Esper Scout - Poet Curses (CD Review)

01.Assumpta Tang
02.Swallowing The Sun
03.No Gold
04.Gammal Gubbe
05.Fires
06.Wallet Of Brass Crowns

Sarah Statham (Guitar/vocals)
Kirsty Morton (Guitar/synth)
Rebecca Jane (Bass)
Lou Brinn (Drums)

Esper Scout are an experimental rock/progressive four-piece based in Leeds formed in 2011. They are driven by an enthusiasm for melody, harmony, textures and pedal effects as well as dynamic rhythms.

Having released e-single ‘Assumpta Tang’ in August to positive reviews (with accompanying VHSthemed video by Manchester’s WE ARE WULF collective),they are now releasing their longest collection of recordings to date in the form of ‘Poet Curses’. All six tracks were corecorded, produced and mixed by past collaborator Paul Crompton and Esper Scout at Eiger Studios and Hut 57 (ES’s home studio) on a ‘modest’ budget.

‘Poet Curses’ is an anagram of the band’s name and the artwork is a painting by Paul Crompton’s mother Annette who passed away before in winter 2012 and whose headstrong and
adventurous lifestyle is reflected in the lyrics to Swallowing the Sun. ‘Gammal Gubbe’
is Swedish for ‘old dude’ and is one of the terms the Gothenburg raised producer
taught the band during recording.

Well for experimental/progressive rock, this is a tag that most certainly does not apply in any form i am aware of, this is pretty straight forward indie rock, reminds me more of Throwing Muses than say Sonic Youth who might just fit that tag.

A solid little ep mind you, quite downbeat in places, well put together and a nice production allowing the layering of sounds to come through.

Rating 7/10
For fans of : Throwing Muses, Pixies, Auf Der Maur, Oceansize.

Allus On Drugs - Demo EP (CD Review)

01.Ted
02.Stir
03.How High
04.Sunset Yellow

Jason Moules (Vocals)
Damien Hughes (Guitar)
Tom Peden (Bass)
Andrey Pavlovic (Guitar)
Connor Fisher-Atack (Drums)

Allusondrugs are a 5 piece alternative rock band from Castleford in Yorkshire formed in the autumn of 2012.
Noted for their beautiful vocal harmonies soaring over huge, effect ridden guitars and pulverizing beats, this band will give you a screaming eargasm.
Their wild and intense live show can turn a room full of people into soup in minutes.

The band has spent the last few months gigging heavily and making home recordings of
their material that so far has ranged from psychedelic pop to fuzzed out stoner rock and
have just signed to Clue Records who recently released a limited edition cd single called 'Plasters'.

However this is a promo ep given away at gigs, well packaged and even came with a free sweetie!

We start with 'Ted' a screaming super fuzzed out mix of Mudhoney meets the Hives, a simple song about their friend "ted" who is apparently in heaven and watching porn!

With the catchy lyric "watch him as he shivers" i shall hazard a guess that 'Stir' is not about being stuck out in the cold, but a drug related matter set to some excellent subterranean pop music.

'How High' has a post brit pop sound reminiscent of Stereophonics, a great vocal performance backed by sub psychedelic riffs and solid drum beats.

A chilled out mellow song, 'Sunset Yellow' apparently about "Irn Bru", im not convinced its a homage to the scottish soft drink, i suspect it maybe something more "fun", the song has an hypnotic sound and is one that really stands out.

An interesting mix of sounds and influences all "possibly" influenced by something not musical?
I think they may have hit upon a new sub genre of indie or grunge with a sort of "StonerPop".

