Reviews

Sabachthani – Miserable endings

Started in 2004, Swedish gothic-metalers Sabachtani have been constantly evolving their sound. The peak of their evolution so far is this there debut album "Miserable endings" Released last year and containing just 6 extended tracks, stretches to almost an hour. Ranging from a cool 6minutes to an epic 12minutes the tracks of this album give a heap of variation. Apart from the expected slow doomy ambient sound, this album gives its fair share of thundering guitar heavy sections, to bass orientated interludes and there even a great bass solo.

From the start "Miserable endings" strikes you in an unanticipated way, with the opening track "Christabels Journey". Kicking off with strong mournful strikes of guitars and superb duel male and female vocals. These elements combined with the gentle use of keyboard and violin in this track aid to portraying a real sense of sadness and despair. This feeling really doesn't leave this album, but is only heightened still with the changing guitar, almost constantly playing in minor tones, the gentle acoustic picking of the guitar elevate the music to practically a emotional plain. This emotional side of this album is the most striking if over looked factor of this album

The staple male vocals are clearly influenced by Moonspell, with a strong deep, and powerful tone, rolling out line after line in almost talked fashion. Not only are the vocals slow they share a strong correlation with a sound of the music, as each track progresses the vocals changes from a calm voice, to become more agitated, and sometimes into roaring and growling screams. Dictated by the guitars progression into more chunky and heavier sounds, the vocals fills the air with a certain emotional tension that rises through out, to the peak of "Josephine's sleeper". The Lyrics of this album are fascinating, revealing morbid stories of pain and sadness, a carnival of misery.

Beautifully written, this album is of a high caliber throughout, bringing a well-calculated mix of emotion and musical expertise. Even right down to using just the correct amount of distortion at just the right moment to give an awesome sound and substance. A With work happening now on a follow up album, it will be interesting to see what happens next with this excellent band.

Best Tracks: The Skull of an Angel, Josephine's Sleeper
[9/10]
www.myspace.com/sabachthanisweden

Dying Fetus – War of Attrition

Brutal with out cease, this brand new album from premier Grindcore band, Dying Fetus gives us all a lesson in brutality with there new album "War of Attrition" With harsh political lyrics and a full blown crushing sound this album plays out like a plane crash into a Fireworks factory.

Heart-stopping-ly technical, the guitars on this album are nothing but thrilling, unleashing wave after wave of rapid tremolo riffs, brutal shredding and huge doses of palm-muted madness. Catchy to extremes these fast and chunky riffs of this album, gives just the correct balance between pure noise and pure talent. Bass adds to the heaviness of this album while adding it own special touches, especially superbly prominent on the track "Unadulterated Hatred" in a memorable bass solo.

Giving a wall of carnage in each track, the Drums produce a barrage of double bass triggers and showers of blast beats. After a long search for a new drummer after Kevin Tally, there is no doubt that they have found a very worthy replacement.

Pig vocals adds essential voice to the madness, fitting wholly with music and with out sounding generic. Unique throughout as Dying Fetus seem to be the only band to truly master pig vocals (not pig squeals) With low and middle range growls give this band a truly brilliant sound.

With this album laying constant siege to your eardrums, really roars out that these "Grindcore kings" are back in action and are as brilliant as ever. Unleashing total obliteration, there is enough total viciousness and technical cleverness to give an immensely pleasing package for any pit-going fan to enjoy.

Best tracks: Homicidal Retribution, Unadulterated Hatred
[9/10]

Sanstone – Dystopia

Formed in 2006, these Birmingham upstarts are due to take the UK by storm with there debut EP "Dystopia" and this is why. From the brutal impact of "My Confession" to "Dystopia" the last of this 6 track EP captures your interest instantly with a barrage of technical riffing and marching brutality touched with many melodic tones, creates something for everyone's appeal. From hardcore fans, to the average metalhead will see and enjoy something in the sound of "Sanstone" this band is defiantly a force to be reckoned with.

With a strong heavy, technical backbone the guitars in this EP give an unrelenting brutality, while summarily the use of harmony between the rhythm guitars and the almost background noise of the many melodic solos, and many other nice touches on this EP giving this band a sound that is uniquely theirs.

There is shredding aplenty as well as many stunning melodic sessions, with thick blend of chunky riffs, mixed well with guitar discords and other technical touches that go down great sounding brilliantly well with rest of music without sounding generic in any way. Vocals are of a well suiting metal hardcore sound, giving a hard marching dormant feel.

The Drumming is talented and compliments the guitar perfectly but also adding its own little technical touches. Fills in some riffs help change the sound with out guitars changing key or rhythm. Bass in this EP helps give the heavy beat downs parts added edge and heaviness.

