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RETRO-REVIEW

[Retro Review] Silent Hill 1 OST

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on April 02, 2012 @ 10:04pm
Category: Music / News

silenthill1ostcover [Retro Review] Silent Hill 1 OST

It’s hard to believe that it was over 13 years ago that Silent Hill for Playstation came out. Has it really been so long? Have so many years ticked away? It seems like only yesterday that I was playing the game with my friend in his basement, our eyes wide with fear, every creak the house made a warning that something, some THING, was after us.

It was also the time that my now obvious near-obsession with Silent Hill began. For me, Silent Hill was to The Shining in the way Resident Evil was to Aliens. And as much as I love Aliens (a WHOLE LOT), The Shining is the movie I go to when I want to get scared. Part of the appeal is the work of renowned composer Akira Yamaoka whose name became synonymous with the franchise. Yamaoka’s work was nothing short of terrifying, creating an aural horror that assaulted the senses even when nothing was happening.

So, in honor of March and the release of both Silent Hill: Downpour (OST review/game review) and the Silent Hill HD Collection, I decided to go back to my mid-teen years and revisit the OST to original Silent Hill, the one that started it all.

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on March 02, 2012 @ 7:32am
Category: Music / News

It’s not surprising that today we can take Pearl Jam for granted. Hell, they’ve been around for over 20 years, they have a devoted fan base, and their music is, overall, pretty kickass. But upon the release of Ten, their debut album, in 1991, I don’t think anyone was really aware of exactly what was about to happen to the music scene. Often imitated, deservedly lauded, this album became one of the most important albums of a generation.

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on February 01, 2012 @ 7:07pm
Category: Music / News

Ah, 1984, the year I was born in. The year that the Apple Macintosh came out. A year that has become synonymous with dystopian society. It was also the year that Van Halen’s iconic album 1984 came out. While the sixth studio album was a departure from their recognized sound, many critics lauded the album and its exciting foray into new territory. It would also be the last album the band recorded with vocalist David Lee Roth (until this years A Different Kind Of Truth). But does this album still have the same punch as it did nearly three decades ago? Or has age worn this beast down? READ MORE

Retro Review: Converge ‘Jane Doe’

Music
Posted by SuperRadMike on September 05, 2011 @ 5:57pm
Category: Music / News

Ten years ago I was 14 at the start of my teenage years trying to figure out the person I wanted to be. I had already been raised on steady diet of independent punk and hardcore bands to widen my music palette, but nothing could prepare me for this album. This album has been beaten to death for the last ten years for changing independent music and rightfully so. So I would like to share with you my Retro Review with you on Converge‘s “Jane Doe“. Enjoy.

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on August 01, 2011 @ 2:13am
Category: Music / News

Let’s journey back to 1985, shall we? Reagen kicked off the year by being sworn in for his second term. We Are The World is recorded. The first Wrestlemania kicks off at Madison Square Garden. Back To The Future becomes the highest grossing film of the year. Tetris is released. And as for classic horror films? How about 1985 seeing these films come out: Re-Animator. Nightmare On Elm St. 2. Return Of The Living Dead. Fright Night. Day Of The Dead. Friday The 13th Part V. Vampire Hunter D (a personal favorite). Overall, I’d say a pretty awesome year!

1985 also saw the release of Tom Waits‘ ninth studio album Rain Dogs. The second in a trilogy (surrounded by Swordfishtrombones and Franks Wild Years), Rain Dogs is a loose concept album about the life of the “less-fortunate” of New York City. Musically resembling something out of a 30′s carnival, this is an album that garnered much acclaim over the years. However, does it still hold up? Check after the jump.

Music
Posted by John Marrone on July 01, 2011 @ 7:01pm
Category: Music / News

Warning: After the jump, this review contains NSFW imagery including nudity. Venture forth at your own risk!

Prior to the mid 1980′s, punk was repulsive – not pop. It got zero exposure, stunk of piss and BO, and generally existed to be an Antichrist of the music of its era. In the 1990′s, grunge became popular in the mainstream and opened to the doors for more avant garde sounds to get radio play, namely everything from Green Day to today’s Good Charlotte. It was party popular, played in the top 10 videos, and made the punk genre very, very different to that which it was when it started. Bubblegummy, cliquey, and attractive to a pop-reliant, Nickelodeon generation.

