SUMMER 2003 UPDATE
(reviews are listed alphabetically...)
ACHERON
"Tribute to the Devil's Music"
CD 80/100
Black Metal
USA
Only a few Black Metal bands have been haunting this world for 15 years. The Satanists of Acheron are among those. Additional interesting point is that their story is somewhat related to Belgium, as their first demo "Messe Noire" was released by Reaper Records 1991. That very same year, they released their first album "Rites Of The Black Mass", a dark and gothic Black/Death Metal epic with traditional Black Mass texts. They created the typical Acheron sound, which did not change a lot in fifteen years' time. Throughout their long career they covered a lot of very different bands, and now, Acheron wanted to compile those songs on one album, dedicated to all the Metal bands with which the members of Acheron grew up. This album of course starts with a satanic invocation, just to make sure everybody is present, and a very dark version of the song "Black Sabbath" from the band with the same name. All of course with the typical Acheron guitar sound and the raw vocals of Vincent Crowley. Lyrics have been slightly changed to better befit the Acheron theme. This goes for all the other songs of course, so fans of Acheron won't be disappointed at all. You will find back covers of bands such as Death, Celtic Frost, Iron Maiden, Kreator, Motörhead, Mercyful Fate, Kiss, Bathory, Judas Priest and last but not least, Venom. All glorious bands from the eighties and nineties and bands from the cradle of Black Metal. All great songs! I picked Kreator's "Flag of Hate" as my personal favorite; Crowley uses his high vocals on it. This CD closes with a remake of their cult song "Ave Satanas", which is indeed a much better version than the original one on the "Rites of the Black Mass" album. Acheron is indeed back and out for blood. Beware!!!
AOD
http://www.black-lotus-recs.com / Rock Inc.
AGENT
STEEL "Order Of The Illuminati"
CD 78/100
Power Thrash Metal
USA
After four years Agent Steel is back with their 4th full length. What to say about this album? It has been a while since I had that much trouble writing a review, thus I listened to it quite a lot. This did not turn me into their biggest fan, even though "Order of the Illuminati" (released in 1999 by Candlelight) is one of those albums that get better every time you listen to them. A very good thing I guess. This CD won't disappear in the "oblivion" category. My first thought was that I preferred Agent Steel's former album "Omega Conspiracy". And even today, after having listened to this new work on a regular basis, I stick to that opinion. "Omega Conspiracy" had more balls. Probably because I preferred the sound of that album; here, in the present case, the sound is somewhat muffled. No comparison with Agent Steel's other former work as I don't know it. On the other hand, the compositions are better developed on "Order Of The Illuminati" and thus more interesting. Besides that, except of the label (now Scarlet Records) and a new drummer (Rigo Amezcua from Terror), nothing really changed. As the title of the album says, Agent Steel still has something going with the Illuminati and aliens. The broad lines of the music itself are also the same even though they are - as I said before - more elaborated. It is a very nice album, but it does not really kick ass. This is the only thing lacking from making it a real masterpiece. You better listen to it for yourself, and then we can discuss about that! Now that I think of it, one thing is for sure: Thrash Metal is back! (well, it never disappeared from my life…)
AOD
AHRCANA
"Into the Prophecy"
CD 70/100
Epic Power Metal
Italy
I, Samoht Wearsblackalot, will reveal to you the prophecy that the spirits of earth, wind, water and fire have shown to me. Five Metal warriors will get together one day to undertake a perilous musical journey, full of modern day pitfalls but with the blessings of the iron knights of days past. After hearing the prophet's wise words, the fellowship will embark on its quest. Harnessed with a keen sense of melody and the ability to diversify their sound, they'll battle the double headed hydra of mediocrity and generics. Their swordsmanship too will be thus that they will effortlessly make grand gestures as well as quick stabs straight into the heart of boredom. Only their battle cries might be stifled from time to time by out of tune banshee wails. Mark these words, for the prophecy shall come true.
Samoht
http://www.northwindrecords.com / Rock Inc.
APOCRYPHAL
VOICE "The Sickening"
MCD 80/100
Psychotic Metal
Finland
Lead by two Finnish northmen whose creativity seems to be nearly endless, Apocryphal Voice deliver us a 3-track MCD signed on the Londonian label Rage Of Achilles. The duo's extreme Metal includes many twisted riffs, which, combined with the deranged vocal performance, remind us of the theatrical expressiveness of Emperor on their latest opuses. Like a blurry vision of a dying world, "The Sickening" brings nihilistic thoughts in your mind and erases all hope and joy. After you've heard this, nothing will remain but ashes, dust and rusty Metal... Desperately empty yet tremendously beautiful and intriguing...
RNO
BLACKMORE'S
NIGHT "Ghost Of A Rose"
CD 80/100
Folk Rock
USA
Many words could describe this great piece of art but I think only a few can hit the bull's eye. I even think that merely three words are enough to perfectly synthesize Blackmore's new creation. The first one is authentic. Authentic because Ritchie never changed his style for commercial purposes. He's been playing what he wanted for a while now and I can assume he'll keep on proudly following his own path for another decade or even more; no doubt about it... The second one is intense. Intense because it makes you feel very alive; even happy to be alive! And it's not only the great singing of Candice Night that will shake your hormones. No. It's the whole thing. It's as if the songs are magic potions and you've fallen into the cauldron. Drowned into a sea of joy... The third and last keyword fits in with the first two. It is spiritual. And that, you really can't deny because Blackmore's Night's music creates a very unique atmosphere that make your spirit detach itself from its earthly condition and wander through ethereal dreamy dimensions. And you feel appeased. If you're allergic to hurdy-gurdy's and bagpipes, avoid it. Otherwise, steal it now!
RNO
http://www.spv.de /Petting Zoo Propaganda
BURNING
POINT "Feeding the Flames"
CD 68/100
Power Metal
Finland
Burning Point feeds mainly on the flames of former glories, the Metal gods of yore Malmsteen, Priest, Accept,… Hailing from Finland, they keep in line with the standard quality of many of their kinfolk. In a nutshell, Burning Point sounds like Children Of Bodom, but without the screams and the synths. That leaves you with a disc, filled to the brim with hypermelodic Power/Speed riffing on mid tempo rhythms and more wankery (on the guitars that is) than in the average sperm clinic. Mind you, "Feeding The Flames" never degenerates into a mindless opportunity for the guitar players to indulge themselves; BP still manages to structure the tracks into an enjoyable hour of Metal.
Samoht
http://www.limb-music.de / Hard Life Promotion
CARDANIA
"At Random" demo CD-R 76/100
Melodical Power Rock
Belgium
On this demo, Cardania immediately shows what they stand for: a good mixture of classical metal and a grunge/rock sound. You can hear Megadeth and Metallica influenced the band (and according to Cardania themselves, so did Pearl Jam and Faith No More). All this provides them with a sound of their own. Especially the Megadeth influence is rather prominent; you can hear it in the guitars and the vocals (Armins voice is a mixture of Dave Mustaine's aggression and the warmth of Piet Frocouls, the singer of After All). The solos and leads are more melodic, which provide a nice contrast between the lead and the rhythm parts. Now about the songs… I hear some great tunes passing by from time to time, but sometimes riffs are either repeated too often or they come out too long. So the songs get a little bit boring after a while (second and fourth song), only the third "Flight Level Paradise" and fifth song "The Promise" are real beauties. I hope the band will be able to write more songs like those, because they really justify the acquisition of this demo CD. The production is also very good so all things considered; this demo is really worth your money.
Mr Moshpit
CEREBRAL
TURBULENCY "Germ Of Error"
MCD 80/100
Grindcore
Czech Republic
I know Cerebral Turbulency since their early recordings and I must say that I've never been disappointed by their amazing performances. Today, I'm not involved in the Grindcore scene as I was ten years ago, but I still can appreciate this sort of violent aural attack that makes your adrenaline level double from the very first second you push the play button... Imagine you banish all the melodic lines from a song. Imagine you play that same song four times faster. Imagine you're damn angry. Well, now you're in the same mood our Czech Grind terrorists were in when they recorded their new MCD. Thirteen songs, about no time to breathe... this is pure mayhem!
RNO
COSMOTRON
"Antiparallel" CD 83/100
Heavy Cosmic Rock
Germany
Yes, Cosmotron is a weird hybrid. Definitely. But please, don't take this the wrong way, because they're fucking cool! Unfortunately, I couldn't find any English-written bio about them anywhere on the net, but as far as my understanding of the German language goes, I'm under the impression that the guys are still quite a young band that hasn't had many opportunities to prove their talent yet. Whatever... On this awesome record I got from Florian, their very friendly German promoter, Cosmotron first filled my ears with some "nebular" Heavy Rock that carries a very slight Electro/Pop edge (more in the intent of the compositions than in the sound itself) and then, they quickly turn into some sort of a glamorous Hard-Rockin' music that will unavoidably remind you of Hardcore Superstar under poppers with cheap, grungy, stinking woolen sweaters. The Seattle scene apparently left some traces here... Yet, our cosmic Germans clearly seem to want to evolve into a modern sphere and they quite succeed in doing it already and with a certain elegance I might add... And that also sets them apart from your average Rock release. Moreover, lots of key tunes can be found here, like "Circles", "The Antiparallel" and "Just Anyone" just to name the best ones... Plus you'll get some more psychedelic songs that - again - expose the band's open-mindedness. Not enough? Come on, guys! In case you've never heard of them, don't be afraid of making a wrong buy...
