Posted in Cd Reviews

GMG Records/Rock´n´Growl Promotion

ROB MANCINI sure sounds familiar, but he has been on a ten year hiatus from recording. German-Italian musician and producer Rob has only been active on the Irish club circuit, plus as a session musician. Something compelled him to return, probably memories of past glories with bands like CRUSH and HOTWIRE, sharing the stage with bands like DARE and VICTORY. Today the music is described as late eighties and early nineties, like BON JOVI meets NICKELBACK. A cover of Kate Bush and mastering by Harry Hess, will that do the trick?

First up the sound is very ok, quite clean and suits the music. Rob has presence in his voice and he seems to handle pretty much all instruments himself...

Posted in Cd Reviews

GMR Music

All star band KRUX boosts members like Leif Edling (CANDLEMASS) on bass, Mats Levén (ex YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, FIREWIND) on vocals, and Fredrik Åkesson (OPETH, ex TALISMAN). And of cause Jörgen sandstorm, guitars (ex GRAVE, ex. ENTOMBED), drummer Peter Stjärnvind (ex ENTOMBED) and Carl Westholm, keys , who featured on a.o. CANDLEMASS and ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA albums, are no beginners either. This their first album with a title and a number is described as a feast for everyone into doom, heavy, epic and powerful music. Well, well, impress me!?

The opening title track starts as an elegant CANDLEMASS variation, complete with space-like guitars and keyboards. The slight lack of refrain power prevents it from being a five star opening...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Frontiers/BAM
ROYAL HUNT was founded by Danish-Georgian multi-instrumentalist Andre Andersen in 1989. Numerous personnel changes have been a trade mark for the band, but also highlight albums like “Moving Target” and “Paradox”. Their peak period 1995 through to 1997 are sort of back now, with the strong voice D.C. Cooper and keyboardist Andre working together again, after a try-out short reunion tour earlier this year. The rest of the band consists of drummer Allan Sörensen, who´s been with the band since 1997, new boy guitarist Jonas Larsen and bassist Andreas Passmark (STORMWIND, NARNIA. ROB ROCK). The info says this album will bring ROYAL HUNT back to the throne of the hard rock world, is that a fact?

The cover hints at a crusader theme, and so does opener “One More Day”...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Frontiers/BAM

1989 oddballs BEGGARS & THIEVES rose to fame as they were signed to Atlantic records after only a demo (albeit produced by Desmond Child) and five gigs. Their debut was released in December 1990 and both chartered, and was critically acclaimed. They were never a hair band, but more of a classic rock band. But in the death of hair bands, BEGGARS & THIEVES was swept along after a second album called “Look What You Create”. Main men vocalist Louie Merino and guitarist Ronnie Mancuso soldiered on in the music business as jingle makers and making music top order for the likes of NASCAR. IN 2004 they got back in the saddle, this time together with Brent Muscat (ex FASTER PUSSYCAT) under the moniker Sin City All-Stars, opening for bands like SLAUGHTER, TESLA and RATT...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Escape/Sound Pollution

Californian band TALON emerged from VOXEN, who sort of made it when their track “Sacrifice” was included in the Dustin Hoffman movie Outbreak. Their self titled debut was released by Frontiers in 2002, and this is their fourth outing. Previous vocalist Chandler Mogul brought them closer to AOR, and apparently left (for the successful OUTLOUD) on mutual agreement, paving the way for new vocalist Shawn Petala (LINE OF FIRE). The band now consists of guitarists Kory Voxen and Jimi Lee, bass man Phil Keller, drummer John Parker and new keyboard player Eric Ragno (CHINA BLUE). Classic hard rock and a return to the energy and sound of their debut is promised, let´s find out!

The overall sound picture is a bit lame, the energy promised seems lost in the mix at times...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Massacre/Sound Pollution

Australia´s ELM STREET debuts with an album that will be recognized by al fans of classic metal. Eight years after their conception ELM STREET takes their IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH and GRIM REAPER influenced metal to the retailer´s. Live they have played with Australia´s finest e.g. BLACK MAJESTY and THE ANGELS. Amusingly enough this youngish quartet has enlisted the aid of legendary thrash cover maestro Ed Repka. But what do they sound like, and are they as splendid as the info sheet says?

They open with the title track, as is requested by a classic band. “Barbed Wire Metal“ has a lot of guts, chorus and a fine riff, as could be expected. They continue in fine fashion until “Elm St´s Children“...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Massacre/Sound Pollution

German metalcore veterans HATE SQUAD release their sixth album in 18 years. The band continues to mix thrash and death with hardcore, in various doses. Since their formation they have played estivals like the Dynamo, With Full Force etc, sharing the stage with bands like DEATH, KREATOR, MACHINE HEAD, and VENOM, to name but a few. They have also been voted best newcomer 1995 by TV channel Viva, ahead of both FEAR FACTORY and KORN, and been on heavy rotation on both Headbanger´s Ball and Metalla. Enough superlatives for now, how do they sound?

With the info sheet fresh in mind, the soft guitar notes of opening intro “Deep Scars” are a genuine surprise! The title track, on the other hand, is exactly what I was expecting, death with grooves, and even a bit more atmosp...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Massacre/Sound Pollution

MY BLACK LIGHT was formed in 2008 by keyboardist/vocalist Rodolfo Coda Bertetto and vocalist Monica Primo. They started out with covers to get things going, and via music contests they began recording this album in 2010. Did all the planning and carefulness pay off?

If there is one thing I´ll remember about MY BLACK LIGHT it´s the keyboards. Their instrumentals are mostly short and snappy, and their riffs are carried out by Rololfo, or augmented by his keyboard work. Thr major songs are “Guiding Light” and “Ti Sento”. The former is somewhat straighter, contains only female vocals and the gothic parts are nicely underlined by a piano. The latter might be in the right language, the pace is somewhat quicker and it´s quite forceful...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

Tonight’s show starts early – doors at 6pm, with Hell on stage at 6.45 (thanks to the venue having a club night after the gig there is an early curfew).

Tonight’s lineup is excellent – two top bands. Hell have hit the UK metal scene in a big way this year, particularly after opening the main stage at Bloodstock where they seriously impressed a lot of people and were considered the best band of the weekend by many fans. Their album ”Human remains” has also impressed a lot of people, so tonight as their only London gig on the year was a rare chance for fans to see the band perform.
Hell despite only appearing on many peoples radar this year, were around in the early 80’s before disbanding following the death of their singer...

Posted in Interviews

Det har var en riktigt dåligt väder i Stockholm igår, regnet öste ner och blandades med snö, man blir blöt bara man tittar ut genom fönstret, och kall, ända in i märgen. Men inne på Göta källare, där kokade det.

Fyra band gjorde upp i tävlingen Released Live & Unsigned. Det var Reenact från Göteborg, Sumoned Tide från Umeå/Skellefteå, Massdestraction från Malmö samt Saint Deamon från Göteborg/Stockholm. Det vinnande bandet får bland annat att spela på Sweden Rock Festival och Getaway Rock Festival i sommar. Dessutom får de inspelning av en EP, tryck och distribution av EPn med Sweden Rock Magazine i 18 000 exemplar.

Det var jämnt mellan banden men vann gjorde Reenact från Göteborg! De fick bland annat kommentaren ”Fruktansvärt jävla bra” av juryn.

Fes...