Ravenheart Music: Reviews
M-R Reviews
BARBARA RUBIN..'UNDER THE ICE'
(Independent Release) Reviewed 19th August 2010
Barbara Rubin is lead singer with Italian prog rockers LoreWeaveR, but here she presents her own debut album. You know all those lovely piano ballads you get in melodic rock, prog and symphonic metal albums? Would you like a whole album packed full of them? Then look no further. Marianna is not only a fine vocalist, in the style of singers like Anne Wilson and Lana Lane, but she is also a highly talented pianist and songwriter. There’s none of the ordinary plonking chords, but proper classical arrangements. Although they are all ballads, there’s a lot of diversity in moods and textures, with lovely string arrangements (she also plays violin), and some nice Moog moments. ‘Under the Ice’, ‘A Place That Nobody Knows’, ‘Music and Love’ and ‘No More Tears’ are more up-tempo with full band accompaniment, whilst ‘Angel Heartbeat’, the dreamy ‘Stupid Day’, ‘Ero e Sono’, and the brief ‘Orange Roses’ are gentler. ‘Liar’ starts with Keith Emerson esque Moog vamping before turning into an angry power ballad. This is the perfect music to chill out to with a drop of wine or for a romantic meal for two (apart from ‘Liar’, the crockery might start flying!). A gorgeous, but slightly brief, album available for download from Amazon and iTunes and the CD can be purchased through the BFT online shop link or at www.myspace.com/barbararubinmusic, a far from icy 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil).
The RESCUES..'LET LOOSE THE HORSES'
(Universal Republic) Reviewed 17th August 2010
The Rescues are a union of four singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalists from Los Angeles, the girls Kyler England and Adrianne Gonzalez and the guys Rob Giles and Gabriel Mann. Not surprisingly, there are close similarities to Fleetwood Mac, with their artistic melodic rock and sumptuous four part harmonies and vocal interplay. Their songs have already graced top TV shows like One Tree Hill, Private Practice, and Grey’s Anatomy, and now they let loose their major label debut. Also not surprisingly as there are four songwriters the album is packed with top quality tunes, all beautifully recorded and performed, so it’s tough singling out individual songs. Particular faves include the title track ‘Let Loose the Horses’ (live video on Female Voices Blog), the Mostly Autumn like ‘Start a Riot’ with it’s big drums, the Coldplay ish ‘Before the Fall’, The Shania Twain esque ‘Break Me Out’, and the delightful Supertramp/Beach Boys/Jellyfish whimsy of ‘Can’t Stand the Rain’ and ‘All I Want is You’. Despite being on a major label they are still relatively unknown, I can’t imagine this situation lasting for long. Their Myspace is www.myspace.com/therescues and it’s available from all the usual record stables. This is a perfect case of synergy when the whole is greater that the sum of the parts, 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
RHODE ISLAND RED..S/T
(Independent Release) Reviewed 17th August 2010
Let's take a trip back to the late 70's and put some hard rock onto our menu. Fronted by Lyla D'Souza, London based Rhode Island Red, formed in late 2009 by Lyla and guitarist/songwriter Dave Garfield, has produced what can best be described as a very good album, and this band should go places. The opening salvo of 'Kerosene' and 'Beige' put us into the mood as to what to expect, with Lyla's vocals taking centre stage. I am a sucker for power ballads, so third track in 'Stalemate', basically knocked me off my feet. Great stuff, and Lyla's vocals are so awesome, with a kinda no nonsense bluesy edge. And it seems this girl has a pedigree, being herself a rock/soul singer and songwriter, who has performed across the UK, Europe and Australasia for the past 8 years or so. And even Dave Garfield has recorded for EMI Germany and BMG Germany, as well as supporting major acts like Joe Cocker and Rammstein. Back to this release, there is a lot of good stuff on this album including 'Hollow Man', 'Too Far Gone', 'Living On Mars' and 'Fate Insists' (one of my faves). I can normally tell when I put a cd into my cd player and hear the first track or two, whether it is going to be good or not. The 11 tracks on this record are damn good, and I do particularly like the ballads, sung so well by Lyla. So check the band out at www.myspace.com/rhodeislandredband and then buy the album! 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
THE REASONING..'ADVERSE CAMBER'
(Comet Music) Reviewed 15th August 2010
The Reasoning are back with a new line-up, coming on board are drummer Jake Bradford-Sharp, backing vocalist Maria Owen, and keyboardist Tony Turrell. This album sees a marked shift towards the gothic rock/metal of the title track of their last album, ‘Dark Angel’; the ballads have gone along with ex keys player/vocalist Gareth Jones. On the track ‘14’, they sing “take me in a new direction”, I couldn’t agree more. Although still described by the media as prog, they are only prog in terms of musicianship and song structure/length (averaging around the 7 minute mark). Last time, metal guitarist Owain Roberts was the new boy, now he’s combined with Dylan Thompson’s rock to far greater effect. The result is their own unique sound, gothic rock/metal done in a melodic rock style. The other major difference is that the Rachel Cohen with her distinctive floating voice is now very much the lead vocalist, unlike the last one where duties were shared. It is mixed by Joe Gibb, who has worked with the likes of Leftfield, Catatonia, and Massive Attack, for a crisp clear contemporary sound. The songs swirl from powerful riffage, to catchy/soaring melodic rock, to periods of atmospheric calm, with seamless changes in tempo and dynamics. They are full of glorious harmonies and vocal interplay, ripping guitar solos, and all sorts of superb instrumental segments. This is a band that should be marketed far beyond their Welsh prog roots, to the European gothic rock/metal scene and to American melodic/alt rock/metal fans. Available from their website http://www.thereasoning.com/main.html and other fine purveyors, this earns a highly deserved 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
ROSWELL SIX - TERRA INCOGNITA..'A LINE IN THE SAND'
(Prog Rock Records) Reviewed 14th August 2010
Last year I reported on the first episode of author Kevin J Anderson’s Terra Incognita project that tied in with his accompanying novel. This instalment is about the war between Tierra and Uraba that broke out in the first chapter and has totally new characters. Fittingly the music is darker and heavier, written by Henning Pauly (Frameshift, Chain, Shadow’s Mignon) who also incredibly plays all the instruments. Lyrics are again by Kevin and his wife Rebecca Moesta, with Grammy winning Janis Ian contributing to two tracks. Vocalists this time include Michael Sadler (Saga, playing a different character), Steve Walsh (Kansas), and the mighty blues/soul lungs of the sexy Sass Jordan. There are obvious parallels with the history of the Middle East, the clash of two very different cultures and beliefs over a city that is sacred to both sides, leading to a never ending spiral of war and hatred, ‘’You killed our fathers, so we kill your sons”, this may be a fantasy story but its basis is grim reality. The music is a mix of Ayreon, Dreamtheater and classic melodic rock, fittingly Arjen Lucassen and the first Dreamtheater vocalist Charlie Dominici make appearances. The quality and diversity of the material on offer here is quite staggering, this is immaculately recorded premier league prog. Highlights include the towering humungous opening track ‘Barricade’ with Steve giving a lung bursting performance; the monster blues metal ‘The Crown’ with Sass really letting rip, sounding like a funked up, suped up Led Zep; Sass’s bluesy power ballad, with the emphasis on the power, ‘Need’; and Michael’s bittersweet anthemic closer ‘Victory’, “But all blood is red, and the dead ask me why, In a war that won’t end, was it worth it to die?” If you like you prog heavy, technical, but extremely melodic then this is a must buy. Available from all good stockists, their Myspace is www.myspace.com/roswellsix, this is darker, different, but just as good as their first, 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
MANDRAKE..'INNOCENCE WEAKNESS'
(Greyfall) Reviewed 5th August 2010
Germany does not only just have a decent soccer team, they have some damn fine rock bands too. Mandrake so happen to be another of my fave bands, and they have been ticking along for somewhile now and mostly unnoticed in the UK. This is a beauty and the beast offering, featuring the vocals of Birgit Lau and the guitarist (and occasional additional bassist) Lutz de Putter. Starter 'Prelude' leads us into 'A Secret To Reveal' featuring the awesome sounding Birgit on lead vox, while next track 'Save Us From Ourselves' features Lutz in his formidable but listenable gruff style. The first half of the cd rumbles along at a steady pace, although the rather lovely and atmospheric instrumental 'Innocence', slows things down a bit. 'Autumn Infinity' and 'Coma' ups the ante again, with the record closing with another instrumental, 'Weakness'. 'Innocence Weakness' possibly utilises the harsh male vocal style more than their previous release 'Mary Celeste', but to my ears it is not overdone. Amongst what some people describe as a crowded genre, Mandrake do have a sound of their own, and at what is becoming a rather expensive time for purchasing cds from our beloved genre, here is another to add to the "To Buy" list. Cool and I like it! 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
CELINA REE..'KORTSLUTNING'
(Copenhagen Records) Reviewed 4th August 2010
A few years ago Carlsberg Lager ran a series of adverts where the Danes love the beer so much they would go to any lengths to stop it leaving their country, well, the same thing seems to be happening to their music! The Storm have only just signed to Spinefarm after years of being a Danish secret, Cryoshell is currently only released in Denmark, and now my Danish spy has discovered Celina Ree. All three are premier league acts, professionally recorded, with expensive videos, tailor made for the international market, but they don’t want anyone else to know! Sadly my spy succumbed to temptation and was bribed by bacon sandwiches to reveal nothing, so all I know about her is that she is a young singer songwriter, and this her debut album sung in her native tongue. Her style is the sort of Evanescence esque gothic alt rock that will go down a storm in America, with looks that can stop a beer wagon. She sets out her stall with three prime cuts of alt rock, including the single and title track ‘Kortslutning’. ‘Se Dig Selv I Mig’ is a lovely gentler number, followed by the awesome ‘Mørkeræd’, which starts out with exotic groovy sequencers before soaring into the stratosphere. After the Porcupine Tree ‘ish’ ‘Savner Dig Sindssygt’ comes the anthemic ‘Når Du Rør Ved Mig’, and the moody ‘I Sort’. The stomping ‘Tænd Et Lys’ with it’s wonderful synths reminds me of My Chemical Romance and Green Day. Another excellent alt rocker and the gentle piano ballad ‘Evighed’ wraps the record up nicely. Celina’s website is http://celinaree.dk/ and you can download the album from iTunes. If Carlsberg did alt rock albums, this is what they would sound like, another Danish artist who deserves an international audience, 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
