GIVEAWAY: Spook Our Asses & Win The Red Chord & The Destro

We recently reviewed The Red Chord and The Destro’s new albums. What do you have to do? Take pictures of you and your friends and email us a picture. The most creative, spooky, evil or just plains stupid outfit will win the The Red Chord album. We will compile the pics into our flickr account and share as a widget here on HTPB.

Not dressing up? You can still win and enter for free to win the The Destro album. How cool is that? Where else will you get free shit just for emailing us?

We will announce the winners on Halloween morning! We look forward to seeing your insane outfits. Have fun!

NOTE: Entering the contest automatically enters you into the Metalblade Records & HitThePitBlog Newsletters. But fear not, neither of us spam. Metal blade will tell you whats cool, new different while we will send you two updates a month and will have plenty of chances to win some free swag.

REVIEW: The Red Chord-Fed Through The Teeth Machine

Artist: The Red Chord
Album: Fed Through The Teeth Machine
Label: Metalblade
Website: http://www.myspace.com/theredchord

The Red Chord is part of a long legacy of great bands to rise to prominence out of Massachusetts. In the early 2000’s bands like Killswitch Engage, Unearth and Shadows Fall led an vibrant and creative metal, thrash and hardcore scene within the Commonwealth. The Red Chord made their mark in the hardcore arena to begin, but have since evolved into a bruising death metal band with melodic interludes and all business! Or should I say, they are all bloodshed?

At first blush, “Fed Through The Teeth Machine” could come across as another death metal band pumping out blast beats and layering in vicious vocals. But after several listens I have started to appreciate the envelope they are pushing. For example, 3/4^ths of the way through “Demoralizer” they give the listener an evil melody that fits in perfectly and reminds me a bit of All That Remains with a powerful death metal flare. During “Hymns And Crippled Anthems” there is a dirge where the band slows down the gunfire fest in favor of twinkling string work that slides in nicely. It is a welcomed interlude from the smash mouth, pile driving the listener is assaulted with during 95% of the record.

Let’s be honest, Death Metal is an acquired taste. I like Dying Fetus and Napalm Death, but what is really needed is a band with a big set of nards to push the sounds envelope while keeping it death. The Red Chord has introduced just enough dynamic elements keep it interesting and different, yet appeases the hardcore listeners. “Fed Through The Teeth Machine” is a 2009 Death Metal album. I tend to think they feel like the past is the past, so why not look to the future. I like what I am hearing if the future is in fact- now!

Rating: 8 out of 10, warfare, gore and melody?
Suggested Tracks: “Demoralizer”, “Ingest The Ash”, “One Robot To Another”

Track Listing:

01. Demoralizer
02. Hour Of Rats
03. Hymns And Crippled Anthems
04. Embarrassment Legacy
05. Tales Of Martyrs And Disappearing Acts
06. Floating Through The Vein
07. Ingest The Ash
08. One Robot To Another
09. Mouthful Of Precious Stones
10. The Ugliest Truth
11. Face Area Solution
12. Sleepless Nights In The Compound

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New Englanders- Come To Rock & Shock This Weekend

OCTOBER 16, 17 & 18 2009 – THE DCU CENTER & THE PALLADIUM IN WORCESTER, MA

For Tickets: http://www.rockandshock.com/tickets.htm See you there!

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15 Metal “Rock Stars” On Twitter – Bulk Follow

Ever wanted to know what Rock Stars do when they are not kicking fucking ass? Well, we have set up a bulk follow tool right here so you can find out.

		brianshadfall – Brian Fair
		jameyjasta – Jamey Jasta I sing for HATEBREED, KINGDOM OF SORROW & JASTA. Former Headbangers Ball Host, see me on tour!
		Scott_Ian – Scott Ian Metal Poker Food Booze
		DaveMustaine – Dave Mustaine
		matthewkheafy – Matthew Kiichi Heafy vox/geets/nomadish-activities for trivs.
		chimairamark – mark hunter CROM!
		philthatremains – Philip Labonte Awesome isn’t always good, but awesome is always awesome.
		NotHenryRollins – Fake Henry Rollins Former hardcore/punk singer/songwriter; spoken word artist, book author (prose and poetry), radio and TV personality. Former vocalist for Black Flag.
		buzmcgrath – buz mcgrath
		freddyMB – Freddy Madball BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE DEBUT ALBUM ‘CATHOLIC GUILT’
		DinoCazares – Dino Cazares Founding member of Fear Factory, Brujeria, Divine Heresy and Asesino
		SlashHudson – Slash Official Twitter page for Slash
		RWZombie – Rob Zombie
		genesimmons – Gene Simmons Get the latest news from Gene Simmons right here!
		ZakkWyldeBLS – Zakk Wylde
Click below to bulk follow

