Current Video Reviews
Avenged Sevenfold - "Bat Country"
Artist:Avenged Sevenfold
Video: "Bat Country"
Director: Marc Klasfeld
Excess lives within the confines of “Bat Country”, the new video from So Cal prog rockers, Avenged Sevenfold. With their major label debut, City of Evil, Avenged sevenfold have found a lighter, yet still high octane brand of rock. With ample screaming and angst to satisfy their most devout fans and enough, well, cock rock, to bring on board those of us a bit closer to center. (As a quick side note, we here at MVP just want to thank Velvet Revolver whole heartedly, for making cock-rock cool again, even if they don’t really pull it off very well.)
The video for “Bat Country” is a Fear and Loathing inspired clip shot in the desert featuring hallucinations of the most gothic variety. Pursued by a colony of bats, haunted by shape shifting faces and surrounded by imagery that would make Kafka proud, the guys rip through the tune with the kind of virtuosity and guitar assault that made arena rock huge. Oh, and there isn’t a shot that denies the female form. Las Vegas, Lingerie, whipped cream, bats, and goth punks playing like they were in Dream Theatre. Brilliant. . -James Wells
Check it out for yourself at: http://music.yahoo.com/ar-283793-videos--Avenged-Sevenfold
Artist: HIM
Video: "Wings of a Butterfly"
Bam Margara brought the infamous HIM logo into American households a few years ago, and now the heartogram may be more closely associated with Bam than its creator, Ville Valo. But with a genre of their own, namely Love Metal, and a worldwide fan base that has no need for mainstream support, HIM is undeniably the greatest rock sensation to come out of Finland.
The video for “Wings of a Butterfly” is as almost as dark as somethingTim Burton could imagine but no where near as weird. A dred head nu-metal guitarist, with a surprisingly friendly guitar hook, may be the most threatening portion of this video. Moments between Valo’s eerie vocals are interspersed with a “Bat Signal-like” beacon projecting the heartogram on a makeshift Gotham city. You might have expected more from this sensitive goth, but sometimes a great chorus and your own personal “Bat Signal” is all one needs. -James Wells
Check it out for yourself at: http://music.yahoo.com/ar-280281-videos--HIM
Artist:System Of A Down
Video: "BYOB"
Director: Jake Nava
This clip from System Of A Down is the latest example of a growing trend toward social and political consciousness among many harder rocking acts recently. Though this video is the most obvious example of this bands commitment in that regard, it’s clear that they are sincere and not just riding a trend. While the title implies a party atmosphere, right from the opening sequence it’s obvious this isn’t a party we’d want to be attending. Platoons of robotic storm troopers march in, their face plates flashing Orwellian messages while the band performs in a lurid, blood-red light
The song itself is that all too rare meeting of metal and art. The pace is frenetic throughout. The guitars growl and SerjTankian snarls his lead vocals, but that’s where it departs from the norm. The song is intricately structured, with bewildering chord and tempo changes handled with gruff aplomb by this group of gifted musicians.-Rick Brown
Check it out for yourself at: http://music.yahoo.com/ar-286229-videos--System-Of-A-Down
Artist:Audioslave
Video: "Be Yourself"
Director: Francis Lawrence
There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking or even visually striking about this video. It’s very competent, very professional work, and the production values are superb; with no cut out of place and every shot elegantly framed and perfectly executed. The lighting is artful without being ostentatious, and the color scheme is warm and tasteful. Visually, it’s an understated tour de force
And all of that is really as it should be, since the focus here is deservedly on the song. Audioslave are leading contenders for the Who’s mantle as power trio rockers with charismatic frontman. Chris Cornell’s vocals manage to be slick and sincerely emotive simultaneously, and the astounding Tom Morello is a crafty guitarist in the Robert Fripp tradition. It’s a joy to listen to, and the well-made video just makes it sweeter. -Rick Brown
Check it out for yourself at: http://music.yahoo.com/ar-296097-videos--Audioslave