REVIEW: UNDROP - UPROOTED

 

UNDROP - UPROOTED (Locomotive Music , 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded in Undrop Govardhan Studios, Vrajamandala, Spain.

Mixed in kirios Studios, Madrid.

Produced by Tomas Rundquist

Cover Art / Design: Undrop, Locomotive.

Track List: 1-Lion, 2-Lets Take a Trip Down Memory Lane, 3-Moonlike Face, 4-Cyber Head, 5-The Mine Field, 6-1+1=3, 7-Elevation, 8-Without Roots, 9-Ragga, 10-Go Beyond Matter, 11-Calling Gopinath, 12-Live Today, 13-Crazy 4 U, 14-Positive !, 15-Mashed Potatoes Part II

A strange band. This the way I would define Undrop. While listening to their music some names came into my mind: Nirvana (listen the vocals in "Lion" specially when he screams Lioooon !!!) , The Police, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, Adrian Belew, Beatles, some old style jazz guitarist (Charlie Christian?) and many many more. The result here is a really melodic album with an emphasis on hooks and in harmonies (some of them more weird than what one should have expected...heavy use of flat fifths in some choruses and prechoruses). Listen to "Moonlike Face" for to see what I am talking about, they start with a simple punk style and then they gate into a more interesting poppish/ grunge style or maybe check the opening of "Cyber Head" with the use of tremolo bar in the guitars and clean arpeggios through the verses. There is also a use of MIDI Guitar in there that sound almost like a keyboard in some parts like in "1+1=3". Interesting. Favorite tracks: "Moonlike Face", "Elevation" and "Without Roots". Contact: www.locomotivemusic.com 

REVIEW: TROLL - UNIVERSAL

 

TROLL - UNIVERSAL (Voices of Wonder / Head Not Found , 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded at Frogner Jern&Metall - February 2000.

Fiddled and Fixed by Sensei Ursus Major - Mastered by Neon Heart Inc.

Cover Art / Design: Enclave Design.

Track List: 1- Intro: My Sulphur Lover, 2- Rex Lamictal, 3- Sannhetens Plagiat, 4- President Besters Alimony, 5- Intermission 666, 6-Entering the Fluid Oxygen, 7- Color of Evil, 8- Fields of a new Sun, 9- Outro: Please the Pain

This is kind of a norwegian supergroup formed by Nagash (Covenent, ex Dimmu Borgir) who is called here Notorious Nagash and Hellhammer (Mayhem and a thousand more projects) with the help of Sinister Minister Twice, Sensei Ursus Major and Amon-D. The music contained here is almost indescriptible...a kind of death/black metal with a lot of industrial touches (in the background there are always present some weird noises and the vocals are completely deformed by effects). Songs like "Sannhetens Plagiat" are really chaotic and congruent at the same time (in fact this one has an interesting "calm" part before entering on the main riff) and the lyrics in third track are in Norwegian. I find this interesting because of the difference between this project and the others that this guys have, this is kind of weirder ( the more similar track to mayhem for example is "President Besters Alimony" but with vocals that are completely different). Fabvorite tracks: "Sannhetens Plagiat", "Entering the Fluid Oxygen" (reminded me of The Kovenant more electronic sound) and "Fields of a new sun". Contact: www.vow.dk 

REVIEW: ULVER - PERDITION CITY

 

ULVER - PERDITION CITY (Jester Recs. , 2000):

Technical Data:

Conceived, performed and recorded by Trickster G. And Tore Ylwizaker.

Mixed by Tore at Beep Jam Studio

Cover Art Concept: Esben Johansen

Track List: 1- Lost in Moments, 2- Porn Piece or the scars of cold kisses, 3- Hallways of Always, 4- Tomorrow never knows, 5- The future sound of music, 6- We are the dead, 7- Dead City Centres, 8- Catalept, 9- Nowhere/Catastrophe 

WARNING: This is not a metal album. And certain close minded fans of Ulver´s release "Nattens Madrigal" will be more horrified with this "Perdition City" than with its predecessor that was also swimming in the seas of electronics. For me this release is as excellent as all Ulver material and one thing that I like from this guys is that they do what they want without thinking about what people would say about them. The material in "Perdition City" (which was financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Cultural Affairs) is, like the subtitle says the music for "an interior movie" and that is how one must listen to this. There are no signs of black metal here, just excellent compositions with the use of keyboards, saxophones, guest musicians and female vocals. Anything here is done to give life to that movie: from the jazzy sounds of "Lost in Moments" to the techno like "Tomorrow never knows", to the clean vocals in some places , to the almost ambient beginning in "We are the dead". Favorite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.jester-records.com 

REVIEW: TRANSILVANIA 666 - IRON MAIDEN TRIBUTE

 

TRANSILVANIA 666 - IRON MAIDEN TRIBUTE (Locomotive Music , 1999):

Technical Data:

Recorded at Box Studios, Madrid, Spain - July/September 1999.

Engineered by Sergio Marcos

Cover Art / Design: Carlos Diez.