Rating 9/10

For fans of : Mudhoney, Nirvana, Stereophonics, Stone Roses, The Hives



FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/Allusondrugs

Symphony Of Pain - Hydeology (CD Review)

01.Mister Hyde
02.Darker Side
03.3rd Mauvement
04.Sister Change
05.Lonely
06.Am I Dreaming
07.Kiss The Bride
08.For Now I'm Dead
09.Out Of My Head
10.Broken Clown
11.Nightmare Life

Tracie Law (Vocals/Bass/Guitar/Drums)
Pam Chowhan (Piano/Violin/Keyboards)
Guest Musicians:
Dave Dart (Guitar)
Nick Taylor (Guitar)
Liz Sweetland (Vocals)
Dean Simister (Drum Programming)

Formed by Tracie (from Beki Bondage band) and Pam (Pianist to Andrew Lloyd Webber) the duo set about creating an ecletic gothic rock group.

The debut album is a combination of three years work and features some guest guitar playing from Krybgrinder's Dave Dart.
Right i have listened to the album all the way through, now gonna take a break for a while then come back to it........

This is a weird one to review, it doesnt do what you expect it to, the promo sheet talks of Thin Lizzy and Queensryche as being influences yet neither influence shows anywhere, in fact if you had told me Hawkwind and The Cure then i would have seen that as more obvious.

For an album essentially "Gothic" it has more in common with Tristania jamming with Simon House and Tim Blake, its a very strange and intresting mix of styles, much of the music is symphonic in structure blended with "heavy metal" riffs and drums then amazing sweeping synths (think Tim Blake, Klaus Schulze) and huge violin solo's worthy of Hawkwind/David Bowie player Simon House.

The vocals seem to range from Snowy Shaw (Therion) to Jinx (Deep Switch) and sometimes almost done as narration.

Then add the quirky element like those pop/goth singles that The Cure used to do so well and all this put together gives you an idea of where this album sits.

When i said "doesnt do what you expect it to" this comes in with songs like 'Broken Clown' you would expect a nightmare circus sound, but you dont get one, other songs you expect guitars to come in and they dont, so it tends to throw you off.

The last song 'Nightmare Life' has an opening violin that is pure Hawkwind (in fact i thought it could have been the 1977 classic 'Hassan I Sahba') and i was expecting it to "kick in" and you guessed it....it didnt, well not to start with anyway.

The lyrics seem to range from nursery rhyme themes (very prevelant in 'Am I Dreaming') to dark humour and straight forward goth/horror imagery.

A very good production and layering of sounds, especially in the first few tracks which flow into each other, the later ones come over individually.
There was only one song i didnt like much, but then for my ears it was saved by that brilliant synth/violin instrumental section towards the end.

So for an album that you would simply tag as "Goth" it has much more to offer and consequently would appeal to a wider audience.

Rating 9/10
For Fans Of : Tristania, Therion, Cradle Of Filth, Hawkwind, Emille Autumn, L'Ame Immortale, Ghost Dance




FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Symphony-of-Pain/227364320695230?fref=ts

Huntress - Starbound Beast (CD Review)

01.Enter The Exosphere
02.Blood Sisters
03.I Want To Fuck You To Death
04.Destroy Your Life
05.Starbound Beast
06.Zenith
07.Oracle
08.Reciever
09.Spectra Spectral
10.Alpha Tauri
11.Running Wild

Jill Janus (vocals)
Blake Meahl (Guitar)
Anthony Crocamo (Guitar)
Ian Alden (Bass)
Carl Wierzbicky (Drums)

Huntress was spawned from the preternatural union of Jill Janus and Southern California metal band Professor. They thrive on thundering drums, heavy riffs, spectral solos and catchy choruses that come from the band’s musical concoction of occult science and melodic heavy metal with a penchant for thrash, death and black metal.

The band recorded the album at Hobby Shop Studios in Los Angeles, CA, working with famed producer Zeuss (Shadows Fall, Hatebreed, Agnostic Front).  The artwork for Starbound Beast was created once again by Vance Kelly (Slayer, Ghost B.C., Mastodon)

This sounds very old school, solid screaming vocals backed with powerful guitarwork all held together with pounding drums.

“I Want to Fuck You to Death” was co-written for Jill by Lemmy, hmm wonder what that song is about? :-)

All in all a good solid albums worth of heavy metal, you cant go wrong.

