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TODAY FOREVER “Relationshipwrecks” (2012)
Label: Bastardized Recordings

Tracklist:
01. Sovereign
02. Lady On The Shore
03. Dynamics
04. Good Weekend
05. Waiting Forever
06. Boreout
07. The Trial
08. Stop Boring Us
09. Relationshipwrecks
10. Soothe My Soul
11. Dancing Queen
12. Thirtysomething

Urgency, passion and maturity, will be the edges of this sharp triangle figure geometric directing the individual lambda of to stop and lay an ear has this new album of the  German legends TODAY FOREVER, hardcore to the fingertips, metal and melodical in its authenticity.

This spontaneous music is a journey, an adventure, a discharge of adrenaline in short formats, expediate such as uppercuts, a slap in the mouth for waking up our dull lives too often ossified.
Pachydermic riffs, abrasive vocals, Christian Besteck plays his life through epileptic song  lines. The rest of the group is involved and issued real bombs which are all fly (“The Trial”, “Boreat”). It is of modern Hardcore, keeping his passion and claims in his traditional approach but with a good punch, not so far than an inspired “emo-core”  (quite rare thing, note that…). Careful production, a few alarming guests (Billy Hamilton of Silverstein, Andrew Neufeld and Scott Wade in Comeback Kid) and inspired artwork will make this new wake a kick well beautiful case to obtain as quickly as possible.

10 years of existence and now 4 albums to his credit.
This group has not failed to amaze, Over and over again.

7/10

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

MICHAEL SCHENKER “Temple Of Rock”

Tracklist :
1. Intro
2. How Long
3. Fallen Angel
4. Hangin’ On
5. The End Of An Era
6. Miss Claustrophobia
7. With You
8. Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead
9. Stormin’ In
10. 0scene Of Crime
11. Saturday Night
12. Lover’s Sinfony
13. Speed
14. How Long (guitar Battle Version)
15. Remember

« Quis ut deus »

BI-polar or not, offering the worst as the best (albums, concerts, or interviews), rest that he remains forever the Electric Blond Archangel, the initiator of a sound, a style, almost of a musical genre. Michael is back.
Deflated soufflé Strangers in the Night (bye bye Slash and minimum service for the brother Rudolph providing on two small pieces of sharp rhythmic) and new variation with this “Temple of Rock”(with the abominable package) stamped Schenker, it erases everything and again…
Line-up of killers with Herman Rarebell, Pete Way (UFO) and Michael Voss (Mad Max) on vocals, flashy for a traditional hard rock production, it reassures once past the intro narrated by Captain Kirk in doud “How Long”, ôde to the Flying V, which as the other 13 pieces will honour to the legend.

It is good, all good.
Indeed, the versatile guitarist who since “Tales of Rock n Roll” (2006) seemed to find a renewed force and say any net inspiration proves with this last that an artist having in his sacred fire, even if flawed, even if burned, soul can always give the gift, as a resurgent phoenix from the ashes.
Michael is a fantasy. Michael is also erratic. I always loved, and this since 1981. The trip will certainly was hard, but when you love, it is against all. Despite everything.
Hence this pleasure in listening of “The end of an era”, with the moving Hammond of Don Airey (Deep Purple) and the striking distinctive of Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus), the exciting “Before the devil knows you re dead” (sublimated by a still excellent Doogie White), the “Lover’s Sinfony” powerful and transcended by the warm of the McAuley colleague organ or replaying the song “How Long” end of the album with entries noticed Leslie West (Mountain) and Michael Amott (Arch Enemy), everything is perfect, everything is jubilation everything is shivering.

