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1977 - Rock 'n Roll
(Play It Again Records) Review by Metal Mark |
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These days it seems that you cannot turn around without
running into a tribute band. 1977 fortunately take a slightly
different approach. Instead of merely knocking out cover
songs, these guys opted to create an album of all originals.
The hook is that they have crafted their songs to sound like
KISS did back in 1977. Actually I think the sound here is
similar to all the KISS albums from 1976 and 1977. The guitar
tone is very much like the way Ace Frehley played back then.
The vocal harmonies are close to Paul and Gene's style.
Obviously these guys spent many an hour listing and absorbing
those classic albums from the mid-late 70's. Many of the songs
presented here are so close in style to classic KISS |
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tracks that you could compare track listings and draw lines
matching up which songs that 1977 were inspired by. They keep
it interesting though probably due to their love of the band
that they are emulating. They pay attention to detail as every
little twist and turn is geared to sound like it was done
twenty plus years ago. Even the little pops and hissing
between tracks appeal to me as a long time vinyl fan. Simple
it may be, but the songs are easy to get into and a fun listen
for sure. After playing the disc for a second time I found
myself inevitably singing along with the choruses like I had
known these lines for years. In the end the approach of doing
originals based firmly on the KISS style sure beats hearing
the umpteenth cover version of "Cold Gin" or "Detroit Rock
City". The band's enthusiasm and love for this type of music
certainly shines through in all aspects on this album. Let's
face facts it's been a long time since the real KISS have done
a studio album this honest and enjoyable. So KISS fans and
fans of 70's hard rock should really check this one out.
www.myspace.com/1977themusic |
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Bad Habit - Above And Beyond
(AOR Heaven) By: Joe Florez |
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Bad Habit is a five piece band hailing from Sweden whose
history dates back to 1986. They never made it huge worldwide,
but had moderate success in their homeland. The band has
released seven records to date and their existence has been
very start and stop and have been consistently active for the
past few years now. All I know about this band is that the CD
was produced The Flower Kings Jonas Reingold and features
drummer Jamie Salazar who if you follow the prog world and
melodic scene that he has played with The Flower Kings and
countless other bands. With that said, we now forge ahead with
the review. |
Right off the back, I am annoyed with the nasally
and slightly high pitched vocal work of Bax Fehling. I don’t
mind if your lung work range is slightly above others, but try
to sound manly 'cause this is weak. The opener “I Don’t Want
You” has potential, but is limp in so many ways and a poor way
to open your set. It has a decent and mild pacing and there
are moments where the guitars manage to shine and the rhythm
section adds life to the composition, but it’s safe and
doesn’t add much life to the song. It should have been used
toward the middle or end of the disc. “Just A Heatbeat Away”
and “A Lot To Learn” shows potential with great background
singing and nice harmony vocals and the singing patterns are
quite nice, but again it just doesn’t have a strong leg to
stand on. Grant it, I don’t have to have all of my songs be
hard and full of fireworks (it’s nice though). I like songs
light as well, but this just doesn’t cut it. A band in my eyes
who have nailed the AOR formula is another unknown band called
Heartland. I just get pissed and aggravated with this band
because each track does have potential, but after 30 seconds
in and it just goes down the tubes. I don’t expect much from
this record and the way the industry is right now, if you want
to stick around for more than a month then you will have to
strengthen your next release with a no nonsense producer.
Damn, let me in the studio. I throw some weight around. Sorry,
won’t be playing this one again anytime soon.
www.aorheaven.com
| www.badhabitvip.com |
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Covered Call - Money Never Sleeps
(Blistering Records)
By: Joe Florez |
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Blistering Records is a start up label that is quickly making
a name for themselves in the U.S. by not only licensing other
titles for other labels, but signing new talent as well. The
latest is from Sweden which is also home to the label. The
band name refers to a term in the stock market business (look
it up). The intriguing part of this is that this group is
comprised of musicians that are in the trade by day and also
features vocalist Thomas Vikstrom who has made his presence
known with bands like Therion, Candlemass and many others. The
songs on here are hard rock/AOR which will cater to the likes
of Bon Jovi, Journey and the ilk. |
| ‘All Because Of Me” starts
off pretty promising the licks are for the most part melodic,
simple and catchy to a degree. The rhythm section is also a
basic 4/4 beat with slight changes. I am not used to Thomas
singing in a more hard rock environment as opposed to metal
like the bands mentioned above. The song is mostly in the mid
range with spikes of energy injected here and there. It’s not
going to blow the roof off of your house, but it’s effective
enough. “Til’ The End” is much punchier than the opener and
the guitars aren’t as sleepy. They really pick up the pace and
are much more lively. After rocking you out of sorts for half
the disc, we get thrown into the mix “Anything You Want” which
is accapella meaning only Thomas singing with the help of a
piano and nothing else. It’s ok, but just drags after a while.