Rating 9/10
For Fans Of : Doro, Warlock, Sister Sin, Arch Enemy, Bitch

In This Moment - Blood (CD Review)

01.Rise With Me
02.Blood
03.Adrenalize
04.Whore
05.You're Gonna' Listen
06.It Is Written
07.Burn
08.Scarlet
09.Aries
10.From The Ashes
11.Beast Within
12.Comanche
13.The Blood Legion
14.11:11

Bonus Disc
01.Closer (Nine Inch Nails cover)
02.Blood (Sluggo Remix)
03.Adrenalize (Mr. Kane Remix)
04.Whore (Nikka Bling Remix)
05.The Blood Legion (Mitch Marlow Remix)


Maria Brink (Vocals)
Chris Howorth (Guitar)
Travis Johnson (Bass)
Randy Weitzel (Guitar)
Tom Hane (Drums)

Guest Musicians
Jake E. Lee  (Guitar on You're Gonna Listen)
Kevin Churko (Drums)

Change. Some people welcome it. Others resist it. Some seek it out. Others fear the unknown. Sometimes it happens beyond our control. Whatever one’s mindset, change is inevitable. The challenge comes with how we face it and deal with the consequences.

For vocalist Maria Brink and guitarist Chris Howorth, the duo at the heart of In This Moment, change came unexpectedly when they found themselves rebuilding the walls around their foundation. Stripped down to their essence, the core of In This Moment is on fire with their fourth album, aptly titled Blood.

“I knew that I wanted this album to bring out elements we’ve never shown before. This alluring, darker, sinful side of us that no one has ever seen,” says Brink. “We wanted to find something new within ourselves, and with this album, I’m definitely the boldest I’ve ever been. I’m not trying to push boundaries. It’s not a conscious thing. It’s a natural artistic place.”

First released last year the album seemed to pass many by, but following a steady rise of intrest after live shows a lot of people started to take note, so much so that the album has been re-issued with a bonus disc.

From the moody intro into the venomous Blood' this is a completley different band, new sound new attitude and bloody amazing!

'Adrenalize' has a Led Zepp vibe, sleazy as hell and again stunning stuff.
 After the disturbing 'Whore' we come to the techno rocker 'Youre Gonna Listen' featuring former ozzy guitarist jake e lee, very catchy song.

Rest of the album seems to fire on a full out metal assault until the final track and fantastic vocal downbeat ballad called '11.11'.

The re issue bonus disc offers up an inspired NIN cover of 'Closer', dare i say better than the original? FUCK YES!
The remixes are full on techno versions that actually manage to not detract from the original versions.

Rating 10/10
For Fans Of : Theatre Of Tradegy, Marilyn Manson, Theatre Des Vampires, Die So Fluid

Nekrogoblikon - Power (CD Review)

01.Friends In Space
02.Nothing But Crickets
03.Powercore
04.Bells & Whistles
05.Giraffe

Nicholas Von Doom (Vocals/Keyboards)
Tim Lyakhovetskiy (Guitars)
Alex Alereza (Guitars)
Brandon Frenzel (Bass)
Eddie "Drifty" Trager (Drums)
Aaron Minich (Keyboards)

On a cold, dreary winter night in July of 2006, Nicholas Von Doom and Tim were in the woods engaging in general tomfoolery when they stumbled upon a mysterious cardboard box with their names crudely inscribed with a Sharpie® Permanent Marker. Inside they found a letter handwritten in blood instructing them to write and record an album about the destruction of mankind at the hands of small, hideous creatures. Additionally, it mentioned that failure to complete this task would result in gruesome death. The letter was signed, "goblins".

Frightened and still a little buzzed, Nicholas and Tim immediately ran back into their cave and began frantically writing melodies and rhythms using an assortment of straws, whistles, and wooden spoons. The amalgamation of these sounds and Von Doom's indecipherable yelling soon became known to the world as NEKROGOBLIKON. The collection of music created that night was eventually named Goblin Island and was unleashed upon the world on January 1st, 2007. After receiving much Internet acclaim and a couple Grammys, Nicholas and Tim were relieved, assuming the goblins must have been satisfied. However, a couple years later another cardboard box appeared nearby their cave.

