Sunday, January 30, 2011

GHOST - The Engraving


GHOST - The Engraving

Written by Branimir Lokner
Sunday, 30 January 2011

GHOST
" The Engraving "
( Self - released ) 2010.
CD - NORWAY
Heavy metal/80's metal/melodic metal






Out of Follo, suburb area of capitol Oslo, comes a guys from band Ghost. They started out its life in 2002 year, and till now with actuelle full-length, thay have also released an EP and Demo. A group work in quintet formation, and very seriously threats a media segments of entire carreare, so many European webzines writes about band. Actuelle album " The Engraving" introduces them as a 80's influental heavy/hard/melodic act. A present songs from album posses a strong melodic lines, excellent vocalizations, relevant production, and good playing. A members from Ghost sounds as a coherent team, and it's also evident that arrangments of each songs are colourful and surprisengly interesting.
Even that members from band are aged from 30 to 37 year, together they have showed a more than certain maturity, and its album sounds as a well-experienced and strong product.. " The Engraving is very recomandable CD, especially for the 80's metal followers...

Rating : 8 , 5 / 10
C / o : www.ghosttheband.com
www.myspace.com/ghostrocks

Friday, January 28, 2011

APOLLOS - Awaken


APOLLOS - Awaken
Written by Branimir Lokner
Friday, 28 January 2011

APOLLOS
" Awaken "
( Self - released ) 2010.
CD - USA
Metal/hard rock/gothic/psychedelic




Apollos is a unusual act with strange history behind. They started out firstly in 1987 year, and in those times band has released an album, entitled " Rising" A group has received a criticall acclaim from prestige British " Kerrang" magazine, and received a cult following.
After years of inactivities, a band turned a new chapter and during the November of previous 2010 year , announced its second arrival with album " Awaken". Apollos are definitelly original act with interesting authors ideas. Musically they are on therithory of classic 70's and 80's metal, fullfield with evident gothic and even psychedelic tendencies as well. They combines older and newer variants, and as a result, we have a quite unique releasing approach. A songs are intense, also mostly different among them, with many uptempo changes, and unexpecting arrangments includings. A 14 tracks are present on " Awaken" album without unnecessery technical includings, but with also specofic present atmosphere, evident on each place of album. " Awaken" is interesting product, worth listeners attention. ....

Rating : 8 / 10
C / o : e-mail : leeapollos@gmail.com

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

JESSE BARISH - Restless Soul


JESSE BARISH - Restless Soul
Written by Branimir Lokner
Wednesday, 26 January 2011

JESSE BARISH
" Restless Soul "
( Voidecho Records ) 2010.
CD - USA
Melodic rock /pop/soul




Jesse Barish is a veteran of many music wars. His carreare started out practically in 60's period, and during the years he has performed and toured with many known and less known musicians. He toured among others with Leon Russel, Freddie King, J.J. Cale, and cooperated with Marty Balin. " Restless Soul" is his latest effort from October 2010 year.Jesse was author, he played flute and harmonica, and complete album he was recorded with Jeff Pescetto. Jeff was responsible for all instruments and backing vocals. " Restless Soul " is a mature product of well-experienced author, with tons of emotional pictures, pleasent atmospheres, and fine harmonizations. His melodic rock/pop songs are fulfield with evident and clear soul pastiche. Many reminiscents of 60's and 70's periods are present on 18 songs from album. Most of the songs are acceptable for radio usings too. Finally, " as a album " Restless Soul offers a good feelin' and same vibrations. Recomandable for listening in night time....

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

Monday, January 24, 2011

BODINROCKER - Mysterious Man


BODINROCKER - Mysterious Man

Written by Branimir Lokner
Monday, 24 January 2011

BODINROCKER " Mysterious Man "
( Bearman Music ) 2010.
CD - SWEDEN

Rock / melodic rock







Anders Bodin aka Bodinrocker is longest period in the saddle. He is from Gottenburg, Sweden, and musically, he is faithfull to 70's rock legacies. I have to say that his entire carreare has a respectable promotional campaighn on net, and his actuelle album " Mysterious Man" has been introduced in many webzines, nationally and abroad. " Mysterious Man" are consists of 10 pretty listaneble and melodic tunes, done in mentioned 70's rock manner. His works knows to remind on Status Quo approach, equally vocally and judging by performing threathenings.
But, melodicity is a key weapon of Swedish rocker, and complete materials posses a radio friendly usings. Many of present songs are very, very listenable, and also acceptable for gig performings. Nothing specially new, but Bodinrocker offers a good feelin', enjouable songs and positive vibrations..

