GOTTHARD - Homegrown - Live In Lugano

There's a special meaning to this live, since the singer no longer exists due to a terrible accident. The show was recorded at Lugano back at 2010, only a few months after the tragic death of the singer, and it's one of the shows with Steve Lee in vocals. So, this is not only a live release, but more of a homage to a very gifted singer who had much more to offer. For those not familiar with the music of Gotthard, the band is playing Hard Rock, with killer melodies, catchy vocals, the kind of music that is easy to get into, and fun to sing along. But don't get fooled, there's much more to the music than the surface, and the cautious listener will notice this after a few spins. This is obvious also from the way that the audience participates in each song, singing along, screaming and making their presence audible in every given chance. The singer communicates with the crowd, talking to people, and making sure they have a good time. Another strong point of the album is the sound quality, which is a big thing for a live album. The songs are clear enough, but there is also the noise of the crowd in the background, capturing some of the energy and the atmosphere of this live. Along with that, comes a bonus DVD containing amongst others, a live recorded back in 1999, named The Millennium Show 1999. Unfortunately the release marks the end of an era, but, it's still a live that both lucky Lugano fans, Gotthard fans, and good music lovers should check out.

9/10

MASTERCASTLE - Dangerous Diamonds

This is the third effort of the Italian band, and this album is one of those that can establish their brand name even stronger in the Metal scene. The band is playing Power Metal, enriched by many neoclassical elements and enough melodies. The first impression you get from this album is weird, because the music is moving on two different directions, dominated by both the guitars and the vocals. As strange as this might sound, both female singer and guitarist create a nice contradiction, making the songs even more catchy and fun to listen to. The guitarist is very skilled, creating some very complex melodies, either shredding or playing more melodic and slow stuff, while the rest of the rhythm section creates the perfect sonic base. On the other hand, the second pole of the album is the excellent vocals of Giorgia Gueglio, who also dominates the songs with her distinctive voice. So the result is an album that won't bore the listener with countless guitar works, but a complete album, that combines the shredding with great and diverse singing, a solid rhythm section and enough interesting song arrangements. There are no weak points here, although some moments do stand out of the crowd, and this is also because the singer manages with her versatile way of singing to color the songs with her own style. Either call it Power, Neoclassical, or just Metal, this album is well arranged, well performed, and contains enough very good songs. If you liked their previous two, then this is also recommended.    

9/10  

TERRORTORY - The Seed Left Behind

This band exists since 2000, and this is their debut album so far. All those years, the band had numerous line up changes and various demo recordings have been done, with material of them found their way into this album. The band is playing a mixture of Swedish Death, with enough elements from Thrash as well, something that might sound cliche, but it's so well constructed that no one will mind. The first thing we noticed is that the band is talented enough, with their musical vision perfectly realized here, and able to create music that can be catchy and groovy, but also complex and mind intriguing at the same time. There are contradictions in their music, aggressive parts give their place to melodic moments with clear vocals, catchy melodies enrich each song while brutal growls and crunchy guitars dwell in the foreground. Their music, although contains enough similarities with bands like In Flames or Dark Tranquility, also contains enough personal elements, and enough interesting ideas. The production is heavy and powerful enough, but also as clear as it should be. If you are seeking for an album that bears all the trademarks of the Swedish scene, and still doesn't afraid to explore some new territories, then you might be interested in this one. It's brutal, it's melodic, diverse, aggressive, and well played.

8/10

HARDCORE SUPERSTAR - The Party Ain't Over 'Til We Say So

Hardcore Superstar is a band that comes from Sweden, and despite their name states, they are not into any kind of Hardcore. The band exists for about a decade now, and this is a compilation of their best songs in their career, plus a new track, which was put as a first track, and trust me, it's the perfect opener. The band is playing music that is heavily inspired by the 80's, and the listener will find enough inspiration from bands like Gun's and Roses and mostly Motley Crue. Elements from Thrash can also be heard in their early work, and still are blended together in their latest songs, creating a style they call Street Metal, and enriching the whole result. This brings two words in mind, one being Energy, and the other being Party. The music is pure fun to listen to, while driving or while drinking beers with friends at a local bar. Melodies are plenty here, and make the songs catchy and groovy enough, while the vocals are fitting perfectly with the feeling of the music. The choice of songs is very good, and gives a good idea to the listener of what the sound of the band is like, from their first to their latest releases. A good and clear production, preserves both the atmosphere of the music and also brings all the details of the music to the surface. A Best Of is a quick lesson to the music of a band, and this lesson has all it takes to become successful. It's fast, groovy, catchy, well performed, full of power and sticks into your mind. Enjoy.

9/10  

DEATHSTARS - The Greatest Hits On Earth

It takes a huge dose of egoism, big guts, or both, to put that title on your latest release. But is it as the Swedish bands claims, or it's just big words? First of all, the band plays a kind of Metal that has enough electronic sounds, plenty of Industrial elements and a rather Gothic style in singing which fits perfectly with the atmosphere of the music. The thing that impresses is the groove that the songs have, and the ease that the music sticks into your mind. The band has chosen songs from their latest three albums, a perfect sample of their 11 year old career, plus two brand new songs put in the very beginning of the album to tease the listener. The songs are wisely chosen, and are all of the same high quality. The production is also great, heavy and dark enough, and preserves the atmosphere of the music in the best possible way. The album has been released just in time for their tour with Rammstein, but still, it's a perfect crash course for those that want to get to know better the music of the band. As for the title, I am not sure if it contains the best songs on earth, but surely contains some of their best material so far. So, if you happen to live in a city where the two bands come to play, you can consider yourself lucky. Either way though, grab a copy of this release, sit back, and enjoy both the performance and the dark and emotional atmosphere.

9/10      

PARADISE LOST - The Last Time (OFFICIAL VIDEO 2011)

PARADISE LOST - The Last Time (OFFICIAL VIDEO). Taken from the DVD "Draconian Times MMXI". Century Media 2011.