After 10 years of playing, releasing a considerable amount of albums and selling a few millions of records most of the artists get into a lack of musical creativity only surviving by hearing their radio hits every once in awhile. Hailing from Chicago, Illinois Chevelle is back on the road with La Gárgola, the follow up of 2011's "Hats off to the Bull" produced once again by Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Tool, Parkway Drive) and many others. Contradicting myself when I wrote the first lines of this review, La Gárgola meets a totally evolved Chevelle, that's the first reaction by hearing their 7th album, a powerful and renewed band full of freshness. It's the darkest side of the band so far which sounds like the cure in certain times, bringing you back the fear and some kind of horror inspired by the scariest movies of all time. Singer and guitarist Pete Loeffler amps up all his tension and powerful chords on the devilishly song "Ouija Board", offering you the heaviest side of the band in years, lots of desperate screams exploding into guitar bursts. Chevelle has always been a trio, thus they have filled spaces even with 3 musicians playing together on stage they sound like if they were a bigger band never finding a restriction on this. The La Gárgola album it's a heavy/dark record but slow, thick and mighty at the same time, Pete, Sam and Dean are here to expose that their music it's not about quantity, it's just about quality. The more you listen to the record the more you fall in love with, "Hunter Eats Hunter" for example slinks through a black story into the vocalist's own inspiration with deep and heavy riffs, this track is easily one of the best offers on the record. Pete's vocal versatility is better yet halfway through the album, since the second part is darker and less heavy, "One Ocean" and "Twinge" are among different sounds and experimentations they dare to use certain types of delays, reverbs and unusual stuff although "Choking Game" delivers an animosity and infectious groove a mounting tension to the listener again. At the end of the day you get noticed that Chevelle does not sound like somebody else out there and they are not just a clon or a copy of a copy of a copy...
These guys are not predictable and you never know what to expect of them, Sam goes back to that fast drum beat and Dean delivers an infectious aggressive bass sound. Pete tries not to write about typical things in rock music: parties, girls or hangovers; overall La Gárgola increases the band's ability by exploring darker sides, it's a natural progression of the band, it's passionate, powerful and melodic at the same time. I'm going to be clear: while most of you guys are thinking that I'm praising Chevelle's new album just because I am a fan let me let you know that the main single "take out the gunman" it's not my favorite, I even criticize the track because of its lack of identity, even La Gárgola has better songs. Anyway I just wish that the band could go to many other countries and they could get closer to wider audiences. Overall Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars. Recommended Songs: "Ouija Board", "Hunter Eats Hunter", "Choking Game". If you want to see this full review in spanish, head over to:http://polvora.com.mx
Release Date: Europe: May, 3 2013, North America: July, 9 2013 Genre: Modern Rock/Alternative Metal Record Label: Mausoleum Records Overall Rating: 4/5 Origin: Saint Petersburg, Russia Recommended Tracks: “Blood on the Face”, “Midday Show”, “Brain Fever I will be accurate and outspoken while giving an opinion to Grenouer, after respectable years of touring and career since 1992 from a distant and icy place like Russia people would think they are either giving the final step or finding certain decay but there's another reality, this is one of the freshest and renowned bands across Europe stating this, whether they continue playing in such great way I can assure these guys will conquer America or any other country any time soon.
Grenouer has everything: attitude, strength and authenticity, according to their biography in the early days the band played Death Metal even used Russian lyrics praised by underground extreme metal scene, however their 7th studio album owns certain progressive style throughout eleven's tracks of the record that you will never get tired while listening to "Blood on the Face". Their new record has nothing to do with the early days of the band, "Blood on the Face" it's a modern rock/alternative metal album where clearly the band has evolved positively taking high risks, getting originality and own interpretive style, the band mixes different kind of sounds which bring you some kind of fear, most of the record is full of dark passages. I think Grenouer goes beyond their own capacities citing the lead single off the new record "Midday Show" as an example since the singer even brings you some of rap interpretation just in the middle of the song getting a positive result. I don't know if all this great sound has brought freshness back to the rock music scene in Europe because of the weather in Russia, either its landscapes or frozen days, culture and lifestyle out there but all these elements have a fundamental part into the band's sound, these guys are so unique the new sound has a perfect balance between melody and aggression besides their videos have a great production leading you to the main message that the band is looking for.
