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Nihilitia - Nihilist
Militia (Keya) Review by Metal Mark |
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D.C.'s Nihilitia came together as the result of some
Craigslist posting and a desire to form a heavy band of some
sort. The three members have diverse musical interests which
include, noise rock, jazz, stoner rock and metal. A number
of bands can boast varied influences, but that only means
something if you are able utilize those influences in your
music. Fortunately Nihilitia are talented, creative and just
crazy enough to make this mess work. The opener "Shithouse"
didn't do enough to convince me. It's a noisy, rapid fire
piece that's rattles a lot, but never gets anywhere. It's a
very choppy song and if you chop something up too much then
you may be left with very little. That's the case with the |
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opener, but that's the only song I could not get into. Next
up is "The One" and now we really hear all the instruments
chime and more importantly everyone takes their time. They
actually build this one and give those licks and beats some
time to simmer and really up this track. After that they
begin to gel and their musical backgrounds and willingness
to take chances help elevate their material. My favorite
track "Suppressant" is chock of chunky bass parts, thick
guitars and an overall sound that hits like a ton of bricks.
This is a band that delivers a lot. This band bring
sludge-like doom ramblings, slick jazz blasts and intricate
progressive passages. What's more is they handle each style
with equal relish and precision. Most importantly they know
how to connect the pieces in a manner that causes the
results to be intriguing. There are times when Nihilitia
just ride on smooth grooves and there are times when they
going in several directions at once with insane energy. Yet
no matter the course they take they are almost always
engaging. That's the real key as to why this album is such a
likable monster. This band have managed to bring a lot of
ideas to the table. Much to my delight they have been able
to harness the heart of these ideas and create their own
complicated and insane formula.
www.myspace.com/nihilitia |
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Richard Christ - Self Titled
(Killer Pool) Review by Steve Green |
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This one has been in my review pile for a fair few months and because it's
not the most exciting album in the world, it's never made it to the top
of the pile... until now, obviously. Now my old computer died recently
and it contained the biog and relevant details for this album. From
memory, Mr Christ is Italian and he used to front a Marilyn Manson
tribute act... And if the thought of a second rate Marilyn Manson is
your cup of tea, then you've come to the right place, the rest of you
can just shake your head in disbelief that anyone would actually want to
be a second rate Marilyn Manson. |
| To be honest, this is nothing more than paint by numbers glam-infested
gothy industrial free-for-all. At times it's shockingly clichéd, and at other times
you cannot help but enjoy what's on offer. The main exception being an
awful, over the top cover of Blondie's Call Me, which really is as dire
as your imagination tells you it will be. One to avoid I'm afraid.
www.myspace.com/richard999christ
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Rob Rock_The Voice Of
Melodic Metal-Live In Atlanta (AFM Records) By
Julian Handley |
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It is an undeniable fact in rock and metal folklore that the
classic era of the live album was the late seventies to the
mid eighties. With many of the juggernauts of the genre
releasing monumental live performances, of which the rock
purists can argue all day long as to whether Thin Lizzy’s
‘Live And Dangerous’ tops UFO’s ‘Strangers In The Night’ or
Motorhead’s ‘No Sleep Til Hammersmith' betters Iron Maiden’s
‘Live After Death’, anyhow of those legendary live
masterpieces it would be fair to say that the standards were
set.
It is therefore with anxious intrigue that I approach this
disc, as to me Rob Rock is one of the most consistent
vocalists of the last 20 years, having flexed his pipes with
Joshua, M.A.R.S, Warrior, Impelliterri and as a sensational
solo artist. Ever confidant of his own vocal delivery, it
was a bold decision to name the recording ‘The Voice Of
Melodic Metal |
– Live In Atlanta’ but hey when your reputation precedes you
why not be bombastic.
The concert was recorded at the ProgPower USA IX Festival in
Atlanta on 27th September 2008, and consists of what many
fans would consider a greatest hits package from his three
solo albums. The crowd appear muted and with this added to a
flawless sound quality, you could be excused if you
mistakenly assumed that this was a studio affair, such is
the crisp, clean professionalism of Rob Rock and his
impressive band coupled with a lacklustre American audience.
The band perform superbly, paving the way for ‘The Voice’ to
savage the baying crowd with excellent versions of ‘Garden
Of Chaos’, ‘Slayer Of Souls’ and ‘Metal Breed’.
As ’The Voice Of Melodic Metal – Live In Atlanta’ is also
released on DVD I will have to seek it out to observe what
is a stunning set of polished metal and to satisfy my
curiosity as to just how lethargic the audience appear to
the eye.
www.robrock.com |
www.myspace.com/afmrecordsgermany |
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Sons of Seasons - Gods
of Vermin (Napalm) Review by Dave Baynham |
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This is the debut from a band built around Oliver Palotai.