LIV MOON..'DOUBLE MOON'
(Victor Entertainment - JVC) Reviewed 26th July 2010
The lovely Liv Akane was born to a Swedish/Polish father, a Korean/Japanese mother, and studied Shakespeare and opera in England (winning singer of year), so she is truly international. On her return to Japan she did various Broadway style shows and classical performances, modelled for L’Oreal (because she’s worth it), before meeting producer and keys player Tatsuya Nishiwaki, and the idea for Liv Moon was born. If you think that as she’s a bona fide opera singer with that traditional classical/showbiz background it would be something like Tarja, well, she’s got some surprises for you. Opener ‘Nephrite’ sounds like ELP jamming with Metallica, Nightwish and Dream Theatre, she hits a note that shattered every piece of glass in the house as well as all my preconceptions, incredible. ‘Tsukikake’ is a plaster loosening, headbanging, turbo charged, raging rocker, with a scorching guitar solo. ‘Double Moon’ is more like Tarja, an awesome pop metaller, strangely a single and video were not done for this, instead a covers EP ‘Scream as a Woman’. Next up is a manic crazed version of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, with an injection of Bond theme, and another one of those notes, good grief! A brief peaceful interlude, ‘The River Of No Return’, gives me chance to clear up some of the wreckage. I was lulled into thinking ‘A Wish’ is a beautiful ballad, then WOOMF and the walls are shaking, before it relents to calming ending. ‘Oto Naki Sakebi’ and ‘Azayaka Ni...’ also start off as gentle pieces before the band lay on the power as the songs quieten and soar, what a ride. A brief proggy interlude, ‘Privileged’, then ‘Wild Creatures’ storms in like a stampeding elephant with enough bass to disintegrate cement. There’s no ‘Escape’ on the next track as the bass synths rumble and the band thrashes out an earth shaking riff, with another one of those notes (a live video for it is on the Female Voices blog). Thank goodness ‘Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro)’ is next, the house can’t take anymore as the ceiling starts caving in, they give this a slightly jazzy swinging slant, with those James Bond horns coming in towards the end. The mood continues with the gorgeous big band ballad ‘Good Night’, Liv showing the deep rich end of her incredible range and it ends with the beautiful but brief bonus track ‘La Luna’. Bizarrely, Japanese CD’s are at least twice the price of those anywhere else in the world, no wonder they demand bonus tracks, and as this is only available on import (CD Japan, Amazon, EBay, HMV Japan) you may have to sell your house to get it, but look at how much you will save on repair bills! Backed by the mighty JVC corporation, you get premier league musicianship, vocals, production and songs, now where’s that broom? 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
RAVENLAND... 'AND A CROW BRINGS ME BACK'
(Independent Release/Ravenheart Music)
Brazil’s Ravenland was formed by Dewindson Wolfheart way back in 1997, but sadly their 2001 debut album never saw the light of day due to their record company going bust. After a break of a number of years Wolfheart met Camilla Raven, and the band was reborn in 2006 (perhaps the origin of the CD’s title?). Like Fright Night, Wolfheart has a deep baritone voice rather than a growl, a most welcome and effective alternative to the cookie monsters that clog up gothic music, while Ravishing Raven’s rich tones soar over the top, creating a delightful blend. Their music is broadly a mix of Paradise Lost, Fields of the Nephilim, gothic era Damned, The Stranglers and The Mission. The songs rattle along at a groovy pace with Albanes Gonçalves providing a variety of guitar sounds from the flanged to the crunchy (plus a special guest appearance by ex Theatre of Tragedy guitarist Tommy Lindal), João Cruz’s grunting JJ Burnel esque bass, and Raven’s superb keyboards creating melody, atmosphere and texture. You certainly get your money’s worth, 14 killers and not a filler in sight (plus a slightly different version of ‘Soulmoon’ and a video). I was particularly taken with the rocking ‘End of Light’, the melodic ‘Burning For You’, the powerful ‘The Crow’, the dramatic ‘Velvet Dreams’, and the lovely piano ballad ‘Regret’. Production by is by top tub thumper Ricardo Confessori of Angra and Shaman fame (he also performs the drum parts), and mixing is by Waldemar Sorychta, who has worked with such luminaries as Lacuna Coil, Tiamat, Moonspell, and Therion, so it is no surprise that the sound is so crisp, clear and powerful. Similar attention to detail has been shown with the excellent artwork by Gustavo Sazes whose distinctive style has graced sleeves by bands like Arch Enemy, Echoes of Eternity and Stream of Passion. With the likes of Paradise Lost riding high in the European charts there is obviously a ravenous demand for Ravenland’s brand of top quality gothic rock/metal. Their Myspace lies as the crow flies at www.myspace.com/ravenland. Ravenphil heartily recommends this for all fans of the genre, and Ravenland will soon see distribution by Ravenheart, how more appropriate can you get! 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
MASTERCASTLE..'LAST DESIRE'
(Lion Music) Reviewed 24th July 2010
This is the second album by powerful Italian metallers Mastercastle. They are fronted by the lusty lungs of Giorgia Gueglio whose voice perfectly suits their blend of Iron Maiden and power metal. Her lyrics on this album are all based in the theme of desire and all its meanings, ranging from the desire for love, escape, change or to explore the unknown. Mastercastle give you exactly what it says on the tin, big riffs, big choruses, big solos, big hair, and big sound. You get the more direct melodic metal of songs like ‘Event Horizon’, ‘Away’, ‘Last Desire’, ‘Cat House’ and ‘Scarlett’ (based on Gone With The Wind); the slightly more proggy eastern tinged ‘Misr’ and the ballad ‘Jade Star’; plus some instrumentals and more power metallish numbers. The only problem is that it is not exactly original, and the lack of variety in the sound and song structures means that it can get a little predictable with one song merging into the next without any clear distinction; I wish they would throw the odd curve ball in to make you sit up and take notice. If you desire no frills, pedal to the metal melodic metal, then this is well worth lusting after, and being on Lion should be widely available, 8/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
REACTIVE BLACK..'A NEW DAWN'
(Echozone) Reviewed 15th July 2010
Zikes! Three corking cds that I have reviewed on the bounce today. Must be my lucky day. This little humdinger by German Band Reactive Black, is another record that has quite simply taken my breath away. Fronted by the lovely named Sassy Skeleton, what we have here is 11 tracks of Electonic Gothic Rock & Metal. The vocal style of Ms Skeleton is possibly more akin to Mandragora Scream's Morgan Lacroix, rather than perhaps the more operatic or poppy vocal style of some acts within this genre. Driving but consciously simple guitars and thumping drums drive this album along, while Sassy's voice fascinates and transports the listener into another sphere, with its dark style of eroticism. Check this band out at www.myspace.com/reactiveblack. A great record and worthy of a 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
RAVEN TIDE..'EVER RAIN' (EP)
(Alkemist Fanatix) Reviewed 15th July 2010
Italian Band Raven Tide was born in early 2009, as the natural evolution of the original idea of the vocalist Cheryl and the guitaist Shark. The style of the band is characterized by the fusion of various influences of past musical experiences of each member, creating a perfect mix between the classic atmosphere of Symphonic Metal and the captivating colours of Dark & Gothic culture, with the aggressive rhythm of Power and Heavy Metal, also offering touches of Electronica and completed of course with a female voice. Instrumental 'Stillness' gets things going, and I am sure I hear the sound of bag pipes. This then leads us into the almighty 'Alfrin Alagos'. This 5 track EP is good, and we are only two tracks in! 'Doom Reveil' that follows is a totally awesome track...heavy riffs with a chorus to die for, and showcasing Cheryl's angelic vocals. This track is gonna be a fave of mine, no doubt about it - right up my alleyway! I am now totally spellbound by this Italian combo. And before I can catch my breath, we have 'End To The Flame' - great piano/synths led ballad, and I am afraid that I am a sucker for a good ballad. The rocky and very catchy 'Lucifer Bliss' featuring the addition of male vocals closes the EP. Every track on the record to my ears is a winner, with the songs banging around in my head long after the cd has finished. Check Raven Tide out at www.myspace.com/raventide and then buy the EP - enough said! 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
MEDEN AGAN..'PROMO 2010' (EP)
(Independent Release) Reviewed 15th July 2010
Greek based Band MEDEN AGAN fronted by Iliana Tsakiraki, was formed in November 2005 in Paris by Diman. There have been various re-formations along the way, but fast forward to 2010, and they present us with their first promo CD, simply titled 'Promo 2010', which was released in April. The 5 track EP kicks off with 'Tribute To Life' and there is certainly an epic Gothic Symphonic feel to this track, as it tears it's way out of the speakers. The bombastic feel continues with 'Dissolve Into Grey' with the operatic vocals of Iliana standing out. Awesome solos midway featuring guitar and keys dualling with each other. 'All Seems Lost' blows me away in an epic wall of melodic symphonic sound, as does 'Black Sky' and closing track 'From The Ashes (Of Sin)'. I do not really know what to say, but for anybody into in your face Symphonic Operatic Metal this is a must buy. Go to www.myspace.com/medenagan0 check them out and support our beloved genre. And record labels, start queuing here, as this EP offers awesome musicianship and production, totally mind blowing vocals and well, I just now need to go and recover my senses, it is that good! 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
MY INNER BURNING..'MY INNER BURNING'
(Saol) Reviewed 27th June 2010
Under the moniker The Core, this German outfit led by guitarist and composer Torsten Sauerbrey released their first demo in 2008. Excellent feedback gave them the opportunity to record this, their debut CD, albeit under a new name. Front lady Rebekka Gaber has an awesome rock voice, similar in style to Natalie Chandra and Floors Jansen. This is a tough act to pigeonhole, just when you think you’ve got them nailed, they throw you a curve ball. The opener ‘Head on a Plate’ grooves along on a bed of bouncy sequencers like a suped up Lacuna Coil, while ‘Fly With Me’ with its great melody brings to mind a band like Sonata Arctica. ‘Judgement Day’ sounds like ‘I Saw Three Ships’ turned into a folk metal anthem, and this is followed by the mean, moody and magnificent ballad ‘Solitude Within You’. You might get fooled into thinking that ‘Over and Over and Over Again’ is a normal metal song, but then they chuck in a cheesy hook, and it turns into something that sounds like Shakira gone metal. ‘Into Chaos’ is a great power metal sword waver, but with closer ‘They Know Better’ they stray into metalcore territory, the only time the occasional shouts come to the fore. The production is good but a little fuzzy, you might want to tweak the treble. In these times when music is becoming increasingly blinkered it is so refreshing to see a band that refuses to be typecast, they happily smash their way through genre boundaries like a runaway tank. The fly in the ointment is that there will be some songs that you will enjoy more than others, depending on your personal tastes. I personally would not have explored further if I’d heard ‘They Know Better’ first rather than ‘Head on a Plate’, not being a hardcore fan, which would have been a real shame as I would have missed out on some really good tunes. If you enjoy a broad church of metal, and like some variety, then this is just the ticket. Available from most merchants of musical mayhem, their Myspace is www.myspace.com/myinnerburning. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
