Category Cd Reviews

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MDD/Sound Pollution

German band LEGIO MORTIS have been around for ten years, and three releases including this CD. Their brand of dark/death metal is this time around mastered and mixed by Alexander Krull of ATROCITY and LEAVES EYES. The vocals are augmented by Liv Kristine of LEAVES EYES in the song “Life Denied” as well. This lot has supported the likes of NILE and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, and seems to be something of a house band at Metalfest Germany, so I guess I have expectations.

The opener “Intro” is a combination of an air raid siren and some monstrous grunts. The real opener “Unholy Four” is a heavy piece framed by a choir and some beautiful keys. The keyboard work is actually a stunner throughout. On the stunner side I count “Mass Murder” and the Liv Kristine sung “Life Denied”...

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London band Devilish Presley are singer/guitarist Jacqui Vixen and guitarist Johnny Navarro. Devilish Presley are a hard band to categorise easily. There is a strong punk feel, but there are also gothic influences, as well as glam rock and metal. Gothic Punk is probably the best fit, but really what genre they are isn’t that important. What is important is the fact that they are clearly a very talented band and this is a fantastic album.

”The Dark Triad” is the band’s fifth album, and the first to have Jacqui Vixen doing the lead vocals instead of Johnny Navarro. After listening to the album I have to wonder why its taken them so long to get Jacqui doing the vocals – she’s done a superb job on this album.

”The beast must die” is the first single from the album and is a fantastic song...

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Frontiers/BAM

DAVID COVERDALE´S WHITESNAKE, further introduction is probably superfluous but here I go (again). After leaving DEEP PURPLE mark IV David decided to move while the irons´s still hot and started a solo band The White Snake Band. Before releasing “Trouble” as WHITESNAKE the young band first displayed themselves with an EP called “Snakebite”. Some line-up changes later the glory years was soon to come with bluesy albums like “Trouble”, “Lovehunter”, Ready ´an Willing”, “Come ´an Get It” and “Saints and Sinners”. Up until then the classic line up of David, guitarists Micky Moody (SNAFU etc) and Bernie Marsden, bass legend Neil Murray, plus former DEEP PURPLE compatriots Jon Lord, keyboards and Ian Paice, drums...

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7Hard/Cargo Records

Borås/Swedish band SANCHEZ is not far away from where I write these worlds. The band consists of Jose Sanchez, lead vocals, Kieven Klevmyr, guitars, marc White, bass, and the obvious Mr. Drumhead completing the line-up. As individuals they have opened for acts like DEE SNIDER and PAUL DIANNO. As a band they haven´t really got all that much under their belt. The setting is classic AOR/glam/hair metal, style wise they live the legend. They have handled production themselves, and they promise a trip back to the likes of DOKKEN, surprise me!
The KISS feeling is there in “Stand Up (For Your Rights)”...

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Pierced Records/Sound Pollution

JERUSALEM is one of the pioneers of Swedish hard rock, forming as early as 1975. Including collections and all they have released as many as 18 albums including this release. This is their first comprising entirely of fresh material in 16 years. Back in 1981 they did brisk business, but what about 2011? Steering the band is as always the perennial Ulf Christiansson on guitars and vocals. He is backed by the almost as persistent bass player Peter Carlsohn and drummer Michael Ulvsgård.

Three songs into the album I realize that time is passing. “Calling On” is a pale opener, “Come On” is somewhat repetitive and “I Want to Leave Her” is close to U2. The arrangements show signs of maturity and experience, but there is little excitement on offer...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

SUPREME PAIN may not mean a lot to anyone, but behind the moniker lurk Messrs; Adrie Kloosterwaard, vocals (SINISTER), Paul Beltman, drums (ex. SINISTER), Bas Brussard, guitars (FONDLECORPSE), Erwin Harreman, guitars, and Alesa Sare on bass. Their third album is described as epic, evil and fast aggressive with an Old School groove. Go on, make my day…

Opening shortie “Dawn of a New Era” is a melodic smattering. Not bad for its kind actually. The ensuing “Dark Army” is very ok, but when they get into gear with “Damned Creation”, they sure get me going. The groovy grinding Old School death with some thrash thrown in is an excellent mix. The SLAYER-esque “Treasonous Disease” has a riff to die for and a melody to go with that...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

Austrian Old School thrash/power metal quartet GARAGEDAYS release their eagerly promoted debut. Marco Kern, guitars/vocals, founded GARAGEDAYS in 2005. Many lineups later he was surrounded by lead guitarist Rene Auer, bass player Dominik Eder and drummer Matthias Mai. The band has issued a demo, “Wild and Dangerous”, before making two albums; “Sight of the Blind” and “Dark and Cold”. The latter has been chosen as their Massacre Records debut.

After opener “Last Breath” I was a happy reviewer. Imagine that it took four Austrians to follow up on METALLICA`S success…and about 25 years. The following six tracks are also pleasant, but not quite in the same division...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

Sword waving German Vikings STORMWARRIOR is back with album number four. True heavy metal and Nordic mythology have served STORMWARRIOR well. Founder Lars Ramke´s vision has paid off and sent them on the road to stardom, via festivals like Wacken Open Air and Motala Metal festival. Success and success again, have they delivered a successor to “Heading Northe”, or have they excelled?

Nevertheless this is a concept album of sorts, sporting eleven metal bullets.
The opening intro “… og Hammeren Häves till Slag” is your typical overblown fantasy evolving shortie. The title track on the other hand is a sight for sore RUNNING WILD mourning eyes. STORMWARRIOR move for the Viking chief position with all swords in the air...

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Peter Tägtgrens känsla för att kombinera industriell metal med poppiga melodier går inte att ta miste på. ”The great pretender” är ett av många exempel på den här skivan. Den omedelbara hiten står ut som det bästa spåret på en skiva som är bra, men inte bjuder på några överraskningar.

Sedan ”Nothing Remains The Same” (2002) har jag gillat Pain. ”Dancing With The Dead” (2005) håller jag som mästerverket, sen har bandet släppt två skivor som varit mindre intressanta. ”Psalms of Extinction” (2007) är väl helt okej, bäst är den i ”Zombie slam” när man tar ut svängarna och Peter Tägtgren tar fram en helt ny röst.

Nya skivan börjar med en käftsmällen ”Let me out”, som sätter stämningen direkt...

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Napalm/Sound Pollution

Scottish pirates ALESTORM continues to mix folk music with power metal on their third full-length album. Fiddle and hey-hey sits nicely and the last time I saw them they stood up well against headliners SABATON. The band is intact; Christopher Bowes, vocals/keys, Dani Evans, guitar, Gareth Murdoch, bass, and Peter Alcorn, drums.

The title track opens with a musical battle scene. The ole swift time travel (“Back Through Time”) works for their present time friendly metal. And that is done without fending off anyone who´s into older metal. No matter how drunk you are you can sing along, so I believe there will be spots on German festivals. “Shipwrecked” is the same attack and pace song, although heavier...