REVIEW: PAWNSHOP - CRUISE´MATIC

 

PAWNSHOP - CRUISE´MATIC (Beard of Stars Recs., 2002)

Produced by Pawnshop and Øyvind Grødem

Recorded at Mansion Studios, Stavanger

Artwork by Sindre Kristoffersen

Tracks: 1- Blissed Out, 2- Mean Machine, 3- las Vegas, 4- Space Cadillacs, 5- Coma Cluster, 6- Thailand, 7- baby Bitch, 8- Cruise´o´matic; 9- Year of Pleasure, 10- Living Zombie

A really rocking band full of songs with great choruses and powerful guitars. The guitars are distorted and have that seventies sound charachteristic of this style of music and they are hypnotic in tracks like "Las Vegas". The drumming si really heavy with a lot of interesting patterns that make the result even more rhythmic (the bass player sounds really good playing simple and effective lines along the drums). We have here a versatile singer with a lot of seventies influences. The result here is rock (or desert rock as some people call it) in its purest form with many guitar solos (I like the way the bass does the foundation of the song when the guitar player makes the solos). This is a really tight band that seems very well rehearsed. If you like the style I really recommend this one.

Favorite tracks: "Year of Pleasure"; "Space Cadillacs" and "Baby Bitch.

Contact: www.vinylmagic3.it

REVIEW: PAUL DIANNO - THE BEAST LIVE

 

PAUL DIANNO - THE BEAST LIVE (Spitfire Recs., 2001)

Produced by Lea Hart and Paul DiAnno

Artwork by Cürt Evans

Tracks: 1- Wrathchild, 2- Killers, 3- Prowler, 4- Murders in the Rue Morgue, 5- Women In Uniform, 6- Remember Tomorrow, 7- Sanctuary, 8- Running Free, 9- Phantom of the opera, 10- Iron Maiden

It is always good to listen Paul Di Anno sing Iron Maiden´s older songs, since this tracks were created originally with his vocals in mind. On this CD that was recorded live, he concentrates on Iron Maiden tracks from the first albums and singles. It is funny because his voice has changed with time becoming somewhat rawer and even singing the old songs he sounds different (and that makes this interesting). Anthems like "Remember Tomorrow", "Phantom of the opera" or "Sanctury" sound great and here he has a really good band backing him up (specially the guitar player who is killer). I would like him to release another live album with his more recent material in order to have both sides of the specter.

Favorite tracks: "Wrathchild"; "Phantom of the opera" and "Murders in the Rue Morgue".

Contact: www.spitfirerecords.com

REVIEW: OJM - HEAVY

 

OJM - HEAVY (Beard of Stars Recs., 2002)

Produced by Paul Chain

Recorded at Red House Recording Studios

Tracks: 1- The Sleeper, 2- Revelations, 3- You Come, 4- Tv Eye; 5- Mix-up!, 6- As I Know, 7- Strange Dreams, 8- Follow My Leader, 9- Theorem

Powerful stoner rock in the vein of Queens of the Stone Age but with a lot of identity. In fact I must say that I like mor OJM than the band mentioned before. OJM are more powerful and their songs are not repetitive. In fact one thing that I liked a lot are the guitar riffs which are really rocking and give that seventies feeling that this music must have. The guitar player of the band has very good taste and I like the way in which he places the notes in ths short solos. Also I like the drummer who hits a lot the cymbals and makes the songs more powerful while keeping the time and creating the main rhythm. The singer is really good using a lot of middle range and creating good melodies that contrast with the music. A great album from this band

Favorite tracks: "The Sleeper"; "Mix-up!" and "Strange Dreams".

Contact: www.vinylmagic3.it

REVIEW: OBBROBRIO / JAN AG SPLIT

 

OBBROBRIO / JAN AG SPLIT (La Fiera Dell´Odio Recs., 200)

Artwork by Obbrobrio

Tracks: The Obbrobbrio side has 29 tracks. The Jan Ag one has 18

How can I define Obbrobrio´s music.....in some places it is grind at ultrafast speed; then it goes in something like industrial....then they start using a cello....then they use electronics and a drum machine...and then they use a female vocal with clean guitars. A really weird band. I don´t know how many different parts they play through all the tracks contained here. The main thing here is the madness that this band knows really well how to do (maybe I would like them to do longer tracks in order to develope their ideas a little bit more). Then Comes Jan Ag which is a band that is pure grind with chaotic guitars and drumming and extremely guttural vocals. The tracks on this side are really short two and some of them have some interesting and rhythmic riffs that depart a little bit from the style. For grind maniacs and people who like strange music.

