Rock Talk
Jacqui Streety, editor-in-chief

Horns should go flying across campus this semester because there is a lot of good music coming out.

I’m most excited about the new System of a Down album. They worked all through last year writing two new albums that will be released this year. The first, “Mesmerize,” will hit the shelves sometime this semester, and the second one, “Hypnotize,” will be out in the fall.

Also tentatively scheduled to be out this spring is a new album from one of my all-time favorite bands, the gods of Hardcore/Straightedge, none other than Throwdown. The album will be called, “Vendetta,” and it’s definitely something for all Hardcore junkies to look forward to. This Orange County quintet has been rocking true for quite some time, and I read that Dave Peters, vocalist, says this is better and heavier than anything you’ve ever heard from the band. I don’t know about anyone else, but I saw them this summer, and if they can rock me harder than they did—the new stuff must be insane.

On Feb. 22, there will be the release of another great Hardcore album, “O’ God, the Aftermath” by Norma Jean.

Apparently the month of March is going to be a great one, because there are a ton of CDs coming out. Check it out:

The Mars Volta, the amazing genre-free band will release their sophomore effort, “Frances the Mute” on March 1.

Then, a new DVD from the greatest Brazilians to ever walk the face of God’s green earth, that’s right, I’m talking about Max Cavalera and Soulfly. It’s called “The Song Remains Insane” (nice pun, a play on Zeppelin’s song), and it will hit stores on March 11.

I found a new band the other day who has just been signed to Roadrunner Records. Trivium is the name of the group, and their debut album will see a March 15 release date. Currently, they have a single, “Pull Harder on the Strings of your Martyr,” which is an excellent track. If you like metalcore music, then this could be the new band for you. I dig ‘em.

There will be two awesome releases on March 22. The first is “Lullabies to Paralyze” by Queens of the Stone Age and then a box set by the bat-eating-godfather-of-rock-n-roll. Ozzy’s box set will be titled appropriately, “Prince of Darkness.”

As some may know, Lamb of God was once called Burn the Priest and recorded an album under that name. But it never got big (more of an underground thing). Then they changed their name to Lamb of God some five years ago. Now, they have decided to reissue the Burn the Priest album (thank god because it’s amazing). Well, it was supposed to be released on Dec. 21, but, it has been pushed back to March. There is no tentative release date, just some time that month, according to the guy who answers their emails.

Also, Bloodsimple (Vision of Disorder/Downset) have a new album, “A Cruel World,” which will be out sometime in March. The actual date is TBA.

Like Tool? Then you should like Feersum Ennjin, a new project headed by Paul D’Amour. Their debut EP will be released later this year.

Speaking of new projects from members of other bands, some of the guys from Sevendust, Stereomud, DoubleDrive and Skrape have joined forces to make the band Dark Blue, which will release an album later this year. I’m not quite sure what to expect but I’ve heard it’s very bluesy.

Everytime I die (Ozzfest ’04 Hardcore act) will be releasing their new album, tentatively titled, “Gutter Phenomenon” later this year as well. This is something to look forward to, because I saw them at Ozzfest this past summer and they rocked.

Apparently, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have finished writing their new record and are in the studio recording. No date is set yet, but it should be sometime this year.

Usually, I don’t like tribute albums, but I was reading that there is going to be one for Smashing Pumpkins, and it actually sounds like it’s going to be killer. There’s an all-star lineup of bands set to rock “The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins.” It will be released later this year, with appearances by such important bands as: From Autumn to Ashes, Poison the Well, Hopesfall, and Underoath (all of which are really great Hardcore acts that I dig a lot).

Another album due out soon is the currently untitled effort from Chimaira, who hit the studios recently to begin recording.

Looking far into the future, the summer seems like it’s shaping up to be pretty interesting.

Cold will be releasing “The Calm that Killed the Storm” in May, and Devil Driver will put out “The Fury of Our Maker’s Hand” on July 7.

On July 26, the funky gods of rock and rap, 311, will be releasing an as yet untitled album.

Also this summer, be sure to look for the new album from Funeral for a Friend. Then the new one from Darkest Hour (another band that rocked the second stage of Ozzfest this past summer) who teamed up with Lamb of God’s producer for their album due out this summer).

That’s all I’ve got. From your host who rocks the most, peace out.