REVIEW: LEGION - OF ONE - PROMO 2002

 

LEGION - OF ONE - PROMO 2002 (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Legion

Tracks: 1- I see, 2- The Change, 3- Blindgods, 4- Rage of Ages, 5- Forever Bleed, 6- Fuse, 7- By the Furies, 8- Of One

Here we have this extremely brutal band with hyper speed in many of the tracks. In fact, Legion are a cult band in the death metal underground. Their album from 2000 "Conqueror" is killer and this promo shows us a little bit of what they are doing now. They have evolved a lot in the construction of the songs that sound much tighter now with a lot of fast aprts and incredible double bass drumming. There are two types of vocals , the guttural one and the screaming one that interact really well thorugh the eight tracks contained on this promo CD. The riffs are crushing (I would mix a little bit louder the drums and the guitars and I think the CD would be perfect) and are followed by the bass in a great way because that adds a lot of bottom end that this riffs need. It is good to see that this band is getting better each time. Now I hope to listen their new full length release.

Favorite tracks: "The Change", "Blindgods" and "By the Furies"

Contact: http://members.xoom.com/legion_99

REVIEW: LAW OF THE PLAGUE - THE FIRST INFECTION DEMO

 

LAW OF THE PLAGUE - THE FIRST INFECTION DEMO (Sinternational Records, 2002)

Produced by Law of the Plague

Tracks: 1- Piss on My Grave, 2- Inside Out, 3- Moribund (Penetrate)

Here we have this powerful metal band with really modern sound. I find in their music influences from bands from Machine Head, Crowbar, Pro-Pain, Pantera. And the good thing is that this guys mix this influences and get their own sound. But what is the main thing here? Power!! Yes, total power in their music! From the guitar riffs with a huge sound to the double bass drummin and the breaks (really tight rhythm section with powerful bassist and drummer), to the screaming vocals and choruses. Everything here is designed to devastate the listener with pure energy and power! This is a demo designed for pure headbanging. I think this guys must be killer in a live show. The second track here is slow in many parts and at the same time extremely heavy. One more thing: on the CD says that the full length album will be released on 2002. I hope they release it really soon because this is a killer band!

Favorite tracks: The three tracks are a good showcase of brutality!!!

Contact: www.sinternational.net

INTERVIEW WITH SERIAL BUTCHER

 

1- How has been the "Serial Butcher" CD doing since its release in June?

Since we're not selling it on a major scale i can't really answer that question. we're primarily sending it to zines and labels to get some exposure. we sold a handful at shows and through the website as well. weare however on the brink of signing a deal with a record label so i guess it will be sold to the general audience in a matter of weeks.

2- How would you compare "Serial butcher" to "Exhumed Rotting"?

Well it's 4 years later so it's definitely more advanced as far as songwriting and technical skills go. the production is also a lot better. The only thing unchanged is the lyrical level (or lack thereof haha). Our drummer Nico also wrote more songs this time around compared to Hendrik in the older days.

3- How did Serial Butcher´s music change when Bob and Steve left the band? Which is your lineup now?

I don't think it really changed significantly. steven has rejoined us last year so now it's just me (nicolas) on second guitar who's new in the band.

4- What are the lyrics in songs like "Brutally bashed Baby Boom" about?

Something with a broomstick and a woman's womb. i don't wanna go into details here.

5- Which is the equipment of the band live and on studio?

Live we use Kramer and BC Rich guitars, and Engl and Digitech amps. In the studio we used a pod pro and protools instead of the digitech though. Nico has a tama drumset. Steven just drinks a lot of beer.

6- How is the process of composition of Serial Butcher´s music?

Since Hendrik is too busy with his bar these days it's mostly nico who comes up with new riffs. We'll work on it together and mold it into a song.

7- How do you see the evolution of the band since your first demo tape?

Over the course of the past 6-7 years i'd say SERIAL BUTCHER has always had one focus in mind - being the most brutal band around, without turning into some ridiculous grind band. we try to write catchy tunes as well and i think we pretty much succeeded in doing that.

8- Why was your first demo tape never released?

Because it sucked.

9-Which are your plans for 2003?

Releasing the album, playing more shows and hopefully touring a bit around Europe so everybody can witness the wonder that is SERIAL BUTCHER.

10- Any final words?

Yup thanks for the interview, check out http://www.serialbutcher.com and see you at our shows! peace out

REVIEW: LEGION - CONQUEROR

 

LEGION - CONQUEROR (Dark Horizon Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Centurion Studios, March 1997.

Metal Grip Photo by Tracy Smart.

