REVIEW: ISKRA 1903 - FRANKFURT 1991

 

ISKRA 1903 - FRANKFURT 1991 (Emanem Disc , 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded at: Portikus in Frankfurt am Main - October 1st , 1991.

Analoguie concert recording by: Rüdiger Carl.

Editing, Mastering and Design by Martin Davidson.

Track List: 1-Frankfurter Memories, 2-After the Interval, 3-Wachsmann Am Main - Solo; 4-Rutherford Am Main - Solo; 5-Guy Am Main - Solo; 6-To the End of the Tape

Iskra 1903 is a trio formed by Paul Rutherford on trombone, Philipp Wachsmann on amplified violins and electronics and the amazing Barry Guy (whom I interviewed a couple of issues ago) on amplified double bass. This recording was made in Frankfurt Am Main on October 1st 1991 and it shows the trio at its best. I think the whole concept of the album spins around "Frankfurter Memories", a track that is thirty three minutes long and it shows Rutherford, Wachsmann and Guy constructing melodies and improvisations against the foundations that each musician provides while the others are improvising. There are no holes in here, no spaces to fill, when one musician stops playing, the others start their games of superimpositions and complementations. I can call this CD a Course in Improvisation or maybe a PHD on improvisational skills. As you can hear in pieces like "Frankfurter memories" or the three solo pieces that are presented here, the skill of this people are above average and they know what they want to achieve. Open your mind and listen. Contact: www.emanemdisc.com or emanemdisc@aol.com

REVIEW: IMMUNOAFFINITY - SLAVES OF DNA

 

IMMUNOAFFINITY - SLAVES OF DNA (Prion Recs. , 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded at Fast Forward Studios - (September 10-14, 2000)

Produced by André Luiz, Leonardo Pagani and Mauricio Meloni.

Cover Art / Design : Andrei Müller

Track list: 1-Slaves of DNA; 2-Industrial Death; 3-Empty, 4-Sucubus; 5-Prion; 6-Involution; 7-Necrophagica; 8-Spiritual Disease; 9-R.Song

Brazilian death metal: brutal, extreme, full of riffs, speed and subtle things to make them unique. This and more is what you will find here. Interesting clean guitars with clever drumming can be find in songs like "R.Song" with a direct main riff and guttural vocals (keep on doing songs like this guys !!!) interesting change at  2:09 of this track with a rocking guitar riff and a really good bass twist. I think this band has a lot to offer, specially on the guitar department like in the riffs of "Necrophagica" or "Sucubus". Another thing that I liked a lot are the clean guitar/bass parts that start "Prion" (reminiscent of Johann Sebastian Bach´s most famous Bourreé) before getting into the heavier parts, also the rhythmic riff in the middle of that song is interesting as a point to get inspiration for other tracks. The vocals are combined with a voice speaking about disease and this along with the riffs give an interesting feeling of "old school" death metal to this particular track. Favorite tracks: "R.Song", "Necrophagica". Contact: www.immunoaffinity.cjb.net or prionrecords@hotmail.com

REVIEW: GRASS - CIUDADANO X

 

GRASS - CIUDADANO X (Locomotive Music , 2000):

Technical Data:

Recorded in Kirios Studios, Madrid, Spain.

Produced by Jesús Arispont

Cover Art / Design:

Track List: 1-Intro, 2-Animal Irracional, 3-Conversión, 4-Código Violento, 5-No hay Color, 6-Skankan, 7-Inocentes, 8-Ahora qué, 9-Mr. Hyde, 10-Tortura Temporal, 11- Yesterday

 One of the most powerful bands from Spain, Grass mixes metal, rap, grunge and rock and roll getting one of the strongest sounds in modern metal. Talk about hooks? Listen to the chorus of "Conversión" (this song has a Machine Head like guitar riff) or to the riffs of "Animal Irracional" or the electronic elements and guitar rhythms on "Código Violento" to have just a small sample of what this guys can do. An excelent vocalist called Pekas gives a new dimension to the band (good vocalists that don´t abuse of high pitched vocals are really difficult to find). For those who love curiosities, this CD has an extremely heavy, Motorheadesque version of The Beatles "Yesterday" (full speed one, except on the chorus which sound quite funky with wah wah and stuff like that). If I had to describe this band with one word that would be original. Favorite tracks: "Conversión", "Inocentes", "Mr. Hyde". Contact: : www.locomotivemusic.com

REVIEW: GB ARTS - THE LAKE

 

GB ARTS - THE LAKE (Pavement Music, 2001):

Technical Data:

Produced by Victor Smolski

Engineered and Mixed at VPS Studio, Hamm

Mastered at Pauler Acoustics, Nordheim

Track List: 1-A Voice, 2-The Surface, 3-Silver Rain, 4-Break Free, 5-My new World, 6-The Chosen One, 7-I Can´t Remember, 8-Shadows of faces, 9-Old Warriors, 10-The Darkest is Over