RNO
http://www.piraterecords.com / Hardbeat Propaganda
CRADLE
TO GRAVE "Lifespan Sessions 2003"
CD 70/100
Southern Swamp Metal
US of A
Phil Anselmo was sitting in a redneck bar in downtown Texas, taking a gander round him and witnessed the local band playing some Skynnard. He must have figured these old geezers really did make some nasty tunes and said to himself: I can do that too, moreso, I can do one better. That's pretty much the idea behind Cradle to Grave, a symbiosys of good old Southern Rock and the modern heaviness of Panterra. Extra attention was clearly poured into Panterra's typical plodding, bluesy riffing and Anselmo's trademark castrated coyote wail. Sadly enough, this sort of hero worship often results into a rather derivative product. This combo does hit its strive, however, when they craftfully infuse the tracks with a good dose of Skynnard like on the swampy Southern Oak.
Samoht
DARKLIGHT
"Under the Shadow Of Fear"
CD 60/100
Atmospheric Black Metal
Bulgaria
Here comes another new band signed on the great Rage Of Achilles, which, strangely, turned out to be a little disappointing because of its evident lack of originality and catchiness. I can conceive that some underground fans may like this sort of music but, to me, the songs are way too boring. I have nothing against compositions that are made out of basic riffs and structures but there must be at least one catchy element like a couple of cool guitar gimmicks or simply some good singing. But the dubious quasi-absence of solo-lines and the rather soporific male/female moaning/grunting won't save them from sinking into the deepest waters... Moreover, the sound is way too home-made. I mean for an official release... I think the overall production is OK but each single instrument has damn bad sonorities. With those old Bontempi-like synth layers and drums plus the guitar's cheap distortion... I really can't go through with this... Dismal Euphony did it better already. And that was ten years ago... And the ladies had killer boobs (just kidding...). Maybe this Bulgarian solo-project is going to evolve into something better but for the moment I can't say anything better; I'm sorry...
RNO
DARK
LUNACY "Forget Me Not"
CD 86/100
Elegant Melodic Dark/Death/Black
Italy
While the intro with the weird nightmarish carousel-like waltz is fading, you already know you're gonna enter some sort of new dimension. As expected, an unbelievable flux of damn beautiful yet extreme Metal sonorities start invading your auditory canals and five seconds later, you feel like you're floating over an immense field of dancing velvety ears. The global sensation you get from such music is directly to be compared with the warm, muffled and sombre elegance of an antique private lounge, where your lips meet in turn decadence and sin until the sun rises. Now, the strange thing about Dark Lunacy is that their guest's performance is nearly as important as the permanent members'. Especially the half-classical and half-gypsy violin, which is omnipresent on the whole album, making it sound a bit like a band that I truly love, Winds. You'll also find orchestral percussion, choirs, a viola, a cello, an accordion and synths. So, I guess you can imagine how complete their sound is... This is definitely a band from the next generation; I strongly advise you not to miss it!
RNO
http://www.darklunacy.com / Bloody Agency
DEATH
DU JOUR "Gamashinoch"
self. prod. MCD 81/100
Brutal Death Metal
Finland
This self-produced mini album of the Finnish Death du Jour is very good in every way. First big positive point for this band! The CD cover is rather sick (which does not disturb ME at all of course!!), but very well done. It fits perfectly to the 'theme' of Death Du Jour's work: agony, mutilation of body and spirit and of course death. Eh-eh, the guys of Death du Jour were probably very influenced by the atmosphere of their recording studio Haven Studios, which seemed to be an old slaughterhouse. I loved the image of the armed stabbed with some kind of huge ritual knife! With such a nice sleeve, my expectations to hear them out where rather high and well, I was not disappointed at all. Death Du Jour brings fast and heavy and melodic Brutal Death and believe me, this is not so common. The main credits to this end go to the fast, technical and experimental guitar riffs. Maybe the singing could be just a bit deeper but that is a matter of personal taste. Excellent music with a nice presentation. Many bands should check out this little piece of art before releasing anything. I really know (been there, done that) it is difficult to bring nice music, put it on CD with a reasonably good mix and sound balance and having a nice artwork, but once again, Death Du Jour has proven it is actually possible, even if it takes some time. If you want to know what "Gamashinoch" exactly means, I suggest you to try and find this MCD, even though, even with the definition of the term, I am still not really sure I totally understood it!
AOD
DEVIOUS
"Acts Of Rage"
CD 78/100
Death Metal
The Netherlands
Here's another band that grew up with the good Death Metal bands from the nineties. Their sound is actually made of slightly Swedish-sounding guitars, a rather Americanized rhythmic section and a typically Dutch overall feel. The ten compositions our guys recorded on "Acts Of rage" (their first full-length) are brutal and quite complex yet very fluent. Their structures show an evident penchant for progressive patterns but the musicians were apparently never caught by the pedantic Prog-fever. I mean, there's no exaggeration... There's a couple of twisted riffs here and there but globally, the mood remains dark and straight. Apart from that, there isn't that much to say... It's a clean product for sure with a totally appropriate sound quality, but... will it quench your thirst? Have a listen; only you could tell...
RNO
http://www.devious.nl / Zomba
DUNGEON
" A Rise to Power"
CD 68/100
Power Metal
Australia
Don't think they only have bad soaps and kangaroos down under. Once in a while a quality Metal band comes crawling out of the outback and into the European limelight. Take, for example, this Dungeon who have just completed their third album, "A Rise To Power". Following a successful tour in Japan (of course, those Japs lap up everything related to True Metal) they decided to have a go at the European market. Musically, inspiration is taken mainly from Iron Maiden and Blind Guardian with songs ranging from up tempo head bangers to the requisite ballad "Life Is Black". Now, will they be able to hold their own amongst the spoiled brats that we European metalheads are? One thing that will definitely work to their advantage is the exceptional voice of Lord Tim (don't ask), which is several notches above the average Bruce Dickinson soundalike wannabe.
Samoht
http://www.limb-music.de / Hard Life Promotion
EBOLA
JOY "Sitra Achra"
self-released CD-R 84/100
Atmospheric Dark Metal
Czech Republic
It's no secret that I'm personally fond of this musical genre, but objectively speaking, one must admit that Ebola Joy is an extremely talented band. Written by two members only (an additional one takes care of the sequencer now...), this home-made album will entrap you in a profoundly melancholic sphere from which you don't even want to escape; you're feeling so well... After 3 demo recordings, it seems that the Czechs have found their own sound. Without copying the others! Some may think it's not varied enough but I'll keep on calling it personal and perfectly coherent. Anyway, why would one try different things when he's so good at his own? On the vocal level, Ebola Joy opted for clear/melodic vocals that added even more fluidity to their songs. They couldn't have made a better choice. I really enjoyed being rocked by these placid waves. And so will you... Fans of Dark/Atmo Metal à la Opeth, My Dying Bride and Braindance, be prepared for this astonishing newcomer!
RNO
EVEN
IN BLACKOUTS "Myths & Imaginary Magicians"
CD 68/100
Pop Punk
U.S.A.
This new band of Screeching Weasel's John Jughead may often be labeled as Punk Rock because of John's roots, but it actually isn't. "Even In Blackouts" is more of an acoustic Power Pop Rock band. But I've got to admit that they play guitar in a Punk Rock kind of way, only without distortion. And judging from what it is, I've got to say that this band doesn't sound bad at all, which might be due to the female vocals in the first place. Otherwise it would have been one band out of a thousand in this genre. There are actually no outstanding songs on this "Myths & Imaginary Magicians" album, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give any credit to it. I must say the songs - all 12 of them - are elaborated pretty nicely. And I think they made two excellent covers: one from Jesse Michaels of Operation Ivy and another one from Clarke of Yaz. "Even In Blackouts" may not be my cup of tea, but I respect their music and think they deserve a chance to be heard.
YVES
Sonic rendezvous
FACTEUR
ZERO "Douce Barbarie"
CD 70/100
Technical Extreme Metal
France
Nice to see a band from France again that manages not only to come up with something original, but that actually sounds rather decent. Usually, French outfits tend to get their dose of flak from the international press, pretty much like the Germans do in the British music mags. Facteur Zero tend towards the more extreme spectrum of the Metal underground, combining the melodic sensibility of Dark Tranquillity with the intricate complexity of fellow Frenchies Misanthrophe. Fortunately, Douce Barbarie does not share the opaque density that troubles many a technical Black Metal band. The 5 tracks are riddled with tempo changes, but they serve to allow the album to breathe instead of choking the listener with an amalgam of cut and paste guitar sections. Keep your eyes on this.
Samoht
FALLING
SILENCE "Dog's Life"
self-produced CD 74/100
Nu Metal
Switzerland
I remember that one of my (ex-) colleagues reviewed this band's first demo and unfortunately for them, his verdict wasn't that exciting. Now that I hear the Swiss' newest CD, I suppose they made quite a lot of progress since I think it's a pretty good one... I can't say that Falling Silence's songs are original because they're clearly modelled on the current Nu Metal wave - and yes, that implies some Rapcore singing, basic downtuned groovy riffs and a sort of Funk/Rock drumming that is only meant to render the songs even more straight - still, the whole disc will undoubtedly leave you a very pleasant impression. One may think it's because the singer is a nice curly lady, but I think it's simply because of the global mood, which is direct and most of all, honest...
RNO
FLESHIES
"The Sicilian"
CD 72/100
Punk'n'roll
U.S.A.
