Cult Of Luna - Vertikal - 2013

Band: Cult Of Luna
Album: Vertikal
Country: Sweden


Release date: January 25, 2013
Label: Earache
Genre: Atmospheric Sludge Metal, Post-Metal
Existed since: 1998


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Review:
Cult Of Luna is out w another melodic album. After a short album-intro they hit us w a rly good n driven opening song, I: The Weapon. Third song is a monster that clocks in on allmost 20 minutes. The rest of the albums consists, except from a couple of short tracks, mostly of songs ranging from 6 to 10 minutes. This is not an album that is easily digested, but needs time get in to.
I think the sound is maybe a bit more dirty from their previous effort, Eternal Kingdom. U can hear they have put lotsa works into this one, truly a great release from the swedes.

Highly Recommended



Album musicians:
Johannes Persson - guitars, vocals
Klas Rydberg - vocals
Magnus Lindberg - drums
Erik Olofsson - guitars
Andreas Johansson - bass
Anders Teglund - keyboards, samples
Thomas Hedlund - drums, percussion
Fredrik Kihlberg - guitars, vocals



Tracklist:

1. The One
2. I: The Weapon
3. Vicarious Redemption
4. The Sweep
5. Synchronicity
6. Mute Departure
7. Disharmonia
8. In Awe Of
9. Passing Through
10. The Flow Reversed (bonus)

Released records:
Cult Of Luna, 2001
Cult Of Luna (ep), 2001
The Beyond, 2003
Salvation, 2004
Bodies/Recluse (ep), 2006
Somewhere Along The Highway, 2006
Eternal Kingdom, 2008

Vandroya - One - 2013

Band: Vandroya
Album: One
Country: Brazil


Release date: January 18, 2013
Label: Inner Wound Recordings
Genre: Progressive Power Metal
Existed since: 2001


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Review:
Out of Brazil comes a very promising debut. Their style lays mainly in the general power metal scene, but i hear strong influence from Angra n Symphony X. Overall good musicianship, but their female singer Daísa Munhoz rly stands out, drawing techniques from her male counterparts in the genre. Also the guitar solo work on the record is memorable.

Highly Recommended


Album musicians:
Daísa Munhoz - vocals
Marco Lambert - guitar
Rodolfo Pagotto - guitar
Giovanni Perlati - bass
Otávio Nuñez - drums



Tracklist:

1. All Becomes One
2. The Last Free Land
3. No Oblivion For Eternity
4. Within Shadows
5. Anthem (For The Sun)
6. Why Should We Say Goodbye?
7. Change The Tide
8. When Heaven Decides To Call
9. This World Of Yours
10. Solar Night

Previous releases:
Within Shadows (ep), 2005

Riverside - Shrine Of New Generation Slaves - 2013

Band: Riverside
Album: Shrine Of New Generation Slaves
Country: Poland


Release date: January 18, 2013
Label: InsideOut Music
Genre: Progressive Metal
Existed since: 2001


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Review:
I allways thought of Riverside to be the metal oriented Porcupine Tree. On their new record, they lean more than be4 towards progressive rock than metal. The good, emotional melodies r still intact. Mariusz Duda's voice contributes much to the music as usually. There's also a strong presence of David Gilmour in some of the guitar solos. A great follow-up to their Anno Domini High Definition.

Highly Recommended


Album musicians:
Michał Łapaj - keyboards
Piotr Grudzinski - guitars
Piotr "Mittloff" Kozieradzki - drums
Mariusz Duda - bass, vocals



Tracklist:

1. New Generation Slave
2. The Depth Of Self - Delusion
3. Celebrity Touch
4. We Got Used To Us
5. Feel Like Falling
6. Deprived
7. Escalator Shrine
8. Coda
9. Night Session - Part One (bonus)
10. Night Session - Part Two (bonus)

Released records:
Out Of Myself, 2003
Voices In My Head (ep), 2005
Second Life Syndrome, 2005
Rapid Eye Movement, 2007
Anno Domini High Definition, 2009
Memories In My Head (ep), 2011

