Deathstars - The Greatest Hits On Earth (CD Review)

01.Death Is Wasted On The Dead
02.METAL
03.Death Dies Hard
04.Blitzkrieg
05.Motherzone
06.Synthetic Generation
07.Tongues
08.Blood Stains Blondes
09.Cyanide
10.New Dead Nation
11.The Mark Of The Gun
12.Chertograd
13.Semi-Automatic
14.Syndrome
15.Play God
16.Opium

Andreas "Whiplasher Bernadotte" Bergh (Vocals)
Jonas "Skinny Disco" Kangur (Bass)
Emil "Nightmare Industries" Nödtveidt (Guitar/Keyboards)
Ole "Bone W. Machine" Öhman (Drums)
Oscar "Vice" Leander (Drums)
Eric "Cat Casino" Bäckman (Guitar)

For those of you who dont know 'Deathstars' are a Swedish band from Stockholm that perform industrial and gothic metal. Formed in 2000, the group are noted for their dark horror-themed lyrics, pessimistic and misanthropic social commentary, distinctive trademark face paint, dark stage uniforms and physical appearances that correspond to gothic fashion. They have released three full-length studio albums; Synthetic Generation (2003), Termination Bliss (2006) and Night Electric Night (2009).

Supporting Korn on their European tour throughout January and February 2008 and fellow Swede Adrian Erlandsson (Nemhain/Paradise Lost/At The Gates) filled in on the drumming duties for the tour.

At the end of this year they were picked by 'Rammstein' to support them on their european tour.

In celebration of the whole thing, the Swedes have arranged a collection of their hottest hits from the past three records now, which will be released just in time for the tour opening.

They have also recorded two new tracks for the release.

So its got 'Cynaide' and 'Blitzkrieg' on it so thats a 10/10 rating already, but it pretty much has all my other favourite death/glam tracks as well.

To the two new songs, the first is 'Death Is Wasted On The Dead' which sounds like a Type O.Negative song title if ever i heard one, musically sounds a bit like HIM jamming with Depeche Mode until that distinctive vocal comes in, nice and catchy but definatley on the melodic side.

The second track 'METAL' is a lot punchier and more typical of their work, heavy drum beats and cool riffs!

RATING 10/10
For Fans Of : Rammstein, Sisters Of Mercy, Marilyn Manson.

Nightwish - Storytime (CD Single Review)

01.Storytime (Radio Edit)
02.Storytime (Album Version)
03.Storytime (Instrumental)


Anette Olzon (Vocals)
Tuomas Holopainen (Keyboards)
Emppu Vuorinen (Guitars)
Marco Hietala (Bass)
Jukka Nevalainen (Drums)


First single from the fourthcoming 'Imaginaerum' album.
The seventh album from the band and the second to feature vocalist Anette, this album is a concept album telling the story of an old composer on his deathbed, reminiscing of his youth. The album was produced alongside the movie of the same name, directed by Stobe Harju.

You can tell its Nightwish from the opening keyboard riff and that guitar sound never really changes, but its the vocal that still sounds odd, she still sounds like the AbbA girls (but then she did start off in an AbbA tribute band).

Its very commercial and not massivly inspiring though the choral and orchestral elements work well, but the album/movie project does sound very intresting.

RATING 6/10
For fans Of : Within Temptation, Epica, Achilla

Rammstein - Mein Land EP (CD Review)

01.Mein Land
02.Vergiss Uns Nicht
03.My Country (The Bosshoss)
04.Mein Land (Mogwai Mix)


Till Lindemann (Vocals)
Richard Z. Kruspe (Guitar)
Paul H. Landers (Guitar)
Oliver "Ollie" Riedel (Bass)
Christoph "Doom" Schneider (Drums)
Christian "Flake" Lorenz (Keyboards/Samples)


'Mein Land' is the first single from the upcoming retrospective 'Made in Germany 1995–2011' due out soon.

Well having been somewhat controversial with their videos in the past (Porn/Cannibalisim/Drugs/Murder etc etc) it seems that the german's have decided to really push their boundaries and opted for Beach Boys imagery and Frankie Avalon beach movies!!!!!
That said we do get leather, fire, lesbians and boobs towards the end!!

Offensive video aside, the new single is still typical of the band, dancable industrial metal that is full of melody, catchy chorus (that despite being in their native tongue you can still sing a long too), punchy guitars, powerfull drum rhythms and signature sampling and keyboards.

'Vergiss Uns Nicht' has an evil nursery rhyme feel to it, with added epic breaks.

'The Bosshoss' is a bloody country and western version sung in english : Fucking mental!!

Finally the 'Mogwai Mix' is a dark techno version with heavily distoted vocals.

