Fear Factory - The Industrialist (CD Review)

“They said that the world was coming to an end. Well… it ended and it was caused
by our own hand. The world just kept on turning.” - anonymous


With those words begins The Industrialist, a new chapter in Fear Factory’s career of ideas and
extremes. The follow-up to 2010’s critically acclaimed Mechanize, The Industrialist is a vital chapter
in the history of one of the most over-achieving bands in heavy music. It’s the Fear Factory machine
at its most confident and passionate, bringing every sonic weapon in its arsenal to the fore.
The shadow of the Los Angeles born band has loomed large, writing the book of industrial metal that
has gone on to influence the likes of Rammstein and inform such stalwart noisemongers as Ministry.
Fear Factory also merged the idea of melodic vocals erupting from death metal screaming long
before it became modern metal’s de-riguer. Over the course of a many storied career that’s seen the
success of five critically acclaimed albums plus a remix ep and album, Fear Factory has had a career
of creative and commercial success, selling over three million records worldwide: they’ve also been
plagued by bitter infighting and have emerged from it all in 2012 with a new alloy of aggression.

A NEW NEXUS.
Mechanize exorcised the demons that came with guitarist Dino Cazares and Burton C. Bell’s
reunion after an eight year split that saw Fear Factory recording and performing without Cazares.
Those wounds healed, The Industrialist revisits and refines the sweeping melodies and unforgettable
songwriting that’s also long distinguished Fear Factory.
“There’s definitely been an evolution from that record to this one,” states Bell. “It’s still familiar very
familiar and still very Fear Factory but there are elements that we didn’t really get to on the last
record for the sake of metal.”
Of course, Fear Factory aren’t about to lighten up as “Recharger” ignites the album with the same
trademark ferocity as Fear Factory classics like “Edgecrusher” or “Replica”. Dino’s industrial-tinged
riffing is all discipline, noise and fury while Burton’s trademark vocals bleed with desperation before
exploding into enormous melodies. As the frontman screams “The future begins now!” at the top
of “New Messiah,” there’s no mistaking just who is behind the ten-track apocalypse that is The
Industrialist.
“This one is more Fear Factory than anything we’ve done in years,” says Dino. “Collaborating with Burt
again was easy, it was like magic. It felt like we were back in our apartment with seven roommates
trying to write songs with a drum machine.”

DYSTOPIA NOW!
Fear Factory’s musical and lyrical vision of Future Shock is the beating machine heart of
The Industrialist. While the “story” behind the album is better spelt out in a companion booklet
that comes with a special edition of album, there is a very obvious storyline rooted both in forward
thinking science fiction but also in contemporary events including the Occupy Wall Street and
Anonymous Movements. “There is a main character who is called ‘The Industrialist’,” states Burton,
referring to the character at the heart of songs like “God Eater: or “”Virus of Faith”. “He’s a machine
that has become self-aware and becomes a catalyst for change. The album has the loose concept
of a murder plot, with the realization that the automaton is becoming more human each day. The
last track on the album “Human Augmentation” is moment where machine becomes human and
realizes its own humanity. That’s a thought that’s very key to the Fear Factory universe.”

DEUS EX MACHINA.
The Industrialist found Fear Factory in the studio with longtime co-producer and collaborator Rhys
Fulber as well as Logan Mader who did additional tracking and digital editing. The process of writing
and recording the album was hardly traditional. It was about as intense as it could be with Cazares
and Bell constructing The Industrialist in the studio. “Everything that we recorded is fresh and exciting,”
says Burton. “We didn’t demo anything before we recorded it. You can hear the life and the creativity
that went into the making of this record as it was being laid down.”
Dino is quick to compare The Industrialist to the band’s longstanding 1995 classic Demanufacture.
“Demanufacture took what we had done before and broke all that down to create something new,”
says Dino of the album that combined the mechanized Death Metal of Fear Factory’s 1993 debut
Soul of a New Machine and its then-untraditional follow-up Fear is the Mind Killer, an album of remixes.
“We had some of the same intentions on the new record. Break it all down and build it all back up,”
says Cazares. “It’s noisier. It has more Industrial influences. It’s more Fear Factory and it just poured out
of us.”

CONTINUUM.
Cazares and Bell aren’t merely proud of the art they’ve made and continue to create but they also
realize the impact Fear Factory has had on multiple generations of metal, industrial, and aggressive
music. “We definitely pioneered the combination between melodic and brutal vocals,” states Dino.
“Syncopated guitar and kick-drum patterns. We were even the first death-grind-industrial band to
have remix records!” It is staggering to think that today’s Dubstep Metallers to progressive-minded
“D-Jent” bands owe a debt to Fear Factory. “People don’t even know where some of these ideas
originally came from!” enthuses the guitarist.

THE AGE OF THE INDUSTRIALIST.
Where several side-bands and offshoots have emerged from the Fear Factory fold: Dino’s tungstentimbered
metal machine Divine Heresy and Burton’s more cerebral Ascension of the Watchers, Fear
Factory is the focus. Without exception or reservation. “Being in Fear Factory is survival for me,” says
the frontman. “It’s what still matters most to us.”
When the band hits stages worldwide in 2012, it will be some of Fear Factory’s most anticipated and
charged shows to date. The age of The Industrialist has begun.

WORDS OF STU
Yep FF are back with a storming cd of techno fuelled power, harmony and agression in perfect balance.
The final track is an ambient/industrial soundscape and tho it lacks any real music its by far my fave track.