Track List:

CD 1: 1-Run To the Hills (Avalanch), 2-Flight of Icarus (Tierra Santa), 3-Charlotte the Harlot (Lujuria), 4-The Evil that Men Do (Azrael), 5-Wasted Years (Skunk D.F.), 6-Wrathchild (Grass), 7-Fear of the Dark (Demonios), 8-Revelations (Twilight)

CD 2: 1-Strange World (Mago de Oz), 2-The Trooper (Easy Rider), 3- Phantom of the Opera (Ankhara), 4-Powerslave (Pyramid), 5-Running Free (Tea), 6-Holy Smoke (Aerobitch), 7-Moonchild (Sentinel), 8-Children of the Damned (Dracon)

This is an Iron Maiden made by Spanish bands and the really interesting thing here is that each band interprets the Iron Maiden classics in really personal versions. For example Tierra Santa starts their cover of "Flight of Icarus" in a very slow way, very different from the opriginal, or Aerobitch makes a punk rock version of "Holy Smoke". I think this is much better than doing the classics in the exact same way than Iron Maiden did. It is good to see that the song choice has taken tracks from Paul Di Anno´s years in Iron Maiden. Obviously there are results that are better than others, for example Azrael make a good version of "The Evil That Men Do" (a little bit more thrashy), on the other side there is Skunk D.F. with a really modern version of "Wasted Years" (the vocals miss some of the feeling here). A very tasty tribute with excellent versions like "Strange World" done by Mago de Oz or "The Trooper" done by Easy Rider (perhaps the vocals here are a little bit thin for my taste). Contact: www.locomotivemusic.com 

REVIEW: SUPERKOLLIDER - SUPERKOLLIDER

 

SUPERKOLLIDER - SUPERKOLLIDER (Wonderdrug Recs. , 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded at New Alliance Studios.

Engineered by Ken Cmar & Ethan Dussault

Produced by Ken Cmar, Ethan Dussault & Superkollider

Cover Art / Design: Duncan Wilder Johnson,  Shaun Mc Carthy and Mimi Boudreau.

Track List: 1-Resolution, 2-Transmission, 3-Mean, 4-Element, 5-Boldface, 6-Painstaking, 7-Human, 8-Blood, 9-Coffee, 10-Lust, 11-Hindsight, 12-Springtime, 13-Sleep

Looking to the over of the CD I expected a more pop sounding band or something more ethereal, but here is Superkollider making me eat my thoughts. Why? Because they make a really modern sounding metal (don´t worry !! This is completely different from bands like Limp Bizkit, no hip hop here). The band that came into my mind more often when listening to this was The Almighty in their heaviest format ("Crank" era), I think specially in the vocals parts and the hooks. The riffs are a cross between metal, hardcore and alternative music with a really fat sound in the guitars. Songs like "Transmission" and "Mean" have enough power to shatter your ears with their crushing riffs and fans of metal and hardcore would most likely be satisfied with this band. Songs like "Element" take a more metal approach in the vein of say Soulfly or Roots-era Sepultura. The thirteen songs here are totally certifuing that you will bang your head along them. Favorite tracks: "Transmission", "Painstaking" (really Almighty) and "Human". Contact: www.wonderdrugrecords.com and www.superkollider.com

REVIEW: STRATUZ - SPIRIT SEDUCTION

 

STRATUZ - SPIRIT SEDUCTION (The LSP Company , 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded and Mixed by David Hernandez at Jam Studios, Caracas / Venezuela.

Mastered by manuel Amengual.

Cover Art / Design: Franklin Berroteran.

Track List: 1- Oh, Ala, Ojalá, 2- Swift Death, 3- Mula, 4- Sleeping Sins, 5- Into the Darkness, 6- Welcome to the Circle, 7- The Last Angel, 8- Return of the Souls, 9- Spirit Seduction

What a contrast !! This CD starts with an introduction with acoustic guitar and harp that sounds a little bit eastern sounding, a little bit latin, before getting into an extreme death metal track. This is death metal directly from Venezuela and they are really powerful, using double bass drumming through all the CD, original riffs and some percussion that enhances the feeling of the CD (like perhaps Sepultura, but more agressive, more guttural, more death metal). Another thing that I like from Stratuz and that I think they should make a trademark of it are the guitar solos that are melodic an technical giving another dimension to the tracks, also there are riffs like the odd-time in "Sleeping Sins" (2:29) that can be very important for Stratuz as an element of identity. To have more elements to consider, check the climatic "Into the Darkness" with excelent riffs and drumming and above all excelent sound (a characteristic of the whole release). Favorite tracks: "Swift Death", "Welcome to the Circle" and "Return of the Souls". Contact: www.lsp-company.com

REVIEW: STEN SANDELL TRIO - STANDING WAVE

 

STEN SANDELL TRIO - STANDING WAVE (Sofa Recs. , 2001):

Technical Data:

Tracks 1 and 5 Recorded live at Blå, Oslo (November 1999) by Bjørn Magne Idland.

Tracks 2, 3 and 4 Recorded live at Munch-museet (October 2000) by Thomas Hukkelberg.

Produced by Sandell Nilsen-Love and Berthling. Co produced by Ivar Grydeland, Ingar Zach and Thomas Hukkelberg.

Cover Painting: "Flag IV" by Terry Nilssen-Love 

Track list: 1-Mural, 2-Standing Wave, 3-Axel, 4-Edvard, 5-Elongate

The Sten Sandell trio is formed by three great musicians: Sten Sandell on piano, Johan Berthling on double bass and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums. From chaotic experimentation to jazz style phrases, this trio follow their path to explore new dimensions. I think this guys are taking as a basis a free jazz style format and starting from there are doing research and exploration on new possibilities. Improvisation and an open mind are essential here. What amazed me most here is the great coherence that all the material has, specially on "Mural" that is a full speed track with great piano lines and an amazing base conformed by Berthling double bass and Nilssen-Love´s drums. "Standing Wave" starts with Nilssen-Love´s drum experimentation before getting in a weird sounding passage with Sandell playing only vey high and very low notes and Berthling extracting sounds from his double bass. After this the trio gets into a textural piece with Sandell playing cascades of notes (Gyorgy Lygeti came to my mind). I specially liked here the longer pieces because surprise strucks you from every corner of this tracks. Once more: open your mind and listen carefully to this awesome musicians. Favorite tracks: "Standing Waves" and "Edvard". Contact: www.norcd.no/sofa or sofa@norcd.no

REVIEW: SPIRITUAL ECLIPSE - AMARANTH

 

SPIRITUAL ECLIPSE - AMARANTH (Hailstorm Prods. , 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded in Five Records Studio - San José (May 2000)

Produced by Spiritual Eclipse.

Track list: 1-Sangue di lupo, 2-Manifesto, 3-Lamentations of the Lingering Soul, 4-Circle of VII

Interesting band of death/black metal from California. "Sangue di Lupo" is called the first track of this CD and it shows all the main features of the band: interesting riffs, melodies, speed in some places, brutality in others, various types of vocals (one growling type and another of the screaming kind). On the second track, "Manifesto", an acoustic intro opens the gates for a doom rhythm and intro, before getting in a full speed death metal track with an interesting riff at 1:29 (I want to hear more riffs like this one in the music of this guys). What I find more interesting in this band is their use of melodies in places where one would not expect it and the use of very slow passages like the above mentioned mixed with hyper speed blasts. Also, another feature to remark is their use of acoustic guitars and whispering vocals. I think they have a good mixture between brutality and elaboration, a godd equilibrium... My favorite tracks: "Lamentations of the Lingering Soil" (strange vocals in there, full of anguish), "Circle of VII". Contact: http://members.nbci.com/SE7777 or spiritual_eclipse@hotmail.com

REVIEW: SOILS OF FATE - SANDSTORM

 

SOILS OF FATE - SANDSTORM (Retribute Recs. , 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded and Mastered at Subsonic Studios.

Produced by Soils of Fate

Cover Art: Jocke

Track List: 1-Life Hijacker, 2-Sandstorm, 3-.44, 4-Stripped Humanity, 5-Half My Blood, 6-Blunted on Reality, 7-Assassins

Form the first pinch harmonics of the beginning riff of "Life Hijacker" until the end os the recording you will find death metal here !!! With extremely guttural vocals that are  almost a growl and make some rhythmic patterns in some places with short words, manic solos that could be longer for my taste and great riffs like on "Life Hijacker" (2:17) or "Sandstorm" (1:51) that I think is the point that the band has to explore deeper in the future, killer double bass drumming ( the bass drums sound quite electronic, maybe they are triggered or something like that I think) with our friend Jocke at the top of his posibilities. There are some odd tempos too, like in "Sandstorm" (0:50) and blast beats (just mention this for the fans of speed). The overall sound is good and I would have mixed the guitars a little bit higher with a little bit more of edge and presence....the best here is the bass sound that is really killer through all this release. I would point out songs like "Half My Blood" or the beginning of " Blunted on reality" that are paths for the band to follow in the future. Favorite Tracks: "Stripped Humanity", "Life Hijacker" and "Half My Blood". Contact: Retribute@aol.com or http://come.to/soilsoffate

REVIEW: SKYFIRE - TIMELESS DEPARTURE

 

SKYFIRE - TIMELESS DEPARTURE (Hammerheart Recs. , 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded at Abyss Studios,

Produced, Engineered and mixed by Tommy Tägtgren and Skyfire

Layout / Design: Chrille Andersson.

Track List: 1- Intro, 2- Fragments of Time, 3- The Universe Unveils, 4- Skyfire, 5-Timeless Departure, 6- Breed through me, Bleed for me, 7- Dimensions Unseen, 8- By God Forsaken, 9- From here to Death.

This is one of the albums of the month. One word comes to my mind when listening to this CD: grandiloquence !!! There are only few bands that can make a record like this mixing black/death metal with such perfect clasical orchestrations. It seems that this band has taken the best of the genres, you can listen black metal through all the album, power metal in the keyboards of "Skyfire". I really think that Martin hanner and Andreas Edlund that are in charge of the guitars and keyboards here are people that can be considered keyboard/guitar masters, in total command of the music of Skyfire and in complete control of their instruments. It is amazing the contrast between Henrik Wenngren´s raw vocals and the subtle and sublime orchestration that the other guys construct around him. This CD will be a classic !!. Contact: http://listen.to/skyfire or www.hammerheartamerica.com or info@hammerheartamerica.com 

REVIEW: XENOMORPH - BANEFUL STEALTH DESIRE

 

XENOMORPH - BANEFUL STEALTH DESIRE (Independent, 2001):

Track List:1- Dragon´s Breath, 2- Post-human (The X-morph Deathcult), 3- Blood of the Stars, 4- Storm Innocent Eve, 5- On the Most Blackened Wings, 6- Bestia Infernali, 7- Last Contribution to Art, 8- Once Upon Armageddon.

