Monthly Archives februari 2012

Posted in Cd Reviews

”Intersection” is the latest album from American singer songwriter Nanci Griffith. Nanci Griffith has a career spanning folk and country music and over the last 34 years has released nineteen albums, with Intersection being her 20th. Twenty albums now, and none before like this. “It’s emotional for me, and it’s personal, and it makes my heart pound, thinking I’m going to be totally exposed here,” says Nanci Griffith, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

The music is hard to categorise – it feels somewhere between country and folk without quite falling into either category. The songs are generally simple with the focus being on the acoustic guitar and Namci’s singing.

”Hell no” is one of the standout tracks...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Helvetios is the latest album from Swiss folk metal band, Eluveitie. Eluveitie’s brand of folk metal is hard and heavy – at times almost thrash, but with celtic influences and plenty of use of traditional instruments including fiddles, flute, bagpipes and the Hurdy Gurdy – Eluveitie are the only metal band I’ve seen who play the Hurdy Gurdy live on stage. This use of traditional instruments adds depth and interest to the music and emphasises the folk and celtic elements.

The album starts with the prologue – a spoken introduction that sets the scene. A celtic voice speaking with the sound of waves in the background talking about ancient battles, this serves to set the mood for the album.

Title track ”Helvetios” opens the album proper...

Posted in Press Releases

In May 2010 the world of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal lost one of its most gifted and fervent ambassadors, with the passing of Ronnie James Dio. In his position as lead vocalist for Rock giants such as Rainbow and Black Sabbath, as well as fronting his own eponymous band for nearly three decades, Dio created some of the genres most defining and respected works. Albums such as ‘Holy Diver’, ‘Sacred Heart’ and ‘Last in Line’ all stand as towering monuments of sheer class and brilliance in the Rock pantheon. Dio was also to pave the way in regards to performing live, as few equaled him. With his incredible vocal range, Dio was to preside over countless memorable rock shows, enthralling his millions of fans worldwide...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Requiem for the indifferent is the fifth album from Dutch band Epica. According to the band, the title refers to the end of an era. Mankind can no longer stick their head in the sand for the things that are happening around us. We are facing many challenges. There is an enormous tension between different religions and cultures, wars, natural disasters and a huge financial crisis, which is getting out of control. More than ever we will need each other to overcome these problems. As we are all connected; the universe, earth, nature, animals and human beings, this period in time will be the prelude to the end for those who still don’t want to, or simply won’t see it. A REQUIEM FOR THE INDIFFERENT but also a possibility for a new beginning with great new chances!

If you’ve got the last Epica...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Craig Finn is an american singer and guitarist, and is best known as a frontman for the bands ”Lifter Puller” and ”The hold steady”. In 2011 Finn challenged himself to write a new song every day in his Brooklyn apartment. ”I had written a bunch of songs that were outside of the norm for The Hold Steady, a little quieter and perhaps more narrative,” says Finn. ”I wanted to gain some experience and insight into the process of making a record by working with new people.”. The result is this solo album, ”Clear heart, full eyes”.

Musically the album is a lot less rocky than THe Hold Steady, and varies style-wise considerably across the album. You’ve got slow laid-back songs (e.g. Not much left of us), more up-tempo stuff (When no ones watching)...