Sunday, November 27, 2011

MIKE GRAY - Middle Distance


MIKE GRAY - Middle Distance

Written by Branimir Lokner
Sunday, 27 November 2011

MIKE GRAY
" Middle Distance "
( Self - released ) 2011.
CD - USA
Blues/roots music










Hailing from the Bootheel of Missouri, guitarist, vocalist and composer, Mike Gray having made music for two decades. He is musician with respectable experience behind, but also a relatively newer name on blues / roots fields. Discographically he debuted with " Middle Distance" album, from this 2011 year, and this is a CD ( also available in digital form ) , with 13 tracks in. Most of the things, Mike did with own " hands" and forces, and he has introduced himself as a blues performer, with strong country, and roots elements presents in his views as well. We can also find some boogie traces, some up tempo honky-tonk variants, but mentioned reckognizable style is present on materials form album. A similiar " psyhology", circulate around complete album materials, and Mike also treats arrangments in simple but clear way. Production isn' t modern, but in the other hand posses supportive and connective details , generally for Mike's sound. Finally, " Middle Distance" is a good discographical start for forthcoming Mike's carrear....

Rating : 7 / 10
www.mikegrayonline.com

HORNS of HATTIN - De Veritate


HORNS of HATTIN - De Veritate

Written by Branimir Lokner
Sunday, 27 November 2011

HORNS of HATTIN
" De Veritate "
( Self - released ) 2011.
CD - AUSTRIA
Black/death/dark metal









Out of Austria comes a band Horns of Hattin, formed back in 2007 year, They have discographicaly started with " Demo" ( 2008 ), and during the this 2011 year, also with realization of full-length, entitled " De Veritate". Horns of Hattin are group whose interesting fields touches epic themes, ancient mysteries, and periods occupied by the the events of the Crusaders. They also explores eternal themes, as a relations between humans and religion.. Musically, their performing options are equally orientire to symphonic black metal tendencies, as same as to death and dark metal variations, and classic heavy includings as well. Some elements of 90's black metal movement are present in its music, but Austrians also has accepted enough modern views in its approach. " De Veritate" as a album are consists of 9 tracks/ themes, and this is also some sort of conceptual saga. " De Veritate" as a album isn' t so easy for acceptable, but Austrian fellows did a lotta' efforts that all things comes to a right place. A productional work is well-done, as same as the other technical details...

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

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

DAVE HOGAN - Fun Box


DAVE HOGAN - Fun Box

Written by Branimir Lokner
Wednesday, 23 November 2011

DAVE HOGAN
" Fun Box "
( Self - released ) 2011.
CD - USA
Americana/alt. country/rock


A Bridgeport, Connecticut based songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, Dave Hogan is a veteran of three critically-acclaimed groups, as a : Red One, The Great Upsetters, and The Rafter Bats. He is a longest period in a saddle, and his carrear deserve respectations. He was colaborated and cooperate with numerous collegues and musicians, and began his solo career in 2006 year. " Fun Box" is his actuelle product, and this is a full-length Digi CD with 10 tracks in. Dave's musical styles ranges from americana and alt.country tendencies, to 70's rock and acoustic includings, and some additional elements in between, as well. His vocal interpretation posses a fresh energy, some very personal enthusiastic view, and what is also important to say, all of 10 present songs are listenable and acceptable for tasty and also " avarage" listener's ear. In some aspects his works reminds me on late James Taylor approach, but Dave as a songwriter has showed enough own " tricks" and repeatable melodies /details. " Fun Box" as a album satisfies in every aspects, and also is recomandable for old scholl and 70's music followers.

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

FADING CIRCLES - Cyber Whirlwind


FADING CIRCLES - Cyber Whirlwind

Written by Branimir Lokner
Wednesday, 23 November 2011

FADING CIRCLES
" Cyber Whirlwind "
( Nail Records ) 2011.
CD - ROMANIA
Progressive metal/various metal genres















Fading Circles are Transylvanian trio, founded in 2002 year. After few Demos, numerous gigs across Romania, and realization of first full - length album, entitled " Soulburn", a wider audience recognazid them as a serious and promising act. " Cyber Whirlwind " is their second album, released for " Nail Records". Fading Circles are unclassical metal act, also untipical progressive metal band.
A group creates a songs full of different arrangments threathenings, many up tempo and rhythmical changes, even that most of present materials are done in mid, rarely faster mood. Basically, progressive influences occupies its sound, but a members from band create own sound, and what is more important own style. We can find in its music also hidden jazzy details, hidden so call stoner elements, many classic heavy includings, and many things in- between." Cyber Whirlwind" are consists of 8 tracks/themes, without of a leading song, but also without a less interesting moments. Their album is pretty inspirative product, recomandable not only for metal followers.

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

Saturday, November 12, 2011

BALERO - After The End


BALERO - After The End

Written by Branimir Lokner
Saturday, 12 November 2011

BALERO
" After The End "
( Self - released ) 2010.
CD
Stoner - USA








A trio from Wilkes - Barre, Pennsylvania, isn' t a new name on stoner fields. They were formed in 2002 year around guitarist Shawn Lopuhowsky. Their line-up are consists also of 2 brothers Comitz, Jay on drums, and Jim on bass. During the period of existence, a group released one " Demo" ( 2004 ) and EP " One Planet Short Of The Sun" ( 2006 ). " After The End" is actuelle product from previous 2010 year, where band introduces their opinions and attitudes through 7 instrumental themes/pieces and about 28 minutes of music.
Balero are stoner act, with hard rock riffing approaches, also with some bluesy present influences and hidden atmospheric and psychedelic realizations as well. We can find equally influences coming out from the 70's period, as same as newer tendencies in its sound, where fine arrangments includings and modern production, clearly shows that members from band manniristically satisfies in every aspect.
Balero music also poses hypnotic repeatable approach, and most of the present themes are simply pretty listenable. Recomandable...

Rating : 8 / 10
C / o : www.balero.net

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

TRIGON - 2011


TRIGON - 2011

Written by Branimir Lokner
Wednesday, 02 November 2011

TRIGON
" 2011 "
( Trigon Music ) 2011.
CD - GERMANY
Fusion/jazz-rock/progressive





Trigon are instrumental trio from Karlsruhe, whose activities dated from the late 80's. A line-up are consists of well-experienced musicians, and respectable instrumentalists, brothers Rainer ( guitar ) and Stefan ( bass ) Lange, and drummer Rudi Metzler. Actuelle " 2011 " CD is a first product since " The Zappanale" DVD from 2007 year. The CD features 13 tracks and 67 minutes of music, and this is a sort of retrospective item, with 11 older, but freshly rearranged, restored and remixed tracks , and 2 new numbers. Musically, we can describe Trigon as a powerful instrumental act, whose oriantations touches elements of 70's jazz-rock music, progressive details, as same as some hidden psychedelic variants as well.
A group also captures a " energy" of our time, and all of present tracks are full of constant uptempo changes, and " vibrant" but colourfull arrangments works. In the other hand, " 2011" is also a listenable album, without boring or less interesting moments. Most of present themes also posses some eastern flavours, and repeatable performing " themes", and finally members from band very wisely has accepted a standards of our time. What is more important, under the mentioned genre's forms, Trigon are modern and pretty convinceble band...

Rating : 8, 5 / 10
C / o : www.Trigon.in