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Lion/Warner

Canadian band BOREALIS debuted with “World of Silence” 2008, and has since played the famous ProgPower USA in Septenmber 2010. Not bad at all from fresh-faced band. Classic power metal is their game, but spiced with touches of bands like VANDEN PLAS and DREAM THEATER. A heavier approach than before is promised, produced and mixed by Jodan Valeriote and mastered by Tomas Johansson at Panic Room Studios. What could possibly go wrong here?

One thing for starters, this is not music for musicians, but heavy power metal with a good deal of progressivity. The title track may well be the low point, together with “Take You Over”. Those two are not as engaging as the rest, well-executed as they are there is simply no real spark...

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Escape/Sound Pollution

Bern band SKANSIS are back with their second effort. The info compares them to SHAKRA and GOTTHARD, as well as EUROPE and KROKUS, who can resist that mix? Slick hard rock with an aggressive edge is promised, and we will be begging for more…time to look into the phenomenon.

The catchy and easily digested “Next to Mine” opens the proceedings. The title track is not bad at all but why they didn´t opt for “Never Walk Alone” or “Hear Now” for title track I don´t get. Those are fine examples of the stuff that made GOTTHARD, but SKANSIS are not copycats. There are touches of their famed peers, of cause, but also touches of a band like LYNCH MOB, and their harder, more contemporary indie edge. Achieving that without losing in the refrain department is a good deed...

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Escape/Sound Pollution

Shadowman debuted in 2004 with “Land of the Living”. Good ole British rock, embellished by the featured musicians; Steve Overland (FM), Steve Morris (ex EXPORT, ex GARTH ROCKET AND THE MOONSHINERS, HEARTLAND), plus the rhythm section of ex THUNDER personnel Chris Childs on bass and Harry James on drums. Sure there are elements of both FM and HEARTLAND, but you can do much worse. This is their fourth release since their inception, so they have passed the worst obstacles. But is the spark still there?

This is not metal in any sense of the word. SHADOWMAN offers rather soft hard rock, well-executed but a tad overused as a genre. Opener “Across the Universe” would not attract my attention over a new episode of the Midsomer Murders...

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Qumran/Dark Star

Since 2005 SACRED DAWN has been a force to reckon with in Chicago´s metal scene according to the info sheet. They are also described as innovative and unique, as they deliver the most original progressive metal experiences since the dawn of true prog metal. Influences such as DREAM THEATER, NEVERMORE and IRON MAIDEN are listed. They have debuted, years back, with “Gears of the Machine”. So, prepare to be swept off yer feet.

Opener “The Untold Story” is not much of a beginning. I wished for more of almost everything, better drive and something inspiring to start with. Now I may sound very disliking but that is not true. There are better openers, the title track for instance, but also “Demon Lover” or “Summer of Treason”...

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BLP/Border

A Hungarian band…with…Björn Lodin (SIX FEET UNDER, BALTIMOORE, etc.) on lead vocals. Now we’re getting somewhere. HARD have cut two previous albums, this is the second with Björn on vocals. They have recorded with Beau Hill and played with KISS; that sounds interesting. Joining bassist Gábor Mirkovics, Björn, and drummer Zsolt Borbély is new guitarist Zsolt Vámos.

Opener “Truth or Dare” has most of the trademarks of WHITESNAKE, sound and lyrics. Not bad but there is more to come. Björn´s vocals are suited to “Bitten by You”, but it´s the groovy “Pretty Little Liar” that really stands out. It would have been a better opener and a better album title. The album ranges from bluesy and whining to groovy...

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Skindred are a band with a unique sound. Its a bizarre sounding idea, a mix of heavy metal, punk and reggae – what the band have dubbed ”Ragga metal”. It sounds like something that shouldnt work, but somehow it does and it sounds great.
The band are famous for their energetic live shows, but to write them off as purely a live band would be to miss out on some great music on their albums (although I have to admit they are at their best live).

”Union Black” is the fifth album from Skindred. The tracks vary from almost pure metal to ”Guntalk” which is almost pure reggae, with most beign somewhere between these two extremes.

Skindred are a band with the potential to widen a lot of people’s musical horizons...

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”Doctor faith” is Christopher Cross’s first album of new material for 12 years. Christopher Cross is a singer-songwriter from Texas with a career spaning over thirty years. He is best known for his top ten hits ”Sailing”, ”Ride like the wind”, and the theme from the movie Arthur (the original starring Dudley Moore), ”Arthurs theme (best that you can do)”.

The gentle melodies and the thoughtful lyrics combine to make a very good album and unlike many albums of this genre, the lyrics are not just about love and other sickly sweet subjects. ”I’m too old for this” for instance has quite cutting insightful lyrics and is definitely my favourite track from the album.

The album features guest appearances from Michael McDonald, Eric Johnson and David Mann.

Tracklisting:

1. Hey Kid
2...

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”Road dog” is the second album from Glasgow rockers, Attica Rage. Their brand of heavy uncompromising old-school hard rock is refreshing – straight to the point music you can enjoy rocking out to. After self releasing their first album, this is their first release since signing with Rocksector records.

The album kicks off with ”36 Insane” – a track that straight from the start blows you away with its power and energy.
”Road dog forever” kicks off with the sound of a motorbike engine starting, which then seamlessly merges into some blues slide guitar before the rest of the band join in and kick it up a gear.
”Contradictions” has a superb crushing riff running through it which really makes this song stand out.
”Altea” in a slow delicate instrumental featuring acoustic guitar and believe it...

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Limb/Sound Pollution

Wow! The keepers of the grail of the NWOBHM strike back! German band ROXXCALIBUR surprised me, not totally since I´ve heard most of them in another band, but still enough in 2009. Their debut, “NWOBHM for Muthas” sruk me like lightning, carrying the legacy of bands like CLOVEN HOOF, DARK STAR and JJ´S POWERHOUSE like their lives depended on it. After a lot of festivals spots, not least with quite a few NWOBHM luminaries; have contributed to spreading the word. Today, I guess they are back by demand, at last!

The intro “London Bridge Is Falling Down” is a childrens´ rhyme, but, alas, so arch-British. It sets the stage for faithful interpretations of MORE, CRYER, OXYM and SPARTA...

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Earache/Sound Pollution

Scots are aggressive people, that´s for sure. ceRebral bore may look harmless, but they have a reputation as crushers. With a name pilfered from a video game, everything is possible. With Simone “Som” Pluijmers at the mike backed by guitarist Paul McGuire, bassist Kyle Rutherford and drummer Alan “McDibet” MacDonald they mean business with amazingly heavy death metal.

Opener “Epileptic Strobe” Entrapment” is not for the faint at heart. Drums and bass bellow, the guitar work is faithful to the death metal bands of earlier ages. The voice sounds as if “Som” only had metal down her throat… plus a dist pedal. Her machine-like growl is not to be forgotten and heavy ladies from before feel really soft and cozy...