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Aeon of Horus - Self Titled (Self Release) Review
by Steve Green |
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This one's a toughie... Aeon of Horus sound incredible. The level of
musicianship on this demo is way above what I'm used to for an unsigned
band, and I absolutely love, in particular, the drums and the razor sharp
guitars... But, (didn't you just know a but was coming?) I'm not a fan of
the bands stop, start style. When the riffs are flying and the warp factor
is set to ten, why add a load of time changes and quirky bits to slow down
the flow? Hey, sometimes it works, especially with the acoustic guitars
and the melodic leads, but for me, there are too many changes in pace and
style for this to be a coherent listen. Opinions are like assholes,
everyone has got one. And my opinion is, that if Aeon of Horus keep it
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simple and then slay you with the bits that they've got right,
then they'll go far. The time changes and changes of styles
will restrict their potential audience. As it is, I don't know
whether to call them Thrash, Death or Progressive. I guess the
easy option is just to call them talented...
www.myspace.com/aeonofhorus |
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Dawn of Retribution - Blood Drunk (Self Release) Review
by Steve Green |
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We have been flooded with Australian releases this year and here is yet
another (quality) unsigned band from Down Under. With only three tracks on
offer, it's important to win over the listener straight away, Dawn of
Retribution nearly blew it, as it takes two whole minutes for this baby to
kick in. Of the three tracks, the opener Blood Drunk, unfortunately, is
the weakest song. Mixing Death and Thrash, it doesn't really get going and
I'll file it under competent. Thankfully, the next two tracks, Second To
None and The Forked Tongue are a hell of a lot better, particularly when
there's an injection of pace. The thrashing groove section on Second To
None is where these guys excel, and I'd like to hear a lot more of
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that style. They kind of remind me of Pantera, with a more
deathly edge and that style suits me fine. If they can keep
the groove and the thrashy edge at the forefront of their
sound, then they can't go wrong. Check 'em out at:
www.myspace.com/dawnofretribution |
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DC4 - Explode (DR) Review by
Metal Mark |
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I
always find it interesting when siblings play in a band
together because I wonder if it’s difficult to keep family and
business separate. Anyway in this band, three quarters of the
band are brothers as we have the Duncans with Jeff (Armored
Saint, Odin) on guitar and vocals, Shawn (Odin) on drums and
Matt on bass. The fourth member of the band is guitarist Rowan
Robertson who you may remember was the guitarist for Dio way
back on the 1990 release “Lock Up The Wolves”. So we have some
veteran players plus it’s produced by Joey Vera (Armored
Saint, Fates Warning). Not too surprisingly there is a
definite Armored Saint influence on this release and that’s
just fine by me. It’s straight |
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forward perhaps similar to Armored Saint’s Revelation album as
DC4 take a somewhat basic approach. They also may lean a
little more towards the hard rock side at times than Armored
Saint did. Yet it certainly rocks as they charge through
tracks like “Experiment”, “God Complex” and the killer title
track. Jeff Duncan's vocal approach does sound a little like
John Bush, although he doesn’t have quite that range, but few
singers do. There are times where the music is a little too
repetitive and even basic, but they know how keep the flow
moving forward and that’s a big plus. It’s not treading into
much in the way of new territory, but they do good job of
making a familiar approach enjoyable. It’s an solid album
overall and I would recommend it for fans of mid-late 1980’s
metal.
www.myspace.com/dc4duncan |
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Dreamtone - Snowfall (Self Release)
Review by Strawb |
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Inserting the word Turkey into a review at this time of year
is just asking for every joke going, so take a moment to
insert your own and I will get on with the review. This
release is a single, a three track disk, the bands first such
since 2001, although the intervening years have produced two
albums. My research revealed that Dreamtone produce metal /
progressive / rock. Not some form of identity crisis [why do
we categorise so much?] but a Venn diagram would have the
largest portion in the prog circle. They have been on the bill
with Dream Theater, Blind Guardian and Anathema in their own
country. The middle track, Pandemonium is totally
instrumental, a somewhat rare commodity these days. It is long |
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enough at six minutes twenty, but does not bore as such tracks
could in the prog days of lore. Snowfall does not press any of
my buttons, but at times it is the most metal track on here.
Which leaves the opener, Promised Land. I really rate this
track, it has all of the elements of a great prog track,
listenable to and at the same time catchy, with a bit of
rambling and many changes of pace, key and instrument, and
with some good piano and keyboard by one of the guest artists.
The words have all the sense and relevance of Siberian Khatru,
so another tick there then. Fans of the band will already have
this release and those open minded prog fans out there should
give it a blast. Is it a Turkey? Of course not, that is the
country of origin of this band. The internet is calling you to
www.dreamtone.net |
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Fall Of Serenity - The Crossfire (Lifeforce)
Review by Strawb |
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Death metal from a German five piece, which has seen changes
in personnel and roles since the 2006 release Bloodred
Salvation, which was their third album. John has moved from
bass to the microphone to provide guttural growling vocals
which fall just the wrong side of my ‘unintelligible without
the lyrics booklet’ line. The music is tight and driven,
competent whilst not leaping from the pack of such albums I
have had to review. There are some excellent guitar phases,
especially outstanding on the title track. Other than this no
track shines out from ten available. The production crew of
Ralf Muller at rape of harmony studios and mix and master Dan
Swano are credited on the notes as being well known and |
legendary respectively and the album is up to standard in
these areas. Guest vocals are provided by Sabina Classen.
Anything this, for want of a better word, extreme, would not
be my first choice to listen to, so please read this review
with this in mind, it may be your type of music and fill your
need well. I listen to it, but it really needs to be an
excellent album to stay on my playlist and The Crossfire has
just been red carded.
