"Land" is Album Number 4 in the Týr catalog, and finds the Faroe Islands foursome at something of a crossroads in their career. After the previous album, "Ragnarok", found the band reaching their widest audience yet [as well as firmly establishing them as a new force on the Metal scene], Týr could have continued in the more Power Metal style present on "Ragnarok", or move on. And move on they did; or more accurately, they moved back. While "Land" could hardly be seen as a regression, the guys HAVE gone back more in the direction of their first album "How Far To Asgaard". For those who were introduced to the band via "Ragnarok", this might be a bit of a let-down at first listen. But to those who have followed the band since the first album [like ME!:)], it`s another glorious chapter in the annals of a band who have pushed the boundries of Metal, establishing new ones as they go. And by dipping into their hallowed past, Týr have undergone a bit of life-imitating-art; just as they reached back into the folklore of their ancestry to create their own style of Metal, the band have done the same by borrowing from their earlier releases to refine their sound. [the band also includes a re-recorded version "Hail To The Hammer" from the first album, and it is even better than the original] The result is the best Týr album yet! Singling out the "choice cuts" is rather pointless with a band like this, as their albums are meant to be taken as a whole, much like the Icelandic Sagas themselves. The lyrics are predominantly sung in Faroese, but English is present as well. Examples of Týrs` past and future can be found in two massive epics, the 10 minute "Ocean" and the breath-taking 16-minute [!] title track. These two tracks encapsulate all that is great about this band, and if this is your first brush with the band, you certainly couldn`t have picked a better place to start! I should also mention that my copy is the digipac version; nice packaging along with a bonus DVD containing footage of the band`s appearance at Wacken 2007. "Land" is doubtless Týrs` finest release to date; yes, I`ve said the same thing in past Týr reviews, but the guys haven`t failed to live up to the high praise yet, and I rather suspect this will be the case with their future releases. THE most original Metal album of 2008!!!!!
Jaw-dropping debut by a band featuring former members from some of the Netherlands most influential Death Metal bands. Hail Of Bullets is made up of Martin van Drunen on Vocals, Paul Baayens and Stephan Gebedi on Guitar, Theo van Eekelen on Bass and Ed Warby on Drums. Sonically, the band recall the glory days of Death Metal, no surprise considering these guys are among the originators of the late 80s`-early 90s` sound that so many current bands try to imitate, usually with mixed results. However, this is no nostalgia trip, this is 21st Century Death all the way! And to kick off their career, HOB has chosen NOT to tackle the usual genre-specific topics; Cthulu and his minions are nowhere to be found here. Instead, the band has opted for a subject more evil and terrifying than anything H.P. Lovecraft could conjure. "...Of Frost And War" is a concept album dealing with Operation Barbarosa, which took place during the Nazi incursion into Russia and their subsequent routing at Stalingrad. Stark and realistic, it`s a history lesson at 100 miles an hour, a harrowing look at a dark corner of an even darker period of WWII. The production is HUGE, and allows the instruments to sound massive and crushing [you can actually FEEL those tanks rolling toward you!] WITHOUT sounding like garbage. Vocalist van Druen `s performance on the album is probably his best since Pestilence` "Consuming Impulse", and maybe even better! His voice gives each track a blood curdling narrative that makes the listener feel they are RIGHT THERE in the frozen mud, among the ruins that were once people`s homes, the naked terror that must have been felt by those who were caught up in the horror. Far from a "Glorious Burden", "...Of Frost And War" manages to depict war as the God awful, bloody mess that it truly is. Alternating between hyper fast and funeral procession slow, the 12 tracks here are well written, nicely arranged, and played to perfection, something to be expected from veteran musicians such as HOB. The next time you come across a documentary on Operation Barbarosa [whether it be on telly or DVD], turn the sound down and put this CD instead. "...Of Frost And War" is doubtless the HEAVIEST, most LETHAL Death Metal album of the year, by a band EQUALLY heavy and lethal. I have seen the future of Death, and its` name is HAIL Of Bullets! Highest recommendation possible!!!!!!
