MUSIC REVIEW: THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE-UNDER YOUR SPELL (2017)

THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE-UNDER YOUR SPELL (2017)

The Birthday Massacre is one of my favorite bands and they have released their latest album, Under Your Spell, three years after 2014’s awesome Superstition and it is another solid album from a band that have yet to disappoint. The Canadian Goth rockers lead by front woman…and now, author…Sara “Chibi” Taylor deliver 11 solid tunes in the Birthday Massacre style that should delight their fans just as the previous album did. This album is named after the second track on the disc, a beautiful and melodic song about a painful love and the regret that comes with it. It is one of the best tunes on a consistently engaging album. The album starts out with the moody One before giving us our title song and then moves on to the slightly more guitar heavy All Of Nothing before launching into the remaining tunes. While each song is worthy of being a favorite, other stand-out tunes are Counterpane, Games, Hex, No Tomorrow and the final track Endless, another personal favorite on this album and a great way to close it out. The songs are once again produced by band members Rainbow and Michael Falcore, who co-wrote them along with Chibi and Aaron J. Cunningham with Matthew O’Halloran contributing as well. The songs are filled with darkly poetic lyrics, such as “A bed of nails beneath these sheets” and “You were like a dream because you never came true”, that not only tell a somber tale but evoke haunting imagery when listened to with the lights dimmed and the mind free of distraction. Chibi’s vocal range is used to full effect again taking us from soulful, to haunting, to a chilling growl…like on No Tomorrow…depending on what she needs to convey. Her musicians’ contributions are all strongly present with current line-up: Rainbow on rhythm guitar and vocals, M. Falcore on lead guitars, Rhim on Drums, Owen on keyboards and Nate Manor on bass. All first-rate musicians who collaborate to form this gothic/rock band’s unique and multi-layered sound that once again permeates Under Your Spell. Another quality disc from a band who have, so far, delivered on each album they’ve released…and are great live, if you are interested in checking them out!

-MonsterZero NJ

Track Listing

1.”One”  3:35

2.”Under Your Spell”  4:31

3.”All Of Nothing”  3:31

4.”Without You”  4:42

5.”Counterpane”  3:32

6.”Unkind”  3:56

7.”Games”  3:40

8.”Hex”  3:37

9.”No Tomorrow”  3:20

10.”The Lowest Low”  3:54

11. “Endless” 3:14

3 and 1/2 guitars

The Birthday Massacre

Check out my review for Sara “Chibi” Taylor’s tale of death metal and revenge Boring Girls by clicking on the highlighted title or the photo below!

 

MUSIC REVIEW: THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE-SUPERSTITION (2014)

THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE-SUPERSTITION (2014)

The Birthday Massacre is one of my favorite bands and that they tour constantly and prolifically put out new material is a fan’s dream… and the fact that their albums are of consistent quality is an added bonus and their new release Superstition is no different. This is a really strong new album from a bad that have yet to disappoint me. Here the Canadian band led by front-woman Chibi deliver 10 solid tunes in the Birthday Massacre style of goth/industrial rock that will delight their fans and listeners of this predominately underground style of music. The album starts out with the moody yet melodic Divide and Diaries then really kicks in gear with the more intense Superstition, Destroyer and Surrender before finishing up the album with 5 more quality tunes with a nice mix of tempos and synthesizer heavy songs including the melodic Rain and the intense and dark The Other Side which is my favorite song on the disc. The songs are all expertly produced with Chibi’s vocals going from sweet and soft to a hearty growl depending on the requirements of the song and it’s Gothic-ly flavored lyrics. With rock-solid production, the band’s contributions are all mixed to perfection as usual… and as for Miss Chibi’s back-up, we have current line-up: Rainbow on guitars and vocals, M. Falcore also on Guitars, Rhim on Drums, Owen on keyboards and Nate Manor on bass. All excellent musicians that contribute to TBM’s unique and multi-layered sound that really comes to bare on this, one of their best albums yet. Another great disc of tunes from a band who is consistently topping themselves.

Track Listing

1.”Divide”  4:04

2.”Diaries”  3:33

3.”Superstition”  3:52

4.”Destroyer”  3:43

5.”Surrender”  5:18

6.”Oceania”  4:11

7.”Rain”  3:46

8.”Beyond”  3:52

9.”The Other Side”  4:31

10.”Trinity”  2:24

3 and 1/2 guitars