Album Review: Leatherjacks - Surviving The Beginning Of The End (Rock 'n' Roll)

Once you start to listen to this album by Leatherjacks you may think that it is indeed the typical Rock 'n' Roll song collection you would expect by them. But it all comes quickly to a change by track number two already. That's the point where I started to realize something different is going on with this one.

Many symbolic elements make this cover one to have a closer look at. 

Having heard this record on my very own just sitting in front of my trusty stereo system made listening to music different.

You just have the music and nothing else around you so you focus more on what's coming out of the speakers. This time it felt like a blessing that's coming my way. 

The beginning of the album with "Who cowers against the law" feels rough and hard. It knocks me out of everyday routine with it's hard hitting refrain and the hacking guitar riffs. But one thing is already evident: the rhythm style is centered in Rock 'n' Roll style.

"Baby Hit and Run" goes a similar route but blazes with more aggressive intensity and a much faster vocals. It presses heavily through the speakers.

If you need air to breathe now hold on - track three gives a lighter feeling also the heavyness in the vocals can be felt. It's a joy to follow the riff packed music with intermissions of lighter music sections.

The air keeps being lighter with the "Mechanimals" rising in the next round. It's a easy rock tune which is fine to enjoy. A solid tune.

"Surviving The Beginning of the End" unfolds as a balanced rocker with a longer refrain. 

If things become too flat for you just go to "Dead and Gone" - here's the full package of agression put into the song. The refrain won't leave your ears and brains for a long time so this is one to remember.

Leatherjacks has always been good for a surprise and "Somehow" needs no drums to still put out a hard rock song and made me curious on how it can be able to move just with guitars present in the music.

So this list is a short look into how the songs of the album sound like. The full record comes with twelve tunes so maybe you'll want to check it all out for yourselves now. Just hit the button on the player below. Mauro Cordeiro is the head behind the music and the record is available for download for only 10 Euro at the Bandcamp page of the Leatherjacks. 

Album Review: Leatherjacks - Extremly Dangerous (Rock, 2020)

The new record is by far better than the previous effort "The Lost Arks of Rock 'N Roll". What has changed so much?

The coverart invites to think about it's meaing, It was done by bandhead Mauro Cordeiro.

Sound
First of all it's the sound and production. It comes around much more clearer and sharper. This adds a lot to the pleasure of listening. All instruments rush loud and clear through my speakers. The vocals are set a bit louder on the overall mixing, that's something some people may not like that much.

Songstructures
The next point are the far more easy soundstructures. In times of complexity and overload we're living in it's a pleasure to relax and rock out to something straight from the first listen. It helps to breathe fresh air into my soul. In many parts the straight material on the record feels like classic Rock tunes but with a far more finetuned level when it comes to playing the songs on guitars.

Also at times you may first think that some tracks like the title track "Extremly Dangerous" may be held in a way too simple style but beware. I had a look upon the preview video to the album on the Leatherjacks Facebook page and it revealed that a lot of skill is needed to fullfill the guitar parts used on this tune.

Fun-Factor
All tracks come with great hooklines and fine outworked melodies as well as decent placed riffs in them. The music never get's to one-dimensional or monotone, they it always moves onwards.

The songs never get boring but there is always this itch of wanting to listen to one more song. Not many records have this on board. I think this stems of the pleasure the artist is able to transport through the music over to the reviewer and hopefull you, too.

Purchase and Contact Link
Finally please support the brasilian band with a purchase. Artists are faced with many costs they need to pay in advance of album releases. It's not easy at all to get that money together. In the end your money can help a artist to be able to release new tunes that in the end give you fresh joy. I think it's more important than ever before in these uncertain times.

"Extremly Dangerous" is set for release on 10th April 2020. Proper information on how to pick up a copy will be spread the coming days on the official Leatherjacks Facebook page. 

Here are some snippets out of the new release.

CD Review: Rebel Machine - Nothing Happens Overnight (Hard Rock, 2016)

Records like this one keep you going in times when everything seems to be nothing but a hard way. Tune in to some Rebel Machine to receive some uplifting feeling and read post number 500 on this blog.

Introduction
Rebel Machine are a Hard Rock band from Brazil. Their sound is mainly aimed at the rescue of classical elements with a modern approach. Being a DIY band, Rebel Machine signs the musical and executive production of their work. The album also had vocal production by Renato Osorio (Hibria) and mixing and mastering by Benhur Lima (Hibria, Keep Them Blind).

The cover of Rebel Machine's debut "Nothing Happens Overnight", (c) by Rebel Machine, used with kind permission

Summary
The biggest strenght of albums such as this one is the fact that they keep rocking so straight on forward as if nothing could ever stop them. It's this mixture of fresh riffs, the tight and modern production that creates all the happiness you experience through listening to the album. You can listen to the eight tracks straight away, they're not complex or anything but will kick your ass straight from the start.

The finest moments during the listening session are sourced of the vocal work of singer Marcelo Pereira. His finetuned work on the songs gives the album this special something it needs to stand out of the rest. I remember having the same feeling as back in the day when Gotthard's old vocalist Steve Lee was still around doing the vocals and outstanding show with the Swiss Rockers. I feel like Rebel Machine are a bit of the same.

But the band also has set their own trademarks. Rebel Machine sounds much more heavier and the tracks are shorter, very precise and head straight in without any intros or longer upbuilding. They rock from the first minute 'till the last. This is a pure Rock 'n' Roll rollercoaster shaking you through in a good half hour.

The only downside of this is that the album has no slower songs in it that give you a moment for refreshment. But I guess that's something the band may do in the next recordings that are hopefully to see the day of light in the future.

Besides that have a closer look upon the unique cover. What do you think it could express? As for me it says that everything in life has it's time. Once it's gone it's gone so live your life while you still can...

Player and Purchase-Link
The album is available on major platforms like Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music , Google  or directly from the band's Bandcamp page. Please support this band with a purchase - the album price is kept very fan friendly (starting at one dollar on Bandcamp) so you don't have to sacrifice that much to own a digital copy.



Contact Data
Make sure to keep a eye upon this promising band and support them with a follow-click on sites such as Facebook, Instagram or Youtube. They also have a homepage up and running if you prefer that way.

OrckOut take us "Far away from all" to reach our Destination

Midtempo thrash can offer great tunes. It doesn't always need to be fast. Brazil Stoner Thrashers OrckOut have put out a fresh tune of their latest EP "Destination" with strong and clear rhythm which keeps the music in a sharp style and tonality. It's easier to go through the structure of the track this way.

In addition the dark and rough vocals are something that sticks in the mind of the listener. The music holds a little surprise towards the end: it's rounded out by a extensive and outworked solo section something which you wouldn't have expected after the previous form of the video single.

If you'd like to hear the full EP click on to Soundcloud. Make sure to follow the band further through their website or a like on Facebook.

The EP cover for OrckOut's "Destination" was designed by OrckOut guitarist Eder Munhoz, (c) by OrckOut, used with kind permission