Category: Album Reviews 2019

Eluveitie – Ategnatos

Swiss folk metal superstars Eluveitie embark on a brand new epic journey with the 8th album “Ategnatos” which seems to have all the necessary elements to satisfy the devoted fans featuring the band’s signature blend of melodic death metal and magical traditional folk tapestries accompanied by a real string quartet.

Without any hesitation the title track manifest the band’s successful folk metal formula focusing on epic cinematic soundscapes meticulously crafted by traditional instruments such as hurdy gurdy and bagpipes that enrich the recurring lavish melodies but the band never forgets to add some darkened heavier dynamics with intense rhythmic crescendos, bold guitar riffs and ominous growls.

The opulent multi-layered folk arrangements of “Black Water Dawn” tend to steal the spotlight leading to a particularly enthralling melodic ensemble emphasized by the lovely vocals by Fabienne Erni while groovy guitar riffs & soloing channel the expected heavier momentum.

“A Cry In The Wilderness” offers elegant atmospheric textures followed by a more substantial melodic death metal approach with the right dosage of crunchy guitar licks and ravenous growls while the melodic spirit naturally comes to life through the intricate folk harmonies.

“The Raven Hill” favors ancient folk vibes that lead to solemn chants and enchanting harmonies as the instrumental passages can sound absolutely melancholic but also playful following an entertaining upbeat rhythm.

Featuring guest vocalist Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God “Worship” incarnates a darker essence through prominent savage growls and a rather fierce guitar driven assault while the harmonious folk nuances also tend to match such sinister mood with mysterious atmospheres and somber melodic phrases.

“Breathe” is a particularly catchy track where a mix of soothing folk melodies and catchy guitar riffs create a sumptuous soundscape around Fabienne’s glowing vocal performance and a memorable widely accessible chorus.

“Rebirth” maintains major epic vibes and dwells in a classic melo-death sonic realm as it can sound utterly vicious with loads of fast energetic rhythmic segments and massive guitar riffage obviously amplified by the intense growls in contrast with the softer spellbinding atmospheric moments.

“Eclipse” closes the album with a minimalist atmospheric approach that allows the listeners to truly appreciate Fabienne’s passionate & haunting vocal performance.

From beginning to end “Ategnatos” is a majestic opus destined to conquer even more fans as despite some major line up changes Eluveitie appear in excellent shape ready to embrace a new bombastic chapter in their successful career.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubhf4AAL5Hc

Vltimas – Something Wicked Marches In

Vltimas will be inevitably categorized as a supergroup since this new band features Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen (ex-MAYHEM, AURA NOIR), David Vincent (ex-MORBID ANGEL) and Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY) that joined forces to create crushing hymns to darkness on the anticipated debut album “Something Wicked Marches In”.

The title track symbolizes the exquisite dark music pathway chosen by Vltimas with ominous melodic accents that introduce a massive killer combo of fierce drumming and belligerent guitar riffs certainly inspired by traditional death metal dynamics amplified by David’s signature obscure growls and spiced up by tasteful guitar licks.

The primordial darkness of “Praevalidus” comes to life through a brutal approach generated by relentless rhythmic blasts that hit you in the face yet within such hellish sonic realm guitar leads have the opportunity to craft intense darkened melodies.

“Monolilith” is still drenched in darkness and the rhythmic patterns can slow down significantly to emphasize the dramatic grim vocal delivery and the refined sinister guitar phrases that add a sense of impending doom and gothic grandeur to the classic death metal backbone.

Darkly inspired atmospheres & arpeggios open “Last Ones Alive Win Nothing” leading to compelling dismal soundscapes while a series of opulent guitar melodies inevitably evokes a whirlwind of tormented feelings easily matched by David’s menacing growls.

On “Marching On” darkness continues to be triumphant as abrasive guitar riffs and monumental drums generate anthemic death metal segments within an asphyxiating sonic realm while once again the lead guitar work stands out crafting sophisticated melodies.

The fact that Vltimas is the joint effort of brilliant musicians foreshadows the uncompromising strength and the serious effort incarnated by “Something Wicked Marches In” which will definitely satisfy all acolytes of extreme metal with its palpable diabolical charm.  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9QIJXun8rk

Asthma Castle – Mount Crushmore

Stoner/sludge metal collective Asthma Castle is a new name in the metal scene but features veteran musicians and the debut album “Mount Crushmore” demonstrates the band’s natural ability to create monolithic heavy grooves.

“The Incline Of Western Civilization” doesn’t require a constant fast rhythm to sound absolutely crushing because the monumental guitar riffs, the bold bass backbone and the mighty drumming successfully build monstrous grooves from beginning to end channeling raw energy as well as some catchy darkened vibes.

On the title track the instrumental patterns become increasingly heavier relying on a cohesive series of aggressive guitar riffs and such fierce groovy approach is certainly amplified by enraged screams and thunderous drum blasts while the guitar solo brings some enjoyable gritty stoner rock elements.

“Here Come The Black Ship” offers simply unstoppable heavy grooves as guitars once again ensure instant headbanging with fiery riffage and add compelling doom inspired melodic licks that eventually lead to a slower profoundly dark immersive momentum.