I'm really starting to like this Punk'n'Roll! After their debut album "Dreamers Dream" in 2001, these San Fransisco rockers brought out their second full length album called "The Sicilian". 15 powerful Punk Rock songs with a big blob of Rock'n'Roll. You'll find some hints of Turbonegro, Butthole Surfers and The Dictators. Although it's almost impossible to understand what the singer's singing about with his hoarse vocals, they try to tell us about everything going from politics to absurd things. But that voice doesn't bother me at all. The album has got enough to offer in order to amuse me. This Punk'n'Roll may not always have been my favorite thing but I must say and admit that this is one of the better Punk'n'Roll albums I've heard the last couple of years. And therefore they deserve my respect. If you like bands such as New Bomb Turks, NRA and The Demons, you'll definitely like Fleshies!
YVES
http://www.alternativetentacles.com / Sonic rendezvous
FORCES@WORK
"Coldheart Canyon"
CD 55/100
Progressive Rock
Germany
Here I was hoping to discover a cover band of Men At Work classics, but the forces here are working at something altogether different. These Germans play a rather hyperkinetic form of Progressive Rock. The song structures are deliberately mind warping. Up to the point even that it becomes a stressful experience to live through the entire disc. The riffs have more in common with radio waves, being plucked from outer space rather than the formulaic chorus con solo of your typical Teutons. Their playful jazzy style creates an undertone of feigned incoherence. The staccato rhythms seem to be working against each other instead of laying the grounds for a decent, coherent song, but after two or three spins, it begins to click. Somehow these tracks manage to entice your grey cells into finding out just what will happen next.
Samoht
FORSAKEN
"Iconoclast"
MCD 81/100
Doom Metal
Malta
I knew the very first recordings of these guys and I was thus expecting something totally different from what they play now. I can't say that their style has completely changed but there has been a major evolution for sure! The general mood has turned into something more direct, which is actually much closer to old classic Heavy Metal. Less Doomy for sure! Also, the songs are extremely long and quite diversified. Now, the trouble is that some people may not understand all the rhythmic/melodic changes, but I think it's not a bad point for them because the whole record carries a very personal feel and that is something I really appreciate. Frankly, I couldn't compare Forsaken to any other band you may know... Maybe it's time for this band to get a little more recognition...
RNO
http://www.forsaken_malta.tripod.com
GAIA
EPICUS "Satrap"
CD 78/100
Melodic Power Metal
Norway
Before I start the review I must say it wasn't that easy. The first times I listened to this, I really didn't like it at all. In my eyes it was too much the same thing as so many other bands, so I had put the CD away for a week or two. Later on I listened to it again, to give it another chance. Now they have convinced me and however not all tracks are as good as others I believe this record is worth your time to listen to - to decide whether you want to buy it or not. So, here we go….Gaia Epicus starts with three strong tracks called "Keepers of Time", "Heavens Gate" and "Fire & Ice". The only point of weakness is the singing. It's not bad, but I think it should be more powerful. Then after these 3 tracks the record continues with good Metal, no more - no less. Other highlights are "Star Wars", "Freedom Calls" and the final song "Watch the sky". The last but one song, called "Heavy Metal Heart", is their weakest composition here. Anyway, the listener will discover a lot of beautiful instrumental parts with duelling guitars and keyboards (using rather unusual sounds), thundering drums…and all this faster then usual, because of the fact that these Norwegian guys are more than excellent musicians. So, as I reach my conclusion for this record, I must say they have all the necessary talent to grow. Sure, they have to work on the singing and add a tad more variation in the songs, but I think we'll hear from them soon again!
Mr Moshpit
http://www.soundriot.net / Rock Inc.
HANAGORIK
"A Way To Freedom"
demo MCD 78/100
Groovy Nu Metalcore
Brazil
Sepultura, Angra and a couple of others incontestably opened doors to many Brazilian bands, though not all of them could take real advantages from their figurehead. Among the few fortunate racers, guess who you'll find? Hanagorik, right... These five young guys apparently opted for a modern hybridized cocktail wherein you can find many different styles. To be more precise, I think it can be best described as heavy and groovy Nu Metal with Thrash/Hardcore influences (especially in the vocals). Their average style is powerful and rather brutal (listen to "Cold Blue Eyes"... it sound like a battle of wolves fighting to death in the highest fires of Hell!), but Hanagorik can also write more calm, melodic Alternative-oriented stuff ("Save A Prayer" is a cover - originally composed by Duran Duran - but it shows a clear will to play softer material). So, as you've certainly understood already, we're dealing with a very promising band whose sound will please a large portion of fans, which is exactly what the market needs... The full-length is coming out soon, so stay tuned!
RNO
http://www.hanagorik.com.br / Hardebaran
HOLY
MOTHER "Agoraphobia" CD 74/100
Heavy Metal
U.S.A.
"Success, is the Future" they sing in their first song called "Success". Well, yeah, they deserve to have success now, after releasing their fifth record so far. If you take a look at the line-up, you'll find quite an impressive list: Mike Tirelli (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), bassist Randy Coven (worked with Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai) and drummer Frank Gilchriest (worked with Virgin Steele). In the studio they were helped by drummer John Macoluso (TNT, Malmsteen) and Herman Frank (Moon'Doc, Victory). Anyway, the music is dynamic Power Metal, in the vein of Seven Witches, but with more driving force in it. It immediately catches the listener by the balls. The drums bring a lot of variation; the rhythm and lead guitars are also impressive. The singer sometimes reminds me of Tim Owens (now ex-Judas Priest) which is not a bad thing at all in my opinion. Despite all of this, they need to make good music too…and they do! The record starts strong with songs as "Success", "Modern Day God" and "Heaven's Door". Then it continues with the title track and "Hungry For Extasy". Sixth song, called "Society, Anxiety" is another very strong track. "Skitzo" and "Nympho" aren't bad either. The Black Sabbath cover "Never Say Die" is good but nothing out of the ordinary. So is the last song "Sheer Erotica". My conclusion: this album starts very well, with really good songs, but at the end it gets a little bit less convincing. Still a more than good effort, which I advise you to investigate.
Mr Moshpit
http://www.spv.de / Petting Zoo Propaganda
JEZABEL
"Legiones Del Sur"
CD 82/100
Power Metal
Argentina
Argentinean Power Metal? Yes indeed, it does exist. What we've got here is - as said by the label - the number one of the Argentinean Metal scene… When I read this, I was a little bit sceptical, but after hearing this CD I must admit this is no understatement. Although these guys sing in their native language (Spanish), it deserves mentioning that this is not a bad point at all. In the beginning it was a little bit weird to me, but once you get used to it, it stops disturbing you. From then on, the door opens and you discover some fine Power Metal hymns, such as "Signe Un Pasé Más" (also a video of this one as bonus feature), "Legiones Del Sur", "Gritto De Libertad", "Miro Atras" and "Imagen Del Mundo". You can tell that these are 6 great musicians who know what they are doing. The singer has a nice voice, which reaches the high notes with ease. There's a lot variation in the dynamic drums and there are some really nice guitar and keyboard solos. Also the duels between these two instruments are wonderful to hear. Yeah, this could well be the Argentinean number one, and if not, they're very close to be(come) just that!
Mr Moshpit
http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com
JOAN
OF ARC "So Much Staying Alive And Lovelessness"
CD 39/100
Pop Blues
U.S.A.
Man, I've really had some difficulties to review this album. Joan Of Arc was distributed under the label "Punk Rock", but I fell out of my chair when I listened to the album. And I've tried to listen to this album various times in order to write this review yet I couldn't keep myself from using the skip button on the remote control of my stereo. So what can I say about this album? It's even difficult to put a label on it. Some people talk about acoustic avant-garde, others about Pop Blues, … call it what you want but I have only one word for it: Boring! Joan Of Arc made an album, which can be considered a compilation of songs using some side musicians and on which some friends played instruments as well. The 5th full-length album with this "So Much Staying Alive And Lovelessness". This album is very slow, the songs seem a bit chaotic at times and are way too long, the singer has got a boring and even sometimes false voice and the whole thing makes me want to go to sleep and never wake up again. Maybe this is not the genre of music I like, but even if I try to be neutral at this, I really can't keep my interests awake. Nope… I'm truly sorry…
YVES
http://www.perishablerecords.com / Sonic rendezvous
KREATOR
"Live Kreation"
2CD+DVD 85/100
Thrash
Germany
Kreator's eternally recognizable shredding strikes again! And this time you'll get more than the sound only! After a fair 20 years' career, Kreator still remain the biggest Thrash reference in Europe. And I'm sure they'll keep the throne hot for another decade because this new release doesn't smell like a goodbye/farewell-package at all... Now you probably want to know more about the content of the CDs and the DVD, so here's the useful info... Let's start with the double live CDs. The first thing you notice here is the great live-production. The guitars' dynamics are impressive. Their sound texture is warm, well defined and aggressive. Fans of the good old Kreator sound will definitely love it! The set-list is globally well chosen and therefore quite effective. You can hear oldies like "Pleasure To Kill" and "Terrible Certainty", newer songs like "Violent Revolution" or classic nineties hits like "Coma Of Souls" and "People Of the Lie". At least, the fans in Korea and Brazil, where the stuff was recorded, seem to enjoy them all a lot... On the DVD, you'll find about the same material. Only a few songs do not appear on it. But, but, but... There's a lot more than this! Interviews, unreleased material, a full history of the band, all of their video clips (ten), and two cult songs filmed at the With Full Force fest ("Flag Of Hate" and "Tormentor"). Interactive menus, subtitles, audio options and lots of additional features are included as well... If you're a true Thrash-head, you'll see it for yourself when you buy it...
