Category Cd Reviews

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French band Yotangor were formed in Toulouse in 2008 by composer and guitar player Jean-Guy Pichoustre and lead singer Yngrid Allieres. They then recruited some old friends: Tony Marcos, drums, Patrice Hernandez, Bass and Vincent Agar, lead guitar. The following year they released their first album, ‘King Of The Universe’. The album was a very ambitious album – a double concept album with 26 tracks Now they are back with a new symphonic rock album – ‘We Speak’.

This new album isn’t a concept album, but it’s certainly not a lightweight album lyrically and includes intelligent topics often not addressed in music including racism, the environment and deforestation. Musically it’s a fantastic album – some rich symphonic metal, great vocals and a lot of variety.

Opening track ”Anon...

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Infinitus Mortus are a symphonic metal band from New Jersey, USA. The band was founded in 2008 by Stephen ”Stoki” Megna, as a studio project, and after recruiting a singer the first album was released in 2010 (with the confusing title of ”2012”). Now they’re back with their second album – The conspiracy of love.

On looking at the band lineup and seeing two singers, one male and one female (they’re brother and sister), I’d initially assumed this would be following the standard beauty and the beast formula – clean female vocals plus growling male vocals, but happily they’ve chosen not to do what so many other bands have done and instead have clean vocals from both male and female singers. Caitlin has a great voice and her vocals work well with both the music and the vocals of her brother.

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Stuka squadron are a London based band that combine World War 2 Germany with Vampires (seems like an obvious combination really doesnt it). They wear long German miltary leather coats, Iron Crosses, and Luftwaffe caps as well as displaying Vampire fangs to create a striking image. A striking image though is nothing without having the music to go with it, and Stuka Squadron aren’t lacking there either – their live shows are always great and I thoroughly enjoyed their debut album (Tales of the Ost).
Since the release of ”Tales of the Ost” the band have toured the UK and also played their first shows in Czech republic and Germany, and have already confirmed their first festival appearance for 2013 – at Hammerfest.

Since I enjoyed the first album and have seen the band live a few times then ...

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October 8th is a date KISS fans will have had marked on their calendars for some time as the release of the 20th studio album from the rock legends that are KISS. The release comes just months before the band’s 40th anniversary. In the time that the band have been going they’ve managed 28 U.S. gold albums along with 40 million U.S. and 100 million in world sales – pretty staggering sales figures, and that’s just albums – if you were to look at all the merchandise they’ve sold the figures would be astronomical.

Monster is the first release since 2009’s ”Sonic Boom”, and is only the second album from the current lineup of the band. The entire band have been involved in writing this album which was produced by Paul Stanley and Greg Collins.

While lead vocal duties are primarily shared by P...

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Japanese heavy metal band Loudness have just released their latest album – their first album to be recorded since the death of founding member Mumetetaka Higuchi from liver cancer in 2008 (their 2009 album ”Everlasting” was recorded before his death).
Loudness were formed in Japan in May 1981 and have been a prolific band releasing around 30 albums since then including live albums and English versions of their Japanese language albums. In 1983 they did their first US and European tours and signed a record deal with Atlantic records, in the process becoming the first Japanese band to sign an international record deal. In 1988 their vocalist (Minoru Niihara) left the band- the first of several lineup changes, and it wasnt until May 2000 that the band reformed the original lineup.

I first l...

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Inner Wound Recordings/Sound Pollution

OBSESSION rings bells of old. Forming in 1982 they were the foundation for the career of one Mike Vescera (ex. LOUDNESS, ex YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, solo etc.) from the humble beginnings on the infamous Metal Blade compilation “Metal Massacre 2” until 1989 when they folded after two full-length albums. That might have been the end of the story. But the band reformed in 2004 to cut “Carnival of Lies”, and in 2008 a Japan-only self titled album. But in 2009 the reborn band of Mike, HOUSE OF LORDS rhythm section BJ Zampa and Chris McCarville plus guitarists Scott Boland (MIKE VESCERA PROJECT) and John Bruno (X FACTOR X) commenced on what would become this album...

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Napalm/Sound Pollution

From Scotland to Greece, GRAVE DIGGER continues to impress. Studio release number 16 from one of Germany´s longest running bands with a major audience. Still commanded by ubiquitous vocalist Chris Boltendahl, since 1980, the rest of the clan is; drummer Stefan Arnold, bass player Jens Becker (ex. RUNNING WILD), keyboard player H.P. Katzernburg and their latest recruit Axel “Iron Finger” Ritt, who joined in 2009. The feeling is that ever since 1996 the band has been on the rise. Maybe they can even kick out RUNNING WILD as the foremost German spitzenklasse in the genre?

The opening intro “Charon” is a daring oddball with something like an accordion, and Chris aspiring for a position in a cabaret in that voice. From then on the battle rages on...

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Escape/Sound Pollution

Paul Bonrud returns with his self-titled melodic rock project. Produced by Keith Olsen (OZZY, SAMMY HAGAR etc.) Paul, all guitars, Rick Forsgren, vocals, and Paul Higgins, drums also utilizes the keyboard talents of Richard Baker (SAGA etc.), Eric Ragno (GRAHAM BONNET etc.) and Dave Gross. A lot of time has apparently been invested in this release, what have they achieved?

“We Collide” opens the proceedings. The song works without a clear refrain focus and I quite like the riff and the rhythm. The best effort on the album, “Bullet in the Back” has a lot of positive energy and the right style continues in “American Dream”. The title track rocks as well, and there is a fair bit of character in Rick´s voice...

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Napalm/Sound Pollution

The Dutch/Swedish joint venture THE 11TH HOUR sports death metal veterans Ed Warby (GOREFEST, HAIL OF BULLETS etc.) and Pim Blankenstein (OFFICIUM TRISTE). The first album “Burden of Greif” (2009) featured Rogga Johansson of THE GROTESQUERY/PAGANIZER etc but he was too ill to carry on here. In stepped Pim, their live vocalist, and here is the result.

Seven tracks on a full album means doom, but also a new guitarist role (drums too though) for Ed. First served is “We All Die Alone”, with a synthesizer intro and a grand melody – sadly somewhat let down by the growls. I´d love to hear a version with clean vocals though...

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French Symphonic metal band Whyzdom are back with a new singer and a follow up to their 2009 debut album ”From The Brink Of Infinity”. For this new album Whyzdom have signed with Scarlet records and will be releasing Blind? at the end of October 2012.

On their debut album, singer Clémentine Delauney was excellent, so after she left to tour with Serenity I must admit to having some doubts as to what the new album would sound like. Happily though Whyzdom have found an equally brilliant singer in Elvyne Lorient, and any doubts I had vanished almost immediately when I started listening to this new album...