HELLO ELECTRIC - Skychief

HELLO ELECTRIC - Skychief

Written by Branimir Lokner

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

HELLO ELECTRIC

" Skychief "

( Spaceman ) 2010.

CD - USA

Post rock/psychedelic

A trio from Portland, OR, started out its life in 2005 year, founded by Kirk Ohnstad. Other members are Zack Bendt and Henry Gibson.

Their first discographical step was an " Pilot EP " from 2008 year. Actuelle full-length " Skychief" a band has released duing the previous 2010 year.

Hello Electric are one of those groups whose orientation is hard to describe. They are practically original act, with complexive performing views, and similiar realization. A songs/themes from album are different among them. A band accepts a post rock ideas, and psychedelic includings in performing variants. Most of the songs posses dreamy atmosphere in one part, and in the contrary, noise includings are also present in same themes. In some places methods of vocalizations dominates through arrangments views, in other playing noise characterize songs structures. " Skychief" is an interesting challenge, not only for the potential listeners population, and deserve a specific attention and concetration as well.

Rating : 7 / 10

C / o : www.helloelectrick.com

www.myspace.com/spaceflight127

RUDIES - Rudies

RUDIES - Rudies

Written by Branimir Lokner

Monday, 25 April 2011

RUDIES

" Rudies "

( Blue Pie Records ) 2010.

CD - USA

Reggae/dub/ska

Rudies are Lexington, Kentacky, USA based reggae band, and releatively a newer act.A group works in quintet formation, fronted by singer Saint Jerrod. Their " S/t" album introduces them as a reggae band whose approach accepts lotta' elements of earliest ska and dub as well.

They are influental by the 70's and 80' reggae movement, but also posses an original attitude and approach. Prince Buster, The Skatalities, early Wailers, The Upseters are some of the influental names for USA fellows, whose materials also posses a strong social dimension too.

Some songs deserves again listenings as a " No Justice" and specially " Psycho Babylon" with interesting playing dualities between dub and psychedelic phrases...Part of the materials are consists of more ska, other of more classic reggae, or reggae / dub influental themes.

A full - length album of USA guys could be probably more recomandable product for old school reggae followers...

Rating : 7 / 10

C / o : www.myspace.com/therudies

www.bluepierecords.com

SHEAR - In Solitude

SHEAR - In Solitude

Written by Branimir Lokner

Monday, 25 April 2011

SHEAR

" In Solitude "

( Self - released ) 2010.

EP CD - FINLAND

Melodic/power/symphonic metal

Shear is Helsinki, Finland based band, formed back in 2008 year. But complete line-up are consists of well-experienced musicians, cos' the members of Shear have played in many familiar bands, such as : Amoral, Omnium Gatherium, Imperainon, Elemium and Crystal Blaze.

Shear is also a female fronted a six piece band, and its first discographical arrival was an EP

from 2010 year, entitlled " In Solitude".

They have introduced with 4 mainly equalizing tracks, and complete materials were done with excellent productional work.A group is on therithory of pretty melodic metal, fulfield with power and symphonic traces as well. A group has also received a good response from several webzines and magazines abroad, and that's no doubt that their musiacal approach deserve recomandations. Complete present materials posses a similiar qualities, and songs are listenable, and in the same time enjouable, if you are fan of melodic metal tendencies. Nice work, and we'll see what the future brings for Finnish metallers...

Rating : 8 / 10

C / o : www.shearofficial.com

www.myspace.com/shearofficial

FORGOTTEN TALES - We Shall See The Light

FORGOTTEN TALES - We Shall See The Light

Written by Branimir Lokner

Sunday, 17 April 2011

FORGOTTEN TALES

" We Shall See The Light "

( Union Metal International ) 2010.

