Magen - Thoughts In Greyscale EP (CD Review)

01.Greyscale
02.Hinder
03.Smother Me Gently
04.A Shape In The Wood


Ethel Feigman (Vocals)
Gal Shnaider (Guitar)
Naor Zakhaim (Guitar)
Ari Dorot (Bass)
Tommy Tenenbaum (Drums)

Magen is an Israeli band formed in october 2012, best described as a combination of Alternative Metal, Heavy metal, Progressive rock with elements from Jazz, swing and other classic genres.
Their attitude is: "Rock & Roll, Alternative, Heavy Metal, Prog and whatever we'll feel like in the future".

'Greyscale' starts with near Doom metal chords and drum beats, then it goes all quiet and starts to get this metalcore meets indie vibe.
Quirky basslines and rhythmic drum patterns drive this one along and it's all completed with a strong original sounding female vocal.

Basically the song 'Hinder' is more of that "metalcore" stuff, a sort of pop metal hybrid, not really my thing but the next track 'Smother Me Gently' has a little more to offer, some clever breakdowns and timing changes.

Finally 'A Shape in The Wood' a great swing inspired pop rocker, really upbeat and one i have no doubt is a live fave.

Not as complex as i was expecting from their biography, but still a good solid Ep.

Rating 7/10
For fans of: In This Moment, A Perfect Circle.

We Butter The Bread With Butter - Wieder Geil (CD Review)

01.Ich Mach Mit Medien
02.Exorzist
03.Anarchy
04.Berlin Berlin
05.Bang Bang Bang
06.Mir Mehr
07.Rockstar
08.Thug Life
09.Warum Lieben Wir Nicht Mehr
10.Zombiebitch


Marcel Neumann (Guitar)
Maximilian Pauly (Bass)
Paul Bartzsch (Vocals)
Can Özgünsür (Drums)

"Wieder Geil!“ finally showcases the German fourpiece they way it always wanted to be perceived. Forceful and equipped with the bounce of all bounces.
So says their record company anyway, i'm slightly concerned about reviewing this one sent to me, silly name, great album cover, facebook page says they have over 298k of likes, but then i have also seen the word "metalcore" and am wondering if this is going to be a load of shouty scene kid music?

Well 'Ich Mach Mit Medien' starts off quite well a sort of techno metal sound much beloved of the old nu-metal guard, add in some punchy guitar and then, err wait euro techno dance drum n bass now its more chase and status than linkin park!

After a lot more of the same, all by the way in German, we come to one in English called 'Thug Life' which is another hi-nrg techno rave thing with samples and electronic vocals.

Yep, well then, definatley not my kind of music at all, so i wont go any further, this to me is neither one thing or the other and brings nothing new to the table that the likes of KoRn and Skrillex have not already done very well or some of the cross over music created by Rammstein.

But when it comes to metalcore and unfortunatly i get to hear a lot of it, this one is towards the top of the pile, its well produced and they execute their music with precision.

Rating 7/10
For fans of: Enter Shikari, Asking Alexandra, Finish Him, The Browning

Lykaion - Heavy Lullabies (CD Review)

01.Heavy Lullaby
02.For Love
03.Anthem
04.I Don't Love you Anymore
05.Waitin'
06.Smile
07.End Of Time
08.Out Of My Heart
09.Animals
10.Accept Yourself
11.Till The End


Alessandro Sforza (Vocals/Guitar)
Fabio Valentini (Guitar)
Valerio Lippera (Bass)
Andrea Alberati (Drums)

Lykaion are an Italian Dark metal band formed back in 2000.Their style links to the interrupted project of '90s gothic metal bands, re-reading it in a unique way, including influences from new hard rock/sleaze Swedish sounds and the romantic/decadent vision of bands like Him, To Die For and Katatonia. "Heavy Lullabies" is the band's second album, and it represents a firm step forward compared to the debut album "Nothin' But Death".

I find it strange that the opening title track should be nothing more than a glorified 4 minute instrumental intro, and it is an intro as it goes right into track 2 'For Love' which is a way better way to start the album, but you cannot get away from the HIM influence here, it has the melody in both music and vocal delivery and then the heavier chorus, what lets this down is that awful shouting vocal that keeps appearing like one of those shitty post emo/hardcore bands.

'Anthem' is not "anthemic", but it is a way more agressive song than i was expecting, solid riffs over some powerful drumming and some sing-a-long melodys.

The ballad makes an unpleasent appearence next with 'I Dont Love You Anymore', shame really because the guitar solo is awesome.

The bass/drum patterns are very "Nu-Metal" in 'Waitin' and then adds some very quiet and melodic passsages which build quite well.

'Smile' is a slow and quiet song that has some great keyboards that just save this one.

The pace picks up with 'End Of Time' which returns to HIM territory, as does the next one 'Out Of My Heart'.

'Animals' is almost another ballad, but some good pedal work on the drums and excellent guitar solo lift this one just enough.

Unfortunatley 'Accept Yourself' is shouty metalcore crap for emo's.

'Till The End' seems to not be much better, again just conforms to music for scene kids.

Rating 6/10
For Fans Of: Emil Bulls, HIM, AFI, As I Lay Dying, Bring Me The Horizon