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| REVIEWS
Capside - Ladyesis
Made me stand up and begin singing mid-70's Yes. Or at least I tried as it's all in Italian. No worries I know a bit. Most know it's a beautiful language, as is music when done by actual artists. Yes like the aforementioned (pun intended) and maybe a few other progressive masters over the years including Rush more than a bit, fill the menu. Definitely true players are here; great timing, dynamics, and real singing. What we have is a solid listen, especially if you're into music played by actual musicians with above capable songwriting abilities. Which if you are, this is your band.
TURBO LOVERS - Working Blue
Spending time at once feeding your addiction to the rock n roll while reminding you it comes with it's own set of battle scars. I remember great live bands blasting stuff like this at Danny's & McGruders BITD. Not that it's retro but yeah rocking this steady can often be seen as a lost artform. Almost all numbers are moderate to heavy rave ups. It not at least steady on their feet. A great album with no filler, just as the cliche sez, all killer!
3 Headed Snake - Catharsis
Brewing a slow grind but nothing so low you lose focus. As the mystic mist transform the elements, indeed one can visualize the dragon from the pit, seas or mountain top, your choice. That it is more than concept as to integrity as metal, it is to say: THIS IS MY MISSION!
Aldaaron - Par-delà les cimes
You hear the mountains in this music. Whether or not the band is actually from the landscapes presented in their images and music I do not know. Yet they hold up these visuals through sound very well. Giving us at times black atmospheric metal, cutting loose with tales of paganistic rituals as seen by modern man. The last stuff I heard from these guys was good but this to me is somewhat better. When they get it right like on "Frozen shadows of the exalted sun" or the closing "Under the icy sky, memories fade away" they take their place among black metal giants.
Horseman - No Surrender in Dark Days
Classical music begins our journey. Only for a minute or so before screams and heavy riffs take off. Horsemen ride hard through the fields of war and dark times. Fighting to find their way, absolutely NO Surrender (Cut #2). Really they don't give up battle themes throughout the entire album. Though they do take a breath, but one heavy with gasoline (or is it acetone?) on mid tempo numbers like Shards and Lies. It only lasts a short while and then all hell is breaking loose again via Codeine Cowboy. The groove is strong with these boys. When they do numbers like the opener Dark Days or view, which have solid classical guitar, they show their music chops a bit for the traditional crowd. It doesn't ever last long then they take you back to the front lines to charge the gates one more time. Sending Fire (cut #9) & screaming like a demon the whole way.
Chontaraz - Phantom of Reality
Kicking off with a call to the metal faithful, we time travel the sands of time via opener Istanbul, grooving like a motherfucker with a glimpse of what is to come. Not to say everything borders on the barren ledge. Tasteful pieces like Prayer To The Masses could find it's way on some classic Iron Maiden. Then you're right into some industrial stuff on the next one You're the One to Blame. It all mixes up on standouts like Phantom of Reality, or Scream (feat. Sakis Tolis) the later definitely in the classic European metal vein. But I like it when the band really opens up on burners like Face the Fake or Dressed to Kill. There you can hear multiple darkwave themes the band excel with.
Edge Of Paradise - Requiem For A Dream (And the Angels Of Static)
Atmospheric tuneage till a minute and 40 seconds in it switches out into some darker and much heavier vibes. Still very symphonic all the way through, never really touching on the darker intermediate again in this number. Similar style, but here not as metal, as their previous releases. This being all I have of the new stuff from the band I could see a full length release of similar, or slightly more daring stuff like they are known for could make for repeated immersive listening. They finished last year out on tour and at this point are seasoned road veterans. The band also has a cool website full of videos & other goodies. Definitely some gold there.
Esprit DAir - Aeons
I dig this so much more than their last release. They retain much of the same kind of arrangements but this time around things feel less formulated and performances, as well as songwriting seems better put together in just about every way. There is a stronger kick on the rocking numbers, the band sounding best when the vocals are done in native Japanese language, as everything here is. The band is filled with above accomplished players; The Sisters Of Mercy's guitarist, Kai, ex-Ghost and Pendragon drummer Jan-Vincent Velazco, ex-MergingMoon guitarist Takeshi on bass, and Yusuke on guitar. So it's not surprising that the musicianship is top notch. Each member shining on their own which translates to some good shit together as a band, overall. Maybe it's a bit progressive for some yet one thing is for sure they don't shy away from doing it their way, and doing it well.
Old Dirty Buzzard - One Foot In The Grave
Advanced PR for this band sez they're blazing that trail where Motorhead and Black Sabbath left off. I'd say that's a dead on accurate assessment. A bit more atmospheric dooming (laughs) than Lemmy and the Boys; and not nearly as much as the Sabbs, but every number has a fair amount of sludge. They don't ever go wizard on ya though because they don't really seem to be all that. Unless they want to. And that's what you get about Old Dirty Buzzard, they do whatever the fuck they want to. Couple of times they start a blaring run and it takes you to places where you feel a dangerous deadly darkness around you. This adds to the shit about the band that's good. Being a bit unpredicatable and dark holds the gaze of the observer, just watching it all go down. That's good timeless rock n roll. Album Cover
Fractured Fairytales - Parasomnia
Electronic madness. Nightmare material. Artillery blasted through mosten metal plate. Above the cliches you get a swirling transition between deep expressions and perceptions. So many influences I couldn't list them all. Lots of Marilyn Manson & NIN style phrasings everywhere. Though far more extreme in more ways than either. Subject wise it's a dark and heavy head trip throughout. Evil angels on Spirit Splitter, war and destruction on Burn or Bury. Pounding industrial hellscapes on almost every number. Barely letting you up for air. Demons of death taunting on The Unmaker. Voices of the dark taking control of your mind on Shadow in Hell. Living to die another day on All A Fall Parasomnia fits. A conscious fear hidden in Fractured Fairytales. Artist Bio
Hellrazor - Sands of Time
Sands of Time is the first single from the Wings Of Deliverance album. Its a good one from these Canadian rockers. Melodic and slighty progressive it reaches for quality over quantity to deliver the goods. There's a lot to like here. Guitar riffs ride above a precise steady rhythm of driving bass and drums. Breaking in fine form and switching gears ever so slightly so the lead strikes and long breaks taste sweeter. It's a song of prophecy coming along rather forcefully, so it's reality based. Breaking away from what could have been a common denominator to a more dominate charater by choice of subject matter. You get where the band is coming from in a way that speaks to a thought process instead of senseless head pounding. Great to listen to as well as think about.
Jaguar 777 - Jaguar777
Camping out at the bar in some jazz joint on college night is always where I go when I turn this stuff on. That or maybe the oxygen bar after a hard day or even the corner coffee shop on open mic night. Maybe all those kick backs in the same evening. Much more presence than similar offerings while being even more starkly sparse is how this hits. A ticket to downtown with a stop over at every hidden speakeasy along the way. Like I said it's a pub crawl with the spooky kids. You'll pick up a few strays along the way which could be fun if they got good stuff. Cause this is definitely cool scene. Falling is a smooth one, kicking off the part of the album that feels like a dream. Fittingly because you're living it regardless of how hard life takes a lick at you. It's just a matter of time before you're on that Death Ride, Jaguar 777 the soundtrack to your ultimate destiny.
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