|
We've listed albums in order of star rating. Best first.
SARAH JEZEBEL DEVA A Sign Of Sublime (Rising Records)
Vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva has sung backing vocals with a number of bands, most
notably Cradle Of Filth and Therion. This is her debut solo outing and a couple
of former Cradle Of Filth members help out on the music side.
As I am not a fan of Cradle Of Filth it's interesting reading various metal
message boards about her and she certainly divides metal fans.
I am sure
this will continue with this album that sees her veer from operatic metal on
'The Devil's Opera' (very similar to the Diablo Swing Orchestra) to the pomp
metal of opener 'Genesis'. 'Newborn Failure' sounds like Engima, a very strong
song as is the closing song 'Daddy's Not Coming Home', which has a few Kate Bush
vocal stlyings and a stirring piano/strings backing.
Definately a mixed musical bag and perhaps this album will prove a bigger hit
for people like me who know little of her previous music and can enjoy this
album with no pre-concieved expectations. ***½
Review
by Jason Ritchie
VARIOUS 25 & Alive SPV SPV/Sony (2010)
A low priced double CD to celebrate 25 years of this German based label who have
just come back from a rather sticky patch thanks to Sony's help. Twenty five
tracks in all with an unreleased track ('Sweet Vampire Girl' by Engrained) and a
couple of new recordings of classic songs from Saxon (the only band to get two
songs) and Molly Hatchett.
Strangely some of the label's bigger names are missing like Motorhead and
Whitesnake who would have been welcome replacements for the average Sodom and
Destruction. Of the band's I had not heard much from before Demons & Wizards
sound like Dee Snider fronting a prog metal band; Moonspell have a nice gothic
tinged metal number and Steeler are like an 80's metal also ran.
A good introduction to the varied roster the label has had in the past and still
does today but as mentioned before there are a few big names missing. ***½
Review by Jason Ritchie
ANGELS OF BABYLON Kingdon Of Evil (Metal Heaven )
This band is the brainchild of former Manowar drummer Rhino, who has ex-Megadeth
bassist Dave Ellefson along for the ride as well. Apparently Rhino has had these
songs around for awhile and was just waiting for the right line-up to record
them with.
Music wise this is your typical melodic/classic metal release and although none
of the songs are really substandard you can't imagine playing this album much.
'Conspiracy Theory' is worth downloading though as is the slower 'Tear My Heart
Out'. The title track tips a hat at Megadeth but Manowar fans beware as there is
little if any of that bands sound on this album.
Not a bad album, just one that won't be reagrded as essential. ***
Review by Jason Ritchie
DELORENTOS You Can Make
Sound
Delorentos are not quite
what I was expecting from a band that emerged from a Thin Lizzy cover band. But
maybe the NME seal of approval should have been a warning sign.
So what you get is a
million miles away from Lizzy or any of their classic rock component parts.
Instead, Delorentos are another on the long conveyor belt of NME lauded bands
that in all honesty, I’d rather hoped had finally broken.
That’s perhaps doing
Delorentos a disservice, in that they serve up a perfectly palatable blend of
post punk indie pop / rock. Think the like of The Wombats and The Editors and
you won’t be wide of the mark.
2009 saw the band enter
the Irish charts at #2, and in 2010 they’ll be dominating a festival stage near
you. This NME style of pop / rock may be new to the Emerald Isles, but it’s the
curse of classic rock fans on this fair isle. And with the likes of Delorentos
stepping up to the mark, it’s a genre that’s going nowhere soon. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
GRAHAM LANDI Halfway
Home
A child of the sixties, it has taken UK based singer songwriter Graham Landi
some time to get his debut album together.
Although he's been scribbling lyrics and song ideas for many years, it was
sharing them with friends and musicians in 2007 that finally saw Halfway Home
emerge. And if your bag is clean cut, Radio 2 friendly songs that you can sing
along to, then it's an album worth exploring.
Probably closest to the likes of David Gray, crossed with maybe David Gates,
Halfway Home is an easy on the ear collection of gentle crossover rock, folk and
country songs. Nicely played and produced, and with lyrics both melancholy and
uplifting, it may not break new ground, but is the perfect accompaniment to the
Sunday newspapers. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
ALAN WEST The Way Of The World
A strange one to appear on the GRTR! site. Because Alan West is more country
than country. But then Nashville has expanded its influences in recent years.