Judging for this recording Xenomorph is the ideal band to start to hit your head and fists against the wall ina a frenzy. Take Fear Factory, put something of bands like Aeon and The Forsaken, mix it with some Carcass and Death and you will have an approximate idea of how this band sounds. Xenomorph exudes agression and brutality through every pore of their skin, retaining some subtle elements like the ska-like passage in "Dragon´s Breath" (1:27) or the guitar passage in "Blood of Stars" (1:25). The main element here is the killer drummer who is really tight and is a master of double bass drumming. Listen this release and feel the fury !!!!. Favorite tracks: "Post-human...", "Storm Innocent Eve" and "Bestia Infernali". Contact: www.x-morph.com

REVIEW: WITCHFYNDE - THE AWAKENING

 

WITCHFYNDE - THE AWAKENING (Demolition Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Foundry Recording Studio

Cover Artwork by Mike Schindler at Dragon Design

Track List: 1- Hell Hath No Fury, 2- Death of Innocence, 3-Vampyre´s Tale, 4- Blessed Be, 2- To the Devil a Daughter, 6- The Awakening, 7-Unholy Shadows, 8- Astep Closer (To Hell), 9-Unknown Soldier, 10- Ghost Dancer

Power/thrash metal in a real pure format!! It has been a lot of time since the last time that I heard an album like this one. All the elements that were really popular in the late eighties in the thrash/power metal scene are hear: crunchy rhythms, good vocals, guitar solos, twin guitars, thrash drum patterns. There are also some subtle moments like on the darker "Vampyre´s Tale" or in the Iron Maiden-like "Blessed Be" (it reminded me of "Remember Tomorrow"). The difference between this guys and the actual power metal scene is that Witchfynde goes to the rawer side of the style instead of using (or abusing) the neoclassical influences that so popular seem to be in the style nowadays, and prefer to use darker melodies, less high-pitched melodies (sometimes similar to those of Vicious Rumours Carl Albert). Interesting release from a style that has not dissappeared. Favorite tracks: "Hell Hath No Fury", "Vampyre´s Tale" and "Unknown Soldier". Contact: www.demolitionrecords.com

REVIEW: WAR - WE ARE... TOTAL WAR

 

WAR - WE ARE...TOTAL WAR (Orion Music Entertainment/Necropolis Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Tracks 1-7 recorded at The Abyss - Nov. 1996. Produced by WAR and Petr Tägtgren.

Tracks 8-14 recorded at The Abyss - Oct. 1997. Produced by WAR and Mikael Hedlund.

Cover and Album design by Blackmoon

Track List: 1- Satan, 2- I am Elite, 3- Total War, 4- The Sons of War, 5- Revenge, 6- Reapers of Satan, 7- Satan´s Millenium, 8- War, 9- Rapture, 10- Ave Satan, 11- Soldiers of Satan, 12- 666, 13- We are War, 14- Bombenhagel.

This is a kind of supergroup of the scandinavian black/death metal scene. Joining efforts here are Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy, The Abyss, etc.), It (Vondur), Blackmoon (Necrophobic, Dark Funeral, Infernal), All (Vondur) and Mikael Hedlund. This album compiles the best tracks of War´s two releases called "Total War" and "We are War". Extremely fast and raw tracks full of blast beats and All´s screamin anguish vocals. It and Blackmoon grind through all the recording with their chainsaw-like guitars.while Peter Tägtgren drums furiously breaking your neck with his blast beats. The seven last tracks have a different sound (I like more the way the guitars sound on the seven first tracks, they are better mixed). Also this CD includes a cover track of Sodom´s "Bombenhagel" in a ripping version. Favorite tracks: "I am Elite", "Reapers of Satan" and "Ave Satan" (it sounds like old Venom !!!).  www.necropolisrec.com

REVIEW: VORE - LORD OF STORMS

 

VORE - LORD OF STORMS (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Aaron Allen at Buzzwo Studios.

Produced by Aaron Allen and Vore

Artwork and Layout by Odis Holcomb

Track List: 1- Veils of Oblivion, 2- Godslayer, 3- Host of Abomination, 4- To Be a God, 5- Lurker Above, 6- Lost Nation, 7- Agony, 8- Opaque, 9- Primordial Conquest, 10- Forging a new Vision

Death metal with excellent guitar riffs that put the accent on the rhythm instead of the speed. I can listen in this guys some influences of thrash metal, some of old death metal bands like Entombed or Dismember, and some stuff of bands like Pantera or doom metal bands. All this influences are thrown in a mixing machine and adding some identity, here is Vore´s music. It is interesting how this guys are proving something that I think is like an axiom....that in most of the cases a good riffs ends up being heavier than a blast beat or some riff bassed only in one note speed runs. The sound of this release is good specially on the guitars and vocals, I would have mixed different the drums and put them a little bit more in the front, but the overall mix is good. Favorite tracks: "Godslayer", "Lurker Above" and "Opaque" (an instrumental with acoustic guitar...most death metal bands would have shaken with fear just imagining putting something like this on their albums). Contact: www.vore.org  

REVIEW: TVANGESTE - DAMNATION OF REGIOMONTUM

 

TVANGESTE - DAMNATION OF REGIOMONTUM (Valgalder Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded /Mixed/Mastered at TV4 Studios by Alex A., Kallingrad,Russia.

Produced and Arranged by Tvangeste

Exec. Producers: Michael Chirva, Vano Maioroff

Cover: Voron Studio

Track List: 1-From Nameless Oracle, 2- Angel´s Retreat, 3- Damnation of Reiomontum, 4- Thinking..., 5- Born to be King of Innerself.