As many of you know the new Chevelle website is finally up! Don't miss the latest news of the Chicago rock band and all the details about the upcoming record, after plenty of technical difficulties the old website is offline and unlike Chevelleinc.com this new website is run by the band for the fans giving you access to the best exclusive content, photos, videos, albums a totally renewed Chevelle Offiicial Store and lots, lots of other features. The new site has being linked directly to Instagram, Twitter, Facebook so Whenever a member from Chevelle makes a post it will automatically be synced up and posted to the GetMoreChevelle social feed. Get crazy and feel recognized by the band! The Fan of the day feature will continue, fans sumbit photos and experiences of themselves and their moments with the band, a fan of the day will be chosen at midnight every night appearing to more than 1.5 millions fans on Chevelle's Facebook. Support the new page! New Chevelle record coming out soon...
Origin: Vancouver, British Columbia CanadaRecommended Tracks: Brave the Impossible”, “Imaginarium” “The World I Wanted”.
In recent years newcomers from Vancouver, Canada the Veer Union have
been suffering some line-up changes in fact the only active member right now is
Crispin Earl as front man/singer, the Veer Union’s last studio album titled “Divide
the Blackened Sky” was well received by critics while promoting the single “Bitter
End” which got moderate airplay on the radio, despite the band had been dropped by
Universal Records also on February 2012 it was announced that bassist Marc
Roots and guitarist James Fiddler left the band however the other members
announced intentions on releasing a fourth studio album. Released on December
10, 2013 “Life Support Part 1” is the first of two possible EP’s, (the second
one will probably see the light sometime in 2014) “Life Support Vol1” follows
the line & sounds of their previous record “Divide the Blackened Sky” (2012)
a heavy-post grunge record mixing dark textures and haunting beats, right now the
band is working as an independent artist In fact In early 2013, the band
started a Kickstarter to help raise money towards working on future music. The
band met the goal and as a result we got “Life Support Vol1” an enjoyable EP some
of its best songs are “Brave the Impossible”, “Imaginarium” and “The World I Wanted”.
I just hope things look up soon for singer Crispin and future members of the band
because they have a special sound, “ambition” and “perseverance” are key words
in the music industry or whatever thing you are getting in life even when you
are not having good times and everything looks so wasted, “Life Support Vol1” is
a good EP 20 days before saying goodbye 2013.
En años recientes el nuevo proyecto de Vancouver, Canada “The Veer Union”
ha sufrido algunos cambios de alineación, de hecho actualmente el único miembro original activo es el vocalista/líder Crispin Earl, “Divide the Blackened Sky” el ultimo
álbum de estudio de the Veer Union fue bien recibido por la critica mientras
promocionaban su sencillo principal “Bitter End” con éxito moderado en la radio
a pesar de que la banda había sido abandonada por el sello Universal Records,
tambien en febrero 2012 fue anunciado que el bajista Marc Roots y el
guitarrista James Fiddler dejaban la banda sin embargo los miembros restantes
anunciaron tener la intención de lanzar un cuarto álbum de estudio. Lanzado el
10 de diciembre de 2013 “Life Support Vol1” sigue la línea y sonido de su
anterior trabajo “Divide the Blackened
Sky” (2012) un sonido Heavy-Post Grunge, mezclando ambientes y sonidos oscuros,
justo ahora la banda trabaja de forma independiente de hecho a principios del
2013 comenzaron la campaña “Kickstarter” con el fin de recabar fondos para la realización
de un álbum, los canadienses lograron la meta y como resultado tenemos “Life
Support Vol1”, un EP disfrutable algunas de sus mejores piezas son “Brave the
Impossible”, “Imaginarium” y “The World I Wanted”. Espero las cosas mejoren para
el vocalista Crispin y los futuros miembros de la banda porque poseen un sonido
especial, “ambicion” y “perseverancia” son palabras clave en la industria
musical o en cualquier cosa que se pretenda en estos días incluso cuando no la
estas pasando bien y todo parece perdido, “Life Support Vol1” es un recomendable
EP justo dias antes de despedir al 2013.
Each
Chevelle record has put a very distinctive sound mixing ambience and chaos,
tension and melody, heavy riffs and soft melodies all together, this time
around I’m not going to praise a dozen of Chevelle’s biggest radio friendly-hits
such as “the red” “jars” or “face to the floor” since these hit-songs have already
given enough success to the band. Choosing a favorite Chevelle song is probably
one of the toughest questions ever, even excepting the radio singles the band has
a bunch of Underrated songs I mean songs who are not as popular as the other
ones or some songs that people underestimate or don’t care about, when actually
they are awesome, they are in a top notch level, or maybe they are very
experimental or unusual. I clarify this is my very personal list and it doesn’t
mean that these ones are the best or this is the definitive list.
