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Fate - Fate (MTM Music) By: Joe
Florez |
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MTM Music has decided to revive this long out of print Danish
debut which was founded by former Mercyful Fate member Hank
Sherman (not his real name). This was glam/hair rock of the
highest order back in 1984. After releasing their fourth album
in 1990, they called it a day, but reunited in 2006 to throw
out there to the masses V. Once again, this is a band that I
have heard of, but never had the opportunity to soak in their
sounds. I am a huge fan of this genre and couldn’t wait to get
listening.
“Love On The Rox” is everything you would expect from a hair
band. The synths drench the song. You have the slightly high
vocals coming from Jeff Limbo and the music is beyond |
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simple. The choruses contain some harmonies and a mini solo.
The thing about this song is that it’s catchy and simply fun.
I remember music like this dominating the radio and charts
back in the day and hating it because I was so into heavy
metal and this never met my needs, but twenty years later, I
love this stuff even more and welcome this to radio more so
than what’s out there now. “Rip It Up” is a highly energetic
song that would work well at keg party. “Victory” is a mid
paced number that still manages to pack a wallop. Listen to
the guitar licks closely on “(She’s Got) The Devil Inside” and
you will hear these so called tough riffs that are reminiscent
of Steeler with Yngwie Malmsteen which existed at the same
time. What amazes me here is that there are no ballads on
here. Aside from that, there is a bonus cut “Won’t Stop” taken
from their second disc. Make no mistake, this is really dated
sounding material, but if you grew up in the 80’s then this is
cool if you dig this sort of thing. This will bring back
memories and suggest this to all those that are retro.
www.mtm-music.com |
www.fateband.dk |
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Fate - Cruisin’ For A Bruisin’ (MTM
Music) By: Joe Florez |
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This is album number three for these Danes and the year is
1988. MTM has once again decided to re-master and distribute
this long out of print disc. I am not sure what happened with
number two, but this is more than sufficient. “Beneath Da
Coconuts” is very light and poppy with cheesy keys and a mid
tempo rock beat. Jeff continues with his slightly high vocals,
but overall it’s another song that will be easily tattooed in
your head and probably could have been a hit on the radio
airwaves. This is another fun song in my book. “Love On The
Rox” is another predictable number that just has MTV screaming
all over it. It’s upbeat and talks about a rocky relationship.
How videos were on MTV back then dealing with this |
topic? Things actually change up a little “Dead Boy, Cold
Meat.” The riffs are a bit leaner and meaner as opposed to
being fluffy and they add a bit of a blues twist to shake
things up. The result is mixing glam rock and blues which
makes this an interesting tune. It’s a nice change of pace
that isn’t a paint by numbers as before and the finger flying
solo also helps making this one standout.
Unlike the debut record, there is a true ballad on here and
“Babe, You Got A Friend” is it. Once again, you are getting
everything you would expect from 80’s pop rock/metal: big
hair, pitchy vocals, semi flashy guitar riffs, simple, yet
bombastic drumming and easy to sing-a-long songs. I am not
sure why this one didn’t click with me at first, but after a
few listens I was cool with it. This is another disc for those
who can’t let go of their spandex era.
www.mtm-music.com |
www.fateband.dk |
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Funeral - From These Wounds
(Candlelight Records USA) By: Dave Schalek |
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OK, how many bands are floating around out there named
Funeral? Anyone? Nine, according to Encyclopaedia Metallum.
And that’s not including all of the bands of two or more words
that begin with Funeral. At any rate, this version is the
long-running melodic/ gothic doom band from Norway that has
just released “From These Wounds”, their fourth full-length
after a four year hiatus, on Candlelight Records USA.
Not being familiar with Funeral, I was expecting funeral doom
(of course), but instead, “From These Wounds” comes across as
a combination of, say, Type O Negative, Katatonia/My Dying
Bride, and a hint of Opeth. A lot of elements of the genre’s
sound are |
present here. Heavy guitar riffs, mid-paced tempo, and
prominent keyboards are all on display. In addition, there are
plenty of acoustical touches sprinkled throughout the seven
tracks.
