Category Cd Reviews

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Burn Music Adventure/Triada Promotion

Sveriges bästa liveband? Så vill BURN bli kända, och de har haft den ambitionen sedan 2007. De vill blanda ALICE COOPER med THE WHO, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, MC5 m.fl. Allt för att skapa ett sound med gammaldags energi. Hoppas detta är inspelat live i studion!

”C´mon C´mon let´s get it started” kommer det med inlevelse från sångaren/basisten Pirata. Det är inledningen på en sjuttiotalsdoftande KISS-anrättning. Diverse andra band skymtar i mixen men det är Paul Stanley jag ser framför mig. Göteborgare brukar spela dödsmetall men här är det bara liveanpassad Rock´n´Roll. ”The Wrestler” har klockrena Peter Criss-takter i inledningen, och det fullständigt sprutar 70-tal ur lurarna, skägg och utsvängda byxor likaså...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

German seven-piece NACHTGESCHREI hereby release third album with their mix of mediaeval rock/metal/folk. Since 2008 the Frankfurt band has made three albums and played festivals like Paganfest and Ragnarock, sharing the stage with bands like KORPIKLAANI and ENSIFERUM. What can possibly be boring about them?

This is rock with an odd dimension already in the first track “An Mein Ende”. Hotti has a soft and agreeable voice, a bit of a German Bob Catley, but I detect mostly traditional features in the music itself. What´s good with that is that there are not bits and pieces of black metal, no hysteric drumming or general calamity. German lyrics are not a plus in Sweden, but ethnic parts are mostly a good way...

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Artist: Tyrael
Album: Der Wald ist mein Zuhause (självsläpp)
Genre: Green/black/death/grind metal

“Der Wald ist mein Zuhause” släpptes för ett år sedan i Tyskland och har nu på något oförklarligt sätt nått media i Sverige.

Tyrael bildades år 2000 och det förvånar mig att en band som varit verksamt i tio år inte låter bättre än såhär. Uppenbarligen har de en förkärlek till skogen, därav genren ”green metal”, och albumtiteln som på Svenska säger ”Skogen är mitt hem”. Och det är ju rart, att de uppskattar moder jord. Men det känns inte som att det finns någon naturlig musikalisk talang här, låtarna är underligt komponerade och stundtals vet jag inte om det här är seriöst eller inte. Det kan vara förklaringen till att de fortfarande är osignade.

“The ...

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Napalm/Sound Pollution

Nature mysticism, Swedish legends, magic melodies and traditional mediaeval instruments are the foundation of FEJDS sound. They dedicate themselves to clean vocals by Patrick Rimmerfors, and want to paint a picture of a travelling musician by a fire. Patrick does not only handle vocals, but also a host of exotic and old-fashioned instruments, while his brother Niklas handles the keyed fiddler. In 2001 they joined forces with bass player Thomas Antonsson, keyboard player/guitarist Lennart Specht and drummer Esko Salow, all of Swedish band PATHOS. Everyone of them have their roots in metal, but shares an interest in folk music. A variety of gigs and demos was followed by their debut “Storm” in 2008. Here is number two, this should be merry men dancing all over?

Th...

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Napalm/Sound Pollution

KATRA is Katra Solopuro and band, releasing their second effort. Here musical venture started in 2006, and the band debuted in 2007, scoring a radio hit in their native Finland with “Sahara”. They caught the eye of Napalm Records and a contract was signed. An international version of their debut “Beast Within” was commissioned and now it is time for a follow-up.

Melodic, but not very Gothic is the initial feel of “Delirium”. KATRA has a smooth production and a very pleasant voice to boost. The melodic sensuality mentioned in the info sheet feels more like a gentle aim at a trend in a song that could well be smooth enough to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest. The Gothic light continues in “One Wish Away”...

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Cyclone Empire/Sound Pollution

F, J, H, A, that could be part of a test at the optician´s, but it is the vocalist, drummer, bass player and guitarist, respectively, of MOUNTAIN THRONE. A and J are also active in MIRROR OF DECEPTION. Doom and traditional metal joins in a fine mix according to the info sheet. Please note that this is a vinyl-only release.

The opening heaviness of “Altar of Reason” reveals two of the band members. Otherwise this is closer to the eighties, and NWOBHM in particular. I would, apart from the doom laden parts, put my money on CLOVEN HOOF or early ELIXIR. The feeling of England 30 years ago is enforced in “Endtime”, a slightly faster track. The solo is a gem in all simplicity...

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Pulverised/Sound Pollution

Ukranian band BALFOR has been at it for thirteen years, and according to the info they are aimed at fans of DRAGONLORD, DIMMU BORGIR et al.

One diffuse mystical intro later surprisingly meek drumming ensues. The vocals are muffled but not appalling. They have unexpectedly cozy grooves; and a certain penchant for storytelling, but they are not up there with the best in the genre. What I miss is mostly theatrically arranged and orchestrated parts. That is needed if you are a stereotype black metal band with monotone drum patterns. The guitar work and the vocals are nice, but they need an augmentation to improve the tracks. In spite of these lacks they do very good in tracks like “Pure Barbaric” and “Light´s Demise”, plus the outstanding effort “The Perfect Fire”...

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Schwarzdorn Production/Sound Pollution

Ukraine band QUINTESSENCE MYSTICA has dedicated themselves to all things beyond religion and the old truths. They want to reach beyond from an occult point of view. The man behind this is Master Alafern, with a past in bands like THUNDERKRAFT and TRIGLAN. With him on this adventure is vocalist Dromos Aniliagos. Fact is that there is already an album number two ready for release, this better be good then…

Musicallt Master Alafern handles the most part. “Vector Space of Desires” is a mix of hammering black metal, pretty neat vocals (harder, but not growl), keyboards and hysteric drumming. But the mix actually works better than I thought. At the same time I believe that I need to check the lyrics before deciding if they are as different as they claim...

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Nightmare Records/Record Heaven

SEVEN THORNS has been around since 1998, but issue their debut only now. They have won some competitions, released two singles and played with bands like ANVIL and JORN. Catchy power metal combined with neoclassic influences by a six man band is promised.

Baroque power metal meets sing-along melodies of good ole Danish standard. The main man of the band is eternal drummer Lars “Laske” Borup, besides him I mostly noted the guests; Mikkel Henderson (FATE, EVIL MASQUERADE) and Olaf Lenk (AT VANCE). But the band is noted musically. Opener “Liberty” oozes of confidence and routine. But if you can´t cope with neoclassic metal or German overly refrain focused power metal you can stop reading right now...

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Limb/Sound Pollution

Symfonisk episk speed metal från Belgien, det är en kort beskrivning av MAGIC KINGDOM. Tredje skivan kommer här, och riktas mot fans av YNGWIE MALMSTEEN likaväl som RHAPSODY OF FIRE. Gitarristen Dushan Petrossi leder bandet med en fot i nuet och en i barocken. Med sig har han Olaf Hayer (LUCA TURILLI, DIOYSUS), sång, Roma Siadletski, growl, Vassili Moltchanov, bas, Freddy Ortscheid, trummor och Phil Giordana, keyboards.

Neoklassiskt var det, Dushan dominerar och Phil färgar ljudet. Att de delar namn med en Disneypark i Florida känns ok – men det är Tolkien diverse episka dataspel som varit mest inspirerande. Titellåten uppblåsta trummor och tydliga tecken på YNGWIES framfart. Roma tar ton i ”We Rise”, och låter som ett ont troll i en melodisk saga...