The pleasure is intact, memories shine of thousand fires. The elusive rebel to new its legendary name in the pyramid temple of the hard rock altar flowers of our environmentally friendly legislation.
Michael Schenker is a phoenix.
Fire in him will never die.
Rock will never die-

7/10

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX
(Proofreading by Rick Palin)

Line-up :
Michael Schenker (guitar)
- Michael Voss (vocal, guitar)
- Pete Way (bass)
- Herman Rarebell (drums)
- Robin Mcauley (vocal)
- Doogie White (vocal)
- Rudolf Schenker (guitar)
- Leslie West (guitar)
- Michael Amott (guitar)
- Don Airey (keys)
- Paul Reymond (keys)
- Chris Glen (bass)
- Neil Murray (bass)
- Carmine Appice (drums)
- Chris Slade (drums)

IRON SAVIOR : The Landing (2011)
Label: AFM Records

Track List :
1. Descending
2. The Savior
3. Starlight
4. March Of Doom
5. Heavy Metal Never Dies
6. Moment In Time
7. Hall Of The Heroes
8. R. U. Ready
9. Faster Than All
10. Before The Pain
11. No Guts, No Glory

Megatropolis felt the end of course, the metallic stallion slavered well too  reach the forefront, constantly overwhelmed by the large Gamma Ray and Helloween brothers. Blind Guardian, was already running in another category.
Four years have passed and if beautiful packaging excites the eye, it must admit that I had not hoped  for more  of this 7th album (entitled The Landing) horsemen in battle if descriptive and beautiful surname as IRON SAVIOR, drived by the brave warrior Piet Sielk (vocals and guitar, and many more…), the bit tooth desiring to impose once for any in the collective consciousness its proud Steed bring about barrens of a Germanic power metal any first category.

Clearly, the challenge is successful.
Faithful, Joachim “Piesel” Küstner fand Thomas Nack are still there with their sides to the return of Jan-Sören Eckert (already in Affairs on Unification, Dark Assault and Condition Red). A pledge of good sense and an undeniable added value.

Simple, disk sweeps all on its passage, far away from a speed monolithic to propose some tempos slowed but infernal power (“The Savior” or successful ride “Before The bread”, too rare in their world of gross but absolutely unstoppable attempt) and that of melodies, sharpened, which lead to real hymns, such as the proud “Heavy Metal Never Dies” (it would have liked a little more ambitious video…) or the thunderous “Faster Than All” who practice what he preachesnamely, metal nuclear, clear and concise, that IRON SAVIOR control since 1996 with force and honor.
Always this voice so evocative (Chris Boltendhal, Hansi Kürsch, or Blackie Lawless) and this rigour in the comments even mitigated by adding choirs and twins-sharp guitars, move away our teutonics riders of rigidity and the relegation in the meadow to graze ad vitam eternam herbs of frustration.

This angry album gives new life to a group much too under-valued but which is the pride of all those who live and breathe “Metal” (same approach regarding the next RAGE, chronic coming soon…)

IRON SAVIOR, far distant galaxies has run indefinitely in orbit comes with this beautiful album crashed to Earth and therefore the metal contamination can begin. Nobody never leaves safe.
And it is so much the better.

8/10

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

Who else than NECRODEATH is to practice what it preaches, the priesthood…? The years do not count when the ardour and passion take root in their hearts. The 10th superb album “Idiosyncrasy” (see the review) gives you more info regarding these wild, racy, proud and indompatable animals. This interview with NECRODEATH reinforces my statements: the “class” is permanently Italian! NECRODEATH are Flegias – Vocals, Peso – Drums, Pier – Guitars, GL – Bass.

Mel Delacroix: 1987-2012 and Necrodeath is still in its place! What is the secret of this life?

