Chiodos - Devil

                                                        Genre: Post-Hardcore / Metalcore
                                                         Label: Tooth & Nail
                                                         Release: April 1 2014
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1. U.G. Introduction -
A very complex instrumental intro track. It opens the album up beautifully.

2. We're Talking About Practice -
This is an incredible track, The lyrics are beautifully written. The instrumental is incredibly performed, The vocals are perfectly executed. This song really showcases the future of this album.

3. Ole Fishlips Is Dead Now -
This song is very well performed, The lyrics are very complex & well written. The instrumental is boarderline perfect, The vocals are amazingly performed. This song is one of my personal favorites.

4. Why The Munsters Matter -
This is one of the more standout tracks off the album in my opinion, The instrumental is the epitime of incredible. The lyrics are amazingly written, The vocals are performed incredibly.

5. 3 AM -
This is A very interesting track, The instrumental is amazing. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are beautifully performed. This song is on my top 5 favorite tracks from the album, It is also one of the softer songs off the album.

6. Sunny Days & Hand Grenades -
This is A track with an extremely dark feel to it, This track is boarderline creepy. The instrumental is very fitting to the lyrics, The vocals are perfectly performed. This song is one of the more standout tracks off the album.

7. Duct Tape -
This is one of my personal favorites off the album, It has A majorly dark & creepy factor that I really enjoy. The instrumental really allows the lyrics to shine in this track, The vocals are performed to perfection. This song is the epitime of genius in my book.

8. Behvis Bullock -
This track is an extreme in your face experience. The lyrics are amazingly written, The vocals are A true test of how amazing of A vocalist Craig Owens is. The instrumental really follows the vocals perfectly. This song shows just how well Chiodos works together as A whole.

9. Looking For A Tornado -
This is one of the most incredible song I have heard from Chiodos in A long time. It starts off slow with an acoustic guitar melody & slowly gets faster. The instrumental is amazing, The lyrics are incredibly well written. The vocals are executed perfectly, This song really stood out to me personally & is probably my favorite track on the album.

10. Expensive Conversations In Cheap Motels -
This song May actually be my favorite track off the album. The lyrics are quite dark, However they are very beautifully written. The vocals are incredibly performed, The instrumental is perfectly fitting with the vocals & lyrics. All around this is an incredible song.

11. I'm Akward & Unusual -
This song is incredible, It really showcases the perfect writing ability Chiodos has. The lyrics are incredible, The vocals are extremely well performed. The instrumental really allows the lyrics to be shown off by frontman Craig Owens. This song really stands out to me personally.

12. Under Your Halo -
This is probably the softest track on the album, This song really showcases the vocal ability of Craig Owens. The lyrics are beautifully written. The instrumental really follows the vocals perfectly. The vocals are some of my favorite off the entire albums, Craig Owens really went A step further in my opinion.

13. I Am Everything That's Normal -
This song close the album perfectly, The instrumental is very well performed. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are perfectly executed to fit the instrumental & lyrics. I really enjoy the sudden mood change in the song, It starts off really slow & piano driven & quickly gets quite heavy. This is another of my personal favorites off the album.

All in all this is an incredible comeback album. To me it sounds as if Craig Owens had never left to begin with, The chemistry still appears to be the same.

Overall Rating: 9 / 10

X Blake Freeman X Interview

At what age did you know you wanted to make music for A living?

X Blake Freeman X:  I'd say around 16. Around 16, I really started thinking about being a serious musician.

Were there any specific artist that influenced you to start writing?

X Blake Freeman X:Tupac Shakur. When I started writing full, legitimate songs, they were just really long poems for girls. I remember when I was a kid, my aunt had this book of poems that were published by Shakur. Every single one of the poems, in the entire book, were to girls. So when I started writing my music, I just tried to remember what he did in that book. He wrote poems for girls, turned it into music. I was writing poems, wanting to turn it into music. He was definitely one of the early influences to start writing.

 very cool. How would you describe your music?

X Blake Freeman X: I'd describe it as just Hip-Hop.

 Ok. What are some projects you are working on this year?

X Blake Freeman X: Well, I guess what you could consider my biggest project, would be trying to play on the Van's Warped Tour.

 ok. is there a site where fans can vote to help you play Warped Tour?

X Blake Freeman X: Absolutely, you can vote as many times as you'd like. Just refresh the page. Every single vote is appreciated.You can vote here

  ok. so take a minute to tell fans and people who have not heard of you why they should vote for you? What seperates you from any other person trying to play Warped Tour?