The goblins wanted more. Not just more music, but more people performing it, more silly instruments being used, and more Sharpies. Tim and Nicholas proceeded to kidnap four strangers and force them to help do the goblins' bidding. After another two years of writing, recording, drinking, and compulsive snacking, the new lineup of NEKROGOBLIKON released their sophomore album STENCH, which garnered them even more accolades. Rolling Stone raved about the album, calling it "the most dazzling album of the year." The LA Times stated "one can't help but be dazzled by STENCH." Even Paul McCartney praised the album, saying "if the degree to which I was dazzled was measured by volumes of water, STENCH would be an ocean."

At the goblins' command, NEKROGOBLIKON went on to perform these songs in public for months with the sole purpose of frightening children. This resulted in even further success for the band, eventually leading to them fully enslaving the Internet and being invited to shriek at innocent people at large musical festivals in Europe. "Surely, the goblins must be satisfied by now" thought the band. Weeks later another box appeared...

A mad mini album of power metal mixed with black metal, great vocals and superb playing.
Oh but very very silly in places :-)

Rating 8/10
For fans Of : Graveworm, Cradle Of Filth, DeProfundis, Dream Evil

Midnight Syndicate - Monsters Of Legend (CD Review)

For the past sixteen years, dark music pioneers Midnight Syndicate have been creating Halloween music and gothic, horror, fantasy "soundtracks for the imagination." Formed by composer/director Edward Douglas in 1995, their music has become a staple of the Halloween, gothic music, haunted attraction, and role-playing game industries. With a catalog of CDs that blend dark, orchestral horror and fantasy movie score-style music with sound effects, the band consisting of Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka has had its soundtracks to imaginary films featured in everything from Hugh Hefner's infamous Halloween parties, Barbara Walters specials and Monday Night Football to X-Box games, tracks by horrorcore artists Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, and the Academy Award-winning Three Six Mafia as well as concerts by punk rock and metal pioneers The Misfits and King Diamond. The music has also been featured on countless television shows and documentaries relating to horror films and the supernatural.

Often referred to as the "first Haunted House band," Midnight Syndicate is the industry standard for the world's top haunted attractions and amusement parks. From Siberia and Hong Kong to Europe and the United States, whether it's a costume store, neighborhood celebration, SiriusXM's Halloween Channel, or even a Halloween themed-cruise, Midnight Syndicate's music has become synonymous with the many people's celebration of the holiday.

From 1997 through 2005, Midnight Syndicate built their following through the release of "Midnight Syndicate," "Born of the Night," "Realm of Shadows," "Gates of Delirium," "Vampyre: Symphonies from the Crypt," and "The 13th Hour."
In 2003, Midnight Syndicate made an impact in the gaming industry when it teamed up with Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast to produce the first official soundtrack to the classic role-playing game, "Dungeons & Dragons." Midnight Syndicate's 2005 release, "The 13th Hour," was the first music CD to ever receive the industry's top two awards: The Origins Award and the ENnie Award for Best Gaming Accessory. 2007 saw the band take on three new projects as they composed music for Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights XVIII, scored Robert Kurtzman's drive-in thriller, "The Rage," and began work on their biggest production to date, "The Dead Matter" movie.