Peso: Hi Mel nice to hear from you…sorry for the delay but we are really busy in these days of the beginnin of the year… There’s no secret in Necrodeath’s life and energy… it’s just the line up that works with a great passion as always and we try to do our best… What concerns our album “Idiosyncrasy” we worked a lot for all these 40 fuckin minutes… I guess, in all, about 2 years, if I think the first main riff I wrote to it .. ;)

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SEVEN THORNS “Return To The Past” (2011)
Label: Nightmare Records

Tracklist:
Liberty [4:45]
End Of The Road [4:41]
Through The Mirror [4:26]
Freedom Call [4:19]
Countdown [5:02]
Forest Majesty [4:09]
Spread Your Wings [5:24]
Fires And Storms [5:31]
Return To The Past [5:59]

BIGGER THAN LIFE

First: Thanx Axel, great job!
Second: It is never too late to do.
Third: How will I now live in suffocating  silence waiting for each of the albums of this wonderful and amazing group that is Seven Thorns, an absolute revelation in metal (since Pathfinder, I was expecting such emotions!), highlighting a heavy power metal racy by an incredible aptitude was known with each note kiss the firmament, with each melody shiver that remains me of soul, find the way  that leads to my heart.
My God, this music is like the newborn’s first shuffle.

These Danes are magicians, and the first real album, “Return to the Past”(out 2011) is an elixir of youth, which dice the first piece “Liberty” (with Olaf Lenk guest of choice) announces a road paved with gold. This hot, charming voice that takes you by the hand and you leads in a whirlwind of sensations that will now be your best friend, and this magnificent storyteller of Erik Blomkvist will become  the main jewel in a jewel case, “ecrin” of melodic metal absolutely classy and powerful, made by the enchanting guitars and air of the virtuoso and inspired Christian Strojer and those of supersonic Gabriel Tuxens, by hypnotic keyboards’s  Asger Nielsen’s shaman with the complicity of Mikkel Henderson (Fate, Evil Masquerade), by the precision bassist Nicolaj Marker and the human metronome Lars Borup, who knows what means feeling and groove, that everything is enveloped in beauty by the legendary Tommy Hansen.

Really, it should be here be absolute clarity: was rarely heard such a wonder.

This sense of plenitude, this pleasure communicative immediate, it is the real power of this music that transcends you, pierces, and then the trance and dance of joy, and finally the Redeemer breath, there is a lack of oxygen both it take you flirting with the highest peaks.
Enlivening choruses, solis neo-classics, hellish refrains, musical flight of a lyrical nature embracing the heavens, inspired texts, it affects to the sublime (“End Of The Road”, “Through The Mirror”) and in the calyx is takeoffs At Vance, Masterplan, Sonata Artica bloods: we speak here of total perfection.
They are not many offer you such chills, this rare gift is precious.

Instantly catchy, bombastic, each song becomes a hymn to joy, and you know that you will live the rest of your life with this music by your side. It can’t leave you. For the best. Always for the best.

This music will forge your future memories.
It was written without doubt I’ll meet a new friend to accompany me in the swamps of the melancolia for the still fragile years to come, faithful as friends have been Whitesnake in 1987, Dr. Feelgood’s Motley in 1989 & as well as more recently one of the last moves of absolute lightning, Fate in 2006 with the album V,  and of course for those who read me (what good taste, friends!), this Lou Reed & Metallica (see my column…), which all have wrought me, loved, helped.

Today (this night) is a great day:
Seven Thorns has delighted my heart.
For eternity.
Metal is my Destiny-

10/10

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

LOU REED & METALLICA “Lulu” (2011)
Label:     Vertigo Records, Warner Bros. Records, Universal Music Group

Tracklist :
1. Brandenburg Gate -4:19
2. The View -5:17
3. Pumping Blood -7:24
4. Mistress Dread -6:51
5. Iced Honey -4:36
6. Cheat On Me -11:26
7. Frustration -8:34
8. Little Dog -8:01
9. Dragon -11:08
10. Junior Dad -19:29

… Outside of the night the dogs bark, but you cannot see their teeth, the howl  of the inquisitors is hiding behind the black sunglasses, it creates the rock as a faltering architecture. This electricity is undergoing in its 17 years, wield for spitting in the bitter seed in the face of the world. Who could hear it, who could understand otherwise the feverish apocalypse of the horsemen, virtuosos of the brutal, eclectic when the mass desires them to be simply electric.

