Song Of The Week: Detroit Metal City - Satsugai

Lyrics:

I am a terrorist from hell
I raped my mom yesterday
I will carve my dad out tomorrow
I am a terrorist straight out of hell

I don't have a mom or dad
It's because I killed them
I have neither friends or lovers
It's because I killed them

Kill kill kill your close ones
Kill kill kill everything kill

Murder it's murder
Murder it's murder
(KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!)
Paint your memories in blood
Murder it's murder
Murder it's murder
(KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!)
Paint your future in blood

Kill kill kill your close ones
Kill kill kill everything kill

I have support from hell
This morning my brothers disappeared
I destroyed my relatives
I am a terrorist straight out of hell

I have neither brothers nor relatives
It's because I killed them
I don't worship and gods
It's because I killed them

Kill kill kill your close ones
Kill kill kill everything kill

Murder it's murder
Murder it's murder
(KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!)
Paint your memories in blood
Murder it's murder
Murder it's murder
(KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!)
Paint your future in blood

Kill kill kill your close ones
Kill kill kill everything kill

Murder it's murder
Murder it's murder
(KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!)
Paint your memories in blood
Murder it's murder
Murder it's murder
(KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!)
MURDERRRRRRRR!

Once again, I must ask too much of you readers.

Firstly, I have to apologise for the lack of a flash widget to conveniently display this song's lyrics within a quarter of a page length. Couldn't find any so far that has the translated version of the lyrics of this week's Japanese death metal song.

Secondly, as with most of my Songs Of The Week, this is yet another long overdue song. Had originally intended to put it up soon when I first learned of it last year, but kept pushing it back as I had other things to attend to (like socialising perhaps).

Okay, I presume that anyone who is reading this now would have already watched the music video above. Anyone ever heard of Dethklok from Metalocalypse? An adult cartoon on a fictional metal band? Well, Detroit Metal City is like the Japanese version of it, only wackier and crazier. This cult series originally began as a manga series, but was soon developed into a 13-episode anime series and even had a live-action movie shot of it that was shown worldwide in the first quarter of this year. I am not going to spoil the series for you, so go read/watch it to find out more about what it is all about.

Anyway, back to the main thing - DMC's music! This fictional Japanese death metal band plays sick numbers throughout the series, with only one being really popular though, that being "Satsugai", which literally means "Murder" in English. And why wouldn't it be? Those plodding, sick guitar riffs that come in from the start, that shrill scream-growl from Johannes Krauser II, and the guitar shredding that follows all complete that perfect death metal moment.

Despite the song's vocals being actually sung by the real-life Kenichi Matsuyama ("L" from the Death Note movie series, and "Johannes Krauser II" + "Soichi Negishi" from Detroit Metal City the movie), whom is by profession an actor, it is simply amazing how he can portray that image of the demonic Krauser II so well on-stage as vocalist of DMC by doing crazy death metal stunts such as the 'teeth guitar' (the only real-life person I know who had done it before is Alexi Laiho from Children Of Bodom) and saying "F**k!" 11 times within a second (until he bit his tongue). I would like to see a Hollywood actor (perhaps Johnny Depp? :D) play tribute to a harsh vocalist from a Western metal band someday (Marilyn Manson, anyone?).

Johannes Krauser II - DMC's vocalist as seen in the live-action movie, with the DMC logo being clearly seen at the top right, and bassist Alexander Jagi at the bottom left

Some trivia too, if you hail from the '70s or '80s, and find DMC sounding vaguely familiar, that would be because it is a reference to KISS' "Detroit Rock City" single from back then. Also, I personally feel that Krauser II's image is heavily based on Alexi Laiho, the vocalist for melodic death metal band Children Of Bodom, except for the face painting which the author obviously took inspiration from KISS, the heavy metal band that started the visual-kei fad in Japan.

DMC's antics - Krauser II making the Eiffel Tower "wet"

All in all, if you are kinda surprised why not only various weird styles of metal appear on this site, but even cross-culture styles of metal too, do keep up to date with us. We are even planning to do Korean and Chinese metal if possible, and when we can find the materials to do so. Lastly, check out DMC, and if you like their music, do not forget to...

