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Aces Wyld - Wyld Tonight
(Self-Produced)
Review by Metal Mark |
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For some reason, I think that I expected the EP from this
Northern Virginia band to be more like mid-late 80's hair
metal. Obviously I underestimated them because that's not
really their style at all. The sound is much more like late
70's-early 80's hard rock with a firm emphasis on the rock
part. There is no push towards sappy ballads or big
sing-a-long lyrics, but rather it's straight ahead, rip and
tear rock. The vocals have a definite edge and the rhythm
section is certainly above average for this type of music.
There are only five songs, but no fillers here as each track
had it's own personality. At times they had a groove that was
similar to Aerosmith and the tenacity of Ted Nugent. I also
liked how the guitar |
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just came in rather than feeling everything was planned. They
certainly had several times where there was a bit of a
spontaneous feel to the music and that's a huge plus because
way too many hard rock bands try too hard to stick to a
predictable format. The vocals were a little low on the first
track, but they were spot-on for the rest of the tracks. This
band has only been around for a little over a year so they
could continue to grow even more. I believe they are recording
another EP this winter so it will be interesting to see what
they come up with on their next batch of songs.
www.myspace.com/aceswyldband |
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| Ancara - Beyond The
Dark (Metal Heaven) By: Joe Florez |
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I
have been trying to get on this label for quite a long time
and thanks to Steve I can now fulfil my dream of reviewing
discs on this label. Here are five young upstarts from Finland
who are vying not only for the top spot in the metal scene,
but get your money too. Is it worth your time and scratch?
Let’s analyze.
“Circles” has got it going on. While I am not all that crazy
about the guitar work, I do like Sammy’s singing skills and
the tight rhythm section. The licks are packed with power, but
it’s the execution that I am totally into. They seem a little
off. I think if the melody was a little bit different then I
think this song would be stronger, but for what it’s worth
this is an upbeat |
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metal jam that kids will be swallowing up. “Deny” takes a
slight turn for the darker and heavier here. Even though
things are energetic, the singing gets slightly lower and the
riffs are stronger and much better I might add. “Snowflower”
is a very impressive composition as this one is much slower in
speed, but has an epic feel thanks to the tympani’s used here.
You can hear Sammy sing with feeling and the passion flowing
through everyone’s veins as they perform this powerful number.
Awesome! Hot damn. I am not sure how old these cats are, but
they have their shit together and despite the quirky start to
this release it gets better. There is diversity on here, but
it’s not to the point that you can’t decipher where their
heart truly lies. It’s all about energy, melody and
re-igniting the 80’s metal flame crossed with a modern sound.
The potential on here is huge and I can’t wait for more. Metalheads unite and grab this one by hook or by
crook. Not to be missed.
www.metalheaven.net |
www.ancarasite.com |
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Bolesno Grinje/Mercenary
Cockroach - split cd (EBM) Review by Steve Green |
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One day, I'll be surprised by a release by the good folks at
Endless Brutality of Men, but this ain't going to be one them.
This split cd brings together two crust/grind bands from
Croatia. And as they've posed together in the middle of the
booklet for a joint photo, they are two bands that know each
other well.
First up are Bolesno Grinje, who fire down 9 tracks of dirty,
under produced grind, with a hardcore, punk feel to it. While
I'm digging the music, I'm not a huge fan of the vocals, which
I didn't realise where in English until I read the lyrics on
the inlay. Easy to decipher they are not. Best song of their
half, is the manic Nema Me (Pojeo Sam Se), which |
translates as, I'm Gone (I Ate Myself), which hurtles along at
breakneck speed and signals the beginning of a furious finale
for Bolesno Grinje.
If you thought the sound was harsh for the first nine songs,
then Mercenary Cockroach mange to sound even rougher than
their friends from Karlo Rojc. But hey, they have guitar
solos. To be fair, this needs a much better production to
fully appreciate their racket. It sounds as if they are trying
to fight their way out of a padded cell and while the drums
could sound awesome, they don't kill like they should. This is
ferocious shit, but it suffers from the crap production. I'd
like to hears these guys under better circumstances, because
this still kicks ass.