RATING 8/10
For fans Of : Nine Inch Nails, Rob Zombie, Deathstars

The Quill - Full Circle (CD Review)

01.Sleeping With Your Enemy
02.Full Circle
03.Black Star
04.Medicine
05.Bring It On
06.River Of My Childhood
07.24/7 Groove
08.White Flag
09.Pace That Kills
10.No Easy Way Out
11.Running
12.More Alive Than You
13.Waiting For The Sun


Magnus Arnar (Vocals)
Christian Carlsson (Guitar)
George ’Jolle’ Atlagic (Drums)
Robert Triches (Bass)

Guest:
Conny Bloom (Sitar)


Formed in Sweden in the early 90's the Quill have released a number of very good albums and gained worldwide fans and even landed some good tour supports to the likes of Monster Magnet.
In 2005 the band almost fell apart when original singer left and George joined Hanoi Rocks, however in 2010 they regrouped with a new singer and have produced by far their best album to date.
The album offers up a selection of styles from classic 70's inspired stoner with 'Sleeping With Your Enemy' and 'Bring It On', a more modern take with 'Full Circle' and some epic acoustic ballads like 'River Of A Moonchild' which has a Whitesnake 'Child Of Babylon' feel.

To pick out a few that really stand out i would have to go for 'Black star' with some awsome Sitar from Conny Bloom (Jolle’s former Hanoi Rocks colleague and Electric Boys' frontman), it has a real psychedelic vibe whilst being a full on rocker.

'Pace That Kills' and 'Waiting For The Sun' are pure 'Audioslave' and has that big post Zeppelin riff that always delivers if done well.....and it IS done well!

There is only one track thats naff and that is 'No easy way Out', it has a country ballad feel and just doesnt cut it with all the other high energy music going on here.

RATING 9/10
For fans Of : Soundgarden, Monster Magnet, Kyuss, Viking Skull

Paradise Lost - Draconian Times MMXI (CD Review)

01.Enchantment
02.Hallowed Land
03.The Last Time
04.Forever Failure
05.Once Solemn
06.Shadowkings
07.Elusive Cure
08.Yearn For Change
09.Shades Of God
10.Hands Of Reason
11.I See Your Face
12.Jaded
13.Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us
14.Rise Of Denial

Nick Holmes (Vocals)
Gregor Mackintosh (Guitar)
Aaron Aedy (Guitar)
Steve Edmondson (Bass)
Adrian Erlandsson (Drums)
Milly Evans (Keyboards/Backing Vocals)


Draconian Times was their fifth album released back in june 1995.
Often hailed as a true modern classic (Though i prefer 1991's Gothic) the Halifax based band have been producing gothic/death metal since 1988.
The original album produced two minor hit singles 'The Last Time' and 'Forever Failure', the latter gained controverasy for its inclusion of the voice of Charles Manson.

As has been the recent trend with bands to perform classic albums live in their entirety the band opted for this one.

This is a superb fan package available in numerous formats including a Limited Deluxe Edition comprising of 2 DVDs + CD + extended 32 page booklet including press clippings from the original release, and a vinyl 2 Lp set.

The 2009 album 'Faith Divides Us' (when Adrian joined on drums) provides the last two tracks.

Well it pretty much does what it set out to do, its an electric performance of the album, to be fair it sounds better than the original, live brings a "feeling" to the songs that the studio tends to smooth out.

RATING ; 9/10
For Fans Of : My Dying Bride, Opeth, Anathema

My Dying Bride - The Barghest O’ Whitby (CD Review)

01.The Barghest O' Whitby

Aaron Stainthorpe (Vocals)
Andrew Craighan (Guitar)
Hamish Glencross (Guitar)
Lena Abe (Bass)
Shaun Talyor-Steel (Drums)
Shaun Macgowan (Violin/Keyboards)


My Dying Bride were formed in Bradford in the north of England in June 1990 and along with Paradise Lost and Anathema became 3 of the most important and influencial bands from the north of England cutting a unique mix of Goth/Doom and Metal.

Now this track is 27 minutes long and has as its subject matter the "Barghest".
This is the name given here in Yorkshire to a legendary monstrous black dog with huge teeth and claws, though in other cases the name can refer to a ghost or Household elf, especially in Northumberland and Durham.One is said to frequent a remote gorge named Troller's Gill.
There is also a story of a Barghest entering the city of York occasionally, where, according to legend, it preys on lone travellers in the city's narrow Snickelways. Whitby is also associated with the spectre.
A famous Barghest was said to live near Darlington who was said to take the form of a headless man (who would vanish in flames), a headless lady, a white cat, a dog, rabbit and black dog. Another was said to live in an "uncannie-looking" dale between Darlington and Houghton, near Throstlenest.

The song is seen from the dogs perspective, brilliantly poetic : "It is my sins that you deplore, Count them fair, For i have more.To my mouth i carry you, In crimson teet, the breath i drew", is just one example.

The music is just as well constructed and thoughtout, often when bands go for these long songs they end up being 4 or 5 smaller songs put together with a recurring riff or hook, this however is indeed one complete piece.

The howling winds introduce us to doomy guitar and violin and awesome vocals.
Quite a fast drum rhythm is pounded out on the pedals, while the guitar keeps it simple with powerchords, back to great violin break, towards the end it gets very heavy as well.

RATING : 10/10
For Fans Of : Cathedral, Tryptikon, Paradise Lost, Anathema.

Even More November Gig's