Monthly Archives januari 2011

Posted in Cd Reviews

Napalm/Sound Pollution

KATRA is Katra Solopuro and band, releasing their second effort. Here musical venture started in 2006, and the band debuted in 2007, scoring a radio hit in their native Finland with “Sahara”. They caught the eye of Napalm Records and a contract was signed. An international version of their debut “Beast Within” was commissioned and now it is time for a follow-up.

Melodic, but not very Gothic is the initial feel of “Delirium”. KATRA has a smooth production and a very pleasant voice to boost. The melodic sensuality mentioned in the info sheet feels more like a gentle aim at a trend in a song that could well be smooth enough to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest. The Gothic light continues in “One Wish Away”...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Cyclone Empire/Sound Pollution

F, J, H, A, that could be part of a test at the optician´s, but it is the vocalist, drummer, bass player and guitarist, respectively, of MOUNTAIN THRONE. A and J are also active in MIRROR OF DECEPTION. Doom and traditional metal joins in a fine mix according to the info sheet. Please note that this is a vinyl-only release.

The opening heaviness of “Altar of Reason” reveals two of the band members. Otherwise this is closer to the eighties, and NWOBHM in particular. I would, apart from the doom laden parts, put my money on CLOVEN HOOF or early ELIXIR. The feeling of England 30 years ago is enforced in “Endtime”, a slightly faster track. The solo is a gem in all simplicity...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Pulverised/Sound Pollution

Ukranian band BALFOR has been at it for thirteen years, and according to the info they are aimed at fans of DRAGONLORD, DIMMU BORGIR et al.

One diffuse mystical intro later surprisingly meek drumming ensues. The vocals are muffled but not appalling. They have unexpectedly cozy grooves; and a certain penchant for storytelling, but they are not up there with the best in the genre. What I miss is mostly theatrically arranged and orchestrated parts. That is needed if you are a stereotype black metal band with monotone drum patterns. The guitar work and the vocals are nice, but they need an augmentation to improve the tracks. In spite of these lacks they do very good in tracks like “Pure Barbaric” and “Light´s Demise”, plus the outstanding effort “The Perfect Fire”...

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Schwarzdorn Production/Sound Pollution

Ukraine band QUINTESSENCE MYSTICA has dedicated themselves to all things beyond religion and the old truths. They want to reach beyond from an occult point of view. The man behind this is Master Alafern, with a past in bands like THUNDERKRAFT and TRIGLAN. With him on this adventure is vocalist Dromos Aniliagos. Fact is that there is already an album number two ready for release, this better be good then…

Musicallt Master Alafern handles the most part. “Vector Space of Desires” is a mix of hammering black metal, pretty neat vocals (harder, but not growl), keyboards and hysteric drumming. But the mix actually works better than I thought. At the same time I believe that I need to check the lyrics before deciding if they are as different as they claim...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Nightmare Records/Record Heaven

SEVEN THORNS has been around since 1998, but issue their debut only now. They have won some competitions, released two singles and played with bands like ANVIL and JORN. Catchy power metal combined with neoclassic influences by a six man band is promised.

Baroque power metal meets sing-along melodies of good ole Danish standard. The main man of the band is eternal drummer Lars “Laske” Borup, besides him I mostly noted the guests; Mikkel Henderson (FATE, EVIL MASQUERADE) and Olaf Lenk (AT VANCE). But the band is noted musically. Opener “Liberty” oozes of confidence and routine. But if you can´t cope with neoclassic metal or German overly refrain focused power metal you can stop reading right now...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Limb/Sound Pollution

Symfonisk episk speed metal från Belgien, det är en kort beskrivning av MAGIC KINGDOM. Tredje skivan kommer här, och riktas mot fans av YNGWIE MALMSTEEN likaväl som RHAPSODY OF FIRE. Gitarristen Dushan Petrossi leder bandet med en fot i nuet och en i barocken. Med sig har han Olaf Hayer (LUCA TURILLI, DIOYSUS), sång, Roma Siadletski, growl, Vassili Moltchanov, bas, Freddy Ortscheid, trummor och Phil Giordana, keyboards.

Neoklassiskt var det, Dushan dominerar och Phil färgar ljudet. Att de delar namn med en Disneypark i Florida känns ok – men det är Tolkien diverse episka dataspel som varit mest inspirerande. Titellåten uppblåsta trummor och tydliga tecken på YNGWIES framfart. Roma tar ton i ”We Rise”, och låter som ett ont troll i en melodisk saga...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Massacre/Sound Pollution

SINISTER returns with album number nine, or the third after their comeback. They started out in 1989, and debuted in 1991 with “Across the Styx”. After several vocalist changes, with e.g. Rachel van Mastrigt-Heyser singing betwixt 2001-03, original member Aad Kloosterwaad, vocals, restarted the band together with guitarist Alex Paul, bassist Bas van den Bogaard and drummer Edwin van den Eeden. Ridiculously heavy death metal is offered here according to the info, I press play…

A somber intro with distorted narrative voice opens lead heavy. SINISTER will not reduce their heaviness, or the meanness. They have changed and disintegrated but risen again, quite similar sounding apart from the gender differences in vocal styles...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Ulterium/Sound Pollution

DARKWATER bildades 2003 och 2007 kom debuten “Calling the Earth to Witness”. Melodi mötte progressivitet med inspiration av SYMPHONY X, DREAM THEATER och EVERGREY. Bandet består av Henrik Båth, sång, Markus Sigfridsson, gitarr, Simon Andersson, bas, ex. PAIN OF SALVATION, Magnus Holmberg, keyboards och Tobias Enbert, trummor. Ett mästerverk utlovas, vi kollar.

Videolåten ”Breathe” ligger först, lagervis med keyboards ramar in ett finstämt riff. Henriks röst är mycket njutbar, liksom refrängen. Ljudet av Fredrik Nordström och Henrik Udd på Studio Fredman är utmärkt, till och med på mina datafiler vilket inte är alltid. Jag får känslan av FATES WARNING kring ”Parallells”, och det är inte illa...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Nuclear Blast/Sound Pollution

Bay Area-legenderna FORBIDDEN har återförenats i hyfsat originalskick. Kvar sedan starten 1985 år sångaren Russ Anderson och gitarristen Craig Locicero, därutöver har Matt Camacho varit basist sedan 1987 och gitarristen Steve Smyth är återkommande medan trummisen Mark Hernandez bara varit med några år. Jag minns bandet som FORBIDDEN EVIL och hur de gav ut skivor som ”Forbidden Evil” och ”Twisted Into Form”. Frågan är om de kan matcha klassikerna, har utvecklats och om alla musiker är i form.

”Alpha Centauri” inleder, är det möjligen UFOS ”No Place to Run” jag fått i spelaren? Nej, detta melodiska gitarrbaserade intro är FORBIDDENS och ingen annans...