FREAKINGS - Gladiators

Simple, yet ingenious traditional thrash metal from Switzerland. The influences from Slayer, Violator and and other old school giants is more than obvious, but this is something that does not bother for obvious reasons!  
Their strong riffology substitutes the lack of powerful guitar solos.
This is their second album and without having heard their first one, we believe that they have the makings for some great things in the near future.

Rating: 4/5

BRAINSTORM - Firesoul

Brainstorm strike back with their latest opus, their tenth so far, and an album that will please all their fans. First of all let me admit that the vocals of Andy B. Franck is one of my favorite singers of the genre. Sure he is dominating the whole album, but he is doing it in a way that no one will complain, since this guy has one of the most distinctive and gifted vocals in the scene. Following their previous journey the band is playing music that sounds closer to their early 00 era, but in a more modern approach. Once again the vocals are superb, fitting perfectly with the mood of the music, and have a way to transform according to the tempo. The way he performs sometimes leaves you speechless, and is one of the big plus of the work of Brainstorm in general. The guitar duo is also excellent, giving some great riffs and grooves, but also plenty of melodies that stick in your mind. The music is the typical Brainstorm guitar-driven Power Metal, with crunchy riffs, groovy melodies and plenty of parts to sing along. The drums are also very good, groovy enough, creating the tempo and giving the extra boost for the songs to stick into your mind. His work behind the skins is remarkable and flawless, and often enough the listener is focused on his work. Well performed and catchy, with enough nice ideas, songs that move high above the average, although I would appreciate a bit more variety in the songs, but that doesn't spoil the fun in any way. From start to finish, there's no less good moment, or a song that doesn't tempt you to sing along the refrain or move along with the rhythm. It seems that the band is back with a recipe for success, and with a an album with good groovy Heavy Metal, the kind that moves the fans. If you are a fan of the Teutonic Power Metal school or simply fancy groovy and catchy stuff, this is a must have.

MAYAN - Antagonize

Having creating some havoc with their debut release back in 2011, the Dutch Death Metal crew is back with an album that will try to raise the standards of their music to a new level. The band continues the same high quality mixture of Death Metal and Symphonic Power Metal orchestrations, with some improvements and additions. First of all, the music is moving on the same top class level, complex and intriguing, constantly changing forms and shapes, but always interesting and groovy. Songs are well written, and have no less good moments, and although sharing some common elements, each one has it's own form and entity. There are moments where things are getting more aggressive, others that the band is moving on more Power Metal or Orchestral forms, with the growling vocals dominating the whole album, and adding a touch of roughness when the music needs to, or enhancing the brutality even more. What makes this album different from their previous is the addition of a soprano singer, whose voice is so eerie and fitting with the music, that sometimes makes you wanna hear the same part over and over. Musicwise the band is moving very close to perfection as well. With a diversity in arrangements as in this album, there's plenty of opportunities for each musician to give his trademark in the music. There are tons of brilliant guitar riffs, moments where the blastbeats show the performing skills of the drummer, or moments like the closing 8 minute opus where the keyboards add a magnificent atmosphere. Add to all these the perfect contradiction between clear and grunt singing and you get the picture. Another interesting point is the concept of the album, which deals with the current situation where values of our society are under attack in the name of Freedom and Democracy. Not an easy album although it has it's catchy moments. It needs cautious listening, mostly because there's more than meets the eye. And this is the beauty of it.  

