Interview by David Pearce
Metal Shock Finland’s Dave Pearce caught up with David and James from BULL RIFF STAMPEDE at Hammerfest 5, not long after they had played the second stage and here is what they had to say about their influences. They spoke also about their tour, the music business and how they would change it and what were their highlights of playing the second stage.
Interview by David Pearce
Metal Shock Finland’s Dave Pearce caught up with the IRON KNIGHTS at Hammerfest 5. Here is what the band had to say about their influences, upcoming tour with VICIOUS NATURE, about the music business and how they would change it.
The band originally formed as STUKA SQUADRON, touring the UK for several years and releasing an album ‘Tales Of The Ost’ which garnered excellent reviews with its telling of the adventures of a squadron of vampire STUKA pilots. In late 2012 after a much-needed personnel change the revitalised band were reborn as IRON KNIGHTS.
Reviewed By David Pearce
Artist – Red Rose
Album – On The Cusp Of Change
Label – Scarlet Records
Year – 2012
Track Listing:
1. When Roses Faded
2. Chasing Freedom
3. King Of The Local Crowd
4. Original Sin
5. Alone In The Night
6. This Bitter World
7. Don’t Believe This Tales
8. Seize The Day
RED ROSE’s style is a mixture of melodic hard rock and classic heavy metal, with a light progressive touch, taking inspiration a lot from the 80’. Beautiful melodies, heavy guitars, high clean vocals, extensive use of the keys and backing vocals, meaningful lyrics – all these define Red Rose. And this mixture finds a more solid incarnation in their new work, which is certainly a big leap forward for the band. Their debut “Live the Life You’ve Imagined” was released in 2011 (a year after the band has formed) under Bakerteam Records, and received a lot of positive feedback both from critics and fans. The new work, entitled “On the “Cusp of Change”, was recorded at ‘Jailhouse Studios’ with the renounced Danish producer Tommy Hansen (who has recorded the band’s debut as well), and he assessed the band’s progress saying that it “improved tremendously in all respects, including songwriting and performance”. The Brazilian master Jobert Mello skilfully transferred the album’s lyrical concepts and ideas into visual arts. Having a fateful (so it seems) trouble finding a drummer, the guys from Red Rose turn to a session musician. And for this second record Matan Shmuely the drummer of a known Israeli band ‘Orphaned Land’, takes the job of a drummer. With two albums on the list, Red Rose is ready to expand the live performance activity and build its way up to the big stage!
The album starts of with When Roses Faded this is the longest song on the album at 10:09, but it is a good solid song with some great vocals, some good quality riffs and solos and some good rhythm on the keyboards and the melodies are a joy to behold. The Second and Third songs on the album are Chasing Freedom and King Of The Local Crowd, both of these songs have some really good intricate pieces in them with the keyboards and the guitars. The vocals on these are top quality they have some really good lyrics and the beat instantly gets my head banging as the songs go on. The Fourth song on the album is Original Sin the song starts off with a bit of keyboard then gradually builds up and the vocals are again very well done. The intricate guitar work and the keyboards give this song a different dimension but a very good song indeed.
The Fifth and Sixth songs are Alone In The Night and This Bitter World, these songs are really good, they have some quality vocals and they are perfect if you want a “pick me up” from a hard day, the feel good factor really hits you in these Two songs. The Seventh song is Don’t Believe This Tales, it is a good solid song with some good melodies, guitar riffs and solos. The keyboards on this are out of this world really impressive and the vocals again are just what you need in this perfect. The Eighth and final song on the album is Seize The Day this song is a perfect ending to the album it is sung with passion and the guitar work is second to none also the keyboards are really do make the song a perfect ending to a perfect album.
Overall
This has got some long songs that range from Six minutes up to Ten minutes long. But I must say the songs are done perfectly they keep you engrossed at the way. They have produced these songs with some fantastic vocals, superb guitar riffs and solos and some very good quality keyboarding. Throughout the album the melodies have been outstanding. The album is well worth a listen and one I am really glad that I have heard it.