RATING 10/10
FOR FANS OF : Static X, Rammstein, Devin Townsend, Axis Of Perdition

Merrimack - The Acausal Mass (CD Review)

MERRIMACK belong to the most influential, most active and
authentic bands of the French black metal scene. Moreover this
band is one of the French combos that accomplished to play
worldwide tours and that made a name for themselves in the
scene over the French border.
After founding the band in 1994, MERRIMACK recorded three
demo tapes – “Act 1”, the splitdemo “Hirilorn/Merrimack” and
“Horns Defeat Thorns (A Vision Of Human Salvation)”, before they
felt ready for their first entire studio album. “Ashes Of Purification”
was released in 2002 by the underground label Elegy Records.
The jet-black hateful chunk of metal was acclaimed by the strict
core of the underground scene and the American label Moribund
Records began to put out feelers in direction of Paris. “Of Entropy
And Life Denial”, the fabulous second album from 2006 finally
marked the international break through of the Frenchmen. Media
placed MERRIMACK on the same with big names like MARDUK
or GORGOROTH and praised the musical brutality and vigour as
well as the quality of composition and playing. “Grey Rigorism”,
the third album, was a step in modern direction. MERRIMACK
combined their gruff Black Metal with epic song structures and
post-modern Sound – they got fabulous media critics and toured
through Europe and USA very successfully.
In summer 2011 the band came to an agreement about a cooperation
with the German Metal label AFM Records. In January
2012 the combo entered again the Necromorbus Studio, where
quality guarantees like WATAIN or FUNERAL MIST produced
their sound attacks. “THE ACAUSAL MASS” bites, rages, hurts
and destroys. MERRIMACK excelled themselves by introducing a
milestone of orthodox and brilliant black metal and prove again
that the black metal scene is able to give new impulses in 2012 far
away from mainstream.

When it comes to French metal im not exactley jumping around with excitment (Unless you wanna talk about TRUST) when it comes to Black Metal there is only one band to talk about and that is BLUT AUS NORD.

So hitting play with this one does not hold any hopes, but play button it is....
Kinda wish i hadnt, every track sounds the same and its very average, my advice is to stick with Norway, Sweden and UK when it comes to all things Black.

Rating 5/10

Murder Of My Sweet - Bye Bye Lullaby (CD Review)

Since the release of their debut album "Divanity" in January 2010, and the
single that pre-ceded it in 2009 (“Bleed Me Dry” - which reached No. 14 in the
Swedish National Singles Charts), female-fronted rock/metal band
THE MURDER OF MY SWEET have become amongst the biggest hopes on
the European scene. Their individual, easily recognizable and high value sound,
has touched the lives of many fans and with its mix of modern, groovy, hard
rock, beautiful melodies, and progressive, cinematic flair. The band, led by
singer Angelica Rylin, has secured a remarkable fan base already, far from the
shores of Stockholm, where the band was formed in 2007; the name inspired
by the 1944 ‘film-noir’ “Murder, My Sweet”.
Now though it’s time to confirm and expand on the success of "Divanity" -
which, given the quality of the new album, "Bye Bye Lullaby" should be a
formality.
THE MURDER OF MY SWEET have combined all their strengths and improved
in every department. Rylin’s passionate vocal performance breaths new soul
into every song, and all tracks on "Bye Bye Lullaby" have their individual
strength meaning that it’s somewhat difficult to highlight individual songs
especially. With 13 tracks, the whole spectrum and repertoire of this wonderful
band can be celebrated: "Idolize" and "Kind Of Lousy" are just two tracks whose
melodies you won’t get out of the head for weeks, but "I Dare You" stands out
too, with its hypnotic groove. The ballad "Meant To Last Forever" is pure
emotion, and with the completion of 6-minute epic "Phantom Pain" the band
delivers the perfect successor to their song "Death Of A Movie Star" (such an
important part of the "Divanity" album). "Unbreakable" (the first single) will be
accompanied by a video clip in late April.
Singer Angelica remembers the creative process:
”Bye Bye Lullaby” has been a long time coming. We wrote nearly enough songs
for two full albums and had to carefully choose these thirteen to truly represent
the new, updated The Murder Of My Sweet. This album includes performances
from close friends Jesper Stromblad (who you all know from In Flames), Fredrik
Akesson (from Opeth) and Peter Wichers (from Soilwork), so it’s a really brave
record. The major difference for me is the variation in the songs; we’ve taken
them down a darker path, as well as on a more commercial path. It’s
unorthodox maybe, but since there are so many female fronted bands out
there, we felt that this combination had never been tried before, and would be
breaking new ground, which is way more fun.”
Composer and drummer Daniel Flores adds:
“Who doesn’t like huge variety and impact created with sound? Small fragments
of sonic whispering, say mixed with soulful performances? With this new lineup,
my imagination had no limits and you will surely be hearing an even bigger
cinematic soundscape than you all grew to love on “Divanity”!”
The new lineup, to which Daniel refers, now includes, alongside himself and
singer Angelica, new guitarist Christopher Vetter and new bassist Teddy
Westlund.

Rating 7/10

Natur - Head Of Death (CD Review)

Dwelling in the filth-ridden depths of the underground Metal brotherhood, New York's Natur have created a distinct reputation for themselves, blending the arcane and the obscure into a sound drenched in the very essence of Metal's formative years.

With their debut full length 'Head of Death', Natur expand on the excitement caused by their early demos and 7" with a set of songs exploring the mystical and the macabre. 'Vermin Rift' explores the terror of the night, 'Goblin Shark' relates the tale of demented possessed sailor out for revenge, while 'Head of Death' itself predicts the horror of what happens when your time is up.

Deliberately archaic, Natur take delight in highlighting the eerie atmospheres of the Metal heroes of yore - Mercyful Fate, Angel Witch and Venom - and adding their own twisted vision of the horror and fantastical that make up their world. With their underground cred in no doubt thanks to the patronage of Darkthrone's Fenriz, and their appearance at the Live Evil Festival in London as well as support slots with High on Fire at the invitation of Thrasher Magazine, 'Head of Death' should see Natur spread
their unholy gospel even wider.

American take on NWOBHM, pretty good too.

Rating 8/10
For fans Of : Cauldron, Skeletonwitch, Amulet

Some flyers for June

The Mercy House - A Broken State Of Bliss (CD Review)

01.A Broken State Of Bliss
02.Greed
03.My Disease
04.Blind
05.Lead The Way
06.The End
07.Weight
08.Unclean
09.Hayt
10.Inversions
11.The Price Of Dying

Drew Davis (Vocals)
Dany Serrano (Guitar)
Dan Edwards(Guitar)
W.R (Bass)
Nick Schlesinger(Drums)

So it was march 27th 2009 that Mercy House made their debut with Drew on vocals
at the rock attic in streatham, their next gig was at the Underworld in Camden
So right from the start it was a step up every time, they lost a band member and
replaced him then started recordings, did more gigs, got a few good support slots as
well, gigged constantley even out of London shows and released a couple of one track promo cd's.