The clash of the Titans. The Genesis too.
It’s staggering, but does not fall… crowded garbage cans and other bloodied street sherds, filled preservative and emptied libraries, lick the toes of the smuggler souls, so that finally they take you to the discharge cellars. This music feels the piss, it’s stroking the shoulders of death and so much better because the Velvet was not The Doors.

More than collaboration, we are talking here about an absolute symbiosis, two artistic entities, the summit of their prerogatives, to give birth to an understandable euphoria, an absolute leader of work exceeding the limited strictures of often self-absorbed Metal (and often from a conservative and framework mainstream audience) and imposing the work stamped “Rock” in 2012.

“Lulu”, written by the German Frank Wedekind, narrates the social rise and fall of a woman who goes to a murderer that she loved …and that finally became a prostitute before she sank and died. Almost a 90 minutes emotional vertigo where everything is possible, raped tags, blinding lights, you know, when you walk in the shit it leaves for sure traces. The mud is our best friend, it barriers us to a sumptuous cloak, princes of nothing for a defined time, you know that the demons like that dirt, blood and vomit. This shit is regenerative, it feeds our souls and swollen errors, cracked by both of bad taste and damage, as a stretchmark on the baby’s skin.

Lulu, musical abecedaire of a vision, tree genealogy of rock n roll circus , testament of rock & pure oxygen.

Transform the Machine, and spit the bile, and leave the Stock Market to scream. The success of the company will be decried, it cannot be otherwise. And it is the pledge that this sensory adventure merits, bondage music, this ode to life does not sell off cheaply its charms to the first premature ejaculator.

10 titles distributed on 2 cd,  many of them exceed 6 mins, a perfect artwork and production of a subliminal clarity makes this album a sacred and powerful collection. Lou Reed has never sung (spoken) as well, and Metallica loves to play. The fun is contagious. The music is a virus.

The last track “Junior Dad” with its 19:29 minutes enlight the listener to a pure auditory miracle, and you can say:
I cried. I screamed. I betrayed. But great God, I felt alive.
Just a moment
LIVING-

Engraved in Soul.

10/10

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

RIOT “Immortal Soul” (2011)
Label: SPV Steamhammer

Tracklist :
1. Riot
2. Still Your Man
3. Crawling
4. Wings are for Angels
5. Fall Before Me
6. Sins of the Father
7. Majestica
8. Immortal Soul
9)Insanity
10. Whiskey Man
11. Believe
12. Echoes

Riot is back!
Tony Moore is again at the microphone, the fire is declared and devastates all on its passage.

Heavy Metal of the highest calibre, as in the usual, this Immortal Soul is a nice package (conducted by Tony himself) with the historical logo, will reach the summits.

Epique, RIOT (as well as the first title eponyme) is. “Halfordian” in the lyrical flights and speed metal in the tradition, this fact speak American metal powder with superb melodical compositions, thank Tony to have not been delivered when he condemned any return in 2009 in Riot…
“Still Your Man” with its rhythmic worthy of a cheerful rest Maiden, and “Crawling” darker, to pachydermics riffs, which recall some seductive Oriental perfumes which attack the flesh with chills.
This miraculous output coupled with the new Primal Fear and Iron Mask should make your pleasure in this beginning of year metal, which will be responsible…

Mark Reale commands since 1975, welcome the strength of character after numerous changes in line-up (how to forget the talented Rhett Forrester…) which have deepened the hopes placed in this beautiful tawny, this absolute animal power is Riot.
Old school in mind, but well anchored in modern times, flashy and nerve production, while here is just exhilarating, as shown the “Wings for Angels are” speed, which would place such a formula 1 circuit of the recognition, first on the podium. Mid-tempo and voice carrying torrents of emotions, “Fall Before Me” will know tenderizing the more ballads rebellious.

If after a difficult night, you have the morning thirst for life, you’ll listen this RIOT!

