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Airbourne - Runnin’ Wild (EMI International)
Review by Metal Mark |
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The debut from Melbourne four piece Airbourne is initially
going to have you stuck on one thought. That thought being
that they sound a whole lot like AC/DC, probably prime
“Powerage” and “Highway to Hell” era. Hopefully you can get
past that fact and realize that still have a lot more to give.
Sure, they sound like the biggest hard rock band from their
country, but a number of bands have sounded like AC/DC. What
these guys bring is a lot of energy and a full throttle
approach to some three chord rockers. There is very little
fooling around and they launch into most of their songs. They
also don’t overstay their welcome as we get eleven tracks, but
a running time a little over thirty seven minutes. Still |
the album is fun through and through with no duds. Tracks like
“What’s Eatin’ You”, “Diamond in the Rough” and “Let’s Ride”
are just a few of the instantly memorable tracks on this
release. They have been playing shows regularly in Australia
and even recently opening for the likes of Motorhead and Rose
Tattoo. The only downside for North American fans is that
right now it’s only available as an import. That means it has
a high price tag, but it’s worth it if you find it for the
right price. One of the most steady rock albums I have heard
so far this year.
You check out the band’s site here
www.airbournerock.com/ |
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Century Media - Century Overload DVD (Century Media)
By: Joe Florez |
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The Century Media label had done something brilliant and that
was putting out a two DVD collection of the first twelve years
of existence with every video made from their roster one year
ago. Now, they have come back with another comp and this one
is three discs which lasts for almost five and half hours
long, has thirty bands and contains about eighty-five vids and
it’s priced so low that it’s a steal. I know, many perhaps
think why do I need another DVD video comp when I have the
Nuclear Blast Beauty In Darkness vol. 1-100, Death Is Just The
Beginning and others. Well, this one has every vid made by
artists on the label and while some may have appeared on that
lame ass program the so-called Headbanger’s Ball. |
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But there are some that haven’t been seen and if you are
missing any in your collection, now is your chance to complete
it once and for all. This product cover the period of 2003 to
basically now. So, for instance you will get all of Shadows
Fall low budget visions here. Metalcore stalwarts Diecast has a healthy
dose of four vids. SYL and their chaotic vision is brought to
fruition with four of them as well and quite frankly I don’t
remember “Wrong Side” being broadcast on cable TV. Perhaps the
madman’s whacked out thinking was too unconventional for the
masses. Just watch that piece and you will understand. It’s
also great to see bands like Nevermore get their due because
they are so underrated and you the diehard fan may have
missed out on one of four of their works. Into Eternity has
been making a name for themselves on the live circuit and
these progressive melodic death thrashers have two of their
works posted on here. Underrated Brazilian hyper blasters Krisiun make their presence felt with two clips and goth
rockers Poisonblack featuring ex-Sentenced singer Ville, is on
hand as well and I know many people missed this one. Also,
Lacuna Coil who many will agree bottomed out with their
lackadaisical release Karmacode have three well produced, but
bad videos on here compared to the fantastic two that were
from Comalies and you can judge the difference on here as
well. You definitely get it all here from Metalcore: Diecast,
Agents Of Man, Heaven Shall Burn to black metal, thrash and
the list of diversity just continues. If you are looking for
clips with artists playing in abandoned warehouses, live on
stage or have something concocted conceptually, it’s here. The
good, the bad and the lousy all surface on this three DVD set
with a booklet and extras which include all the tv commercials
made and aired for various artists to guitar lessons from
Nevermore and Shadows Fall as well as a photo gallery and Live
DVD clips from the vast collection that CM has put out through
out the years. This is something to have especially if you are
planning to throw your next beer fest. Party on!
www.centurymedia.com |
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Depressed Mode - Ghosts of Devotion
(Firebox) Review by Steve Green |
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Autumn has well and
truly arrived, so now is a perfect time to get back into
listening to plenty of Doom. Here we have the aptly named
Depressed Mode, from Finland.