RAVENSCRY..EP
(Independent Release) Reviewed 26th June 2010
Italian Alternative Metal Band Ravenscry is a band that until now has kinda slipped underneath my radar. I then received an email from their management, and this has now led me into reviewing their debut EP. And what a pleasant surprise it is too. Kicking off with 'Nobody', this track alone will give you a small idea into what direction this awesome band are heading. The opener offers heavy riffing, subtle touches of Electonica, all this coupled with the awesome vocals of Giulia. Next one in 'Calliope' maintains the pace set by the opener, while 'Redemption I - Rainy' is a rather cool and beautiful piano led ballad- love it! This track showcases Giulia's mind blowing vocals extremely well. 'Redemption II - Reflection' is a lovely orchestral piece which then leads us to final track 'Redemption III - Far Away'. This particular track echoes shades of Tarja era Nightwish, and is a fitting finale to this EP. This band and their EP has to be worth checking out for fans of the genre. Their myspace site is at www.myspace.com/ravenscryband. And I will say no more except that this is worthy of a place in anyone's collection, and I cannot wait for a full length cd, if there is any chance that one is forthcoming. 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
PICTORIAL WAND..'FACE OF OUR FATHERS'
(Unicorn) Reviewed 24th June 2010
This is the second opus from multi instrumentalist Mattis Sorum’s Pictorial Wand project, an album based on the theme on how new generations have to deal with the legacy of their forefathers. The debut ‘A Sleeper’s Awakening ‘ was a sprawling double album, ‘Face of Our Fathers’ is a more concise and focused single CD. This is very much in the mould of Ayreon, with touches of Mostly Autumn, Procol Harum, Greg Lake era King Crimson, Rick Wakeman, Wishbone Ash, Argent, Mike Oldfield and Jethro Tull. It features four singers whose characters weave their way through the highly emotive songs, with Gry Tronslien as Love, Julie Christensen as Reason, Peter Selliseth as Pride, and Tore Christer Storlid as Hope. Mattis uses a lot of vintage sounds; wah, flange and talk box guitars; Moogs, Taurus bass pedals, Hammond organ through a Leslie cabinet, Mellotron and breathy flute; in fact it sounds like a re-release of a classic English progrock album from 1975. All seven songs are multi faceted, a mix of mellower and rocking passages packed with wonderful melodies, delightful instrumental pieces, superb musicianship and excellent vocal performances. The Achilles heel is the slightly lacklustre production by contemporary standards, you might want to wallop the bass and treble up, that brings it to life. If you love Ayreon, 70’s melodic prog, or damn fine classic rock music then this is a must buy. Their website is http://www.pictorialwand.com/ and the album is available from all fine purveyors of classic and prog rock, a more than worthy 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
MARINA & THE DIAMONDS..'THE FAMILY JEWELS'
(679 Recordings) Reviewed 31st May 2010
Marina and the Diamonds, really just Marina Diamandis (the Diamonds are the fans), was born in Wales to Welsh and Greek parents in 1986, although she has often claimed to be from Ancient Greece. Fine by me, I come from Ancient Kent :) Her piano/keyboard-driven songs vary from melancholic ballads to out and out glam-pop, and it is the glam-pop bit that reminds me of 1970's Sparks. In a recent UK TV interview, the interviewer raised the Sparks connection, with Marina answering that she had never heard of Sparks. Before her time I know, but there are stunning similarities here with Sparks or even Lene Lovich. I like Sparks and Lene Lovich too, so I suppose it will come as no surprise that I like this platter. Thirteen hideously catchy songs on this release, and to be honest, if writing and releasing catchy pop/rock songs was a criminal offence, this girl would be in jail for life! The record has been out in the UK for a few weeks now, and has just been released in the USA. Super stuff from this Welsh (or Ancient Greek) girl. 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
AMY MACDONALD..'A CURIOUS THING'
(Melodramatic Records/Mercury Records) Reviewed 31st May 2010
Scottish pop/rock artist Amy MacDonald is clearly a talented and creative lass, and this, her second album clearly confirms this. We have here a mix of acoustic and full band efforts, that reflects her musical talent. The vocals are strong, lending themselves well to the soft rock fodder that this lass does so well, and is proven on this release. Most tracks here are catchy and very listenable, dealing with the pressures of fame (An Ordinary Life), the perils of hype (Next Big Thing) and the culture of image-over-talent (This Pretty Face). My favourite track though is 'Troubled Soul', with it's Celtic vibe. Oh, we must not forget the hidden track at the end, a live accoustic cover of the Springsteen classic 'Dancing In The Dark'. Okay, this may not be your normal Ravenheart Music fare, but she is from these shores (Bonny Scotland) and the music is cool. But a word of advice to the lovely Amy. Please do not go the way of Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty. Other British artists with the world as their oyster, until they blew it on drink and drugs (why oh why?). A good little release..8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
REVAMP..S/T
(Nuclear Blast) Reviewed 23rd May 2010
Singer Floor Jansen needs no introduction to fans of the genre. After the break up of AFTER FOREVER, she knew in her heart that she wanted to continue making metal!!! And in this, her new band ReVamp, she shows the world she can do even more! From opera to raw screams, from rock to a light and almost whispered sound. The music is heavier than some might expect. Bombastic but with heavy riffing. Complex and pounding drums mixed with melancholic strings. Crazy synth-sounds mixed with beautiful choirs. And 3 special guests make this album extra special! Russell Allen (Symphony X) sings a beautiful duet with Floor on the superb ballad 'Sweet Curse'. Björn ‘Speed’ Strid (Soilwork) brings in power on a different level on the song ‘Disdain’. His raw screams make this song certainly the heaviest on the album, while on opener and powerhouse track 'Here’s My Hell', you’ll hear Dutch master grunter George Oosthoek (ex Orphanage). This is a totally awesome album from one of my favourite singers, and the vocals are unmistakably Floor. Highs on this album include those tracks mentioned above, the totally spellbinding 'Head Up High', featuring wicked chorus and orchestration, the bombastic 'Million' with synths and a choir that adds another dimension to this great song, 'Disgraced' with it's catchy chorus and 'Under My Skin' (showcasing Floor's great vocals). I could go on actually and list basically every song on this album as they all deserve a mention, but this album will appeal to many fans of our beloved genre, and most certainly if you miss Floor and After Forever, then you will want this release. In summary, the 14 tracks (inc the digipack bonus track) presents a new dimension to the female fronted metal scene. A must buy and I already have mine! 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
MYSTERY BLUE...'HELL and FURY'
(Bernett Records) Reviewed 22nd May 2010
If I told you the band is The Wildcat Nathalie on vocals, The Metal Heart Frenzy on guitar, The Grave Digger Rikki on bass, and The Killing Machine Vince on drums then you might get the impression that this isn’t going to be an album by a bunch of alt rock shoe gazers. Goodness knows what the priest thought when he christened them, ‘I name thee Grave Digger’, and it must have been fun at school, ‘yes Mr. Vince, as headmaster I must tell you that your son Killing Machine must try harder’. Mystery Blue have been one of France’s top metal bands since the early 90’s, sharing the same stage as such luminaries as Girlschool, Motorhead, Saxon, Wolf, et al, and if you want METAL!!!! then this band have got it in spades, indeed, the ace of spades, sorry, a sudden attack of the Motorheads. Ten no holds barred, no frills, band your head till you drop, classic metal anthems, with an injection of power metal. Nathalie sounds like Bruce Dickinson’s supersonic sister as she tears through these tracks like a Boeing 757. Highlights include ‘Hell and Fury’, ‘Metal Attack’, and the two more melodic numbers, ‘Piece of Eternity’, with it’s brief oasis of calm at the start, and the final epic, ‘When Time is Pain’. This is one for you classic heavy metal Maiden, Priest and Manowar fans, mosh your way to their Myspace, www.myspace.com/mysterybluefr, it’s available from a range of stores too. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, you have been warned, 8/10 (Reviewed by Phil).
DREAMTONE AND IRIS MAVRAKI'S NEVERLAND..'OPHIDIA'
AFM Records (Reviewed 17th May 2010)
The first album by this coalition (they are all the rage at the moment) of Turkish power metallers Dreamtone and Greek folk singer Iris Mavraki was a flawed masterpiece, marred by a slightly dodgy orchestra, some strange song arrangements and an air of confusion, the band not fully certain where they should be heading – power metal? folk metal? prog metal? symphonic metal? For this second opus they have dumped the orchestra, and upped from contribution from now full time keys player Guney Ozsan. The second difference is that they are now a fully fledged touring band, and as a result their music has a far sharper focus, melodic power metal (without the double kick drumming) with symphonic, folk and prog elements. The third difference is far more difficult to explain, although Iris played second fiddle in the vocal department to Dreamtone singer Oganalp Canatan on the first, she has now almost totally vanished, which is rather disappointing and puzzling, what is the difference between Dreamtone and Neverland? To call them a female fronted band is now somewhat of a misnomer, a male fronted melodic power metal band with occasional female vocals would be a more accurate description. They have also lost some of those delightful, eccentric, folky quirks as a result. On the plus side you get an album packed with excellent Sonata Arctica esque songs such as ‘This Voice Inside’ (you can see the video on the blog) and ‘Speak to Me’, with the lovely folk duet ‘Will of God’ sandwiched in the middle. So a split decision, if you are expecting female fronted symphonic metal, you will be sadly disappointed, but if you just want an album with top quality tunes, then you will be more than pleased. A rather confused 8/10 (Reviewed by Phil).
