Posted in Cd Reviews

”Jerusalem” is the latest release from Swedish metallers, Astral Doors. Formed in 2002 the band have released six albums plus an EP and a ”best of” compilation, and have toured extensively in Sweden and Europe (although its five years since they last visited the UK).

Lyrically the album is a strange mix, with most songs being about wars, ranging from the crusades to World War 2, and the Iraq war, but there are also a couple of songs that simply don’t fit in lyrically – ”child of rock’n’roll” being the most obvious. It feels as though the original plan was to write an album of songs about the crusades but they couldnt find inspiration to get enough songs, so chose a few others to fill up the album.

There are strong powerful vocals from singer Nils Patrick Johansson who is often compared ...

Posted in Cd Reviews

”Invisible empire” is the second album from US rockers Riotgod. Riotgod was formed by Monster Magnet members Bob Pantella and Jim Baglino who then recruited Garret Sweeney and Mark Sunshine.
The music is described variously as stoner rock, hard rock or stoner metal. Having listened to the album a good few times I’d describe it as 70s hard rock with some stoner rock and metal influences – its good hard rock with plenty of groove.

”Gas station roses” is a nice change of pace with its acoustic guitars and allows Mark Sunshine to display another aspect to his vocals, and which sounds to be quite Led Zeppelin influenced.

”Saving it up” picks the pace up a bit and is a great track – one of my favourites on the album.

”Looseley bound” is another great track with some great singing, a great tun...

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Mark Spiro is an American singer-songwriter with an impressive track record – 45 gold and platinum records, and six solo albums. He’s written songs for a number of films and TV series – most notably the song ”Mighty Wings” which was performed by Cheap Trick for the film Top Gun. He’s written songs that have been recorded by bands including Heart, Winger and REO Speedwagon.

With that track record then I was looking forward to listening to this new album. Sadly that excitement didn’t last long. The vocals are beautiful, the songs are well written (as you’d expect) and the guitar is lovely and melodic, but the drumming really feels flat and lifeless, and the album just lacks any punch – its rock’s version of ”Easy listening”.
I suspect the problem comes from the lack of conflicting influe...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

Tonight’s entertainment started with the support band, Serpentine. Many people saw them as an odd choice to support Amaranthe with most fans expecting a female fronted band, so it was going to be interesting to see how they’d go down with the fans on the night. By the time they came on stage the venue was already very busy.
For anyone who hasn’t come across Serpentine yet, they’re a British AOR band and are well worth a listen. Tonight they put on a great show that goes down well...

Posted in Cd Reviews

”Get fit, in association with London 2012” is a compilation album designed for use with a workout. I’ve come across hundreds of compilation albums before, but this is a new idea for me – an album designed to tie in with your workout. The idea is that the tracks, played in the correct order rather than on random play, gradually increase in tempo before slowing down, so if you exercise in time to the music then you start out gradually, work up to a peak and then gradually cool down.

The songs all have a good strong bass beat to them – essential for a fitness class to be able to keep time with the music easily. There is a mix of musical eras with songs from the ’80s as well as current chart acts. The CD also containts an informative fold out poster booklet gives you useful training tips.

Posted in Cd Reviews

Dangerous Dog Records/Border

Scottish band STRANGEWAYS formed in the early eighties and did three albums in six years that made them hot; the self titled, “Native Sons” and “Walk in the Fire”. The band name might have been aptly since they seem to have been ripped off my managers and record companies alike, but still returned for two more obscure albums in the nineties. The 21ct century opened with a new album, “Gravitational Pull”, and nothing more until they returned on Frontiers Records with “Perfect World” in 2010. Now they´re on their own label and united in full; vocalist Terry Brock, guitarist Ian J. Stewart, bassist David Stewart, keyboard player David Moore and drummer Jim Drummond. Still eager not to be pinned down in a certain genre you never know what to expect...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

German old school giants VENDETTA returns with their fourth album in 24 years. More cult than VENDETTA sounds impossible! Starting out in 1984 only Klaus “Heiner” Ullrich on bass remains, lead vocalist Mario Vogel came aboard in 2002, guitarist Frank Schölch in 2007, and drummer Thomas “Lubber” Krämer in 2002. An almost totally different band made the classics “Go and Live…Stay and Die” (1987) and “Brain Damage” (1988). First disbanding in 1990, the band must have noticed the great interest via the internet and came back around 2003 with a demo, a precursor to their comeback album “Hate” in 2007. But can anything beat the old Teutonic terror they created in the late eighties on Noise Records?

They sure opens with the title track, but the la...

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Nuclear Blast/Warner

NIGHTWISH, the band on most peoples lips, are back with Anette Olzon (ex. ALYSON AVENUE) at the mike again. Many grieved Tarja´s departure in 2005, I did not. The operatic style on previous albums is not metal to me. But I guess 8 released studio albums and swell record sales says I´m missing something here. Still in the band are founders Tuomas Holopainen, keyboards, and guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, plus drummer Jukka Nevalainen and bass player Marco Hietala. Well, have they done it again?

In terms of sheer sales I guess they have done well. My basic feeling is that I prefer Anette, but is it truly metal? Opener “Taikataivi” is notably Finnish in style, quite orchestrated and pompous. “Storytime”, the first single, is a well arranged piece, but oh so light...

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Lion/Warner

UK progressive act AWAKE returns four years after their label debut, with some adjustments done. Former guitarist Richar Hall has left, replaced by remaining guitarist Andy Coles brother Steven. A female backing vocalist in the shape of Jennifer Hardy has been brought in too. The line up is completed by vocalist Simon Shedwell, bass player Chris Le Motte, keyboardist Craig Burkitt, and drummer Alex Townsend. A lot of personal emotions seem to have been infused in this album, and a sonic punch is also promised. Let´s see how this album survives in the flood of new music…

The beautiful intro “Intro – Into the Storm” sort of builds up tension, a promising start. But the quite heavy but patchy “Out of Control” fails to profit of the good start...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Cyclone Empire/Sound Pollution

Brazil may not be famed for its doom bands, but MYTHOLOGICAL COLD TOWERS aims to change that apparently. They have not chosen a public friendly approach, more of a tricky cult, epic and desolate way. This is their fourth album, and if the info sheet has any truth in it, be prepared to be haunted…

Wow. This is not doom in a Swedish CANDLEMASS sense of the word, this is nothing like the ST
VITUS ultra-slow US doom either. The Brazilians; Samej, vocals, Nechron and Shammash on guitars, and Hamon on drums, are truly unique. The info claims they play melancholic death-doom, but I don´t know. The songs are almost hypnotic, like masses, and they feel somewhat dizzy and as if the band was on dope...