Cada disco
de Chevelle ha puesto un muy distintivo sonido mezclando ambiente y caos, tensión
y melodía, riffs pesados y suaves melodías todo junto. Esta vez no voy a alabar
la docena de grandes éxitos radiales de Chevelle como “the red” “jars” o “face
to the floor” ya que estos éxitos ya han dado suficiente éxito a la banda. Seleccionar
una cancion favorita de Chevelle es probablemente la pregunta mas difícil,
incluso exceptuando los sencillos ya conocidos la banda tiene un monton de
canciones “poco valoradas” quiero decir canciones que no son tan populares como
las otras, o canciones que la gente subestima o no les interesa cuando en
realidad son canciones increíbles, están en primer nivel, o tal vez son experimentales
o inusuales. Aclaro que esta mi lista personal y no significa que las que están
aquí abajo sean las mejores o definitivas.
10-PANIC
PRONE
From “this
type of thinking (could do us in)” (2004)
Darkness,
slowness and a haunting bass with a soft voice of Pete Loeffler since the very
beginning, made of “Panic Prone” one of the most underrated songs by the band, a
massive blast is coming out in the middle of the song and Pete singing
higher and playing heavier, inspired by one of those “save the children” commercials
according to Pete this song is about making decisions whether you're going to
sit on your couch and watch this happen or you're going to stand up and do
something about it.
Oscuridad, lentitud y un bajo obsesionante con la suave voz de Pete Loeffler desde el principio, hizo de "Panic Prone" una de las canciones menos valoradas por la banda, una explosion masiva llega a la mitad de la cancion y Pete cantando mas alto y tocando mas pesado, inspirada por uno de esos comerciales de "save the children" de acuerdo a Pete esta cancion es acerca de tomar decisiones si vas a ir a sentarte en el sofa y ver que pasa o si vas a ponerte de pie y hacer algo al respecto.
9- FELL
INTO YOUR SHOES
From “sci-fi
crimes” (2009)
In my
personal opinion Sci-Fi Crimes is probably the most underrated record by
Chevelle, this song offers heavy riffs, fast drum beats and fast bass also a worked
well guitar solo in the middle of the song, a very melodic record but at the
same time Pete Loeffler playing guitar as heavy as always.
En mi opinion personal Sci-Fi Crimes es probablemente el disco menos valorado que tiene Chevelle, esta cancion ofrece riffs pesados, rapidos golpes de bateria y lineas de bajo, tambien un buen trabajado solo a la mitad de la cancion, un disco muy melodico pero al mismo tiempo Pete Loeffler tocando guitarra tan pesado como siempre.
8- PAINT
THE SECONDS
From “vena
sera” (2007)
Performed just
in a couple of shows while promoting “Vena Sera” this is probably the heaviest
record they have ever done, looking back at the previous records Pete had never
played a fast, clean and substantial solo before at least not in this way, the
best part about “Paint the seconds” is how that wavy guitar solo leads you to
the final part of the song.
Interpretada solo durante un par de shows mientras promocionaban "Vena Sera" este es probablemente el mas pesado disco que han hecho, mirando atras a los discos previos Pete no habia tocado un solo tan limpio, rapido y sustancial al menos no en esta forma, la mejor parte de "Pain the seconds" es como esos ondulantes solos te llevan a la parte final de la cancion.
7-EMOTIONAL
DROUGHT
From “This
Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In) (2004)
In the last
records Pete has left behind those insane screams from the first records, “Emotional
Drought” has everything, melody, aggression, slow tempos, and fast tempos, these
guitar riffs are one of the heaviest Pete has played. This one is a perfect
example of how Pete’s vocal versatility is better than you think reaching colossal
notes in the 3:16 minute while playing guitar and screaming like a monster in
the for about 10 seconds, It’s just a madness.
En los ultimos discos Pete ha dejado atras esos maniacos gritos de sus primeros trabajos, "Emotional Drought" lo tiene todo, agresion, melodia, tiempos lentos y rapidos, estos riffs de guitarra son algunos de los mas pesados que ha tocado Pete. Esta cancion es un ejemplo perfecto de como la versatilidad vocal de Pete es mejor de lo que tu crees alcanzando colosales en el minuto 3:16 mientras esta tocando y gritando como un mounstro por cerca de 10 segundos, es simplemente una locura.