Classic, robust, air, positively enthusiastic along his 12 titles, magnified by the vocal performance of the always excellent Tony, this album gives you your daily dose of heavy metal vitamins. This is huge in these turbulent times.

Riot, because we are still living, and that this music will accompany long still the beating of our hearts.
Metal is Forever-

8/10

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

WILDPATH “Underneath” (2011)
Label : Brennus

Tracklist:
Unearthed
Dive
Reviver
The Craft
Anchored
Timeworn
Dreaming Doll
Buried Moon
Frozen
X
Crystallized
Underneath
bonus track

“…and the Princess had for her godmothers all the Fairies they could find in the whole kingdom (they found seven), that every one of them might give her a gift, as was the custom of Fairies in those days, and that by this means the Princess might have all the perfections imaginable.  
In the meantime all the Fairies began to give their gifts to the Princess. The youngest gave her gift, that she should be the most beautiful person in the world; the next, that she should have the wit of an angel; the third, that she should have a wonderful grace in every thing she did; the fourth, that she should dance perfectly well; the fifth, that she should sing like a nightingale; and the sixth, that she should play upon all kinds of music to the utmost perfection.”
(Charles Perrault)

Don’t be afraid, THIS IS a Fairytale-

The hope was acceptable, devour is better.
Third album of the French band WILDPATH, Underneath is as a proud  answer to the excellence of the transalpine or Batavian symphonic metal, an evidence that today Hexagon has a marvellous band which, without resting on its laurels (the previous “Non Omnis Moriar” outlined the future table) knows to take risks (small electro, bluesy, dark or jazzy keys here and there) and assert themselves as unbeatabe master-standard.

If you’ve read my previous review (of the last album of Nightwish…) you will understand why all this fun, this indefinissable charm leaner through listening to this compact gift.
Formed by Alexis Garsault (keyboards) and Olivier Caron (lead guitar) in 2001, and as a spokesman the sublime voice, not less electrifiyng Marjolaine Bernard, absolute goddess of this musical Cathedral (and God, as “Pierrelaye” suddenly missing!), the metal company goes towards the perfection.

Heavy Metal Symphony where inspired souls caress each note and each arpege, this sincerity and this passion flows like honey in the throat, hearing the delectation for the days of loved Epica, Within Temptation, or even Amberian Dawn with these funky vocalizations and these electric deflagrations, “malmsteenian” solos and keyboards that would not repudiate Richard Andersson, glorified by pirouetting orchestration reminiscents of the best of Hans Zimmer where you find the absolute purity of Cristiano Filippini (a review coming up soon, indeed…). With the bombastic and eloquent intro, the mass is said.

Huge, in a word: GREAT!
“Underneath” is an earthquake, an eruption of  talent at its peak who will not fail to succumb to the poisonous charm of this entity.  Clear production for the genus, the troubadours of modern times to express themselves freely allowing years smothering to the others, leaving then all freedom to the (I have said) amazing & inspired vocal melodies of levitation, totally overpowering and wonderful art artist. No doubt, if the Angels Sing, they for sure have the voice of Marjolaine…

Bodybuilded ambiances, medieval choirs or disturbing screams (“The Craft”, “X” or “Crystallized”), are contained with an incredible ease of this still young band. An absolute manifest of a musical engraved score by a feather phoenix dipped in the ink flowing of noble and pure hearts. Before this “Beautiful Metal”, you just cannot be bowing, hoping the Savior’s accolade. And for the Princess, I would do anything.

More than a revelation, a Consecration: WILDPATH.

