Fall is officially here and while the return of fall means cooling temperatures, things in the music industry are doing anything but cooling off. Next Friday, Oct. 11, will see a massive slate of new releases. Among the new music due out next weekend are new albums from the likes of Jelly Roll, Myles Kenndy, The Offspring, Coldplay, Pixies, MC5, and a slew of other acts. Among the most notable of the other acts releasing new music next weekend is none other than electronic music act Master Boot Record. The brainchild of Victor Love, Master Boot Record is scheduled to release its 12th album, Hardwarez, Oct. 11. The nine-track instrumental album is an impressive new offering from Love what with the clear evolution that it exhibits throughout its body. That evolution is shown in part through the album’s latest single, ‘RAM.’ This song will be discussed shortly. ‘HDD,’ which comes later in the album’s second half, is another notable exhibition of that natural evolution that Love has shown in each MBR record. It will be discussed a little later. ‘CASE,’ which closes the album, is one more example of that growth that makes this record so worth hearing. When this song and the others noted here are considered alongside the likes of ‘MOBO,’ and ‘FDD,’ and the more familiar electronic-leaning works featured here, the whole makes Hardwarez another of the best of this year’s new hard rock and metal albums.
Hardwarez, the latest full-length studio recording from Master Boot Record, is a positive new offering from its creator, Victor Love. The record’s appeal comes once again through each of its featured electronic (almost industrial) arrangements. While the songs each boast MBR’s familiar electronic leanings, there is more blending of that element with a rock and metal influence, too. One of the most notable of the songs exhibiting that natural growth comes late in the album’s run in the form of ‘RAM.’ The album’s latest single, it makes itself comparable to Killswitch Engage’s hit single, ‘The End of Heartache.’ That is evident right from the song’s outset with that rich blend of keyboard and guitar type element. The similarity in the two works is clear. The thing is that even with such close similarity in sound and style, ‘RAM’ still boasts its own identity, making for just as much engagement and entertainment. It would be so interesting to hear former KsE front man Howard Jones sing against this intense arrangement. It would undoubtedly make for quite the interesting presentation.
‘RAM’ is just one of the songs that shows the impressive growth from Victor Love on his new MBR album. ‘CASE,’ which closes the album, is another key example of how that noted evolution makes Hardwarez successful. Where ‘RAM’ was easily comparable to KsE’s metalcore hit ‘The End of Heartache,’ ‘CASE’ is its own work that expertly balances some decidedly heavy metal “verse” and more familiar electronic leanings in the “choruses.” The juxtaposition of the pairing makes the overall three minute, 29 second arrangement a unique hybrid that will appeal both to synthwave and metal fans. It is an opus that absolutely must be heard in order to be understood and appreciated.
As much as ‘RAM’ and ‘CASE” do to exhibit the growth and change in Hardwarez, they are not the only songs that produce that change (and do so in quite the positive way, too). ‘HDD’ is yet another notable sign of the evolution that Love has continued from one MBR album to the next. In the case of this song, it blends Love’s familiar electronic leanings with a much heavier, crunching guitar style element composed through Love’s electronics. That heavier “guitar” line that pairs with the other electronics makes the overall composition a presentation that is sits on the fence between progressive and symphonic metal. Somehow, he manages to make the whole work so surprisingly well. The result is another song that clearly shows the growth Love has incorporated into his new album and how that growth continues to make Master Boot Record one of the unsung great acts in the electronic music realm. When this song and the others examined here are considered alongside the likes of ‘FDD,’ ‘MOBO’ and so many other tracks in this record, the whole becomes a presentation that is sure to appeal widely to metal and electronic music fans.
Hardwarez, the latest full-length studio recording from Victor Love’s Master Boot Record project, is a strong new offering from the veteran electronic musician. The record’s appeal comes through the evolution that Love has clearly incorporated into each of the album’s songs. The songs examined here are just a snapshot of that positive growth. When they are considered along the album’s other entries, the whole becomes a presentation that has just made this year’s field of best new hard rock and metal albums that much more crowded.
Hardwarez is scheduled for release Oct. 11 through Metal Blade Records. More information on the album is available along with all of Master Boot Record’s latest news at:
Website: http://masterbootrecord.bandcamp.com