The first thing you notice about this album is the mix, it's
all over the place. On opener Alone, the keyboards are very
high in the mix and they almost drown out the guitars, and it
takes a few listens to get accustomed to. When the vocals
eventually arrive, things take another twist and once again
the keyboards overshadow everything and the distorted vocals
don't dominate as they should. It's not easy listening,
despite the beauty of the melancholy. So Long takes a more
traditional approach with a piano intro and gutteral
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vocals
that slam in at the same time as the guitars and rhythm
section and the additional of female vocals, which remind me
of a morose version of Cristina Scabbia, make this a much more
palatable proposition. After another more traditional Doom
number in the shape of Words Of Silence, the strange mix I
mentioned on Alone rears its (ugly) head again on Suffer In
Darkness. I'm all up for a band trying something new, but
fucking around with the sound balances isn't something I'd
recommend. It just spoils the flow of what could be a good
song and it makes the album just that little bit more
difficult to digest.
The title track takes a more minimalist approach and harks
back to the days of early My Dying Bride and I'm feeling good
about Depressed Mode again... and then they go off into their
own little world once again on the start of The Sun Is Dead.
Doom is meant to be long-winded, ponderous and as miserable as
fuck and it's my belief, that the formula should be adhered
to. When a Doom band get it right, the results are immense and
it can be one of the most rewarding genres around. I'm not
sure that Depressed Mode's forays into something more
adventurous, are particularly worth it. Especially the, gayer
than a month of Mardi Gras' intro to Fallen Angel, which is
dire beyond belief. The rest of the song ain't bad at all, but
that bloody intro!!!!
Luckily, an utterly absorbing cover of Burzum's Dunkelheit
restores some much needed credibility. Ending the album is the
violin led Cold, which sounds to me like a thousand years
worth of tears flowing through a desolate mountain range.
Beautiful beyond belief and utterly, utterly depressing.
If it weren't for the "strange" happenings with a few songs on
this album, I'd be raving about it. As it stands, when they
get it right, everything sounds great. I'm just not a fan of
Depressed Mode's attempts at creating something a little
different. By all means check them out, just be aware that its
not all doom and gloom, as it should be.
www.myspace.com/depressedmodedoom |
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Gentlemens Pistols - Gentlemens Pistols
(Candlelight USA) Review by Steve
Green |
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My first two thoughts upon hearing Gentlemens Pistols
were Rise Above and Witchcraft, my third thought was that,
like Witchcraft, they'd be be from Sweden. I have the US
releases of this, which is on Candlelight, so it comes as no
surprise that they are signed to Rise Above in the UK, which
is also the home of Witchcraft. What was a surprise though,
was that Gentlemens Pistols are from Leeds. Honestly, even
after repeated plays, they still sound like a retro band from
Sweden.
If you hadn't guessed by now, Gentlemens Pistols are a high
octane rock machine that hark back to a time of flares, kipper
ties and other articles of garish clothing, some of which I
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(unfortunately) adorned myself. This is early 70s rock,
rejuvenated for the new millennium. Imagine a mixture of Led
Zeppelin, Free and the flare of Hendrix, all being force fed
through a rock n rolling time machine that was set for 30
years into the future.
And this reviewers opinion on the album... well it's damn
good. Very much like when I discovered Witchcraft, I find this
blend of retro rocking impossible not to enjoy. My musical
roots were formed in the early 70s and this fits in perfectly
with that era. This is just a great feelgood album to kick
back to.
www.myspace.com/gentlemanspistols |
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Grima Morstua - Illustratio Per Horribilem Obscuritatem
(Drakkar Productions)
By: Dave Schalek |
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Presumably, “Grima” alludes to something grim, or grimy, in
Spanish and the word grimy, in particular, is certainly a more
than apt description of the filthy black metal spewed forth by
Argentina’s Grima Morstua. Taking cues from Darkthrone-descended
bands such as Sargeist and, to a lesser extent, Craft, the
music presented on Grima Morstua’s debut full-length, entitled
“Illustratio Per Horribilem Obscuritatem” on France’s Drakkar
Productions, is a raw, greasy form of black metal that abounds
with deep rasps in Spanish, quirky riffs with a grim sound,
and variations in tempo.
The production of “Illustratio…” really sets the tone here and
is reminiscent of Sargeist’s |
last couple of full-lengths with
a thin, greasy feel that is perfect for filthy black metal. In
addition, the Spanish rasps perfectly match up with the
production to enhance the overall feelings of disgust. Throw
in simple drum patterns with rolls and fills, a few distorted
Gregorian chants, and you pretty much get the idea of Grima
Morstua’s take on raw black metal.
