Artist: The Chimpz EP: Who Can I Trust Label: Independent (Self Released) Year: 2011
1. Victim
2. Corrupt
3. Killing Me
4. Who Can I Trust
5. Mr. 44
Straight out of L.A, The Chimpz are entertaining folk from Punk rock, Rock, Metal, and Rap backgrounds. Having played at some of the greatest venues across the US, such as the ‘Whiskey a Go Go’, ‘House of Blues’, ‘Uproar Festival’ they combine a mixture of rap oriented rock and metal like predecessors before them ‘Rage against the machine’.
The layers between metal guitars and heavy bass licks give turn to some very colourful progressions, like that in the track ‘Corrupt’; Then add to that the solo’s which are extremely well executed leaving you wanting more. The mixtures of effects and beats have been very well placed to make a great combination with progressions of the synths in ‘Killing Me’ being just enough to be a great EP. The remaining tracks on this EP are just as technically enthralling as the others. Enter ‘Who Can I Trust’ and the delayed lead melody line just gets your body moving to this all the way.
The overall mix is excellent, the vocal lines are full of expressions, and the music progressions are gracefully produced to give the best possible outcome.
Artist: MOONLOOP Album: Deeply from the Earth Label: Listenable Records Year: May 2012
1. Awaking Spirals of Time
2. Beginning of the End
3. A Life Divided
4. Fading Faces
5. Strombus
6. Deceiving Time
7. Legacy of Fear
8. Wailing Road
9. Landscape
10. Atlantis Rising
Upon entering the first track you are given the much famous harmonic minor with beautiful ‘Satriani/Vai’ type solos, mixed with the most atmospheric textures one could ever ask for in the first track. ‘Beginning of the End’ follows up next with a colourful array of beats and odd picking sequences before the growling vocals takes a turn giving you an intense listening experience. Again we’re given a very colourful mixture of solo’s and breakdowns from the guitars with wah/wah’s laying down the most superior textures and solo’s. The rhythms keep a perfect timing between each of the phrases making way for some extreme features ever to hit your ears.
As you progress through the album, the combination of ‘Opeth’ like features come creeping through the sides giving you another view into a very tactical experiment of this Death Metal band. ‘Fading Faces’ has all the necessary elements to make it not only catchy, but very enjoyable to listen to; from the deep growling and the obscure melodies, into the beautifully strange breakdown with legato and tapped sequences taking the guitars into a realm of their own. As we hit ‘Strombus’ things get slight stranger, if that’s possible! The mixture of Tremolo bar (Whammy) dives and soft classical effect riffs into the most exotic solo on this album, add to this vocal combinations between the growls and the softer backing vocals, then back into death metal is simply at its best and gives you an all out experience most bands will never achieve. The time signature changes really screw with the head but they are so well executed and performed leaving you with a small amount of clarity. ‘Deceiving Time’ starts with a mix of really well controlled feedback and acoustic chord progressions, add to this a distinct sequence of panning between the ears then into metal gallops and high octane picking, phrasing and harmonic (sometimes octave) divides between guitars; this album really has it all. ‘Atlantis Rising’ has some of the most creepy yet beautiful female vocal wailings ever to set foot in an intro, then into the pre-verse and it’s back to the odd time signatures and obscure riffs. Just after half way the bass and lead guitars slow the pace down and put you slap bang in another world, melodic harmonies and choral vocals opening up your mind for another experience.
Absolutely astonishing!
If you want a mix between Satriani, GzR, God Forbid, then you’ll love this!
1. Beautiful Alien
2. Square 1
3. Hangman
4. Good Times, Dark Ages
5. The World Is Ours
6. Kiss from a Rose
7. Don’t You Forget It
8. Cocaine Angel
9. Hole in My Head
10. 2012 Baby
11. Kids Got Moves
Miami rockers Atom Smash have just hit the road promoting their new album ‘Beautiful Alien’ which combines modern rock and country rock in one clever environment.
