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Accurst - A Phantom's Noctuary (Serpene
Heli Music) Review by Steve
Green |
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In all honesty, I'm not really
sure what to make of this album. Accurst are a project
consisting of one person, take a bow please (Mr?) Adon. And
this is an album consisting of the 43.48 minute long title
track. The bit I don't get is where to classify this. Sure I
could throw in Dark Ambient or Neo-Classical, but they don't
really convey what Accurst sound like. With my "vast"
knowledge collected over my 33 years of being a music addict
(I started when I was 7), it took an eleven year old girl (hi
Revis) to work out how best to describe A Phantom's
Noctuary. She described it as a
soundtrack to Tim Burtons - A Nightmare before
Christmas. And I'd say that's a very good call. Although
theatrical in |
composition, it's not menacing
enough to be dark in the way that King Diamond is, it's much
more like a movie soundtrack and one I'm struggling to take
seriously, especially as this is described as "a journey
through the land of nightmares achieved through experimental
Dark Ambient with vivid images for the minds eye". If I want
to listen to fucked up music, I'm more likely to listen to The
Tower cd on Mordant Music. Now that really is a headfuck slice
of Dark Ambient.
Just over the halfway mark, things do get decidedly darker as
the spoken word theatrics are superseded by the piano led
music. The narration does return, thankfully in smaller
quantities and in a more effective manner. A whole album of
this would be infinitely more appealing than the juxtaposition
of styles used. To paraphrase the likes of Match of the Day's
John Motson - this one's a game of 2 halves. And I much prefer
the 2nd half performance. In fact I hope the next release is
done only in the style of the 2nd half of the album and the
theatrics are dropped completely.
www.serpenehelimusic.com |
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Adversary - Demo
(Self Released) Review by Don Baird
Like most Metalheads, I'm sure
you are fed up with American bands jumping on the Gothenburg
sound. Ok, that may be the best way to describe Virginia's
Adversary, but hell these guys are so worth checking out.
Without mentioning any names, these guys do have a major share
option in Swedish Death, but its got an American groove
stamped all over it. And as for
William Clapp, the man has such a fine set of 3 pronged pipes
on him that Adversary cannot fail to get a deal in the next 12
months or so, if this demo is anything to go by. I don't want
to dwell on the vocals too long as the front guy does tend to
hog the limelight in most reviews, but shit!!! He's got a
fearsome bark, a deep gutteral growl AND a sweet clean tone
too. Song wise, this tears it up big time. Four killer tunes
that equal any major label signing in terms of being "up
there". Don't take my word for it. You can check out all four
tracks and make up your own mind right here.
www.myspace.com/adversarymetal |
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Angra - Aurora Consurgens (SPV)
Review by James Young |
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I confess firstly to
having heard very little of Brazil’s Angra in the past – at
first I simply didn’t check out any of their material through
lack of time and money, but then after missing their London
show with Dragonforce, I was determined not to know what I had
missed – ignorance is bliss after all. So when I was passed on
this album for review, I was in two minds whether to hate it
from the start or approach it with an open mind. My
professional side won over (makes a change…), and I opted for
the latter course, and now I know what I’ve been missing! Some
seriously top-notch power metal is on display here which I was
(Brazil) nuts to have ignored up to this point, all
encompassed in a wonderfully progressive |
mood,
with the aim to dazzle rather than just sound complicated or
pretentious. The main strengths are found in the first half of
the album, the last few songs going off the rails a little,
but regardless, this is still fifty minutes of pure metal
eccentricity, with awesome production, solos and variation to
boot. It’s pretty tricky to give an adequate description of
what to expect, but in loose terms, I would characterise the
sound as having the ballsiness of Firewind, the melodies of
Iron Fire, all wrapped up in a flamboyance Edguy would be
proud to have. And that’s just scratching the surface.
Opener ‘The Course Of Nature’ boasts a distinctly Brazilian
flavour, leading into an immensely forceful number, with a
stunning chorus, and heavy, almost thrashy section. Before any
Sepultura comparisons can be made however, things are brought
back together in a typical twiddly fashion. Vocalist Edu
Falaschi has a fantastically distinctive voice, which can come
across a little like Dio at times, especially in his gutsier
moments, heard for example in ‘The Voice Commanding You’.
