RAYA BRASS BAND – „Raya“

(Self -released) 2015.
CD
Balkan folk/world music – USA


Out of Brooklyn, New York, comes a Raya Brass Band, pretty established act in last few years, if we speak about Balkan folk influences and brass music under the hat of worldwide world music scene.
USA felows are active from 2008 year, and during the period of existence, they have released a three albums. Last one, simply called „Raya“, looked the light of day in the last part of 2015 year.
Raya Brass Band are consisting of skillful musicians, well-trained jazzy influental performers, and what is also important to say,  all of the members are well-educate players of Balkan music tradition. Actual „Raya“ album with 9 tracks in, and little longer than 38 minutes of music is full of Balkan  influences, specially folk music of South part of Serbia and Macedonia. Constant rhythmic tribal dances, interesting arrangments, with additionals of refine brass sound, characterize presented materials as well. Precise timing and clever includings of jazzy elements defines its sound too.
There’s no doubt that USA band offer something tipically their own, in mentioned genre’s variant, and what is also important they could be more than interesting act for the listeners from Balkan territory.

rayabrassband.com



                                                 

                                                           

KALISANTROPE – „Anatomy Of The World“

(Self-released) 2014.
EP CD
Progressive – ITALY

Out of Rescaldina, small town in the province of Milan, Italy, comes a trio Kalisantrope, a newer name in the growing field of progressive music genre. Italian act started its career in the 2013, and in the following late December of 2014, with its own forces has released an EP CD with 5 tracks in, entitled „Anatomy Of The World“.
Musically, Kalisantrope are faithful to older school of progressive genre, established in the period of late 70’s. They are instrumental act, in some aspects influenced by the music of groups, as a Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Dutch act Trace as well. Kalisantrope are respectabe performers, and good arrangers of presented materials. All of 5 tracks from the EP, posses equal so call psychology, and similar realization too. I have to add, that production work isn’t convinceble enough, and in some parts lead to „wrong“ direction. A production is in some places too „soft“, and knows to eliminate a group’s performing energy.
Anyway, Kalisantrope has offered a listenable material (under the genre’s direction), showing that as a band posses evident potential.

kalisantrope.altervista.org


                                                     

SHEPHERDS OF CASSINI – „Helios Forsaken“

(Self -released ) 2015.
CD
Post progressive rock/metal/fusion – NEW ZEALAND



Out of Auckland, New Zealand comes a band Shepherds Of Cassini, active from 2012 year. After a year of existence, they released a self-titled debut, and during the July of previous 2015, a second full-length entitled „Helios Forsaken“, looked the light of day.
New Zealand band work as a quartet with violin in its line-up. All of group members are prominent performers, with clear idea about musical conception. They have offered a strong sound, with often guitar and violin instrumental includings, attractive arangments, and modern production as well.

They also „create“ something different, cos’ a band’s version of  progressive and metal mixing elements, as a result produce something fresh and new. Good balance between vocal includings and instrumental parts charaterize its longest songs too. In the final, they are listenable, and musically convinceble. Very recomandable.

shepherdsofcassini.com


                                             

KING ZEBRA – "WILD!WILD!WILD!"

(Pretty  Good – Lookin’ Records ) 2015.
CD
Glam/sleaze rock/hair metal – SWITZERLAND


Out of Zurich, Switzerland comes a band King Zebra, formed back in 2009 year. During the October of this 2015, they have released a second album, entitled „Wild!Wild!Wild!“, with 11 tracks in.
A Swiss horde in their own way force a story and movie, established in 80’s period of previous century. They are faithful to glam/sleaze rock/hair metal variants,and presented songs confirms mentioned approach. Songs from album are wild, done with strong energy, and exceptional melodic includings as well. I have to add, that production also remind on glory 80’s, but around genre’s circulation they have done own signature. Vocalization knows to associate on some segments and leads to another one well-known Swiss acts – Krokus, but performing elements are something quite different.
King Zebra under the glam/sleaze/melodic hard rock elements, manneristicaly satisfies, and what is also important, its songs are listenable and acceptable.

https://www.facebook.com/KINGZEBRA.band

                                            

                 

                                                           

SOUL EMBRACE – :"Good Morning To Myself"