Well things did keep moving forward they were hailed by Kerrang! Radio’s Alex Baker as a band possessing, “killer riffs, monstrous vocals and more hooks than a slaughterhouse”.
Then they had tracks featured on both Metal Hammer and Classic Rock cover CDs and received regular airplay on the likes of Kerrang! Radio and Total Rock as well as being championed by Recharged Radios DJ Caz on her Metal Mumin show.
They won Kerrang! magazine’s Guitar Hero competition to have one of their tracks featured in the game, which led to a double-page spread feature on the band in the magazine.
Following this, Harmonix and the Rock Band franchise snapped at the chance to add The Mercy House to their roster of artists, which will see their track ‘Greed’ being released as part of the game’s additional content in later this year.
All this came whilst gaining a fierce live reputation on the UK circuit, culminating in Metal Hammer selecting them to support Biohazard at the London Scala.


After battling against health issues that brought the band to the brink of destruction
in 2010 they have now returned determined than ever to prove that real, honest Metal can still be produced by real musicians who are not intrested in image and simply copying someone elses music.

The last few months have seen the band in the studio finishing their debut album, A Broken State of Bliss, which was mixed by Donald Clark (Guns N’ Roses, Korn, Muse) and is now finally out for all to hear.
Time then dear reader for me to hit "Play"........

'A Broken State Of Bliss', now although this is the title track its actually a one minute atmospheric intro.

Kicking into 'Greed' a dark brooding rocker kicks off this album with pure majestic power, it brings to mind Judas Priest's 'Touch Of Evil' with Zeppelinesque qualities, superb production brings out every instrument to perfection.
Drew's vocal delivery is reminicent of Chris Cornell doing an impression of Johnathan Davis, but has those trademark high notes that still makes Drew "THE" rock vocalist in the UK today.
The multi tracking and layering of the vocals and their various styles just adds to a superb piece of work.

The pace remains the same for 'My Disease' but slows down for 'Blind' giving some balance between the bands abilities to rock and also create more melodic and mellow music.

However with 'Lead The Way' that relentless wall of power continues starting off with a bass riff that would fit any decent Korn track, the song has an Audioslave vibe.
Part ballad part rock monster it is a song destined for american rock radio and a subsequent begging letter to come and tour.

Moving very much in ballad territory with 'The End' it has nice "Floaty" guitar sounds, it does of course kick in with more power throughout.

The next 3 songs 'Weight', 'Unclean' and 'Hayt' all return to the powerhouse sound with every element from vocals to guitarwork being in perfect harmony.

And now 'Inversions',im not sure how they have managed to do it but the breathtaking 'Inversions' has now reached a level of superbness that is beyond my ability to describe, in fact one of the lyrics,"you wont find the answers, they are too deep inscribed, deep within the maze that is your mind" just helps to illustrate my fail here on words.
This is version number three that i have in my collection, this one is by far the most acomplished the music is tighter, the little vocal effects added here and there, the cleaness of the guitars to such clarity that each note has its own purity, i mean its just fucking perfect!
There are few modern songs that have those elements of "timeless classic" but this song has it and will be around to entertain future generations, surely the next single??

Finally the near doom laden epic 7 minute masterpiece 'The Price Of Dying', this one comes as a surprise with its multi layered vocals, eerie guitar sounds, odd sound effects, pounding bass, scathing guitarwork punctuated with top heavy powerchords.

Top notch British hard rock currently unrivaled by any other band, you must own this album!
Also go see them live, they are currently supporting Viking Skull on thier uk tour.

Rating 10/10

For fans Of: Audioslave, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Judas Priest, Voodoo Johnson.

Crystal Viper - Crimen Excepta (CD Review)

01.Witch’s Mark
02.Child Of The Flame
03 It’s Your Omen
04.Crimen Excepta
05.Medicus Animarum
06.The Spell Of Death
07.Hope Is Gone, Here’s New Law
08.Fire Be My Gates
09.Tyrani Piekiel (Vader cover)
10.Ghosts Of Sherwood

Marta Gabriel (Vocals/Guitars)
Andy Wave (Guitars)
Tom Woryna (Bass)
Golem (Drums)

CRYSTAL VIPER are a Female Fronted Traditional Heavy Metal act from Poland, founded in 2003 and led by the singer & guitarist Marta Gabriel.
After doing 3 full length studio albums, several single and EP releases,
appearing on numerous compilations and constant touring in most European countries.

Due to Marta's charismatic voice and stage presence, the band was often placed in one line with acts such as Warlock, while melodic, fast songs brought comparisons to acts such as Running Wild and Accept.

This is being hailed as their heaviest, most dark and aggressive album to date.
'Crimen Excepta' is a concept effort about holy inquisition, black magic and witches, where fiction is mixed with historical facts.

The album's artwork was painted again by the legendary French artist Chris Moyen (known from cooperation with acts such as Slayer, Beherit and Blasphemy).

The band decided to hide their influences no longer, and showed the world they are
fans of Black & Death Metal as well and even recorded a cover version of the classic Death Metal anthem by Vader song "Tyrani Piekiel" ("Tyrants Of Hell") they invited
VADER mainman Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek to the recording studio, so you
can hear their amazing vocal duet of Marta and Peter.

It's of course not the end of surprises: the band didn't forget about their NWoBHM influences as well, and in the title track you can hear one more special guest: David
Bower of HELL.

'Ghosts Of Sherwood' is the theme for the forthcoming 3D cinema horror movie "Robin
Hood: Ghosts Of Sherwood".

So to sum up "Crimen Excepta", It's heavy and dark, but still very classic. Old school influences of bands such as Mercyful Fate, are mixed here with riffs that could land on some classic Iron Maiden album, and die hard Metal attitude of bands such as Nifelheim -
not to forget about amazing vocals of Marta Gabriel, who sounds like the
younger sister of Chastain's Leather Leone.

So its amps to "11" and enter a world full of Flying Vs, tube amplifiers, real drums,
leather and chains! This is Heavy Metal all the way!