What we have here? A band from Germany playing classical/progressive metal in the vein of bands like Yngwie Malmsteen, Dream Theater, Stratovarius and even Fates Warning (Perfect Symmetry/Parallels era) with a terrible quantity and quality of keyboard/piano and guitars (excellent work of Andreas Beckmann and Andre Rasfeld). This album features also the participation of reknown guest musicians like Peavey Wagner (Rage) on vocals on a couple of tracks, Mike Terrana (Metalium, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc.) doing some narrations, Victor Smolski doing solos on two tracks and second guitar on two others. The sound is really good but I would have mixed the guitar higher and with a fatter sound to give still more power to the songs. What I found really original on this release are the vocal harmonies that are not like the ones used on the above-mentioned bands or in bands of the style (they sound more like harmonies from bands from the seventies, if you know what I mean). Favorite tracks: "Break Free" (some Kashmir-like keyboard parts), "I Can´t Remember" and "Old Warriors" (the most original song of the whole album with different vocals and guitars). Contact: www.pavementmusic.com and pvmnt@aol.com

REVIEW: EVANESCE - SOWER OF SEDITION

 

EVANESCE - SOWER OF SEDITION (Retribute Recs. , 2000):

Technical Data:

Recorded at Philias Studios.

Cover Artwork: Emma Stuart, Steve Holland

Track List: 1-Inertia, 2-Sower of Sedition, 3-Pathogenia, 4-Autumnal Death, 5-Forever In Shadows, 6-Altars Burn, 7-Winters Sun 8-Second City of Empire, 9-On Wings We Tread, 10-Internal Decadence

A really heavy and strong album !!!! After the intro "Inertia", the title track with its Death-like music surprises us with its great riffs and screaming vocals (thumbs up also for the drumming, specially the parts where he uses the ride cymbal, that are very original. A reference for me here is Death in the Spiritual Healing era or Carcass in ther acclaimed record Heartwork (specially on the vocals) and some melodies, that is fast, melodic, heavy and technical, focusing on the track as a song instead of just throwing a bunch of riffs together. There are also faster numbers like "Pathogenia" with a great melody in the middle (0:40). I think that this guys have a lot of imagination and they can play very tight, just listen to the faster parts with blast beats. Also thumbs up for the great sound, specially on the drums that are really clear and can be appreciated in all their magnitude as in the beginning of "Autumnal Death" or the beginning of "Forever in Shadows (with cleaner guitars playing enchanted and somber arpeggios. A must have. Favorite tracks: "Autumnal Death", "Altars Burn" and "Winters Sun". Contact: Retribute@aol.com or www.evanesce.co.uk

REVIEW: ETERNAL GRAVE - DEMO (15/8/99)

 

ETERNAL GRAVE - DEMO 15/8/99 (Independent , 1999):

Technical Data:

Recorded in rehearsals on August 15th , 1999.

Produced by Eternal Grave

Track List: 1-Las reglas de la Cordura, 2-Cardiofagia, 3-Nazareno; 4-La Evolución del dolor; 5-Sádico placer; 6-Síndrome de Reinfield

I must say that this Demo is not representative of the bands music anymore, because even if they are playing some of the songs presented here and the style is the same, the lineup that recorded this effort is not the same, having changed the vocalist and the bassist since then. And they have evolved a lot in their way of composing their music. The music contained here is death metal in the vein of Cannibal Corpse or Malevolent Creation, with emphasis on the technical side of the songs (listen to the killer drumming through all this release (and I must say that having witnessed this guy in rehearsal he has improved a lot). Interesting tempo and rhythm changes can be heard for example on "Cardiofagia" or in the beginning of "Nazareno". The two guitars are really tight, specially in the more rhythmic parts ("Nazareno" (0:57) (2:17)). The overall sound is pretty good for being the recording of a rehearsal two years ago. I am waiting for their new material that they told me they will record in August, with better sound and with all the evolution that this band has suffered in this time. Favorite tracks: "Nazareno", " La evolución del dolor" and "Síndrome de Reinfield". Contact: http://eternalgrave.com.ar 

REVIEW: EASY RIDER - EVILUTION

 

EASY RIDER - EVILUTION (Locomotive Music , 2000):

Track List: 1-Blessed, 2-Wormwood, 3-Babylon The Great, 4-Evilution, 5-From the Tribes, 6-Crowns of Gold, 7-, 8-Hiking Mars, 9-Signs, 10-The New Jerusalem, 11-Blazing Fire Victory, 12-When the Thousand Years are over, 13-So Shall Be

Acoustic introduction, with clean vocals ("Blessed"), then heavier parts with good rhythms (the first one from " Wormwood" reminded me of Queen´s "Stone Cold Crazy"). This is the sound of Easy Rider, in the vein of Judas Priest (listen to the beginning of "From the Tribes" to see what I am saying), Primal Fear and bands of the style. Maybe their weak point is originallity (like most of power metal bands nowadays), but they are a really strong band. I think that they must exploti riffs like the ones in "Babylon The Great" or "Evilution" to set them apart from the other bands of the genre. The sound of this release is really a good one and is better than the one that some of the main bands of the style have. Maybe another point to think about is using Eugenio Garañeda´s vocals in a way not so close to Rob Halford in some places. A good release for lovers of heavy metal. Favorite tracks: "The New Jerusalem", "Hiking Mars" and "Evilution" Contact: www.locomotivemusic.com .

REVIEW: DREAM DIVER - 606

 

DREAM DIVER - 606 (Independent, 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded in Soundforge Studios.

