Veil Of Maya - "Eclipse"

2/28/12 Sumerian Records

First things first, here's where the band got their name from. NOW, this is Veil Of Maya's fourth album, and they are definitely Chicago's finest. This album has everything you enjoy from this unique band, a roller coaster of time signatures, ridiculous over lapping riffs, and head bobbing greatness. Get ready for 30 minutes of the most unique and fun metal on the shelf.

It opens with an eerie intro which explodes into exactly what I was hoping to hear, classic Veil of Maya. Majority of this album is exactly what you'd expect with a few twists and tweaks, but if you already have a great (and different) sound, why bother changing it?! With "Divide Paths", "Punisher", "The Glass Slide", and "Vicious Circles" showing the already great and heavy side of VOM, songs like "Winter Is Coming Soon" and "Enter Dreams" show the evolving side of the band with a little bit of a different sound. The title track is an excellent, and slower instrumental song with great usage of the double bass drums and has a very jammy feel, and (in my opinion) would've been perfect as a closing track. I don't care if 'jammy' isn't a word, its the best way to describe the vibe. The album ends "With Passion and Power", a track that could have been on VOM's first or second album, these fellas haven't lost their sound one bit, and that's a good thing.

"Eclipse" keeps a solid pace and flow throughout the whole album, the band pumps out the same style and sound we all love, yet keeps it fresh and exciting. They've perfected the art of metal and musical entertainment as a whole, and for that, my ears are thankful. LISTEN TO VEIL OF MAYA.

T.R.A.M. – “Lingua Franca”
2/28/12 Sumerian Records

Let me introduce you to my new friend T.R.A.M., they are a delicious ‘supergroup’ fusion from different realms of music. Adrian Terrazas (The Mars Volta) on saxophone, flute, bass clarinet and percussion, Javier Reyes and Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders) on guitars, and Eric Moore (Suicidal Tendencies) on drums. “Lingua Franca” is their debut album, and even though it’s just about 30 minutes in duration, it’s packed with awesomeness. If you’re a fan of metal, jazz, thinking outside the box, Animals As Leaders, The Mars Volta, or….music in general, you’re going to love this album.

Firstly, a lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue. Music perhaps?

Recurring words I found in my notes: Groove, jazz, sax, jam, music theory, perfect, sex.

Right when you start listening you can hear the heavy influences from all the bands involved in this group, which makes for a great mixture and final product. “Seven Ways Till Sunday” is a very jazzy, slow groove, jam session, quite possibly one of the best jam sessions of all time. They add some soothing female vocals in this track, as well as “HASS Kicker” and “Inverted Ballad”. One of the more unique tracks “Consider Yourself Judged” is very jazzy and sporadic, yet it stays on course and makes for a great great track and musical experience. The next track is “Endeavor”, and it couldn’t be named anything more appropriate for the sound. The guitar parts on this track specifically are very Animal As Leaders-esque. And might I add, some awesome flute work! Then we stumble upon “HASS Kicker”, very slow and mellow, the sexiest track on the album, slightly reminds me of the quieter side of Pink Floyd for the first 2 and a half minutes, then it reverts back to the sound that we’ve been enjoying for the past 3 tracks. “Hollywood Swinging” is a very jazz oriented song, and while it tapers down at the end it uses vocal harmonies as an instruments and it’s fantastic and very different. We’ve come to the end with “Inverted Ballad”, a slow song that closes off the album and incorporates all of its members, instruments, music theory, and elements perfectly. You can literally fell the song saying goodbye to the listener, and all you want is another track…..two….or ten.

I’m not fully sure how to describe this album or this band. It’s a fusion, an experience, a musical journey, a melting pot, its….perfection. I hope to hear A LOT more from T.R.A.M.

February 17th, 2012:

In Flames with Trivium and Veil of Maya at the Worcester Palladium.

To see more, go here!

Animals As Leaders - Weightless

11/8/11 Prosthetic Records

If you haven’t heard any Animals As Leaders yet, SHAME ON YOU. This progressive metal threesome is from Washington DC, with creator Tosin Abasi (formerly from Reflux) guitarist Javier Reyes, and drummer Navene Koperweis. They play 8 strings, they blow your mind, and they're a very unique and excellent band, end of story! Weightless is their Second album off Prosthetic since they formed on 08, and a much anticipated one at that.

Recurring words I found in my notes: Spastic, finger tapping, perfect, melodic, heavy, aggression, seizure, experimental, crunchy, emotions, talent.

The first track, "An Infinite Regression", is a finger tapping frenzy which leads into a melodic metal rendition that is parallel with the intro, they give you a slight break a few minutes in with just enough time to catch your breath before the rest of the album begins. "An Infinite Regression" keeps your head bobbing the whole way through, and I’m certain that the rest of the album will do exactly the same. They seem to be adding new elements to their writing with tracks "Odessa" and “Do Not Go Gently” but still have the same writing and sound that we know and love, and they display that in “Somnarium”, “Earth Departure”, (the most experimental and beautiful song on the album), “Cylindrical Sea”, and a few others. “Cylindrical Sea” displays all 3 of their talents and strong points, it stays with the premise of being crazy, yet sticking to a route and plan throughout. Towards the end, “Espera” hits, and for a short song it is packed with many emotions and moods, it’s executed perfectly and segues into “To Lead You To An Overwhelming Question”. This is one of those songs that you think to yourself “I want to see them play this live!”, and to me, it sums up the album as a whole. Then we get to the title track, which is pretty much AAL in a nutshell. If a friend were to ask, “What does Animals As Leaders sound like?”, I’d tell them to pop on track 11. Great recipe for a song, evokes every emotion possible, and a great way to lead out of an album and into the final track "David", a very mellow outro, saying goodbye to the listener, and if you weren’t a fan already, then you definitely are now.

