Album Review- Chris Holmes:Shitting Bricks

Shitting Bricks is the sophomore album by former W.A.S.P guitarist Chris Holmes and was released on May 2^nd 2015. My history with Chris goes back to when I first started my obsession with Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. When I first heard the first Wasp album, I flipped mainly because how killer the guitars sounded. Chris and Randy Piper were seriously a force to be reckoned with but by their third album it was all Chris and nothing but that Jackson ripping it up. He has always been one of my favorite guitarists and biggest inspirations to pick up the instrument as well. About a year ago I found out that he had recorded a solo album entitled “Nothing To Lose” It caught me by surprise at first but the more I listened the more I got that it was supposed to be a fun dingy sounding rock record and tracks like “Way To Be” and “Loser” were catchy rocking tracks as the instrumentals were actually pretty killer as well. But I wanted something more, a more balls out record with the production that puts it just over the top. Well I have a copy (which I had signed) with me now so let’s delve into this album head first!

Track Rundown

1.Intro- The album begins with this simple building piano piece  with Chris fiddling with his guitar in the back. Soon enough the whole band comes in with a slow starting jam and I have to say the production has a bigger feel to it already. This intro is at a pretty good time at just two minutes of anticipation and I really think leads well into the next track.

2.Shitting Bricks-HOLY HELL THIS SONG IS KILLER! Seriously right away the drums are kicking and Chris really spits out lyrics with a vengeance. I have to say his singing has improved a lot since the last record. This song is classic Heavy Metal all the way to the chorus and the frantic solo with the police sirens in the back it is just so 80’s and I love it. The guitars already sound super heavy and since Chris has been using the same beat up guitars it makes sense. I love how it really explodes at the end as well. Killer opening really.

3.Nevermind- This a full instrumental and features no electric guitar. It’s actually a pretty good piece and also feels a bit psychedelic as well. The running piano at times is really cool as well and I think it shows Chris doesn’t only write straight up rock songs, he can write some atmospheric stuff. The only gripe I have with this is I wish it was placed a bit further into the record.

4.Get With It- This one also comes out swinging right away with some heavy riffing. I really like the verses as well I feel Chris’s grungy voice goes with the super dirty guitar chugging. The pre chorus has some catchy and at times funny lyrics as well. This is one of my favorites on the album as well. I really like the heavy melodic part in the middle of the solo (which kicks ass as well) that leads back into the killer chorus. Another killer song.

5.Born Work Die- This song has a bluesier feel to it with calm acoustic guitars in the beginning with Chris’s raspy vocals talking about the real shit you got to deal with and I dig it. The verses with the whole band chiming in are pretty catchy as well as the chorus. The solo is really harmonic and works as well but I really like the dirty acoustic solo toward the end. Another one of my favorite tunes on this album!

6.Let It Roar- The first single off the album. It opens with a really heavy guitar riff and the song has an overall real just heavy groove to it. I like that Chris’ lyrics are so profoundly simple I mean it’s basically just about rocking out and I love how 80’s they are as well. The solo just rips as well and is one of the best on the album. Another home run for me.

7.TMF- If you don’t know, this stands for two faced motherfucker. This song has blended Electric and acoustic guitars into it and it’s a pretty good laid out rock track. I also have to mention there is soloing literally all over this song as well and its pretty killer to see the Mean Man just ripping it out and taking no prisoners. Another great great song!!!

8.Long Gone- Another really soft song and it is also really atmospheric right from the start, but around the middle mark, it picks up into an instrumental jam. I like this one a bit more than “Nevermind” because it has more twists in it.

9.In Your Mouth- This song has some really heavy riffs in it but the lyrics are just pure spinal tap I swear. It is just pure Steel Panther-ish that I listen and just kind of laugh at it. I tend to skip this track because it is just so hilarious that it is kind of ridiculous. Im sure he meant for this song to be non-serious funny as hell cock rock and I wouldn’t expect anything else from a guitarist who lived nothing but excess.

10.502- I like this track a lot and it really is just a straightforward rocker and the chorus is pretty catchy as it is simple as well. Chris really knows just how to make the most badass guitar solos even this late in the game. Killer track.

11.Don’t Care-This song has that dirty country feel all over it and Chris;’ voice I think fits it very well. Its got some nice harmonies within it as well. I love the riff as well it kind of has that Sabbath tinge to it. I forgot to mention how good the drummer is all over this record with some excellent very tight fills in all of places. Pretty good song near the end of the record.

12.Vegas Nightmare- The dirty acoustic riff at the beginning I really dig, and boom it just explodes into a killer headbanging tune. I think overall this song is pretty good for a closing track it just straight up jams in the dirtiest way. The lyrics are very acdc-ish and I like the trailer trash and white trash repeating lines its hilarious and funny but still rocks! Chris really doesn’t let loose on his soloing here at all as it is almost heard literally through the whole almost eight minute song. It fades out the same way with the band ust jamming their asses off.

