VARANG NORD is a newcoming band with only a
year of experience and yet they feel ready to unleash upon us their debut EP
titled “Fire of the North”. Well, I think mentioning the genre this quartet
belongs to is redundant… a look at their moniker is more than enough to
understand their music origins and orientation.
SILVERBONES is a young
band from Italy and I don’t mean the age of the band members. I say this
because the band was formed somewhere in January 2013 in Italy and the purpose
of its creation is to play traditional heavy metal music with medieval melodies
and lyrics inspired by the life of the pirates. Almost a year after its
formation, SILVERBONES have composed their first songs which were included in
this demo somewhere in the midst of December 2014. So let us see what
SILVERBONES have to offer to the listener (please grab a bottle of rum while
you read this).
The change is so there, but if you take away
expectations to the point to where musical direction is concerned and has been
going, then you won't object to viewing this album in a negative connotation or
have a false belief. Sure, it's different, it may not be totally melodic death
metal, it does have its melodic death moments, but now it's meshed into 2
genres, maybe more. The guitars are still heavy, but the music/vocals rear into
a different form. They do use more electronics and clean vocals, some to the
extent to think this album is somewhat in the vein of metalcore but it isn't
all like that.
It sounds like a joke, but
I came across this band from Crete – Greece through Ireland. Let me explain
myself. Slaney Records from Ireland sent me the new release of a band called
BIOTOXIC WARFARE. While I was listening to the album, I did my research and I
found out that the band comes from the beautiful island of Crete, they were
created back in 2012 and they released an EP entitled “Baptized in Blood and
Greed” in 2013. “Lobotomized” is their first full length studio album and I
have the pleasure to present it to you.
I liked this one from the first time I heard it. I
knew that after the release of “Clayman”, IN FLAMES was rearing towards these
different styles/genres being that of melodic death/groove metal if you will.
So what's to be expected here is just different, it has its moments musically,
it features heavy songs with screaming, but the style is more laid back, less
aggressive than prior releases even though their guitars are still tuned down a
lot to I think B or C, guitarists (current) would know what they tune to on
here. It is definitely more aggressive than their latest.
It is obvious that the
80’s metal sound is back for good and not only because of the new young bands
that play this kind of music, but also because old bands have reactivated or
still release new albums. The DYGITALS from France are a band whose story
starts back in 1984 and after many demo releases have managed to release their
debut album back in 2003. “Dynamite” is their fourth album and although we have
entered the new millennium for good, DYGITALS insist to play their 80’s
oriented metal sound. So, the question that rises is how good or original do
they sound in their new release?
While it's great sales upon being first released, the
critics mostly give it a big thumbs down. That may be because these guys
changed or have changed their style of music since their beginning. It is no
surprise Jesper left the band probably because of that reason, they wanted to
diversify and he wanted them to be what they started as which is melodic death
metal. So be it as it is, this one by far no matter what critics say is a waste
of a purchase. Don't buy it they say or use such things such as words like
"it makes a good coaster for a cup."
COLOSSUS
is an ancient Greek word and the origin of this word is really unknown. Some
scientists believe that it is a borrowed word from the people who lived in the
Aegean Sea before the invasion of the Ancient Greek tribes. The meaning of the
word means a huge size human both literally or metaphorically and it is also used
as a reference to the huge statue that was on the entrance of the port of the
Island of Rhodes which now is lost. Also there are quite a few bands with the
name COLOSSUS and all of them come from the U.S.A., but here I will present to you
a traditional heavy metal band and their sophomore album. Actually this release
is the compilation of their 2 EPs under the titles “Drunk on Blood” (2009) and
“…And the Sepulcher of the Mirror Warlocks” (2012) that the band has released
on its own. So let me tell you my impressions after listening to this
release.
Hell yeah! Insane, endless holocaust from the
very first second! SYSTEM OVERTHROW are here to make a statement with their
debut self titled album and they are here to make it loud! What this Dutch
quartet is here to offer us is relentless top notch thrash metal that draws
direct influences from American killer bands like AGENT STEEL, TESTAMENT,
SLAYER, early ICED EARTH, METAL CHURCH and the likes.
