|
|
|
|
|
Across Tundras - Dark Songs Of The Prairie
(Crucial Blast) Review by Ryan Bartek |
 |
Atmospheric, opium
hazed conundrums suffice. All members of Sonic Youth after
drinking a gallon of Robitussin? Richard James in an ambient
mood converging with a Thrones and Sunn O)))? Across Tundras
accomplishes a beautiful mood here. Somber and psychedelic,
like the last waking hour of pure exhaustion following a
splendid mushroom frenzy. Dark Songs Of The Prairie is
sprawling and dream-like in every aspect, as if Agalloch went
totally instrumental and paired up for a split with Dead
Meadow. Although there is a definite experi-alt-rock vibe,
Across Tundras remain solidly doom in their sensibilities,
although more concerned with the lighter side than the heavy
handed darkness of the genre. Dark |
| Songs Of
The Prairie trails the line between dream and reality, in
those twilight hours of imagination, geared for a
transcendental listen. If you own every edition of Dark Side
Of The Moon on vinyl, or salivate at the name Negativland, it
is a fairly accurate assumption that you'll gleefully digest
this without hesitation.
http://www.myspace.com/acrosstundras |
| |
|
Allen/Lande - The Battle (Locomotive
Records) By: Joe Florez |
 |
This was a most
interesting concept. Getting Symphony X’S lead man Russell
Allen and Jorn Lande (Mastermind, Ark, Yngwie and more) to do
a disc together, but never…ever set foot in the studio at the
same time to do any of the duets. Wild! Well, I have never
been a fan of Mr. Allen’s voice during his time in Symphony X,
but I changed my mind just a little when he put out his solo
record last year or two ago. The thing is when he’s not doing
the progressive thing, his lungs are soulful, raspy and
entertaining. Just by hearing it, you can tell that he’s old
school and raised on a diet of Deep Purple, Rainbow and all
things classic. Jorn is no slouch himself. We are introduced
to “Another Battle” which opens the show. |
| This is
a duet piece where both men trade off vocal lines and chime in
together for some nice harmonies during the chorus. It’s not a
progressive piece of work, but the drums are just a tad filled
with technical skills. It’s loaded with infectious and ear
catching melodic lines and both voices can be haunting at
times because they are so strong. Former drum guru from The
Flower Kings Jaime Salazar supplies his talent behind the
skins. The sound is rich and full of dynamics and texture.
“Hunter’s Night” has Russell flying solo here with a highly
supped up jam. The licks carry some muscle to them and the
vocal performance is raspy, adding that 70’s touch like his
mentors Ian Gillan. Mr. Allen proves that he can work with or
without a partner because he has a strong set of pipes. After
a few songs, Jorn finally gets his shot at handling the mic by
himself. “Reach A Little Longer” is a bombastic ballad that is
just absolutely beautiful filled with soaring vocals and a
sound that keeps everything from sounding drab. It may not be
as upbeat as one would want, but Jorn doesn’t disappoint. Half
way down the disc Jorn gets his chance to sing a more chipper
song with “My Own Way Home.” His voice is lush and powerful as
one would expect. This CD really delivers the goods and it was
a surprise at just how good and fresh it sounds. Neither
artist sounds like their work comes from their normal day
jobs. This is something that should not be missed. Hunt this
one down. Worth the time and effort.
www.locomotiverecords.com |
www.jornlande.com |
| |
|
Amon Amarth – With Oden on Our Side
(Metal Blade) review by Sam Thomas |
 |
With Oden On Our
Side is the sixth full length release from Sweden’s Viking
death-metallers, Amon Amarth. They’ve always fitted into that
category of “I’m sure they could be really really good if only
they did something, but I’m not quite sure what…” Well, now I
know what it was they needed to do. Give up their day jobs,
and concentrate on writing pulverising death metal full time.
Because that’s what they’ve done. And the resulting album
“With Oden on our Side” is very good indeed.
