SOLSIKK - VOLATILE TERRITORY EP (Cd Review)

01.Razored Cell

02.Volatile Territory

03.Your Blistering Tongue

04.Cut A Little Deeper

Vykki Turner (Vocals)

Chris Webb (Guitar)

Mark Mulcaster (Bass)

Matt C (Drums)

Solsikk were formed by Chris and Matt after they left technical death metal band Biomechanical, there was a desire to form a band that could fuse that energy but blend it with melody and female vocals.

The ep kicks off with an immence bass heavy riff, but quickly the harmony vocals and musical breakdowns show that there is much more on offer here than female lead agressive heavy metal, in the style of say 'Otep'.

It is the heavy riffs and precision drumming mixed with pounding bass work that provides an outstanding backdrop to the multi tracked vocal expertise of Vikki.

"Your Blistering Tongue" is a really good fucking track, the phased guitar intro melts into some fantastic drumming with a slow vocal, it just moves along with a perfect head banging rhythm.

Finally this all too short ep ends with a ballad (shock horror!), fear not my metal loving Viking hordes for this will slay you with its beautiful vocals and atmospheric keyboard backing, but wait...for this song unleashes some of the finest guitarwork i have heard for a long time.

It is simply stunning!

Rating 9/10

For Fans Of : Arch Enemy, Otep, Fear Factory, Tristania

STU

CHAOSANCT - THE ASCENDANCE OF IMPURITY EP (Cd Review)

01.Ascendance Of Impurity

02.Death Note

03.Oppenheimer

04.Trinity (Outro)

Dave Kuchta (Vocals)

Paul Scanlan (Guitar)

James McIlroy (Guitar)

Tilman Wolff-Moore (Bass/Vocals)

Matt C (Drums)

Hot of the press in time for last weekends 'Tsunami Festival' in Holland and completed just a few days before that, this is the second ep from the self styled "Blackened power Metal" supergroup featuring ex members of Cradle Of Filth, Biomechanical and Akercocke.

Opening song is a full speed onslaught with Dave's amazing vocal attack of screams followed by pure singing.It is a very drum driven track reminicent of early Satyricon, and also contains some great guitar solos.

'Death Note' continues in the same vein and yet again it is the vocal style of Dave that grabs your attention, the opening part has an almost arabic styled harmony before hitting that Dani Filth scream that he does so well.The song has a line in it "This is the time for retribution" and it sticks in your head instantly.

Now we come to the song i have been looking forward to since i first heard it performed live last december, 'Oppenheimer'.
It starts with a haunting riff with "Tubed" speech over it, it has a wonderful rhythmic drum backing before picking up the pace into an almost gothic/black metal epic like Paradise Lost.Im slightly dissapointed by some of the effects put on the vocal as it slightly spoils what Dave is singing (But then im used to hearing it live where dave just lets rip).
What i love about the song is the way it just moves, with 2 such accomplished guitarists in the band it is surprisng that there are no solos in the piece, but somehow that adds to the songs emotion because it allows it flow without breaks.
It is a masterpiece and it is aided by the final piece 'Trinity' which is basically a recording of the 'Enigma 2000' numbers code that used to be broadcast over shortwave radio since the second world war, to this day nobody really knows what they were for, with an ambient soundscape underneath.

Overall this is a great progression in both music and production, it is a slick well executed ep full of originality and should see the band marked out as something "special".
I look forward to the album and hope that they dont put too many effects on dave's voice next time.

Rating 9/10

For Fans Of : Cradle Of Filth, Satyricon, Fear Factory, Nile

STU

CHAOSANCT NEWS

Well i have known about this for a few days now,but James has officially announced this so here is his statement from myspace :

So there it is, we are whole again! After some weeks of putting the word out, sifting through potential auditionees and then going through the audition process we are excited to welcome current Skaldic Curse and former Akercocke guitar maestro Paul Scanlan to the ranks of the Chaosanct!

We're all excited about Paul joining us, and bringing with him his own inimitable style, playing ability and infusing this into the chaosanct sound as well as writing process. There already plans in the works for a new demo for which we have 3-4 tracks lined up, not to mention live performances with our newly re-energised line up, exciting things indeed!

