Klatzke
12/01/08, 07:07 AM
Ligeia - Bad News
Record Label: Victory Records
Release Date: August 5, 2008
Bands like this are what make me completely lose faith in the metalcore scene. This may be a bad way to put it, but these guys are extremely talented. Why is this making my faith wane? Because they've wasted it, completely and totally. The lyrics of this album are so terrible that they bring any artistic expression in the music to a complete halt. On top of that, while some of the lyrics seem to condone the message of the album, others seem to give a completely different view and almost seem to be preaching about the evil of it.
The albums title and cover may be enough to tell you what the albums about, but just in case it's not, the album is about sex, girls, drinking, and drugs, so, basically 'the party scene.' While some of the lyrics are alright, some are cringe-worthy, and others are downright terrible. Basically, it's almost like a half-assed rapper wrote all of their lyrics, and the effect is terrible. For example, from "Hoodrat": "So many boyfriends/ 15 to 36/ from one tune to the next/ you're sucking dick./.../ bitch, you's a hoe/ you try to get in my pants but i always say no/.../ you fucked all of my friends so i gotta say no." The shock factor held me over for a few seconds, but I quickly realized that these lyrics are nothing short of garbage. This isn't the only time where the lyrics are this atrocious, for example from "Teenage Wasteland": "Ladies Ladies don't be shy/ you wanna be my girl tonight?/ HELL YEAH/ we're so fucking out of control/ so fuck your problems/ raise your drink and just let them go/ I know I'm going to hell/ who's coming with me?/ I know I'm going to hell/ and you wanna know what?/ I just don't give a fuck." I can still appreciate bands with bad lyrics, but these are almost impossible to get past.
However, as far as the quality of actual music goes, they're talented. Both the clean lyrics and growls are above average. The songs flow well, and the breakdowns are well placed. Overall, as far as musicianship goes, I don't have a single problem with them. The clean vocals are notably great, and the tracks they're in go over great. The guitar and drums are powerful and driven, and the drummer places the bass kicks in the best places. Possibly the best songs lyrically and musically are the completely clean-vocals of "Bombshell" and "Heroin Diaries."
Ligeia has both impressed and appalled me with Bad News. While the musicianship, vocals, and songwriting are excellent, I just cannot stand to give this band anything better than an average. If they can come out of the gutter and write quality lyrics for their next release, then Ligeia could release a truly marvelous metalcore album. As for now though, the lyrics of this album just make it too hard for me to take seriously.
SEX DRUGS AND ROCK 'N ROLL; All That Remains' Overcome
myspace.com/ligeia (http://www.myspace.com/ligeia)
originally posted at highbeamreview.com on July 27, 2008
Record Label: Victory Records
Release Date: August 5, 2008
Bands like this are what make me completely lose faith in the metalcore scene. This may be a bad way to put it, but these guys are extremely talented. Why is this making my faith wane? Because they've wasted it, completely and totally. The lyrics of this album are so terrible that they bring any artistic expression in the music to a complete halt. On top of that, while some of the lyrics seem to condone the message of the album, others seem to give a completely different view and almost seem to be preaching about the evil of it.
The albums title and cover may be enough to tell you what the albums about, but just in case it's not, the album is about sex, girls, drinking, and drugs, so, basically 'the party scene.' While some of the lyrics are alright, some are cringe-worthy, and others are downright terrible. Basically, it's almost like a half-assed rapper wrote all of their lyrics, and the effect is terrible. For example, from "Hoodrat": "So many boyfriends/ 15 to 36/ from one tune to the next/ you're sucking dick./.../ bitch, you's a hoe/ you try to get in my pants but i always say no/.../ you fucked all of my friends so i gotta say no." The shock factor held me over for a few seconds, but I quickly realized that these lyrics are nothing short of garbage. This isn't the only time where the lyrics are this atrocious, for example from "Teenage Wasteland": "Ladies Ladies don't be shy/ you wanna be my girl tonight?/ HELL YEAH/ we're so fucking out of control/ so fuck your problems/ raise your drink and just let them go/ I know I'm going to hell/ who's coming with me?/ I know I'm going to hell/ and you wanna know what?/ I just don't give a fuck." I can still appreciate bands with bad lyrics, but these are almost impossible to get past.
However, as far as the quality of actual music goes, they're talented. Both the clean lyrics and growls are above average. The songs flow well, and the breakdowns are well placed. Overall, as far as musicianship goes, I don't have a single problem with them. The clean vocals are notably great, and the tracks they're in go over great. The guitar and drums are powerful and driven, and the drummer places the bass kicks in the best places. Possibly the best songs lyrically and musically are the completely clean-vocals of "Bombshell" and "Heroin Diaries."
Ligeia has both impressed and appalled me with Bad News. While the musicianship, vocals, and songwriting are excellent, I just cannot stand to give this band anything better than an average. If they can come out of the gutter and write quality lyrics for their next release, then Ligeia could release a truly marvelous metalcore album. As for now though, the lyrics of this album just make it too hard for me to take seriously.
SEX DRUGS AND ROCK 'N ROLL; All That Remains' Overcome
myspace.com/ligeia (http://www.myspace.com/ligeia)
originally posted at highbeamreview.com on July 27, 2008