3 nice songs:)

Textures - Dualism - 2011 - Reaching Home 




Gordian Knot - Gordian Knot - 1999 - Reflections



David Torn - Cloud About Mercury - 1987 - 3 Minutes Of Pure Entertainment (live)

Before The Dawn - Rise Of The Phoenix - 2012

Band: Before The Dawn
Album: Rise Of The Phoenix
Country: Finland



Release date:
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Existed since: 1999


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Review:
Another quality band from Finland. BTD is out w their seventh full-length, n if i had listened to this album last year, it would definitely made my top 50 list. There's great musicianship n melodies throughout the album. Listening/looking at how Joontu handles the drums is just awesome, a true talent. The best song on the album is the third track, Phoenix Rising, the opening riff is just orgasmic.

Highly Recommended


Album musicians:
Tuomas Saukkonen - guitar, vocal
Juho Räihä - guitar
Pyry Hanski - bass
Joonas "Joontu" Kauppinen - drums



Tracklist:

1. Exordium
2. Pitch-Black Universe
3. Phoenix Rising
4. Cross To Bear
5. Throne Of Ice
6. Perfect Storm
7. Fallen World
8. Eclipse
9. Closure
10. Unbreakable (bonus)
11. Starless Tranquility (bonus)
12. Deliverance (bonus)
13. Reflection (bonus)

Previous records:
Gehenna, 2001 (ep)
My Darkness, 2003
4:17 AM, 2004
The Ghost, 2006
Deadlight, 2007
Dirty Black Summer, 2008 (split ep)
Soundscape Of Silence, 2008
Decade Of Darkness, 2010 (ep)
Deathstar Rising, 2011

Mali's Recommendations

Dethklok - Dethalbum 3 - 2012




Hooded menace - Effigies of evil - 2012



Upon A Burning Body - Green.Red.White - 2012

Interesting 2013 albums. Electronic n metal.

Vandroya - One - 2013
Power Metal





Ephera - Ecstasy - 2013
Idm, Ambient, Electronica, Chill-out






Consciousness Removal Project - Tacit - 2013
Atmospheric Sludge Metal 

Æther Realm - One Chosen by the Gods - 2013

Band: Æther Realm
Album: One Chosen by the Gods
Country: USA


Release date: January 8, 2013
Label: Self-release
Genre: Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal
Existed since: 2010


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Review:
Think this is the first american based band ive heard that plays this kinda metal. Very influenced by the north-european folk metal scene. The songs contains tons of great melody-lines n theres a rly good drive in the music.

Recommended


Album musicians:
Vincent Jones - bass, vocals
Tyler Gresham - drums
Heinrich Arnold - guitars, vocals
Jack Rodriguez-Dougherty - guitars



Tracklist:

1. Journey Of Discovery
2. Hourglass
3. Æther Realm
4. Swampwitch
5. One Chosen By The Gods
6. Ravensong
7. Winter's Grasp
8. Odin Will Provide
9. Oak

Released records:
Odin Will Provide (ep), 2011

Pantha du Prince & The Bell Laboratory - Elements Of Light - 2013

Band: Pantha du Prince & The Bell Laboratory
Album: Elements of Light
Country: Norway


Release date: January 14, 2013
Label: Rough Trade Records
Genre: Minimal Techno, Microhouse
Existed since: 2011


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Review:
Since so many death/metal core bands r bringing electronic influence into their music, n artists like The Algorithm that fuse different electronic styles w metal styles, i thought it be interesting to check out what the electronic scene has to offer these days. Around the millenium i was deep into some parts of the electronic scene, listening to ambient, electronica, drum n bass, breakbeat, house n so on, so i do got an understanding of the music. The other reviewer on this page, Bjørn, is also a listener of electronics, n maybe especially noise, experimental, impro n musique concrete.
I thought i start of w a debut from fellow norwegians. A septet that plays minimal techno/microhouse. The only name i a familiar w in this band is Martin Horntveth, former Jaga Jazzist member. I do hear some familiar influences from the norwegian house scene, but not so much in front of the music, but rather giving the music a good fundament. The melodies consists of light, a bit jazzy sounds, produced from the xylophones, synth n the computer, i presume. Its rly laidback, but u still can move to the music. Worth checking out.


