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Review: FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE “Agony” (2011)

Posted by meldelacroix on October 20, 2011
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FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE “Agony” (2011)
Label: Nuclear Blast

TRACK LIST :
1. Temptation
2. The Hypocrisy
3. The Imposition
4. The Deceit
5. The Violation
6. The Egoism
7. The Betrayal
8. The Forsaking
9. The Oppression
10. Agony

Penance (and reconciliation…): FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE

Brutal Death Metal (an another name in this darkest category?… no : Just Fuckin’ Brutal!)… Symphony, electricity in technicolor, black-metal, oppressive but melodic, a reek of success, an half bet for these Italians (from Rome) innovating (incandescents and hellish solos, here’s a real success, crying and romantic piano, clear voice, a first in the genus) and proposing “Agony” of 50 mn 10 (mixed and mastered at the 16th Cellar Studios) …we’re talking here about an original band narrating the condemnation of the human race and its own chaining in its investigation of eternal sense and its absolute inability to  sublimate.

The guys with seducing textures (imagine a bodybuilding-mix of Dimmu Borgir and Behemoth, ouch !!), well, it’s a sort of a bit fulsome. And you know why? Too many demonstrations kill the demonstration itself. But it hits very hard, when the intention is laudable and one is dealing with bellicose musicians (Cristiano Triomfera, magnificent) that are expressing their natural misanthropies. Limbonic Art is not far from this music  and neither is SepticFlesh …Dvorak, Verdi or Wagner are a little bit further, pushing da Vinci… but incursions of soprano give the most beautiful effect but it’s too rare and it’s drowned in a stultifying “wall Of Sound” -production.

After having killed the summer alongside with Six feet Under and The Black Dalhia Murder on American roads, musical effort tends to prove that they are not rinsed (driving band’s own van on tour can tire even the most brave ones!) and that remains the property of great work in this musical style, to limit the swelling (on the next one, should they invite the Van Canto effort, I wonder….?). Beautiful symphonic voice, eating shards of bottles, solid, technical musicians, we just need only a bit of real darkness, that comes from the deep abyss, and maybe all this “work” was finally too thought, too much thought.

So, what I exactly want? More meat, and less neurons…
After “Mafia” in 2010 (EP) which promised a more progressive attitude than “Oracles” (2009), I could expect the next one to be for ruthless impose an irrevocable sentence, with the work and paths made, however after said this, the future should be bright for this adventurer combo, escaped with ardour of marked metal on so crowded roads.

I guess we’re not so many to amaze the large encouragements of this review towards FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, with one and only purpose: deny with maestria my harsh words. In this case, my mood can be awarded, you see, the rest is a fuckin’ good metal !

Lord, More flesh, Damn it !! (and see you next year…!)

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

LINE-UP :
-Paolo Rossi (chant+basse)
-Cristiano Trionfera (guitare+chant)
-Tommaso Riccardi (chant+guitare)
-Francesco Ferrini (piano)
-Francesco Paoli (batterie)

Review: IVAN MIHALJEVIC “Destination Unknown” (2010)

Posted by meldelacroix on October 18, 2011
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IVAN MIHALJEVIC “Destination Unknown” (2010)

Songs / Tracks Listing :
1. Instant Star (Add Water) (4:21)
2. The Curse (6:15)
3. Choosh Pies (3:51)
4. Post-Apocalyptic Images (2:15)
5. Dreamscapes (4:44)
6. Shadows (4:21)
7. The Pirate Song (3:32)
8. Sorry Pt. I (3:30)
9. Your Plane Flew Away (5:59)
10. Sorry Pt. II (2:44)
11. Hollow Wish (7:03)

“A hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore seems I’m not alone in being alone…”

Along the Sava, how can you imagine that I don’t think of you, how would you prove otherwise…?

