Customer Reviews

Jehovah's Hitlist

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I saw these guys in December (they ROCK), and got my hands on an advance copy of this AMAZING cd. I have been listening to it every day ever since. Lead singer, Kent Boyce's voice reminds me of Bono, and draws you into to every melody, especially the searing Passion Flower and closing track, Breathe Again. True songwriters, Bender have managed to make every track a stand out on this heavy melodic rock album. If you like Creed, STP, Soundgarden etc. you will dig Bender!

I first heard of these guys watching the movie "3000 Miles to Graceland" (their song "Angel Dust", track 10 on this CD, was featured during the "road rage" segment) and thought that they had a powerful sound, delivered with a sufficient amount of aural violence as to make for good music to listen to while at work (I really hate my job).
>
But when I finally was able to listen to the whole CD, I was very pleasantly surprised. Oh, there are some really aggro metal tunes on here (the afforementioned "Angel Dust", "Sharon Stone", and "Prick" come immediately to mind). But there are also some very beautiful and moody tracks on here as well..."Passion Flower", "Siezures", "Breathe Again" and "Body and Soul", in which the band breaks all rules of pretention by including a string section on their debut album).
>
Kent Boyce has a very flexible voice, reminding me of everyone from Kurt Cobain to Layne Staley to, yes, even Bono; he helps the listener believe that this is more than just another nu-metal band. Ironically, the musical depth displayed by this band is likely what's costing them the recognition they deserve; TVT Records isn't known for signing groups with a sense of melody, and their P.R. probably don't know how to market a band as diverse as BENDER to the crowd that typically wants to hear Korn or Hed(pe) launch into riff-driven aural attacks. If you're expecting anything that sounds like either of these two other bands, you're likely to be disappointed with a fair portion of this CD. If you actually enjoy good music regardless of its pigeonholed niche, I think you'll find this CD to be particularly rewarding.

Have this CD and have seen Bender in concert. Both bring out some serious vibes(awesome live). This is the CD that visits the ol' CD player quite a bit. HIGHLY recommend it.

Bender Did A Great Job Pieceing Together This Cd. It Is A Good Example Of Heavy Rock Music. Not Bad For A One Hit Wonder Album By A Band That Has Hardly Ever Been Herd Of. In Fact, You've Probably Never Heard Of Them Unless You've Played ATV Offroad Fury For Playstation 2 (Isolate And Superfly) Or Seen Scary Movie 2 (Superfly) Or 3000 Miles To Graceland (Angel Dust). Truly, The Best Songs On This Album Are Superfly, Isolate, Sharon Stone, Prick, And Angel Dust. It's Worth It OR ATLEAST I THINK SO!! No Really You Should Try It.

I first heard this band on a sampler CD I got in magazine, which had the song "Superfly" on it. I was then lucky enough to be able to listen to the album at a record store and was impressed enough to buy it. It's an all around good CD. I agree with a previous reviewer who calls it a modern hard rock album. Although all the tracks are great the standouts include "Isolate", "Passion Flower" and "Angel Dust". Although not quite worthy of five stars, this CD is definitely worth the money.

It's amazing that such talent, driven by such a virtuous and seemingly relevant aplomb for bombastic expressiveness and dirge, should fail so beautifully at creating a composite experience on record. "Bender: Jehovah's Hitlist" is a surprising relic from an era so void and filled with pretentious "nu-metal" and awash in vapid consumer driven pop malaise that it's no wonder that this struggling band's own contribution and name sake is more rooted towards a BMX Playstation 2 video game than coming to fruition through much more traditional means elsewhere. This is truly an album that is void of the concepts of what define an album. It appears that "Bender" attempt to converge and unite all plausible sounds from the late 90's and in so doing, created a cataclysm of sounds that daftly avoid a true stance. "Jehovah's Hitlist" is an interesting relic in the sense that it is indeed far from what an album used to be...and taken in some pertinent context, it's contemporary-ness is esteemed to the likes of the similarity of its scope and vision. Driving thought radio friendliness meets hand in hand with a band seemingly unwilling to direct itself nor capable of deciding on a vision to aptly apply there talents. Taken in this light, "Jehovah's Hitlist" reads like a vapid amalgamation of sounds from the early 00's. For better or worst, "Bender's" struggle for identification is at the crux of there own wide ranging creativity, and for my money, the 'albums' best moments are its most self-aware and introspective. Key tracks worth ownership include "Isolate" and "Fall on your Head".

This CD is much better than most of the new CD's that have come out over the past few years. Very refreshing sound. I heard one of their radio interviews on WJJO in Madison Wisconsin. The six songs they played sounded especially good on the radio. Seeing them live in Milwaukee was amazing. They really play hard. Don't miss them if they do a gig near you. I'd probably drive 100 miles to see them again.

I saw these guys in December (they ROCK), and got my hands on an advance copy of this AMAZING cd. I have been listening to it every day ever since. Lead singer, Kent Boyce's voice reminds me of Bono, and draws you into to every melody, especially the searing Passion Flower and closing track, Breathe Again. True songwriters, Bender have managed to make every track a stand out on this heavy melodic rock album. If you like Creed, STP, Soundgarden etc. you will dig Bender!

Going through literally hundreds of new CDs that were submitted to my work, I came across the sampler CD of BENDER. It is a profound full bodied modern hard rock album. These songs have so much energy and soul, I just listen to them over and over and over again. Any group of men that can put together an erotic song about the "Passion Flower," is on my good side! The voice, the melody, the lyrics, the speed, and the rhythm all just grab me and pull me into their depths. Each song is unique and creative. Close your eyes and LISTEN LOUD!

Monotony runs rampant with this band. I can find many bright spots, namely "Isolate," "Superfly," and "Angel Dust," but this doesn't save this CD from becoming unbearably repetitive. Yes, they sport a much different new metal sound from the mainstream one you're used to hearing, but that doesn't neccesarily mean that it's any good. This band makes great music, but the vocalist just lacks in the talent category. That can hurt a band terribly, and that is definitely the case with Bender, who have broken up since the release of this album.