ONYX EYES..'DELIGHTS AND TEARS'
(Fire Zone Records/Black Rain Media Group) Reviewed 10th May 2010
Formed in 2005 out of the ashes of various other bands, this group from Germany perform a mix of Moody Blues, Mostly Autumn, Within Temptation, and Xandria, a blend of classic melodic rock and symphonic metal, with a touch of prog. There is one problem, the sleeve art is all rather nice, but someone forgot to put the credits in! No line-up, producer, writers, not even a band photo. There is a gentleman who sings on some songs who sounds rather similar to Justin Hayward, but without credits, who know, it might be him, unlikely, but possible? I’ll call him ‘Justin’ from now on, just in case. The lead mike is taken by Ines, who has a wonderful Lisa Middelhauve (Xandria) type voice, with Sören and Alex on guitars, Denis on keys, Mart on bass and Josch on drums. The quality of the songs on offer here is quite staggering; they really know how to write a catchy tune with tons of melody, lots of lovely instrumental bits, and hooks big enough to land a whale. It opens with the grand orchestral ‘Persephone’s Light’, then comes a brace of superb rockers, ‘Under the Same Sun’ and ‘The One’, followed the awesome twosome of the ridiculously catchy ‘Ask’ featuring ‘Justin’, and their staggering signature tune, ‘Onyx Eyes’. We move onto ‘Justin’s’ showcase on the melodic progger ‘Hopes’, the Egyptian flavoured ‘ Purple Rivers’ and the Ines and ‘Justin’ power ballad ‘Siren’. Finally we get the dramatic ‘Your Fear’, an interlude, and the final symphonic metal flourish with ‘Lost in the Past’. There is also a dreamy, electronica version of ‘Ask’ as a bonus track, which would make a great single. This is a top quality, professionally recorded album that will appeal to wide range of melodic rock / symphonic metal fans, and is widely distributed, you should be able to find it on Amazon and various other outlets, their Myspace is www.myspace.com/onyxeyes . You will certainly find far more delights than tears, 9/10. (Reviewed by Phil)
MAGICA..'DARK DIARY'
(AFM Records) Reviewed 8th May 2010
This is Magica's 5th album, and this Romanian band have been a fave of mine for some while now, with their inoffensive Melodic Metal style. Fronted by the pretty Ana Mladinovici, we have another platter full of melodic metal gems. Kicking off with the Power Metal style of 'Anywhere But Home', Ana's angelic vocals are still a joy to behold, while Six Fingers is still the keys maestro within the band. The melodic and catchy numbers 'Tonight', 'Never Like You', 'Wait For Me' (great chorus) and 'Need' follow, and with some great keyboard exploits too from Six Fingers, coupled with cool guitar and a pounding rhythm section. 'Release My Demons' gets the second half of the album underway, and has just a slightly heavier feel, with some spooky male vocals (those of a demon) mid track. 'On The Side Of Evil' with another great chorus just keeps up the momentum, a real foot tapper and I am now wondering, why this band are not bigger than they currently are. The final four tracks on this release do not let up, and the quality never dips from the first minute to the last, with final track 'Dear Diary' being a quiet solemn affair featuring just piano. To summarise - to my ears, Nightwish influences shine through on this album, that offers great musicianship all round aswell. The record sees the light of day on 28th May. A good un and it should be fairly easy to obtain. 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
MR BELLA..'CROSS MY HEART'
(Independent Release) Reviewed 8th May 2010
Alternative rock/metal is what we have in store for you on this little opus, coupled with the awesome vocals of Erin Marie. This Tampa based band offer the listener plenty of catchy numbers with attitude, including 'Mirror Mirror', the title track 'Cross My Heart', and 'Webs'. Quoting the band from their website..MR. BELLA is a blend of infectious beats and killer licks, entrapped with powerful and equally melodic vocals to create their own genre obliterating sound. I can agree with that. Visit them at www.myspace.com/mrbella and draw your own conclusions. Pretty good! 8/10 (Reviewed by Aimee)
RHOMBUS.. 'OPEN THE SKY'
(AF Music / Resurrection Records) Reviewed 6th May 2010
Rhombus mine the same rich vein of British gothic rock as The Mission and The Fields of Nephilm, and with the former now defunct, and the later dormant, the field is wide open. Rhombus make their pitch with their third album, where they have really upped the ante, bigger band, bigger songs and bigger sound, with Stephen Carey from The Eden House providing the mixing. What makes them stand out is the dual vocal attack, featuring Edward Grassby’s rich tenor tones perfectly suiting the music, counterpointed with soaring vocals of the bewitching Mya, giving a touch of the Mostly Autumns (the artwork also reminds me of that bands Heart Full of Sky). The album is packed out with cracking tunes, full of glorious melodies, great hooks, chiming flanged guitars and rumbling base, all on a bed of lush synths and pianos. ‘Lightening Strikes Twice’, ‘Almost Everything’ and ‘Open the Sky’ in particular demand attention, together with the Roman Jugg era Damned like ‘Anywhere’, which will be released as a single; you can see the video on our blog, http://thefemalevoices.blogspot.com/. Sitting at the heart of the album, physically and metaphorically, is the immense Celtic ballad ‘Denial’, a real show stopper that showcases Mya’s superb voice, and it ends with the suitably melancholic epic ‘Into The Rain’. If you’re a fan of 80’s gothic rock then this a must, filling the gaping hole in your collection. However, its modern sheen and glorious cavernous sound will appeal to a new generation of fans, those who like guile over grind. Easily available from www.myspace.com/rhombus and loads of other emporiums, this is the definitive sound of gothic rock. 9/10 (reviewed by Phil)
MYRKA...'13'
(Cave Music) Reviewed 5th May 2010
It is a miracle that this CD now sits before me. Firstly, I nearly dismissed this album because these Icelanders describe their music as ‘death pop’, which conjures up images of Cannibal Corpse jamming with Lady Gaga, a truly terrifying prospect. Further investigation revealed that the drummer is a death metal fan, while the rest of the band are pop fans, hence ‘death pop’, simple really, thankfully the rest of us would call it gothic rock, so we are on safe ground. Then the band had technical problems with the first pressings, must have been a difficult time, you get all excited about receiving the first copies of the album you have worked so hard on, only to find they are faulty. Finally, the CD had to dodge the ash cloud that has brought the whole of Europe to a grinding halt. But here it is, safe and sound. The name Myrká, by the way, comes from an Icelandic ghost story; it is the place where a ghostly deacon kept on trying to abduct a young lady called Gudrún, until an exorcist sorted him out. The sound is The Doors mixed with a touch of Hawkwind, early post Barrett Pink Floyd, The Damned, The Stranglers and The Mission, packed full of heavenly Hammond organ courtesy of Stefán, topped with Guðný’s awesome voice which strongly reminds me of Sarah Jezebel Deva (in non operatic mode). The album is stuffed with humdingers, ‘Unborn’, ‘Sad World’, ‘Now It’s Gone’, and ‘Neurosis’ to name but a few, the whole CD sounding like a lost classic from 1969, but with bang up to date 21st century production values. My fave is ‘My Prison’ which sounds like a cross between ‘Silver Machine’ and ‘Telstar’ by the Tornados, or for those of you of a younger vintage, like the version done by the son of their guitarist George Bellamy - Matthew Bellamy and Muse’s ‘Knights of Cydonia’. I am in Hammond heaven with this, it is wonderful to hear a specialist organists again, a truly wondrous sound, not forgetting the excellent contributions from guitarist Guðjón and drummer Helgi. This is a seriously groovy, mega melodic opus for all you bat cavers out there, easily available from CD Baby, and their Myspace is www.myspace.com/myrkamusic. If this is ‘death pop’, then I am most certainly a convert, 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil).
KIM ROSE..'YEAR OF SEVERED TIES'
(Independent Release) Reviewed 20th April 2010
In the last ten years, Kim Rose has fronted several rock bands, graced the stages of the legendary CBGB’s and The Elbow Room, recorded at Quad Studios and the (now-defunct) Hit Factory, gone to countless auditions and rehearsals, and endured a shelved album. It was then that she decided to take matters into her own hands, and thus, the notion of releasing a full-length album was conceived at the beginning of 2007. And this is it - hard rocking and melodic. So if you will, imagine Flyleaf, Garbage, Fuel and Incubus, mix it up with just a little Evanescence and add doses of classic rock with a little Seattle era Grunge. All that equals Kim Rose! 12 totally awesome tracks on offer here including the catchy 'Reason Behind You', the equally catchy and heavy 'Made' with it's cool synths, and the memorable 'Fall Out' with great guitar solo to boot! Other faves include the impressive 'Final Resolution' and the accoustic 'Angels'. Overall, this is a great listening experience - check out www.myspace.com/kimrose and then consider spending your hard earned cash. I like it! 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
REGARDLESS OF ME..'THE WORLD WITHIN'
(Locomotive Records) Reviewed 13th March 2010
From the pen of Italian maestro Emiliano Sicilja comes this eclectic opus featuring the flawless pop/rock voice of the sultry Pamela Manzo. It kicks off with the big, gothic metal, Lacuna Coil’ish rocker ‘City of Glass’, followed by two outstanding numbers that alternate between symphonic trip hop verses and immense soaring, rousing choruses, ‘No One Cares’ and ‘Regardless’. The album then breaks into Dream Theatre prog metal with ‘Wounded’ with another massive chorus, followed by the slow moody industrial bossa nova instrumental ‘The Counterfeiter’ built on jazzy piano chords and massive synths, and the haunting trip hop of ‘For Eternity’ with it’s mighty emotionally charged refrain. We change again with the gorgeous symphonic piano ballad ‘The Morning Light’ with Pamela and the band sounding like they come from Nashville, not Milan. ‘So Cold’ is another huge gothic rocker and the penultimate tune is the spooky, brooding, trip hop ‘Thy Nature’.
The last song is the epic ‘The World Within’ which just about sums this album up. Prog’ish, yes’ish; gothic, almost certainly; rock, probably; metal, maybe; trip hop, possibly; symphonic, perhaps; catchy and melodic, affirmatively; a darn good listen, absolutely and positively. Available from most purveyors of fine music, this will appeal to a broad church of music aficionados, Muse, Ayreon, Lacuna Coil, Porcupine Tree, Portishead, Massive Attack and other bands who inhabit the twilight world between rock, metal, prog, electronic and gothic. You’ll love it, regardless of me. 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
There are stacks more reviews (from 2006 til Feb 2010) at http://www.ravenheartarchives.com. Check em out!
