FEAR FACTORY - Mechanize

Quite a few years have passed since their latest release, and it seems that this was not a hiatus, but rather a period of changes. Gene Hoglan is behind the drum set, something that almost everyone familiar with his work, will recognize almost instantly. The band continues to play the same inspired mixture of Death and Thrash Metal enriched with a lot of mechanic samples, something that gives a industrial feeling to their music. Dino Cazares is back on guitars, something that gives the album some of their original feeling. On the other hand, the band often enough slows down, to a more melodic style, where the clear vocals fit perfectly with the music. In fact this is when Burton C. Bell showcases his vocal capabilities to the maximum. Fans of the band waited for more than just a couple of years, and this album is somehow a redeem for the band, with hardly a few less good moments that could spoil the fun. Fast and angry, catchy and melodic at times, with excellent singing, machine-gun riffing, and a thunderous rhythm section, I really doubt if this will disappoint anyone. An album you can't afford to miss, specially if you are a fan.

9/10

OTEP - Rise, Rebel, Resist (brand new video!)

"The 'Rise, Rebel, Resist' video is a reflection of the outrage the American people are feeling at the absurd hypocrisy, and overwhelming nonsense and balderdash plaguing Washington D.C. It uses a bit of satire and a bit of wishful thinking to form this powerful amalgam of imagery that nourishes and empowers the living art of the song. Our message is clear: Either these elected officials do their job and protect the rights and lives of ALL Americans or be prepared to face the consequences."
— Otep Shamaya

OCTOBER FILE - Our Souls To You

To be honest I was not familiar with the band at all, so the first thing I did was a little homework, while listening the album. These guys are from United Kingdom, and this is their third full length album so far. To best describe the sound of the band, try to imagine a blend of dark and ultra heavy music, with an overdose of Hardcore, distorted guitars, and angry singing. The music is catchy and groovy enough, and the band has plenty of nice and well explored ideas into their songs. The band's ability to change tempo without sacrificing aggression has created an album with music that remains interesting till the last moment. What's most astonishing is that they know how to create music that sticks into your mind, and become an instant favorite. The production is very good, clear and heavy enough, and gives the final touch to the album. In a very interesting move, the album is released as a double CD, with the second CD being the same album with a different producer. Heavy, dark, angry, in-your -face, yet melodic and catchy, this album is as diverse as needed to become a favorite. One of those you can't afford to miss.

9/10

IN MOURNING - Monolith

Two years after their debut release, Shrouded Divine, the band from Sweden comes to continue their musical journey. Being experienced enough, and existing since 2000, they created an album that manages to combine the complexity of Progressive with the aggression of Swedish Death Metal. As if those weren't enough, there's a melancholic and depressing atmosphere into the whole album, and the various bridges and melodic parts enhance it very much. On the other hand, there's enough brutal singing, some killer guitar work, and an excellent rhythm section to accomplish all the ideas of the band. The majority of the songs are well written, catchy enough, with nice melodies and parts to follow, and bang your head with. But, to fully explore the music, you need more than just a couple of hearings, as there are hidden stuff, ready to be discovered. The production is clear and powerful, and gives a final touch to the album. Complex and interesting, aggressive and catchy, this album is maybe a good example of what a band with imagination and talent can achieve. If you are into Swedish Death Metal, then definitely give this a spin.

9/10

David Coverdale and band are gearing up for their latest endeavour. WHITESNAKE has already started composing new material that promises to deliver one of the finest chapters in WHITESNAKE'S career. “We are off to a very good start, with the new songs taking positive shape. It feels good, fresh & exciting,” explains Coverdale.

The next release already feels like a solid, natural progression to their last opus, the successful, critically acclaimed ‘Good To Be Bad’ album, awarded by the influential Classic Rock magazine as “Best Album of the Year” in 2008. “As always, we want to take it to the next level,” states’ Coverdale. “I feel that with the last album we achieved a strong WHITESNAKE ‘cocktail’ that comfortably embraced & mixed all the previous musical aspects & styles of the band’s history, while taking our identity a little further... all on one album..."

Born in 1977, WHITESNAKE have been among the most influential representatives of the their genre, having produced numerous rock music classics such as ‘Here I Go Again’, ‘Is This Love’, ‘Still Of The Night’, ‘Fool For Your Loving’, ‘Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City’ or ‘Walking In The Shadows Of The Blues’.

Coverdale said the production team for the new album will most likely be the infamous Brutal Brothers, or Los Bros Brutalos, who handled the recording of "Good To Be Bad”. “The new songs are in the very familiar and recognizable WHITESNAKE territory of soulful, bluesy, melodic power rock, with a couple of ballads thrown in for good measure... It can’t be a WHITESNAKE album without ballads, mate!”

WHITESNAKE have conquered the love and respect of the audiences all over the world with their driving shows and music. The new album promises to follow in the steps of a great heritage of solid and timeless songs.

Pretty Maids - studio report

PRETTY MAIDS are working hard to complete the recording sessions for their new studio album tentatively entitled “Pandemonium”. The band has started to post video updates from the recording sessions. It is now possible to enjoy the first one watching this clip: