Other

  • Alternative 4 – The Brink (2011)

    cover

    Super talented multi-instrumentalist Duncan Patterson gives us his latest project Alternative 4. In this band, Duncan produces a very interesting and cinematic experience that merges some of the old elements of Anathema (from back in the day) and Antimatter (before he left obviously). This combination produces a very interesting and organic sound that we have missed since he started doing his last projects Íon and The Aftermath.

    With a very mysterious opening track titled “The Brink”, this album nicely generates some expectation before “False Light” sets the tone of how (most) of this release is going to go. With nice distorted guitars and a very somber atmosphere, this song nicely delivers a very experimental yet familiar sound. Having recorded the album in several parts of the world including Ireland and Mexico, the overall product is very well integrated and full of atmospheric surprises. For the Anathema fans, the bass guitar line near the end of the song will nicely bring you back to the band’s old albums for sure.

  • Grey Waters – Below the Ever Setting Sun (2010)

    cover

    Coming highly recommended by some of our friends, we finally had time to check out Grey Water’s EP from 2010 titled “Below the Ever Setting Sun” and we were pretty impressed with what we heard. Playing highly emotional Depressive Rock, Grey Waters blow the listener away with soaring vocals and powerful guitars that deliver a very melancholic feeling all through the five songs presented in this release.

    After the intro track, “Say Goodbye” immediately reminded us of a modern sounding Decorayah, since the band creates a very powerful atmosphere and the vocals are a bit similar to Decorayah’s dramatic singing. The atmospheric passage in this song that leads to some harsh vocals is perfectly crafted, allowing the song to nicely flow. Next up we have “Below the Ever Setting Sun”, another very effective and melancholic track. This track has some nice Post-Rock/Metal hints that enrich the sound nicely, adding to the overall atmosphere created by the band.

  • Haken – Visions (2011)

    cover

    Riding on the success of their impressive 2010 release “Aquarius”, Haken returns with yet another excellent Progressive Metal release with “Visions”, this clearly shows that their debut album was not a fluke and that the band means business. For over 71 minutes of brilliantly composed music, the band makes it clear that they are ready to take a protagonist role in the crowded Progressive Metal scene.

    With a very Dream Theater-like approach, Haken opens this release with the instrumental “Premonition”. In this track you can hear brilliant keyboards and the futuristic edge that made “Aquarius” such an appealing release last year. After the soothing effect of the opening track, the 13 minute “Nocturnal Conspiracy” delivers the first appearance of Ross Jennings, the band’s charismatic vocalist. His pipes are very emotional and never as whiny as other singers such as James LaBrie. This track features a few sections that remind us of Ayreon and Star One in terms of the music, but Haken still manages to pull away with their own characteristic sound.

  • White Willow – Terminal Twilight (2011)

    cover

    As one of the most beautifully composed and yet perplexingly complex albums of 2011, today we have White Willow’s release “Terminal Twilight”. In this release, the band takes us on a journey lasting nine tracks of trippy synths, enchanting vocals, and a King Crimson-like atmosphere unlike anything we have heard before. After the excellent release by Leprous this year, we can’t help but wonder what is in the Norwegian water that drives musician’s creativity to this level of awesomeness.

    Opening with “Hawks Circle”, this album starts in a very trippy and ethereal way. The vocals in this song sound like a mixture of Agnete M. Kirkevaag of Madder Mortem and Ann-Mari Edvardsen (ex The 3rd and the Mortal). The flutes nicely creep into the music making this song very dynamic and engaging. In an even more hypnotic way, “Snowswept” delivers a haunting atmosphere that will suck you right into the band’s own musical universe.

  • Mord'A'Stigmata – Antimatter (2011)

    cover

    Hailing from Poland, today we have Mord’A’Stigmata and their monumental Avant-garde Black Metal release “Antimatter”. In this album the band delivers 52 minutes of pure chaotic Black Metal that will blow you away and make you scratch your head at the same time. We are huge fans of Avant-garde BM and “Antimatter” is one of the finest examples we have heard this 2011.