6-IN DEBT
TO THE EARTH
From “Vena
Sera” (2007)
A very
unknown song never played at a show so far, even rarely mentioned either
praised by fans or much less by press. “In debt to the earth” was Included as a
bonus track on iTunes it’s a powerful song which you can divide it in two
sections if you want the first one is an acoustic melody with Pete singing soft
and clean the rest of the song gives you a wave of 360° with Sam Loeffler
beating the drum set from less to more, while playing all together is a heavy
song with a heavy topic a really dark side of the band who deserves so much
more recognition.
Una cancion bastante desconocida nunca tocada en shows al menos hasta ahora, incluso raramente mencionada o alabada o por los fans o la prensa. "In debt to the earth"fue incluida como bonus track en Itunes es una cancion poderosa la cual se puede dividir en dos secciones si tu quieres la primera es una melodia acustica con Pete cantando suave y limpio, el resto de la cancion te da un giro de 360° con un Sam Loeffler golpeando la bateria que va de menos a mas, mientras todos tocan juntos es una cancion muy pesada con una tematica pesada, un lado muy oscuro de la banda que merece mucho mas reconocimiento.
5- THE
MEDDLER
From “Hats
off to the bull” (2011)
I pick up
this song just because it would have been so much better as a single in order
to gain more recognitzion; in fact the band was insecure about the third
single, they didn’t know if “same old trip” or “the meddler” finally rejecting
this last one, “the meddler” has been a constant song at the rock shows, a very
special song, a kinda ballad with a lot of electric guitar effects and a solid
bass sound who shows up a very dark side of the band by tuning instruments
lower than usual, key in the sound of Chevelle.
Tomo esta cancion simplemente porque hubiera sido mucho mejor como sencillo con el fin de ganar mas reconocimiento, de hecho la banda esta insegura sobre el 3er sencillo, no sabian si "same old trip" o "the meddler" rechazando finalmente esta, "the meddler" ha sido una cancion constante en los conciertos, una cancion muy especial, medio balada con un chorro de efectos en la guitarra y un solido bajo que muestra un lado muy oscuro de la banda al afinar los instrumentos mas bajo de lo usual, clave en el sonido Chevelle.
4- HIGHLAND’S
APPARITION
From “Sci-Fi
Crimes” (2009)
Chevelle’s fifth
studio album Sci-Fi Crimes has several haunting songs, talking about personal
experiences by the members of the band. Drummer Sam Loeffler told to the Muen
Magazine "Everyone slept in the same bedroom and we all had similar
nightmares. It felt like people were touching them at night while they were
sleeping. It was creepy. This woman came to the house, we were looking at her
through the window and she was dancing in the front yard. We went out there and
she said 'I grew up here; my dad's buried in the backyard.' Are you allowed to
bury people in the yard?". Honestly the acoustic song is by far Pete
Loeffler’s best acoustic performance ever, reaching the one of the highest
notes ever, pretty good guitar riffs, a song who owns a lot of quality, mystery
and ambience, it was only performed in a couple of shows at the very beginning
of the Sci-Fi Crimes tour back in 2009 since then it has not been performed
again.
El quinto disco de estudio de Chevelle Sci-Fi Crimes tiene muchas canciones obsesionantes, hablando de experiencias personales de la banda. El baterista Sam Loeffler dijo a la revista "Muen" todos dormimos en la misma habitacion y tuvimos las mismas pesadillas. Siento que la gente los toco mientras dormiamos, fue espeluznante. Esta mujer vino a la casa, se asomo por la ventana y comenzo a bailar en el frente. Salimos y ella dijo yo creci aqui mi padre fue enterrado en el patio, esta permitido enterrar gente en el patio?. Honestamente "Highland's Apparition" es la mejor interpretacion acustica de Pete, alcanzando las mas altas notas, riffs bastante buenos, una cancion que posee calidad, misterio y ambiente, solo fue interpretada un par de shows al inicio de la gira Sci-Fi Crimes de 2009, desde entonces no ha sido interpretada de nuevo.