RNO
http://www.spv.de / Petting Zoo Propaganda
KULT
OV AZAZEL "Oculus Infernum"
CD 78/100
Black Metal
USA
OK, so we're being watched from the darkest depths of Hell... Way better than constantly being spied on by the old bearded guy from "upstairs" anyway... So, what do we get here? Wow, this is Black Metal in its purest form... Quite primitive yet very well executed. It's fast, raw, merciless and damn precise... KOA is definitely the kind of band that likes to torment your soul until you fucking die! The drummer (rightly nicknamed "The Hammer"...) is a genuine war machine all by himself. Have a listen to his amazing double bassdrum technique; you're gonna like it for sure! Now, musically, don't expect anything else "special", because this is authentic Black Metal in the vein of Marduk, Dark Funeral etc. That means no silly ornaments, no gay solos; nothing that could actually ease your burden... No need to waste your breath about the singing and the lyrical content either; it's nothing but barbaric and blasphemous screaming. Who said you need to live in the Norwegian woods to play quality true Black Metal? Florida's getting very somber these days...
RNO
LAGWAGON
"Blaze"
CD 79/100
Punk Rock
U.S.A.
When I first listened to this album, I though: no! Have we been waiting for so long to get a "mediocre" album from a band as famous and popular as Lagwagon? Guess I was a bit disappointed… But after I listened to this album a couple of times, I changed my mind. This album is the logical result of the progress they made and I can't actually blame them. Of course it would have been nicer to release an album in the line of "Hoss", "Trashed" or "Duh", but that was the "old school" Lagwagon. They have evolved and matured a lot and although this album may sound slower than the regular Lagwagon albums, it's still fast, and it's still Punk Rock. And that's something we should all understand and have respect for. If you've been in the scene for that long, it's normal you start "slowing" down (but believe me, this album's still pretty fast). Wouldn't it get boring after a while? Or maybe they got influenced by Joey Cape's side project "Bad Astronaut"? Probably not… The good thing is that the slower pace gets compensated with more variation and greater melodies. They kept their sound, but they just dosed it differently. Like Ali G would say: RESTECP!
YVES
http://www.fatwreck.com / Sonic rendezvous
LIPID
"Hagridden"
CD 83/100
Death/Thrash Metal
Denmark
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" was my first thought hearing the nice bells starting the CD! The bells fading away, a gentle, but ominous intro welcomes you… And then, all hell breaks loose! "Hagridden" is the first full CD released by Lipid under the wings of the UK label Casket Music (part of Copro Rcds). Earlier on in their over-six-years career, they released 3 EP's. You can clearly hear that the music brought by Lipid today is the fruit of a long aging process. Their music is a melting pot of Thrash and Death Metal influences with a great sense for melody yet at the same time very powerful. I particularly enjoy heavy and bloated guitar sound, which serves the numerous technical riffs in a perfect way. Extremely fast songs are alternated with heavier, mid tempo tracks. In my opinion, Lipid especially excels in the latter ones; listen to the closing track "Distrust" for example. I am confident that Lipid is a perfect live performer; I guess they have no trouble at all getting the moshpit animated. Until now, they performed in Denmark and in Germany and I hope they will grow soon so that they'll be able to pay our little country a visit too!
AOD
LUJURIA
"El Poder Del Deseo"
78/100
El metallo muy heavy y Espanol
Espana
Don't any of these guys speak good old Anglo-Saxon? A shame really, because I don't know what to do with them. They have some of the most infectious tunes I've heard of late, but the vocalist reminds me of a drunk Mexican bartender screaming his head off to me. Sure, I'm in the best of moods form the first track on, "Mozart y Salieri", that incorporates a well known classical melody. Still, as I listen to the 11 songs, I find it increasingly difficult to take the album seriously. Technically, Lujuria is superb and where the lyrics are concerned; well, titles like "Las Orgias De Ramses El Grande" and "Priapo (El Canon Humano)" deserve an award if nothing else. In short, I would recommend them to everyone that doesn't speak Spanish, the others might not get it at all.
Samoht
http://www.locomotivemusic.com / Rock Inc.
MAPLE
CROSS "Next Chapter"
CD 77/100
Modern Blackish Death/Thrashcore
Finland
Lead by an efficient cut-edge rhythmic section coupled with some very groovy guitar riffing, Maple Cross' music sounds like a very amusing pastiche that will make large cheesy grins appear on many faces. In a way, these guys found the way to please a very large range of Metal fans. It's like they always try to keep one foot in each existing camp. Some may consider this as a lack of personality but I'd rather see it as a conscious will to remain accessible. Only the vocalist may turn off a couple of sensitive sissies because he's definitely a screamer more than anything else... With this said, the album also features a couple of more Rock-oriented tunes, like "Invincibles", where Marco (that's the screamer's name) softens his performance and makes his message nearly understandable to anyone. A few other songs also have a tendency to sound similar to Total Carnage and all those Punk/Death bands you can find on labels like the French Osmose Productions etc. Globally entertaining and quite nicely produced...
RNO
http://www.verikauha.com / Firebox
MAUSOLEUM
"The Official 20th Anniversary Concert Album"
CD 80/100
Heavy Metal
Various
Well, it was pretty obvious that Mausoleum wouldn't just bake a cake on that very special day! Sincerely, yes, we did expect that sort of anniversary compilation... But we didn't know what it would be made of yet. Eventually, now we can, as a third metallic decade has definitely begun for Alfie Falkenbach and his mighty creation. Let's have a look at the set-list... Ostrogoth first. Three songs. Nothing special but genuine Heavy Metal. Then Killer. Three songs as well. Unfortunately the guitar sounds a little far in the mix but... all in all, it's good dope again. Especially "Kleptomania"; what a killer Killer song! When the seventh track begins, you recognize quite a familiar sound. Yes, it's Ostrogoth back on stage! But this time, instead of Marc De Brauwer, you get Peter De Wint on vocals, which in my opinion is way preferable. And here we go again for three more Ostrogoth tunes... The last two tracks are a little more surprising as it's Killer (again) featuring Doro! And the guitar sound turns into shit again. Fuck. But apparently, Doro was in cracking good shape, so she led the horses with great maestria and the only impression that remains in your mind is good. So yeah, this is a worthy disc for all the fans...
RNO
http://www.mausoleum-records.com / Hard Life Promotion
NECRODEATH
"Ton[e]s Of Hate"
CD 85/100
Black Thrash Metal
Italy
Since their forceful return, the four Italian Black/Thrashers have always succeeded in keeping their cult status safe from any controversy. Still, they've found a way to be both authentic and modern at the same time. That's actually what lots of bands try to do but only a few eventually reach their goal. What Necrodeath did this time is simply record their best album ever. Surprisingly, the overall writing makes it resemble some good old Thrashy stuff à la Sadus; some riffs still also show clear Kreator and Celtic Frost influences, but the way the songs were produced is definitely modern. The band apparently put much more time (and money) in the studio than usual and I'm sure they took the right decision because the result is really amazing! And these eight new songs are gonna turn you into very bad guys, believe me... The Japanese version of the album will feature the track "The Flag", which was originally recorded on their very first LP "Into The Macabre" released back in 1987, so be careful what you order...
RNO
NE
USER "Tarantos"
80/100 CD
Pagan Metal
Spain
Sometimes less is more, also in music. Take for instance, Punk's attitude where everything is stripped down to 3 chords, guitar, bass and drums. As if the music itself is diluted through too many instruments, like butter spread too thin. For example, look no further than Metallica's awful S&M attempt at symphonic music or German medieval metallers Haggard. Now, from Spain comes a band, Ne User, that proves to be one of the few exceptions to this rule. Their 2nd album, Tarantos, was crafted by no less than 14 musicians, 9 of whom are steady. Even though their style may in fact not differ that much from the aforementioned Haggard, they are far better at pacing themselves, using the different instruments to their full potential and allowing them to blossom individually instead of going by the "let's throw in everything but the kitchen sink" routine on every song. On Tarantos Death, Doom and Black are blended with Spanish folk sounds, replete with flutes, acoustic guitars and pipes. As far as influences go they take their cue from the likes of Opera IX, Arcturus or even Corvus Corax. Recommended.
Samoht
NIGHTFALL
"I Am Jesus"
CD 83/100
Melodic Dark/Death Metal
Greece
Nightfall is one of the few Hellenic bands that I totally admire because they've never followed what I call the "Greek Metal trend". Their sound has always evolved towards new horizons, following their very own feel of the moment, and that definitely deserves nothing but respect. At the beginning, the guys were profoundly immersed in very particular and heavy Doomy atmospheres. Now, they're more into straight melodic Dark/Death Metal, still keeping their personal touch though. The new recording has been (once again) made at the Tico Tico Studios in Finland and I must say they made a very good choice because you get a killer bass-rendering there. Also, it makes the whole album sound even darker yet it remains perfectly defined in the complete range of sonorities that the band have used on this album... I guess there's pretty much nothing else to say. You'll find a couple of experiments, like the weird solo on "I've Never Dreamt The Life We Share", but... Nightfall have a big enough career behind them, so you probably all know them already!...