Given that many of the genres staples are present, what does
separate Funeral from a lot of the bands in this genre are the
rather melodic vocals similar to those of Peter Steele sung in
an almost baritone. The vocal harmonies that are synchronized
with the use of keyboards is where Funeral really shines,
ultimately resulting in an enjoyable listen. For myself, I
found the guitars present on “From These Wounds” rather
typical, and, except for some of the haunting solos,
uninteresting. Luckily, “From These Wounds” does not focus
upon the guitars, although the riffs and solos are
periodically highlighted. Rather, the keyboards seem to be the
instrument that is emphasized with the guitars as
backbone/accompaniment along with the rather muted bass.
Melodic doom can be a rather stagnant genre for me and I’m
always pleasantly surprised to find a band playing with a
slightly different take on the genre. To that end, Funeral
succeeds with “From These Wounds”.
www.candlelightrecordsusa.com |
www.funeral_doom.tk |
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Harpies - Lily Wry (Fortune & Glory)
Review by Samuel Munch-Petersen |
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Nicola Honey has a mental voice that resounds like a torrent
of hard volcanic ash choking the citizens of Pompei. This
chick has got the vocals by the balls and is squeezing every
ounce of gusto from what’s being offered from her chords.
Birmingham babies Harpies have found themselves clearing into
the hardcore or even metalcore genre with enough punch to bat
down the ox in Conan the Barbarian. This thirteen track album
has certainly gripped me in a way that bands like SikTh did
and Walls of Jericho or in some ways Arch Enemy. The female
vocals which crow and scratch are often, I’m sure, confused
with males and I think are something of a novelty still. The
album is not entirely focused on bringing us |
just a raw set of vocals with lovely workmanship on the
instruments, but it adds a level of Queen Adreena to it
interspersed amongst the tracks which allows for the music to
shift in leaps and bounds.
The five piece band have released only two albums in the past
four years but this goes to show that what the band is doing
is taking the time to create something that will be flawless
and pummel the audience with a heavy blow when released. I can
say this is the case with Lily Wry. It comes out of nowhere
and takes you from the subtle undertones of a calm ocean
brimming with devilfish and molesting sharks to the overtone
park of pure hate and anger whereupon we are introduced to the
undeniable emotional arrowheads which we are to be struck
with.
Harpies are a band which will be liked by those who want the
raw edge, that raw and fast edge, from music to vocals and
form lyrics to production. You can’t beat a band that take
years to create something special and when it’s released you
have to praise it. Harpies are one of those bands and have
come out from under those dim lights of the studio and are
taking their centre stage appearance for us all to enjoy. I
would definitely recommend Harpies to you for that shift from
calm to rough.
www.myspace.com/harpies |
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Parhelia - Oceans Apart (Self
Release) Review by Steve Green |
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Parhelia are a four piece from Dublin. They describe
themselves as Instrumental Post-Rock, a term that means
absolutely bugger all to me, apart from the fact that they
don't have a vocalist. What you get in reality is 5 tracks of
pure mellowness that if you are determined to pigeonhole them,
would loosely be lumped in with the Progressive market.
For an unsigned band, assumedly without a big budget, the
digipack packaging is gorgeous and I commend them on the way
they present their music. The production is also of the same
very high standard, the clarity allows each instrument to be
heard crystal clear, |
especially Cathal Rodgers inventive bass lines.
Quite simply, this is just over half an hour of sumptuous,
thoroughly relaxing instrumentals that are a perfect antidote
to the harsh reality's of modern living. Chill out in style
via
www.parhelia.com |
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The National Cemetery Orchestra - Monument
(Self Release) Review by Steve Green |
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The National Cemetery Orchestra is actually a one man band,
namely Karl Nix. I think I crossed paths with TNCO back in the
old mp3.com days, which used to have a format similar to, and
looking back probably was the forerunner for the banality that
is myspace.
Anyway, a few years on and Karl Nix is sticking to the same
formula. This is about as underground as it gets. There's no
big production, it fact the production during the heavier
sections is pretty bad and for your money, you'll still not
get any vocals, this is still instrumental heaven, or hell,
depending on your preferences. In fact, I don't think my
description of this album will make you rush out and buy it,
but trust me, there is something |
about The National Cemetery Orchestra that's quite addictive.