X Blake Freeman X: I have a real reason why everybody should vote for me. It's not some ''I want to be rich and famous'' answer, like any other contestant would tell you. Back to Tupac Shakur, I'm trying to change the world. I promise you I'm going to make this world better. I want to win this contest and let all these people from small towns, that didn't start out with the best lives, know that you can still make it. I want all the people in the world that had dreams of being musicians or actors, anything that made them a celebrity, know that they're living vicariously through me. I'm a mixture every single person that's ever had a dream but didn't follow through with it. When you see my name on a billboard, don't even read my name, read yours. I am exactly like you and I don't want you to look at me any differently. That alone separates me from the ''hot shot'', ''big-timer'' artists you already see on the Van's Warped Tour. I've already gained some success with music and I'm always talking to the kids, teaching them confidence, showing them ''Look, it doesn't matter what you look like, where you come from, what you've done, if you work hard it happens.'' I'm just trying to reach even more people on a bigger level, and that's what the Van's Warped Tour is to me.

 Awesome I wish you best of luck in the contest.Is there anywhere people can listen to your music? Also do you have any last words for your fans?

X Blake Freeman X: Thank you, please vote. Yeah, my music is all over YouTube and Google Play. Just search ''X Blake Freeman X'' on Google and you'll find everything. Yeah, let me say, I do know who's really there for me. I love y'all more than I'll ever express.

Everybody should take A moment to like X Blake Freeman X on facebook & also vote for him to play the 2014 Vans Warped Tour the links for those will be posted below. Thank you to X Blake Freeman X for taking the time to talk with Oblivion Reviews.

X Blake Freeman X Facebook
Vote for him to play the 2014 Vans Warped Tour here

Nathan Ryan Interview

I had the chance to chat with rapper Nathan Ryan to ask him A few questions, This is what he had to say.

At what age did you know you wanted to make music for A living?

Nathan Ryan: When I turned 18 and I went to a bunch of shows and when I went I loved the screaming crowds and the chills the performance gave me and that's when I realized I wanted to do that for people

 Very cool. Was there A particular artist that really inspired the decision?

NR:  I went to see gym class Heroes and The Roots live and it was just non-stop music for 4 hours and I had a really good time

Ok, I know you just released your "Top Shelf" mixtape and your currently getting ready for the "Smoke Loud Play Loud Tour" are their any other scheduled projects for you this year?

NR:  Bringing back all my YouTube parodies and YouTube channel. So I'm going back to doing parodies and music. I'm pretty much doing it all. Keeping my YouTube channel going with parodies when I'm not on the road doing shows and might be tagging along with some warped tour dates this summer.

 Awesome, Would this be your first time on warped tour?

NR: No I was on it in 2010

 Ok, so how was your first experience on warped? Did you get good reactions from the crowds?

NR:  I went along to do signings at a tent but I had anywhere from 50-100 kids come everyday for signings and pictures which was so awesome meeting everybody

 Very cool, So do you prefer performing live or recording in the studio more?

NR:  Live shows because I like the adrenaline rather than being in the studio because it's just me

 Awesome, Have fans reacted any different to your new music over your parodies?

NR:  Yes some people think my parodies are my actual music when really it's something I do in my spare time to keep new content up. I'm getting a really good reaction off of TopShelf since TopShelf is all me.

 Nice I really enjoyed Top Shelf I think it's some of the best work you've ever done what inspired you to give it away as A free download? I feel like it could have easily been an album also will there ever be hard copies made?

NR: I wanted to release something for free cause I have never had any of my music up for free and I just wanted people to hear it and tell all their friends. Nobody pays for music these days and the ones who do should be rewarded with some free tunes sometimes,And no hard copies or anything just free download on all my sites such as YouTube and soundcloud.

 My final question is where do you see yourself at 10 years from now?

NR: In 10 years I see myself helping others in music and I would like to be a host of an award show or hosting a tv show. I feel like it would be entertaining

I would like to thank Nathan Ryan for taking the time to talk to me and answer my questions. I suggest if you like him follow him on Facebook & Twitter for latest info. Nathan Ryan just released the Top Shelf mixtape which is up for free download on his Soundcloud. He is getting ready to hit the road for the Smoke Loud Play Loud Tour with Steez Click (Sev. & Rise of Brokencyde), Phat J (Formely of Brokencyde), JJ Demon & Potent Da Rockstar.