RNO
http://www.black-lotus-recs.com / Sureshot-Worx
NIGHTWARD
"Face The Fall"
demo CD-R 82/100
Melodic Death Metal
Italy
About a decade ago, the Swedes have created their very own Death Metal sound that can be found nowadays - more or less altered - on every street corner all over the world. And the funny thing is that being inspired by this specific genre has never made the media bristle... Maybe it's because of its intrinsic nature? Probably... I mean, it's like chocolate; everyone likes it, right? That said, I would like to add a few more comments because I'm sure you're gonna think that Nightward are nothing but a pale copy of a Swedish Death Metal band. And they're definitely not! The guys have clearly been inspired by In Flames, Soilwork and the others, but they also acquired some sort of independence, which manifests itself in an evident hundred percent honest and genuine musical maturity. The ultimate proof of my beliefs on this matter can be found in the latest song of the demo, "Blick Ins Traum", where Carmelo Orlando (mastermind of Novembre) joined Nightward for a very special composition that you won't be able to forget that soon... Hope some label will give 'em a chance!
RNO
http://www.nightward.com / Hardebaran
NORDHEIM
"River Of Death" CD 78/100
Heavy Metal
Brazil
This nice shining piece of plastic may not run the contest for the most original Metal album of the year, but it's surely gonna please the older Metalheads who are more liable to enjoy direct (yet powerful) music... "River Of Death" is indeed a genuine collection of epic anthems that will make the entirety of your body swing along with the straight drum drive Nordheim shamelessly "exploits" throughout the record. Calmer and more nicely arranged/orchestrated parts make their apparition starting from the fifth track, "Before The Light", but - strangely maybe - the mood never breaks off, even when Nordheim throws in a couple of more theatrical plans. The album thus shows quite an impressive continuity and one must admit that these days, only a few can achieve such an act of musical bravery. Now, sincerely, I haven't digested the whole album at the first audition... Still it didn't repel me either (as some classic Heavy Metal albums do, believe me!). So, I took my sweet time to assimilate all of "River Of Death" and now I must say I'm happy I didn't consider it as just another average release... Keep an eye (ear?) as well on the three bonus tracks (they're demo versions of a couple of the songs you can find on this very same album). Eventually pretty cool...
RNO
http://www.mausoleum-records.com / Hard Life Promotion
NO
STRINGS ATTACHED / GINO'S EYEBALL
Split CD 74/100
Punk Rock
Belgium
I actually didn't really like No Strings Attached that much when I first listened to their 5 songs on this split album. I had seen them play live before, and I wasn't that enthusiastic either… When I listened to their songs, it was as if I was hearing the same song over and over again, plus I don't really like the singer's voice... but I've heard this album plenty of times and I've realized that they're actually pretty good at what they play. They just stick to their genre, which is straight forward Punk Rock. If they keep working that way, they might make it. So big it up for these guys. The other band on this album is the Antwerp based Punk Rock band Gino's Eyeball. I like their songs more because they bring more variation in it. They play fast, go slow, use Ska riffs, introduce a synthesizer, have hilarious lyrics… and everything is more about fun, which doesn't mean they don't need to be taken seriously, on the contrary. Lots of people compare them to Blink 182. I can't say it's not like that, but I think they are way more than that. Anyway, their songs are very amusing and I hope they don't change an inch. These guys rule! No Strings Attached would earn a 72% while Gino's Eyeball gets a little more with their 76%. So if you're good at elementary maths, I don't need to say anything more about the general score :p Enjoy this decent album, which - by the way - can be obtained at a very democratic price.
YVES
Laces out records / droge182@hotmail.com
OMEN
"Eternal Black Dawn" CD 70/100
Classic Heavy Metal
USA
The rather recently reborn Mausoleum signed another classic Heavy Metal dinosaur. Not a surprise... Indeed. So what do we get here? Well, I'm actually tempted to call it forty-six minutes of déjà-vu... But that would not be a problem if... Damn, what a shame they didn't work with another producer! "Eternal Black Dawn" is a very clean product but the overall production here breathes nothing but platitude. Sometimes I try to imagine the same disc recorded with another vocalist but even then - as grandpa Jagger says - I can't get no satisfaction... The vocals undoubtedly sound like they're completely detached from the rest but no, it's definitely not about the singer only... In fact, the drums are - in a certain way - quite weak (where the hell has the bassdrum boom gone?) and the guitars miss warmth and presence, which is a real pity because most of Omen's guitar solos are absolutely awesome. Still, production-wise, this album remains a tremendously missed collage. I sincerely can't understand how one can spend (so much?) money in a studio and exit with such a miserable recording... Especially when you're a talented band... Hope to see them live; I'm sure they'll sound much better on stage!
RNO
http://www.mausoleum-records.com / Hard Life Promotion
OVERGARVEN
"Promo 2003"
demo CD-R 78/100
Black/Death-ish Heavy Metal
Greece
Lots of demos sound and look fucking professional nowadays. Yet, sometimes it happens that you find good or even better ideas in the cheaper ones. Overgarven apparently didn't have a Rockfeller wallet still they succeeded in releasing a quite correct demo and - most importantly - they did it with their heart and soul. This "promo 2003" isn't meant to become a fragmentation bomb that will make lots of waves in the international Metal scene but I think it's one of the freshest I've heard in the genre for a long while. I can't say that the guys are exceptional musicians either but I'm sure they're on the right track. And I can assure you there's nothing wrong with what they already do. Musically speaking, Overgarven play a sort of Metal with Black and Death Metal influences. Lots of riffs will probably remind you of some good old-fashioned Heavy Metal but the harsh vocal tessitura make the songs sound a little more brutal and intense. Now show 'em some support cause they deserve it...
RNO
http://www.overgarven.tk / Hardebaran
PARAGON
"The Legacy"
77/100 CD
Power Metal
Germany
Aching for some Teutonic steel? Well, Paragon's sophomore album "The Legacy" is probably one of this month's more fortunate additions to the Hall of Heavy Metal. Their take on the genre is a mixture of Ozzy, Dio and The Warning/ Queen of the Rÿch era Queensrÿche. It's loosely built as a concept album. i.e. A story serves to link all the songs together, but each individual track is pretty much self contained and can just as well be enjoyed separately from the record. No doubt these anthems will do wonders on a live stage, as they have already proven on some of the larger German summer festivals like Wacken. Mind you , there are fillers here, floor fillers that is.
Samoht
http://www.remedyrecords.de / Rock Inc.
PISTOL
GRIP "Another Round"
CD 70/100
Punk Rock
U.S.A.
Have you always loved Punk Rock like they played it back in the 70's or in the 80's? Do you look back to those days for the anti-religious and political lyrics? If so, Pistol Grip is the band you've been looking for. Influenced by bands such as The Clash, Sham 69, Bad Religion and The Ramones, Pistol Grip remind me of 98 Mute and Pennywise. Still, I don't think they shoot with the same caliber as those bands, but they are actually not that bad. It's just a pity you can clearly hear the same chords over and over again. So the album doesn't offer enough variation, but this is how Punk Rock sounded back in those days, so it actually doesn't make them better or worse than other bands playing this style now. But I do love their guitar solos and the somehow catchy melodies. So, all in all, I can say they delivered a decent album with some good songs - nothing more, nothing less.
YVES
http://www.byorecords.com / Sonic rendezvous
PRONG
"Scorpio Rising"
CD 81/100
Groovindustrial Metal
USA
I'm happy I just bought a set of cool wireless headphones because they make this album sound fucking huge! We already had an idea of what the new Prong style would resemble (with the song "Initiation" featured on their latest "100% Live" CD) but still I'm very impressed now that it's spinning in my player... "Scorpio Rising" indeed shows great ability in varying genres. The excellent "Embrace The Depths" for example will undoubtedly remind you of Filter's ultra-intelligent melodic constructions, while the more distant "Letter To a Friend" will probably recall you of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Funky Rock style... Other songs have a strong Nu Metalcore feel but they never fall into mediocre déjà-vu patterns; the trio rather dives into pure raw violence like in "Regal", where they're a hair breadth away from Death Metal. Another cool thing is that the overall mix prevents the music from being too "unnatural". Even on airy hits like "Avoid Promises", where your average sound-engineer would have boosted all the reverb faders, Prong still keeps a special "crude" edge that fits perfectly with their - after all - very human style... Definitely happy they're back!
RNO
http://www.locomotivemusic.com / Rock Inc.
RAKOTH
"Tiny Deaths"
CD 75/100
For-weirdos-from-weirdos Metal
Russia
Lee Barret, Elitist's boss, told us all clearly that he didn't want his roster to be Earache-like. Well, the sub-label's name itself says it all... yet sometimes you get shocked by what you actually get there... Frankly, who's going to listen to "Tiny Deaths" and not fall from his chair? No one I guess. Myself, I've always liked weird stuff but this is absolutely non-conformist music, believe me... All the describing terms I've found in their bio fit pretty well with what they do but I think there are some points we need to discuss if you want to get the picture here... The album sounds Doom, Black, Prog and Folk. That is hundred percent true. But Rakoth developed all of the aforementioned styles in such an unorthodox way... Take a listen to the acoustic parts. Aren't they the most uncommon you've ever heard? We definitely can't say it's just a simple mixture of genres like many bands produce nowadays. The Russians went far beyond everyone's expectations and dug into pretty unknown grounds. Amateurs of unusual trips are gonna love this one for sure...