7 / 10
Members
Leve Laiter – vocals
Elnur Aliev – guitars
Deion Kristen – keyboards
Eli Reeve – bass
Reviewed By David Pearce
Artist – Beholder
Album – The Order Of Chaos
Label – Razorline Records Ltd
Year – 2013
Track Listing:
1. Black Flag
2. Profit Of The Lie
3. Here I Stand
4. Splinter
5. The Tale Of Eleanor Grey
6. Killing Machine
7. Morphine Serenity
8. Liar
9. Toxic Nation
10. Out Of The Ashes (Instrumental)
11. Footprints
12. This Blackened Earth
Since Beholder’s initial release “The Awakening” in 2009 which was praised by both media and fans, the band has been relentlessly touring in both the UK, Europe and Scandinavia and building a healthy army of support from increasingly fervent metal fans worldwide. With the addition of Scott Taylor to the fold in 2011, as guitarist Simon Cliffe departed to focus on his own studio Commitments, the band has enjoyed praise for their live shows and in early 2012 they embarked on a project to cement the new sound and build an album with power, intensity and the honest Beholder vibe, yet retaining the aggressive melodies associated with the band.
Fiercely proud to be British yet disillusioned with much the Nation offers has meant anger, frustration and pure bloody fury has lyrically shaped this album as an all out attack! With undeniable hook lines, complexity and brutal delivery that will draw you in kicking and screaming as we again point scorn and derision at a world marked by massive inequalities of wealth and power. 12 blistering tracks featuring all the hall marks that make Beholder one of the UK’s most prized underground metal acts, THE ORDER OF CHAOS promises over 60 minutes of metal that will propel the band to a wider market. Whether it is politicians, bureaucrats, celebrity, media, war tyrants, plastic faced hags, those who have simply shaped the world or just a need for a flesh ripping zombie apocalypse fix, and all are thrown into the album. This is a must for fans of True Traditional Progressive Thrash Metal.
The First song on the album is Black Flag. It starts off with some spoken words with sirens in the distance, the song then breaks into a rip roaring riff that gets my heading nodding straight away with excitement. This continues through the rest of the song and it is a perfect way to start the album. The Second and Third songs are Profit Of The Lie and Here I Stand. Both of these songs are full of pounding power, which is just what you want in an album of this magnitude. The vocals on these are so full of power that you have to stand up and take notice. Also the lyrics are so full of passion, you can just hear it when Simon sings, he makes you believe every word. The guitar work on the songs are second to none, and Here I Stand is my favourite on the album by far. It has a quality chorus that has been stuck in my head since I first heard it. The lyrics are so meaningful and the way they have been delivered is absolutely awesome quality stuff. The riffs and solos in the song made me think just how good these guys really are.
The Fourth song is Splinter, it begins with sounds like a doctor talking about giving a woman a face lift, then the song breaks into a quality style metal riff with pounding drums. The vocals kick in, telling the story of the having a face lift and the horror and pain that come with it. I must say it is a quality song describing what does happen, together with the guitars and the drums pounding out the beat, which go so well together, making the perfect sound for the album.
The Fifth and Sixth songs on the album are The Tale Of Eleanor Grey and Killing Machine. The song The Tale Of Eleanor Grey starts off slower than the other songs. Also, the vocals at the start are a lot lower than normal, but this gives the song the eeriness. Then it does go back to the high tempo that the album is built on, with some quality riffs and solos that will blow your mind. Killing Machine starts off with a fast upbeat tempo and the guitars shredding out a top quality fast riff. The vocals are again in top form on this song, hard and full of passion you just cannot ignore, you have to listen to them. The song has some high quality fast drumbeats on them as well, which just blow me away. The Seventh and Eighth songs on the album are Morphine Serenity and Liar, both of these songs have some quality lyrics telling stories of the highest quality. Together with that, you have some absolute cracking guitar riffs that really do justice to the songs and the solos, they are outstanding technical pieces of work of the highest order indeed.
