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Arcadia - Cold Cold
Bodies (Valery Records) Review by Steve Green |
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Confusing: This album starts off with a synthesized voice
proclaiming "Turn Down The Volume" at an incredibly low
volume. This led me into thinking that this was going to be an
industrial album, a la Ministry, but I'd already seen the band
described as "Italian Bastard Core". When She's Got A Knife
kicks in, it's a mishmash of bouncy hardcore, industrial
tinges in the vein of Fear Factory and even nu-ish, Metal. The
vocals vary from harsh screams to a style more akin to Serj
Tankian. Yes, it does sound like a mess, but for all of the
differing styles, it's still as catchy as hell. Look, this
isn't anywhere near my preferred music of choice, but I'm not
too blinkered to admit that there is a certain appeal to this |
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music. Personally, I think the Italian Bastard Core tag
should be dropped as it indicates more of a Crustcore/Punk
sound, and Arcadia are far from that, with a love of (modern)
American Metal and various Roadrunner bands from the past
decade being a more accurate analysis. The "screamo/insert
core of your choice" side of their sound is ok, I just
struggle with the happier vocal style that clashes head on
with the screaming. If you like both styles, then good for
you, but I'd much prefer an all out assault. Because at full
power, Arcadia can really turn on the style. It's just a shame
they managed to get sidetracked with an outdated style.
www.arcadiacrew.com |
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Biloxi - 3 In The Wake Of
The Storm (Self Release) Review by Metal Mark |
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Biloxi began work on this album a couple of years ago, but
sadly bandleader Clyde Holly died in the fall of 2006. Much of
the material was written, but not much was recorded and new
member Mark Allen Lanoue had to step up and take over vocal
duties. So technically there are no original members left from
their debut release except Clyde himself who only tracked lead
vocals on the songs "Pray For Rain" and "Synchronicity II"
before his passing. Biloxi play a rather straight forward hard
rock/AOR style that’s heavy on melodies and most of the songs
lean towards the slower end of the scale. Actually the first
four tracks |
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were really pulling me in with what they trying to accomplish.
The melodies are strong and they mostly steer clear of being
too sappy. Also the music manages to pull a lot out of each
individual note and that is how this type of music should be
done. However, they began to lose me some after the fourth
song because after that most of the tracks began to blend
together more and everything started to be presented at the
same tempo. The vocals and music were still decent, but they
were not doing as much to make the songs seem special. Still
they stayed fairly focused and I love the overall drum sound
on this album. The album title has perhaps a double meaning
which applies to not only to the obvious Hurricane Katrina,
but also to the loss of Clyde Holly with which this band had
to deal with as they soldiered on to complete this release.
People who love hard rock/AOR that's more vocal heavy
might really enjoy this. For me it was more decent, but it
just didn't keep my attention for the duration of the whole
album. www.biloximusic.com |
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By Blood Alone - Seas Of
Blood (Jericho Hill) Review by Steve Green |
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What's the musical equivalent of love at first sight? Whatever
it may be, that's what happened when I first heard By Blood
Alone. This is the style of Progressive Metal that Dark
Symphonies used to put out a few years ago and my first
thought was of one of their bands, Brave (who evolved from
Arise From Thorns) and with both bands having a lady at the
helm, it's an easy comparison to make. The biggest difference
though, is the depth of By Blood Alone's songwriting.
Serpentarius is a bold opening statement. In keeping with the
cover artwork, there is a feeling of being at sea as the music
has a very distinct ebb and |
flow. It also reminds me of Hawkwind's Assassins of Allah. And
I'll defy anyone that that doesn't hear the comparison. As a
statement of intent, By Blood Alone show that they mean
business from the off as there is no messing with this song.
Although not quite as epic as Iron Maiden's Rhyme of the
Ancient Mariner, because of its stature, you just know this
must be the bands signature tune. The feel good vibe continues
into Wants Me Dead and By Blood Alone have hooked themselves a
fan for life already. Unless they sell-out of course... which
you just know will never happen. You can feel what they put
into their music, this is most definitely created for love,
not money.
As well as the epic feel of their songs, they also have a
darker side, funnily enough both of which were written by
vocalist Cruella. Undead Friend is a Gothic waltz that
wouldn't be out of place in a Tim Burton film, which isn't a
comparison I should have made before getting to Little Lady
Lillit. Imagine the darkest, most fucked up nursery rhyme your
mind will let you create, then mix that with The Happy Tree
Friends and merge that with the mind of the aforementioned Mr
Burton, and you have the classic that is Little Lady Lillit.
And that little ditty is a perfect way to end this album.
