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Equilibrium - Turis Fratyr (Nuclear Blast) Review by Steve Green |
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I have to admit that when Nuclear Blast released Sagas earlier in the
year, I didn't get past the first couple of songs before another writer
sent me a review of the album. The album was quickly dropped from my
playlist and unfortunately I've never managed to return to it since, even
though it's still on my MP3 player. Well here's the re-release of
Equilibrium's debut album, Turis Fratyr, which was originally released in
2005 and after giving this one a fair few plays, I have a feeling I'll be making a swift return to Sagas any time
soon.
Turis Fratyr is a thoroughly enjoyable piece of symphonic
Pagan/Viking/Folk Metal, which is just perfect if you need a little
cheering up. I find such music impossible not to enjoy and
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it always lifts my spirits, whatever my mood. In fact I'd
finished my reviewing for the week, but I was getting into
this album so much, I had to put my thoughts into print (or
into my computer if you wanna get fussy about it) almost
immediately.
A lot of this album does feel achingly familiar. A lot of it sounds like
the soundtrack to the Lord of the Rings, mixed in with a bit of Enya!!!
And track 6, Met, is a number I'm sure I've heard before. It's a quick
blast of Humppa that I'm sure Finntroll would be jealous of as it sounds
like Trollhammaren's little brother. And I guess that the familiarity I
have with their music makes it a lot easier to get into, because I was won
over within the first minute of hitting the play button.
With an increasingly over populated music scene it's hard to keep track of
all the new bands doing the rounds, but Equilibrium are one band you don't
want to miss out on. www.nuclearblast.de |
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Falchion - Chronicles Of The Dead (Massacre) Review by Steve Green |
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Falchion features Korpiklaani members Juho Kauppinen on guitar and vocals
and Matti Johansson on drums, but don't go expecting a clone of their main
band. Falchion are definitely Finnish in sound, but they have more in
common with early Children of Bodom than they do with Korpiklaani. This is
melodic death with oodles of stunning lead guitar work and thrashing
riffs.
While I have enjoyed this album, I haven't found the songs particularly
memorable. The level of musicianship and song writing is good throughout,
but with the likes of Children of Bodom (well the early stuff at least as
I don't listen to them any more) and Korpiklaani, |
there's always been a huge chorus to latch onto and Falchion
don't really possess that trait. That might well be exactly
how they want to sound, but from a punters point of view, I
like to hear something I can remember the song by. The hooks
on this album, tend to come from the instrumentation as there
are countless riffs, lead guitar parts and changes in pace to
pick up on. I found my foot (my right one if you must know)
tapping along throughout the album, so it obviously appeals to
me, unfortunately there's just not enough to truly wow me.
Visit
www.myspace.com/falchionofficial to find out more about the band or
catch them on tour this winter on the Finnish Fire tour. |
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Frailty - Lost Lifeless
Lights (Solitude Productions)
Review by Chris Davison |
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At long last, Solitude productions bring us some jaunty,
keyboard ridden power metal dealing with invading aliens,
warriors on dragons and buxom wenches holding their mighty
war-axes aloft. Not really readers! Chortle! Wheeze! Great
dodge, eh? In fact, it's business as usual as this is another
powerful doom/death release from behind the iron curtain.
Frailty are from Latvia. I don't know much about Latvia,
except that I suspect in winter it is cold enough to make
glass cutting implements from your nipples, and in summer I
suspect that it is hot enough to fry eggs off the pavement. |
The expansive intro to the album sounds like some kind of
Vangelis penned Blade Runner-esque eighties synth-sci-fi
nightmare, but straight after that, we're back on far more
well trodden territory. Once again, the ghosts of early
Anathema and My Dying Bride (and this time some Esoteric) are
brought out by some kind of six and four stringed witchery,
and your enjoyment of this release is likely to depend on your
enjoyment of the afore mentioned misery-mongers. Do you like
slow, mournful music, gravel voiced laments to lost love and
riffs so heavy that they have their own gravity? You do? Well
congratulations pilgrim, look no further, you've found musical
gehenna. That aside, this is in the finest traditions of doom
/ death, and perhaps a little less on the melodramatic side of
the equation than many of their contemporaries. The tempo, of
course, seldom drips above the “barely awake” level, but then
isn't doom more impactive that way?
