Misty Grey - Chapter II (CD Review)

01. Spellbound
02. Strangers On A Train
03. Psycho
04. Rebecca
05. Frenzy
06. The Wrong Man
07. Among The Dead

Juan (Guitar)
Javi (Drums)
Robin (Bass)
Bea (Vocals)

Spanish group Misty Grey have tried to capture their passion for classic doom metal and it would seem the movies of Alfred Hitchcock for their latest album.

The band formed back in 2011 from the ashes of ‘Simon Del Desierto’ a doom band with a passion for the surrealist Luis Bunuel.

The ideas of film inspired music continued and with their original vocalist Malicia, they released a self titled album in 2016, song titles included ‘High Noon’ and ‘Dead Zone’. Earlier releases were a mixture of movie inspired songs and cover versions from some of their influences including ‘Pentagram’ and ‘Witchfinder General’.

With new vocalist ‘Bea’ they have set out to create an entire album with a single movie theme, in case you are thinking that “Hitch” never did a film called ‘Among The Dead’ it is in fact the title of the book that ‘Vertigo’ is based on.

What do we get by way of tribute to Mr Hitchcock?
Well seven slabs of amazing sounding proto-doom meets occult Psychedelia, superbly executed growling fuzzed out guitar playing, pounding bass and drums.

Very much in that early 1970’s style, not the clinical modern doom or some death growled funeral style, this all flows, yes it has the classic rhythms but with hints of heavy metal, classic rock and psychedelic rock all carefully added.

As to the vocal style, it is haunting, dare I say almost witch like, evil yet seductive.
My personal favourite is ‘Frenzy’, one of the albums slower tracks, great guitar work and then slows down enough to allow an exceptional vocal performance to ring out, full of menace and suspense.

Rating 9/10
For fans of: Blood Ceremony, Purson, Electric Wizard, Pentagram  

Tourniquet - Gazing At Meduza (CD Review)

01. Sinister Scherzo
02. Longing for Gondwanaland
03. Memento Mori
04. All Good Things Died Here
05. The Crushing Weight of Eternity
06. The Peaceful Beauty of Brutal Justice
07. Can’t Make Me Hate You
08. One Foot in Forever
09. Gazing at Medusa

Tim Ripper Owens (Vocals)
Chris Poland (Lead Guitar)
Aaron Guerra (Guitar/Vocals)
Ted Kirkpatrick (Drums/Bass)

Guest:
Deen Castronovo (Lead Vocals on title track)

Tourniquet was formed in Los Angeles in 1990. Nine full length studio albums later, (plus EP's, live album, acoustic release) the members of Tourniquet remain committed to creating intense music.
Co-founder, drummer, main songwriter, and mastermind Ted Kirkpatrick’s passion for classical music and technical metal lead to the music described as “Beethoven Meets Frankenstein”.

Many musicians have graced Tourniquet albums – including guitarists Marty Friedman, Frank Marino, Pat Travers, Chris Poland, Karl Sanders (Nile), Scotti Hill (Skid Row), and Bruce Franklin (Trouble).
Vocalists include Chris Jericho (Fozzy), Tim Ripper Owens (ex-Judas Priest), Michael Sweet (Stryper, ex Boston), Dug Pinnick (King's X), and Corey Glover (Living Colour).
Due to the classical nature of the music, members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra have made contributions.

The latest album, which was successfully funded by the band’s ultra-loyal fan base, features vocals by Tim Ripper Owens (ex- Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth) and lead guitar by Chris Poland (ex-Megadeth, OHM). The title track has guest vocals by Deen Castronovo (ex-Journey, GZR).

I confess to not being aware of this band before, when it arrived from the PR people, I was a little bit put off by the lengthy biography and was of the opinion that I was about to listen to some technical power metal album loaded with Christian themes, something which I have very little time for.

I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the kind of overblown twaddle that has been killed by over production and endless bloody technical guitar work.

No, in fact this is a full on heavy metal assault, almost retro in sound, though with a superb and crisp modern production.
Very much driven by numerous timing changes and stunning drumming that retains perfect rhythm and brutality in equal measure.

To the vocals, well lets face it Ripper Owens can scream out with the best of them and here his vocal prowess is utilised to perfection, some great multi tracking and backing vocals also add to the overall majesty of the performance.

Guitar playing, a bit technical in places, but at least this has “Soul” it is not that cold and flash “look at me aren’t I clever” but more we are here to play and we mean business.

The songs are at times anthemic, symphonic and progressive but most of all it’s a superb heavy metal album, something which is getting harder to find these days.

Rating 9/10
For fans of: Iced Earth, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Queensryche, EdGuy