This exciting British act is certainly the one to watch in the near future, and really screams out that these guy are here to stay.An impressive talented piece of work, and great sound, undeniably worth a listen.

Best Tracks: My Confession, Attica! Attica!
[8/10]
www.myspace.com/sanstonemusic

Spineshank – Strictly Diesel

Spineshank – Strictly Diesel
Taken from the vault in this review is one of those forgotten gems, Spineshank very first album" Strictly Diesel". Sadly overlooked and overshadowed by the bands later more mainstream releases, this album despite its age and less polished sound does come to surprise and entertain its listeners.

Kicking off with its strong distorted bass sound, really sets the tone of this album, a tone throughout this album of almost anguish and pain. Represented wonderfully by Johnny Santos harsh screaming vocal, gives the sound a real depth, and emotional feel.

Driving the sound into full motion, the guitars on this album are of a more technical nature, using more complex techniques than the average predictable riffs of the mainstream Nu metal bands. This use of guitar only heightens the emotional feel of this album, during its many slower interludes. The Drums of this album do work hand-in-hand with the much forgotten programmed industrial noise and distortion, combined with that strong bass sound give another dynamic to this album that is very over looked.

From it startling Beatles cover of "while my guitar gently weeps" to the many brilliant tracks on this album makes it certainly one to dig out of your collection and give another airing. An impressive piece of work, and very enjoyable classic album.

Best tracks: Shove bolt, if it breathes, Grey
[8 /10]

Within Temptation – The Heart Of Everything

Within Temptation – the heart of everything

From 1996 this female fronted Dutch metal band have so far produced some 4 albums, this latest offering, album number 4 "the heart of everything" was released early this year and bring a continuation of there usual style. If your looking for any groundbreaking stuff, you wont find it here.

The voice of vocalist Sharon den Adel is quite simply beautiful, giving an operatic style to the music. Unfortunately that is as far as it goes for talent. The guitars and drums are adequate backing for her wonderful voice, but at times the guitars are almost completely overshadowed by the vocals, or the numerous choir and orchestral pieces. Although these tracks ironically give the best material, it does little or nothing to increase the impact of the album, and simply do not give enough to escape the overall bland feeling.

Overall this album does admittedly sounds passable for what they are trying to achieve, but you cant help but feel they could of done a lot more. This album is unfortunately nothing special, and just doesn't leave any memorable hooks, and is best suited to being simply background music.

Best tracks: What Have You Done, The Truth Beneath The Rose, Hand Of Sorrow
[5/10]

The Used - Lies for the Liars

The Used – Lies for the Liars

The used, not a band I've been interested in, or familiar with, this Latest album "Lies for the Liars" confirms why. To be honest from the outset I wasn't hopeful of being able to right a positive review about this much overly liked Radio friendly band, but I was surprised. The opening track hits you like any annoyingly catchy pop-rock song would.

It comes apparent in this album that the song structure is almost exactly the same in each track. It goes as follows: Verse Chorus verse chorus, a bad attempt at an original bridge with a distorted bit with various sound clips and muffled vocals, and then chorus again. Repeat for next track(s).

Although this album, is jumpy enough, the pop-rock-fused sound of guitars show a almost complete lack of variation between tracks sounding just like any other artist out there whose main aim is the make money than sound original. Vocals consists of Bert McCracken whining and trying to sound like his mate Gerard Way, and succeeds he does to almost irritating success and Similarity.

This album is rare, having been the first band ive reviews that I liked them more before I actually heard them. Although listening to it now, I cannot think of anything else more irritating, this is by far not the worst Album I've ever heard. But still doesn't escape the fact this is a Wank CD.

Best Track: Hospital
[3/10]

The Sword - Age of Winters

The Sword – Age of winters

My First impression of this album was not good, too slow and too dull. But out off all the albums I've come to listen to recently this is the one that has grown on me by far the most. From the outset this album from this Texan doom metal band, with its aptly name "age of winters" came across to me as a sounding a bit like early Black Sabbath played really slowly. Though as time and this album progressed, the slow, almost classic guitar riffage played with its sluggish rhythm, became more and more infectious to me.

The guitars although slow, they contain a certain groove and energy, giving a more complex sound that is surprising catchy. Infused with a great strong southern sound gives each track its edge, the groove of this album is really makes this album stand out from other doom metal bands. Although Doom metal, this it is not specially heavy, The vocals, with a doubled / dual vocal sound, deliver cold and eerie sound to the music that fits very well with the lyrical themes of Norse mythology thought-out.

This is not an album that catches you by the balls, and most people wont like this album initially, but this album is an acquired taste, slowly growing on you. For that reason this bands unique sound deserves a second or third listen.

Best tracks: Freyu, Iron Swan, Winters Wolves
[7/10]