"Astralism" is the much anticipated follow up to 2005`s "Evil Is Forever" and the third studio release from Sweden`s Astral Doors. Let`s face it; "Evil...." is a pretty tough act to follow and the band didn`t really top themselves with the latest album, which isn`t to say "Astralism" isn`t any good, `cause it`s DAMN good! The Dio-era Rainbow and Dio/Martin-era Sabbath overtones are still present, as each of the 13 cuts demonstrate. And it`s certainly the most fully realized and thought out album of their career, as well as their best produced. Soon-to-be classics in the Astral Doors catalog include "EVP", "Black Rain", "London Caves" [about the July 2005 bombing of the London tube station], "Fire In Our House", "Raiders of the Ark" [I prefer the version from last year`s EP to the more glossy version here], "Vendetta" and "In Rock We Trust", and the rousing "Oliver Twist". Nope, not a duff track in the bunch! The whole band seem to do nothing but improve with each release, with singer Patrick Johansson once again making a huge impression with his dynamic vocal presence, as well as the fire-breathing twin guitars of Joachim Nordlund and Martin Haglund. All in all, a solid effort from one of the best new [NOT "Nu"!!] Metal bands to come `round in a long time, a band that continues to grow by leaps and bounds. 2006 is half over and I`m already placing "Astralism" in the amongst the best Metal releases of the year! How about you? Highly recommended!!
After being thoroughly knocked out buy their S/T debut, I was looking forward to the sophmore release from Upwards Of Endtime. So, now comes "Sadly Never Fore"; was it worth the wait? You betcha!! UOE is proudly entrenched in a nether world of early `eighties Metal [Manilla Road, Cirith Ungol & Brocas Helm and various NWOBHM bands], as well as early `seventies Heavy Rock [Uriah Heep, Sabbath, Lucifer`s Friend] and perhaps a bit of early Doom for good measure. A stylistic mess would proabaly ensure in less capable hands, but UOE have used their influences to craft a sound all their own, or at least give their band it`s own personality. Sound-wise, it`s similar to the debut; no spit-shiny, Pro-Tool`ed production values spoken HERE! But this only enhances the music, and give the album the proper feel overall, as evinced on "Home Sweet Home", "Princeps Tenebarum", "Beyond Infinity", "Dreamachine", and "Defenders" [these last 2 are among my favorites!]. Phil Swanson still employs the early Ozzy-style vocals [sounding better than Ozz EVER did!] to great effect, and the rest of the band have meshed into a well-oiled Metal machine! In sum, "Sadly Never Fore" is an album made by musicians who play for themselves as well as people just like them, ya know, you and me! So return the favor; buy UOEs` albums, as well as those by similar Underground artists. That way we ensure that great bands like this will continue to share their art with us for years to come! VERY highly recommended! [Thank you once again Phil for the disc!!]
Blood, guts, heart and soul. THAT`S the fuel to the firey vocalist Sophia Ramos! This lady has been burnin` up the road coast to coast for a while now, and if the knotheads running MTV/Clear Channels actually KNEW anything about REAL music, she`d be burnin` up the charts and airwaves, too! But I guess a Female Rocker of color whose not an Alanis/Avirl knock-off just doesn`t fit into their scheme of thing. And who cares anyway? We`ve got her, and that`s all that matters! "Her Majesty" [Sophia`s third release] is a 10 track hook-laden affair that runs from rough to smoothe, hot to cool, dirty to sweet. The lead-off tune, "Black Madonna", really sets the tone for the rest of the disc. Sophia radiates power and passion, both in her vocal performance and in her songwriting; check out "What I Do Know", "Kill Your Pain", "Torn Down" and "Girlfriend`s Ghost" for proof. Just TRY to get these songs outta yer head! And Sophia has surrounded hereself with some damn fine musicians as well, complimenting her voice to a "T". I think this lady could sing the phone book and it would sound killer! God knows WHY she`s not on a major label, but maybe if all who read this woud go and BUY the album [details at the link below], that just MIGHT happen, now wouldn`t it? So pick this one up, and bow to "Her Majesty", Sophia Ramos, the new Queen Of Rock!
"The Delphic Doctrine" is the second full-length from this Austrian 4-piece, [and first for Portugal`s Sound Riot Records], and is certainly their best work to date! Tristwood is comprised of Axumis [Vocals], Jegger [Guitars, keyboards, vocals], Deimon [Bass, sampling, programming] and Neru [Guitars, programming, keyboards]. The music? Kinda hard to pigeonhole, but it`s heavy as HELL! Cybertech Death Metal might be an apt description, but there are elements of Death/Black Metal along with some industrial music. In fact, I`d like to think this is what now-defunct Florida Death Metal pioneers Nocturnus would have eventually morphed into. But what Tristwood have accomplished here is miles beyond that. The 10 tracks on "The Delphic Doctrine" are intense, brutal and at times threaten to overwhelm the listener. Yet at the same time, the riffs are catchy and memorable hooks abound, a pleasant and welcome surprise from this type of band! Examples of this can be found in the title track, as well as "The Call Of Seth - Invocation Of The God Of Blood And War", actually the whole album is a triumph, as far as the Death/Black Metal genre goes. A high quality production certainly helps, and the package as a whole [booklet, artwork] is well done. A winner overall, and a most worthy purchase. Recommended!! [Many thanks to Sound Riot Records for the CD!!]
Unholy, dark, diabolical. These are just SOME of the adjectives that describe Poland`s Infernum! Their debut, "The Curse", has some rather tragic circumstances surrounding it; Vocalist/guitarist Anextiomarus committed suicide shortly after the album was recorded. But the rest of the band [Necromanticus on guitars, Wolf on bass, Charon on drums and Exterminus on keyboards] have vowed to carry on. Old School Black Metal is the watchword here, and while there`s not much here that`s revolutionary or innovative the 7 cuts are delivered with conviction as well as solid professionalism. Infernum knows that Death comes in many forms, and that all-out guitar/bass/blast beats/shrieking vocals don`t always work. The band knows how to create an atmosphere, utilizing various ambient sounds [keyboards, etc] that at times reminds the listener of Mayhem`s better work. Again, the band is not shooting for originality so much as quality, and there`s certainly an abundance of that on "The Curse"! And at just around 30 minutes, the album doesn`t go on any longer than it has to; short, sweet and to-the-point; a tribute to the band`s sense of restraint and quality control in the songwriting department. To be sure, this CD isn`t for everyone, but then it`s not supposed to be. However, if you`re looking for top-class Old School Blackness, Infernum has just what you need! Another great extreme release from Sound Riot, who supplied me with the album!
