Monday, December 1, 2014
At The Gates - At War With Reality
Tomas Lindberg - Vocals
Quality & Originality:At the Gates are the original melodic death metal band. They are the originators of the Swedish melodic death metal sound. At war with reality picks up where the band left off when they disbanded in 1996. This album is amazing. The quality of the tracks is very high. Heavy as hell but highly melodic at the same time. This album is a thick slab of metal and one of the most anticipated metal albums of the year.
In Faith - There's A Storm Coming
Band:In Faith
Album:There's A Storm Coming
Date Released:Oct 24 2014
Tracks:
Radio
Does If Feel Like Love
Church Of Rock n' Roll
Where I Wanna Be
Addicted
If That's What Love Means
All Or Nothing
In Flames
Million Ways
Leave Me Now
Bitter End
Band Members:
Pete Godfrey
Tony Marshall -Ex Contagious, Pride,Vaughn
Pete Newdeck -Tainted Nation, Newman, Ex Edens's Curse
Guests:
Brooke St. James -Tyketto
Chris Green -Rubicon Cross, Ex Pride, Furyon
Pat Heath - Ex Furyon
Label:Rocktopia/Cargo Records
Promotion:Rock N Growl
Genre: Rock/Prog Rock/AOR
Quality & Originality:Before I had even listened to this album reading all about band to the guests and even the producer Pete Newdeck(Tainted Nation, Newman, Ex Eden's Curse)and Mastering By Harry Hess (Harem Scarem)I knew that this was going to be something really special. When I finally was able to give it a respectable listen I knew this was pure gold with a pure golden approach of a already amazing mixture of AOR and prog rock/metal. This is the real deal with originality overflowing from every song!!!!!!!
My Opinion:In Faith have come out of the gate swinging to make a lasting impression on fans of so many styles. I love the upbeat mix of 80's with a hit of rock and hard rock and a blast of prog and AOR. This is a brilliantly written album that really takes me back when people really cared about there music. With the resume of musicians that play on this album really shine into a brilliant collection of 11 songs just about anyone can fall in love with the first time listening!! My favorite part is the production on this album cause so many times in this style of music the keys or guitars are really dominate and this album is flawless with the mix giving all instruments a perfect home and place to flow the music!!!!
Overall & Favorites:Radio,Addicted, All Or Nothing. I give this album a 9/10 cause this album made me be totally In Faith just on the first listen!!!
Contact:www.infaithofficial.com/
www.facebook.com/infaithband
Graveyard Shifter - Brainwashed By Moonshine
Band:Graveyard Shifter
Album:
Brainwashed By Moonshine
Date Released:Oct 31 2014
Tracks:
Chicken Cage Of Terror
A Good Day To Die Hard & Loud
Graveyard Shifters (Necromance)
Molotov Cocktail
Play The Victim
Band Members:
J. Matilainen
J. Sumkin
A. Salmenoja
V. Vainionpaa
H. Kansonen
Formed:2013
Influences:Turbonegro, Disfear, The Hellecopters,
Label:Eternal Sound Records
Location: Finland
Quality & Originality:This booze infused punk rock meets heavy metal music is crazy over the top wrecking ball into a gasoline truck of metal riffs and attitude. The production is not the tightest I have ever heard but I think that was kinda the point to just play killer heavy music and do what they loved and throw the book so many go by out the damn window!!!!!
My Opinion:With a band name like Graveyard Shifters and a album called Brainwashed By Moonshine you are not going to be listening to the normal metal or punk or well anything I have ever heard in that fashion. With that said it is not a bad thing really, This band took the ''Song Witing'' book and peed on it burned it then burned it. The riffs and attitude is infectious on this album giving me the want to jump up and trash my studio every time I listen to it!!!!
Overall & Favorites:Chicken Cage Of Terror is my favorite song and I give this album a 7.5/10 cause of the brilliance of less is way way more!!!!
Contact:www.graveyardshifters.fi
www.facebook.com/graveyardshifters
Anti Clone - Hand Sewn Together
Band:Anti Clone
Album:Hands Sewn Together
Date Released:Nov 4 2014
Tracks:
Take This Pill
Here Comes The Flood
1984
System (Featuring John Knight)
The Usurper
Band Members:
Peter Moore
Andrew Moore
Liam Richardson
Conor Richardson
David Cooper
Formed:2011
Influences:Slipknot, Mudvayne, Tool
Label:Self Release
Promotion: Rock N Growl
Quality & Originality:Anti Clone have found a brutal mix between modern metal and industrial from yesterday. The brutal song called ''Take This Pill'' hits you really hard right from the start with explosive attitude right in your face. The music has a very original edge to it being rough, hard and edgy but still holding a very tight rhythm. I rarely hear of music like this coming from the UK that has this kinda of fuel for the fire and total non stop almost hardcore at times brutal heavy madness!!!
