The Remnant - The Remnant

Day 8

Artist: The Remnant
Album: The Remnant
Label: N/A (Independently Released)
Year: 2004
Genre: Metalcore/Death Metal

For fans of: As I Lay Dying, Becoming the Archetype, In Flames, Trivium

The Remnant began as a metalcore outfit from the Atlanta scene originally formed under the name Nonexistent Failure. After recording one demo under the original moniker, they changed their name to The Remnant and released one demo before recording this, their first full-length album. It's not the most refined release of the era - to be sure, but it showed their potential to write quality technical metal. Speaking of which, The Remnant changed names one last time to become the technical death metal heavyweights Becoming the Archetype who signed to Solid State Records where they released five full lengths and one EP - so clearly things worked out well for them after this release.

Standout tracks include the first full track "Oath to Order," a fast-paced track with a great technical solo in the midsection; the clean and quiet interlude "Restoration" at the half-way point, and the album's closer - and my favorite track - "Married to the Minus" which blends the heavier chugs and growls of the rest of the album with a melodic refrain and musical structure that feel borrowed from the melodic hardcore subgenre made popular by artists like Across Five Aprils and Poison the Well.

This one's a bit tougher to track down and listen to, but I've recently received permission from vocalist/bassist Jason Wisdom to share this one with the world.

Download it HERE for now.

PS: If you'd like to hear what Jason's up to now, please check out his current project Death Therapy - a beautiful blend of death metal, industrial and synthesizers with absolutely no guitars in the mix. You just have to listen to it - it's amazing.

Those Who Fight - The Fall of Bahamut EP

Day 7

Artist: Those Who Fight
Album: The Fall of Bahamut
Label: N/A (Independently Released)
Year: 2012
Genre: Rock Opera/Video Game Metal

For fans of: The Black Mages, Final Fantasy, Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Those Who Fight was a short-lived video game metal supergroup of sorts consisting of Amanda Lepre from Descendants of Erdrick and Mike Willard from Armcannon along with four others hiding behind pseudonyms such as Diablos and Atomos according to the back of the disc's cardboard sleeve. A conceptual release, The Fall of Bahamut expands on the framework from bits of Nobuo Uematsu's iconic scores to the beloved Final Fantasy RPG series by giving them a similar full on rock band treatment to Uematsu's own group The Black Mages, and going a step further by penning and performing thematically fittingly lyrics to three of the four tracks.

"State of the World" opens the album with a gritty, instrumental hard rock take on Final Fantasy VII's "Bombing Mission" that sets the stage for the rest of the EP perfectly, while the second track "Walking in the Dark" slows things down with newly written lyrics to the opera Maria and Draco from Final Fantasy VI. I won't spoil the other two tracks on this short release, but they're every bit as good as the first half. Being from such a relatively niche corner of the music world, this one's a bit tougher to find; but the tracks are still streaming over at group's Bandcamp page, and physical discs appear to still be available for those who prefer their media in a tangible form. Check it out at the link below.

Find it on: Bandcamp

Furthermore - Fluorescent Jellyfish

Day 6

Artist: Furthermore
Album: Fluorescent Jellyfish
Label: Tooth & Nail Records
Year: 1999
Genre: Pop Rap?

For fans of: Will Smith, Vanilla Ice, Toby Mac, KJ-52

When Furthermore released Fluorescent Jellyfish, the odd rap/rock/pop hybrid group consisted of Daniel Fischer, Lee Jester, and Jason Jester. The trio created an undeniably catchy album filled with strong hooks and oddly impressive additions like a solid guitar solo in the bridge of the opening title track. The closest comparison I can make for this album might be if Will Smith's riff-and-scratch-laden Men in Black 2 track "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)" were to be combined with the overbearing simplicity of radio commercial jingles. If you ever found yourself nodding your own head to Smith's movie track or enjoying the cultural references of songs like rapper KJ-52's "Cartoon Network," you'll feel right at home with this album.