Extremely climatic and full of melodies black metal is contained in this beautiful CD. The music of this qartet has two main ingredients: the excelent keyboards and pianos of Victoria Koulbachnaia and the melodic guitars of Nikolay Kazmin, that make this band stand out from the bands of the genre (Victoria´s keyboards are everywhere, doing melodies, chord progressions, etc. for example check the passage at 10:11 in "From Nameless Oracle"). One thing that I find strange is the sound of programmed drums (the band has no drummer). The tracks are long and there are a lot of ideas developing on them where this great musicians find enough space to express themselves. There are also to guest musicians: Olaa on female vocals (great ones) and Anna on cellos an violins that help to bring darkness to the listener ears. Favorite tracks: ""From nameless Oracle", "Damnation of Regiomontum" (beautiful piano along with violin) and "Thinking...". Contact: www.valgalder.com or www.tvangeste.com

REVIEW: THERION - SECRET OF THE RUNES

 

THERION - SECRET OF THE RUNES (Nuclear Blast, 2001):

Track List: 1- Ginnungagap (Prologue), 2- Asgård, 3- Midgård, 4- Schwarzalbenheim (Svartalfheim), 5- Jotunheim, 6- Ljusalfheim, 7- Vanaheim, 8- Nifelheim, 9- Muspelheim, 10- Helheim, 11- Secret of the Runes (Epilogue)

Kings of symphonic dark gothic metal are back ! This time the al,bum is centered on nordic Mythology and specially on the world tree called Yggdrasil which consists in nine different worlds which have each one different charachteristics and which are described here through all the tracks. Christofer Johnsson seems to be very comfortable with this style of music he created with the release of "Theli" in 1996 (eventhough they had explored this path in some tracks of "Lepaca Kliffoth"). Here you have all the elements that have made Therion a worldwide success: excellent orchestral arrangements, female operistic vocals, harmonized classical choruses, deep male vocals. This time he does not have the help of one main female vocalist like was Martina (ex-Dreams of Sanity) and he is using a lot of clean and acoustic guitars and flutes and harpsichords mixing climatic moments with heavier ones driven by drums and heavy guitars like on "Midgård". This is another step in the Therion saga. Favorite tracks: "Asgård", "Schwarzalbenheim (Svartalfheim)" and "Nifelheim". Contact: www.nuclearblast.de

REVIEW: TERTIUM NON DATA - HERS IS BLOOD

 

TERTIUM NON DATA - HERS IS BLOOD (Crowd Control Activities, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Smithco & Grinder Tool and Die, Kansas City

Produced and Mixed by Brett Smith and John Bergin

Artwork and Design by John Bergin

Track List:1- I know you well, 2- Final Resting Place: Snow, 3- Box-Golden Section, 4- Low, 5- Box-Inside, 6- Hers is Blood, 7- Angelbox Closed, 8- Wisdom, 9- Blackness Burning, 10- When the Levee Brakes.

Do you know when the music that you are listening is climatic and introspective? If you don´t know, you will learn it while listening to Tertium Non Data. The music here is full of passages where the instrumentation (keyboards and electronics in most of the CD) create those textures that make your soul feel dark and lonely. The music is somewhere in between ambient, industrial and electronic with excellent femenine vocals (Lori Demanche has a really sensual voice) in some of the tracks and whispering male vocals. The funny thing about this release is that includes a cover of Led Zeppelin´s "When the Levee Breaks" that is completely different from the original version (full of electronic beats and processed harmonica...really original). Purists will hate this version...open minded people will like it. Favorite tracks: "Final Resting place: Snow", "Low" and "Hers is Blood" . Contact: www.crowdcontrol.cc

REVIEW: SYLVIA HALLET - WHITE FOG

 

SYLVIA HALLETT - WHITE FOG (Emanem Disc, 2001):

Technical data:

Design and Mastering by Sylvia Hallett and Martin Davidson

Wheelsongs recorded at LMC Soound by Mick Ritchie

Tracks 7 and 8 recorded at Summerhill Studio by Sylvia Hallett

Track List: 1- A Wheelwright used to live here, 2- Violet, 3- Woman with Dustpan and Brush, 4- White Fog, 5- Private War, 6- Walnut, 7- The Onyx Rook, 8- Snail and Curlew

This is a total experimental recording by Sylvia Hallett. This woman uses here a lot of objects to produce her music in a really interesting way. In fact the six first tracks here are played using a bowed bicycle wheel, vocals and a lot of digital delay effects. It is interesting to listen to this type of ambient music because it opens new boundaries to the realm of experimental music. Sometimes the music here is like a soundtrack of madness with all the effects and eerie feelings that this music brings to the mind. There is also one track of an amazing violin and voice improvisation without overdubs. And also a tape collage soundtrack for a dance film called "Body of Land". This is really interesting but you have to be openminded and expect the unexpected. Favorite tracks: "Violet, "Private War" and "Snail and Curlew" . Contact: www.emanemdisc.com

REVIEW: SUMMON - NO THOUGHTS FROM THE SKY

 

SUMMON- NO THOUGHTS FROM THE SKY (Blackened Moon Prods., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Wormhole Productions, Grand Rapids, MI.

