REVIEW: BRIGHTNESS - DRINK AND DESTROY

 

BRIGHTNESS - DRINK AND DESTROY - LIVE 2001 (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded on Drink and Destroy Tour 2001

Track List: 1- intro, 2- Senseless War, 3- Sprightly Nights, 4- Headbangers Symphony, 5- Metallica Medley "The Four Bellz", 6- Revolution, 7- A Hard Way To Go, 8- Bullshit and More

Good old metal !! Why is it that countries like Germany, Norway, Sweden and Finland have so many good bands from so many different metal styles? They range from clasic heavy metal to death metal, black metal, grindcore and beyond. IS it a cultural reason? I don´t know. Brightness is a trio that is in the middle path between heavy metal and old school thrash (much closer to this latest style...in the vein of Sodom) ! With those thrashy riffs and drum patterns this band kicks ass in this live recording. I think that the effect would have been bigger if the sound would have been better (specially on drums and guitars that are quite in the back...but maybe next time that will be better). I like specially when the singer uses his middle ranges instead of the more thin Dave Mustaine-like voice because for my taste that fits better with the music. One thing that I would love this guys to do is to add a bass player to keep the bottom end of the music. Favorite tracks: "Revolution" and " Senseless War". Contact: www.brightness-metal.de

REVIEW: BRAINDANCE - REDEMPTION

 

BRAINDANCE- REDEMPTION (Progressive Darkwave Recordings, 2001):

Technical data:

Produced, Edited and Engineered by Vora Vor.

Mixed at Audiology Studios

Designs and Illustrations by. Kinchi

Track List: 1- Refracture, 2-Resurrection, 3- Resurgence, 4- Return, 5- Relentless, 6- Reduction, 7- Resilience, 8- Requiem, 9- Reflexion, 10- Redemption

When confronted to this wonderful CD you only can think in the inmense talent that both members of the band, Sebastian Elliot and Vora Vor, have. I have to take my hat off to one of the most original releases not only of this year but of all metal history. What amazes me most besides their originality is the way in which Vora Vor does the arrangement. This woman does not let even one hole here to fill from the more evident elements to the most subtle keyboard or guitar line. This is one of those albums that you have to listen many times because on each hearing you find something new...it is really full of surprises. What can you find here? Heavy guitars, odd time rhythms, great vocals,melodies, synths, electronics, and many more things. Buy it or die because of your ignorance !!. Favborite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.progressivedarkwave.com

REVIEW: BLOODTHRONE - STORMS OF APOCALYPSE

 

BLOODTHRONE - STORMS OF APOCALYPSE (Forever Underground Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Pidgeon Club Studios, Hovoken. NJ

Produced and Engineered by Bloodthrone and Wayne Dorrel.

Design and Layout by Bill Smith

Track List: 1- Bloodthrone, 2- Storms of Apocalypse, 3- Mummification, 4- Serpent, Goat, Spider and Skull, 5- Darkest Path to Eternity, 6- Marching Towards Armageddon, 7- Mayhem Upon the Heavens, 8- Outro

Raw black metal but with more emphasis in certain subtle elements instead of on speed. Evethough this band plays this style and has a lot of hyper fast parts, I think that their main features are on the parts where the guitars shine more, like on the melodic solos (which are not so common on the style) and in certain rhythms that are very different from the one note runs thta are so popular. In fact I think that this bands prefers not to abuse blast beats concentrating instead in trying to get their own identity in the world of black metal...check for example the first riff on "Mummification" which sounds like bands in the vein of Celtic Frost...really catchy but at the same time raw and powerful... totally recommended for black metal fans. Favorite tracks: " Bloodthrone", "Mummification" and "Darkest path To Eternity". Contact: www.foreverunderground.com

REVIEW: BEATEN BACK TO PURE - SOUTHERN APOCALYPSE

 

BEATEN BACK TO PURE - SOUTHERN APOCALYPSE (Retribute Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Mastered at Leadbelly Studios - June 2001

Produced by Steve Austin (Today Is the Day).

Design and Layout by Bailey at Retribute Recs.

