Album of the Week: Destrage - Are You Kidding Me? No.

     You know I'm always on the lookout for things that are a little off the beaten path, and one of my favourite albums this year is, in my opinion, just that. It's not especially inaccessible (think Protest the Hero, a bit more metal and a bit more musically varied and you're in the neighbourhood) or even especially hard to get (these guys are on Metal Blade, after all). But it is Italian, so I figure there's at least some of you who don't know Destrage already and need to be corrected.

     "Are You Kidding Me? No." isn't a debut album (it's the band's third) but to me it's got all the energy of a debut, all the fire of a band with something to prove. It also doesn't hurt matters that all these Italian stallions are firmly in command of their instruments and turn in top-notch performances that avoid going over the top.

     But like I said, I get the feeling neither this band nor this album are getting the kind of love they deserve here in the North American metal market. And it's a shame, because I would love to see a tour that brings these guys across the Atlantic. Jam this album and make it happen.

Trioscapes - Digital Dream Sequence

     So maybe my running theme over the last couple of Songs of the Day, somewhat niche subgenres, is wearing thin with you by this point. Regardless, I hope you like jazz fusion, because you're getting a Trioscapes tune today, and I've got a double whammy reason why.

     Whammy part the first: the band's sophomore album Digital Dream Sequence comes out today on Metal Blade, reason enough to rock a new Trioscapes track. But whammy part the second? The guys have put out another of their "live jam" videos for the title track "Digital Dream Sequence". Twice as many reasons why you should check out some new Trioscapes means zero reasons why you shouldn't, so do it up already.