Album musicians:
Hendrik Weber
Lars Petter Hagen
Heming Valebjørg
Martin Horntveth
Erland Dahlen
Vegar Sandholt
Håkon Stene


Tracklist:

1. Wave
2. Particle
3. Photon
4. Spectral Split
5. Quantum

Prurient - Cocaine Death - 2008

Band: Prurient
Album: Cocaine Death
Country: USA



Release date: 2008
Label: Hospital Production
Genre: Electronica, Noise
Existed since: 1998


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Bjørns review:
This record is a compilation of 4 previously released cassettes. Harsh in your face noise with hidden melodies, quite addictive if u ask me, but noone ever does..Not for every taste (u must actually have a taste in music).


Album musicians:
Dominick Fernow - electronics

Guest musicians:
Richard Dunn - voice
Lyubomir Levchev - lyrics on Dog Of Addiction


Tracklist:

1. Pretext (Bahamian Burial)
2. Cocaine Death
3. Dog Of Addiction
4. Lay By Son
5. Garden Of Tranquility
6. Eve Of Adam
7. Historically, Women Use Poison To Kill
8. Postscript (Coke Cunts)

Additional notes:
tracks 1 and 8 from previously unreleased diptych Necrocolonalist.
tracks 2 and 3 taken from the cassette Cocaine Death released by Hospital Productions in 2007 in an edition of 46.
tracks 4 and 5 taken from the cassette Caribbean Overdose released on Hospital Productions in 2007 in an edition of 200.
Tracks 6 and 7 taken from the cassette "Tylenol Murders" released on Hospital Productions in 2008 in an edition of 20.


Discography

Carthage - Salt The Earth - 2012

Band: Carthage
Album: Salt The Earth
Country: USA


Release date: December 11, 2012
Label: Self-release
Genre: Metal/Deathcore, Djent, Progressive Metal
Existed since: 2008


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Review:
There r 3 harsh vocals n 3 guitars in this band, so expect lotsa guitarworks, n even some short guitarsolos. In some parts of the music they got Alice In Chains choir, like Chimaira did on their earlier albums, which fits the music very well. Overall a rly good album w some killer songs on it. Worth checking out.



Album musicians:
Eric Hendricks - vocals
Tre Watson - guitar, vocals
Ian Starks - guitar
Noyan Tokgozoglu - guitar, vocals
Robby Gossweiler - bass
Billy Berger - drums, vocals



Tracklist:

1. Destroy The City
2. Blackout
3. Perception Fails
4. The Furthest Thing
5. Years & Darkness
6. Pushing Forward
7. Maelstrom
8. Exegetics
9. To Return
10. 1984/4
11. Green
12. Continuous

Released records:
Carthage (ep), 2011

Listen to full album at Bandcamp

Thank You Scientist - Maps Of Non Existent Places - 2012

Band: Thank You Scientist
Album: Maps Of Non Existent Places
Country: USA


Release date: June 8, 2012
Label: Self-release
Genre: Neo Progressive Rock, Fusion
Existed since: 2009


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Review:
The full-length debut of this american band, that released an ep back in 2011. They show great musicianship, w a 2 man blow section, a guitarist that got a jazz/metal feel/technique to his play n a lead singer that does a fabolous job. The closest band that comes to mind is Frost*, n the neo-progressive scene, w the blow section adding rly nice texture to the music, bringing in both balkan folk n big band influence.

