REVIEW: MY INSANITY - SOLAR CHILD

 

MY INSANITY - SOLAR CHILD (Season of Mist, 2001):

Track List: 1- Monument, 2- Cosmic Orgasm, 3- Bound and Lost, 4- Failed Experiment I, 5- Failed Experiment II, 6- Mirrors, 7- Solar Child, 8- Dead Season, 9- Twin, 10- Kings of Plush, 11- Infinity, 12- Sunday

From the first few seconds when you start this CD it impacts the strength that this band has, and how they have achieved a great mix of brutal and subtle moments. This is one of those bands that knows how to do excellent songs...and this is what this is all about: Songs. That is tracks whose music is sometime gothic, sometimes death but structured in a perfect way, designed to have a beginning and a perfect conclusion that closes the history within that track. Sometimes heavy as hell, sometimes full of melody (two types of vocals are used here for those who like melody there is one really good and moody vocalist, for those lovers of the death like growls there are vocals like that in some places too). There are also a lot of vocal harmonies in the choruses and for lovers of melody and harmony the guitars and the keyboards are permanently looking for new melodies to put in this great songs. Totally recommended. Favorite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.season-of-mist.com

REVIEW: MURDER - FROM DEEP INSIDE

 

MURDER - FROM DEEP INSIDE (Lixo Sounds and Discos, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Cuarto Estudio by Diego Vanegas

Bass and Drums recorded at Organic Sound

Artwork by Diego Vanegas

Track List: 1- Unspatial Warriors, 2- De Nuevo en pie, 3- From Deep Inside, 4- Directo al Corazón, 5- Insinuación, 6- Substancies Travelling, 7- Atentado (Noche Sin Luna), 8- In the Middle of the Night, 9- Pecado y Castigo, 10- En Silencio, 11- Beyond 2012

Power / thrash metal directly from Colombia with a really modern sound and some new metal influences in some aprts. The first thing that gets my attention here is the great guitar sound and the diversity of the vocals used (from heavy metal, to some voices more like rap and others more death metal). I liked a lot this band, because they are original and they have a lot of influences whicha re not evident, like Carcass, Machine Head, New Metal bands and At the Gates. All this influences are totally mixed in order to get an original resulta. Half of the tracks here are in spanish. Tu remark again, the vocals interplay, specially thumbs up for Daniel Vazquez who creates different moods with his vocals and congratulations to the guitarists and the drummer who have achieved a great sound (there are great rhythms and solos too). Favorite tracks: The whole album. Contact: http://listen.to/lixo

REVIEW: MNPLTR - PRTTP

 

MNPLTR - PRTTP (Precipice Recs, 2001):

Track List: 1- cnfssn, 2- ftrlf, 3-ctchr, 4- mn, 5-pdwn,, 6- prnd, 7- nw wrld, 8- cls, 9- dlr, 10- ngl, 11- rmt, 12- shttr

Why the hell this band does not use vowels in the titles of his songs and in all the booklet?? Why?? In fact the name of the band would Manipulator if all the vowels were there. Well, I don´t know, but the music here is strange too. Somewhat industrial, somewhat trance. But I like it! From the start with "Cnfssn" (confession?, confussion?) with its electronic beats and the vocals that are sometimes singed, sometimes whispered. Track number two "Ftrlf" is heavier with distorted guitars, but the electronics and industrial sounds are still all over the place. The music here is really experimental (in some passages the singer reminds me of John Wetton in the great King Crimson album "Red"). One fundamental thing here is the electronic percussion that is heavily used aontrasting with calm vocals. A strange CD but all people who like experimental music will love it. Favorite tracks: "Ctchr", "pdwn" and "Shttr". Contact : precipice@mindspring.com

REVIEW: MISANTHROPE - LIBERTINE HUMILIATIONS

 

MISANTHROPE - LIBERTINE HUMILIATIONS (Holy Records, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Fredman Studios

Engineered and Mixed by Fredrik Nordström

Artwork by Severine for Holy Records

Track List: 1- Misanthrope Necromancer, 2- Matador de L´Entreme, 3- At 666 Days, 4- L´ecume des Chavans, 5- Total Eclipse Chaos, 6- Sous L´Eclat Blanc de Nouveau Millenaire, 7- Crisis of Soul, 8- Combatant Sans Sepulture, 9- Antiquary to Mediocrity, 10- Humiliations Libertines

As most of you surely know Misanthrope is one of the main bands in Holy Records, this label that always surprises with bands .like Stille Volk, Septic Flesh and many more. The music of Misanthrope is the most complex death metal with a lot of technical passages, sudden breaks and very heavy rhythms. This can be fully appreciated on this release because of the excelent mix done by Fredrik Nordström that gives a lot of clarity to the drums and bass and adds a lot of bottom end to the guitars making the result more powerful. Excellent rhythms and many arrangements are what makes this release so special. This is originality within the death metal realm. Favorite tracks: "Matador de L´Entreme", "At 666 Days" and "Total Eclipse Chaos". 

REVIEW: MING - RED

 

MING - RED (Hombré Recordings, 2000):

Technical data:

Mastered by Sean Magee at Abbey Road

Produced by Andy Knepp

Artwork by Miriam Stenning.