The Ninth song is Toxic Nation, it starts off slow with a little low guitar riff which then bursts into life, after a few tasters in between each section. This song has probably the highest tempo of all the songs so far on the album. But it fits the album so well, with the pounding drums smashing out the beat and the quality riffs that make you just want to get that old air guitar out and shred along with them. The vocals on this are again top quality.
The Tenth and Eleventh songs on the album are Out Of The Ashes (Instrumental) and Footprints. A nice surprise to the album was a top quality instrumental, full of passion. For me you don’t hear enough instrumentals on metal albums, so hear to one on this album was awesome, it fits the album perfectly. Then we go straight into a full-blown heavy song with Footprints. Again it has some really well done riffs and solos, Simon’s vocals are joy to behold, they are so passionate and when he sings you can just feel it.
The final song is This Blackened Earth, it starts off with a slow beautiful sounding guitar riff, which continues through the song for a couple of minutes then the tempo rises slightly. The vocals start off low and then they power into gear. This song has a lot of tempo changes: one minute it is slow, then it goes for a bit of power. It definitely keeps you on your toes, but it has been perfectly done. It has some real good intricate pieces of guitar work in it and it is the longest song on the album at 8:17, but it is a perfect ending to the album.
Overall
These guys are at the forefront of British heavy metal with this album. It is so powerful with its top quality solid guitar work and the vocals are strong and full of passion. It is one of the best albums I have heard this year so far, I think to beat this you have to go a long way because this has it all for me.
10 / 10
Members
Simon Hall – Vocals
Scott Taylor – Guitar & BV’s
Martyn Blackwell – Guitar & BV’s
Si Fielding – Bass / BV’s
Chris Bentley – Drums
Physical copies of THE ORDER OF CHAOS will be available via Beholder own shopfront sites.
http://beholder.bigcartel.com
http://www.beholderuk.com
http://www.razorlinemusic.com
http://www.facebook.com/beholderuk
http://www.reverbnation.com/beholder
All the usual Digital Download sites will also apply.
Reviewed by David Pearce
Artist: Briar Rose
Album: Dark Lord
Label: Roaar Records
Year: 26th June 2012
Track Listing
1. Screwdriver
2. Egowhore
3. Black Carousel
4. You Can Not Kill What Will Not Die
5. The Illusion Dwellers
6. My Girlfriend Is A Witch
7. Blackdiamond Alley
8. Eyes Of Wonder
9. The Portrait Of Carlotta
10. Tick Tock
11. The Goblin Heart
12. Three Little Fishies
BRIAR ROSE:
Formed: 1988 for nearly 25 years, BRIAR ROSE has blasted it’s brand of Traditional Heavy Metal from their home in Massachusetts to all corners of the world. With a brace of albums and tours the band continues to please and excite their ever growing, fiercely loyal fanbase. Most recently with it’s newest release “Dark Lord”, produced once again by The Dark Lord himself Chris Tsangarides (Anvil, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest) who also produced their previous album “Roses Are Rare, Violence Is True“. The twelve tracks included on the album were recorded at Tsangarides’ Ecology Room studio in Kent, England where he also joined the band on guitar during the recordings. Tracks from the album have been given plenty of airplay worldwide. “Egowhore“, “The Portrait Of Carlotta“, “Black Carousel” and “My Girlfriend Is A Witch” among others are quickly becoming favourites of the fan base as well as the friends the band are welcoming daily. As the band enters into its 25th year of uncompromising, unforgiving metal in 2013, plans are underway for the next album as well as many more shows and events for there fans everywhere. Never giving in to trends and false genres, BRIAR ROSE remains dedicated to bringing you high-energy traditional metal as only they can; Metal…Deal with it.
