Lody Kong
Dreams and Visions
Mascot Records
2016
In a bit of a nepotistic move, Mascot Label Group releases Lody Kong’s debut album “Dreams and Visions” formed by Zyon (whose in-utero heartbeat is the intro to “Chaos AD”) and Igor Cavalera (sons of Max and Gloria Cavalera) much like a similar project, spearheaded by Mike Portnoy’s kid, the obvious reason why this must have been signed seems to be the “name” or rather the “surname”… because their generic “groove” oriented material is not much to write home about…
This actually sounds like a wimpier and lighter Soulfly meets all these “post-fly” that the Cavalera’s have been involving themselves in to mask their lack of inspiration and dwindling sales, all the while taking piss shots at their former Sep-mates. Zyon is a drummer (and he’s actually been also the drummer for the last two Soulfly albums) and Igor Cavalera (Jr) handles vocals & guitar along with John Bauer and Shea ‘Shanks’ Fahey on bass.
Their “grungier” punkier Soulfly hybrid lacks convincing riffs and sounds very generic and samey (almost permanently stuck in mid-tempo) and junior’s vocals are just generally aggro but lack conviction. The album has a trio of “better” songs in the middle, ie “Pig in the Pen”, “Rumsfield” and “Smashed and Blasted” while the trippy “Topaz” sounds different, but that doesn’t automatically equal good.
Overall, the children of the “rainforest” tribe disappoint quite sorely and that’s probably because they grew up in the States in the care of a rich Rock Star dad… so they could never have “capture” the guttural feel of the “early” Sep works or even the Nailbomb nihilism… gotta give it to ‘em that they sound good production wise though, but that’s about all there is to this...
This actually sounds like a wimpier and lighter Soulfly meets all these “post-fly” that the Cavalera’s have been involving themselves in to mask their lack of inspiration and dwindling sales, all the while taking piss shots at their former Sep-mates. Zyon is a drummer (and he’s actually been also the drummer for the last two Soulfly albums) and Igor Cavalera (Jr) handles vocals & guitar along with John Bauer and Shea ‘Shanks’ Fahey on bass.
Their “grungier” punkier Soulfly hybrid lacks convincing riffs and sounds very generic and samey (almost permanently stuck in mid-tempo) and junior’s vocals are just generally aggro but lack conviction. The album has a trio of “better” songs in the middle, ie “Pig in the Pen”, “Rumsfield” and “Smashed and Blasted” while the trippy “Topaz” sounds different, but that doesn’t automatically equal good.
Overall, the children of the “rainforest” tribe disappoint quite sorely and that’s probably because they grew up in the States in the care of a rich Rock Star dad… so they could never have “capture” the guttural feel of the “early” Sep works or even the Nailbomb nihilism… gotta give it to ‘em that they sound good production wise though, but that’s about all there is to this...