Weekly Windup - 4th Week of April, 2019
ÁRSTÐIR LÍFSINS
Not really that well informed about black metal, but this is okay. Lots of echo gives a heightened sense of atmosphere. Two different styles of vocals, neither of which is entirely to my taste. Nice variety on this album, with some very effective quieter passages.
✮ ✮ ✮ ＋
ASTRAL DOORS
Nils Patrik Johansson's voice is very unique, so it may take a few listens for this to work its way into your blood, but the songwriting and sense of melody is really good, and this album definitely grows on you. Worth checking out!
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
ATROCITY
The a-side was already released on the band's 2018 full-length, so the real enticement to buy this single is the re-recorded version of "Blue Blood" that makes up the b-side. Worth checking out, and glad to see that this band is back on track. I gave up on Atrocity when they experimented too far afield, but this return to standard death/thrash output is very welcome.
✮ ✮ ✮
AXENSTAR
This is a definite grower! The more you listen,the more you appreciate this effort. The vocals may have tempered my first impressions, as this type of power metal usually has soaring operatic vocals. However, this singer's style (more in the vein of Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep or Myles Goodwyn of April Wine) is not a detriment, as he has an apt sense of vocal melody, and uses it to his advantage. I came back to this one several times over times already, and certainly see myself revisiting it again soon.
✮ ✮ ✮ ＋
BAT
A whole lot of speed, a whole lot of heavy, and a whole lot of fun. You can't just beat Bat! One of the best releases this month easily.
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
BELZEBUBS
These guys seem just a trifle overrated, as while I enjoyed it, the album didn't blow me away the way it was hyped. A bit keyboard heavy and pretentious, so hope this doesn't become a gimmick. It's good, but I will watch closely to see over time if it's good enough to live up to the hype.
✮ ✮ 🌟 ＋
BITCHHAMMER
Will flay the skin from your face at 20 paces. Sometimes rudimentary, but always effective nonetheless. Worth checking out!
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
BLAZON STONE
Another strong offering from Blazon Stone! Highly recommended.
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
To Be Updated
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CATHARTIC DEMISE
✮ ✮ ✮
CHEVALIER
Really, really good. Highly recommended. I would have rated this higher, but there's a high-pitched frequency in the background. (It's barely audible, but it gives a headache if you listen to the whole album on headphones.)
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
DE LIRIUM'S ORDER
About 1 minute into the track "Ayatollah", the song dropped down to minimalist structure (not a breakdown, though), and I lost interest. Then it happened again at about the 2 minute mark. I like technical death metal, but I'm also very discriminating and find it rather hit or miss with me. This album is not bad, and there's lots going on here that I enjoy, but the slower parts of the songs kill the momentum and hamper my enthusiasm.
✮ ✮ ½
DEIPHAGO
Lots of aggression, but not much else that holds my interest. I don't need to shock anybody by listening to the most extreme music. I need good riffs and good songs, but I'm not finding that here. Garbage guitar solos, too.
✮
DRIVEN UNDER
Another band that I really want to like. They seem to have all the tools. Solid musicianship. Decent vocalist (sounds a bit like Bruce Dickinson at times). The song-writing, however, tends to drift into the absurd from time to time, and that's really a shame. This could be very good - it doesn't sound forced at all, so they just need to be a bit more serious with each song.
✮ ✮ ✮
ENFORCER
What a disappointment. It's as if Hitten, Skull Fist, and Enforcer each had a bet as to which band could wimp out the most on their newest albums. Enforcer might be the best of those three, but you can't listen to this without asking why anybody would want to change their sound to become watered-down clones of Dokken.
✮ ✮
EROICA
This one took me by surprise! I didn't expect that I would like this as much as I do. The music is solid, and the singer's voice is unique, and his sense of vocal melody (and strong accent) is very endearing. I can imagine coming across this in about 1984 on Mausoleum Records. This may not be for everybody, but I find it very compelling, and I can think of nothing better than pressing play, sitting back, and losing myself in the soundscapes this band has created.
