Satan's Luau

I should say that with me its about the music. No matter what you may think of the message ... I think that if you can get past your qualms (should you have any), some of the bands are really great

So the other great discovery is this band called Pillar. And Pillar, like Stryper, if you've been following along since a couple of days ago, is named after a Bible motto/verse. This time the verse is I Timothy 3:15 ... since you're on the Internet, should you have a need to find out what it says, the web is at your fingertips (and yes, the verse does have the word pillar in it)

So two nights ago, I bought their CD Fireproof after hearing Echelon on Reign radio ... and I was like WOW, these guys have a really great sound. Well, its so great that MCA signed them to a mainstream 4-album deal. The independent disc Fireproof (which I got from Circuit City) is going to be remixed for richer sound (add in a DVD) and released on MCA on JUNE 10th (... yeah, that's right, Metallicatz ... St. Anger's Day!!!!)

And if you pay attention, from April 28, MCA is pushing the single Fireproof and you should be able to hear it on a Star 101.9 or KPOI or LA's world famous KROQ near you and see the vid on MTV ... how cool is that, well you be the judge

So last night I went back to look for their first major independent release ABOVE, and much to my surprise it was there at CC ... I also saw Matrix there with his friend who I haven't seen in over 5 years (i think, poor memory on my part)

So let's break em down, so that when they hit the mainstream you can be like oh, I've been into them for 2-3 months already ... be SASSY like that

ABOVE (2000): A-

Am I infected with "nu-metal" disease? First off, these boys if they were in the mainstream would either be classified as nu-metal or groove-metal (like 311).

So you guys know what to expect out of that genre ... Pillar's sound hits the listener with its heavy guitar riffs, big fat groove of a pounding hip-hop beat, with a unique sounding vocal line that does the singing, rapping, screaming waltz.

Okay, I guess what may ease one's transition to this CD is if one likes the sound of 311, Rage Against the Machine, or POD. Their hit "Live For Him" takes the familiar elements of the 311 Down sound and hits it heavier both in the riff sense and the groove sense. They explore the reggaeish side of the 311 styling in "Original Superman" but make effective use of a dynamic rising chorus (neato)

"You Should Know" takes the best of a RATM crunchy mid-tempo, a Fred Durst delivery, and then breaks it back with 311 grooviness in the chorus --- its like eating the best of the nu-metal buffet ... The RATM and early 90s Red Hot Chili Pepper funky ass sound is the basis of "Guess Who's Won" (you know what, I think I'd like RHCP a hell of a lot better if Kiedis sounded like Rob Berkley, the voice of Pillar)

"Time to Play" uses a RATM type rap flow and combines with a 311 singsong groovy chorus and scratch efx (Hella Interesting)

Their other big hit "Open Your Eyes" is based in a bottom heavy dive bomb riff, has a tight rapid fire rap delivery ... with a harmonic chorus (at this point, I think the harmonic chorus thing although good is not as effective here, because it doesn't blend as well with the hard hitting verse)

In "Something Real" they take a RHCP-sounding riff , dirty it up and combine it with clean stringy 70s funk (again, if only RHCP vocals were like this, I'd pay fan club dues)

"Reaching out" has a 70s soul and funky feel to it with clean jazz guitar riff to it (almost scarily like Kalapana from Hawaii), but the bridge is so catchy, it will grab you with its LinkinPark like moodiness and heavy emo

If you want a RUN DMC groove, "Galactic Grooves" is old-school sounding rap fun with Knowdaverbz as the guest rappers ... the diversity of sounds on this disc is cool

Even more diverse is the Snoop flow "All Day Everyday" with the Korn scream breakdown and RATM-like preachy bridge... Want more diversity, try on a late 90s modern alterna-rock ballad in "Father", its a testament to the neat musical concept Pillar is hitting on

I realize nu-metallish sounds ain't for everyone, but this disc is solid in the fundamentals of the genre and then combines the best of the breed to come up with some of the freshest stuff in the year of Linkin Park (2000-2001)

FIREPROOF (2002):B+

Where to start? ... well, this album has a harder edge to it... its heavy in the butt with guitar riffing and really thick nu-metal rap feel

One of the most striking things about this CD is the slipcase with the orange flames and the angular Pillar logo ... the jewelcase photos are kind of standaround guys with vocalist cliched nu-metal posing

A word of warning, when I listened to the album all the way through the first time, it seemed to me like after track 3 everything in between had a sameness about it (except for "Further", which is similar to ABOVE's "Father" in that it has a updated 2000-sy alterna-rock ballad feel) ... I guess nu-metal sounding riffs can sometimes sound as if they are running together

The obvious soundalike qualities of this album are based in POD, Linkin Park, and RedCap Fred rap delivery

There are two obvious hits on this album. They are "Fireproof" and "Echelon". "Fireproof" sounds like what "Youth of the Nation" from POD should have sounded like (ooh, I hate YOTN) ... dynamic echoey guitar riff, vocal harmonies, lively drumming, and a LP's Shinoda-esque rap delivery

"Just to Get By" is like the sound great bizarre love child of POD and LP, with a bridge that takes hints of LP and drives them through your gut--- catchy as hell

The second single "Echelon" continues the mating of LP & POD influences with really great results ... its refreshing to hear a guitar solo in a nu-metal song along with unique digital tones at the tail --- in some ways, its nu-metal in a different but good direction

"Stay Up" gives the listener all you can handle of crowd bouncing nu-metal BIG RIFF groove --- its a catchy song, but full of copycat nu-metal cliches

"Behind Closed Doors" should be a very radio friendly single, it takes the elements of Saliva and POD anthemic nu-metal but softens it out a little bit and makes ear candy of harmonies and a driving riff.

"Epidemic" and "Hindsight" sound eerily Durst-ish in terms of delivery... both songs are listenable but are examples well-tread, perhaps overtread nu-metal territory

"Light at my feet" has this feel of genetic experimentation between Hoobastank and Disturb but is much like a Hoobastank song, catchy like airborne germs

The big guitar sound of "Ashamed" is Capt. Crunch by nu-metal standards (it doesn't get as big and crunchy) ... then it goes and binds together all that I like about Disturbed, LP, and Hoobastank ... and then puts their Pillar stamp on it --- truly excellent (perhaps if it wasnt so obviously religious, it could be a HUGE radio hit)

Close your eyes, Hear the Fred ... "Indivisible" is a Limp sounding Christian crowd bouncer .... again, a strong song, but with the genre continually using "NuMtl" cliches is getting old

I'm torn to say whether I like this album better than ABOVE, and its because this album probably will not stand the test of time due to its heavy reliance on nu metal references and cliches ... that being said, Pillar are one of the very best of this genre, Christian or not and are worth a listen if you remotely like LP, POD, Hoobastank, RedCap Fred's band, 311, etc.

And like recent NM releases, both are VERY SHORT time-wise!!!

(Images (c) 2003 Pillar)