some may not agree with me, but this could be the best album of their career.

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Una vez más el trío conformado por Trevor McNevan (vocalista, guitarras), Joel Bruyere (bajo, voces) y Steve Augustine (batería),  llamado Thousand Foot Krutch está dispuesto a derrumbar nuestros parlantes con su rugiente sonido. La banda se ha sabido ganar un respeto notable en el mercado secular y cristiano, gracias a su honesta e impúdica lírica colmada de espiritualidad y hard rock. “La inspiración del álbum viene de aquellas personas que esconden cosas en su vida” declara Trevor, “enmascarando su vida, escondiendo sus frustraciones”. Producido Aaron Sprinkle (The Almost, Anberlin, Demon Hunter) y mezclado por Randy Staub (Nickelback, Metallica), los canadienses arrebatan la atención de nuestras mentes y corazones hacia un nivel de conciencia y esperanza a través de su quinto proyecto titulado “Welcome To The Masquerade”.

El álbum se abre con “The Invitation”, con una atmósfera de poema épico protagonizado por una aullante guitarra que poco a poco crece y se le agregan acertados bombos y teclados. Sincronizadamente “Welcome To The Masquerade” retumba con un riff de guitarra impresionante y un mensaje que resume el propósito del disco: “I’m not afraid, I’m not ashamed / I’m not to blame / I’m not ok / Welcome to the masquerade”. El agresivo “Fire It Up” (tercer sencillo) te golpea con fuertes voces y provocadoras guitarras que nos grita: ”I’m in love, with the feelin’ of pressure to the ceilin’ / Wake up with intention to face my opposition / Get raw, when it’s time to lay it on the line / To the wall’s where we’re takin’ it / Let your light shine, somebody fire it up”. Esta irresistible y vigorosa canción ha sido incluida en el tráiler de G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra, así como en varios video-juegos. Con un piano inquietantes y pujantes riffs de guitarra similares al de Disturbed, “Bring Me To Life” (primer sencillo) es una canción con una intención angustiosa que se lamenta por el dolor y la infelicidad que el enemigo inyecta en nuestros corazones. Sin embargo le gritamos: “Just, shut it! If you’re talkin’ to me / I’m sick and tired of all your lies / And what you want me to be”, y luego le pide a Dios desesperadamente: “Bring me to life, breathe air into me / It’s taken me my whole life to realice / All the things I’ve never seen / Bring me to life, breathe air into me / Take me from the darkness that I’ve been in / ‘Cause I just want to be free”. Otra dosis de adrenalina viene con “E For Extinction”, que comienza lento pero luego se inunda de innovadoras guitarras e incontenibles gritos contrastados con una lírica que habla sobre libertad, inseguridad y la necesidad de una transformación. La dulce melodía de las estrofas se quiebra en una feroz interpretación en el coro con influencias de Seether y Korn: “When we move / We camouflage ourselves / We stand in the shadows waiting / We live for this and nothing more / We are what you created”. Inclinándose más a un sonido similar al de FM Static o Skillet, encontramos a “Watching Over Me” que reconoce la presencia de Dios que se preocupa por nuestro bienestar en medio de la adversidad: “I know you’re out there / And I know you care / ‘Cause I feel you like an angel watching over me”; y culmina con una sinfonía de violines espectacular. Con un acelerado sintetizador de los 80’s, “The Part That Hurts The Most (Is Me)” nos muestra una hermosa performance a cargo de Trevor y es el clamor de un muchacho que anhela cambiar su estilo de vida amorosa, que ya se cansó de dañar a sus seres queridos y que pide a gritos un despertar: “No! Stay away from me / Get up! I’m tryin’ to walk away / It just won’t let up!”. El retrato de una persona cuya crisis es como una máscara que no quiere usar más, hallamos en “Scream”. Pero luego, un destello de promesa surge al decir: “I’d give everything I am just to feel something”. Trevor nos muestra una vez más que su repertorio lírico está lleno de abundante espiritual. Como en “Look Away”, una canción que junta sentimientos de desesperanza y sed espiritual en la realidad del suicidio; con un brillo acústico, falsetes y pura inspiración: “I, will not look away this time / Take all these cuts, and make them shine / And all this pain I’ve held inside / So I can find my way home again / I will not look away this time / Take all these cuts, and make them shine / Don’t want to be perfect, just alright”. Del mismo modo, “Forward Motion” (segundo sencillo) con condimentos pop protagonizados por pianos y optimistas guitarras, nos anima a poner a un lado nuestras diferencias y trabajar para alcanzar nuestro mayor objetivo, llevar a las personas a los pies de Cristo. “Outta Control” y “Smack Down”, son perfectos ejemplos de la versatilidad y creatividad de la banda. Con mensajes de angustia y nuevos comienzos influenciados por rock de los 80’s; sin embargo es un sonido ya antes oído de ‘Phenomenon’. Finalmente, “Already Home” se empaña de violines, guitarras acústicas  y dulces voces. El mensaje de esta canción es sobre sed espiritual de Dios, sobre nuevas oportunidades y adoración: “The trouble with truth is it never lies / and the trouble with wrong that it’s never right / so I rest my head under your light”.

En cada álbum consecutivo puedes oír claramente el crecimiento y madurez de Trevor y Thousand Foot Krutch, y ‘Welcome To The Masquerade’ tiene demasiadas razones para ser un potencial clásico. Ellos están de regreso para arrebatar y profundizar en aéreas que la juventud necesita cambiar, y tal vez algunos no concuerden conmigo, pero este podría ser el mejor álbum de su carrera.

Israel Risco
Rating-Calificación: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