Nathan's Facebook

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311 - Stereolithic

                                                             Genre: Alternative / Reggae-Rock
                                                             Release: March 11 2014
                                                             Label: 311 Records
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1. Ebb and Flow -
A very good opening track, The Lyrics are beautiful. The vocals are performed incredibly, The instrumental is the epitime of perfect. This song Is A perfect sample of what is to come in the future of this album.

2. Five Of Everything -
This song was released as the lead single off the album, Which I believe was the smartest move to make. This song really showcases the overall sound of the entire album. The lyrics are incredibly well written & meaningful, The vocals are performed to perfection. The instrumental is amazingly performed. This song overall is one of the many standout tracks off this album.

3. Showdown -
This song is amazing, It showcases the talent the band have been known for since the start. The lyrics are flawlessly written, They really fit the instrumental perfectly. The vocals are incredibly performed, The instrumental is amazing. The song is all-around perfection. This is another standout track, It is also one of my personal favorites off the album. This song has an old school (Beautiful Disaster) 311 feel to it.

4. Revelation Of The Year -
This is A pretty awesome track, It personally is not my favorite but it's still pretty good. The lyrics are beautifully written, The vocals are very fitting with the instrumental. The instrumental is pretty well performed. This song is pretty interesting, It is A good song, just not one of the best songs off the album.

5. Sand Dollars -
This is an interesting track, The instrumental is awesomely performed. This song has A slower reggae feel to it, The lyrics are beautiful & meaningful. The vocals are executed to perfection. This is another standout track, It also is in my top 5 list of favorites off the album.

6. Boom Shanka -
This is an amazing track, It is possibly my favorite off the album. The instrumental is Quite dancy & catchy, The lyrics are beautifully written. The vocals are outstanding, This is definately one of the more standout tracks off the album.

7. Make It Rough -
This is an incredible song, The lyrics are written amazingly well. The vocals are performed to perfection, This song has some of the best vocals on the album in my opinion. The instrumental is amazing it leads the vocals along perfectly. This is another majorly standout track.

8. The Great Divide -
This is another track with an old school 311 feel to it, It is also A major standout track. The Lyrics are very well written, The vocals are performed perfectly. The instrumental is amazing, This song is very well mashed up Rap-Rock & Reggae track. This song is one of my personal favorites off the album.

9. Friday Afternoon -
This is an amazing track, It has A major chill, good vibrations feel to it. It is slower and overall very easy to listen to. The lyrics are written beautifully, The vocals are performed to perfection. The instrumental is incredible, At the end it speeds up A bit but it stills stays very easy to listen to, This song is actually my personal favorite. It is A major standout track.

10. Simple True -
This is an incredible song, The instrumental is really catchy and has A funk attribute to it. The lyrics are incredibly well written, The vocals are excellently performed. It is another standout track, it is also in my top 5 favorites.

11. First Dimension -
This is another incredible track, The instrumental is overall perfection. The lyrics are amazingly written, The vocals are perfectly performed. This song has A major "Beautiful Disaster" feel to it, This song is all-around incredible. This is one of the more standout track off the album.

12. Made In The Shade -
This song is amazing, The instrumental is very catchy & just amazing. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are excellently performed. This song is one of my personal favorites.

13. Existential Hero -
This song is awesome, The instrumental is excellent. The lyrics are written incredibly, The vocals are performed perfectly. This is one of the more standout tracks, It is another Rap-Rock type song. It is another of my personal favorites.

14. The Call -
This is another amazing track, The instrumental is amazingly performed. The lyrics are beautifully written, The vocals are executed very nicely. This song is all-around amazing, This is another standout track.

15. Tranquility -
The perfect Closing track to this amazing album, The instrumental is majorly relaxed. The lyrics are quite deep & meaningful, The vocals are perfectly performed. This song closed this album as well as "Ebb and Flow" opened it. Definately one of my favorites off the album, It is A majorly standout track.

This is one of the best albums i've heard lately. For me personally 311 can't disappoint. I've had their music in my life since I was younger, So it is A major honor to be reviewing this album. I strongly suggest you check out this album you will not be let down.

Overall Rating: 9 / 10

JJ Demon Interview

I had the chance to chat with rapper JJ Demon and ask him A few questions, Here is what he had to say.

At what age did you know you wanted to make music for  A living?
     