Recorded, Mixed and Produced by Summon and Kenny Roberts

Mastered at LIM Studios by Lou

Artwork by Xaphan

Track List: 1- No Thoughts from the Sky, 2- Beneath the Cryptic Tombs, 3- Beyond the Away, 4- Descension, 5- Black Wind Abyss, 6- The Surrounding Darkness, 7- Perverse Serenity, 8- Unto Which I Fall, 9- Spectral Void, 10- Raging Toward Burning Flames

Total death!!!!! Directly from Michigan we have Summon, a band dedicated to the power, speed and brutality of death/black metal. The drummer is really technical and know how to do the famous blast beats while ataining some originality in his rhythmic patterns (listen for example to "Beyond the Away" with the breaks and changes), he is also a double bass maniac. One thing that I would say is that the band has really good guitar riffs and I think that they have to emphasize the more rhythmic parts in order to get a more effective result (like the parts in the beginning of "Perverse Serenity". Or the beginning of "Unto Which I fall"). This band uses also some odd-timing in parts of their tracks. Favorite tracks: " Unto Which I Fall", "Raging Toward Burning Flames" (in the vein of old Morbid Angel). Contact: www.angelfire.com/mi/summon

REVIEW: STUCK MOJO - VIOLATE THIS... 10 YEARS OF RARITIES 1991-2001

 

STUCK MOJO - VIOLATE THIS...10 YEARS OF RARITIES 1991-2001 (Century Media, 2001):

Track List:1- Ten years, 2- Revolution, 3- Not Promised Tomorrow, 4- No pride, no respect, 5- Southern pride, 6- Wratchild, 7- Shout at the Devil, 8-Hate must be a gift, 9- Despise, 10- Twisted, 11- Only the Strong Survive, 12- Pigwalk, 13- No Regrets, 14- Propaganda, 15- Love has no Color, 16- Hotlanta, 17- Babylon, 18 - Mojo Funk

It is a pity how a genre that bands like Stuck Mojo or Clawfinger did so good (adding each one their special brand of influences) has been bastardized by the MTV culture and the media. In fact 90% of the bands that are now doing this mixture of metal with rap or hip-hop are just a crappy copy of what this bands did since the early nineties and they are of poor quality (Well...in the eighties MTV fucked metal putting all those spray hair assholes bands without talents, then in the nineties flooded the scene with Pearl Jam/Nirvana clones and now this...). Enough talk. Here is Stuck Mojo ...one of the bands that make better this style and this is an album of rarities and new tracks: there are new tracks like "Ten Years" or "Revolution" and then there are interesting things like the Iron Maiden Cover ("Wrathchild") or the Mötley Crüe one ("Shout at The Devil") . In fact they have transformed this song into their own by adding that special style that Stuck Mojo has. Another thing here is the difference in sound that there is between the new tracks and the olders (the newer sound far better). Favorite tracks: "Ten Years", "Only The Strong Survive" and "No Regrets". Contact: www.centurymedia.com

REVIEW: STORMHAMMER - COLD DESERT MOON

 

STORMHAMMER - COLD DESERT MOON (Century Media, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and mixed by Rudy Kronenberger at Crownhill Studios.

Cover Artwork by Markus Glanz

Track List: 1- Sinner´s Soul, 2- The Law, 3- Breach of Faith, 4- Yells of Rage, 5- Misty Hills, 6- Children of Dawn, 7- Doomsday, 8- Cold Desert Moon, 9- A Dragon´s Tear, 10- Nobody´s Child, 11- Masquerade of Life, 12- Strength of Wisdom.

This is Stormhammer second album and I think that is pretty more direct than their debut album. New vocalist Tommi Lion (ex-Drifter) sounds a little bit more rough than the previous one (Michael Schinkel). The music goes through the path of power/heavy metal in the vein of bands like Blind Guardian and Jag panzer to name only a few, that is not as clean as Helloween or Rhapsody and not as rough as a thrash metal band would be. In fact the sound of the guitars is heavier than in the above mentioned bands. There are all the elements of the style (power metal fans will be delighted) fast runs, solos, harmonized choruses, etc. etc. Favorite tracks: "Breach of Faith", " Cold Desert Moon" and "Masquerade of Life". Contact: www.centurymedia.com

REVIEW: SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE - CHALLENGE

 

SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE- CHALLENGE (Emanem Disc, 2001):

Technical data:

Analogue Recording made in London by Eddie Kramer on March 1966 and April 1967.

Mixing, Editing, mastering and Design by Martin Davidson

Analogue to Digital Transfer by Paul Wilson

Track List:1- E.D.´s Message, 2-B.Ornette, 3- Club 66, 4- Lday of Reckoning, 5- End to a Beginning, 6- Travelling Together, 7- Little Red Head, 8- After Listening, 9- End To a Beginning, 10- Distant Little Soul

Emanem Discs is founding new treasures every time and editing them on CD. For example this are free jazz recordings by the Spontaneous Music Ensemble done during 1966 and 1967. With such great musicians as Trevor Watts on alto and soprano sax, Kenny Wheeler on flugelhorn and Jeff Clyne on double bass, the music here is pure improvisation and experimentation, clearly dominated by Watts sax that brings shades of classical 1950s-1960s jazz whil flying free to improvise over his bandmates structures. There are some shinning moments here like Paul Rutherford´s trombone on "Day of Reckoning", followed inmediately by Watts say in a really moody phrase. This a testimony from a time when free jazz was in all its splendour. Favorite tracks: "2.B.Ornette" (as the title says...really Ornette Coleman), "Travelling Together" and "Day of Reckoning". Contact: www.emanemdisc.com

REVIEW: SONATA ARCTICA - SILENCE

SONATA ARCTICA - SILENCE (Nems Enterprises, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Tici Tico Studio by Ahn Kortelainen.

Mixed by Mikko Karmila at Finnvox Studios

Mastered at Finnvox Studios by Mika Jussila

Cover artwork and loo by Eric Phillippe.