Their internet site can be found at
www.fallofserenity.com |
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Hammerfall - Steel Meets Steel: Ten Years Of
Glory (Nuclear Blast) By: Joe Florez |
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I
have known about this for a while now and you knew it was
bound to happen. It’s their ten year anniversary and it’s time
to celebrate with an anthology that spans two discs. I must
admit that they deserve it despite my unkind words of every
record after the second one pretty much. You see, I discovered
this band on my own when the debut came out ten years ago. I
was in awe by what I heard. The return to classic Euro power
metal. Every track on there was refreshing and kicked ass.
Legacy Of Kings had a few good tracks, but wasn’t up to par.
It was after that where the formula just kept on repeating
itself to no avail. Why the harsh words of sorts? Two or three
main reasons justify it. One: Oscar is a killer |
guitar player. He knows how to write catchy riffs and throw
down a good solo, but it’s the fact that he’s so obsessed with
the Accept sound that he went so far as to replicate it down
the road. It’s one thing to be inspired by your idols, but try
to morph it into your own thing. I guess Hammerfall did to a
degree. Two: Joacim is a weak vocalist in this band. His voice
is thin and it comes off as whiney. He did better on his solo
record where he was belting it out and he was capable of
hitting some lows. Lastly: Anders Johansson was/is one of my
fav drummers and he is capable of so much and when he arrived
here his performance was so so at best. There is a lot of
thunder and lightning behind those arms of his, but it’s not
being put to good use. With that said, it’s time to review
this disc in an objective manor if that is possible.
Ok, there are tracks from every record on here including a few
live cuts, but in order to make it special you must crush in
there some new and unreleased material. “The Abyss” is an
unreleased track that was only used for the Swedish hockey
team. Nothing special. “Last Man Standing” is definitely new.
Joacim’s voice soars beyond the blue skies at times on here
and this song goes back and for me being good and bad. It
starts out slow, but eventually it gets your heart and blood
pumping. The drums crush with might and the guitars pack
killer punches thanks to the riffs. There’s a great rhythm to
make it all work out. I wish it was more consistent. But in
the end, it grew on me and I like this one a lot. It’s gonna
make for a fantastic fan favorite on the live circuit. I can
just imagine all the kids screaming this one out with all of
their might.
“Hammerfall v2.0.07” is an upgraded version of the 1997 cut.
It’s ok, but I don’t like the fact that the guitars are
down-tuned here. It’s heavier, but not better. The vocals are
a tad different as well. I worship the original more. Fans,
you decide here. “The Dragon Lies Bleeding”, “Steel Meets
Steel” and “Glory To The Brave” come from the debut and each
one are pure gems no matter how you slice it. This was German
inspired power metal at it’s finest hour. It wasn’t all about
the power in this band as they show that they can go for a
more mid tempo range, but still deliver the goods with a nice
rhythm section and “At The End Of The Rainbow” is positive
proof. The live tracks on here are interesting because they
seem more energetic than the studio versions. From this point
on, it’s albums “Renegade”, “Crimson Thunder”, Chapter V” and
“Threshold” where things just basically repeated themselves no
matter what direction they went in and the ballads were pure
cheese. However, there would be a few choice selections that
would make the grade from each record. After hearing this
comp, I do regret selling off my Glory To The Brave release. I
think I need to get that one again just because it was so
awesome. I have to say that unless you are one of the
unfortunate ones who have never heard of the group, you should
start with this. I think for the most part the best songs are
chosen. No disappointments here. Just good ol’ fashion power
metal. An essential purchase.
www.nuclearblast.de |
www.myspace.com/hammerfall |
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Havoc Unit - h.I.V.+ (Vendlus)
By: Dave Schalek |
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A
few years ago, I picked up the first two full-lengths from the
rather quirky, Finnish symphonic black metal outfit …and
Oceans. Both albums were a pretty good take on symphonic black
metal, allowing the band to be signed to American giant
Century Media Records. A change in style followed with their
next two full-lengths, which were described as
industrial-tinged black metal with the incorporation of
electronica elements, and received mixed reviews. At the time,
I had been exposed to The Kovenant and DHG’s respective
dovetails into mechanized, industrial soundscapes and I wasn’t
very impressed. For these reasons, I didn’t bother with …and
Oceans any longer, and I lost track of the band. |
However, I did discover that a few industrial-tinged black
metal bands, such as The Axis Of Perdition, are quite good,
and, lo and behold, the reworked …and Oceans appears in my
mailbox as Havoc Unit with their oddly titled debut
full-length “h. I.V.+” from Vendlus Records.
Immediately, I get the impression of a low-fi version of early
Fear Factory with some electronica elements as a leftover from
the …and Oceans days filtered through mid-period Satyricon, at
least that’s my reaction. Plenty of staccato riffs overlay a
jarring, mechanized/programmed percussion with rasped vocals
on “h.I.V.+”. In addition, there are bursts of speed and
brutality, a few bizarre moments of electronica, and even a
classical piano interlude. Certainly, Havoc Unit, like Fear
Factory, is good at the technical aspects of this sub-genre.
There are nods to the black metal base here as well in terms
overall feel, the rasped vocals, and a rather thin production;
although, with the exception of a single track, all pretence
of symphonic grandiosity that was present on …and Oceans’
first two full-lengths has been wiped clean.
Ultimately, “h.I.V+” is an intriguing entry into the
industrial black metal landscape with the many disparate
elements coming together to provide a unique spin on the
genre.
www.myspace.com/havocunit |
www.vendlus.com |
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