SHRAPNEL - The Virus Conspires

Shrapnel is a band that comes from UK, and made it's presence back in 2009 with the release of an EP and this is their first full length album so far. Right from the first note, the band shows it's intentions, which are no other that playing Thrash the way it was introduced back in the 80's. Blending all the good elements from both US and European scene, the band presents an album that is an absolute must have for every fan of the genre. The album starts with a blast and leaves no room for breathing till the end, providing an endless assault of intelligent riff works combined with some super technical drum performance. The vocals are very good, aggressive, mostly high pitched with few Death-like moments, but always fitting with the style. The influences of the band are more than obvious, but the musicians have the skills and the talent to support their ambitious vision. Excellent work in guitars, from the expected fast Thrashy riffs, to the slower banging parts, with everything being carefully worked to the last detail. And then comes the rhythm section, with the drummer giving the tempo, most of the times fast and sometimes in a frenzy groove, but the rest of the band always performing with the same quality and skill. The arrangements are very good, with some less good moments, but what really impresses here is that they are never sound like copycats. While the music often sounds familiar there is no single moment where a "I know this" comes in mind, and this works in favor of them. As the album finishes you want to spin it over and over, with the good tracks being instant favorites, while the few less good moments need some more time to grow. For a debut album, it definitely is a hit. But I am sure that more will come from the in the future. For the moment, grab some cold beers, and prepare for some serious headbanging time.

SPELLBLAST - Nineteen

This album was a stream of fresh air coming out from our speakers! Power Symphonic Metal from Italy ...mature, technical and catchy compositions and influences unprecedented for the genre: Spaghetti Western touches reminiscent of Ennio Morricone and Luis Bacalov color the whole thing with originality.  
Without musical chatter and mostly without fillers, full of pleasant surprises and twists "Nineteen" is an album that will keep your interest from the first to the last second.

Rating: 5/5

RHAPSODY OF FIRE - Dark Wings Of Steel

Like many fans worldwide I was quite anxious about how the band would sound without one of their main gears in their machine. It was 2012 when Luca Turilli left the band seeking new challenges for his work, leaving the rest of the band seeking new inspiration and continuing the legend. What seemed like a turning point though ends up into a very interesting approach and right from the first minute, the band is making it's statement loud and clear for everyone. They continue to play the same mixture of Power Metal, with tons of Symphonic elements, the kind of music that made them so famous all those years. All the things the fans loved with their previous works, are here, from the catchy choruses to the Epic elements, and the pompous arrangements, everything is here to assure that this change won't stop the train from running. On the other hand, this time things are a bit more traditional, and a bit more dark to fit the title. While all trademarks are here, this time the atmosphere is a bit more Metal and more harsh than before, giving a very interesting aspect to the music of the band, and maybe a glimpse of what's to come. Musicwise the album is moving on the same quality level, with huge arrangements, parts to sing along, catchy music and performances. To talk about the keyboard melodies of Staropoli or the work of Fabio Lione on vocals would be meaningless, since both musicians need no introduction or proof of their skills, but we have to mention the guitar work that has been done by Roby De Michelli. He is mostly responsible for the shift to a more Metal sound, with his catchy riffs and solos, and being the only guitarist on this album he has done a remarkable job. The arrangements are well worked, with enough diversity to please both new and old fans. Songs that contain all of the trademarks of the band, but also don't afraid to strip down to more natural and Metal forms, this album has more than enough breathtaking moments. For those who still have concerns, give this album some time, and you won't regret.  

BENEDICTUM - Obey

Benedictum is a band that comes from the other side of the Atlantic, presenting their version of Classic Heavy Metal with this new album, the forth in their career. The band is playing a style that combines all the classic elements of Heavy Metal, but sounds fresh and interesting at the same time, something that makes this album one of those that would stick into your player for a while. With the addition of a new drummer and a new bass player, the band presents their fourth work, and I am sure that they have every reason to be proud of it. Consisting on a female vocalist, Veronica Freeman, who not only has the looks, but has also the skill to sing in various ways, with the same high quality, she manages to color each song with her distinctive vocals. From every aspect, the vocals are a big plus, and one of the strong points of the album. Then there's the guitars of Pete Wells, who is also a gifted musician, something obvious from the first riff to the last complex solo melody. A solid rhythm section, with enough parts that will make your head bang with the groove, and plenty of melodies here and there to make things even more catchy and interesting. Another notable thing here, is that the band is not limited to just a style, but tries to incorporate various influences, not shifting from the traditional path though. This leads to songs that are a bit better than others, but this doesn't spoil the result or diminish the rank. One of the top moments of the album is the Power Ballad "Cry" where there's a duet with Tony Martin, "Evil That We Do" for it's groovy rhythm and the way the refrain sticks into your mind, "Fractured" for the frenzy rhythm, just to mention a few. All in all, the album is fun, although as I said before, some moments might tempt you pressing the skip button on the player. It's groovy and preserves enough of the 80's feeling in music, but it can't be described as retro in any moment. If you liked their previous works, or simply enjoy good Heavy Metal music, check them out.