To read an interview I've just done with the band click
here, and then go buy the album via
www.bybloodalone.com or pick it up via Relapse's mailorder.
Brilliant band, great album and most deserving of your
attention. |
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Dismember - Dismember
(Regain Records) By: Dave Schalek |
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The Sunlight Studios sound lives on mostly through the usually
solid releases of Swedish death metal stalwarts Dismember.
Soldiering on for nearly 20 years without much digression from
their core sound of old school Swedish death metal with that
instantly recognizable, rich guitar “crunch” so typical of the
genre, Dismember prepare to unleash their next full-length,
simply entitled “Dismember”, upon the unsuspecting world.
I’ve already said that Dismember do not tend to digress a
whole Hell of a lot, and that’s also the case for “Dismember”.
That is fine with me as the album gallops through some largely
mid-paced death metal replete with huge riffs and an overall
gigantic sound. Throw |
in some tempo variation ranging from a few slow dirges to all
out blasts, the patented “I can’t tell the vocalists of
Dismember and Entombed apart” vocal style along with a few
melodic touches evocative of Iron Maiden, and you have another
solid album from this veteran band that hasn’t produced a
clunker since the disappointingly pedestrian “Hate Campaign”
from 2000.
Following a four year hiatus after “Hate Campaign”,
“Dismember” continues a comeback of sorts that began with the
2004 release of “Where The Ironcrosses Grow”. Starting with
that release, the last three albums from Dismember, including
the latest full-length, have been razor sharp. Good
songwriting, catchy riffs, and just a hint of a few melodic
touches here and there have propelled Dismember back to the
top tier of brutal Swedish death metal. What separates
“Dismember” somewhat from its immediate predecessors is the
beefed up, guitar heavy production that really gives the album
enormous weight. The refreshing combination of these
fundamental elements demonstrates that Dismember still have
plenty of gas in the tank.
Ultimately, though, Dismember isn’t really breaking any new
ground with their self-titled release, but “Dismember”
displays an invigorated, veteran band that is definitely still
a force to be reckoned with in death metal. Highly recommended
for the traditional death metal mindset.
www.dismember.se |
www.regainrecords.com |
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Error Head - Modern
Hippie (Lion Music) By: Joe Florez |
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The man behind this band is an apparent in demand guitarist
who has been on countless releases that goes by the name of
Marcus Deml from Germany. Having no clue what I was in for, I
simply had to pop this in. Hot damn, now this is what I like.
This isn’t metal by any means, but more funky and hard rockin’
jams that has a 60’s and 70’s flair modernized for today’s
society. “Connected” wastes no time getting down with the
groove laden riffing that is infectious as hell and high
impact drumming along with the thumpin’ bass licks. It has a
Glenn Hughes vibe, especially when Marcus hits those high
screams. This is energetic music that is filled with positive
vibes and would be a good track to listen to as you try to
wake up |
on a Monday morning when you don’t want to get up out of bed
and drag your way to work. “For My Brothers” throws down some
serious blues licks into the mix. Some keyboard work manages
to make its way into the song, but never dominates and it
actually quite subtle. This is amplified music that will lift
your spirits. Amidst all the liveliness that this man brings
track after track, we finally slow down a bit with “Northern
Lights.” This isn’t some sappy and cheesy instrumental ballad.
There is some electronic programming, but this one simply
calms you down for a few before things go back to high energy
again. The music has a nice flow on here and wherever it takes
you, you can bet it’s well worth the audio trip. There is no
shortage of talent or originality here as this will put a
smile on your face for hours to come. Despite some spoken
ramblings on some of the tracks, it’s mostly vocal free and it
doesn’t bore. That is a task that is very hard to accomplish
nowadays since everyone is fascinated with showing off their
chops instead of playing with their heart. Everyone on here is
the real deal and it shows. This is definitely something you
should pop in when you feel down. It will lift you up for
sure. Whether you are looking for something spiritual, happy
or melodic this is it. Nevrmind the quirky
band name and title. There is nothing hippyish on here, ala
stuff you heard from the Woodstock festival circa 1969. This
is fresh and vibrant music packed with rich sounds.
www.lionmusic.com |
www.errorhead.com |
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Gospel of the Horns -
Realm of the Damned (Invictus) Review by Crin |
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Australia’s finest Blackened import vomits forth only their second album
[they formed in 1993] I recall witnessing these lunatics blow the Red Eye
venue apart in London many moons ago. Like the Germanic Black/Thrash of
Desaster, the music is basically Heavy Metal turbo charged and spat out of
a pigs arse. In your face, catchy as hell, full on Heavy Metal played
though a thrashing blitzkrieg of up-tempo extremity. ‘Bang that Head that
doesn’t Bang’ as the old adage goes. This is no Thrash retro bollocks,
this is Blackened Black Thrashing Metal played like it is meant to be.
