Mind you readers. This is not really a ‘new’ album. It’s a compilation of songs from Neurasthenia’s ‘Possessed’ (2007) and ‘Your Omen’ (2009) albums, that have been re-recorded, re-arranged, re-mixed an finally re-mastered.
Whatever they may have done with these songs, I don’t give a damn. It still stays trash, and trash has never been, and will never be, a genre that I truly like. There are parts in these songs I like, but most of it I’d like to treat to the fast forward button.
This is the third full album by these Italian metallers, coming from Rome. It is however for me my first acquaintance with this band.
They have two vocalists, one female, Gabriella Aleo, who sort of stands for the soprano – operatic singing, but with a far more limited reach then e.g. Tarja Turunen. The second vocalist is male, Sandro Manicone. In some songs he sounds decent enough, but there are times when he fails to do what he’s supposed to do, and sounds even as if someone has just given him a kick in his balls…
The style is distinctly sludge groove math metal with a ballsy guitar/drum/bass/vocalist line-up. Think of garage Black Tusk inspired screamy metal songs with a very upbeat head-nodding lilt in the standard verse / chorus / solo / verse format. What's more, Howl sport a punk-style attitude/aesthetic yet somehow combine it with a higher degree of metallic accessibility. The band has a strong sense of including hooks and great fuzz leads without sacrificing the grooviness, to quickly grab the listener's attention.
Hailing from France, Hacride is another entry into the alternative metal field. Hacride take sheer musical force and commanding vocals to new heights. Intricate guitar work collides with masterful tempo changes, the rhythmic patterns are furious yet inventive in their splendour. Luiss Roux’ vocals are an additional strongpoint as they fit in with their sound perfectly, but hopefully he will restrain his singing a little bit, less is more.
The group was founded in 1981 under the name “Paradox” by drummer Kelly David-Smith and guitarists Mark Vazquez and Kevin Horton, who were later joined by ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted. Jason had come to Phoenix with his band Gangster from Michigan on their way to California, but Gangster broke up while in Phoenix.
From the land of the Rising Sun the debut album from Early Cross has reached us. This band consists of three male members fronted by a female vocalist. And they bring us a very good album.
This is the latest CD from Greece band Double Treat, who throw out timeless melodic rock that appeared in the eighties.
It's great how Devil To Pay sounds refreshing with every new release. The band might not leap forward, but it is also remote from repeating itself. Devil To Pay’s style is stoner meets doom meets NOLA meets southern rock with all its elements in harmony.
Def Leppard are struggling to regain the success they had years ago, but if they fail, fear not, because here comes De La Cruz. These guys have their roots in Australia. The origins of the band go back to 2007, when guitarist Casey Jones crossed paths with vocalist Roxxi Catalano.
I remember when I bought DAD’s album ‘No Fuel Left For The Pilgrims’, which wasn’t their first album of course, but whatever. I was greatly impressed by what these guys brought. Rock music, and even good rock music, with a large dosis of humor, which was quite unusual, and still is. I also bought the follow up album ‘Riskin’ It All’, and then seem to have lost sight of this band.