Although he is best known as the keyboard player with
Kamelot since their live album ‘One Cold Winter’s Night’ he
has also worked with Doro and Blaze and it was from the
latter that the core of this band came. Palotai also plays
guitar on this album, with some guitar work from Luca
Princiotta. The vocals are provided by Henning Basse of
Metallium with the odd guest slot from Palotai’s fiancee,
Simone Simmons of Epica. All of this means there are quality
performances throughout the disc. Turning to the
composition, Palotai has an extensive background in jazz and
a classical music education so these influences show
through. As a |
result the description by the promotional material of
symphonic metal does not really do justice to the diversity
and adventure of the material. Let’s face it, there is a
term for music that blends classical, jazz and rock
influences and that is progressive. So what we have here is
a top notch progressive metal album by someone who is not
trying to remake ‘Images & Words’. This is a complex album
and the music is complimented by thoughtful lyrics. The
ballad ‘Wintersmith’ features Simone and is spine tinglingly
good, if a little like an Epica ballad and yes, it is
inspired by the Terry Pratchett book of the same name.
Sweeping end track ‘Third Moon Rising’ is also pretty
monumental.
The production is by Palotai & Alex Krull of Atrocity /
Leaves Eyes fame and between them they’ve done a fine job.
www.sonsofseasons.com |
www.napalmrecords.com |
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Stridsmenn -
Striddsmenn (Northern Silence Productions)
Review by Crin |
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Norwegian Black Metal is rather on an upward momentum at
present with many bands making decent albums. Here we have
yet another band from the land of hoarfrost, frigid
landscapes and dry humoured inhabitants. The band moniker
gives the style away slightly as that old cult act Strid do
creep into the at times plodding music here. But Strid, this
band are not. The guitar sound is very early Ancient, and
the slow caustic arrangements also reach back into the Dimmu
Borgir demo era or thick brooding atmospheres and hazy bleak
guitar strumming. The tracks meander on a path of a very
Strid like audible bass style that evokes a sombre lazy
mood. Stridsmenn are a band doing what has been done, |
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and yet with all the variants of the genre in play at the
moment by all kinds of bands the music does seem to cull its
soul from early Covenant as well as the blatant Strid
connection. The Norwegian scene boasts some wonderful bands,
like the melodic warmth of Koldbraan, the depressive drones
of Selvhat, or the ice winds of Abomino Aetas. Here is
another very fine act who have a certain irresistible charm.
www.northern-silence.de |
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The Legion - A Bliss To
Suffer (Listenable Records) By: Dave Schalek |
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Sweden’s The Legion return with “A Bliss To Suffer”, their
third full-length, which is released on Listenable Records.
Playing fast black metal in the vein of Dark Funeral with
bits of melody creeping in, The Legion have always been a
decidedly second tier band in a crowded field, and “A Bliss
To Suffer” isn’t going to change that status.
“A Bliss To Suffer” has just about everything required in
this genre; that is, blisteringly fast riffs and drums,
rasps, a huge, professional production, and slick
musicianship. In addition, bits of melody somewhat
reminiscent of Dissection with a few solos and so on make a
dutiful entrance, and “A Bliss To Suffer” seems to be the
total package. As is often the |
case with bands in the second tier, however, the songwriting
is sub-par and quite forgettable. “A Bliss To Suffer” is yet
another album that you’ll mildly enjoy while listening to
it, but is immediately forgotten afterwards.
Yeah, I’ve written this review before (many times). The
problem is, of course, that I’ve heard this type of an album
so many times before that I can practically predict every
move the band will make in a song. A blast here, a crescendo
here, bits of melody there, and on and on. Mind you, “A
Bliss To Suffer” is reasonably well played, but second tier
albums are becoming that predictable nowadays, and this
album just bored the shit out of me. Second tier status?
More like third tier as “A Bliss To Suffer” is a step down
from The Legion’s previous, enjoyable efforts.
What else is there to say? Yawn.
www.myspace.com/legionsweden |
www.listenable.net/ |
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The Orange Man Theory -
Satan Told Me I’m Right (Subsound Records) by
Robert Cheesewright |
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I’ve instantly taken a shining to The Orange Man Theory. Their
brand of southern rock influence hardcore began with the
opening of Bill Hicks’s ‘Just a Ride’, making it much easier
to warm to what was to follow. Anyone who quotes Hicks gains
instant points in my book. These Italians produce pretty
decent music, too. If you merged Clutch with Every Time I
Die, you might get something that sounds a little like this
album.
I first listened to this fast-paced album in the car on the
M62 and I’m lucky that there were no police around; as the
speedometer crept higher and higher as the fast-paced
hardcore went on. The Orange Man Theory has created a less
obnoxious brand of hardcore, as the |
rock aesthetic shines through. Head bang or Mosh? Whilst the
vocals are shouted in the hardcore style, the album is rocky
enough to have more people head-banging away than swinging
their arms trying to knock-out the nearest skinny kid with
straightened hair. Good!
