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.
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.
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.
