Author: Alexiel Divine
Death Angel Video Interview with Ted Aguilar
Forever Still – Breathe In Colours
The modern metal scene is definitely full of emerging bands that try to stand out and young Danish metallers Forever Still worked hard to attract a wider audience with the dystopian themes and passionate approach of the sophomore album “Breathe In Colours”.
On “Rewind” the instrumental framework tends to put the spotlight on the emotional vocal delivery of Maja Shining with a mix of futuristic synths and soothing melodic tapestries that certainly would appeal to a younger crowd.
On “Fight!” guitars acquire crunchy tonalities to build a solid series of heavier grooves around Maja’s harsh vocals yet the song’s somber melodic essence is still very dominant especially in the widely accessible chorus.
On the title track the mood gets pleasantly darker enhanced by moody atmospheric layers, bittersweet vocals and soft whispers but even if there are loads of melancholic melodies the rhythmic section can pack heavier elements.
“Survive” amplifies a modern heavy approach with galloping guitar riffs and consequent groovy dynamics that once again revolve around the winning blend of harsh screams and emotionally charged vocals.
“Rising Over You” continues to represent the contrasting feeling that characterize the whole album mixing comforting melodic phrases always emphasized by Maja’s harmonious vocals and heavier rhythmic crescendos.
“Embrace The Tide” closes the album amplifying the dystopian aspects through intriguing synths arrangements and darkened guitar melodies in contrast with the glowing vocals and dreamy melodies.
As it becomes harder to conquer a solid spot within the current music scene Forever Still aim to impress the listeners with an engaging modern sonic formula that generates the accessible combo of grooves & melodies of “Breathe In Colours”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOo0qgHpCac
Grand Magus – Wolf God
Swedish heavy metal riff masters Grand Magus return with the new album “Wolf God” and this time they decided to jam and record mainly on the first take in order to maintain a genuine approach as close as possible to a live performance.
The title track goes straight to build majestic rhythmic patterns with the band’s signature heavy riffage that gets you ready for battle but the inner somber feelings cannot be ignored and tend to become evident through the mighty passionate vocals.
With a mood shifting from major epic vibes to absolute melancholia “A Hall Clad In Gold” unleashes anthemic guitar riffs, fierce rhythmic blasts and a skillful guitar solo certainly inspired by decades of classic heavy metal while the tasteful melodic passages add a dramatic touch.
“Brother Of The Storm” will please the fans with loads of faster guitar driven grooves that require steady headbanging naturally channeling catchy & triumphant vibes matched by the particularly fervent vocal delivery.
You can perceive the immense passion for epic metal behind “To Live And Die In Solitude” which offers another enjoyable blend of galloping bold guitar riffs and memorable melodic phrases enhanced by the vibrant tonalities of the guitar solo.
“Glory To The Brave” begins with enigmatic borderline trippy bass lines that will hold a dominant role through the intense grooves enriched by the expected epic flavors of the soaring guitar riffs and monumental vocals leading to a memorable chorus that feels like a true battle hymn.
On “Untamed” the whole instrumentation aims to match the title with a series of intense grooves courtesy of thunderous rhythmic segments and glorious guitar riffage that benefit from the extra power provided by the solemn vocals and the flamboyant melodic accents of the guitar solo.
There’s no need for trendy special effects here in fact the fiery strength of “Wolf God” definitely comes from the spontaneous songwriting approach and the excellent musicianship as Grand Magus once again prove to be sincerely devoted to classic heavy metal.
Backyard Babies – Sliver & Gold
With their signature sleaze rock Swedish rockers Backyard Babies have been quite popular over the past three decades and certainly the best way to celebrate such successful long career is to release the brand new full length “Sliver & Gold” and get the party started.
The passion for classic rock is very much alive on “Good Morning Midnight” which is an explosive album opener relying mainly on gritty guitar riffs to build consistent rock grooves with an underlying rebellious punk attitude.
“Shovin’ Rocks” is all about anthemic rock guitar grooves, flamboyant soloing and no frills rhythmic dynamics that get you moving with an unmistakable raw energy matched by the raucous rocker vocal delivery.