Track List: 1- Come, 2- Fish, 3- Vase, 4- Wings, 5- Yours, 6- Still, 7- Mine, 8- Angels, 9- Witch, 10- Taste, 11- Red, 12- Bailarina, 13- Wait, 14- Running

Ming is a project that makes electronic music in a more accesible format. I mean this because of the kind of rhythms that are used within this recording and because of the vocals that are used to which are really melodic. But in fact this is not music conceived to be in the charts, because the melodies are too ethereal, too obscure if you like or maybe they are different from what the people that like commercial music are accustomed to listen to. There are some beats that are fairly accessible and the songs have common song structures like intro - verse - verse - chorus - verse - chorus. SO who knows if Ming can not be in the charts in the future?. Favorite tracks: "Still", "Angels" and "Fish". Contact: www.hombre.co.uk

REVIEW: MILO FINE JAZZ ENSEMBLE - KOI / KLOPS

 

MILO FINE JAZZ ENSEMBLE - KOI / KLOPS (Emanem Disc, 2001):

Technical data:

Diigital Concert Recordings done by Milo Fine

Mastering by Dan Rein

Photo by Paul Higgins.

Track List: 1- MF/SG 121001, 2- MF/SG 121002, 3- MF/SG/JS/NS 22011, 4- MF/SG/JS/NS 22012, 5- MF/SG/SN (incorporating elements of "181" by Scott Newell)

Milo Fine plays a lot of instruments ....and on this recording he is playing electronic drums, drums, piano, clarinet, electronic clarinet, violin and celeste (what a variety of different instruments!!). The recordings presented here are from three Milo Fine concerts, one on Decmber 2000 and the others on February an April of 2001. He is joined here by Steve Gnitka on amplified guitar, Jason Shapiro on piano and synthesizer, Nathan Smith on acoustic bass and guitar an dbass clarinet and Scott Newell on tenor saxophone and vocals. Playing in different line ups through the recordings, allows Fine to experiment with different musical formats, letting his imagination fly, and combining his sounds with the ones produced by the other musicians in order to create his musical structures. There is a lot of jazz influence on this particular recording, specially on the first track where Milo pays the piano and on certain acoustic bass passages. This is recommended listening for those who like improvisation and spontaneity. Favorite tracks: "MF/SG 121001" and "MF/SG/JS/NS 22012". Contact: www.emanemdisc.com

REVIEW: MAINPOINT - HEAVEN / EARTH

 

MAINPOINT - HEAVEN / EARTH (Morbid Records, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at DJ Sound Production Studio

Recorded, Mixed and Edited by Dirk Grabow and Mainpoint

Artwork by Mainpoint, Medienoperaring Kleemann and Mudu.

Track List: 1- Under the Cross, 2- Frozen Girl, 3- Again, 4- The Faithless Power of Jesus Christ, 5- Heaven and Earth, 6- Times, 7- Misanthropy, 8- Anaemic State, 9- Contaminated

How can I describe the music of Mainpoint and be fair? I think that sayiong that it ahs element of gothic music, and a lot of elements of metal would be a correct but short sighted way...but the elements and influences in Mainpoint are so many to be described in just a few words. Here we have nine powerful tracks which are completely different one from the other. Some in the vein of maybe Moonspell (the vocals sometimes remind me of that band) but heavier. And what gives a lot of identity to the band are the keyboards that are all the time playing arrangements in all the songs. One word that I would use to describe this CD is dense. It is like being in the middle of a fog that starts surrounding you without letting you breath. The guitars are extremely heavy and have a very particular sound (they sound like eighties heavy metal but playing a completely different music). Favorite tracks: All the CD. Contact: www.morbidrecords.de 

REVIEW: MASTIFAL - HOLOCAUSTO MENTAL

 

MASTIFAL - HOLOCAUSTO MENTAL (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Estudios Sebastián de la Riega

Engineered by Sebastián de la Riega

Cover Art: Huno

Track List: 1- Holocausto mental, 2- Devastación, 3- Espectáculo macabro, 4- Apodado hijo del diablo, 5- Privado de Libertad, 6- Lenta Muerte, 7- Indiferencia, 8- Ebola, 9- Cuando el sol crucifique mi nombre, 10- Fabrica de Monos, 11- La plegaria del obrero

This is pure thrash metal with elements typical of that style like certain drum patterns or guitar riffs. I like the way the tracks are made with a lot of arrangements on the guitars (like on "Devastación" in the middle part). The vocals are more brutal than in most of thrash metal bands and I think this give identity to the band, specially when used diferent from other bands. The main element here are the guitar riffs combined with the drums and the vocals (in the choruses there are screamings like in bands like Exodus for example). The CD is mixed in a way that reminds the thrash bands from the late eighties and beginning of the nineties with the bass really up in the front. The lyrics of this band are centered on the problematics of modern society, specially in third world countries...as an example check "Ebola" or "Devastación". Favorite tracks: "Holocausto mental", "Cuando el Sol crucifique Mi Nombre" and " La Plegaria del Obrero". Contact: www.mastifal.com.ar

REVIEW: M3 - UN EAR THING

 

M3 - UN EAR THING (Sublingual Records, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at PlayRooMuzik

Recorded, Mixed and Edited by M3

Digital Mastering by Pete Araya.