Track list:  1- Centuries, 2- Predominant Will, 3- Trust in Fate (One´s Own Undoing), 4- Discern, 5- Evergrey, 6- Plague of Indifference, 7- Infested Earth, 8- Curtains

This is a Legion recording from 1997 and it has two bonus tracks: "Infested Earth" from"Blissful Misery" demo (1994) and "Curtains" from "Legion" demo (1992). The music here is bestial death metal of the most brutal type (say in the way of bands like Sinister, Grave or Altars of Madness-era Morbid Angel) with some great riffs like the one at the end (6:36) of "Centuries" over which a good solo is played. The speed here is really fast in some parts (with lots of double bass in some places) and in other parts they prefer to use the riffs in a different way to make the heaviness prevail instead of the mere speed (for example on the beginning of "Predominant Will" with double bass drumming, melodies and riffs). The two bonus tracks don´t have the good sound that the rest of recording has (eventhough it is quite good for being demos from 1992 and 1994) and I prefer the tracks from 1997 instead.

Favorite tracks: "Predominant Will", "Discern" and "Trust in Fate".

Contact: : www.geocities.com/darkhorizon666

REVIEW: KENZINER - THE PROPHECIES

 

KENZINER - THE PROPHECIES (Leviathan Records, 1999)

Produced by David T. Chastain

Recorded at Babe Music Recording and Leviathan Studios

Cover Art by Rainer Kalwitz

Tracks: 1- Live Forever; 2- The Razor´s Edge, 3- Carry On Tomorrow, 4- Race With Time, 5- Trail of Tears, 6- Eternity, 7- Dimensions, 8- Like a Paradise, 9- Through the Fire, 10- The Prophecies

This is Kenziner´s second albuma and here we have some progressions comparing to the debut album. Here the sound is better, with the guitars sounding better, specially on the faster riffs. Here Jarno Keskinen shows us again what he is capable of doing with his guitars. The beginning with "live Forever" is great at top speed (thekeyboard intro of this song is pure David T. Chastain!!). here we have again the virtuoso guitar/keyboards solos and the harmonization with keyboards. Here we have again Stephen Fredrick strong vocals (one thing that I find always interesting in Leviathan Records recordings is the use of singers with a lot of power like this one, Kate French, Leather Leone, etc.). All the members of the band have their shining moments on this recording, for example the drums are great in "The Razor´s Edge" with interesting passages and good fast rhthms. Again, lovers of virtuosism check this one.

Favorite tracks: "Live Forever", "Race With Time" and "Through the Fire"

Contact: www.leviathanrecords.com

INTERVIEW WITH CAUSE FOR EFFECT

 

How has been your "Album" received by the audience and the press?

- Mostly the feedback has been really positive, actually surprisingly positive. I mean I first doubt how metal press would react but so far reviews have been good, almost all of them, of course there's somebody who doesn't like us.

Metal fans have found us and that's a little surprise to me, especially here in Finland I have always doubted our "success" but people have liked our music and now we have more gigs in Finland than never before. Also people from all over the world have liked. Atmosphere for this kind of music is more open than few years ago.

How different is "Album" from "Fast Material"?

- Fast Material has guitar, it's more straightforward stuff. Really fast and even faster. I played guitar to it and it's still a good album, but somehow we walked that path to the end, we had to check our vision and songs started

to change into more complex/jazzy direction. Dropping guitar out was a critical decision and in time we weren't sure about it but later it was clear that it was right decision.

Album is more complex, more different parts and rhythms, it's just better.

Fast Material showed what we were in 1998 and Album showed us in 2001.

How is the process of composition of Cause For Effect´s tunes?

- Just a normal weekday after the work. Sometimes I have some sort of vision but usually we just start to play and if the mood is right, then something new starts to born. We aren't perfectionists; we don't re-compose or re-arrange our songs over and over again. We trust our intuition and we can feel almost right away is the song good or not.

Why did you decide to become a duo in 1999?

- Two reasons: Our guitarist was kicked out in 1996, between 1996-1999 my brother was a session guitarist for us but because of lack of time and his own band, he decided to leave. Then we didn't find any suitable guitar player. We thought the situation and then decided to continue without guitar. It wasn't a sudden decision, it took several weeks to think and make a decision.

Which are your plans with Cause For Effect in the near future?

- Playing gigs here in Finland, European tour in October, 6way compilation CD will be released in august where we participate as live material. February 2004 new miniCD.

Do you have plans of a new recording for 2003?

- We recorded 15 new songs in may 2003 and they will be released in February 2004 as miniCD. Also we will compose few songs more in autumn and add them to the miniCD.

Are you going to play older material (1992-1996 material) or rerecord it in the future?

- No, we have so much new material to play that we don't have to use nor play old stuff. It doesn't interest us.

Which is Cause for Effect´s equipment in studio and live?