The rest of the disc finishes out with plugged in instruments
that rock out at a so so pace. The disc begins ok, but then
once I get into it for more than 20 minutes I don’t care that
much about it. The problem with this is that it’s too safe and
there’s nothing exciting going on anywhere in here. I know
nothing is original anymore, but try to look and sound alive
when you perform. I sort of wanted to pass out afterwards. I
think this disc could have showed promise, but they drop the
ball here. If they are going to record again in the near
future, they are going to have to inject some steroids into
themselves and their instruments if they want to make a name
for themselves in any way. This is mediocre at best and would
prefer something from else from this label like the new From
The Inside or Jorn.
www.blisteringrecords.se
| www.myspace.com/coveredcall |
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Deathspell Omega- Veritas Diaboli Manet In Aeternum: Chaining
The Katechon
(Norma Evangelium Diaboli)
By: Dave Schalek |
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Just to tide you over in between full-lengths, the mind
altering trio of Deathspell Omega once again release an EP.
The EP in question, with the tongue twisting title above,
consists of one 22-minute long song simply (luckily) entitled
“Chaining the Katechon”.
DSO are an absolutely premier French black metal band from one
of the genre’s most vibrant scenes. Playing very disjointed
black metal somewhat reminiscent of fellow countrymen Blut Aus
Nord, DSO seamlessly manage to write challenging songs.
“Chaining the Katechon” is no exception in that traditional
black metal genre elements such as all out |
blasts and greasily rasped vocals are incorporated into a
sprawling 22-minute opus with moments of introspective
atmosphere and dissonant soundscapes that seem to cascade into everlasting chaos.
“Chaining the Katechon” is broken up into several distinct
movements that give the listener the impression that he or she
is listening to a full-length consisting of several songs.
This strategy also gives the impression that the EP is a lot
longer than it really is, but in a good way, as the song’s
different movements effortlessly segue between the
aforementioned traditional and disjointed elements. Backing it
all up throughout “Chaining the Katechon” is a very fluid,
dynamic bass that gives the song great depth.
Those of you hungrily awaiting DSO’s next full-length will be
more than satisfied with “Veritas…” In addition, anyone
wondering what all of the fuss is about regarding DSO are
wholeheartedly encouraged to start their challenging, mind
altering listening experience with “Veritas...” Essential.
www.deathspellomega.com
| www.noevdia.com
| www.theajnaoffensive.com |
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Deceiver - Thrashing Heavy Metal
(Pulverised) Review by Chris Davison |
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For those readers of a non-British persuasion, you'll need to
be made aware of an advert which was shown over here in the
eighties and nineties for a rust-resistant paint. Their slogan
was “it does exactly what it says on the tin”. You may not be
surprised after reading this that I am going to suggest to
Deceiver that this ought to be the strap line for “Thrashing
Heavy Metal”. At least you know what you're going to be buying
when you pluck it from the shelves!
In fact, I think I probably over simplify the sound of
Deceiver, who it seems are a cult band from 2004 or so, and
have members and ex-members from the Serpent Obscene / |
Maze of Torment / Flesh, Swedish cadre of musicians. Long time
readers will know that I am a big fan of Pete Flesh (of the
latter two bands), who is now the singer and guitarist for the
reactivated Deceiver. Recorded at the famous Abyss studios,
this is the self proclaimed “latest and last” album of the
band, which on the strength of this release seems to be a
really big shame. Thrashing Heavy Metal is exactly the kind of
album that is going to be a cult favourite with the
forum-dwelling fans of the underground. At its heart, this is
thrash with a black heart, sounding not unlike at times (and
in particular on the stand out track “Graveyard Toxication”) a
melding of prime Mercyful Fate, Destroyer 666 and some of the
icy, sinister atmosphere of Dissection with some of the more
fragile, brittle guitar melodies.
