Sunday 9 June 2019

Various Artists - Steampunk Records Sampler 1 (CD Review)


Steampunk Records Sampler 1

01. Victor and the Bully – Butterfly Effect
02. Professor Elemental & Tom Caruana – Mectoria
03. The Wattingers – Dead Man’s Hat
04. The Heaven and Hell Orchestra – The Bad Vision
05. BB Blackdog – Thousand Years
06. Off Limits – Calling Witchcraft
07. Aeronautica – Pech and Schwefel
08. Feline & Strange with Mishkin Fitzgerald – Cassandras Twin
09. Darwin Project – Run Red Run
10. Gurdybird – Papa Zulu
11. Capt Roswell & The Lost Alien Tribe – Alien Eye
12. LM Cooke Music – Moon Song
13. Miss Von Trapp - Do Your Gears Hang Low
14. Cabaret Berlin – Beautiful Berlin
15. The Big Fibbers – Steam Tramp Blues
16. Victor Sierra – El Mundo Superior
17. The Dark Design – Haggard Rider
18. Kiss Like Ether – Heaven Can Wait
19. Montague Jacques Fromage with Victor & The Bully – Walk A Little Lopside
20. My Wooden Leg – Cop City
21. Lies Of The Machine – Psychocircus

22. New Jacobin Club – Angel MMXIV




Trying to review a 22 track sampler cd that you cannot buy is a bit of a bugger, however it does act as a good guide to what the record label is offering on a selection of Various Artists compilations you can buy as well as releases from many of the individual acts.

I have said this before and I will say it again, the notion of Steampunk as a music genre is a nonstarter, there is music performed in numerous styles by people who identify with the Steampunk culture, this can influence their writing style and their appearance and the way they market their image.
Some music here is clearly influenced from a different age and for any pedants amongst you would no doubt identify some chosen genres as ‘Dieselpunk’ or even ‘Cyberpunk’, personally I prefer to take the music as I hear it regardless of what it is or isn’t supposed to be.
That said I will now attempt to put some of these acts into an identifiable music genre which I hope will make the review easier to digest.

Well just spent the best part of an hour hunting down these bands on good old Facebook, so I think I have a bit of an idea what to expect from some of the acts, some seem quite interesting others slightly disturbing.

Kicking off with ‘Victor and the Bully’ a great upbeat neo rock n roll sounding song, a bit like Rocket From The Crypt. The band also return in collaboration with American Steampunk legend Montague Jacques Fromage, this time a completely different sound, more poppy, upbeat and happy with Mr Fromage delivering, as ever, a superb tongue in cheek funky rap.

The ‘Wattingers’, have a super sleazy swamp blues vibe, defiantly one for Nick Cave fans, need to hear some more to get an overall idea of what they about.
Not too sure what to make of ‘The Heaven and Hell Orchestra’, I suppose if Therion had been around in the 1930’s they may have sounded a bit like this.

As ever ‘BB Blackdog’ blow the hell out of the speakers with their strange eclectic mix of Psychedelic rock and the bass crazed antics of Primus!


Totally stunning mix of neo folk and hard rock comes ‘Off Limits’, great vocal style and loving the use of violin, one for Skyclad fans.
Accordion into Celtic rock and sung in German, I feel that we have in ‘Aeronautica’ a band who like Turisas, Alestorm and Rammstein.


Want a totally breath-taking four minutes? Then ’Feline & Strange with Mishkin Fitzgerald’ song “Cassandras Twin” will do just that. Amazing operatic performance with simple piano and electronic backing, could be from the soundtrack to “Repo! The Genetic Opera”.




Taking a complex instrument the Hurdy Gurdy and bringing it into the 21st century with a slight techno backing, may seem a hard thing to pull off with class, but ‘Gurdybird’ seem to do this with ease.

If you like post 1980’s Hawkwind then ‘Capt Roswell & The Lost Alien Tribe’ with its drums n synths backing to some Hillage inspired riffery then this is the band for you.
Dark and atmospheric Acid Folk is on offer from ‘LM Cooke Music’ I highly recommend her album ‘Nursery Rhymes for the Apocalypse’.

Time for some modern interpretation of classic British music hall from ‘Miss Von Trapp’ in the style of legends such as Lily Morris and Marie Lloyd.

