"Slave To The Hourglass" is the new release from Syracuse, New York`s very own Caroline Blue; 5 killer kuts, I mean, cuts of Kiss-inspired Hard Rock that definitely gets the blood a` pumpin`! The boys in Blue are guitarist/vocalist Wayne Johnson, bassist Billy Pierce [now departed], and drummer "Metal J" Morey. No turntables, no Adidas swag, no downtuned Emo/Screamo mallcore geekism, just three guys who actually know how to PLAY their instruments crankin` out Arena-styled Rock, loud and proud! Choice cuts for me include the title track, as well as "Hard Life" and "Mine, Mine, Mine". This self-financed release features a clear, highly polished production which give the tunes even more punch. And the individual musicianship of each member is well displayed here, complimenting each other as well as the songs. This album is a special treat for me, as CB is from around MY neck o` the woods, plus having seen them perform live and meeting Wayne himself. So it would be a shame for a guy as determined and steadfast as Wayne NOT to achieve his goals! And we DEFINITELY need more people like him in this business! So go to the band`s official site and buy the album; you WON`T regret it! [and check out their forum while you`re at it; you just might see some guy named West Side something or other posting from time to time!;)] Highly recommended!!
Dutch Death dealers DESENSITISED have returned with "Virus Of Violence", a 5-track EP of pure Old School brutality! [NOTE: the promo version is being reviewed here; the official version contains 13 tracks] The band is Susan on guitar and backing vocals, Wilbert on vocals, Jeroen on bass and Martijn on drums. This latest release isn`t a radical departure for the band, but a refinement of the sound and style that`s become their stock-in-trade since their inception. "In The Grip Of Fear" opens the disc with a blast, running the gamut from high speed Death to Doom and back again seamlessly. Up next is "Foetus In Fetu", which features a super heavy riff and more cool time changes. "Struggling Existence" is my favorite track, at times reminding me of "The Grand Leveller"-era Benediction, featuring some fine guitar work by Susan.. "Blind Allegiance" and "Introspective Exploration" close the album in equally brutal fashion. The tunes are rather short, but they get right to the point and with this style of music, that`s ALL that counts! Desensitised have grown leaps and bounds since "Bought Beauty", both as songwriters and musicians, and obviously took great care in crafting the tunes, not just hammering `em out at a million miles an hour, an all-too common mistake in this genre. Desensitised are without a doubt one of the front runners of the newer Death Metal movement, and with the upcoming release of the full-length, they will continue to be at the head of the pack! [Special thanks to Susan for sending the promo!]
The Owl strikes back! It`s been nearly 4 years since bassist/Telly Savalas decipile Phil McKenna gave us "Tales From The Inflatable Forest", and fans of good ol` Prog [REAL Prog, mind you, none of that "Math Metal" nonsense] have been eagerly awaiting the follow-up. Well, good things DEFINITELY come to those who wait, as our patience has been rewarded with "Ghost Of A Train"! Recorded deep in in his underground lair somewhere in Atlanta, Georgia, "Ghost..." sees Der Philmeister once again handling the lions share of the instrumentation [electric 6 & 12-string guitars, slide guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, Mellotron, misc. percussion, environmental sounds, treatments, drum programs on a couple of tracks]. But he`s also brought in some highly talented musicians to enhance his musical "train" of thought; drummer Jim Dunn ("Ghost Of A Train"), drummer Eric Aguiar ("Dust Remembers"), and Dave Condra provides Mellotron flutes on "The Mysterious Old Roundhouse". The album continues in the vein of "Tales..."; a definite Seventies Prog vibe permeates all eight cuts; kinda gives you that Captain Beyond buzz. Actually, it might be better to think of this as one 40 minute piece divided into eight parts, as the album has a train motif running through out. Best tracks, or at least MY personal favorites include the haunting "Distant Wolves And A Brakemanīs Song" [has a Pink Floyd "Animals"-era feel at times], "The Mysterious Old Roundhouse" and "Requiem For An Engineer". "Ghost Of A Train" represents an artistic and personal triumph for Phil, aa well as a pleasurable listening experience to all who open their minds, ears and hearts to independant artists like him. Artists who persue their own unique vision, not profit margins. Sounds romantic, huh? But there`s nothing romantic about being a starving artist. Musicians like Phil McKenna are happy to share their art with the world, but love and talent alone won`t cut it, so go to Phil`s site, click on the appropriate links and BUY THIS ALBUM! Given the audio sewage that the majors are spewing out these days, D.I.Y artists like Phil are needed more than ever; let`s keep `em around!! [Many, many hoots and thanks to Phil for the disc!]
"Better Shred Than Dead" would seem to be guitarist Curt Shaw`s catch-phrase! Curt is most definitely a graduate of the Vai/Satch school of fretboard pyromania. He rains pure neo-classical hellfire on all six strings; of course, so can a lot of players. But most are nothing more than shining examples of eye-to-hand coordination, basically musical jugglers. And the world has PLENTY of those! Curt`s sense of composition is what sets him apart. Incorporating unique and at times odd-metered rhythms enables him to paint beautifully alien sonic landscapes for the listener, expanding you mind while at the same time ripping yer head off with his high-tech shredding. But the tunes aren`t so "out there" that your average Joe and Jane would be put off, a testament to Curt`s compositional skills. Check out "Egyptian Moon" and "Ilsa Majeras" for confirmation of this. Hell, buy the album and check `em ALL out! Highly recmmended! [Thanks to Curt for the disc!]
Sick, sick, sick! Or should that be "6, 6, 6"? Either way, it pretty much sums up Balatonizer's first full-length, "Occlused In Ottusity"! Hailing from Italy, Balatonizer`s gore-drenched sonic mayem mixes brutal death metal with elements of grind. The album consists of 32 tracks, yet is less than 30 minutes in length! So you can pretty much figure that the tunes are gonna be delivered at hyperspeed, with gutural vocals and chainsaw bass/guitars fighting for supremacy over super-sonic programmed drum volleys. But even with the somewhat muddy production values, the band`s obvious musical skills shine through. Balatonizer tendency to deliver the songs in ultra fast mode wears on the ears after a while, making slower cuts ike the super heavy "Sbigottit" and "Occlused In Ottusity" a welcome relief. Amazingly, each track stands apart from the other, something quite unexpected and a pleasant surprise! Some other standout tracks here include: "Ciccio Tagliavia", "Abomination Of Triviality", "Occlusinated Eyes Convergence", and "From The Obsolation To The Obliteration". WARNING! This CD should NOT be played around small children, cute, furry animals and the elderly! [Thanks to Mario for the CD!]