(Starman Records) 2015.
CD
Rock/soul/new wave – BELGIUM


Soul Embrace are newer band out of Belgian music scene, consisting of experienced musicians. Some period ago they have released a full-length CD with 11 tracks in , entitled „Good Morning To Mysef“, for „Starman Records“.
The Belgian fellows in their own words making songs about movies that never made, written stories by life itself. Musically, they have offered a unique mix of various stylish options, and this is some sort of, I would say „laid back“ crossover. We can find here and there traces from rock, soul, and specially 80’s new wave variants as well. Saxophone is dominate instrument, and some comparative elements lead to late Morphine influences too. Ironic and smoky voice of front man Alain Deltenre also characterize its sound. Songs of a Belgian band are listenable and mentioned 80’s new wave influences are present in arrangement creations too.
Soul Embrace are undoubtedly interesting act, not for every ear and taste, but with promising  final message. We’ ll see what the future brings in their case.

facebook.com/SOULEMBRACEOFFICIALPAGE


                                                     

                                                    

MIDORI & EZRA BOY – S/t

(Self-released)2015.
CD
Melodic rock – USA


Midori&Ezra Boy are female fronted four piece act, active some period ago. They are from San Francisco Bay Area, and actual „S/t“ album, with 11 tracks in, is their third album to date.
Midori is a brilliant singer, with strong performing qualities. Her vocal style knows to remind on Pat Benatar’s method of vocalization, but generally some other 80’s influences in group’s music offering, also comes to mind. Their melodic rock also capture hair metal and power pop influences, as same as other AOR traces as well. All of 11 presented tracks are more than listenable, and possess radio friendly using too. Don’t hesitate to „catch“ their music if you find a free time, you’ll never be disappointed.

midoriandezraboy.com

                                                

                                         

HACKMONOCUT - "The Sum Of My Parts"

(Self-released)2015.
CD
Darkwave/goth/rock – AUSTRIA


 Hackmonocut is enigmatic person, whose career as a solo artist, started out in 2012 year. He is a songwriter, and his first discographical step was album „In The Land Of Basement Hobby Rooms“, released as a variant of homerecording. Album followed by the video to the song „Virgin Suicide Bomber“, visualizing one of the darkest tracks of the album in November 2013.
During the August of this 2015 year, Austrian artist released second, still actual album, entitled „The Sum Of My Parts“.
Hackmonocut with minimal band following behind, combine elements of darkwave and gothic, with rock and electro includings as well. Important part of his views are lyrics, deeply emotional and eclectic. He has something of Morrison/Cave methods of vocalization, and songs possess similar dinamization and atmosphere, part monotonous, part dreamy, but with clear and authentic signature. Even of mentioned so call darker atmosphere, album of Austrian artist is melodic and listenable too. I will also mention, that complete technical details satisfies as well.
Hackmonocut is a person whose musical message deserve attention and recommendation.
 

hackmonocut.com

                                                

TORCHIA - "Ending Begining"

(Self-released)2015.
EP CD
Melodic death metal – FINLAND


Torchia is a five member death metal band from Tempere, Finland, active from some period ago. In 2013 , a group has released first demo, simply titled „One“. During the actual 2015 year, with new singer in its line-up, a Finnish fellows recorded a still actual product, EP with three tracks in, named „Ending Begining“. Torchia is a powerful act, musically precise, with strong melodic includings. They are influental with the older school variants, but I have to add, that its sound also posses enough original details. Many speed/thrash includings as same with  power metal additionals, a group has presented in its performing exposures.  Songs have been followed by cristal production and precise arrangments includings too.
As a band Torchia also did a lotta efforts in own promotional campaign, and it seems that all the things are going from this moment in expecting way. We’ll see what the future brings, but there’s no doubt that the „Ending Begining“ clearly covers a growing group potential.

 
facebook.com/Torchiaband

                       

RAILROAD - "Railroad"

(Self-released)2015.
CD
Hard rock/boogie/rock’n’roll/classic rock – GERMANY/HOLLAND