RNO
http://www.elitistrecords.co.uk / Zomba
RISING
FAITH "The Arrival"
CD 60/100
Power Metal
Sweden
From the hometown of Hammerfall, Göteburg, come the five Swedes that make up Rising Faith. They must have drunk from the same well as their metallic neighbors because they do sound a lot like them. You might have recognized these guys from the Rising Forces sampler, put out by a French Metal magazine whose name I shall not disclose. Compared to that track, the material has matured significantly since then. Especially the vocals ring more convincingly and less off key. However, where, for instance, Hammerfall can into glory ride on their inciting choruses, Rising Faith does not often have the same impact on our hungry (and spoiled) ears. "Flight To The Brocken" is a welcome exception to this, but at the end of the day, it will take a bit more to rise my faith in them.
Samoht
http://www.limb-music.de / Hard Life Promotion
ROSSOMAHAAR
"Quaerite Lux in Tenebris"
CD 75/100
Symphonic Black Metal
Russia
The Russian Black
Metal scene is in some way quite similar to that of Norway in the early nineties:
obscure, politically incorrect, cult and unmistakably impregnated with pitch-black
darkness. A decade later, with the Nordic scene overexposed and on the verge
on becoming barren after years of ruthless exploitation, one needs to look elsewhere.
Part of the Russian flair then is precisely due to the personal gratification
you get from finding one of these rare gems: Rakoth, Forest Of Streams and now
Rossomahaar, who play Symphonic Black Metal, Russian style.
One of the most self-evident reference points, namely Dimmu Borgir, actually
does not ring true. Mainly because of a general under-emphasising of the synths
in favour of a rich guitar palette. Closer to home, the Hellenic sounds of Rotting
Christ's "Thy Mighty Contract" do resound in the distance.
Samoht
SECTION
A "The Seventh Sign"
CD 81/100
Progressive Power Metal
Denmark
I had never heard of Torben Enevoldsen until today, but now that I've listened to "The Seventh Sign" a few times (don't mix it up with the homonymous song written by Possessed a long time ago...), I can say that this first all vocal album of his is a great success! Of course, with the caliber of the guest musicians that Torben decided to invite on this recording, it was pretty obvious that it could hardly have been a fiasco... The first musician to join the Danish guitar-maestro was Andreas Lill (Vanden Plas drummer). Then came the vocalist: Andy Engberg from Lion's Share... another good choice! In fact, his versatile vocal performance allows him to perfectly sing typical Power Metal tunes as well as calmer "ballads" such as the very nice "Pray For Rain" or even more classic slightly Bluesy Rock songs like "Tomorrow"... The bass and the basic keyboard parts were recorded by Torben himself, but he left some free space for Derek Sherinian (Planet X) and Günter Werno (Vanden Plas) on a couple of songs. And that was - again - a very cool idea! The "solo-battle" between Derek and Torben at the end of "Nightmare" is really something... I don't know if this project is going to evolve one way or another but I strongly encourage them to keep on playing such great music!
RNO
http://www.lionmusic.com / Hard Life Promotion
SEPULTURA
"Roorback"
CD 85/100
Violent Thrashcore
Brasil
I can hardly speak of the "new" Sepultura because this album sounds like our brazileros wanted to affirm their propensity for unpredictability as they did when they popped out "Chaos A.D." back in their legendary Cavalera-brotherhood years... On the other hand, one cannot say that "Roorback" looks like a return to the roots either because it's absolutely meant to carry a modern edge. So, instead of a simple regeneration, we'll rather talk about a multi-layered renaissance... In fact, if you dissect the album, you'll find so many points of interest that you won't even be able to distinguish what the band eventually intended to express. And - paradoxically maybe - that's great because (too) many bands forget about the beauty of mysteries. Now, I must say that I haven't tried to fully understand "Roorback" yet but its songs are still resounding in my head, from the most violent one (like the opener "Come Back Alive") until the weirdest ("Bottomed Out") so I guess we'll just consider it as a total success and put an end to the blah blah. Oh, just one more thing: as a bonus track, you'll get the video clip of "Bullet The Blue Sky" (U2 cover) that could suitable have ended with "Nike - just do it"... quite funny...
RNO
http://www.spv.de / Petting Zoo Propaganda
SEVEN
SERAPHIM "Believe In Angels"
CD 82/100
Neoclassic Prog Metal
USA
I've always loved it when musicians live their passion body and soul. Thus, all those (maybe I should say "the few"...) who play making us feel what they really have inside are - to me - the greatest. And yes, Seven Seraphim is definitely part of that charming "elite"... Led by a young yet very talented guitarist, Andrew Szucs, the American four-piece came up with a rather unique blend of Neoclassic Hard/AOR and Progressive Metal that is way more than your average cheap rockin' melodrama. The result here is really interesting because it's neither weak, nor is it exaggeratedly pompous. It's like they took only the best from each of the two genres. Plus they didn't forget that the most important thing in music is the catchiness, so I can swear you won't find patterns on "Believe In Angels" that are gratuitously made complex. Well, maybe there are a few flights of lyricism here and there, but they're part of the finishing touches; it's not like the songs are based on inextricable patterns on purpose... Besides, I find the song skeletons quite "simple". Those who know Yes in their "Union"-period can draw a parallel in their mind and understand why I put this "simple" between quotation marks... Seven Seraphim is made for people who like fresh sensations...
RNO
SICKHEAD
"Abuse"
CD 80/100
Hardcore
Italy
Sometimes, Hardcore can be damn heavy! All you have to do to realize it is, listening to this masterpiece of loudness that the five Italians of Sickhead released on Loudblast Records this year. Now, beware! Playing this disc is like unleashing a war in your brain; due to its intrinsic aggressiveness and emphatic power, it's gonna relentlessly create inner-conflicts that you won't be able to solve until you hear silence again. Therefore, "Abuse" can be considered a death-trap wherein the listener dramatically feels claustrophobic and desperate for more than half an hour. And scratching and banging on the walls while you're in won't help in any way, because it's all in your head... At the exit of the audition, all you will recall is a bunch of earthquakish guitar riffs, some deeply roaring bass lines and a vague feel of having heard some dark spirited demon scream in your subconscious mind; like twisted fragments of pure vocal hatred that will haunt you later at night... "Abuse" ain't a funny joke but it's a good one for sure!
RNO
http://www.sickhead.it / Hardebaran
SILENT
EDGE "The Eyes Of the Shadow"
CD 80/100
Progressive Power Metal
The Netherlands
Each time that DVS Records signs a new band, you can bet it's gonna make numerous Prog fans have a mental erection. And this one is no exception. The Dutch Silent Edge's first full-length sounds indeed like a perfect record in its genre. Both great musical creativity and a very catchy edge can be found anywhere on the disc and even looking very well for one, I'm sure I couldn't find a single weak point here. At first, I must admit that I was a little perplex about the vocals but after a couple of listens I can't even remember what the exact flaw was, so I guess it was nothing but an insignificant detail... Globally, the album shows great technicality but fortunately, no overemphatic structure will tarnish the apparent and agreeable "simplicity" of the melodies, which is - to me - a very good point. Only a few breaks in unison will give you a slap in the face. The rest is not that complicated and you certainly won't need a calculator to sail through it. My favorites are "For Ancient Times", whose slightly arabist instrumental intermezzo is simply the best, and "Rebellion", which features a couple of great rhythmic arrangements with nicely syncopated yet very groovy rhythms that will make you headbang under your headphones like a madman. A good start indeed...
RNO
http://www.dvsrecords.com / Rock Inc.
SILVERSTEIN
"When Broken Is Easily Fixed" CD 85/100
Post Emo Hardcore
Canada
Victory records is not only picking up the bigger bands, but they're also signing brand new younger bands, like this Canadian band Silverstein. After two EP's, they released their first full length "When Broken Is Easily Fixed". It seems like this Post Emo Hardcore music is at its highest peak. Silverstein is less aggressive in this genre, but won't need much time to conquer the scene. If Poison The well, Saves The Day and Thursday formed a triangle, Silverstein would be right in the center of gravity. With influences from The Get Up Kids and Grade, they remind me of Finch, although they've got less screaming parts. But that is largely compensated by the great melodies. They're also not afraid to use violins in most of their songs, which gives them the emotion of bands such as Yellowcard. The more I listen to the album the better it gets, although they gave me a strong impression right from the start. Eventually, I'd say that the best way to describe Silverstein's music is by looking at the front cover. It says it all: a rough package with lots of emotions inside!
YVES
http://www.victoryrecords.com / Hard Life promotion
SNOWDOGS
"Deep Cuts" CD 80/100
Pop Punk
U.K
Snowdogs is one of those bands that don't convince me after I listened to the album once, but that I start appreciating after 2 or 3 times... and end up loving, singing along with the songs from then on. Yeah, people think reviewing is an easy job, but you won't feel the same way about an album now, than let's say half a year later. So it's very important to listen very carefully to CDs. It's also very difficult to put a label on it - like with this band. But since we're writing about music, it's all Rock. One thing is certain: Snowdogs are very catchy and flamboyant. The album offers a lot of variation. It kicks off with a powerful song, slows down from track 4 to 6, in track 7 the distortion even disappears. In the 8th they even introduce a trumpet (they also use keyboards and harmonicas in other songs) and starting from song 10 they crush it hard again. It's the ideal order. They even remind me of Venerea in the song "Popstars". This album is the result of the hard work this three-piece realized in their life and believe me, they've been through some serious shit! So put your hands together for Snowdogs. They rock! And then imagine that their album has been recorded in a live kind of way...