I would not expect July 2013 (Shy Europe…) and I will clamour so here’s my love of this beautiful country that is Croatia, my Slavic Soul otherwise wouldn’t forgive me. Imagine, a musician leading the destinies of a noble and proud country isn’it the best of the hope for the human race….? just cogitate…

I would not expect the cover of Kerrang or of Guitar World (remember Johnny Winter in the first one) to shout my deep devotion from prodigy guitarist, singer, keyboarder, author-composer IVAN MIHALJEVIC gifted with this new album “Destination Unknown” required already as a safe value (go, not modesty: invaluable), veritable Goldsmith with the magic touch, raising to the highest level, alongside Richie Kotzen, Steve Vai and other Pat Metheny.

Fingers of gold.
Undisputed leader of the Side Effects after shone in his combo of milk Hard Time and magnified his chips electrical projects (Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan, Brett Garsed, Phil Hilborne, Paul, John Denner etc), this new album of IVAN MIHALJEVIC is simply staggering.

Navigating between Nickelback (“Instant star” and “The Curse, wish him a such a global success…”) or the “Choosh pies”‘s Crimsonnien, the isosceles trio, formed by Majkl Jagunic (bass), Alen Frljak (drums and percussion) and amazing Ivan Mihaljevic, offers a anthology of what an artistic soul may mean, this free-jazz mentality that would have not certainly reneged Ornette Coleman, the precursor. Dark song of gesture in the pure line of a Blind Guardian (“Shadows”) or its corollary “The Pirate Song”(“Satrianienne’s auvergne dance from hell”) surfing here and there in soft metal memories, the dexterity and feeling are here a beautiful spark (“Dreamscapes”, an epic instrumental).

And even more… something else can be noted, which is not any less: the voice! Hot, etincellante, inhabited, it is also the other indispensable instrument in this record, more low and maintained that can even invoke the ghost of Kurt in Detroit (encouraging the Croatian poet to continue in this direction), grunge lungs but ardent breath, behaved metal and rock, groove muscles (Your plane Flew Away) or introspective (Sorry part II), everything is here, so obvious as the air of Anathema.

Clear and powerful, and so is the production, too, and I still wonder…
“Hollow Wish” will illustrate our buried wishes, no doubt this music will talk about it more than the vain words of the old poets… IVAN MIHALJEVIC is one of those troubadours, his word, his music is sacred (just listening – singing, listening – do to groan his guitar, pouring his heart…)

Adriatic metal in its eruptions and electrical flow, the indomitable freedom, this discontent hunger, mother of genius creators in the service of humanity, the visionary on dictatorial bases, sowing the wind of peace, love and sharing.

Sweet Paola, when you listen to this music, it is really what it is, we and a few other thousands know that… and share this happiness. Yes, just go and share.

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

Line-up / Musicians:
– Ivan Mihaljevic / Vocals, guitars, keyboards
– Majkl Jagunic / bass
– Alen Frljak / drums, percussion

With:
– Brett Garsed / guitars (track 5)
– John Denner / guitars (5)
– Phil Hilborne / guitars (9)
– Marko Osmanovic / vocals (9)
– Igor Tatarevic / keyboards (4, 7, 11)
– Danko Krznaric / Hammond (9)
– Josip Mihaljevic / keyboards (5)

For more information, please visit: http://www.myspace.com/ivanmihaljevic

Review: MALFEITOR “To Hell, Farewell” (2011)

Posted by meldelacroix on October 1, 2011
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MALFEITOR “To Hell, Farewell” (2011)

Line-Up:
Benny Moberg : Guitar
Mattias Parkkila : Vocals, Bass
Janne “Rudberg” Björkenfjäll : Drums

Back to the fundamentals.
When the cellar were slimy of sweat, when all the walls were malted saliva and covered with posters in the colours of Possessed or Napalm Death, when worms filled abandoned residues of sandwiches…you know, when you are the rage in the stomach, you’re not hungry…

Returning therefore after the break in the mid-1990s voracious MALFEITOR, hungry as hyenas, hacked to pieces with barbed grunts and with murderous rhythmic banging our vertebrae without mercy. Presented as a limited demo you can order directly on tillyoufukkinbleed@wp.pl. The 6 titles, including the bonus “the bread Collector” are making your face to rasp against a plaster wall, and here I’ve used yet a very simplistic term.