For everyone else still reading, just give it a shot. It's an impressive gem of an album from a very short-lived group that's sure to please almost any fan of crossover rap. You'll find some incredibly insightful lyrics amidst the seeming absurdity of tracks like "Are You the Walrus?" that combines an incredibly simplistic piano and strings loop of Pachelbel's Canon with the much deeper topic of social apathy, even in the face of witnessing an implied domestic abuser in a supermarket. On a much lighter note, Marvel comics fans will really enjoy the deep well of references in the album's closer "Melted Vinyl," which manages to effortlessly drop references to even lesser knowns of the brand like Longshot, Strong Guy, and Blackbolt.

Find it on:  Amazon Music  (Unlimited subscription required), Apple Music, Deezer, Google Play Music, Spotify, YouTube Music

The Ember Days - The Ember Days EP

Day 5

Artist: The Ember Days
Album: The Ember Days EP
Label: Come&Live! / Someone Up There Records
Year: 2008
Genre: Indie/Worship

For fans of: American Football, The Glorious Unseen, Hillsong, Sunny Day Real Estate

The Ember Days was a New Zealand-based indie/alternative worship group that eventually moved to Nashville. They released their first full-length album Your Eyes Light Up; on NZ label Someone Up There in 2007 before releasing this incredible sophomore effort in the form of an eponymous seven song EP with the help of the US-based (but global) Come&Live! group. Despite their tendency to create music that most would classify as praise/worship, the band made a bigger name for themselves in the underground music scene by touring with the likes of hardcore bands Showbread and Saving Grace - likely with help from Come&Live! founder Chad Johnson who had previously founded Takehold Records and later worked for Tooth & Nail Records - both known for their heavier lineups.

Digging into a couple of the tracks on this short EP, it's songs like "Shine" and "In Arms" that blend earnest lyrics and emotional vocal performances from both lead vocalist Janell Belcher and husband Jason Belcher, who also play keyboard and guitar respectively, with the lush, building guitars and harmonies so synonymous with the second wave of American emo (think American Football and Sunny Day Real Estate) that sets the group apart from so many other cookie cutter praise and worship acts spun more frequently on Christian radio and performed in Sunday morning church services.

The standout, if I must pick one however, is the track "Run To You," which is comparatively simple in its structure while simultaneously being the most heartfelt worship track of the lot (to me). Clearly others thought likewise, as many more followers of the genre have more likely heard the song covered by popular staples such as The Parachute Band and current Elevation Worship collaborator Kari Jobe.  It's a simple song with a simple, vertical message.

Find it on: Amazon Music  (Unlimited subscription required), Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, YouTube Music

Frank Sinatra - She Shot Me Down

Day 4

Artist: Frank Sinatra
Album: She Shot Me Down
Label: Reprise Records
Year: 1981
Genre: Vocal Jazz/Traditional Pop

For fans of: Good music? How does one compare Frank Sinatra?
Ok, ok. For fans of: Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Michael Bublé

Frank Sinatra's second to last standard album and final album released by the label he founded - Reprise Records - is a fantastic reminder of why he became such a beloved icon of pop culture. Recorded at the age of 65, his voice isn't quite as pure and sweet as it was in his younger years; but the sound is unmistakably Frank. It wouldn't be too far off the mark to compare this album and 1984's L.A. Is My Lady to Johnny Cash's American Recordings with producer Rick Rubin (which brought the world the masterpiece that was his cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt"). In fact, as with most of his career, this album finds him bringing his smooth vocal performance and soft string arrangements once again to many songs of others before him.

The obvious stand-out here is the track that gives the album its name, "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", a song written by Sonny Bono for Cher in 1966 - Cher's first million selling single - and covered by Frank's daughter Nancy Sinatra the same year. Younger listeners will no doubt associate Nancy's version with Quentin Tarantino's film Kill Bill, but Frank's melancholic and symphonic take on the classic with appropriately tweaked lyrics is a far cry from the almost hurried and frantic nature of his daughter's (by comparison).