GO TO DMC! GO TO DMC! GO TO DMC!

Dream Theater: Black Clouds & Silver Linings

Year released: 2009
Official website: http://www.dreamtheater.net/
Label: Roadrunner Records

Tracks:

1. A Nightmare to Remember [16:10]

2. A Rite of Passage [8:35]

3. Wither [5:25]

4. The Shattered Fortress [12:49]

5. The Best of Times [13:07]

6. The Count of Tuscany [19:16]

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With only 6 songs in it, this sure is a helluva long album, with a total playing time of about 1 hour and 15 minutes. And that's exactly my beef with this album. Yeah I'm afraid I didn't become a huge fan of Dream Theater when I listened to some songs by them, and my first experience with an album of theirs hasn't changed that disposition. The strange thing is: I actually think they're good.

With a career spanning more than 20 years, Dream Theater is one of the most famous progressive metal bands around, so I guess I should be shot for making Black Clouds & Silver Linings, their 10th album released only a coupla weeks ago, my first ever Dream Theater album. But I was never good at appreciating what most people call epic tracks, generally songs that last longer than 10 minutes, and if Black Clouds & Silver Linings is any example, 'epic' describes not only the quality of Dream Theater's musicianship, but also the length of their songs.

See, they've got everything on this album. Heavy atmospheres, emotional playing, melodic riffs, totally sick solos, not bad vocals, I quite like the sporadic death growls, catchy choruses, tight drumming, some cool blast beats, the lyrics fluctuate a little but are generally masterfully written. The problem is, they can have everything on a single song as well. You can almost hear them say, "Alright lets make 15 minute songs and throw everything we've got in them, so everybody can at least like something from them. That way, no one will say we suck!" Mash-up seems to be the idea here, and the transitions aren't always seamless. Even the lyrical themes of the songs are each so different, ranging from experiences of car crashes to writer's block to meeting strange royalty in Italy.

Its not always that bad, "A Nightmare to Remember" is my favourite track because some of the heaviest moments of the albums really do fit in well with the lighter ambience of other parts and the lyrics tie them neatly together. That 20 minute monster of a song, "The Count of Tuscany", on the other hand, is completely lost on me. It was a great display of talent, and I certainly can't say I was bored. But nothing striked me very much either and I can't hide the feeling that if it were separated into 4 five-minute songs, I would have liked each of them much better. This being my first Dream Theater album, I couldn't really appreciate the final part of the Twelve-Step Suite fully, but "The Shattered Fortress" was quite enjoyable both in its exuberent moments and when the quiet vocal work came in. Surprisingly, the shortest song on the album, "Wither" was the one I liked the least, ironically because the ballad was so constantly smooth and repetitive, almost gospel-like.

Left to right: John Petrucci (guitar), Jordan Rudess (keyboards), James LaBrie (vocals), John Myung (bass) and Mike Portnoy (drums)

Ultimately, I guess I like their work, but I'm simply not used to how much of their work is in a single song. But I s'pose that's how they are, its what makes Dream Theater Dream Theater, and their mastery of music just has to come to be manifested in epic tracks. In a final stab at my confusion though, below is a vid I found of "A Rite of Passage", shortened by about 3 minutes and I absolutely found no reason why it couldn't exist just like that, as a 5 minute plus song. Ah wells.

Verdict: 8.2/10

Bury Your Dead: It's Nothing Personal

Year released: 2009

Official website: www.buryyourdead.com, www.myspace.com/buryyourdead

Label: Victory Records

Tracks:

1. Hurting Not Helping [4:10]

2. Without You [4:38]

3. Broken Body [4:30]

4. The Great Demonizer [3:48]

5. Dead End Lovesong [4:43]

6. Swan Song [4:00]

7. Lakota [3:02]

8. The Forgotten [4:21]

9. Lion's Den [4:29]

10. Legacy Of Ashes [4:28]

11. Closed Eyes [4:51]

12. Enough [1:33]
__________________________________________________________________________

Don't be fooled by the album name. BYD themselves have said that what they mean by naming this album in such a way, is really just the opposite of what it says. It IS something personal, at least to the band members that is. This 5th album by groove metalcore band, Bury Your Dead, who formed in 2001 and hails from Massachusetts, USA, is the second album the band is doing with new permanent vocalist Myke Terry, and he is doing a fairly decent job of continuing the BYD tradition of hardcore music packed full of fretboard mayhem and groovy, heavy beats.