If you look well, you can see my ears bleeding…both for the auditory rape to reduce sensations and for danceable Venom or Terrorizer, this impression of luxury, calm and voluptuousness…

Brutal! and then the production ad hoc, the Swedish made “To Hell, Farewell” reappears enjoyable memories, this time Death Metal is to relieve its glorious elders (from Black Sabbath to Thrash-Metal) and to widen the solid foundations of today, major and ever resurgent (from Death to In Flames).

Here are its roots, raw and bloody.

Infantry without mercy the upcoming album entitled “Dum Morior Orior” has been announced for the first quarter of 2012, and it may be already defeated.  Intensive bombardment of these 6 titles will not leave no survivors. Infuriate as the U.S. combos (Deicide or Immolation) and frosty as the waters of the Baltic Sea, these chromatic bandits manage their hold-up and we abide thus in a position of unbearable wait when their next musical mischief.

Death, The dead and me, a program.
Visceral Metal

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

MALFEITOR – To hell, Farewell (Demo 2011)

Review: NOCTEM “Oblivion” (2011)

Posted by meldelacroix on September 25, 2011
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NOCTEM “Oblivion” (2011)

Lineup:
Exo – lead Guitars
Beleth – Vocals
UI – Bass
Darko – Drums
Helion – Guitars

Tracklist:
01. Popol Vuh
02. The Arrival Of The False Gods
03. Universal Disorder
04. Abnegation And Brutality
05. Invictus
06. Sons Of Hun-Vucub
07. Seeking The Ruin Of Souls
08. Unredemption
09. Q’uma’rka’aa’j
10. A Borning Winged Snake
11. Oblivion

They forgot His deeds And His miracles that He had shown them. Psalm 78: 11

Friend, know first that I am not made of wood, but of corn. I am therefore for perfection…

Second part of the trilogy with Divinity (2009), the Spanish NOCTEM sink here the nails and release a superb album of Black-death metal to a high standard, which no doubt it is a must as the Latin response to all the “Behemoth” of the planet.

Referring to the sacred texts about mythological Maya “Popol Vuh” (a pre-Colombian bible refers to the origin of man), NOCTEM with strength and brio demonstration extent its technical nature and the brightness of the musical comments leave here our mouth gaping. It is dark and majestic metal in question, wealth sharing, for a true trip alongside of people (Quiché), of a civilization, of Kings and Gods.

“OBLIVION” was engraved at Ultrasound Studios 2 in Portugal under the eye of the guru Daniel Cardoso (Angelus Apatrida, Ava Inferi), wearing the beautiful artwork, created by the talented Brazillian artist Marcelo Vasco (Dark Funeral, Belphegor etc), is permanently a high quality “Dantesque” album, which in each new listening offers treasures of intelligence. Powerful, sleek, ever since the latest Behemoth (and Nile in a Death Register) I had felt such emotions.

This “Empirical” metal, because most higher than the Tower of Babel, heavier than any pyramids, more flamboyant than the “Nuestra Senora de atocha”, this metal exceeds the rigorous framework of music and becomes by extension an incredible auditory and mental experience, an atonal psychic explosion.

The intro is almost a disturbing tribal mood, that announces the settlement. Here, Take No Prisoners, “The Arrival Of false Gods” undermine everything. Enraged Black Death, the master is perfect, the voice, Sickly & Black, irritate, wind and twist our soul. Electric lightning from the Sun and Venus, the solos, on some pachydermic rhythmic they cut all flesh.

“Universal disorder” and “Abnegation and brutality”,  inhumane percussions beat, reduce our last few resistors in porridge as vindictive warriors’ screams. Clearly, this album will mark our memory with a red iron.

