The Rock Blogger

My favorite Faith No More song, “Ashes to ashes” showcases some of Mike Patton’s more poetic lyrics and passionate delivery. The video itself is quite interesting as well, as it seems to borrow some of the more surreal elements (namely the figures in the walls) from Roman Polanksi’s classic horror film Repulsion. Anyone out there know what I’m talking about? Anyway, its a great flick and this is a great video. So watch them.

Ocrilim. Annwn. 2008. 3 stars.

You can file this one under wtf. Ocrilim is the brainchild of avant garde/metal guitarist Mick Barr whose incredibly fast math rock compositions are the sole attraction on this 60 minute plus album. No drums, no bass, just relentless shredding that will either completely hypnotize you in its rapidity or drive you to commit murder.

Like other avant-garde metal artists Sunn O))) and Barr’s own Orthelm, Ocrilim’s technical assaults are focused on developing the artist’s distinct musical language rather than crafting songs. While Ocrilim’s mathematical exercises are certainly progressive and awe-inspiring in their technique, the monotonous nature of these 7 untitled tracks may be too overpowering for those expecting a conventional metal record.

This is experimental music that should be approached as a work of art, rather than being codified within a specific genre. I would recommend this to anyone who is fascinated by by Barr’s intense virtuosity and won’t be put off by Ocrilim’s sparse and noisy production. To give you an idea of what Ocrilim is about, I found this YouTube video of Barr performing in NYC. Enjoy.

This video was taken from Matthew Good’s 2006 acoustic tour. Israel’s incursion into Lebanon to fight Hezbollah was going on at the time, which explains Matt’s political spiel at the beginning. An interesting song, it exists only in demo form and has yet to appear on any studio release. Here’s hoping. What do you guys think of this song? These are the lyrics in case you can’t make them out.

The Saudis are ever our friends and our allies
The President smokes cigars with their Princes on his lanai
And across the street a mother sleeps with her babys ghost
Wrapped in pink and spotlights

If I was a tidal wave well you know that Id
Rise up and crash your castle gate and leave you high and dry
Disappear you down this trail of busted years to ride the rails and goodbyes

Well my name is propaganda
And my mamas pain is propaganda
If I was a tidal wave
Id let the Union fall
Ya if I was a tidal wave
Id be first against the wall

Back in 1980 Mayor Young he sent the key
To the city of Detroit to praise the best of enemies
Who shook hands with devil, now he runs the DOD
And spends lives

If I was a tidal wave well you know that Id
Rise up and crash your castle gate and leave you high and dry
Disappear you down this trail of busted years to ride the rails and goodbyes

If I was a tidal wave
From coast to coast Id scream
If I was a tidal wave
Id wash this whole place clean