| CD REVIEW TSM/SLW Promotion special #8: Margate – Ninth Circle – Seasons Lost – Strange Land |
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TSM/SLW Promotion special #8: Margate – Ninth Circle – Seasons Lost – Strange Land Right, so here you get the reviews promised in Special #7, by the following bands: Margate (from Los Angeles, California, USA), Ninth Circle (Los Angeles, California, USA), Seasons Lost (Coral Springs, Florida) and Strange Land (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA)…making this an Americans-only special! ------------------------------------------------------ This Los Angeles (California) based trio was formed by seasoned musicians (they’ve played in bands on both sides of the US foe at least a decade) Alex Helbig (lead vocals & drums), Doug Mitchell (guitar and backing vocals) and Steve Weil (bass and backing vocals) in 2003. They call themselves “…a 3-piece Rock band in the vein of Foo Fighters, Rise Against, Bad Religion, and Weezer…” (which is a somewhat weird combination when you think about it, but is explained when you listen to and analize their music) and released their debut album Songs In The Key Of Awesome (recorded at the renowned Westbeach Recorders studio in Hollywood which previously hosted such acts as The Offspring, Blink 182 and Sublime) in 2006…and have been gaining a growing fanbase in Southern California ever since. Events which certainly heped in this, was the radio airplay they got on the syndicated radio On the Frosty, the Heidi And Frank show (at 94.1FM Los Angeles, where they performed as part of the “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” part of the show…getting a “Stay” vote from the listeners and in-audience), UCLA campus radio, and the world famous KROQ radio (106.7FM Los Angeles; as part of the Locals Only show). On top, their song “Rising” also made it to the soundtrack of the independent movie Outside Sales (which was picked up for major video distribution in 2008). Starting in the smaller clubs, the band eventually also were offered gigs in the more renowned venues (such as Viper Room, Roxy, House Of Blues, Knitting Factory, Derby, and Hard Rock Café) and seen playing at the Ernie Ball stage of this year’s Vans Warped Tour. The band used their successes to further their positive advancement, by buying their own studio, whence they were able to take their time to record the 10 songs on their newest outing. Their music is a rare blend of Alternative Rock-Pop Punk flavoured thing (but with an emphasis on the Alternative Rock rather than on the Poppy Punk thing), with (according to some) an additional Emo tingue coming from Helbig’s type of high-pitched vocals and the harmonic backings…which has already given them additional comparisons to the likes of Jimmy Eat World and Saves The Day…with more shredding guitars. Personally, I find Helbig’s slightly nasal and high-pitched voice as not being quite Emo at all…no, it rather closes in with the Weezer influence, I guess. Lyrically, the band is alternally serious and socially aware (check “Unchecked Aggression”, with those added police radio samples) on the one side, and somewhat lightheartedly silly (check “Believe In Steve” and “My Dog Duke”)…but overall the texts are of a more personal nature. Whatever…there’s no less than 6 songs (including the aforementioned, except for the latter, and the track “In My Life” returns in a live version, by the way) off this album posted at myspace.com/margate for you to taste, alongside 3 songs off the previous album. Check it out if you’re into this kind of affectionate Punky-Poppy Alternative Rock! In my personal book, this almóst gets a nomination into my year-lists! 94/100 ------------------------------------------------------ When looking up the band Ninth Circle on Google, you’ll find this bandname has had quite some use (a British based Metal act issued a 1998 demo, a Vastervik, Sweden based Black Metal outfit issued a 2000 promo disc, andother Swedish Black Metal act from the town of Pitea had a 2003 demo out, a Norwegian, Asker based band which played Alternative Metal/ Metalcore had a 2006 and 2008 demo, and a 2007 single…and there was also a ‘90s DarkWave band whom at least had a self-titled 1996 album out on the Ivy label)…but Progressive Heavy Metal band (some would even call it Power Metal) was started in Los Angeles as far back as 1998. With such main influences as Iron Maiden, Stratovarius, and Queensrÿche (but the list definitely goes on with the likes of Dream Theater, Black Sabbath, Gamma Ray, Def Leppard, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Helloween, Thin Lizzy, Scorpions, etc, etc…), the band’s originators, best friends (they met in high school, hit it off immediately, and formed their first band in 1986), and mainstays Dennis Brown (guitar and now also lead vocals, a role he took upon himself a couple of years ago, after having to deal with lead singers who didn’t show up at rehearsals…or even shows) and Frank Forray (bass and backing vocals) have gone through a couple of drummers (Tony Chlup until 2003, Robert Gallegos after that) but eventually found a perfect partner-in-crime (and fun) in Dave Davis (whom also does backing vocals) during 2008. In 2000, the band released