Amon Amarth appeared to be going through a bit of a dull spot
a few albums back, turning out three in succession that were
all pretty indistinguishable from each other (The Avenger, |
The
Crusher and Versus the World if you’re worried). They weren’t
bad albums exactly, not at all in fact, they just lacked that
certain sparkle. Then came Fate of Norns, which was the point
where I began to think that they could be capable of something
significant. “With Oden on our Side” builds nicely on that
album. It’s very much Amon Amarth playing in their own
inimitable swords out, axes flailing kind of way, but this is
the whole thing taken to another level. A lot more care and
thought has gone into every stage of the recording process,
right through from the initial writing of the songs to the end
production. Clearly, giving up the day jobs has allowed the
band to focus more on every detail of their music, it
practically shines through from every note.
This is a great, thrumming mass of Viking lore and tales
delivered in a perfect death metal package. You can feel the
bearded Vikings nodding their approval whilst raising a horn
or two of mead as they listen to this in Valhalla.
As ever with Amon Amarth, complex drums form a major part of
each track, along with Johan Hegg’s growled vocals. But this
time around, the mix is better and the guitars play a more
prominent part. The hypnotic quality that they’ve evoked so
well is there, but reinforced a hundredfold. I’m sure there’s
a subliminal message in there, probably exhorting us all to
rise up and start swinging axes around – it has that kind of
effect. Or maybe it’s just that it’s so heavy that I’ve been
beaten into submission. Either way, I defy anyone to listen to
this without starting some serious headbanging at least once.
The absolute best track on the album is “Runes to my Memory”
with its incredibly graphic account of the last moments of a
warrior’s life as it slowly ebbs away on a riverbank far from
home. It is an absolute masterpiece: being poignant without
any element of pathos, and with a compelling, dark rhythm that
exactly matches its lyrical content.
It’s always good to hear a band who’ve come of age after a
long struggle: and it’s more than obvious that Amon Amarth
really do have Oden on their side. Let’s just hope it’s a long
time before they see Valhalla!
www.amonamarth.com |
www.metalblade.de |
| |
|
Barbatos - Let's Fucking Die!!! (Displeased Records) Review by Ryan Bartek |
 |
When I first heard Barbatos I was rolling on the floor
laughing my brains out. It was a one-man show by Yasuyuki
Suzuki from Tokyo, this crazy looking little guy in a Bathory
t-shirt, screaming choppy English with nonsensical bursts
like, "Fuck off Shaving Pussy, Sexual Metal Holocaust!!!"
Everything he screams is about war, genocide, Satan, metal
sluts, beer, or hating his job. The music is out of control,
this early Bathory meets satanic deathpunk Impaled Nazarene
meets balls-out Motorhead craziness. If you're looking for
technical ability, you won't find it here. Just pure thrashy
rock and roll with a straight up, kick-ass punk beat to it.
It's mean as shit and hooky as hell, and there is just nothing
funnier than the |
| mans
lyrics or the actual delivery of them. Let's Fucking Die!!!
brings us such new classics as "I Hate My Life," "My Girl
Friend With Other Guy" and "Beer Is My Leader." One day Barbatos will go down in history as the most
important Japanese metal band of all time. Say wulla bro.
