Demon Hunter: Outlive

By Robin Ervolina
Demon Hunter, a band that needs little introduction for metal heads across the world, has just unleashed their eighth studio album, Outlive, and it is an album worthy of their legacy. Notably more thrash-heavy than many of their prior releases, Outlive has a darker, edgier vibe than their previous works. It seems to rely more heavily on religious imagery and symbolism than their previous works, proving as they have before that God is most definitely metal.
Demon Hunter sports a more somber tone than their Christian contemporaries like Thousand Foot Krutch, Skillet, and P.O.D, especially through their latest vehicle of sound, Outlive. Their Loudwire premier of “Died in My Sleep” is clear evidence of this tone, both audibly and visibly.

Demon Hunter touts “Cold Winter Sun” as their favorite on the new album. With its heavy rifts and visceral, dark message about humanity, it’s easy to see why their tonal shift to a more thrash heavy album is needed to carry their message of humanity’s fate and the perils we face in this world.

While the band’s message has always been cryptically ominous, Outlive sees this take an even darker turn in songs like “Jesus Wept” and “Half as Dead.”
 The album has been highly anticipated, as it is the longest fans have had to wait between albums since the band’s inception in 2001. No one listens to a Demon Hunter album expecting cheery disposition and a warm hug of solidarity. This album keeps acute listeners thinking with their continual message of not accepting the status quo and maintaining a high level of self-awareness into the human experience, keeping the mood necessarily solemn and dire. If you were itching for the familiar sound of Demon Hunter with a new twist and evolved message, Outlive should be the next purchase in your portfolio.

Art of Anarchy: The Madness

By Robin Ervolina
We’re going to address the elephant in the room.
If you’ve followed the saga of Scott Stapp in the last few years, you’re up to speed; if you haven’t, it’s fine because Stapp wrote a cryptic tell-all into the lyrics of each song on The Madness, the new Art of Anarchy CD releasing 3/24/17.
Art of Anarchy was started by brothers Jon (guitar) and Vince (drums) Votta, along with former Guns 'N Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and Disturbed bassist John Moyer. Though Scott Weiland denied being a member of the band, he laid vocals and wrote much of the lyrical content of AOA’s first eponymous release. For their sophomore album, AOA tapped Scott Stapp, best known as the vocalist and frontman for Creed, to take up the cross. Unlike his predecessor, he’s proud to be the new singer for supergroup Art of Anarchy. Of the collaboration, Stapp states, “It’s Disturbed meets Guns N' Roses meets Creed.” I couldn’t disagree more. Each artist brings with them individual talents and influences that blend so well, the only sound that truly stands out is Scott Stapp resurrecting his career.
The first track, “Echo of a Scream” is slightly eerie as Stapp comes out of the gate channeling Weiland in tone and attitude. With a sing-and-whisper delivery, he croons right up to “I’m just imitating the man they want me to be,” before breaking into his familiar timbre, owning the song in his own right. If this is an analogy for The Madness, it’s well played. Have any Creed fan listen to “No Surrender” and “A Light In Me” and they’re going to hear Creed. There’s no way around it. Stapp has a definitive voice, and it’s for this reason I’m going to give him a little latitude as he navigates his post-Creed endeavor, experimenting with his vocals in songs such as “1000 Degrees” and “Dancing With The Devil.” Highlights are first release “The Madness” and “Somber.” Prose is carefully constructed and woven into some radio-ready melodies with great chord progressions. "Somber" damn near breaks me each time I play it, with Stapp's vulnerability more natural than in the requisite ballad and mea culpa, "Changed Man."
If you’re like me, you’re going to listen to The Madness to hear Stapp, and that's okay. Listen again, and you're going to recognize Moyer’s driving bass line and some signature Bumblefoot riffs. When you listen a third time, it all clicks. You’ll hear a supergroup that’s done a super job of bringing their collective strengths to the table to produce a cohesive sound. There’s no denying the addition of Stapp has changed the sound, perhaps even the direction of Art Of Anarchy. Whether or not Stapp is truly back remains to be seen. If his musical contributions, lyrically and spiritually, are any indication, the answer is yes, the kid may very well be fine.
Art of Anarchy is releasing 3/24/17 and is available for download.

Halestorm: ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP

By Robin Ervolina
Nobody gives a better cover than Halestorm; and so it was, with squeals of delight, I dug into their latest cover project ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP. I mean, just take a look at this track list:

• Still Of The Night (Originally Performed By Whitesnake)
• Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover (Originally Performed By Sophie B. Hawkins)
• I Hate Myself For Loving You  (Originally Performed By Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)
• Heathens (Originally Performed By twenty one pilots)
• Fell On Black Days (Originally Performed By Soundgarden)
• Ride The Lightning (Originally Performed By Metallica)

Lzzy Hale and crew tackle each song fearlessly, which is probably the least surprising verb I can use to describe Halestorm, the four-piece rock band from Red Lion, Pennsylvania. Tiny powerhouse Lzzy Hale, with her stilettos and double-neck Gibson, electrifies the stage while her brother Arejay dominates the kit behind her, in a blur of sticks, hair, and animated showmanship.
ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP is not a karaoke cover EP. This is not someone singing someone else's songs. It's important to note, if you missed ReAniMate 1.0 and 2.0, that Halestorm does not simply cover a song; as the title infers, they reanimate. Taking a tune and injecting it with a stylized vibe is a gift this writer is so grateful to receive. With a powerful purr turned roar, Lzzy opens ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP. Her rough and sexy tumble with “Still Of The Night” doesn’t just hold a candle to the original, it outshines it. “I Wish I Was your Lover,” a song I personally detest, is not only bearable under a Lzzy spell, it’s infectious. I hate myself for loving it. Meanwhile, “I Hate Myself For Loving You” features some wicked skins by one of rocks most animated drummers, Arejay, who leads the way for his sister’s grinding guitar licks and soulful vocals. On current Sirius Octane rotation is my personal favorite of ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP, twenty one pilot’s “Heathens.” This pop hit is repurposed with absolute intention. The creepy, sinister lyrics are given just the right treatment, causing the hairs on my arms to take note. Does Lzzy sing or play guitar better? “Fell On Black Days” fails to answer that question, featuring some amazing vocals and guitar solos. “Ride The Lightening” closes out this showcase with wicked delight.
I don’t know if Halestorm picks their covers according to their strengths or if they can just cover any damn thing. Either way, the grit and strength personified in ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP is a masters class in respect. It’s no wonder the biggest acts in rock happily hand over their song children to the care and feeding of Halestorm, time and time again.
You can download a copy of ReAniMate 3.o: The CoVeRs eP here.