Die Happy - "Intense Live Series Volume 4"

Die Happy - Intense Live Series Volume 4

1993, Intense

1. Justified

2. In Studio

3. Painted Truth

4. In Studio

5. Temple Of Soul

6. In Studio

7. Celebration

8. In Studio

9. Endless Time

10. All Over Me

If I remember correctly the Intense Live Series got a lot of flak from critics but I always thought they were pretty fun. Die Happy's installment was the only one I didn't get on tape back in the day. I don't know why... I just missed it somehow. Well now I finally have it and it's pretty much what I expected - a fun "live" disc with decent versions of album material. It really showcases how great a vocalist Kyle Basuri is and how great a bassist Greg Chassion is. The band also does a little bit more acoustic stuff than some of the other discs in the series. "Temple Of Soul" is pretty cool as an "unplugged" tune but I think I could do without Greg Chassion shouting the chorus at me in the second half of the song. "Endless Time" is a new ballad and "All Over Me" is a Petra cover - both rock.

Useless Fact: Terry Taylor (DA, Swirling Eddies, Lost Dogs) was the executive producer for this whole series. I have a hard time seeing him with the likes of Tourniquet, Rose, and Die Happy.

Die Happy - "Volume II"

Die Happy - Volume II
1993, Intense

1. Sticks and Stones
2. Justified
3. Love Sick Dog
4. Tear Gallery
5. Blue
6. Talk (Speak Your Mind)
7. Eden
8. Cole's Atomic Funk Thang
9. Temple of Soul

While the first Die Happy disc was largely written by guitarist Doug Theime, the second Die Happy platter was headed by Robin "Kyle" Basuri (now listed as a full member) and new bassist Greg Chassion (who used to play for Badlands). The result is a bit more blues mixed in with the metal. It's not quite as heavy as the debut but that doesn't make it any less good. Actually I think I like this just as much. I dig some of the slower songs like "Blue" and "Temple of Soul." I just wish there were more songs.

Useless Fact: Basuri and Chassion went on to form Red Sea after this disc which is actually a continuation of the sound on this album. I never liked that one though. I don't know why.

Die Happy - "Die Happy"

Die Happy - Die Happy

1993, Intense

1. Renaissance

2. Perpetual Motion

3. Die Happy

4. Bone Doctor

5. Cage

6. Real

7. Slide Rule

8. Painted Truth

9. Celebration

10. Melrose

11. Silver Cloud

Die Happy features most of the members of Vengeance Rising minus vocalist Roger Martinez. What does that make Die Happy? Friggin' awesome. Those first two Vengeance Rising albums had some of the most fantastic riffing I've ever heard and that continues with Die Happy. Only now instead of Roger Martinez's barking we've got the soulful vocals of Robin "Kyle" Basuri. Now, I liked Martinez's thrash vocals but Basuri's pipes really made this band a force to be reckoned with. Let's talk about the riffs again shall we? "Perpetual Motion" has a cool mid-paced swagger. "Bone Doctor" sounds like it could have been an old Vengeance riff. Then we've got "Cage" which actually was an old Vengeance tune that was supposed to be on the third album. It's kind of sad because if you compare this with Vengeance Rising's third album, Destruction Comes it's pretty obvious where all the talent in the band was.

Useless Fact: They guys engineered some odd equipment for this record including a "wok box" which is a talk box and wah pedal put together. It sounds pretty cool.