My Opinion:Anti Clone had a bit of a rough start getting the line up where they wanted it. It become kinda of a family affair with Peter & Andrew being brothers and Liam & Conner being brothers, they snatched up David and really found the sound they was going for. If you are looking for something a bit different then you have ever heard a mixture of Korn, Manson, Slipknot, Ministry, Fear Factory thrown in a blender and turned up all the way and Anti Clone shot out! The songs really stick with you especially if you are looking for something to pump you up and made you head bang and just rock out to!!!
Overall & Favorites:System, Here Comes The Flood. I give this Sewn Together brutal album a explosive 8/10 for surprising me of what can come out of the UK!!!!
Contact:www.anticlonehq.com
www.facebook.com/AnticloneHQ
Nubian Rose - Mental Revolution
Band:Nubian Rose
Album:Mental Revolution
Date Released:November 24 2014
Tracks:
War
Time Again
Illuminated Within
The Eye
Tough Guys Don't Dance
Break Out
Higher
You Will Never Walk Alone
(Taking This) Further
All Of Your Love
Band Members:
Sofia Lilja
Christer Akerlund
Henric Uhrbom
Tomas Weijnesjo
Torbjorn Weijnesjo
Guests:
Joakim Ahlund
Mats Leven
Katarina Kammarkor
Formed:2011
Located:Stockholm
Label:Limewire/Cargo Records
Promotion: Rock N Growl
Quality & Originality:Mental Revolution had a solid team behind it from mastering by Mats Lindfors (Crashdiet, Scorpions, Treat) and mixed by Tobias Lindell (Heat, Europe, Harcore Superstar). Christer Akerlund produced it and Jakob Herrmann did the engineer duties. With all them fancy names what does that mean??? It means this is a bad ass album with great sound that has massive flavor and balance!!! The song writing really is magical with such a well versed vocals!!
My Opinion:Mental Revolution is Nubian Rose's second album and they have really grown with there music and song writing. There first album blew my mind and this new album is everything I was hoping. If you like everything from rock, metal, prog metal and everything in between you will find something to rock your world on this album. The band shows you also that they are so much more then riff fueled metal with such a great song like ''You will never walk alone'' what is such a great ballad that such power and passion. I say strap yourself in for one hell of a album!!!!!!!!!!!!
Overall & Favorites:The Eye, You Will Never Walk Alone, Break Out. I give this Mental Revolution a solid 8.5/10 cause metal bands with gorgeous chicks that can sing ROCK MY WORLD!!
Contact:www.nubianrose.com
www.facebook.com/nubianrosetheband
Triosphere - The Heart Of The Matter
Band:Triosphere
Album:The Heart Of The Matter
Date Released:Dec 2 2014
Tracks:
My Fortress
Steal Away The Light
The Sentinel
Breathless
Departure
The Heart's Dominion
As I Call
Relentless
The Sphere
Remedy
Storyteller
Virgin Ground
Band Members:
Ida Haukland
Marius Silver Bergesen
T.O. Byberg
Orjan Jorgensen
Genre:Melodic Power/Proggressive Metal
From:Trondheim Norway
Label:AFM Records
Quality & Originality:Triosphere is one of the best female fronted bands on the planet hands down. The bands third and best album to date mixing the Prog/Power/Metal sound that made this band what it is. The Heart Of The Matter is the best writing and performance this band has done to date really digging in and blowing the doors off what they have done in the past. I am really impressed with the production and how the harmonies are mixed with Ida's vocals. The album was mixed and mastered by the legendary Jens Bogren (Opeth, Symphony X, Kreator etc). This album is the real deal from beginning to end!!!!!!
My Opinion:Trioshpere is not just another female fronted Prog or Power band with the opera vocals like so many think when they hear of female fronted in this genre. Ida can out sing most of the men in this genre with her powerful array of vocal styles and harmonies. The band has shared the stage with the most well respected bands in the world like Crimson Glory, Kamelot, Sonata Arctica. I would put this album up against any female fronted metal band on the planet I do not care what genre or style. Ida and company really deliver!!!!