Track List: 1- Whores Bath, 2- Tremors Beneath the Skin, 3- Acolyte, 4- Antietum, 5- Failure Wine, 6- Six Gun Salute

Take a little bit of Black Sabbath, put some Down on the mix, then add some Saint Vitus and The Obsessed and when it is almost ready add some Cathedral, Trouble and Today Is The Day...then you will have a close idea of what Beaten Back To Pure does. This is music that is in the path beyond stoner rock, doom and death metal (vocally at least). This is a good CD for those who love those rhythmic, almost psychodelic riffs with a growling vocalist that pushes forward the music by singing in different moods and sounding like he is putting a lot of effort on it. The guitars sound heavy, distorted and letting space for the songs to breathe. Fans of the styles mentioned above will love this one. One fundamental thing here: the grooves. Favorite tracks: "Tremors Beneath The Skin" and "Failure Wine". Contact: www.retributerecords.com

REVIEW: BALANCE OF POWER - PERFECT BALANCE

 

BALANCE OF POWER - PERFECT BALANCE (Nightmare Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Mastered and Mixed by Todd Fitzgerald, Lance King and Lionel Hicks at Oarfin Studios.

Engineered by Lionel Hicks at POD and Summit Studios

Art Images by Will Putnam.

Track List: 1- Higher than The Sun, 2- Shelter Me, 3- The Fire Dance, 4- One Voice, 5- The pleasure Room, 6- The Killer or The Cure?, 7- House of Cain, 8- Hard Life, 9- Search for The Truth

Balance of Power is a well known and respected progressive metal band from the USA. And this band is for me the perfect argument to say that good bands like this one can do their style without copying another one (this is for all those Helloween/Rhapsody clones out there) and using a lot of original riffs and ideas (not only the old galloping and runs between keyboards and guitars). Here everything is done in order to create good songs, the melodies, the solos, the chord progressions...the great thing is that I can not pinpoint the influence of one band here...there are shades of Dream theater, of Shadow Gallery, of Vicious Rumours (in the most twisted and heavier riffs) and many more...all put together creating Balance of Power´s own personality. The plams go to the multifacetic singer Lance King who knows how to make the songs shine and to guitarists Pete Southern and Bill Yates whose solos are far beyond what most bands are doing nowadays. Fresh Air for heavy metal. Favorite tracks: "Higher than the Sun", "One Voice" and "The killer or The Cure?". Contact: www.nightmare-records.com

REVIEW: AYDRA - ICON OF SIN

 

AYDRA - ICON OF SIN (Independent, 1999):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Sound Machine Rec. By David Lenel, Andreas Venetis and Aydra.

Mastered by Antonio Piazza and Aydra.

Cover Artwork by Eugenio Morganti.

Track List: 1- Icon of Sin, 2- Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, 3- Reflect and Desist, 4- Pleasure Dome, 5- The Day of the Weddings, 6- Xavier´s Dream, 7- Lost Time Fury, 8- Night Drive, 9- No R.M.X.

This guys are really technical !! I have the personal opinion that this bands that make the most technical versions of death metal are the ones that push the style one step forward and the ones that make the style evolve in the right direction. Aydra is an italian band and the musicians here extract all the sounds that are possible from their instruments (a special mention to Francesco Olivi who is a killer and original guitarist doing incredible solos with legatos and fusion phrases). Some parts here reminded me of bands like Cynic or Pestilence ("Testimony of the Ancients" or "Spheres" era) or maybe to Atheist. But this band has its own identity. Two words here to describe their music: Original, Extreme Musicianship. Since this album is from 1999 I am really awaiting a new effort really soon !!. One of the albums of the month. Favorite tracks: The whole CD. Contact: http://digilander.iol.it/aydra

REVIEW: ANATHEMA - RESONANCE I

 

ANATHEMA - RESONANCE 1 (Peaceville Recs., 2001):

Track List: 1- Scars of the Old Stream, 2- Everwake, 3- J´Fait une promesse, 4- Alone, 5- Far Away (acoustic), 6- Eternity (part 2), 7- Eternity (Part 3) (acoustic), 8- Better Off Dead, 9- One of the Few, 10- Inner Silence, 11- Goodbye Cruel World, 12- Destiny, 13- The Silent Enigma (Orchestral), 14- Angelica (live in Budapest 1997), 15- Horses, Video enhanced track - Hope

This is a must for Anathema fans...a compilation of the band´s more climatic moments...the ambient side of Anathema, including some rarities like the acoustic version of "Far Away" or "Eternity (Part 3)" also in an excellent acoustic version or the orchestral version of "The Silent Enigma" that were previously available only in Germany and Japan (six tracks of rarities). Also this CD includes a live version of "Angelica" recorded live in Budapest in 1997. This is a CD to lay down and listen with your eyes shut letting the music transport you to Anathema´s ethereal world. Plus you have here the Pink Floyd covers "Goodbye Cruel World" and "One of the Few", plus another cover "Better Off Dead". Relax, lost soul, and let Anathema embrace you with their dark wings. Favorite tracks: "The Silent Enigma", J´Fait Une Promesse" and "Destiny". Contact: www.peaceville.com