Satan Told Me I’m Right is top class from start to finish, a
rare example of an original cross-over act’s release that
doesn’t seem watered down or just unlistenable rubbish.
www.myspace.com/theorangemantheory |
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Trail of Tears -
Bloodstained Endurance (Napalm Records)
reviewed by Anthony Deane |
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With their sixth studio album “Trail of Tears” certainly have
a healthy amount of experience, and with their latest
offering Bloodstained Endurance conclusively shows that
“Trail of Tears” certainly know how to create an album which
can keep the listeners attention from start to finish.
Providing a good solid dose of pure head banging Metal, that
could defiantly attract mainstream appeal.
The album starts of with “The Feverish Alliance” and within
the first thirty seconds, lets you know exactly what you are
in store for. It's packed with chugging guitar riffs,
pounding high energy drumming and vocal harmony patterns
that has more hooks than a deep sea |
fisherman . The album defiantly delivers an array of well
written, high energy songs.
The vocal duties are shared between Ronny Thorsen who
provides, deep growls & Cathrine Paulsen, who has a highly
contagious melodic voice, that defiantly broadens the bands
range in sound . Another feature is the constant,
underlining symphonic arrangements with adds a classical
theme to their melodic metal sound.
With the album available worldwide form Napalm Records
“Trail of Tears” are sure to make a big impact in the metal
scene this year, especially after their well documented
problems a couple of years ago. The production of
Bloodstained Endurance is outstanding, it really enhances
the bands huge monstrous sound. With a string of European
dates already confirmed “Trail of Tears” might be ripping it
up at a city near you.
www.trailoftears.no |
www.napalmrecords.com |
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UFO - The Visitor
(SPV) Review by Metal Mark |
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It's been a while since I have had an album that has taken me
this many spins to really reach a verdict. UFO have been in
the business for forty years. Like any band who has been in
existence that long they have certainly had their highs and
lows. Most of their lows have revolved line-ups changes and
in fact there is no Pete Way on this due to his health
problems. In 2004 "You Are Here" was the first album to
feature Michael Schenker’s replacement Vinnie Moore. Those
are some awfully large shoes to fill and the band has been
trying to progress and re-establish themselves since that
point. With "The Visitor" I think it becomes apparent that
Vinnie Moore is indeed a good fit for this band. A large |
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part of that undoubtedly has to do with the fact that he is
contributing more to the writing this time around. This is a
blues soaked album for the most part with hints of the
sounds of UFO's past, but it takes a few stabs to get beyond
that as well. Phil Mogg sounds terrific after all these
years. His rugged voice has perhaps even more character than
ever. This album is definitely a grower and I am glad that I
took a few weeks to really go over this entry. Many of the
songs are subtle and take time to build up, but they are
worth the wait. This is definitely the sound of a band who
still has something to give. The album is melodic and catchy
as well as being aggressive and tight. It's hard to believe
that this band can be so fresh this far into the game, but
the album made me believer even if the last few albums
hadn't. This one has stayed in my stereo for a while now and
I have feeling that I will still be spinning it for months
to come.
www.spv.de |
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Xerath - I
(Candlelight) Review by Mat Willcocks |
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Candlelight Records have a place in the heart of this
particular reviewer. After all, a label with such groups on
their books as Myrkskog, Insomnium and of course, the
legendary Emperor, any new addition is going to have to be
listened to. Xerath are upon first listen going to slot in
well. Initially starting off as an experiment between the
band members to incorporate film-score music with guitars,
Xerath soon became a full gigging band. They hit the
national metal press when voted as best unsigned act having
appeared on the Fear Candy unsigned CD of metal mag
Terrorizer. Taking obvious influence from Meshuggah and
Dimmu Borgir, the CD is truly flooded with strings, gutteral
vocals and rhythmic drums |
and guitars. Track 2, ‘Alterra’ is notable from the outset,
particularly from 1:20 for possibly the scariest bit of
music EVER. Ultimately, to prevent myself from singling any
particular track for fear of putting aside any other track,
I will simply state that this album is consistently
brilliant from start to finish. For a death/black metal band
to stand out amongst their counterparts, perhaps the most
important thing, bar the ability to write a memorable tune,
is the ability to make something so brutal, yet
spellbindingly attractive to the ear. Quite what is so
amazing about this band is that they are not a supergroup,
featuring the most well-renowned members of the legends of
the genre in which they play – Xerath formed in 2007 and
hail from the commuter land that is Basingstoke, Hampshire.
Become part of history and seek out this album, for not only
is it likely to be one of the best albums of 2009, but also
the starting point of one of the definitive bands of the
subculture.
www.candlelightrecords.co.uk |