Other notable tracks include "Thanks for the Memory," a signature song for Bob Hope since his performance in the film The Big Broadcast of 1938 and a successful cover for countless other singers of the 1950's including Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald; and the album opener "Good Thing Going (Going Gone)" written by Stephen Sondheim for the at-the-time yet to debut Broadway musical Merrily We Roll Along.

This album is an incredibly solid release by a true entertainment icon of the 20th century. While met with critical praise, the era of crooners and traditional pop was far removed from 1981; and as such the album saw no commercial success. I highly encourage giving this one a listen for any fans of musical theater and the bygone era of jazz vocals.

Find it on:  Amazon Music  (Unlimited subscription required), Apple Music, Deezer, Google Play Music, Spotify, YouTube Music

Cool Hand Luke - Of Man

Day 3

Artist: Cool Hand Luke
Album: Of Man
Label: N/A (Independently released)
Year: 2011
Genre: Indie/Post-Rock

For fans of: Copeland, The Joy Formidable, Radiohead, Sigur Ros

On this Good Friday, I thought it would be fitting to recommend the last full-length released by Cool Hand Luke's before Mark Nicks took a six year long hiatus. This was their first and only concept album from start to finish with songs written from different perspectives of the life of Jesus from His entry into Jerusalem to the crucifixion. 

"Are You Coming?" offers the cries and prayers of a suffering citizen (who would end up sharing his upper room for what is traditionally known as The Last Supper) dealing with loss and uncertainty of faith. "His Eyes" sees the suffering of Jesus through the eyes of a bystander who mourns not knowing why no attempt was made to save Himself from the agony. "A Garden in the Dark," coming from Jesus' perspective, re-purposes lyrics from the band's previously released song "The Incomprehensible Sleep" referring to the sleeping disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane. 

I could go on and both extol and analyze the entire album; but I'll leave some of that to you, the readers. That said, the last track that I'd like to highlight is "The Silver," which offers a solemn and sobering take from the perspective of Judas that could just as easily be a prayer for anyone who has ever known the pain of feeling unworthy of love (PS: you're absolutely not!).

"If You saw just who I am
If You knew all my deeds
Would You let me share this bread?
Would You still wash my feet?
I have walked with You miles
And I believe what You say
But You don't know who I am
A man who can't be saved

I'm not a Peter and I'm not a John
I'm just a thief and a coward of a man
All that I wanted was to sit by Your side
But the silver won out because of my wounded pride"

Have a blessed Easter weekend!

Free download here: NoiseTrade (by Paste Magazine)
Or
Find it on:  Amazon Music  (Unlimited subscription required), Apple Music, Deezer, Google Play Music, Spotify, YouTube Music

Steffen Schackinger - ElectriGuitartistry

Day 2

Artist: Steffen Schackinger
Album: ElectriGuitartistry
Label: RatCandy Records
Year: 2008
Genre: Rock/Instrumental

For fans of: Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, David Gilmour

ElectriGuitartistry is the debut album from Danish guitarist Steffen Schackinger. The album is an incredible showcase of talent that ranges from the nearly 10 minute opening track “Major Inventions” that starts off reminiscent of the instrumental work of early Pink Floyd before the faster legato playing a-la Ah Via Musicom era Eric Johnson comes in, to a country tinged track like “The Dixieland” which features a very prominent fiddle accompaniment. Also notable is the inclusion of the core bass line of "Come Together" from The Beatles (or Aerosmith, if you insist) backing the third track, "Perfect Waves." It’s hard to pigeonhole an album like this, but if you appreciate a solid rock instrumental then you should definitely give this a listen.

Find it on:  Amazon Music  (Unlimited subscription required), Apple Music, Deezer, Google Play Music, Spotify, YouTube Music