With the starting track ‘Beautiful Alien’ giving you a combination between Slide guitars, Synths, and the feel of the Wild West on your side all you’re missing is the tumbleweed and possibly the odd shoot out, but it really does take you out there! Another great track on the album is ‘Hangman’ with the rough rhythm chugs and drums carrying the vocals into a new light; everything is really good about this. Great music full of strange and wonderful delights like in the middle of ‘Hangman’ using the odd backing vocals before the solo kicks in and everything just gets better.
I had a little smile to myself upon first hearing ‘Kiss from a Rose’ as I remember growing up to the original version of this by ‘Seal’ and I liked it even back then. Now, I’m not usually a fan of people ripping off other artist’s music but they really have done this song some justice; Very well modified for a new great sound. Into something a little smoother now and we’re given ‘Cocaine Angel’ with the acoustic guitar driving the finger picked rhythms. The vocals are so very balanced to keep you flowing with the music all the way and as it picks up you have already become a part of the song so it just gets better. Onto a very odd song for this album but extremely well written ‘Hole in my Head’ has some excellent licks and riffs, add to that the lead guitar and the harmony line it plays over the top is brilliant. The vocals can be quite confusing at times but that’s not because you can’t hear them, instead because there is so many other things happening at the same time. The last song on the album leaves you with ‘Kids got moves’ using those much welcomed vocals we’ve grown to like, Kurt Cobain-esq acoustic riffs/phrases and obscure drum beats.
There is loads going on with this album and would make excellent easy listening at the end of a heavy shift, or in the car on a long drive.
An excellent way to unwind.
8/10
Reviewed by Dylan Raine
BOBAFLEX, EDISUN, ATOM SMASH Tour
4/5 – Philipsburg, PA @ Club Squared
4/6 – Flint, MI @ Machine Shop
4/7 – La Crosse, WI @ The Varsity
4/10 – Kearney, NE @ The Garage
4/12 – Gillette, WY @ Jakes Tavern
4/13 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
4/14 – Spokane, WA @ A Club
4/16 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
4/17 – La Grande, OR @ Bud Jacksons Sportsmans Bar
4/18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Liquid Joe’s
4/19 – Englewood, CO @ Moe’s
4/20 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Phoenix Lounge
4/21 – Aberdeen, SD @ Radio Convention
ATOM SMASH Dates
5/9 – Rock Hill, SC @ The Money
5/10 – Raleigh, NC @ Berkeley Café
5/11 – Baltimore, MD @ Recher Theater w/ Edisun
5/12 – Vienna, WV @ Yellowbeards (MS Society Fest w/ Skid Row, Trixter, Modern Superstar, more)
EVIL MASQUERADE is set to release their upcoming album ‘PENTAGRAM’ due to be released on MAY 21, 2012. DARK MINSTREL MUSIC is proud to announce this album showreel of the upcoming 5th Album and have included a few new tracks for your listening pleasure. With a fierce combination of heavy metal influences, heavy guitars, powerful vocals, rhythmic bass, keys and drums; this album is looking to become another great release.
Evil Masquerade is making a new stand and is making it a Metal one!
Reviewed by Dylan Raine
The Band:
Apollo Papathanasio (vocals)
Henrik Flyman (guitars)
Dennis Buhl (drums)
Thor Jeppesen (bass)
Artur Meinild (keys)
Track list:
01. Pentagram
02. A Silhouette
03. Perfect Disgrace
04. The Spirits of the Dead
05. Moonlight Fantasy
06. Unholy Water
07. Pray For Mercy on Our Souls
08. Soul Taker
09. On a Bed of Thorns
10. Strangers Might Fool Ya’
11. When the Fire Dies
12. The Golden Ratio
Artist: Lullacry Album: Where Angels Fear Label: End of the Light Records/Scarlet Records Release Dates: North & South America: April 10th 2012, Europe: April 16th 2012
1. Antidote to You
2. Still an Angel
3. Thousand Suns
4. Feel My Revenge
5. Bad Blood
6. All Behind
7. Gone Are the Days
8. I Am
9. Broken (Into Pieces)
10. Where Angels Fear
11. Stay
Melodic Metal band ‘Lullacry’ offer us a view of their latest and 5th album ‘Where Angels Fear’. The band which comes from Helsinki, Finland combines Female driven gothic metal/punk vocals, Heavy catchy rhythms, and fierce drums.