FLOATING WORLDS - Below The Sea Of Light

Having the pleasure to witness the band from their first release some years ago, and being informed about future shows and tiny bits of their next steps, the new album came as no surprise, or so I thought when I started watching their video clip Amyrah, about a month ago. The fact is that the song is just one side of the coin, maybe the most representing side, but still one side. The band is playing a mixture of Power Metal and Progressive, often letting each side dominate the other and this gives a multilayered album, that has always something to give and things to discover. Melody is more important here than style, and the band always searches for the perfect melodies to include into each song, something that I think elevates their music to another level. Not limited to a certain style, they can create songs that are closer to Classic Power Metal, others with more complex Progressive structures, but all with the same quality. It seems that it took them some time to complete the album, but this works in favor of the arrangements and the overall quality. While each band member does a remarkable job, from the guitars of Andreas to the solid rhythm section, I feel the need to mention the work that has been done in the keyboards, and of course the singer. Keyboards are managing to add depth to the music, and some of the melodies and intros are simply breathtaking. The same goes for Jon Soti, who does wonders behind the mic, often with the help of the female vocals of Christina. Guitar riffs are plenty and straight to the point, while the solos are melodic enough, although I would prefer some more complexity in them. It's really hard not to like this album, or find things that are not worked to the last detail. With arrangements that sometimes catch you by surprise, without limit themselves in forms, and with performance that sometimes brings you goosebumps, this is a release you should check out.

KATAKLYSM : Waiting For The End To Come

Kataklysm is one of the oldest Death Metal bands of Canada, a country that somehow is a trademark when it comes to quality of Metal music. The new release of the Canadians moves a bit closer to the Gothenburg scene, although glimpses of the past also exist, something that gives a multi layered nature to the album. The first thing, as I mentioned before, is that the band has used a lot more melodic elements into their Death Metal, but without making the result less aggressive. The album starts with the usual Kataklysm sound, a sonic blast of full speeds, growls and sheer brutality. But as the album progresses the bands shows no will to rest on their glory, but starts to explore new ground, implementing more melodies without sacrificing the energy and the aggression. The other thing we noticed is the excellent work that has been done by all musicians, from the great vocals of Mauricio Iacono to the huge riffs and melodic guitar parts of Jean Francois Dagenais, although a special mention needs to be done for the drummer, Oli Beaudoin. He is doing a great job, either in the most melodic parts or the super human blastbeats, he performs with the same quality and ease. The songs are very good, although there is a slight repetition in forms and melodies here and there, but they are all in such a top quality level that this might not even be a flaw at all. Balanced between oldschool Death and Melodic Death, and combining the best of both worlds, this album is an absolute hit, showing a band that doesn't afraid to experiment and explore new territories. The turn in their sound might seem strange to some, but it definitely worked for me, left me eager for their next releases. After all, the song they chose to close this album, also works as a promise.