- At the studio we use normal mixing desk and hardware and computer with audio software, sorry I don't remember the name. The studio is our friend's band's rehearsal place and he has all equipments you need for a studio, he run a studio with his friend but quitted and then built his own.

At live, there usual PA system and then my own bass and bass amplifier, Ari uses his own drums because it's easy to put them in the front of stage. Because we are two man band Ari's drums are beside me in the front of the stage and he's a bit sideways towards the audience.

Do you have other bands or parallel projects?

- Ari has a stoner rock band called Mount Moses. I don't have time nor energy for second band. CFE is enough for me.

Something more to add?

- Thank you for this interview! For info, mp3 etc. visit at

http://listen.to/cfe

REVIEW: KENZINER - TIMESCAPES

 

KENZINER - TIMESCAPES (Leviathan Records, 1998)

Produced by David T. Chastain

Recorded at Dabenhill and Leviathan Studios

Cover Art by Rainer Kalwitz

Tracks: 1- Future Signs, 2- Into the Light, 3- Images of the Past, 4- Dreamer, 5- Thru the End, 6- Timescape, 7- Walking in the Rain, 8- Seasons, 9- IN the Silence, 10- Land of Shadows, 11- Inspiration in a moment

As I always say ....better late than never. And here is the review of Kenziner debut album. Here we have a powerful heavy metal band whose main feature are the guitars played by virtuoso Jarno Keskinen who plays a lot of neoclassical guitar runs in minor tonalities. And also, here we have the keyboards, played by Jarno himself, that are used in two different forms: one is to support the song through chord progressions and some melodies and then the second one are the virtuoso solos, similar to the ones played by Jens Johanssen in his different bands. There is a lot of David T. Chastain influences here (since David wrote all melodies and lyrics) but the difference is that Chastain´s music has a little bit more of identity because of the use of melodies that are closer to jazz and fusion than to Yngwie Malmsteen. This is a must for fans of virtuosos and heavy/power metal. Points extra to this release are given by the singer who has power and does not abuse the high pitched sounds.

Favorite tracks: "Into the Light", "Thru the End" and "IN the Silence"

Contact: www.leviathanrecords.com

REVIEW: KING´S X - MANIC MOONLIGHT

KING´S X - MANIC MOONLIGHT (Metal Blade Records, 2001)

Produced by Ty Tabor

Recorded at Alien Beans Studio

Cover Art by Ty Tabor

Tracks: 1- Believe, 2- Manic Moonlight, 3- Yeah, 4- False Alarm, 5- Static, 6- Skeptical Winds, 7- the Other Side, 8- Vegetable, 9- Jenna, 10- Water Ceremony

Here we have King´s X latest album. This time Ty Tabor and company have made an album that is a little bit weirder than their previos ones. We can call this band progressive (if you have listened their "Gretchen Goes to Nebraska", "Out of the Silent Planet" or Faith, Hope Love" albums you already know why I am saying this) and on this recording they show us whya they are an extremely original band. You just have to check the title track to see the way in which this guys use melodies and the uniquyes guitar playing of Mr. Ty Tabor who uses a lot of distorted open notes that add a lot of originality to the tracks. One of the adjectives that come to my mind while listening to this CD is "ethereal". King´s X osngs have this almost spectral melodies, specially in the choruses that have gained them their own identityn as a band. I think is the combination of Dog, Jerry and Ty vocals together with the guitars and the syncopated drums. Lovers of King´s X music will love this one. If you don´t know the band you cnan give "Manic Moonlight" a listen to know what they can do.

Favorite tracks: "Manic moonlight", "Skeptical Winds" and "Jenna"

Contact: www.metalblade.com

REVIEW: JON ROSE & VERYAN WESTON - TEMPERAMENT

 

JON ROSE & VERYAN WESTON - TEMPERAMENT (Emanem Disc, 2002)

Produced by Martin Davidson

Cover Art by Varyan Weston and Martin Davidson

Tracks: CD 1: 1- Just tunning, 2- The tuning wheel, 3- Forks 1, 4- The tuning wheel 2, 5- Forks 2, 6- The tuning wheel 3, 7- 3 part Invention 1, 8- Forks 3, 9- Mendel´s Library, 10- The New Guinean Dentist, 11- The Harmonious Anvil 1, 12- The Harmonious Anvil 2, 13- The Harmonious Anvil 3.