From the music halls of Britain to the clubs of Weimar era of the early 1930’s and ‘Cabaret Berlin’ bring us a perfect recreation of singer and pianist as if they had somehow time travelled to the here and now.


‘The Big Fibbers’ with their “Steam Tramp Blues” is an oddity almost as if John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett were doing a version of the Stray Cats!

I have no idea what ‘Victor Sierra’ are on, but if Rob Zombie did a slow and weird cover of a Brujeria song it might sound like this?
‘The Dark Design’ have a cowpunk vibe, if that’s not a term you have heard before, well back in the early 1980’s there was a brief and strange mix of post punk and country & western music.

Some industrial tinged proto cyberpunk from ‘Kiss Like Ether’, very 80’s but the mix is quite thin.
‘My Wooden Leg’ great name for a band, this is a bit quirky, touch of Primus in there and some Zappa like guitar work.




With a song called “Psychocircus” I was expecting perhaps a cover of the Kiss song, but strangely ‘Lies Of The Machine’ have some interesting elements of Death and Black Metal, nice clean vocals and then deth growls, then throw in some symphonic vocals, needs more investigating but if you like Dimmu Borgir or Cradle Of Filth then check this band out.




Finally ‘New Jacobin Club’ with a sound that seems to blend 70’s Blondie with 90’s metalcore, again another band I feel the need to check out.

So as you can see plenty of different music styles to get your interest going and next time you see the word ‘Steampunk’, well don’t be put off, there really is some stunning music out there!


Steampunk Records Facebook Page

Giant Dwarf - Giant Dwarf (CD Review)


Giant Dwarf – Giant Dwarf


01.Golden Walrus 
02.Black Thumb     
03.Disco Void         
04.Kepler     
05.Repeat After Defeat   
06.Strange Wool   
07.High Tide Blues
08.The Deluge

Aaron Soppo (Vocals)
Luke Drag (Drums / Percussion)
S John Paterson (Bass)
Rick (Guitar / Sitar)

Russ Tee (Guitar / Didgeridoo)




From the capital of Western Australia, Perth, Giant Dwarf were founded sometime in 2015 by musicians obsessed with all things fuzzy, heavy, psychedelic, drone, progressive and weird (you know, the good stuff!).

‘Golden Walrus’ is nice and fuzzy, full of punchy riffs and melodic vocals and plods along at a nice pace, nothing outstanding as such, but then half way through it starts getting weird adding a nice new dimension then ends.

As for the second track ‘Black Thumb’ it has the feel of Deep Purples ‘Black Night’ being covered by Queens of the Stone Age.

Get that QOTSA feel from the next one as well, that said ‘Disco Void’ gets a real psychedelic hit and requires the volume level at max!

‘Kepler’ is a sonic blasting masterpiece of fuzz, stoner rock melting into space rock, the general vibe of which continues to the next track as well.

Loving the instrumental ‘Strange Wool’ a real heavy, fuzzy blues piece, unlike the next track ‘High Tide Blues’ which is neither blues or a tribute to the band High Tide, but another straight forward rocker.

Ending with another full on sonic blast is ‘The Deluge’ a space rocker, searing guitar work, great vocals, rhythmic drum patterns and clever use of sitar.

Rating 9/10
For Fans Of: Monster Magnet, Queens of the Stone Age, Uncle Acid & Deadbeats, Electric Wizard, Mudhoney.

Monday 3 June 2019

Feline & Strange - Science Fiction (CD Review)


Feline & Strange – Science Fiction

01.Science Fiction (A Space Opera)
02.Hello World
03.Because (A Wedding Waltz)
04.Why Me
05.I See You
06.Leaving For The Seaside
07.Love Is (Utterly Overrated)
08.I Should Have Told You Before
09.Anybody
10.You Said
11.Going Away (Farewell Letter)
12.End Of The World
13.Lost In The Moon
14.Epilogue

Feline Lang (Vocals/Programming/Accordion/Castanets)
Christoph Klemke (Drums/Percussion/Violincello)
Matthias Haecker (Keyboards)
Ulrich Christenn (Trombone/Trumpet/Alto Saxophone/Tuba/Flute)
Marc Andre Haller (Bass/Double Bass/Chapman Stick)

Guest Musicians
Timothy Beuther (Drums)
Stefan Kelber (Violin)