As you might surmise, I’d be all over this one, but there’s a
bit of an annoying problem with this release. Simply put,
although atmospheric, the songwriting sometimes has a tendency
to wander aimlessly and the guitarist seems to get noticeably
lazy at times. A couple of tracks almost break down in
mid-song with a few odd moments where the guitarist seems
unsure of what to do next as riffs seem to peter out. In
addition, these moments also give you the impression that the
guitars are a bit sloppier than they should be, even though
we’re talking about raw black metal here. Ignoring these
moments, though, Grima Morstua are at their best when the
music has a more frenetic feel and the grimness shines through
without a tendency to become pedantic and annoying.
To summarize, if you’re looking to add another grimy black
metal release to your collection, Grima Morstua would be
adequate. www.drakkar666.com |
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Hurtlocker - Embrace The Fall
(Napalm)
Review by Strawb |
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I do not get to review much thrash due to the fact that there
are people who are far better qualified to do so writing for
this fine oracle. However, a summer of festivals, and
especially Bloodstock 2007, must have broadened my horizons,
because here we are with the second album from this Chicago
five piece. And my ears have not stopped bleeding since I
received it. Loud – this turns the amp up to 11 of its own
accord. Hope the neighbours like it [tough shit if they
don’t]. Short, violent, fast tracks follow each other, and it
is with great regret we get to the title track at the end of
the album, but I have recalled what the replay button is for.
I have used this album to drive to, to work out to, to edit
photos to, to write |
reviews to and, fuck me, I enjoy it.
Hurtlocker inspire that sort of language and not only by their
use of it. The ten tracks are all played with the speedo
needle pushing the stop at the end of the red zone. Chris, a
regular reviewer of thrash will tell you I don’t like vomit
metal – the sort where you cannot tell what the vocals are -
but he tells me with these songs it is a matter of mood and
attitude. Well, Hurtlocker fulfil the demands of both, because
I can hear most of the vocals and in the area of mood and
attitude – the cup doth overflow.
No one track stands out as particularly excellent and there is
no weakness anywhere. Hopefully one of our USA reviewers will
get to one of their live shows, because I think the energy
generated would power the venue for a month. Justin, Timothy,
Tony, Chris and Grant have produced a fine second album, and
it is one I continue to listen to with regularity. Accepting
my lack of qualification in the area of thrash, I
wholeheartedly recommend this album.
Internet sites are
www.hurtlocker.biz/
and
www.myspace.com/hurtlocker1 |
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Nidsang - The Mark Of Death (Drakkar Productions)
By: Dave Schalek |
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OK, everyone! It’s time for some straight up, bread and
butter, raw, fast black metal from Sweden. Newcomers Nidsang
fit the bill quite nicely with their debut full-length,
entitled “The Mark Of Death”, on France’s Drakkar Productions.
Fitting squarely into the niche carved out by Immortal and
similar bands in the early to mid 90s, Nidsang fire on all
cylinders with exceptionally fast riffing, blastbeats galore,
rasps, and a very powerful production while still retaining a
freezing, razor thin edge that flattens the listener. Besides
being a fine example of the genre, Nidsang mixes it up a bit
with some well-timed tempo changes and good songwriting that
result in some catchy songs. In |
addition, there’s very little in the way of flash, melody, or
atmospherics on this release, as Nidsang concentrates solely upon knocking you over with an
all-out black metal assault. No, this is not a terribly
original approach, but Nidsang does the job here very well and
has produced an album that black metal fanatics will eat up
with gusto.