Well, “Invictus” (first single) advocates what it preaches. Fury fury fury. These feelings are acknowledged in the last Watain and Endstille, other dark inspired brothers. Some arpeggios convene Immortal (Q ‘uma’ rka ‘aa’ j), howling ghosts in the frost of an another time…

Epic, heavy, black-metal to deeper into his arteries, “Unredemption” leaves reveal a progression of the most beautiful theatral effect, a perfect synapse joining melody and refined brutality. Beleth (vocals) at the top from the beginning to the end, restless and gutsy (“Borning A Winged Snake” and “Oblivion”) helped by the lead guitarist in State of grace, Exo, and by the rithmic section in our imagination seeing the day to end in a Norwegian Forest, because this Scandinavian “Savia” flows, it is, in their blood.

When the latin blood mixes with the purest snow of the fjords, you touch the sublime. For all the lovers of Extreme and truely inspired music, this album is essential.

“La pluma es el intérprete del alma: lo que uno piensa, uno expresó” (Miguel de Cervantes)

Roots bloody Roots…

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

Review: ENGEL “Threnody” (2011, Japanese edition)

Posted by meldelacroix on September 19, 2011
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ENGEL “Threnody” (2011, Japanese edition)

Japanese track listing:
1.     “Threnody”  (3:56)
2.     “Sense the Fire”  (4:20)
3.     “Until Eternity Ends”  (3:50)
4.     “To the End”  (4:01)
5.     “Down”  (3:49)
6.     “Heartsick”  (4:33)
7.     “Feed the Weak”  (4:15)
8.     “For Those Who Will Resist”  (3:41)
9.     “Every Sin (Leaves a Mark)”  (3:32)
10.     “Roll the Dice”  (4:37)
11.     “Elbow and Knives”  (3:10)
12.     “Perfect Isis”  (6:10)
13.     “Fearless” (bonus track)  (3:45)

 LINE-UP :
Magnus “Mangan” Klavborn –vocals
Niclas Engelin –guitars
Marcus Sunesson – guitars
Steve Drennan – bass
Jimmy Olausson –drums

Know you disperse my ash, to the last of my days, the waters of turbulantes of Göta älv, and thank the gods for their goodness…

The new album “Threnody” of the Swedish ENGEL is for me a very nice surprise, which offers an excellent melodic “made in Gothenburg” metal to the digested influences (death, metalcore and more!), which would have to be as a new anecdotal stone to the building, but thanks to its rather dark sensitivity (inherited from the “Darkwave” of the 80’s) it brings a new advanced depth to the forefront of indispensable CD libraries.

Even if each song starts with the feeling of “déjà vu”, I’m very quickly conquered, because the “Threnody” is full of small surprises that are jostling me, electrokeys of the most beautiful effects or troubling women’s voices, incontrollable solos or successful pop temptations, everything in a consistent way.

Here, we harvest the lands of IN FLAMES (but it’s not really a surprise, with Niclas Engelin on his wild guitars) but also of Mnemic for these discrete cyber/indus inserts, Sybreed’s pop and more extreme and surprising soluble dye in metal (but I had that in my head during the repeated listening-sessions), a vocal potting soil is as Chester Bennington (Linkin Park), and the excellence of Magnus Klavborn‘s vocals, throughout this album, is admirable, when his melodic and clear voice announce the following moment for the outbreak… (To The End).

This album is effectively modern and “bombastic” with Nickel Production and Tue Madsen , and here we flirt with the combination “more-than-perfect”. Listening to the album without prejudices, “Roll The Dice” might have without blush found a place in the last album of Dimmu Borgir, without forgetting the song “Perfect Isis”, beautiful and progressively dressed with Gothic ornaments of more than 6 minutes, which demonstrates once again the absolute control of the combo’s lead in its musical discourse.

Note the fulminant bonus-track “Fearless” (for the Japanese edition) that starts by negating Combichrist on its passage, and who should have won further dissemination.