YVES
http://www.victoryrecords.com / Hard Life Promotion
SODOM
"One Night In Bangkok"
2CD 81/100
Thrash
Germany
The Thais apparently had a fucking great time with our sodomite friends! In fact, you can hear them scream and slam like crazy drunken bears while Angelripper and Co. simply deliver their best performance ever. Maybe you thought Sodom would have crumbled under the weight of time... then you're absolutely wrong! The years passed by, but the German warriors are still one hundred and ten percent in top shape! Their sound is still the same, including the hyper dirty bass and the typical harsh vocals; exactly the same you can find on the band's earliest (and cult) recordings. As a great fan of the band's middle-career epoch, I'm damn happy to hear - among others - songs like "Agent Orange", but on the other hand I'm also missing some excellent classics such as "Persecution Mania", "Christ Passion" and a couple more. But those were already featured on an old live album ("Mortal Way Of Live"), so I guess they intentionally avoided them on this new one... Whatever. Both discs include great songs and if you take a look at the label's or the band's site, you'll see that the guys and their technical crew were confronted with big yet quite funny situations in the frame of this recording so... it's definitely worthwhile for the fans of good old Thrash!
RNO
http://www.spv.de / Petting Zoo Propaganda
SOLVI
"Solvi"
self-produced MCD 80/100
Alternative Rock/Metal
USA
Solvi are a young four-piece from Nashville and apparently, this very nice MCD they sent me is their first release, though its quality could easily make one think they've been around for a long while already. In fact, their songwriting skills are absolutely remarkable! On the three songs we get here, the band has undoubtedly been inspired by the latest Tool, yet the overall feel sounds quite personal to me, especially because Aaron, their vocalist, is a man of outstanding talent. Actually, I even think he's the key-person who makes the songs so vibrant. Without him, the songs would leave a sad empty impression... Hope they're gonna record some more material soon...
RNO
SPITALFIELD
"Remember Right Now" CD 82/100
Emo Pop Punk
U.S.A
This album has come as a great surprise. I never heard about this band before, but I knew I could trust the Victory quality and reputation and that's exactly how it has been. It looks like Victory Records is growing towards a new direction, admitting more different music styles. Spitalfield can be compared to the other two bands (RIP) on the same label: Student Rick and Taking Back Sunday. Meaning their music is very emotional and has Pop, Hardcore and Punk elements in it. I like the vocals very much when they're combined with the backings, as the two voices make an almost perfect match. All of the songs bring lots of variation and have a lot of breaks in them. The guitar work and the drum parts make the whole thing interesting because most drummers just drum along... but not this one. He brings extra rhythm. This is a more than decent album for fans of Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard Confessional.
YVES
http://www.victoryrecords.com / Hard Life Promotion
STRUNG
OUT "Live In A Dive" CD 90/100
Punk rock
U.S.A
Hell yes! This is the forth album in Fat Wreck's "Live In A Dive" series, but that's not what I'm so excited about. It's just that I've always had very good memories of the Strung Out's concerts but I've never had any "material souvenir" other than a T-shirt. Every time I go to their gigs, my mouth falls open. They're that good. Let's admit it, Strung Out is a live band. Their albums are good but you don't know them until you've seen them on stage. And this album gives you almost the same vibe as when they're performing right in front of you. There has been some criticism about these "Live In A Dive" series; people say there's a lot of re-mastering involved and that the sound isn't that "live" as they say it is but I can assure you, no matter what: Strung Out really sounds like this live. 21 songs in all, coming out of all of their albums... I think we can't ask for anything more. And even if Strung Out is the "black sheep" on the label owing to their slightly metallic Punk Rock, they'll always be one of the most famous ones. And this album resumes it all. I'm very happy about this release and I think all the Strung Out fans will agree. A must have. And then again, the album includes a nice - self made - comic book inside the booklet.
YVES
http://www.fatwreck.com / Sonic Rendezvous
TEXTURES
"Polars"
self-produced CD 90/100
Progressive Metal
The Netherlands
Wow! This one hurts more than a baseball bat in your teeth! The first band that fell into my mind when I started "Polars" is Meshuggah; probably because of the awesome sharp-edged guitar riffing and the ruthless drumming style. Only with the killer pounding of the two bass-drums, you already feel like your Adam's apple wants to force open your throat and leave you totally breathless (ladies can imagine the same with another part of their anatomy)... And the rest of the kit will undoubtedly inspire lots of respect to most Prog fans, because the young skin-beater ain't a poof for sure! With that said, I also quickly heard more ethereal parts, which sound way more Devin Townsend-oriented. A little later, clear vocals make their first apparition as well and the whole atmosphere suddenly turns into something that could be compared with the style that Raunchy popularized with their excellent "Velvet Noise"... Now, it is true that such songs may require some time to penetrate the depths of your body, but I also think that once you've understood the essence of their complex structures, you may feel like you've discovered a wholly new way to "get instructed". Simply by listening to music indeed. You tell me; how cool is that ? Me, I'd call this dope "Meshuggah in the skies with diamonds"...
RNO
THE
ARMADA "Rage Of The Armada"
CD 70/100
Epic Power Metal
Spain
The Armada was the majestic, near invincible fleet of the Spanish army, the pinnacle of their pride. A more than fitting title then for the new band of Peter Langer and Damir Uzunovic, of the relatively known outfit Stormwitch. It comes as no surprise that their musical background and experience shines through under their newfound flag too. Playing Epic Power hymns, they tap into the same vein as before and as so many others. But it is the eye for detail and the fine arrangements that elevate this debut above all competition. You need only take a listen to the gentle, but unmistakable epicness of "Crimson Winter Sunrise". The Spanish Armada was lost in the rage of a devastating storm. Let's hope that their musical counterpart can be spared the same faith.
Samoht
http://www.limb-music.de / Hard Life Promotion
THE
DEAD KINGS "For All Those Hot Black Chicks"
CD 75/100
Da Punkish Rock'n'Roll
USA
Hairy men banging a black sexdoll are perverts. But these guys are fucking cool perverts because they're true Punk Rockers! I won't lie to you; they haven't invented anything and they're no gods... But their attitude is honest and their music is... simply authentic! Note that this is no NOFX-like Punk/Rock. It's way more similar to Antiseen and the Sex Pistols. For bad guys exclusively! No sissy Californian skaters allowed... See what I mean? The entirety of the songs is driven by delirious and frantic rhythms, be they bluesy or not, and believe me, they truly have the power to wake up the dead! If you're looking for some good stuff to give you a little push in the morning, get this and play it in your car. Man, you're gonna headbang on the road like a psycho...
RNO
THE
ENTITY "Salt"
MCD 82/100
Emotive Rock
Norway
This is a strange yet very pleasant surprise... Everyone knows the English Rage Of Achilles as being an Extreme Metal label exclusively but with a release such as this one, they clearly make us understand that they want to broaden their horizons. And maybe ours as well... Now, I don't think we can complain about this sudden change of direction because The Entity delivers genuine Emotive Rock with a subtle touch of Dark/Goth Metal, which strengthens their structures and makes them solid, coherent and, most of all, catchy enough to make us impatient to hear more from them as soon as possible. This disc may find itself lost in Extreme Metal catalogues but I'm sure that open-minded people are willing to check it out...
RNO
THE
FIGHT "Home Is Where The Hate Is" CD 77/100
Old school Punk
U.K
Fat Wreck is one of the biggest Punk Rock labels ever, if not the biggest. The good thing is that they're signing some new bands, such as The Fight, but the part I don't like is that they have dropped some other bands instead... something I don't understand. No offence, but The Fight isn't any better than the bands that have been dropped. Now, this has been said... It's very surprising on one hand that Fat Wreck has signed a band from the UK but it's actually not that strange on the other hand. If all 17 year old kids could write songs like The Fight, we would need 20 label companies such as Fat Wreck Chords. And although they're all very young, they do understand what Punk Rock means. To achieve that, they've been digging and finally they ended up in the old school spirit. It's unbelievable: old school Punk Rock music is not really my cup of tea, but The Fight makes this music in such a melodic and pleasant way that I must admit that this EP is actually pretty good! The singer is a female and must be complimented for her vocals! If The Fight keeps on fighting, they're heading for a beautiful future.
YVES
http://www.fatwreck.com / Sonic Rendezvous
THE
TWELFTH GATE "Summoning"
CD 70/100
Progmetal
US
Bands like Queensrÿche and Dream Theater are a tough act to follow. Not only are they technically virtuose, but more importantly they are quite alone in their quest to keep Progmetal really progressing. It makes no sense in calling a genre progressive if you stick to the preordained dogmas of the eighties. The Twelfth Gate too can to some extent be attributed the same qualities. For instance, Summoning shares Queensrÿche's epicness, yet from a lyrical/vocal viewpoint the result is rather formulaic, although ever of high standard. Musically though, the riffs quite often break free of the regular reference points and remind me of some bands in an entirely different metallic realm. Take for example Irish Folk metallers Primordial or even cult Black metallers Samael. These associations may very well be entirely coincidental, they simply give away just how much The Twelfth Gate is different from their competitors.
Samoht
THE
UNDERWATER "Bleed Me Blue" CD 78/100
Emotional Heavy Rock
USA
The thing I didn't like that much at first here is the vocal performance of the singer. It sounded a little lamenting, often way too forced and sometimes even a little uncertain to me. Still, after a couple of auditions, I began to find it more honest than faulty. And yeah, that means I enjoy this album very much now... Musically, the band evolves into a sort of classic yet very catchy style where they mix Alternative Metal with Emotional Rock, always keeping in mind that a song must carry a strong verse/refrain structure to get firmly rooted in the listener's mind. Have a listen at "The World Is Ours" for example. Isn't it a killer song? It reminds me of Blindside, which I like very much - dunno what you think of it... Now, one could say the whole album sounds a little too linear but I don't think the band's coherence must be penalized for all that... On the contrary maybe! Honestly, there isn't that much to say about such an album. It's just good... straightforward and pleasant. If you need more, pass your turn. Otherwise, give it a listen, 'coz you may find a new band to be a fan of...