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REVIEW: Horse The Band – Desperate Living

Artist: Horse The Band
Album: Desperate Living
Label: Vagrant Records
Website: http://www.vagrant.com/artist/index/51

Horse The Band in completely unclassifiable! Not to mention inaccessible to the masses. From where I sit, that is the beauty of this band. In a world where bands like Papa Roach put out an album every 3 years and change their sound to the chic sound at the moment, it is nice to see other bands writing progressive music that is different. To say “Desperate Living” doesn’t fit any classification is a breath of fresh air for this reviewer.

HTB has been classified as Nintendocore, post rock, hardcore and post-hardcore. This album you just need to listen to it all the way through. I have listened to it 4 times over the last few days and I am going to write down the 11 points I jotted down, because these notes pretty much sum up this album:

1)      Shai Hulud, Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan noise core/hardcore vocals and music patterns

2)      80’s synth

3)      Faith No More like tangents and experimentations

4)      Super Mario Bro’s (if you have a USB joystick, you can play for free online- click the link) loops and samples

5)      Bruising thrash

6)      Moving mood music via synth with a 80’s movie dramatic flare

7)      Songs are a patchwork of different parts, no consistency!

8)      Nothing remotely accessible to radio

9)      Grooving one second, woodpecker loops the next. Techno dance, metal then piano symphony. How odd and all fun!

10)   The collision of New Age, Noisecore and 80’s syth with some thrash elements

11)   “Arrive” is a radio song, but still too far removed from the mainstream for the feeble American mind to wrap its head around. HaHa! Playing this track live would be a hoot!

I will leave you with this. “Desperate Living” takes incredible amount of talent and vision to pull off. The production work is fantastic and the seamless blending of sounds is perfectly executed. For many, the Nintendo samples will annoy them, but for me there was just enough to keep it interesting. In the end, Horse The Band is the epitome of progressive and “Desperate Living” is a refreshing variety of sound in a world of imitation for the almighty dollar. My suggestion is to listen to this album as one song, give it three listens and I guarantee you will really dig a vast majority of it.

Rating: 9 out of 10
Suggested Tracks:

Track Listing:

1)     Cloudwalker
2)     Desperate Living
3)     The Failure Of All Things
4)     HORSE the song (featuring K-SLAX)
5)     Science Police
6)     Shapeshift (featuring Jaime Stewart)
7)     Between The Trees
8)     Golden Mummy Golden Bird
9)     Lord Gold Wand of Unyielding (featuring Lord Gold and His Purple Majesty)
10)   Big Business (featuring Ed Edge)
11)   Rape Escape (featuring Valentina Lisitsa)
12)   Arrive

I had to include this video from Erik in the band promoting the record. So funny- not exactly marketing genius! But wicked funny!

And here you can hear HTB

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REVIEW: The Destro – Harmony Of Discord

Artist: The Destro
Album: Harmony Of Discord
Label: Ironclad Recordsings
Website: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=4545289

A few years back Trevor Phipps (Unearth) started a label called Ironclad Recordings with an eye on signing indie bands he got a chub for. Over the course of this time his label has put out a number of nasty releases, but with The Destro – he has smacked a home run and dragged gore around the bases behind him.

The Destro is for fans of Unearth, who would be curious to hear what the early Unearth material would sound like with Napalm Death influences. Breakdowns and dizzying pit musi, with a distinct Unearth sound mixed with bruising death metal, made me instantly think- Napalm Death! Hell yeah!

“Thorns Of Truth” is a galloping monstrosity. It layers in two vocal patterns, one a raspy voice while the other showcases trademark death undertones. A destructive breakdown lays waste 3/4^thof the way through. Fast paced, bruising and complete insanity! Well done.

With “Mouth Of The Heretic” you get a Sepultura (Beneath The Remains era) assault musically, while again the vocals mash your brains into hamburger with death metal like vocals. The perfect mixture of the best elements of metalcore with classic death metal parts. Ken Susi (Unearth) did a masterful job of stitching together the sound to make it work.

