REVIEW: HELLION COLLECTION VOL. 3

 

HELLION COLLECTION VOL. 3 (Hellion Recs. , 2002)

Produced by Hellion Recs.

Tracks: CD1: 1- ENSLAVEMENT OF BEAUTY - Dainty Delusive Doll; 2- SINS OF THY BELOVED - Forever; 3- THRESHOLD - Light and Space; 4- ERIK NORLANDER - Rome is Burning; 5- SEVENTH KEY - Only the Brave; 6- REPTILIAN - Steel of the Dagger; 7- HELLOISE - Children of the Night; 8- RING OF FIRE - Face the Fire; 9- NIGHTMARE - Cosmovision; 10- AKASHIC - The Fire of Temptation; 11- BEFORE EDEN - Fallen Angel; 12- STEEL WARRIOR - Your Majesty´s Return; 13- INSANIA - The Right to Be Free; 14- SKYCLAD - The Wickest Man in the World; 15- DARK FUNERAL - The Arrival of Satan´s Empire

CD 2: AFTER FOREVER - Ex Cathedra; 2- AFTER FOREVER - Monolith of Death; 3- LACRIMOSA - Liebespiel; 4- WITHIN TEMPTATION - Ice Queen; 5- LOVE LIKE BLOOD - Injustice; 6- LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE - Morning...Grey; 7- CENTURY - Lost; 8- LANA LANE - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road; 9- CHANDEEN - Ginger; 10- AMBEON - Ashes; 11- RPWL - Cymbaline; 12- EVERON - Fine With ME; 13- ALEX MASI - Blue Morning Blue Day; 14- SYRENS CALL - Storm; 15- EDENBRIDGE - Starlight Reverie; 16- TRISTANIA - The Modern End

CD 3: Video tracks: 1- PAIN OF SALVATION - Ashes ; 2-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY - Cassandra (live)

Here we have a compilation that is composed of three CDs...two of them are full with audio tracks from amny differnt bands and the third one has two videos. I like the way this compilation is done because they have chosen bands from many different styles going from power / heavy metal as Helloise or Steel Warrior, to more symphonic artists like Erik Norlander or Lana Lane, also balck metal with bands like Dark Funeral and Enslavement of Beauty and gothic like Century or Chandeen. Tyhe overall result is really good and I think it is a good sample of the catalog that Hellion Record has. If you want to have a taste of which is the sound of each of the bands mentioned above then I strongly recommend tcompilation.

Favorite Bands here: Sins of Thy Beloved, After Forever, Tristania, Dark Funeral, Lacrimas Profundere, Within Temptation, Erik Norlander, Century, Chandeen, Pain of Salvation

Contact: www.hellionrecords.com

REVIEW: HAGALAZ RUNEDANCE - FRIGGA´S WEB

 

HAGALAZ RUNEDANCE - FRIGGA´S WEB (Hammerheart Records, 2002)

Produced by Andrea Nebel Haugen and Thorbjørn Akkerhaugen

Recorded at Akkerhaugen Lydstudio

Cover by Division 731 Studio

Tracks: 1- The Crossing; 2- Hel Goddess of the Underworld; 3- Frigga´s Web; 4- Labyrinth; 5- Little Light; 6- Raven Night; 7- Albion Autumn; 8- Where the Lonely Souls Go; 9- The Home that I will Never See; 10- The Soul of a Hound

This is Hagalaz Runedance new album (the third full length) and the follow up to "Volven". This time the music continues to be climatic and atmospheric but on this album I think it is more introspective. The compositions are kind of darker this time and I like them a lot. Also Andrea Nebel Haugen continues to write the lyrics about nordic culture and pagan myths, focusing on the mysteries of birth and death and the relationship between the goddeses Hel (goddess of death) and Frigga (patroness of women and children). The use of ancient instruments is a really attractive feature of Hagalaz Runedance and they reach their climax here: lute, bagpipe, Lyre, Harp, every one of this instruments is played here (the help is of the multifacetic Kristian Nordeide from Corona Borealis). Hagalaz Runedance continues developing their amazingly introspective music and exploring ancient paths.

Favorite tracks: All the CD. As always Andrea delivers the best.

Contact: www.hammerheart.com

REVIEW: FURY - SLAVEKIND

 

FURY - SLAVEKIND (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Fury

Recorded by Tony Nesci

Cover by Lord Tim

Tracks: 1-Shapes of Three; 2- Slavekind; 3- One Thousand Pasts; 4- Forsaken; 5- Denying Fear; 6- The Serpent´s Kiss; 7- Lies; 8- Of This Insanity

Fury´s music is really difficult to describe due to its originality. In fact I would say that it is a mix of the following styles: pure heavy metal; thrash metal (in some riffs and drums patterns); death metal (because of some heavy fast parts and the most guttural vocals); hardcore (some vocals in the beginning of "Shapes of Three" reminded me of this style). I liked a lot this band and specially their versatile vocalist that goes from extremely heavy to creating incredible melodies. There are many changes in all the songs which I liked a lot and that make each song a unique and extremely interesting musical piece. The guitars are devastating doing all the great riffs that can be listened on this CD and playing amazing solos (I would like more of them...this guys rule). Check the riffs in "One Thousand Pasts" sincerely crushing!!! Fury is a really heavy as hell band which I would like to listen more in the future (and obviously seeing them perform live!!!).