Track List: 1- Crossing Guard, 2- Mobile, 3- Batique Space, 4- Occultation, 5- Then I Walked Further On, 6- Code Gate, 7- Impregnant, 8- Crooked Mile, 9- Triangular 1, 10- Triangular 2, 11- Plow

M3 is an improvisational trio consisting in Roger Miller on bass and electronics systems/looping and drums, Laurence Miller on drums and Benjamin Miller on guitar, arch-top guitar and drums. The musiuc here is really spontaneous and at the same time has great coherence among the three musicians, creating passages that go from really hevay like on the first track "Crossing Guard", to almost ambient sounding ones in the next track "Mobile". I find this trio an experimental group that is far more interesting than most of the other outfits that are out there because their ideas are better presented and they have achieved great results here. It is interesting to see how while Benjamin and Roger create weird sounds and new stuff, Laurence manages to do some interesting rhythms to make the tracks more experimental and accesible. A good release for fans of improvisation. Favorite tracks: "Batique Space", "Code Gate" and "Plow". Contact: www.sublingual.com

REVIEW: LIFEND - ENTWINED EMOTIONS

 

LIFEND - ENTWINED EMOTIONS (Independent, 2001):

Track List: 1- First, 2- Wait in Silence and Die, 3- This Cold Life, 4- Violence in Music

A magnificent keyboard introduction leads us into the world of the music of Lifend. This is an italian ban thart makes a music that we can call death/black/gothic metal, that was formed in 1999 (under the name My Dark Side before changing their name to Lifend on September 2001). Thir music is heavy and extremely dark and melodic at the same time. And they rely heavily on the use of keyboards (Davide is great in making all the melodies tha make so special their music) that contrast with the crushing guitars (who also make sad melodies in the vein of early My Dying Bride). One thing that I would like to remark is the great combination of vocals...there are two types of male vocals (one more gothic and the other more death/black metal) and also a female vocalist called Sara who has a really personal vocal style and adds a great contrast to the music. I can define Lifend´s mnusi as Light nad Darkness, that is full of contrasts between the instruments and the voices. A great first step for this band. I hope to listen more of their music in the future. Favorite tracks: "This Cold Life" and "Wait in Silence and Die". Contact: www.lifend.cjb.net

REVIEW: KOAN - FRONTIERS

 

KOAN - FRONTIERS (Red Stream, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded by Spher

Art by Steve Miller / Extremities

Track List: 1- Transe in (Forest), 2- Innocent, 3- Unfolding Spaces, 4- Neon Dreams, 5- Underwaters, 6- Looking for the frontiers, 7- Disintegrating, 8-Chaos, 9- Transe Out (rain)

Koan´s music is really weird. Full of electronics and ambient parts with some vocals, and heavy use of keyboards and programming. In fact the vocals here are used as another instrument. That is, the voices here are doing melodies in order to make the result stranger and sometimes they are harmonized in order to create some weird chants (sometimes kind of gregorian, sometimes kind of tribal). There are some electronic drums that give rhythm to some of the tracks contained on this CD. If you like experimental music and electronics with innovative composition, this can be yours, if you don´t like it, probably you will hate it. Favorite tracks: "Unfolding Spaces", "Looking For the Forntiers" and " Chaos". Contact: www.redstream.org

REVIEW: KENT CARTER - BEAUVAIS CATHEDRAL

 

KENT CARTER - BEAUVAIS CATHEDRAL (Emanem Disc, 2001):

Technical data

Recorded at the music room of the Chateau de Maignelay (except 12 recorded at a radio station in Paris)

Recorded by Daniel Deshay and Kent Carter.

Mastering and design by Martin Davidson

Track List: 1- Cello Solo: Pinch, 2- Dance Two: Rhapsody, 3- Play Time, 4- Stretch, 5- Bass Time For Max, 6- Chateau de Maignelay, 7- Other Fingers, 8- Cello Solo 2: Beginnings, 9- Michala Dance, 10- Bass Suite Nº1: Fingers, 11- Beauvais Cathedral, 12- Thumps, 13- Steps, 14- Tarragona

Free Improvisations done by cello and double bass master Kent Carter during 1974 and 1975 , recorded at the Chateau de Maignelay. This are spontaneous ideas that MR. Carter had in his brain while playing in that moment. You can listen a lot of variations in his music, going from melodic lines using the lower spectre of the instrument sound to some high pitched sounds. But it is incredible how coherente and yet experimental is the music that Kent Carter does...how he has in mind certain structures nad he constantly uses them and breaks them and puts them together in a different way creating a collage on its own. While being certainly strange in some moments, the music here is not as difficult for the normal ear as sometimes improvised or spontaneous music can be. In fact the sound of the cello and double bass is so warm and the mastery of the instrument that Carter has are enough to guarantee a great result. Favorite tracks: "Cello Solo 1: Pinch", "Bass Suite No 1" and "Tarragona". Contact: www.emanemdisc.com

REVIEW: JUDAS PRIEST - DEMOLITION

 

JUDAS PRIEST - DEMOLITION (Atlantic Records, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Silvermere Sound and Riverside Studios

Mastered by Jon Astley

Produced by Glenn Tipton.

