Ravensview vs The Industry Guy
by: Captain Awesome

RAVENSVIEW VS THE INDUSTRY GUY

Due to the overwhelmingly positive response we received from this features debut. The team at Make Some Noise decided to compile for your reading pleasure, the next round of singles reviews. Once again championing the voice and opinion of the fan perspective is our top knob Ravensview. And batting for the dark side our very own Simon Cowell...or is he more Paula Abdul? Giving professional criticism and the less obvious opinions of the Music Industry...The Industry Guy!!!

Ravensview (yes the Hobbit in front!)

The Industry Guy

 Footnote: The industry guy appears exclusively to us on Make Some Noise. Identity withheld as per the guests request.

Juggernaught – My Daddy’s Land

Ravensview says:   

Man when I listen to this I taste bourbon and smell sweaty barrooms. Gritty, raw and as good as you can get rock n roll with a blues feel to it. Cant fault it, I like it...not much more I can say about it other than you either like it or totally hate it. Which in that case if you do...you SUCK!

The Industry Guy says:                                                                                      

I don’t know if this band was going for a blues metal vibe but I really like it; the heavy blues verse riff gives the track a nice edge.

Japan And I– Three Heys and a Johnny

Ravensview says:

No...not my flavour at all, I don’t get it and frowned the moment it started to play. I have seen the ladies perform on MK and either this is a weak track or I simply am not a fan. Kind of like being pumped on ephedrine and trying to rage to a 12 min Tool song...not happening!

The Industry Guy says:

Definitely one of the better SA female punk acts around, no complaints about the production either.

We killed Elvis – Goodbye to the Six of the Tragedy  

Ravensview says:

Now this is more to my liking and the odd name aside...these dudes rock it! Not familiar with these guys and I kind of wonder why that is? They tend to remind me of a lesser refined Def Tones or Bullet for My Valentine...and not in a bad sense either. I give this one the knod for cranking it up in the car and speeding down the highway! Unless you live in Jozzi and we all know that will never happen!

The Industry Guy says:

The melodic vocals sounds a bit like a kid but I see what the band is trying to do and I like it. The band is tight and the song is good.

Bride Reunion – Squeel Like a Pig   

Ravensview says:

Haven’t heard from this lovely lady with the awesome voice since joining the site in the early days...naughty, naughty! But still I have to give it to her, damn she can sing and her lyrical content rather unorthodox which I like very much too. Not for the hardcore bangers out there but very much worth checking out. Production solid and electro in sound it totally annoyed my girlfriend to no end I LOVE IT!!!

The Industry Guy says:

Not bad but I think the song needed more of a driving melody in the background

FLW - 1ntroduction

Ravensview says:

The single is incorrectly titled but is off the 1ntroduction album and strays off the electro path just this one time. Production is off the wall on this track, as is with all of F/L/W’s work. It leans to a hard synthetic rock sound which actually really bangs when pumped on the car sound system. I have the album (personally autographed!) and although electro the entire disc is so worth the effort to listen to. Top notch according to me and it gets my vote...oh and its track 13 off the disc by the way (sorry Freddie)!

The Industry Guy says:

No real comments considering it’s an instrumental, I like the general feel of it but would need to hear more to make up my mind. You know what it sounds like, it sounds like a more produced version of TAIM SODS!! ;)

Knave – Nervosa

Ravensview says:

Off the much acclaimed second album Cognition, this track has one killer f***ing intro! Having survived near death experiences in Secunda and playing in Middle Eastern like areas in Jozi this weekend. Yes they are playing in the East Rand! It is easy to see where the reflective and deep lyrical content comes from. One of my favourite tracks off the disc and the heaviest too...so good in fact I am going to watch in performed live this weekend!! WICKED!

The Industry Guy says:

Good power intro and nicely driven song, I like the diversity within the track. The lyrics are also interesting.

Noctuiluca – From Beyond 

Ravensview says:

What the f*** is this??? Just under two minutes of sheer torture is what this is! The potential for a more substantial product is evident throughout the song. However this group just never seems to tap into that underlying talent and it falls flat after 20 seconds. Production is sucky and no thank you sir, I would not like a repeat of this track just one more time!!

The Industry Guy says:

I like the intro although it carries on for too long before the vocals begin. They had me up until the chorus and then the song fell flat. (1:51 min, that’s all there was of the song to listen too, thank goodness there wasn’t more)

Nuisance drilled – Pembenaran

Ravensview says:

Crazy **** intro like a leftover Rob Zombie sample but still fun for this track. This is immediately followed by a solid rock and roll sound to shake your booty to. And then... then...the vocalist opens his mouth and...DESTROYS A POTENTIALLY GOOD TRACK! Enough said fire the vocalist!

The Industry Guy says:

Weird intro, the band sounded like they knew what they were doing and then the vocals completely killed everything

Stigmata Dawn – Embrace the Scarlet Wonder

Ravensview says:

Having been supplied with many, much death metal albums recently...thanks Lance! I was kind of looking forward to checking this out in a big way. In a nutshell it sounds Carcass recorded by your 5 year old sisters Sing Star microphone to an Aiwa tape deck. Kak recording and I couldn’t make out a thing.