Intricate melodies and piano sections are to be found in
between all the usual axe-slinging fare, and even some nice
keyboard and electronic effects are to be found. It's all too
easy to add keyboards and end up rendering your doom metal
masterpiece essentially inert as it turns into the soundtrack
to a lesser Colin Baker era Dr Who episode, but here the
keyboards are used in much the same way (and to much the same
effect) as with modern My Dying Bride, who just happen to be
masters of the art. Oh, and third track “Ariadne” sounds a lot
like The Blood Divine. Which is nice, if you like that kind of
thing. Professional and a bloody good listen, if not exactly
breaking any new ground.
www.solitude-prod.com |
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H.M.P. - The Undead Hour
(Self Produced) Review by
Metal Mark |
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| H.M.P. or Heavy Metal Poetry hail from Seattle and obviously
very well versed in classic style thrash. They released a full
length album back in 2007 and have since followed it up with
this three track EP. Since there are only three songs I will
break them down individually. The opener “Torn” comes busting
out of the gates with a sound that is very much like mid-80’s
Slayer only with an even thicker sound at times. The guitar
solo reminds more of the blazing style used by Metallica in
their early days. H.M.P. approaches this song similar to a
sprinter in that they launch into one fast flying burst of
adrenaline. Up next is “The Undead Hour” which continues the
frantic pace established in “Torn”. I heard more of an early
Testament influence on this although again definitely heavier.
The vocals are even more powerful this time around and the
drums are tearing it up like crazy as they storm ahead.
Wrapping up this album is “The Pharaoh's Curse” which is the
longest track on the album as it clocks in 5:22. This song had
me fooled because it started out very basic and actually
remained that way for a while. Then a little before the
half-way point it just busts out and plunges forward with a
full head of steam. It turned out to be the most complex song
on the album as well. My only complaint about this disc is
that the songs tend to run together because they do not seem
to know to draw the songs to an end. That is minor though
because this is a great dose of frantic, head banging thrash
with a good amount more power and emotion behind it. Certainly
an up and coming band that is worth checking out.
www.myspace.com/hmpband |
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Joe Lynn Turner - Live In
Germany (Blistering Records) By: Joe Florez |
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I always get upset at the fact how JLT has been singing his
heart out for over 30 years now and he receives little to no
exposure except from the underground AOR fans who continue to
listen what he puts out every year. Well, not since Rainbow’s
Final Vinyl has Joe recorded anything live. Now, he does it
for the first time, but as a solo artist and if you are a fan
of the man’s work, then you are gonna’ have a blast with this
release. There are plenty of cuts from Rainbow and of course
from his solo record which he was supporting, Second Hand
Life. “Death Alley Driver” is jammed pack with action. The
drums and slammin’, and the keys are full of life and
vitality. The guitars roar this one and as for Joe, |
he’s never sounded better. For a man his age, he can belt it
out. The first four tracks were devoted to Rainbow material
and they sound just as good today as they did before. I don’t
know why his solo songs don’t get as much attention as his
work with other bands because it still remains pure AOR bliss. “Power Of
Love” contains crunchy guitars and vocals that soar beyond the
heavens at times with his crooning voice. They are upbeat and
positive and filled with energy. This disc is a great
representation of JLT’s work from past and present and how he
hasn’t lost a step even in a live setting. All the hits from
the Rainbow years are on here, but it’s at the end where the
man comes alive and through the speakers. He was a member of
Deep Purple at one point, but he decides to cover a killer
classic in “Burn” that will just prick up your ears and make
you take notice. The keyboards slam here and then everyone
just gives it their all on this classic. People who may not be
familiar with his work may want to check out this live disc as
it would give you a good indication of what he’s about. Fans
should eat this up like myself. It’s just a pity that singers
like Glenn Hughes, Jeff Scott Soto and JLT will always remain
underrated. After hearing this, you’ll know why they are
consider the best in the business. Slam dunk!
www.blisteringrecords.se |
www.joelynnturner.com |
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Jorn - Lonely Are The
Brave (Blistering Records) By: Joe Florez |
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Man ‘O man, I have been following Jorn’s career since I first
discovered him in Mundanus Imperium back in 1998. He has such
an incredible voice that packs a punch. At times he comes off
as a David Coverdale clone, but then again listen to him more
and more and he has a style that’s all his own. This is his
fifth solo overall and it’s another pleaser from top to bottom
if you like hard rock.