If that little description hasn't already got you sat
uncomfortably due to involuntary boner disease, there's a good
chance you're reading the wrong site. (Or you're a woman, in
which case the production of an involuntary boner should
prompt you to seek immediate medical assistance). Thrashing
Heavy Metal positively reeks of old school aggression and a
“fuck you” attitude. The guitar tone is extremely grimy and
filth-ridden, while the drums are pounding and unrelenting in
the extreme. The bass sound is satisfyingly sickening, while
Pete Flesh provides his usual gravel-laden gravely rasp over
the guitar melodies which abound, providing the patches to the
musical denim waistcoat. Even more impressive is the fact that
Deceiver are a three piece, though the guitar melodies
frequently bring to mind twisted, perverted versions of
classic NwoBHM guitar duels. This is essential, though almost
none of you will ever get the chance to hear it. Cult? Oh
yes.
www.pulverised.net |
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Ekpyrosis - All You Can Eat
(Self Release) Review by Steve Green |
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Austrian band Ekpyrosis have been around for about 20 years now. They've
had a couple of deals which haven't worked out, they've actually supported
a decent amount of big bands, including Deep Purple and this self released
double album is their 5th release. There ends the very condensed history
of Ekpyrosis.
They lost their deals with a Nuclear Blast sub-label and with Mausoleum
Records due to poor sales and the such like, but I'm going to guess that's
because the band aren't easy to pigeonhole. Vocal wise, and melody wise,
this is melodic Hard Rock, but laid over that glossy sheen is a hard
hitting veneer which at times borders on industrial and that in turn is
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covered by a wall of keyboards which wouldn't be out of place
on a Power Metal album. There's even a punky edge to some of the songs. So the big
problem is, who is this going to be marketed to?
That's a tough call. Especially as this album is pretty inconsistent,
which is mainly down to some very average song writing, which shouldn't be
happening to a band that have been around for 20 years. Yet for all of
these complaints, there are some genuinely decent songs wedged in amongst
the flotsam and jetsam. Which also makes me wonder why the band thought it
necessary to release a double album, as this would have a lot more impact
as a single 40 minute release.
I'm actually a big fan of Christian Gruber's voice and when the band get
it right, I can see they have a lot of potential, but there's far too much
wastage on this album, which coupled with a lack of direction makes them
destined to remain in Austria's underground for the foreseeable future I'm
afraid. www.ekpyrosis.com |
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Enchantment - Dance the Marble Naked
(Peaceville) Review by Chris Davison |
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Peaceville continue their re-release schedule up with this
rather obscure but also rather pleasingly little slice of
British doom metal history. Originally released in 1994, this
was the first (and subsequently only) album released by
Blackpool based doomsters Enchantment. Amusingly, it would
seem that Century Media had signed Enchantment to a six album
deal (!), though this was the only official release that they
ever put out.
The mid nineties were really the halcyon years for the “big
three” of the British doom/death explosion. My Dying Bride
released “Turn Loose the Swans” the same year, Paradise Lost
had just released their mammoth “Icon” and Anathema had
released their |
breakthrough “Serenades” just a year before. Enchantment
really do fit into this tradition of fog-bound miserablisim, with thick, downcast riffing and hoarse,
lovelorn singing. I can actually see why Century Media would
sign them to a multi-album deal, as “Dance the Marble Naked”
can hold its head up high among the afore mentioned peers.
Indeed, I would really describe Enchantment as the missing
link between Anathema and The Blood Divine, sonically. Note,
of course, that this album predated “Awaken” by a good two
years, sounds a much more mature and accomplished album, and
yet has not received any widespread acclaim unlike that opus.
