H|Insane – Devils Network

H|Insane is a deathrock band from the city I was born before ages: Regensburg. But this isn’t a plus, since I don’t like too much bands from their. But as soon as I got this little masterpiece into my hands, I felt in love.

Honestly: H|Insane is quite a young band, but those two girls are playing like demons. One could say: that girls really rock. There are metal fans who always tried to rock like em, but never managed to do so.

Devils Network is an EP with only 6 songs. Its selfmade and a demo in first line. This apologizes the sound. Its quite OK mixed and you shouldn’t be afraid to get in touch with this demo. But have in mind, this one is a demo, and demos are allowed to be not perfect. This EP would have needed some good mastering, since there is not too much brilliance in the sound. Everything is a bit dull. High frequencies have died. And its oversteering at some points. You’ll only notice the later one with very good headphones or with playing this record very very loud. Last but not least the whole record could be a bit louder in general. But by all means, the music on it is so good and perfectly enjoyable, that you don’t have to care about the sound.

The songs remind me a bit on the great punk rock like the SCARY BITCHES play. But with good and proper lyrics, no cliche at all (well, a little, but that is what the music stands for, is it?). Even with quite a complex drum programming, all the songs feel like going straight forward all the time. That is good, cause this straight forward kick in the face makes H|Insane a perfect rock machine. Gigs with that band MUST be good. I cannot imagine it otherwise than people totally freaking out when listening to this simple and sometimes disharmonic melodies, the ongoing beat and the young, but yet powerful voice.

Ah, the voice! While guitarworks and bass sound like played from rock gigants (well ok, you know what I mean), the voice is very good too. It needs some more practice. Don’t get me wrong – the girl here is animating you freaks out there to sing along with her. Its perfectly understandable what she vocalizes and all the tunes are in place. One of the best singers I heard from underground bands in the last weeks. But I think she has room to develop in the next months and I am very sure, she will do. So please Ladies and Gentleman prepare for a big deathrock vocalizer in the future.

Just the concept is something I would need a bit more. H|Insane is a very good band, but it needs a bit more face. At the moment everything is a bit usual. Songs about personal presentation and such. Tiny monsters. Nothing we haven’t heard about it in the past. What I really would enjoy is some trademark like Christian Death (sex, anti-christdom) or Scary Bitches (cliche, cliche and cliche) or maybe Fields of the Nephilim (fog, western, supernatural beeings). What is it at H|Insane? I am sure this will develop too. Once the idea has come in the girls mind, we’ll have a band with very big potential.

Its such a pity, that I don’t live in Regensburg anymore. I would apply as a drummer. But well, I will try to attend their gigs from now on. We’ll see you there. I mean, directly before stage.

Offical H|Insane Website

Offical MySpace

Solemn Novena – Silver

Before me is a 3-Track single of SOLEMN NOVA. This band is performing a good gothic rock musi. Immediatly you will be catched up by the warm sound of this record. Sometimes people have a hard time to get into a record, but this is not the case here. Just jump in!

All the three songs are very good composed. Their essence is the great catchy voice which leads you through all the songs and make you smile while listening to it. However, songs are very good and well performed, but two of them don’t go too deep under your skin. It’s just the vocals whichs saves everything and makes this CD enjoyable. The song Silver itself really sounds like the band LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT composed it. This is the very best song at the album and the only one of the three which touches your soul here. The reason is, that Tell me your secrets and Sirens are overloaded. If you compare all the songs, you’ll recognize that Silver just contains 3 or 4 elements (not to be confused with instruments or voices) can be heard at the same time. Sirens and Secrets do you use much more elements, which is very hard to mix down and results in a warm porridge. Example: twin voices, warm atmosphere keyboards, drums, guitar picking, whispers. Its too much. In that case they should have kicked off the atmo keys. Finally this makes everything sound a bit like EUROPE, sorry to say that

However, this is a record I really enjoy partially. Silver is a very great song and I strongly believe these Belfast guys will go their way. They have been labeled as “Best unsigned” band and such by wellknown mags, I think they will make it. However, if they want to get fans like me on board, they need to sort out their compositions. And use more of their strong male voice instead of all this heavingly stuff. I mean, if you have a warm voice, you have one. There is no sense in singing the hardrock passages. More rock guys, more rock! I’ll keep an eye on you!

Offical Solemn Novena Website

Offical MySpace

ANDERS MANGA are one of these bands. You put them in your player and have no expectations at all. Somebody said, they are a electronical band usually and played some rock now. No, I didn’t expect anything.

But Anders Manga totally surprised me! On their newest outcome CATASTROPHE are 8 tracks full of perfectly written and performend rock music. Dudes, I tell, if they stop their rock era again, that would be a pity.

The songs are simple, straightforward and kill like a hammer. Don’t expect too complicated stuff. There are several influences you can here. One of the most important, at least for guitar harmonies, is ALICE COOPER. Most of you younger lads probably don’t know about Mr. Cooper, but let me tell you this one is simply the god of (horror) rock. On the other hand there are several other influences, which make the music a bit more modern. Don’t laugh when I tell you that the SISTERS OF MERCY is making the music modern. They actually do, when compared to ALICE COOPER. It is, cause the the drums are so straight that they could have been played from a drumcomputer too. They aren’t, there is too much groove in them.

On this little CD are 8 completly well-balanced, rockin, straightforward rocksongs. They have catchy hook melodies and very great rythms. All the songs are very individual and gives me the feeling, that the composer was there with heart and soul. Yes, I didn’t expect such a good album in 2009. I thought time were over.

Sound is very brilliant. As always, if ANDERS MANGA would tell me they were in the same studios as ALICE COOPER, I would believe. Don’t be confused, we don’t speak from a oldschool 70thies sound. Mr. Cooper recorded in the last years. And so is the sound here: brilliant, crystal clear, powerful. Bassdrums has a good kick, but not too much. Production is slightly compressed, but still contains lots of dynamics. That is important – most records today are totally overcompressed and I really hate them. Not here. Again perfectly balanced. Guitarsounds are very catchy, but not too much. On the whole recording the great voice of Mr. Manga dominates, and that is good. He has very strong and powerful voice which should make some girls weeping for love at night.

This record is now next to my oldschool records which I need to listen right after. Thanks guys, for recording such a great and rocking album. I really hope to see you live around here.

Offical Anders Manga Website

Offical MySpace