An Ounce of Despair, a Ton of Awesome

File Under: Hearing is Believing

It is a historical fact that amazingly engineered things come out of Japan. The Katana, the World-War II Era Zero Fighter, consumer electronics, and automobiles are among some of this island-nation’s many claims to fame. Recent automotive manufacturing faux-pas’ aside, when it comes to putting thing one with thing two to make an efficient, purposeful product Japanese scientists and industrialists have, for the most part, definitely showed the rest of the world how to walk this way. However, today I discovered a Japanese export that took me completely by surprise – industrial metal.

I am talking about D’espairsRay and this band holds its own musically. The musicianship and synthesizing are fresh and edgy, a case study in hard-driving metal and artfully orchestrated industrial sounds. The group blends well a mélange of goth, electronic, hard rock, and even alternative pop influences. The resultant sound is a refreshing addition to the new breed of metal characterized by such groups as Killswitch Engage, but this group truly forges their own unique sub category of metal. However, the true beauty of this group is their ability and almost affinity to be style flexible, almost style neutral. Each song is as good as the last and a new experience unto itself.

The music is enough to recommend this band wholeheartedly. However, the group does not rest on its substantial instrumental ability. Where other bands fall flat to my ear this band shines. The vocal presence of the lead vocalist is amazing. Hizumi can belt out blood screams and death growls with the best of the metal maestros of Europe or North America. I could say more about this band, but I am sure you get the point. If you like metal and all of its illegitimate offspring, listen to D'espairsRay - they are good.

May 16, 2010, music in general and metal in specific received an egregious blow with the passing of a an icon and heavy metal legend. I never truly properly eulogized Ronnie James Dio, but truly what else could I possibly add? Dio was, is, and always will be awesome. Therefore, for this metal edition of Hearing is Believing it is only appropriate I leave you with the group that started my love affair with heavy metal. From August in the Year of the Bane, off the debut album of the heavy metal group Dio, here is Ronnie James Dio singing "Holy Diver." R.I.P. Ronnie, if there is a Heavy Metal Heaven it has one Hell of a band...

Forget Platinum. True Players Wear Brass.

File Under: Hearing is Believing

(c) 2010 Patricia Field

Bane is not all work and no play. He likes to have fun and has been known, on occasion, to get 'jiggy." With this in mind, I bring you “Hearing is Believing,” great new and old music that comes across my desk. Bane likes to mellow out periodically, and when he does, it probably involves music in some way; and so it was that today I needed to mellow out. I opened my Last.fm Scrobbler, and queued up the “Jazz” tag channel. On came the Coltrane, the Sade, the Michael Buble, the Nina Simone, the Ella, and slowly the calm came along with them. However, I was completely unprepared for the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.

I consider myself at least a moderate admirer of classical and instrumental music, and I love when artists use untraditional instruments in unique ways. For instance, when Bon Scott (of AC/DC) first introduced me to Rock and Roll bagpipes, I was blown away. However, never did I imagine I would have my musical world rocked by the oft-overlooked baritone and the humble sousaphone.





Hailing from the Windy City with a rich musical history, this 9-piece band masterfully blends jazz, funk, fusion, and a touch of hip-hop tinged neo-soul to create a funky, innovative sound that is reminiscent of the best works of Herb Alpert, Isaac Hayes, and War. If one could say music has entered into a state of creative cardiac arrest, this group is without a doubt a shot of adrenaline to its chest.


For the lead-out clip, I bring you the song that changed things for me. With Phil Rudd on drums, Mark Evans on bass, Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, Angus Young on lead guitar, and the late Bon Scott on lead vocals and Rock Highland bagpipes; here is AC/DC performing, "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)."





If you are interested in what else The Bane listens to or you want to suggest something, add me on Last.fm or YouTube.