Anyway, 2 bands, 18 songs, 35 minutes, job done.
www.ebmrecords.com |
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Danava - Unonou
(Kemado) Review by
Steve Green |
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A quote on the biog states: "Danava will be your new favourite
band, get used to it" Not a fucking hope in hell. The title
track is a bad choice as an opener as it's not exactly tuneful
and unlike their Kemado label mates Saviours, who I loved on
first listen, I couldn't get into this at all. Unonou is a
horrible way to start an album and unfortunately horrible is
an apt word for this album.
This is far from being the worst album ever, although it tries
its best at times, as it does have the odd redeeming point. I
like the vocals, for the most part and I love the 70s Sabbath
sound, but there are so many quirky, and frankly out of tune
moments, that it's unlistenable |
to me. Especially the awful keyboards in Where Beauty and
Terror Dance, which just kill the song for me. I think Danava
are trying to be clever just for the sake of it, and it
doesn't work. I managed to hit the skip button in almost every
song, apart from the sonic groovefest of Spinning Temple
Shifting, which I managed to survive and enjoy, through its
near 10 minute duration. And I survived just over 5 minutes,
out of its 13 minute length, of album closer One Mind Gone
Separate Ways. Which at times, is a dead ringer for Led
Zeppelin's Achilles Last Stand being performed by the classic
Michael Schenker era of UFO!!!
I was lumbered with this album after numerous L4M writers
turned it down flat, which just about says it all. Avoid.
www.kemado.com |
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IC Rex - Valonkantajan Alkemia
(Hammer of Hate Records) Review by Crin |
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Ritualistic Black Metal from Finland that merges the insane vocal barking
of Burzum with the doleful guitar strains of Bethlehem. This is the bands
second album, the first being the raw symphonic ‘Sielun Kadotuksen
Sinfonia’ Here we have a similar surge of dragging guitar arrangements and
swooshing vocal agonizing. There is a deep despair to the atmosphere, a
crawling evil emitting from its claustrophobic melodies. I suppose one can
imagine bands like Bethlehem, Skepitsm, and Katatonia contorted into this
myriad of gloom blenched music. The main strengths of this
release is the warm keyboards wrapping their notes around the
sombre lead work. Upon this flowing backbone sits the ear
shrilling vocals |
that evoke the very flesh creeping terrors of Hell. The
vociferous chaos really implodes the otherwise easy to the
ears music. When the pace hits the speed factor, the Black
Metal definitions become more apparent, as the air flailing
malevolence hacks at the ears with mesmerizing ease. From such
high velocity, tracks appear at will, odd keyboard theatrics
that make no sense and yet they certainly break up the
virulent mood.
This is an album of inventive parts weaved into traditional orthodox Black
Metal. It has enough vision to extend its primitivisms from the one
dimensional ethos of the traditional two tone textured style, invoking a
more nightmarish pause to the lamenting musical scores. This will never
take over the world, but it does offer a little twist on a very saturated
theme.
www.hammer-of-hate.com |
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Marduk - Re-issues II
(Regain Records) By: Dave Schalek |
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Regain Records continues their re-issuance of past Marduk albums, this
time releasing the double live album “Infernal Eternal”, as well as “La
Grande Danse Macabre”. “Infernal Eternal” was recorded in France in 2000
during the support tour for Marduk’s all out, blistering assault of an
album in the form of the monstrous “Panzer Division Marduk”. Consisting of
eighteen tracks that cover Marduk’s discography to that point, the album
features a great cover of “Into The Crypts Of Rays” as well as three video
tracks also shot in France.
No information regarding re-mastering is provided by Regain Records for
the re-release of “Infernal Eternal”, but, nonetheless, the album is a
brutal assault that showcases Marduk’s relentless live intensity. Leaning
on “Panzer Division Marduk”, the album also features tracks going all the
way back to “Dark Endless”, as well as a standout mix that’s about as
clear as a live recording of black metal is going to be. The three video
tracks are in Quick Time form and are clear enough with good sound and one
camera shot that mostly features close-ups of Legion and some pull-backs
to see the entire stage (it’s quite small, though).
