Category Cd Reviews

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Tenebrarum are a Colombian gothic metal band that has been going for over 20 years and released 8 albums. Despite this and them having a good following in South America, where they’ve headlined festivals and played to crowds of 30,000 people they remain fairly unknown in the UK.

Musically its an interesting sound. The violin gives it a bit of a symphonic metal feel but without the richness that you’d get with a larger string section or full orchestra. There is a strong Gothic feel to many of the songs as well, and the vocal style does remind me of early stuff by the Sisters of Mercy.

The introduction for ”One step” is a nice piece of piano music, but they’ve added a really annoying crackle and bump to it – as though its being played on a poor quality vinyl record, and that detracts aw...

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”Here and Now” is the new album from Nickelback – their seventh album to date.

Over the last decade, Nickelback have become one of the biggest rock bands in the world, yet despite this they seem to get a lot of criticism. The critism they get from some quarters doesnt seem to affect them and they continue to release albums that sell in huge quantities. Despite their massive success, I must admit to only having heard a few of their songs – mainly the singles that receive airplay on the music TV channels, so I was curious to see how I’d enjoy their new album.

After listening to the album a few times, it’s clear why Nickelback sell so many records, and equally I can see why they get some of the criticism they receive.
Musically there’s actually some really good rock here in places with some...

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Lion/Warner

Lead vocalist and main man IAN PARRY continued his sci-fi saga CONSORTIUM PROJECT with the second installment in 2001. Still utilizing brilliant guitarists like Patrick Rondat (ELEGY/solo), Stephan Lill (VANDEN PLAS) and Thomas Youngblood (KAMELOT), basists Jan Bijlsma (VENGEANCE/AYREON) and Patrice Guers (ex. RHAPSODY OF FIRE), keyboard player Gunter Wernö (VANDEN PLAS) and seasoned drummer Dirk Bruinenberg (ELEGY, PATRICK RONDAT etc, etc) the sound and performance must have been Ian´s least problem. The sci-fi was spiced up with the headlines of the day concerning e.g. global warming. And the whole shebang was mixed by Tommy Newton (HELLOWEEN, KAMELOT etc.) and produced by Ian himself.

The opening title track was a show of progressiveness...

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www.metalforcancer.com

The cancer project with the longest name in history was blessed with a track by Henrik Flyman of EVIL MASQUERADE. Vocalist Richard Ofsoski (OFSOSKI, SEDITION) came up with the project idea and has been joined by a quite impressive cast. The main band consists of; guitarsist Henrik Flyman, bass man Thor Jeppesen and keyboardist Artur Meinild, all of EVIL MASQUERADE, plus drummer Peter Wildoer of JAMES LABRIE, DARKANE and ARCH ENEMY fame. They are augmented by an impressive cast of singers ranging from the classics like Mats Levén (THERION, ex. YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), Snowy Shaw (ex. MERCYFUL FATE, ex. KING DIAMOND, ex. DIMMU BORGIR) and Tony Mills of TNT and SHY fame, to the younger strlets like Apollo Papathanasio of FIREWIND etc...

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Myon Music

Finnish band MYON has been releasing music since 1998, and this is their third single out of three singles and four full-length albums. According to the info sheet MYON is taking music in a new direction and brings rock back to the new era in 2012. This is an ambitious outline, can they live up to it?

The track in itself must be written with the best intentions in mind. The crisp keyboards and the catchy keys pattern sure bring the 80´s to mind. But the refrain is merely ok, the drum sound is a bit dull and I somewhere detect a feeling similar to that of PHENOMENA III. But I think it will take more effort to become the hottest name in rock.

Track List
Call of the Senses

www.myonmusic.com www.rockngrowl.com

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Soulseller Records/Sound Pollution

When Iscariah left IMMORTAL in 2002 he formed DEAD TO THIS WORLD. The band has released one demo, one split, one full-length (“First Strike for Spiritual Renewance” in 2007), and now this MCD. Iscariah handles vocals, guitar and bass himself, Thurzur plays bass, Skyggen guitars, and M:A Fog drums. The band has recorded and produced the whole affair themselves and according to the info this is just about what the world needs, let´s find out!

Five tracks are on offer, including an intro. “Har Megiddo/Satan´s Storm” is a pretty entertaining and varied intro with a lot of atmosphere, not bad! The title track is a quite thrashy piece, with less black metal in it than the band member´s stage names hint at...

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Frontiers/BAM

YES was formed in London in 1968 by vocalist Jon Anderson and bassist/vocalist Chris Squire. With a background in the LSD London of the era it is a surprise they are still around but they still have a chance of celebrating 50 as a band. The lineup has changed of cause, but Chris is still around, and Steve Howe, guitars, has been a member since 1970, and drummer Alan White has been on board since 1972! The keyboard spot has even been “inherited” by Oliver Wakeman from his father Rick, who joined in 1971. The real center of attention seems to be new vocalist Benoit David, who came in 2008 from a YES cover band in best Rock Star movie fashion! The latter has been said to be out of tune at times but seems to have been embraced by the fans in general...

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Napalm/Sound Pollution

Danish thrash force HATESPHERE has released one single, two EP´s and seven albums, including this one, quite a lot. Founder Peter “Pepe” Hansen remains in the band, which has changed quite a few members over the years. Today the ranks are made of Jimmy Nedergaard, bass, Mike Park, drums, Jakob Nyholm, guitars, and Esben “Esse” Hansen on vocals. The band seems to be heading back to a more old school sound and an uncompromising album is promised.

The album is actally more cheerful than the cover says. The joyful eighties thrash riffs on offer here, the grooves and the cracked party voice of Esse is quite convincing...

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Liljegren Records/Sound Pollution

Alexander Oriz from Huskvarna, Sweden, formed his own band ORIZ in late 2009. The others in the band are guitarist David Mauritzon, vocalist Mattias Eriksson, drummer Emil Eriksson, and bassist Christopher Davidsson. The music is said to be heavily influenced by the seventies and eighties, and bands like DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW and WHITESNAKE, plus the newer bands like JORN and GOTTHARD. They debuted in 2010 with a self titled album, but on a very small label. “II” was mastered by Micke Lind (DIO, TALISMAN), and big things are promised.

The album is quite laden with keyboards, and of cause Alexander gets the opportunity to play solos. The refrains are in focus, of cause, and there are plenty of choruses...

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Frontiers/BAM

Italian guitarist/producer Dario Mollo and ex. BLACK SABBATH and solo vocalist TONY MARTIN are not new to each other. As the title states this is their third mutual effort, tailing on successes like the first and third cage. The first was releases in 1999 and their second mutual cage arrived at the scene in 2002. Now they return, ten years later. I hope that they can repeat their previous outings and that time has not left them behind.

Opener and video track “Wicked World” is definitely on the gloomy side. The refrain is clear and very present but the result is an ok opener, merely...