|
|
|
|
|
Armed For Apocalypse - Defeat
(S.O.A.R) Review by Steve Green |
 |
Are Siege Of Amida Records trying to sign the heaviest bands the Metal
world has to offer? Armed For Apocalypse are a ridiculously heavy band
from the US who downtune everything to a slow and torturous pace, (with,
thankfully, the occasional burst of pace) whilst adding face-ripping
vocals, just to really finish you off.
Talking in commercial terms, I have to question whether there's a
sustainable market for something this marginalized, simply because
there's only a certain amount of people who are going to enjoy something
this heavy, which at the same time is so miserable and desolate. I don't
hear a single positive note in the albums 8 tracks, everything is either
|
|
doom and gloom or vitriolic and hateful, and although I love
the groovy section at the end of Hero Complex, it's still
not exactly sunshine and roses. Not one recommended for
playing to a loved one... unless you are about to ditch her
(or him)
www.myspace.com/armedforapocalypsesludge |
| |
|
Bigelf - Cheat The
Gallows (Powerage) Review By Strawb |
 |
Just occasionally, you stumble across something that is
different enough to make you sit up and take notice. It may
be a new band, a new style, a reversion to things of the
past, but it means that you keep referring back to it, tell
your mates about it, try and pin down exactly what it is,
because identifying it and bottling it would mean that we
could all be millionaires Rodders. And so Bigelf arrived for
me to review. The blurb states that they have released three
previous efforts, but at that time were aiming for a
different market. I will not try to categorise the output of
Bigelf. A search of the interweb describes them as a prog
band |
from the USA, but this does not do them justice. The obvious
influence of LA-LA land is there, and you know what I mean
if you have ever visited Venice Beach on a Sunday, just to
people watch. The musical talent is obvious from the opening
bars of the first track. The mixing gives equal credit to
each of the four members of the band. But it is just the
different output that has had me playing this over and over
again. The nearest thing I can compare it to is the middle
to later output of Genesis when Peter Gabriel was the major
influence in the band, but with twenty-first century
trickery. There are the same breaks, and some of the songs
are so eclectic that it sounds like three or four tracks
combined. And they last between three and eleven minutes.
There is nothing settled on this CD at all, and it is the
better for it. Some of them, such as the opener Gravest Show
On Earth are epic in scope if not in time, and this can be
contrasted with the message carrying Money, It’s Pure Evil
presented as almost a short, sharp shock. And this has the
cheesiest ending for many a year. Other reviews currently
prevent me putting this one on loop, but that is the only
reason. And the final qualifier, Mrs S likes it, and that is
never a bad thing.
They are on the web, their own bit or myspace.
www.bigelf.com |
www.myspace.com/bigelf |
| |
|
Electric Mary - Down To The Bone
(Powerage) Review by Steve Green |
 |
I can't quite pin down the sound of Melbourne, Australia's Electric Mary.
Coming from the land down under, there's a certain amount of the dirty
Blues favoured by both AC/DC and Rose Tattoo, there's also a much
cleaner style, which is emphasised by singer Rusty's smooth vocals,
which has me thinking of UFO's Phil Mogg and when the power kicks in,
he's more like Robert Plant, and at other times I'm reminded of Chris
Robinson from the Black Crowes. But it doesn't matter who I think this
sounds like, as in a nutshell, this is a very nice piece of Classic
Rock.
Admittedly, I've heard this all before 1000's and 1000's of times, but
it's of a good
|
|
standard and I would imagine that in a small packed club,
this'll go down a storm. And I'd definitely go and see them
if they were playing close by. Worth checking out if you
want to play it safe.
www.myspace.com/electricmary |
| |
|
Insomnium - Across The
Dark (Candlelight Records) By: Dave Schalek |
 |
Finland’s Insomnium return after a three-year hiatus with
“Across The Dark” on Candlelight Records, their first album
since 2006's "Above The Weeping World". I haven’t listened
to Insomnium all that much since the release of “Above The
Weeping World” as the band resides somewhat outside my
genres of choice. However, for their brand of mid-paced
melodic doom/ death metal with symphonic elements, Insomnium
are at or near the peak of the sub-genre.
“Across The Dark” largely continues the band’s sound from
“Above The Weeping World” with a tapestry of mid-paced
melodic death/ doom metal with plenty of melodies, |
outstanding musicianship, and strong songwriting. Other
elements include some clean vocals and light keyboards. The
overall feel of the music is one of loss and sorrow, as the
slow to mid-paced tempo and mournful guitar melodies
contribute to an overall feeling of melancholy. Most of the
album consists of a slow pace, but “Against The Stream” has
some up tempo moments. As expected, the production is clean
and each instrument is mixed well. Essentially, the album is
identical in tone to “Above The Weeping World”, and fans of
that album will, no doubt, find much to like with “Across
The Dark”.
There’s no doubt that Insomnium are excellent musicians and
songwriters, but this genre is simply not my thing and I
find myself bored with “Across The Dark” pretty rapidly.