CD

Heavy / power metal - CANADA

Forgotten Tales aren' t a newer name on power metal circulation. Till now, with actuelle one they have released a 3 albums. Firstly, " The Promise " ( 2001 ), followed by " All The Sinners " ( 2004 ) , and " We Shall See The Light" from previous 2010 year. A band from Quebeck work as a sextet, with female fronted singer in their line-up. Actuelle album has a 9, well-done produced songs, and group also shows equalizing standardizations in performing duties. Present songs posses strong melodicity, but Canadians suffers of so call manniristical problems, cos' complete album materials were done with expecting realizations. It's evident that sounds as a serious act, also coherent as a team, but with less originalities in author's presentations. I have to say, that other technical elements funkcionizes as well, beautiful cover artwork of CD, and also 16 page booklet, deserves recomandations....

Rating : 6 , 5 / 10

C / o : www.forgottentales.com

STAR FK RADIUM - Blue Siberia

STAR FK RADIUM - Blue Siberia

Written by Branimir Lokner

Sunday, 17 April 2011

STAR FK RADIUM

" Blue Siberia "

( Self - released ) 2010.

CD - USA

Neo classical/acoustic/ambiental

Star Fk Radium are Washington DC acoustic trio, consists of : Bill Martien ( guitar ), Watt Clarke ( drums ) and Allisa Taylor ( violin ).

They have debuted with " Blue Siberia" album, from previous 2010 year. Star Fk Radium are pretty interesting and unusual group, whose musical orientation is not so easy to describe.. They have offered a 9 instrumental tracks, done in neo classical, maybe it's better to say in chamber mood. A themes posses a specific atmposphere, often structural changes, interesting and complexive playings....

Most of present materials accepts also a darker atmosphere, and in some aspects a " harder " ambiental mood. Psychologically, a group treats own performing formula as a classically trained act, and this is also one of specific details. Star Fk Radium has introduced to audience as a unique and original team, whose musical offering could be interesting for wider listeners populations...

Rating : 7 , 5 / 10

C / o : www.starfkradium.com

M.I.C. - 3rd Degree

M.I.C. - 3rd Degree

Written by Branimir Lokner

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

M.I.C.

" 3rd Degree "

( Mia Mia Records ) 2011.

CD - CHINA / WORLD

Melodic rock/melodi

c hard rock/AOR

M.I.C. are China based band, but in their line-up are multinational musicians, fronted by key person Canadian born guitar player and vocalist - Yvon Serre. As a band, they have started in 2004 year, and they are playing pretty listenable own version of melodic rock / melodic hard rock/AOR music, fulfield with other classic rock / rock and roll variants as well. " 3rd Degree ", actuelle album, delivers expecting perrforming offering and practically similiar formula, as the case was with two previous albums. There are 12 mainly equalizing tracks, done in modern productional mood.

A songs also posses evidental radio friendly usings, and most of them are acceptable for concerts threathenings, and playings " alive". M.I.C. carry on with positive reflections, and their actuelle product satisfies in many aspects....

Rating : 8 / 10

C / o : www.myspace.com/madeinchina

www.yvonserre.com/mic

SWOON - Backwards & Forwards

SWOON - Backwards & Forwards

Written by Branimir Lokner

Saturday, 09 April 2011

SWOON

" Backwards & Forwards "

( Vaulted Records ) 2011.

CD - USA

Indie/alter pop/rock

Swoon are New York based band, consists of 2 female and 2 male persons/musicians, fronted by Minnie Cho. She is key author, vocalist and she also play a guitar. Till now, with actuelle one, a band has released a 2 albums, firstly " Departures" from 2008 year, and " Backwards & Forwards" from February this 2011 year. A New York quartet has a lotta' fans and followers in musical circulation, and some of their collegues supports a group's work. Swoon is musically on indie/alter pop therithory, and its sound also has something taken from 90's indie / alter rock legacies. Knows to reminds on British late 80's and 90's acts, but most of present materials posses a clear authors signiture.