Everything
in life goes in circles. The same law applies to art too. The question though is
what kind of circles we do… The ones that hold us stuck to the same routine or
the ones that help us reinvent ourselves and come back with fresh ideas? Heavy metal
as a musical genre has passed through many stages and has sometimes
experimented with effects and sounds that made it sound heavier with only
purpose to create quick impressions. In our days we witness many new musicians
that show interest for the 80’s metal sound and they create music which most of
the times might be nothing more than a copy, but there are some that give their
own character to their old school influences. THUNDERHEART from Spain is a
traditional heavy metal band which was formed by three musicians two of which
were members of the band STEEL HORSE (it has earned a cult status among the
fans of traditional heavy metal) and the singer who is member of the band WILD
(another band that is much appreciated in the underground heavy metal scene).
All these look very interesting and I will try to give to you a clear image
with this review.
THE COVER: The
title of the debut album of the band is “Night of the Warriors”; A title that
in my opinion could easily be a title of an 80’s adventure movie. I can imagine
a movie like “Escape from New York”. This is the feeling of the cover too which
depicts the 3 band members heading to a town (you can see the skyscrapers on
the background). The cover art is beautiful and breathes out the 80’s heavy
metal attitude of the band. There is nothing misleading here.
MUSICAL STYLE: Spain
had an interesting scene in the 80’s metal and if you have the time then it
will pay you back if you search it, but THUNDERHEART are mainly influenced by
the heavy metal sound that was crafted in the early 80’s in Great Britain. I
mean the N.W.O.B.H.M. movement which was essential for the further evolution of
our sound. They do have though some European heavy metal elements in their
sound too.
COMPOSITIONS:
You will find here 10 compositions that are deeply rooted mainly in the N.W.O.B.H.M.
sound. I think that you can find amongst their influences groups like IRON
MAIDEN, SAXON, TYGERS OF PAN TANG and of course GRIM REAPER. There are,
however, also some references to the German heavy metal scene of the late 70’s
and early 80’s. There are times that the band made me think of groups like MSG
and SCORPIONS. THUNDERHEART manage to combine all these influences in a
creative way and instead of sounding like copycats they actually sound like a
band that comes from that era.
CONCLUSION: I
don’t know how original someone can be when he/she plays traditional heavy
metal music, but the most important thing is to create songs that will make you
listen to them and even love them and become your favorites. I think that
THUNDERHEART have this ability and offer us an album that will travel us back,
but also remind us that there are still bands that can produce good classic
heavy metal music.
Approximately three years after her debut full
length album, “Atrium Infernalis”, EVIL LUCIFERA strikes back only this time
with a five track EP which contains four new compositions and an interesting
cover to Mike Oldfield’s beautiful ballad “Moonlight Shadow”. Hearing this
famous song turned into black metal is something I really enjoyed, but this
isn’t the only thing I enjoyed in “Lux In Tenebris – Divide et Impera”. This
Italian trio is fronted by a female vocalist, Evil Lucifera that leaves her
personal stamp on the songs and really owns them. By that I mean that her
singing style is great; her growls are intense and aggressive, they sound like
demonic tormented howls and yet you can understand it’s a woman who’s doing the
singing. I have to say I really like her performance which elevates the songs
that move on pure black metal paths and by that I mean that we’re dealing here
with straightforward old school black metal which is enriched by atmospheric
keyboards that enhance the depth and beauty of the songs while at the same time
offering them a majestic hue. Moreover, the production is as it should be and I
mean that it’s clear and powerful giving you the opportunity to listen to
everything going on in the songs and all this make “Lux In Tenebris – Divide et
Impera” very appealing to all the black metal fans whom I urge to check it out!
You won’t be disappointed!