This is, of course, merely a reflection of my own tastes and
is not intended to detract from Insomnium in any way. That
said, though, “Across The Dark” will probably appeal most to
fans of the melodic death/ doom sub-genre.
www.myspace.com/insomniumband |
www.candlelightrecordsusa.com |
www.candlelightrecords.co.uk |
| |
|
New Device - Takin Over
(Powerage) Review by Steve Green |
 |
Oh dear, the Emo brigade are trying to move in on the rock scene. If any
of you watch Mock The Week (surely the funniest programme on tv right
now) then think about the task where Hugh Dennis and in the old days,
Rory Bremner, would act out a scene and one would read a speech and the
other would say what was really going on. Now imagine the same thing
here. The biog states that this album was written by "real life long
fans of rock music for fans of Guns N Roses, Aerosmith and Metallica".
And now read between the lines when the biog also mentions that the
various members of New Device have toured with the likes of Bullet For
My Valentine, Funeral For A Friend and My Chemical
|
|
Romance. Fuck the shit about GNR, Aerosmith and Metallica. Whichever way you dress this
up, the vocals and the melodies sound exactly the same as the mindless
crap my 14 year old listens to on Kerrang and Scuzz on a daily basis. I
don't care how this is being marketed, in reality, it's not going to
appeal to very many people over the age of 16. Not my bag at all.
www.myspace.com/newdevice |
| |
|
Ravens Creed - Albion
Thunder (Doomentia Records) Review By Steve
Earles |
 |
Lay Down Your Soul For The Gods Rock n’roll! Many years since
Cronos bellowed those immortal words, a group of British
metal’s most season warriors have taken it as a battle cry
and released one almighty kick up the arse to the musical
trends that like parasitic creepers have been smothering the
mighty oak of true metal. THRASH!
You would expect no less from a band that feature Steve
Watson (ex- Iron Monkey and Cerebral Fix), Jay Graham (ex-Skyclad,
Return to the Sabbat, and Iommi), Frazer Craske of Sabbat-fame
on bass, and Ben Ward of Orange Goblin on vocals. AIEEEEEE!!!!!
We are not worthy…but we’ll have to do! |
Opening track Peace Through Superior Firepower is the best
Venom track never recorded, these guys really get it. Venom
had a great deal of rock and roll in their metal, and punk
fury and humour. This is as it should be. Pear of Anguish
tells the tale of a medieval torture device, a metal pear
placed in the mouth that would be expanded to destroy the
jaw, slowly! Elsewhere The Power of Spite brings back
memories of the criminally underrated Cerebral Fix circa
Tower of Spite. Pox Mortis returns us to the Great Plague, a
favourite subject of the Mighty Ward. Insignia brings us
into war territory. There are no wanky solos. No clean
antiseptic production. Elsewhere war raises its head again
with Warbeast! Time for the purveyors of fake trend haircut
metal to hit the shelters!
A fine British metal album, something that surely should not
be a bad word!
Here’s to Albion Thunder, true metal thunder, join me in
raising a glass to Ravens Creed, and here’s to the next
album!
www.ravenscreed.co.uk |
www.myspace.com/wwwmyspacecomravenscreed |
| |
|
The Atlas Moth - A Glorified Piece of Blue
Sky (Candlelight)
Review by Steve Green |
 |
Is there such a genre as Psychotic Sludge? If there isn't, well I've just
invented it and I've found the perfect band to champion its cause. I
don't find this a particularly easy listen, mainly as it sounds like it
was recorded in a lunatic asylum!!! The vocals are manic and there's a
lot of background noise which could easily be screams of anguish and the
music isn't that much better. Fuck it's depressing. There isn't any
warmth to be found here. Weird sounds crash against psychotic vocals,
off kilter rhythms collide with painful riffs and I'm left completely
bewildered by the carnage that surrounds me.
Follow the link if you
dare: www.myspace.com/theatlasmothband
|
| |
|
Traces - To Engulf All
Creed (Siege Of Amida Records) Review By Steve
Earles |
 |
An excellent album. One in the tradition of story-telling,
that I like a lot. Opening with To Engulf All Creed, we can
hear Traces are operating in the same territory as Cradle of
Filth circa Dusk And Her Embrace and Dimmu Borgir circa
Death Cult Armaggedon, but I emphasise, they very much with
their own identity stamped upon their material. Thus, on the
opening tack alone, Traces have brought us through a variety
of musical territory. In The Wake Of What Has Perished
showcases more fine soundscapes. Some of the melodies and
riffs are incredible, like the cinematic, orchestral sweep
of the keyboard intro to Wreathed In Flame. Last Cycle Of
Light pushes their own identity even further, |
|
surpassing their influences well, and ending on a high note
with Reflections Of A Forlorn Sun. Great songs, great music,
a band to watch for!
www.myspace.com/tracesmetal |
| |
|
Viatrophy - Self Titled
(S.O.A.R) Review by Steve Green |
 |
Full marks to Viatrophy. They've produced a devastatingly heavy album,
which at the same time is full of melody and surprisingly accessible. I
suppose this lies somewhere between brutal and melodic Death. Add in a
few progressive elements and a few blissed out ambient passages and
you're just about there. The vocals switch from gutteral excellence to a
higher pitched, almost Hardcore stance and both styles blend together
seamlessly. The winner for me though, are the arrangements. The way
Viatrophy weave the ambient sections amongst the carnage is superb and
it gives them a unique sound and it balances the album out beautifully.
www.myspace.com/viatrophy
|
| |
|
Vrykolakas - Nocturnal Demons of Death
(Calamity
Productions) Review by Crin |
 |
A best of compilation from this obscure Brutal Death band
from Singapore. You don’t get more obscure than this..