“La Grande Danse Macabre” is presented with new artwork (this is the third
album cover, I believe) and a second disc that is a DVD of a
concert in Essen, Germany recorded in |
December of 2001. “La Grande Danse Macabre” is
a bit of a transition album for Marduk, moving away from the non-stop
blasts of “Panzer Division Marduk” and moving towards a mix of tempos with
a slow, crushing style mixed in with the all out blasts. The result is a
bit of an uneven album; however, the stage is set for Marduk’s follow-up,
“World Funeral”, which is a much better written album that continues with
the change in style. Once again, there’s no mention of a re-master, but
the album certainly already has a full sound that was originally produced
by Peter Tagtgren. Regain Records had re-mastered the album for a 2006
re-release, anyway, and, I believe that’s what we have here. The DVD is
shot from a single camcorder and features nine tracks. The sound is
adequate and is certainly worth a look.
If you’ve been with me so far regarding the string of Marduk re-releases,
you’ll certainly want to pick these up. Die-hards may want to pick up an
additional copy of “La Grande Danse Macabre” for the worthwhile extras.
www.marduk.nu |
www.regainrecords.com |
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PowerWorld - PowerWorld
(Metal Heaven) By: Joe Florez |
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I am always up to the challenge of trying to discover a new
band that is worthy of not only my money, but the fans as
well. This one piques my interest due to the fact that this
group is comprised of former members of Jaded Heart, Freedom
Call and At Vance. As with all melodic power metal discs, we
open with an intro before things take off with “Creatures”
Hells bells yes! This one fires on all cylinders. The typical
quick double bass drumming is intact along with strong riffs.
Things go from fast to upper mid paced soon enough and there
are plenty of background vocals here that are supplied by one
time At Vance singer Oliver Hartmann. Steffen’s singing is of
the higher caliber as he sounds like his balls are caught in a |
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vice grip, but is acceptable for this genre. Nothing earth
shattering, but fun to say the least. The band continues on
with plenty of steam as they bash their way through each track
at a melodic and up beta pacing. The solos on each track are
flashy and get right to the point and the singing is standard
for this genre. There are times when I am listening that
Steffen comes off like TNT’S Tony Harnell. It’s all good
though. Nil’s keyboard does steal the show when you do hear
him. They sound like Ferdy from Axel Rudi Pell. The songs are
pretty standard fair as we have all heard them before
especially if you have been listening to power metal like me
for the past fifteen plus years, but come toward the final
third of the disc and “Your World Is Not Mine” is a killer
track with galloping riffs and pluckings. The musicianship
sits well here and it’s a refreshing change of pace for once.
PowerWorld will definitely not reinvent the scene, but do all
that they can to hold your interest and succeed. The music is
pretty simple and has an 80‘s vibe, but it’s fun and it shows.
My take is that if you like your Manowar, old Primal Fear and
Gamma Ray, then this is for you. This one is good.
www.metalheaven.net |
www.powerworld.org |
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Saviours - Into Abaddon
(Kemado) Review by
Steve Green |
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Saviours are a band that mix together a blend of 70s Doom,
Stoner Rock and NWOBHM leanings, that tend to focus on the
lead guitar based rhythms of early Iron Maiden. If that sounds
good to you, then you'd be right. As this sounds very good
indeed.
Raging Embers lives up to its name, as it rocks out as if the
first Iron Maiden album had never been recorded. The rawness
of that release is eradicated by the smooth tones of Austin
Barber and the music flips between sonic greatness and more
intense, guitar driven tempos. The title tracks rushes in with
the drums sounding like they're being played by Bill Ward on
PCP, and the scene is set for another retro free for all. Much
heavier than the opener, this one will appeal to fans of UFO
and Iron Maiden, as much as it will to modern |
luminaries such as Mastodon. Firing out with a bass heavy,
punky barrage, Narcotic Sea sees Saviours getting even
heavier, with the vocals, once again, calming the storm. All
of this is fired out with a tightness, you'd all like to see
(make that feel) in the lady of your choice. Yet at the same
time, there's a laidback feel, that only Stoner Rock can
produce.
