MUSIC REVIEW - LAZARUS A.D. - "The Onslaught" (2009)

It's more than fitting to think that the almost dead Bay Area Thrash sound should be resurrected in full force by a band called LAZARUS A.D....

Ironic almost Alanis, don't you think. Bitch?

SPIN IT 

8 Fucking seconds

Hell, less. Within a moment of catching the blistering lead notes from album opener "Last Breath" I was instantly, and totally, addicted to the sounds of Bay Area Thrash all over again. Even more so by the time I made it to the title track, tracks 5 & 6, in particular track 5 "The Onslaught Pt. 1 - Revolution". I've had that 1 track spinning now for about 5 weeks solid. And whenever I drop a LAZARUS A.D. Youtube link around the place, you guessed it, it's the link to Revolution.

THRASH OR DIE is the motto of Wisconsin based LAZARUS A.D. and after repeated spins of their 1st long player "The Onslaught", you know these boys mean that shit for real. Damn it, if these guys aren't the deserving bastard love-child of Metallica and Slayer I'll start listening to Justin Beiber. THAT'S how fuckin seriously LAZARUS A.D. and The Onslaught has impressed me.

Fast, furious, brutal, infectious, and just plain rockin the motherfuck out is the best way to describe the aural assault delivered direct to your earholes by the 10 track metal barrage.

MEET THE BAND

Dan Gapen- Lead Guitar/ Vocals
Jeff Paulick- Lead Vocals/ Bass
Alex Lackner- Guitar
Ryan Shutler- Drums

LAZARUS A.D. formed in Wisconsin in the spring of 2005. While LAZARUS A.D. is a thrash metal band, their sound isn't a simple throwback to the 80s bay area sound. They breathe a breath of fresh air into modern thrash with intelligent lyrics, memorable riffs, thrash breakdowns, mid-tempo grooves, and high-flying solos.

The band began work on their first full length album in January of 2007. Recorded and engineered by Chris Djuricic (Soil, November’s Doom, Michael Angelo Batio) at Studio One, and mastered by James Murphy (Death, Testament). During this time LAZARUS A.D. was approached by Earache Records to submit a track for an upcoming metal compilation. From The Onslaught, album opener "Last Breath" was one of the 16 songs chosen to appear on Thrashing Like A Maniac, and they were the only unsigned band on the entire compilation! The Onslaught was originally released by the band in 2007 and only 1,000 copies were pressed, then, in 2008, LAZARUS A.D. received a call from Metal Blade Records. The Onslaught was then completely re-mixed and re-mastered by James Murphy and saw worldwide release through Metal Blade Records in March 2009.

Since then the band has been furiously touring and promoting "The Onslaught", and it's only a matter of time before we see what LAZARUS A.D. is truly made of. I'd say metal...

JUDGEMENT DAY

 

I make no secrets about my absolute love for this album. It started out perfect, and just got better and better with each track. All killer and no filler isn't even close. And that, for me, IS the mark of any great album. If i never have to hit FF or skip, you know it's on the money. Hell, I have trouble turning off album repeat on this. 

Stand out cuts for me were Last Breath, Thou Shall Not Fear, Revolution, and Absolute Power. I strongly encourage you to support these hardworking Wisconsin boys, go out NOW and buy this album, and when they're next in town, get off your lazy ass and spend a dollar to keep real metal alive.

SKULL SCORE OUT OF 5

 

THE REAL

BAND: LAZARUS A.D.

LABEL: Metal Blade Records 

GENRE: Thrash/ Groove Metal

ALBUM: The Onslaught (2007 & 2009)

TRACK LIST

1.    Last Breath                                    
2.    Thou Shall Not Fear                     
3.    Damnation For The Weak          
4.    Every Word Unheard                     
5.    The Onslaught Pt. 1 - Revolution    
6.    The Onslaught Pt. 2 - Rebirth      
7.    Lust                                             
8.    Forged In Blood                          
9.    Absolute Power                               
10.  Who I Really Am                           

REFERENCES

http://www.lazarusad.com
http://www.myspace.com/lazarus1

http://www.facebook.com/lazarusad

Written review by stonerphonic © June 2010

All rights reserved

FILM REVIEW - CONTACT (2009)

The words "independent film" & "horror" generally fit well together, but usually for all the wrong reasons.