Filthy vomit gurgle vocals, grinding guitars, rapid blasts
of percussion, and an aural musical storm straight from the
arse lips of death. Now that can only mean Dirty Grind Death
Metal pure and simple. This has none of the finesse of
Morbid Angel, none of the cunning of Nile. No sir, this is
the ugly face of the genre and with tracks like Bombardment
from the brimstone Squadron, and Zabaniah Nemesis of Jahim,
it is sure to fuck with your senses and render them totally
numb. Play this album at full volume and watch the flesh
fall from your bones, experience your eye balls popping, |
|
and your entrails fall out of ya exploding colon. The likes of
Deeds of Flesh spring to mind, and this genre is awash with
bands playing the same deathly noise since its conception.
The scene is one of the few that has no evolution process.
Black metal has a progressive element where bands can grow
from icy primitivism to symphonic rock extravagance. Death
Metal is what it is and you can like it or not. Another odd
thing about this genre is no matter what country the band is
from you will never guess it as the sound is universal. If
you are into this head splintering medium then this most
ugly of bands will compel [the male readers] to dig up the
nearest corpse and fuck its agape jaw unit you cum over the
maggot crawling green putrid flesh. The females out there
will no doubt unearth a recently departed priest with a
rigor mortis cock stinking of ammonia and sit on that. There
is also a fine cover of Leviathans "Dark Descends". [just in
case you're still reading]
www.myspace.com/calamityprods
|
| |
|
Warfield - Conquering The
Black Horde (Calamity
Productions) Review by Crin |
 |
Black Metal from Mexico. This is horrid gut clawing
primitivism of the most cold and icy kind. It is the musical
equivalent to having a shit over red hot coals. The writing
style is awkward and extremely difficult to acclimatize to.
It is typical of the raw Mexican style and one that verges
on the calamitous. There is no corpse paint to warm you to a
Black metal sound here, just a shoddy album cover and a
wrought iron atmosphere stripped of all polished edges.
After a few tracks you will feel like your limbs are being
chewed by salivating grubs whilst you rest your balls on
crushed razor blades.. This is Black Metal of the most
punishing kind. To be fair I listened to the whole cd and
then played it again the |
|
following day. Here’s how it felt second time round. Strewth!!, the one thing that makes this
so alluring is the drummer. If you are familiar with the
Swedish band The Crown, then you will understand what I
mean. If not, then just imagine a sticks-man hitting
everything at once all the time but making it sound
interesting. This fucker is all over the place and that is
the most noticeable part of this album that makes it worth
listening too. This band must sound cataclysmic live. So the
slower moments weaved into the severity here are obvious
respites for this most talented of drummers. Apart from that
we get the usually raw guitar strum, angst vocal roars and
basic atmosphere sucking Black Metal debauchery. There is a
fine cover of Sepultura’s ‘Troops of Doom’ to wash the pain
away at the end.
www.myspace.com/calamityprods |
| |
|
Wodensthrone - Loss
(Bindrune Recordings)
By: Dave Schalek |
 |
The band name, album title, and cover artwork pretty much
give this one away as a form of pagan/ folk metal before the
first track is even played. Sure enough, that’s exactly what
you get with “Loss”, the debut full-length from Wodensthrone
on Bindrune Recordings, a label loaded with quality pagan/
folk acts and borderline black metal bands with ecological
themes.
Hailing from Northern England and using a dark, pagan
heritage as a choice of muse, Wodensthrone are a five piece
playing upon a muted black metal base, but add loads of
traditional instruments, melodies, and themes. All of this
is done without becoming |
saccharine or overbearing (there’s no “bounce” here, as is
the case with Korpiklaani and
similar acts), and the music comes across as a slightly
darker version of Moonsorrow.
For a debut, “Loss” is a very mature work with stellar
musicianship, an excellent amount of variety to the music,
and a clean, yet muted, production (members of Negura Bunget
are involved). Alternating between moments of brute force
and softer melodies, “Loss” incorporates traditional
instruments in the form of flute, a Jew’s harp, and some
mild keyboard work. Add fantastic, moody songwriting with an
epic feel, and rasped vocals that, to these ears, sound just
like Blake Judd, and you have an album in “Loss” that is an
excellent example of the pagan/ folk genre. I did find the
album to be subtle, however, probably due to its muted
quality, and I needed a few listens to really get involved.
Once I was able to do so, though, “Loss” is a pagan/ folk
masterpiece with dark tones.
“Loss” is an excellent release that deserves your full
attention. Highly recommended.
www.myspace.com/wodensthrone
|
http://bindrunerecordings.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