Mastered in Powerplay Berlin

Track List: 1-Genau Dies, 2-Headless Procheck, 3-Stonewall, 4-Devil, 5-Gesichtspfand, 6-7/4, 7-Phantom, 8-Tag in Deinem Leben, 9-Cristae, 10-Open My Eyes

The curiosity here is that this band plays somem kind of metal that is sang in german and in english in some places. The vocal harmonies in "Genau Dies Wollte Wohl Keiner " reminded me of Faith No more, od the "Introduce Yourself" album and for example on "Headless Procheck" Chris vocals made me remind Glenn Danzig. Something weird.. I like the overdriven sound of the guitar, who seems to have a lot of space here since the riffs are a cross between metal and grunge or punk. Heavy tunes but with a pop sensibility to construct the songs. I liked a lot the clean guitar in "Stonewall", whose whole feeling is close to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers but with less funky rhythms. Also, there is a weirder side like on "7/4" with the funny vocals and the chorus harmonies that contrast a lot with the sound of the guitar. Really interesting. Favorite tracks: "Phantom", "Tag in Deinem Leben" and "Headless Procheck". Contact: hstahl@rz.uni-postdam.de

DIABOLIQUE - THE GREEN GODDESS

 

DIABOLIQUE - THE GREEN GODDESS (Orion Music Entertainment /Necropolis , 2001):

Track List: 1- On through the Night, 2- Remedy, 3- Innuendo, 4- White Nights, 5-Models, 6-Winter Blue, 7-All for You, 8- Elysee, 9-Snowblind, 10-Substancer.

Gothic, dark music with electronic elements and some pop sensibilities. This is how I would describe Diabolique´s music. Somber male vocals along with this rhythms designed to tap the floor with your feet are the constant here. On the first song called "On through the Night" you can also hear an encahnting female vocalist who helps to create the depressive atmosphere that reigns in Diabolique´s music. "Remedy", the second track made me think about Depeche Mode (this song could have been extracted from their CD "Ultra") because of the way the keyboards and electronics are used and because of the vocals that here are dangerously similar to Dave Gaham´s. The similarities disappear on the next track called "Innuendo" that is much closer to dark pop music than the others. I think this is an album for fans of gothic music and depressive atmospheres. Favorite tracks: "On Through the Night", "Remedy" and "All for You". Contact: furias@ssdnet.com.ar 

REVIEW: DEATH SS - PANIC

 

DEATH SS - PANIC (Lucifer Rising Recs. , 2000):

Technical Data:

Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Neil Kernon for Auslander.

Recorded at Rodgers Studios, Mantova.

Cover Art Concept: Steve Sylvester. Design: Enrico Lauricella

Track List: 1-Paraphernalia, 2-Let The Sabbath Begin, 3-Hi-Tech Jesus, 4-Lady of Babylon, 5-The Equinox of The Gods, 6-Ishtar, 7-The Cannibal Queen, 8-Rabies is A Killer, 9-Tallow Doll, 10-Hermaphrodite, 11-Panic, 12-Auto Sacramental

Strongest Death SS album up to the date, at least talking about riffs and sound !. A short intro called "Paraphernalia" with some keyboard sounds and voices in english and spanish leads us to "Let the Sabbath Begin" a song destined to be a new  Death SS classic. The hard rock/heavy metal sound of this band is more evident here and the voice of Steve Sylvester takes new and very different directions (similar to Alice Cooper/Trent Reznor/Kevin DuBrow and many more). "Hi-Tech Jesus" is still more rock and roll with interesting double bass drumming (almost mechanical). I think that what makes this band really special are the hooks that their songs have, you listen to them one time and you are singing the choruses along the record. It is interesting to see how they can mix this more rocking songs with darker ones like "Lady of Babylon" (with Francesca Cassio´s female vocals) or "The Equinox of the Gods" (lot of keyboards here). Originality is what comes to my mind here, because nowadays there are only a few bands trying to do this style of music and trying to experiment with the songs at the same time. Favorite tracks: "The Equinox of the Gods", "Ishtar" and "Tallow Doll". Contact: www.deathss.com

REVIEW: DEATH SS - LET THE SABBATH BEGIN

 

DEATH SS - LET THE SABBATH BEGIN (Lucifer Rising Recs. , 2001):

Technical Data:

Disc One mastered at Nc Gravity Studios, Florence.

Disc Two recorded live during the "Panic Tour 2000" by Ale Dufalini. Mastered at 00 Studios, Pisa.

Produced by Death SS

Cover Art / Design: Steve Sylvester and Massime Dellucci

Track List:

Disc 1 (Studio): 1-Let the Sabbath Begin, 2-Rim of Hell, 3-Let the Sabbath Begin (Pandemonium remix), 4-Hymn of The Satanic Empire or The Battle Hymn of The Apocalypse, 5-Ishtar (Great Mother Goddess Sexy Mix)

Disc 2 (live): 1- Let The Sabbath Begin, 2-Baphomet, 3-Lady of Babylon, 4-Baron Samedi, 5-Equinox of The Gods/Ishtar, 6-Medley (Black and Violet/Inquisitor/Cursed Mama/Chains of Death/Where Have you gone?/ Family Vault), 7-Scarlet Woman

This is a classical band from Italy, whose mainman Steve Sylvester is a cult hero among metal fans of that country. Their record "In death of Steve Sylvester" is a classic. This two CD set is comprised of one disc of studio and remixes tracks and one disc recorded live on tour in the "Panic 2000 Tour". The Studio Disc has an interesting version (Pandemonium Remix) of "Let the Sabbath begin" very close to the original but with some more keyboard touches and faster than the original version didn´t had. For those who doesn´t know the band, they make an interesting mix of hard rock and heavy metal with strong eighties influences and a very modern sound (on keyboards and guitars). "Rim of Hell" is another track remixed here that has an interesting result.The live disc is more energetic but the sound is quite muddy. Thumbs up for the medley consisting in parts of six DeathSS classics and the "Equinox of the Gods/Ishtar" track (more than twelve minutes long) that show what this band can do in front of an audience. A classic band that is still kicking asses. Contact: www.deathss.com

REVIEW: DARK FUNERAL - IN THE SIGN...