Somewhere between these two eras, punk underwent an awkward phase – evolving into more catchy and gimmicked entities – more readily played at a party or put on a mix tape. Awkward, yet not entirely offensive to the virgin ear. This was the dead center of the 80′s. Enter now RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD – August 1985.

Retro Review: Return Of The Living Dead OST

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on May 02, 2011 @ 2:39am
Category: Music / News

Sure, I could’ve chosen to do ‘Master Of Puppets’, but what’s the fun there? That album has been pored over and loved since its release. I wanted to do ‘Ride The Lightning’ for a couple of reasons. First of all, some of my favorite Metallica tracks are on here. Second of all, the album was released when I was a month old, so I feel a strange connection with it. So, join me readers, as we head back to 1984 to check out Metallica’s sophomore album.

Retro Review: Going To 84 To Check Out Metallicas Ride The Lightning

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on April 01, 2011 @ 3:43pm
Category: Music / News

I remember buying ‘Antichrist Superstar’ like it was yesterday: I was in Tokyo with my dad and I needed something to fill the silence during the long drives to the various tourist spots. Being that I was middle school at the time and I was a rebellious little scoundrel, the thought of getting away with buying a Marilyn Manson album was just too cool to not follow through on. My dad only realized what I’d bought when it was too late: I was hooked. This was an album that was metal, industrial, dirty, grimy, violent, sexual, full of horror and perfect for my testosterone-ridden, hyper-sexualized teenage angst.

Retro Review: Marilyn Manson Antichrist Superstar

To quote Corinthians (which is strange enough seeing as I’m Jewish AND an atheist), “When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things.” There came a time when I had to rein in my hormones and grow out of my rebelliousness, if for no other reason than it just became boring and stale. So, the question then arises, how does ‘Antichrist Superstar’ hold up considering this situation?

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on March 01, 2011 @ 3:07am
Category: Music / News

Join me Bloody-Disgusting reader as we travel back to the year 1969. I am willing to guarantee that this was before the majority of you were born (it was WELL before I was even a thought), so let’s take a look at some of the major events of that year: Ohio State won the Rose Bowl. Nixon succeeded as President of the United States of America. The Beatles performed their last public concert. The Boeing 747 makes its first flight. Monty Python’s Flying Circus airs its first episode on BBC. And King Crimson releases their first album, ‘In The Court Of The Crimson King’, beginning a musical career that is still going on today.

Retro Review: King Crimson In the Court Of The Crimson King

Music
Posted by SuperRadMike on January 31, 2011 @ 7:20pm
Category: Music / News

I’m gonna take you on a dark journey. Back to when bubblegum pop ruled every radio and TV station. Back when metal started becoming super awful and mainstream. This journey goes back 12 years ago, the year was 1999. Fortunately, if you looked hard enough you could find yourself a somewhat decent metal band. That year one of my favorite industrial metal albums came out. It was Static-X’s “Wisconsin Death Trip”.

static x wisconsin death trip a Retro Review: Static X Wisconsin Death Trip

Is this album still as rad as it was 12 years ago? Was it even really good when it came out? Well I’ll be the judge of that. Read past the break for the review!

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on January 03, 2011 @ 7:43pm
Category: Music / News

So, I may be a few days late with this Retro Review, but it was the New Years and I was enjoying myself (read: treating my hangovers with more of what put me in that state). So, because of the constant headaches and need for dark rooms to avoid bright lights, I found myself turning to music that falls into the more “chill” end of the musical spectrum. Also, since it was the New Year, I found myself feeling a bit nostalgic. Both of these feelings combined into me easing back to Esthero’s debut album ‘Breath From Another’. An album that has elements of Portishead and Bjork, ‘Breath From Another’ is a slightly more upbeat sounding approach to Trip-Hop. But does that work or does it hinder? Check for the answer after the jump.

Retro Review: Esthero Breath From Another

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on December 01, 2010 @ 9:18am
Category: Music / News

The early 90’s were the time when I was figuring out exactly what musical styles spoke to me and what drew my interest. It was also a time when music was…well, music, unlike much of today’s offerings. Gone were the days of hair and speed metal as well as electronic and synth-based bands, replaced by grunge, the beginnings of nu-metal, an evolving and growing hip-hop/rap genre as well as the popularization of contemporary country music. It was the end of an era that had grown into stagnation and the beginning of a fresh, new time that brought many of my (now) favorite artists to the forefront of the music scene.