Rating 9/10

For Fans Of: Warlock, Chastain, Bitch, Achilla

Hour Of 13 - 333 (CD Review)

01.Deny The Cross
02.The Burning
03.Rite Of Samhain
04.Spiral Vacuum
05.Whos To Blame
06.Sea Of Trees
07.Lucky Bones


Chad Davis (Instruments)
Phil Swanson (Vocals)

Hailing from the USA, Hour of 13's core duo of Chad Davis and Phil Swanson return with their third album, '333'.  Cloaked in obscure tales of the bizarre and the lost, Hour of 13 bridge the gap between forlorn despair and cautious hope on their new album.  Powered by majestic, haunting riff worship, and shrouded with occult sentiment and themes, the album offers a glimmer of salvation for the alienated and the alone.

Choosing to utilise a highly listenable classic rock songwriting approach, Hour of 13 throw in curveballs with the use of devilish riffs and a pained vocal intonation that threatens to collapse under the weight of unwieldy despair.

'Sea of Trees' and 'The Burning' emphasise the twisted catchiness that has become Hour of 13's trademark - on the one hand welcoming enough to get heads banging, but grimly haunting enough to leave a sense of unease lingering.

If it's possible to create an uplifting kind of doom metal, then Hour of 13 might have uncovered the alchemical formula that offers redemption on the one hand, and plunges you into hopelessness on the other.

Coming across like classic 'Witchfinder General' the band have achieved exactly what they set out to.

Rating 7/10

For fans Of: Witchfinder General, Cathedral, Electric Wizard

Cradle Of Filth - Midnight In The Labyrinth (CD Review)

01.A Gothic Romance (Red Roses For The Devil's Whore)
02.The Forest Whispers My Name
03.The Twisted Nails Of Faith
04.The Rape And Ruin Of Angels (Hosannas In Extremis)
05.Funeral In Carpathia
06.Summer Dying Fast
07.Thirteen Autumns And A Widow
08.Dusk and Her Embrace
09.Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
10.Goetia (Invoking The Unclean)
 
Disc Two: Orchestral

01.The Rape And Ruin Of Angels (Hosannas In Extremis)
02.Dusk And Her Embrace
03.Summer Dying Fast
04.The Twisted Nails Of Faith
05.Funeral in Carpathia
06.The Forest Whispers My Name
07.Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
08.A Gothic Romance (Red Roses For The Devil's Whore)
09.Thirteen Autumns And A Widow


Mark Newby-Robson (Orchestration)
Dani Filth (Narration)
Sarah Jezebel Deva (Narration/Vocals)
Ralph Woodward (Choir & Orchestra Conductor)

Midnight in the Labyrinth is an orchestral album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth, well actually its not, lets face it this is a Dani Filth solo album that he doesnt even sing on!

The songs selected are from the band's first four releases which in itself shows a lack of imagination, its okay to do a few covers in this way but some new and intresting concepts wouldnt have gone a miss.
Definatley a missed oppertunity here to do what Glenn Danzig did with his 2 Black Aria projects.

So the first disc features narration by Dani Filth (Dani here perhaps trying to emulate Richard Burton from the Jeff Wayne War Of The Worlds), plus additional vocals from Sarah Jezebel Deva.Its okay but nothing outstanding, certainly the oppertunity to re create and make new has been wasted, albeit pleasent enough to listen to.

Disc Two contains the same recordings minus the vocals and somewhat labours the pointless exercise even more pointless.

So Mr. Filth claims the album would "reinvent" tracks from the band's first four albums and include "full soundtrack-quality stuff... with choirs, strings and some narration".
Well in my opinion it has failed to do so.

Dani wrote; "All songs will be fully orchestrated akin to a horror movie soundtrack (think Danny Elfman, John Williams, Christopher Young, etc.) and [the record is] comprised solely of tracks from our first four releases - 1994's The Principle of Evil Made Flesh; the 1996 EP V Empire; 1996's Dusk... and Her Embrace and 1998's Cruelty and the Beast - [with] "Funeral in Carpathia" being my favorite conversion thus far."

Thing is that even Hellraiser composer 'Young', the legendary 'Elfman' and others have all utilised electronics and electric instrumentation in many of their compositions to give it a fuller sound.

So basically NOT a Cradle album but a Dani solo album with speech instead of vocals, make of this what you will....

Rating: 5/10

For Fans Of: Dani Filth, Glenn Danzig - Black Aria, Jacula - In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum, Devil Doll - Eliogabalus

This Months Gig Flyers

Mick Priestley - Green River Project (CD Review)

01.Dig Your Grave

02.No Return

03.Out Of The Dark Below

04.Flight Of The Bumblebee

05.Nowhere To Run

06.Summer-Presto

07.The Storm

Andy Law - Vocals

Mick Priestley - Guitar/Bass

Alex Martin - Drums

Guest Musicians:

Andy Brook - Keyboard Programming

Adrian Erlandsson - Drums (Dig Your Grave)

Starting off with a slow almost bluesy intro 'Dig Your Grave' then kicks into just about the best damn metal track you'll hear in a long time. Powerfull and anthemic with amazing guitar work that out does that cold lifeless Dragonforce stuff anyday, Mick plays with a real passion and a technical proficiency that is in a masterclass of its own.

Melody and power are the two keywords here for 'No Return', Law delivers an awesome vocal performance whilst the guitar prowess of Mick delivers note perfect with speed and precision unrivaled in british rock today. The song kicks like Motley Crue jamming with Rising Force!

'Out Of The Dark Below' has a slow haunting intro with a catchy little guitar riff mixed in with some vocal sampling. Coming over to my ears like a hybrid of Gothic Power metal, beautiful melodic guitarwork with a strong vocal and superb drumming. The sweeping solo is so fast sounds like mick has 7 fingers on his hand!

'Flight Of The Bumblebee' is an orchestral interlude written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov for his opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan, composed in 1899. Mick gives it his own personal twist with a frantic pace played up to tempo, with nearly uninterrupted runs of chromatic sixteenth notes!

'Nowhere To Run' is catchy as hell with great vocals, reminding me of wednesday 13 on a tech metal trip!