First of all “Brazilian Catbox Incident” is definitely an interesting title and this track features consistent super groovy rhythmic dynamics channeling a familiar heavy sludge blueprint enhanced by the borderline brutal vocals while lead guitars spice up such belligerent rhythmic patterns with absolutely catchy melodic phrases.

Asthma Castle self describe their music style as “hefty metal” consequently on “Mount Crushmore” you can expect an overdose of intense guitar driven grooves that will certainly keep you entertained.   

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PGcaecMIks

Bergraven – Det Framlidna Minnet

Swedish avant-garde progressive dark metal act Bergraven never refrains from exploring contrasting themes and diverse music territories in fact such visionary approach naturally leads to the enigmatic soundscapes of the latest album “Det Framlidna Minnet”.

On “Allt” the primal blackened momentum inevitably channels desperate and chaotic feelings following fast drumming and diabolical growls but the mood drastically changes when guitars acquire jazz inspired tonalities leading to edgy rhythmic variations and softer tonalities.  

The melodic splendor of “Den Följsamma Plågan” comes from the melancholic arpeggios that certainly generate a peaceful mood accompanied by fragile atmospheric accents yet this track holds a dark soul clearly fueled by traditional black metal as guitar riffs can acquire ominous tonalities matched by the enraged growls.

It’s not surprising to hear that melancholy and bleakness are essential elements on “Minnets Melankoli” which features an intense contemplative nature expressed by cathartic acoustic passages in contrast with the raw energy of the blackened dynamics.

“Till Priset Av Vårt Liv” is an ambitious track that offers a plethora of sonic variations starting with unusual rhythmic segments characterized by borderline dissonant guitar riffs and sophisticated jazz inspired progressions while the dreamy melodic essence emphasizes an inner desolation with loads of darkened guitar tonalities accompanied by anguished screams.

As Bergraven constantly maintain an experimental approach “Det Framlidna Minnet” always showcases great style diversity borrowing the undiluted fury of black metal or simply creating unexpected melodic tapestries.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1Uohw8kUuo

Laster – Het Wassen Oog

Dutch avant-garde post-black metal trio Laster aims to surprise the listeners with the genre bending approach and the unusual soundscapes of the third album “Het Wassen Oog”.

You can easily perceive the enigmatic nature of “Vacuüum ≠ Behoud” as the intricate melodic guitar work incorporates familiar shoegaze elements that later will acquire darker nuances following the menacing faster drumming and the hellish screams to fully embrace a primal blackened force.

On “Schone Schijn” the jazzy incursions and the excellent musicianship lead to a cathartic instrumental ensemble that confidently follows the several tempo variations yet continues to hold an inner black metal inspiration expressed mainly by the creepy atmospheres and the ravenous screams.

On “Haat & Bonhomie” the avantgarde approach is still prominent as the instrumental passages seamlessly shift from arcane blackened rhythmic blasts to softer and drastically slower crispy guitar melodies accompanied by smooth clean vocals.

“Weerworm” feels extremely spacey as the main guitar melodies seem to go on forever creating slow dizzy dynamics that favor the elegant & hazy atmospheric arrangements and leave behind any sign of black metal fury.  

The complex structure of “Zinsbetovering” features intense blackened rhythmic patterns but at the same time often deviates from the expected aggressive momentum allowing guitars to craft soothing harmonies with prominent jazzy vibes and moody shoegaze atmospheres evoking serene feelings.

The traditional black metal roots of Laster always emerge throughout “Het Wassen Oog” with bursts of obscure energy but undoubtedly the strength of the album is generated by the eclectic composition and the desire to freely experiment with diverse music genres.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fghrkWluqJg

Superlynx – New Moon

Norwegian doom trio Superlynx begins a new chapter with the sophomore album “New Moon” that allows them to freely express a multitude of contrasting emotions as darkness and light magically entwine.

“Hex” opens the album with an overload of simply spellbinding guitar melodies and hazy atmospheres creating a profound sense of tranquility matched by the ethereal vocal delivery yet the mood gets significantly darker and heavier with the weight of doom oriented guitar riffs.

Besides the evident stoner/doom dynamics fully expressed by the cohesive rhythmic section “Breath” feels like a reverie due to the calm enchanting vocals and the fuzzy guitar tonalities that successfully deliver psychedelic tinged melodies.

“Becoming The Sea” feels more melancholic beginning with soft piano melodies but as soon as distorted guitars take over the stoner elements become prominent leading to heavier grooves in contrast with the charming melodic tapestries.

The title track offers plenty of hypnotizing melodies as the guitar work tends to rely on moody tonalities within a dreamy sonic realm while the scattered rhythmic crescendos successfully add some heavy occult rock vibes.  

The psychedelic nature of “Scarecrow” leads to particularly groovy distortions that make you feel dizzy and the galloping guitar riffs tend to follow an upbeat rhythm but certainly the somber doom tonalities still emerge through slower monochromatic melodies.

The hazy peaceful atmospheres of “The Thickest Night” will probably make you space out as guitars focus mainly on dense darkened melodic textures accompanied by haunting vocals and spiced up by occasional heavier riffs.

Overall “New Moon” showcases consistent doom roots embellished by a bewitching atmospheric composition as Superlynx invite the listeners to embrace darkness through poetic lyrics and gloomy melodies.  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ye0r5t_GOI

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.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn0o8Ly95UE

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.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysf3RtNZU_c