77 - Maximum Rock'n'Roll

This band comes from Spain and the title is more or less self explanatory. The band is playing pure 70's Rock'n'Roll, although their music is not limited to it, but tries to explore new places and make things even more interesting. First of all let's say that their music is damn groovy, and makes you wanna move along with the rhythm, which is great. It also raises similar needs like the need of some cold beers, which is also good. At first their music sounds heavily inspired from what ACDC are doing, and most probably they might be amongst their bigger influences. So their music is groovy and catchy, and has that certain raw feeling that an album of the genre should have. And this feeling comes naturally since the band records live in the studio, with no effects and tricks, something that they have done with their previous album and proved to worked well. The songs are well worked, with enough melodies and highly infectious grooves that stick into your mind, choruses ideal to sing along, and plenty of parts to bang. But this time, the band didn't just settle with this, and tried to explore new territories as I mentioned before. Tracks like Jazz It Up or Don't You Scream as fine examples since the style is slightly different from the rest of the songs, while on You Bored Me, vocal duties are done by LG, the guitar player. The recordings and the production were done in Stockholm, and the way they recorded it live, gives a really warm and natural feeling to the music, while shows the musical capabilities of the band. It might not be the most innovative album that sees the light of day, but the band didn't try to achieve that. Instead they tried to play the music that they had in their hearts, pure boogie Hard Rock, the kind that makes you smile and move along and drink beers. What good Rock'n'Roll is supposed to do anyway.

ASCENSION - Far Beyond The Stars

This is the debut album of the Aberdeen based band which was formed back in 2004 but suffered some changes until they found a solid line up in 2009. The style of the band is not quite easy to explain since they combine various influences and a cautious listener will find things familiar throughout the album. Basically them are playing Power Metal, but not they typical one, although this album doesn't lack on cliche that make it even more catchy. The first and most important influence is their kinda Dragoforce-like of performing, with the speed and the technicality, the virtuosity in guitars and the galloping drums. Songs like the opener, show exactly what will follow and the rest of the album continues with huge doses of speed, melody, adrenaline and great musicianship. The singer is another strong point of the band, capable of delivering high pitched notes and lowering to more Rock or Progressive forms with the same quality and ease. His vocals are always exceptional, well worked and driving the songs to higher levels of quality. Songwriting is also very good. There is not a single moment where you get the feeling that things could have been done in a better way, and the songs variety is also carefully crafted to keep the listener eager for more. It might as an easy album at first, and in some extent it really is, if you choose to stay on the surface, and amuse yourself with the catchy choruses, the melodies, and the groovy parts that make you wanna sing along and follow the rhythm. But under the hood little diamonds are there, like Orb Of The Moons or The Avatar that shows the band exploring new territories with the same quality. Influences from Helloween, melodies from Iron Maiden, and various other bits and pieces can also be found here and there, but, they all add to the whole result and make it even more shiny. For a debut album, it's certainly a hit. And the future only knows what will bring for them, but judging from this, it will only be good.

EDEN'S CURSE - Symphony Of Sin

The story of the band starts back in 2006, and this is their fourth full length album so far. What started as a side project, and draw the attention of many respectable guest musicians, has turned into a regular band, and with the addition of a new singer, they are here today to present their latest effort. Those that have heard their previous album, will find themselves easier to follow the music, although the new one doesn't lack of surprises. The band is playing Power Metal, full of melodies and catchy choruses, parts to sing along and moments where the rhythm makes your move along. But, along with that the band has moments where 80's elements reach the surface, making the whole album a constant surprise. There are moments where a melody reminds of a classic 80's song, others where the vocals are closer to Hard Rock or AOR, same with a guitar solo, or a bridge, but all these without sounding like copying or uninspired. The band sounds fresh and on top shape, and the addition of the Serbian singer Nikola Mijic, whose performance is exceptional. He can transform his way of singing according the style, from AOR to Power Metal, and he can do it with the same quality and ease that leaves the listener eager for what's to come. Same goes with the guitar melodies and riffs, they are well worked, and always draw the attention of the listener. Keyboards are plenty and play a vital role, since they are mostly responsible for the creation of this 80's atmosphere. As the album finishes you get the feeling that the band is playing much longer that they actually do, and this is a really good thing, considering they will also perform this material live. The arrangements are well worked, with no less good moments, from bombastic Power Metal anthems, like Unbreakable, or Evil and Divine, to mid paced tunes like Rock Bottom, everything is carefully crafted, with excellent musicianship and performance. All in all, is an album that will establish the name of the band to a wider audience, a real must-have for each Melodic Metal fan, and big step forward in their career.