Brigitte Langnickel-Kohler (Concert Harp)




Feline is the daughter of harpist Brigitte Langnickel-Köhler and pianist Reinhard Langnickel, Brigitte first appeared on record in 1975 backing the Hannover Boys Choir on the LP ‘Ein Kind Ist Uns Geboren’.
Growing up with a musical family Feline went on to study acting and singing in Berlin.
By 2003 she released her debut album ‘Tango L’Che!, performed in theatre productions including ‘Kabale and Liebe’ and appeared in the 2004 movie by Marcus Mittermeier called ‘Muxmäuschenstill’. There have also been television appearances and operatic performances in ‘Carmen’ and ‘Dulcinea’.

In 2009 whilst working with an operatic ensemble she decided to go in a new direction and formed a duo named " Feline and Strange ", the idea was to mix Jazz with electropop influences and at various times the duo were joined by numerous different musicians for live performances, eventually releasing an album in 2011 called ‘Behavior!

Moving forward and aided by new musicians including Marc Andre Haller former bassist with folk/psych band Habakuk, the band take a slight change in musical direction and start to pick up a cult following with the steampunk community based in Berlin.
From that point on their reputation grew and the word spread, it was in fact Radio presenter and Steampunk author Steven C. Davis who at a recent meeting handed me this CD to review.

Though I am not quite sure that this style of Cabaret Noir could be classed as Steampunk, surely due to its historical time frame it would be Dieselpunk, I won’t let such things cloud my review and pour myself a nice glass of absinthe and then press play.




The album begins with ‘Science Fiction (A Space Opera)’ and we begin the journey through this concept album with the lyrics taking the form of a novelette written by Feline and included in very small writing in the booklet.
With a subtle electronic backing and laid back brass arrangements Feline delivers a semi operatic and tone perfect vocal.

‘Hello World’ is slightly more upbeat, again it is the brass arrangements that come through the mix, reminiscent at times of the less Avant-Garde moments of legendary German band Vampires Sound Incorporation.

After a nice waltz we get something slightly more dadaesque with ‘Why Me’ mixing as it does quirky little keyboard sounds with changing rhythms, the vocal is a little more playful and some really nice synth work towards the end.

‘Leaving For The Seaside’ has the opening lyric of: “I woke up in a dusty town (Somebody should have come with a vacuum cleaner)” what a line!

Something darker with strange flute and some other slightly disturbing instruments with ‘I Should Have Told You Before’, a nice mixture of vocal styles and wolf howls all help create an atmospheric piece of outstanding music.

Back to some nice electronics with a jazz influence, ‘Anybody’ begins with a quiet vocal and just builds as it goes along, a gentle song that gets the toes tapping and when that drum and keyboard gets going towards the middle I can seriously get a vision of Densmore and Manzarek of the Doors then joined by Lol Coxhill, by far my favourite track so far, could do with another ten minutes or so to really let the musicians go wild.

‘You Said’ is given the old fashioned treatment of sounding like a 78RPM polka recording.
This is followed by a melancholic performance, perhaps to be expected with a piece titled ‘Going Away (Farewell Letter).

‘Lost In The Moon’ throws into the mix little moments of inspired Avant Garde madness in an otherwise mature sounding smooth jazz piece, we then end with the unlisted track ‘Epilogue’ which is an upbeat danceable song resplendent with whistles!

This is an album that far exceeds its given genre limitations, it is vibrant full of interesting styles and has a wide appeal, whatever music you like this deserves your attention.

Rating 10/10
For Fans Of: Nico & John Cale, Marianne Faithfull, Siegfried Schwab, Dagmar Krause, Ute Lemper, Annexus Quam, Tomorrow’s Gift, The Dresden Dolls.


