Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Is Lacuna Coil Poised to Break Out or Break Up With "Broken Crown Halo?"

Avid fans of Italian metal band Lacuna Coil had to wait over two years for a new album from the band.  And, in that period, the long-time lineup proved to be a bit fragile.

Just six weeks before the April 1 release of Broken Crown Halo, guitarist Cristiano Migliore and drummer Cristiano Mozzati - both members since 1998 - left the band.  Any time a band loses veterans, there's the risk that the band will fall apart.  Perhaps the one thing that can help a band overcome such adversity is releasing a strong album that keeps the band afloat and, in some cases, helps the band break out more than ever.

So, the question is:  Is Broken Crown Halo strong enough to propel Lacuna Coil through this transition period and beyond?

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Is Steel Panther's "All You Can Eat" A Dirty Delicacy or Too Much to Stomach?

Steel Panther.  If you've been paying attention in the hard rock scene the last half-decade, you will likely associate that name with one of two things:  a band that has so accurately resurrected the hair metal look and sound in the 2010's, or the band that has so unapologetically coupled filthy comedy with well-produced music.

Either way, you're right.  And with such a distinct reputation, it puts the band in a position where it would be virtually impossible to change their style and retain their fan base.

The questions are:  Can they continue doing what they do for much longer or will it get old?  And how much further can they go?

Well, the band is back with a new album, All You Can Eat, that is designed to answer those questions.