This month we take a much deserved look at a band who are no strangers to the mid-west rock scene.

Modern Day Zero began when Rich Criebaum and Brian Pearia of Ten Stories Tall started searching for a new lead singer. Scott Gertken was hired to fill the void and they became known as Mesh. Soon after, Scott Davis joined the band and they went to Memphis, Tennessee to record their first EP.  The band was on the verge of being signed by Capitol Records when incoming president Andy Slater took over the reigns and dropped several bands, including Mesh from their new priorities. At this point, the band decided to self- release new material.

It was soon realized that a name change was in order as the name Mesh was being used by a British pop-synth band. The newly named Mesh-STL (STL for St. Louis) went on to film a video for their new single, 'Maybe Tomorrow' which rose to the Top 20 of both the Modern Rock and Active Rock format charts in 2001. The next year, 'Down' was recorded and eventually made it's way to onto the soundtracks for EA Sports NHL 2004 and NASCAR Thunder 2004 video games.

The bands major label signing woes continued and they changed the name once again in 2004 to Modern Day Zero,  meaning starting all over again. "Every day begins anew and you start from zero," according to guitarist Rock Davis. The latest lineup includes Scott Gertken, (vocals) Rock Davis, (guitar) Zack Broderick, (guitar) Rich Criebaum, (bass guitar) and Blake Nelson (drums) The new single, 'Sick Inside', from the self released EP  'Coming Up For Air' spent eight weeks as a top requested song at several radio stations nationwide.

Modern Day Zero has toured with the likes of Sammy Hagar, Green Day, Hoobastank, Velvet Revolver, Guns & Roses, Tantric, Puddle Of Mudd and many other big name rock bands all over the country.

2006 and 2007 saw the band being named as the Airwalk Unsigned Hero, (in '06) and a new song and accompanying video, ('Spit You Out') for the December 4, 2007 release of 'Werewolf: The Devils Hound', a new horror thriller by Lionsgate Films.

heir sound is best described as infectious, crunchy riff laden rock and roll mixed with haunting, melancholy ballads which should find appeal with the emo set. Recommended songs to legally download include 'Sick Inside', 'Down', 'Believe Me', 'Maybe Tomorrow' and 'Spit You Out'.

Alas, as of this review, Modern Day Zero has decided to go their separate ways in what has been described as a "much needed break". Scott is busy with his newly formed TVR Management which played a key role in the signing of Shannon Nicole to Universal/Republic. He also heads up Trailer Studios/Bullet339 Records.

Rock Davis backs up Shannon Nicole and plays in an original band, 'Andtheyrise'. He can also be seen jamming with St. Louis based 'Sucker Fish', 'Rich Mahogany', and 'Hollywood 5'.

Zack plays in a Chicago, Illinois based original band, 'Royal'.

Rich also backs Shannon Nicole while maintaining his lead engineer/producer role at Trailer Studios/Bullet 339 Records.

Blake, like Rich and Rock, backs Shannon Nicole and plays with 'Andtheyrise' as well as St. Louis based 'Live Nudes'.

  It is fervently hoped by mid-western music lovers that Modern Day Zero re-forms and begins touring again soon.

www.moderndayzero.com    http://www.myspace.com/moderndayzero

I think this is a very sweet song, it was written about Mike Dirnt's friend who died.This is a beautiful song, and it can really hit home with a lot of people. "If you could see inside my head then you'd start to understand the things I value in my heart" couldn't be more true or, I'll use this word again, beautiful. Green Day is one of those rare bands that touches issues in some songs but is pure humor in others and reminds you how messed up the world is without depressing you about it. It's music that reminds you it's okay to get on a different track. I LOVE this song.J.A.R. is the initials for Mike's friend, Jason Andrew Relva, who died. Jason Andrew Relva was actually friends with the entire band not just Mike. Mike wrote the lyrics and Green Day wrote the music together.

When I left  my best friend this was the last song we listened to in science always reminds me of him.

Being that I was born in 1977, I still was able to experience these songs with my parents and friends. It brings back nostalgic feelings of times in my life that were substantial.

Sit back, relax, and grab a cup of coffee and reminisce about the past.

Baby Hold On: Eddie Money

“Baby Hold On” was released as a single and reached #11 on the Billboard charts in 1977.

Baby, I Love Your Way: Peter Frampton

"Baby, I Love Your Way" was featured on Peter Frampton’s 1975 album Frampton. In 1976, a live version was released which hit #12 on the Billboard charts.

