Not the usual head-cuttin’ stompin’ blues curiosity the label specializes in. James “Super Chikan” Johnson’s soulful elaborations on old themes will win fans.
The collaboration between Iced Earth’s Jon Schaffer and Blind Guardian’s Hansi Kursch. Quality, serious-minded power metal riffs and creatively fresh harmonies.
A mix of Seal, Peter Gabriel, and NIN (the slow stuff). Of course, anyone who wants to copy NIN sounds like Gravity Kills, Stabbing Westward, or Prick.
A nice variation of styles, but most of the album’s moments still don’t rise above your standard “technical pop punk with Dokken-sounding guitars” bunch.
Starflyer 59 punctures the listener’s emotional defense shield with yearning vocals, slithering melodies, and face-in-hands tragedy that’s all too beautiful.
A mixture of Chicago indie-rock with the best of Shades Apart and other original pop-punk bands. They bend tempos, use odd melodies, and spit out juicy riffs.