(Independent Release) Reviewed 19th August 2010
Barbara Rubin is lead singer with Italian prog rockers LoreWeaveR, but here she presents her own debut album. You know all those lovely piano ballads you get in melodic rock, prog and symphonic metal albums? Would you like a whole album packed full of them? Then look no further. Marianna is not only a fine vocalist, in the style of singers like Anne Wilson and Lana Lane, but she is also a highly talented pianist and songwriter. There’s none of the ordinary plonking chords, but proper classical arrangements. Although they are all ballads, there’s a lot of diversity in moods and textures, with lovely string arrangements (she also plays violin), and some nice Moog moments. ‘Under the Ice’, ‘A Place That Nobody Knows’, ‘Music and Love’ and ‘No More Tears’ are more up-tempo with full band accompaniment, whilst ‘Angel Heartbeat’, the dreamy ‘Stupid Day’, ‘Ero e Sono’, and the brief ‘Orange Roses’ are gentler. ‘Liar’ starts with Keith Emerson esque Moog vamping before turning into an angry power ballad. This is the perfect music to chill out to with a drop of wine or for a romantic meal for two (apart from ‘Liar’, the crockery might start flying!). A gorgeous, but slightly brief, album available for download from Amazon and iTunes and the CD can be purchased through the BFT online shop link or at www.myspace.com/barbararubinmusic, a far from icy 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil).
The RESCUES..'LET LOOSE THE HORSES'
(Universal Republic) Reviewed 17th August 2010
The Rescues are a union of four singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalists from Los Angeles, the girls Kyler England and Adrianne Gonzalez and the guys Rob Giles and Gabriel Mann. Not surprisingly, there are close similarities to Fleetwood Mac, with their artistic melodic rock and sumptuous four part harmonies and vocal interplay. Their songs have already graced top TV shows like One Tree Hill, Private Practice, and Grey’s Anatomy, and now they let loose their major label debut. Also not surprisingly as there are four songwriters the album is packed with top quality tunes, all beautifully recorded and performed, so it’s tough singling out individual songs. Particular faves include the title track ‘Let Loose the Horses’ (live video on Female Voices Blog), the Mostly Autumn like ‘Start a Riot’ with it’s big drums, the Coldplay ish ‘Before the Fall’, The Shania Twain esque ‘Break Me Out’, and the delightful Supertramp/Beach Boys/Jellyfish whimsy of ‘Can’t Stand the Rain’ and ‘All I Want is You’. Despite being on a major label they are still relatively unknown, I can’t imagine this situation lasting for long. Their Myspace is www.myspace.com/therescues and it’s available from all the usual record stables. This is a perfect case of synergy when the whole is greater that the sum of the parts, 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
RHODE ISLAND RED..S/T
(Independent Release) Reviewed 17th August 2010
Let's take a trip back to the late 70's and put some hard rock onto our menu. Fronted by Lyla D'Souza, London based Rhode Island Red, formed in late 2009 by Lyla and guitarist/songwriter Dave Garfield, has produced what can best be described as a very good album, and this band should go places. The opening salvo of 'Kerosene' and 'Beige' put us into the mood as to what to expect, with Lyla's vocals taking centre stage. I am a sucker for power ballads, so third track in 'Stalemate', basically knocked me off my feet. Great stuff, and Lyla's vocals are so awesome, with a kinda no nonsense bluesy edge. And it seems this girl has a pedigree, being herself a rock/soul singer and songwriter, who has performed across the UK, Europe and Australasia for the past 8 years or so. And even Dave Garfield has recorded for EMI Germany and BMG Germany, as well as supporting major acts like Joe Cocker and Rammstein. Back to this release, there is a lot of good stuff on this album including 'Hollow Man', 'Too Far Gone', 'Living On Mars' and 'Fate Insists' (one of my faves). I can normally tell when I put a cd into my cd player and hear the first track or two, whether it is going to be good or not. The 11 tracks on this record are damn good, and I do particularly like the ballads, sung so well by Lyla. So check the band out at www.myspace.com/rhodeislandredband and then buy the album! 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
THE REASONING..'ADVERSE CAMBER'
(Comet Music) Reviewed 15th August 2010
The Reasoning are back with a new line-up, coming on board are drummer Jake Bradford-Sharp, backing vocalist Maria Owen, and keyboardist Tony Turrell. This album sees a marked shift towards the gothic rock/metal of the title track of their last album, ‘Dark Angel’; the ballads have gone along with ex keys player/vocalist Gareth Jones. On the track ‘14’, they sing “take me in a new direction”, I couldn’t agree more. Although still described by the media as prog, they are only prog in terms of musicianship and song structure/length (averaging around the 7 minute mark). Last time, metal guitarist Owain Roberts was the new boy, now he’s combined with Dylan Thompson’s rock to far greater effect. The result is their own unique sound, gothic rock/metal done in a melodic rock style. The other major difference is that the Rachel Cohen with her distinctive floating voice is now very much the lead vocalist, unlike the last one where duties were shared. It is mixed by Joe Gibb, who has worked with the likes of Leftfield, Catatonia, and Massive Attack, for a crisp clear contemporary sound. The songs swirl from powerful riffage, to catchy/soaring melodic rock, to periods of atmospheric calm, with seamless changes in tempo and dynamics. They are full of glorious harmonies and vocal interplay, ripping guitar solos, and all sorts of superb instrumental segments. This is a band that should be marketed far beyond their Welsh prog roots, to the European gothic rock/metal scene and to American melodic/alt rock/metal fans. Available from their website http://www.thereasoning.com/main.html and other fine purveyors, this earns a highly deserved 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
ROSWELL SIX - TERRA INCOGNITA..'A LINE IN THE SAND'
(Prog Rock Records) Reviewed 14th August 2010
Last year I reported on the first episode of author Kevin J Anderson’s Terra Incognita project that tied in with his accompanying novel. This instalment is about the war between Tierra and Uraba that broke out in the first chapter and has totally new characters. Fittingly the music is darker and heavier, written by Henning Pauly (Frameshift, Chain, Shadow’s Mignon) who also incredibly plays all the instruments. Lyrics are again by Kevin and his wife Rebecca Moesta, with Grammy winning Janis Ian contributing to two tracks. Vocalists this time include Michael Sadler (Saga, playing a different character), Steve Walsh (Kansas), and the mighty blues/soul lungs of the sexy Sass Jordan. There are obvious parallels with the history of the Middle East, the clash of two very different cultures and beliefs over a city that is sacred to both sides, leading to a never ending spiral of war and hatred, ‘’You killed our fathers, so we kill your sons”, this may be a fantasy story but its basis is grim reality. The music is a mix of Ayreon, Dreamtheater and classic melodic rock, fittingly Arjen Lucassen and the first Dreamtheater vocalist Charlie Dominici make appearances. The quality and diversity of the material on offer here is quite staggering, this is immaculately recorded premier league prog. Highlights include the towering humungous opening track ‘Barricade’ with Steve giving a lung bursting performance; the monster blues metal ‘The Crown’ with Sass really letting rip, sounding like a funked up, suped up Led Zep; Sass’s bluesy power ballad, with the emphasis on the power, ‘Need’; and Michael’s bittersweet anthemic closer ‘Victory’, “But all blood is red, and the dead ask me why, In a war that won’t end, was it worth it to die?” If you like you prog heavy, technical, but extremely melodic then this is a must buy. Available from all good stockists, their Myspace is www.myspace.com/roswellsix, this is darker, different, but just as good as their first, 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
MANDRAKE..'INNOCENCE WEAKNESS'
(Greyfall) Reviewed 5th August 2010
Germany does not only just have a decent soccer team, they have some damn fine rock bands too. Mandrake so happen to be another of my fave bands, and they have been ticking along for somewhile now and mostly unnoticed in the UK. This is a beauty and the beast offering, featuring the vocals of Birgit Lau and the guitarist (and occasional additional bassist) Lutz de Putter. Starter 'Prelude' leads us into 'A Secret To Reveal' featuring the awesome sounding Birgit on lead vox, while next track 'Save Us From Ourselves' features Lutz in his formidable but listenable gruff style. The first half of the cd rumbles along at a steady pace, although the rather lovely and atmospheric instrumental 'Innocence', slows things down a bit. 'Autumn Infinity' and 'Coma' ups the ante again, with the record closing with another instrumental, 'Weakness'. 'Innocence Weakness' possibly utilises the harsh male vocal style more than their previous release 'Mary Celeste', but to my ears it is not overdone. Amongst what some people describe as a crowded genre, Mandrake do have a sound of their own, and at what is becoming a rather expensive time for purchasing cds from our beloved genre, here is another to add to the "To Buy" list. Cool and I like it! 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
CELINA REE..'KORTSLUTNING'
(Copenhagen Records) Reviewed 4th August 2010
A few years ago Carlsberg Lager ran a series of adverts where the Danes love the beer so much they would go to any lengths to stop it leaving their country, well, the same thing seems to be happening to their music! The Storm have only just signed to Spinefarm after years of being a Danish secret, Cryoshell is currently only released in Denmark, and now my Danish spy has discovered Celina Ree. All three are premier league acts, professionally recorded, with expensive videos, tailor made for the international market, but they don’t want anyone else to know! Sadly my spy succumbed to temptation and was bribed by bacon sandwiches to reveal nothing, so all I know about her is that she is a young singer songwriter, and this her debut album sung in her native tongue. Her style is the sort of Evanescence esque gothic alt rock that will go down a storm in America, with looks that can stop a beer wagon. She sets out her stall with three prime cuts of alt rock, including the single and title track ‘Kortslutning’. ‘Se Dig Selv I Mig’ is a lovely gentler number, followed by the awesome ‘Mørkeræd’, which starts out with exotic groovy sequencers before soaring into the stratosphere. After the Porcupine Tree ‘ish’ ‘Savner Dig Sindssygt’ comes the anthemic ‘Når Du Rør Ved Mig’, and the moody ‘I Sort’. The stomping ‘Tænd Et Lys’ with it’s wonderful synths reminds me of My Chemical Romance and Green Day. Another excellent alt rocker and the gentle piano ballad ‘Evighed’ wraps the record up nicely. Celina’s website is http://celinaree.dk/ and you can download the album from iTunes. If Carlsberg did alt rock albums, this is what they would sound like, another Danish artist who deserves an international audience, 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
LIV MOON..'DOUBLE MOON'