Track List: 1- ...of Silence, 2- Weballergy, 3- False News Travel Fast, 4- The End of This Chapter, 5- Black Sheep, 6- Land of the Free, 7- Last Drop Falls, 8- San Sebastian (revisited), 9- Sing in Silence, 10-Revontulet, 11- Tallulah, 12- Wolf and Raven, 13- The Power of One

Sonata Artica´s new record is similar to their debut album but has some elements that are more pleasant to my ears, like for example more solos that are not in the vein of Timo Tolkki or Yngwie Malmsteen but they are more original instead. Tony Kakko is singing better on this release with less abuse of high pitches. In fact I think he is the vital point of Sonata Arctica. There are some rhythms apart from the usual race and galloping from power metal bands ( in fact the rhythms here reminded me a lot of Nightwish). There is still too much Helloween influence in some parts (for example in the chorus of "Weballergy") but they are not so similar now. Good piano parts (for example on "The End of This Chapter" )that I think the band should use more often to add some atmospheres to some of the tracks. There is also a more conscious search of different textures like on "Sing in Silence". Those who liked their debut album wilkl sure like this one too, eventhough there are different elements. Favorite tracks: "The End of This Chapter", "Black Sheep" and "Sing In Silence". Contact: nems@nems.com.ar

REVIEW: SATHANAS - THY DARK HEAVENS

 

SATHANAS - THY DARK HEAVENS (Blackmetal.com, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at the Audioloft in Ambridge Pennsylvania April 2001.

Engineered By Buzzy Beck.

Track List: 1- Winged Black Spirit, 2- To Bring Torture, 3- Empire Daemonum, 4- Thy Dark Heavens, 5-March Through Fire, 6-Queen Of The Netherworld, 7 -Curse Your Saviour, 8- Banished To Eternity.

Black/death metal directly from hell!!!!!! This is Sathanas first CD for the new Blackmetal.com label and is a really good surprise beginning with the great sound that this release has and continuing with the great black thrash metal riffs that are delivered in each track. The music is really powerful and the guitars have the sound that all black metal bands should have (this is for bands that record their guitars that sound like a saw instead of a guitar): heavy, deep, fat sound and supported by a greatbass that helps to make the riffs bigger and harder. Check as an example the first track: "Winged Black Spirit" that is a song for saying: Hail Satan! And bang your head!!. The most interesting element here is how original are Paul´s riffs. They sound powerful and they are all very different one from each other and that makes "Thy Dark heavens" a very interesting album. Dark Spirits awake with this crushing album. Favorite tracks: "To bring Torture", "Thy Dark heavens" and "March Through Fire". Contact:  http://members.tripod.com/sathanas3

REVIEW: SACRED SIN - TRANSLUCID DREAM MIRROR

SACRED SIN - TRANSLUCID DREAM MIRROR (Demolition Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at 13th Cave Studios.

Produced by Jose Costa and Sacred Sin

Engineered by: Pedro Miguel

Cover Art: Mike Schindler / Dragon Design

Track List: 1- Translucid Dream Mirror, 2- La Clef des grands misteres, 3- Ravish the Soul, 4- Sukunft Kenntnis, 5- Gift of Second Sight, 6 - Maleficent Genii, 7- Extra-natural Mediator, 8- Mei Lacrimæ in Tenebræ, 9- Transmutation, 10- By the Wyvern we flowed, 11- Prelude to phenomene, 12- Unbridled hate, 13- The shadow of gate.

Can we call this music Progressive Death Metal? I think so !! But this is really progressive...listen to the keyboards and Imagine that in Dream Theater...they would not be out of place...but here they are applied to a death metal band...Amazing!!! And they give a lot of originality to Sacred Sin´s music. Another thing that makkes this recording special is the amazing sound. The band recorded this CD on their own studio and it was engineered by the guitarist Pedro Miguel who seems to have known what he wanted when he did his job (one thing that got my attention is the sound of the bass drums, really tight, almost electronic). I will mention some things that you can find on this album: melodies, twin guitars, harmonies, breaks, acoustic passages, tempo changes, keyboard passages, speed, unholy heaviness, some female vocals, lyrics in english, german, french and latin, great guitar and keyboard solos...you have everything on one CD. One of the albums of the month. Favorite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.demolitionrecords.com or http://welcome.to/sacredsin

REVIEW: REV 99. - TURN A DEAF EAR

 

REV.99 - TURN A DEAF EAR (Pax Recordings., 2001):

Technical data:

Produced by 99 Hooker & Ernesto Diaz-Infante.

Engineered and Mixed by Ross Bonadonna, 99 Hooker

Art Design by 99 Hooker

Track List:1- Local Bomb, 2- Pavement Jam "Hey Your Car´s On Fire", 3- Olde Tyme Unnatural Rock ´n ´r oll, 4- Your Title here, 5- Spank My Piano, 6- We Should´ve Known, 7- Possum Ridge Paralyzer

This is a group of demented geniuses doing improvised music in an spontaneous way: 99 Hooker on chaos poetry and electrified sax, Ernesto Díaz-Infante on amplified acoustic guitar, piano, toy piano and glockenspies, Chris Forsyth on electric guitar, Akio Mokuno on G3 Powerbook (???) and Ross Bonadonna on studio manipulation. The result is experimental an funny at the same time, specially the chaos poetry ("Where is your accent from? CNN?"). The variety of instruments and the way they are played does not allow me to identify completely who is playing which part but the whole improvisation sounds really good. Who said that improvisational music was boring and for serious people?. Favorite tracks: "Pavement Jam...", "We Shoul´ve Known" and "Local Bomb". Contact: www.paxrecordings.com