Track List: 1- Machine Man, 2- One on One, 3- Hell Is Home, 4- Jekyll and Hyde, 5- Close To You, 6- Devil Digger, 7- Bloodsuckers, 8- In Between, 9- Feed on Me, 10- Subterfuge, 11- Lost and Found, 12- Cyberface, 13- Metal Messiah

Judas Priest is back !!! Again with Tim "Ripper" Owens on vocals (this time more confident and with a more personal voice). I think that Judas Priest is one of those bands that does not become stagnant even if they have their own style and even if they are a legend. So, this time,as happened with the previous CD "Jugulator", Judas Priest has a definitely more modern sound, specially on the guitars and in tracks like "Machine Man" or "One on One" (thefirst two of the album) they have achieved a heavier result (obviously diehard Halford fans will say that they don´t like it and that Rob Halford should come back). But the good thing is too see a classical band evolving and doing it better with each album creating always great melodies for their songs (eventhough there are not much guitar solos here and I would like to listen them because Tuipton and Downing are killer guitarists). The sound is great here and they sound as a classical and at the same time new band. Favorite tracks: "One on One", "Jekyll and Hyde" and "Feed on Me". Contact: www.judaspriest.com

REVIEW: INTERNAL SUFFERING - PROMO

 

INTERNAL SUFFERING - PROMO (Independent, 2001):

Track List: 1- Mighty Triumphant Return, 2- Summoning The Ancient Ones

Internal Suffering is a band completely dedicated to the most extreme kind of death metal....yes the one with hiperfast blast beats and extremely guttural voices, with fast guitar riffs in the vein of the first Cannibal Corpse´s albums and some breaks and stops typical of the genre. There are some guitar riffs that are original like on "Summoning the Ancient Ones" where they throw some pinch harmonics within one riff but perhaps this could be more appreciated doing some combination with slower parts and some deeper riffs. This guys are recommended for the ones who love extremely fast and brutal death metal in all its variations. Contact: www.zonaunderground.com

REVIEW: INFERNAL LEGION - SCULPTURED HUMANS

 

INFERNAL LEGION - SCULPTURED HUMANS (LSP Company, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and mixed at the Sound Shape Studios

Recorded and mixed by Frans V. Steembergen.

Frontcover by Kris Verwimp

Track List: 1- Intro, 2- F.T.W., 3- Dead in my own reality, 4- Sculptured humans, 5- Under Influence of Sickness, 6- Gift of Destruction, 7- Melancholy Reigns, 8- A Forgotten World

Hyperfast black thrash metal is the music that this band called Infernal Legion does. Why am I saying this? Well, it has the vocals that are typical of black metal but instead of using the fast one note progression riffs that most bands use, this band prefers to use some thrash rhythms and breaks like on 2:02 of "F.T.W." where the drums play the rhythm while the guitars remain sustained before getting into full speed mode again. There are clean guitars intros in some places, like in the beginning of "Dead in my own reality" and a lot of changes that gives a lot of interesting qualities to the tracks. Plus the combination of old school sounding riffs with modern sound will be loved by nostalgics and lovers of black metal and thrash equally. The power of thrash metal is back but has evolved a lot! Favorite tracks: "Gift of Destruction", "Melancholy Reigns" and "Dead in My Own Reality". Contact: www.lsp-company.com

REVIEW: IAN SMITH - DAYBREAK

 

IAN SMITH - DAYBREAK (Emanem Disc, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Red Rose, London

Recorded, Mixed and Edited by Dave Hunt. Produced by Steve Beresford.

Artwork by Marina Tadeu and Sebastian Smith.

Track List: 1- Daybreak, 2- Falange, Falanginha, Falngeta, 3- Carpe Dentum, 4- There We Are, 5- Coffee, 6- Blás, 7- Function of the Organ, 8- Don´t Even think About It, 9- Closely Linked, 10- Air Apparent, 11- Sometimes, 12- Hidden, 13- Windsurfing, 14- Go On

As always, Emanem Disc brings us improvisational and spontaneous music recorded by great musicians. This time is the work of great trumpetist Ian Smith (who also plays the flügelhorn) and who is joined here by great guitarist Derek Bailey (I commented some collaborations of this excellent artist on previous issues), Trombone master Gail Brand, Oren Marshall on tuba and Veryan Weston on chamber organ. The music here is an exploration into the combination of sounds that this musicans can achieve, sometimes in duet form, sometimes in trio, and sometimes all together (there is also one solo piece by Veryan Weston where he explores the possibilities of his instrument). The result is very spontaneous, going from organized chaos to melodic within the same track but without losing control. The thing that I like more from this type of recordings is that they "catch the moment" in which the recording was done...and that is something that can not be reproduced again on another recording done a different time. This guys have a lot to offer . Favorite tracks: "There We Are", "Carpe Dentum" and "Windsurfing". Contact: www.emanemdisc.com

REVIEW: HOLLENTHON - DOMUS MUNDI

 

HOLLENTHON - DOMUS MUNDI (Napalm Records, 1999):

Technical data:

Recorded at Vato Loco Studio

Recorded, Mixed and Edited by Martin Schirenc

Cover Concept and Layout by Martin Schirenc.

