Posted in Cd Reviews

”The lost children is a new release from Disturbed and is a collection of B-sides and rarities. The album includes a previously unreleased track, “Mine,” and “3,” which was as a benefit track for the West Memphis Three. Other tracks on this B-side collection include “God of the Mind” and “A Welcome Burden,” which appeared on the 2010 reissue of the band’s 2000 debut album The Sickness; “Monster,” “Two Worlds,” and “Sickened,” which were included as bonus tracks on the UK tour edition of Ten Thousand Fists; “Run,” which was featured on a limited-edition version of 2008’s Indestructible; and “Parasite,” which appeared on the Japanese edition of Indestructible.

There are two cover versions on the album...

Posted in Cd Reviews

The Mariana Hollow are a female fronted alternative metal band from the London area. They released their debut album, ”Coma heart” in 2009 and this, their new album, ”Velvet black sky” is due for release in February 2012.

The first track on the album, ”Before the dive” opens with some beautifully haunting wailing guitar . The song is almost an instrumental – there are some whispered vocals in the background as the track draws to a close so its not strictly totally instrumental, but I think most people would call it an instrumental track. As an intro its very effective, giving an idea of the sort of melody and power you can expect from the rest of the album, and unlike some bands albums, this intro doesnt feel like something that doesnt belong on the album.

”Dead reckoning” is the first rea...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Susie Soho are a young Irish band. Featuring Jason Maher on bass, Niall Campion on guitar and Mia Fitzgerald on drums, Susie Soho was formed by singer and guitarist Tony Fitz in 2009. Describing themselves as ”the kind of band you’d get if Dave Grohl and Gemma Hayes had some kind of musical lovechild”, their catchy, guitar-driven songs blend a distinctively Irish sound with US-tinged alternative rock.

The band made their live debut at Oxegen 2009; this was followed in 2010 with a Meteor Award nomination for Most Promising Artist and the release of their debut album, Where All The Ladders Start. This record was mixed by renowned Greek electro-acoustic composer and producer Anthony P. (aLfa...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Iron Mask are a Neo-Classical Power Metal band from Belgium, who released their debut album back in 2002. Now onto their fourth album, the band have built up a good following in Japan as well as Europe. Despite this, they are still relatively unknown in the UK, but that situation may change once people give the new album a good listen.

For the new album, ”Black as death”, Iron Mask have a new singer – former Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist Mark Boals

”God Punishes, I kill” is an epic track, both in length (7:40) and in its sound which is rich and majestic as well as powerful. This is definitely my favourite track on the album.

”Blizzard of doom” is a fast paced number with a really rapid drumbeat which must be exhuasting to play live...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Ulterium/Sound Pollution

US heavy metal band THEOCRACY goes against the grain. They use choruses, epic arrangements and progressive elements to an extent that is not American. Since their self titled debut in 2003 they´ve done some live work, in the US and in Europe, plus released a follow-up, the acclaimed “Mirror of Souls”. This is the difficult third album, and to start on the right foot they hired Mika Jussila (STRATOVARIUS, NIGHTWISH) for mixing, and Felipe Machado Franco (BLIND GUARDIAN, ICED EARTH) for the cover artwork.

The music in itself is not bad, but you can easily get the wrong idea from the opener “”I AM”. The lack of force, the long upstart and other odd traits almost makes it look like red tape in musical terms before the track even get started...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Cyclone Empire/Sound Pollution

German melodic death metal band DECEMBER FLOWER debuts with this totally own handled affair. Real melodic death metal and no lame wannabes is promised. It better be, since they aim for fans of UNANIMATED, DISMEMBER and DARK TRANQUILITY!

The opener “Invasion (Intro)” feels more like a young IRON MAIDEN than a band with a barbed wire logo. It seems melodic death metal is interpreted as heavy metal death by theses young Germans. Works ok for the most part. But the decidedly old school “As Darkness Reigns” rises the bar a bit, as does the utterly melodic “Blood Has to Be Shed”, with a sound picture of groovy clarity. Their intro, outro and instrumental (“Dying Sun”) are the most surprising tracks...

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Songwork AB/Sound Pollution

Wow. CROSSFADE started out as a duo in 1999 in Skövde, Sweden. Lars Hallbäck, guitars, and Richard Stenström, keyboards were introduced and a musical journey was set in motion. They debuted in 2004 with “White on Blue”, and were compared to the likes of TOTO, CHICAGO and THE EAGLES. Great reviews flooded them and they stayed out on what was to become this album, a full seven years later! No touring has taken place, and there seems to be no plans for it either. But on this album you will find caressing harmonies, the voice of one Göran Edman, Hallbäck´s guitar sound and the hit potential of AOR and westcoast.

I dare you to find a more complete album in 2009! The opener “A Wonderful Illusion” is one of the two weakest tracks, being only a 4/5 piece… The...

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Liljegren Records/Sound Pollution

GOLDEN RESURRECTION returns with their second outing, the first being their debut “Glory to My King”. Eager to capture on the success and time in the spotlight for guitarist Tommy ReinXeed (REINXEED) and his joint venture with Christian Liljegren SWEDISH HITZ GOES METAL wasted no time after Tommy´s appearance on Swedish prime time TV. The rest of the band are Stephen K, bass, Rikard Gustafsson, drums and Kenneth Lillqvist, keyboards. This time we get ten tracks, the digital release an additional two, both tributes to KANSAS and GARY MOORE respectively.

The intro “The Light Overture” is not really a firm statement on anything, no time for that in a little over a minute. The title track on the other hand boosts some hysteric keys and a good refrain...

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Ván/Sound Pollution

THE DEVIL`S BLOOD consists of SL/TDB/A-O and F/TDB/MOS. They are on a mission from the god of Gehenna, prepared to vanish into thin air once their mysterious aim is achieved. My, my… But they seem to be a formation to count on, and their debut “The Time of no Time Evermore” seems to have done them well. Anyway, one more spin then.

THE DEVIL`S BLOOD is not afraid of silence, pianos, almost hypnotic patterns, guitars or keyboards. There is something uncanny about them, something ever so calculated. When they stick to song material like “On the Wings of Gloria” or “Die the Death”, somewhat seventies influenced, well thought out arrangements, crescendos, hypnotic and with varied styles they are at their best...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

Tonights show was originally planned to be at the Shepherds Bush Empire but was changed to Islington Academy due to lower than expected sales. Judging by the packed shops near the venue I think the gig suffered by being just that bit too close to Christmas when everyone was desperately running round trying to get their last minute shopping done. It’s a shame as the bands deserved a bigger crowd, and those who didnt attend missed out on a great night.

First up was the support act, a singer/songwriter called Neil Thomas. He sang and accompanied himself with a guitar. His songs all sounded or felt like ballads even though one was actually about Hurricane Katrina...