Chiodos *album review*
Chiodos
Brandon Bolmer – vocals
Bradley Bell – keyboards, vocals
Pat McManaman – guitar
Matt Goddard – bass
Jason Hale – guitar
Tanner Wayne – drums
Chiodos
Most bands go through lineup changes, and Chiodos is no stranger to the concept. Â Although it’s their fifth studio release, this is Brandon Bolmer’s first record with the band, which has made it an extremely anticipated release among fans. Â After the departure of Craig Owens (who is a well-known vocalist in “the scene”), fans were skeptical of someone new stepping in. Â Since I was never one to listen to Chiodos in the past, I can hear this album with fresh, unbiased ears and judge it for what it is without comparing Bolmer to Owens one bit. Â I heard Chiodos here and there in the past, but nothing ever really snagged my attention.
In this scene, it’s difficult for a band to grab my attention and keep it, to be honest, because most bands have extremely similar sounds. Â However, after receiving Illuminaudio for review, I really sat and listened through the album in it’s entireitely, multiple times, and it’s a nice change from the usual screamo, metal-core bands out now. Â It actually has a lot of nice melodic singing with a perfect mix of some screaming (without the screaming dominating the vocals, as it tends to do in this scene…).
October 5th, 2010, Chiodos fans everywhere got what they wanted and Illuminaudio hit stores. Â What do they think? Who cares? Now what I do think? I give it a thumbs up! Yes… one…. not two… but that’s pretty good coming from me since I drink my Haterade every morning. Gulp.
Available Now!
Available Now!
Track List:
1. Illuminaudio
2. Caves
3. Love Is A Cat From Hell
4. Modern Wolf Hair
5. Notes In Constellations
6. Scaremonger
7. His Story Repeats Itself
8. Let Us Burn One
9. Hey Zeus! The Dungeon
10. Stratovolcano Mouth
11. Those Who Slay Together, Stay Together
12. Closed Eyes Still Look Forward
The album has a typical “intro” style. A quick 1:45 long with a slow lead into the second track, Caves, which happens to be my favorite track on the album. Â The chorus really shows off Bolmer’s vocals and the screaming reminds me a little bit of Chino of the Deftones.. and come on… we all love the Deftones. Â Yesterday’s Rising, the band that Bolmer left to join Chiodos, is really missing out.
The band took a whopping 15 months working on this album, and it was definitely worth their time. It’s well produced, well put together, and really shows off how they’ve matured as a band. Â The layered vocals are probably my favorite thing on the album. Â I am sincerely impressed with how well Bolmer sounds, and I’m sure Chiodos fans are as well.
Illuminaudio is out now on Equal Vision Records and I highly recommend checking it out. You can also check Chiodos out on tour with Atreyu, blessthefall, Architects (UK), and Endless Hallway. Â As of now, the dates are:
Oct 20 Â Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues
Oct 21 Â San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
Oct 22 Â Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
Oct 23 Â Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
Oct 25 Â Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
Oct 26 Â Spokane, WA @ The Knitting Factory
Oct 27 Â Calgary, AB, CAN @ MacEwan Hall
Oct 28 Â Edmonton, AB CAN @ Edmonton Events Centre
Oct 29 Â Saskatoon, SK, CAN @ The Odeon (Canada)
Oct 30 Â Winnipeg, MB, CAN @ Garrick Center
Oct 31 Â Thunder Bay, ON, CAN @ Jacks*
Nov 02 Â Toronto, ON, CAN @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
Nov 03 Â Montreal, QC, CAN @ Metropolis
Nov 04 Â Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
Nov 05 Â Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
Nov 06 Â Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Nov 07 Â Vineland, NJ @ Hangar 84**
Nov 08 Â Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
Nov 09  Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr Small’s
Nov 10 Â Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
Nov 12 Â Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House Of Blues
Nov 13 Â Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
Nov 14 Â Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
Nov 15 Â Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor
Nov 17 Â Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
Nov 18 Â Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues
Nov 19 Â Minneapolis, MN @ The Cabooze
Nov 20 Â Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont Club
Nov 21 Â Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
Nov 23 Â San Antonio, TX @ Backstage Live
Nov 24 Â Dallas, TX @ South Side Music Hall
Nov 26 Â Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
Nov 27 Â Los Angeles, CA @ House Of Blues
* Â w/Architects [UK], more TBA
** w/locals TBA
Chiodos – Photo credit: Tim Harmon
To learn more about Chiodos, check out:
About the Author
Denise Borders 39, Los Angeles. Denise founded PWV in 2008 and remains the primary manager and photographer/videographer. She is not secretly obsessed with Joey Cape.
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