After a brief stumble with their last album, Godiva get back to business with "Destruction", the 3rd release by the Swiss 5-piece. Balls out, high energy head bangin` Metal anthems is the bands` stock-in-trade, and they pile `em on like there`s no tomorrow! Many have compared the tunes on this CD to late `Eighties Saxon and/or "Painkiller"-era Priest, but I can also hear echos of Dream Evil, Blaze Bayley and other traditional Metal stylings. Godiva don`t exactly re-invent the wheel here, but I don`t think that was the intention; fist pumping and ass kicking is the order of the day and Godiva score high on all points. Super high-quality production gives each track an extra punch, and while a few of the riffs tend to sound the same, there`s enough fire and flash that you can overlook this minor quibble. Crunchy guitars, catchy choruses, the hallmarks of straight ahead Metal mayhem, are all present and accounted for, and can be heard on such tracks as "Crawl In The Night", "Hell`s On Fire", "Pedal To The Metal" and the title cut. If you want "deep" lyrical themes and complex musicianship, go listen to Dream Theater; if you want something to piss off the neighbors and induce instant air-guitaring, look no further! To be played at MAXIMUM volume!!!
Morris County, New Jersey based 5-piece The Vengeful Few are something of an anomaly in the US Metal scene; having odd qualities like guitar solos, cool riffs [in standard tuning!] and a vocalist that can actually SING! You guessed it, The Vengeful Few are firmly rooted in traditional `Eighties-style Metal; think Dio, Priest. Far from a nostalgic trip down memory lane by a bunch of hobbyists, the bands` debut album consists of eight well thought out tunes that are sure to appeal to those listeners who DON`T consider turntables as standard equipment in a Metal band! The CD is a self-produced [and self released] affair, and it`s obvious that a lot of care went into recording the album. While the disc certainly doesn`t sound as if it was recorded at Electric Lady Studios, the clean, uncluttered production suits the music to a "T". Each instrument comes through loud and clear, and the guitars [always a Metal essential] cut through the mix. The band is made up of vocalist Keith Vitali [Gods Of Fire], guitarists Tom Catuosco and John Zambri, drummer Gary Rinaldi and bassist Jim Gowe. Top class players through and through, the guys are obviously comfortable playing together, which shows in the tunes. Among the standouts are cuts like "Madhouse", "Circle Of Seven" [based on Stephen King`s "It"], "The New Granada", "Marie" and one of my personal favorites [among others!] the NWOBHM-styled "Face Reality". Clever hooks and song structures, intelligent lyrics, quality musicianship and a total dedication to what they do make this one of the finest Metal debuts of 2008. Now all we need is a record lable who can recognize REAL talent when they see it and sign these guys! Highly recommended!! [Special thanks to Tom Catuosco for sending the CD for review, and to Sleepy Holow`s Joe Dell for hooking us up!!]
After their triumphant return with "Victim Of The Spotlight" in 2007, Canada`s White Wolf embarked up a return to the live scene as well. Their first-ever European show was at Germany's United Forces Of Rock fest on September 30th, 2007. This much-talked about performance has now been preserved on "Live In Germany", the bands` first ever live album. The 11 tracks are an overview of White Wolf`s career, featuring tunes from the first 2 albums [1984s` "Standing Alone" and 1986`s "Endangered Species"] as well as cuts from "Victim Of The Spotlight", played to a very appreciative audience. The band deliver a near-flawless performance [apart from vocalist Don Wolf`s microphone cutting out right before "Shadows In The Night'], and it`s good to hear a live album that is neither poorly recorded nor packed with studio punch ins. It is an honest representation of the band in concert, and White Wolf obviously go from studio to stage effortlessly. Definitely a worthy purchase for fans of the group who waited so long for their return. "Live In Germany" should tide us over until White Wolf give us another studio album; I`m sure it will be worth the wait!