Track List: 1- Enrapture - Hinc Illae Lacrimae, 2- Homage - Magni Nominis Umbra, 3- Vestige - Non Omnis Moriar, 4- Lure - Pallida Mors, 5- Interlude - Ultima Ratio Regum, 6- Reprisal - Malis Avibus, 7- Premonition - Lex Talionis, 8- Eclipse - Vita Nova

On last issue I reviewed Hollenthon´s latest album "With Vilest of Worms To Dwell", and it was an album that I really loved. It was like a soundtrack for a movie (this comparison that is immediately brought to your mind has made some stupid power metal journalist to ask Martin if he feels related to Rhapsody because of the term Hollywood metal used to describe the music of the italian band). And here is Hollenthon´s prior album , the amazing n"Domus Mundi". This recording is somewhat more crude than "With Vilest..." even if there is a lot of orchestration too, but there are certain elements that are less subtle as the vocals and the guitar sound (in some parts of the first track the guitars reminded me of Celtic Frost´s "To Mega Therion" because of their sound). But Martin obviously knew what he wanted before recording "Domus Mundi" and this is like the seed of what "With Vilest..:" would achieve, this is like a diamond that has to be a little polished (not that much because you have wonders like "Homage- Magni Nominis Umbra" with its oriental melodies and harmonies or "Lure- Pallida Mors" with its guitar melodies and gregorian chants. This was a great first step on Hollenthon´s career. Favorite tracks: "Homage - Magni Nominis Umbra", " Premonition..." and "Eclipse - Vita Nova". Contact: www.napalmrecords.com or www.hollenthon.com

REVIEW: HEAVEN´S BURNING - FREE AGENTS

 

HEAVEN´S BURNING - FREE AGENTS (SOUL´D HERE) (Cosmic Pageant Prods., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded in San Diego, CA

Engineered by Jeff Sers

Track List: 1- Intro, 2- Moonpools, 3- Monday, 4- Shake This World, 5- Holes In the Skies, 6- Butterfly Psychosis, 7- Gun In Your Purse, 8- Good, 9- Intermission, 10- Day on My Skin, 11- Strip Me Down, 12- Reprise

Heaven´s Burning is a female duo consisting in Angela Santiago Chung in vocals, guitars and bass and Kristy Jones also in vocals, guitars and bass. The music here is alternative rock with a lot of melodies and hooks and the main carachteristic are the vocals of Angela and Kristy. There are shades of some bands of the seventies and eighties in there that are thrown into the mix to obtain Heaven´s Burning Music. My favorite tracks are the darker ones like for example "Shake This World" with its slow beginning along the beautiful vocal line made by Angela. Lovers of melodies that are somewhat dark and somewhat depressive but at the same time beautiful, here is for you Heaven´s Burning. Favorite tracks: "Shake This World", "Good" (some Nirvana influence in there) and "Strip Me Down". Contact: www.heavensburning.com

REVIEW: GURKKHAS - A LIFE OF SUFFERING

 

GURKKHAS - A LIFE OF SUFFERING (Morbid Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at LB Studio

Sound Engineers: Stephane Buriez, Francois Jazmin

Artwork: In Deed Hell

Track List: 1- Born on a Day of War, 2- Tears of Blood, 3- A Life of Suffering, 4- Kukri, 5- The Day of Battle, 6- Legacy, 7- If I Should Die, 8- Chronicles of Chaos

Directly from France we have this powerful death metal beasts!!! In their style of the most brutal death metal, this guys are kings!! Fast rhythms with modern riffs sounding extremely DEATHLY!! Two things to point out....the great and modern sound that this guys have achieved on this recording. In fact this gives an extra flavour to their music because being so fast and brutal, it needs a very clear mix to be fully appreciated. The main theme around which the songs spin is WAR....that is the content of Gurkkhas tracks... and the music is something that fits the lyrics perfectly, explosive, powerful and extremely brutal. Guttural vocals, riffs that are fast and have a good guitar sound in order to achieve better resyults...a killer fast drummer, all this elements and more are combined here to made this music that I would label Battle war metal. Favorite tracks: "The Day of Battle", "If I Should Die" and "Chronicles of Chaos".Contact: www.multimania.com/gurkkhas

REVIEW: GROOVE GARDEN - SOULFOOD

 

GROOVE GARDEN - SOULFOOD (Soulfood Music., 2001):

Technical data:

Produced by Soulfood

Track List: 1- Chamber 12 Edit, 2- Chamber 13 edit, 3- Chamber 11 remix, 4- Chamber 14 remix, 5- Flamenco Soul, 6- Radiant Minds remix, 7- Tulku´s Palace remix, 8- Sky Spirit Remix, 9- Manitou edit, 10- Peacekeeper edit, 11- Evolution edit.

