Category Cd Reviews

Posted in Cd Reviews

”The Final Journey” is the fifth album from Black Messiah. The lineup has changed several times since they formed in 1992, with Zagan being the only remaining original member. The band was originally a black metal band but has evolved over time and now plays pagan or viking metal.
There are plenty of folk influences in the music as well as influences from classical music.

Musically Black Messiah are heavier than bands like Turisas, and they play some really impressive metal. The violin highlights the folk and pagan aspects nicely, and the gravelly growling vocals hark back to the bands black metal roots. Pounding rapid drums and powerful guitar riffs give the music plenty of heaviness.

The album is unusual in that it splits naturally into two parts...

Posted in Cd Reviews

XI:The Days before Tomorrow is the eleventh release from Louisiana Music Hall of Fame members, Lillian Axe and marks the debut of new lead vocalist Brian Jones.
Despite the bands long history I’ve never really listened to them till now – too many bands and not enough time to listen to them I’m afraid.

My first impressions on listening to the album were very good – this is impressive stuff. Its good commercial melodic rock with nice smooth vocals and great tunes.

”Take the bullet” has a heavier more guitar driven beginning

The guitar solo in ”My Apologies” stands out and is very good, and fits well in the song – I’ve heard plenty where the guitar solo was clearly just there to fulfill someones ego rather than being something that worked well with the song

Brian Jones sounds great on this...

Posted in Cd Reviews

”Hello cruel world” is the ninth album from American Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Gretchen Peters. Her songs have been performed by artists including Etta James and Neil Diamond.

Gretchen Peters sings what is probably best called Folk music. Her songs are simply arranged leaving her voice and the beautiful lyrics she writes as the main focus. In this way, all the emotion in the songs comes through clearly.

Gretchen Peters says about the album, ”After I’d finished recording Hello Cruel World, certain themes began to emerge… One is the idea that ‘survival is triumph,’ and that the real heroes are the ones who endure. That theme surprised me,” she continues. “The others have to do with religion and God, and the nature of art...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Massacre/Sound Pollution

Greek progressive metallists PERSONA NON GRATA formed in 2003. Unknowlingly Chris Gatsos, guitars, joined John Ioannidis band FATAL ERROR. The pair soon moved in a progressive direction. Together with former vocalist Bill Axiotis and session musicians Akis Gavalas, drums, and Chris Vogiatzis, bass, they recorded the bands first outing, the album “Shade in the Light”. The info compares the band to the likes of CIRCUS MAXIMUS, VANDEN PLAS and POVERTY´S NO CRIME. In 2009 they decided to change vocalists because of increasing obligations, and opted for Aris Pirris. The final piece in the puzzle was bassist Apostolis Kaltsas who joined prior to recording this album. Comparisons with DREAM THRATER and FATES WARNING are made, can they live up to this?

The first part ...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Soulseller Records/Sound Pollution

ULVERHEIM started as Ulverheim, ex. THORNIUM, wanted to do a solo project. In 2009 a three song demo materialized, “Svart Tystnad” and in 2010 Kali-Ma, ex THORNIUM, joined on bass. Soulseller signed the band and during 2011 the lineup was completed by drummer Fuhrgast and guitarist Hellmaker. The debut album features Jonas Lindblood of PUTRAEON on vocals and a solo on “Bomberna Faller”.

ULVERHEIM soon turns out be fans of intros, and to a certain extent outros. The sound is quite typical of a black metal band, the guitars, the drums and the vocals. They do some thrashy grooves at times, and they are good at creating atmospheres...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Ett skönt riff på en akustisk gitarr, en snubbe i cowboyhatt med ett halmstrå i munnen. Det är inte riktigt den bilden man får när man tänker på Lamb of God. Ändå är det där första singeln ”Ghost walking” börjar. Det dröjer visserligen inte många sekunder innan stämningen slås sönder av samma riff på en elgitarr med betydligt mer distorsion.

På sitt sjunde studioalbum låter Lamb of God det tekniska stå tillbaka för att istället ta fram ett jävla ös. Bandet har en av världens bästa trummisar i Chris Adler, men här får de krångliga bitarna i låtar som ”Laid to rest” stå tillbaka för rakare (relativt naturligtvis) takter.

Det är både positivt och negativt. Det blir ett hårt och ösigt album, men utan särskilt mycket karaktär...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Frontiers/BAM

PRIMAL FEAR was formed in 1997 by vocalist Ralph Scheepers (ex. TYRAN PACE, F.B.I. and GAMMA RAY) and bass player Mat Sinner (SINNER). The band formed in the wake of Ralph becoming second choice of JUDAS PRIEST and a contract with Nuclear Blast was soon landed. This is the band´s ninth album, so they are probably doing something right. A couple of band members have been changed, so today the band consists of Ralph and Mat, plus guitarists Alex Beyrodt (SILENT FORCE, VOODOO CIRCLE) and Magnus Carlsson (household name of Frontiers projects),and drummer Randy Black (ex. ANNIHILATOR). So, will this be their number one achievement?

The opening intro “Unbreakable (Part 1)” is a nonplus entry, customary to power metal. But from then on things happen fast...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Escape/Sound Pollution

Lee Small was a small name when he started out in the clubs and pubs at the age of 14, as a bass player. In 1989 he started out as a vocalist, in 1990 he fronted PRIDE, moving on to NATIVE CAIN before getting involved with legends like BUDGIE and Eric Bell´s THIN LIZZY. Escape Music got him in the limelight as they hooked him up with SURVEILANCE, CLOVEN HOOF and Tom Galley´s PHENOMENA. Lee´s latest enterprise might be short-lived as SHY´s guitarist and founder member Steve Harris tragically passed away after the release of one of their two best albums ever. As a solo artist Lee´s surrounded by quality; guitarist Martin Kronlund, drummer Imre Daun, both of GYPSY ROSE and keyboardist Paul Bradder of SARACEN. Blues is the flavor of the day, impressive?

The opening ...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Straylings are Bahraini/Austrian singer/songwriter Dana Zeera and English guitarist Oliver Drake. They released their debut EP in 2008, and are now back with a full length album – Entertainment on foreign grounds.

Straylings fall into the ”alternative” category of music – in other words the category to cover any band that doesnt fall neatly into any of the other genres. Their sound is definitely reminiscent of ”White Rabbit” era Jefferson Airplane – that slightly rocky psychadelic sound, with similarly haunting vocals.

There are three songs from the album available to listen to on the band’s facebook page which I’d certainly recommend that you go and listen to – the songs are fairly representative of the album and if you like them then buy the album.

This is a really good album...

Posted in Cd Reviews

”Leverage” is the fourth album from German band Lyriel. I must admit that despite being a fan of female fronted rock and metal, I hadnt heard anything by Lyriel before now. One listen to the album quickly convinced me I’ve been missing out in a big way – this is really impressive stuff.

There are strong folk influences in the music and there is also a strong celtic feel to it. Singer Jessica Thierjung has a lovely voice which is used to great effect in these songs, and the use of Cello and Violins adds an extra richness to the music as well as giving it more atmosphere. At times the album really reminds me strongly of the latest Nightwish album, which can’t be bad !

Comments on a couple of the songs…

The Intro doesnt really work for me – it adds nothing to the album, and to be honest is...