Monthly Archives november 2012

Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisted II

Steve Hackett’s latest album is a follow up to 1996’s ”Genesis revisited” (I’m sure you’d never have guessed that from the title would you). The album is going back to Genesis in the 70’s and taking some of those songs and remaking them. Recording new versions of songs is like remaking or updating a classic film – the results can be fantastic or they can bitterly disappoint fans. George Lucas updated the Star Wars films and divided opinions strongly, and caused controversy by doing so. Re-recording much loved classic songs has the potential to upset fans who are so used to the originals, but equally there is the potential to delight fans and fulfll the artists vision...

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Seth Lakeman – Live with the BBC concert orchestra

In March 2012 Seth Lakeman played with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Plymouth Pavilions. This five track EP features recordings from that show. The songs chosen are some of his best known songs and are taken from four of his albums including his current album, ”Tales from the Barrel House”.

It’s an interesting combination – Seth Lakemans folky songs with an orchestra, and one I wasn’t sure how it would work, but it really has worked extremely well. The vocals are still the centre of attention, but the orchestra really adds a very rich full sound behind the vocals which really works well and at no point overpowers the vocals. Having heard how well this has turned out I can imagine Seth Lakeman wanting to work with an orchestra again in the future.

An excellent EP that’s definitely re...

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Harm – The nine

”The Nine” is the second album from Canadian metallers Harm. Originally released in Europe late in 2009, the album is being re-released to reach a wider audience. The band formed in 2003 and released their debut album in 2008

This is one of those albums that is quite hard to describe. It’s a metal album but there are definite grunge influences here too as well as more modern groove metal influences. The album has a lot of variety which shows lots of different influences (Tool and Queens of the stone ages for instance). Vocally it ranges from clean singing to a more screaming style.

I can imagine these songs sounding pretty damn impressive live – they sound great here on the album, but deserve to be played at deafeningly loud volume to get the most out of them.

An impressive album that...

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Trail of murder – Shades of art

Trail of Murder are from Bollnas in Sweden – a small town that is already home to a number of bands including Tad Morose and Morgana Lefay. When singer Urban Breed left Tad Morose in 2005 he and former band mate Daniel Olsson formed Trail of Murder. They were joined by Morgana Lefay drummer Pelle Akerlind. The three then wrote and recorded the band’s debut album – ”Shades of art” before recruiting two new members on guitar and bass to complete the lineup.

So first of all, what are they like musically? Well think Europe or Kamelot with a load of melodic rock bands thrown into the mix and the result is Trail of Murder – Melodic rock/metal with catchy songs, great hooks and just great to listen to...

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