Kid Lazuras – Men Of God
Genre: Post-Punk, Alternative Rock
There are two things that rock musicians hate most in this world. The first is being told what to do. Authority issues are almost a badge of honour to a would-be pop star.
The second thing is not being listened to, and it’s nearly as dramatic. It’s enough to make the musician want to get louder, meaner, and nastier, all in an attempt to make the world pay attention to what they have to say.
Because of these two reasons, musicians tend to look with a mixture of hatred and deference at those applying their trade for religious organizations. “How dare they?” and “How can I do it too?” are the questions most often being asked.
Like a prophet locked on an island out in the ocean, Kid Lazuras addresses religious obsessions with “Men Of God.” The words may suggest that the artist is taking a queue from angry post-punk. But it’s the quasi-spiritual chanting that shows Kid Lazuras has learned a thing or two from his rivals.
Paranoize – Wasting Away
Genre: Grunge, Alternative Rock
Similar artists: Nirvana, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains, The Smashing Pumpkins
Heavy music is never going away. New varieties pop up every year and find disciples. Still, the musicality and melodic qualities of old hard rock get lost with each new generation. How do we get them back?
The last group of rocker musicians that really prized ear-worm songwriting were the ones included in the “grunge” section of record stores. They might’ve been angry. But they made damn sure that listeners had something to hum on their way out of the store.
Paranoize’s “Wasting Away” would rather be living in the early 1990s and rubbing shoulders with the grunge bigwigs. They certainly do enough to warrant a place at those tea parties. The guitars invite tension, and the Gavin Rossdale-like vocals find a good balance between anger and seduction. Best of all, you’ll leave humming it.