The first track on the album is Screwdriver it starts off with a low hum then the song kicks in with a quality riff and the vocals come with it. The song reminds me of stuff that was produced in the eighties and it is great to hear to bring that style through again it has some really good solos the vocals are good as well a great start to the album. The second and third songs on the album is Egowhore and Black Carousel the song Egowhore is very punchy, it got my head nodding right from the start it is a really good song one of my favourites on the album. It has some catchy riffs, quality solos and the vocals are done to perfection I could listen to this all day. Black Carousel, I like the touch of the cymbals to start the song and again the song has a real grit to it right through the song, the riffs are to die for hitting the right spot all the time and the solos are again spot on. The vocals on this are sent out with purpose making sure that you take notice and I sure did quality. The fourth and fifth songs are You Can Not Kill What Will Not Die and The Illusion Dwellers both of these songs are done to a very high standard from the vocals to the bass and the drums. They both have some really great riffs and solo’s especially near the end of The Illusion Dwellers is a stunning solo to end the song. The drums and the bass keep the beat perfectly and the vocals are second to none.
The sixth song is My Girlfriend Is A Witch this is one of the faster songs but it also one of the shortest songs on the album but it still packs a punch with some quality fast paced riffs and solos that will get your head banging. The seventh song is Blackdiamond Alley in, which starts with a blue’s sound style bass riff with the guitar following alongside it the song goes really well on the album. It has a real cool riff that continues through the song it then picks up pace with a cracking solo halfway through the song in which I pick up my air guitar and give it some riffage myself cause it is that damn good top quality. The eight and ninth songs on the album are Eyes Of Wonder and The Portrait Of Carlotta the eighth song Eyes Of Wonder again the style changes. It has a more Gothic sound to it including the vocals, which just shows how versatile the band is and it is great to hear. Again the song has some real good riffs and solos in. The Portrait Of Carlotta starts off with a very Iron Maiden style intro which goes really well with the song but it is no way a Maiden style song in the way it continues. After the intro it gets heavier and the vocals are a bit deeper then a bit further into the song you have some narrative speech then the vocals and guitars come in again it is a good solid song. The tenth song on the album is Tick Tock starts off with a good solid bass line then you get a galloping guitar riff alongside it then the vocals come in with purpose. The tempo halfway through the song picks up bit but keeping the same intensity then comes in a top quality solo. Near the end you had a good bass line to end the song. The eleventh song on the album is The Goblin Heart is the longest song on the album at 9:53 it starts off with a good solid slow riff then it fades out and the drums kick in and also the vocals they are soft and it tells a good story. Then a heavy guitar riff comes in with the vocals and the tempo slowly rises and this gets my head nodding in appreciation then when I was getting into it the tempo drops instantly then the bass comes in with the vocals slowly then the tempo rises again slowly. But with a cracking riff alongside the vocals the song finishes with a high quality riff and solo. The song tells a great story well worth all of the 9:53 that the song is in length. The twelfth and final song on the album is Three Little Fishies it also is the shortest song on the album at 0:49 seconds but it is a fast paced song just perfect to end the album.
Overall
This album is a stunning piece of work if you have not heard of these guys you should have along with all the albums that I have reviewed over the last eight months or so I have really enjoyed how this has been put together. I could hear so many different styles and bands in these songs it just was a breath of fresh air hitting me in every song. A true heavy rock n roll album that will get your juices flowing and your headbanging non-stop! If you want an album to rock out to this is the one it is top quality full of great vocals, drums, bass lines, riffs and solo’s.
9/10
Band Members
Vocals: Randy Blake II
Drums: Jay Vanderpool
Bass: Chris Landoch
Keyboards: Joe McDonald
Guitar: Jeff Tundis
Website
https://www.facebook.com/pages/BRIAR-ROSE/69712254765
http://www.reverbnation.com/briarrose
http://www.myspace.com/briarrosebandofficialmyspace
http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/briar_rose
Interview by David Pearce
Dave the drummer from Swedish metallers Sister Sin took time out of his busy schedule to talk to Metal Shock Finland about their new album & video and here is what he had to say.
Hello, I’m David, Welcome to MSFinland!
Thank You! I’m also David or Dave as some say across the pond.
Which bands would you say inspired or influenced you?
As far as the music I’d say W.A.S.P. Accept, Judas Priest, and Twisted Sister etc. When it comes to the lyrics I listen to a lot of Hardcore stuff, the British style like Doom, Extreme Noise Terror and tons Swedish likes like Disfear, Driller Killer and Wolfbrigade who have a lot meatier & heavier tone to say the least.