Rumor has it that Trevor called The Destro to fill in for another band at a tour stop in Dallas. With just minutes to spare The Destro showed up- played the gig, wow’d Trevor and the rest is history! Based on the growth of the band and their ability to fill a niche, I suspect the decision will pay dividends for Trevor and The Destro on October 13^th. Pick this one up…

Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Suggested Tracks: “Justifiers Of Malice”, “Thorns Of Truth”, “Persistence Of Ignorance”, “Face Down In Regret”

Track Listing:
1. ‘Justifiers Of Malice’
2. ‘Thorns Of Truth’
3. ‘Pestilence Of Deceit’
4. ‘Angel Killer’
5. ‘Mouth Of The Heretic’
6. ‘Persistence Of Ignorance’
7. ‘Dead Eyes Divide’
8. ‘Overcome (The Flame)’
9. ‘Face Down In Regret’

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ROCKSTAR Energy Drink TASTE OF CHAOS TOUR – Lineup & Dates!

ROCKSTAR Energy Drink TASTE OF CHAOS
The ONLY WORLDWIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL Announces Its Massive Lineup WITH:

IN FLAMES
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
EVERY TIME I DIE
MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER
DEAD BY APRIL

Rockstar Energy Drink Taste of Chaos is preparing to storm Europe and The UK again after over 330 Worldwide dates in the past 5 years and playing in over 23 countries to over 3 Million fans that have included the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Mexico and many others, the only worldwide lifestyle festival tour, the Rockstar Taste of Chaos is back with another onslaught of international shows.

Europe and Scandinavia will see IN FLAMES close the shows and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE will be the closer in the UK.

Bands performing in the UK,

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
IN FLAMES
EVERY TIME I DIE
MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER
Special Guests

Bands performing in Scandinavia include:

IN FLAMES
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
DEAD BY APRIL
EVERY TIME I DIE
MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER
Special Guests

Belgium and Germany include:

IN FLAMES
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
EVERY TIME I DIE
MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER
Special Guests

IN FLAMES is one of the most influential bands in modern metal and a band that keeps growing in popularity and size all the time. The latest album “A Sense Of Purpose” which hit the stores in April 2008, stormed the charts all over the world and keeps going strong. Featuring songs like “The Mirror’s Truth”, “Alias” and “Delight And Angers”.   Once again it is time to conquer Europe with the biggest headline dates ever for the band on their home turf!

Killswitch Engage’s latest album, simply titled Killswitch Engage, debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart earlier this summer, the same week that their previous album As Daylight Dies achieved Gold certification.  Just coming off a highly successful Canadian co-headline run with In Flames, the band will be shooting a video for the song “Take Me Away” in the coming weeks.

John Reese (co-founder) states, “We have succeeded in a six year plan to establish a worldwide rock festival that has played to millions of fans and this year’s lineup is one of the strongest ever.”  In Flames and Killswitch are two of my favorite bands”

Mike Kelso Director of Marketing for Rockstar Energy Drink states, “The Rockstar Taste of Chaos has been our marquee musical presentation the world over. You can expect a lot of great surprises on the tour.”

“We are really happy and looking forward to be part of this great tour. With the awesome line up this year, this tour is going to crush!

See you all on the road” – In Flames

“Greetings!  Adam D from Killswitch here…just wanted to drop a line on how stoked I am to be going out on the Rockstar Taste of Chaos tour in Europe with our good buddies IN FLAMES real soon.  They’re one of my favorite bands, so there’s a good chance you’ll see me lurking and power drinking in the corner of the club every night while they’re on stage.  So if ya see me, do me a favor and buy me a beer.  To show my gratitude, I’ll flex for you. We’ll be sure to play you guys some new songs as well…SO PLEASE COME CHECK OUT THE SHOW!!!  Laters!”

ROCKSTAR Energy Drink will continue to be the title sponsor of the 2009 tour and will be sampling their products, as well as coming up with some great surprises for attendees. Ernie Ball will be a sponsor on the tour as well.

Having already spawned multiple soundtrack CD’s and a live DVD, Rockstar Taste Of Chaos, like its summer sibling the Van’s Warped Tour, it’s only getting bigger and better, offering fans the opportunity to see their favorite bands as well as take part in a number of activities including attending autograph signing sessions and a slew of interactive fan activities that will add to the experience.