 

DARK FUNERAL - IN THE SIGN... (Necropolis Recs. , 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded and Mixed at Hellspawn/Unisound Studios - January 1994.

Tracks 5, 6 recorded at Abyss Studios - March 1996

Produced by Dark Funeral and Dan Swanö. Tracks 5, 6 produced by Dark Funeral and Peter Tägtgren.

Track List: 1- Open the Gates, 2- Shadows Over Transylvania, 3- My Dark Desires, 4- In the Sign of The Horns, 5- Equimanthorn, 6- Call from the Grave

I have to make a warning here: this is not new material from Dark Funeral. In fact this is the reissue of some difficult to find material from the band from the period 1994-1996. This recording shows us all the trademarks that Lord Ahriman and Company have developed through all this years (obviously in a more primitive way, specially on the first four tracks) raw and fast balck metal with screaming vocals: A thing that maybe was new in 1994 but obviously is not new nowadays. The tracks recorded in 1996 ("Equimanthorn" and "Call from the Grave") have a better sound were you can hear clearly the instruments. Here you can see the evolution of the band that uses more catchy riffs apart from the blast beats that are so common in black metal. Also the first of this tracks has a catchy chorus (screaming Equimanthorn) that reminded me a lot of certain Venom classics. This is a CD for black metal fans or fans of the band that want to have all their material. Favorite tracks: The two newer ones. Contact: www.necropolisrecords.com 

REVIEW: BEHEMOTH - THELEMA 6

 

BEHEMOTH - THELEMA.6 (Avant Garde Music., 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded and mixed in Hendrix Studios, Poland (July-August 2000)

Mixed by Nergal, Inferno and Arek Malczewski

Produced by Nergal and Behemoth.

Images and Sleeve Design: Graal

Track List: 1-Antichristian Phenomenon, 2-The Act of Rebellion, 3-Inflamed With rage, 4-Pan Satyros, 5-Natural Born Philosopher, 6-Christians to the Lions, 7-The Universe Illumination, 8-In the Garden of Dispersion, 9-Inauguration of Scorpio Dome, 10-23 (The Youth Manifesto), 11-Vinum Sabbati

Do you remember Behemoth´s first album? Well, this is a completely different band, the sound in fact is completely different. More polished. The raw black metal spirit is there but done in a much better way with more original ideas. A great surprise is the great production that Nergal has achieved here that emphasize the power of the instrumentation and certain subtle ideas (like guitar lines that are in the background or some keyboards) that would not have had the same effect if the sound had been poorer. It is good to see the evolution of this band in a different way than a lot of others that radically change their style. In fact, the good thing about "Thelema 6" is that it has allowed the band to get better and at the same time evolve in the correct direction, one of originality, personality and better musicianship. Contact: www.avantgardemusic.com .

REVIEW: AZRAEL - MAFIA

 

AZRAEL - MAFIA (Locomotive Music , 2000):

Technical Data:

Recorded in M.M. de Monachil Studios, Granada, Spain.

Produced by Azrael y Josué Martin

Cover Art / Design: Sirai.

Track List: 1-Vuela, 2-Tarde Ya, 3-Mafia, 4-Volver a Nacer, 5-Jehová, 6-No Muerto, 7-Alas de Cristal, 8-Saca la Cabeza, 9-Atrapado, 10-Vendiste tu propia vida, 11-El Inexpugnable ocaso del Laberinto de la Razón

What do we have here? Heavy metal directly from Spain, with some electronic touches (great keyboards) and a modern sound in the guitars. "Tarde Ya" opens with a more climatic intro (with heartful guitar solo) before getting into a Helloween-style galloping. Not too original but powerful. In this song the vocalist shines more (eventhough I don´t like him very much). The title track is quite more original in the beginning with some clean guitars. What amazed me more is the great sound that this release has, really clean and loud (I would put a little less flanger to the vocals in some places)!! "Jehová" is one of my favorite tracks because of the lyrics dealing with preachers that fuck people to get their money (includes a radio program sound with the voice of a preacher asking money to the people). My favorite tracks: "No Muerto", "Atrapado" and "El inexpugnable ocaso del laberinto de la razón". Contact: www.locomotivemusic.com

REVIEW: ASHES TO ASHES - SHAPES OF SPIRITS

 

ASHES TO ASHES - SHAPES OF SPIRITS (Independent , 2000):

Technical Data:

