Album Reviews
Metallica returns to form after 8 years with an album that goes back to their roots and has several of their best songs in the last couple decades. This album has some great new songs and there isn’t a bad one in my opinion. This is one of their more complete albums and has some songs that are catchy and other that feel like old-school thrash Metallica. 5/5
With an ever changing lineup Megadeth has been able to almost always remain conistantly great and this album is no expection. Addition of a new drummer and guitarist Kiko Louriero adds a new energy to the group and contains some of the best solos since Friedman left the band. 5/5
The second studio aldum from the hard rock trio takes a more experimental approach and has some good songs, but also some not so good songs. I’m still trying to figure out exactly what style of music this band plays and if I like it or not but they definitely have something special. 3/5
Another of the big four to release and album this year and it should not be forgotten. Anthrax often takes a back seat to the other great metal bands but this album shows they can still make great music. One of the best songs of the year ‘Blood Eagle Wings’ highlights this album and it has a very good pace to it. 4/5
Before this album I wasn’t a big fan of Mastodon but this is easily one of their best albums. The songwriting and singing took a step forward from their past works and the instruments are strong as always. This is an album you can listen through fully and each song offers a unique sound. 4/5
I'm not the biggest Avenged Sevenfold fan but I have liked some of there songs and they have made a name for themselves in metal. This album seems to take a step back from some of their previous work and nothing stands out to me as a major improvement but rather more of the same. 3/5
I grew up listening to this band and from the late 90s to early 2000s they had some of the best rock music out there. Since Stadium Arcadium released in 2006 they haven't made a huge impression on me and while this album has some good songs it doesn't match what they were making in their prime. If you like their style it is worth a listen but it isn't their best work. 3/5
I think Green Day is one of those bands that won't make you disappointed but also won't blow you away. If you like the band then this is another solid album but it sounds relatively the same as every other album they have made. They are still one of the better punk rock groups out there but at some point you can only listen to the same time of song for so long. 3/5
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Sample Songs from each album above and form your own opinion
Gear Reviews
Line 6 Spider 4 Amp
This might not be the best amp you can get but for the price it is a very solid practice amp. It has a good range of tones and effects and can get very loud. If you are playing shows or recording music you may want to invest in a more expesnive amp, but if you are practicing or new to guitar this may be a perfect fit for you. Line 6 may not have the best reputation but this amp can give you a loud metal tone and a clean tone, as well as everything in between. It also has a range of effects so as delay, reverb and chorus so you don’t need to spend money on effects pedals.
7/10: For the price and for what it’s meant to be used for it is a very solid amp that has some cool features.
Ovation Electric-Acoustic Guitar
I wanted to try an electric acoustic guitar having never owned one and while I like the guitar, I’m not a fan of the concept. This is a relatively cheap guitar so you get what you pay for. As an acoustic instrument it holds it own with other soley acoustic guitars of that price range. It is easy to play and sounds pretty good. As far as the electric feature of the guitar goes it does what it should but doesn’t sound great when amplified. I think there are some more expensive electric-acoustic guitars that might sound better than this particular model but I think the sound doesn’t sound quite acoustic or electric when you plug it into an amp. It functions well as a acoustic guitar and works with an amp, so for the price I can’t complain about how it sounds.
7/10: Not the best guitar you can by but sounds good as an acoustic and works as an electric.
Tc electronic Looper Pedal
This is one of the cheapest loop pedals you can find, which is partly why I bought it, and you shouldn’t expect much from it. This pedal is tiny and only has one switch and one button limting what you can do with it. For what it can do I was happy with how it works and the controls, while very simple are easy to use. It can loop multiple tracks and allows you to delete and add new loops. If you want to record some simple loop tracks and don’t want to spend a lot this pedal will work fine but it is cheaper than almost all other loop pedals for a reason. You can’t save tracks or tell exactly which loop is which. You also can only have one at a time, so once you start over your old one is gone forever.
6/10: Cheap and does what it should but a loop pedal should do more.
Boss Distortion Pedal
This is another popular pedal that won’t break the bank and while it might not be the best disrotion pedal out there, it is a very solid effect. It is a good size and allows you to adjust the tone and distortion levels to give you a range of sounds. The pedal is a very good size and feels durable. It offers a fairly wide range of tones and level of distortion and can adjust to the style you want to play. Although depending on your style of play you may want a pedal more suited to your specific needs, this pedal has a wide range and will work for almost any guitar player. This is one of the best first pedals to own but also can be an integral part of the best guitar players pedal board.
9/10: Good sound and not too expensive, works for any guitarist looking for a rock tone.
Cry Baby Wah Pedal
I’ll admit this is the only wah pedal I have used but that is in part because there is no need to use another. This is one of the most popular pedals and rightly so as it gives a unique tone that only a wah pedal can produce. It feels very comfortable to use and seems durable. It is also reasonably priced and stands up with any other wah pedal if not exceeding all other. It should be a part of your effects lineup and is one of the staple pedals for many players.
10/10 no complaints, sounds great, works great, nothing better. Priced right
