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