GNO Scores A Ringing Metal Success with "Cannibal Tango"

The French power trio GNO are all about metal that has push but also musically progressive melodic band pyrotechnics, something like Green Day meets Frank Zappa, or perhaps Dwezil. Their second album Cannibal Tango (Sensory) has a brutal lyricism about it with three-part vocal harmonies, the blazing guitar of Christophe Godin, and the complementary kick of Peter Puke (great name!) on drums and Gaby Vegh at the bass.

Listen to the title cut and you'll get it right away. Those who live in this realm of music will appreciate Cannibal Tango, but I think it will also appeal to those not ordinarily indulgent about the genre, people looking for metal that has the musical sensibility and ambition of the best of its fusion counterparts out there.

The songs are very solid with plenty of musical elements to grab your ears. And Christophe Godin will make air guitarists out of even the most inhibited listeners.

Fozzy's "Chasing the Grail:" Progressive Metal with Musical Values

Fozzy is a group I don't know. Their album Chasing the Grail (Riot 01) was sent to me and I dutifully listened. It's a very competent bass-guitars-drums-vocals band. Their songs have something to them. Riffs are interesting, there are good lead vocals and harmonies and a wall-of-sound production that has the immersion factor going for it.

It has a concept going for it as well: in search of the holy grail. I'll admit I only half-heartedly listened to the lyrics and so I cannot completely vouch for what it's about. But you don't need me to vouch for that. There is a Dungeons and Dragons archaism happening with the words but I focused on the music, which to me is what matters most.

If I had a son and he was listening to this, I would figure he was getting some Vitamin M (for music), an essential nutrient. And since he may not be getting the vitamin at school much anymore with cutbacks (not excusable), at least he is getting it somewhere. But I don't have kids so that is moot.

Fozzy has some very nice moments going for it on the Grail CD.

Buckethead's Guitar Wizardry

Originally posted on March 18, 2008

If you don’t know who Buckethead is, maybe you should. If you know, you might check out his release on Tzadik Records, Kaleidoscalp.

It’s Buckethead all the way on this one, lots of his thrash metal guitar and diverse material, seemingly all multitracked by Buckethead, but that isn’t completely clear. Since Tzadik is a non-profit label and could use your support, this is a good place to begin.