Bleachers "Strange Desire"
2 1/2 out of 5
Side projects serve only one real purpose and that's to sate the creative impulses of musicians that aren't otherwise encouraged in their main bands. Bleachers serves that function here for Jack Antonoff, the lead guitarist in sugary pop-rock band Fun, who has an obvious interest in doing something bigger than three-and-a-half minute pop songs for high school graduations (I'm lookin' atchu "We Are Young"). In fact, this guy specifically has a raging boner for the lovesick anthems of the 80's new wave bands who came before him. Songs on this album have guitar lines seemingly pulled from U2 and Big Country, vocals from Depeche Mode and concepts from Tears For Fears. In some sense he pulls it off: opener "Wild Heart" sets up the reoccurring themes of the album with a catchy but somber build and "You're Still A Mystery" almost pulls off sounding like a lost gem from the early days of MTV with a "woah oh oh" chorus that's more '84 than '14. But this is a side project by a guy who clearly feels trapped by the limitations of his full-time band, so there's a primal scream therapy element present where all of his inclinations are fully indulged, which severely breaks up the flow of the album. Case in point: "Like A River Runs" could easily be passed off as a Modern English b-side .... that is until the songs' breakdown becomes a dubstep-lite glitch-fest. It's a bizarrely noble effort that almost makes it but falls flat due to its' own lofty ambitions. •
Judas Priest "Redeemer Of Souls"
3 1/2 out of 5
Judas Priest are now officially old grandpas. Where they were once young ruffians only interested in living after midnight, rocking until the dawn and breaking the law, they're now just glad to still be around, and I could make jokes all day long if it wasn't for how good this album actually is. The loss of founding guitarist K.K Downing and subsequent replacement with new-comer Richie Faulkner seems to have given these guys a new lease on life, because this is easily their strongest release since the 80's. Returning to what originally made them popular, they pack in an abundance of galloping riffs, operatic vocals and anthemic sing-a-longs. "Halls Of Valhalla" and "Sword Of Damocles" both feature choruses so perfectly catchy and so perfectly cheesy and Metal (in a way that would make Dio proud) that I actually fist pumped while singing along when I was stuck in traffic. And Rob Halford still has his signature banshee wail, even at the age of 63, and he can shred those pipes like he was in his twenties. It isn't for everyone, but if you enjoy Judas Priest then it's a must listen. •
Eyehategod "Eyehategod"
4 out of 5
Loneliness, suffering, drug binges, drug withdrawals, squalor, apathy, an acceptance that death is all around us... these are just some of the subjects Louisiana natives Eyehategod dredge from the humid swamps and somehow impress into their recordings that might leave you feeling physically dirty after repeat listenings. But isn't that why we love Eyehategod? Where other bands progress, flirt with new genres or make clean recordings, Eyehategod have always been and will always be truly and unapologetically Sludge. Somewhere between Black Flag's "My War" and Black Sabbath's "Vol. 4" these guys found the perfect hybrid: early Hardcore's spit and bile mixed with the slow-as-syrup Bluesy riffage of Sabbath. It isn't their best album, and if you're reading this and haven't heard "Dopesick" or "In The Name Of Suffering" then I'd recommend you start there first, but this is still a great recording from a great band that knows what it likes and does what it prefers with complete disregard for everyone else. •
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