American Terror
Influencer
EMP Label Group
2020
I was unsure of what to expect from this. American Terror comprises of Robert Hammersmith (current Skid Row drummer), Murphy Karges (ex-Sugar Ray), as a studio bassist, DJ Soulman (Phunk Junkeez) along with vocalist Brad Cox from Greyson Manor and guitarist Pat Valley.
A motley crew of characters that put forth a bizarre metal punk hybrid, that’s reminiscent of many things at once, at times sounds charming and at others just as an imitation of something better and more substantial.
It’s clearly an “American” made album, with the sort of sensitivities, or lack thereof that you’d expect from that very statement.
Opener “Judgement” sounds like discount store RATM, while “Denial” is a charging almost hardcore at times tune, that’s not a mile away from older Prong, but with melodic choruses, which are more contemporary and sugarcoated.
I won’t hide the fact that I find “How Do you Like Me Now” to be groovy as fuck in a way that recalls early Korn mixed with Ministry and Manson, all thrown in an acid vat and coming out of it screaming.
“Retribution” is simple, punky and sort of cleans up the acid vibes from its predecessor.
“People (Piss Me off)” is a fast punk number with a splash of ghetto thrown in there… that doesn’t overstay its welcome and it’s kind of enjoyable, without managing to rival, however bands that did that style much better, ST I’m looking at ya.
That and “She’s A Bitch” end up sounding more like an edgier Offspring, rather than anything else and the only problem is that I never found the latter to be too edgy. If this came from teenagers it would be sort of fun and great, middle aged men – rapping about this shit, feels disingenuous.
“The Threat” has the RATM/Prong sort of vibe going on once more, but it’s squarer and by the numbers… not that I suppose that didn’t work for the aforementioned back in the day, but I have no clue, how it would work these days.
“Prophet for Profit” is a rap rocker, which is reminiscent of the tail end of the 90s, the Bitzkits etc., not really my cup of tea and that title is nicked from a John Waters movie, most probably which I guess is cool, but not cool enough to make up for the outdated wigga – style.
Lastly, “Break Free” sounds like more melodic Korn and “PC Me” sort of like a whiny mix of all of the above, probably being one of the more original tracks on here, or at least, one in which all the influences manage to coexist… well, I wasn’t gonna say harmoniously, but making a little dissonant sense in the grand scheme of things.
Would have been fun to, some twenty years ago and it might still be, but I think that most of the intended crowd for an album like this has grown up considerably to be into it. Probably…
A motley crew of characters that put forth a bizarre metal punk hybrid, that’s reminiscent of many things at once, at times sounds charming and at others just as an imitation of something better and more substantial.
It’s clearly an “American” made album, with the sort of sensitivities, or lack thereof that you’d expect from that very statement.
Opener “Judgement” sounds like discount store RATM, while “Denial” is a charging almost hardcore at times tune, that’s not a mile away from older Prong, but with melodic choruses, which are more contemporary and sugarcoated.
I won’t hide the fact that I find “How Do you Like Me Now” to be groovy as fuck in a way that recalls early Korn mixed with Ministry and Manson, all thrown in an acid vat and coming out of it screaming.
“Retribution” is simple, punky and sort of cleans up the acid vibes from its predecessor.
“People (Piss Me off)” is a fast punk number with a splash of ghetto thrown in there… that doesn’t overstay its welcome and it’s kind of enjoyable, without managing to rival, however bands that did that style much better, ST I’m looking at ya.
That and “She’s A Bitch” end up sounding more like an edgier Offspring, rather than anything else and the only problem is that I never found the latter to be too edgy. If this came from teenagers it would be sort of fun and great, middle aged men – rapping about this shit, feels disingenuous.
“The Threat” has the RATM/Prong sort of vibe going on once more, but it’s squarer and by the numbers… not that I suppose that didn’t work for the aforementioned back in the day, but I have no clue, how it would work these days.
“Prophet for Profit” is a rap rocker, which is reminiscent of the tail end of the 90s, the Bitzkits etc., not really my cup of tea and that title is nicked from a John Waters movie, most probably which I guess is cool, but not cool enough to make up for the outdated wigga – style.
Lastly, “Break Free” sounds like more melodic Korn and “PC Me” sort of like a whiny mix of all of the above, probably being one of the more original tracks on here, or at least, one in which all the influences manage to coexist… well, I wasn’t gonna say harmoniously, but making a little dissonant sense in the grand scheme of things.
Would have been fun to, some twenty years ago and it might still be, but I think that most of the intended crowd for an album like this has grown up considerably to be into it. Probably…