In all, you get seven quality tracks for your money and this
release is available on either cd or gatefold vinyl via:
www.kemado.com/store.php. You can check out Cavern Of Mind
from this album, as well as three older tracks at the bands
myspace page
www.myspace.com/saviours666 |
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Tempestt - Bring ‘Em On
(Metal Heaven) By: Joe Florez |
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What we have here is a debut disc from a band from Brazil.
Melodic metal is the name of the game here and for a moment
when I hear metal and Brazil my mind gravitates immediately
toward the name Angra. Well, only one way to find out. “Faked
By Time” tries to go for the sophisticated route of passionate
vocals and carefully crafted musicianship which is sprinkled
with Prog and doused with melody. There is a little bit of
bite, but nothing that stands out too much. I do like the
piano action that kicks in soon after. It adds a nice touch.
BJ who is the front man seems to try just a little too hard to
make himself noticeable like an Udo Dirkschneider or
something. The solo is a bit off as it kicks in to some double |
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bass drumming and the speed is picked up. The harmony vocals
during the song don’t seem to work out well either. Oh well,
nice try. Perhaps the songwriting will pick up. Ok, now we’re
cooking with gas. The title track adds some muscle to the
steel six strings and the rhythm section is on target. BJ does
some screaming here, but for the most part, he does his best
to sing with the abilities that he has, which are minimal.
Again, the keyboards add a nice touch. This one is heavier
than the opener, but has more flair and oomph. “A Life’s
Alibi” is simply a weak and syrupy ballad that will make you
go yuck! Perhaps this promo should have come with pancakes.
Sure it starts out slow and then build up, but it irks me till
no end like Angra’s cover of Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights.”
I still cringe to this day every time I hear it. BJ goes for
those high notes like Andre Matos. Thank God for the skip
button. These guys seem to be all over the place and aren’t
sure what direction they should end up with. There are too
many styles to get a feel for what they truly are. “Insanity
Desire” goes for the hard metal/alternative with the thick
bass licks and heavy pounding that just doesn’t sound like
them. There are times where I feel like BJ wants to be a
Tobias Sammet clone (Edguy/Avantasia). I hate to slag a band
that I know I should be interested in, but there is creativity
in these guys and it’s not being completely utilized. It’s
unfortunate that halfway though the disc the guys seems to
somewhat find themselves, but it’s slightly a little too late.
The coup de grace for me was the Journey cover of “Don’t Stop
Believin’” which I never want to hear again as long as I live.
Underrated vocal God Jeff Scott Soto lends a hand on here.
While Tempestt does an admirable job especially with the
singing it’s just not enough to save it. There is potential,
but I think they need someone like me to crack the whip and
guide them in the right direction. Trust me, I hear potential
in them, but in this game they will get eaten up alive fast
'cause the industry is dying and this disc isn’t enough to
save them. Sorry.
www.metalheaven.net |
www.tempestt.com.br |
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The Tangent - Not As Good As
The Book (Inside Out)
Review by Metal Mark |
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This is a double disc set from The Tangent with the first disc
being around 50 minutes and containing 7 tracks and the second
disc is just under 45 minutes with only two songs. This is
largely progressive rock of the 1970’s variety with hints of
jazz, funk and AOR thrown in here and there. When they get
going, they really slice into some very active, pumping music.
Unfortunately there are far too many moments where the music
sits rather idol and you are stuck listening to some dull,
talky moments that suck a lot of energy out of this release.
Often you have to sit through some bland passages with
lukewarm vocals before being rewarded with some energetic
blasts that move along rather nicely. The best parts here |
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remind me of 70’s Yes and ELP, while I hope to never have to
listen to the worst parts of the album again. There is a book
that goes with a deluxe version of this CD set so there is
concept to the music. However I think their obvious playing
talent is held back by ramblings that require one to have a
lot of patience.
www.insideout.de |
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