REVIEW: AKERCOCKE - THE GOAT OF MENDES

 

AKERCOCKE - THE GOAT OF MENDES (Peaceville Recs., 2001):

Track List: 1- Of Menstrual Blood and Semen, 2- A Skin For Dancing In, 3- Betwixt The Iniquitatis and the Prostigiators, 4- Horns of Baphomet, 5- Masks of God, 6- The Serpent, 7- Fortune My Foe, 8- Infernal Rites, 9- He Is Risen, 10- Breaking Silence, 11- Initiation, 12- Ceremony of Nine Angles, Video Enhancement for "Infernal Rites".

Akercocke is a really original band...in fact I could not have said this by listening to the first track, but it is a completely different band from the second track until the end of the CD. And they are really powerful !! Is it correct to call them industrial melodic brutal death metal? (what a name!...I hate labels). They have elements of each of this styles: The guttural vocals like the ones used in death metal bands, a lot of electronic elements (courtesy of Martin Bonsoir), and a lot of melodies in many of the parts (and in the vocals too in some choruses). I think that this two last elements are what make the Akercocke sound really original...killer guitar riffs with natural harmonics thrown here and there...electronics and keyboards used to enhance the power of the tracks, original melodies, extremely fast solos, some more calm moments like "Fortune My Foe"... And this guys are going on tour with Katatonia...what a team !!!! A must. Favorite tracks: "Horns of Baphomet", "Masks of God", "Infernal Rites". Contact: www.peaceville.co.uk or www.akercocke.com

REVIEW: ABOMINATTION- RITES OF THE ETERNAL HATE

 

ABOMINATTION- RITES OF THE ETERNAL HATE (Destroyer Recs., 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded at Da Triba Studios - Sao Paulo, Feb. 2000

Engineered and Mixed by Tchelo Martins. Mastered at Estudio Zappa.

Cover Artwork by Marcello Possa.

Track List: 1- Rites of the Eternal Hate, 2- Abominattion...of Creation, 3- Real Glory Revealed, 4- Diabolical Redemption, 5- Burn on Behalf of God, 6- Hated by the Flames, 7- the Emptiness of the Flesh, 8- Smell of Death

Black/death metal from Brazil with some good ideas (like for example the riff and changes at 0:47 in "Abominattion...of Creation") and a poor sound quality, specially on drums and guitars. This is raw and extreme black metal with some death influences in some of the riffs and some slower parts like the one in the break at 1:20 of "Real Glory Revealed" ( I think this guys should do more parts like this one because I think is where they can find their own identity). There are extremely fast guitar solos and an anguished vocalist who contributes to the dark feeling of the whole CD. I find interesting some thrash metal parts that are here and there in a lot of the tracks here and which I think should be more used. A good overall result. Favorite tracks: "Diabolical Redemption" (with some odd tempos), "Hated by the Flames". Contact: www.destroyer.com.br

REVIEW: VII ARCANO - INNER DEATHSCAPES

 

VII ARCANO - INNER DEATHSCAPES (Warlord Records, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at outer Studios, Rome by Giuseppe Orlando - Nov. 2000

Recorded, Mixed and Edited by Giuseppe Orlando and Max Pagliuso.

Logo, Artwork and Layout by Morbid.

Track List: 1- Intruding, 2- Anticlockwise Cycle of Dying, 3- Of Suicidal Age, 4- The Inner Deathscape, 5- Echo Calling, 6- Fog path, 7- Release Into Anguish, 8- Necrotica Art - The Performance, 9- Streams of Paranoia, 10- Descending

Interesting technical death metal band from Italy, in the vein of In Flames and Samael. This is a band with a lot of melodies and ideas going on. In fact the main thing here is the combination between this guitar melodies and some thrash metal rhythms with a vocalist reminiscent of Slayer´s Tom Araya (obviously more growling and with more variations). There is a really good double bass drumming work here and there are also a lot of tempo changes that give the band a lot of personality. I think that this is one of the bands that creates the missing link between modern death metal and old school thrash metal (there are a lot of old school riffs that were sorely missing in the metal scene of this days...and here they are). The vinyl version includes a cover of Kiss "Love Gun". Favorite tracks: "Of Suicidal Age", "Echo Calling" (with catchy riff), "Necrotica Art..." (again killer opening riff). Contact: www.warlordrecords.com and www.viiarcano.com