“Yes To All No” still has the expected entertaining rock energy once the upbeat rhythm becomes more dominant but also some deeply melancholic vibes that lead to warm arpeggios and slightly somber vocals.
With “Bad Seeds” we’re back to the party mood as the rock enthusiasm becomes a fundamental element in the guitar riffage and super catchy chorus amplified by the smooth guitar solo.
“44 Undead” is the song that demands to be played loud with an addictive chorus and an irresistible rocker essence perfectly embodied by the edgy vocal delivery, the dirty guitar riffs and the memorable slick guitar solo.
The playful approach of the title track is fueled by the turbulent punk elements combined with an overdose of classic rock grooves but probably the star of the show is the thrilling guitar solo that adds heavier accents and variety.
“Sliver & Gold” definitely holds a nostalgic aura celebrating the good times of rock ‘n roll as Backyard Babies stay true to their renowned rock spirit and confidently put together an energetic collection of catchy songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk5-RrnuG1w
Imperia – Flames Of Eternity
One of the reasons why gothic metal band Imperia will always conquer our hearts is the enchanting voice of Helena Iren Michaelsen and on the latest full length “Flames Of Eternity” the band focuses more than ever on opulent symphonic arrangements.
The triumphant symphonic momentum of “The Scarred Soul” is immediately evident as the solemn nature of the multilayered orchestral arrangements hold a fundamental role surrounding Helena’s elegant vocals and embellishing the alluring crispy guitar melodies while the sharp riffage leads to heavier rhythmic patterns.
“Fear Is An Illusion” has some heavy grooves certainly amplified by growls and faster rhythm patterns but mainly aims to deliver an accessible melodic essence through the smooth guitar work and the catchy vocal delivery of the chorus again emphasized by sumptuous symphonic layers and the somber tonalities of the softer breakdown.
“Book Of Love” has some powerful theatrical dynamics as well as loads of classic metal ballad elements such as the refined piano intro, the understated atmospheric orchestrations and the lovely melancholia infused guitar melodies that support perfectly the emotionally charged vocal performance.
“Blinded” diligently follows the symphonic metal blueprint focusing on operatic vocals and majestic orchestrations that certainly enrich the blend of harsh guitar riffs and polished melodic textures within a bombastic rhythmic ensemble.
“Otherside” often offers calmer melodic moments that allow Helena’s flawless vocals to truly shine and adds some magical folk style elements to the main lavish symphonic metal tapestries and certainly no one could resist the charming beauty of the violin harmonies.
On “The Ocean” the orchestral arrangements and the shimmering melodic guitar phrases
acquire charming oriental tonalities that definitely add variety to the grand symphonic themes accompanied by Helena’s eclectic passionate vocals.
Overall, Imperia’s music still evokes the profound melancholia and the melodic splendor of gothic metal nevertheless “Flames Of Eternity” tends to favor a familiar and certainly successful symphonic formula to add extra dramatic depth.
Allegaeon – Apoptosis
Despite several line up changes Allegaeon showcase a renewed intense creative force that generates the compelling nuances and crushing dynamics of the latest full length “Apoptosis”.
“Parthenogenesis” is more than just an instrumental album intro as it marks a fierce beginning that proves the band’s stellar musicianship ensuring a variegated sonic realm where technical guitar progressions create massive grooves and calmer acoustic moments evoke somber feelings.
On “Interphase // Meiosis” the whole instrumentation certainly emphasizes a profound darkness through the faster rhythmic segments, the belligerent guitar driven grooves and the hellish growls embellished by an irresistible shredding galore and loads of tasteful technical elements.
“Extremophiles (B)” can sound absolutely merciless as technical guitars and monumental bass lines confidently build vicious grooves channeling the band’s death metal roots with the clever addition of inventive prog style accents and brief melancholic phrases.
On “Tsunami and Submergence” the enchanting atmospheric arrangements, the classical inspired arpeggios and the heartfelt clean vocals intensify a melodic grandeur that will seamlessly embrace another round of stunning technical guitar leads and aggressive rhythmic patterns.
“Stellar Tidal Disruption” tends to put the spotlight on the technicality of the vibrant guitar progressions that constantly enrich the super fast thunderous rhythmic sections and render the whole song slightly more accessible especially with the luminous melodic textures of the guitar solos.