Favorite tracks: All the CD is great !!

Contact: http://fury.musicpage.com

REVIEW: FUNEBRARUM - TOMBS OF SLEEPING DARKNESS

 

FUNEBRARUM - TOMBS OF SLEEPING DARKNESS (Necroharmonic Records, 2002)

Produced by Funebrarum

Tracks: 1- Tombs of Sleeping Darkness; 2- Adoration of Abscessed Cadavers; 3- Miasma of Pestilence; 4- Dormant Hallucination; 5- Depths of Misery

Here we have Funebrarum (the band that has members of Evoken on its lineup)latest release. This is a five track release and the music contained here is really a mix of death metal and doom. I mean, this guys love the heavy riffs and vocals of death metal but they also like to do some slow riffs like the one in the begining of "Tombs of Sleeping Darkness". I think that the main characteristic here is the oppressive and dark feeling that Funebrarum´s songs have. The guitar sound is really dense and this is really helpful for the dark atmosphere that this guys create through all the tracks of this album. There are some blast beats in some parts of the songs but speed is not the main ingredient here. The five tracks a re long enough and allows the band to develope the ideas that they want to transmit to the listener without missing the point. There are many changes within each song and this makes the tracks even more interesting. Lovers of death and doom will love Funebrarum.

Favorite tracks: The five tracks

Contact: http://www.necroharmonic.com

REVIEW: FREUND HEIN - SUBVERSIVE REVOLUTION

 

FREUND HEIN - SUBVERSIVE REVOLUTION ( Independent , 2002)

Produced by Freund Kein

Recorded by Hannes Kukla

Cover by Thomas Reitnayer

Tracks: 1- To Be - What a Shame; 2- The Brute in Him; 3- ....Against the Establishment and Burgeoisie; 4- Vicious Circle; 5- Subversive Revolution on All Fronts

Freund Hein are really original and they have that strange flavor that some bands from Austria have. Due to their lyrics I would call Freund Hein´s music revolutionary metal. And their music is revolutionary too because they are mixing extremely heavy music with a .lot of keyboard and piano parts and operistics vocals that are combined in a great way with the heavier and screaming ones. The guitars are heavy as hell and make a great contrast with the keyboards (also there is some use of clean guitars in some places. The drummer has a really huge sound and he makes a lot of interesting things with his double bass drumming. But the main instrument here are the keyboards which play interesting melodies and chord progressions through all the tracks but in a different way than most of the bands would do (starting with the sound which is completely different). A must for music lovers !!

Favorite tracks: All the tracks contained on this MCD. One of the CDs of the month

Contact: www.freundhein.com

REVIEW: FREEDOM CALL - CRYSTAL EMPIRE

 

FREEDOM CALL - CRYSTAL EMPIRE (Century Media Recs. , 2001)

Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind, Dan Zimmermann and Chris Bay

Recorded at Hansen Studio

Cover by Paul Raymond Gregory

Tracks: 1- The King of the Crystal Empire; 2- Freedom Call; 3- Rise Up; 4- Farewell; 5- Pharao; 6- Call of Fame; 7- Heart of the Rainbow; 8- The Quest; 9- Ocean; 10- Palace of Fantasy; 11- The Wanderer

Here we have a conceptual album by this german band whose main man is Dan Zimmerman, drummer in Gamma Ray . And the music here is pure german heavy metal with all its pros and cons., The pros are that the music is powerful and melodic with strong riffs and choruses. The cons are a certain lack of originality and a similarity to the main bands of the style being Helloween, Gamma Ray or Stratovarius. I think the key of the band is to follow the style that they have achieved in tracks like "Pharao" or "The Quest" with more dense riffs and melodies that are not so epic. The sound of this recording is really good putting a lot of relevance to the keyboards which are essential in the best tracks.. I feel that this band has some elements to be in the top of the metal world and I think the path goes along tracks as then one that I mentioned before and the grandiloquence of "Palace of Fantasy" with its minor tonalities and melodies.