Straight and to the point, just like this review, you can’t go
wrong with raw, fast black metal as envisioned by Nidsang. Buy
or die. www.nidsang.info.se/
| www.drakkar666.com/
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Sieges Even - Paramount (InsideOut Music)
By: Joe Florez |
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It’s hard to believe, but this is only their seventh disc in
their 19 year career. I was first aware of the Germans on
their 2005 release. What I liked about them is that they took
the prog/rock experience and expand on it by making it more
mature sounding and sophisticated. It had its fair share of
moments of spiked energy, but would they continue on the same
path or look for another avenue to turn to? Well, “When Alpha
And Omega Collide” won’t disappoint those who like their music
or song for that matter filled with energy. The drum work
provided by Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody Of Fire) throws down some
quick and tricky drum rolls. The upbeat guitar work is strong
enough for you to take |
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notice and Arno’s vocal capabilities
are more than sophisticated. He doesn’t hit high octaves or
evil lows. They are mid range and suitable for everyone. Great
harmonies are utilized making this track sound full. “Tidal”
continues with its winning ways combining mid pace tempos,
pleasant and positive energy and a more AOR/Prog sound that
has absolutely nothing to do with metal. Just to make things a
little more exciting, there is some Spanish acoustic guitar
work just to give the tune an extra kick and it works out
beautifully. “Eyes Wide Open” goes for a slightly different
route and takes on a more adult contemporary approach. Not
everyone will get into this for the mere fact that this is
much slower than the other songs even though there are moments
of rockin' out during the chorus. There’s nothing progressive
about this one. It’s not a ballad per se, but just something
that could be heard on the radio next to Nickelback. On the
flipside, “Iconic” will be better suited for traditional prog
heads as the tempo ranges fluctuate from slow to mid pace with
some funky bass pluckings and some intricate musicianship
thrown in here and there. There is a hint of a 70’s vibe mixed
in and the result is pleasing. Sieges Even go against the
grain and make the kind of music that they want. They follow
no formula, only their hearts. The music on here varies, but
the one constant is that it’s sophisticated. I must admit that
this disc will require a few listens before truly getting it,
but that’s ok because there is so much to explore on here with
each spin. If you like your prog music meshed with hints of
vintage Yes influences, then you have found the right disc. If
you like newer Marillion and Poverty’s No Crime, then this
should fit snugly in your cd rack. This is a wonderful piece
of music.
www.insideoutmusic.com
| www.siegeseven.com |
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Templestowe - Self Titled (Self
Release) Review by Steve
Green |
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Bollocks! If I had a biog to go with this cd, then I've lost
it. But the most important piece of information you need as
that Templestowe are from Australia. I don't what the Aussie
government are putting in their water supply, but this year,
the quality of cds we've received from Down Under has been
amazing and thankfully Templestowe are right up there with the
others cds we've received recently.
Biggest plus point on this cd is the song writing. The three
tracks are all given room to breathe, they are well structured
with natural time changes, mainly from melodic Death to
Thrash, with the added bonus of plenty of atmospherics,
including acoustic guitars, well |
placed samples
and an amazing brooding twin guitar solo on Disciplined To
Eradicate My Sanity.
After a very Gothic intro, I Will Stand... unleashes itself
around the ninety second mark and dives headlong into a
full-on Thrash workout, which quickly calms to a more
controlled, melodic death groove. Same deal goes for Starborn
Desolation. The song is well thought-out, the playing and
production excellent with, in particular, Chris Vandermark's
kick drum bashing hell out of my ears. It makes me wonder why
Templestowe are unsigned, as it has done with the other Aussie
self released cds I've received this year. Someone should
organize a compilation of all the best unsigned bands, as
there are some bloody good bands doing the rounds in Oz.
My only complaint with this cd is that with only three songs,
even though they clock in at around the twenty minute mark, is
that I want more.
www.myspace.com/templestowemetal |
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Winters - Black Clouds In Twin Galaxies
(Candlelight USA) Review by Steve
Green |
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Fuzzed up madness that reminds me of Black Sabbath,
circa 1970 - 73, with the vocals, at times, coming across like
a stoned Marc Bolan on a mushroom trip. This is as a much drug
fuelled romp through the hippy times of free love and LSD, as
it is a Stoner fans wet dream with Sabbath induced drawn-out
jam sessions. I've not had a smoke since 1993, but I can see
myself drifting off to this one at times.
The musical content from the power trio is consistent
throughout, but it's Paul Fyfe's vocals that dictate the
changing mood within each song. Whereas, Fried, is more in the
vein of Pentagram being covered by The Monkees (the vocals
remind me of Davy Jones),
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Aftershown, as I've mentioned before
is like a stoned T Rex, and Oh No reminds me of The Beatles
jamming with Sabbath and Candlemass. The whole album is like a
crazy experiment of 60s and 70s rock and psychedelia, mixed
with the likes of Nirvana and more Stoner/Doom orientated
bands.
Overall though, there's not enough to make me come back to
this one very often. It's certainly competent, but I wouldn't
go much further than that. Winters don't have the appeal, nor
the feel good factor of Gentlemens Pistols. And they don't
have the draw of downtrodden, misery laced Doom as this is too
light and happy and much more suitable for the shoe gazing
brigade.
www.myspace.com/winterstheband |
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