Customer Reviews

Laughing in the Face of Failure

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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With a title that's a nod to the band's brief major label success, 2009's Laughing in the Face of Failure is an interesting collection from hard rockers Bullets and Octane. The 2-disc set includes a new album, an old album and a few extras. Here's what you get.

The first disc (Bullets) is the band's full 2007 album Song for the Underdog. I missed that one the first time around, so it's cool to see it included here. I have to say though, that I'm not terribly impressed with it. What impressed me so much about In the Mouth of the Young was the band's all-out rock sound, and that's been softened considerably here. Was the band just in a mellower, pop-punk mood, or was this a last grab at mainstream success? Obviously it didn't pay off. There are still some good songs here, but it just doesn't compare to In the Mouth of the Young and I doubt I'll be listening to it that often.

Disc #2 (Octane) is the band's 2009 album Laughing in the Face of Failure. It's not quite a return to the In the Mouth of the Young style, but it's a definite improvement over Song for the Underdog. If there's a happy medium between the former's kick in the teeth hard rock and the latter's melodic pop-punk sound, this is it. The songs are shorter, faster and rock harder, but they're also fairly melodic and accessible. I guess "heavy punk" is the best tag for this one. The disc closes with three bonus tracks, b-sides "Chemicals" and "Murder Maria" as well as a new version of their (sort of) hit "Pirates."

I still miss the heavier rock sound of In the Mouth of the Young, but Laughing in the Face of Failure is a great comeback album and one that will hopefully restore skeptics' faith in Bullets and Octane.

Bullets and Octane prove again that the greatest bands don`t get the glory.Songs that are heavy yet poetic,mellow yet aggresive,and passion out the wazzoo.This 2 disc set is not only well worth the money but an instant classic,anyone who thought G`N`R was good will love this.Rock from the street and emotins from the heart. Again THIS ALBUM ROCKS

With new octane poured into their fourth release, BaO has proven yet again that even without a big label backing they can write, record, and produce an album that succeeds those before it.

The new dual disc release 'Laughing in the Face of Failure' is a combination of Song for the Underdog (disc Bullets) and new material (disc Octane) that without a doubt puts the Octane back in Bullets.

Bullets is soaring into the darker catacombs of their souls with the determination to bring us all along for the ride... Now boarding flight 666 non-stop from Los Angeles to the Underground...

From the evil undertones of 'Murder Maria' and 'Skull' to the dynamics of 'Bang!Bang!', 'Under my Thumb', and 'Chemicals' this album has by far exceeded my expectations. It's apparent the band is showing us where they have been and the direction they are heading into.

Take warning 'cause here we come!

I have seen Bullets and Octane LIVE three times, met Gene and got autographs, they ROCK! First saw them as an opening act for Avenged Sevenfold and had absolutely no clue as to who they were. Remembered their name the best that I could being they were the best band at the entire show and it just so happened that they came to Kansas City again about 5 months later, this time headlining in a small club.
They were AMAZING again! This CD is as good as it gets, I own all of their others except for a very rare one of which I am constantly on the look out for. Cannot wait to see them again and again!!! Buy this CD, fall in love with it and then go get their others, they are all fantastic, never a let down.

Heavy sound, solid performances, some pretty interesting lyrics, and the darkest, grittiest cover of "Mexican Radio" to have reached my ears thus far in life.

I am a Gothic and metal. I have my virago and I love Soundtrack for Depression
of The Death Riders I live in Santiago of Chile. And I like this disc in the first ocasion that listen. Sorry my inglish