    Opening with a weird intro, the album fully kicks in with “Kinetic Dogma” and “De Magnum Opus Solis”, two very hellish and powerful straight-up Black Metal tracks that feature some interesting elements here and there, but mostly devastating vocals, dissonant guitars and a powerful and tornado-like atmosphere. The devastation continues with “Antimatter”, but here is where things start turning somewhat melodic leading up to the ‘weirder’ things in this release.

  • Fyrnask – Bluostar (2011)

    cover

    Beautifully packed in a lush digisleeve, today we have Fyrnask’s debut full-length release “Bluostar”. Mixing some pretty bone-chilling ambient/atmospheric elements with harsh and devastating Black Metal, Fyrnask delivers over 55 minutes of brilliant music that while not everybody’s cup of tea, it did affected us in a positive way.

    The mastermind behind the band, Fyrnd, delivers flawless performances in all instruments making them all come together in a brilliant way to capture the raw essence of Black Metal and incorporate the hypnotic feeling of the ambient sections. While most BM tracks are over 7 minutes, the brilliantly placed interludes and intros of song songs nicely shake things up and allow the listener to be always guessing what’s coming next.

  • Saligia – Sic Transit Gloria Mundi (2011)

    cover

    Hailing from Norway, the cradle of Black Metal, today we have Saligia and their old-school nihilistic release “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi”. Featuring 40 minutes of pure and unadulterated Black Metal, the band relies on slick riffing and drumming to capture an occult feeling behind this release. There are no over-the-top shrieks of over-extended use of tremolo-picking section, just plain and simple devastating Black Metal like in the old days.

    The opening blow titled “Casus Gloria” nicely builds up into a very retro Black Metal sound that prevails through this very well crafted release. The band delivers just the right amount of ‘devilish’ riffs to create a very effective atmosphere and does not overdo things too early. The vocals and rhythm sections of “Sar Ha-Olam” keep up with the same tempo than the first track and we think it is just great. The speed of this album is not super chaotic, allowing the music to flow nicely and deliver its occult message without getting on your nerves.

  • Untimely Demise – City of Steel (2011)

    cover

    All the way from the Nordic lands of Canada, today we have Untimely Demise’s debut full-length release “City of Steel. While the band plays the traditional Thrash/Death Metal game, there are a few elements here and there to make this release standout from the countless dull bands we get every week.

    Having some early Children of Bodom (vocals and some guitar work) edge makes “City of Steel” a nice 32 minute release that will not go easily forgotten. In the opening “Virtue In Death” track, we have the traditional Thrash/Death Metal sound back in the day, but the guitar work is what makes this song (and album) more entertaining and different.

  • Aclla – Landscape Revolution (2011)

    cover

    Packed with 14 powerful guitar-driven songs, today we have Aclla’s debut album “Landscape Revolution”. Merging elements from Power Metal with Heavy Metal in an aggressive fashion, we are left with pounding guitars on top of Power/Heavy Metal song structures, a very interesting approach.

    Opening with “The Totem”, we can immediately tell that this distortion is not very typical for a Power/Heavy Metal release and this marks the beginning of a very interesting musical journey. Power through tracks like “The Hidden Dawn”, “Under Twilight Skies”, “Ride” and “Living for a Dream”, there is no doubt on the quality of the musicians behind Aclla, since they manage to make very good songs through “Landscape Revolution”

  • Kaktus Project – Superstition (2011)

    cover

    Delivering an impressive debut solo album, today we have Sylvain Rouvière and his Kaktus Project release “Supersition”. Featuring 13 songs of well crafted Heavy/Power Metal with Hard Rock influences, this release is a very nice showcase of both Sylvain’s vocal and guitar playing abilities.

    Unlike many side project releases, “Superstition” truly showcases the musician’s ability and not his countless buddy’s that make guest appearances on the album. Since the opener track “Farewell” we have soaring vocals and very well crafted guitar work, this track reminds us a bit of older Timmo Tolki-era Stratovarius. Moving on with “Superstition”, we get some hints of Edguy/Avantasia in this very entertaining song.

Pages

Recent Image Galleries