Dream Weaver: Gary Wright

Dream Weaver was a smash hit in 1976 by Gary Wright. It was a cosmic journey with floating words and feel good sound.

All by Myself: Eric Carmen

"All by Myself" was a powerful ballad composed by Eric Carmen in 1975. Carmen's full version has an extended piano solo and lasted over seven minutes, although there is also an edited version at four minutes and 22 seconds.

Love is a Battlefield: Pat Benatar

"Love Is a Battlefield" was a quintessential power rocker chick kind of ballad. Girls wanted to be her and men wanted to, you get the picture. It was released as a single in 1983 off the “Live From Earth “album. It was Pat Benatar’s most successful single topping the charts of Billboard and the Australian singles chart.

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad: Meatloaf

"Two out of Three Ain't Bad" was the second hit single followed by "You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth" and followed by "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". It reached #11 on the Billboard charts making it Meatloaf’s highest-charting single.

Part One Your in My Heart: Rod Stewart

Part Two Do You Think I’m Sexy: “Rocker Legs”

 In 1977, this song reached #4 in the US.  Stewarts look evolved over the years to a rocker glam look with tight pants and loads of make-up. He earned the name “Rocker Legs”, especially when his oh so sexy number one single came out called “Do You Think I’m Sexy?” ,which was a crossover hit.

Open Arms: Journey

"Open Arms" was song written about two lovers who were trying to come back together with a different perspective, “open arms”. It has been remade by Country music artist Collin Ray, Pop singer Mariah Carey, and Korean singer Younha.

Sister Christian: Night Ranger

"Sister Christian" was a hot power rock ballad first released on the album, “Midnight Madness”. The band’s drummer, Kelly Keagy, wrote and sang the song about his sister. The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts and #2 on the Hot Mainstream Rock chart.

Amanda: Boston

"Amanda" featured a mix of acoustic and electric guitars forming a love ballad, a type of song Boston doesn't typically perform. It was Boston's biggest hit single on the Billboard chart, reaching number one for two weeks in 1986.

I Want to Know What Love Is: Foreigner

"I Want to Know What Love Is" was a power rock ballad which hit #1 in the UK and the US charts. It was Foreigner’s most successful single and best known song.

Lady: Styx

“Lady was first song released on Styx II in September 1972 and was a local hit in Chicago, but failed to hit the top of the charts. The song was re-released in 1974 and topped the charts at #6. The song was originally written by Dennis DeYoung’s for his wife.

Dust in the Wind: Kansas

This song was just being released in the year I was born, 1977. It rounded out at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978.

Tiny Dancer: Elton John

"Tiny Dancer" was written in 1971 by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The lyrics were written to describe the love Taupin felt for his fiance Maxine Feibelman, a dancer for Elton John’s tour.

Take it on the Run: Reo Speedwagon

"Take It on the Run" is the fifth track on the REO Speedwagon album, Hi Infidelity. In 1981 it reached #5 on the Billboard Charts. This song followed up the ever popular “Keep on Loving You”.

In this particular episode, a young man walked in, Jesse was his name I believe, and he wanted an outlandish, acid trippy, colorful tat on his right shoulder. He said he was a drummer for the Tattooed Millionaires. an LA based punk rock band. After the segment I decided to take a look around the interwebs for more detailed look at the band. I didn't have to look far as most up and comers as well as mega famous acts have a MySpace page with samples of their wares. The bands page was as typical as any music page on the site with colorful graphics, tour dates, bios and blogs, but this is where the comparison ends.

The first thing I did was punch up the songs on their standalone player which featured cuts from the Armed And Hammered cd. The tunes available include, I Just Want The Drugs, Teenage Love, and Laid In The USA. When I hear "punk" I think of disenfranchised youth calling for anarchy and demanding social and economic change but it quickly dawned on me that the Tattooed Millionaires relied on the "sex, drugs and rock and roll" formula popularized by 80's hair bands of yester-mall. I really didn't hear anything that screamed at me to jump in my Yugo and head down to my local record store. (That's what we called them way back when.)

My next stop was to visit their blog; by now I am searching for something, anything that would justify this band but again I was let down. The written section of the blog describes the bands exploits on the road, their lack of funds, the constant break downs in a tour bus they claim was used by Lynyrd Skynyrd in the 70's (but as yet to be proven), and a list of drivers that would rival Spinal Tap's drummers. They have obviously elevated themselves to rock super stardom and self importance long before their due.