Rating : 7, 5 / 10
C / o : www.andersbodin.net

www.myspace.com/andersbodin

www.slwpromotions.com

AMAGORTIS - Intrinsic Indecency


AMAGORTIS - Intrinsic Indecency

Written by Branimir Lokner
Monday, 24 January 2011

AMAGORTIS " Intrinsic Indecency "
( Brutal Bands ) 2010.

CD

Death metal - SWITZERLAND






A Swiss quartet Amagortis isn' t a newer name in death metal underground community. They started out in 2001 year, and till now they have released with actuelle one, a third full-lengths. " Intrinsic Indecency" introduces themselves with 11 tracks in, done in pretty brutal death metal vain. They sound as a coherent team, also with some grind includings, but I would add that present materials comphrises also 90's death metal influences as well. Mannitristically, they also knows to remind on USA acts from late 90's and begining of the 2000's period, and in my opinion also more psychologically. Technically as same as productionally, some things looked unfinnished, and the weacker side belongs to identical productional threathenings in each songs from the album. Total running time of album is 30 minutes, and cover design of CD, done by Tony Koehi deserve recomandations.

Rating : 7 / 10
C / o : www.brutalbands.com

www.dirtyandweird.com

www.amagortis.ch

e-mail : music@dirtyweird.com

EXCRUCIATION - Thorns


EXCRUCIATION - Thorns

Written by Branimir Lokner
Monday, 24 January 2011

EXCRUCIATION " Thorns "
( Non Stop Music ) 2009.

CD - SWITZERLAND

Doom/various metal genres





A Swiss act Excruciation had a long hstory behind. They started out its carreare in late 1987 year, and finilized a first phase in 1991 year, after realization of one mini LP and one CD album .After a period of inactivities, a group started a new chapter in 2005 year, with different musical direction ." Thorns" are still actuelle product, released during the December of 2009 year. A Swiss fellows has offered a pretty convinceble variant of doom, fullfield with some other genres variants, as a death metal, less thrash and enough progressive includings as well. A present songs posses evident performing passionate, intensity and strong attitude. There's no doubt that other details also funkcionizes as well, so the production is pretty relevant as same as complete technical includings. Their authors approach is also fresh and modern, judging by genre's standardizations, so " Thorns " as a album satisfies in many aspects. Recomandable....

Rating : 8 , 5 / 10
C / o : www.nonstopmusic.ch

www.dirtyandweird.com

www.excruciation.net

e-mail : music@dirtyandweird.com

Friday, January 21, 2011

MORILD - Time To Rest


MORILD - Time To Rest

Written by Branimir Lokner
Friday, 21 January 2011

MORILD " Time To Rest "
( Self - released ) 2010.

2 CD - NORWAY

Progressive/progressive rock







Morild are Trondheim, Norway based band, formed back in 2007 year. A group work as a quartet, and during the previous 2010 year, they debuted with 2 CD's materials, entitled " Time To Rest". It's also interesting, that Italian webzine "Progwards" - www.progwards.it , nominated them as a best foreighn act with debut album. Morild are musically deeply in the 70's period, but in their own way they recapitulize mentioned era, mixing authentic sound with nowadays prog. elements as well. They are also partly influental by the Nordic folk, their materials posses enough ambiental parts, many keybord driven passages, as well as colourfull arrangments includings. Their mainly longer songs are done in slower to mid, rarely mid-up tempo. A band has showed some original authors ideas, as same as some unexpecting performing details. Even of many fine present moments, a generally weacker element belongs to production works . A production simply must be better, even that we know that group has recorded an album materials for longer period. As a band Morild has introduced themselves as a original act, even that some comparisions could lead to British 70's acts as a Camel, Rennaissance or earliest Barclay James Harvest. " Time To Rest " is a relevant discographical start for Norway fellows, and recomandable product for progressive followers as well.