This CD consists in tracks from differnt styles. There are four tracks of Wingmakers who play a strange mix of electronics, world beat and tribal chants (with some female vocals here and there to add more mystery to this mixture). After that we have one track from flamenco guitarist Pedro Cortez, combining his guitar with some sitar or instrument like that, with excelent duet phrases and a great spanish feeling through the whole track. Then, Entering Dreamtime showcases their chants and a lot of keyboard progressions in a style more eastern sounding with some tribal percussion and melodies thata re typical from Middle Eastern cultures, mixed with some electronic effects. After this, is the turn of Sky Spirit, a project consisting in a lot of flute melodies, and this is the quieter part of the recordings. The last project to be featured here is Steve Kuether´s tranquility who takes us to songs based on piano, almost new age sometimes, full of phrases and melodies of great beauty. Favborite tracks: "Chamber 11", "Flamenco Soul","Tulku´s Palace" and "Evolution". Contact: www.soulfoodmedia.com

REVIEW: GONORRHOEACTION - PROMO DISFIGURED AFTER BUTCHERY

 

GONORRHOEACTION - PROMO (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at the Gonorrhoeahersalroom - May 01

Track List: 1- Cunt Cutlet, 2- Pile Into Piles, 3- Backdoor Convulsion, 4- Nature Warning / Human Extinction, 5- The Torturer, 6- Mucous Gulch Contaminated with Haemorrhoids, 7- We Will Never Sit Down To Piss

This is death grind in all its aspects !! The band starts at total speed with "Cunt Cutlet" with their fast riffs and two types of vocals unleashing all the sonic madness. I think this could be more appreciated with a better sound (here is a little bit opaque making all the instruments sounding too much in the background) and I think that next time this is the main point to look at, because the compositions are good, having some catchy rhythms and a lot of changes. And here is what I like most from Gonorrhoeaction...the multiple riffs within the same song structure, combined with their power and the two voices...one more gutural and the other one more screaming...in the vein of old Napalm Death. There is a Malignant Tumor cover called "Nature Warning/Human Extinction"...This is grind that in the future can shatter the world. Favorite tracks: "Pile Into Piles" and "The Torturer". Contact: www.gonorrhoeaction.de

REVIEW: GODLESS TRUTH - SELF REALIZATION

 

GODLESS TRUTH - SELF REALIZATION (Shindy Prods,, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded at Exponent Studios

Produced and Mixed by Roman Slavic and Godless Truth

Artwork by Zig and Deather.

Track List: 1- Ninetyseven, 2-Worthless Human Being, 3- Disdain, 4- He´s not, 5- Constructing the Future, 6- Next Step, 7- Isolated Victim, 8- Predetermined Disfiguration, 9- I take your life, 10- Crooshpetz

Fucking death metal at its best!! Heavy as hell, extremely huge guitars and killer drumming (since the beginning of the first track) with technical guitar riffs in the vein of the most potent Morbid Angel (also I find some Benediction and Suffocation influences here and there...but with a more modern sound that allows the guitar to sound much bigger than in the aforementioned bands). There is a lot of speed here but the main feature is the heaviness of the tracks. I have to congratulate this guys because of the sound that they have achieved on this release, it is cristal clear and makes the results much more effective than would have been with a worse sound (for example it is great to listen the bass suporting th guitar riffs while not missing a beat of the bass drums). Please, check this band because you will not be dissapointed. Favorite tracks: "Disdain", "Next Step" and "Predetermined Disfiguration". Contact: www.shindy.cz

REVIEW: GARDEN OF DELIGHT - RADIANT SONS

 

GARDEN OF DELIGHT - RADIANT SONS (Trinity Recs,, 2000):

Technical data:

Produced by God

Recorded and Mixed by Artaud

Artwork by Artaud and Johnnie Clappe.

Track List: 1- Chaos A.D. (R.O.C.A.N.), 2- Agony, 3- Obsessed, 4- Sharcah, 5- Astral Traveler, 6- Twilight, 7- Last Day on Earth, 8- Astral Traveler (Radio Edit)

Interesting band from Germany that mixes gothic elements with some from different styles such as industrial. While listening to this CD come to my mind bands like Rammstein, Nine Inch Nails and others fom dark and mechanical styles. The combination of clean and heavy guitars as well as the electronic elements used along with the keyboards are what give this sensation of being in the presence of a gothic/industrial/ metal band. The voices are in a medium and low range adding depth to the music of the band, plus there is a female guest vocalist too to add the higher range to the vocal side. If you like this coimbination of dark melodies, heavy guitars and spectral keyboards then this is yours. Favorite tracks: "Agony", "Obsesed" and "Twilight". Contact: www.garden-of-delight.2xs.de

REVIEW: GALLOPING CORONERS - DANCING WITH THE SUN

 

GALLOPING CORONERS - DANCING WITH THE SUN (Neurot Recordings, 2000):

Technical data:

Mixed by Nemes Lazslo

Artwork by Barcsik Geza.