Recorded at Gordon Studio. Engineered by Thomas Sörlie

Produced by Michael Stenberg

Cover Art / Design: Björn Luna, asisted by Shagrath

Track List: 1- Shapes of Spirits, 2-Gabriel, 3-Castle in The Air, 4-The Mourning, 5- Dying Room, 6-Divide and Conquer, 7-Sacrilege, 8-Ad Infinitum

If I mention Norway: what would you expect? Black metal? Wrong !! This band is much more than that, we can label their music as atmospheric/doom/gothic metal  (just to give some clue about their sound, I hate labelling musicians) with some symphonic elements. The trully distinctive element here are the combinations of male and female vocals. Starting with a beautiful instrumental intro called "Shapes of Spirits" to the next song, the powerful "Gabriel" with great vocal work (Randi Hoftvedt is a darker Liv Kristine) and a middle riff similar to the one in Deep Purple´s "Perfect Strangers". And a middle section has a darker and more atmospheric mood. The songs are long and they allow the band to develop a style reminiscent of old Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Anathema or Theatre of Tragedy (but with much more use of keyboards). This band succeeds in making the listener feel all the sensations that they wanted to transmit. A fundamental release. My favorite tracks: All the album. Amazing. Contact: atoa@atoa.net

REVIEW: ANKHARA - ANKHARA II

 

ANKHARA - ANKHARA II (Locomotive Music , 2001):

Track List: 1 - Jamás, 2- Mundo de Odio, 3 - Entre Tinieblas, 4 - Océanos de Lágrimas, 5- No digas nunca, 6-Buscando mi Camino, 7-Quema tu miedo, 8- Junto a mi, 9-Una vez más, 10- Tu sangriento pasado, 11- Ankhara

 An acoustic guitar prelude takes us to the harmonic way of Ankhara and to the first song called "Jamás". Heavy/power metal with european sound is whatb this band from Madrid, Spain presents in this, their second offering. What I find specially interesting here are the vocal harmonies and the guitar riffs (check the one in the beginning of "Mundo de Odio"). The music here is also full of double bass drumming, full of solos and guitar phrases and brilliant vocals, courtesy of Mr. Pacho Brea (there are certain harmonies in "Mundo de Odio" that reminded me of King Diamond despite the musical difference). "Entre Tinieblas" is a song that could have been extracted of an Yngwie Malmsteen record (due to the classical guitar phrases and the rhythms). Very subtle arrangements can be find in songs like "Océano de Lagrimas" with twin guitars and interesting solos. A good record for lovers of heavy/power metal. Great vocals on this one, maybe a little more originality is needed. My favorite tracks: "Océanos de Lágrimas", "Buscando mi Camino" and "Una vez más". Contact: www.locomotivemusic.com 

REVIEW: ANCIENT CEREMONY - SYNAGOGA DIABOLICA

 

ANCIENT CEREMONY - SYNAGOGA DIABOLICA (Alister recs. , 2000):

Technical Data:

Recorded at Alister Studio - Letwen - April/May 2000.

Recorded and mixed by P. Schu and Ancient Ceremonies. Mastered by Markus Stock.

Cover Art / Design: C. Anderle and Jones.

Track List: 1- Synagoga Diabolica, 2- Forbidden Fruit Sapientia, 3- Soul Darwinism, 4- Choir of Immortal Queens, 5- Deorum Contemptor, 6- Crowned Child, 7- Exodus 10, 28, 8- Creeping Death  

The cover art really fooled me this time: I though this was a gothic type band with all the elements that the style has, but instead I found an original black/death metal band with lots of keyboards (and some power metal elements, for example the first riff and keyboard phrases from "Forbidden Fruit Sapientia" made me remind Yngwie Malmsteen´s "Disciples of Hell" ). The amazing here is that the band prefers to use more interesting elements than mere speed, for example great riffs ("Forbidden..." (2:31), some of them reminiscent from eighties thrash metal) or whispering and spoken voices apart from the screaming ones, cleaner parts. "Soul Darwinism" is pure hatred at high speed but it has its subtle elements like for example the guitar/keyboard phrases at 1:12 that completely change the feeling of the song making it sound more epic. This is an album to prove to those who think that the genre is stagnant that they are wrong. The album also includes a cover of Metallica´s "Creeping Death". Favorite tracks: "Soul Darwinism", "Choir of Immortal Queens" and "Deorum Contemptor". Contact: www.Alister-Records.de or www.ancient-ceremony.de

REVIEW: AMORPHIS - AM UNIVERSUM

 

AMORPHIS - AM UNIVERSUM (Relapse Recs. , 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at Finnvox Studios, Helsinki - October/December 2000.

Produced by Simon Efemey

Engineered by Mikko Karmila & Simon Efemey

Cover Art / Design: http://lahco.bombsquad.org

Track List: 1- Alone, 2-Goddess (of the sad man), 3- The night is over, 4- Shatters Within, 5- Crimsom Wave, 6- Drifting Memories, 7- Forever More, 8- Veil of Sin, 9- Captured State, 10- Grieve Stricken Heart.

