Heavy Metal Album Review : Lulu - Metallica & Lou Reed

Metallica & Lou Reed - Lulu (Warner Bros, Vertigo)

Released 31/10/11
Rating: 1.5/5

Experimentation in music has to be encouraged, in fact despite arguments over who was the first, it is a fact that metal wouldn’t even exist if people hadn’t explored and pushed the boundaries, so despite the proliferation of negativity surrounding this release I was determined to approach this with an open mind. This might explain why it’s taken me a while to get round to reviewing it, to be honest I was scared by what I might hear...

Well I’ve bitten the bullet so to speak and well, erm, hmmmm, track one down and I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to be frowning and grimacing while listening to one of my favourite bands. Still maybe track two, oh that would be “The View” the very track that had fostered my hesitance to listen to the album, still surely onwards and upwards...

...so I’m going to skip the track my track review here because my reaction is pretty much the same for all of them. It’s hard to call this a collaboration as far from complimenting each other the spoken word vocal style of Lou Reed and the, how to put this nicely, “different” musical arrangement seem to jar against each other as if everything was recorded separately and then just shoved into the same track with no real thought behind it. The lyrical content reminds me of sitting in an “old man’s pub” and listening to the local drunk ramble.

I am really struggling to find something good to say about this album, and being perfectly honest the extra 0.5 on the rating is just because it would break my heart to have to give Metallica just a 1 out of 5! Here’s a sentence I never thought I would ever say... This Metallica album makes St Anger seem like a good Metallica album! Alright maybe that is going a tad too far but you get the picture

Still to finish on a positive note at least it’s the Black Album that Metallica have just announced they will play in it's entirety at Download next year and not this... well if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all!

Track Listing:

Disc One:
1. The Brandenburg Gate
2. The View
3. Pumping Blood
4. Mistress Dead
5. Iced Honey
6. Cheat on Me

Disc Two:
7. Frustration
8. Little Dog
9. Dragon
10. Junior Dad

Heavy Metal New Blood EP Review : Ampora - Last Chance

Ampora – Last Chance (EP - Unsigned) 

Released 10.05.11

Rating : 4/5

The first in my series of Heavy Metal New Blood reviews, which will focus on newer or less well known bands who have just released/or are in the process of releasing debut albums or EPs, sees me focusing on Ampora, an LA Based metal band and their EP “Last Chance”

The first two songs on the EP “Designing a Downfall” and “Blissful Greed” provide a firm introduction to the music and introduce some of what stand out to me as the key components of Ampora’s music with fast paced percussion both interlacing and alternating with strong guitar highlights and sections to get you head banging with the best of them. The background chanting and singing compliment the passionate and guttural growling of the lead vocals and mix seamlessly together to give a full and heavy sound to the tracks.

The next track “Endangered” starts with brief slow atmospheric section before the drums and guitars kick in. There are more clean vocals on this track which again contrast well with the overlaying rough and heavy vocals. The spoken word section in “Endangered” provides an interesting diversion from previous tracks and is followed by an impressive virtuosic guitar solo. This particular track is definitely my favourite on the EP.

Moving onto “The Great Disappearance “ this starts with a dark and heavy intro allowing you to take a quick breath at the pause and then kicks straight back into the layering of drums, bass and guitars that lead to the gradual crescendo growling and background vocals. With tempo changes during the song and catchy lyrics this track was definitely fierce competition for my favourite on the EP.

Onto the final track “Suffering” while there seems to be a lot going on throughout the song with strong beats, intricate guitars and growling it sounds good. Slower sections contrast well with the orchestrated chaos of the rest of the song to keep you on edge and draw you back into the song over and over again.

Overall this is an impressive debut EP. The Production and mixing are excellent with the overall mix of percussion, guitars and vocals seeming just right and allowing each section their own chance to shine. Ampora are definitely a band to watch for future releases and make sure to get the EP from their website

Ampora Website

Heavy Metal New Blood Band Profile of Ampora to follow on Monday be sure to check it out!

Track Listing.

1.       Designing a Downfall

2.       Blissful Greed

3.       Endangered

4.       The Great Disappearance

5.       Suffering