One of these bands is Alice In Chains, whose 1992 release ‘Dirt’, is considered by many to be one of those ‘timeless’ albums that appears over and over in Top (insert number here) albums of (insert however long here). So, do I agree? Does ‘Dirt’ deserve all of these spots and this recognition? Find out after the jump.

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on November 01, 2010 @ 7:14am
Category: Music / News

Again we dive into the music of the past with another edition of Bloody-Disgusting’s Retro Review. This months review is on the Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’, an album that is still in the top five best-selling albums of all time. Chronicling the story of a man rising to the top only to fall to the extreme bottom. This album changed my appreciation of music and what it meant to really invest oneself into the listening process. So check after the jump for a more detailed look into the 11th studio album from prog-rock giants Pink Floyd.

pinkfloydthewallcover Retro Review: Pink Floyd The Wall

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on October 01, 2010 @ 7:15am
Category: Music / News

1993 was a year in which Grunge was at its height and Nu-Metal hadn’t yet appeared. Some classic films released that year include Leprechaun, Cronos, Army of Darkness, Fire In The Sky, and, while not horror but still badass, Jurassic Park. Also that year were great music releases from Wu-Tang Clan (Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers), Depeche Mode (Songs Of Faith And Devotion), Candlebox (Candlebox), Sepultura (Chaos A.D.), amongst others. Overall, it was one hell of a year in terms of entertainment.

toolundertowcover Retro Review: Tool Undertow

Let’s be honest with each other; for all intents and purposes, Tool should probably not be as huge as they are. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tool and have been listening to their music since ‘Undertow’ came out. Growing up, the video for ‘Sober’ terrified me and gave me countless nightmares. However, their style, their album release pattern, their visuals, all combines to form a musical entity that should not be popular. And yet, something about Tool has people consistently begging for more and craving each album to enter yet another musical journey. Admittedly, I’m one of those people. Having seen Tool six times in concert, I can completely attest to the power of their music not only as an aural experience, but when coupled with their visuals, as a powerful, almost meditative force.

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on September 01, 2010 @ 3:20am
Category: Music / News

This month’s Retro Review brings you to a group that is considered one of the founders of industrial music: Test Dept. Originally formed in 1981 in London, Test Dept. was considered a group that created music as a means of revolt to the surrounding events of the times. Their use of unconventional instrumentation (including pipes, metal beams, and other dilapidated construction equipment) gave their sound a very raw, mechanical tone that was often jarring and jolting to the senses. As time went on, their sound became progressively more techno inspired, although the mechanical influences stayed with them. Their final album, ‘Tactics For Evolution’, was released in 1997. Check after the jump to read my opinion!

testdepttfecover Retro Review: Test Dept. Tactics For Evolution

Don’t forget to comment with your suggestion for next month’s Retro Review!

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on August 01, 2010 @ 1:58am
Category: Music / News

So, it’s the end of another month and I bring you yet another Retro Review. Now, in the comments of the last review, I got two requests, both for metal albums (don’t worry guys, I’ve got them saved and will come to them later). However, to try and introduce some diversity into the music section, I wanted to do a review for something that might not be exactly expected. So, with this review, I’m doing something completely out of the style of music that I usually review in the Bloody-Disgusting music section: Portishead’s debut album, ‘Dummy’.

portisheaddummycover Retro Review: Portishead Dummy

Don’t forget to leave a comment with what you would like next months Retro Review to be! In the meantime, check after the jump to hear my thoughts on ‘Dummy’.

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on July 01, 2010 @ 4:40am
Category: Music / News

Okay, so it’s been quite a bit since I’ve done a Retro Review but I’ve been thinking of how I wanted to approach this. So I decided, I’ll do one at the end of each month but I’ll leave it to YOU, the readers, to decide what album to do next. To suggest an album, simply leave a comment below with what you’d like me to review. The only guideline is that the album has to be at least 10 years old. I know that my first Retro Review (Porcupine Tree’s In Absentia) doesn’t fit that guideline, but hey, I’m starting this anew. So from here on out, with each Retro Review, leave a comment, I’ll pick an album at random and that will be the next month’s review. But for now, on to ‘Slaughter of the Soul’.