DATE	CITY/VENUE	COUNTRY
27/11/2009	GLASGOW / ACADEMY	UK
28/11/2009	BRISTOL / ACADEMY	UK
29/11/2009
30/11/2009	NEWCASTLE ACADEMY	UK
01/12/2009	BIRMINGHAM / ACADEMY	UK
02/12/2009	MANCHESTER / ACADEMY	UK
03/12/2009	LONDON / HAMMERSMITH APPOLLO	UK
04/12/2009	ANTWERP / TRIX HALL	BELGIUM
05/12/2009
06/12/2009	BERLIN / COLUMBIAHALLE	GERMANY
07/12/2009	WEISBADEN / RHEIN – MAIN -HALLE	GERMANY
08/12/2009	MUNICH / ZENITH	GERMANY
09/12/2009	OBERHAUSEN / TURBINEHALLE	GERMANY
10/12/2009
11/12/2009	STOCKHOLM / HOVET	SWEDEN
12/12/2009	GOTHENBURG / SCANDANAVIUM	SWEDEN
13/12/2009	OSLO / SPEKTRUM	NORWAY
14/12/2009	MALMO / ARENA	SWEDEN
15/12/2009
16/12/2009	HELSINKI / ICEHALL	FINALND

For more information go to:
www.rockstartasteofchaos.com

TOUR REVIEW: Hatebreed, Thy Will Be Done, Acaro, Wrench In The Works

Tour: Hatebreed, Thy Will Be Done, Acaro, Wrench In The Works
Date: September 30/09
Location: Harpers Ferry, Allston, MA

Let me just say “Welcome Fuckin Back” to Hatebreed.. It’s been many years since they have played on a stage in or near Boston. With the ban lifted, they made a triumphant return the day after the release of their 6th album.

The opening band was Wrench In The Works out of CT. One of Jasta’s up and coming bands, they had some good moments. With there not being many people there yet, the crowd wasn’t to enthusiastic but it didn’t seem to faze them.   Everyone was having a good time and didn’t let the minor equipment issues bother them.

Acaro from Boston was up next, and they definitely got the place in a livelier mood. I enjoyed their set a lot. Good energy and a good range in the music and vocals. I hope to see them play again soon.

Thy Will Be Done commanded their set, FOR REAL!! This was their first show back in the country and they were feeling good. From the beginning to end you couldn’t not, get into it. I could tell this band is just getting started. We will be seeing them around for a long time hopefully. I had been waiting to pick up their new CD at the show so I hadn’t heard much, but the new material sounded solid from my end. Technically it all sounded great and the hair spins were on point!! I was officially ready and pumped up for Hatebreed when they were done.

And then it was their turn, Mutha Fuckin Hatebreed!! I’ll just start by saying I am biased on this but Hatebreed has never let me down. It was long over due for me to see them live again, and it felt gooood! With a slightly new lineup, they started out with 2 new songs off the album released the day before. I’m not reviewing the new album here, but you can hear a progression and influence from the other projects Mr. Jasta has been working on the past few years. It will be debated on if its a good direction or not. The rest of the night was oldies but goodies. Songs from Under The Knife and on. The songs you have come to expect and some others. Taking requests and just having a good time. They could have played for hours. The audience was great too. You can also tell when Jamie talks about how long and successful their run has been now, he is still in awe. And just on my own little rant here, just because some of us aren’t over 30 yet, doesn’t mean we haven’t been around for it all ;-). They have been through a lot and overcome. They inspire many people of different walks of life. They are undeniable. Thank you for an amazing show and the songs that help keep me going in my life.

Thx to Holly from WWW.HOLLYAZZARA.COM for the great review.

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REVIEW: Emmure – Felony

Artist: Emmure
Album: Felony
Label: Victory Records
Website: http://www.victoryrecords.com

Some bands write music to fit into a genre, while some push the envelope of a genre. Others try to create a genre or sound  all their own. Emmure attempts to cover all heavy genre’s to appease all fans of heavy music.

Emmure is confusing to me! Musically they sounds like a hybrid of Pantera, Slipknot and the Deftones, but  incorporate theses sore thumb rappy vocal parts that remind me of Downset.  Simply put, Emmure’s schtick sounds dated to me. Incredibly simple metalcore meets death metal vocals! The higher pitched guitar work is SO simple, Rob Flynn probably fingers these in his sleep. To say I am not a fan of this record is an understatement.

“Don’t Be One” is the album that really irritated me. It starts off with a Chino Moreno like melody, breaks into a Pap Roach like rappy section- then goes death metal vocally. All the while the music tries to imitate a Killswitch Engage melody. It is a felony that Emmure wrote a song that is so scattered- I don’t get it!

Not good! Thankfully Victory Records has bands like Between The Buried And Me and Darkest Hour to hang their hat on, because I can’t see any fan of metal finding anything progressive, moving or remotely interesting about this record. It simply lacks identity and tries to imitate far too many bands. Sorry guys!

