Creed One Las Breath Review

Creed has defiantly become one of the most controversial bands in history.  Some people hate them because they think they are a hallow band with no real substance.  On the other hand, people think they were a very talented band that made great music. However you feel about the band, they certainly have made an impact in music.  In late 90's they were one of the most popular bands on the music scene and had a good number of hits.  One of those hits was "One Last Breath".

The music in this song is not great, but it is good.  The guitar work in this song is pretty good, Mark Tremonti does a great job with the intro and then the heavy chords he plays in the chorus really make  the chorus stand out.  The drum work is solid, but it isn't anything to special.  It is a common drum beat we have heard a lot and doesn't really enhance the song to much.  I like the vocal work of Scott Stapp in this song.  He isn't a great singer but his voice really makes Creed unique and it contributes big to this song.  He sounds really good and you can tell he is giving it his all when he is singing.  Overall, the music is solid and sounds good, but isn't too special.

Lyrically, this song continues with the Christian style lyrics this band is known for.  The lyrics are about being feeling like you've lost it all but still wanting to keep going.  The chorus is basically calling out to God to keep you from falling and losing your way.  I think the verses are pretty good, but the chorus and the bridge are the best parts of the song, lyrically.  While the lyrics do have a more Christian tone to them, they aren't blunt about it.  They have been able to convey it in away that appeals to both Christians and non Christians alike.  

While I don't think this is a great song, it is good and it was actually unique for it's time.  Thanks to grunge, most rock in the 90's was about being depressed and angry all the time.  However, Creed decided take a positive turn.  They still had songs about being hurt and feeling depressed, but instead of being totally focused on the negative, they expressed hope and a way out of the pain.  I give them props for doing something different at the time.  However, the problem Creed had was that a lot of their music sounded the same, they never really experimented outside their comfort zone, which is strange when you look at bands they are in today like Alter Bridge which experiment a lot.  This was a problem with a lot of post grunge bands including Nickelback, Seether, and Candlebox.  They found a formula that worked and they didn't look outside of the formula until it was too late.  People either didn't care to listen to them anymore or hated them because they thought they were hallow and lacked substance.  However, Creed is one of the bands that I feel gets a little more flack then they deserve.  One Last Breath is a good, solid song that I enjoyed listening to.  It isn't great but I enjoy listening to it from time to time.  I give One Last Breath  a 3.5 out of 5.

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Coldrain, Gone Review

Coldrain has become a popular band in Japan and has developed a cult following through out the rest of the world.  With a combination of metalcore and melodic metal, these guys have developed a unique sound with hints of inspiration from the band Sevendust.  I first heard of this band, when I discovered their song, We're Not Alone, used in the opening of the anime, Rainbow Nisha Rokubou No Shihinin.  The band was pretty popular in Japan already, but when they came out their song Gone, the song blew up, becoming one of the bands biggest hits and catapulting them to big time fame in Japan and increasing their fame world wide.  

With Gone, they take more of a melodic approach to the song, both vocally and musically.  The intro and verses in this song are used as an intro that leads into a heavy, powerful intro.  I really like this set up, it really conveys the sad and angry mode this song is going for.  Masato does a great job singing on this song. His melodic voice is very effective in communicating the songs message and his voice fits the music very well.  He does a slight screaming section in the pre chorus that then leads into a powerful, hard hitting chorus that sounds awesome.  The guitar work in this song is good as well.  It isn't super technical, but it doesn't need to be.  Ryo Yokochi does a lot of melodic playing in the intro and verse that adds a bit of mysterious feel that I really like.  I do think the could have done a little bit more with his guitar solo, but it isn't bad and works with the feel of the song.  

This song is clearly a break up song when it comes to the lyrics.  It is about someone who is in a bad relationship and they want to end it.  It is about that person feeling ignored, abandoned, and unable to make the person they are in the relationship happy no matter how hard they try.  The lyrics are written very well, they are to the point and easy to understand.  The way they are written is in the form of someone talking to the other person and telling them it is over.  This is very effective because it makes the song more personal and makes the listener feel like they are the ones communicating the message.  When it comes to the lyrics, the band did a fantastic job.

I can understand why this song really boosted Coldrain's fame.  It is a good, powerful song that sounds great and has a clear message that people can relate to.  The lyrics are great and the music is awesome.  The guitar solo could be improved slightly, but it is very minor.  I give Gone a 4 out of 5. 