Sadly, the photos of the band posing in front of their bus and onstage serve only to caricaturize themselves and the only apt description I could think of was "poser". The uber teased heroin chic hairstyles, eyeliner, and over posed stances looked too cartoonish to be taken seriously and at one point I was even wondering if this was a spoof of a real band. The worst offender had to be the front man Johnny which made me realize that I liked him better the first time...when he was Nikki Sixx.

The only saving grace of this band is that they are doing it themselves. They have no label representation, no tour manager, and no reliable transportation. They go out and get the gigs themselves, If this band really wants to be taken seriously, they need to spend a few nights in the "less is more" camp. If not, a better name for them might be the "Also Rans"

It has been since I first heard it,growing up I heard a variety of music, everything from country to classic rock. The Black Crowes to me have never really fit a genre, their music's only style, is the style called Great Music. The vocals have emotion, the band as a whole has soul.

To me that is what makes great music, I like music that has passion, a fire if you will.

I saw the Black Crowes in a documentary years back, If I remember it was VH1's "Behind the music" I knew I was hooked from day one.

The guitar parts on Black Crowes songs kind of have a Jazz-rock flavor to me.

Songs like "Remedy" remind me of what Bob Seger used to refer to as "that Olde Time Rock N' Roll." In their own way they have transcended genres and stereotypes to create their own blends and brands, yet at the same time the quality is always there.

I like the fact that their music is not too polished, they have kind of a garage band Jam session feel.

They get into the music, and they have a rattling stage presence, like Elvis only wished he could've had. Don't get me wrong, I mean nothing against Elvis, he after all set the stage for such bands that would come after him, but he was also too bound to his addictions.

The Black Crowes are hard hitting,uncompromising,brilliant and unique. In my eyes they are Legends in their own time. They take you a journey that is both riveting and gripping,

If they made a film on the Black Crowes it would be a drama, a comedy,a documentary and a thriller.

Cheers to one of the most genuine talents in history, may new fans and old alike continue to enjoy them for years to come.

World of Warcraft is a Feeling, By Pure Pwnage

“World of Warcraft is a feeling… who needs a social life?”

It would be fair to say that pure pwnage is probably one of the most popular web series out there. And when they produce gems like this, you can't really blame them. Aside from the fact that you can't figure out if this song is serious or not, the most disturbing thing is it's actually really well written and performed.

White and Nerdy, by Weird Al

“1st in my class here at MIT, got skills I'm a champion at DnD”

Weird Al has probably written more geek songs than any other artist, and is definitely extremely popular in our glorious energy drink laden sub culture. Al has a tendency to write parodies rather than original songs, but that doesn't stop you from appreciating the thought that he puts into his music. This song is a parody of "Riding dirty" by Chameleonaire.

First time I heard this I just creased up and laughed until I nearly died of asphyxiation. It was even funnier when I put the song on while in a chav bar. It took a lot of them a while to realize that they where cheering the wrong song…

Obey the Moderator, by Optimus Rhyme

“If I wanna block you, there's no way you can stop me, confident, cocky, the cubicle jockey…”

I love Optimus Rhyme. Smooth flows and catchy lyrics make them easy and amusing to listen to. Their music tends to focus around aspects of working life, including the drudgery of office work, idiot co workers, morons who call tech support and so forth. This little piece is all about forum moderators. I have to say, I've never known a forum moderator quite as… intense as the guy their going on about this video though.

That will be going around in your head for hours now and you know it. Enjoy!

Every OS Sucks, By Three Dead Trolls In a Baggie

“DOS never crashed on me, I should be able to get online without a PHD, every computer crashes, because every OS sucks…”

I think pretty much everyone who's used a computer can see at least something in this song. The trolls pick out pretty much everything that's wrong with every operating system, and tell it like it is. No doubt it will have certain OS fanboys (and fangirls) screaming at their monitors as their preferred arrangement of icons is slated on screen, but hey; they make some good points. Not sure about the whole "you only need 32Kb of RAM" thing though… This is the unedited version of the song, so you need to put up with a few minutes of (albeit very interesting) waffle at the start.

Not exactly the greatest piece of singing in existence, but it still entertains in a different way.