Track List: 1-Conjuring Up The Wonder Stag, 2- Inspiration, 3- Dancing With The Sun, 4- Crystalling Desire, 5- Tiny Red Dragons, 6- A Fairy Tale Playground, 7- Spinning Into Joy, 8- Fire Full Dance, 9- The Life Of The Spherics, 10- With My Ancestors, 11- Huns IN Budapest, 12- Magus Star

Where do this guys come from?? They come from Hungary and their real name is Vágtázó Halottkémek which means Galloping Coroners in english. This guys have been in concert with bands like Today is the Day, Neurosis and Voivod. But they make a music completely differnt from all this bands. In fact this is more climatic and almost acoustic in all its integrity. The music has eastern european influences and some folk influences too. While the tracks may be rhythmic enough to dance along them, they have some experimental quality in them, such as certain guitar lines that are weirder and have this eastern flavor on them. Sometimes the music here is more ambient using the instruments to create sounds in order to make the tracks even more weird. The lyrics are completely in hungarian language and that adds the special touch to this awesome recording.. Favorite tracks: "With My Ancestors", "Inspiration" and "Spinning Into Joy". Contact: www.neurotrecordings.com

REVIEW: FLESHLESS - NICE TO EAT YOU

 

FLESHLESS - NICE TO EAT YOU (Obscene Prods., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Hostivar Praha.

Recorded and Mixed by Jakub and Zdenek Sikyr

Artwork by Jiri Lhota

Track List: 1- Nice to Eat You, 2- The Body bag Blues, 3- Culture Meat, 4- Noise Part III, 5- Red Stars Hypocrisy, 6- Where´s Mine Resurrection, 7- Defy the Fear, 8- Headscratcher, 9- A Roadkill Recipe, 10- Breathe and Bleed, 11- HRBitov (Root Cover)

Obscene Productions brings us this brutal band from their homeland the Czech Republic. This band is completely inmersed in the style that we call brutal death metal and they do it very fluently. The thing tat helps a lot is the guitar sound that is really fat (they have a lot of bottom end and is mixed very loud). Plus the guitars, apart from being extremely heavy, make a lot of changes in the tracks. This death metal is extremely technical and seems to be very popular in the Czech metal scene. It is always good to see in tracks like "Culture Meat" or "Where´s Mine resurrection" how this guys have enough technical skills to play this complicated brand of music, specially the killer drummer who is a machine behind his kit. My favorite tracks are those in which there are more changes and technical stuff, like "Breathe and Bleed" or "Culture Meat". Contact: www.obscene.cz

REVIEW: FEAR FACTORY - DIGIMORTAL

 

FEAR FACTORY - DIGIMORTAL (Roadrunner Records, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Ocean Studio. Mixed at Sol 7 Studios.

Produced by Rhys Fulber and Fear factory.

Artwork by Tom Jermann

Track List: 1- What Will Become?, 2- Damaged, 3- Digimortal, 4- No One, 5- Linckpin, 6- Invisible Wounds (Dark Bodies), 7- Acres of Skin, 8- Back the Fuck Up, 9- Byte Block, 10- Hurt Conveyor, 11- (Memory Imprints) never End, 12- Dead Man Walking, 13- Strain Vs. Resistance, 14- Repentance, 15- Full Metal Contact

Fear Factory has become a cult band within the metal realm after their first two albums "Soul of a New Machine" and "Demanufacture". This time we have here their newest offer called "Digimortal"....thi album follows the path of albums like "Demanufature" being heavier than "Obsolete". As always the band is helped by a great production to achieve the heaviness and mechanical sound that is their main characteristic. In "Digimortal" the band explores their heavier side (the contrary than they did in "Obsolete" where they explored their more melodic sound. As always Dino Cazares guitars are exptremely heavy and combined with Raymond Herrera´s mechanical drums give the band its true identity. Obviously one of the main points here are Burton C. Bell´s vocals which are really original diferentiating Fear Factory from their imitators. Plus this record includes four bonus tracks. Favorite tracks: "Damaged", "Linckpin" and "(Memory Imprints) Never End. Contact: www.fearfactory.com

REVIEW: FATAL PORTRAIT - AN ELUSIVE INSTINCT OF LASCIVIA

 

FATAL PORTRAIT - AN ELUSIVE INSTINCT OF LASCIVIA (Downfall Records, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded in the beginning of 2000

Track List: 1- Invocation, 2- Five Dimmensions of Pleasure, 3- Drowned in Your Eyes, 4- Where my Eagerness Died, 5- Cantabria Under Siege, 6- The Mirror´s Miracle, 7- Rapture Among the Idols, 8- Winter and My Grief, 9- Thus Tragedy Speaks

Satanic black metal...the name can full you a little bit eventhough the band plays that style. Why? Because the band is not a raw black metal band like Dark throne could be, even if they are really fast in some places and they have black metal riffs played over hyper fast blast beats. This band has a big difference, and that is their keyboards player who was recently added to the lineup and is constantly doing some bases to the tracks adding a lot of colour to the songs. Also the band has certain breaks and changes that are not typical of a black metal band and a lot of guitar melodies. For example when they start the melody at 1:49 in "Five Dimmensions of Pleasure" where the guitars are playing their melodies over a good drums pattern while the keyboards make an interesting chord progression before getting into a break and into a fast part again. A good definition would be Cantabrian black metal to give the band the identity and recognition that they deserve. Favorite tracks: "Drowned in your eyes", "Cantabria Under Siege" (a long track and the most complicated) and "Winter and My Grief". Contact: downfall_records@hotmail.com

REVIEW: ETOILE NOIRE - SLEEPING BLACK EYES

 

ETOILE NOIRE - SLEEPING BLACK EYES (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed by F.Milanesi and P.Scotti at Kobal Studio and by R.Bascetta and A. Tedeschi at Akustika Studio

Logo by Roberto Toderico.