Favorite tracks: "Devil´s Grip - The Iron Fist"; "Extreme Shitting on the Monument" and " Vitu Addicted".

Contact: lafieradellodio@libero.it

REVIEW: NASTY HABITS LIVE ON 88.9 WERS

 

NASTY HABITS LIVE ON 88.9 WERS (Corrosive Recordings, 2002)

Produced by Eric Fernald and Matt O´Dette

Recorded Live at Wers, Boston

Bands: 1-Haste, 2- Origins, 3- Eighteen Visions, 4- Shadows Fall, 5- Knut, 6- Cephalic Carnage, 7- Unearth, 8- God Forbid, 9- Poison the Well, 10- All that Remains, 11- Candiria, 12- Killswitch Engage, 13- The Dillinger Escape Plan

This is a must for every fan or collector of the bands mentioned above: here there are tracks that were recorded live at 88.9 WERS studios in Boston. This thirteen tracks were recorded live and they show us the energy that this bands are capable of developing on a live situation. In fact all the songs here sound more powerful than in their respective studio versions. Here you have thirteen great bands from the heaviest styles in the world. My absolute favorite here is Candiria because I like the many changes that their music have and the technical skills that this guys have. Also I loved the God Forbid track where they show their powerful modern death metal in an extremely raw way. Bands like Knut, Cephalic Carnage or Unearth will cruysh your brain with their powerful music. I hope the guys from WERS will continue releasing this compilations of the bands that play in their Studios because they are essential for any metal fan

Favorite tracks: Candiria - "Mathematics"; God Forbid "Amendment" and Eighteen Visions "She´s a Movie produced masterpiece".

Contact: www.wers.org

REVIEW: NARGAROTH - RASLUKA PART II

 

NARGAROTH - RASLUKA PART II (No Colours Recs., 2002)

Tracks: 1- Introduction...IN Stillem Gedenken; 2- Und Ich Sahe die Sonn nimmer heben; 3- Abschiedsbrief des Prometheus; 4- ...Vom Freien Willen eines Schwarzen Einhorns

Extremely raw black metal (because of the guitar sound that is really distorted, almost industrial) but yet melodic (incredible riffs with a lot of melodies). The main thing here are the atmospheres created by the guitars that contrast a lot with the screaming vocals that are typical of black metal bands. The sound is a little bit muddy but I think that this can be a little better by mixing everything a little bit louder. The fierst track is an intro that creates a dark environment in which the other three tracks are developed. There are some interesting rhythm changes, for example in the third track....in which the change is not abrupt but a progression from the original rhythm accelerated a little bit. This band is great for lovers of raw black metal with melodies.

Favorite tracks: "Und Ich Sahe die Sonn Nimmer Heben"; "Abschiedsbrief des Prometheus".

Contact: www.no-colours-records.de

REVIEW: MYTILE VEY LORTH - MYTILE VEY LORTH

 

MYTILE VEY LORTH - MYTILE VEY LORTH (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Mytile Vey Lorth

Recorded by Living Rhythym Studios

Artwork by Sharron

Tracks: 1- Visions, 2- Journey of the Demon, 3- Emotional Suicide, 4- Betrayed and Taken, 5- Beyond the Bitter Mists, 6- Burnt Waters

What a good album !!! Mytile Vey Lorth´s music goes from death to black metal to orchestral to doom all within the same track and that makes this band extremely interesting to listen to. Particularly I liked the heavy parts with Lily Davis melodic vocals because they were unexpected (usually the female singer of a black/death band sings only in the calm parts). It is really interesting that despite having many changes in the tracks the band manages to create a really coherent structure going from fast to calm, from raw to orchestrated within a few seconds. I would use a little bit more the bottom end range of the guitars and would have mixed a little bit louder the bass to have a more devastating sound (but this have the problem that some frequencies cancel one with each other so it can be very difficult to achieve). An essential band from Australia. This guys deserve to be in the top of death/black metal scene.

