At first glance, Bosnia/Herzegovina-born guitarist Emir Hot`s latest offering would appear to be yet another entry in the long-running Neo Classical Metal sweepstakes. And while that`s PARTIALLY correct, there`s a WHOLE lot more here, believe me! "Sevdah Metal" stands head and shoulders above the majority of "Shred Metal" releases, and manages to avoid all the cliches associated with that particular genre. Hot weaves his jaw-dropping technical skills and love for exotic modes into the time-worn Neo Classical tapestry, adding clever hooks and melodies to craft an album as unique and multi-faceted as his homeland. And unlike others artists mining similar territory, this is a song based affair, which means the average listener can enjoy this without a Masters degree in music theory. Another plus here is the production. Most CDs of this type usually have similar production values; clean, clear, heavily effected [and sometime affected] and drenched in echo, reverb, delay, etc. This album has a very 3 dimensional sound, not too "produced" but hardly dry and lifeless. Honestly, I can`t really describe it accurately, but it`s definitely one of THE best productions I`ve ever heard! As I said, song is king on "Sevdah Metal" and, as these are vocal-based, who better to sing them than former Artension/Royal Hunt vocalist [and fellow Upstate NY resident] John West? John turns in another stellar performance on the album, an his voice is a perfect compliment to Emir`s highly original compositions. Increasing the discs` star-power quotient is drummer Mike Terrana, who couldn`t play a wrong note if he tried! Picking out the "best" tracks on this CD is pretty much impossible, as there really isnt a weak song to be found. "Devils in Disguise" is a bit of a standout, as are "World Set on Fire" and "Skies and Oceans" [the vocal work by West is among his finest yet]. The mind-blowing 11 minute "Sevdah Metal Rhapsody" is an all-out extravaganza that has to be heard to be believed. In less gifted hands, this thing would have run out of gas after a few minutes, but all involved here make the listener hang on to each and every note, eagerly wondering what`s next. And Emir`s ability to take ideas from left field and make them work is clearly on display here. Who would have thought an accordian solo on a Metal tune could sound so cool? Of course, the star of the show is Emir Hot. While his guitar playing borders on extraterrestrial, [one can almost smell the fretwire burning] it`s his compositional skills and creative use of non-traditional song structures that have enabled him to craft one of the most unique and highest quality Metal releases so far this year. Brilliant!!!!!!!!
Germany`s Powerworld has something of a Power Metal pedigree, featuring former members of Freedon Call, At Vance, and Jaded Heart. The self-titled debut has 12 tracks of straight ahead melodic Heavy Rock not too far removed from Saint Daemon and Burning Point. "The Dark" is a cool intro that leads into "Creatures", a powerhouse tune that pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the CD. A nice warm, clear production gives each cut an extra punch, as well as accentuating the individual skill of each musician. And thankfully, the band manage to sidestep the usual Power Metal themes [dragons, wizards, etc] and tackle more down to earth subjects. Other stand out tracks include "I Reach The Light", "Breaking the Silence", "Fight Fire With Fire", and "Dancing With Angels". Also noteworthy is the surprise cover of Cutting Crew's "I Died In Your Arms"; it`s well done and faithful to the original, except with crunchier guitars!:) Obviously, careful attention was paid to the songwriting, as each tune stand apart from the other, not an easy task in this genre. All told, a solid debut from a band of seasoned professionals. Powerworld are fated for great things, and if the initial response to this album is any indication, it`s gonna be a fast ride to the top for these guys. Take my word for it!
Lord, has it REALLY almost 5 years since Celtic Legacy`s last album? One would have thought that, after the trials and tribulations the lads endured getting "Resurrection" released and it`s subsequent success, the band would be sitting pretty by now; 5th or 6th album in the can, live CD/DVD in the works, marathon world tours, etc. But sadly, things went pear-shaped, a story that requires far more disc space than my laptop can provide. So rather than dwell on the past, let`s deal with the now. "Guardian Of Eternity" gives us Celtic [that`s pronounced KELL-tic, as in "Book Of Kells"!] Legacy 2008, older, wiser and even MORE determined than ever. But age, wisdom and determination don`t mean much if you don`t have the goods to back `em up. These guys have endured things that would kill most bands, so what does that tell you? Sonically, GOE differs little from its` predecessor; a mix of all the right elements of Lizzy and Maiden with a uniquely Irish spirit, as well as a dash of Metallic crunch. "The Sentinel" is an airy Celtic-themed instrumental that leads right into the powerhouse "Celtica", and right away you KNOW the boys are back in town! New vocalist Ciaran Ennis acclimates himself quite nicely on the album, as can be heard on "Afterworld", as well as every other cut. The Daves` certainly made a wise choice in the vocal department! "For Evermore" is another brilliant example of the Morrissey/Boylan songwriting team; Celt Metal`s very own Lennon/McCartney? These two have definitely come into their own with this album, both as tunesmiths AND as musicians. Drummer Conor Gillen and guitarist Keith Hendley also make their prescence felt loud and clear; as well. "King Of Thieves" has a very "Black Rose" feel to it at times, while "Erinmor" is more Maiden-esque [I love to use that term!]. And "Dance On Yer Grave" is doubtless one of the best Heavy Rock tunes you`ve heard this year, and a current favorite of mine! The title track is a 10 minutes plus epic that is beautifully arranged and draws you in from start to finish, no wasted notes or pointless noodling. This is the sort of thing the band does well, and is the perfect way to end the album. But of course, it really DOESN`T end, does it? You`ll just want to hit play again and again, believe me! Well, it is said that what doesn`t kill you makes you stronger; Celtic Legacy is living proof of this! And it certainly won`t kill YOU to go and buy "Guardian Of Eternity"; in fact you, the band, AND the Metal scene will be THAT much stronger for it! One of the best albums of 2008!