On top of all that, we'll be putting up more tracks for you to peruse, something long long overdue, in the coming weeks so stay tuned as we have awoken again! Also, last but not least, a thanks to all those that applied, from shores beyond ours in some cases, and to those that made it into the auditions and played their arses off.

We've seen and heard some amazing guitarists over the past few weeks, but we could only choose one!

James

Expect gigs from May onwards.

I hear that there only a handfull of copies left of the 'I Of Goliath' EP left and to quote James "When they're gone they're gone" A limited run of logo sweat wristbands are now available as well.

STU

www.myspace.com/chaosanct

CHAOSANCT - I Of Goliath EP (CD Review)

1. I Of Goliath
2. Dark Directions
3. Slither
4. The Mind Chamber

David R Kuchta - Vocals
James McIlroy - Guitar
Andrew Ongley - Guitar
Tilman Wolff-Moore - Bass
Matt C- Drums

Its going to be hard to review this ep without going on about the amazing vocals of Dave Kuchta a man who possessess a totally unique and outstanding style that will quickly gain this band major intrest.

So we start with the title track, heavy as you would expect from the Death Metal style,but with unexpected melody and a very catchy chorus,that said it is my least fave track,its just me tho, just a bit of the guitar i dont like thats all.

Track two is a pure delight opening with keyboards put together by James and Tilman this song has every element from metal to death composed with real care to create the near perfect song Dave's vocals surpass anything ive heard this year full stop, going from Burton C.Bell to Shagrath without pausing for breath,the song just moves so sweetly from melody to speed to death powered by solid drumming and great riffs.

Slither was my fave track up to now,it kicks big time starting off with a sample stating that "some say the world will end in fire" and if it did then this is its soundtrack,triggered drums power this song at full speed towards a wall of death :) once again Daves vocal arange simply astounds and the guitar work towards the end is top notch!

Finally we come to The Mind Chamber an atmospheric piece than features guest vocals from former Interlock singer Christina Gajny,the song itself has this wonderful little riff throughout that just holds it together perfectly.

These four songs show that Chaosanct dont want to do things thre same way as everybody else this cuts them a whole new genre of what we know as Death Metal,right now there is no one any where near this !
So you will want to get your hands on a copy of this ep.so go to www.myspace.com/chaosanct or better still get one at their next gig.


Rating : 10/10

Get This If You Like : Fear Factory,Cradle Of Filth,Strapping Young Lad,Dimmu Borgir,Biomechanical

CHAOSANCT - Live At The Fly 21.09.08 (Gig Review)

Chaosanct

9Days Down

1000 Scars

Heavens Gate

Arriving early at the venue, due to the amount of people there was to talk to, i never made inside the venue until 5 minutes before Chaosanct were due on stage!
So unlike other reviewers who just lie, i must apologise to all 3 support groups who i did not get to see, therefore i cannot review their sets.I will say that from talking to various people none of them had anything negative to say about them.

Onto Chaosanct who were making their london debut in front of a packed audience and boy did they deliver!
The brainchild of James Mcilroy, ex Cradle Of Filth and current lead guitarist with Matron who has spent 2 years putting this together with Andy Ongley (ex Lozek and current Guitarist with Samsas Traum), multi talented musician Tilman Wolff-Moore on bass also with Samsas Traum and Spitting Blood, ex Biomechanical drummer Matt C and Spitting Blood vocalist David R Kuchta.

Exploding onto the cramped stage with 'Slither' (one of only four completed demos,this one was recently uploaded to their myspace page), two things strike you; firstly that the quality of music is very high with its blend of death metal and melody and secondly that Dave has the most amazing voice, like a mixture of Burton C.Bell and Shagrath, without a doubt this guy has the best voice in metal in the uk right now.

The next few songs are new to everybody as only 2 have been released so far, each song powers along with pounding bass, superb guitar work from Andy and James who also manageed to windwill without getting caught up ! (how come his head doesnt unscrew?) driven by a constand barrage of drum triggers on overdrive.

Best of all was the atmosphere.On stage the band were clearly happy laughing and joking between songs and with each song the audience were becoming more involved with much headbanging and flicking of the obligatory horns,it was a sad moment when Dave announced the last song.
All in all a great gig from a band who will be destroying venues throughout the country in the near future.

STU