Goth Girls, By MC Frontalot

“Legs deep in the boots, boots up on the heels, just the kind to make a certain type of fetisher squeal…”

MC Frontalot is the granddad of Nerdcore, A form of hip hop that Optimus Rhyme also belong in. To learn more about it (And other interesting sub genres of hip hop), you can read an interesting article on the subject here. As you shall see in this video, Frontalot uses many of the techniques and styles associated with gangsta rap, and sticks in his own words. The result is a satirical piece that has you laughing even as your foot taps along to the rhythm (Note, this is a user made video, as no official music video has been released for this song).

Well, at least it got Obey the Moderator out of your head. This song however will reverberate in your skull for even longer. Please include a small cash donation with each death threat you send me. Thanks!

Download this song, by MC Lars

“Hey mister record man your system can't compete, it's the new market model, File transfer, file play!”

This video is an attack by MC Lars on the major record labels. I feel quite strongly on this subject, and if you're interested in learning how the music industry is actually encouraging piracy, and ripping off EVERYONE (including artists!), you can read this article. Lars was something of a one hit wonder, and his popularity has dropped lately, but this song when it was relased in Britain, made it into the charts, and onto the radio, a feat many other geek songs have not manahed to achieve.

Don't forget kids: Piracy is bad, and we must all allow ourselves to get bent over a table by the music industry so that they can have their Ferraris. It's just the way it is, don't question it. [/sarcasm]

What we Need More Of Is Science, By MC Hawking

“On Blind faith, they place reliance, what we need more of, is science.”

Okay, this is a thinly veiled attack on creationism, but it's still funny. Oh, and incidentally, if any flaming starts in the comments section of this article, those comments will be deleted. I don't care if you're for, or against this video, or the concepts it's taking the mickey out of. If you need to vent, do it an appropriate forum. MC Hawking is actually Ken, Leavitt-Lawrence, who uses the old willowtalk program to make the "singing" and then mashes it up using audio editing software. So, busta, you ready to hear the beats and flows of the farther of physics?

What does Hawking himself have to say on this? He finds it funny, “A modern day equivalent to spitting image.” If you've never seen spitting image then it sucks to be you. If you have seen it and don't get it, then you're either a) not British, or b) too young. In both cases, still sucks to be you .

The Geek (Shall inherit), By Wir Sind Helden

“The last should be first, The first see as the last, The geek shall inherit the earth”

All of these songs are great as the celebrate geek culture in its many forms, but they overlook one important little fact. Often times, being a geek sucks ass. In school you get the crap kicked out of you, as well as alienated from what feels like 90% of the population. Outside school your parents want you to go out and play football rather than play videogames. You never seem to get the girl, or the attractive guys never notice you. Even at university it seems that this segregation continues, albeit on a lower level. When you grow up and start working, you always seem to either a) be working under a moron, or B) be working with morons. So, for every time we've walked home with broken glasses, for every time we've been told our java scripts aren't elegant enough by someone who knows jack all, for every time they whisper about as around the water cooler, we should remember this. The Geek shall inherit the earth.

Translation available here.

In closing

I hope you enjoyed this music as much as I did. Love and peace to you all, and try to remember what's important. That we laugh as much as we can every day, and frown only to the misery of others. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and finish writing my newest piece of work, a rap piece under the title of "MC Evis"…

1. Okay so the band that has made it all the way up to number one would have to be Avenged Sevenfold. This band has it all, from the amazing vocals of M. Shadows all the way to the melodic guitar solos of Synster Gates, this band has been around for years and still manages to be number one. Avenged Sevenfold is originally from Huntington Beach, California. Avenged Sevenfold has been around since 1999 and is still at the top of the charts today. They really didn't catch a big record break until their City Of Evil record, which was officially released to the public June 7th, 2005. This album houses songs such as, Bat Country, Seize The Day, Beast And The Harlort, and so many more. All in all i give Avenged Sevenfold a rating of a 9.5 on a scale of 1-10. They have it all, you should check them out, you wont be disappointed.
2. The band that has made it to my number two would have to be Enter Shikari. Enter Shikari has a different, more distinctive sound to them than say Avenged Sevenfold. This band has been rocking out since 2003. All of the members of Enter Shikari are from St. Albans, Hertfordshire. The best way to describe the sound of these guys would have to be old school nintendo beats. They have more of a techno sound to them but their lyrics are amazing. Their debut album, Take The Skies was released on March 19th, 2007 and reached #4 in the Official UK Album Chart. Some of the best songs by Enter Shikari would have to be Anything Can Happen Within The Next Half Hour, Mothership, Labrynth, Ok Time For Plan B, and Sorry Your Not A Winner. All of their songs are amazing but those would have to be my favorites. All in all i give Enter Shikari an 8.8 on a scale of 1-10, 1 being bad, and 10 being amazing! Listen to Enter Shikari, you will love them!
3. The Band that has made it all the way up to my number three would have to be Silverstein. Silverstein is more of an emotional screamo band but they are still amazing none the less. Silverstein has been around since 2000 and is still rocking out today. Silverstein is originally from Burlington, Ontario. The best way to describe the sound of Silverstein would have to be they have more of a harcore emoness to them. Silversteins Lyrics are all in all amazing though, and they are what make this band so good. Silverstein got their name from the children's author Shel Silverstein. Silverstein signed with Victory Records in 2002 and has been with them ever since. Some of Silverstein's best song would have to be Giving Up, Smashed Into Pieces, Bleeds No More, Smile In Your Sleep, If You Could See Into My Soul, and Still Dreaming. In conclusions, Silverstein is one of the best bands out there as well as the other 2. You should check them out. I give Silverstein a 9.7 on the scale of 1-10. That's almost perfect! Go check them out!