An updated remake of a film that Edward Douglas produced and directed in 1995 for $2000, "The Dead Matter" is a supernatural thriller co-produced by Midnight Syndicate Films, Robert Kurtzman (Producer of "From Dusk Till Dawn," co-founder of KNB FX), and Gary Jones ("Xena," "Boogeyman 3"). The movie stars Andrew Divoff ("Lost," "CSI: Miami," "Wishmaster"), Jason Carter ("Babylon 5," "Angel"), FX-legend Tom Savini ("Friday the 13th," "Dawn of the Dead"), and legendary horror hosts Dick "Count Gore de Vol" Dyszel and "Big Chuck" Schodowski. The movie tells the story of a girl named Gretchen, whose desire to reconnect with her dead brother draws her into the supernatural world of vampirism and the living dead. Drenched in the dark and shadowy music of Midnight Syndicate and inspired by EC Comics, Creepshow, and Hammer Films, this mix of classic horror, modern twists, and 80's camp proved to be a winning formula for fans and critics alike.

In 2008, the band released it's tenth studio album, "The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates." One of their most critically acclaimed releases to date and inspired by the themes from the upcoming movie, the disc draws listeners into the supernaturally-charged world of "The Dead Matter," taking them on a musical journey into a realm of forbidden relics, druids, vampires, and the living dead.

In April of 2010, Midnight Syndicate released their first music video. It was to the song "Dark Legacy" from "The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates" CD. It featured Ed and Gavin performing live together for the first time, as well as scenes from "The Dead Matter" movie. Produced with the help of Robert Kurtzman's Creature Crew and Screamline Studios, the video was shot in the historic and haunted Phantasy Theatre in Lakewood, Ohio. In June, Midnight Syndicate teamed up with Cleveland-based 529 Films ("Hellementary") to release a second music video, this time for the song "Lost" which appeared on both "The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates" and "The Dead Matter: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack."

In early July 2010, the band teamed up with vocalist Destini Beard to release "The Dark Masquerade." This six-song EP features existing Midnight Syndicate songs blended with operatic vocals and haunting lyrics written performed by Destini. The success of this EP lead to the production of a full-length followup CD entitled "A Time Forgotten" which was released in August of 2012. In July of 2010, the band released "The Dead Matter" DVD, "The Dead Matter: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" and their "Halloween Music Collection" CD, which is a compilation of some of the band's favorite tracks from their first thirteen years.

In August of 2011, the band released their fourteenth studio album, "Carnival Arcane." The narrative of the disc surrounds the Lancaster-Rigby Carnival, a turn-of-the-century traveling circus with more than a few skeletons in its closet. Inspired by historical research into carnivals of that time period and the writings of Ray Bradbury, the disc features the band's most intense sound design to date. "We wanted to push the boundaries on this disc. For a band that's made a career of making "soundtracks to imaginary" films, I think this one feels more like a movie than anything we've done to date," said Edward Douglas. "Definitely the most complete and intricate soundscape we've ever produced. You can practically smell the popcorn and Fairy Floss (cotton candy)," said Gavin Goszka. "There's also a tremendous amount of variety. There are moments where I think the listner will find themselves caught up in this strange sense of wonder and macabre fascination, and others that will leave them shaking in their boots. We were able to expand our instrument roster on that disc in ways that we'd only touched on before." Within months, "Carnival Arcane" became the band's most critically-acclaimed disc to date, garnering rave reviews from press and fans alike. In 2012, it won Best Horror CD / Soundtrack at the horror community's 10th annual Rondo Hatton Awards and was nominated for best RPG-related product in the RPG industry's ENnie Awards.

As Midnight Syndicate enters it's sixteenth year, they show no signs of slowing down. In August of 2012, the band announced that they had completed the score to the upcoming grindhouse thriller, "Bunyan" (starring Joe Estevez and Grizzly Adams' Dan Haggerty). That same month, they released Destini Beard's "A Time Forgotten," Destini Beard's full-length followup CD to "The Dark Masquerade" that takes listeners behind the room walls of a haunted Victorian hotel. Production on the next Midnight Syndicate disc is well underway. Although details have not been released, it was announced that the new disc will classic horror theme inspired by the early Universal and Hammer Films.

This latest offering is a superb trip into the genre, creating the perfect ambience.
Stunning !!!

Rating 9/10
For fans Of : Dario Argento, Axis Of Perdition, Cradle Of Filth, Akira Yamako