Favorite tracks: the five contained here, but I want more!!!!!

Contact: www.mytileveylorth.com

REVIEW: MISTWEAVER - DREAM´S DOMAIN

 

MISTWEAVER - DREAM´S DOMAIN (Medusa Prods./Dragon Design, 2001)

Produced by Mistweaver, Angel Redondo and Xavi Varela

Recorded at Talastudios

Artwork by Mike Schindler of Dragon Design

Tracks: 1- Intro, 2- ...And A child Shall Lead Them; 3- A Withered Rose For the Dead in Sin; 4- the Call, 5- Ritual of Death, 6- The Night is My Guide, 7- Dream´s Domain, 8- The End is Near; 9- Into the Lake of the Burning Sulphur

Amazing band from Spain in the melodic death metal style ( some influences of early Tiamat) with extremely heavy riffs and arrangements combined with keyboards. This guys have excellent guitar riffs (they are somewhat twisted combined with the drums and the keyboards changing the structure of some of the tracks). The guitarists know how to develope excellent guitar melodies to make things more complex and interesting. The guttural vocals are a really great contrast to the more melodic background (there is plenty of keyboards for those like me who love the sound of keys clashing against heavier than hell guitars). A great surprise is the track "The Call" which is an acoustic, almost medieval piece with keyboards and flute over an acoustic guitar and the female vocals of guest musician Begoña. This track gives a little rest before getting back in full shape with the great "Ritual of Death". Killer release.

Favorite tracks: "..:And a Child Shall Lead Them"; "The Call" and "Ritual of Death".

Contact: www.dragondesign666.de

REVIEW: MALKAVIAN - DEMO 2002

 

MALKAVIAN - DEMO 2002 (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Malkavian

Recorded by Malkavian

Artwork by Sbodoz and Kura

Tracks: 1- Sunburnt, 2- Grabbed By the Neck, 3- Ira, 4- Vampires, 5- Epilogue/ Alba, 6- U, 7- The Human Basher

Malkavian is a brutal grind/death band !! Through the seven tracks contained here you will find extreme speed and brutality, guttural vocals, hyper fast blast beats and everything that you can call extreme !!! The sound , even a bit muddy, is surprisingly good (the recording was done in a four track portastudio) . Tracks like "Grabbed by the Neck" have parts that are not so extremely fast and that I feel are one of the best things in Malkavian´s music. Check for example the rhythm at 0:24 of "Ira" that goes immediately to a slower more crushing style riff until the end of the track to see the variations in speed that this band can do. The seven tracks contained here are short and the whole CD lasts fifteen minutes. If you like extreme grind with many interesting ideas, then check Malkavian.

Favorite tracks: "Vampires", "Ira" and "The Human Basher".

Contact: www.malkaviangrind.cjb.net

REVIEW: MAGGIE NICOLS / CAROLINE KRAABEL / CHARLOTTE HUG - TRANSITIONS

 

MAGGIE NICOLS / CAROLINE KRAABEL / CHARLOTTE HUG - TRANSITIONS (Emanem Disc, 2002)

Produced by Martin Davidson

Recorded by Martin Davidson - London June 4, 2001

Artwork by Martin Davidson, Charlotte Hug and Caroline Kraabel

Tracks: 1- Undercurrents (For Paddy Ben Pan), 2- Lullaby For Clement; 3- Broken Bridges, 4- No Now, 5- Hymn Indoors, 6- Coming Out, 7- Up To Earth

This is a trio consisting in Maggie Niccols in voice (who also tap dances in the live presentations), Caroline Kraabel on alto saxophone and voice and Charlotte Hug on viola. The music here is completely experimental and improvisational with complete open mind by this great trio of musicians. The main thing here is the contrast that the three instruments (voice, sax and viola) create in the listener ears. It is easy to identify who is playing each part and how well the three interact. Nicols, Kraabel and Hug doesn´t use any conventional structure to create their music, I think that the music flows free from their imagination, going from the more melodic to the chaotic in the same track. If you are capable of listening music with a completely open mind for something that is innovative then you can check this one.

Favorite tracks: "Lullaby for Clement"; "Hymn Indoors" and "Up To Earth".

Contact: www.emanemdisc.com