Svi koji iole nešto slušaju i znaju metal, znaju tko je KK Downing, Legendarni gitarist legendarnih Judas Priesta je prije nekoliko godina izašao iz benda. Nisam ni znao da je KK počeo tezgariti na slavi i prošlosti svog bivšeg benda. Inače me nerviraju ta tezgarenja kada gitarist jedne od postava nekog benda s prvog albuma osnuje svoje verziju benda i varijaciju na ime, pa onda pjevač s drugog dema tezgari svoju verziju i tako dalje. E, pa ovdje srećom to je, ali nije slučaj. Dakle, KK je okupio odlične muzičare među kojima je najpoznatiji Tim Ripper Owens, pjevač koji je upravo u Judasima zamijenio Halforda na dva albuma koji su mi bili žešći smor uz pokoju iznimku dobre pjesme. Ali, mora se priznati da je Owens odličan vokal. U kombinaciji sa himničnim melodičnim metal pjesmama i KK ovim sviranjem kao i sing along himničnim heavy metal pjesmama, ovaj album ispada sasvim solidan uz mnoge ode metalu kao što su Raise Your Fists, odlično odabrana kao single, odličnu Brothers of the Road u više hard rock utjecaju, kao i Metal Through And Through koju sam preslušao više puta zaredom. Ako volite metal, nepatvoren i melodičan, ovo će vam biti sasvim super album.
Jim Lindberg is otherwise more known as a singer for melodic punk hardcore legends Pennywise. While his band released one of the best records in 2018 with their last full length, toured prior to covid shit and delivered fine energetic gigs, Jim also wrote and now released his solo work way different than work with Pennywise.
This album is personal. Very personal. The music has punk rock roots of course, but it is more acoustic and has also trumpet, piano, violin and songwriting that makes your skin crawl with emotions, such as sorrow, depression and battling it, loneliness, hope, friendship, happiness and this is basically great Americana punk rock album. I also feel that Jim s voice can sing more beautiful on this solo album and deliver more fine melodies and soar than Pennywise. I also feel that he opened his heart to us with this one and I can totally relate to some of the songs like Dont Lay Me Down, Youre Not Alone and Good Enough. If you expect hardcore punk, fast and furious you will be disappointed. If you open yourself to the music and words and let the music take you to some other level, this is the right one forya.
We stay on European soil in this week edition of Kraykulla Webzine. Vienna hardcore scene has always been fantastic with bands like Only Attitude Counts, Spidercrew and many more immediately coming to mind. Kickdown are also from that scene. Formed in 1998, this is their fifth full length album. What I love about Vienna style hardcore is that they mix brutality and street punk attitude, never forgetting their roots. Kickdown is no exception. They cleverly mix metallic riffs and sharp guitars with oi street influence, especially in fantastic Outlaws Anthem, but also leaning heavily on metal like in almost thrash metal /crossover The Rulez, reminding me a bit of more metal phase of Suicidal Tendencies in some parts of that song. My personal highlights from this record are also Follow Your Fate, Years Of Glory and Complete Control. This is great Euro hardcore record. Shout out to Vienna hardcore crew!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 