And while country was once frowned on by the rock fraternity, Whispering Bob has
spread the word, and even Robert Plant has fallen to the genre's many charms.
The Way Of The World, could be massive stateside, but the surprise is that this
cover album of Steve Black songs was recorded on these fair shores and includes
guest appearances by Albert Lee and Sarah Joy. It's a quality piece of work that
should go down a storm on the country / folk circuit, but for some it may be
just a little too traditional. Expect regular airing by Mr Harris. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
BREABACH The Desperate
Battle Of The Birds
An immaculately played and executed traditional Scottish folk album from one
of the emerging names on the roots and folk scene.
With foot-stomping jigs and reels, twin lead bagpipes, fiddle, flutes, whistles
and bouzouki aplenty, its little wonder that this young band won Best Folk Band
at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2007 and 2008.
While the album is largely a traditional affair that would only enhance any
Martin Clunes documentary set north of the border, it does in places hint at the
future possibilities of a cross over in the same way as say, Nickel Creek.
That said, The Desperate
Battle Of The Birds is, for the most part, instrumental and the band would
probably need to introduce more contemporary song writing elements into their
act if they wanted to make that step. But their musicianship here is second to
none and highly recommended to fans of the genre. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
ACACIA AVENUE Lion
Music www.lionmusic,com
Acacia Avenue is a new band led by guitarist and songwriter Torben Enevoldsen
(Section A/Fatal Force) and features vocals from Tony Mills (TNT/Shy), Geir
Rönning (Radioactive/Prisoner) and Torben Lysholm (Pangea/Mysterell) with drums
by Thomas Heintzelmann (Section A) and bassist Carsten Neumann (Savage Affair).
The music on here is certainly more melodic hard rock than Torben's other band
the prog metal minded Section A. It has some stand outs, namely the two songs
featuring Tony Mills 'Don't call Me Tonight' and 'Wait No More' and the ultra
catchy 'Can't Make You Stay', shades of Journey and the Stage Dolls on this
song.
Otherwise I am afraid it’s
a case of well produced and played songs but not ones that have you wanting to
hear them again and again. The problem is there are so many melodic/hard rock
projects releasing albums and Acacia Avenue just lack those few killer tunes to
set them apart. ***
Review by Jason Ritchie
THE JADE Seconds Away
From Salvation
Formed in Helsinki in 2004, The Jade are a hard working rock band.
Simple as that, really. Nothing overtly flashy, no obvious prima donnas, just a
band who deliver no nonsense, loose grooved rock 'n' roll. And with more than a
third of a million listeners on MySpace, they wear their influences - Bowie, The
Clash, The Pistols, The Beatles, Zeppelin and The Stones - proudly.
Seconds Away From Salvation the band's debut album - is like a collision of The
Stones, Guns 'n' Roses, and The New York Dolls, with Willie Rosen's vocals
reminiscent in places of the thin white duke (Yesterday's Rain, for example). So
you get the picture - bad boy rockers who like to deliver their rock with a
swagger.
With a line up completed by Pekko Mantzin on guitars, Jann P.H. on bass and
Sirpa - their female drummer, the album's an enjoyable ride that is no doubt a
blast delivered live. Well produced and with a nice 'bright' production it seems
that some of the most exciting good time rock band are emerging from the
northern most outposts of Europe these days. Vanity Ink (Finland) and Vanity
Blvd (Sweden) being two cases in point.
Long live rock 'n' roll. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
STARGAZER Stargazer
(Seriouz Records)
Stargazer is the self-titled debut album from Norway's Stargazer, a band who's
sound is reminiscent of John Sykes era Whitesnake, early Bon Jovi and a little
bit late ‘80's Ozzy Osbourne - yet still has an air of originality to it.
Featuring alongside the stunning guitar work of William Ernstsen and the very
European sounding vocals of Tore Andre Helgemo, are a solid rhythm section
comprising of bassist Morten 'Morty Black' Skaget (ex-TNT) and drummer Steiner
Krokstad (ex-Stage Dolls).
'Stargazer' will appeal to fans of good, honest melodic rock- the songs are
catchy, to the point and hark back to a time where you could hear songs like
this on the radio. The band is musically solid, and although the vocals have
that European sound to them, it does not detract from the well-written songs.