MAXXXWELL
is a guitarist from the United States and he has been active as a solo artist
since 2009. He is also a member of the legendary 80’s heavy/speed metal band
HELLION. Actually he played the guitars in the last official release of the
band under the title “Karma’s Bitch”. “Visions of Speed and Thunder” is his
third full length album and it comes 5 year after the release of his sophomore
album under the title “Speed Force” (as you have noticed MAXXXWELL has a thing
for speed).
THE COVER: The
cover is something that the fans of science fiction will appreciate (I
certainly do). It shows a spaceship with its rockets bursting out in front of a
dark sun. I think that the cover is a good depiction of the band’s sound and
also of the song “Visions of Speed and Thunder” that is included here.
MUSICAL STYLE: Well,
most of the times I am “afraid” of the solo releases of virtuoso guitarists.
Most of them forget they apply to people who might not know much about music
except enjoy it and they create albums that mainly have a teaching value and
they show off their skills instead of creating songs that we, the simple metal
fans, will enjoy to listen to. MAXXXWELL, though, is not this kind of musician
since he creates songs first and above all and uses his talent and technical
skills only up to the point needed in order to give more depth and detail to
his compositions. I can say that MAXXXWELL as a guitarist is closer to such
guitarists like David T. Chastain, Criss Oliva and Chris Broderick (JAG
PANZER). The compositions that are included here musically belong to the genre
of U.S. heavy/power/speed metal.
COMPOSITIONS: The
album includes 11 songs from which 4 of them are instrumental (“Thunder
Fortress”, “Duet for Electric Cello and Electric Guitar in A minor”, “Axis
Accelerator” and “Speed Force”). Also there are some songs that were included
previously in past releases of the artist and he decided to re include them
here (I don’t know the reason, but I hope I will find out in an interview if we
can do one). Musically now he moves on the path of heavy/power/speed metal and
the trademarks of his sound are the screaming guitars, the melodies, the
galloping riffs and the long yet needful solos. The listening of this album
made me realize that MAXXXWELL builds his songs in the way that JUDAS PRIEST
did in their amazing “Painkiller” album which means heavy and full of speed
compositions with screaming and brilliant solos. Also I can recommend this
release to fans of bands like HELSTAR, SEVEN WITCHES, CHASTAIN, CAGE and when
they become more melodic like in the song “Thunder Fortress” to the fans of
RIOT.
CONCLUSION:
This album has all I need and want to listen to from a heavy/speed/power metal
album coming from the U.S.A. It has speed, melodies, great riffs and almost in
every note it screams out the words heavy fuckin’ metal… Also I loved the
experimentation in the composition “Duet for Electric Cello and Electric Guitar
in A minor” where MAXXXWELL manages to combine perfectly 2 different
instruments that somehow find a common ground on the heavy metal sound. All in
all this is a release that has it all and the more you listen to it the more
you will love it.
HEAVENS GATE has always been a favourite for me
ever since I’ve listened to their 1991 hit album “Livin’ in Hysteria”. I really
don’t know how many times I’ve played this album ever since I came across it. I
just love it and I’m not a big power metal fan, but HEAVENS GATE have something
you can’t ignore, something that magnetizes you. Their music is simply
intoxicating. Their riffs stick to your mind and their choruses make you sing
along endlessly! The heavy/power metal they deliver is tight, full of rhythm,
excellently performed; it has some amazing guitar solos and is supported by one
of the best vocalists according to my humble opinion. Thomas Rettke has a warm,
powerful voice that can easily go up and down the climax and easily reach high
pitches without ever overdoing it or showing off. What can I say? I’m not
objective and when I saw that Limb Music was releasing a best of I grabbed the
chance to present it so as to have the chance to listen to some of their best
songs once again. This isn’t presentation time for me but rather party time! The
compilation contains songs from the whole period of the band from 1989 and “In
Control” till their last release in 1999 when they called it a day with
“Menergy”. So, “Best for Sale!” is an amazing chance to have twenty killer
tracks gathered together all of which are remastered. Enjoy!!!!
