For those of you who have been listening to this show for a long time (THANKS!), you may recall in earlier episodes, Kyle and Brian would all-out verbal brawls over reviews of albums when they had striking differences in opinion. While you may have noticed that those fights have not happened for some time (you’re welcome), the opening review of this episode demonstrates one of the more more constructive ways those differing opinions can be used to create an interesting review (similar in fashion to the Killswitch review, some episodes back). That’s not to say jabs aren’t made through the rest of the episode, but things are certainly better than they were.
Also this week, we have a (Side)Showcase, which we haven’t done since the episode with the aforementioned Killswitch review. There’s also some more fun ball-busting, metal reviewing, and pop culture references Nick will not give Kyle the satisfaction of having. And we promise this show is shorter than last week’s!
Reviews: ASG – Blood Drive (Relapse); Dark Tranquillity – Construct (Century Media); The Resistance – Scars (earMusic); TesseracT – Altered States (Century Media)
(Side)Showcase: Oblivious Signal
Tesseract – Altered State
The Resistance – Scars
ASG – Blood Drive
Dark Tranquillity – Construct
(Side)Showcase:
Oblivious Signal
The Sideshow Podcast 
Your collective rant about pre-orders is exactly why I don’t do pre-orders.
I’ve only listened to Altered State by TesseracT once so far, and to coin a phrase you used last week regarding Dillinger, it is a “grower, not a show-er.” But so far it seems good but I need to give it more time to sink in. My only real initial impression of it is that with this new singer, they seem to want to sound even more like Periphery. I realize that’s what Djent sounds like, but there has to be something you can do within djent in order to distinguish yourself from Periphery a little more. I have a feeling that as I listen to it more, the Periphery comparison might not be as apparent, but that is what struck me at first.
Regarding Brian’s ratings, I equate a 5 from Brian as a buy, a 4 as a try, and a 3 is a skip. As Kyle points out, Brian starts with a baseline of a 3 so he doesn’t give out 2s or 1s.
Regarding radio rock, I think that many radio listeners have made the switch to satellite (though none of you seem to have, nor have I). Liquid Metal seems to be the one and only place for metal on the radio these days. I only know this because rental cars sometimes have satellite radio in them.
I’m eager to hear a review of the new Alice In chains album from you guys. That and Queens of the Stone Age are both albums that I see as being hit or miss so I’m not planning on getting either of them until I find out what the reviews of them are.
HAHA! I LOVE that you have special considerations for Brian’s reviews.
I get the Periphery comparison because of the new singers higher register, but I think with a couple more listens you’ll agree that that is where the similarities between the two stop. For one, Ashe can actually nail the higher notes that Spencer struggles with. Also, he never screams.
I FINALLY got my AiC preorder, so we’ll definitely be doing that one this week. Surprisingly, Queens of the Stone Age never really connected with me all that well. You may have to turn elsewhere for a review on that one. I don’t know that any of us plan on picking it up, or would be qualified to give informed opinions if we did.
You mean Kyle doesn’t like Queens of the Stone Age? If QOTSA never connected with you, it could be because their last two albums were terrible. But previous albums of theirs were good.