Reviews
Another release in progressive / classical / metal forms, this genre seems to suffer from the many, almost similar one to each other, releases that really seem to be without any use at all.
Julian’s Lullaby is a Greek band that consists of three members and with this effort provides us with a very descent release, within the borders of female / male fronted Folk Metal.
\r\nThe “I Hear You Thinking” Effort reminds something of Inkubus Sukkubus in a more metal and abstract way. The female vocals are good enough while the male vocals probably need improvement or maybe a better production.
\r\nTheodore Ziras, needs no introduction, Theodore is one of the best greek guitarists of our time. The “Hyerpyrexia” album is his third personal effort, and he collaborated with Derek Sherinian (Y. Malmsteen, Dream Theater, A.Cooper, Billy Idol) on Keybords and Brian Ticky ( Ozzy, Zakk Wylde) on drums.
\r\nThe Grieving Process is a five piece Brutal death metal band from New Jersey that comes out with their first album "Assimilated Deformation" which lasts about 25 minutes of sheer brutality with no compromise.
\r\nThe Glam "overdose" continues with one more album release, and which else might the record company be? Perris Records of course. The Promo-cd that I have in my hands has 10 tracks that remind of the times Firehouse was in the peak of their career. I think that says it all. What’s remarkable is the great job on the guitars, including riffs and solos in my opinion.
\r\nEven though I am not a fan of this music scene, I think that this album in particular has something to say. One thing is for sure, it made me realize that there are still bands that support and keep this music genre alive in a very respectable way. The compositions are good, and so is the production, the musical style is something between Glam, Hard Rock, classic Rock and what’s in common is the melody.
At last, the new album by the Greece’s Septicflesh is a fact. This is the sixth album of the band, the first after their historical reunion. The “Communion” album is recorded at Fredman Studios, Sweden and features nine dark, symphonic and brutal anthems, the way that only Septicflesh could compose and perform.
\r\nHavoc Unit is the band developed directly from the ashes of …And Oceans. Do you remember them? Although their musical anxieties were already obvious under their previous moniker as well, Havoc Unit is a completely different thing. This album has nothing to do with melodic, techno-black metal, this is a clearly industrial-laced hybrid sounding as mechanical as possible which seems to be the focus point here after all.
I wish all metalcore bands could be like this one! Before The Fall come from Austria and specifically Vienna. From Mutism To Riddance is their latest effort. This band is living proof that you don’t have to come from a specific country in order to make good music. By this I mean that even though Austria isn’t the country you would expect to have an offspring that would chance your perspective on metal there are few bands which are more than worth our attention.
Finland’s black/doom/pagan/metallers Wyrd, have returned with their seventh full length effort, in a more doomish way, with a “fastidious” atmosphere and a plenty of accustic / clean guitars. The influences from bands like, Opeth and Katatonia are obvious, on the vinyl version of the album there is also a cover version of Katatonia’s “I Bleak”.