(Victor Entertainment - JVC) Reviewed 26th July 2010
The lovely Liv Akane was born to a Swedish/Polish father, a Korean/Japanese mother, and studied Shakespeare and opera in England (winning singer of year), so she is truly international. On her return to Japan she did various Broadway style shows and classical performances, modelled for L’Oreal (because she’s worth it), before meeting producer and keys player Tatsuya Nishiwaki, and the idea for Liv Moon was born. If you think that as she’s a bona fide opera singer with that traditional classical/showbiz background it would be something like Tarja, well, she’s got some surprises for you. Opener ‘Nephrite’ sounds like ELP jamming with Metallica, Nightwish and Dream Theatre, she hits a note that shattered every piece of glass in the house as well as all my preconceptions, incredible. ‘Tsukikake’ is a plaster loosening, headbanging, turbo charged, raging rocker, with a scorching guitar solo. ‘Double Moon’ is more like Tarja, an awesome pop metaller, strangely a single and video were not done for this, instead a covers EP ‘Scream as a Woman’. Next up is a manic crazed version of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, with an injection of Bond theme, and another one of those notes, good grief! A brief peaceful interlude, ‘The River Of No Return’, gives me chance to clear up some of the wreckage. I was lulled into thinking ‘A Wish’ is a beautiful ballad, then WOOMF and the walls are shaking, before it relents to calming ending. ‘Oto Naki Sakebi’ and ‘Azayaka Ni...’ also start off as gentle pieces before the band lay on the power as the songs quieten and soar, what a ride. A brief proggy interlude, ‘Privileged’, then ‘Wild Creatures’ storms in like a stampeding elephant with enough bass to disintegrate cement. There’s no ‘Escape’ on the next track as the bass synths rumble and the band thrashes out an earth shaking riff, with another one of those notes (a live video for it is on the Female Voices blog). Thank goodness ‘Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro)’ is next, the house can’t take anymore as the ceiling starts caving in, they give this a slightly jazzy swinging slant, with those James Bond horns coming in towards the end. The mood continues with the gorgeous big band ballad ‘Good Night’, Liv showing the deep rich end of her incredible range and it ends with the beautiful but brief bonus track ‘La Luna’. Bizarrely, Japanese CD’s are at least twice the price of those anywhere else in the world, no wonder they demand bonus tracks, and as this is only available on import (CD Japan, Amazon, EBay, HMV Japan) you may have to sell your house to get it, but look at how much you will save on repair bills! Backed by the mighty JVC corporation, you get premier league musicianship, vocals, production and songs, now where’s that broom? 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
RAVENLAND... 'AND A CROW BRINGS ME BACK'
(Independent Release/Ravenheart Music)
Brazil’s Ravenland was formed by Dewindson Wolfheart way back in 1997, but sadly their 2001 debut album never saw the light of day due to their record company going bust. After a break of a number of years Wolfheart met Camilla Raven, and the band was reborn in 2006 (perhaps the origin of the CD’s title?). Like Fright Night, Wolfheart has a deep baritone voice rather than a growl, a most welcome and effective alternative to the cookie monsters that clog up gothic music, while Ravishing Raven’s rich tones soar over the top, creating a delightful blend. Their music is broadly a mix of Paradise Lost, Fields of the Nephilim, gothic era Damned, The Stranglers and The Mission. The songs rattle along at a groovy pace with Albanes Gonçalves providing a variety of guitar sounds from the flanged to the crunchy (plus a special guest appearance by ex Theatre of Tragedy guitarist Tommy Lindal), João Cruz’s grunting JJ Burnel esque bass, and Raven’s superb keyboards creating melody, atmosphere and texture. You certainly get your money’s worth, 14 killers and not a filler in sight (plus a slightly different version of ‘Soulmoon’ and a video). I was particularly taken with the rocking ‘End of Light’, the melodic ‘Burning For You’, the powerful ‘The Crow’, the dramatic ‘Velvet Dreams’, and the lovely piano ballad ‘Regret’. Production by is by top tub thumper Ricardo Confessori of Angra and Shaman fame (he also performs the drum parts), and mixing is by Waldemar Sorychta, who has worked with such luminaries as Lacuna Coil, Tiamat, Moonspell, and Therion, so it is no surprise that the sound is so crisp, clear and powerful. Similar attention to detail has been shown with the excellent artwork by Gustavo Sazes whose distinctive style has graced sleeves by bands like Arch Enemy, Echoes of Eternity and Stream of Passion. With the likes of Paradise Lost riding high in the European charts there is obviously a ravenous demand for Ravenland’s brand of top quality gothic rock/metal. Their Myspace lies as the crow flies at www.myspace.com/ravenland. Ravenphil heartily recommends this for all fans of the genre, and Ravenland will soon see distribution by Ravenheart, how more appropriate can you get! 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
MASTERCASTLE..'LAST DESIRE'
(Lion Music) Reviewed 24th July 2010
This is the second album by powerful Italian metallers Mastercastle. They are fronted by the lusty lungs of Giorgia Gueglio whose voice perfectly suits their blend of Iron Maiden and power metal. Her lyrics on this album are all based in the theme of desire and all its meanings, ranging from the desire for love, escape, change or to explore the unknown. Mastercastle give you exactly what it says on the tin, big riffs, big choruses, big solos, big hair, and big sound. You get the more direct melodic metal of songs like ‘Event Horizon’, ‘Away’, ‘Last Desire’, ‘Cat House’ and ‘Scarlett’ (based on Gone With The Wind); the slightly more proggy eastern tinged ‘Misr’ and the ballad ‘Jade Star’; plus some instrumentals and more power metallish numbers. The only problem is that it is not exactly original, and the lack of variety in the sound and song structures means that it can get a little predictable with one song merging into the next without any clear distinction; I wish they would throw the odd curve ball in to make you sit up and take notice. If you desire no frills, pedal to the metal melodic metal, then this is well worth lusting after, and being on Lion should be widely available, 8/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
REACTIVE BLACK..'A NEW DAWN'
(Echozone) Reviewed 15th July 2010
Zikes! Three corking cds that I have reviewed on the bounce today. Must be my lucky day. This little humdinger by German Band Reactive Black, is another record that has quite simply taken my breath away. Fronted by the lovely named Sassy Skeleton, what we have here is 11 tracks of Electonic Gothic Rock & Metal. The vocal style of Ms Skeleton is possibly more akin to Mandragora Scream's Morgan Lacroix, rather than perhaps the more operatic or poppy vocal style of some acts within this genre. Driving but consciously simple guitars and thumping drums drive this album along, while Sassy's voice fascinates and transports the listener into another sphere, with its dark style of eroticism. Check this band out at www.myspace.com/reactiveblack. A great record and worthy of a 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
RAVEN TIDE..'EVER RAIN' (EP)
(Alkemist Fanatix) Reviewed 15th July 2010
Italian Band Raven Tide was born in early 2009, as the natural evolution of the original idea of the vocalist Cheryl and the guitaist Shark. The style of the band is characterized by the fusion of various influences of past musical experiences of each member, creating a perfect mix between the classic atmosphere of Symphonic Metal and the captivating colours of Dark & Gothic culture, with the aggressive rhythm of Power and Heavy Metal, also offering touches of Electronica and completed of course with a female voice. Instrumental 'Stillness' gets things going, and I am sure I hear the sound of bag pipes. This then leads us into the almighty 'Alfrin Alagos'. This 5 track EP is good, and we are only two tracks in! 'Doom Reveil' that follows is a totally awesome track...heavy riffs with a chorus to die for, and showcasing Cheryl's angelic vocals. This track is gonna be a fave of mine, no doubt about it - right up my alleyway! I am now totally spellbound by this Italian combo. And before I can catch my breath, we have 'End To The Flame' - great piano/synths led ballad, and I am afraid that I am a sucker for a good ballad. The rocky and very catchy 'Lucifer Bliss' featuring the addition of male vocals closes the EP. Every track on the record to my ears is a winner, with the songs banging around in my head long after the cd has finished. Check Raven Tide out at www.myspace.com/raventide and then buy the EP - enough said! 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
MEDEN AGAN..'PROMO 2010' (EP)
(Independent Release) Reviewed 15th July 2010
Greek based Band MEDEN AGAN fronted by Iliana Tsakiraki, was formed in November 2005 in Paris by Diman. There have been various re-formations along the way, but fast forward to 2010, and they present us with their first promo CD, simply titled 'Promo 2010', which was released in April. The 5 track EP kicks off with 'Tribute To Life' and there is certainly an epic Gothic Symphonic feel to this track, as it tears it's way out of the speakers. The bombastic feel continues with 'Dissolve Into Grey' with the operatic vocals of Iliana standing out. Awesome solos midway featuring guitar and keys dualling with each other. 'All Seems Lost' blows me away in an epic wall of melodic symphonic sound, as does 'Black Sky' and closing track 'From The Ashes (Of Sin)'. I do not really know what to say, but for anybody into in your face Symphonic Operatic Metal this is a must buy. Go to www.myspace.com/medenagan0 check them out and support our beloved genre. And record labels, start queuing here, as this EP offers awesome musicianship and production, totally mind blowing vocals and well, I just now need to go and recover my senses, it is that good! 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
MY INNER BURNING..'MY INNER BURNING'
(Saol) Reviewed 27th June 2010
Under the moniker The Core, this German outfit led by guitarist and composer Torsten Sauerbrey released their first demo in 2008. Excellent feedback gave them the opportunity to record this, their debut CD, albeit under a new name. Front lady Rebekka Gaber has an awesome rock voice, similar in style to Natalie Chandra and Floors Jansen. This is a tough act to pigeonhole, just when you think you’ve got them nailed, they throw you a curve ball. The opener ‘Head on a Plate’ grooves along on a bed of bouncy sequencers like a suped up Lacuna Coil, while ‘Fly With Me’ with its great melody brings to mind a band like Sonata Arctica. ‘Judgement Day’ sounds like ‘I Saw Three Ships’ turned into a folk metal anthem, and this is followed by the mean, moody and magnificent ballad ‘Solitude Within You’. You might get fooled into thinking that ‘Over and Over and Over Again’ is a normal metal song, but then they chuck in a cheesy hook, and it turns into something that sounds like Shakira gone metal. ‘Into Chaos’ is a great power metal sword waver, but with closer ‘They Know Better’ they stray into metalcore territory, the only time the occasional shouts come to the fore. The production is good but a little fuzzy, you might want to tweak the treble. In these times when music is becoming increasingly blinkered it is so refreshing to see a band that refuses to be typecast, they happily smash their way through genre boundaries like a runaway tank. The fly in the ointment is that there will be some songs that you will enjoy more than others, depending on your personal tastes. I personally would not have explored further if I’d heard ‘They Know Better’ first rather than ‘Head on a Plate’, not being a hardcore fan, which would have been a real shame as I would have missed out on some really good tunes. If you enjoy a broad church of metal, and like some variety, then this is just the ticket. Available from most merchants of musical mayhem, their Myspace is www.myspace.com/myinnerburning. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
