Album Review-Spillage:Spillage

Spillage is the self-titled debut record from Chicago based Hard Rock/Heavy Metal group Spillage and was released on June 30^th, 2015. Now I have heard of this band for about two years but never really focused a lot on them for the reason that I didn’t have a lot of material to work with besides some live videos which showed me they are a very cool live act. However, I wanted to see what a full length from these guys would sound like and if it really would a defying record that I could listening to until it was too worn out. Well I finally have a copy in my hands so let’s turn this baby up and see what is in store for us.

Track Rundown

1.The Darkness- The opening track starts with this ominous organ opening that I really like because it feels like just such a build up to what is to come and not to mention there is some cool Deep Purple vibes as well. Right away there are some crushing riffs and I really admire the guitar tones exhibited here as well they really have a unique NWOBHM-ish sound to them. I really like the vocals as well because they feel doomish in parts and then go for this Halford like soaring style which I love. I love the cut before the solo as well it feels unexpected and makes it exciting as well. Fantastic fucking opening track.

2.Live In Fear- This track has more of that bluesier edge in its riffing yet is still heavy and groovy. The solo is one of my favorites on the album as well. Just a really catchy tune and another must listen on this record.

3.The Road- Chris Martine’s drum fill in the beginning I have to just say is really awesome he has a lot of solid grooves in his playing. The main riff to this song is very vintage Priest sounding but is still full of originality. Tony Spillman in particular really rips up the solo in this tune and its just one of those solo’s that totally sticks with me til no end. Everything in this song and even the slow exit of this song is just great. Definitely my favorite song on the album.

4.Call It Freedom-The groovy bass intro is really cool and the chugging guitars really build up to the main riff that has a thrashy feel to it but it isn’t thrashy at all and still retains that bluesy groove. The chorus is pretty catchy as well in this tune it is different I can’t really explain it but it sounds good and I like it haha. Another killer tune!

5.In Hell- This song has more of that straight Stoner Rock feel to it and the vocals are a bit lower than they were the past songs with a bit more of grit in them. It is heavy as hell and is another tune on the album that I can really get behind. There is a bit of double bass here as well which I don’t recall hearing before which still sounds incredibly heavy. I also love the keys in this tune as well it creates a cool evil atmosphere.

6.Insomnia- The opening has a Sabbath-ish feel to it(more of the Dio era than anything). The riffing has these cool melodic breaks in it that im a total sucker for. It has a really catchy chorus as well and is a cool tune all around. I also like when it picks up as well it really adds to the tune and I didn’t see it coming when I first gave it a listen.

7.Devil Woman- This song has been covered by a couple notable artists including the legendary Riot from New York City. However this version is my favorite because this band plays it in not a super heavy way but it has kind of a more pop kind of sound with it especially with the organ taking over more than the guitars in the verses. I feel that Spillage has captured this song perfectly.

8.Land Of Opportunity- The opening always reminds me of U2 for some reason im not sure but this tune is another awesome rocker. Tony really knows how to write catchy tunes as this is another killer one and I love love the verses but the chorus with the (I can feel it!) thrown in it really is awesome.

9.We Are- This tune is a bit more mid paced and has  catchy nasty riff that carries it with the organ clicking in and out, it is really cool. A pretty god foot tapping tune to end the album with and I can’t complain at all.

Overall, I give this album a 9.7 out of 10. I was really blown away how much I was going to love this record. To me, this is a modern hard rock/heavy metal masterpiece because it blends some really cool sounds together and is easily my record of the year, no denying it. Seriously though, pick this record up, support this band cause I sure as hell will. Horns up for Spillage! \m/

Album Review-Iron Maiden: The Book Of Souls

The Book Of Souls is the sixteenth studio record by English Heavy Metal band Iron Maiden and was released on September 4^th, 2015. Now anyone that is even remotely into Heavy Metal knows who Iron Maiden is. They have made some of the most popular records of the genre as a whole and are major influences even still today. Their last record The Final Frontier was released five years ago and was pretty good but felt a bit stale in a few parts. Two huge world tours followed and then this record was announced just as fast as it came out. This record also clocks in at 92 minutes easily being their longest yet. However, does this mean just a long boring album full of proggy classic Metal or a new milestone for Maiden? Let’s find out!

Track Rundown

1.If Eternity Should Fail- the beginning of this song really sets up quite an epic atmosphere and I really like that. However, as soon as the song starts it kind of trudges through and I may be the only one that feels that way but it just feels like the band is just going through the motions, it does pick up a little but I don’t love it as an opening track. The chorus however I find pretty catchy.

2.Speed Of Light- The first single of the album, this song sounds like typical Iron Maiden which isn’t bad and it would probably make a pretty cool live track on the next tour. The only problem that I start to see is the production feels a bit muddy. This is a problem mainly with the bass levels counter acting with the rhythm levels and it feels it pushes too much bass.

3.The Great Unknown- I really like the intro of this song because it sets up a great mood. The main section is pretty good as well and Bruces lyrics through the whole album are still ace and I also love the chorus on this song more than the first two as well as it has a lot of melody within it.

4. The Red And The Black- This is by far my favorite song on the album for its sheer epic feel and the tight catchy writing around it. The mix still irks me in spots but on this track it really does not bother me that much. The only flaw I have here is it is 13 minutes long and has that epic feeling of a true album closer, however, its placed almost right in the middle actually a bit too early. However this song is amazing to me and definitely a big highlight.

5.When The River Runs Deep- This song picks up the speed a bit more and has a Somewhere In Time feel to it which I like, there are also some interesting riff choices in parts as well. I kind of get lost in the solo at points because it actually runs for quite long in this track and I get kind of blindsided.

6.The Book Of Souls- This is my least favorite song on the album because it is just too trudgy for me and feels predictable by Maidens standards to me as well, it just feels boring. The beginning I really like however but I usually skip this track it doesn’t do much for me.

DISC TWO

7.Death Or Glory- This feels like it should have been the album opener, for me anyways. It is just such an epic song a la The Trooper. The verses are extremely catchy as is the chorus. Another standout song.

8. Shadows of The Valley- This songs opening sounds just like Wasted Years, however, the rest of the track takes a life of its own thankfully and is pretty catchy and another song I really like. I also love the chants placed at the end as well.

9.Tears Of  A Clown- This is a different sounding track for sure and I really like the lyrical content as well. This song feels a bit boring to me unfortunately and the production also kind of hurts this song in parts as well. A so so song.

10.The Man Of Sorrows- This is another so so song for me as well it kind of just feels again like the band are going through motions and isn’t really a track to keep me interested long enough and the soloing feels a bit flat as well but I do like the use of keyboards in parts.

11.Empire Of The Clouds- This last track is pretty good musically wise. For the record it is eighteen freaking minutes long and has a lot of meat and really stretches beyond being a heavy metal song and I applaud it for that. My favorite part is the lyrics because of the rich tragic story the song tells. This being Iron Maidens longest song ever, it feels like a track or two could’ve been dropped for this behemoth.

Overall, I give this album a 6 out of 10. Really this album for me felt all over the place and didn’t feel like it flowed as good I had hoped. There are some real great songs on here as well which is why it gets such a high rating but I felt that there were points that were too long and drawn out too much and the production hindered certain parts from really shining to me. It is an okay effort but not without its problems. Also, sorry this review took so long as I had to listen to all 92 minutes to get the full effect and in this world that’s not easy to do.