8 New Reviews 6/5/2010
Enemy of the sun- Ceadium-CD (The End Records)
Waldemar Sorychta is a brilliant engineer/ guitarist to say the least and he is now back with his 2nd release under the name Enemy of the sun. I mean the mane either engineered or produced albums for Tiamat, Lacuna Coil, Rotting Christ as just a few.. and founded Grip inc with Mr Lombardo from Slayer. Enemy of the sun again is nothing like is past this more an alt metal band with love of thrash and Swedish Death metal . There is a hard rock element to them that just makes them not as hard or metal as other projects. But then at time the remind me a lot of the Post Pantera project Damage Plan mixed with power metal and some stuff like Alice in chains yes its a very odd mix but if you listen to the CD full out you will hear it as well. The End is so diverse now this band really does fit on the label. Enemy of the sun is a balance of Pop, Rock, Metal and Alt rock . I know that will piss off some but then others with open minds will give it a chance and see the beauty of it all..
Canvas Solaris- Irrandiance-CD (Sensory Records)
Sensory and I have a love affair I think. 90% of what they send me is just what I love in the prog metal world. This 5 man unit is as complex as they are beautiful in the arrangements they give us and its another band that doesn't need vocals to add anything to it. There are electronic element on Irradiance as well as music that would make the King Biscuit Flower hour blush (Does that age me lol)... Canvas Solaris is such an underrated talent and that is a crime against humanity alone.. The layers of synths, guitars, bass and drums on this album could fill the grand canyon itself with its level of sonic intelligence. I swear at time there are 5 different things going on at the same time in the same song and it just works so well.. Canvas Solaris if there is any justice you will become progressive rock legends with Irradiance.
DELAIN- LUCIDITY-CD Reissue (Sensory Records)
I'm a sucker for female fronted Prog metal bands love The Gathering, Within Temptation , Lana Lane etc and with Delain this is a 2006 release that it seems came out on Roadrunner in Europe. The brilliant thing about this is the male deep growled vocals are in the back of some tracks as a dark side to Charlotte's amazing classical and powerful pipes. The strings, twin guitar attack the ebb and flowing bass and the Rush/ Queensryche sounding rhythm section just band all a bit too magical for this review. Gothic Metal meets Prog metal thats really what we have going on here. This is so similar to many bands that Napalm and Century Media have given birth to ie Theatre of Tragedy, Lacuna Coil, Dismal Euphony, Orphanage just to name a few.. and guess what Liv (TOT) and Sharon (WT) are both on this release as guests. This is a very special release and its going to make me visit there other titles now as well. Thank you again Sensory...
Withershin- The Hungering Void-CDEP (Canonical Hours)
BLACK METAL OV THEE MOST BLACKEST OCCVLT NATURE... yes you heard me correct this 3 song event is coming to you straight from those of the unlight. Withershin is on of those band that make you remember why you started listening to Black metal to begin with Deathspell Omega, Watain, Burzum and Marduk. You can just feel the hate and lack of compassion for a world that will never allow them to have the path the choose without issue. A Sickness spews from what Withershin creates. There is a cold and foreboding melodic tone that comes from The Hungering Void that pulls you close as you try to pull away. The only sour thing I can say about this release is why the hell is it only 3 tracks . We need more NOW!!!!
Animals as leaders- S/T-CD (Prosthetic Records)
I know nothing of Tosin former band Reflux but with his solo Instrumental project Animals as Leaders what we have here is Prog Metal mastery on levels that would come from labels like Sensory, Magna Carta or Inside out. Seems a bit out of place on a place like Prosthetic but they have seemed to be branching out to other genres like Black metal now as well. If your a fan of Devin Townsend solo material or bands like Pain of Salvation and Ayreon then this is a must listen. The guitar of course is the main tool here and it goes from Jazz to Blues, Prog, Avant to Rock to full on Prog Metal sometimes even in the same song. I've never been a huge fan of the 7 string guitar but this release may finally sway me to its side. Tosin is a brilliant musician to say the least. I love the electronic and trip hop elements that are mixed into the over all tone of the project to. There are moments that would make moby and tricky both smile as in influence. Animals as leaders is a musical adventure not just a journey take it and be in awe..
Nà ttsòl - Stemning-CD (Lupus Lounge/ Prophecy Productions)
MMMM FOLK Inspired Black metal full of acoustics and the bleak cold sounds
of high end guitar picking and blasting raw drum movements. Then the
melodic of the clean harmonized vocals come in as well. If you love Ulver
middle period on Century Media or bands like Falkenbach and Beyond Dawn
then run don't walk for this gem in the making. Nattsol is going to be a band
of mysterious and lore and you know what? Great we need some foggy realms
from time to time to make music all the more interesting. There is some raw
as hell moment here were Mayhem, Early Enslaved and even Absu show through
This is not a new wave BM band by any means. You have to love your roots
here. Nattsol is as original as classic in what they have created . In the Blackened
Forests of Europe all will raise the horns high to the Gods of old for this piece of
Musical majesty.
Lantlôs - .neon-CD (Lupus Lounge/Prophecy Productions)
Well this issue seems to be about Fringe Post Black metal as the bands
I seem to be getting to review are all from this side of the musical Spectrum
Lantlos is another band from Alcest madman Neige.. The major difference
Between this and Alcest is the Grim Black metal vocals and the more metallic
Guitar sounds. Other then that if you like the Hypnotic and Post Rock sounds
of Alcest and wanted a more Blackened overtone you will fall in love here.
Prophecy Production just has my tastes in music dialed in as of late. Lantlos
is a mix of Post Rock, BM, Martial, Epic Rock, Jazz and Prog music. There are
Delicate moments as well as ultra bombastic and brutal ones here. It's time
now for you to make your own journey with Lantlos.
A Forest of Stars - Opportunistic Thieves of Spring-CD (Transcendental Creations)
Occult Post Black Metal is that a even a term or am I just making up shit again. A Forest of Stars is one of those band that Defies boundaries and sounds . I league them with bands like DHG, CODE, Wolves in the throne room, Virus etc You get what I mean they mix so many styles into what is going on here Neoclassic, BM, Doom, Electronic, Avant and such. I love the strings, Grim vocals and the hopeless feeling the music presents to all. There is a melancholy overtone to this music that makes it feel like its from times long past and that A forest of stars can really open a portal to a realm where science and magic are one. If Anathema became a Black metal band I really feel this is what they would have sounded like. A Forest of Stars is just haunting and almost heart stopping to listen to. If this is the future of extreme music there is so much hope .. I didn't think this band could get better then The Corpse of Rebirth but they clearly did...
Comments