RAVENSCRY..EP
(Independent Release) Reviewed 26th June 2010
Italian Alternative Metal Band Ravenscry is a band that until now has kinda slipped underneath my radar. I then received an email from their management, and this has now led me into reviewing their debut EP. And what a pleasant surprise it is too. Kicking off with 'Nobody', this track alone will give you a small idea into what direction this awesome band are heading. The opener offers heavy riffing, subtle touches of Electonica, all this coupled with the awesome vocals of Giulia. Next one in 'Calliope' maintains the pace set by the opener, while 'Redemption I - Rainy' is a rather cool and beautiful piano led ballad- love it! This track showcases Giulia's mind blowing vocals extremely well. 'Redemption II - Reflection' is a lovely orchestral piece which then leads us to final track 'Redemption III - Far Away'. This particular track echoes shades of Tarja era Nightwish, and is a fitting finale to this EP. This band and their EP has to be worth checking out for fans of the genre. Their myspace site is at www.myspace.com/ravenscryband. And I will say no more except that this is worthy of a place in anyone's collection, and I cannot wait for a full length cd, if there is any chance that one is forthcoming. 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
PICTORIAL WAND..'FACE OF OUR FATHERS'
(Unicorn) Reviewed 24th June 2010
This is the second opus from multi instrumentalist Mattis Sorum’s Pictorial Wand project, an album based on the theme on how new generations have to deal with the legacy of their forefathers. The debut ‘A Sleeper’s Awakening ‘ was a sprawling double album, ‘Face of Our Fathers’ is a more concise and focused single CD. This is very much in the mould of Ayreon, with touches of Mostly Autumn, Procol Harum, Greg Lake era King Crimson, Rick Wakeman, Wishbone Ash, Argent, Mike Oldfield and Jethro Tull. It features four singers whose characters weave their way through the highly emotive songs, with Gry Tronslien as Love, Julie Christensen as Reason, Peter Selliseth as Pride, and Tore Christer Storlid as Hope. Mattis uses a lot of vintage sounds; wah, flange and talk box guitars; Moogs, Taurus bass pedals, Hammond organ through a Leslie cabinet, Mellotron and breathy flute; in fact it sounds like a re-release of a classic English progrock album from 1975. All seven songs are multi faceted, a mix of mellower and rocking passages packed with wonderful melodies, delightful instrumental pieces, superb musicianship and excellent vocal performances. The Achilles heel is the slightly lacklustre production by contemporary standards, you might want to wallop the bass and treble up, that brings it to life. If you love Ayreon, 70’s melodic prog, or damn fine classic rock music then this is a must buy. Their website is http://www.pictorialwand.com/ and the album is available from all fine purveyors of classic and prog rock, a more than worthy 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
MARINA & THE DIAMONDS..'THE FAMILY JEWELS'
(679 Recordings) Reviewed 31st May 2010
Marina and the Diamonds, really just Marina Diamandis (the Diamonds are the fans), was born in Wales to Welsh and Greek parents in 1986, although she has often claimed to be from Ancient Greece. Fine by me, I come from Ancient Kent :) Her piano/keyboard-driven songs vary from melancholic ballads to out and out glam-pop, and it is the glam-pop bit that reminds me of 1970's Sparks. In a recent UK TV interview, the interviewer raised the Sparks connection, with Marina answering that she had never heard of Sparks. Before her time I know, but there are stunning similarities here with Sparks or even Lene Lovich. I like Sparks and Lene Lovich too, so I suppose it will come as no surprise that I like this platter. Thirteen hideously catchy songs on this release, and to be honest, if writing and releasing catchy pop/rock songs was a criminal offence, this girl would be in jail for life! The record has been out in the UK for a few weeks now, and has just been released in the USA. Super stuff from this Welsh (or Ancient Greek) girl. 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
AMY MACDONALD..'A CURIOUS THING'
(Melodramatic Records/Mercury Records) Reviewed 31st May 2010
Scottish pop/rock artist Amy MacDonald is clearly a talented and creative lass, and this, her second album clearly confirms this. We have here a mix of acoustic and full band efforts, that reflects her musical talent. The vocals are strong, lending themselves well to the soft rock fodder that this lass does so well, and is proven on this release. Most tracks here are catchy and very listenable, dealing with the pressures of fame (An Ordinary Life), the perils of hype (Next Big Thing) and the culture of image-over-talent (This Pretty Face). My favourite track though is 'Troubled Soul', with it's Celtic vibe. Oh, we must not forget the hidden track at the end, a live accoustic cover of the Springsteen classic 'Dancing In The Dark'. Okay, this may not be your normal Ravenheart Music fare, but she is from these shores (Bonny Scotland) and the music is cool. But a word of advice to the lovely Amy. Please do not go the way of Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty. Other British artists with the world as their oyster, until they blew it on drink and drugs (why oh why?). A good little release..8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
REVAMP..S/T
(Nuclear Blast) Reviewed 23rd May 2010
Singer Floor Jansen needs no introduction to fans of the genre. After the break up of AFTER FOREVER, she knew in her heart that she wanted to continue making metal!!! And in this, her new band ReVamp, she shows the world she can do even more! From opera to raw screams, from rock to a light and almost whispered sound. The music is heavier than some might expect. Bombastic but with heavy riffing. Complex and pounding drums mixed with melancholic strings. Crazy synth-sounds mixed with beautiful choirs. And 3 special guests make this album extra special! Russell Allen (Symphony X) sings a beautiful duet with Floor on the superb ballad 'Sweet Curse'. Björn ‘Speed’ Strid (Soilwork) brings in power on a different level on the song ‘Disdain’. His raw screams make this song certainly the heaviest on the album, while on opener and powerhouse track 'Here’s My Hell', you’ll hear Dutch master grunter George Oosthoek (ex Orphanage). This is a totally awesome album from one of my favourite singers, and the vocals are unmistakably Floor. Highs on this album include those tracks mentioned above, the totally spellbinding 'Head Up High', featuring wicked chorus and orchestration, the bombastic 'Million' with synths and a choir that adds another dimension to this great song, 'Disgraced' with it's catchy chorus and 'Under My Skin' (showcasing Floor's great vocals). I could go on actually and list basically every song on this album as they all deserve a mention, but this album will appeal to many fans of our beloved genre, and most certainly if you miss Floor and After Forever, then you will want this release. In summary, the 14 tracks (inc the digipack bonus track) presents a new dimension to the female fronted metal scene. A must buy and I already have mine! 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
MYSTERY BLUE...'HELL and FURY'
(Bernett Records) Reviewed 22nd May 2010
If I told you the band is The Wildcat Nathalie on vocals, The Metal Heart Frenzy on guitar, The Grave Digger Rikki on bass, and The Killing Machine Vince on drums then you might get the impression that this isn’t going to be an album by a bunch of alt rock shoe gazers. Goodness knows what the priest thought when he christened them, ‘I name thee Grave Digger’, and it must have been fun at school, ‘yes Mr. Vince, as headmaster I must tell you that your son Killing Machine must try harder’. Mystery Blue have been one of France’s top metal bands since the early 90’s, sharing the same stage as such luminaries as Girlschool, Motorhead, Saxon, Wolf, et al, and if you want METAL!!!! then this band have got it in spades, indeed, the ace of spades, sorry, a sudden attack of the Motorheads. Ten no holds barred, no frills, band your head till you drop, classic metal anthems, with an injection of power metal. Nathalie sounds like Bruce Dickinson’s supersonic sister as she tears through these tracks like a Boeing 757. Highlights include ‘Hell and Fury’, ‘Metal Attack’, and the two more melodic numbers, ‘Piece of Eternity’, with it’s brief oasis of calm at the start, and the final epic, ‘When Time is Pain’. This is one for you classic heavy metal Maiden, Priest and Manowar fans, mosh your way to their Myspace, www.myspace.com/mysterybluefr, it’s available from a range of stores too. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, you have been warned, 8/10 (Reviewed by Phil).
DREAMTONE AND IRIS MAVRAKI'S NEVERLAND..'OPHIDIA'
AFM Records (Reviewed 17th May 2010)
The first album by this coalition (they are all the rage at the moment) of Turkish power metallers Dreamtone and Greek folk singer Iris Mavraki was a flawed masterpiece, marred by a slightly dodgy orchestra, some strange song arrangements and an air of confusion, the band not fully certain where they should be heading – power metal? folk metal? prog metal? symphonic metal? For this second opus they have dumped the orchestra, and upped from contribution from now full time keys player Guney Ozsan. The second difference is that they are now a fully fledged touring band, and as a result their music has a far sharper focus, melodic power metal (without the double kick drumming) with symphonic, folk and prog elements. The third difference is far more difficult to explain, although Iris played second fiddle in the vocal department to Dreamtone singer Oganalp Canatan on the first, she has now almost totally vanished, which is rather disappointing and puzzling, what is the difference between Dreamtone and Neverland? To call them a female fronted band is now somewhat of a misnomer, a male fronted melodic power metal band with occasional female vocals would be a more accurate description. They have also lost some of those delightful, eccentric, folky quirks as a result. On the plus side you get an album packed with excellent Sonata Arctica esque songs such as ‘This Voice Inside’ (you can see the video on the blog) and ‘Speak to Me’, with the lovely folk duet ‘Will of God’ sandwiched in the middle. So a split decision, if you are expecting female fronted symphonic metal, you will be sadly disappointed, but if you just want an album with top quality tunes, then you will be more than pleased. A rather confused 8/10 (Reviewed by Phil).