   

TESTAMENT - DARK ROOTS OF THRASH

I have to say that Testament has always been one big favorite band for me, and the fact they were always true to the style, gives them a higher rank in my appreciation list. Started from their early Bay Area days, when their Thrash was both melodic and edgy to their later Thrash-Death efforts, every release has been a small milestone to the career of a band that deserve a bigger success that it really has. Nevertheless, each album has a special place in my collection, and are often revisited for a quick travel back in my youth. This latest release from Testament is a live DVD recorded back in 15th of February on a show at Huntington NY, in front of a crowd that screams and shouts in any given moment. The selection of the songs is also very interesting, with the band giving more balance on their Dark Roots Of The Earth release, but also not forgetting their early moments, such as Practice What You Preach or The Legacy and New Order. The band sounds as fresh as ever, from the characteristic way of Chuck Billy's singing, to the melodic guitars of Alex Skolnik and Erik Peterson and Gene Hoglan on the drums, is often giving shivers. The band is also performing their classic songs in a very modern way without destroying the feeling, something that most old time fans will enjoy I guess. The production is also very good, leaving space for the atmosphere of the show and the cheers of the crowd, but without adding extra noise to the music. With an excellent choice of songs, with the band being in top shape and performing as good as ever, with fans creaming, shouting and singing from start to finish, this is a homage to the career of the band, but also a prove of the abilities of a band that perfected their style over the years, with great lots of talent, guts, and hard work. Listen loud and bang as if you were there.

LUCID DREAMING - The Chronicles Pt I

A Metal Opera some years ago was considered something intuitive and radical, but as all things, nowadays it's considered so common that doesn't even raise an eyebrow. Common it may be, but to create an album, a band needs lots of talent, and lots of guest musicians to perform all the characters of the play. So, here we have the brainchild of Till Oberboßel, the guitarist of the German Power Metal band Elvenpath, and his vision titled as Chronicles Pt I. As you might imagine, this is a concept album, and this album is based on the first two books of Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. The music is mostly Melodic Power Metal of the Teutonic school, with a fast and tight rhythm section, sharp guitar riffs, and lots of melodies, the kind of music that continues to please fans for decades. Along with that, comes some Epic elements here and there, that fit with the story of the album, and some Iron Maiden and Gravedigger influences to spice things up, and make the result more interesting. The guitars of Till are rather dominating the whole effort, but they are adding a lot to the melodic side as well, and they are not spoiling the result. Another interesting point is vocals, an area that needs many "players" when we talk about an Opera. Here we have enough guest musicians, each one contributing with it's own distinctive style of singing, and the moments where male and female vocals blend are the most interesting ones, giving a more Theatrical style to the music. The songs are well written, all moving on the same Melodic Power Metal galloping style, with enough soft and melodic moments, with some really nice ideas and arrangements. From start to finish, this is an album that you can tell the musicians have put their soul in it, and the result is definitely worth it. Can't wait for the next chapter.

NOUMENA - Death Walks With Me

The story of the band starts sometime back in 1998 in Finland, and their last effort was released about seven years ago. Now the band comes back from their hiatus, with their fourth album, and with a sound that will please all fans of Melodic Death Metal. The band is playing Melodic Death, Finland has a very strong scene in that genre, but doesn't limit it's music only to that, and this makes the album even more catchy and pleasant. Sure there's a lot of aggressive moments but there's also a Doom atmosphere spread through the whole album. The addition of female vocals creates a perfect contradiction with the male growls, and adds depth to the music. As the album progresses, there's plenty of things that surprise the listener, since the band has done a perfect job in the arranging area, creating songs that are diverse, with various influences and keep the listener eager for more. Melodies are also a vital part of this album, but also a very important role are playing instruments rather unique for a Death Metal album, such as French Horn, or mandolin. All these add diversity to the whole result, and make their music even more catchy and interesting. The grooves are also well worked, and stick into your mind right from the start, making you tap your feet or move your head. The songs are very good, with enough variety and surprises for the cautious listener to discover, and the production of the album is as heavy as it should be, to preserve even the smallest detail. Music-wise the band is moving on high levels, from the excellent growling vocals, to the eerie female ones, to the magnificent guitar work and the rhythm section, all members are doing a great job. With variety enough to stand the test of time, with arrangements way above the average, with no less good moments, this is an album full of quality music for everyone to explore. It seems that it took them some more time to prepare it, but it definitely worth the wait.