Monday 27 May 2019

Various Artists - Raising Steam Volume I - 3 (Cd Review)


Various Artists – Raising Steam

Volume I
01. Miss Von Trapp - Have A Pie: Modern Mrs Lovett
02. Helicopter Quartet - Where Have All The Aliens Gone?
03. Thy Last Drop – Gravedigger
04. Birthrite - Loving You (Ain't So Easy)
05. The Mysterious Freakshow - Hedge Witch
06. Crimson Clocks – Red Violin
07. Montague Jacques Fromage - Merde! Mon Dieu! (Absinthe! Sacre Bleu!)
08. Gladstone – Night Creatures
09. Tom Slatter - Mother's Been Talking To Ghosts Again
10. Metropolis – Sirens
11. The Mechanisms - Riddle of the Sphinx

Volume II

01. The Dark Design - Haggard Rider
02. Gurdybird - Raggle Taggle Gypsy (video edit)
03. Venus de Vilo - It's My Party - I'll Die If I Want To!
04. Ague - Fifteen Leagues to Providence
05. Violent Sky - Frances (In the Gallery of Stars)
06. The Wattingers - Evil Driving Rain
07. Under A Banner – Steam
08. Ghostfire - Griminsky's Soul
09. BB BlackDog - Steam Punk Junkie
10. New Jacobin Club - Angel MMXVI

Volume III

01. Kiss Like Ether – End Game
02. Gordon Midgley - The Tell Tale Heart
03. Victor & the Bully - Every Fight Is A Food Fight For A Cannibal
04. Nathan Jon Tillett – Eternaeon
05. Heathen StrangeFellow & the VaudeVille Vagabonds – Masquerade
06. LM Cooke – Poor Jenny
07. The Filthy Spectacula - Flying Dutchman
08. Dark Sinfonia - A Murderous Breath 
09. Jessica Law - The Mermaid's Revenge
10. The Hare And The Moon - Come Unto The Corn
11. Napier's Bones - Hand of Glory
12. Feline & Strange - The City
13. Valentine Wolfe – Corvidae
14. Krankschaft - Come Fly With Us
15. Nathaniel Johnstone - Seven Veils





What we have here are three limited edition CD-R samplers of the Raising Steam download albums.
Each of these comes in a DVD box with a limited edition pin badge, only available through one of these purchases.
For your money you also get the code to get the entire downloadable versions through Bandcamp, giving you access to another ten or so songs per volume.
ALL monies raised go to the New Futures Nepal charity.


Now you may of course be wondering what the hell is Steampunk music?
The short answer is there is no such thing as steampunk music, not as a specific genre anyway.
What these samplers show is that anything is possible from classic rock to pop, dark and twisted gothic horror, folk music and even traditional British music hall.
So why is it called Steampunk? I hear you shout; my own opinion is that the “Alternative” approach allows for such freedom that many talented artists are simply drawn to something which is not locked down in a specific genre.

I would urge you to investigate if like me you have a wide variety of interests when it comes to music, perhaps the very name of Steampunk has made you avoid the music, something which to its shame the wider music press has been guilty of, thus failing to introduce their readers to some amazing classic rock music!

A few examples:
From Volume I, we have some horror tinged music hall comedy from Miss Von Trapp.  The Helicopter Quartet are clearly emulating one of Karlheinz Stockhausen many experimental compositions.
The track by Tom Slatter is quite stunning, a mix of light modern progressive rock with a vocal delivery that seems to mix David Byrne and Syd Barrett.
Finally Metropolis have a modern Hawkwind vibe with some Tubeway Army thrown in for good measure.

Up next a few from Volume II, how about Gurdybird who has mixed tribal drum rhythms with playing an actual hurdy gurdy!
Venus de Vilo brings a smile with her incredible dark and twisted mix of Nina Hagan and Alannis Morrisette.
A superb mix of seventies hard rock and proto doom Violent Sky are one of the stand outs here.
Ghostfire perform some fantastic female fronted acid folk, followed by some bass driven stoner rock from BB Blackdog.
Last one is New Jacobin Club, providing some folk tinged acoustic music with a very powerful vocal.

What does Volume III kick off with? Kiss Like Ether with some darkwave meets early industrial and perfectly mixed and delivered.
Up next is some weird space synth and then Gordon Midgley treats us to seven minutes of mesmerizing narration of Poe’s classic tale.
Dishing up some folk horror in the style of Marc Wilkinson (Blood On Satan’s Claw) and Magnet (The Wicker Man) comes The Hare & The Moon.
Valentine Wolfe are pure Symphonic Metal and keeping it heavy are Krankschaft (Hawkwind’s Robert Calvert former backing band) blending Amon Duul II with Hawklords.
Last up is Nathaniel Johnson whose take on folk rock is reminiscent of The Trees meeting All About Eve.

