REVIEW: TAIPAN - 11 MUST DIE

 

TAIPAN - 11 MUST DIE (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Taipan

Recorded by 3 weeks in a Coal Chamber

Tracks: 1- Rakshasa, 2- Itcha, 3- ...of bones and Skin, 4- As the Flowers Wither, 5- My Curse, 6- The heart failed, 7- Breakaway, 8- Poisened and sunken down my throat, 9- Nobody Knows (The sorrow I Found), 10- The great control, 11- Fall from Grace

This was a great surprise for me. Looking at the awful cover and the quality of the packaging I expected a mediocre band. But I was wrong. This band is really good. And which style they love? Doom!!!!!!! Yes, they are slow as hell in some tracks (and very rhythmic in others) and they have that riffs that we loved in bands like Saint Vitus and Trouble and maybe in the Obsessed. But also they have faster tracks like "Itcha" were they sound like early Venom (specially because of the primitive sound that this track has with the noisy drums). But they prefer the slow riffs and the whispering vocals which transmit pain, anguish and fear to the listener. Good one !!!! Favorite tracks: "...of Bones and Skin", "Breakaway" and "Nobody Knows (The sorrow I Found)".

REVIEW: STORMBLADE - RAINDROPS OF LIGHT

 

STORMBLADE - RAINDROPS OF LIGHT (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Stormblade

Recorded at Mauro Cella´s studio

Artwork by Matteo Bocacci

Tracks: 1- Intro, 2- The Calling, 3- StormBlade, 4- Fallen Angel, 5- Beyond the Boundaries of Infinity

Heavy metal. That is what we have here. Nothing more and nothing less. With a sound that is not really good (specially on one of the guitars and on the drums ). The songs are in the spirit of bands like Armored Saint (remember that one?). With epic choruses and some cliches of the genre. There are interesting changes in songs like "The Calling" (some Iron Maiden influences here too). Fans of heavy metal will be delighted with this one. I prefer other things. Favorite tracks: "the Calling", "Beyond the Boundaries of Infinity".

REVIEW: S.R.L. - REQUIESCAT IN PACE

 

S.R.L. - REQUIESCAT IN PACE (Kick promotion Agency, 2001)

Recorded at Audiolandia Studios

Artwork by Desiderio Sanzi

Tracks: 1- Ora e Sempre, 2- A Lex, 3- La Fine di un Sogno, 4- Ultima Ora, 5- Requiescat In Pace

Here we have this band coming directly from Italy (and their songs are in Italian language). Their music is modern heavy metal with a great guitar sound (maybe a little bit low in the mix) and good riffs (most of them in a rhythmic way that make th songs conceived to jump in a moshpit). One of the things that I liked most were the guitar solos that maybe in today´s music are a little bit forgotten, but not for S.R.L. It is good to listen a bass with a sound so clean contrasting with the guitars. As I said the one thing that I would do is mix a little bit louder the rhythmic guitar to make the result more direct. A good release from this band. Favorite tracks: "La Fine di un sogno", "Requiescat In Pace" and "A Lex". Contact: www.kickagency.3000.it

REVIEW: SLIPKNOT - IOWA

 

SLIPKNOT - IOWA (Roadrunner Recs., 2001)

Produced by Ross Robinson and Slipknot

Recorded at Sound City Studios

Artwork by t42 Design

Tracks: 1- (515), 2- People-Shit, 3- Disasterpiece, 4- My Plague, 5- Everything Ends, 6- the Heretic Anthem, 7- Empty, 8- Left Behind, 9- The Shape, 10- I am hated, 11- Skin Ticket, 12- New Abortion, 13- Metabolic, 14- Iowa

Here is Slipknot´s latest offering, starting with "People Shit" one of their most extreme songs up to date even with some blast beats in the beginning. I still donm´t know how this guys are so popular, because their sound is not what you would call "easy listening". Well, I think they deserve their success, because they are a great band. And they show how great they are on this new rtecording with a much better sound than their previous one (courtesy of Mr. Ross Robinson). The tracks here have that HUUUUUUGEEE guitar sound that has made Slipknot so famous and those drumming and percussion patterns that crush your mind with their insanity. I think this is one of the releases of year 2001. Favorite tracks: "My Plague", "The Heretic Anthem" and "Left Behind". Contact: www.roadrunnerrecords.com

REVIEW: SLANG - SAVE THE CHILIS

 

SLANG - SAVE THE CHILIS (Carbon 7 Recs., 2001)

Produced by Guy Segers and Alan Wards for Carbon 7.