3-MIDNIGHT
TO MIDNIGHT
From “Vena Sera” (2007)
Ladies and
Gentleman, this is Sam Loeffler drummer for the band Chevelle! As one of the
heaviest tracks of all time, Midnight to Midnight has reached a top notch
place, a master place, a very underrated song from my favorite band of all
time, sadly we have not even heard the song at a show though I heard they once
rehearsed it in a sound check before a gig anyway “Midnight to Midnight” is one
of the strongest songs, it has everything, perfect lyrics, such a great melody,
it’s a fast and solid a song, I can even say one of their fastest tracks of all
time, Sam Loeffler shows off his talent behind the drum kit by playing it very
fast, like a machine in fact. The more you listen to the song the more you feel
addicted.
Damas y caballeros, este es Sam Loeffler baterista de Chevelle! Como uno de los tracks mas pesados de todos, Midnight to Midnight ha alcanzado un nivel de primera, un lugar supremo, una cancion muy poco valorada de mi grupo favorito de todos los tiempos. tristemente ni siquiera hemos escuchado la cancion en algun show, aunque escuche que una vez la ensayaron en un sound check previo a un show, de cualquier manera "Midnight to Midnight" es una de las canciones mas fuertes, lo tiene todo, letras perfectas, y una gran melodia, es una cancion rapida y solida. Incluso puedo decir una de sus mas rapidas, Sam Loeffler presume su talento detras de la bateria al tocarla muy rapido, como una maquina de hecho. Entre mas la escuchas mas te sientes adicto.
2- THIS
CIRCUS
From “Sci-Fi
Crimes” (2009)
Another track
who shows Pete Loeffler’s best vocal ranges, the final song of Sci-Fi Crimes is
the perfect way to try to understand the meaning behind the record, an odd
song, a weird tempo, mysterious riffs, syncopated drum beats, creepy bass
lines, a skeleton in the background, an UFO landing on the surface, everything
is unusual here, the lines of "just run them off or grab and hold, the mother of our all needs" are just out of this world, the intergalactic rock of Chevelle never sounded better. This is Sci-Fi Crimes a misunderstood album, a masterwork
underrated piece, aliens, sci-fi stories, haunting places, and complex lyrics putting Chevelle in another level of writing and composition.
Otra cancion que muestra los mejores alcanzes vocales de Pete, la cancion final de Sci-Fi Crimes es la forma perfecta de entendert el sigificado detras del disco, una cancion rara, un tiempo extraño, riffs misteriosos, tiempos de bateria sincopados, lineas de bajo espeluznantes, un esqueleto en el fondo, un Ovni aterrizando en la superficie, todo es inusual aqui, las lineas de "just run them off or grab and hold, the mother of our all needs" son simplemente fuera de este mundo, el rock intergalactico de Chevelle nunca sono mejor. Esto es Sci-Fi Crimes un disco incomprendido, una pieza maestra poco valorada, aliens, historias de ciencia ficcion, lugares embrujados y letras complejas poniendo a Chevelle en otro nivel de letras y composicion.
1-POINT #1
From “Point#1”
(1999)
Point#1 is
the debut album of the Chicago based rock band Chevelle, "Point#1 is a notable single
but achieved only minor success gaining a status of “cult song” in my personal
opinion, an epic twisted riff, getting high on the solo, the song has a catchy
appeal behind repetitive and addictive riffs. Point”1 became in one of the favorite
songs at the shows by fans, reaching the most shocking moment of the night, the
band has not played this song in years but this was definitely a Chevelle signature
sound, this song didn’t get the attention it deserves however you just have to
play this one loud while doing air guitar and head banging.
Point#1 es el album debut de la banda de rock de Chicago Chevelle, "Point#1" es un sencillo notable pero que logro poco exito ganando un estatus de "cancion de culto" en mi opinion personal, y riff epico, llevandote a lo alto en el solo, la cancion tiene una atraccion pegagosa detras de esos repetitivos y adictivos riffs. "Point#1" se convirtio en una de las favoritas en los shows por los fans, alcanzando los momentos mas impactantes de la noche. La banda no ha tocado esta cancion en años pero esta fue definitivamente clave del sonido Chevelle, esta cancion no obtuvo la atencion que merece sin embargo tu solo que tocarla alto mientras haces air guitar y headbangeas.
Which songs would you put on your list of underrated Chevelle songs?
Let me know by putting your comment below:
Que
canciones pondrían en su lista de las menos valoradas?
Házmelo saber
dejando tu comentario en la parte de abajo.
