ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • RADIO DEAD ONES – AAA

    Berlin punk rock from the four piece Radio Dead Ones- who on their second album “AAA” have much in common with the UK movement of the 70’s and 80’s more so than any other particular inspiration. Although The Ramones “Hey ho” group chants reign supreme during “Too Selective”, the vocals of Beverly Crime have a…

  • SINNER – One Bullet Left

    Recording in their fourth decade, Germany’s Sinner age like a fine wine with this latest, seventeenth album “One Bullet Left”. Life experience and global touring continue to give vocalist/bassist Mat Sinner and crew ample creative fire- and this time we gain the services of a triple guitar lineup to improve the power factor on these…

  • SILVERDOLLAR – Morte

    t’s always a good thing when right out of the gates following a political sound byte the second song “CO2” gives you hints of the early Memento Mori meets Memory Garden power/doom sound. And so off we go into the land of Sweden’s Silverdollar, a quartet hitting the scene since 1996 and transforming from a…

  • SKALD – Vitterland

    Comparing oneself to Otyg might be disastrous. Especially when the reviewer, as I do, holds Otyg to be the pinnacle of their own genre. Skald is definitely of the same mold, but is lacking in most aspects when compared to Otyg. The biggest difference is the merging between metal and folk music which somehow doesn’t…

  • ANUBIS GATE – Anubis Gate

    Those well versed in the progressive and heavy metal community need no introduction to this Danish troop Anubis Gate, as this self-titled fifth album continues the rich, vital songwriting and exemplary performances we’ve come to expect. For all of the others who are unwilling to stretch beyond Dream Theater, Fates Warning, and early Queensryche parameters……

  • ARVET – Ajina

    Arvet is from Finland and they started up in 2005. Finland got some quality black metal bands and some of lesser worth. Arvet is in the middle. Through the years, they have released one demo and an EP on different companies. And now their full length "Aijina". It is said that back in 2005, the…

  • WHITE WILLOW – Terminal Twilight

    When in doubt, turn your sound inside out. Such is life for Norwegian progressive rockers White Willow, who on their sixth album “Terminal Twilight” turn back the proverbial clock and record this effort in their own attic, with primitive equipment and raw engineering principles. Employing a kitchen sink musical outlook, 70’s keyboards reside against waves…

  • URIAH HEEP – Live In Armenia

    Still living and thriving 40 years plus in the business, the UK institution known as Uriah Heep release another double live CD from their 2009 touring cycle. Pumping out hard rock with the progressive organ flair, the listener receives 15 songs that run the gamut from recent favorites like “Tears Of The World”, “What Kind…

  • HEXENTANZ – Nekrocrafte

    "Nekrocrafte" presents the soundtrack to whatever dark rituals your subconscious can come up with – literally. In my view there is nothing that could be called a song here, even from a dark ambient point of view. Instead, we have a collection of spooky noises played over some tribal drumbeats. Yes, it might be called…

  • NERVECELL – Psychogenocide

    This death metal ensemble hailing from Dubai/United Arab Emirates are back with their sophomore album, and it rocks like a charm. This is well executed, nicely produced and nifty put together material that keeps my interest up almost throughout the album. The instrumental performance is pristine and the variation makes for an entertaining album with…

  • WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM – Celestial Lineage

    I think atmosphere is the essential word. As in, this is atmospheric doom black metal and you probably need to be in a certain state of mind to really get something from the music. I mean, the music is flowing and comfortable, but there’s not that much that happens. When they go acoustic, you know…

  • TRANSNIGHT – The Dark Half

    German power metal with a vocalist straight out of the Mark Shelton/ Manilla Road mode – Transnight clawed their way through the ranks with 3 demo releases from 2004-2007 to set up this first album. There are times on this record where the band throw down thrash overtones, especially evident in Daniel Roth’s double bass…

  • SEVENTH VOID – Heaven is Gone

    Johnny Kelly and Kenny Hickey from Type O Negative and Danzig partner up once again in this rather straight up slab of rock-influenced stoner doom. This simplistic approach is old-school and riff-driven, and the effects are hit and miss. There are times when Kelly & Hickey really tap a vein and manage to suck you…

  • SPELLCASTER – Under The Spell

    Portland, Oregon’s Spellcaster keep up the fine mold of old school power/traditional metal with this debut album “Under The Spell”. Basic street level production, searing guitars a la Iron Maiden, Mercyful Fate, Wild Dogs, and Malice and a vocalist who’ll croon melodies one moment then reach for the dog whistle scream the next give songs…

  • THE WHEEL – The Wheel

    Oslo, Norway’s The Wheel aren’t reinventing much in the hard rock landscape as much as taking a series of movements through the decades and emitting an addictive, down to earth catchy style. Imagine if you love  Led Zeppelin and Van Halen as much as Badlands and Alice In Chains – those are the four quickest…