Like Nuclear Assault and Tankard contorted into a more refined Venom,
that’s how razor sharp this band sound. |
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nodding harsh metal music. The guitar arrangements give you butterflies in
the gut, make the skin crawl up your back. There are some killer slower
tracks that allow the band to loosen up and show a more atmosphere side to
their otherwise manic repertoire. This is pure and simply a great feelgood
album with balls of steel.
www.invictusproductions.net |
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Vandöd – AS (Ex
Mortem Records) review by Sam Thomas |
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Vandöd are a Swedish four-piece who have produced their debut
album “AS”. The brief note that arrived with it described the
band as “Swedish black metal”, but after many listens, I still
beg to differ. This is a relatively short offering (33
minutes, 9 tracks) which nonetheless demonstrates that the
band are anything but “just” black metal.
The first two tracks are admittedly very much what I would
expect from the early Norwegian black metal band of your
choice – very underproduced, typical Norwegian vocal style and
drums, but then track three, “Burden of Eden” changes things a
little, as it brings into the mix a completely different drum
style and vocals that vary between an |
ecclesiastical style (think Gregorian chant) and the sneering
style of Ancient. With a drop of classic Swedish death thrown
in for good measure.
Just to confuse things further, the next track, “A Path I have
Chosen” has an almost anthemic beginning, and one that has
stuck in my head for days. The guitar is particularly
insistent throughout this track, which is definitely my
personal favourite and heads back vaguely in the direction of
black metal, albeit with an interesting chorus contrasting the
ecclesiastical style vocals with the snarled vocals again.
It’s then on to the sixth track “For the Wicked” which opens
with an almost reprise of the guitar from track four but then,
to confuse me completely, closes with an industrial bubbling
and rumbling. Obviously, therefore, the next track begins with
a battle-metal style mournful Viking horn overlaid with a
marching tempo on the drums.
And that’s the root of my problem with this album. It’s such a
motley collection of styles, that it’s very difficult to
actually sit down and listen to it as a whole. It’s not that I
want my metal to be “true”, in fact many of my favourite bands
cross many genres, but I do like an album to have a coherence
about it. Otherwise it’s just an inchoate mess. And I’m afraid
that that’s what Vandöd have produced here. I wouldn’t say
they lack talent, I definitely wouldn’t say they lack
originality, but they do lack direction. But again, this is
their debut album, and that is the perfect platform to try out
a range of styles. I hope that they settle on one or two for
their next release, which I’m sure will be worth looking out
for. www.vandod.se |
www.myspace.com/vandoed |
www.exmortem.se |
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Various Artists - Pagan
Fire (Nuclear Blast) By: Joe Florez |
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I am not a huge fan of comps unless they have something
special to offer. However, in this case, I think this is
something that a curious individual who knows nothing about
the Pagan/Folk/Viking Metal scene should invest in before
diving in further in one’s back catalogue. There are 16 tracks
of pure Scandinavian heaven with the exception of Primordial
(Ireland) and Bal-Sagoth (England). The usual suspects like
Sweden’s Bathory and Unleashed make the cut while there are
newies on here that should take notice. Bathory’s “Song To
Hall Up High” is a Pagan/folky opener that is slow and as an
acoustic number, I wouldn’t necessarily use it at the
beginning, but it doesn’t matter. The feeling is |
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there. Enslaved’s “Isa” takes a more aggressive and progressive
approach to their brand of Viking Metal. What’s a Viking comp
without Amon Amarth, right? These boys know how to cut right
to the chase and serve up a vicious dish of metal that will
have you head banging for the duration with Johan Hegg.
Newcomers like Wintersun offer up a more sinister take on
their brand of music with evil singing. Equilibrium add a
touch of power metal to their work to make things interesting.
One of the highlights on here is Korpiklaani who despite being
around since the 2000’s have been pumping out disc after disc
in less than a year’s time each. These guys from Finland will
have you getting drunk to their music thanks to the humpa
influence on here. It’s fast, fun and it has an accordion.
These folks rule! There is a lot to cherish on here and
discover if you missed a band or two. The tempos on every song
here vary which is nice because there is more than one way to
cover this aspect of music. I found out about a new band or
two on here that I might investigate myself. One thing is for
sure I highly recommend this. Besides this can warm you up for
the first ever Pagan fest tour which will be making the rounds
in the U.S. shortly featuring bands that are on here like
Turisas, Ensiferium, Eluvitite and TYR. Enjoy.
www.nuclearblast.de |
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