Here we are, ladies and gents, for the second Blasphemuse! album review! I realized how hard it was to truly review artists without certain bias, since there is a connection and admiration for all the rock legends I have and plan on reviewing. Who woulda thunk it?
Before I delve into the review, I just wanted to add onto the direction of this blog. This is an incredibly huge passion of mine, music has and will always hold a special place in who I am as a person. Before the first album review, I released an announcement that I was going to do weekly reviews of the albums. Now, I am still a college student so things do get busy, and reviewing comes at a cost of time if done correctly. This means that the album reviews are going to be released bi-weekly on Wednesdays, as well as the Artists of the Week (AOTW) coordinating with the week of an Album Review. I apologize for any confusion that may come with this, but I just want to ensure that all blog posts are given the right amount of attention.
Onto the review, I decided that I wanted to listen to an artist that has an adequate amount of popularity as well as having some personal impact on me. Blue Öyster Cult was the first thing that came to mind. They were the first band to really expand my mind of cinematic listening as opposed to simple listening (I'm going to be using the word cinematic a lot in this review so bare with me). Fire of Unknown Origin is an album that I feel gets overlooked in the sphere of rock, since it's untraditional in a sense. It's not classic hits of straight electric guitars and it's not always head banging. Instead, BÖC bring something else to the table. Now, is that good, bad, risky, never seen before? Take a look through this review and find out. ;)
Featured Track: Burnin' For You
Blasphemuse! Picks: Veteran of the Psychic Wars, Joan Crawford, After Dark
Tracklist Review:
1. Fire of Unknown Origin - 8.5/10
Starting off strong with the title track to this album, it is bringing 80s realness and starts to set the theme for the overall album. It is hero meets whimsical meets synth and guitar, similar in vibe to Rainbow if they had taken a less heavy approach to rock. The Bouchard brothers and Bloom, vocalists in their own respect, provide an unmatched experience and keep a tempo that ensures a catchy, irresistibly rockin' tune. The lyrics set a similar tone as one of their previous works, Agents of Fortune, storytelling that goes past the typical whims of lyricism. It trademarks their sound for the decade, it's hard to beat.
2. Burnin' For You - 7.5/10
Burnin' For You is the song that EVERYONE knows, regardless if they're aware that they've listened to BÖC or not. One of their most notable hits from their entire discography, this song is one that is the essence of the decade and the overall direction of where Blue Öyster Cult was heading. The bass line can only be described as delicious, the most prominent throughout the song with the exception of the synths in the pre-chorus. The vocals are what you'd expect from a radio-hit. While this is a really good song in general, the lyricism is lacking in the storytelling aspect that is seen through Blue Öyster Cult's discography. Not to mention, after the second or third listen, it can get a little old or redundant compared to their other songs. However, based on the commercial success this song received, the redundancy and overplayed-ness would make sense. Radio just doesn't know when to stop, huh? Pro Blasphemuse! tip: space out your listens of this song and you should be in a solid place for thorough enjoyment.
3. Veteran of the Psychic Wars - 10/10
This third track can only be described as pure auditory ecstasy. Listeners are first met with an almost battle-like drum line, sort of an ode to the very beginnings of the age of man. The synths pair so incredibly with the rest of the instrumentals in a way that is done so intrinsically and carefully, adding depth without the cliches of the synth-filled predecessors that would follow this album. Moving onto the lyrics, they are more cryptic in nature compared to other songs, but that is always welcomed since personal interpretation brings listeners closer to the song itself; the ability to put yourself in the narrative of the song brings a whole new layer of fulfilling enjoyment. The cherry on top to this song is the heartfelt guitar solo after the second verse, played by Buck Dharma himself. Though it isn't complicated, it is definitely spell-binding. It's a vessel of its own, transporting listeners to the very war itself. Finally, the finishing vocals is what ties it all together, the echoing chants of, "Don't let the shakes go on", are a battle cry of their own, chilling and goosebump-inducing. If I had to introduce anyone to the world of BÖC, this is the song that I believe would get them hooked.
4. Sole Survivor - 6.5/10
This song is a little unusual, but it's not bad. It isn't necessarily obscure or unpleasant, it is something you would expect but wouldn't expect from the band at the same time. This could be due to the powerful piece that came just before Sole Survivor in the trackless, but then again, there seems to be a lack of oomph in the track's main verses. The chorus and guitar solo are what really save this song. The chorus is catchy and easy to remember, it's simple, and in true BÖC fashion, the mid-song solo is executed spectacularly well. Had the verses sounded a little more complicated, as well as the overall instrumentals, this definitely could've been a featured track. However, the uneasiness and unique nature of the song are alien-like, otherworldly even, which is ultimately what the song intends to portray. It's just alright.
