Category Cd Reviews

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

ARVEN are a five-piece predominantly female band from Germany. They play epic melodic folky something. Not sure if metal is the right denotation here, since their drummer and some occasional guitar riffs are the main harder ingredients. They want to be compared to BLIND GUARDIAN, SONATA ARCTICA or EPICA, or even LEAVES EYES. The latter with less metal is probably the best comparison since Carina Hanselmann possesses a fine voice.

They open with the title track, which is a fine effort with a violin riff and a compelling opening. The refrain works but the metal is not a 100%. “On Flaming Wings” sports a fine metal riff but also reveals the automatic limitations of an operatic voice, the ability to sound heavy is somewhat limited...

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Ett öppet brev till Metallica;

”Världens största Metalband! Vad var det som hände? Blev ni alldeles för självsäkra efter Black Album? Vi kunde förlåta er för Load och Reload där ni helt ändrade om erat sound. Vi kunde även förlåta er när ni släppte St. Anger där ni äntligen hade funnit en ny energi men slopat alla gitarrsolon då ni tyckte att det höll på att dö ut!? Med Death Magnetic gav ni era trogna fans ett nytt hopp och ni visade än en gång vilka som är störst. Så varför denna spark i magen? Märker ni inte att förtroendet för er dalar? Det är nog dags för er att sluta göra nya skivor och koncentrera er på det som ni gör bäst, nämligen att åka runt i världen och spela skiten ur stora folkmassor. 80-talet har aldrig varit så långt borta som nu...

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I first heard of Lionsex when I saw them support Black Spiders in Milton Keynes in May of this year, and to be honest despite them being the opening band and having a very short set they were the most impressive band on the night for me, so I’ve been looking forwards to them releasing an album, and the wait is finally over.

The band may look like they spend a couple of hours before a show doing their hair and makeup but don’t let that fool you – they can certainly rock with the best of them.

Comments on a few of the songs…

The album opens with the twanging bass intro to ”Get it”. A great song. Jef’s vocals really remind me of Billy Idol on this song – no bad thing considering how many records he’s sold.

M.I.A is a great rock track with plenty of energy...

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Black Casino and the Ghost are a new alternative rock band from London. Drummer Andy Treacey is the best known member having played in bands such as the Tom Robinson band, The Lightning seeds and Faithless until their split earlier this year.

Alternative rock is a term that covers an incredibly diverse spectrum of music, so I wasnt sure what to expect from this release – not being familiar with the band, it really could have been anything. Happily though this was a very pleasant surprise when I listened to it. Its got a quirky fun feel to it, and all four tracks are well written, have great tunes and great vocals.

”My Bambina” has a fast paced chorus and has a real fun feel to it.

Small parts of the music in ”Odyssea” have a spaghetti western movie soundtrack feel...

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Grand Design are a Swedish band that formed in 2006 with an aim of producing 80s rock music with an up to date slant. Two of the bands members may be familiar to fans of heavier bands – Anders Modd and Richard Holmgren are both members of Wolf.

Idolizer is the bands second album – their debut album, ”Time elevation” was released in 2009 and experienced considerable success.

The first thing to say about the album is that if you arent a fan of 80’s era Def Leppard then you’re not going to enjoy this album. Fans of Def Leppard are going to be divided though. The album is either heavily influenced and inspired by Def Lepppard, or its a blatant copy of Def Leppards music – I tend towards the former view – the album is heavily influenced by 80s Def Leppard albums.

The similarities with Def L...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

Germany´s answer to GREEN DAY, THE DICTATORS and old Swedish band DOCENT DÖD (goes slightly metal). UNHERTZ releases their second album, with a more metal cover than suitable. Attitudes en masse and four chords can get you far, and they aim to prove it. They aim for live appearances, which is natural, Oktoberfest must be their natural habitat according to the info sheet. And the music?

The opener “Intro” doesn´t really represent the album. The enhanced sounds of a beating heart accompanied with some background sound from a horror movie or thereabouts are nowhere near the punk approach and, often, style that takes off 1.38 later. They hit it off with every beer drinking German hell-raiser at a festival with “Und Dunkelheit Wird Licht”...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

Chilean thrashers CRIMINAL have six albums under their belt, plus this seventh one. They have made aname for themselves touring with the likes of KREATOR and SLAYER, plus over-the-top attention and sales in their native country. Since their early days of relocation to the UK in 2001 they have struggled to maintain a stable lineup. Today the band consists of the ubiquitous bandleader Anton Reisenegger, guitars/vocals, Spanish guitarist Olmo Cascallar, and the 50% that is non-Latin, drummer Zac O´Neil and bass player/producer Dan Biggin. They promise an album far away from the overedited, overtriggered sterile productions of today, while retaining faithful to the big guns of the genre. Interesting mix…

The opening three tracks are not convincing...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

Canadian quartet KITTIE ia an all female alternative metal band. Formed in 1996 they scored a minor hit with the song “Brackish” off their debut album “Spit” (1999). Since then half the band members have left while vocalist/guitarist Morgan Lander and drummer Mercedes Lander soldier on. The rest of the lineup is completed by guitarist Tara McLeod and bassist Ivy Vujic. There might be a few roses on the cover of this their sixth album, but don´t expect them to be gentle…

The opening part of the album is quite thrashy. Both the title track and “We Are the Lamb” are heavy stuff, the latter even being death metal. They have surely left the nu-metal they are marketed as. They start making an impression with “Whisper of Death”...

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Mellanbror Jonas har ju gått solo och första singeln ”See No More” blev en riktig hit. Nu i dagarna släpptes albumet ”Fastlife”. Vilka låtar toppar och vilka låtar dalar?

Till skillnad från när han spelar och gör musik med sina bröder så är soloprojektet väldigt R&B-inspirerat och tar ett ganska långt kliv från det rockiga sound vi är vana vid. För de som hört ”See No More” så vet ni precis vad jag menar, men Joe Jonas fick då lite hjälp av Chris Brown med den låten, och det hörs väldigt tydligt tycker jag. Resten av plattan går i samma stil, men trots det så finns det ju alltid toppar och dalar.

Vi tar väl dalarna först, så sparar vi det bästa till sist. Jag har egentligen inga invändningar alls på killens röst...

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Escape Music/Sound Pollution

GARY JOHN BARDEN has an ongoing long career in hard rock. Most will recognize him as the voice of MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, but he has also collaborated with GARY MOORE, fronted STATETROOPER and PRAYING MANTIS, formed SILVER, plus released quite a few solo efforts. This time he goes solo again, amidst all the MSG activities. Not alone, but in close co-operation with Michael Voss of e.g. MAD MAX. A highlight is promised, tough one, concerning the fantastic new albums by SHY and CHRIS OUSEY on the same label.

Gary opens with the aircraft sounds of “Baghdad”. It is heavier than I thought, but the refrain works and the opening is very ok...