'Summer Presto' is an instrumental which gives Mick another chance to show that he is one of this countrys best guitarists (Herman who??) but, and yes i say it again, with a real passion and understanding that technical ability is only worth listening to when played with passion and that passion comes through the speakers and is as smooth and deadly as a glass of absinthe laced with Laudanum.

The final track 'The Storm' has a classical styled intro with acoustic guitar and keyboard harmony. as to be expected (if not Demanded!) it moves into more energy fuelled fret work. This instrumental again serves as a testament to Micks unrivaled abilities as a true guitar hero.

Stu

Rating: 10/10 

For Fans Of: Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Dragonforce, Symphony X, Paul Gilbert.

Official Website:
www.mickpriestley.net

Aeternum (UK) - Through Death We Ascend EP (CD Review)

01.Beyond The Valley
02.As The Last Kingdom Burns
03.Non Serviam
04.Sons Of The Fading Dusk
05.The Light Bearer
06.Invocation

Elliot Beaver (Vocals)
Adam Vom Grima (Guitar)
Zurab Melua (Guitar)
James Patterson (Bass)
Jesel Gohil (Drums)

Formed in early 2011 by a group of experienced young musicians, Aeternum are a five piece Blackened Death Metal band based in London featuring members of 'Phyrexia' and 'Reaping Havoc'.

Brought together by their shared influences of Dissection, Behemoth, Necrophobic and Belphegor as well as a love of classic Black and Death Metal, they create a sound based on a combination of both genres’ hallmarks; ethereal melodies woven into crushing guitars, driven by pounding drums and inhuman growls and screams.

Currently gearing up for live shows and this impending first release.

Dark and doom laden cello and funeral drum makes up the intro 'Beyond The Valley' which leads into something much heavier 'As The Last Kingdom Burns'.

Superb musicianship and what a production, in particular the screaming evil vocal attack would make a certain Mr Davy shit his goth pants!

'Non Serviam' keeps up the pace, with a dark, rythmic and brooding nightmare of classic british Black Metal, fuck sake the drums absolutley destroy the speakers (Mind you they are set on 100!!!!) the melody that the guitarists manage to put throughout this song is outstanding.

Oh and again some superb acoustic guitar leads into 'Sons Of The Fading Dusk' the bass riff behind it helps build to that screaming creshendo that you know is coming, and fuck me does it come with all the daemons of hell armed to the teeth with armageddon in mind.
Seriously the delivery on this just scream power and musical precision on a world class level.I tell you this that acoustic breakdown half way through the song is placed just right and long enough to take a breath!

'The Light Bearer' has a riff not a million miles away from Maidens 'The Trooper' but apart from that there are no more comparisons to Harry's band.
Riff madness, hyper speed and satans vocal coach giving it his all.
Some great powerchording giving this a headbanging quality, tho perhaps a free neckbrace at gigs for the front 2 rows??

Finally another awesome riff kicking off another awesome song,'Invocation' is a power laced monster that has a great rhythm running throughout and again a touch of Maiden in the guitarwork but retaining brutality and power.
Nice weird guitar sounding riffage half way through giving this one another dimension.

That music of this standard is being made by Aeternum, people who are prepared to work hard at creating original, entertaining, well crafted and expertley executed "Metal", is something to be very proud of.

Rating: 10/10
For Fans Of: Behemoth, Anaal Nathrakh, Dimmu Borgir, Akercocke, Meads Of Asphodel

FACEBOOK : www.facebook.com/aeternumuk

Naglfar - Teras (CD Review)

01.Téras
02.Pale Horse
03.III: Death Dimension Phantasma
04.The Monolith
05.An Extension Of His Arm And Will
06.Bring Out Your Dead
07.Come Perdition
08.Invoc(H)ate
09.The Dying Flame Of Existence

Kristoffer Olivius (vocals)
Andreas Nilsson (Guitars)
Marcus E. Norman (Guitars/Bass/Keyboards)
Dirk Verbeuren (Drums)


A blizzard is brewing up in the far north of Sweden. This fierce storm has been eagerly awaited by Black Metal fans all over the world. It marks the triumphant return of NAGLFAR after several years of absence and it shall be known by the name of “Téras".

"We took a creative break", is the laconic comment of frontman Kristoffer Olivius on the question of his band's long absence from the studio since their fifth album "Harvest” was released in 2007 and adds: "We also took all the time it needed to record the most powerful album possible."

These are no empty words. NAGLFAR return with a vitriolic onslaught reminding the listener that the band from Umeå belongs to the pioneers and foremost protagonists of Sweden’s black scene.

Their sixth full-length remains true to the formula they helped to establish along legendary DISSECTION and that saw dedicated acts like WATAIN or FUNERAL MIST rising in their musical footsteps during recent years.

In contrast to their contemporaries like MARDUK or DARK FUNERAL, who were promoting the truly black Swedish sound, NAGLFAR combine the harsh bleakness of early Black Metal with the technical prowess and high-speed assault of Death Metal. Their debut "Vittra" (1995) soon became a classic of its genre and remains highly acclaimed to this day. Icy harmonies and epic melodies swirl like a swarm of angry hornets from the fingers of string wizards Andreas Nilsson and Marcus E. Norman. To this musical maelstrom Kristoffer W. Olivius adds his characteristic venomous vocals and misanthropic lyrics ever since founding member and first singer Jens Rydén departed for Stockholm in 2004. Kristoffer’s transfer from bass to microphone was a natural decision for the band since he had already proven his vocal merits with Black Metal extremists SETHERIAL.

Now NAGLFAR decided to reduce their line-up to a three piece by demanding full dedication and creative input from all their members. As a result the drums were recorded by a session musician this time. Yet the Swedes did not leave their heartbeat to just anyone, but enlisted the formidable aid of Dirk Verbeuren. The Belgian is best known for his work with SOILWORK and SCARVE, which makes this choice less obvious at first glance. "Dirk stood at the first place of our wish-list", remarks Kristoffer. "His style is ideally suited for our new songs as he has a wicked groove and a great personality as well."