  • RAWKFIST – Chryseus

    Firstly, I appreciate music that challenges me as a listener. Secondly, I believe the world would be a better place if Evanescence and Within Temptation had never existed. Rawkfist has the uninventive, plagiarizing, melodic touch of Evanescence, and the overtly pompous, unintelligent, randomly fitted orchestration of Within Temptation. This whole band smells like a record…

  • ISSA – The Storm

    Not resting on her laurels, the female siren voice from Norway Issa returns with a 12 song sophomore effort. Putting more of her songwriting touch into this material, it’s another consistent buffet of melodic rock and AOR with her soaring, vibrant pop sensibilities. Producer Daniel Flores also makes his mark with his intuitive drumming, bass…

  • PRESSURE POINTS – Remorses To Remember

    I don’t know why this band passed me by last year, but in these “Opeth-going-completely-retro” times, Pressure Points might just be the perfect remedy for those who miss the “Blackwater Park” era. It would be wrong to compare Pressure Points too much to Opeth though, they do have an identity and sound that is completely…

  • ILIUM – Genetic Memory

    Australia struggles to gain metal credibility probably due to its remoteness in relation to North America, mainland Europe or even the Far East. So when you play a sub-genre of music like power metal, you better excel at your craft in order to gain an audience if you hope to increase your profile and improve…

  • BROKEN HAND CHARITY – Simplified Symphony

    A debut 5 song EP from this Danish five piece, who appear to have a melancholic outlook on their alternative hard rock style. Vocalist Kasper Ljung employs singing, screaming, and a boatload of attitude on tracks like “Red Art” and “On The Run”. There’s a strong semblance of Creed and Breaking Benjamin in their sound,…

  • ICED EARTH – Dystopia

    Crucial times for veteran bands in the metal scene. Especially mid-level acts who want to keep up with the digital times and make sure their costs get covered while consumers just aren’t purchasing as much musical product as they have in the past. Iced Earth over the course of their previous 9 studio albums have…

  • NATTSMYG – Fylgja

    Promoting Nattsmyg as folk metal is misleading and a poor strategic choice from the record company. Granted, the music has folk elements to it, but the female vocal is too chanting and the music is too ambient for me to get excited. Fans of ambient black metal who also have an inclination for folk elements…

  • DEATHSPELL OMEGA – Diabolus Absconditus

    Are there words in the English language that are able to do justice to this song, this song that contains everything, EVERYTHING, everything that I like about music? You know this certain feeling, you feel it every time you listen to the song but you don’t know which word or words that are most suitable.…

  • THE ARROWS – Stand Back (re-issue)

    Canadian AOR band from the early 80’s, The Arrows released “Stand Back” in 1984 on A&M Records and had a minor hit with the first single “Meet Me In The Middle”. Sought after by collectors worldwide, Yesterrock got the rights to re-issue this 9 song effort. Very keyboard-oriented and melodic, The Arrows fit in line…

  • MAJESTIC DOWNFALL – The Blood Dance

    For a one man doom metal band, Jacobo Cordova certainly has his sights set on mournful despair and sheer agony at times on this second album. Longer epics such as “From Black To Dead” and “Dimension Plague” remind the listener of My Dying Bride careening headlong into early Paradise Lost and possibly Celestial Season. Computer…

  • EINVERA – In Your Image

    Innovation has always been a turn on for me, musically. There are hordes upon hordes of bands out there that never even are close to have an ounce of original riffing, melody lines or instrumental interactions. In fact, most bands appear to be satisfied with composing well within given genres, trends or other fashionable movements.…

  • ANTERIOR – Echoes Of The Fallen

    The UK metal scene is alive and kicking as this quintet Anterior bring their brand of melodic death metal to the masses for a second full swing. “Echoes Of The Fallen” comes on the heels of solid touring stints across their homeland and playing the prestigious Bloodstock and Download festivals from 2008-2009. With their latest…

  • ROGER GLOVER – If Life Was Easy

    An eclectic rock, singer-songwriter performance from bassist Roger Glover (Deep Purple, Rainbow) on this 16 song record. Guest vocalists include Dan McCafferty on the bluesy slide guitar led “The Dream I Had”, Sahaj Ticotin from Ra on the up beat rock closer “Feel Like A King” and Mickey Lee Soule on the Bob Dylan-like “The…

  • HATE INC. – Art of Suffering

    Industrial, yes, metal, perhaps, but I can’t help getting shivers when Hate Inc. turns to second rate Marilyn Manson plagiarism. The melodies are hummable, but extremely predictable. If you dig The Kovenant’s “Seti” or Theater of Tragedy’s “Musique” this might be to your liking. Personally the obvious drum machine is what really turned me off…

  • IN LEGEND – Ballads ‘N’ Bullets

    Not your average cup of tea here, Germany’s In Legend play a dramatic filled gothic tinged style of music where the prominent instrument is… the piano. The work of one man in the studio – Bastian Emig chants, hammers, drums and programs through these 14 songs, with the only additions being a guest female spot…