www.displeasedrecords.com |
| |
|
Blackshine -
Lifeblood (Dockyard1) Review by Marco Gaminara |
 |
Being sent to their website before I was sent the CD allowed
me to be somewhat prepared for what they would sound like. And
the fact that they are fast, intricate thrash with melodic but
aggressive vocals definitely made it something I'd want to
review. This Swedish quartet comprise of Anders Strokirk
(Guitar, Vocals); Joakim Stabel (Guitar); Fred Cardona (Bass);
Chris Barkensjö (Drums) while all drums on the album were
actually played by Stipen, and are dubbed a Goth'n'Roll band,
but their Death Metal roots still shine through in their song
structure and ability to pick things up quickly and to a great
intensity. Opening track "Cure In The Shape Of Noise" is
anything but gothic or gloomy. While Anders' vocals |
are
clean and clear, the music is heavier than most "metal" bands
that are getting radio play these days. Far rockier is "Born A
Denier", which has a nice chunky riff, but slows down to just
have Anders singing over Fred's bass 'til the guitars kick
back in. The title track "Lifeblood" is fast and no holds
barred, and while the melodic chorus does make it far more
accessible to the non-metal buying public, the subject matter
probably won't endear them though, but then again neither shall
the album cover. "Stonefog" also has a very melodic chorus,
but it's far less out of place on this thrash track owing to
the 80's feel it also conveys. In true metal fashion, there's
a track about something horror related in the form of "Powerghoul"
which hits you over the head and then keeps ploughing through.
Predominately bass driven, "Unbroken" allows the guitar
melodies to entwine and play around each other as the steady
rhythm keeps it all together. Fluctuating pace and an
extremely sharp snare sound in "Burn The World" has me wanting
to break out the matches and napalm. "Face The Bastard God" is
an awesome title and the song itself lives up to it with a
nice mid-paced attack and Anders' vocal melodies on the chorus
appearing sickly sweet and therefore all the more acidic. A
45 second interlude in the form of "Dwell In Black" takes into
"Second Rate Blasphemer" which has a very simple timing
signature, which isn't something they use often, hence
standing out the way it does. The final track "Denial Of Pain"
is the longest on the album and while starting out slowly
enough, it does build up nicely with a solid chugging guitar
'til it hits its crescendo and the drumming becomes rather
frantic, as does everything else.
www.blackshine.nu
|
www.dockyard1.com |
| |
|
Crystal Eyes - Dead
City Dreaming (Heavy Fidelity)
By: Joe Florez |
 |
The Swedes are five records into their career and finally they
have settled on a permanent singer who happens to be a Dane.
Nico Adamsen is at the helm now, perhaps once and for all. CE
normally start out their set with a rip roaring power metal
song that is an upper cut to the ears, but have opted to slow
things down quite dramatically with the title track. Nico,
delivers some high notes during the choruses, while the drums
deliver slow, yet slightly heavy strikes to skins while the
riffs are filled with melody and clarity. Not something I
would use to open the flood gates, but who am I to determine
how the show begins? It’s not a terrible tune, but should have
been placed lower in the set. “Into The Light” picks up |
the pace
quite nicely with dual galloping riffs that would make any
Maiden fan happy. The skin pounding has a bit more power
injected into the mix which helps out tremendously. Rather
than coming off as sounding tough, the overall feeling is
loaded with happy licks that may turn some folks off pending
how much of a Helloween fan you are. “Wall Of Stars” offers a
bit of acoustic action to make things a little enticing.
Finally, “Battlefield” beefs up their sound. The music is a
lot faster, but remains catchy to the ears and the licks have
more bite to them. These riffs are tougher and not as happy.
Nico’s lungs offers a bit more range as he tries to sing
slightly in a lower register. What you get here is what the
band has/was and still is all about musically. “The Quest
Remains” really hit’s the nail on the head with it’s perfect
of mid range tempo sing-a-long lyrics that will have the fans
singing along to during the live set. I don’t know why, but it
seems like the boys really get things cooking from track four
onward. I just wish that the set list was arranged differently
so you can get all pumped up right from the get go. Basically,
you can just start it from that point and go from there or if
you love it all just let it go from 1-10.
It took me a while
to warm up to this one as opposed to the past results, but
this is a good record in the end. The originality factor does
come into play a little bit as they do manage to pull off a
sound that can’t quite be compared to anyone else. Perhaps you
can think of a band or two, but I can’t. This is definitely
worth a spin.
www.crystaleyes.net
| www.heavyfidelity.com |
| |
Die Verbannten Kinder Evas - Dusk And Void Become Alive
(Napalm Records)
Review by Steve Green |
 |
For fucks sake!!!! I've tried to write this review about half a dozen
times and each time my mind goes blank and my thought process just dries
up completely. So here's the plain English version without any fancy
shit.
