Mar 03

Behind the Sun is a self titled debut album of a five piece rock band, which originates from Israel.  The album, released in mid 2009 contains 12 great tracks, and is the fruit of one and a half years of hard work.

As such there is no way to describe this band’s original musical style.  Although their heavy music have elements of Opeth, and their slower pieces and guitar work have influence of a 70’s rock band, they still managed to distinguish themselves with a style of their own.  At first the album might sound a little bit mono tone, maybe because of the lack of keyboards and other sound effects which usually create an overdose of ‘atmosphere’ in an album.  But after listening to it a couple of times, and understand the lyrics, you  realise that this is a true work of art, which can be quite addictive.  Once you start listening to it, it is impossible to stop it in the middle and change the cd.

Forget about power chords, since their guitars are as melodious as they can be, which is a great plus for this album and band.  Their progressive guitar solos mixed up with fast and up beat drum works can distinctively get hold of your attention.  A perfect example of such master piece can be heard in the middle of the sixth track, Running Water.  The vocals and singing style also blend very well with the music style, as can be noticed in their second track, Wishful Thinking.  One can instantly feel how much passion, while at the same time anger, there is their front man’s Gad Erez voice.

To make sure the album is a complete work of art, one must also make sure to get to know more about the lyrics, and understand where these five men are coming from, the beautiful land of Israel.  Yet, man  himself ruined and abused this heavenly land, like many other places.  Their lyrics address the breakdown of what we call today’s modern society, corruption, politics, terrorism and mostly of all, war.  So much for progress!

Well done to Behind the Sun, for starting up their career with such  great album.  The band have a very good potential and I won’t be surprised if they engage a good deal later on in their career, and surprise us more with even better music at a later stage.  Keep up the good work.  Well it’s time for you to listen to the real thing.  Click here to access their MySpace page, and listen to their music.

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Feb 06

4 years after their first release, the all Italian band Act Noir release their second album, Shape a New Start.  Released in January 2010 under Milan’s Eibon Records, the new album features the new vocalist Gaetano Notarnicola.  Their music and vocals blending sounds like a mixture of Depeche Mode, A perfect Circle with a spice of Placebo.  Although their electro rock roots still remain strong, this time their musical direction is more melodic.

The overall album construction is like a spiral in which the electro music, rock and vocals fit very well together.  It all starts with the loud ‘Shatterproof Beauty’, featuring good heavy guitar riffs and drum works, accompanied with very catchy electro beats.  The way guitars and synths exposure changes, fit well the vocals style.  With a mixture of heavy electro beats in ‘Set Fire’, excellent drum loops and guitar melodies in ‘Wrong Places’ and a perfect balance of synths and guitars on ‘Redemption’ make this album a must listen to.

The closing track, ‘The Higher I Went, The Deeper I Feel’ is most probably the best track on the album.  After this electro rock journey, it is only appropriate to close with a slow, melodic and atmospheric track, which suites well the theme of the lyrics.  The lyrics explore the need to shape a new start, as the album title suggest.  Personal redemption of the past and the need to make changes and amendments is a need which cannot be ignored.  A journey back to the roots of humans and a look forward to start the much needed change!

and I cannot see the end
all my efforts all my hopes
to give this world another go are lost
down in the deepest blue
where everything is staying still
and no one wants to rise above and see the truth

The album is available from Eibon Records, where some samples from the album are also available.

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Aug 19

Finally Paradise lost announced the release dates for their new much awaited album; Faith Divides Us – Death Unites US.  Century Media will be releasing the album on 28th October 2009 in Europe, and on 6th October 2009 in the US.  This album is the first album featuring the Paradise Lost’s new drummer Adrian Erlandsson, ex ‘At the Gates’ and ‘Cradle of Filth’ drummer.

Check out what journalists have to say about this new gothic metal album from the below video, which features some footage from the album’s listening session at a coal mine factory in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.  All positive comments!

Looking forward to order the Limited edition 2CD digibook version of this album.

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Jul 06

The new Paradise Lost album will be called ‘Faith Divides Us Death Unites Us’ and will be released on Century Media Records in September 2009!  According to the band, this is the darkest and heaviest effort to date!

Paradise Lost newest releases where always of a surprise, as with each album they presented a different unexpected musical style from the previous album.  This can be noticed from the distorted heavy guitars and growling From Lost Paradise, their first album to an electro pop sound like ‘Depeche Mode’ in their 8th album, Host.

I personally liked all their releases, although I was disappointed with their latest 2 albums, ‘Paradise Lost’ and ‘In requiem’.  They sound very similar to each other, and are quite flat toned.  Let’s hope for the better for the upcoming 13th album.

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Paradise Lost’s vocalist Nick Holmes comments on the album’s title; “there is so much division in the world caused by obstructing religious belief” and “We are all made of the same flesh and bone, what makes one religions better than the other, and would any true god allow his creation to destroy itself?” – Well said Nick!

Looking forward for this 13th album, let’s hope that like all their first 8th albums, this release will bring along another surprise.

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May 04

Finally, had time to sit down and listen to For Lies I Sire, My Dying Bride’s latest album.  In the last 3 albums, MDB seemed to be going to a different direction from their roots.  Nothing wrong with that, but the whole situation sounded too commercial, or it’s like they were pressured to release music asap.  They were still writing good heavy music, but it seems that the lack of violin, helped in lack of writing good “to die with” music.  They lacked the atmosphere, which in my opinion MDB had an atmosphere of their own and that is what made them one of the most influential bands in doom metal.  They were moving towards heavier music, which didn’t had much feel, just heavy music.

But finally, it seems they are on their way back to their roots.  The violin is back, those slow guitar riffs are back accompanied by well structured drums, and Aaron’s weeping voice.  Nobody listens to MDB because of their technical music abilities, but because they were able to create a style of their own, which makes them unique.  No other band was able to create their feel, that kind of cold winter music.

For Lies I Sire

For my likings, I would never rate this album anywhere near the unique ‘Turn Loose the Swans’, but they are back.  Fingers crossed for their next album, which hopefully will take all of us closer to their roots.

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Mar 15

The dutch band The Gathering is finally hitting the news with a new album, The West Pole.  After a long silence because of Anneke’s departure,  The Gathering recruited a new female vocalist, Silje Wergeland.  I’ve only heard 3 tracks from the new album, available at The Gathering’s MySpace, since it is not yet released.

The band proved itself again, as one of the best bands at writing unique atmospheric rock music.  Though in my opinion, Silje’s voice and singing style are very similar to Anneke’s, but she is unable to create the feel and atmosphere Anneke used to create with her voice.  Silje’s voice suites more a symphonic metal band.  It could be till we get used to the new Gathering vocals, but for sure Anneke + The Gathering was a perfect combination, but that is history now!

It is not a good idea to try to compare their new album and sound with their previous work, especially since the vocalist changed.  If it had to be compared, it seems that The Gathering went a step backwards in their ability to create an atmosphere.  For sure and as always, they moved a step ahead in their experimenting with music.  Therefore listen to the new album as a masterpiece of new good music without looking back.

One can pre-order the new album from The Gathering web shop, the only place where it is available for now.  Looking forward to listen to it and also to the free EP.  The free EP is available if a ‘The West Pole’ package is ordered.

the_west_pole

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