Softer moments though, in ‘Ego Painted Grey’ and the closer
‘Abandoned Fate’ resemble the mellower tones of Pagan’s Mind
and Edguy. ‘Breaking Ties’ is simply a feel-good song, with
wonderful sing-along parts and an even more memorable guitar
solo. Equally as impressive is ‘Salvation Suicide’, with some
intense fretwork from the fingers of Rafael Bittencourt and
Kiko Loureiro in the intro, and some later soloing which will
leave you drooling. Three six minute-plus tracks in a row,
kicking off with ‘Window To Nowhere’ show off the best and
worst of the band. ‘So Near So Far’ for example has it all -
an atmospheric intro, groovy Brazilian vibes and a solo (or
should I say solos) bursting with emotion. Then things begin
to slip slightly with the rather dull ‘Passing By’, which
never really gets anywhere unlike the other tracks. The
persistent reminder that time is passing by is more than
appropriate, and in this case it really couldn’t. An attempt
is made to get things back on track with ‘Scream Your Heart
Out’, which, for its suggestive title and neat drum patterns
from Aquiles Priester, is a bit of a let down, the lacklustre
riffs bringing to mind a fairly weak power metal version of In
Flames. ‘Abandoned Fate’ is a nice little acoustic number, but
rather too melancholy to fit in with what was heard in the
first songs in the album, which had been upbeat without
descending into clappy ‘flower’ metal.
Brazil beats us at beaches, women and football – now you could
probably add power metal to that list too. This is still an
album of two halves mind, but it’s probably only because the
first few numbers are so astoundingly good that the rest can’t
live up to the same standard. Nonetheless, it gives the boys
something to improve on for next time, and if it’s anything
like what is hinted at here, expect something special.
www.angra.net
| www.spv.de |
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Devilish Impressions - Plurima Mortis Imago
(Conquer Records) review by Sam Thomas |
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Plurima Mortis Imago is the first full-length release by
Polish band Devilish Impressions. The minute I hear the phrase
“Polish metal band” I immediately think of brutal, driving
metal. This is an image that was quickly dispelled by Plurima
Mortis Imago, which is a sumptuous, majestic offering of
Norwegian-style symphonic black metal.
The word that immediately springs to mind with this album is
“epic”. OK, that’s a grossly over-used description, but in
this case it’s accurate. I don’t just mean that we have an
album with some keyboards somewhere, this is really epic in
terms of scope and vision. I’m not keen on describing things
as being like other bands, and I don’t wish to detract from
the |
originality of this album, but it is somewhere in the
direction of “Spiritual Black Dimensions” era Dimmu Borgir.
This is a release with a huge range, with great chunks of
music echoing around like a gothic cathedral. There’s a nice
mix of instrumental pieces scattered throughout, but the main
thrust of the album is some highly technical, beautifully
produced black metal. This album runs along at a breakneck
pace for the most part, with Quazarre’s deranged vocals
providing an interesting tortured counterpoint to the
insistent blastbeats. There are, however, changes of pace
slipped in just where you wouldn’t expect them, including some
rather nice dreamy keyboard episodes, courtesy of Turquoissa.
The whole effect is one of inevitability: it seems as though
the tracks have evolved in some organic fashion into a
tortured reflection of some kind of bastardised reality.
Because, make no mistake, Devilish Impressions’ world is not a
happy place to be. This is most outstandingly demonstrated by
fourth track “Dracula’s Mechanized Universe”, with its opening
clear keyboard sounding rather like a stirring film
soundtrack. This is an extremely imaginative track, using the
full and extensive range of Quazarre’s incredibly talented
vocals. There’s a lovely interpretation of Beethoven at the
end, which should be out of place, but for some reason is
absolutely perfect.
Turquoissa shows her talents again on “Δ and Ω spaces” which
is a very cleverly positioned little interlude which nicely
breaks up the harsher reality of life. And harsh is most
definitely the word as things really get going after this
point with Quazarre baying for blood. The pictures painted by
the lyrics are about as unpleasant as you could hope for, but
they pale into insignificance when you see the video clip that
was made to accompany final track “Sataichaosymphony”. Just
think “drug-induced nightmare in a ghetto with extreme
violence” and you won’t be too far off the mark. I applaud
Lukas Troup’s prowess as a director, but I’m not sure that I’d
want to be inside his head.
Plurima Mortis Imago is an outstanding album, one of those
rare productions where you constantly notice something
different each time you listen to it. Overall, this is a
stunningly original piece, which thoroughly deserves to be
listened to.
www.devilish-impressions.com
| www.conquerrec.com |
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Dol Ammad - Ocean
Dynamics (Electronic Art Metal)
Review by Steve Green |
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I
was a big fan of Dol Ammad's 2004 debut album Star Tales and
I'm pleased to say that Ocean Dynamics, although not a
million miles away in style from Star Tales, is a worthy
successor to such a strong debut. The basic formula is the
same. A choir made up of 7 men and 7 women providing the
"lead" vocals, a band of talented musicians, again underpinned
by drummer Alex Holzwarth and of course the brainchild behind
the project, keyboardist extraordinaire Thanasis Lightbridge.
Together they create a soundscape that is inspired as much by
electronic geniuses Jean Michel Jarre and Vangelis, as it is
by good old Heavy Metal.