JJ Demon: It was never a question. I never had any other plan. I was drawing my album covers when I was like 7. The only time I ever doubted it was AFTER I got signed and started seeing the way the industry really works. I realized it wasn't really built for real artists. It's for puppets that want to take orders and jump through hoops. Which I don't do.

wow. I know you had A group called "Cult Classics" in your teenage years with your late friend Damien how exactly would you say you have matured as an artist since then you mentioned seeing the music industry for what it is how else have you matured artistically?
     
JJ Demon:  His name is actually Dominic, but you gave it a good shot. haha Um, yeah our music was very different from what I make now, but then again every time I release something new I tweak my sound a bit. It's not even intentional, it's just natural. Artists grow. I think an artist that deliberately tries to keep their music the same to appease fans is really hurting himself. Make the music that feels most natural to you at any given time. I could never make another Funeral Disco album. I know that now. I can bring the same energy to my new music, but I can't just make a carbon copy. I have to grow and do what feels true. Classics was like hardcore/horrorcore shit. I'd love to revisit the sound at some point. The Dead Have Highways.

I apologize for the name flop I thought i saw Damien was his name my mistake. I have heard A few cult Classics songs on youtube and it is definately more out there, I personally would love to hear more stuff like that. With "Funeral Disco" you kind of changed the "Scene-rap" "Crunkcore" genre, what kind of inspired you to take that road musically?
    
JJ Demon: Well I don't even know what those words mean. I just wanted to make uptempo dance-type songs with dark undertones, but have the song-writing be poetic and nuanced. Sinister, serious, sarcastic, cinematic. That album was me finding myself at a crossroads. I had just gotten out of jail and I was in a weird spot. I wanted to cleanse myself of the life I was living before and start something fresh. I never even heard the word "crunkcore" until the album was done. And I coined the phrase "scene-hop" myself, but mostly as a joke.

 very cool. Back in the day when you first started writing was there A specific artist that inspired you to pick up that pen for the very first time?
    
JJ Demon: I can't remember that far back. I was writing lyrics and poetry from the moment I learned words. But yeah, once I started to develop an ear as a learned listener, I'd say Wu-Tang was my earliest influence. I guess I was around 11 or 12. But I played guitar and bass back then too. I was very into 90's hardcore and punk. The Misfits and Dead Kennedys. Integrity and Earth Crisis. I used to like to learn Nirvana songs on the ax cuz they were mostly just simple power chords and I could easily sing along while I played. I always knew I wanted to be a vocalist, no matter what. I kinda answered you and kinda didn't, sorry I go on tangents. Aesop Rock. Cannibal Ox. El-P. The old Def Jux line up were big inspiration on me when I was a little kid.

 Since "Funeral Disco" you have released the "Live Backwords" Mixtape, The "Limbo" EP & even the album "Growing Ill" with your group Josie Wails, Each release showing A little more and more change. What would you say fans can expect from this new music?
    
JJ Demon: Um, well I have a single I'm gonna try to release before I leave for tour in May. I'd say it's the closest thing to Funeral Disco, sound-wise, that I've made since FD came out. But it also has more of a live band kinda feel as well. It's def one of the poppiest songs I've ever done. BUT... lol after I get back from tour I'm going to start recording the songs I've written for an ep I'm doing with Captain Midnite, who just finished working with Jonny Craig. He's an incredible producer and I'm stoked to work with him, but it's def not gonna be anything like my next single. It's darker, more intense and personal. Lyrically it's more Josie Wails-esque. Heavy on emotion. But sonically it'll be the most grandiose, cinematic release from me so far. It has a BIG, FULL sound that hits hard and washes over you. I'm trynna take people somewhere with me. Somewhere they may not want to go at first, but they'll be glad I took them once they're there.

 You mentioned working with Captain Midnite who has worked with some incredible artists and you even mentioned Jonny craig, Is there any chance of A JJ Demon, Captain Midnite, Kyle Lucas & Jonny Craig Collab at some point?
    
JJ Demon:  I can't really speak on it. I mean, me and Midnite are def doing about 6 songs, I'd love for Kyle to hop on at least 1, which I'm sure he'd be stoked to do. He and I are always looking for stuff to collab on, we just can't always work it out. And I'd fucking LOVE for Jonny to go in on something. I think all of us are all high caliber artists and our sounds would mesh perfectly. Everybody is busy, but we're all at our best and we're all having a great time doing what we're doing right now.

 very cool I really hope the four of you get on A track together at some point. From where you are right now, Where do you see your career going in the next 10 years?
    