The Industry Guy says:

Bad, bad, bad recording, no thanks!!!!

Agro – See You

Ravensview says:

Had I said the following in the eighties I would have had my face kicked in! I am a monster Depeche Mode fan and let me commend Agro for picking this particular track to cover. Being as hard as they are and picking the most fairy like track Depeche Mode ever recoded and making it work! Well that just speaks volumes about this bands integrity and competent creative skills. Muchos respect gents and its hella fun to listen to!!!

The Industry Guy says:

Tight band, they know what they are doing, I’ve never really liked this genre of music but to those that do like it this band is one of SA’s best   

Black Soul Cafe – Alpha (Instrumental)

Ravensview says:

Kind of used to be in contact with this band a while back and they fell off my radar. This single was the first offering from the then two ladies and a lad. Technical and production weaknesses aside a solid display of girl power all over the fret boards on both bass and lead guitar. Would love to hear the current stuff they have going but still rate this instrumental as something great!

The Industry Guy says:

Distortion is not great; something about the track sounds sloppy... it could be the bass drum kick.

Colonel Kurtz – Psyche Void

Ravensview says:

Overwhelmingly reminds me of the legions of forgettable bands that popped up in the Cape Town scene in the late ‘90’s! Not quite **** and not quite cool either but easily forgotten.

The Industry Guy says:

The song had me then lost me then it had me again and then finally lost me, the songs twist idea was clever until they repeated it     

Factory Power Corps – Approaching Darkness

Ravensview says:

Let me start out by admitting how disgustingly biased I am going to be about this group! Anything this band ever did to me is gold and verges on Industrial iconic! Cant get more suck up biased than that, hailing from the Cape as far back as the early ‘90’s. The creative force behind FPC has given Make Some Noise the exclusive exposure to their magnificent wares. Thank you kind sir...WE ARE NOT WORTHY! Of all their tracks this one strikes me as the most dark and brooding. Being unable to liken them to any other band that ever existed is what sold me right away. However the closest I can give as to what this single sounds like is a subdued Sisters of Mercy track...and that is a great thing people!

The Industry Guy says:

What the hell?         

KHEx – Klaus at the Tan Hause Gate

Ravensview says:

From the creative genius that was Factory Power Corps, this is his latest project. Far more refined and complex than FPC, it still commands a sit up and take note element. For me the main difference between FPC and the Khex singles are tones in which they were written. Clearly this is created from a contented person no longer angry at the world.

The Industry Guy says:

It sounds like a musical jerk off with no climatic satisfaction?

MUTE – Shattered

Ravensview says:

Guitars and drums are too far back in the mix and the annoying vocals far too overpowering. Nothing special really although it’s not a ‘quick skip to the next track’ type of song. Not for me thanks.

The Industry Guy says:

The recording is not great, lose the effect on the voice, its sounds way too distorted, the riffs are also nothing to write home about.                 

The Nonentia – Lost Providence

Ravensview says:

Another favourite of mine, I invested in a compilation of Nonentia works...so of course this is great! Need I say more?

The Industry Guy says:

I think if this track had better bass, guitars and power behind it, it could have been cool. As it is now it’s not great. Get a better recording.             

obsessie met als  – Nag Van Lang Messe

Ravensview says:

Rather fitting this title of the single given the past current events of weeks gone by. Regrettably this is kind of where anything positive to be said ends. Being a major fan of Fokofpolisiekar and other Afrikaans themed rock acts out there. This just sounds so generic and there are far superior options out there...but don’t just take my word for it. Check it out for yourself and make up your own mind!

The Industry Guy says:

This track screams young garage band! Production is bad and the riffs are boring. Wake me up please.

Taim Sods – Hey

Ravensview says:

Quite possibly the greatest band in the world? Of course not! What a bunch of balls although the hand clapping mid chorus got me clapping along nicely! You kind of get a sense that this track was written as a metal core recipe only in reverse and upside-down. A total FAIL moment if ever I saw or heard one...I have nothing more to say about it!

The Industry Guy says:

Very creative, creepy and interesting to listen to but personally I would’ve added a melodic voice somewhere in the song or over the chorus.

CLOSING WORDS COMPLIMENTS OF THE RAVEN

Thank you to you all for reading the first instalment of our singles review (Good vs Evil). Thank you even more for making comments on it too...now go tell all your friends to do the same! If you wish for your groups track to be dragged over the coals and pulled apart for analysis by myself and the Industry Guy. Please don’t hesitate to contact me and stipulate which track you wish shredded...erm I mean reviewed! Coupled with that I would like to mention to all the bands that we appreciate you joining and partaking in the MSN activities. However without notifying your fan base...all this effort shall be for naught and we shall make very little ground in exposing your wares to the broader audiences. And on that Kumbah-ja note never quit, never say die and oh...is that a choc chip muffin...???

P.S. I am calling out Chief Rebel Angel to suggest a single for the next singles review!

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