Recorded at Studio Caraibe, Brussels.

Artwork by Els and Gunther at Poplar

Tracks: 1- Sugar, 2- Yukun Slang, 3- Small Steps(for big people), 4- Bazaar, 5- La Trilogie d´Apu, 6- Oude Fox, 7- Nana, 8- Hombre Felí, 9- Own Wings, 10- Save the Chilis, 11- La Guigue

An interesting album with a mix of jazz, blues and rock with great arrangements and very interesting vocals. In fact, I think that this trio has a lot of ideas going on in their minds. I love the way the bass lines are quite different from what one could expect: In fact they are more rocking instead of doing typical walking bass arrangements. There is a certain feeling of progressive rock in tracks like "Yukun Slang" that combined with some hip hop drumming and the trumpet playing jazz phrases give an extremely original track. I like the way the album is mixed too because you can listen that is a trio but the instruments and vocals sound really huge without letting some holes in the sound appear as it happens with other trios. My favorite point here is the way the bass sound is distorted and the way this guy plays his instrument. Those lovers of original music, here you have Slang. Favorite tracks: "Sugar", "Bazaar" and "Own Wings". Contact: www.carbon7.com

REVIEW: SKYWISE - MORNING STAR

 

SKYWISE - MORNING STAR (Daredevil Recs./Kick Promotion Agency, 2001)

Produced by Skywise and Daredevil Recs

Recorded at Temple of Noise Studios

Artwork by Orange Studio

Tracks: 1- Rise from the ashes, 2- Mountains of the moon, 3- The darkest hour (morning Star), 4- My Rotten Kingdom, 5- Hellgate, 6- Beyond Redemption, 7- Earth 2012, 8- The Gastly Workshop of Hiram Kyram, 9- Farewell Blues (live)

Stoner rock!!!! Yes, here we have that psychodelic style of hard rock in its purest form. The riffs are catchy and witha lot of hooks and they are hypnotic at the same time. In fact the music here is pure rock and roll with a lot of seventies feeling on it (even in the sound, that is really muddy as it was in that time). There are certain influences of bands like Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age but Skywise has its own identity and in the future I think this guys will have a great sound as they deserve (even if it does not sound so stoner to have a great sound). Fans of stoner rock check this one !!!! Favorite tracks: "Mountains of the moon", "My Rotten Kingdom" and "Earth 2012" Contact: www.kickagency.3000.it

REVIEW: RAMMSTEIN - MUTTER

 

RAMMSTEIN - MUTTER (Universal, 2001)

Produced by Jacob Hellner and Rammstein

Recorded at Studio Miraval, France

Artwork by Dirk Rudolph and Formgeber

Tracks: 1- Mein Herz Brennt, 2- Links 234, 3- Sonne, 4- Ich Will, 5- Feuer Frei!, 6-Mutter, 7- Spieluhr, 8- Zwitter, 9- Rein Raus, 10- Adios, 11-Nebel

"Sehnsucht" was a great album, and "Mutter is its successor and is great too !! The music cis very similar to the one contained on "Sehnsucht: with that heavy riffs and that industrial feeling and with all the keyboards used in such a special way. Perhaps "Mutter!" is a little bit more difficult to listen because the tracks are not so accesible. The oppressive feeling that Rammstein creates in their recordings is present here too !! One thing to remark is the great sound that this album has (even if "Sehnsucht" had a great sound too). Favorite tracks: "Mein Herz Brennt", "Ich Will" and "Rein Raus". Contact: www.rammstein.de

REVIEW: RAIN - STARLIGHT EXTINCTION

 

RAIN - STARLIGHT EXTINCTION (Adipocere Recs., 2001)