Linkin Park One Step Closer Review

Sadly, we lost the great Chester Bennington yesterday. He committed suicide by hanging himself.  His death has shocked not just the rock and metal scene, but the entire music scene as a whole.  Chester had written many of the classic so gas Linkin Park has produced but of my favorite songs from this legendary band is One Step Closer.

Musically this is one of the heaviest songs of the bands catalog. The guitar in the intro is intense and one you can't help but to head bang to.  Then Chester's voice comes in.  This song really demonstrates Chester's vocal talent and show cases the range he has.  Durint the verse he gives a very he gives a very mysterious, dark sounding voice. Then in the chorus he busts out those long loud notes that he is able to hold for a good amount of time.  Some people don't know hard it is to hold notes that long, that trully a very talented skill to have as a singer.  

Lyically this is a very dark song.  The lyrics convey the mindset of someone who is being talked down to by other people.  How the anger builds up from people being condescending towards you and how people struggle to hold in that anger.  I really loves this song lyrically because not only does it come from a real place, but this is a topic a lot of people can relate to.

With great guitar riffs, great lyrics, and Chester's fantastic vocals this was a great debut song for Linkin Park and would play a huge role to secure the bands place in music.  Chester without a doubt played the biggest part in this songs rise to fame with his amazing vocals.  He was a great singer and will be remembered as a great singer for all time.  Thanks for all the great music you gave the world Chester, RIP.  I give One Step Closer a 5 out of 5.

Noisycell Lily Review

Noisycell is an indie rock band out of Japan that is slowly starting to gain more and more fame.  They have achieved some success with their song, Last Theater, featured as the ending song for the anime, Death Parade.  Since then, the band has gained a good cult size following.  Recently, the band put out a newer song, Lily.  

Musically, the song is pretty good and energetic.  While it certainly has a ballad feel to it, it is still got a good heavy energy to it.  The fast drum work and fast guitar playing really contribute to that energy, especially in the songs intro.  The verse for the most part keeps that energy going with a slight break in the pre chorus before bringing it back in the main chorus.  It is a good transition to use the pre chorus to get the listener ready for the main chorus and this band executes that very well.  Vocally, the song is very good as well.  The Woo Woo at the beginning of the song gives a very good boost to the songs energy.  The melodic vocals Ryosuke are very impressive.  While I wouldn't say he's the greatest singer I have ever heard, he does a great job carrying the song vocally and the melodic style he uses is very effective.  

Lyrically, the song is basically about a break up in a relationship, and the complex feeling of that.  The lyrics are not bad and the message is good.  However, this is a message that has been done many times in music and every person is sure to have heard it 100 times.  However, the music and vocals communicate the song's message effectively and that is very important and helps to save the song.  

Noisycell is a talented band that looks to have a bright future ahead of them.  This song displays the bands talent very well and shows they got a good chance to make it.  The music is very good and while the lyrics are nothing new, the vocals really communicate the message well and sounds great. For having great music and great vocals I give this song a 3.5 out of 5. 

Shinedown Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom) Review

Shinedown was one of my favorite bands for a long time growing up.  The heavy guitar riffs and Brent Smiths voice is amazing and brings a slight southern feel to the bands hard rock driven music.  Sound of Madness is still one of my favorite albums of all time. It is actually one of the few albums I own that I like every single song on.  Shinedown has managed to take what made Sound of Madness great and applied it to their follow up single, Diamond Eyes.

Musically, Diamond Eyes is one of Shinedown's best songs.  The slow build up to the song is great and really sets up for the very energetic heavy intro.  The guitar riff in the intro is one of the big things that give the intro it heavy feel.  It is simple but very effective.  The pre chorus is one of the best parts of the songs.   Zach Myers does a great job busting out the boom lay boom phrase and it really adds to the high, heavy energy the song is going for.  Brent Smith sounds very good as usual.  His voice really carries the lyrics well and that slight southern sound he brings is one of the things that makes Shinedown unique.

Lyrically, this song accomplish's what it is supposed to.  For those who don't know, Shinedown wrote Diamond Eyes for The Expendables movie.  It is a intense action movie and the lyrics capture that mood and tone perfectly.  With phrases like "fist fist philosophy", and "we watch with wounded eyes" you really get a good sense that this is a song about combat and being in the thick of it.  Shinedown could not have done a better job conveying the Expendables movie lyrically then they did in Diamond Eyes.

Diamond Eyes is a great song with high energy and great lyrics to match the movie it is representing.  From the guitar riffs, to the vocals, this song does a great job representing the Expendables, and it is a great hard rock and metal song you need to get.  If you are a hard rock and metal fan this is one song that you should listen to.  I give Diamond Eyes a 4.5 out of 5.