Posted in Cd Reviews

Limb Music/Sound Pollution

ANCIENT BARDS debuted in 2009 with “The Alliance of Kings”. Compared to RHAPSODY or RHAPSODY OF FIRE the band continued in their epic symphonic vein, adamant not to be considered mere copycats. The heroes of the first album return to travel yet further to the heavy guitars, the epic keys and the high-pitched voice of Sara Squadrani. Sniffing an opportunity as they consider RHAPSODY OF FIRE lost in playfulness the bards return to triumph…or?

The opening intro sure points right to the core. The pompous style and the female voice say exactly what can be expected. Shorter songs are not ANCIENT BARDS´ cup of tea. One song is less than five minutes, and the opening “real” track is 7.34, an average length...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

Female fronted Goth metal band CORONATUS hails from Germany. No doubt about that as seven out of twelve tracks are in German. After a departing lead vocalist the band opted for two! In place of Lorch now resides both the operatic Ladt Ada Flechtner and the rocking Mareike Makosch. Their fourth album has added qualities never before heard from the band, so to speak. Choirs, Folk elements and orchestral arrangements meet with catchy melodies and other metal ingredients.

The opener “Saint Slayer” sounds winter trendy but is more of a barely ok opener. It may be easy listening, but it lacks the drive I expect from an opening track. But there is better to come...

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Pulverised/Sound Pollution

Umeå´s BASTARD PRIEST, aka Matt Mendoza, drums, vocals, and Inventor, guitars, vocals, are back for a second time. Their debut, “Under the Hammer of Destruction” came out in 2010, and displayed their love of things death and punk. They first showed signs of life in 2001 and has been underground faves since then almost, time to get out of the basement?

Nope, not in a million years will this rise above the cellar. The sound courtesy of Fredrik Lyxzen and Fred Estby is deliberately muffled and dirty, as it was in the beginning. The previous hardcore and punk elements have been but in the back in favor of more original death the Stockholm way. Their all time low is when they return to previous form, as in the almost black “Fucking Slaughter”...

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Massacre/Sound Pollution

Seventh album from MYSTIC PROPHECY, the one no one ever thought would arrive. The band has changed a lot over the years, but also a great previous album called “Fireangel”. One album per annum has been skipped because of extensive touring with STRATOVARIUS, and upheaval, but the R.D. Liapakis fronted outfit is back. The rest of the band consists of guitarists Markus Pohl and the great Constantine, bass player Connie Andreszka and drummer Tyronne Silva. Will this album be the definitive metal album of 2011?

Well the opening title track is a surefire melodic heaviness. The mid-paced piece is heavy and boosts a melody to die for. But “Die Now” may not be the best of tracks. Sure it´s average or slightly more, but not all that interesting...

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Ván Records/Sound Pollution

2008 marked the beginning of Dutch metal band VANDERBUYST. Still consisting of Jochen Jonkman, bass/vocals, Willem Verbuyst, guitars, and Barry Van Esbroek, drums, the Dutchmen release their second outing. Their admiration for the 80´s cannot be mistaken, and their visual style is reminiscent of TANK in their heyday. Musically there are no surprises here, yet, but guitar driven NWOBHM or a less intricate MSG/UFO if you like. Live seems to be their right environment, and the songs are recorded with Pieter Kloos, again, and with a true live sense. The album cover will remind you of things in the past, and the music too, so, here goes.

Opener “Black and Blue” is very in-your-face, very eighties in every way, but the refrain is not quite up to par with their previ...

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Napalm/Sound Pollution

Dutch formation NEMESEA return with their third outing. This time, the info says more mature, modern and contemporary. The guitars and vocalist Manda Ophuis are mentioned as the band´s strongholds, and the song material is apparently outstanding. Let´s find out!

The title track is apparently a sub-minute intro of sorts. Not much to brag about and what´s with the idea of having tracks that are not real instrumentals, neither real songs? Anyway, the album is filled with quite modern but also very attractive modern rock, a lot of synth elements, maybe too many, and the fantastic voice of Manda. The promised guitar work (by Hendrik Jan (HJ) De Jong is really in the background. But the keys/electronics by Lasse Dellbrugge is at the front of most of the songs...

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Lucky Thir13n

Greek band LUCKY THIR13N are actually mixed by DANGER DANGER man Bruno Ravel and have supported CRASHDIET and W.A.S.P. The young Greeks; Elias Elias, vocals/guitars, Nash, lead guitars, Alex “Tze”, bass, and drummer Tsaky Dee, seems to be on the right track…or?

The opening intro begins with guitars and flute? Some spread vocals comes in at the end, but it´s not an instrumental… or a song. The catchy “Feels Like Coming Home” warms up for the best song on the album, the more complete and less patchy sounding “Get in My Way”. From then on the young age and inexperience of the band takes over. The beginner´s charm wears out after a few tracks and the guest spots annoy me the most. A growler, a rap singer, the list goes on...

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Lord Volture/Rock´n´Growl

Dutch US power metal affictionados LORD VOLTURE set out to play as if they were not from Holland. Second album from LORD VOLTURE aims at repeating or beating the many fine reviews of their prima opus “Beast of Thunder” (2010). The band consists of vocalist David Marcelis, guitarists Paul Marcelis and Leon Hermans, bass man Simon Geurts, and drummer Frank Wintermans. Guests on the album are Sean Peck of CAGE fame, Mark Bogert, the “Dutch STEVE VAI” and background vocalists Sinem Cangir, Yuma van Eekelen and Bart Hennephof. Let´s see why this lot aren´t signed…

The opening title track reveals not why they are not with a big record company. The refrain is great and the dynamics of the thumping bass line is quite impressive...

Posted in Interviews

Festivalphoto asked Serpentine bassist Gareth Vanstone some questions about their latest album, touring plans and the band in general.

Festivalphoto: Your new album ”Living And Dying In High Definition” has just been released, right at the end of August. Can you tell us a bit about the album?

Gareth: “Well, it came together quite quickly. We started writing fairly soon after the debut came out, as we wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to make an album that was an improvement on the first; and, you know, I think we did that?”
“There’s definitely a slightly heavier vibe to it and you can see that tracks like ‘Dreamer’, which has some quality, galloping guitar work from Chris, definitely benefit; …. and Roy’s drumming throughout the album is heavier too...

Posted in Interviews

After their performance supporting Sabaton at Koko in London, I spoke to Hell’s guitarist Andy Sneap in their dressing room. We were then joined by his fellow guitarist, Kev Bower.

Festivalphoto: OK, Hell was around in the early ’80s before splitting. What sparked the decision to reform in 2008 after so long?

Andy: Obviously we never really thought we could do it. I’d always wanted to record Hell’s material because I grew up listening to them and going to see them, and it wasn’t until I bumped into Kev again, it was probably late 2007. We got talking about old times and it made us realise, because he’d seen the studio and he came over to visit me, basically we were just sat in the studio and said it would be great to record some of these songs...