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Alex Esplin

New Evanescence album worth the wait

Last updated Monday, October 31, 2011 - 9:52am

"Evanescence" was released on Oct. 11, marking the longest gap-- more than five years -- between any two Evanescence albums.

Evanescence began work on what would become the band's self-titled third studio album in June 2009; the album's release date has been changed several times since it was announced. Overall, this self-titled release is the group's longest and most solid album to date, which tells me that they really took their time on this one.

The album explores many concepts such as life and relationships; one concept that rises prominently above the others is freedom. The standard version of the album contains 12 songs, while the deluxe edition has 16.

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Timing perfect for Pop Evil's 'War of Angels';

TX, Alex Esplin Standard-Examiner

Last updated Monday, August 8, 2011 - 8:48am

"War of Angels," Pop Evil's second studio album, is so named to signify the struggle people experience when trying to leave their pasts behind.

The album was released in July and has 10 tracks, with a deluxe-edition only on iTunes that includes two extra tracks. "War of Angels" had an original release date of Feb.

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Foo Fighters put on weight

TX correspondent, Alex Esplin

Last updated Monday, June 13, 2011 - 9:35am

"Wasting Light" -- released April 12 -- is Foo Fighters' seventh studio album and the band's heavies album to date.

While the group still tends to have softer verses that build into harder-hitting choruses, their music overall has changed, but it could very well be for the better.

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Hollywood Undead know how to put on a show

TX correspondent, Alex Esplin

Last updated Monday, May 16, 2011 - 2:01am

The Cinco de Mayo Concert at the Great Saltair featured two stages, one indoors and one outside, so at almost any point in the concert you could walk in or out of Saltair and hear a different band.

The stage inside featured Drowning Men, Middle Class Rut and Flogging Molly, while the outdoor stage featured Brogan Kelby, New Medicine, Drive A, 10 years and -- the band I came to see -- Hollywood Undead.

As a concert venue, the Great Saltair has an interesting past, opening its doors for the first time in 1893.

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HEAD-TO-HEAD:Times of Grace up against Red

TX. correspondent, Alex Esplin

Last updated Monday, February 21, 2011 - 12:04pm

Times of Grace and Red have released albums in this new year that left me dumbstruck.

"The Hymn of a Broken Man" from Times of Grace came out Jan. 12 and Red released its highly anticipated third studio album "Until We Have Faces" on Feb. 1.

Two of my friends were bickering over which album they liked better.

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HARDDRIVE LIVE TOUR: In The Venue rocks with Sevendust & co.

Alex Esplin

Last updated Monday, November 15, 2010 - 10:37am

HARDDRIVE LIVE TOUR

Have you ever seen a concert where two or more of the bands performing were already some of your favorites?

That's where I was on that unusually warm November night at the "HardDrive Live Tour." I was already a huge fan of 10 Years and Anew Revolution, so I was very excited.

This concert was held at In The Venue, a small but very promising venue in downtown Salt Lake City. The headliner was Sevendust, a juggernaut of the music industry who released their eighth studio album, "Cold Day Memory," earlier this year. The venue is a relatively small indoor building, but that doesn't stop anyone from having a great concert experience, especially the bands.

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'A Thousand Suns' has definite charm

TX. correspondent, Alex Esplin

Last updated Monday, October 18, 2010 - 2:03pm

'A Thousand Suns' has definite charm

222After hearing the new "A Thousand Suns," I instantly realized that "Minutes to Midnight" was not that great of a departure. On the other hand, "A Thousand Suns" definitely does not sound like Linkin Park's music of the last decade either.

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