Well I have picked out a few, there really is much more on offer, almost every genre is represented here.

For more information, order details and a chance to preview the music go to the Raising Steam Bandcamp page.


Sunday 26 May 2019

Symphony Of Pain - Virology (CD Review)




Symphony Of Pain – Virology

01. My Laboratory
02. Darkling
03.  Virus
04.  Down
05.  Green Eyes
06. Suspicion
07.  Ghost Moon
08.  I Can’t Believe
09. Futile
10. War Machine

Tracie Law (Vocals)
Pam Chowhan (Violin/Keyboards/Piano)
Mark Bloxsidge (Bass)
Jonas Costa (Guitar)
Johanne James (Drums)

Guest Musicians:
Jiaxin Lloyd Webber (Cello)
Latana Phoung (Mezzo Soprano Vocal)


It was way back in September 2013 when I reviewed Symphony OF Pain’s debut album ‘Hydeology’, it was a quirky mix of Pop/Goth & Rock.
Much has changed in the passing of time, Tracie and Pam are still the main duo and are now joined by a new set of musicians, of note is another ex-member of Krybgrinder (Dave Dart was on the first release) this time it is drummer Johanne, and for those of us who can go back to that early post NWOBHM era, former bassist with Trilogy Mark Bloxsidge.



The album starts with ‘My Laboratory’ a nod to Mary Shelly’s creation, the vocal is delivered with that same quirky tone that made the debut so appealing, the music however is a lot heavier than I would have expected.

Taking on a more epic/symphonic sound for ‘Darkling’ complete with stunning violin playing, it would seem that the band have really started to adapt their craft to a more mature sound.
Whilst the production and choral backing make the song ‘Virus’ very enjoyable to hear, I am somewhat confused by the lyric which has no connection with a virus whatsoever, if they are trying to convey some form of message about destruction and/or unemployment then it fails on every level, if on the other hand it is implying that humans are the virus, then that doesn’t come across either.

Fortunately ‘Down’ layered with epic violin once again, returns to a more understandable lyric and in fact the whole song mixes Folk and Progressive rock with true class.
This continues with ‘Green Eyes’ which also manages to throw in a tech/industrial keyboard and sampling.

Now having just glanced at the lyrics for the next song I am wondering if this could be a nod to the Prince of Rock N Roll Elvis, because the song is called ‘Suspicion’ and the first line of the song is “you are always on my mind”.
In fact this a melancholy ballad that is more Nick Cave, simple, atmospheric, beautiful melodies, cello, violin and drums in perfect harmony, and by far Tracie’s best and most heartfelt vocal thus far.

An instrumental follows called ‘Ghost Moon’ again very big on the atmospherics and some synthesized sitar in the mix, flowing out of this is ‘I Can’t Believe’ and fairly straight forward hard rocker.

‘Futile’ and another attempt at a “message” lyric, this one I think fairs better than ‘Virus’ but still feels a little confused, I guess its not so much anti-charity but making a comment that due to corruption we shouldn’t need it in the first place.
But then if that’s the case why, despite the commercial rock sound with its infectious and catchy chorus, would you then add to the mix samples of Oppenheimer, JFK and Martin Luther King?

We end with ‘War Machine’, beginning with its rhythmic drum pattern and synth pulse it explodes into a full on assault of screaming guitar work and an evil sounding vocal and then ends all too soon with a melodic keyboard outro.

This album is a huge leap forward from their debut, it is heavier and demonstrates a much more mature sound, in many ways a different band altogether. I confess that I am not convinced that “message” lyrics work within the context of what the band were known for, perhaps this is a transition album, yes there is the goth influence at the start of the album, but by the end we see a band wanting to address certain issues, I guess we shall find out when album number three eventually appears.

