”The return of the spectacular spinning songbook” is a live album recorded in May at two shows in Los Angeles. Unlike most albums, the setlist wasn’t planned in advance – in fact the setlist was only chosen during the show. Elvis and his band play a few songs before picking an audience member out to…
Frontiers/BAM Norwegian rock´s most fashionable beauty ISSA releases her second album. The follow-up to her debut “Sign of Angels” sees her trying song-writing together with the Martin Brothers (VEGA, HOUSE OF LORDS). The debut lacked something I have a hard time defining, will that illusive “it” be here , extracted by ISSA and Daniel Flores?…
MDD/Sound Pollution Germany´s MOURNING CARESS first reared its head in 1998. On board from the start were almost the same line up as today; vocalist Gerrit Mohr, guitarists Florian Erhart and Benedikt Bjarnasson, bass man Daniel Busche and drummer Dominik Schluter. The original guitarists have both left, and the replacements are Florian Albers and Wolfgang…
Soulseller/Sound Pollution DEVIL was formed in 2009, pledging allegiance to the likes of BLACK SABBATH and WITCHFINDER GENERAL. The demo “Magister Mundi Xum” did nothing to harm their chances. The info sheet decribes this album as a joyful trip to hell, not bad for a bluesy, doomy, heavy metal album. Opener “The Welcome” provides a…
Atom Records/Cargo Austria´s CORNERSTONE is in the business of 80´s pop/rock with lots of AOR, big guitars and big refrains. Formed in 1998 by bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Michael Wachelhofer and his brother guitarist/vocalist Steve, the band started out playing covers. The band soon tried their wings, resulting in a near collapse until vocalist Hanna Wachter came along…
Rock´n´Growl Records/Digital ROUGH ANGEL rings no bells to me. These recordings were released in 1993, exclusively to promoters and the record industry. Vocalist Csaba Zvekan has remastered the recordings to be a first digital release of Rock´n´Growl. Back in 1993 the material must have been like a violin player in a punk band, will they…
Debemur Morti/Sound Pollution The strictly preaching REX MUNDI inflict divine fury on mankind. They are purveyors of raw and pure black metal, bringing forward alleged lost wisdom of creation. The band members; Metatron, commander of legions and proclamations of faith, Seraphiel, unearthly presentations, Nahanael. Minister to the lost, and Chamiel, uncoverer of secrets and shadows…
Debemur Morti/Sound Pollution NUNFUCKRITUAL sounds like a name conceived while inebriated, and why not? Behind the name stands Espen T. Hangård of ALTAAR, vocals, effects and keyboards, guitarist Teloch of MAYHEM, Andreas Jonsson on drums (TYRANT) and NUCLEAR ASSAULT bass man Dan Lilker. Extreme metal is on the menue, of cause, and blasphemy galore. The…
Frontiers/BAM There is a lot of talk about the Scandinavian melodic rock scene at the moment and it will to expire after this release. The modestly named THE MAGNIFICENT is the joint venture of guitarist/producer Torsti Spoof of LEVERAGE and vocalist Michel Eriksen of Norway´s most promising act CIRCUS MAXIMUS. The song writing department also…
Music Buy Mail/Sound Pollution The band name VAIN brings a smile to my face. I remember their cocky debut as if it way yesterday. The single “Bite the Bullet” was a fine slab of sleazy hair metal with tons of attitude. Then they disappeared off my radar for years. VAIN has actually released six albums…
Typically when a record company releases a collection of stuff from an artist its either a single CD greatest hits album or sometimes a double album. Occasionally though you get something a bit more comprehensive. ”The kinks in mono” is definitely in the latter category – this is one seriously impressive collection. Firstly it contains…
Universal music and Time Out magazine have got together to create a compilation album of songs inspired by London. When I heard that, I had a think about London inspired songs and only managed to come up with a handful of songs, yet this CD contains 20 of them by well known artists including Roxy…