There seems to be a loss of genre allocation somewhere, I listened to the album a few times and at best would describe this as heavy rock/punk but certainly not Metal of any sort. With ‘Lainio’ taking lead vocals, it really feels like you’re listening to a punk album. Unfortunately it has very few emotive songs and nothing that really grabs you. The music itself does have a few catchy elements but mostly that of a good pop song. ‘Gone are the days’ has a lovely opening intro section with loads of weird and wonderful effects until it kicks in, then all the levels disappear, bad mix perhaps? I found this happen quite a few times throughout the album; the levels are fine until suddenly they drop below a good standard. ‘I am’ lacks any real power in the vocals and although the music is ok, it feels over compressed and has the “Warble” in certain places. Another track ‘Where angels fear’, again we’re given a mixture of vocals with some elements of rock, but lacking any real power or expression. The music is good, and has some catchy elements with noticeable parts. The album ends with ‘Stay’; the acoustic intro is very nice to hear after everything that was so disappointing with the album. Beautiful vocals, well, up to a point. Personally I think the mix is bad. Better expressions in the vocals, more use of emotions and textures. Best song on the album for me
All in all, not bad, but not great.
5/10
Reviewed by Dylan Raine
Line up:
Tanja Lainio – vocals
Sami Leppikangas – Lead guitar
Sauli Kivilahti – Guitar
Kimmo “Heavy” Hiltunen – Bass
Jukka Outinen – drums
Artist: Dark End Album: Grand Guignol Book I Label: Crash & Burn Records Year: 2012
1. descent-ascent (II movement)
2. æinsoph – flashforward to obscurity
3. doom – and then death scythed
4. spiritism – the transmigration passage
5. bereavement – a multitude in martyrized flesh
6. grief – along our divine pathway
7. bleakness – of secrecy, haste and shattered crystals
8. pest – fierce massive slaying grandeur
9. decrepitude – one last laugh beside your agonies
10. dawn – black sun rises
As soon as I turned this album on, I felt the smile grow across my face. The elusive “Cheshire Cat” grin was working its way round and there was nothing at all I could have done (or wanted to do) to stop this. The album starts with the most haunting atmospheric textures ever to have been placed inside my mind and I like it! Imagine if you will for a moment, a cross between Nobou Uematsu (Final Fantasy) and Dimmu Borgir and you’re almost close to what this is.
Hidden deep within the archives of your mind is a darkness, and Dark End are the hosts. The music screams its way through your head, tearing apart any sense of decency left inside you. Evil? Not a chance, ‘Grand Guignol Book I’ is the works of a genius.
Within playing the ‘Grand Guignol Book I’ and starting your journey in ‘descent-ascent (II movement)’ you are shown the extent that these musicians have taken to perfect the sound. You are given a glance of what is yet to come, and you don’t want it to stop. With the rich haunting orchestras and the mix between growls, screams, guitars and drums, everything becomes limitless. The setup of the album is particularly interesting; combining full-on shredding with passages of very moving orchestral moments puts everything into a different context entirely.
‘Decrepitude – One last laugh beside your agonies’ with the violins and clarinets breakdown is simply enthralling. Add then if you will those haunting vocals and the orchestras back into the picture and you have yourself another masterpiece waiting to be heard and all the tracks are like this! There is no stopping this album.
A truly inspirational mix between the orchestras, the shredding, the drums, the vocals and every atmospheric texture in this album is just so beautifully crafted and exhilarating. Vocally it is more than intense, musically it is outstanding and melodically it is immense!
‘Grand Guignol Book I’ will be added to the list of the best albums I’ve heard this year, and will take a permanent place on my mp3 player for many years to come.
It is an astonishing masterpiece which originally left me speechless upon first hearing it.
10/10
Reviewed by Dylan Raine
Chief Shock Video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Ads
Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Artist: The Chimpz
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 