HOUSTON - II

This is the second release of the Swedish AOR band, following their 2010 debut album. To start, let's mention that the influences of this band are more than obvious through the whole album, but they have created such a magnificent bunch of songs that the similarities with their heroes is more than welcome. The band is playing AOR-Melodic Rock, and there are moments where their performance is much more mature and experienced than one could predict from their years of existence. Melodies are the most vital part of this release, from the excellent keyboards that sound so much like the 80's, to the great guitar riffs, and the fitting vocals, the band has done a perfect job in every aspect to create an album that might sound like a tribute to the scene, but also has a personality of it's own. The sound is not retro or oldfashioned, but is AOR of 2013, and the band has tried and incorporated several personal elements into the music, making it even more interesting. The choice of songs is excellent, with no weak points and things that sound not interesting, and with each song having it's own hidden treasures and unique moments. Music-wise the band is also doing a perfect work, from the melodies of the keyboards and guitars, to the rhythm section and the vocals, everything is so well worked that sometimes amazes. Very soon your will find yourself captured from the rhythm, singing along, and following the melodies long after the song is over. For sure the band is a huge fan of Survivor, Toto, Journey, just to name a few, but their music is much more that just a mere copy, it has the spirit and the soul, and they often dare to explore new paths in their songs. It's radio friendly, catchy, melodic and highly enjoyable. Congrats guys.

SANDSTONE - Delta Viridian

This is the fourth release of the Irish band, a band that has one foot into Power Metal, but enriches their music with a huge dose of Progressive Rock, something that makes the album mind intriguing and fun to listen to. The brief and melodic intro leads to a song that starts as a Power Metal tune, but makes things more complicated as it goes. The same thing is though the whole album, where simple an straightforward melodies lead to more complex forms and the whole thing creates an expectation for the listener, eager to listen more and more, and discover things. Multi layered and well written, the album contains music that appeals to both Power and Prog fans, but any Metal fan will find things to like here. The first thing to impress is the vocals, and the singer is doing a perfect job, with his remarkable way of singing. Another strong point of the album is the melodies which are more than plenty but always well worked and put exactly into place to create maximum effect. The rhythm section is also very good, technical enough and manages to deliver no matter the style or the tempo changes. The songwriting is brilliant, with enough variety in the music, and plenty of elements to keep the listener focused until the end. The band has tried, and partially succeeded to create music that contains enough influences, without losing it's personality, and this makes this album even more catchy and honest. From the bangers like Fortress, to mind intriguing Vitruvian Man with the guest vocals of Tim Ripper Owens, and Monument, the band contains a fistful of diamonds ready to be discovered. So, sit back, relax, and give this album a cautious listening. The result is more than certain that will please you.

OVERTURES - Entering The Maze

It has been ten years since the band saw the light of day in Gorizia, Italy, and the result has been two full length albums, plus this one, their third so far. To start with, the band is playing Power Metal, but has been influenced from various genres and styles, which are obvious through the album. There are moments where their music is closer to German Power, others where their Italian temperament prevails and their music is more melodic and catchy, and all these spiced up with touches of Progressive, to make things even more interesting. The music is definitely dominated by the vocals of Michele Guaitoli, who manages to change his vocal style according to the song, and does it with an ease that is sometimes amazing. Slow and melodic, harder and more harsh, high pitched, he always delivers with the same quality, and the versatility of his singing is maybe one of the bigger pros of the album. An equal transformation happens in the other areas of music as well, with the band creating songs with variety, that all are based on the same catchy-and-sing-along concept, but with each having each own personality, something that in the end leaves the listener eager for more. The songwriting is also very good, with songs that contain all the ingredients of a good Metal album, melody, grooves, good musicianship, memorable parts and enough headbanging, and surprisingly very few if not none less good moments. The album comes with DVD containing a video clip of their song Savior, a video clip of Fly, Angel, a Running Wild cover, and some tracks played live in the studio, plus some making of video clips. With high class musicianship, a remarkable performance by every musician, and with such a good songwriting, this album has all it takes to give a big push to the career of the band. It might not be the most innovative album, but talent and inspiration are here, so the result is far more that exciting.