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
FILTHEATER
I understand the reasoning behind making grimy and murky death metal. (Autopsy is one of my favorite bands.) But this is really obscured in the depths of a muddy low-fi swamp. Perhaps the band is not very skilled, and it's best to hide by making the whole thing barely listenable. Or else they're just really trve kvlt death metal, and I'm a poser for wanting to be able to hear the various notes.
✮
FORTUNE
Not what I usually listen to, but this is an amazing "time capsule" that will bring back every aspect of mainstream rock from about 1981 or 1982. I do enjoy this album!
✮ ✮ ✮ ＋
HARDLINE
Some inconsistency on songwriting quality, but I really enjoy Johnny Gioeli's voice.
✮ ✮ ✮ ＋
HUNTER
Very good, and definitely a band to watch! Lots of promise shown on this debut, but lots of room to grow, too. When the band gets more experience, they'll be tighter and thus capable of a bit more reckless abandon. They wisely kept things in control here, but the only complaint I have is that it does come across as a bit "restrained" from time to time.
✮ ✮ ✮ ＋
HYPOXIA
A bit unconvincing as yet. Needs more work.
✮ ✮ ½
ISGALDER
Listening to this music makes foxes sad. Really, really sad. Seriously, though, this isn't for me. The synths in the background are way too loud (should add only slight ambience), and the rest of the music echoes out of a well, apparently.
✮
LUCIFER'S FRIEND
Welcome back, my friend! A nice offering, with well-written and well-crafted songs, and the flawless voice of John Lawton.
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
MÅNEGARM
I have a hard time getting through a whole album of this. It works better (for me) as an ep. I don't dislike the music, and I enjoy a song or two if it comes up randomly when I have a few different bands playing on shuffle. So yes, there are some good things happening on this album, and it's not bad overall. The folk angle really helps make the songs memorable, but also limits the appeal for me.
✮ ✮ ✮
MASS
Re-recordings of classic tracks and a couple new songs. Really enjoyable!
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
METALL
I want to like this, and there's nothing really wrong with it, but it just isn't memorable enough. Decent metal is not a bad thing.
✮ ✮ ✮
NIGHT SCREAMER
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NORSEMEN
Best death metal album of the month. Highly recommended.
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
PARAGON
Tried and true, and not about to let you down now. Highly recommended.
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
PROFANATION
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PROTECTOR
Seems to be a slight step down from their last offering, but enjoyable nonetheless.
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
SMOULDER
Very, very good (but just a bit short of "greatness"). When done right, epic doom can be among the best genres in metal, and this band has all the elements. Definitely recommended.
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
STEEL PROPHET
First album with the new singer (from Mystic Prophecy). There are some things that don't work, but there's also more than enough here that is pretty good to make this a worthwhile purchase.
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
SURPUISSANCE
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✮ ✮ ✮ ½
TAKEN
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✮ ✮ ✮
TANK
Way better than I expected, and the song with Tom Angelripper adds at least half a star to the album's score, but still of questionable value to all but the most diehard Tank fans (myself one of them).
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
THOR
As much as it's tempting to dismiss Thor as a joke, you simply can't deny that he's delivering the goods and writing songs that sound good and are played well. If this had came out in 1982, it would have been regarded highly alongside albums by Manowar and Anvil. I don't believe in guilty pleasures and I like this new album from Thor.
✮ ✮ ✮ ＋
VIGILANCE
Vigilance has carved out a unique niche in the genre, matching up black metal aesthetics with classic metal from about 1978-1981. Really great band, and another enjoyable release.
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
WITCHTRIAL
It's becoming less common to find bands that are able to offer up credible metal with a punk-edged flavor (Motorhead might have been the first to successfully do so). This album works well, and is well worth checking out. I absolutely love it!
✮ ✮ ✮ ½