Rating 9/10
For Fans Of:   Therion, Current 93, Alice Cooper, Skyclad

Friday 25 January 2019

Imperial Age - Promo Sampler (MP3 Download Review)


Alexander Osipov (Vocals)
Jane Odintsova (Vocals)
Anna Moiiseeva (Vocals)
Pavel Maryashin (Guitar)
Max Talion (Drums)
Dmitry Safronov (Bass/Vocals)

Guest Musicians on Legacy of Atlantis tracks:
Thomas Vikström From Therion (Tenor Vocal)
Nalle Påhlsson From Therion (Bass/Guitar/Acoustic Guitar)
Andrey Ishenko From Arkona (Drums)
Christian Vidal From Therion (Solo Guitar)
Sergey Lazar From Arkona (Rhythm Guitar on 'And I Shall Find My Home')
Chamber Choir of the P.I. Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory

01. The Legacy of Atlantis (from the album The Legacy of Atlantis, 2018)
02. And I Shall Find My Home (from the album The Legacy of Atlantis, 2018)
03. Anthem of Valour (from the album Turn the Sun Off!, 2012)
04. Aryavarta (from the EP Warrior Race, 2016)
05. The Monastery (from the album The Legacy of Atlantis, 2018)
06. Death Guard (from the album Turn the Sun Off!, 2012)
07. To Mega Therion (from the EP Warrior Race, 2016)




Russian symphonic rock group founded in 2012 by Jane Odintsova and Alexander Osipov. They recorded Turn The Sun Off!, filmed 2 video clips and released the record with their own money in November of the same year.

In 2013-2014 they played as support acts for international bands visiting Russia: Epica, Paradise Lost, Finntroll, OOMH!, The 69 Eyes, Tarja and Therion. They also played a few headliner shows in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan. Two of them with an 8-person choir and an 8-person orchestra.

In 2014 the breaking moment came. In September, they went on a month-long expedition to Tibet. Having visited many magical places, to some of which westerners have never been admitted before. And in the end they did a Cora around Mt. Kailash. It is said that it helps to realise one’s inner dreams and most sacred goals… A month after that they were opening for Therion in St. Petersburg.

In 2016 they released the EP Warrior Race via Adulruna. It had only 3 new songs, the rest were from Turn the Sun Off!, recorded with Alexandra Sidorova, and To Mega Therion, a Therion cover which was as a tribute to the legendary Celtic Frost.

They went in search to find a new soprano, held auditions and found Anna KiaRa.
Then came another tour with Orphaned Land! After that tour they lost almost all of the band members due to inner disputes within the band.

In 2017 they were offered a huge tour, 57 shows in 25 countries. This brought its fair share of problems, needing to finish composing and recording the new album and find new musicians capable of sustaining such a huge tour.

They asked Nalle Påhlsson to record bass and rhythm guitars, Christian Vidal to record the solos, Ischenko Andrey to record the drums and completed the recording.





2019 sees the band pushing forward including some live shows here in the UK, to help promote their latest album and shows they have been offering a sampler of their music for free download. I found this by chance as a friend (GASP Radio presenter Steven C Davis) had been tagged in a post linking to the download via Facebook.



I will start with the two songs from 2012's 'Turn the Sun Off!'..
Anthem of Valour
Death Guard

It would seem that from the moody intro right on into the complex symphonic majesty that this band from the very start had the ability to create atmospheric and anthemic songs. Well crafted pieces that pay equal attention to the sumptuous vocals, furious guitar playing and the pure adrenaline rush of high speed drumming.

Four years later and we have the 'Warrior Race EP..
Aryavarta
To Mega Therion

The first song is acoustic based and has quite an old school folk rock feel to it, full of passion and once again with
that precision of musicianship and production in perfect harmony.
The Therion cover does the original justice, for me though the overall vibe i get is one of power metal, the guitar playing just a tad too technical for my own personal taste.


Finally three tracks from 2018's 'The Legacy of Atlantis'..
The Legacy of Atlantis
And I Shall Find My Home
The Monastery

Absolute killer bass playing on this title track, really drives this mid paced choral heavy song.
The next song picks up the pace and is a full on symphonic onslaught, huge variety in vocal styles blended together to accentuate each changing section of the song.
The final song has this wonderful almost Celtic instrumentation that once again borders into folk rock territory.

What these 2018 songs really show however, is that the band kept pushing forward, did not become complacent with their sound they adapted each personal and musical setback with a determination to create as near perfect an example of how symphonic rock can and should be approached.



I think my main question is why have I not heard this band before? Seven years since formation and yet not once can I recall a single mention of them, yet they have thousands of fans all over the world and appeared all over europe.
Go to their official website, download these songs, your ears will love you forever!

