TDW - The Haunts

TDW - The Haunts

Written by Branimir Lokner
Wednesday, 16 March 2009

TDW " The Haunts "
( Nano Music ) 2008.
CD - HOLLAND
Progressive rock/progressive metal/alter rock

TDW ( Tom De Wit ) is a composer/vocalist/keyboarder from Holland, and he strated his carrear as a author in 2003 year. Till now, he has recorded a 2 albums "First Draft " ( 2004 ), " Up Close And Personal " ( 2006 ) and 1 Single issue. "The Haunts" is his actuelle album from
previous 2008 year. This is a conceptual CD about a guy Juan Jacobson who suffers from specific emotionals stages, and he feels quiet different than other peoples/citisens. Musically, with his assistents De Wit has offered an interesting materials , where progressive symphonic
rock and progressive metal elements balancing between some other alter rock and electro variations. A songs are different among them, and some similiarities in TDW approaches leads to Porcupine Tree, Gentle Giant and even earliest Dream Theater legacies. But, De Wit introduced himself as a talented composer/author, and surelly his actuelle album deserves attention and also a positive reactions.

Rating : 8/10
C / o : http://www.tdwmusic.com

EVERETT FOX BAND - Everett Fox Band

EVERETT FOX BAND - Everett Fox Band

Written by Branimir Lokner
Monday, 16 March 2009

EVERETT FOX BAND " Everett Fox Band "
( Self - released ) 2008.
CD - USA
Modern pop/indie pop/electronic/alter pop

In last 10 days I have received a few very interesting albums, and among them was a S/t issue of New York City artist - Everett Fox.
He is a keyborder/author/vocalist, and his small band also include a percussionist - Dave Salce. Everett Fox is in music business from his earliest age, and during the years he had performed with bands and also alone. He has played in many New York City venues, and his experience is huge.
Musically, Everett communicate with many different so call pop variants. He is original author, and his songs touches elements of modern pop, alter variations, indie views and electronic performing psychology. Some of his songs posses insightfull threathenigs, but all of present tunes are different among them, judging by arrangments modifications. I would add that some of Everett authors views knows to remind on Beatles-que productional/arrangments visions "taken" from Liverpool's fellows last albums legacies. His materials also are hard to acceptables
on first listenings, but after few repeatable attempts, many things easily comes to right place. Everett Fox is a unique author, and he has offered an interesting authors creations.

Rating : 8/10
C / o : http://www.everettfoxband.com

WEINBAUER - New Wave Of Finnish Heavy Metal

WEINBAUER - New Wave Of Finnish Heavy Metal

Friday, 13 March 2009

WEINBAUER " New Wave Of Finnish Heavy Metal "
( Self - released ) 2008.
CD
Metal/glam/hard rock - FINLAND

A roots of Finnish band Weinbauer dated back in 1998 year. Some line-up changes passed during the years, but generally band didn' t change its " a little strange" and weird conceptual offerings. Weinbauer surelly enjoy in its performing and lyrical solutions, and its messages reaches also a so call unserious sexual/pornographic variants. But musically, they are faithfull to 80's legacies,
and some influences equally comes out from British and Usa known acts. Also, they have offered
some original authors traces, and each of offering songs from album posses different arrangments threathenings. Weinbauer as a band has accepted hard rock and glam elements, and their sound mainly comphrise one present 80's psychology. "New Wave Of Finnish Heavy Metal" , judging by title, should be a provocative issue, but elements of fun dominetes in general.

Rating : 7/10
C / o : www.weinbauer.bravehost.com
www.myspace.com/weinbauerfin

LISA SMITH' S POWERHAUS - Maze Of Souls

LISA SMITH' S POWERHAUS - Maze Of Souls

Tuesday, 10 March 2009

LISA SMITH' S POWERHAUS " Maze Of Souls "
( Self - released ) 2008.
CD - CANADA
Hard rock/heavy metal

Out of Toronto, Canada comes band Lisa Smith's Powerhaus, formed by two key persons, female singer Lisa Smith, and her partner-in-crime guitarist/author Chuck Page. A mentioned pair had a respectable previous experience and during the years received a same status in
national circuit. Together, they formed a band in 2006, and during the previous year, actuelle album "Maze Of Souls" looked the light of day.
A Canadian pair with their friends and musical assistents has created an equalizing album materials, consists of 11 tracks in.
Their musical and performing option is faithfull to one variant of 70's hard rock and hair metal, and in the other hand also elements of 80's hard rock/metal are presents on its views too. And one thing is also important, and that's a present psychology of mentioned era in rock history, which band has reflected through its messages. Chuck Page is skillful performer, and " Maze Of Souls" also comphrises an excellent arrangments approaches of band. I would also add that all other technical details satisfies, and generally "Maze Of Souls" realistically defines a groups' valuabilities.