Produced by Pascal Geronimi and Drop

Recorded at Illectronics by Pascal Geronimi

Artwork by Chris Kallias

Tracks: 1- The Four Messengers of Neptune, 2- Annihilation of Centuries, 3- The Cyclic Flood, 4- Aurora Borealis, 5- Like Dying Fireflies, 6- Narcotik 00, 7- Starclouds and cosmic Seas, 8- Dance of Infinity, 9- Dead planets, 10- Meteor Rain, 11- Amethyst, 12- The Final Extinction

The perfect combination between heavy riffs, excellent keyboards, great drums patterns and an original voice. That is what Rain music is about.S pecially I liked a lot the way in ehich the keyboas are present through the whole recoring contrasting with the heavier riffs and complementing the more elaborated ones. "The Four Messengof Neptune" start this CD in an excellent way and this guys teach you how to make tracks that are really heavy and at the same time extremely original and extremely melodic. The band Has riffs that are extremely heavy and they put it together with really mechanical drums (that sound in the vein of Fear Factory but better) and vocals that are death metal in places but really versatile in others. One of the albums of the month. Favorite tracks: "Starclouds and Cosmic Seas", "The Cyclic Flood" and "Meteor Rain" Contact: www.adipocere.fr or www.frozenrain.ch

REVIEW: PRO-PAIN - SHREDS OF DIGNITY

 

PRO-PAIN - SHREDS OF DIGNITY (Spitfire Recs., 2002)

Produced by Gary meskill and Eric Klinger

Recorded at Audio Images, the Jam Room and Gary´s House

Artwork by Eric Klinger

Tracks: 1- The Shape of Things to Come, 2- Gone Fishin, 3- Down for the cause, 4- No Way Out, 5- Shreds of Dignity, 6- Walk Away, 7- F.O.A.D., 8- Lock ´n´Load, 9- Casualties of War, 10- 24/7, 11- Justice Must be Done, 12- Kill or be killed

Pro-pain is back. As always with the leadership of ex Crumbsucker Gary Meskill on bass and vocals. This time they have returned to some heavier parts that were present on the "Foul Taste of Freedom" album with a total predominance of hardcore riffs. The guitar sounds really raw and it helps to make the tracks more direct like a kick in your head. The songs here are short and very powerful with some really cool riffs like the ones in the bridge of "Gone Fishing". The mix is really loud and you can appreciate both guitars and the bass perfectly. Also the vocals are really up in the mix which is really great to enhance the results. It is great to see bands like Pro-Pain that become better with time. Favorite tracks: "Lock´n´load", "No Way Out" and "Kill or be killed".Contact: www.spitfirerecords.com

REVIEW: PHOBIA - SERENITY THROUGH PAIN

 

PHOBIA - SERENITY THROUGH PAIN (Necropolis/Deathvomit Recs., 2002)

Mastered by Paul Miner

Artwork by Victoria Scalisi

Tracks: 1- God is Grace, 2- Death threat, 3- You Suffer, 4- B.u.s.h., 5- Hurray for Jesus, 6- Poison My Mind, 7- D.F.F.D.,8- Pathetic Minds, 9- Slave to religion, 10- Seig Help. 11- Wounds Through Punishment, 12- Mercy Killing, 13- Closure, 14- Welcome to Violence, 15- White Devil, 16- You, 17- Social Sheep, 18- Rid Self Condemnation, 19- Ways of Destruction, 20- Fueled by Pride, 21- Mental incarceration, 22- Private War, 23- Sovereign

This is a deceiving CD. It starts with an acoustic intro with some clean vocals singing along theguityar and immediately it gets into hyper fast death/Grind with the track called "Death Threat". The first thing that got my attention was the excellent sound quality that this recording has, even better than many of the top bands in the style. Then another thing that hit me was the great riffs that this guys made. In fact they are not going at top speed all the time prefering to do more interesting rhythm changes and emphasizing the heavier than hell rhythms. This riffs that are slower than the grinding blast beat parts are extremely well supported by drummer Matt Mills who is really killer along the whole recording. Heavier than hell. Favorite tracks: "You Suffer", "Poison my Mind" and "Rid Self Condemnation". Contact: www.necropolisrecords.com