INSIDE MANKIND – Oikoumene review

 INSIDE MANKIND – Oikoumene

Quà Rock Records

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Inside-Mankind/162401347131395?sk=timeline

INSIDE MANKIND is a band that comes from Tuscany, Italy and they were formed back in 2006. They released a demo back in 2009 under the title “Angels Fire” and “Oikoumene” the release that I will present to you here is their debut full length studio album. So, let us hit the play button and let me tell you my impressions about their music.

THE COVER: It is an artistic picture with lots of symbolism. Actually it shows a stage and on the stage curtains you can see the sun and the moon depicted. Also on the stage you can see a child on the right and a peacock and a cross on the left. On the center you can see a sphere that looks like origami. I can’t say which the exact symbolism of all these is, but the truth is that the cover is quite original and beautiful. 

MUSICAL STYLE: I believe that the more accurate term for the sound of INSIDE MANKIND is musical styles, because they manage to move through many different metal genres and yet create a rock solid sound. In a few words the band mixes influences that come from 70’s hard rock, symphonic and power metal and sometimes they even flirt with atmospheric death metal. They use also harsh male vocals and operatic female ones and this gives to their sound a dramatic touch.

COMPOSITIONS: The debut album of INSIDE MANKIND includes 10 compositions which all have a symphonic metal touch and yet they combine it with many different styles that can be grooves and even death metal riffs. It is an album that has a variety both musically but also emotionally and really demands to be listened to carefully in order to enjoy it completely.

CONCLUSION: It is really nice to listen from time to time to something different and original. INSIDE MANKIND it is a very original and talented symphonic metal band, that I surely recommend to the fans of the genre and I also think that people who like progressive power metal will enjoy them too.

Nick “Verkaim” Parastatidis

PLATO’S CAVE – Servo/Padrone review

 PLATO’S CAVE – Servo/Padrone

Map/Videomapnetwork

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Platos-Cave/270845376267666?sk=timeline

Plato’s cave is an allegory. This allegory says that people are used to seeing the shadows of the ideas and not the real and pure ideas. It is the essence of Plato’s teaching who supports that the material world we live in is of lesser quality in comparison with the perfect world of ideas. This is a very interesting and attractive teaching which was transformed in religions and political systems to make people sacrifice themselves for a better world that exists in our fantasy instead of fighting to improve the world that we live in (there is no doubt that Plato is the favorite philosopher of totalitarian politicians and religious men). It seems though that this allegory has inspired the Italian band PLATO’S CAVE (at least as a band name).

THE COVER: It is a picture that shows a luxurious room and behind a table an aristocrat standing on his feet and a maid on her knees. As you see the image you think that the maid is used as a pleasure instrument for the master. On the back cover though, it is made clear that the maid is on her knees in front of the master in order to gather some broken glasses. It is a very clever artwork that fits to the title of the album which in English is translated as servant and master.

MUSICAL STYLE: Now this is the hard part for me to describe the sound of PLATO’S CAVE. I am a fan of heavy metal and rock is not a field that I have a huge experience. Just let me tell you that I have listened to the basic bands of this genre. On some sites on the Internet I found that they describe the band’s sound as art rock, which is actually a fitting description since the band experiments with the rock sound and combines it with other musical styles. Personally, though, I think that PLATO’S CAVE plays late 60’s – 70’s inspired progressive rock music.

COMPOSITIONS: The album includes 12 compositions that range from atmospheric rock style in the vein of ANATHEMA to progressive rock and especially influenced by bands like PINK FLOYD and sometimes they even flirt with hard rock (there are moments they reminded me of JETHRO TULL). The band also uses the Italian language in the lyrics.

CONCLUSION: No matter what the kind of music that someone listens to is, if he wants to be just, we have to admit it if an album is good or bad. PLATO’S CAVE did an impressive work and their album is a product of a lot of work, talent and inspiration. It is an album that will satisfy the people who are into art or progressive rock.

Nick “Verkaim” Parastatidis

MISCONDUCTERS – Boundless review

 MISCONDUCTERS – Boundless

Independent

http://www.misconducters.com/

Well I don’t know much about MISCONDUCTERS, except that these guys have contacted me to listen to their music and if possible to present it on my site. When I asked them how they describe their sound, their answer was “that's the million dollar question”. The band is from Brazil and this is their third studio release and here is me trying to find the answer to the above million dollar question.

THE COVER: It looks very simple and yet dynamic. It shows a lighthouse in the middle of the sea and sea birds flying around it. I think it fits to the title of the album since the sea is boundless and the lighthouse sends its guiding light to all directions.

MUSICAL STYLE: It is very hard to put this band under a specific musical style and have your job done. The band, as it states is boundless and tries to combine many different styles of rock music in order to create a sound that can express itself. In my opinion the band moves between punk, hard rock and sometimes traditional metal music.