ONYX EYES..'DELIGHTS AND TEARS'
(Fire Zone Records/Black Rain Media Group) Reviewed 10th May 2010
Formed in 2005 out of the ashes of various other bands, this group from Germany perform a mix of Moody Blues, Mostly Autumn, Within Temptation, and Xandria, a blend of classic melodic rock and symphonic metal, with a touch of prog. There is one problem, the sleeve art is all rather nice, but someone forgot to put the credits in! No line-up, producer, writers, not even a band photo. There is a gentleman who sings on some songs who sounds rather similar to Justin Hayward, but without credits, who know, it might be him, unlikely, but possible? I’ll call him ‘Justin’ from now on, just in case. The lead mike is taken by Ines, who has a wonderful Lisa Middelhauve (Xandria) type voice, with Sören and Alex on guitars, Denis on keys, Mart on bass and Josch on drums. The quality of the songs on offer here is quite staggering; they really know how to write a catchy tune with tons of melody, lots of lovely instrumental bits, and hooks big enough to land a whale. It opens with the grand orchestral ‘Persephone’s Light’, then comes a brace of superb rockers, ‘Under the Same Sun’ and ‘The One’, followed the awesome twosome of the ridiculously catchy ‘Ask’ featuring ‘Justin’, and their staggering signature tune, ‘Onyx Eyes’. We move onto ‘Justin’s’ showcase on the melodic progger ‘Hopes’, the Egyptian flavoured ‘ Purple Rivers’ and the Ines and ‘Justin’ power ballad ‘Siren’. Finally we get the dramatic ‘Your Fear’, an interlude, and the final symphonic metal flourish with ‘Lost in the Past’. There is also a dreamy, electronica version of ‘Ask’ as a bonus track, which would make a great single. This is a top quality, professionally recorded album that will appeal to wide range of melodic rock / symphonic metal fans, and is widely distributed, you should be able to find it on Amazon and various other outlets, their Myspace is www.myspace.com/onyxeyes . You will certainly find far more delights than tears, 9/10. (Reviewed by Phil)
MAGICA..'DARK DIARY'
(AFM Records) Reviewed 8th May 2010
This is Magica's 5th album, and this Romanian band have been a fave of mine for some while now, with their inoffensive Melodic Metal style. Fronted by the pretty Ana Mladinovici, we have another platter full of melodic metal gems. Kicking off with the Power Metal style of 'Anywhere But Home', Ana's angelic vocals are still a joy to behold, while Six Fingers is still the keys maestro within the band. The melodic and catchy numbers 'Tonight', 'Never Like You', 'Wait For Me' (great chorus) and 'Need' follow, and with some great keyboard exploits too from Six Fingers, coupled with cool guitar and a pounding rhythm section. 'Release My Demons' gets the second half of the album underway, and has just a slightly heavier feel, with some spooky male vocals (those of a demon) mid track. 'On The Side Of Evil' with another great chorus just keeps up the momentum, a real foot tapper and I am now wondering, why this band are not bigger than they currently are. The final four tracks on this release do not let up, and the quality never dips from the first minute to the last, with final track 'Dear Diary' being a quiet solemn affair featuring just piano. To summarise - to my ears, Nightwish influences shine through on this album, that offers great musicianship all round aswell. The record sees the light of day on 28th May. A good un and it should be fairly easy to obtain. 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
MR BELLA..'CROSS MY HEART'
(Independent Release) Reviewed 8th May 2010
Alternative rock/metal is what we have in store for you on this little opus, coupled with the awesome vocals of Erin Marie. This Tampa based band offer the listener plenty of catchy numbers with attitude, including 'Mirror Mirror', the title track 'Cross My Heart', and 'Webs'. Quoting the band from their website..MR. BELLA is a blend of infectious beats and killer licks, entrapped with powerful and equally melodic vocals to create their own genre obliterating sound. I can agree with that. Visit them at www.myspace.com/mrbella and draw your own conclusions. Pretty good! 8/10 (Reviewed by Aimee)
RHOMBUS.. 'OPEN THE SKY'
(AF Music / Resurrection Records) Reviewed 6th May 2010
Rhombus mine the same rich vein of British gothic rock as The Mission and The Fields of Nephilm, and with the former now defunct, and the later dormant, the field is wide open. Rhombus make their pitch with their third album, where they have really upped the ante, bigger band, bigger songs and bigger sound, with Stephen Carey from The Eden House providing the mixing. What makes them stand out is the dual vocal attack, featuring Edward Grassby’s rich tenor tones perfectly suiting the music, counterpointed with soaring vocals of the bewitching Mya, giving a touch of the Mostly Autumns (the artwork also reminds me of that bands Heart Full of Sky). The album is packed out with cracking tunes, full of glorious melodies, great hooks, chiming flanged guitars and rumbling base, all on a bed of lush synths and pianos. ‘Lightening Strikes Twice’, ‘Almost Everything’ and ‘Open the Sky’ in particular demand attention, together with the Roman Jugg era Damned like ‘Anywhere’, which will be released as a single; you can see the video on our blog, http://thefemalevoices.blogspot.com/. Sitting at the heart of the album, physically and metaphorically, is the immense Celtic ballad ‘Denial’, a real show stopper that showcases Mya’s superb voice, and it ends with the suitably melancholic epic ‘Into The Rain’. If you’re a fan of 80’s gothic rock then this a must, filling the gaping hole in your collection. However, its modern sheen and glorious cavernous sound will appeal to a new generation of fans, those who like guile over grind. Easily available from www.myspace.com/rhombus and loads of other emporiums, this is the definitive sound of gothic rock. 9/10 (reviewed by Phil)
MYRKA...'13'
(Cave Music) Reviewed 5th May 2010
It is a miracle that this CD now sits before me. Firstly, I nearly dismissed this album because these Icelanders describe their music as ‘death pop’, which conjures up images of Cannibal Corpse jamming with Lady Gaga, a truly terrifying prospect. Further investigation revealed that the drummer is a death metal fan, while the rest of the band are pop fans, hence ‘death pop’, simple really, thankfully the rest of us would call it gothic rock, so we are on safe ground. Then the band had technical problems with the first pressings, must have been a difficult time, you get all excited about receiving the first copies of the album you have worked so hard on, only to find they are faulty. Finally, the CD had to dodge the ash cloud that has brought the whole of Europe to a grinding halt. But here it is, safe and sound. The name Myrká, by the way, comes from an Icelandic ghost story; it is the place where a ghostly deacon kept on trying to abduct a young lady called Gudrún, until an exorcist sorted him out. The sound is The Doors mixed with a touch of Hawkwind, early post Barrett Pink Floyd, The Damned, The Stranglers and The Mission, packed full of heavenly Hammond organ courtesy of Stefán, topped with Guðný’s awesome voice which strongly reminds me of Sarah Jezebel Deva (in non operatic mode). The album is stuffed with humdingers, ‘Unborn’, ‘Sad World’, ‘Now It’s Gone’, and ‘Neurosis’ to name but a few, the whole CD sounding like a lost classic from 1969, but with bang up to date 21st century production values. My fave is ‘My Prison’ which sounds like a cross between ‘Silver Machine’ and ‘Telstar’ by the Tornados, or for those of you of a younger vintage, like the version done by the son of their guitarist George Bellamy - Matthew Bellamy and Muse’s ‘Knights of Cydonia’. I am in Hammond heaven with this, it is wonderful to hear a specialist organists again, a truly wondrous sound, not forgetting the excellent contributions from guitarist Guðjón and drummer Helgi. This is a seriously groovy, mega melodic opus for all you bat cavers out there, easily available from CD Baby, and their Myspace is www.myspace.com/myrkamusic. If this is ‘death pop’, then I am most certainly a convert, 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil).
KIM ROSE..'YEAR OF SEVERED TIES'
(Independent Release) Reviewed 20th April 2010
In the last ten years, Kim Rose has fronted several rock bands, graced the stages of the legendary CBGB’s and The Elbow Room, recorded at Quad Studios and the (now-defunct) Hit Factory, gone to countless auditions and rehearsals, and endured a shelved album. It was then that she decided to take matters into her own hands, and thus, the notion of releasing a full-length album was conceived at the beginning of 2007. And this is it - hard rocking and melodic. So if you will, imagine Flyleaf, Garbage, Fuel and Incubus, mix it up with just a little Evanescence and add doses of classic rock with a little Seattle era Grunge. All that equals Kim Rose! 12 totally awesome tracks on offer here including the catchy 'Reason Behind You', the equally catchy and heavy 'Made' with it's cool synths, and the memorable 'Fall Out' with great guitar solo to boot! Other faves include the impressive 'Final Resolution' and the accoustic 'Angels'. Overall, this is a great listening experience - check out www.myspace.com/kimrose and then consider spending your hard earned cash. I like it! 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)
REGARDLESS OF ME..'THE WORLD WITHIN'
(Locomotive Records) Reviewed 13th March 2010
From the pen of Italian maestro Emiliano Sicilja comes this eclectic opus featuring the flawless pop/rock voice of the sultry Pamela Manzo. It kicks off with the big, gothic metal, Lacuna Coil’ish rocker ‘City of Glass’, followed by two outstanding numbers that alternate between symphonic trip hop verses and immense soaring, rousing choruses, ‘No One Cares’ and ‘Regardless’. The album then breaks into Dream Theatre prog metal with ‘Wounded’ with another massive chorus, followed by the slow moody industrial bossa nova instrumental ‘The Counterfeiter’ built on jazzy piano chords and massive synths, and the haunting trip hop of ‘For Eternity’ with it’s mighty emotionally charged refrain. We change again with the gorgeous symphonic piano ballad ‘The Morning Light’ with Pamela and the band sounding like they come from Nashville, not Milan. ‘So Cold’ is another huge gothic rocker and the penultimate tune is the spooky, brooding, trip hop ‘Thy Nature’.
The last song is the epic ‘The World Within’ which just about sums this album up. Prog’ish, yes’ish; gothic, almost certainly; rock, probably; metal, maybe; trip hop, possibly; symphonic, perhaps; catchy and melodic, affirmatively; a darn good listen, absolutely and positively. Available from most purveyors of fine music, this will appeal to a broad church of music aficionados, Muse, Ayreon, Lacuna Coil, Porcupine Tree, Portishead, Massive Attack and other bands who inhabit the twilight world between rock, metal, prog, electronic and gothic. You’ll love it, regardless of me. 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)
There are stacks more reviews (from 2006 til Feb 2010) at http://www.ravenheartarchives.com. Check em out!