Chap Hop?

Anyone who has been listening to me or keeping an eye on my Facebook page will know that I have been completely bewitched by the musical sub-genre of Chap Hop.

The concept is simple enough. This is a Hip Hop/Rap style where the artists affect an upper-class English accent, use very clear and correct pronunciation and rap about the very essence of "Englishness" - Tea, Cricket, Manners, etc, while often using music sampled from that of the early 1900's (Think Jeeves and Wooster), and then wrapped up in classic gentleman's fashion stylings based on that of the "chappist" and "Steampunk" brigade.

There are two major players in the "scene", who are currently involved in a "feud".

First up is Mr. B, who's look is that of the English gent, complete with tweed jacket and moustache and who plays a banjolele. His songs are mainly based on manners, gentlemanly behaviour and etiquette.

The other is Professor Elemental. He is of an entirely different cut...His dress style is that of the late 1800's Victorian explorer, and the subject matter for his lyrics follow the same theme, along with songs about tea and Englishness.

On one hand, I wonder if this will get old quickly, but Alestorm and MC Pitman both hold their appeal to me, so maybe not. Besides, I can't help but feel some warped sense of "pride" in being English when listening to this stuff and life is too short to be too serious all the time. So, lighten up, put the kettle on and brew yourself a nice cup of "brown joy".

Napalm Death - Utilitarian

So, it's that time again. (One of) Birmingham's finest return with their 14th album, and it's business as usual. A lot of bands, if they reach the landmark 30 years at all, tend to have slowed down, mellowed or even changed musical style completely. Not so with the ever-reliable Napalm Death.

What the band delivers here is another potent dose of its now trademark punk-infused, grind/death metal. The message is as clear as it always has been - We need to wake up, take a look at the world around us and try to change how we live our lives and not to be complacent and compliant to the powers that (may)be.  

This album is unflichingly relentless in its brutal aural assault - although it now comes with added saxo(mo)phone (on "Everyday Pox") and some interesting backing vocals - such as the clean passage in "The Wolf I Feed" which comes across like Demanfacture-era Fear Factory. As I can find no information suggested that Burton is a guest vocalist here, I can only draw the conclusion that it is Barney singing this part, which would not only suggest that he can actually sing, but also indicates yet another step in the evolution of ND.

But, dear ND fans, don't let any of this concern you. This is nothing less than a 16 track barrage. The riffs are spine-shattering fast, the vocals as ferocious and as feral as ever, and the songs are short, sharp shocks. This is classic Napalm Death, but better?

Just listen to that riff...if it doesn't make you want to mosh, then you may actually be a poser!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoGd6uMCHpY

Jesse back in Killswitch Engage?!

I have not seen any official announcements, but after visiting the band's homepage and seeing a pic of the band, complete with a smiling Jesse Leach, I can only conclude that it has finally happened. Jesse is back in KsE.

This is great news for me and I'm sure for many others who got into the band through their second album "Alive Or Just Breathing" back in 2002. On hearing the album, I immediately became a huge fan of the band and their (at the time) modern take on the Melodic Death formula...although the sound the band helped to spearhead, soon to become known as Metalcore, quickly became stale and the sub-genre became a dirty word among metal fans. It is easy to forget then, the impact that the band had and just how much of a breath of fresh air they were when they emerged in the early 2000's. This was an era still dominated by Nu-metal, which was by now so watered down and false, it was approaching an almost pop sound. Metal was flailing.

I remember "Alive..." being promoted with a mock funeral for Nu-metal...a clear statement of intent from a band determined to bring back the riff and the solo into metal. The album has become a clear favourite with metal fans and has more than stood the test of time. Jesse provided the album with some of the most passionate vocals I have ever heard from a vocalist...from crooning and growling through to vicious snarls. It was this that really sealed my love for the band. Therefore, I was extremely saddened when Jesse quit the band soon after the release of the album, apparently due to depression.

It was here that things started to go wrong. Yes, the band replaced Jesse with a competent, if not great, vocalist in Howard Jones, but they also watered down their sound and appeared to be chasing mainstream attention. The band were very successful with Howard leading the charge and became big players on the international metal scene, but something just didn't sit right with me. There was something missing. I soon lost interest in the band which had, at first, sparked such passion in me, and I all but wrote them off.

So, it was with great interest when I read in January 2012, that Howard had quit the band due to personal issues. Of course, I have no ill-feeling toward Howard, but following the Times Of Grace project featuring Adam of Kse and yes, Jesse, I began to wonder and to hope. Is Jesse coming back? It appears that he has. The band I fell in love with a decade ago is back...and it couldn't be a more exciting start to 2012.

For those who may be unfamiliar with the band or who may need a reminder of the kick in the arse they gave the scene in 2002, here is the video for "My Last Serenade". In my opinion, not the strongest track from "Alive..." but certainly a good starting point and a good example of Jesse's versatility as a vocalist...Not to mention, some quality riffing.