Sunday, August 30, 2009

TOP JOHNNY! - Top Johnny!


TOP JOHNNY! - Top Johnny!

Written by Branimir Lokner
Sunday, 30 August 2009

TOP JOHNNY! " Top Johnny!"
( Star Brite Productions ) 2008.

CD - CANADA

Hard rock/metal/rock


Top Johnny! hails from Montreal, Canada, and they are a newer hope in not only national metal/rock scene. A band work as a quartet, they are active continiously some period, and firstly, discographically, they announced its arrival with EP, entitled " Kick It" from 2005 year. Its self-titled album is also actuelle one, and members from band doing promotional activities, receivimg mainly a positive feedbacks.
With fantastic productional work, a fine and convinceble performings, a band has introduced themselves with 12 equalizing and melodic tracks. Its stylish offering can be described as a variant of modern metal/hard rock/rock . A band has sounded as a pretty modern act, and its fresh sound and unclassical performing energy also shows its original side. "Top Johnny!" is a more than a promising full-length and Canadians steps in to certain future.

Rating : 9/10
C / o : www.topjohnny.com

www.myspace.com/topjohnny

Thursday, August 13, 2009

THE SUNWASHED AVENUES - The Sunwashed Avenues


THE SUNWASHED AVENUES - The Sunwashed Avenues

Written by Branimir Lokner
Thursday, 13 August 2009

THE SUNWASHED AVENUES " The Sunwashed Avenues "
( Self - released ) 2009.

EP CD - SWITZERLAND

Hardcore/crossover


Some period ago, I have received a materials from Zurich, Switzerland based band, named The Sunwashed Avenues. This is an EP, done in Digi format. A group works as a quartet, and its musical approach isn' t easy for general categorizations.
A Swiss fellows are crossover band, and its views mainly covers hardcore elements. They have introduced themselves with 6 tracks in. Its performing method is also aggressive, psychologically nearer to 80's variants of hardcore. Screamo vocalizations, and lotta' noise includings also characterize its performing options. A songs are done in so call slower to faster up tempo, where often rhythm transformations changes a songs structures. A group also delivers through its sound enough nihilistic elements, and also in mentioned variants knows to remind on 80's
hardcore acts. A band's EP isn' t easy to acceptable, but a Swiss youngsters has offered pretty enough portions of originality.

Rating : 7 / 10
C / o : www.myspace.com/thesunwashedavenues

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

M.I.C - Made In China


M.I.C - Made In China

Written by Branimir Lokner
Wednesday, 12 August 2009

M.I.C. " Made In China"
( Self - released ) 2009.

CD
- CHINA
Classic rock/hard rock

Out of Chinese town Chengdu comes a band M.I.C. fronted by key person Yvon Serre. A group also has in its line-up some other non - Chinese musicians, so we can not threat them as a "normal" Chinese band. But, nevertheless, a group are consists of some other also well-experienced performers, and its album doesn' t sounds as a usual debut issue of some newer act." Made In China" comphrises mostly classic rock songs, fulfield with hard rock elements and some melodic rock includings as well. M.I.C reminds on 80's hard rock acts, and psychologically,they are judging by offering materials musically nearer to mentioned period, than to nowadays options. Its general rock attitude is also evident, and most of present songs posses strong performing approach. A production isn' t inspirative enough, but band has showed relevantly its capabilities . A closing track "Let's do it", could be a favourable one, also pretty acceptable for live performance.

Rating : 7 / 10
C / o : www.yvonserre.com/mic/

www.myspace.com/madeinchine

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

EVOLUTION - When Serenity Ends


EVOLUTION - When Serenity Ends

Written by Branimir Lokner
Tuesday, 11 August 2009

EVOLUTION " When Serenity Ends "
( Self - released ) 2009.

CD - GERMANY

Heavy/thrash/power metal


German act Evolution is on the saddle practically from 2001. year. Even of not so rare personal changes, frontman Maik Nirmaier keep the flame all the time, and nowadays, positions and status of Evolution as a band in national underground circuit are better than ever. A group has released till now with actuelle offering a 3 albums and 1 EP. "When Serenity Ends" are consists of 13 tracks in, done with modern productional views and realizations. A band still communicate with same passion with 80's thrash variants of mainly By Area school, but its performing options also has accepted classic heavy and power idioms as well. It seems also that band passes through specific stages, and offering materials posses evident stronger emotional includings, and practically unexpecting clear and pure energy too. So, in mentioned circumstances, "When Serenity Dies", judging by many aspects, is different product than its previous albums. This is surely not bad, and generally German fellows did a solid job.

Rating : 7,5 / 10
C / o : www.evolution-metal.de

www.myspace.com/evolutionofficial

DAVID MARTINEZ - David Martinez


DAVID MARTINEZ - David Martinez

Written by Branimir Lokner
Tuesday, 11 August 2009

DAVID MARTINEZ " David Martinez "
( Self - released ) 2008.

CD - USA

Rock/americana/country rock

David Martinez is a Corpus Christi, Texas based songwriter. At age 15 he did his first steps as a musician, and during the years he tasted himself through many crossing music forms. "David Martinez", actuelle S/t album is also his debut. David has introduced himself with 10 self-penned songs which oriantations balancing between rock/country rock and americana idioms. Storytelling psychology occupies his lirical approach, and his songs are mostly done in mid to slower mid-up tempo. A specific pleasent atmosphere also characterize his materials, where we can not find any so call weacker places.
David's method of performing and songwriting also reminds sometimes on successful 70's authors, but his originality is also evident . More or less, on David's debut we can find an equalizing materials, without any classical hittish song, but with plenty of fine-driven' tunes.