The career of NAGLFAR has at no point been straightforward. They took nearly three years to release a follow-up of "Vittra". "Diabolical" (1998) put more emphasis on the Death Metal parts.
Despite a successful tour as co-headliner with Deicide the Swedes went into hibernation again. Four years later NAGLFAR returned with the MCD "Ex Inferis" (2002), which introduced Bewitched guitarist Marcus E. Norman to their line-up. In spring 2003 "Sheol" added a dose of Black Thrash and drew attention by its catchy riffing and return to darker sounds. This trend was continued by "Pariah" (2005), which recaptured more of NAGLFAR's early spirit and "Harvest" (2007) may be seen as taking the troupe from Umeå full circle with all their experience of later years added to the sound.

Never content with their achievements NAGLFAR now demonstrate clearly with "Téras" that their classic sound easily projects into the future. If it ever needed a reminder that these wolves from the North are amongst the elite of Swedish Black Metal, well here it is.

From its dark and doomy opening lulling you into this false sense of security that they have slowed down the second track and onwards its a total technical black metal onslaught of demonic vocals, immense riffs and high powered drumming that destroys all in ite blackend wake!!!!
But that wonderful doom sound returns for 'The Monolith' with a vengeance.

Rating: 9/10
For Fans Of: Dark Funeral, Marduk, Dissection, Watain, Bathory

STU

Outloud - More Catastrophe EP (CD Review)

01.Saints On Fire
02.Cross The Line
03.Mr. Long Gone
04.Last Days Of December
05.Falling Rain (Flamenco Version)
06.We Run (for Piano and Vocals)


Chandler Mogel (Vocals)
Bob Katsionis (Guitars/Keyboards)
Tony Kash (Guitar)
Sverd T.Soth (Bass)
Mark Cross (Drums)

OUTLOUD began with Greek guitar player Tony Kash taking lessons from Firewind's Bob Katsionis. They started to write songs together and in late 2007/ early 2008, and solidified these ideas into an album format and eventually got in touch with NYC-based singer Chandler Mogel, who Bob had met previously on a Firewind tour of the States.

Chandler was flown to Athens and Tony contracted his friend Jason Mercury to play bass, and in turn Bob brought on board Mark Cross, also from the band Firewind at the time, to play drums.

The five of them started to jam over the existing ideas and added the final arrangements and finishing touch to Outloud’s music and in September 2008 the band entered Basement Studio in Athens and recorded their debut album. Mixed and mastered by none other than Tommy Hansen (Helloween, TNT, Pretty Maids), the album was described by the press as "a mixture of Riot’s Fire Down Under, Skid Row's debut album and TNT’s Tell No Tales with some Foreigner melodic elements."

The album was released in August 2009 to rave reviews worldwide and ended up on many top ten lists by year's end, and the album was voted "Best Album of the Year" in BW&BK/Bravewords.com. Sverd T. Soth (Bare Infinity) replaced Jason Mercury on bass shortly after the release.

Both video clips of their singles We Run and Tonite (2010), which together have since garnered well over 100,000 views on Youtube, were directed by Bob. "We Run" ranked #3 in Greek Metal Hammer's 2009 reader's polls in the BEST VIDEO CLIP category as well as being in regular rotation on MTV in Greece. It also ended up getting a spot on the esteemed German Metal Hammer Magazine DVD compilation. The song landed “Track of the Day” on Classic Rock Magazine’s website on June 26th, 2009, and was also included on a handful of notable CD compilations such as MelodicRock.com and Rock Hard.

Outloud made a successful headline tour of Greece in December '09 (sponsored by Jack Daniels) and a companion national Greek TV appearance in front of more than 1 million viewers. 2010 saw the band playing more live shows in their native country and returning to the studio to record their sophomore album.

The band inked a brand new deal with AOR Heaven for their second release, which was recorded in Athens, Greece during the summer of 2010 and once again produced by Bob and mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen.

The band released it's second effort, Love Catastrophe, in July of 2011. Much like it's predecessor, it received rave reviews from the press and was mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids, TNT). The band released a video for the single, Waiting For Your Love, opened for rock legends Twisted Sister in Athens during this time and the song "We Came To Rock" landed a spot on the July issue of Classic Rock presents AOR - Raised on Radio compilation. Additionally, the band was featured on the front cover of Greek Metal Hammer Magazine in August. As 2011 came to a close, the band released via the internet a surprise single, an original Christmas song entitled "The Last Days of December".

Now as 2012 begins, the band announces the release of More Catastrophe, a six-song EP which contains three brand new songs plus the aforementioned Christmas single, and a Flamenco version of the song “Falling Rain” and a piano & vocals version of the track “We Run”. The EP will be available at their upcoming shows in Greece, as well as in stores and digitally across Europe via AOR Heaven. Says Chandler, "We wanted to give the fans a little something extra this time around. These songs pick up where the last album left off and at the same time serve as a road sign as to where we're going. Hopefully this will hold everyone over until the third album is ready, which we're currently beginning to work on."

The EP will also be available via the band's official website,

www.outloud-rock.com

Rating: 7/10
For fans Of: Firewind, Helloween, Mercy House, Achilla, Bon Jovi

STU

Eklipse - A Night In Strings (CD Review)

01.WONDERFUL LIFE
02.IN THE END
03.NEW MOON-THEME
04.HOME
05.CRY ME A RIVER
06.CLOUDBUSTING
07.PAPARAZZI
08.RUN
09.MUMBAI-THEME
10.CLOCKS

Helena (Cello)
Viola (Viola)
Miss E. (Violin)
Scarlett (Violin)

Okay this is what the record company say:

Attractive, sexy and damn talented. Four female musicians in their early 20’s joined forces in 2012, to conquer the world with their classical interpretations of contemporary pop, rock, gothic and soundtrack scores. The name Eklipse, describes music that needs no words, a melancholic music to accompany the listener through to the end of night: an eclipse, symbolizing opposites: night and day, moon and sun, power and tenderness.
Eklipse are four ladies like it dangerous and mysterious. So it’s not surprising that very little is known about the background of this German string quartet, having chosen to mask their true identities in secrecy. Some of the musicians attended university, while others practiced until their fingers bled. Eklipse found each other at the White Nights Festival in faraway St. Petersburg, Russia. Like a moth to a flame, the strangers were immediately drawn to each other by an indescribable connection, knowing that they were destined to do something magical.