Thanks for reading and hopefully learning some things about 3 amazing bands. I also hope that you take the time to listen to them and some of the songs listed. Thanks again.

 

52nd Street by Billy Joel - I think this album is even better than The Stranger. The feeling of this album radiates the atmosphere of New York City. When I listen to this album, I can feel, taste, hear and see everything that is New York City. The city comes alive.
Recovering the Satellites by Counting Crows - Anybody who have listened to August and Everything After know that it isn't the happiest of albums. Neither is Recovering the Satellites, but something about the somber album grabs you and engulfs you in the lonely air, staying with you forever.

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy by Sarah McLachlan - This is an excellent album...period. It takes you on a journey of her emotion. You can sense her angst, whether true or not. Her piano flair is simply exquisite. The fusion of all of the instruments is truly masterful. You'll never tire of this album.

V by Live - The majority of Live fans don't like this album, but I love it. It was released a week after September 11th, and feeling depressed, it brought me up to a better place. This is a daring concoction of songs that are not like any other Live album. It has an Egyptian style to it that is soothing but the rock is still present.

What power does music truly hold? Does music help create culture or is it a reflection of culture? Is it a voice to a story or a journey, or does it create the journey?

It was a little over a year, I watched a documentary entitled, “Refugee All Stars.” It was about this group of individuals who identified themselves as refugees from Sierra Lionne, who had decided to form a musical group to tell their stories. What struck me was that in the midst of difficult circumstances, music was able to bring people who were currently being oppressed together, and as the music played, despite the conditions, the people sang and danced as if everything was wonderful.

I started to think about music and the power it has. In my own life, I know that when things don't seem to be going right, I find enjoyment by listening to music and attempting to dance in the confines of my solace. Or, I'll listen to some song, and the words seem to captivate my ears as they dance to beats, which seem to in some way to have been written just for me and my condition. Or, there are other times, when I will hear a song, and I will say, yes!, that is exactly what is going on.

Now, I am not going to go as far as some say that music makes people do things, but I do find it interesting that there have been sub-cultures formed around music. Young people who identify themselves as part of hip-hop culture, may incorporate certain elements of the clothing, dance, rap, etc., in their life. While, some young people who identify themselves with rock culture, may adapt a certain look, including piercings, hair coloring, etc. And, for some people, it is almost as if these sub-cultures form a certain community in which they find acceptance from a dominant culture in which they may either reject or feel that they don't fit in. This is not to say that everyone who listens to hip-hop, rock, country, etc., fits a certain look or joins these groups, but to say that certain types of music have a history of being a voice for the oppressed and a vehicle for them to have their voices heard.

For example, there has been much discussion and media attention centered on rap; one of the elements of hip-hop. While some feel that modern rap has sold out to consumerism and capitalism, while still trying to reject it, many older hip-hop lovers remember a day when hip-hop; everything from rap to breaking came out as a voice for an oppressed people. They remember the day when rap music wasn't mass produced, and now fear that it has sold out. Others still feel that the music is telling a story, and still a voice. Whatever, your stance, the reality is that different genres of music and musical expression itself is laden in historical contexts of story telling to rhythms, beats and body exists, and has a history of being an outlet for every emotion from love to anger. Therefore, it is possible that music is not a only a reflection of culture or identity, but also helps form identity. What would life be without music? Well Auerbach got this one right; life would be dull. Music adds vibrancy to life!

