James LaBrie Solo

[ZirconBlue]

Does anyone else not like LaBrie's solo efforts? :/ I love LaBrie and his singing, but the music sounds no different whatsoever to any other generic power metal band to me.

I like JLB's solo stuff better than any other side project the members of DT have been involved in, and better than some DT albums.  Not having heard the new one, I rank them:


Elements of Persuasion
Static Impulse
Mullmuzzler 2
Mullmuzzler

[Dellers]

That chorus is really catchy. The song sounds pretty Swedish, for obvious reasons I guess considering 3-4 Swedes was involved.

[mellotron_scratch]

Great song, although I can imagine that after 5+ listens I'll get a bit bored of it. It's quite boring, structurally and creatively, but the chorus is great.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I'm at least 5 listens in, and I'm just liking it more every time.

[King Postwhore]

Does anyone else not like LaBrie's solo efforts? :/ I love LaBrie and his singing, but the music sounds no different whatsoever to any other generic power metal band to me.

I don't know if I'd call it power metal, but after the first two Mullmuzzler albums, there is a genericness to it. Especially EOP. Static Impulse was OK, but when I get a James Labrie album, I expect him to be going nuts vocally. You know, generic isn't the word I'd use. I'd probably go with safe.

Agony is a pretty good song. Easily as strong as anything on SI. Still the screamo/growly vocals add nothing to me. To my ears, it simply undercuts the song totally. Adding growls turns it into James answer to AMob.

Hopefully, as with SI, the screams are basically only on the couple songs they released before the album came out. I am looking forward to this album, as I do expect it to be better than SI, and Agony is definitely cool.

I agree 100% TAC.

[wolfking]

Fuck yeah, you can hear Peter Wichers is really involved here, very Soilwork, especially the riff.  Incredible, smooth and the band have found a great sound and now they are just doing great music, and sounds like they have perfected the sound they wanted with no apologies.  Really looking forward to this album.

[MoraWintersoul]

Does anyone else not like LaBrie's solo efforts? :/ I love LaBrie and his singing, but the music sounds no different whatsoever to any other generic power metal band to me.

I like JLB's solo stuff better than any other side project the members of DT have been involved in, and better than some DT albums.  Not having heard the new one, I rank them:


Elements of Persuasion
Static Impulse
Mullmuzzler 2
Mullmuzzler

Yup, not counting KM, I'm the biggest fan of James' side projects.

Ranking time:
Static Impulse
Mullmuzzler 2
Mullmuzzler
Elements

[snapple]

Very cool.

[Zydar]

"Hey you gang of rogue treasure stealing varmints, hope you're ears are bleeding. Love the feedback so far, thanks. Raaaaaaaaaak"

He's taking this pirate thing very seriously

[wolfking]

Cool shit.

[MoraWintersoul]

Hahahaha James is always srs bznz

People with opinions gonna have opinions, but I just love how the album once again starts with Peter's growling. They received the most negative feedback on it last time, and after some statements from Peter that there'll be less screaming on this album, I kind of feared it will be relegated to a bit of call and answer or echo in every other chorus, and even though I would understand that, I was a bit sad.

But no sir-ee, at least one song starts off with harsh vocals in the verses, and it's the very first song. Maybe it will get people who missed out on SI to think they put the wrong CD in their player until James comes in

[wolfking]

Just listened to it for the second time.  This could easily fit anywhere on SI, the band have really found their sound.  I love it, and I love how Peter's vox are more gutteral as opposed to a more raspy black metal style it was on SI.  Both are incredible but the Soilwork influence is really there and Peter is definitely channeling Speed on this track.

Really great, great atmosphere, everything here is excellent, we couldn't ask for anything more.

[dongringo]

Well, guess this will be another JLB album that's not for me. Just can't stand the growling. Oh well. At least he's doing what he wants.

[WildeSilas]

Peter Wichers could produce an album filled with fart noises and I would buy it. The guy is fucking brilliant. Good move on James' part nabbing him for this.