A group deliver a moody melodies, lush vocalizations, edgy guitars and pleasent and enjouable songs as well. Their tunes are pretty listenable and also inspirative in some way. " Backwards & Forwards " is an interesting product of New York band, worth listeners attention.

Rating : 8 / 10

C / o : www.swoontheband.com

e-mail : info@swoontheband.com

PEGAZUS - In Metal We Trust

PEGAZUS - In Metal We Trust

Written by Branimir Lokner

Thursday, 07 April 2011

PEGAZUS

" In Metal We Trust "

( Black Leather Records ) 2011.

CD

Power metal - AUSTRALIA

Pegazus are Melbourne based band, and well-known act in power metal worldwide area. They started out its carreare in 1993 year, and as a band they are discographically active. " In Metal We Trust" is their newer product, and this is album with 11 tracks in. Pegazus are basically power metal act, but also melodic sounding group. Their music also contains some speed metal includings, and 80's trraces as well.

On actuelle album, a group also performs Judas Priest song " Metal Gods " and version of Aussie mates posses more melodic elements.

Also in song " Old School Metal Dayz", a group were joined by Ross The Boss ( Manowar ), David Shankle ( Manowar / DSG ) and Jeff Watson ( Ex Night Ranger /Mothers Army). Initially, Pegazus has offered mainly equalizing materials, but with some haunting tracks, as a for example " Road Warrior " and " Ghost Rider".

Rating : 7 / 10

C / o : www.pegazusofficial.com

www.metalrevelation.com

e-mail : mario@metalrevelation.com

8 - IS - Frame Of Us

8 - IS - Frame Of Us

Written by Branimir Lokner

Wednesday, 06 April 2011

8 - IS

" Frame Of Us "

( Hetaproduction ) 2010.

CD - ITALY

AOR/melodic rock/melodic hard rock

The roots of Italian band dated from 2009 year, when vocalist Marcello "Malcoun "Catalano and drummer Franco Casini decided to realize a project originally named FRAME. After some period, a group changed name in 8 - IS, and line-up of 3 persons, with some additional musicians started to recording an album. " Frame Of Us " originally released in August 2010 year, introduces Italians as a serious 80's influenatal AOR / melodic rock/ melodic hard rock act. A 10 pretty melodic and radio friendly tunes are present on their album, and what is more important, practically complete materials posses convinceble approach, a certain playings and same realizatins.

A group is also infected by the USA 80's groups ( Foreigner, Survivor, Toto ), but with some additional and typical Italian melodicity as well.

I have to say, that Italians also did a lotta' efforts in promotional campaighn of its actuelle album, and many worldwide webzines informs about band's activities. " Frame Of Us" is a promising debut, worth listeners attention, and specially recomandable for older and newer AOR followers.

Rating : 8 / 10

C / o : www.8-is.com

www.myspace.com/8is

www.slwpromotions.com/tsm/index.htm

FOUR TRIPS AHEAD - The Memories

FOUR TRIPS AHEAD - The Memories

Written by Branimir Lokner

Monday, 04 April 2011

FOUR TRIPS AHEAD

" The Memories "

( 505 Records ) 2011.

EP CD - USA

Hard rock/modern rock

Four Trips Ahead are New York based rockers, active some period contioniously. They have recorded till now 3 EP's and 1 full-length from 2008 year. " The Memories" is actuelle product, an EP with 5 tracks in. A band is on therithory of hard rock, fullfield wirth evidental modern rock approaches, and 90's tendencies as well. A production is modern, a group performs songs in agressive way, but with clear melodic includings.

All of 5 songs posses equalizing elements, without a leading tune, but with same standardizations. I have to say that frontman Peter Wilson is certain and convinceble singer, and his vocalization in many aspects create a final look of present songs." The Memories " is without a doubt, a promising issue of USA fellows...

Rating : 7 , 5 / 10

C / o : www.fourtripsahead.com

www.myspace.com/fourtripsahead

www.slwpromotions.com/tsm/index.htm