Recommended


Album musicians:
Salvatore Marrano - vocals
Tom Monda - fretted/fretless guitar, acoustic guitar, shamisen, cello, vocals
Russell Lynch - violin, viola, mandolin, vocals
Andrew Digrius - trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, vocals
Ellis Jasenovic - tenor and soprano saxophone
Greg Colacino - bass
Odin Alvarez - drums and percussion



Tracklist:

1. Prelude
2. A Salesman's Guide to Non-existence
3. Feed the Horses
4. Blood on the Radio
5. Absentee
6. Suspicious Waveforms
7. Carnival
8. Concrete Swan Dive
9. In the Company of Worms
10. My Famed Disappearing Act

Released records:
The Perils Of Time Travel (ep), 2011

Listen to full album at Bandcamp

Zammuto - Zammuto - 2012

Band: Zammuto
Album: Zammuto
Country: USA



Release date: April 3, 2012
Label: Temporary Residence Limited
Genre: Indie Rock
Existed since: 2011


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Bjørns Review:
Nick Willscher Zammuto from The Books goes solo and releases an excellent record with experimental rock music. This shit will definitely grow on you..



Album musicians:
Nick Zammuto - guitars, vocals
Sean Dixon - drums
Gene Back - guitar, the human midi file
Mikey Zammuto - bass



Tracklist:

1. YAY
2. Groan Man, Don't Cry
3. Idiom Wind
4. Crabbing
5. F U C-3PO
6. Too Late To Topologize
7. Zebra Butt
8. Weird Ceiling
9. Harlequin
10. Shape Of Things To Come
11. Full Fading

I-Exist - Humanity Vol. IV - 2012

Band: I-Exist
EP: Humanity Vol. IV
Country: USA


Release date: December 21, 2012
Label: Self-release
Genre: Progressive Metal, Metalcore, Deathcore, Cross-over progressive rock, Nu-metal
Existed since: 2006


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Review:
American band that do a positive release experiment w a 4-piece ep follow-up to their debut Within Imagination, 2009. Influentually they r reaching mainly towards general progressive metal n metal/deathcore, they also  lean towards cross-over prog rock n hardish rock. I would prefer they tone down their nu-metal bits that occasionally slips through. I think maybe they should be bolder n more progressive w their melody-lines overall, even though they do got tons of it combined on the entire release. Worth checking out.

Album musicians:
Brian Lenington - vocals, synth, guitar
Buddy Jackson - guitar, vocals
Cameron Bailey - drums, vocals
Jon Bolotte - bass


Tracklist:

1. Amnesia
2. Before It's Over
3. Post-Human
4. Unity
5. A Lifetime
6. The End

Records released:
Within Imagination, 2009
Humanity Vol. I, may 2012
Humanity Vol. II, june 2012
Humanity Vol. III, september 2012

Listen to full album at Bandcamp

The Blood Of Heroes - The Waking Nightmare - 2012

Band: The Blood Of Heroes
Album: The Waking Nightmare
Country: USA, UK



Release date: December 4, 2012
Label: Ohm Resistance
Genre: Experimental, Dub, Metal, Drum & bass
Existed since: 2009


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Bjørns Review:
Excellent album from metal supergroup.


Jon's additional notes:
As fas as i can tell from listening to this album, the music leans more towards dub than to metal, n theres no growling here, but more electrified spoken words/rap. Justin K Broadrick is a founding member of Godflesh.
Previous bassist Bill Laswell comes from the dub-scene, n i used to listen to him about 10 years ago.


Album musicians:
Dr. Israel
Justin K Broadrick
Joel Hamilton
M Gregor Filip
Enduser
Balazs Pandi
Tony Maimone
Submerged




Tracklist:

1. Piration
2. Death Wish
3. Everything Undone
4. Hecatomb
5. The Last Forest
6. War
7. Towers Arise Underground
8. Dogtown
9. Bronze And Brass
10. Only The Desert Endures
11. I Love You But I Chose Darkness

Released reords:
Remain, 2010
The Blood Of Heroes, 2010