“Threnody” the song that opens the Japanese edition, announces well the album’s color, it is of the high level of Heavy-Modern-Metal of high quality, which with this second excellent album, as a beacon, tags the future of a incandescent power.This album is not with songs of lamentation for the dead, but a call to life.
Just light. Transcend…

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX

Engel – Sense the Fire (Threnody)

Review: TESLA “Twisted Wires & The Acoustic Sessions” (2011)

Posted by meldelacroix on September 13, 2011
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 Line-Up
– Dave Rude (guitares)
– Brian Wheat (basse et chant)
– Franck Hannon (guitares, piano et chant)
– Troy Luccketta (batterie et percussions)
– Jeff Keith (chant)

Tracklist :
1. Into The Now
2. Hang Tough
3. 2nd Street
4. Edisons Medicine
5. What You Give
6. Better Off Without You
7. Shine Away
8. I Love You
9. Changes
10. A Lot To Lose
11. Caught In A Dream
12. Song And Emotion

Blues in the heart of the stone to the wave nature of a precious metal, here is the perfect conversion of energy into electrical and sensual jolts melodies…

Pioneers of the genus acoustic when the period to make-up with consumerism, batards in a matrix glam, too bluesy to be dishonest, too grunge for leather & Spandex of the bleached of the neighbourhood…
See, touch, dare the electric as a rainbow arc, Treasury is buried there in his feet which took root at the confluence of the American River. Never city has well also bore his name, Sacramento (from the Spanish name, sacrament) and if Klondike gold rush is still there, some nuggets still shine.

Tesla is the precious metal, now available to all with its new album, Twisted Wires & the Acoustic Sessions, true-false compilation of old and new revisited pieces with great intelligence by a band in total fitness with his art, perfectly overpowering the senses, innate melody and light compositions. The bias of dust in the releasing of a straitjacket metal leaves explode the talent of a totally free band up with his artistic vein to dare the extreme flaying. A feat here. Freely built  artistically on the solid foundations of the notified Italian label Scarlet Records which often offers very safe joys and tastes (DGM, Thy Majestie, Vision Divine, Royal Hunt etc…).

Imagine the Stones or Aerosmith scraping their skin to touch finally the bone, a Robert Johnson revived again preaching the good word, an intoxicated Faces (pleonasme) or more a Black Crowes hungry and just to be delecter of this inspired return to roots, guided by the excellence of the voice of Jeff Keith, real guide in this journey to sometimes nostalgic scents (“Better Of Without You”, true new “dechirante” composition), sublimated by real searing (“Shine Away” and its 7 mn 10 of magical arpeggios), serene tribute (“I Love You”‘s Climax Blues Band group and its sligtly muted and psychedelic atmosphere, already present on the EP “A Piece Of Time out in 2007”), of beautiful cry lament, piano stroking (“Changes”), of absolute pieces of bravery which in the reviving context gives many delicious emotions (“Hang Tough”, “Caught in a Dream”) of a wild youth, such a proud wild Mare, will went to distant valleys which are now unknown to us…

Tesla was the best of the end of the ’80s, and helped us to support those that followed with the help of many (often underestimated) albums such as Bust a Nut (1994) or Into the Now (2004), which are a few rare pearls.

Somebody have criticized for the pace of cruise (the last real album dates back to 2008, Forever More) and probably too much compilations or live albums can irritate the strongest fans. But this quality, this purity in this divine exercise is the artistic creation, and cannot dwell on these small criticisms. And even if on these excellents 12 (including 2 unpublished) pieces 5 were recorded in 2005 with Tommy Skeoch (guitar), all blends, osmosis and symbiosis are offering a pure delight to our marveled ears (“2nd Street” attests, unpublished, Jagger cries of not having composed…).
Of light years of the energy of the vacuum, Tesla fills our lives and their rays of life reviving and embodying our most beautiful canvas where are woven our vaporous memories.

Twisted Wires & The Acoustic Sessions says loud and clear that Passion can, endure and sublimate, cross the barriers of the time which is often cynical and murderous, and burn eternally rock Passion made Profession of faith.
Tesla succeeds a bet daring and in the doldrums and (often) puffy Capernaum and poor productions that flood each day the World of Metal, rent to take a public salvation Act.
Unlimited artistic potential and inspired musicians in the service of the love of the music may not be ignored. And if they have sold to date more than 14 million albums in the United States, this is perhaps not the fruit of chance…

2011 celebrates their 25 years dedication to rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis may be proud. When the blood flowing in their veins it’is called electricity…

Reviewed by MEL DELACROIX