What a fitting title for Soundgarden's brand new single, since for all intents and purposes, they had 'Been Away Too Long.' Diehard fans of the Seattle band have missed them for the past several years, and while the reunion, live performances and 'Avengers' song 'Live to Rise' have been rad and appreciated, this is the beefy, puts-hair-on-your-chest Soundgarden rocker we've been waiting for.
Six songs from Down are better than a full album of tunes from many other bands. The title of the band's new EP, 'Down IV, Part 1 - The Purple EP,' is incredibly long for an extended play, but it's what's on the inside that counts.The quintet makes efficient use of the space they're working with and not a second is wasted.
The best Soundgarden songs are culled from the band's lengthy and rich history, as they formed all the way back in 1984 and achieved an incredible measure of commercial success during the grunge heyday in the 1990s...
It's a busy time in Hatebreed's world. The band just finished the tracking process on their forthcoming full-length, which is the proper follow up to 2009's self-titled effort, and will proceed with mixing. Hatebreed produced the platter, with assists from Josh Wilbur, who lists bands like Lamb of God and Avenged Sevenfold on his resume, and Zeuss, who has worked with everyone from All That Remains to Suicide Silence.
Down will drop 'Down IV Part I - The Purple EP,' a six-song set, on Sept. 18, and in advance of the release they are offering a full stream via Billboard.com. The band has made no secret of the fact that they plan to follow it with three more EPs, which begs the question. Why aren't they releasing full albums? The answer is simple. It's easier and more efficient to go the EP route, since it gets music into a fan's hands sooner than later.
As I Lay Dying, 'A Greater Foundation'
Metalcore bands were a dime a dozen in the '00s, but San Diego's As I Lay Dying are one of the standouts of the genre for a myriad of reasons. The anthemic 'Forever,' from 2003's 'Frail Words Collapse,' is a showcase of all the elements that propelled AILD to massive success.
Shadows Fall killed 'em all with 2000's 'Of One Blood,' establishing their thrashy, three-tiered vocal sound. But they polished, perfected and mastered it on 2002's 'The Art of Balance,' especially with 'Thoughts Without Words.'