Madball "All or Nothing" Video Premiere

Last week I saw that BlacknBlue Productions posted Madball's new video for their song "All or Nothing" off of Empire. I didn't have a chance to actually watch it until today, and I'm glad I did. "All or Nothing" was definitely one of my favorite songs on the album, and the video doesn't disappoint. Michael Distelkamp and Freddy Madball did a fantastic job with the direction, and the video fits the song perfectly. Vinnie Stigma makes a cameo appearance that works very well. You should definitely check it out.

BlacknBlue Productions in association with Convoy Films

I plan on posting at least 3 more reviews this week, lets see if I stick to it

First Blood "Silence is Betrayal" (2010)

Track Listing:

1) Intro

2) Silence

3) Preamble

4) Enemy

5) Resist

6) Truth

7) Detach

8) Enslaved

9) Confront

10) Fear

11) Occupation

12) Fascism

13) Lies

14) Messenger

15) Survive

16) Armageddon II

When I first listened to First Blood's debut album "Killafornia" a year and a half ago or so, I enjoyed it. It was heavy and it was aggressive. When I heard that they were coming out with a new album, I was marginally excited. At the very least I thought it would be a decent listen and not a waste of time. I seriously under-estimated it. First Blood took the formula from "Killafornia", refined it, injected more anger and aggression, and "Silence is Betrayal" is the result.

How often do you see one word song titles? It's rare to see a band that can convey the meaning of a song so easily. Most song titles are a phrase, and on rare occasions, a sentence long. From the start of "Intro" to the end of "Armageddon II", the songs all fit their names. I feel like this is a concept album for sure. Lyrically the songs are pretty socially concious and focus on the state of the world right now. Whether it be the wars going on in Afghanistan and Iraq, or the way corporations take advantage of the masses, it's all covered. The anger and aggression in the music gets the point across that something needs to be done, and that sitting back and doing nothing is contributing to the problems.

After 3 listens, this album has exceeded all my expectations. I expected to like this album, but it has joined Terror's "Keepers of the Faith", Madball's "Empire", and My Turn To Win's "No Challenge" (I've been meaning to write a review on this since I got my vinyl copy, but haven't yet. I'll get there) as my list of favorite albums of 2010. Definitely check it out.

Madball "Empire" (2010)

Track Listing:

1. Invigorate

2. Danger Zone

3. Timeless

4. All of Nothing

5. Glory Years

6. Empire

7. Shatterproof

8. The End

9. Con Fuerza

10. R.A.H.C.

11. Hurt You

12. "Tough Guy"

13. Dark Horse

14. Spider's Web

15. Delete

16. Rebel4Life18

When I found out about this record, I got excited. Madball is definitely one of my favorite hardcore bands, and I enjoyed the two tracks from "Empire" that I got on "The Real American HC" 7 inch. I have literally listened to this CD 7 times since I bought it this afternoon.

It's everything you expect from a Madball record. It's fast, it's heavy, and it's filled with the raw emotion that I've come to expect. There isn't a bad song on this CD. The only thing that irks me a little bit is that during the chorus of "The End" the vocals sound a little funny to me. It's nothing that takes away from the enjoyment of the song, and at this point is not nearly as noticeable as it was the first few times I listened to the CD. This is absofuckinglutely an album that's worth buying and listening to. Start to finish it flows nicely, and each song feeds off the one before it. Even with how much I loved Terror's "Keeper's of the Faith", I think I like this more. I just wish it came on vinyl.

Best Why?

I originally intended on pre-ordering "Empire", but a fund shortage prohibited it from happening. When I got the cash to do it, I decided to hold off because by the time it got to me it would have been days after I could have it in my hands if I got off my ass and went to a store. Since the selection of independent record stores in my immediate area is pretty slim (Play It Again in South Side Bethlehem is the only one that comes to mind that sells new CDs), I decided for curiosities sake I would check Best Buy's website to see if they were selling it. They were, so this morning I got up and went to Best Buy.

First off, I fucking hate Best Buy. There is not one redeeming thing that I can think of about the store. I've spent a lot of money at Best Buy over the years, but that is simply because other options are virtually non-existent. Small video stores have pretty much vanished, along with small record stores.

When I got to Best Buy today, I went directly over to the CD new release section, because that seemed like a logical place to start. It was nowhere to be found, but that's probably just because how much shelf space Lil Wayne's new CD was occupying. So off I went to scour the shitty music section to find Madball's place in the M's. Since Best Buy has pretty much squashed their music section it didn't take long to find Madball sitting on the shelf between Loverboy and Madonna.

As I'm walking to pay I notice two things, one that I know for fact is Best Buy's doing and the other that I can only hope is just for Best Buy's audience. You can see in the picture that there is a brief explanation of who Madball is, so anyone just randomly picking up the CD gets an idea of what they are in for. If you can't read it from the picture here is what it says "Madball are an iconic force in hardcore as Slayer has been to thrash. Like Hatebreed, Madball's rise from the streets to dominating stages across the earth is nothing short of legendary". I have absolutely no problems with Slayer or Hatebreed, but I feel it really sells Madball short to have to include two bands that have both had commercial success in order to get the ignorant masses to give this record a listen. The second thing I noticed is that Best Buy classifies it as "Hard Rock". Come on now. That immediately lumps Madball in with the likes of Staind and Nickelback, are you fucking kidding me? Could they have picked a more generic term that's even less fitting then calling it "Metal"?

I'm not even remotely trying to call Madball out as sell outs. I get why their CD is being sold at Best Buy. There aren't a whole lot of other options. I hate Best Buy, but unfortunately if it wasn't for that devil of a store, I wouldn't be sitting here with "Empire" blasting while I write.

Madball "The Real American Hardcore" 7" (2010)

Track Listing:

1) R.A.H.C.

2) All or Nothing

I know that the new Madball album "Empire" comes out in a few weeks. My new obsession with vinyl made it too difficult to pass up on ordering one of the limited pressings of "The Real American Hardcore", which is two songs off of "Empire". I'm glad I did.

The first time I listened to it, I thought the hook in "R.A.H.C." was a little cheesy (You want hardcore. Real hardcore. They say fuck hardcore, it's dead. You want hardcore. real deal hardcore. Well I'm sorry they say it's dead). After actually paying attention to the whole song and not just the chorus which sticks out more dramatically then the rest of it, it makes perfect sense. I'm not going to get into a whole philosophical discussion about hardcore not being dead, but if you're reading this blog and going to shows you know it isn't.

Both songs are well written and have that classic Madball style that I've come to love. I'm real glad that I ordered the 7", but I'm not glad that I have to wait two more weeks to hear the rest of the album. If you can still get your hands on it over at RevHQ or Reaper Records, I strongly recommend that you do. If not, get the full length when it comes out. Disappointment shouldn't even be on your radar.