Rating 9/10
For fans of: Therion, Dimmu Borgir, Mr Doctor's Devil Doll, Kamelot, Opera IX, Leaves Eyes



http://www.imperial-age.com/

Sunday 20 January 2019

Negative Wall - Gammagelu (CD Review)


01. Imperii Exsules (Galacatic Viatores)
02. Hybrid Genus Serpentis
03. Mater Saeva Kp22
04. Torquemada 71

Don Cole (Guitar)
Dennis Reid (Drums)
Tommy Stewart (Vocals/Bass)



Negative Wall formed in 2018 as a trio from different bands. Don Cole (Blacklight Midnight), Dennis Reid (Bludy Gyres, Tommy Stewart’s Dyerwulf, Blacklight Midnight) and Tommy Stewart (Hallows Eve, Bludy Gyres, Tommy Stewart’s Dyerwulf). After only seven writing rehearsals Negative Wall enters the studio and records Gammagelu, latin for the frost of gamma, in only seven more days. 

Gammagelu is sci-fi themed so the three songs lyrics lean towards that description. Imperii Excules (Exiled Imperials) is inspired by an Outer Limits episode about The Zanti Misfits. The next track is a bizarre story called Hybrid Genus Serpentis about a reptilian being who forces sex with a space traveler who then gives birth to a being that encases him in a capsule that opens when he is the only living creature left in the universe. The third track is an old Irish folk song turned into a doom-blues snapshot called Et Mater Saeva (The Cruel Mother) and concerns matricide, planet KP22 as the setting. The last song is an Electric Wizard cover of Torquemada 71 (From 2007 Witchcult Today), while not sci-fi, it stylistically fits and simply a band favorite.



We begin with 'Imperii Exsules (Galacatic Viatores)', this is pure doom perfection! Solid slow pounding drums back the guitar and bass working in dark harmony. Talking of harmony the vocals are sublime.
Two thirds into the song and all goes quiet, then this descends into a slow almost psychedelic section held together with some great bass playing.

'Hybrid Genus Serpentis' sticks with that early proto doom meets psych feel and offers up a masterclass of how it should be done, if it had synthesizer and saxophone it could almost be an early Hawkwind track.

The blues influence really comes through on 'Mater Saeva Kp22' but then thanks to a raga like rhythm from the drum and percussion it bears the mark of late 1960's artists such as 'Clarke-Hutchinson'.
Some near demonic effects on the vocals evoke early occult rock and the Doom is boosted by some furious guitar work.

Finally they take on Electric Wizard's 'Torquemada 71' and make it fit perfectly to end this great record!

Rating 9/10
For Fans Of: Cathedral, Electric Wizard, Reverend Bizarre, Moss, Monster Magnet, Witchcraft

Saturday 19 January 2019

Obturate - The Bleeding Mask of Dread (CD review)


01. Blue Marks on Her Neck
02. Unknown Breed
03. Under the Ninth Moon Rain
04. On Your Corpse I Spit
05. Within Their Throat
06. Scarlett Stains Upon the Bodies
07. Underneath Your Skin
08. Bloodbringers
09. Obsidian Wraith
10. Wear That Flesh

Phobos (Guitars/Vocals/Programming)



A one-man band hailing from France, created by Phobos, a talented musician & songwriter who is/has been involved in various underground bands.
This is a limited edition Cd & Cassette crammed full of old school death metal.
The lyrics are influenced by Clive Barker & Edgar Allan Poe.

To be honest I usually avoid these one band death/black metal releases as they tend to be a shadow of what a full band can achieve, that said as far as I am concerned the magic words here were Clive Barker, so time, as they say, to hit play and turn up the volume.

We kick off with a brief sample from a movie and then launch into manic riffs, pounding drumming and death growls and from this point onwards it pretty much keeps up this break neck pace.
A relentless onslaught of power, each song bringing with it another sledgehammer blow to the skull.
However the lead guitar breaks seem slightly out of place, like Kerry King on a bad day they just don't quite fit, everything else is perfectly balanced and well produced.
As for the lyrical influence, such is the level of aggression they could be anything,no degree of clarity (or lyric sheet) available to find out if Poe & Barker are present.

Aside from my personal view, if you want just over half an hour of well executed death metal that does not compromise, then this is for you.

Rating 7/10
For fans of: Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Immolation, Mortician