And if the thought of a 47 minute instrumental album fills you
with dread, then think again, hitting the skip button is never
an option as the dreariness clashes head on with the blackened
thrash, there is something quite endearing about this album.
www.myspace.com/thenationalcemeteryorchestra |
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Tomorrow’s Eve - The Tower (Lion
Music) By: Joe Florez |
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This is a 4 track CD single to tie over fans until their next
offering. Their last release, Mirror Of Creation II was the
first time that I had heard of this German progressive metal
outfit and they just absolutely blew my mind. Now, they are
giving the fans a small glimpse into their world and let you
know where they are headed with their music. There are two new
cuts and two re-workings of older songs that are upgraded to
what they have become now. The title track shows a much more
aggressive sound from the boys. Martin’s voice starts out
subtle and calm as he sings accapella with only ambient
soundscapes to accompany him, but then the rhythmic drumming
comes into play and soon enough things get amped up. |
The guitars are fierce and the vocals are leaner and meaner.
Just because the song gets a little ugly, it doesn’t
necessarily mean that it will become devoid of melodies
because it doesn’t. They are there intact, but just now happen
to share notes with a darker vibe. It’s not overly complicated
and it’s paced just right. It’s vibrant and energetic without
ever losing interest. Thrown into the mix is some classic 70’s
rock style keyboard work, but has a bit more of an edge and it
works out nicely. “Remember” is basically a power ballad of
sorts. This one brings down the house like no other. Martin’s
set of lungs really shines through as he croons his way with
emotion and conviction. Everyone else plays their parts
perfectly going with the flow from slow to bombastic in the
choruses. It’s at the half way point where things really get
going and head in the prog route, but then get back to the
beginning again. Simply put…powerful! “Success 2007” is just a
blazing number that runs the gamut and refuses to hold back.
This track is revamped up from their debut and even though I
have never heard it, I’m more than positive that this is much
better and more mature. The final track on here is “Not Of
This World 2007” which is a true ballad accompanied by a piano
and a soft female vocalist to trade off on. There is some
tympani and string work to make this one majestic and
beautiful.
I am not one to indulge in CD singles, but this is a must have
and a keeper. I have no idea what’s in store for the next
disc, but if this is any indication then I am chomping at the
bit and waiting anxiously for it. Get it!
www.lionmusic.com |
www.t-eve.com
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Turisas – The Varangian Way (Century
Media) review by Sam Thomas |
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OK. Your first album named and defined a new sub-genre, Battle
Metal. You’ve built a huge reputation as an amazing live band,
been voted “Best New Band” by Metal Hammer readers (probably
the first time this has ever happened to a genuinely new
band). The metal world is eagerly awaiting your second
release. So what do you do next?
An obvious answer would be to get a second album out
reasonably quickly, to try to capitalise on the interest that
you’ve generated, to play it reasonably safe by continuing
with pretty much the same kind of thing as you’d done before
or in other words to be predictable. Well, I’ll give them
their due on that score, Turisas have definitely not been |
predictable.
“The Varangian Way” has been three long years in the making,
and is that most challenging (for the listener!) of formats, a
concept album. The concept is all bound up with a group of
11th century Vikings who travelled to the Baltic and then on
to the east. I wouldn’t have a problem with this at all, but,
somewhere along the way, the glorious anarchy that was so
prevalent in “Battle Metal” has been glossed out of the
picture. Musically, this album is striving towards Therion in
one direction and the symphonic majesty of Dimmu Borgir in
another. Unfortunately, it all comes off a bit more like
Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Somebody should certainly slap a fine on
Warlord Nygård for overuse of keyboards: far too many of the
tracks suffer from overblown pomp. His vocal style for the
clean vocals is too reminiscent of Michael Ball – there is
nothing of metal left in this sanitised twaddle.
And yet there is still hope in the darkness. There are pale
echoes of what Turisas are capable of, and the accordion
player Lisko, is still hanging in there. Some of this is
extremely catchy, and the folk elements are well done. When
Warlord Nygård drops the need to educate, and switches back to
the more metal style of vocals, this becomes a far more
listenable album. The problem is that for me, there is no
single track which I enjoy in its entirety, they are all
blighted to a greater or lesser degree by this desire to
produce something that, frankly, Turisas don’t seem to be
comfortable with.
I must admit that this release has grown on me slightly from
the first time I heard it, but I am still not as enthusiastic
about it as I would have hoped. One of my main concerns is
that I can’t see much of this being performed live, and
Turisas are a band who need to be seen live. This is not so
much battle metal as airbrushed metal.
www.turisas.com |
www.centurymedia.com |
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