The title track symbolizes an ambitious grand finale as spellbinding melodic guitars and immersive atmospheres have the power to captivate the listeners while the winning combo of majestic technical guitar leads and punishing rhythmic blasts keep alive the extreme metal elements recurring throughout the whole album.
Listening attentively to “Apoptosis” you can perceive that Allegaeon focus on a stylish and eclectic songwriting approach that leads to impressively diverse soundscapes blending fascinating melodic sections and moments of sheer brutality.
Sylvaine Interview
Periphery – Periphery IV: HAIL STAN
With their signature modern progressive metalcore style Periphery has undoubtedly conquered the music scene and they devoted an entire year to create the new self released album “Periphery IV: HAIL STAN” which is the product of absolute creative freedom as the band deliberately pushes boundaries to develop innovative songwriting elements.
In truth “Reptile” cannot be categorized as a standard album opener as it rather feels like a mini opus that stands out for the intriguing multilayered structure and style variations. Solemn orchestrations introduce a rather aggressive rhythmic approach featuring galloping sharp guitar riffs and tasteful prog dynamics surrounded by groovy electronic layers while the polished guitar phrases generate extensive melodic tapestries leading to contemplative moments with a mixture of luminous tonalities and dreamy atmospheres.
Since the beginning “Blood Eagle” showcases a borderline brutal rhythmic section featuring fast crushing drumming and ferocious riffage accompanied by vicious screams in contrast with the flamboyant prog elements of the guitar solo and the calmer melodic moments that evoke a darkened mood.
“Follow Your Ghost” unleashes monumental guitar riffs following harsh & precise rhythmic blasts and favoring the song’s gloomy themes yet the symphonic arrangements and the majestic choirs lead to a sumptuous melodic grandeur emphasized by the shimmering guitar solo.
Once again “Crush” showcases a versatile composition combining futuristic electronic beats with consequent dancy vibes and compelling guitar harmonies naturally enriched by the elegant orchestral arrangements that amplify the cinematic aspects especially in the lavish instrumental finale.
The lengthy final track “Satellites” marks another ambitious moment as the band skillfully continue to blend diverse styles crafting daydreaming atmospheric nuances and nostalgic crispy guitar tonalities that build up opulent melodic tapestries spiced up by scattered extra groovy and significantly heavier rhythmic patterns.
Besides the expected impressive musicianship on “Periphery IV: HAIL STAN” the mesmerizing orchestrations and the addition of choirs truly make a difference adding cinematic depth to Periphery’s winning sonic formula plus all the intricate instrumental patterns will definitely satisfy the listeners.
Big Business – The Beast You Are
The music journey of power duo Big Business started fifteen years ago and now they have crafted another entertaining collection of songs on the brand new album “The Beast You Are” characterized by a hard to categorize sludgy heavy rock style.
“Abdominal Snowman” doesn’t waste any time with steady rhythmic blasts keeping a cohesive heavy groove as guitars and drums manage to channel major raw energy within a hazy soundscape.
On “Heal The Weak” the atmospheric arrangements add some softer introspective vibes to the massive sludgy groove that certainly represents the main focus here with consistent monumental guitar riffs.
“Time And Heat” begins with pleasantly enigmatic atmospheres that naturally enrich the signature guitar driven dynamics that this time follow a slower moody rhythm to match the dominant darkened vibes.
“The Moor You Know” actually amplifies even more such inner darkness through solemn atmospheric arrangements that become extremely dominant leading to a slower epic and experimental sonic approach often accompanied by a dramatic vocal delivery.
“Under Everest” definitely interrupts the album’s groovy momentum bringing you a super slow trippy experience that focuses mainly on spacey keyboards arrangements and harmonious vocals.
With faster rhythmic patterns “Let Them Grind” goes straight to the point relying on constant bold guitar riffs bearing heavy sludge/stoner tonalities and galloping fiercely through dense grim atmospheric waves.
Big Business are very comfortable in their weird heavy rock realm which feels very distant from any standard music trend in the current rock/metal scene and in fact “The Beast You Are” is the result of multifaceted inspirations and styles.