“Weightless” is a great AAL album, and a great metal album. They’ve progressed since their first album, added some more techniques, while keeping the good old ones in here as well, a great sophomore album. Despite being instrumental, which is one of my favorite aspects, they evoke just as much and accomplish just as much as bands with multiple singers and members. AAL always leaves you wanting more, whether it’s the end of a riff, song, or album, we've all got the hunger. LISTEN TO ANIMALS AS LEADERS.

Carnifex – Until I feel nothing

10/24/11 Victory Records.

Carnifex was an old English term for a public executioner that would execute people from the lowest ranks of life , seems fitting right? “Until I Feel Nothing” is the fourth full length album (third off of Victory Records) for these San Diego death metallers, and it’s as heavy as they come. Like all delicious Carnifex, they mix low tuned guitars, guttural vocals, cymbal abuse, and snare blasts, to make one great listen.

Recurring words I found in my notes: Fast, in your face, aggressive, low, gritty, consistent brutality, dark, gritty, loud as hell, fast as hell.

The album opens with an eerie intro, probably the music you'll hear on your descent to hell, involving some keys and the traditional Carnifex ingredients of breakdowns, ridiculous drum work, and terrifying vocals like "FUCK THE WORLD" that'll slap the beard off your face. The tracks that follow are a great audible way to show you what Carnifex is all about, from "Wretched Entropy" to the title track, they’ll suck you in and keep your ears happy and listening. "Never Forgive Me" shows their skills and true colors and adds a touch of orchestrated beauty towards the end, while keeping to their darkness (as always) and screaming “Don’t bother calling my name, I’ll be watching the world decay.” The title track (ironically) is the summary of the whole album, and band even. Very aggressive and in your face much like all of Carnifex's art, and the next few tracks seem to follow suit. With "A Grave To Blame" being the grittiest track on the album, and "We Spoke Of Lies" being the loudest and fastest, they both lead in to the final track "Deathwish", which is the perfect ending to an assault of an album.

“Until I feel Nothing” is 30 minutes of perfect Carnifex, pure eardrum abuse, and aggression. The guys are really going back to their roots yet still keeping it fresh, which is exactly what fans want and feed on. Even before flipping through the lyrics book, from your first listen you can tell this is about their disgust with the condition and state of the world and its occupants and their hatred towards both. This album is another great addition to your metal library, from a great band. LISTEN TO CARNIFEX.

July 22nd @ The Comcast Center

ROCKSTAR ENERGY MAYHEM FESTIVAL

(click for photos)

April 14th-16th 2011:

NEW ENGLAND METAL AND HARDCORE FESTIVAL @ The Worcester Palladium

(CLICK LINKS BELOW TO SEE PHOTOS)

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

UPCOMING CONCERTS IN NEW ENGLAND THAT I WILL BE COVERING:

2/27/11 - Ensiferum, Fintroll, Rotten Sound @ more @ The Worcester Palladium

2/28/11 - Parkway Drive w/ many more @ The Worcester Palladium

3/4/11 - Cradle of Filth w/ Nachmystium & Tursias @ The Worcester Palladium

3/9/11 - Norma Jean w/ Stick To Your Gunes, Impending Doom, and Of Legende @ The Worcester Palladium

4/14/11 - 4/16/11 - NEW ENGLAND METAL AND HARDCORE FESTIVAL

February 19th 2011:

The Welcome to Hell Tour @ The Worcester Palladium w/ Whitechapel, The Acacia Strain, Veil of Maya, Chelsea Grin, and I Declare War.

To see more, go here!

A few pictures of Gidget the pitbull mix:

FIRST EVER PET SHOOT IN THE NEW HOME STUDIO:

2 Million Dogs Puppy Up! Dog Walk

ITS FALL!!!

CURRENTLY BOOKING SHOOTS FOR:

-Headshots
-Portraits (couples and family portraits as well)
-Pet portraits
-Engagements
-Weddings
-Modeling portfolio
-Live music
-Promotions band shoots
-Events/Promotional
-Property

Anything else that involves me, a camera, and shooting.


markvisco@massmetal.net
617-224-2963

A few black and white shots!

NEW PHOTOS:

Took a trip to Mount Auburn Cemetery in Watertown MA.

Here are some of the shots!!

OCTOBER 16th 2010:

ROCK AND SHOCK DAY 2!!!

Day 2: Blackguard. Hatesphere, Infernaeon, Mobile Death Camp, Threat Signal, The Casualities, Warbringer, Nevermore, Gwar

To see more, go here!!

OCTOBER 15th 2010:

ROCK AND SHOCK DAY 1!!!

Day 1: Conducting From the Grave, Dawn of Ashes, Decrepit Birth, Mychildren Mybride, Molotov Solution, The Faceless, Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza, Through the Eyes of the Dead, and Suicide Silence.

To see more, go here!!

OCTOBER 12th 2010:

The Corruptour at Harpers Ferry in Allston, with Whitechapel, Impending Doom, Oceano, I Declare War, and Miss May I.

To see more, go here!