Category Cd Reviews

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Napalm/Sound Pollution

KARMA TO BURN reunited with the phrase “Suck my disc, you two-faced, no-good fuckhead. I hope you burn in hell you LA cunt”. Not bad for a band that had been together between 1994 and 2002. The trio of Rich Mullins, bass, Will Mecum, guitar, and Rob Oswald, drums, actually made a lot of fans, skipping such nonsense as song titles, vocals and lyrics. Back in 2009 they reunited, celebrated with a small tour, followed by a support tour for MONSTER MAGNET. But now they have given in to conventions, using vocals, and, actually, adding Daniel Davies (YEAR LONG DISASTER), as vocalist. How is this gonna end?

They do rock and use grooves in fine fashion in opener “47”. But it is not the paramount moment on the album...

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Avenue of Allies/Sound Pollution

Wanted songwriter DAVID ROBERTS went into a 26 year hiatus after debuting in 1982 with the critically acclaimed “All Dressed Up”. He was apparently not aware of the impact of his music, until he was notified that the asking price on EBay of his old album was in the range of $300! His producer and keyboard player recruited guitarist Michael Landau, drummer Mike Baird, bass player Abraham Laboriel Sr., and percussionist Luis Conte, while Fred Mollin also brought together a band for the second part of the project. The musicians was awarded ten songs to work with, material written with or for the likes of JOHN WAITE, STARSHIP, and possibly anyone of the high class range of bands and solo musicians that David has worked with over the “missing years”.

O...

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Frontiers/BAM

JOURNEY, ett av universums mest populära rockband, som faktiskt sålt över 100 000 000 skivor! Är det detsamma som eviga fullträffar? Nja, det har varit många sångare inblandade, och alla skivor är inte storsäljare. Men visst har de gett oss låtars om ”Don´t Stop Believin´” och ”Separate Ways”, som de flesta kan nynna på. Nu ska de ge sig på lite rockigare AOR igen, och enligt bandet så är detta en konceptskiva med en hel del andliga inslag. Singeln ”City of Hope” släpptes för ca två månader sedan och gjorde nog ingen besviken, hur är det med resten då?

Singeln ”City of Hope” knäcker det mesta på skivan, och är helrätt som öppningslåt. Det hela andas lite JOHN FARNHAM tycker jag, och spelglädjen finns där...

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Avenue of Allies/Sound Pollution

UK band IF ONLY was once hailed by Geoff Downes himself as “No UK band can play AOR that good, they must be from America!”. The band strted out in 1988, centered around vocalist Lorraine Bennington. The rest of the numbers was made up by ex. MORITZ personnel; Greh Hart, guitars/keyboards, Ian Edwards, bass, Andy Stewart, keyboards, and Andy Elphick, drums. They added hot guitarist Martin Chaisson (UFO, WAYSTED). That setting was not to last, and Lorraine was soon replaced by ex GIRLSCHOOL vocalist Jackie Bodimead. After a year and a completed recording process Jackie left, but was soon replaced by Tina Egan. A sturdy re-recording of the vocals later, Tina also added a few songs of her own...

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Napalm/Sound Pollution

Russian Pagan Folk Metal act ARKONA has been around for some time now. I have reviewed them in the past, and always been rather favorable. A demo was released in 2002, five full-length albums, two DVDs and now this EP taster. Vocalist Masha “Cream” has been around since the days of pre-band HYPERBOREA, the others are now; Sergej “Lazar” on guitar, Ruslan “Kniaz” on bass, and drummer Vlad “Artist”. One new song and five exclusive non-album tracks coming up!

The opener and title track is highly catchy and memorable. This feels “more” than I´ve heard from them in the past. Is it a bit of an adaptation to the alluring European market perhaps? There are smattering drums, Russian sing-along, fiery accordion, folk instruments, all in one brew...

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Hype Records/Warner

Finsk metal, det är väl alltid ett framgångsrecept hos våra hårda grannar? BATTLE BEAST har inte funnits så länge, men har redan turnerat med BLAZE BAILEY, och dessutom vunnit finska W:O:A Metal Battle 2010. Hur som helst så är det dags för Nitte, sång, Anton och Juuso, gitarr, Eero, bas, Antti, keyboards, och Pyry, trummor att spela upp.

Tja, de hade inte fel på tyska Metal Hammer, BATTLE BEAST låter verkligen ACCEPT/AIRBOURNE, och Nittes kvinnliga röst… låter dessutom HALFORD/UDO/Blackie. ”Enter the Metal World” är måhända uppstylat nonsens i bästa MANOWAR-stil, men där finns dubbla gitarrer, ett klockrent ACCEPT-riff och ett BLACK SABBATH-liknande tunggung. Men det känns faktiskt lite avslaget i ”Armageddon Clan”...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

Messrs Jack Frost (ex-METALLIUM, SAVATAGE), James Riviera (HELSTAR, DISTANT THUNDER) and Mike LePond (SYMPHONY X) are enough to make certain metalheads drool. Apart from the guitarist, the singer and the bass man there is also drummer Taz Marazz. US metal veterans SEVEN WITCHES release their eight album, produced by Jack Frost, and mixed by Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT). Their most variable and mature album is promised, a real stunner says the info sheet, prove it!

First out is “Fields of Fire”, a mild top notch song. Not in a league of its own, but still a raunchy enough rocker with a cool bass line. When “Lilith” opens, I am struck by the references to Denmark´s KING DIAMOND...

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Avenue of Allies/Sound Pollution

As one of the Westcoast stalwarts, David Roberts decided to show more of himself after a 26 year long hiatus. He has after all written and recorded a load of songs, many of whom was picked up by famous acts like STARSHIP, BAD ENGLISH, JIMMY BARNES etc. This albumn fesutes musicians like Randy Goodrum (writing credits for TOTO, STEVE PERRY and CHICAGO), John Albani (ex WRABBIT, ex LEE AARON) and Stan Meissner (solo, plus writing for ALIAS and TRIUMPH). 25 years output has a touch of songs that could have made it, but are also fabulous without major spotlight glory. There is material that was written with BAD ENGLISH, CELINE DION, TOTO, and his own kids in mind. I believe nothing has been spared, neither scrutinization, nor studio time. Ok, convince me!

Out ...

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Avenue of Allies/Sound Pollution

Not perhaps the most well-known in Westcoast, DAVID ROBERT has still created some mighty fine songs, for himself, and others. He has contributed songs to the likes of HOUSE OF LORDS, BAD ENGLISH, LEE AARON, etc. He may not be the most frequent solo artist, with 26 years between releases, but he is still a most active musician. This album was released back in 1982, and features top-notch musicians like Steve Lukather, Jeff and Mike Porcaro, plus Jay Gradon. The list could go on… “All Dressed Up” was like a day time project for the TOTO guys while recording “Toto IV” by night. One of the tracks actually ended up on a DIANA ROSS album. As you can expect, this is not metal, but soft Westcoast.

The refrain of opener “All in the Name of Love” could mak...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

German heavy/power quartet CIRCLE OF SILENCE releases their third album of riff orientated power metal with a touch of thrash and heavy metal. Aiming for fans of SAVATAGE and ICED EARTH you cannot release a cock-up. The band has released two previous albums since 2006, “Your Own Story” and “The Supremacy of Time”. They have been active live, and are booked to appear on the bill of the 2011 Building a Force Festival. Powerful and energetic as they may be, is it enough to compete with the giants of the scene?

My first thought was “METAL!”. Opener “Synthetic Sleep” may not have been the ultimate song on the album, but it sure has guts...