VOICE OF ADDICTION - Re- evolution

VOICE OF ADDICTION - Re- evolution

Written by Branimir Lokner
Sunday, 21 February 2010

VOICE OF ADDICTION " Re- evolution "
( Self - released ) 2009.
EP CD
Punk/rock/ska - USA

Voice Of Addiction are newer act on local Chicago, Illinois and USA punk/post punk/underground scene. " Re-evolution" is a band's first offering, and group has received some positive reactions from national press. In its own way, a young musicians from band tries to establish old punk ethos and psychology. I can not say that thay are influental by the British wave, cos' its approach are more orientire to 80's/90's period and also influences from USA acts from mentioned era are clearlier, but they have also offered own views. Their music comphrises elements of punk/rock and ska, but melodic traces are evident in practically each track from album. A members from band also shares evident performing enthusiashm, and one hidden
optimistic message passed through present materials. A closing track " Martyr" could be a favourable one.

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

TOUCH THE SPIDER - Tales Of Woe

TOUCH THE SPIDER - Tales Of Woe

Written by Branimir Lokner
Saturday, 20 February 2010

TOUCH THE SPIDER " Tales Of Woe "
( Where Are You From Records ) 2010.
CD - GERMANY
Doom/goth/psychedelic/post new wave

A two German mates - Unholy Ghost and Cosmic Energy are discographically active again with its actuelle offering, a third album entitled " Tales Of Woe". Touch The Spider continously follows up its conception, recognized also from band's previous 2 albums - " I Spit On Your Grave" and " Souls For Sale". Again, in its own way, a group has tasted darkest side of life, mixing a several genre's elements, as a : doom, gothic, psychedelic, post new wave...
Their themes are obsessive and agressive in the same time, but German tandem in best possible way accepts a standards of our time. Most of songs posses monotonous and hypnotic up tempo performings, without boring and repeatable details. " Tales Of Woe" maybe little more than previous 2 albums accepts 80's dark wave/goth/post new wave details, but other things are going in expecting direction. Finally, " Tales Of Woe" is another inspirative album, done by mentioned Germans.

rating : 8 / 10
C / o : www.touchthespider.com
www.myspace.com/touchthespider

CAROLINA CHUPACABRA - Birth Of The Beast

CAROLINA CHUPACABRA - Birth Of The Beast

Written by Branimir Lokner
Tuesday, 16 February 2010

CAROLINA CHUPACABRA " Birth Of The Beast "
( Self - released ) 2009.
EP CD - USA
Sludge/doom metal

Carolina Chupacabra are newer act on national underground scene. They work as a trio, and during the previous 2009 year, they have recorded an EP with 7 tracks in, entitled " Birth Of The Beast". They are musically agressive act, faithful to sludge/doom tendencies, but also as a band includes enough energy in specific atmosphere in each song separately.Its tracks also posses a 90's influences and same pastiche, but I didn' t find any repeatable element or so call archaic approach in its authors offering. They have also sounded as a coherent team, and more or less present materials posses also a modern production. As a sludge/doom act, a mates from band has showed a different energy than many genre's similiar groups, and finally, for the first discographical step, thay shows quite enough potentilas.

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

CIRRHA NIVA - For Moments Never Done

CIRRHA NIVA - For Moments Never Done

Written by Branimir Lokner
Monday, 15 February 2010

CIRRHA NIVA " For Moments Never Done "
( Parnassus Records ) 2009.
CD - HOLLAND
Progressive metal

A Dutch band Cirrha Niva started out in 1993 , and during the years they have released with actuelle one 6 issues, 2 Demo's, 1 EP and 3 full-lengths. But, they have also suffered from personal changes, and practically a new album a band has recorded after 8 years of discographical silence. As I saw from the band's press material and also from informations from
specially Dutch reviewers, a band drastically has changed its style, and actuelle album is musically/conceptually something new for them and for listener's population.
Cirrha Niva are faithful to progressive/symphonic metal, and its authors views also touches a modern therithory. A band's performing energy is really impressive, and all of 7 offering songs from album posses similiar threathenings and realizations. Musicians from the band are skilful performers, and technical elements funkcionizes in right way. Some of the songs also posses more theatrical performing aspects, and some similiarities with 70's symphonic legacies comes to mind, even that members from band has showed enough authors originalities. A productional work also deserves recomandations, and there's no doubt that group did a god job. " For Moments Never Done" is maybe unexpectingly very recomandable discographical come back for the band.

Rating : 8 / 10
C / o : www.cirrhaniva.nl
www.myspace.com/cirrhaniva

HANZEL - Never Say Die

HANZEL - Never Say Die

Written by Branimir Lokner
Monday, 15 February 2010

HANSEL " Never Say Die"
( Pussycat Records ) 2010.
CD - AUSTRALIA
Glam rock/hard rock/AOR

A five still young Aussie guys , after realization of its EP issue "Mission To Rock", are here again with actuelle full-length offering, entitled maybe bombastic "Never Say Die". But, Hansel are on the other hand a miles away from any "standardized" doomy/metal acts. They are pretty melodic glam/hard rock/AOR band, and its actulle materials confirms mentioned statement. A band has offered 11 pretty complexive, but not boring, and in the same time radio friendly songs, also done maniristically in 80's mood. But, in their case, that is another quality. A band has sounded all the time as a mature and experienced company, and all of present tunes posses convinceble harmonizations and arrangments includings.
A production band has threathed in unclassical way, maybe more as a pedantic pop act, but in the same time complete materials are recorded in maximally modern view, judging by glam/AOR standards."Never Say Die" is maybe unexpectingly very fine Hansel offering, so for them, a new chapter in carearre just begin.

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