Category Cd Reviews

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A review of Motorfinger’s Black Mirror

By Amanda Beadman

If we accept a linear interpretation of the way the loudest, heaviest music came to be – first there was rock, then hard rock, then heavy metal – then all the variants of metal splintered off, each vying for a new place in the evolution of powerful, intense musical genres.
If bands didn’t diversify their style and move away from metal as they evolved, they necessarily became heavier, darker, scarier, louder, angrier – or they just became Nickelback.
But some bands find what they like, work out how to do it well, and then they stick to it.
This is the case with Norwegian hard rock outfit Motorfinger.
You won’t find anything new here, but that won’t necessarily bother any listener who fondly remembers the era of Soundgarden, Al...

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Hänsel & Gretel/MIG Music

ANTHRAX guitar slinger Dan Spitz returns from the world of clocks with a new band and a new album in league with Dave Mustaine of MEGADETH. Apart from guitarist Spitz and co-lyricist/producer Mustaine the band consists of vocalist Don Chaffin, drummer Patrick Johansson (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, WASP), and Chris Vrenna of NINE INCH NAILS and MARILYN MANSON fame supplies synthesizers and programming.

MEGADETH sure has lent and arm and a leg to the overall sound of this album. Vocalist Don has a more than slight resemblance to Dave, and the overall sound is that of MEGADETH in the nineties. There are a few differences in song openings, Dan sure knows how to create riffs and quite a few guitar patterns are very enjoyable...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

SINISTER has seen a lot of upheaval in the ranks. Since 2011 the band is spearheaded by Adrie Kloosterwaard, who has recruited guitarists Bas Brussaard and Dennis Hartog, bassist Mathijs Brussard and drummer Toep Duin. They also form the project band ABSURD UNIVERSE. The rest of the SINISTER of old are gone. But is the sound gone? NAPALM DEATH has survived in spirit with no founding members left. Proof of either this or that come in the shape of a 2 disc album, a full disc of new material, and a bonus disc of cover of the likes of WHIPLASH, POSSESSED and CELTIC FROST.

One intro later the churning refrain of “Unheavenly Domain” says that SINISTER has survived...

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Napalm Records/Sound Pollution

Back in 2010 I had the pleasure of listening to THE GRAVIATORS for the first time. Their debut was filled with doom, but also with a wee bit of stoner too much. Impressive nevertheless. But this time around they are on a bigger record company and have a more flashy info sheet. I hope for the best in doom and 70-ies of cause.

First up, THE GRAVIATORS have made some small adjustments, and will be a contender for heavenly 70-ies doom in 2012. Just don´t get too worked up about the somewhat lackluster opener “Soulstealer”. The title track should have been in its place, and all would have been swell. The cool refrain has something psychedelic about it and all is well...

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German metal legends Gamma Ray are releasing a new live album – ”Skeletons & Majesties Live”. The album was recorded at the band’s show at the Z7 venue in Pratteln, Switzerland from April 29th, 2011. ”Skeletons & Majesties Live” is being released on 2CD, Blu-ray and DVD. The DVD and Blu-ray feature additional bonus tracks, lots of behind the scenes bonus material, rare archive material and interviews with the band.
The double CD includes a total of 18 songs (plus intro & interlude). The DVD and Blu-ray versions feature six additional bonus tracks with alternative versions of ‘The Spirit,’ ‘Wings Of Destiny,’ ‘Farewell,’ ‘Gamma Ray,’ ‘Time To Break Free’ and ‘Insurrection,’ all recorded at another show at the Zeche in Bochum, the day before the Pratteln show ...

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Stratovarius frontman Timo Kotipelto has joined with Jani Liimatainen (ex Sonata Arctica) to record an acoustic album. The duo has been working together and playing acoustic shows for some time and were regularly told by fans that they should do an album, so they’ve given the fans what they want.

There are thirteen cover versions plus one orignal track. Most of the songs were chosen from the duo’s live set-list, including Stratovarius covers like ”Black Diamond” and ”Hunting High and Low”, and also songs like ”Serenity” and ”Sleep Well” from Kotipelto’s solo albums. There are also cover versions of Pete Townshend’s “Behind Blue Eyes” and Deep Purple´s classic “Perfect Strangers” as well as the Gary Moore/Phil Lynott hit ”Out in the fields”.
The new track, ”Where my rainbow en...

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A review of Purple Nail’s ‘Blood Tonight’ and ‘Turn to Dust’
By Amanda Beadman

Everything in life has its place – and the place for the latest two releases from Swedish goth-lite band Purple Nail is firmly within the newly established sub-genre of Elevator-Emo.
If an Evanescence fan wants to catch an elevator from the first floor to the 10th to enact a tortured break-up with their self-mutilating beloved – this is the soundtrack for their upward journey.
Both ‘Blood Tonight’ and ‘Turn to Dust’ offer half-committed vocals wrapped around darkly romantic lyrics, watered down power ballad-esque background compositions and shaky operatic bridges wedded together by a kind of musical Fugue state.
This is music that is bereft of highs or lows, a tranquilised thing with sleep...

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Thirty-five years after it’s original release, Slowhand is being re-released. The album contains some of his best known songs including ”Cocaine”, ”Wonderful tonight” and ”Lay down sally”. The Hammersmith concert includes other classics such as ”Layla”, ”I shot the sheriff” and ”Knocking on heavens door”

”Slowhand, 35th Anniversary edition” comes in five different versions.

The first option is the Single CD release which is a remastered version of the original album
The Second option is a vinyl version which again is a remastered version of the original album
The third option is the Digital version which is a remastered version of the original album plus four album session outtakes.

Then come the really interesting ones – the Deluxe edition and the Super Deluxe edition.

The Deluxe editio...

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Angel Air/Border

Prior to SAXON, back in the first half of the seventies, there was SON OF A BITCH. Deemed unsuitable by the band´s record label at the time, Carrere, the name was ousted in favor of what was to become Barnsley´s most major music export. In 1986 history repeated itself as SAXON originals Graham “Oly” Oliver, guitars, Steve “Dobby” Dawson, bass, and Peter Gill, drums, joined forces with THUNDERHEAD vocalist Ted Bullet and guitarist Haydn Conway, guitars (ex. SARACEN). The band´s debut gig was headlining the Isle of Man TT and things looked good until Peter had health issues and Ted ran into contractual obligations with THUNDERHEAD.

This album opens with one of two question marks...

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The Apostates are a three piece band which formed in 2006 in London. Since then they’ve played over hundreds of gigs as well as a session for the Radio 1 punk show. They’re described as ”melodic punk” – in other words nothing at all like 70s/80s style punk, more an indie rock/alternative hybrid.

If you ignore the punk label and accept it’s a hybrid of indie rock and alternative, then the album makes more sense (I doubt there are many people who’d classify this as punk). In that light, it’s actually a very good album. The vocals are very good and thetunes are well written with a nice rock feel.

Check out the video for ”Fire Blanket” below and have a listen for yourself what the band sound like...