What started out as Metalcore/Hardcore band with only one calm song (ironically their calmest- "Warmness on the Soul"), with songs like "Darkness Surrounding”, evolved into a more mature, half screaming in "Waking the Fallen", with songs such as "Unholy Confessions" and "Chapter Four" which feature both screams and singing, and later into "City of Evil" with almost no screaming, only on very few songs for a little (such as "Beast and the Harlot", which features a long growl in the intro), allegedly because of a broken blood-vessel in lead-singer Matt Shadow's neck, which affected the quality of his singing.

"Beast and the Harlot", the first and arguably the most famous track in "City of Evil", is no doubt a varying and exciting extension of "Waking the Fallen". Featuring a straight-to-the-point intro, a heavy riff and a catchy chorus, not to mention the gut-spilling solo, there's no question of why it was chosen to feature in "Guitar-Hero II". With the bonus attribution of joining the next track, "Burn it Down" it is considered by many to be their best.

"Burn it Down" though, takes the album into a different direction, with drummer The Rev leading the song when lead guitarist Synyster Gates and rhythm Zacky Vengeance have stopped harmonizing or soloing.

"Blinded in Chains" (Track 3) and "Trashed and Scattered" (Track 5) feature the same content as most of Avenged Sevenfold's songs up to this album, only missing the screaming and growling featured in earlier songs. They're not very special.

"Bat Country" (Track 4) features a quote of Dr Johnson: "He who makes a beast out of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man". The lyrics focus on Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" accompanied by a shredding guitar riff and ripping solo with a guitar duel at the end.

"Seize the Day" (Track 6), A7X's most famous ballad, inspired (both in the music and the video) by Guns N' Roses, is one of their calmest songs, with only soft distortion in the chorus and after the solo, and perhaps their only song not using the Dropped-D tuning. The solo, inspired by Guns N' Roses lead guitarist Slash, features (in the video) Synyster elevating out of a coffin with his electric guitar in hand.

"Sidewinder" (Track 7), is my favorite song by A7X. With a catchy riff/chorus, and ever changing verses, it features the most of Avenged. Including a lead part filled in by Synyster's dad, Brian Haner, and a solo in the end played by him (right before Synyster's solo), it has heavy riffs, catchy riffs, clean parts, solos, sweeps and harmonizing. A7X's best.

With verses similar to Beast and the Harlot's, "The Wicked End" (Track 8) is perhaps the weirdest of Avenged Sevenfold's songs (not including "Avenged Sevenfold" or any future albums). It starts out with an intimidating siren sound accompanied with a paranoid bass riff and then continues with the verses, strange chorus and wicked solo, followed by the weirdest, almost "Lord of the Rings" bridge, with a keyboard choir, tinkling guitar, and a legato cello. Then it returns to the main riff.

Songs like "Strength of the World" (Track 9) and "M.I.A" (Track 11) introduce a new sound (although already suggested in songs such as "And All Things Must End") to Avenged's songs, with clean intros and outros and heavy riffs and bring up the old subject of classic music in Metal, as seen in songs such as Metallica's "Master of Puppets" (first solo), with "Strength of the World" featuring an orchestra.

"Betrayed" (Track 10) is supposedly a song about Pantera guitarist Dimebag's murder. With a very nice intro riff, cool verse guitar part, weird harmonizing chords in the chorus, and a Latino bridge, it is definitely worth a listening, except for the singing (which I have to admit, sounds a bit gay).

Lyrics and Singing: A lot of the lyrics in the album, like a big part of their songs, have to do with faith and the Bible, and some political views are pointed out, and there's a love song, so the lyrics are varied throughout the album. The lyrics and the singing go very well with the music (except on "Betrayed"), especially in "Sidewinder" and "Bat Country", which are very awesome. Although a bit harmed after the blood-vessel incident, Shadow's voice is still very recognizable and quite good, although not as good as once. I, for one, think that his Screaming was much better in songs like "Unholy Confessions". You decide.

Impression: Personally, I think this album is their best up to now (July 2008), because of it being a type of crossing between the amateur hardcore band and the over-mature, if not a bit pompous band in "Avenged Sevenfold". The best in the album, I think, is "Sidewinder", followed by runner ups "Strength of the World" and "Bat Country", and bronze medal "Burn it Down" and "M.I.A.".