Overall & Favorites:The Heart Of The Matter, Steal Away The Light, Remedy. I give Ida and company a solid 9.0/10 for bringing The Heart Of The Matter to metal!!!!
Contact: www.thetriosphere.com
www.facebook.com/triosphere/timeline
Mors Principium Est - Dawn Of The 5th Era
Band:Mors Principium Est
Album:Dawn Of The 5th Era
Date Released:Dec 2 2014
Tracks:
Enter The Asylum
God Has Fallen
Leader Of The Titans
We Are The Sleep
Innocence Lost
I Am War
Monster In Me
Apricity
Wrath Of Indra
The Journey
The Forsaken
Band Members:
Ville Viljanen
Mikko Sipola
Teemu Heinola
Andy Gillion
Keven Verlay
Formed:1999
From:Finland
Genre:Melodic Death Metal
Label:AFM Records
Quality & Originality:Mors Principium Est is back with a brutally haunting powerful melodic release that is spine tingling. I love how this band has mastered the melodic death metal genre better then just about anyone. This album has high end production with amazing clarity on the entire release. I can hear how the music and style has changed with the several line up changes over the years but it is brutally sweet!! The amazing guitars are explosive and heavy but they are tight and clear. The singing is heavy enough to be death but they still have balance to them and not sloppy our a feeling of no breath to them.
My Opinion:Finland's metal giants fifth release is a real treat for me cause I have followed this band for a long time and have always known they had this album in them that is extreme but so very melodic. The band is locked and loaded with new guitar players that really hit that sweet spot and play amazing together on this release. This album is the bridge between Prog Metal/Death Metal (For you prog metal fans you get use to the heavier style of singing really fast and get to really enjoy it)but a very brutal version. I would not recommend driving and listening to this album cause a speeding ticket is going to happen!!!
Overall & Favorites:I Am War, God Has Fallen, Monster In Me. I give this melodic brutal heavy explosive expression of a grand album a solid 8/10
Contact:www.morsprincipiumest.com
www.facebook.com/MPEofficial
Bloodbound - Stormborn
Band:Bloodbound
Album:Stormborn
Date Released:Dec 2 2014
Tracks:
Bloodtale
Satanic Panic
Iron Throne
Nightmares From The Grave
Stormborn
We Raise The Dead
Made Of Steel
Blood Of My Blood
When The Kingdom Will Fall
Seven Hells
When All Lights Fail
Band Members:
Patrik Johansson
Tomas Olsson
Henrik Olsson
Anders Broman
Fredrik Bergh
Pelle Akerlind
From:Bollnas Sweden
Formed:2004
Genre:Melodic Power Metal
Label:AFM Records
Quality & Originality:Bloodbound has really taken the formula for what they do and pushed it to a whole new dimension. Patrik is hands down the best front man with crushing powerful vocals that really are original from the well balanced almost Halford style screams to his amazing harmony. The music backing Patrik is powerful, full, balanced, explosive and just simply kick ass. The production is beyond amazing from the mix, master the entire album from start to finish the band is at the top of there metal game!!!
My Opinion:Bloodbound is a band that never does a bad album they always seem to pull off a well produced/written album but this time they have really come out swinging with a amazing album. This will please everyone from the prog/power but even old school metal heads from the Judas Priest fans clear up to modern day rockers are going to love this evil rocking masterpiece. I love how the band really has grown with the normal Bloodbound power but then they do songs like ''Nightmares From The Grave'' that have this really rich and different style and almost a celtic feel. I cannot find a bad song or anything really that I would change about this album but that when it is over I want to hear more!!!
Overall & Favorites:Nightmares From The Grave, Stormborn, Bloodtale, Iron Throne, Made Of Steel. I give this Stormborn a 9.5/10 for giving me a headache from headbanging!!!!