What Eklipse does choose to show speaks for itself: the magic of their music. Their interpretations of chart topping hits from bands such as Linkin Park, David Bowie and Kate Bush, are sensual, fragile, delicate and seductive- accompanied by a string quartet whose look conveys nostalgia, romance and desire. For Eklipse, music is like a language without words that they speak to perfection. This perfection does come with a price. While the ladies do take time to enjoy the excess and ecstasy of the big city life, they know they must spend hours upon hours honing their skills to achieve the perfection that makes their sound so beautiful and unique. This is something that is apparent when listening to Eklipse. Their fingers glide unified over their instruments, sonically creating a fantasy soundscape with their melancholic versions of „Clocks“ (Coldplay), „Home“ (Depeche Mode) and „Wonderful Life“ (Hurts). The mythical scores of „New Moon Theme“ and „Mumbai Theme“ soothingly implants the soundtrack in your mind, while the upbeat cover of Lady Gaga’s „Paparazzi“ show Eklipse’s more optimistic side and „Cry Me A River“ (Justin Timberlake) is the perfect soundtrack to end a long night out on the town.
The four attractive girls in Eklipse make no secret that music and style are important to them. Eroticism and sex appeal go hand in hand with a certain austerity and elegance. Combining the no holds barred attitude of pop music with the grace and beauty of classical music to create something new, something to call their very own. Eklipse sometimes perform blindfolded but not only for the fashion aspect, but say it symbolizes their concentration, which is necessary for this kind of music, and helps them become one with the sound. It has been hinted that the girls are paying homage to the Bondage scene, but if you ask them they just smile and continue playing.

Eklipse’s debut album „A Night In Strings“ was recorded in Berlin and the Ruhr area of Germany, together with different producers, showcasing ten instrumental scores that were carefully designed, arranged and hand-picked by Eklipse themselves. Whether Eklipse choose to continue to produce renditions of other artists and remain instrumental is up for debate, but the quartet choose to live for the moment and don’t want to speculate on the future. Eklipse enjoyed diving deep into these pieces and emerging with their versions of these great songs. Given the outcome, the remarkable skill, sex appeal and great discipline of these four young ladies, the future looks extremely promising - either way.

MY TURN:
Its records like this that make you wonder "why", this is bland, boring, unoriginal and very average, its the kind of music that wouldnt even cut it on X Factor.

It lacks the pop sensabilities of Vanessa Mae or Bond, it has no rock credentials like Apocalyptica or Rondellus and no quirkeness of Emille Autumn.

So how does this even get released? is it because they are four "Sexy" women? is that it is this just playing the sex sells game, good looking and no talent which pretty much sums up the pop charts and most of Kerrangs content.

Really this is a disgrace and when there is real talent out there you have to question the real motive behind this release oh and somehow they have grabbed the support to Nightwish in europe.

Rating: 0/10
For Fans Of: Elevator Music, Watching Paint Dry, Coldplay

STU

Kissin Dynamite - Money, Sex & Power (CD Review)

01.Money, Sex & Power
02.I Will Be King
03.Operation Supernova
04.Sex Is War
05.Club 27
06.Dinosaurs Are Still Alive
07.She´s A Killer
08.Sleaze Deluxe
09.Ego-Shooter
10.Six Feet Under

Hannes Braun (Vocals)
Jim Müller (Guitar)
Ande Braun (Guitar)
Steffen Haile (Bass)
Andreas Schnitzer (Drums)

Hailing from the German region known as Swabia, these glam rockers are considered as THE great hope of the German Hard 'N' Heavy scene, with many so called "experts" seeing a huge potential in this young band, and their third album released soon, will undoubtedly give them a great shot at becoming an international major player.

The experiences of recent years have shaped the band and increased their
professionalism in every department.
The new album is still catchy and, even though the classic metal influences are
still there, they now more consistently than ever before display their very own
brand of sleazy heavy rock.

"For us it is a great honour to play at festivals such as ‘Bang Your Head," says
singer Hannes Braun. “We are especially proud that we have a mixed audience
and appeal to both young and older fans. If KISSIN’ DYNAMITE are in town,
definitely go to the party! Everyone is welcome to rock out with us!”

"Our debut album" Steel Of Swabia” was released in Germany/Austria/Switzerland, as well as in Finland and Japan" Hannes continues. "For our second album, "Addicted To Metal", we had the opportunity to release worldwide for the first time – not just in Germany, as AFM Records was covering all other territories. The collaboration with AFM worked so well
that we decided, now, to work with them worldwide and at home as well.”

In July 2008 "Steel Of Swabia” was released; a debut album of teenagers with their singer just 16 years old! What puzzled everyone though was how much this "teen band" rocked; just as good as the greats: Mötley Crue, Whitesnake, AC/DC, Guns'n'Roses! No wonder this first-class debut album was released on the major label EMI!

The quality of this young group was only too obvious and also so enjoyable was that the prominence of metal was so thrilled as well, so in fact legendary Udo Dirkschneider (ex-
Accept/U.D.O.) contributed vocals to the title track of the second album "Addicted To Metal" in 2010.

You know its always nice to be surprised and this one did just that, i was expecting typical tired sleeze by numbers, instead i got very well thought out mature rock.

Superb vocal delivery, great music, all very well produced and played with some skill.
At times they sound like they have more in common with the Scorpions than GNR, in some ways there image does not do them justice, this is quality euro metal!!

Must mention the track 'Operation Supernova', an anthemic rocker that has "Hit" written all over it.

Rating 9/10
For Fans Of: Scorpions, Bullet, WASP, Accept, Motley Crue, Queensryche.

STU

April Gig Flyers

PRESS RELEASE: Bob Angelo:Early Days With Iron Maiden & Praying Mantis

PRESS RELEASE
Bob Angelo:Early Days With Iron Maiden & Praying Mantis
WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A PUBLISHER FOR THIS AMAZING BOOK

“It's a book about my times in both IRON MAIDEN & PRAYING MANTIS. It covers all of the time spent in 'MAIDEN, all in chonological order, in great detail, along with early snapshots of the band, which have never been seen.
It also covers all my 'MANTIS gigs, and both tours (METAL FOR MUTHAS & MAIDENS first headline tour, on which we supported them ),and details all the ridicoulous situations that we go into on the road! )
It contains about 12 early Maiden pix, plus various shots of 'Mantis. There are many references to other bands and members from around the time, and I'm sure it will be a very interesting and amusing read !!!”