ARMED FOR APOCALYPSE - The Road Will End

This band comes from California, and this is their second album so far. This is the first time that I hear something from the band, and the only thing that comes in mind was a big WOW! Many of you might have heard their music but let me describe my experience on this sonic trip to heaviness. First of all, the band is playing some kind of Metal that is full of energy, and has some of the most huge guitar riffs I have ever heard. Their music has some serious balls, their guitars are distorted to the max, the rhythm section creates a wall of groove, the vocals sound way too pissed to ignore, and the whole thing sounds too damn catchy from start to finish. Right after a while, I found myself banging along with the groove, and soon was craving for more, eager to see what was next. Their sludgy distorted style of music really worked for me, and while I am not the biggest fan of this style, the album was a really pleasant surprise. There are no fancy things here, all sounds have been striped to the basic, but the result somehow hits right to the point. The rhythm moves from slow to mid tempo tunes, with occasional outbreaks to a higher speed, which enhances the heaviness. The whole music sounds like something really big and heavy is slowly moving, crushing all things on his way. On top of that Heavy and sometimes suffocating riff wars, comes the vocals, which come in various forms, making the songs even more interesting. Fast and pissed off, slower and brutal, growling, and even clear and melodic, all fit perfectly with the style of music. There's variety here although it needs some serious listening to discover, some really catchy melodic moments that stick into your mind, and a surprise that comes in the closing of the album, in the form of an one minute acoustic ballad. Low tuned and heavy as hell, with fitting vocals, perfect musicianship and enough diversity, this album is so amazing that you can't help but like it from the first spin.

EDENBRIDGE - The Bonding

The journey started back in 2000 when the band from Austria released their debut album, a release that made quite an impact with the quality of the music, and the exceptional performance of the female vocalist. One of the bigger advantages of the band is Sabine Edelsbacher, whose vocals dominate the whole album once again, but do it in a way that seems natural, and certainly leaves space for all musicians as well. Now, 13 years and 7 albums later, the band comes back with their 8th studio release, that moves on the same style, but finds the band in a more mature and creative phase. Their music is Symphonic Metal, with the Klangvereinigung Orchestra of Vienna giving a hand in the symphonic parts and giving depth to the whole album, with the band adding the necessary Metal cover to the music. And on top of that, comes Sabine with her eerie vocals, and giving the feeling that all music was written specially for her. There's a lot of variety here, from harder songs to ballads, with the band doing a great performance, with almost no weak or indifferent moments. The orchestra is mostly working on the background, but adds some extra complexity to the music, often adding melodies and rhythm that could easily be used as score for a movie. The songs are very good, catchy and melodic from start to finish, and there's no way you won't be enchanted by the vocals, the rhythm, the well worked melodies, or the numerous catchy moments. As I said before, everything seems to move around Sabine and her singing, and this happens for a reason. She performs amazing here, as she did on their previous albums, from slower ballads, to more pompous and bombastic moments that sounds too close to Opera, she does a great job. The rest of band, from the guitars to the rhythm section, all are gifted and talented musicians, but they are somehow under the shadow of Sabine's performance. Listening to it over and over, the past few days, I realized that the vocals have a mesmerizing effect, and made me coming back over and over again, and the same goes with the melodies. If you open your mind no matter what kind of music you like, there's no way you won't be seduced by the performance and the work of this band.