Category Cd Reviews

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Lechery are a Swedish band dating back to 2004. Before joining Lechery, Martin Bengtsson, the bands lead guitarist and vocalist was a member of Arch Enemy and also played with Christopher Amotts side project Armageddon.
”In Fire” is the bands second album – the first, ”Violator” was released in 2008 so ”In Fire” has taken a while. Recording was delayed due to various reasons including accidents and injuries to band members, but the album is now ready and is due for release at the end of August 2011.

This album definitely has a classic rock/metal feel to it, and certainly reminds me of bands including Accept, Saxon, Scorpions and U.D.O.

The album starts with the instrumental track ”Awakening” which starts off gently with quiet slow build up before the music kicks in with plenty of power a...

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Doolittle Group/Sound Pollution

SWEDISH HITS GOES METAL is the brainchild of Tommy ReinXeed, applauded by label boss Christian Liljegren no doubt. The objects of the spotlight are really ABBA, ROXETTE and ACE OF BASE, and the hits no one has ever missed. Tommy started in music at an early age and is influenced by a.o. GARY MOORE. This album came about when Christian Liljegren stumbled across Tommy´s ABBA interpretations on YouTube, and got hooked. Next up is a tour with a five-piece band all around the world. So, is the album that good?

Aw well, what can I say against ABBA songs like “Mama Mia”, “Money Money Money”, “Super Trouper” and “The Winner Takes It All”? Or export success ROXETTE`S “The Look” etc.? Or even ACE OF BASE, who seems at ease among the other super hits? Nothing much...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

Swedish hard rock/melodic metal band STONELAKE releases their fifth album. The story actually begins back in 1984 when guitarist Jan Åkesson and vocalist Peter Grundström met after a concert. They both joined forces in Peter´s band the same year. A good few years later after moving on in various bands they were back together in STONELAKE. High quality hard rock/metal is promised, are we that lucky?

Ten songs, titles that may well have been conceived in the 80´s and hopefully with the force and fantasy to make the band. Opener “Red Canyon” may not be my choice on the album but it still possesses a cozy keyboard pattern and a fine refrain. The ensuing “Liar” and “Sound of a Whisper” really don´t do anything for me...

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MDD/Sound Pollution

Gothenburg profile Tony JJ (Jelencovic I believe) has left MNEMIC behind but still has a firm foothold with M.A.N., TRANSPORT LEAGUE and now perhaps ICON IN ME can be added to the list. Apart from Tony the band consists of guitarists D. Frans (ex. HOSTILE BREED) and Artyon (ex. REIGN THE ABSOLUTE), bass player KONSTANTIN (ex. HOSTILE BREED) and drummer Morten (SOILWORK, HATESPHERE etc.). Guests include Glen Drover, ex. MEGADETH, Olof Mörck (NIGHTRAGE, AMARANTHE) to name but a few. Is this a band of ex´s or a band for the future?

I find the question to be hard, to be or not to be. The members will attract a following but what about the music. My short side notes say perhaps, nothing more. There is a tendency to be raw, one-dimensional and stuck in a previous decade...

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MDD/Sound Pollution

They may sound like a mix of bards and gods; Anomietes, vocals, Boppel and Sapp, guitars, Horus, bass, and Keltor, drums, but there is surely some point to it. SHATTENREICH is advertised as borderless and superior. The music is according to the info sheet highly recommended for fans of DARKTHRONE, CELTIC FROST and early SODOM to name but a few. No small quest they set out for, they sure need to be gods of sorts.

The opener “Intro” is not as short as the title suggests. Though the vocals are sparse there is almost a full song on offer, way better than a meaningless short intro. The more they mix in, the more entertaining they are. The basic foundation must be black metal, but there is also a lot of melody hidden among the speedy guitars and the hammering drums...

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Napalm/Sound Pollution

KAMPFAR dates back to 1994, when vocalist Dolk left MOCK. He recruited a guitarist Thomas, and set about his new musical vision. The first sign of life was the MCD “Kampfar”, followed by their full-length debut “Mellom Skogklaedde Aaser” in 1997. Black metal and folk was mixed according to the band members interests. 1999 saw two more releases, again an MCD and a full CD. The band seemed lost afterwards, but returned in 2003, when the band resurfaced with new members; bass player Jon and drummer Ask. The result was, among other things, the band´s live debut at a Norwegian festival. In 2005 came another album, “Kvass”. Founder member Thomas has since left leaving them without a guitarist, but with more unity it seems...

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MDD/Sound Pollution

ABRASIVE has been around since the late nineties. They take pride in offering a sound that is faithful to their underground roots. Raw and in-your-face death metal with grinding ambitions according to the old rules set by the likes of AUTOPSY, EXHUMED and SUFFOCATION will be the reward for buying this album. One demo in 1999 led to the album “Desire”, a real ball-breaker if you get my drift, which was followed by “Devotion” and “Awakening of Lust” before this release.

To save the best for last is functional in some cases, but not when releasing an album. Unfortunately that is what this trio does. It takes until the final track “Rebirth” before I discover what they could be all about...

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Lion Music Digital

VIRTUAL MIND sprung from the mind of Italian guitarist Francesco Fareri. The idea is to mix heavy metal and a progressive style on their debut album. Apart from Francesco the band consists of well travelled vocalist Titta Tani (ex. DGM, ex. ASTRA, ASHENT), drummer Dario Ciccioni (TWINSPIRITS, KHYMERA etc.), and bass player Emanuele Calvelli of NOUMENO. The band is quite fresh on the market, and so is Lion´s effort with all-digital releases.

After hearing the first four tracks I start to question the existence of the band. The vocals seem to be the stronghold but the refrains are not very memorable and they seem adamant to relive the nineties. Not until track five, “The Door” the band displays their might with some RUSH-like antics...

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Voodoo Highway/Rock´n´Growl

VOODOO HIGHYAY may bring to mind bands like VOODOO X or even BADLANDS, but it is really DEEP PURPLE you should think of. These five gents from Italy have been around since 2010, by recording their first EP “This Is Rock´n´Roll, Cocks”. This effort generated some attention, not least from Craig Gruber of ELF, RAINBOW etc. fame. 70-ies hard rock is apparently blended with catchy melodies, and the Classic Rock Channel has hailed them as the best to come out of Italy since Super Mario. Gigs are lining up and everything seems bright enough for the future…or is it?

The odd but unique intro “Intro (since 1972)” is a bit surprising, but reveals that there is some thought involved. From then on much is focused around Gillan/Lord etc...

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Supernova/Sweden Rock Magazine

Åtta personer utgör SEVENTRIBE, ett Västeråsband som spelar en mix av metal och hardcore. De har inte varit direkt i rampljuset tidigare, men 2010 vann de Released – Live & Unsigned, och sedan dess har lavinen börjat rulla. Dessutom ligger de på Supernova som distribueras via Sweden Rock Mag, och ett starkt samarbete med Jägemeister har de gemensamt med band som HAMMERFALL och HARDCORE SUPERSTAR. Hur låter det då?

Jag minns en gammal demo med detta band, men det var inte positiva minnen. Idag har de åtgärdat ljudet, som inte var minnesvärt. Låtmaterialet minns jag dock inte, men här kommer tre spår som inte är direkt avtändande...