Code Orange have built themselves up as a unique act among a sea of, as drummer and vocalist Jami Morgan puts it, “bargain bin fucking deathcore bands.” Their music meshes elements of hardcore, death metal, grunge and industrial, wearing their influences on their sleeve as they develop as artists. Their sophomore album, 2014’s “I Am King,” saw the group...
Acapella music isn’t something people listen to on a regular basis, partially because they’ve probably never listened to Pentatonix. Pentatonix is five-person Grammy Award-winning acapella group who recently released a new Christmas album titled, “A Pentatonix Christmas.” Pentatonix changed the game by infusing pop music into the traditional acapella sound. Their new Christmas album is a testament to exactly...
Hammock's fifth full length album, “Departure Songs,” is their first double album and their most progressive piece to date. Hammock offers elegant soundscapes with majestic swells and crescendos. “Departure Songs” meets all of the expectations of a Hammock listener with the duo's mesmerizing guitar work of beautifully layered guitar tracks drenched in effects pedals galore, but it doesn't stop...
Prior to listening to their 3rd and latest album, “Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones,” Black Veil Brides seemed to me like a band whose gimmick heavily relied on an overabundance of guyliner, hairspray and hazardously spiked clothing. They had failed to seize my attention with “Knives and Pens” from their debut EP “Sex & Hollywood,”...
It had been eight, long years since the iconic thrash metal band Metallica released an album for fans worldwide to get excited for. Their previous effort, 2008’s “Death Magnetic” seemed to have marked a return to form for the aging band with some great tracks here and there. Now in 2016, Metallica’s latest offering, the double album, “Hardwired...To Self-Destruct”...
After her career with Disney ended, Demi Lovato's struggles and triumphs came to a head in 2011 with her heartbreaking single, "Skyscraper." Although the Disney star had difficulties with eating disorders, self-harm and a painful breakup, “Skyscraper” was definitely an artistic and passionate song that reflected her growth as a person. Her new album, “Demi,” doesn’t quite live up...
As I walked around Far Far Away Record Store, wallowing in the thought of never seeing our beloved Green One again, I suddenly heard a sound. “Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me,” the words proclaimed. Now, the Green One had certainly rolled me before, but I couldn’t be sure. As the words continued with, “I...
“Shut your mouth / cause you talk too much / and I don’t give a fuck anyway,” snarls lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day during the song, “Let Yourself Go,” off Green Day’s latest album, “¡Uno!” The band’s ninth studio album is the first in their upcoming trilogy of albums to be released within four months. “¡Dos!”...
Southern California’s own 30 Seconds to Mars has released another stellar album with “Love Lust Faith + Dreams.” As the title suggests, the band explores themes of lost loves, chasing dreams, losing oneself and new beginnings.
Their single, “Up in the Air,” is definitely one of the best and most defining songs on the album. As Jared Leto sings, he...
Shakira’s self-titled new album, “Shakira,” is a mixture of reggae, pop, Spanish and rock melodies combined with a few poetic and acoustic songs. This is the Colombian singer’s 10th studio album, and although she has features with Rihanna and Blake Shelton, she remains the main focus and power behind the songs. Like her hit tracks “Whenever, Wherever” and “Hips...