COMPOSITIONS: The new release of MISCONDUCTERS includes 7 compositions that can offer a variety of emotions to the listener. Their main characteristic is the fact that they are energetic, vivid and imaginative and above all serve the old good spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. This is the kind of album that you would love to listen to with friends and have a nice time. 

CONCLUSION: Probably I didn’t manage to answer the million dollar question, but this is not the point here. I think the essence is that I had a very good time listening to a band that has its own style and avoids any kind of musical boundaries in order to create good rock ‘n’ roll music.

Nick “Verkaim” Parastatidis

DSG - Still a Warrior review

DSG - Still a Warrior

Pure Steel Records

http://www.davidshanklegroup.com/

Well, I think everyone knows MANOWAR and if you don’t then brother I have bad news for you. Ok. It is a band that has released some of the best metal albums ever and also it is a band that has created love or hate feelings because of its attitude. It is also known that some very good musicians have passed from the band through the years. David Shankle for example who is a talented and skilful guitarist was a member of the band through the years between 1988 and 1994. In 2002 David formed his own band under the name DSG (in the way that Michael Schenker has formed MSG) and he has already released 3 full length albums.

THE COVER: This is the cover that I expected to see from a David Shankle release. This is the kind of cover that reflects his epic past and also shows his attitude that has never changed through the years. It shows a barbarian warrior (who looks a lot like Conan the barbarian) holding his axe and riding his black horse. Around him you can see flames, destruction and dead bodies.

MUSICAL STYLE: This is the third release of DSG and if someone expects to listen here to music that is close to MANOWAR then you will be disappointed. David is a virtuoso guitarist and in his releases with DSG he follows a neoclassical metal path that is influenced by musicians like Yngwie Malmsteen and Ritchie Blackmore. In a few words you will listen here to neoclassical heavy metal music with some U.S. metal elements.

COMPOSITIONS: The new album includes 10 compositions that all have as common ground the neoclassical metal genre; however there is a lot of variety here. The compositions vary from harsh yet melodic to some that have a grooving hard rock vibe. There are times that the compositions here brought to my mind good old LIZZY BORDEN, but this has to do with the voice of Warren Halvarson. 

CONCLUSION: DSG without bringing anything new to neoclassical heavy metal, they do a fine job and offer us an enjoyable album where the good moments are more than its indifferent ones. I think that the fans of this specific sound will enjoy this release.

Nick “Verkaim” Parastatidis

MAGIC KINGDOM – Savage Requiem review

MAGIC KINGDOM – Savage Requiem

AFM Records

http://www.magic-kingdom.be/

MAGIC KINGDOM is the other band of virtuoso guitarist Dushan Petrossi whom we also know for his exceptional work with the band IRON MASK. Actually in MAGIC KINGDOM you can also find another member of the band and this is no other than the bassist Vasiliy Molchanov. Now 5 years after their third release MAGIC KINGDOM strike back with their fourth studio album entitled “Savage Requiem”.

THE COVER: The MAGIC KINGDOM covers are always inspired by heroic fantasy themes and I think that this fits to their music which is quite epic.  This time you can see a big evil dragon bursting out flames and burning people to the bone and also a warrior dwarf and a magician that try to put an end to this evil creature. Also above the dragon you can notice some demonic creatures flying. It is a beautiful image with vivid colors that triggers your imagination and lets you think which the outcome of this battle will be. A beautiful and yet savage image.

MUSICAL STYLE: As I said Dushan Petrossi is a virtuoso guitarist with neoclassical tendencies influenced mainly by Yngwie Malmesteen, but also by other great guitarists like Blackmore (the inventor of this sound) and Michael Schenker. His style is recognizable both in IRON MASK and in MAGIC KINGDOM. The band’s sound now can be described as neoclassical power metal, but I think that this is a poor description since you can also find influences that come from the traditional heavy and epic metal sound.

COMPOSITIONS: The new album includes 11 songs which all carry the neoclassical power metal characteristics, but they are also far more. In the new album of MAGIC KINGDOM I see that Dushan transforms his traditional heavy metal influences that come from bands like DIO, IRON MAIDEN and even MANOWAR and gives them a neoclassical approach. The compositions are well balanced between melodies and a dynamic rhythm section, the skills of Dushan are used in moderation and this gives more depth and detail to the compositions. Finally all the musicians that participate here give a great performance.

CONCLUSION: Things are very clear here. If you like heavy and epic metal mixed with power and neoclassical metal elements, then you will enjoy this album which wants to capture your imagination and travel you to a world where bravery, magic and dragons still exist.

Nick “Verkaim” Parastatidis