This is Amorphis new album !!! Starting were "Tuonela" left, this album has not big changes compared to that one, in fact it is like a continuation of the path started then. Maybe "Am Universum" is a little bit more melancholic, but without losing the strength that was manifested through "Elegy" or "Tuonela". The album opens with two killer tracks: "Alone" and "Goddess" showing all the elements that we know that Amorphis can use. Pasi Koskinen has now taken complete control over the vocals and lyrics (and that has made this aspect somewhat more introspective). There are also elements that can take us back to "Elegy" for example the beginning of "The night is over" with one heavy guitar and wah wah on the other, making that psychodelic sound that characterized the heavier songs on that album. Talking about introspection, I think that here is one of the most ethereal and introspecive songs in Amorphis career and that is "Shatters Within". Amorphis continues on the path they created. Favorite tracks: "Goddess (of the sad man)", "Crimson Wave" and "Veil of Sin" (with saxophone included). Contact: www.relapse.com

REVIEW: YEARNING - FRORE MEADOWS

 

YEARNING - FRORE MEADOWS (Holy Recs. - 2001): Yearning is a duo that has made its impact in the underground since a while, Their new recording, this"Frore Meadows" shows us a band in evolution towards melodic and experimental fields (like Tiamat did but without the electronic sounding elements) . the main feature of Yearning is the singer with a privileged voice, almost operistic in some places and really death metal in others and who gives a lot of dynamism to the songs, listen for example the song that opens the CD ("Bleak"). The acoustic guitar parts or the ones without distorsion are abundant on this CD and I think that this is what the band uses to make of their music something extremely original and unique, together with the keyboards that maybe ar mixed a little bit lower than I would like. The atmosphere of songs like "Solitary" or "Autumn" is really depressive with beautiful melodies that enhance this feeling. Favorite Tracks: "Bleak", "In Strange Slowfooted Fever" y "Elegy of Blood". Contact: holyrecords@wanadoo.fr

REVIEW: VISIONARIES OF THE MACABRE - VOL 2

 

VISIONARIES OF THE MACABRE - VOL.2 (Lost Disciple Recs. - 2001): This is a compilation from Lost Disciple Recs. showing black metal bands from the USA. Bands like Bloodstorm, Kult ov Azazel, Abysmal Fall, Bloodshed Divine, Noctuary or Averse Sefira have their place here together with a lot of others of the same style. Due to their power and quality I would like to pick up some of the bands, first of all Noctuary (for the reasons that I wrote in the review of their record) with "Eternity Everfading", then Kult ov Azazel that are a very interesting band, despite the sound that the song presented her has that is worse than the one in their debut CD, also Averse Sefira with all their strength (they use an electronic drum but now they have a killer drummer), Cryptic Winds that presents us their track "Storms of the Black Millenium" with a strange black metal sound (the mix is not too good, it has too much reverb in the vocals…it seems recorded in a cave) and Corvus Coraz, with one of the best tracks (at least one of the most elaborated ones) that is "Terminus Est" with clean guitar introduction and melodies. Contact: www.lostdisciple.com or ALHuman@aol.com

REVIEW: VARATHRON - THE LAMENT OF GODS

 

VARATHRON - THE LAMENT OF GODS (Precipice Recordings - 2001): The legend of Greek balck metal is back!!!!! This is one of the bands that started the black metal scene in Greece togethere with Rotting Christ and Necromantia in the beginning of the nineties. Not like the first ones, Varathron continued to do the same style of melodic black metal that carachterized them, evolving but not changing style. This MCD (they are recording the follow up) starts with "Fire Spell/Forbidden Lust" a mid tempo track with interesting keyboard interventions and intelligent ideas. The main feature of Varathron´s music are their rhythms designed to blat your head off and their melodies that are all over the place done with guitars and keyboards. A clear example of this is "The World Through Ancient Eyes". Really good recording of this masters of darkness. I only have to add: We are awaiting for the new long duration recording. Contact: paganrec@polbox.com

REVIEW: AVERSE SEFIRA - BATTLE´S CLARION

 

AVERSE SEFIRA - BATTLE´S CLARION (Lost Disciple Recs., 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded in Isotopia Studios, Austin, Texas

Produced by Stuart Lawrence and Averse Sefira

Cover Art: Jonzig, Layout / Design: Erika Swinnich (DS Design and Promotions)

Track List: 1- Battle´s Clarion, 2-Condemned to Glory, 3-Withering the Storm, 4- Deathymn, 5-The Nascent Ones (The Age of Geburah), 6-Argument Obscura, 7-The Thousand Aeon Stare, 8-Fallen Beneth the Earth, 9-Ablaze

I first listened to Averse Sefira´s music in the  Visionaries of the Macabre Vol. 2 Compilation (yes; the one I reviewed on last issue). The band got my atention because of the tightness in their playing and the use of electronic drums. Now, with the addition of a real drummer they develope their style of raw black metal with interesting atmospheres and riffs (check the beginning of "Condemned to Glory" to see some unconventional riffing and drumming). Really rotten vocals and an emphasis on dissonances and exotic melodies are what distinguish this band from others of the same style (check the melody at 2:23 of the above mentioned track to see what I am talking about. Tracks at full speed like "Deathymn" (great middle part at 1:02) are hand to hand with really calm tracks like the third one called "Withering the Storm" that is like an ambient interlude with some nature sounds. My absolutely favorite track in this album is "The Nascent Ones...", really atmospheric (some Slayer and Satyricon influences in there) with great sound like in all the album. A powerful release from this guys from whom I would like to listen more in the future. Favorite tracks: "The Nascent Ones", "Fallen beneath the Earth" and "Argument Obscura". Contact: ALHuman@aol.com or www.lostdisciple.com