CD 2: 1- IN Search of the Pythagoran Comma 1, 2- the Tone ladder 1, 3- In Search of the Boethian Schisma, 4- The tone Ladder 2, 5- The Harmonious Anvil 4, 6- The Tone Ladder 3, 7- Melodic Fragment, Variations 1 to 3, 8- 3 part Invention 2, 9- The Tone Ladder 4, 10- In Search of the Pythagorian Comma 2

Here we have a strange and great double CD set of music done by two great musicians whose goal is to reach new frontiers in experimentation. Here we have Jon Rose (who plays different types of violins including the Double Violin) and Veryan Weston (who plays pianos and keybaords, including the Double Piano ...to see this you have to check the pictures inside the booklet). Here this two masters explore all the sonic possibilities of their instrument using a lot of differrent tunings and temperaments. Here we have such weird thing as Pythagoran temperaments, Meantone 1/4 comma temperament, Rosenberg Aumented temperament, etc. It is amazing how well this two superb musicians use this tunings and temperaments achieving new sounds and making interesting and strange sounding melodies. I will strongly recommend this two CD set to people who want to open their minds and let their imagination flow. I would specially recommend it to musicians who can learn a lot how to experiment with this elements that are used on this amazing recording.

Favorite tracks: Both CDs are wonderful pieces of artsitic experimantation

Contact: www.emanemdisc.com

INTERVIEW WITH ASTRAY

 

Is "Project Earth - Deathcult Ritual" ready? How is the music on it?

VESA: Yes, the lyrical and compositional wholeness have been very clearly in our possession for some time. But until the final mixing, the opus "Project Earth - DeathCult Ritual" can't be reached in it's ultimate physical essence which will be incarnated in form of a full length album. And the final embodiment of this work also needs someone to release it, which we still don't have.

MARKKU: The music on the album is a mix between extreme chaotic hate and gloomy depressive melodies. The album consist of nine songs and has duration little over 50 minutes. We released a couple of months ago "Promo 2002" with three rough mix songs as a sample of what the album is about. The promo can be downloaded for free from our website, so check it out!

How would you compare your new music with the one in the "Alone" MCD?

VESA: The hate has grown deeper. The depression has grown heavier. The agony has grown more painful.

MARKKU: Referring to the reviews that we've received from "Promo 2002" so far, our new material is much more original compared to "Alone". And besides the things that Vesa just mentioned above, the whole production (songs itself, playing skills, sounds, etc.) is more mature compared to earlier material.

How was the process of composition of the songs in "Project..."?

VESA: It was very painful, mentally and physically. Markku got literally sick with the pressure of the burden of making this album. We have travelled through really thick fog with this. At the beginning of the recordings Astray had full line up as a band and now there are only me and Markku left, just like when we started this band. But what can you say, only the strongest survive. Our songwriting process has always followed the same pattern. Markku composes all the material all alone. He makes some kind of demo version of it and gives it to me so that I can start planning the lyrics and vocals for it. And that goes also for every track at "Project Earth - DeathCult Ritual".

MARKKU: Well, in fact the composition process of the songs was easy, I composed all the material in a few months, but everything else since then (I mean the recordings) has been very difficult (I guess that's the thing that Vesa meant)... You know, it's not very easy to record everything just by yourself in studio, so that's the reason why the recordings has took so long time.

How important is the dark and melancholic atmosphere in Astray´s music?

VESA: The words "dark" and "melancholy" are the keywords along "hate" and "agony".

Do you have still ties with Beyond Prods.?

VESA: Astray has nothing in do with Beyond Productions anymore. We have nothing against them neither.

What are Astray´s lyrics about?

VESA: Human kind is very destructive unit which seems to have one common goal. In spite of it's attempts to give some value for life and hope, nothing can't help me seeing things from the point of view that gives me a good look to the whole race as a one big crawling suicidal animal, which' destination is nothing but death. In this cult of the mortals (we're all in) is one thing we are apparently trying to avoid but what we actually do is that we are unconsciously trying to reach it. It's not really hard to see the mankind with it's drive of death as a great cult of death, is it? That's what the lyrics of the "Project Earth - DeathCult Ritual" are all about. 

What do you think of the progress the band has done since the "Until I´m Cold Enough" MCD?

VESA: I said it once and I will say it again: The hate has grown deeper. The depression has grown hevier. The agony has grown more painful. We know better how to express these things and we are more skillfull to fullfill ourselves.

Which is your equipment live and in studio?

MARKKU: Well, as we are not able to play live at the moment, so here's the gear that I used in studio (and I use at home): Jackson Soloist guitar, Jackson bass guitar, Zoom multieffects for guitar, Korg N5 synthesizer, Tama drums with Paiste and Sabian symbals, Laney and Marshall amps.

Which are the feelings that you want to transmit with Astray´s music?

VESA: Hate ...and the inner smile of the sick mind when all hope is lost. The Devil is doing his deeds and we paint the picture -where we're all in.

Any final words?

VESA: Just serve the Cult for we're all in. All hail Death!

MARKKU: Thanx a lot for the interview and support! Visit everyone in our website at www.astrayband.com and download our "Promo 2002" for free! Stay cold!