Rating : 8 / 10
C / o : www.myspace.com/morildprog

Sunday, January 9, 2011

THE SUNWASHED AVENUES - Cult Of The Black Sun


THE SUNWASHED AVENUES - Cult Of The Black Sun

Written by Branimir Lokner
Sunday, 09 January 2011
THE SUNWASHED AVENUES " Cult Of The Black Sun"
( Dirty & Weird Music ) 2010.
CD - SWITZERLAND

Death rock / crossover










Out of Zurich, Switzerland comes anarcho rockers - The Sunwashed Avenuas. They are active continiously some period, and firstly they have released an EP in 2009 year, followed by actuelle debut full-length " Cult Of The Black Sun" from December 2010. A Swiss fellows has offered a real musical croosover, where exists many places for hardcore, metalcore,punkcore, and even industrial elements. Some of present songs posses complexivities in arrangments views. Screamo and hysterical vocalization also dominates in band's offering, even that most of materials are structurally different among them. " Cult Of The Black Sun" as a album also comphrise some 90's elements in general conception, but definitelly a group has accepted a standards of our time as well.

Rating : 7 / 10
C / o : www.dirtyandweird.com

www.myspace.com/thesunwashedavenues

SNATCH MAGNET - Screw, Nut and Bolt


SNATCH MAGNET - Screw, Nut and Bolt

Written by Branimir Lokner
Sunday, 09 January 2011

SNATCH MAGNET " Screw, Nut & Bolt "
( Self - released ) 2010.

CD - USA

Rock/party rock/hard rock






Snatch Magnet are band with unusual and interesting name, active some period also as a party act in Hollywood area. A group work in quintet formation, and during the May of previous 2010 year, they have debuted with album entitled " Screw, Nut & Bolt". Even that they do not take themselves too seriously, their album are consists of 7 more good than worst tracks. Some of them are more powerful, part are pretty melodic, and group sound as a coherent team. Snatch Magnet delivers portions of rock/hard rock/party rock variants, and it's also evident that some of presents songs are different among them, judging by stylish includings. So, we can also find in some album places more funk includings, as same as beleive or not epic details, specially present in song " Call Of The Maiden". Snatch Magnet also recapitualtes 70's and 80's rock pastiche in own specific way, and what is more important, finally thay have offered enough original views....

Rating : 7, 5 / 10
C / o : www.snatchmagnet.com

www.myspace.com/snatchmagnet

Saturday, January 8, 2011

NOISE CONTROL - The Room At The End Of The Hall


NOISE CONTROL - The Room At The End Of The Hall

Written by Branimir Lokner
Saturday, 08 January 2011

NOISE CONTROL " The Room At The End Of The Hall"
( Self - released ) 2009.

CD

Rock / hard rock - CANADA








Noise Control is alter ego of Reggie Hache, musician/author/vocalist/bass player, and also his own band, supported by two members - guitarist Chris Robertson and drummer Kelly Stodola. He is on the saddle practically for 25 years, and with mentioned musicians, he has released an album with 7 tracks in, entitled " The Room At The End Of The Hall". With fresh and I can add a modern production, Reggie and his compagnions has offered an amalgam of rock/hard rock variants, fullfield with some stoner details as well. A songs are rooted in 70's and 80's era, but nowadays options are also presents here and there . . There are no unnecessery technical additionals, and some of the songs also posses evident melodic lines. Even that Noise Control is Reggie's project, he and his band fellows sounds pretty coherent. A second tune " NCR" could be a favourable one...

Rating : 7, 5 / 10
C / o : www.noisecontrolmusic.com

www.myspace.com/noisecontrolmusic

BETTER OFF DEAD - Girls Guns And Money


BETTER OFF DEAD - Girls Guns And Money

Written by Branimir Lokner
Saturday, 08 January 2011

BETTER OFF DEAD " Girls Guns And Money "
( Garage Land Records ) 2010.

CD - USA

Rockin' blues/ rockabilly/revival









Out of New Jersey comes an really interesting attraction, a band Better Off Dead. Their first discographical step was a " S/t' album from 1997 year, followed by second entry " Girls With A Job'"from 2001-year. During the last days of April, previous 2010 year, a group has announced its third offering - "Girls Guns And Money". Better Off Dead are explosive and modern rockin' blues/revival act, but with evidental fresh musical views, perfect performings, and quite convinceble realizations. They have offered beleive or not 28 brilliant tracks, equaly powerfull and melodic at same time. Better Off Dead rooted deeply in the 50's, but all of present songs posses a modern look, so they aren' t a usual so call revival act.
" Girls Guns And Money" are consists of enough excelent songs, acceptable for radio usings and concerts threathenings as well. Their album is recomandable for listeners attention in every and any time...

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

www.garagelandrecords.com