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX
(Proofread by Rick Palin)

NIGHTWISH “Imaginaerum” (2011)
Labels: Nuclear Blast / Roadrunner Records

Tracklist :
01. Taikatalvi
02. Storytime
03. Ghost River
04. Slow, Love, Slow
05. I Want My Tears Back
06. Scaretale
07. Arabesque
08. Turn Loose The Mermaids
09. Rest Calm
10. The Crow, The Owl And The Dove
11. Last Ride Of The Day
12. Song Of Myself
13. Imaginaerum

The Phantom Of The Opera’s Death or another End of a (Little)Era

Rise & Fall, the son will be unreliable…
Dark Passion Play was such a phoenix majestic (yes, i believed in that !), a new heaven towards more pop consonances, with the arrival of Anette Olzon, both scorned, leaving loved Diva, on the lower side, ejected from the train in motion as an ancient amorphous.

The wait for this new opus was huge, probably abusive. I don’t mean the insolent talent of Mr Holopainen, it becomes a master of the genre with its “wagnerienne” orchestrations (Tony Kakko he in hisembedded way) but it is clear that this concept album “Imaginearum” is too often indigestible, and that the recipe now known, is used to disgust with its much too bland intro and the first hit single is bombastic to announce dinner, therefore there will no doubt this album will be proved with “Ghost River”.

More anecdotal B.O. (EPICA tried it also), this is a real new work in the career of NIGHTWISH, this demonstration is close to the runway. Too many affectations on the part of Anette (maybe Tuomas should just try Anna Netrebko’s or Tatiana Monogarova’s inspirations…) & irritants duets with too voluble Marco, the field with an additional key claim and egotism, even if with enjoyable jazzy attempts (“Love Slow Love”) fail here too. Mayonnaise does not good, ever.

The movie (directed by Stobe Harju and Markus Selin productor) will be probably more decisive and enthusiastic, but the disappointment is huge when you are expecting the miracle. Probably the only happiness that this album has, would be listening to it as an instrumental cd, which clears the gimmick acids and would remain so a very beautiful piece of satisfaction (only if you used all your Harry Potter soundtracks…)

No time to loose. I will not come back with flowers.
I prefer a dinner with Tarja-

5/10

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

NOWEN “Essence Of Fear” (january 2012)
Label: Violent Journey Records

The tracklist is:
01. Intro II
02. The Egotist
03. The Inner Beast
04. Crown of Fallacy
05. Path of Destruction
06. Sacrifice for Nothing
07. Deadly Force
08. The Honor
09. Acts of Deceit
10. Corrupted by Poison
11. Essence of Fear

It’s well known that Finland venerates Sepultura, Metallica and Anthrax. It’s just like the Black “folklore”. Therefore it’s not surprising to find these fundamental, as flesh giving life to this vindictive armor NOWEN, who beginning 2012, is beating you with its heavy – Thrash (trash) – Black-metal album entitled “Essence Of Fear”.

A heavy intro and threatening wish to open this second album, which indicates the heavy error it had in the Justin Bieber fan, wanting to offer a musical recreation. Anything but a walk, it is a deluge, a tornado that struck the entire youth.

“The Egotist” with its epileptic rhythmics and its degenerate solos will be a heavy damage in live. More than 10 years existence, different lineup changes, and these 11 pieces are dreadfully sympathetic and relentless, direct uppercuts in the face, it is not pleasant (if you are not a the winner !). Aggressive and heavy, catchy and often ventilated ultra sumptuous solos, the voice is like a sheet of glass, you think you hear a Amon Amarth in Punk! NOWEN is not really the favorite band of your grandmother, but it’s a perfect re-boost for your grandmother’s Spacemaker…!

No need for long speeches, it is fast, brutal, melodic as a mega-Megadeth, as a flood of hungry/angry bestial soldiers, it’s a strong alcohol, a drink of a Man… I don’t want to comment the disastrous artwork, in fact, you’ll love more the content.
The first album was entitled “Nothing But Hate”…
Punk, I tell you…

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

Nowen is:
Lappis – Guitars, Vocals
Markus Taipale – Guitars
Jarno Nurmi – Bass
Ville Vehviläinen – Drums

Listen to Nowen’s “The Honor” on Soundcloud