5. Heavy Metal: The Black and Silver - 8/10
Onto the heavier, hair metal-ish track of this album, it's unlike any other song on this piece, though it's executed so incredibly well. Instead of feeling mismatched or plopped into the list, HM: TBS plays well as a buffer or break in the seriousness of the album. It's easy to listen to without much need to pay attention to lyrics, though the storytelling is still definitely there. The absence of synths is quite nice for a change, and the vocals are reminiscent to that of 80s hair/glam metal. It's definitely on the shorter end in duration, but it's simple and sweet. Having one power piece after another would be overwhelming to listen to album-wise, this track was placed in incredibly good taste.
6. Vengeance (The Pact) - 8/10
This track puts the "cult" in Blue Öyster Cult. The lyrics depict a story of a pact of some sort being carried out, though that's what it strictly is, a story. It's more theatrical in sound, almost pictorial as though the pact or war is being carried out before your very eyes. However, this is one of the longer pieces of the album and with the frequent change in tempo, it may be a bit overwhelming for some listeners. This isn't to say it's a bad song by any means since the overall cinematic theme of this album is what centralizes everything. It's just jumping from one strong piece to another can be a little hard to keep track of. Switching gears into the instrumentals and in true BÖC fashion, Dharma tantalizes listeners with his skills mid-song with another solo. This is what I really appreciate and admire about BÖC. Throughout their entire discography, there's been a constant of typically mid-song or near-bridge guitar solo that is consistent throughout their work. It's never the same or repetitive and for casual listeners and reviewers alike, it's what trademarks them or sets them aside as their own niche. Guitar solos are nothing new by any means, but the way Blue Öyster Cult utilizes this to their advantage is something quite otherworldly.
7. After Dark - 9/10
This song is so almost perfect. The intro is unlike any other; strong bass line to hypnotic, spooky synths to addictive guitar riffs, it's like getting your brain massaged and seduced. This ties in so incredibly with the actual lyrics and storyline of the song, the listener running away from something or someone. The irresistible chorus goes into the hypnotization of the protagonist by a certain love interest, pairing so beautifully with the instrumentals in their hypnotic fashion. That's what the entire song is, hypnotizing. Again, the guitar solo that is teased in the intro is sure to take your breath away as it makes its comeback in the bridge. It is so close to perfection. The only thing that doesn't make it perfect is the overtly Halloween-y feel to the song. While this would make great for that time of year, listening to it in January is like this weird stage of limbo that's almost there, not quite there, and doesn't feel all too right.
8. Joan Crawford - 9/10
We enter classical. In comes the beautiful piano that sets the tone for what you are about to listen to. Picture: Victorian mansion murder mystery, something cold-blooded. It's uneasy yet so glorious as it speeds and slows, eventually flowing seamlessly into the guitars, drums, and bass. It transports you back to the present, yet somehow still in a big and open space. For those who have seen Rocky Horror Picture Show, this song is the perfect embodiment of the piece minus all the sex. The lyrics are once again theatrical, following the direction of what the album is supposed to be, but it's not cringy. Listeners can pick up on some early goth influence in the song as the instrumentals and lyrics follow the dark in its early stages while still bring all the 80s metal. The bridge is chilling, yet specular as the sound effects depict a crash of some sort, following the deep voice of a malevolent spirit communicating to the crash victim.
9. Don't Turn Your Back - 6.5/10
This song is one of the few that I feel pretty meh about. It's very simple compared to the rest of the track list and while it could be taken as a refresher, it doesn't feel like an adequate finish for the album. It feels unfinished, it's placement on the trackless doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It follows a similar theme to the rest of the album, which is really nice for consistency, but it's just kind of there. Overall, I'm just not huge on the song.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Fire of Unknown Origin is truly an album that is unlike any other. It's a cinematic piece that has to be enjoyed in its entirety with zero interruptions, reel backs, or skips. This is the album I'd recommend to someone who want's the 80s in its essence before it was really even the 80s per say, minus all the cheesiness. This is the album that I truly believe solidified Blue Öyster Cult as truly respected and underrated artists of their time. Fire of Unknown Origin has earned itself a place in the Blasphemuse! favorites.
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