REVIEW: PURGATION - REALM OF THE DEAD

 

PURGATION - REALM OF THE DEAD (Independent, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded at Digital Traxx - La Place, Louisiana

Track List: 1- Watching the World Die, 2- Eulogy (Part II), 3- Slumber, 4- Realm of the dead

It is funny to see how sometimes certain stereotypes can fool you. One of this stereotypes says that if you have a CD with a really dark cover featuring some dark painting including some diabolic figures, then you must be looking at a black/death metal CD. But here we have that really dark cover artwork and the music is completely different from what I expected. In fact what we have here is great hard rock with some grunge and stoner influences. The first track "Watching the World Die" reminded me of old Soundgarden ("Louder Than Love" era). Crushing guitar rhythms and twisted vocal melodies are the main features here. Riffs that reach heaviness using power chords instead of one note speed lines. Drums that are played giving a lot of space to the others instruments to breath. The good thing about this CD is that it is not hard rock, it is not grunge, it is not stoner rock, it is not hardcore, but has things of all this styles. Favorite tracks: "Watching the World Die" and "Realm of the Dead". Contact: www.purgation.com and www.mp3.com/purgation

REVIEW: PROPHET - BROKEN PROMISE

 

PROPHET - BROKEN PROMISE (Independent., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded /Mixed by Jukka Puurula at MD-Studios in 6 days.

Produced by Aleksi Ahokas and Sami Kikkalainen

Mastered by J.P. Mönkkönen at CD-Iinja

Layout and Graphics by Prophet and pervohenkka@hotmail.com

Track List: 1-From Nameless Oracle, 2- Angel´s Retreat, 3- Damnation of Reiomontum, 4- Thinking..., 5- Born to be King of Innerself.

What a surprise !! I listened the first few seconds of the first tracks and I found some catchy melody done by the vocals but in a rock way...then the whole band enters the scene and what I find is excellent gothic metal. All the tracks here were composed by Aleksi Ahokas and he knew what he wanted: heavy guitars, dark atmospheres, lots of melodies and lots of hooks for the listener. This is a great example of how a band can sound melodic without loosing strength on the way. I find some shades of the great norwegian band In The Woods in the vocals section (specially on the deppressive "I kiss and Let you Die"). An excellent production make the good points of this recording to stand out, specially in the guitar melodies. There are some guest musicians here: H. Sorvali on keyboards (Finntroll, Moonsorrow), Seppo Numela (Denigrate) on a guitar solo and Henri Vilberg (Diablerie, Triones) on growls. Favorite tracks: "I don´t believe in love", "I Kiss and Let You Die". Contact: www.brokenpromise.cjb.net

REVIEW: ODOR OF PEARS - CROWN OF THORNS

 

ODOR OF PEARS- CROWN OF THORNS (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Odor of Pears Studio.

Engineered and Produced by Joe K.

Graphic Design by Russell Ragar.

Track List:1- Invocation, 2-Cage, 3- Underground, 4- In Sodom Again, 5- Fuck Christianity, 6- Dildo, 7- Babies Without Faces, 8- Joan

A charming oriental melody opens the CD along with the enchanting vocals of Diana Blackwell. This is Odor of Pears, a trío consisting of Diana Blackwell on vocals, Joe K. On music and Russell Ragar on Visuals. The result is an hypnotic kind of music full of melodies where Blackwell´s vocals are the main feature and gives the music its distinctive touch. Keyboards and electronics are all over this CD creating a dark atmosphere, almost mechanical, succeeding in transmit the sensations of loneliness, oppression, darkness. I like a lot "Cage" with its keyboard bases (like vocals) below Blackwell´s voice that gets deeper for this track. The compositions here can be described in one word: climatic, or maybe atmospheric, or maybe ethereal. A must for people looking for new sensations. Favorite tracks: "Cage", "Fuck Christianity" (a future classic) and "Babies Without Faces". Contact: www.odorofpears.com

REVIEW: NO SPAGHETTI EDITION - LISTEN...AND TELL ME WHAT IT WAS

 

NO SPAGHETTI EDITION - LISTEN...AND TELL ME WHAT IT WAS (Sofa Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded in Rainbow Studio, Oslo by Jan Erik Kongshaug.

Mixed and Mastered by Thomas Hukkelberg.

Produced by Tonny Kluften, Ingar Zach and Ivar Grydeland.

Artwork by Mari Ihlebæk

Track List:1- Mir 1.4, 2- Drop the Boy, 3- Moscowskaja, 4- If Mountains Could Sing, 5- The Night, The Death and the Universe, 6- A Country Practice, 7- Spaghetti Fingers, 8- Mr. Thompson

Norwegian experimental/improvisational label Sofa Recs.has teamed musicians of great quality like Ingar Zach, Frode Haltli, Paal Nilssen-Love, Ingebrit Flaten, Ivar Grydeland and many more in an improvisational supergroup called No Spaghetti Edition. And again the music is pure madness and a search of intuitive music, sometimes really melodic, sometimes noisy, sometimes peaceful, sometimes climatic. In fact the great thing about this recording is the way in which it surprises you with sudden bursts of screams, piano and drums (as for example on the openning track "Mir1.4"). The main thing here is spontaneity and they succeed in being spontaneous on each track. Favorite tracks: "Drop The Boy", If Mountains Could Sing" and "Spaghetti Fingers". Contact: http://sofa.norcd.no