Track List: 1- Ascension, 2- Sleeping Black Eyes, 3- Eyelids Covering Mirror, 4- Melt, 5- Point of No Return

What a strange mix! This guys come from italy and their music is like a mixture of gothic rock, punk rock and straight forward rock and roll (there are certain arrangements that would not be out of place on a metal band like the beginning of "Eyelids Covering Mirror"...really gothic). The first track here, called "Ascension" is really the hit, because is simple, potent and has the hooks needed on the chorus to make the song stuck in your mind. The vocals are sometimes really late seventies punk rock, and that is really curious for me because it makes a contrast with other parts where the singer uses a deeper voice more on the gothic vein. There are certain acoustic passages like the mentioned beginning of "Eyelids Covering Mirrors" and some use of violin .This is original. Favorite tracks: "Sleeping Black Eyes" and "Eyelids Covering Mirrors" . Contact: www.etoilenoire.net

REVIEW: ESPERANZA - ESPERANZA

 

ESPERANZA - ESPERANZA (Jester Records, 1997):

Technical data:

Recorded at GL Studio, Grindvoll.

Produced by Borge Finstad and Esperanza

Artwork by Subtopia

Track List: 1-Edna and Friends, 2- The Farao Was a Spy, 3- Niobad, 4- Wandina, 5- Cyber Jungle 2, 6- Ramayana, 7- The Basement, 8- Area s4, 9- Cartoon U.F.O., 10- Khalid & Habib meets tsee-ni-lao-lio-bala, 11- Journey, 12- Aglaria Pidhol Garia Ananus Qepta, 13- Ursa Minor, 14- Chichen Itza, 15- A Dive From the Cloud, 16- The Longing Fly

Those who loved Ulver´s latest album "Perdition City" Will surely like this CD. Thos who don´t like that kind of music will not. Don´t expect here crushing guitar riffs with distorted guitars and blast beats...here you will find electronics, keyboards and drum machines. The music is very experimental, diving deep in the electronic nature of the sounds to conceive this sixteen tracks that have each one its own identity. Despite being experimental the music here is full of melodies and is not threatening to ears that are not accustomed to this style. The more accessible thing here are the drums patterns which are not playing odd time signatures and so are easy to listen. Favorite tracks: "Chichen Itza", " The Farao Was a Spy" and "Cartoon U.F.O". Contact: www.jesterrecords.com

REVIEW: ENSOPH - BLEEDING WOMB OF ANANKE

 

ENSOPH - BLEEDING WOMB OF ANANKE (Beyond Prods., 2001):

Track List: 1- Shattered Void, 2- The Spyral Stigmata, 3- I (Be & Will Be), 4- Tanz der Erinnerung, 5- In The Blossom of Inertness, 6- Aletheia, 7- Amber Shrine, 8- The Ivory Ouroboros, 9- The Bleeding Womb of Ananke, 10- 7 volte 3 (E´un sole ermetico)

Ensoph ´s music is really difficult to label...it is not black metal (although in the fastest parts it may seem that it is), not gothic. It has a lot of variations and experimentation going on. There are different type of vocals, from a very deeep one (male vocals, courtey of Nicola) to another one that is really like a demonic shriek (this is an extremely original type of vocal...really horrifying!!...and it comes from a female singer called Anna who also plays flute ), and a lot of whispers. Plus there are a lot of effects and keyboards that are one of the main points of Ensoph ´s music. What makes this recording so original is the combination of all this types of vocals with some heavy and clean guitars and all the keyboards, flutes and electronic effects (in fact this three last items are constantly making melodies and arrangements to embellish the compositions of the band). A must for extreme music lovers. The original version comes in a four folders digipack with a twenty pages booklet . Favorite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.beyondprod.com

REVIEW: ENS COGITANS - HEART OF THE WAY

 

ENS COGITANS - HEART OF THE WAY (Nostradamus Records, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Red Rose Studios

Produced by Michael Antonov and Ens Cogitans

Artwork by Ilya Trusov.

Track List: 1- Stone Mill, 2- Fire from Within, 3- Search of Kalokagathy, 4- Hart of the Way, 5- As The Heartbeat Vanishes, 6- Through the Moonlight

On their previous album, Ens Cogitans reminded me as a mix of the Paradise Lost of "One Second" and the Apradise Lost of "Host". That is a band with certain electronic elements but still very heavy and gothic with their own identity. This time this guys have changed their sound and their music has become more technical. There are multiple passages withinm each track going from the most calm parts with keyboards, clean guitars and whispered vocals to heavier parts with distorted guitars, more dynamic voclas and interesting drum breaks and tmpo changes. One thing that I must remark is the interesting work of the bass player who contributes a lot to the final result doing a lot of arrangementes (the bass is mixed really loud on this CD). This is one of the best bands that I have listened from the Russian metal scene. Favorite tracks: the whole album. Contact: http://nostradamusrec.euro.ru.