Railroad isn’t a newer name on worldwide underground rock scene. They have been active about a decade, and fronted by key person, guitarist, vocalist and author – Arne Dieckmann. During the period of exsistence, a group has delivered a portions of hard rock/boogie, rock and roll, and with actual one, they have released 4 albums : „Where To Go“ (2007.), „Something Good“ (2009.), „On The Run…Live In Netherlands!“ (2011.) and „Railroad“ S/t CD from March this, 2015 year.
Railroad are company deeply influental by the 70’s/80’s variants, and they know to remind on such a groups/acts as: AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, Krokus, Status Quo…Their sound is raw and unpolite, but with clear performing  attitude. For all followers of older genre’s variants, a Railroad message could be interesting and acceptable. A group  also all the time deliver a recognizable portion of energy, and similar performing options. „Railroad“  posses, in mentioned description, 11 presented tracks, without leading song, but with equalizing atmosphere and approach.

railroad-rocks.com

                                              

(Polly Musque Production) 2015.
CD
Alter rock/progressive – FRANCE

Few days ago I have received a CD from interesting French band – Studio 107. They are from Brest, and they work as a quintet. Band’s career started out in 2010 year, but it was discographically activated in October in this 2015 year, with the CD entitled „Hope-Sink“.
French fellows introduce themselves with 8 tracks in, done in one so call, strange combination of alter rock elements and progressive music tendencies. I would also add, that presented sound posses a lot of elements of originality, and creativity as well. All the songs are done in mid to mid-up tempo, where interesting arrangements follows a musical atmosphere, created by the band members. Some of the songs posses a darker ambient mood, other expander instrumental fragments, but at the same time, it’s album is listenable with clear presented melodic traces. It seems that production also satisfies as well, and there’s no doubt that group did a good and also creative job.


facebook.com/studio107rock/

                                                

(Kromazonta) 2015.
CD
Metal/Rock-AUSTRIA


Out of Austria comes a band The Inner Me, consisting of experienced musicians, and fronted by key person – guitarist, drum programmer and producer Reinhard „Kotza“ Muller. Mr.Muller and his fellow compagnions has released a CD with 10 tracks in, entitled „A New Horizon“.
This is a sort of conceptual album, about writer/storyteller and his inner life, named Robert Mankovic, alias Robert Maxwell. Inside interesting conceptual story, a band members delivers a metalic rock sound , performed with expanding energy and similar emotions.
A band has sounded fresh, pretty coherent, where presented songs posses common stylish approach. As a group, The Inner Me takes something of „old school“ performing (hard rock) variants, and this is also recommendation for older genre’s followers. This is a interesting product, worth listeners attention.

theinnerme.at

DARK CENTURY
"Murder Motel"
( Self - released ) 2014.
CD
Deathcore - CANADA

Out of Montreal, Quebec, comes a Dark Century horde, who's career
started out in 2001 year. A first album - "Days Of The Mosh", band has
released in 2008 year. Still actual one - "Murder Motel" is their second
CD with 11 explosive tracks in. Dark Century is a sort of band equally faithful to older school and newer extreme variants. They combine death metal, hardcore and even heavy/thrash tendencies in its sound as well. Arrangements in presented songs is simply treated , but a band members posses strong energy and emotions too. We can not find here and there leading or recognizable song, but all of finding tracks  posses I would say identical acceptances. Quite enough for die hard genre fans and followers..

C /o : www.darkcentury.com

        

                                                                                

BREAK OF REALITY
" Ten "
( Self - released ) 2014.
CD
Indie rock/chamber music/classical -USA

USA act Break Of Reality are consisting of 3 cellist and percussionist. A group started out its vision in 2003 year,where friends from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York ,share same musical ideas and tastes. During the years, with actual one, a group has released a 5 albums. A new product , entitled " Ten"  a band has prepared over a year. Present materials try to equalize a 2 different options/variants in unique sound, and that's a classical views with alter rock idioms and additionals as well. A music posses mainly darkest atmosphere and ambient, where slower,  and mid to mid-up tempo themes change the places and emotional statements. This is not music for everyone, but there's no doubt that band did enough efforts that all the things funkcionizes in best possible manner. It seems that production did not follow  a songs psychologies in so call modern way. The other possible problem is that many themes are   similiar among them, where interesting performing structures failed in mentioned unconvincable productional works. But, a group has showed also another more than interesting musical faces, and its album also deserve a repeatable listener attention..A closing theme - " Six" is specially acceptable for night-time listening.   

C / o : www.breakofreality.com