Overall, I give this album 1n 8.2 out of 10. Despite some tracks that I tend to overlook, this album has some really kickass tunes that I love. It really is an improvement over his first album and its great to see he got back up, got sober and is just jamming Heavy Metal again. He actually has his own band appropriately named “Mean Man” and they are gigging now across seas in France. Im sure hoping eventually he brings it to the states because I would love to see the show. Rock on Chris Holmes you are still a Wild Child! \m/

                                                                   Signed album!

Album Review- Pentagram: Curious Volume

Curious Volume is the ninth record by legendary American Doom Metal band Pentagram and is out on August 28^th 2015. Before I get into the record, I just want to share my history with this band. When I first discovered Pentagram, the first song I heard was “Dying World” and my love for them went haywire, they are essentially Americas answer to Black Sabbath and definitely have always shown their true blues roots as well. Bobby Liebling is a trooper seriously, he literally looked death in the face and came back stronger than ever. However, does this record stand up and face the hype created ever since they released the comeback “Last Rites”? Let’s find out!

Track Rundown

1.Lay Down and Die- Opening with a pounding guitar with Bobby spitting out lyrics with that signature screech in his voice. I love the ascending riff during the verses and the chorus is a total crusher, this song reminds me a bit of the Relentless record as well. Love Victors solo here as well it’s got a good groove to it. It’s actually a pretty simple track but it totally rules, end of story.

2.The Tempter Push- This tune has more of that fuzzy bluesy feel to it especially with the main riff. I really like the effect on Bobbys vocals as well it gives a real vintage feel. I swear you would think he was in his twenties again with how strong he is singing these songs! I love his croon during the verses it just sounds so badass. The solo has that trademark doom feel to it as well. Another hard hitter also reminds me of the last Blue Cheer record “What Doesn’t Kill You” ever recorded.

3.Dead Bury Dead- This tune has more of that traditional slow brooding Doom sound to it and Bobbys vocals in parts sound like harmonies I have never heard him hit before which is really nice to hear yet it seems very subtle. The solo is awesome as well it just has that killer groove to it.

4.Earth Flight- A Pentagram album isn’t a Pentagram album without a rendition of the early 70s demos and here we have finally one of my favorite Pentagram tracks done and one very well. You’d think nearly 40 years later it would sound flat or would have no power but holy hell it sounds so freaking heavy. This is how that tune was meant to be heard. Easily a major highlight for making this track sound so fresh. I love the chorus vox in the backround right before the end as well pretty cool!

5.Walk Alone- This tune has a very 70s riff to it almost kind of psychedelic feeling as well. I really like simple riff that have so much feeling in them like this one does. It is a very simple tune but still very heavy. It’s Pentagram just doing their thing.

6.Curious Volume- The opening is very interesting it is Doomy but not in the typical way it has an interesting riff with it is hard to explain but it sounds fresh. I really like Lieblings held back bluesy vocal take here. It picks up a bit more as it goes on. It is a very good track and I especially love when the solo kicks in as well. It is doomy as hell and that’s the way I like it.

7.Misunderstood- This song actually has a punky feel to it which is an interesting transition from the slower tunes before this. I think this is my favorite track on the record and I love Bobby vocals I mean he’s just spitting right at you and it is absolutely killer. The solo totally rocks as well it totally has an acdc feel to it.

8.Close The Casket- This tune retains that groove that Pentagram is known for and still sounds as fresh as ever. Again, it has a very bluesy feel to it. It has a couple of little twists in it that I appreciate as it gives a reason to keep listening to the song. Good track.

9.Sufferin’- The beginning sounds like fi you slowed down a High On Fire track and this song as the track before this have more of a rock friendly kind of feel to them than a Doom metal feel and to me I find that pretty interesting. It picks up more at the end with a killer solo and ends pretty solid as well.

10.The Devil’s Playground- This is by far the doomiest song on the record. It is the sludgiest by far and Bobbys vocals are at their heaviest sounding here as well. There is a slow transition in the middle that I really like and again it is something that I have never heard from Pentagram. This is one of my favorite songs on the album and definitely a high point.

11.Because I made It- This song sounds just like a track of the Last Daze Here compilation in fact it is! It really has the sound the band had at that point. I really think this is what Pentagram fans really think as the band coming full circle and Bobby finally has reached his dream of rockstardom by rerecording this track. This song is a fantastic way to end the album. It just ends the whole thing in such an epic way.

Overall. I give this record a 9.2 out of 10. It is so great to see probably the most important Doom Metal band besides Black Sabbath to come back with a record that is so strong it surpasses Last Rites in just about every way. Yes Bobby you have finally made it and this record proves the talent to the whole group that is Pentagram!