Starting with the atmospheric “Kneading with Honey”, the
satisfyingly depressive guitar tones and clear, punchy
production bring you to your knees with the sheer quality of
the music. The vocals are generally extremely reminiscent of
Darren White and his gruff bellow, though there are clear
moments during which tension and a sense of dynamism are
conjured. There are also some nice progressive touches with
clear, melodic guitar breaks and relatively upbeat passages
throughout, though of course, this being doom metal, you won't
find any tempos that break much above “crawl”. It goes without
saying that those seeking an adrenaline fix would be best
advised to look elsewhere!
Less maudlin than Anathema at the same time, less lace-hanky
than My Dying Bride and with no pretensions of being the next
Metallica (a la Paradise Lost), this was probably the most
inventive and mature sounding doom/death album of the time.
I'm not quite sure of how or why it has been unearthed by
those nice folks at Peaceville, but perhaps now, 15 years
after the initial release, Enchantment might finally see some
of the plaudits which they richly deserved coming their way.
Even if they do now run a hook a duck stall down at the
pleasure beach. Grim.
www.peaceville.com |
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EndeverafteR - Kiss or
Kill (Powerage) Review by Strawb |
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Imagine, if you will, a journey from Spalding to Lincoln.
Across the flat fenlands, to the slightly rolling hills north
of Sleaford. At least numerically it is now possible to
utilise the a15, a16 and a17, although not in chronological
order. I’ve been making this trip for almost 30 years, and
take it from me, depressingly boring hardly does it justice.
So on the most recent enforced participation I looked to
EndeverafteR and their debut album to ease the temptation of
accelerating to 100mph and then looking for roadside furniture
or an oncoming forty plus tonner to provide deceleration.
This is the first release I have had to review from the
Powerage Rock label. No boring and |
untrue PR blurb from these boys, just a CD and a link in to
the website for brief details of the band – in summary 4 chaps
from Las Vegas playing Rock / classic rock / metal. The intro
to the website indicates that 80’s posing survives stateside,
and then informs you that the opener, and stand out track, ‘I wanna be your man’ has been
used as the backing Music for the arrival of Courtney Cox in
the series Scrubs. If you visit a concert, expect geeks to be
in the audience as the quartet have also managed to get the
same track outed as a plastic instrument classic on Rock Band
2. The rest of the album may not be up to the standard of the
opener, but does reveal a broad spectrum of the bands talents,
from the catchy, through AOR to the downright cheesey.
Guitar solos are there, and harmonic vocal chorus’ spring from
most of the songs. Mrs S. found it palatable and at times
compared it to ‘sort of seventies’ and ‘like The Darkness
without Justin's vocals’, both of which are track specific
comments, but are in there.
This CD made the journey almost a pleasure, and even got
airtime on the return. It may even get the odd play when the
ipod is on random. Could be that Kiss or Kill is for you, so
check EndeverafteR out at
www.endeverafter.net
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Exciter - Self Titled
Re-issue (Magnetic Air/MVD) Review by Metal Mark |
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I remember buying this one on vinyl twenty plus years ago. The
original cover had a patch with the Exciter logo on a black
leather jacket. My hope was
that it be a return to the style of their first three
releases. I think that the band had begun to go more
mainstream on 1986's "Unveiling the Wicked". Unfortunately
that was a trend that continued on this the band's fifth album
which is sometimes known as "O.T.T." . Drummer Chuck Beehler
gave up vocal duties to new member Rob Malnati as the band
became a quartet for the first time. That decision made little
sense to me. Nothing against Malnati, but Beehler's screaming
vocals helped define Exciter's sound. Malnati can hit similar
levels, but he also |
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has more of a hard rock voice and he just does not have the
touch that Beehler did. To accompany his
voice the band spent about 2/3 of these tracks sounding like
an accessible, big hair rock bands ala Dokken. Not that there
is anything wrong with Dokken. However Exciter had established
themselves as one of the founders of speed metal. With this
change in style on this album they were going soft and they
seemed to be taking step back what they previously
established. I think by 1988 that they found themselves
falling behind in he thrash genre and being replaced by bands
they had influenced just a few years earlier. Yet instead of
progressing and building on their sound instead they chose to
slow down and try to make mid-tempo anthems. Some are decent,
but some are just rather ordinary and even a little old by
1988 standards. All in all it is a rather average album at
best. Exciter would eventually get back to their roots and
they are still going at it today. |
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