Contact:www.bloodbound.se
www.facebook.com/bloodboundmetal
Bailey - Long Way Down
Band:Bailey
Album:Long Way Down
Date Released:Dec 5 2014
Tracks:
Feed The Flames
In The Name Of The King
Dirty Little Secret
Bad Reputation
Stay
Somewhere In Oslo
Long Way Down
Spend The Night
Love Falls Down
Ticket To Yesterday
Dirty Angel
Band Members:
Nigel Bailey
Mario Percudani
Alessandro Mori
Alessandro Del Vecchio
Genre: AOR/Melodic Rock/Hard Rock
Label:Frontiers
Quality & Originality:Nigel Bailey is back with a impressive debut of his new band. This is a bit harder when what we are use to with his other band (THREE LIONS). Bailey handles vocals, bass and guitars on this release with Alessandro Del Vecchio taking on production and keys and background vocals. The production is warm and well balanced with a pure natural sound that wins all the way. The music is well written and again well balanced with a great old school British Rock sound that fans have loved for many years.
My Opinion:Long Way Down is a great listen with such great hooks and a great almost blues feel at times. The album almost takes us back to the Survivor era of music but with a fresh feel. I really can see fans of everything from classic rock to prog and AOR fans to really embrace this as a instant classic. Baily has taken his experience and put to good use from the song writing to the production but my personal favorite is his singing style and how he comes across on this Long Way Down!!!
Overall & Favorites:Long Way Down, Feed The Flames, Ticket To Yesterday. I give Bailey and company a solid 8/10 for such a great ride!!!
Contact:www.facebook.com/baileyaor/timeline
Harem Scarem - Thirteen
Band:Harem Scarem
Album:Thirteen
Date Released:Dec 9 2014
Tracks:
Garden Of Eden
Live It
Early Warning Signs
The Midnight Hours
Whatever It Takes
Saints And Sinners
All I Need
Troubled Times
Never Say Never
Stardust
Band Members:
Harry Hess
Pete Lesperance
Creighton Doane
Darren Smith
Formed:1988
Genre:Rock/Hard Rock
Location:Toronto
Label:Frontiers
Quality & Originality:Legendary band Harem Scarem is back with new material after a 6 year break. Ten fresh songs to remind us why we fell in love with these Canadian rockers. The song writing is flawless and very catchy with such great riffs and hooks that hit the memory very fast. The production is as perfect as you can get for anything this day in age. I fell in love with the melody on this album it has that classic Harem feel but it has a brand new fresh sound.
My Opinion:There is no denying that Harem Scarem is a very popular house hold name 12 top 40 hits in 43 different countries over a million albums sold and with a fresh new album no signs of slowing down. The band has such a great mixture of so many styles and genres that everyone from classic rock, AOR, prog, blues, southern rock and even the rockers should find something to enjoy. Keep your eyes open cause Scarem and the team is back!!!!
Overall & Favorites:Garden Of Eden, Live It, Troubled Times. I give this 13th release of this massive band a solid 8.5/10 for making the six years we had to wait freaking ROCK!!!
Contact:www.haremscarem.net/
www.facebook.com/harem.scarem.band/timeline
Dimension - Revolution
Band:Dimension
Album:Revolution
Date Released:Nov 18 2014
Tracks:
Album I
The Source
Pale Horse
The Waltz Of Death
New Day
Tears And Blood
Resistance
Welcome To American
Bonus Song
Eleanor Rigby
Album II
Angel
Human Device
The End Of All Things
War Dream
Bonus Song
Immigrant Song
Band Members:
Davie Quicho
Mane Cabrales
Edgar Allan
Label:Nightmare
Genre:Prog Metal
Location:Denver Colorado
Quality & Originality:Revolution is Dimension's third release that really comes out swinging. The lyrics or messages behind the music is about as serious as can be from taking a close look about War, Life, Religion and the mind behind it all. The music is top notch and same with production with a great mastering. The over all song writing on this album is some of the best I have heard this year with so many dimensions and emotions wrapped up into a great massive release. My only even remote wish on the album is the vocals was a bit louder but besides that this really is a technical album mixed with so many styles from the best styles of European prog and American Metal.
My Opinion:Dimension is not new to the music scene in there travels they have graced the stages with heavy hitters Evergrey, Anthrax, Pagan's Mind and so many more. It is amazing that they pull off as much as a trio as most bands do with a five or six many line up. This is a real ambitious album for them with two discs and two bonus cover songs that even the most seasoned band would not be able to pull off that this band does much justice to. Dimension really takes that European feel and mixes it with the American attitude and comes out with a Revolution that is damn amazing!!
Overall & Favorites:The Source, Tears and Blood, War Dream. I give this amazing Revolution a solid 8.5/10 for giving me another great Dimension to love there music!!!
Contact:www.dimensionband.com
www.facebook.com/Dimensionband/timeline
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