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DVDfever.co.uk – Chiodos: Bone Palace Ballet Grand Coda CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Sire/Warner Brothers Records
- Released: January 2009
- Rating: 8/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
WARNING! A white knuckle ride like no other!
Michicans post-hardcore sextet doesnt do things in small measures.
Chiodos Bone Palace Ballet is a grand as the title suggests.
It was released in the States in September 2007, debuting at #5 on the Billboard 200, and its finally arrived in the UK, but as a re-issue with added tag Grand Coda.
Amongst the often dramatic high-energy decibels, the band is renowned for lead singer Craigery Owens high pitched vocal gymnastics which juxtapose neatly alongside some epic guitar work.
Trying to be as objective as I possibly can, post-hardcore aint my bag, but this band has definitely got something. In their genre, Im certain they have little if any competition.
The song titles alone are a mouthful, but their sources are fascinating:
Lexington comes from a combination of the name of Pat McManamans first dog and Lexington, Kentucky, where the song was recorded.
Bulls Make Money..is a phrase commonly used by Mad Money host Jim Cramer. Bassist Matt Goddard apparently spoke the words If I Cut My Hair.. when drunk, while Intensity In Ten Cities is lifted from Mike Myers film Waynes World.
And so to the music. Amongst the gratuitous riffing, solos, wailing, gruffing and roars, Chiodos are simply overwhelming in power alone.
It would be cruel to dub them just another brainless bunch of blast-merchants, because they cleverly use dynamics with great effect, especially the piano. This alone displays a lot of musical sensitivity, class, and refinement found on tracks like Life Is Perception .which makes them more accessible.
Two Birds Stoned At Once opens with classical-styled strings, but soon develops into a monster, which mid-way, drops into a gentle loop, followed later by rasping solos.
Lexington is classic rock, of the Prog Rock nature: stylish piano, searing vocals, strings and pulsating drums brilliant.
A letter to Janelle is a touching moment indeed. Formed from a break-up letter sent to Craigery by an ex-girlfriend, which is something hes comfortable in sharing parts of its content with us.
Then again on Smitten For The Mitten, we get strings and lush vocals, and the divine piano intro of Intensity In Ten Cities is quite remarkable, bringing back memories of Evanescences Amy Lee delicate ivory tinkling, here by Bradley Bell. The melancholic violin is a perfect backdrop to an exquisite song. This is their jewel in the crown.
Life Is A Perception could have been Queen in the 21st century had Freddie still been with us. Its probably their Bohemian Rhapsody.
I Didnt Say is very Queenie too. Lashings of classy piano, with Craigery on fine vocal form.
The acoustic Letter From Janelle is far superior to the original, because the lyrics which are beautifully sing, resonate better with piano and violin accompaniment.
This is only their second album the future bodes well.
Producer Casey Bates deserves a Grammy!
The verdict A real grower.
Radio: Hear tracks soon onwrexhamfm.com Weblink:sirerecords.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Two Birds Stoned At Once
2. Is It Progression If A Cannibal Uses A Fork?
3. Lexington (Joey Pea-Pot with A Monkey Face)
4. Bulls Make Money, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get Slaughtered
5. A Letter From Janelle
6. I Didnt Say I Was Powerful, I Said I Was A Wizard
7.
And The C Liver Screamed HELP!
8. We Swam From Albatross, The Day We Lost Kailey Cost
9. Life Is A Perception Of Your Own Reality
10. If I Cut My Hair, Hawaii Will Sink
11. Smitten For The Mitten
12. Intensity In Ten Cities
13. The Undertakers Thirst For Revenge Is Unquenchable (The Final Battle)
14. I Didnt Say I Was Powerful, I Said I Was A Wizard (Bonus Track)
15. A Letter From Janelle (Acoustic) (Bonus track)View the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.