The title track that blows the door open has it all. You have
the hard rockin’ meaty guitar licks along with a slamming
rhythm section and Jorn manages to have a boisterous voice
that is pure bliss. A great jam to open the show. “Night City”
has a slightly slower pace as |
opposed to the original, but still contains a crunching sound.
There are moments where Jorn
sounds like Ronnie James Dio. You can tell where his
influences come from. Each track on here is chock full of
emotion and good energy that just shoots through the speakers.
Jorn shows why he is the best in the business and the guys
backing him up do a bang up job supplying him with a tight
sound that never drops off. As far as I’m concerned, I can’t
think of a solo effort that was a dud. Each one has its own
style and signature sound. Jorn continues to prove why he is
always in such high demand to be in everyone else’s records.
There is no better time than now to join the army. If you have
never heard the man before, then here is a good start for you.
www.blisteringrecords.se |
www.jornlande.com |
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Kampfar - Heimgang
(Napalm Records) Review by Crin |
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This band have always eaten in the dust of the likes of
Gorgoroth, Immortal, and the rests of the big players of the
Norwegian scene. Kampfar have resided in the second tier,
alongside, Limbonic Art, Dodheimsgard, Gehenna and Ulver.
These acts will forever wallow in the shadow of the big guns
so to speak. This is Kamfars fourth album, and like the
previous, Kvass opus, its all solid, up-beat Viking Metal that
is crafted from a long history of involvement in the scene
[formed in 1994] though lacking in any productivity. From the
first track, Inferno, we are reminded of the total lack of
progressive elements afforded the growth of likewise acts.
Kampfar seem to have regurgitated much of what |
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they are about and little else. Now, that’s not a bad thing as
fans will know exactly what to expect. On the other flip of
the coin, this lack of expanding on the former to create a
later, can stifle, and at times strangle a band into oblivion.
Like Borknagar for
instance, their unique brand of rousing Metal is pretty much
stamped on all their albums with little change from the second
to the fifth. It is a formula that works and it also works for
Kampfar. There is a depth to the rousing arrangements,
stringent to Kamfars vision, yet well crafted and delivered,
The dynamics are not as vivid as lets say Windir, but both
bands share a similar earthen vibe, a natural flow of pagan
muse. No doubt the next album will be much of the same.
www.kampfar.com |
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Levellers - Burn America Burn (On The Fiddle
Recordings) Review by Steve Green |
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I'm not one for politics, but I have to admit that the US Presidential
race is a lot more interesting than UK politics, mainly for the huge
amount of shit that goes flying around. To coincide with the election,
folk-punk legends the Levellers are releasing a limited edition 7''
single, available in 2 different sleeves, as well as the more modern
download version, which will only be available on the day of the election,
November 4th.
I lost track with the band after their classic Levelling The Land album,
but Burn America Burn stills carries that trademark sound that I fell in
love with 17 years ago - Fuck me, where has the time gone? I can't believe
it was that long ago already. Backing up the rather
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splendid lead track is a mellow version of 15 Years, which
first appeared on said Levelling The Land opus. I have to
admit that this version doesn't ring any bells with me, so it
looks as if I'll have to dig out the original for a quick
refresher. And don't forget, this is available for one day
only so grab it while you can.
www.levellers.co.uk |
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No Return - Manipulated Mind (Dockyard 1) Review by Steve Green |
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In our household, we have 2 fluent French speakers, my 13 year old isn't
bad either, and then there's me. I struggled to a crappy CSE grade and
it's 25 years since I learnt any French. But over the years I've made up
for this linguistic deficiency by discovering some wonderful French
cheese, some stunning French wine and for the past few years, I've come to
realise that France also has some very good Metal bands.
No Return are new to me, but as this is their 8th studio album, they've
obviously been at this for quite a while, 19 years to be precise. And that
experience is pretty obvious. The songs flow freely, the time changes are
well thought out, the musicianship first rate, etc...
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but after the superb quality of the first couple of numbers,
everything tends to blur into one. I know I'm kind of
repeating myself in a few recent reviews, but when you listen
to as much much new music as I do, you need to stand out in a
very crowded pack to gain, and then keep my attention. I think
No Return are superbly competent and this album may very well
grow on me a bit more in the future, but from the spins it's
had so far, it simply falls into the "solid" category.
www.myspace.com/noreturn2006
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