[WildeSilas]

That 2nd song, Undertow, must be killer like any other Undertow (PoS, Tool, Chroma Key)

Why yes, songs named Undertow are usually good songs

You missed one- Warrant's Undertow from Ultraphobic 

Thanks - I thought I was the only one on the planet who's heard that album. It's great. 

edit: double post ftw!

[Lowdz]

That 2nd song, Undertow, must be killer like any other Undertow (PoS, Tool, Chroma Key)

Why yes, songs named Undertow are usually good songs

You missed one- Warrant's Undertow from Ultraphobic 

Thanks - I thought I was the only one on the planet who's heard that album. It's great. 

edit: double post ftw!

I hated it at first, with the scene following shift to a grungier sound, but that was the standout song.

[philmcson]

YES! FUCK JLB records without growls! Great job, Pete! 

You might wanna rephrase that.   

Not really 

[Mebert78]

Is there a link to buy this?  Maybe I missed it.  I hope they do a bundle package with a t-shirt.

[adastra]

Good song ^^  I don't like the growls, but the chorus is great!

[Matt]

Is there a link to buy this?  Maybe I missed it.  I hope they do a bundle package with a t-shirt.

I was just recently emailed a few of the t-shirt designs. Don't hold me to it, but I think there will be some sort of bundle similar to how we did last time.

Cheers,
Matt

[aprilethereal]

What will be the difference between the regular CD and the limited edition?

[Matt]

What will be the difference between the regular CD and the limited edition?

Limited edition digipak has expanded artwork and 2 bonus tracks.

[YtseJamittaja]

I just have to say that I listened to this song about 5 times yesterday and it has been on my head since then. A good sign. 

[Nick]

Ugh. Fucking digipak.

I'd happily pay a buck extra just for the option in having the bonus track and a real case.

[MoraWintersoul]

Digipack is kind of standard for expanded releases though.

[aprilethereal]

What will be the difference between the regular CD and the limited edition?

Limited edition digipak has expanded artwork and 2 bonus tracks.

Cool, thanks for the information

[TioJorge]

I really, really liked that. I don't love it, and I'm still on the edge about the screams, but I enjoyed the screaming vocals a whole lot more than I did with SI. It's good to hear Labrie again and he sounds great; that chorus is groovy. Other than that, I'm looking forward to a Labrie release for the first time in a while.

I don't think I'll ever love anything as much as Elements of Persuasion though...for some reason that record just blew me over and still does to this day despite the fact that I'm just now listening to it for the firs time in years.

[Shadow2222]

Awesome track! SI was incredible, and I already think this might be better.  Matt!

[TioJorge]

*Goes to see if iTunes has it for download*

...

*Doesn't even have album listed*


Grr. I'm loving this and want to listen on the way to work but...eh. I'll hafta wait.

[MoraWintersoul]

*Goes to see if iTunes has it for download*

...

*Doesn't even have album listed*


Grr. I'm loving this and want to listen on the way to work but...eh. I'll hafta wait.

There's a link for free download in the video description

[TioJorge]

Aw shiiiet! Thanks so much, Mora. Clearly missed that... Oop.
Woot woooot!

iTunes needs to get with it though. They need that Labrieness.

[aprilethereal]

iTunes sucks ass.

[TioJorge]

No arguments here.

[BlobVanDam]

*Goes to see if iTunes has it for download*

...

*Doesn't even have album listed*


Grr. I'm loving this and want to listen on the way to work but...eh. I'll hafta wait.

There's a link for free download in the video description

RARRRRRRRRRRRR Thank you! I didn't even click to the Youtube link, so here I was listening to the crummy quality Youtube version.
Listening to it side by side with SI, the production is extremely similar. Nice mix, but overcompressed.

[IdoSC]

Dammit. I've got to know James through his high-range screams, but I have to say, his whispering/lower register singing always takes my breath away. That section was really unexpected in the middle of the song.