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The main difference between Ocean Dynamics and Star Tales is
that the new album isn't as bombastic as its predecessor,
which is a big surprise as Ocean Dynamics is inspired by the
power of the sea and I was expecting something a little
heavier. And whereas I think the debut album could be compared
to Therion, I've a tendency to compare the new opus with a
metallic version of Enigma. Plus I think the utilization of
the choir is even better than before. Whilst their performance is
faultless, (and that's an understatement) it's how they are used that highlights
what an amazing album this is. And while I'm handing
out the plaudits, I'll put this side by side, quality wise, to Therion's Secret of the Runes album, which for me is musical
perfection.
Biggest plus point once again is the air of unpredictability.
You never know what to expect on this album. Just when you are
expecting a huge chorus or a vast music expanse, then the pace
just drops out completely. The opening three parts of Thalassa
Dominion are subtle and even a little subdued, but they are
simply the calm before the storm as part four erupts into life
on a wave of soprano histrionics and blastbeats. Solarwinds
takes the bpm into unchartered territories as Alex Holzwarth
hurtles the pace along at breakneck speed. What was I saying
about this album not being as bombastic? Ah yes, well Descent
takes the wind quite literally out of the sails and is new age
trip hop ala Enigma and Lava burrows further into left of
centre electronic madness before the choir bursts from the mix
in the most majestic way possible and normality is restored.
Aquatic Majesty breaks the mould completely and features, for
the first time, a single lead vocal in the form of guest
singer DC Cooper. Despite his incredible performance and the
fact it adds a completely different slant on Dol Ammad's
sound, I can't help thinking of a comparison with Mats Leven
and how his style enhances the dynamics of Therion.
After the highs of Aquatic Majesty, Liquid Desert kind of
passes me by, but the unfeasibly tranquil Heart of The Sea
guides the album to a satisfactory conclusion.
www.dolammad.com |
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Fatal Force - Fatal
Force (Locomotive Records)
By: Joe Florez |
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Torben Enevoldsen is the guitarist behind this latest project.
For those not in the know, he dished out three instrumentals.
One or two of them were reviewed by yours truly. He is also
responsible for being the mastermind behind progressive metal
band Section A. Mr. Enevoldsen has enlisted the help of Daniel
Flores on drums which he is from Mind’s Eye as well as
performing on countless other projects and Mats Leven on vox
who has been with Yngwie in the past. What you get here is
heavy power rock. Lead track “Caveman” has a consistent drum
beat that keeps things alive along with the rough and rugged
guitar work and soaring lung work. The solo flourishes just
right as there isn’t too much pizzazz. While |
| song one
was good, it was a little light compared to “Domino” which is
a bit darker in tone. The pacing is slow, but methodical and
grooving. When it’s time to put the spotlight on Torben, he
puts a lot of feeling behind his work and lets loose with a
little shredding. “Far Away” proved to be a surprise hit with
me as it’s a power ballad of sorts with Mat’s voice getting a
little bit grittier and the crooning can be heard loud and
clear. While the track is somewhat soft, it still has room for
some fireworks that go off and boy do they. This is how you
are supposed to write a ballad. There is plenty of variety
offered here and that makes for one interesting listen. Torben
is never at a loss when it comes to composing because he is
always concocting something of interest not matter how
simplistic or complicated it is. Melodic metal fans and those
who like their sounds with a little beef injection will surely
find something to enjoy on here. This is an entertaining
release. www.locomotiverecords.com |
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Forty Deuce - Nothing
To Love (Locomotive Records)
By: Joe Florez |
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I had no idea who or what this band was. Looking at the back
of the cover, it looked like a punk disc judging by the photo
of the group with their spikey hair and disheveled look. Since
no bio was included, I had to do some searching on the net and
found out this is a new thing put together by none other than Richie Kotzen. Do you know that as long as he’s been in
existence and the numerous albums he’s put out, I have never
really heard his work except for in Poison? What this disc is
filled with is hard pop/punk/rock. “Oh My God” is extremely
catchy with the friendly guitar riffs even though there is
some punch to them. The rhythm section applies a simple bang
and bash approach. The punk vibe comes from Richie |
when he
sings and uses constant profanity. He has attitude here and it
shows. Straight through this disc from top to bottom, there is
an energy between these four musicians that doesn’t know the
meaning of the word quit. The songs get right to the point
like they should and there is very minimal guitar masturbation
during the solos unlike his instrumentals which can be a good
thing at times. It’s remarkable at how given to the right PR
person, some of these songs actually have radio potential
because they have appeal especially to young kids who think
Green Day is God. FD shows everyone how it’s done. I was
somewhat in awe when I heard “Heaven” because Rich’s voice is
very reminiscent of Chris Cornell because it’s so raspy and
harsh. Pretty cool because he doesn’t completely mimic him. He
does his own thing as well. Most of the songs follow the same
blueprint as the opener with the exception of a couple that
have a slower vibe to them. Even though this release is
polished quite a bit production wise, there is still a raw
edge to it that makes it fun to listen to. The new Skid Row
disc (reviewed on this site
here) applies some of these aesthetics
as on here and if you dug that, then there’s a good chance
that you will dig this too.
www.locomotiverecords.com
| www.richiekotzen.com |
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