Favorite tracks: "Rise Up", "Pharao" and "The Quest"

Contact: In Southamerica www.centurymedia.com in Europe www.centurymedia.de

REVIEW: EXTOL - UNDECEIVED

 

EXTOL - UNDECEIVED (Century Media Recs. , 2002)

Cover by Durling Inc

Tracks: 1- Undeceived; 2- Inferno; 3- Time Stands Still; 4- Ember; 5- Meadows of Silence; 6- Shelter; 7- A Structure of Souls; 8- Of Light and Shade; 9- Where Sleep is Rest; 10- Renewal; 11- Abandoned; 12- And I Watch. Bonus tracks: 13- Human Frailtie´s Grave; 14- Shadow of Death

I have listened Extol´s music before in a compilation and I remember that my attention was caught because of the combination of technical riffs and melodies within a death metal context. This is the first Extol CD that I have on my hands and I must say that this guys are amazing. The combination of technical riffs, clean guitars, heavy metal and death metal vocals (check the track "Renewal" to listen this in all its splendour). The guitarists have a lot of ideas here and there and sometimes in the choruses they let the guitars breath throwing power chords and letting Ole Børud sing his melodies over them. The drummer and bassist are a killer duo with extreme technical skills and a knowledge of differnt time signatures that help the rest of the band to construct the tracks. And one thing more....they play all this technical music with a lot of brutality and power !! A must !!!!

Favorite tracks: All the CD...amazing !!!

Contact: In Southamerica www.centurymedia.com in Europe www.centurymedia.de

REVIEW: EXTERMINATOR - MIRROR IMAGES

 

EXTERMINATOR - MIRROR IMAGES (Independent , 2002)

Produced by Exterminator and I.M.F.

Recorded at Hautregard Studios

Cover Artwork by Baruch

Tracks: 1- ...:Birth...(intro); 2- Liberty....Death; 3- Circle of Violence; 4- Mirror Images; 5- Church of Chaos; 6- Bitter End; 7- Night Music (The Dark Caress); 8- The Kill; 9- Tragedy....Rejoice

Here we have a really brutal band with a lot of technique in the guitar riffs. Yes, the riffs here seem really difficult to play, specially the ones that the band plays in the fastest parts. Also they know how to change riffs suddenly like it happens in 1:22 from "Circle of Violence" (they change to a crushing and rhythmic riff) a great song that goes from riff to riff in an excellent way. And one of the main things here is the combination of the brutal vocals with riffs that are not typical of death metal (check for example "The Kill" to see that what they play is not common favoring metal riffs with more originality). Also here they have a very technical drummer who follows all the changes with complete precission giving a lot of variations and rhythms to each track. Any musician would love this CD because of the technical skills an excellent tracks.

Favorite tracks: "Liberty...Death"; "Mirror Images" and "Bitter End"

Contact: exterminator_e@hotmail.com

REVIEW: EVENFALL - CUMBERSOME

 

EVENFALL - CUMBERSOME (Century Media Recs. , 2002)

Produced by Boban Milunovic

Recorded at Boom Room Studios

Cover by Carlos del Olmo Holmberg

Tracks: 1- Rawish; 2- Frontloader; 3- Dogma; 4- Entre Dos Tierras; 5- In Absentia Christi; 6- Overcast Sky; 7- Cumbersome; 8- Vangelis Mundi; 9- Unworshipped; 10- Conspectu Mortis II

Here is the follow up to "Still In the Grey Dying" and Evenfall has become really soon in one of my favorite bands. Why? Because of the quality of their songs. First of all I love Roberta Staccuneddu´s vocals which contrast with the more deathly ones by Ansgar Zöschg. Roberta has an angelical voice and has a lot of inflexions in her vocal range which allows her to sing the more difficult melodies in a great way. Thumbs up also for Max Boi who plays the keyboards that are essential to Evenfall´s music: He makes excellent chord progressions and amazing melodies through all this album. The music atmosphere is really dark and the main risponsibles here are the guitarists who play dark melodies through all the tracks and also play heavy rhythms that make Evenfall´s music completely original when combined with keyboard calm melodies. A must for everybody!!!!

Favorite tracks: The whole CD os amazing !!!!

Contact: In Southamerica www.centurymedia.com in Europe www.centurymedia.de

REVIEW: ENTWINE - TIME OF DESPAIR

 

ENTWINE - TIME OF DESPAIR ( Century Media Recs. , 2002)

Cover by Janne Pitkänen

Tracks: 1- Stream of Life; 2- The Pit; 3- Nothing Left to Say; 4- Safe In a Dream; 5- Burden; 6- Falling Apart; 7- Until the End; 8- Learn To Let Go; 9- Time of Despair

This CD opens powerfully with the track"Time of Despair" and after listening a couple of times it seems to me that this is a more powerful release than their previous album "Gone" which was released last year. For those who don´t know, Entwined is a Finnish band that plays a music that I would Call heavy gothic metal. It is heavier than most of the bands that are out there (particullarly on this release) but with all the dark melodies that gothic music has. One thing that is similar to the previous album is the sound oif the release which has a great quality, specially on the changes from heavy guitar to clean ones. This sound quality helps a lot to show the lsitener the arrangements and melodies that Entwine´s music has. Also, on this release, singer Mika Tauriainen is more deppressive than ever singing with a very dark voice full of sadness and pain. There are violins in tracks like "Safe In a Dream" (one of the most deppressive) and a lot of keyboards on each song. A must for fans of depressive music.

Favorite tracks: "Stream of Life"; "Safe In a Dream" and "Time of Despair"

Contact: In Southamerica www.centurymedia.com in Europe www.centurymedia.de