LAST WEEK ON BURNING AMBULANCE

Some really good stuff over at BurningAmbulance.com last week...

Monday: A rundown of the too-slim discography of saxophonist Ike Quebec, and an optical illusion by Kokichi Sugihara
Tuesday: A review of L.A.-based thrash band Tormenter's Pulse of Terror
Wednesday: A review of drummer Gerald Cleaver's Be It As I See It, by R. Emmet Sweeney
Thursday: A review of Gang of Four's Content
Friday: A review of the album The Frozen Tears of Angels and the EP The Cold Embrace of Fear, by Italian symphonic power metal group Rhapsody of Fire

Also, please note that between now and February 15, you can get 15% off the print edition of Burning Ambulance by using the checkout promo code FIRESIDE305. So why not pick up an issue or two?

FINAL JANUARY AMG UPDATE

Here are 10 more All Music Guide reviews...

Anthony Brown, India & Africa: A Tribute to John Coltrane
Cauldron, Burning Fortune
Miles Davis, Perfect Way: The Miles Davis Anthology - The Warner Bros. Years
Destruction, Day of Reckoning
Full Blown Chaos, Full Blown Chaos
Neuraxis, Asylon
Primal Fear, New Religion
Primal Fear, 16.6: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Trap Them, Sleepwell Deconstructor
Trap Them, Seizures in Barren Praise

TODAY ON ALTPRESS.COM

I AM EMPIRE
Kings (Tooth & Nail)

This San Jose, California-based quintet have the lyrical self-pity necessary to make it big in the contemporary screamo/alt-rock scene, which is all about mixing introspection and tantrum throwing; but musically, they’re much better than that. On “Heart Attack” and “Saints & Sinners,” guitarists Andrew Stanton and Dan Otis crank out arena-ready riffs reminiscent of vintage Mötley Crüe and other hair-metal acts (on “To The Moon,” they get deep into Junkyard/early Guns N’ Roses territory, and “The Elevator” offers a short but fairly shredtastic guitar solo), while bassist Joshua Case and drummer Eric Martin keep the machine driving forward. Frontman Austin Lyons, despite being so busy gazing into his own navel he’s probably cross-eyed by now, is a more traditionally melodic vocalist than most young screamers, which means I Am Empire have a better than average chance of breaking through to the rock mainstream, and that would be a good thing. Kings offers much more than cock-rock strutting; “Love & Despair” features a 30 Seconds To Mars-worthy “whoa-oh” break that’s sure to get crowds waving their hands in the air and singing along, and “Brain Damage” and “Hammers & Anvils” are moody, slightly psychedelic ballads. Overall, this is a very solid debut from a multifaceted, frequently quite rocking band.

LAST WEEK AT BURNING AMBULANCE

Here's what I wrote for BurningAmbulance.com this past week:

• Monday, a live review and photos (also by me) of the Matthew Shipp Trio
• Tuesday, a review of Fela Kuti's Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense
• Wednesday, a review of The Bug's Infected EP
• Friday, a review of Hugo Antunes' Roll Call
• also on Friday, this photo:

BLUR-GH

Here are some paintings by Alexandra Pacula. More can be seen here.