Archives

All posts by meldelacroix

Review: RIOT “Immortal Soul” (2011)

Posted by meldelacroix on January 15, 2012
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

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

Review: WILDPATH “Underneath” (2011)

Posted by meldelacroix on January 12, 2012
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

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)

Review: NIGHTWISH “Imaginaerum” (2011)

Posted by meldelacroix on January 6, 2012
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

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

Review: NOWEN “Essence Of Fear” (january 2012)

Posted by meldelacroix on December 19, 2011
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

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

 

Review: CADAVERIA “Horror Metal” (january 2012)

Posted by meldelacroix on December 15, 2011
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

CADAVERIA “Horror Metal” (january 2012)
Label: BakerTeam Records

Tracklist :
1. Flowers in Fire
2. The Night’s Theatre
3. Death Vision
4. Whispers of Sin
5. Assassin
6. The Days of the After and Behind
7. Apocalypse
8. The Oracle (of the Fog)
9. Requiem
10. This is Not the Silence
11. Hypnotic Psychosis

HUMAN CENTIPEDE

If you look in the grass, you’ll see my ear…Fixed well, black blood does not stain the hands… I erased my memories, they melted, near the chimney or radiator, I don’t know. The fetus spoke me with his kind of voice, nails in the language: “It reaches milestone, here”.

History continues, the Phantom of the Opera screams its white poetry as also all Baudelaire moan in the world. These absurdities are so poisonous and they penetrate so deeply, that the bile after the enjoyment could still sink. I believe that she was beautiful, I believe that this Brown was bitchy. She loved slashing, knitting, kneading, crushing flesh and emotions. See, I am just a wound. “In Your Blood” was a desperate attempt to exist, against all and everything. A dark and delicate manifest, a perforating Metal which could leave no one indifferent.

Bloody theater, this “Horror Metal” “vintage” that sees its release on january 2012, is full of pernicious and hungry worms, so much the better, because it is a feast of King! Death/Thrash/Gothic-Black baroque n’roll (Necrodeath syndrom), Guignol with an axe decapites here all children, breaking the crane as it breaks a nut. I threw up my innocence in the basins of the despair, I think having seen at the bottom the smiling face of Cadaveria.

The stables are changing but not the words. Epic deflagrations & lyrical flights, abrasive voice-whore (“Assassin”) for the most reckless, scouring agent solos, this music that is irritated as the Naple’s garbage from Italy.

Imagine Arch Enemy trailing in the “Bas-Fonds” of Renoir… rinsed, humiliated and lynched, as you, see this Black Metal does not forgive (“The Days of The after And behind”). Progressive Metal as hell is paved from good intentions, this “Open Metal” is embodied as a trap to wolves. Lost in mosses it flirts with grasses but gnaws away the bones of the awkward shaman (“The Oracle”, fascinating eruption).

Beyond the noise, there is this music. As a rat waiting to be crushed by the mouth of a vaginal snake, the flesh licked by acid, I think to remember that once I really loved this music. Relentless, but epidermal and “reassuring”, at the bottom… I was still living…

“This Is Not The Silence”, if there is any? An introspective trip, useless bloodletting of the aborted hopes. Hypnotic martial riffs and always this sharpened voice as a razor, slashing satin skins, this scary thrill. In another life and in another style Tool or Bjork have already dug the fertile land… The puzzle will be the abyss, the regenerative artwork. You know, I still cry when I listen to “The Night’s Theatre”, Lorca whispered to my ear: “all is not yet finished…”

Pop Art Metal, Mystery Novel or Horror Metal, CADAVERIA barrier is white and invites us to the wedding. …and the bride is so beautiful…
Evocation witchcraft-

8/10

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

Band : 
Cadaveria (vocals)
Frank Booth (guitar)
Dick Laurent (guitar)
Killer Bob (bass)
Marçelo Santos (drums)
For more information, please visit:  www.cadaveria.com

Review: WARDRUM “Spadework” (2011)

Posted by meldelacroix on December 11, 2011
Posted in: Reviews. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

WARDRUM “Spadework” (2011)
Label: Steel Gallery Records

Tracklist:
01. The Meaning of Forever
02. Crest of the Wave
03. In Dependence
04. Yesterday
05. Circle of Hate
06. Spadework
07. Turn About
08. Soultrip
09. Inner God
10. Last Neverland

The gods are clement, they offer us the Sacred Fire in the form of the first album of the Greek combative WARDRUM, who with “Spadework” and its spirited and very high progressive power metal should enchant our end of the year.

Formed by the tenacious drummer Stergios Kourou supported by invigorating singer Piero Leporale shares with us, without sentence, his wide range of vocal emotions, fumed by vindictive compositions of “serial-guitarist-killer” Kosta Vreto (Horizon’s End) and groovy bassist Kostas Scandalis, this new band qualifiers a beautiful property: Invested, angry, optimistic in its art, WARDRUM announces a future war on which to be reckoned.

The song “The Meaning Of Forever” is sufficient to understand the beauty of this art. Everything is said in the sumptuously evocative vocal lines, where you feel deeply in your flesh the underlying pain that interferes. This Heavy-Metal edge vintages (Dio, Astral Doors, or Steel Attack for example), the angry heartbreaking solos in their melodical constructions, these rhythmic escapements of an hungry Iced Earth, invite us to feast.

This glorious land where was born the best of the Human Spirit, the battered cradle by severe storms, a child has become a man who’s never relinquished and his pride will be his sword. As long as a human is capable to produce such music, hope will not die.

On the karst torment there is born a trembling silver, WARDRUM with this offering honors twelve Olympians deities and thus becomes immortal among the Immortals, like the enlighted SepticFlesh, Nightfall, Firewind and Rotting Christ. Many were the times when I hammered the fact, but the future of Metal is apparent in the Greek skies. WARDRUM is again a brillant proof of it. Listen to the words of Henry Miller: “In Greece, we have a desire to swim in the sky.”

WARDRUM:  let’s celebrate the vital breath of Heavy-Metal at the top of his art!

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

For more information, please visit: www.wardrum.gr

WARDRUM – Crest Of The Wave