Doc Ordered: Vol I- Peter Bogdanovich Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin’ down a dream

One of my favourite documentaries on a rock band, mainly because while watching it, time simply flies, and its’ four hours long! Thus this makes up the first entry in my reviews of documentaries. Another reason is the fact that all of the members of the band give their testimonies in a way that is extremely engaging, thus giving the viewer, a perspective into the story of a band that lasts over 30 years, with very little line-up changes. 

The fact that Peter Bogdanovich choo-

se to give emphasis to the Heartbreakers as whole, also allows not only to witness the career of the band from the beginning as the Epics, and later Mudcrutch, but also to deviate occasionally into Tom Pettys’ solo career, but never straying too far from the story about a group of friends that became co-workers and remain so, over all ups and downs, until the untimely death of Tom Petty in 2017 (his friendship with Mike Campbell is the glue that connects both his work with The Heartbreakers and his solo work).

Tom Petty is, regardless, at the centre of the documentary, with a great portrait of his relationship with other musicians, some of which are fans, some of which come from an older generation, but all share a tremendous respect for this curious artist that doesn’t let go of his very idiosyncratic vision of how to conduct his career, as both a musician and producer for other artists.

In other words it is a very intimate look into the life and career of Tom Petty, but also a faithful portrait of the difficulties and rewards that come from chasing your dreams, no matter what. Curiously enough, his last recording was with his first band Mudcrutch, released in 2016, a band which had split up in 1975 and reunited in 2007, long after the success of Pettys’ career had made him a household name in the American music industry.

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Webstore: https://eurostore.warnermusic.com/eu/artists/tom-petty.html

Documentary: https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Tom-Petty-and-the-Heartbreakers-Runnin-Down-a-Dream/70082634

Review vol.II : Menace - Impact Velocity

Menace is the solo project of Mitch Harris, most known for his work as guitarist for the legendary grindcore band Napalm Death. However, the similarities between both bands are none (besides sharing the same bassplayer, Shane Embury, in some tracks), since Menace and its only album, Impact Velocity, are a progressive metal band, leaning more on the atmospheric side of this genre like Devin Townsend Project, or the symphonic elements of Emmerson, Lake and Palmer.

 

This only album, Impact Velocity, was released in 2014, but till sounds as though it could have been released yesterday, since it sounds current and its melancholy fits perfectly into the current state of affairs in 2020. Here, Mitch Harris writes most of the music and sings, playing guitars and synths under pseudonym, as do the other players: on bass Shane Embury and Frédéric Leclercq, on strings and sub Nicola Manzan, Derek Roddy on drums. This way the band establishes itself as a steam-punk in the visual aspect, which is clear in the beautiful artwork for the album.

The first single, “I live with your ghost”, also opens the album and catches the listeners’ attention, although the rest of the album varies between more slow and melancholic sound (“Painted Rust”) and more heavy metal (“To the Marrow” and “Drowning in Density”). However the blueprint to what you will listen, strings that bring out the most emotive moments, precise drums and a raspy vocal delivery, are present in this track, thus making it the best introduction.

All in all, Impact Velocity, is an amazing and catchy album, that fails only to be a little shorter, many of its tracks flow seamlessly from one into another, but not all stand out like the ones that were released as singles. As for Menace, here’s to hoping that more will be released from this amazing project.

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Until then you can follow the band and acquire the album in the links below, should you choose to support the artist:

-          Band : https://www.facebook.com/MENACEofficial-582062241849421/

-          Album: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/menace-impact-velocity-cd-digipak

Singled out- vol. I

Cadaver Circle of Morbidity

            One of the various changes I’m introducing to my blog is to plug the link to the artist I’m reviewing (for support purposes), the other is that I’m starting different series besides the album reviews, one of which is a series of review of singles.

My first entry in the series of reviews around a single begins in 2019, which was a good year for extreme metal, with releases from greats such as Darkthrone, Mayhem, Vader (although in ep form), and the debut of super group Vltimas, just to name a few. Also it came with a promise of the resurrection of a classic death metal band, Cadaver.

            And the first single to arrive from the newly reformed band, “Circle of Morbidity”, is the perfect short amalgam of what makes a good death metal tune: a catchy chorus (with the vocal contribution from Jeff Becerra from Possessed) and an amazing breakdown with a short, but inspired guitar solo. And with vocals perfectly enunciating the lyrics, it just pulls you in.

            In this incarnation of the band, founder and multi-instrumentalist Anders Odden is joined by current Megadeth drummer, Dirk Verbeuren. Now, one can eagerly wait for the LP to follow this amazing track.

Band: https://www.facebook.com/cadaverofficial/

Merch: https://rebellionrepublic.com/products/brands/cadaver/