Posted in Interviews

Festivalphoto spoke with Snowy Shaw, vocalist with Therion shortly after their performance on the main stage at the UK’s Bloodstock festival.

Festivalphoto: First of all congratulations on a great show tonight – my favourite performance so far this weekend.

Snowy: Ok thanks, that’s wonderful to hear.

Festivalphoto: You started as a death metal band and moved to symphonic metal. How did the change happen – was it gradual or a sudden change?

Snowy: That’s really quite interesting because I know happened is this...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Doolittle Group/Sound Pollution

SWEDISH HITS GOES METAL is the brainchild of Tommy ReinXeed, applauded by label boss Christian Liljegren no doubt. The objects of the spotlight are really ABBA, ROXETTE and ACE OF BASE, and the hits no one has ever missed. Tommy started in music at an early age and is influenced by a.o. GARY MOORE. This album came about when Christian Liljegren stumbled across Tommy´s ABBA interpretations on YouTube, and got hooked. Next up is a tour with a five-piece band all around the world. So, is the album that good?

Aw well, what can I say against ABBA songs like “Mama Mia”, “Money Money Money”, “Super Trouper” and “The Winner Takes It All”? Or export success ROXETTE`S “The Look” etc.? Or even ACE OF BASE, who seems at ease among the other super hits? Nothing much...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Massacre/Sound Pollution

Swedish hard rock/melodic metal band STONELAKE releases their fifth album. The story actually begins back in 1984 when guitarist Jan Åkesson and vocalist Peter Grundström met after a concert. They both joined forces in Peter´s band the same year. A good few years later after moving on in various bands they were back together in STONELAKE. High quality hard rock/metal is promised, are we that lucky?

Ten songs, titles that may well have been conceived in the 80´s and hopefully with the force and fantasy to make the band. Opener “Red Canyon” may not be my choice on the album but it still possesses a cozy keyboard pattern and a fine refrain. The ensuing “Liar” and “Sound of a Whisper” really don´t do anything for me...

Posted in Cd Reviews

MDD/Sound Pollution

Gothenburg profile Tony JJ (Jelencovic I believe) has left MNEMIC behind but still has a firm foothold with M.A.N., TRANSPORT LEAGUE and now perhaps ICON IN ME can be added to the list. Apart from Tony the band consists of guitarists D. Frans (ex. HOSTILE BREED) and Artyon (ex. REIGN THE ABSOLUTE), bass player KONSTANTIN (ex. HOSTILE BREED) and drummer Morten (SOILWORK, HATESPHERE etc.). Guests include Glen Drover, ex. MEGADETH, Olof Mörck (NIGHTRAGE, AMARANTHE) to name but a few. Is this a band of ex´s or a band for the future?

I find the question to be hard, to be or not to be. The members will attract a following but what about the music. My short side notes say perhaps, nothing more. There is a tendency to be raw, one-dimensional and stuck in a previous decade...

Posted in Cd Reviews

MDD/Sound Pollution

They may sound like a mix of bards and gods; Anomietes, vocals, Boppel and Sapp, guitars, Horus, bass, and Keltor, drums, but there is surely some point to it. SHATTENREICH is advertised as borderless and superior. The music is according to the info sheet highly recommended for fans of DARKTHRONE, CELTIC FROST and early SODOM to name but a few. No small quest they set out for, they sure need to be gods of sorts.

The opener “Intro” is not as short as the title suggests. Though the vocals are sparse there is almost a full song on offer, way better than a meaningless short intro. The more they mix in, the more entertaining they are. The basic foundation must be black metal, but there is also a lot of melody hidden among the speedy guitars and the hammering drums...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Napalm/Sound Pollution

KAMPFAR dates back to 1994, when vocalist Dolk left MOCK. He recruited a guitarist Thomas, and set about his new musical vision. The first sign of life was the MCD “Kampfar”, followed by their full-length debut “Mellom Skogklaedde Aaser” in 1997. Black metal and folk was mixed according to the band members interests. 1999 saw two more releases, again an MCD and a full CD. The band seemed lost afterwards, but returned in 2003, when the band resurfaced with new members; bass player Jon and drummer Ask. The result was, among other things, the band´s live debut at a Norwegian festival. In 2005 came another album, “Kvass”. Founder member Thomas has since left leaving them without a guitarist, but with more unity it seems...

Posted in Interviews

Festivalphoto recently managed to interview Chandler Mogel, the Singer with Greek band Outloud following the release of their new album, ”Love Catastrophe”

Festivalphoto: Hi Chandler… You’ve just released your new album, “Love Catastrophe” through AOR Heaven… Can you tell us a bit about the songs on the album?

Chandler: “Yes, sure!! The album came out right at the end of July, and the songs are a little more structured and a little more mature this time around. We went for more of a melodic rock approach this time, and we’re all really happy with the way it turned out.”

“It’s hard to pick just one song, but some of my favorites are “Isolation Game”, “Live Again”, “Clean Hands” and the title “Love Catastrophe” itself...

Posted in Cd Reviews

MDD/Sound Pollution

ABRASIVE has been around since the late nineties. They take pride in offering a sound that is faithful to their underground roots. Raw and in-your-face death metal with grinding ambitions according to the old rules set by the likes of AUTOPSY, EXHUMED and SUFFOCATION will be the reward for buying this album. One demo in 1999 led to the album “Desire”, a real ball-breaker if you get my drift, which was followed by “Devotion” and “Awakening of Lust” before this release.

To save the best for last is functional in some cases, but not when releasing an album. Unfortunately that is what this trio does. It takes until the final track “Rebirth” before I discover what they could be all about...

Posted in Interviews

The Finnish metallers from Amorphis have recently released an album called ’The Beginning of Times’, which they are touring to promote now. As they performed on the festival’s main stage, on the last day of Tuska 2011 I had the opportunity for a short chat with Amorphis’ bass player, Niclas Etelävuori. It was a really hectic day so it all ended up in a fast dialogue, but I am thankful to Niclar for his time.

Me: How is it going with you guys? How’s life for the band?
NE: Busy, but good
Me: What does busy mean? Just concerts? recording anything? You just had a new release afterall..
NE: We only do shows now. We’ve been doing festivals for two months now almost every week.
Me: How long is this planned to go on? Any outside Europe concerts?
NE: In early June we played in Japan and Taiwan.
M...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Lion Music Digital

VIRTUAL MIND sprung from the mind of Italian guitarist Francesco Fareri. The idea is to mix heavy metal and a progressive style on their debut album. Apart from Francesco the band consists of well travelled vocalist Titta Tani (ex. DGM, ex. ASTRA, ASHENT), drummer Dario Ciccioni (TWINSPIRITS, KHYMERA etc.), and bass player Emanuele Calvelli of NOUMENO. The band is quite fresh on the market, and so is Lion´s effort with all-digital releases.

After hearing the first four tracks I start to question the existence of the band. The vocals seem to be the stronghold but the refrains are not very memorable and they seem adamant to relive the nineties. Not until track five, “The Door” the band displays their might with some RUSH-like antics...