Highlights include 'Push Me', 'Brother Against Brother' - the intro of which
sounds uncannily like Neil Young's 'Rockin' In The Free World', and the albums
ballad 'The Cage'. Whilst 'This Is The Night' and instrumental track
'Whirlwinds' are as good as anything Whitesnake would put, 'Keep The Good Times'
has that early Bon Jovi feel to it.
Stargazer are a very good band and certainly one to watch in 2010. ***
Review by Nikk Gunns
PETTER AND THE PIX Good
As Gold
The second album from the six piece Swedish shape shifters Petter and The
Pix is an unusual amalgam of lo-fi indie pop and the classic song writing style
of, say Simon And Garfunkel.
Melodic, uptempo and at the same time, utterly barking, the album has an
innocent, endearing multi layered quality despite being recorded ‘live’ over
just 2 days.
More likely to find favour with NME readers as opposed to rock audiences,
although the band offer more depth and intrigue than most of their
contemporaries. **½
Review by Pete Whalley
GLASS HAMMER Three Cheers For The Broken Hearted
I was expecting more from American proggers Glass Hammer - a band who have
built a steady following since 1992, with their proggy, reputedly Yes, Kansas,
ELP and Tolkein inspired concept albums, adorned in the case of their 2005
Inconsolable Secret album, by Roger Dean artwork.
Chief protagonists are founder members Steve Babb (bass and keys) and Fred
Schendel (keys, guitars and drums) and while many musicians (including Jon
Anderson who added guest vocals on their 2007 Culture Of Ascent album) have
passed through the band’s ranks, Three Cheers For The Broken Hearted is
essentially a DIY affair along with vocalist Susie Bogdanowicz.
And therein, perhaps, lies the problem. Because I couldn’t for the life of me
fathom what the band were trying to achieve. The opening tracks are a throwback
to LSD laced sixties heavily reminiscent of The Beatles circa The Magical
Mystery Tour, or Syd Barrett era Floyd, with a cover of the Zombies A Rose For
Emily underlining the point.
I was even reminded of eighties Human League by The Curse Of The Weave, while
the closing track Falling makes a half hearted stab at an Alan Parsons style
ballad.
With an absence of the any serious prog, Three Cheers sees a [deliberate?] shift
towards a more psychedelic / trippy mainstream sound. But with a distinct lack
of focus and any big hooks, Glass Hammer appear to have hit a wall. **½
Review by Pete Whalley
BENT NOT BROKEN To Whom
It May Concern (Yearning Communications)
Three piece German band whose vocalist claims the band have influences from
their musical tastes including Judas Priest, the Foo Fighters and Green Day. But
upon hearing this CD (and believe you me once is more than enough) these bands
are not to be heard in the sound.
In every CD I listen to for review I try and find some redeeming feature as I am
aware of how much the music means to the musicians but the vocals on here are
awful. It sounds like Gene Simmons on a bad day or with a heavy cold. Musically
there are some tasty riffs from the Van Halen and Judas Priest songbooks but
then those vocals start and you reach for the eject button ... *½
Review by Jason Ritchie
MIKKO HENIO Vaahtera
www.mikkoheino.net
The latest solo album by
the former member of Evidence and it is produced by Henning Pauly, who also
plays keyboards on the album. It is a very laid back album, gentle AOR with a
quite spiritual lyrics on many of the songs. The opener 'Hope' and 'Family' are
the pick of the bunch.
There is nothing wrong with the album as a whole, as it is well played and
produced but being honest I doubt I'd ever play it again as it lacks anything
musically to really draw the listener back again. **½
Review by Jason Ritchie
EROL SORA Desire And
Truth (Avenue Of Allies)
I wanted to like this
album, based on the effusive press release where Sola's goal was to "recapture
the spirit and sound of MSG, Whitesnake, Rainbow, UFO and Gary Moore".
It's a bit too retro for its own good. Nothing wrong with that, but this
wouldn't have sounded good in the eighties either.
The production isn't
great, the songs are average, and whilst Sora reins in guitar excess there is a
sneak feeling that his playing is average too. The standout is the last
song on the album a ballad 'When You Gonna Love Me' which sounds so much better
than the rest and the recording quality is superior too. Perhaps Sora, who
spent his formative years in Canada then moved to the UK, should have employed a
"name" vocalist to add some interest.
In spite of an impressive
sounding CV with a stint in the John Lawton Band, there is no avoiding the fact:
there are more exciting - and more durable - listens out there. **
Review by David Randall
 |
Print this page in printer-friendly format |
 |
Tell a friend about this page |
| 