Die Verbannten Kinder Evas is Richard Lederer, he who makes the
marvellous music with Summoning and young Greek vocalist Christina
Kroustali, who if my research is correct, is only 19 years young. Age
means nothing when it comes to making good music, but this lady has the
most beautiful voice I've ever heard. Her talent is immense. She's up there with
the likes of Lisa Gerrard and her performances equals, if not betters
the female voices on
|
Autumn
Tears Love Poems For Dying Children trilogy, which up to now,
was my favourite Neo-Classical listening.
Dusk and Void Becomes Alive, as if you hadn't guessed already, is a
truly beautiful album. It glides effortlessly into your psyche and
envelopes you completely. And yes, the vocals are to be marvelled at and
worshipped from afar, but it's the whole package that's the key to the
albums success. You can argue that musically, that this is just an
extension of Summoning's trademark sound, especially the huge rhythms
and what I describe as the kettle drum sound. As the album progresses,
I'm also reminded of Arcana, before they changed direction (for the
worst it has to be said). Unquiet Thoughts in particular has the
mesmerizing enchantment that I adore in Neo-Classical realms. And if DVKE aren't a
million miles away from Summoning or Arcana, who cares. Its darkness contains so
much beauty that I don't care who it sounds like. When you have a
perfect soundtrack to a cold winters night and a fine companion to a
nice bottle of red (a rather nice 2005 Vieux Remparts - Lussac St-Emilion
from Bordeaux being the current favourite) you don't really have any
reason to complain.
This is definitely the most stunning album I've heard all year and is also
another quality release from Napalm Records, a label whose releases are
set to dominate my top ten for this year.
www.dvke.info
| www.napalmrecords.co |
| |
| Elis - Griefshire
(Napalm Records)
Review by Steve Green |
 |
The death of Elis frontwoman Sabine
Duenser from a brain haemorrhage in July this year, was one of the
saddest moments in Metal for me, probably since the death of Cliff
Burton. I didn't know the lady, nor did I have the privilege of seeing
Elis in concert. This was all to do with how Elis' music won a place in
my heart. So when Griefshire arrived, I hoped above anything, that I
liked the album. For whatever reasons, I hated the album for the 1st
three plays I gave it. It was so heavy and so dark that I was shocked
this was actually Elis I was listening to. Only after playing Griefshire
back to back with 2004's Dark Clouds in a
|
Perfect Sky, did I finally see the beauty Griefshire contained.
The album follows a concept that tells the story of two brothers and
their religious fanaticism. Something I personally would love to rid the
world of. I'm guessing because of the subject matter, Griefshire is much
more aggressive than Elis' previous works. But the hard hitting, yet
still melodic epics such as Remember The Promise, album opener Tales
From Heaven Or Hell and the Thrash attack beginning of Phoenix From The
Ashes showcase the talents of a band that is maturing and solidifying
it's own identity. Although I will counteract that statement by saying
that the Mastersound Production and the fact that Elis have toured with
Leaves' Eyes, has left an indelible mark on the bands sound,
particularly with Sabine's vocal melody's mirroring those of Liv
Kristines, both Die Stadt and Show Me The Way being obvious examples of
this. But there's no
shame in sounding like one of the worlds greatest female vocalists is
there? The combination of the outstanding vocals, the strong songwriting
and faultless musicianship, mixed with the passion of the playing, make
Griefshire about as perfect an epitaph as you could expect, to honour Sabine
and I'm so pleased the remaining band members of Elis found the strength
to complete the album in what must have been extremely difficult
circumstances.
I love this album and it's just a shame it had to be reviewed with a
tinge of sadness in my heart.
www.elis.il
| www.napalmrecords.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