its self-titled debut album (it went #2 on MP3.com and sold out its pressed amount that same year), and in the presentation of the band members at (http//) ninthcircle.us, Dennis mentions The Power Of One is their 3rd album…yet I cannot find trace of it anywhere. Anyway…this album has been two years in the making and was produced by Outland guitarist, singer, and producer Jeff Prentice (whom has a relationship with the band that is a decade old, back from days when Frank and him played in a Thin Lizzy tribute band together…and in fact, during early NC days Prentice occasionally filled in as session singer and rhythm/ lead guitarist). The album was released (“distribution” through CDBaby.com) in mid December 2008, with the band posting a link to the first review at the very beginning of January 2009. Without the backing of a label, the band’s gigs to promote the album were done in California only thus far, but some have been of a slightly higher profile…like playing support to Dokken in February, Y&T in March, Full Metal Jacket in April, Michael Schenker in July, Great White in August, and Primal Fear in September (and a gig in support of Hammerfall is in the planning for late March next year). They also participated to the Battle Of The Bands contest, sponsored by Guitar Center, where they rreached the semi-finals. The guys did a different kind of appearance when Frank and Dennis hung out at the Furnam booth at this year’s NAMM gathering (and met some old friends in the process), and members of the band did radio interviews on Flashrock.com, on 106.2 FuseFM in North Ireland, Galacticworldradio.com and Powerhousemixradio, and had their TV debut on JoyRock (aired in March). Also, the band saw it’s debut album re-issued in re-mixed and re-mastered form (by original producer Bill Krodel) in May, with two never before heard bonus tracks…and received no less than 7 nominations in the South Bay Music Awards (including “Best Independent CD” and “Rock Group Of the Year”). As you can see, things are on the “up” for this band! And seservedly so, because the 12 tracks on the album show a band which is at the top of their craft, playing a highly infectuous Power Metal with only occasional added keyboards (a synth in the intro of “The Journey”, some string/ orchestrated keyboards in album closing balled “Prisoner Of The World”). To show their idolation of Iron Maiden, they also do a cover of the Brits’ “The Trooper”…nót an easy song to sing, and Dennis doesn’t quite have Dinckinson’s power, but he manages to bring off a good job with his slightly nasal high-pitched voice after all (instrumentally, he sees himself battling with Jeff Prentiss, by the way). If you’re into slightly Progressive Heavy Metal, Power Metal if you will, or are particularly fond of the bands mentioned as main influences, you should by all means check out the 5 songs the band posted at myspace.com/ninthcircleworld (there’s also a video posted at the bottom of the page, and I forgot to check which). 92/100 Band : Seasons Lost Based in Fort Lauderdale (FL), it is a fair assumption that the members of this band, which was formed in November 2005, are all either soldiers in the US Army Forces, or related too such people. Oh well, maybe one shouldn’t jump to conclusions that quickly, because even if the city wàs erected fro the needs of the military, it’s been around for long enough. At any rate, SL singer Shaie Mason has a singing career which goes back to 1991, and has been a member of A Rare Breed, Creation, Hollowsinsination, Cult 45, and then Mason Rd. which evolved to Seasons Lost. The band’s rhythm guitarist Anton Foresta started playing his instrument at the age of 14, and drummer Marc Ellis was even earlier, starting at the age of 11. Weirdly enoough, I’ve no info on either of these bandmembers having been in other bands prior to SL, nor of bassist Andy Uiliein, nor of recently departed lead guitarist Parker Tindell. In their own description, the band plays a combination of Hard Rock, Metal, and Pop…and weirdly enough that fits just right once you’ve gone through the material on this 10-track album. I mean…like what’s “Pop” these days? Used to be, it was simply short for “popular music”, but with Metal having pushed through into the mainstream of music (think Metallica, and more recently the likes of Killswitch Engage) it becomes rather hard to put one’s finger on it, ain’t that right? With album opener “To Hell And Back”, plus “Skeletal Remedy”, “Predenatural”, and “album closer” (check later for details) “Graveshifter”, the band ventures into (Melodic) Metalcore areas, keeping the music heavy (with alternating paces) and added Hardcore scream-type vocals. In between, you get an alternation of modern Hard Rock tunes (the “modern” part coming from a new age heavieness in the guitar, see?) and balladesque tracks (heavier Hard Rock parts being alternated with near-acoustic or calmer passages). Regretfully, although one does become acustomed to the album and its alternating contents, I’m afraid that, like me, at a first session the listener might feel this band has a certain indecision as to which route to follow, musically speaking. The only thing I can say to that, is for the listener to persevere. Mason has a truly nice and