Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

For a band that had a 50 person crowd and a keyboardist with a broken left hand, the Hurricane Kids were surprisingly relaxed for their first ever show. Friends in the crowd were given waves and smiles were exchanged between the band. The vibes onstage were calm and carefree as they prepared their equipment before their set, suggesting that the members are all experienced and natural performers.

And what performers they were. After leaving Jared and Willy to settle onstage for some time, the speakers erupted with thunderous bass. The band walked over to their instruments one­-by-­one to a beautiful and ambient version of a familiar tune that’s eventually recognized as their debut single Tonight­ and by some miracle of fantastically rehearsed timing ­ they burst straight into the song...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Frontiers/BAM

From humble beginnings as YESTERDAY & TODAY back in 1974 Dave Meniketti has always fronted the band we now know as Y&T. This live concert, captured for posterity, is actually a celebration of the 30th Anniversary of “Earthshaker”, their finest hour according to many. Or their, the band consists of Dave on guitars and lead vocals as always, backed by guitarist/vocalist John Nymann, bassist/vocalist Brad Lang (who replaced longstanding bass man Phil Kennemore when he succumbed to lung cancer in 2011), and drummer Mike Vanderhule. Anyway…on with the show.

To their credit the revamped Y&T perform no less than seven tracks off their latest effort “Facemelter”, including the rather nondescript opener “Prelude”...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Limb Music/Sound Pollution

Having been around since 2006 CIVILIZATION ONE, formed by vocalist Chitral “Chity” Somapala, have just gotten round to releasing their second album. Belated by membership changes this album sports the lineup of Chity and original bassist Pierre-Emmanuel Pélisson, plus new recruits guitarists Nicklaus Bergen and Oliver Marmann and RED CIRCUIT drummer Michael Stein. Their aim is to put out melodic power metal that can compete with anyone, and, albeit in their own way, I believe they can achieve that.

The intro “Aazis” is an opener among many, but the title track hints at bigger things. Among their influences is something from the jungle, which is augmented by a fine arrangement and a sensible force...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Frontiers/BAM

One of Americas top vocalists of all time, or maybe in the past tense after the barren album made with Bobby Kimbal of TOTO fame about a year ago, returns to form in 2012. A very active player on the scene Jimi has been with everyone from his old bands TARGET, COBRA and SURVIVOR to the likes of ZZ TOP and JOE WALSH. This time around he has opted for a band consisting of Frontiers stalwart Erik Mårtensson (W.E.T., ECLIPSE etc.), everything but drums, Jonas Öijvall, Hammond B3, piano and analog synthesizers, Magnus Ulfstedt, drums and Magnus Henriksson, lead guitars on “Street Survivor” and “Heaven Call Your Name”. An all Swedish backing ensemble and an all-American vocalist, is that the way to go?

Opener “Everybodys´s Got a Broken Heart” almost hit the spot...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Frontiers/BAM

Frontiers seem to house most of the old SURVIVOR squad, and here goes Jim Peterik again. His fruitful venture as PRIDE OF LIONS together with the voice of Toby Hitchcock has more albums to their belt with this one. Offering a mix of ballads and rockers in the melodic rock vein the dynamic duo hopes to break it big in the US, which obviously hasn´t happened yet.

This album is more of a mixed bag that I thought. It has the big sounding five-star ballad, e.g. “Everything that Money Can´t Buy”, the catchy mastership of “Coin of the Realm” and the aged smokey rock of the long-time developed “Vital Signs”...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Lion Music/Border

Italian band LORD OF MUSHROOMS returns with their third album after seven years in limbo. In the late 90´s guitarist Laurent James and bassist Julien Negro founded the band. They started out playing covers, went through the usual lineup changes before slowly transforming into the band of today. Fronted today by ex. ADAGIO vocalist “Gus” Monsanto, the rest of the ranks are made up by keyboard playing clarinet man Luca Mariotti and drummer Marco Talevi. Always allowing themselves five years between albums the question is whether the gaps have done them good.

To be precise, the only weak moment here is the less lavish “Awaken”. Otherwise this is a myriad of riffs, movements, rhythms, refrains, variation, and arrangements...

Posted in Cd Reviews

The Spokes Band, a Swedish country-inspired blues rock quartet. Hailing from Ljusdal, they began as a cover band in 2000 and since 2007 decided to start writing their own material. Their rock and blues influenced grooves paired with high tempo drumming keeps to the soul of their music while also keeping the audience on their feet. Their newest album, “In My Head” is reminiscent of the mid-1970’s era country-blues-rock movement.

The “nothing left to lose” lyric from the track “Can’t Find My Way Back Home” keeps true to the Southern American vibe. Looking at the titles of each song with “Down in the Water” and “Lay Down in Hunger” also construct that “down-home” country effect of the entire album...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Famed for his collaboration with Scroobius Pip Dan Le Sac has taken a break and has kindly thrust ‘Space between the words’ upon us, which is kind of him. Spanning the electro side of things rather than sticking to the more tried and tested electro, hip-hop leanings of his join efforts with Mr Pip, Le Sac has enlisted a who’s who of contemporary artists, predominately British based artists as well including Emma-Lee Moss, Merz, and Pete Hefferan among others. The result is an eclectic mix but it all blends together effortlessly. Offering up Portishead-esque moments with the Emmy The Great with ‘Memorial’ and ‘Play Along’ which features Sarah Williams-White, the trip-hop feel is rife throughout the album and done superbly by all parties involved...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

Refused

Jag har aldrig varit så förtjust i punk eller hardcore. Visst, låtsaspunkare var jag ju en tid på 80-talet eller kanske skinhead? För några månader sen mötte jag ett nytt gammalt band och blev störtförälskad. Jag såg ett youtubeklipp där REFUSED spelade New Noice och jag var fast. En hemlig spelning på Umeås kultförklarade scen Scharinska villa i vårvintras var tydligen fenomenal. Jag visst när det skulle var men hade tyvärr förhinder. Scharinska var fullsmockad med folk. Människor klättrade på ytterväggarna för att komma in och en projektor spelade upp konserten på husväggen.

Under året har rapporter strömmat in om Refuseds enorma framgångar från alla kontinenter. Det var bestämt att bandets sista gig skulle vara i Umeå...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

Folkkära Sabaton bjuder på humor, spelglädje och en sjuhelsikes show.

Sabaton är ute på sin gigantiska Swedish Empire Tour som tar dem runt hela världen. Hur de orkar hålla igång som duracell-kaniner kväll efter kväll är ett mysterium.

Efter två intron varav ena var den fantastiska covern på Status Quos Into The Army Now, som likväl hade kunnat framföras live, klättrar publiken nästan på väggarna i all sin iver! När såväl dalmasarna for ut på scenen och smäller av med Ghost Division tänds det en gnista mellan bandet och publik som inte kommer släckas under hela kvällen. Mejeriet i Lund är slutsålt och visar verkligen varför scenen är populär bland artisterna med sina olika avsatser och balkonger.
Sabaton får en helt annan kontakt med publiken än de är vana ...