As an avid indie film buff, when it comes to lo-budget DIY productions, I fall into the category of either really really loving the film, or really really hating it. For me there's no middle ground. You’ve got about 15 minutes to make your mark, draw me into your story, and it needs to hit the target dead on, or you've lost me. Way it is.

So with 5 minutes LESS than that for the entire production, how the hell does Jeremiah Kipp's short horror film CONTACT (2009) stand a chance?

Quite easily, to be honest...



HIT IT UP

Kipp has assembled all the right ingredients, had them mixed perfectly, then delivers a 10 minute opus that not only grabbed my attention from word "go", but went on to suck me fully into the drug crazed experience that drives CONTACT along, hurtling at an incredible speed.

Based on a previous Kipp film "The Pod" (2006. written by Carl Kelsch) CONTACT strips things back to a bare-bones minimum and leaves the audience with that which matters most - a damn good story told well.

That doesn't mean that things have been "skimped on" when it comes to the finished product. Quite the reverse.  In fact, I must admit I had difficulty keeping in mind that this was an independent minimum budget production. Filmed in wide-screen black & white, from the opening title sequence right through to the closing credits, you fully get the feel you’re watching a major fully bankrolled blockbuster. And there's a damn good reason why it feels this way.

Kipp knows his stuff, you can feel it throughout the film, and as stated, he's managed to assemble the right people for the right job with CONTACT. Director of Photography Dominick Sivilli has taken Kipp's story and vision and portrayed it with a visual conception that gives the punter a truly rewarding viewing experience. The cinematography and visual effects deliver as far as effective storytelling goes, and all this with minimum dialogue, and minimum bullshit. The black and white, for me personally, definitely adds value to the storytelling process of CONTACT, and creates a rich atmosphere amongst the story's drug fuelled haze to lose yourself in along the way.

Added to this mix are masterstrokes of sound from Really Horrible Music's Tom Burns. The film's musical score and post production sound effects have provided Kipp's visual nightmare with a sinister, dark undercurrent that leaves the viewer on edge, but deeply engaged, right to the very final sequence.

THE DEAL

The story itself revolves around lovers Koreen (Zoe Daelman Chlanda) & Westy (Robb Leigh Davis) and their endeavour to draw closer thru a naked, drug fuelled love session that goes terribly, terribly wrong...



As far as visual performances go, there's so much to feast upon. The captivating Zoe Daelman Chlanda carries the story with a sense of vulnerability that implores your sympathy, and Robb Leigh Davis, downright the best piece of Hendrix/ Lynott homeslice to hit a horror flick in ages, totally won me over with his character's natural charismatic suaveness. And all this sans clothing. Yep, more than half their screen time they're starkers.

Seriously... drugs, nudity, horror... what's NOT to like?

THE FEEL

Like I’ve already mentioned, as an indie film punter, it's either fully hit, or totally missed. Great visuals, top notch story & performances, superb soundscape (honestly, the sounds are uber-sweet), and did I mention there are drugs, horror and nudity...



For CONTACT, I’d double tap it. Easy. Consider CONTACT... fully hit. But hey, don't take my expert opinion of this film, here,  go do it yourself... http://www.contact.shroggle.com/

SKULL SCORE OUT OF 5:

    
THE REAL

Produced by Alan Rowe Kelly, Bart Mastronardi
Directed by Jeremiah Kipp
Music by Tom Burns
Written by Jeremiah Kipp based on "The Pod" by Carl Kelsch
Director of Photography: Dominick Sivilli
Sound Mix: Tom Burns, Really Horrible Music
Edited by Dominick Sivilli
Special Effects Makeup: Daniel J. Mazikowski
Starring:  Zoe Daelman Chlanda, Robb Leigh Davis, Katherine O'Sullivan, Tom Reid, Danny Lopes and Alan Rowe Kelly

REFERENCES

The Pod - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0883379/
Contact - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1537732/
Contact film - http://www.contact.shroggle.com/
Jeremiah Kipp Interview - http://www.colonelscrypt.com/Interviews/Jeremiah%20Kipp/index.htm

Written review by stonerphonic © May 2010

Visuals generously provided by Jeremiah Kipp © 2009

All rights reserved