The buzz for the last several months over the new Dokken release was that it marked a return to their days of yore, their "classic" sound, etc. So, now that it`s out, IS "Lightning Strikes Again" all it was hyped to be? For the most part, yes. The last Dokken album I heard was "Erase The Slate", and a fine slab of Rock it was. I would say that "Lightning Strikes Again" is just as good, though with qualifications. As expected, the production is loud and clear and the guitars [courtesy of Jon Levin] are right out from where they belong. Don Dokken`s voice has changed very little, and the ever-present "Wild" Mick Brown gives yet another solid performance, as does bassist Barry Sparks. The album seems to draw from Dokken salad days; "Under Lock And Key" and "Back For The Attack", some might say a bit TOO much at times, though I have no problem with this. "Standing on the Outside" starts things off, and it certainly has that "Classic Dokken" sound; driving rhythms, big chorus, the works. Next is "Give Me A Reason", another winner with a nice riff and Don`s always melodic vocals. "Heart Of Stone" is a keeper, as well. Things kinda veer off course with "Disease", one of those dreaded Modern-sounding tracks that many artists from Dokken`s era seem to think will bring them new fans. Believe me, any new [younger] Dokken fans are gonna be drawn to the sound of their earlier material, not a weak attempt at being "Modern"! [tell me: how long does "Modern" STAY "Modern" until it no longer IS "Modern"?] The trend [no pun intended] continues with "How I Miss Your Smile", a sloppy ballad that seems to exist to fill up space. "Oasis" is another Modern Rock misfire, but that`s what the Fast Forward button is for, right? Things pick up again with the uptempo "The Point Of No Return", before slowing down a bit with "I Remember", a nice semi-ballad of the type that Don seems to write best. "Judgement Day" is similar to the first three tracks, but not quite as exciting. "It Means" is rather strange and experimental, definitely out of place here! "Release Me" gets the album back on track and leads up to "This Fire", which is energetic but a bit more brooding lyrically. Of course the song ends with a [movie?] quote about receiving a pizza and not getting the right crust! I guess Don doesn`t take himself too seriously after all. Now, I have the European version, which features the extra track "Sunset Superstar", and HERE is where the band really turns on the juice! Now THIS is what I call "Classic Dokken"! Why not include this on the domestic release, and leave the Modern slop for the extra tracks? This is the sort of tune Dokken excels at. The album definitely could have used some high velocity numbers in the vein of "Tooth And Nail" [the title track to MY favorite Dokken album], "Turn On The Action", "Don`t Close Your Eyes", or "Lightning Strikes Again" [from "Under Lock And Key"]. Minor quibbles aside, this is a real good album; I guess I just expected more. But I rate it better than anything George Lynch has done with Lynch Mob, and hopefully Don and the boys will put the pedal to the metal and give us the full treatment; they`ve done it before and can certainly do it again. All in all, "Lightning Strikes Again" definitely Rocks! [or should that be Rokks?]
This is a 4-song demo by Ghost Tower, an Old School Metal band hailing from Bellevue, Nebraska. The band features Matt Preston on guitar and Evilyn Malus on vocals, with drums and bass provided by Sean Sethi. The style is similar to early Fates Warning, Witchfynde, Mercyful Fate, early Thrash as well as various NWOBHM bands. Ghost Towers sound on this demo can only be described as, well, "ghostly". And despite the rather primitive recording, their own personal style comes through loud and clear! Though Ghost Tower has an obvious reverence for Metals dark past, they don`t flat out copy their idols; this demo is more of an homage to past masters. Fine guitar work, atmospheric vocals, and haunting melodies coupled with genuine heaviness make this demo a must-have for any TRUE follower of the Underground. Definitely one of the most promising acts to come out this year, and I look forward to hearing MORE from them, and so will you! [Thanks to Matt for sending the demo!!]
