I’m bringing back the Qreview today. I’m trying to get caught up on all of these reviews that have been flooding my inbox since early May. I fell behind due to the wedding and I have not been able to claw my way back to the surface. I’m 40+ albums behind so I have some catching up to do! I must hurry too because the year only has 2 months left in it. I may be missing one of the biggest albums of the year!!! Here are 3 albums for today’s Qreview: Parkway Drive’s “Atlas”, Firebird’s “Hot Wings” and Zodiac’s “Menschenstaub”. Zodiac was the most impressive of the three. Read more after the jump!
The first album to be quickly reviewed is the new album from Parkway Drive called “Atlas”. This melodic hardcore album has plenty of good riffs, raise your fist screaming and headbang inducing drumming. Their formula is simple yet heavy. It works well because “Atlas” is full of anthems and sing-a-longs!
The album does feel a little repetitive however, leaving the listener entertained but wanting more. The gang/crowd vocals don’t work and some of the songs a little weak. Production sounds great, no gimmicks or overly used filler. A solid release, a true headbanger.
3 out of 5
Firebird’s new Rock album “Hot Wings” is just that: Plain ol rock n roll. It’s a medium to slow paced album that reminds me of what Bret Michael’s is doing now. It’s something you would hear at that old bar that the older bikers go to. The one that plays nothing but this kind of music and has old stained pool tables and a dart board with crooked darts that hardly anyone uses. It’s not entirely bad but it’s just not good either. Nothing stands out (except that cowbell) and I feel like I need to slip on a cowboy hat and boots and hop in my Trans-Am to pick up another six pack of beer. This is one album you can definitely skip.
1.5 out of 5
You want a hardcore sound with raw grind technique’s and furiousness of a pissed off death metal band? Yeah, Germany’s Zodiac brings forth unrelenting powerful metal that I wasn’t expecting at all. This album completely caught me off guard, the most I was expecting was black metal and that was it. The promo I received was music only, no links, no info, not even an album cover. I don’t think they give a fuck, just listen to the music and headbang. OK, Zodiac, I will…
4 out of 5