JJ Demon: I'm a nightmare for an industry that is all calculated. Because everything I do is spontaneous. And I can't keep my mouth shut about my beliefs. So it's difficult for managers to control me, which scares the suits. So there's no telling. Anyone that knows rap music, lyricism, song-writing or just music in general will tell you I'm good at this. But it's my reluctance to conform and become what they want me to become that will always hold me back, and I kinda like it that way. Would blowing up be cool? Sure. But it was never the plan or the reason I do this. 10 years? I'll either be in an apartment somewhere, a house somewhere, or sleeping under a bridge. Who the fuck knows? As long as I'm not back in jail, it's a win.

 Really cool. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this interview, Over the span of your career you have aquired quite A loyal fan base is there anything right now you would like to tell them?
    
JJ Demon:  Be good to people. Stay weird. Laugh at everything. Kill your darlings. Learn to love yourself. Learn to love your life. Don't let go. Hail Satan! (lol)

I want to give A big thank you to JJ Demon for taking the time to sit down and talk with me. Everyone should take A moment to check out his music if you have not already. I can honestly say I have been A fan since the start and will continue to be. Stay tuned on his Facebook & Twitter for the latest info on what is to come. He is currently announcing tour dates for the upcoming Smoke Loud Play Loud Tour with Steez Click (Sev & Rise Of Brokencyde), Potent Da Rockstar, Nathan Ryan & Phat J (Formerly Of Brokencyde). He is also in the process of releasing A collection of unreleased & rerecorded music entitled "Radio Nowhere" so stay tuned for that.

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Combichrist - We Love You

                                                         Genre: Industrial Metal
                                                         Release: March 21 2014
                                                         Label: Metropolis Records
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1. We Were Made To Love You -
This is A very powerful opening track. The instrumental is incredibly well made, It leads the vocals amazingly. The vocals are perfectly executed, The lyrics are very fitting to the instrumental.

2. Every Day Is War -
This is A very interesting song, The lyrics are incredible. The vocals are incredibly performed, The instrumental is outstanding. This is A definate standout track.

3. Can't Control -
This song has A almost creepy feel to it, The song is primarily instrumental except for occasional computer generated vocals. The instrumental is really amazing, A great interlude type track.

4. Satan's Propaganda -
This is another cool track, The lyrics are very well written. The vocals are incredibly performed, The instrumental adds A whole new layer to this song. The instrumental is quite amazing.

5. Maggots At The Party -
This is another very interesting track, The lyrics are quite dark and eery. The vocals are performed amazingly, The instrumental is quite incredible. This is another standout track from the album.

6. Denial -
This is A very awesome song, The instrumental is incredible. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are incredibly executed. This is one of my favorite songs on the album, It definately stands out.

7. The Evil In Me -
This is an incredible song, It is quite slower than most of the rest of the album. The lyrics are beautifully written, They are quite dark & meaningful. The instrumental is amazing, It is A beautiful acoustic guitar and piano melody.

8. Fuck Unicorns -
This is another interlude type track,it is primarily instrumental. It is another incredible interlude track from this album. The instrumental is very catchy and quite dancy, Until around the end then it turns into A quite dark beat with A Marilyn Manson feel to it.

9. Love Is A Razorblade -
A quite fast and heavy track, The instrumental is really well performed. The lyrics are pretty well written, The vocals are very well performed. This is A very interesting song, For me personally it's not my favorite.

10. From My Cold Dead Hands -
This is another very cool track, The instrumental is quite catchy but still heavier at the same time. The lyrics are very well written. The vocals are very interesting, They go from being screamed incredibly to being computer generated back and forth. This song is one of my personal favorites off the album.

11. We Rule The World Motherfuckers -
This another quite interesting track, The instrumental is very catchy and poppy. The lyrics are amazing, The vocals are performed pretty much perfectly. This is A definate standout track, This is possibly my personal favorite track off the album.

12. Retreat Hell Part 1 -
This is another very well written track, The lyrics are beautifully written. The vocals are some of the best I have heard on this album, The instrumental is amazing. This is an all-around incredible song.

13. Retreat Hell Part 2 -
This is an all-around perfect closing track to this album, The instrumental is an amazing acoustic guitar melody. The lyrics are incredible, The vocals are all-around perfect. This is another standout track, Definately one of my personal favorites.

This is one of the most interesting albums I have heard lately, It has alot of up & down moments, But overall is very well made. Fans of Marilyn Manson & Nine Inch Nails if you have not heard of this band you should definately give this album A listen.

Overall Rating: 8 / 10