CD

Voices are a new project with a couple of former Akercocke-members. And those who are trusted with Akercocke might have a clue about what Voices stand for.

Belgian auto-didactic musician / multi-instrumentalist / composer Mathieu Vandekerckhove is known from his activities in acts like AmenRa, Caan, Sembler Deah or Kingdom, but since ten years, he acts as a solo-artist under the moniker of Syndrome as well. In 2011, for example, he did release the surprising full length Floating Veins (on CD and LP, via ConSouling Sounds).

Imagine a blend of Thin Lizzy, Led Zeppelin, The Black Crowes, AC/DC and some other bands, and you’ve got Stone Axe.  This album was recorded at the 2011 Roadburn Festival, but it could just as easily have been a studio recording, because the public is hardly to be heard on the album, and the performance of the band does not much differ either.

With this Deluxe Edition, Ripple Music brings us a rerelease of Stone Axe’s second album.  As a matter of fact it’s the complete original album, expanded by a second CD, with tracks that were previously only available on vinyl, or were part of a compilation, and some tracks that were never before released. Is this alone worth buying this album?  I’m not sure.  After all it’s more of the same stuff, being seventies inspired rock, reminiscing to many of the great bands that existed or sprouted in that period of time.

Despite being predictable I like this release by Skogen Brinner. The band, a four piece from Sweden plays a brand of 70s groove stoner fuzz obviously inspired by Black Sabbath, Witchcraft, and Graveyard. They pull some great leads out of the tumultuous hat of their sound, and execute very good build-ups. Once the band are in the full swing of "Australien” and “Fasornas berg” they instantly bring to mind November and that’s always a good choice.

Sweden’s Skineater are some kind of ‘super-band’ with former and current members of e.g. Wombbath, Carnal Forge and Dark Funeral. The combo recorded this first album at the famous Studio Underground with master / mixer Pelle Saether (think: Fleshcrawl, Necrodeath, Throneaeon, As Likely As Not, Days Of Anger a.o.).

Combine Omegamassif plus Entombed plus Pelican plus our own Sardonis plus a Russian name Shakhtyor which means ‘miner’ and you get what?

Looking at the artwork and seeing the names of who’s playing in this band, or is it a project wasn’t exactly warning me about what a fantastic CD this would turn out to be. 

Cruz Del Sur Music are about to re-release all older stuff by Pagan Altar,

If you’re into blues rock, mixed with rockabilly, then this might be an album you’ll like.  Ot he other hand if you’re into hard rock or metal, then avoid this album at all costs. These guys are not bad at what they’re doing, but it’s far from original.  And the mix between blues rock and rockabilly also sounds a bit strange to me.  Imagine you’re listening to a Stevie Ray Vaughan  album, and all of a sudden the Stray Cats kick in…