RNO
http://www.impressionmusic.com
THRAWN
"Light Creates Shadows"
demo CD-R 72/100
Occult Thrash Metal
Sweden
Thrawn was formed in 2001 by Hendrik Ohlsson (Theory In Practice, Mutant) and Kjell Andersson (Azotic Reign). Two years later, having put Thrawn on top of their priority list, they released their first four-track demo. Unfortunately, I do not really have a lot of additional information about this band, as I wasn't able to read the URL of their website from the rather bad copy of the demo sleeve. Yahoo and Google were not a great help either… Not such a good start I would say. Their music, however, is rather interesting and this is of course the most important aspect. The speakers roar with four extremely fast songs. Needless to say that this music is to be played loud for maximal appreciation! Eh-eh, my neighbors are gonna learn to love it too! Thrawn is playing fast and technical Thrash Metal with excellent and varied guitar solos. The songs are melodic and stick in your head, which is always a good sign. Maybe the vocals could be even more brutal at times. Well, I guess it is a matter of personal taste. The lyrical concept is dealing with occultism and individualism. Thrawn wants to contribute to the Metal world in a major way; I'm curious to see if they are going to succeed in their mission… I would give them a chance, that is for sure.
AOD
TOMORROW'S
EVE "Mirror Of Creation"
CD 77/100
Progressive Metal
Germany
From the very first riffs of "Mirror Of creation", the Germans impose us very intelligent structures and melodies that reveal crystal-clear influences. Fortunately, it seems that they've been inspired by the greatest only. In fact, you can easily distinguish Vandenplas' straight rocking grooves, Dream Theater's rhythmic patterns and also something - rather hard to define with just words - they took from the old Pain Of Salvation. In other words, the guys haven't invented hot water, but they've learnt their lesson well and now they're able to write coherent songs without necessary falling into the usual boring Prog schemes... The singer's timbre is not my cup of tea but I have to admit that the singing itself is good. So the only thing that is missing on this album is a real hit. I can't deny the fact that there's a bunch of stronger songs but no one carries the necessary magic yet... Worth a listen anyway...
RNO
http://www.sod-rec.de / Pitchfork Promotions
TWISTED
TOWER DIRE "Crest Of The Martyrs"
CD 74/100
True Metal
US
Twisted Tower Dire set out to bring back to life the mortified corpse of the True Metal heritage. Unfortunately for them, Metal is no longer in any need for resurrecting activities. Ever since Maiden got their act together and with the resurgence of 80's Metal acolytes like Hammerfall or Nightwish, it is okay again to have fun in Metal. TTD were actually spawned around the same time as those pioneers, way back in '95, but somehow they got left behind. Only in 2001 when they released their debut, "Isle Of Hydra", did they come out of hiding for the Grunge monster that had pillaged the land of Heavy Metal. "Crest Of The Martyrs", their third offering, can definitely measure up to their more fortunate comrades in arms. The first track, "Some Other Time, Some Other Place", sounds very Italian and tricks you into believing this is ultra-melodic, sugar-sweet stuff, but from "Axes And Honors" onwards it takes a more Manowar like approach, getting a lot heavier in the process. No keyboards, just fist raising Metal anthems. You would even be inclined to think they hid the best parts further on in the record as to mislead the casual poser. Now how true is that!
Samoht
http://www.remedyrecords.de / Rock Inc.
UDO
"Nailed To Metal"
CD 77/100
Classic Heavy Metal
Germany
After releasing last year's "Live In Rusia", Udo Dirkschneider and his merry men felt they had let down the die hard fans by excluding some of their evergreens. In an attempt to set matters straight this time around "Nailed To Metal- The Missing Tracks" has been spawned, a collection of classic tracks - to quote Paul King - taken from the same notorious Russian gig in the Holy tour. It truly is an Acceptoholic's wet dream. Air guitar anthems like "Balls To The Wall" or "Metal Heart", they all make their appearance here. Udo seems to be having the time of his life in Rossija and well, he'll always sound like the German nephew of Brian Johnson. Now, objectively one would question the need for this live album: you either know, love and own all these tracks already in some form or another - or you simply can't be bothered and will continue listening to Linkin Park. But these notions are all swept aside as soon as the first notes to "Holy" ring through your speakers and we're all in Metal Bliss.
Samoht
http://www.afm-records.de / Rock Inc.
V.A.
"Aggropop Now" CD 70/100
Punk Rock
Germany
This is the strangest compilation I have ever seen in my life but in an original kind of way. It's a double album, but instead of releasing it in a double album case, they released it in two jewel cases, each with a different design. You'll think: volume 1 and volume 2. Hell no! They just belong together. Both albums contain previously unreleased, rare and non-album tracks. But what's really original about this German compilation album - musically speaking - is the fact that the first album features famous bands like Good Riddance, Mad Caddies, Guttermouth, NOFX, Bouncing Souls and such, along with about ten German bands, and that the second one has got almost nothing but German bands on it, singing in German (some in English), some foreign bands singing in German, and a few of the bigger and famous bands. To be honest, I like CD 1 more than CD 2. Let's admit it, German Punk Rock hasn't got the same calibre as the overseas Punk Rock industry. They've always had great bands such as Beatsteaks, Skin Of Tears, Donots and some others but in general, German Punk Rock is not that big. But that's only my opinion. So the general rating is a little lower due to the second CD.
YVES
http://www.destiny-tourbooking.com / Hardlife Promotion
VARIOUS
ARTISTS "Celtic Frost Tribute - Order Of The Tyrants"
CD 80/100
Black Metal
Celtic Frost are known to all true Black Metal fan. They are the pioneers of the genre. For thee my respect. This is probably what the people of Black Lotus Records also though and thus decided to fix a tribute CD. Together with me, your humble servant, and the Black Lotus guys, a lot of other bands actually also thought so. The response they received to the offer for participating was, according to Black Lotus, enormous. So they picked up 14 bands (known and less known bands), each presenting the cover of one of their most favorite Celtic Frost songs. Normally, I'm t not too fond of "various artists" CD's, but this one is really OK (I guess it is the Celtic Frost influence!). It starts in a powerful and magnificent way with the interpretation of "Visual Aggression" by Grief Of Emerald. My personal fave track here is the over-10-minutes version of "Triumph Of Death" by Necrophagia. A true masterpiece of anger and agony. I also liked the version of "Circle Of The Tyrants" by Bewitched, even though it is not as good the cover of the same track by Obituary, released a long time ago already. Then again, I was a bit disappointed by the covers of Marduk and Dimmu Borgir (older version I presume). Other bands featuring on the CD: Naer Mataron, Akercocke, Order Of The Ebon Hand, Astarte, Melechesh, Acheron, Ragnarok, Hypocrite and finally Carrier Flux. Each in their own style (the last one goes Industrial for example!). The general sound is OK, but not always perfect. But this won't bother the average Celtic Frost fan, who will be pleased with this collection of some of the best Celtic Frost songs. Well, at least you should give it a try! Be prepared, because Celtic Frost's new album might come out soon!
AOD
http://www.black-lotus-recs.com / Rock Inc.
V.A.
"Liberation Songs To Benefit Peta" CD 82/100
Punk Rock
U.S.A
This is one of the better compilation albums I've listened to in the past few years. And it is a very special compilation album indeed. Last year, on the Warped tour 2002, some Peta people (Peta is an organization that stands up for animal rights) asked Fat Mike (from Fat Wreck Chords) if he was interested in helping their organization by releasing a compilation. Well, I needn't say more; here it is: "Liberation Songs To Benefit Peta". Not only are you supporting a good cause by buying this album; you'll also find all of your favorite and famous bands on it - some of them with a rare, acoustic, or previously unreleased song. And the best of it is that you can buy this album very cheap, so what are you waiting for? Have you always wanted a super compilation with bands such as Hot Water Music, Goldfinger, The Used, Good Charlotte, Midtown, NOFX, Mest, Bigwig, Frenzal Rhomb, Propagandhi... and some other bands you still need to discover? Then this album will rock your world. And if you want to find out more about Peta, just watch the video footage and such on the disc...
YVES
http://www.fatwreck.com / Sonic Rendezvous
V8
Wankers "Automotive Rampage"
CD 74/100
Heavy fuming Rock'n'Roll
???
I never heard anything from these guys before, but one thing is sure: they're fuckin' true to their beliefs! To get the picture, V8 Wankers sound like Motörhead disciples with even bigger balls in their pants and damn hot wheels under their dirty asses. Basically, there's nothing new here but genuine Rock'n'Roll that will make you understand what the word groove stands for. The quasi-entirety of the songs is led by a nice straight rhythmic though there are a few "calmer" ones as well, like "Rock n Roll Dictator" that leaves you some space to take a deep breath before you start headbanging like a maniac again. A couple of more Blues-oriented songs will probably also get your attention, but the only thing you're gonna focus on anyway is the strength of the sweaty and alcoholic atmospheres that these bad guys created... So don't call the cops saying they create a disturbance in your neighborhood, 'cause you've been warned enough already!
RNO
http://www.ruderecords.de / Rock inc.