For More Information please contact Stu at mrstu616@hotmail.com
OR
Via Facebook page

Facebook Page : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bob-Angelo-Early-Days-With-Iron-Maiden-Praying-Mantis/3356031731455422

Words Of farewell - Immersion (Cd Review)

01.Project Daybreak
02.Ever After
03.End Of Transmission
04.On Second Thought
05.Auriga
06.The Great Escape
07.Urban Panorama
08.Sorae
09.Vagrant Story
10.Sundown Serenade

Alexander Otto (Vocals)
Erik Gaßmus (Guitar)
Henrik Tschierschky (Guitar)
Nils Urginus (Bass)
Jonas Wübbe (Drums)
Leo Wichmann (Keyboards)

Initiated by lead guitarists Erik Gaßmus and Phillipp Olivier, the German Progressive Death Metal band WORDS OF FAREWELL was founded in early 2007. The line-up was then completed by Nils Urginus (rhythm guitar), Leo Wichmann (synthesizer), Benedikt Goralski
(drums) and Alexander Otto (vocals/bass guitar).
After four months of rehearsing, the 7 track EP "Ashes of the Coming Dawn" was recorded at Boombox Studios in Lünen and published in a quantity of 500 units.

Half a year after their formation, the band had a personal change at the drums in which Felix Greiff replaced Benedikt Goralski.
In the autumn of 2008 the band recorded the 4 track CD "From Now On..." for promotional purposes at Total Recall Studios in Herten. It was pressed in limited numbers to be sent out to record labels and venues, distributed at live concerts and additionally offered as fre download.
Furthermore, the second sampler of the "European Underground Extreme Metal Front" featured their track "In Fiction".
Then, in summer of 2009, Jonas Wübbe entered as the new drummer of the band.
Subsequently, the band´s live sound was slimmed down from 3 to 2 guitars.
From June to December 2010, the band entered Metallurgy Studios,
Mönchengladbach, where the debut album "Immersion" was produced.

In 2011 Phillipp Olivier left the band, Henrik Tschierschky (Harasai, Symbiontic) following as worthy successor.

In January 2012 WORDS OF FAREWELL signed with AFM Records.Their debut album “Immersion” will be released on March 30th.You can literally feel the countless hours of practising in the rehearsal room that forged this atmospheric album.

“Immersion” is a piece of work that displays a degree of class, yet at times it remains "pedestrian" in its execution, bordering on symphonic power metal as opposed to the prog/death tag they give themselves.

Rating: 7/10

For Fans Of: Dark Tranquillity, Scar Symmetry, Insomnium

STU

Edens Curse - Time To Breathe (Single Review)

EDEN’S CURSE are delighted to announce Italian vocalist Marco Sandron as the new voice of “The Curse” with the release of their brand new single and promotional video “Time To Breathe”.

Sandron previously sang for Italian Progressive Metal act Pathosray, who released their self-titled debut in 2007, and their sophomore release “Sunless Skies” in 2009. That same year he also contributed lead vocals to French Symphonic Metal outfit Fairyland’s “Score To A New Beginning” album.

“In true Eden’s Curse fashion, we found Marco on the Internet. I was browsing through various videos on You Tube, related to some of my favourite singers, and I found a cover he recorded of a Symphony X song and simply I was blown away!” said bassist Paul Logue.

“I just had to find out more about him. I then discovered he sang for Pathosray and managed to track down their albums, and I found his vocal performances on those records staggering. I managed to track him down on Facebook and made contact and I was delighted to receive an instant reply. We began the audition process and eventually I flew out to Italy at the beginning of January to meet and record with Marco and conclude the deal” carries on Logue.

Keyboard player Alessandro Del Vecchio, who mixed and mastered the new single, added “Marco’s mix of clean, aggressive and high-pitched tones instantly turned me into a fan of his vocal abilities. He has an outstanding talent in his craft and his technique is brilliant. He has the pipes to sing whatever he wants and whatever we ask him. I'm totally satisfied with our choice. Marco really deserves to have his voice heard and I believe Eden's Curse is the band with which to make this happen”.

The band return in style, showcasing Sandron’s sumptuous vocals and the continuation of the signature Eden’s Curse sound, with the release of their brand new single “Time To Breathe” which has been made available as a free download.

Accompanying the single release is a brand new promotional video, which was filmed at Sky Park in Glasgow, Scotland, at the end of January with Simon Jake Gillespie of Music Video Scotland in the Director’s chair. “It was imperative to us that not only did the fan base get to hear what Marco sounded like, but also what he looked like fronting Eden’s Curse” explained Logue.

The band are also thrilled to announce, not one but two, festival appearances, when they play PPM Fest in Belgium on Saturday 7th April alongside Accept, Sonata Artica and Evergrey and then Dokkem Open Air festival in Holland on Saturday 30th June alongside Arch Enemy and Jon Oliva’s Pain, meaning the new look Eden’s Curse line up is only seven weeks away from performing live together for the first time.

New boy, Sandron, could not hide his delight “I'm very proud to be the new singer of Eden's Curse! This band is great. The guys are simply awesome and a very talented group of musicians. There are no egos, just respect and true collaboration and we are working together simply to reach our one true goal – creating great music! I simply cannot wait to rock some stages and meet the wonderful Curse fan base that the guys tell me so much about, as well as completing songs for our new album. Yes, I'm very excited because the new songs we are writing are very powerful, melodic as hell and typically Eden’s Curse”.

A great track full of melody and that classic euro power metal touch.

To download the new single “Time To Breathe” for free, watch the promo video and for an extensive news update including quotes from the entire band, visit the Official Eden’s Curse website at : http://www.edenscurse.com

“Time To Breathe” is also streamed on the band’s Soundcloud page – where it is available for free download as well:
http://soundcloud.com/edenscurse/edens-curse-time-to-breathe

Rating: 7/10

For fans Of: Firewind, Queensryche, EdGuy

STU