REVIEW: UNDAGROUND DISCIPLES

 

UNDAGROUND DISCIPLES - UNDAGROUND DISCIPLES (Meathook Recs. - 1998): This guys are from the USA and they make a style that we could call rapcore since it is a mix of rap and hardcore. Maybe it is a matter of taste, but among the CDs from Meathook Recs. this is the one that I liked les (the rap parts, because the screaming choruses are really good). "Psychological Phenomenon" is the first song that I am talking about and it has a good guitar riff at 2:49 (in the end) that I woudl have liked to be used more. "Abduction" is a song that I like more because here the hip hop is not so in the front, is only a part of the song. In "Infiltrate" the rapped voices seem better done and together with tha main riff, ehich is really well done make this the better song from the CD for me. Favorite tracks: "Infiltrate", "Consensus" (really Biohazard style) and "Abduction". Contact : meathookrecords@mediaone.net or www.meathookrecords.com

REVIEW: TU CARNE - ANTOLOGIA DEL HORROR EXTREMO

 

TU CARNE - ANTOLOGIA DEL HORROR EXTREMO (Independent - 2001): As I consider myself almost an expert in serial killer, I have recognized that the intro of this CD talks about the famous seventies killer Ed Kemper, because of the part where it describes how he killed his other, cut her head, cut her vocal chords and threw them in the toilet. Interesting beginning for this CD. The music here is pure Grindcore from Spain, with a really gutural voice, interesting drumming patterns, specially in "Una vez derretida". The CD is made of this intro, eleven tracks from Tu Carne and one Terrorizer cover "Fear of the Napalm". The tracks are short and direct, and that makes this band more interesting and easy to follow than other bands. We continue with serial killers …track number four called "Violación" has the same voice speaking about the last murder done by Ted Bundy, one of the most terrible serial killers of the USA, (the one of 12 year old Kimberly leach) before starting with a hyperdistorted bass and a not so fast song, but really heavy and good track with good riffs. I think this is a good , specially in the parts of grewat riffs that are not necessarily done at a lot of speed, instead they try to make them sound heavier than hell…it is also really well recorded despite being and Independent production. Favorite tracks: "Simulando una operación" , "Odio" and "Una vez Derretida". Contact: rbrt@ono.com

REVIEW: TRANCE TO THE SUN - ATROCIOUS VIRGIN

 

TRANCE TO THE SUN - ATROCIOUS VIRGIN (Precipice Recordings - 2001): Strange band coming Santa Bárbara, California. Strange sound is the one that we have here. They have a really good use of disonances (are those notes in the beginning of "Sleeping with the Natives" flat ninths?). Really good female vocals ! Very different from what one could expect…they are more whispering, more twisted. There are also a lot of electronic elements in this CD that make the result even more weird, the guitars are distortes in an industrial way and the bass has a really particular sound. I had not listened anything from this band before, but this really surprised me,. Is not a recording so easy to listen, but if you listen to it very carefully many times, you will always find different things. I liked a lot the sound of the recording, done in the Lions Den Studios and mastered in the Soundscape Studios by Robert Rich. Excelent band to sit and listen carefully trying to analize all the different aspects that make their music. Favorite tracks: "Thistle Lurid", "Map of the Lost" and "Terrible Parties". Contact: precipice@mindspring.com or www.trancetothesun.com

REVIEW: TIERRA SANTA - TIERRAS DE LEYENDA

 

TIERRA SANTA - TIERRAS DE LEYENDA (Locomotive Music - 2000): With an extraordinary packagin in digipack format and with the booklet with all te lyrics and pictures, arrives from Spain this CD of the band called Tierra Santa. An introduction with classical choirs and horse riding sound called "La Tormenta" introduce the title track. Specatcular sound! Even better than in a lot of bands that are the main bands in this power/heavy metal style (I liked a lot the bass sound…like a Steve Harris but more modern). This is all thanks to this professional musicians and the technology of the Estudios Sonido XXI from Pamplona and the production from Javier and Juanan San Martín, apart from the band who also produced it. Really great work from Arturo in the guitars of the track "Sodoma y Gomorra". The lyrics are in Spanish and they make the songs sound strange and cool. Fans of power metal…buy or die!!!! Favorite tracks: "La canción del Pirata", "El secreto del Faraón" and "La Torre de Babel". Contact: . www.locomotivemusic.com

REVIEW: SIRIUS - SPECTRAL TRANSITION - DIMENSION SIRIUS

 

SIRIUS - SPECTRAL TRANSMISION - DIMENSION SIRIUS (Nocturnal Art Prods. - 2001): I did not know this band until this record came to my hands. I don´t know if this is their first CD but what they show here is a powerful black metal, with the feature of a machine sounding drums (like Fear Factory´s Raymond Herrera) and very interesting keyboards (they are making chord progfressions most of the time, but in some points they make some phrases similar tu guitars, like the russian band Azeroth does) the lyrics are about dimensions, corridors, metamorphosis, they are quitre abstract. After the brief introduction "Spectral Transition", the CD starts with all its strength in "Spiritual Metamorphosis - destroy the earthly" and continues like that through all the recording. There are moments that are really interesting and you can see that this guys have rehearsed a lot to achiev this results. Another thing (one of the best) are the guitarists, with their short solos and melodies, creating together with the keyboards and the drums this metal monster called Sirius. Favorite tracks: "Axis", "Into Forbidden Dimensions" and "Paradox Timeline".Contact: www.neverland.un/sirius or www.nocturnalart.com 