Rating: 6 out of 10
Suggested Tracks:

Track Listing:

1. “Sunday Bacon” – 2:37
2. “I Thought You Met Telly and Turned Me Into Casper” – 2:53
3. “I<3 EC2” – 2:45
4. “Felony” 2:47
5. “You Sunk My Battleship” – 3:09
6. “The Philosophy of Time Travel” – 2:36
7. “First Impressions” – 2:18
8. “R2deepthroat” – 2:17
9. “Bars in Astoria” – 3:28
10. “Lesson from Nichole” – 2:26
11. “Don’t Be One” – 2:55
12. “Immaculate Misconception” – 1:26

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REVIEW- Hatebreed – Hatebreed

Artist: Hatebreed
Album: Hatebreed
Label: E1 Music
Website: http://www.hatebreed.com

When I first heard “In Ashes They Shall Reap” I cringed a little bit. It wasn’t until after I listened to “Satisfaction Is The Death of Desire” that I figured it out. To me, Jamey Jasta and Hatebreed is about overcoming the odds, believing in yourself and smashing down the walls life throws up in front of you. SITDOD is an album of understanding, accepting the past and releasing it in a violent, yet safe- audio form. This is what I (as a fan) expect from Hatebreed. When I listened to “In Ashes They Shall Reap” I heard a metal band – not a hardcore band. Thus the cringe!

Jamey and I had a spat when I asked to give this self titled album a listen and review. He was frustrated that I had put up a poll asking if others felt the same as I did in regards to “In Ashes They Shall Reap”. I felt like it was a fair question based on the killer body of work Kingdom Of Sorrow became. We eventually got through our email standoff and here I sit now writing the review.

There is a reason why this album is simply called Hatebreed. All of the elements that have made Hatebreed what they are today are on display within this album. Jamey spitting blood! Breakdowns that produce bone on bone warfare! Blast beats that stir anarchy! There is also a hint of the future in this body of work- more metal! “Not My Master” feels like Slayer with a Hatebreed flair. Especially the guitar work which harbors has an evil undertone! “Everyone Bleeds Now” is 2:56 of old school Sepultura- like back to the days of “Escape To The Void”. The difference is in the chorus which breaks out Hatebreed’s trademark gang vocals. The brutal collision of metal and hardcore the way you want it! “Every Lasting Scar” unleashes the vocals I was hoping to hear from Jamey- more of that brooding singing that he displayed on Kingdom Of Sorrow and For The Lions, but with punk/hardcore guitar licks. It works! “Merciless Tide” is one of the best tracks Hatebreed has done in years, complete with a Slayer like solo- and to me this is the track that sums up Hatebreed’s future! It is a ripping opus that meshes the best of Slayer and Sepultura into Hatebeed’s signature sound. It is a bit of a baton passing track to me!

I suspect that staying exclusively in the Hardcore world would limit Hatebreed from growing their following. Not to mention, how angry can Jamey really be at this point? I suspect he is as determined as ever, but after thousands of shows, those demons from the past have to be exercised to some degree! So moving in a metal direction opens the doors for Hatebreed to explore new arrangements, guitar work and vocalizations. Simply put, metal is expansive, Hardcore is pigeon holing! This record is simply the natural progression of a band that is in it for the long haul.

As someone who has been rubbing elbows with Jamey for years and got thanked in the liner notes of “Perseverance”, I felt like it was my right to be critical of the direction of the band. However, I now understand why I didn’t love “In Ashes They Shall Reap”, because it wasn’t hardcore!  I once praised Hatebreed for being consistent- like Slayer! You know what to expect when you pick up their albums. I would be a hypocrite if I said this wasn’t a Hatebreed album, because it is! So much so that it is worthy of the self titled name. The one thing that is consistent in life is change. Change is inevitable and Hatebreed wrote Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire once, there was no need for them to write it again. I accept that- now I say “bring on the metal fuckers!”

Rating: 8 out of 10
Suggested Tracks: “Not My Master”, “Everyone Bleeds Now”,

Track Listing:
01. Become The Fuse
02. Not My Master
03. Between Hell And A Heartbeat
04. In Ashes They Shall Reap
05. Hands Of A Dying Man
06. Everyone Bleeds Now
07. No Halos For The Heartless
08. Through The Thorns
09. Every Lasting Scar
10. As Damaged As Me
11. Words Became Untruth
12. Undiminished
13. Merciless Tide
14. Pollution Of The Soul
15. Escape (New Diehard Edit)


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