Rating : 8 / 10
C / o : www.davidmartinezmusic.com

www.myspace.com/davidmartinezmusic

THE ZOO - We Can't Wait


THE ZOO - We Can't Wait

Written by Branimir Lokner
Tuesday, 11 August 2009

THE ZOO " We Can't Wait "
( Manhoover Records /Universal ) 2009.

CD - SWEDEN

Power pop/ 80's pop/modern pop

The Zoo are Swedish band, formed some years ago by two key members - Albin Johansson and David Eriksson. Firstly, their style was quite different, but later on, a band has accepted a more popish elements and traces.When two Demos were putted on rotation, a group has received some recognitions, both from labels and press , and that was a signal for real begining. "We Can' t Wait" is a debut full-length, and band's album will be also publish in August this year for Japanese market. The Zoo are pretty melodic act with clear 80's flavour. They have introduced themselves with 11 songs in, with more or less similiar equalizations. Basically, its approach mostly cover power pop idioms, but also with strong modern includings. A keybords threathenings associate sometimes on playing methods of post new wave acts, and its arrangments aren't boring and doesn' t suffers from manniristical problems. "We Can' t Wait" is also listenable product, with many radio friendly songs . I would recomand one of them - "One Of A Kind " whose hittish tendencies, comes out from the second plan.

Rating : 8 / 10
C / o : www.thezoo.se
www.myspace.com/thezooworld

Sunday, August 9, 2009

SARIS - Curse Of Time


SARIS - Curse Of Time

Written by Branimir Lokner
Sunday, 09 August 2009

SARIS " Curse Of Time "
( Duck Dive Music ) 2009.
CD - GERMANY

Progressive rock


Out of Bochum, Germany comes a band SARIS. They formed back in 1981, but its carrear suffered from longest periods of non-exsistence. They recorded a first album in 1991, entitled "Dead And Street" , and after a period of practically 18 years in waiting, and some line-up problems, actuelle second album looked the light of day. "Curse Of Time" has introduced them as a precise progressive rock act with some clear progressive metal additionals and also AOR includings as well.
A fine male-female vocalizations and briliant keybord drivin' work characterize its songs. Saris in many places knows to reminds on 70's acts and its musical approach excluding production, mainly associate on mentioned periods/times. In some aspects they reminds me in other parts of world less known German act EINSTEIN, but some comparabilities also leads to Canadian group SAGA. But, Saris has showed that as a group knows how to put right thing in right place, and its album posses many inspirative places. A melodicity is also strong element of its works , and I would mention a refine arrangments capabilities of members from band. "Curse Of Time" as a album has maybe strongest oriantations to mentioned 70's, but that element doesn' t change a
general positive opinion about its musical realizations.

Rating : 8 / 10
C / o : www.saris.mu
www.myspace.com/sarisband

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

RANDY RUSK - Innocent Grace


RANDY RUSK - Innocent Grace

Written by Branimir Lokner
Wednesday, 05 August 2009

RANDY RUSK " Innocent Grace "
( Omega Music Production ) 2008.

CD - USA

Rock/country rock/songwritings


Songwriter Randy Rusk is active as a muscian for 34 years, and his carrear has accepted a variety of professional musical combinations. Among other activities worth mentioning are his "duties" as a professor at Saddleback Comunity College, where he teaches classes in both songwritings and guitar playing. As a performer, he was opened for many well-known and established names , and he is author with respectable experience.
" Innocent Grace" is his latest issue, where we can find portion of self-penned songs ranging between rock, country rock and some other similiar genre's variants in-between. Most of his songs has a strong 70's flavour, and his method of songwritings knows to reminds on successful artists from mentioned era. Even that some of his songs posses a provoking lirical tendencies, in many aspects Randy's authors creations associate on legacy of James Taylor . Practically, all things on "Innocent Grace"album except drums passages, Randy did with own hands. He has showed a respectable authors qualities, and "Innocent Grace" deserves often repeatable listeners attention.

Rating : 8,5/10
C / o : www.randyrusk.com

Saturday, August 1, 2009

JAKE LEAR - Lost Time Blues


JAKE LEAR - Lost Time Blues

Written by Branimir Lokner
Saturday, 01 August 2009

JAKE LEAR " Lost Time Blues"
( Self - released ) 2009.

CD

Blues - USA


Out of Vermont comes a blues artists, guitar player, singer and author Jake Lear. His carrear is actuelle a last few years, and both of his albums - "Love And Charm" ( 2007 ) and actuelle one "Lost Time Blues ( March 2009 ), received a mainly positive reactions fom worldwide blues
communities/followers/journalists. Jake Lear prefers live and direct studio perfomings, without any unnecessery overdubs, and his style is orientire to well-known Texas variants and generally older school. His songs are sincere, pretty clear, with evident emotional approach, and in many aspects his voice has accepted a narrative approach, similiar to methods of earliest folk singers, and some comparisons leads also to Bob Dylan, as a one of influental icons. "Lost Time Blues" are consists of 11 tracks, done in mid to mid-up tempo, where 2 of them are covers. "Lost Time Blues" is very interesting album with many pleasent places, but listening a few times Jake's materials, one relevant think comes to mind - and that's a evidental 70's approach present in practically every corner of Jake's songs. But, that is only another positive element, and "Lost Time Blues" as a album deserves recomandations.

Rating : 8 / 10
C / o : www.jakelear.com