Take a listen!: Even the dead would headbang to these groovy beats

Exploding right into your ears from the very first second with mean, catchy guitar riffs, BYD's first single off this album, "Hurting Not Helping" certainly makes a very explicit summary about what they have more or less been through over the turmoil that was 2008. Apart from the frustration expressed in the songs' lyrics, you can also practically almost feel BYD's frustration with the s***t they have been through trickling into your ears in the form of vibrating air particles. Although heavy and hardcore, BYD also manages to bring about their own unique brand of melancholy on this album, proving once again that metalcore isn't necessarily always only about angst-driven extreme music. However, there are many repetitive guitar riffs on most of the other songs on this album that doesn't serve any purpose other than losing the attention of the listener fast. Furthermore, the guitar solos are mostly boring, with only the two at the start of the tracks "The Great Demonizer" and "Lion's Den" sounding more melodic and memorable than on the other tracks. The drumbeats are fairly more complicated than the dull guitar riffs, and shine best on the track "Lakota". Vocals-wise, Myke makes good harsh vocals with his rough voice, but his clean vocals sound lifeless and flat. That is something that he has to polish up on future albums. BYD's new style is almost similar to their old style; they still dish out punishing drum beats, testosterone-pumping guitar breakdowns, and ugly yet world-weary vocals to create a headbangin' mosh pit of songs for anyone needing an emotional outlet to let out their suppressed frustration or angst with the world. But other than that, this album is really not fantastic, and will soon be forgotten with the times.

Oh, I forgot to mention - Slipknot fans who have never heard BYD before, give them a try, as BYD does bear some resemblance to that group of Halloween enthusiasts. Although BYD is not as strong in the image department as Slipknot, they do triumph over them in terms of making heavier music that gives off a satisfying bunch of raw energy. However, Slipknot does make more memorable melodies and guitar solos than BYD. Hardcore fans of the old BYD however, would not like this new BYD. Sure, they are still heavy like before and all, but having a new vocalist really changes the feel of an otherwise familiar band. It is like replacing Chestor Bennington on Linkin Park with another guy someday, which will definitely cause LP's popularity to dip sharply since Chestor himself has more or less single-handedly molded that harsh, constipated sound of LP's music. Less hardcore fans of the old BYD however, would most probably welcome this new BYD with a spanking new stereo set to better headbang to this renewed attack by a revived BYD. As for those who haven't heard of BYD and wants to try them out now, go ahead, but don't expect them to be as good as other big metalcore bands you have heard before.

These hardcore rockers are: From left to right - Mark Castillo (Drums), Brendan "Slim B." MacDonald (Guitar), Myke Terry (Vocals), Aaron "Bubble" Patrick (Bass Guitar), Chris Towning (Guitar)



As the saying goes, simplicity is beauty. The album artwork is certainly thought-provoking... because it really makes one wonder what is up with that overly simple scenery. Perhaps the barren land juxtaposed against a clear blue sky is supposed to be a reference to the chaotic year BYD had in 2008?

Overall, "It's Nothing Personal" is a rather lackluster metalcore album, only pick up this album in stores if you are a hardcore BYD fan. If you are someone wanting to try out metalcore, don't start from BYD as they are an average metalcore band to start from. Start from consistently good metalcore veterans such as AILD, Killswitch Engage, Lamb Of God, or excellent metalcore newbies such as Bullet For My Valentine.

Drummer: Check out an insane Mark

Bury Your Damn Dead!: The music video for "Hurting Not Helping"; the crowd-favourite gimmick "Wall Of Death" at live metal performances can be seen here too


Verdict: 7.5 / 10