Rating : 8,5/10
C / o : www.myspace.com/lisasmithspowerhaus
www.chuckpagemusic.com
e-mail : chuckpagetwo@yahoo.com

TRIXX - The Riddled Rail

TRIXX - The Riddled Rail

Written by Branimir Lokner
Monday, 9 March 2009

TRIXX " The Riddled Rail "
( Self - released ) 2008.
CD - CANADA
Rock/hard rock/melodic hard rock

Trixx is a newer name on Canadian rock market. They are female-fronted band, and its line-up are consists of 4 musicians. Judging by informations from its press material, they worked hardly and they have received some very positive recognitions both from collegues and audience."The Riddled Rail" is their debut album, and band introduced themselves with 13 tracks in.
The have very talended female singer Jessica Crowe, and her optimistic energy and emotional approach is a strong band's weapon.
"The Riddled Rail" comphrises very fine songs, and band has showed a respectable authors capabilities. Musically, they are on therithory of 80's rock/hard rock, and in many segments thay know to reminds on well-known acts, established in mentioned era as a Girlschool, Rock Goddess, Lee Aaron...Melodicity is also a leading element in its approach, where many of present songs posses a radio acceptables and potential hittish dimension. "The Riddled Rail" is recomandable album, especially for the followers of 80's hard rock and melodic hard rock tendencies. Their works surelly deserve a chance...

Rating : 8/10
C / o : www.myspace.com/trixxonline
e-mail : trixxrock@hotmail.com

EMPTY PLAYGROUND - Empty Playground

EMPTY PLAYGROUND - Empty Playground

Written by Branimir Lokner
Saturday, 7 March 2009

EMPTY PLAYGROUND " Empty Playground "
( Self - released ) 2008.
EP CD - POLAND
Industrial death metal

Polish band Empty Playground is active some period on national underground metal scene. Their conceptual vision are based clearly on antitheist message. Musically they combines elements of death and electro/industrial metal. In its sound is evident also one approach, nearer to 90's psychology.A group has offered strong and brutal sound, where vocal tendencies are accepts one growl/screamo variant.
In some of offering songs of its EP, arrangmments were done in non-metal dimension. Also in some of offering tracks, electro/industrial tendencies are more present, then death options. Nevertheless, Empty Playground has showed some interesting ideas, and its EP comphrises relativelly equalizing materials.

Rating : 7/10
C / o : www.empty-playground.muzzo.pl
www.myspace.com/niemaboga

EDEN - Eden

EDEN - Eden

Written by Branimir Lokner
Thursday, 5 March 2009

EDEN " Eden "
( Self - released ) 2008.
CD - SLOVENIA
Melodic hard rock/AOR

Eden aren't a newer name on Slovenian metal circuit. A nucleus of band had strated carrear in its teenage days, but "real" things had happened after the 2000's. Previously they knowned as a Forgotten Eden, and later on, they shortened its name. Slovenian fellows firstly has recorded a Demo in 2005, entitled "Forgotten Eden". A 3 years later, actuelle "S/t" full length looked the light of day.
A Slovenians works in quintet formation. They have introduced themselves with 10 + 1 bonus track in. Technically, as same as productionally and even maniristically, mostly satisfies, and I would add that all members from band are relativelly well-trained performers.
Their materials are mostly done in melodic hard rock/AOR mood, with also evident 80's hard rock and 70's rock traces as well. In many aspects they knows to remind on Swedish and generally Scandinavian legends as a Europe,Treat or Pretty Maids, but on the other hand, its material unfortunatelly also suffers from less originalities. Maybe, that element nowadys isn' t too important for possible newer followers or fans, but for its further carrear, it is undoubtelly important detail. It's also evident that Eden members did a lotta effort in general album realization, and I will repeat that maniristically its music could be comparabile with approaches of well-known acts. But, a mentioned originality is a real problem for this very moment.

Rating : 6/10
C /o : http://www.forgotteneden.com
www.myspace.com/forgotteneden
e-mail : forgotteneden@gmail.com