REVIEW: SIN CITY SIX - SIN CITY SIX

 

SIN CITY SIX - SIN CITY SIX (Locomotive Music - 2000): This a multinational punk rock band with american, spanish and english members and this is their debut CD. They have this attitude carachteristic from punk rock bands and their music as the style is simple, with a lot of hooks and rocking. The recording has been produced by Andy Shernoff, bassist from The Dictators (who has also produced a lot of bands of the style, like Ramones, D-Generation, The Barracudas or The Smithereens). The sound is good but raw, as it should be in a band of this garage rock style, nothing subtle here. Very good and funny are the songs that conform this CD: "Sin City Six", "Let it Roll" or "Black Lorraine" to name just a few of them. Contact. www.locomotivemusic.com 

REVIEW: SHADOW - SHADOW

 

SHADOW - SHADOW (Century Media - 2001): Debut recording from this Japanese band dedicated to the more melodic branch of death metal (something In Flames, Dark Tranquility or Arch Enemy, bah, the Gothemburg sound). The first thing that surprised me were the guiter arrangements (really good solos too!!!) and how good the drummer, Mitsuhiro Enomoto, is. The vocals are similar to the ones of Jeff Walker in the last recordings of "Heartwork" or "Swan SongIf I had to synthesize the main features of this band in only one song, that would be the first "The Arrival at the Last Quarter", listen how good are the solos, please!!!!, what melodies, what arrangements. Tha band is really tight and you can see that in the faster parts played with total precission. "Lunar Eclipse" is the next song and it shows the same face of this band, melodies, arrangements and power everywhere. The CD was recorded in the Free People Studios from Japan and mastered in the Finnvox Studios de Helsinki (I understand why thay got this great sound). The CD also has the curiosity of preseenting one female death metal vocalist: Tokiko Shimamoto, who is specatcular all over the record with her rotten vocals. Favorite tracks: "The Arrival of the Last Quarter", "Eden", "Observes from Satelite". Contact: www.centurymedia.com.br

REVIEW: SEX MUSEUM - SONIC

 

SEX MUSEUM - SONIC (Locomotive Music - 2000): This spanish band with eight previous recordings discos (only "Sparks" and "Sum" are still available), shows us in this work their way of doing a very psychodelic hard rock. Very interesting (it made me remind those americans Raging Slab, because of the guitar rythms ). Also, apart from the furious guitars, in this recording is remarcable de keyboard and Hammond work by Marta Ruiz, burying deep under the songs to surface in the less expected moments with that seventies sounding instrument (listen to "PVC" and see that when you expect only the bass to sound, then it appears the keyboard with its particular sound). The overall sound is good and this is due to the production of guitarist (he plays with fuzz too!!) Fernando Pardo who knew how to extract the best from each instrument to arrive to this final product. The vocals from Miguel pardo are really good knowing how to give enflexions to them to adjust to the adecuate atmosphere. Favorite tracks: "We Can Move", "I Walk Alone" and "PVC". Contact. www.locomotivemusic.com 

REVIEW: REPROBATION - THE COLOUR OF GORE

 

REPROBATION - THE COLOUR OF GORE (Forever Underground Recs. - 2001): Mini-CD from this guys dedicated to the most pure gore/grind/death. The six songs presented here are short and effective, in the vein of bands like Carcass or Incantation (mainly in the sound). A great effort from this band, which I think should use more of those crushing riffs that they use sometimes to avoid the fastest parts , making more original the compositions. I like a lot the work of Rob Whitworth and Shawn Connors on guitars with those pinch that they throw in the middle of the riffs. To remark also are the more rhythmic parts in the tracks (Mike Rees on drums). This band, with a little bit more of experimentation could be a big hit in the underground. Favorite tracks: "Butchered Souvenirs", "Sins of the Sick" and "Fuck the Rotted Meat" . Contact: www.foreverunderground.com or www.geocities.com/reprobation or Beaner666@aol.com

REVIEW: RELENTLESS - EXPERIMENT IN EXCREMENT

 

PRESS RELEASE:

RELENTLESS - EXPERIMENT IN EXCREMENT (Butchery Music - 2001): I remember that one of the first interviews that I did for Music Extreme was with Robban Kanto, guitarist from the band Azure. Well, I have received this tape from one of his bands called Relentless, where Robban plays bass. The tape has four tracks and the music that Relentless does is the most bestial grind/gore with extremely fast riffs, blast beats and guttural vocals. (to compare to a band, I would say that they are in the same vein as Reprobation): i liked a lot some of the more crushing riffs and some of the riffs that are in places where there is a drum break. There is also a riff in the first song "Kicked Down and Hacked up" that is an unison between guitar and bass that sounds really interesting. The sound is good, maybe the hihat is a little bit in the front in the mix, and that turns a little bit chaotic the tracks.The lyrics are a catalog of rotten bodies and vowels, with titles as "Experiment in Excrement, "Spinal Leucotomy" or "Luscious Discharge of Fetid Defecation". Contact: www.butcherymusic.dir.bg or butcherymusic@yahoo.com or www.relentless.com or relentless@swipnet.se