forceful voice, which shows strength in even the balladesque moments. Talking ballads…the only réal ballad you’ll get on this album, is with the acoustic hidden track (and this is what “album closer”, as mentioned above, relates too). I can certainly understand why this band would do good in Army surroundings: there’s the more ballad-geared tracks which will fall in grace with both the girls (ooh, they’ve a sensitive side, you know!) ànd the boys (because said tracks still have a heavy side to ‘em)…and then there’s the more excited tracks which will help release some tensions (like, let’s get craàààzieee…!!!). Ay any rate, I guess the band is well placed to become a local favourite. Whether they grow into something “larger” will depend largely on the band’s posibilities to start touring outside Florida into the rest if the US…and beyond! But then they will need the backing of a good stable label to support ‘em in thàt! At myspace.com/seasonslost, you can check out whether this band’s music is something for you thanks to the 4 album tracks posted there . The band posted two additional live tracks from their extensive catalogue (they claim to have enough material to fill 2 more full-length albums…they also claimed to be ready to take steps out into the world, and then found themselves without a lead guitarist…for which they are currently seaking replacement). 84/100 ------------------------------------------------------ This Milwaukee, Wisconsin based “Melodic Neo-Progressive Power trio” was founded in November 1998 by former members of the bands Labyrinth (nót the Italians!) and Fishboy, in the same line-up as today’s (lead singer/ bassist / keyboardist Chad Novell, guitarist/ backing singer Sean T. Gill and drummer / backing singer Brad Klotz) even if the drummer temporarily stepped out from Fall 2001 to early 2005 in order to concentrate on other things). Recording-wize, the trio opened proceedings with the 4-track demo Foundation (sorry I have no exact release date on that, should be either 1999 or early 2000) and followed that up with their debut full-length Anomaly (in 2001, I guess). A second 4-track demo (recorded with drummer Pete Schwartzenbacher) followed in time for fans to purchase it at 2002’s Prog Power 2002 (where the band was to perform). In 2003 the band got a worldwide distribution deal with Nightmare Records, and in early 2005 released its sophomore full-length Blaming Season (recorded with drummer Esteban Gonzales, whom left after the recordings in late 2005). Upon the return of drummer Brad Klotz, the trio found itself gearing towards a new sense of direction, and work on new material soon followed (they took their bleeding time too, but who can blame ‘em with the fine material they delivered…oouch, I’m stepping ahead of time in my review now!!!). During recent years, the band has opened for the likes of Gary Hoey, former Marillion man Fish, shredder Joe Stump, fusion super-group McGill/ Manring/ Stevens, the almigty (sic) King’s X, Three (3), Inside Out’s Event…and played many concerts organized by Wisconcin P.R.O.G. (formed by Dimension X founder bassist Dave Burkovitz). They were picked among over 200 Milwaukee-area bands to be one of 14 bands to perform at 2005’s Emergenza festival, and have been gracing the stages of the M.A.R.S. Festival in the last two years as well. Recently, the band has been expansing their area of influence from the Mid-Western regions towards the North and such cities as Detroit and Chicago. In their own description the band prefers not to wear their influences on their sleeves in spite of admitting to fall, in the most generic sense, into the Progressive Rock/ metal category along with such bands as Fates Warning, Savatage, Rush, Zero Hour, Pain Of Salvation, and Galactic Cowboys. If it seems somewhat ambitious a company to be with, the threesome nevertheless delivers! And it’s something which you can easily convince yourself by listening to the material that’s posted at either MySpace (myspace.com/slband), Reverb Nation, Facebook, YouTube, or CDBaby. Overall, the album can be seen as existing in two parts, the second of which is the 7-part title track (in total lasting just over 21 minutes, it is yet divided in “separate” tracks, although on the album these follow into each other). The piano keyboard is played only in this lengthy track, and then also only in the first and ending sections…following the acoustic guitar ending of “Catharsis – Evolve”, comes the calmer “Catharsis – Doubt” (which is exactly the kind of feeling, musically speaking, that would go along with those kind of sentiments). Back to the first part of the album, which opens with the calm acoutic guitar instrumental “Prodigo Cras” (based on a chorus riff of the ensuing “The Men Who Spent The World”), a calmness which only returns with track 6 (“Ebb”) which has some wizardry displayed from the bass player, as in parts he plays some atmospheric keyboards as well! Oh, and I didn’t mention the occasional harmonic backing vocals, did I!? The end result is that after a session lasting just over 51 minutes, one feels compelled to give the disc another spin in the cd-player, just for the fun of it. A sure-fire proof in my book, that this trio is doing good things! 92/100 Tony. |
