Category Cd Reviews

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A spin-off from Last Autumns Dream, Heartbreak radio released their self titled debut album in 2005. For this new album, the line-up includes a number of singers and musicians – Mats Johanson (a guest soloist on Asia’s “Aqua” album), Berra Holmgren (Ace Of Base), the afore-mentioned Strandberg (Jeff Scott Soto), Johan Axelsson and the rousing sax of Wojtek Goral (Stevie Wonder’s band.) Vocalists invited to attend the recording sessions included Jim Jidhed (Alien), Henrik Baath (Dark Water) and solo artist Martin Gabriel.

With six out of ten of the songs including the word ”Love” in the title they must be trying for some sort of record...

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Death In Texas is continually stepping up their game and their newest single “Fear Of The Hundred” is no exception.

With a bass line and drum beat supporting a hauntingly beautiful piano melody, Death In Texas has created a tune that defies all logic. Listening to this track, I couldn’t help but be impressed by how they managed to create a song so full of contradictions to run so smoothly. This beat with that piano melody and those lyrics?! It shouldn’t have worked and yet it did.
Clearly, this trio has the whole Progressive Pop genre all figured out.

I know, I know, how can defining a song as a contradiction be a compliment? Well easy; the lyrics, dark in nature, match the deep rhythm of the bass and drum (played by Terry and Kane), while the light piano and soft yet strong vocals...

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High Roller Records/Playground

Ljungby´s finest SCREAMER has been around since 2009, and here is their second outing on vinyl and CD. The concept is retro, and according to the info sheet heavily based on IRON MAIDEN, ACCEPT and JUDAS PRIEST. 2011 saw their debut “Adrenaline Distractions” and 2012 was a year of touring with fellow retro maniacs BULLET. 2013 is the year of this album, and apparently more touring and festival gigs. Can anything stop the Swedes now?

Who hoo, not since 82´have I heard the kind of early days IRON MAIDEN-ish riffs that fills my speakers as “Demon Rider” takes off. The Britishness is here, the right sounding vocals courtesy of Christoffer Svensson, who also handles the bass...

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High Roller Records/Playground

Växjö band WITCHGRAVE follow up on their first outing, the mini album “The Devil´s Night”. These satanic metal merchants have dedicated themselves to the NWOBHM they say, especially the likes of VENOM, HELL and ANGEL WITCH. Just a few years ago no one spoke of Dave Halliday (R.I.P.) et al, which caught my attention. The lineup is Jocke Norberg, vocals/bass, Tobbe Ander, guitars, Gabriel Forslund, guitars, and Sven on drums. No keyboards here no. The titles are seeping with seventies horror movie themes…so…rock me!

Opener “Raising Hell” is a piece of very raw-edged VENOM-ish music, paired with a sore throat screaming. No similarities with “Save Us from Those Who Would Save Us” there nope...

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High Roller Records/Sound Pollution

DEEP MACHINE may not have the same ring to their name as some of their peers from the halcyon day of the NWOBHM. Since their formation in 1979 they have featured the likes of Dave DuFort, Kevin Heybourne, John Wiggins, Ricky Bruce and even Roger Marsden in their ranks. Don´t know about them? Kevin is ANGEL WITCH, Dave (also ex. EF BAND) and Ricky are former members of the said band, John is still part of TOKYO BLADE (and ex. BATTLEZONE and LONE WOLF) while Roger was one the lead vocalist of Swedish phenomenon EF BAND. In short this is a band with a lot of NWOBHM pedigree...

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Pure Underground Records/Sound Pollution

Returning with a vengeance from as short spell with SACRED HEART guitarist Byron Nemeth returned to the spotlight with this album. Some twenty years on this album gets a full-blown (albeit limited to 333 copies) re-release on vinyl in a gatefold. The info speaks of charm, dreamy, straight forward and unique, let´s check this one out.

Opening intro “Into Infinity” is rather pompous and dreamy. It doesn´t really have to do with metal but it´s not a bad start. The sound is rather thin, but the chorus and very progressive refrain parts of “Graveyard of the Dragon” is entertaining but not spot-on. The vocals courtesy of Dan Mattingly are feel quite fragile, and would not be out of place in pop, which also adds to the this feeling...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

German pagan metal godfathers ADORNED BROOD returns with their eight albums since 1996. Since their beginning in 1993 the band seems to have matured and developed, plus toured a lot since 2010 and “Hammerfeste”. Surely a gig in Sao Paolo in December must have been an artist bonus as cold as this winter has been. Arrangements, instrumentation combined with groovy folk melodies and classical metal seems to be the way to go according to the info sheet. Let´s find out.

“Einkehr” opens the proceedings with a jolly folk party, complete with pomp and all. The title track really combines a lot into one track, in a convincing way. The same goes for “Call of the Wild”. But the grand epic “Victory or Valhall” doesn´t really tick all that many boxes...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

The second album by strangely southern sounding band from Germany offers both surprises and letdowns. DIRT has been around since 2008, and says that they play sludge and doom with a strong addition of blues and southern rock. How´s that for a change? Can they marry the new religion with the old landed gentry of rock?

Opener “Seven Days” can´t really do anything. The sheer boring factor of a very simple drum pattern over a stubborn but pointless refrain with only the slightest addition of…ZAKK WYLDE´S trademarks does nothing for me. “Dirty” is like another band taking over. It´s groovy and has the right refrain and formula. The same goes for the prowler of a title track that really has me wanting more...

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Emanes Metal Records

INFINITE TRANSLATION may not be the most metal name of 2012, but the band has been at it since 2004. Formed by lead guitarist/vocalist Max Maniac and drummer Fish Killer they opted for both classic heavy metal and thrash, but soon decided to stick with the latter. This was especially clear after their debut “Impulsive Attack” in 2010. The lineup is completed by bassist Jon Whiplash and rhythm guitarist Guillautine. Can´t wait to hear this one…
For being a Frenchie Max has a very authentic Bay Area voice. Opener “Malicious Mental Oppression” has a small share of acoustic picking before thrash mayhem ensues. No double bass drums of cause, and vary old school all in all...

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Wearing their modern and classic rock influences well and truly on their sleeves Oslo’s Motorfinger have their sights set on rock world domination with their new EP ‘Black Mirror’. Citing their inspiration from such bands as Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden you get what you’d expect from them. If you are partial to the slickly produced, heavy leaning alt-rock of the very late 90’s and early 00’s then Motorfinger should be top of your new bands to look out for list. ‘Bastards and Sins’ kicks off the bands 3 track offering with plenty of guitar effects before belting out a lovely chugging bass set to lyrics from frontman Maurice Adams, clearly a man who means what he’s singing with his vocals delving into the James Hetfield style of delivery at times...