What has been your most memorable show or moment?
I guess it would be opening for Motörhead in Milwaukee in 2009. Two days before we just got off the worst tour we’ve ever been on, everything that could go wrong or happen happened. So we were all kind of low, tired & wanted to go home but we had these two Motorhead shows scheduled and it really made up for the whole U.S tour. We didn’t know what to expect since we’ve heard that the Motorhead crowds could be pretty tough on openers. But it was fantastic, crowd was awesome, band & crew awesome & we got to meet Lemmy which was a dream come true for sure since we’re all huge fans!
What kind of set will you be playing on you’re up coming tour?
We’ll be doing a lot of songs from “Now and Forever” of course and basically the singles from “Switchblade…” and “True Sound” But I think we’ll have almost 20 songs rehearsed so we can change it up a bit from time to time.
If there was any festival in the world that you could play at, which one and where would it be?
There’s two actually and we just confirmed one of them. Can’t tell you which just yet but keep an eye open! Then there’s Wacken Open Air. Heard so many great things about that festival so it would be really cool if we got on there for next summer!
Your Video “End Of The Line” has had over a 100,000 views on you tube did you think it would go down so well with the fans?
You never know. We released the track as single a couple of weeks earlier and the response to that had been fantastic so I guess we had kind of high expectation. Its over 200,000 views now in a couple weeks so certainly didn’t think it would go down that well so we’re all really happy about it!
You have a new album out can you tell me about it?
It’s called “Now and Forever”, our third full-length album. Bands always say this but for me, its hands down our best achievement to date. It’s gritty, heavy, fat hooks & choruses and Liv is screaming her lungs out as always. I guess it’s our most diverse album as well as you can find influences ranging from Trash to NWOBHM. Also has our first ever ballad on it.
Technically how does this album differ to your last album?
Quite a bit; we talked about this early on before starting writing that we wanted to keep the basic concept from “True Sound of the Underground” but stir it up without losing our signature sound. So this time we focused a lot on different vocal arrangements, different keys & tuning plus adding various elements like strings etc. something we’ve never done before.
What can you tell us about the lyrics to the album and what influenced them?
Like I mentioned earlier, I listen to a lot of hardcore stuff so I like that rebellion theme. I’ve always been a punk head and although people often compare us to Motley Crue and other hairbands, we’ve never been about that lyric wise. I guess it’s kinda dark, at least darker than the previous two. “End of The Line” is a tweak regarding religious fanatics; “Morning After” is a straight up suicide letter. “Hearts of Cold” is loosely based on Juha Veikko Valjakkala & Marita Routalammi, which I guess you’re probably familiar with.
The album has been out for just over a week now how has the response been for it?
It has really been overwhelming! The reviews have been awesome; we’ve made our best first week sales in the U.S and the album landed at #6 on the Swedish Rock/Metal Charts so we’re really excited about getting on the road and tour for this one!
What is your track of the moment, the song you have to keep on playing?
This might sound retarded but I was watching a Swedish television show where they follow different artists around in each episode. About a week ago the program featured a band called First Aid Kit, which is two young girls with fantastic voices doing this country vibe stuff. Apparently they’re pretty big but I’ve never heard of them before. Anyhow, they performed, just the two of them with an acoustic guitar, a song called “Emmylou” and it was awesome! Can’t stop listening to it, haha. It’s weird because it’s nothing like what I usually listen to but I’m hooked.
You are on the bill for Hammerfest 5 next year how did that come about?
Don’t know really. We got an offer though our agent and we confirmed. We are very excited though.
Are you looking forward to playing Hammerfest 5?
Yeah, definitely! It’s been awhile since we’ve been to the U.K so we’re gonna add some headline dates over there around the festival as well.
Thanks for the interview are there any last words that you like pass on to our readers and your fans?
“Now and Forever” Get it, get into it or get out! See you all soon our Finnish friends!
Cheers
http://www.sistersin.com
http://www.victoryrecords.com/sistersin
Dont’ forget to check out the “Now And Forever” review HERE
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 