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Posts Tagged ‘Reviews’
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
 
THE LAST CRY is quite a new band from UK. It formed somewhere in 2006 and now I hold WALKING TO THE EDGE in my hands. Its very impressiv how quickly this band could develop- just three years and produce so cool music? Incredible! But first step first: WALKING ON THE EDGE is album which would come as a digipack. It contains 12 songs and has a total running time of 58 minutes, which is very long these days! And now the best: THE LAST CRY has reckognized that labels are overrated these days and seem to be their own label. This is very good for the price – its just 9.99 pounds including P and P. That’s a totally acceptable price – a download usually isn’t cheaper. However, full respect to this step to produce this without label, let’s move on to the music.
THE LAST CRY is some mix of THE CURE and DEPECHE MODE (so they say). They were on tour with THE MISSION and THE SKELETAL FAMILY, and yes, that fits too. Sometimes music is going to sound a little bit more to DEPECHE MODE – electronic rythms, synths, less guitars – sometimes it sounds like THE CURE in their good days. One example for that is PRISON OF DREAMS as the electronic song, OUT OF THE SKY as the more traditional one.
Whatever style they are currently doing in my player, everything sounds very professionel and perfectly produced. I cannot name a single thing on production which disturbs me. Everything is in place at a good volume. Sound is brilliant and clear. I have nothing to add – the studio is a very good one.
The vocalist sometimes sound totally like Robert Smith (THE CURE). Not to bad I say – with the impressive compositions and the modern influences definitly not a copy but more a fresh way of presenting the style THE CURE invented. There is only one strange thing on the vocals. On DEVASTATE I thought I need to get used on the style of vocalizing. Something made me feel strange. But after a few songs I felt better and better and the vocals grew more into the music. I switched back and had the same feeling again. I am not sure why this is, but I would swear the DEVASTATE is one of their early songs. On later songs the guitars support more the kind of voice. Esspecially in REBEKKA you see a perfect integration of the vocals. But that are guesses, maybe I need to ask the people directly.
From the rest of the band I think I do not need to speak much. Theircompositions are great and they performed very well. I didn’t reckon one single error or some timing issue which disturbed me in enjoying this CD. Everything there.
That beeing said, I would compare this band also to THE DRAGONS and of course to mighty JOY DIVISION (at least a bit).
Last but not least, I would like to say that this is – even with modern sound – anoldschool music genre. If you like dark rock music, you should immediatly buy this CD. It’s totally recommended. This CD of course is not done for fans like, uh, what are they named? Elektro-something? Whatever – very good and tight rock band. I am sure live they will rock like hell, you better go out and grab your tickets. And vote for them to play on the WAVE GOTIK TREFFEN.
Tags: Gothic Rock, Reviews
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Friday, October 2nd, 2009
THE GREAT KAT and Beethoven – as I first heard of that by a newsletter I simply deleted the e-mail. I did so the next 7 times, until I took some time and visited the homepage. Honestly, the homepage is very ugly and totally overloaded with content. I really didn’t have a clue about this was about. But I kept on going and after a while I noticed that THE GREAT KAT is a female violinist who also plays guitar.
But she is more than a guitarist. Based on Paginis (*1742, died 1840) techniques she managed it to play both, violin and guitar on a very, very high speed level. And now she banned her talent on a DVD.
And its good that she did. The whole DVD is very short, maybe 20 minutes. I put the DVD in and – up and down, up and down – the great Kat is completly insane. She is penetrating her guitar like a true maniac. I never saw such a guitar play before and I think I will never see it again. Incredible technique!
When listening a bit more in detail, you can hear not only one guitar, but also violin (besides drums, bass of course). The great Kat managed to play guitar at the highest speed possible (at least for now) AND playing the second voice in violin. I really thought that nothing else that guitar shredding will be heard, but actually these are complete songs in a complete line-up. And she is precise like a clock (I mean an atom-clock here). That beeing said, the great kat is maybe one of the best guitar plays on this globe. Her technique is incredible, shows years of practicing and cannot be copied by most of the guitarist out there.
I enjoyed the technical shredding very much. But there are also contras for this music. The stuff on this DVD feels more like a presentation of finger techniques than a real release in the “metal sense”. Thats a pretty good minus, because songs like BLOOD or ISLAMOFASCIST are definitly worth hearing. Those songs are not partitures from classical componist (well, maybe I don’t know them, but I am pretty sure) but come from the feather of Kat herself. The two could be a mix of hardcore and grindcore with unbeatable guitarwork. Kat would really have the chance to give grindcore a totally different face.
But honestly – I would prefer to have a complete album in the way of speed metal. Think on a faster riffing than on EXODUS – BONDED BY BLOOD. Wouldn’t that be great? Please Kat, go on and build up a real band! A bit less shredding and you are into play. Probably every professional band on this planet would like to have you as a lead guitarist.
But back to the DVD. For my taste, there is too much cliche. So much inverted crosses, blood, insects, brutality and so on. It obvious that one need a good sense of humour, because it doesn’t feel “serious”. To be honest, this cliche is maybe one of her trademarks, but would have prevented me from buying this. The days of VENOM are over, but THE GREAT KAT is the perfect continuation to that band.
I am also not sure if the drums and the bass guitar you are hearing on the video are really played by humans. The instruments are more than usual mixed into the background which gives more space to the (still incredible) guitars. Its good to hear the fine work of master Kat. But it also makes one feel that drums are a bit dry and mechanic. The small parts on the video showed me, that the man on the video is playing other stuff than the actuall drummer did – but that might be because of the synchronisation. I will pass this through because I think its very difficult to get a perfect sync at this extreme speed.
All the videos look like done with stage actors, not musicians. The “band” is usually totally hidden behind masks and obviously does only have some kind of siderole. As already said, I really would like to see Kat in a true band. Or live in a classical orchestra.
Whereever Kat develops, I will have an eye on her now. What she did is of interest for each metal-guitarist out there. Every guitar hero fan can enjoy watching this. But this is – in my eyes – some kind of demo and now I am waiting for the real release with real songs and a real band. And finally – if that is possible with that speed – a real tour. If she does that, she probalby doesn’t need all that cliche stuff 
However: one of the best guitarist on this planet. Recommend buy for guitar fetishists.
Offical The great Kat Website
Tags: Reviews
Posted in Reviews, Scene | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
 
SKELETAL FAMILY are back! Yes, its true. Four years after SAKURA they recorded a new album with the name SONGS OF LOVE, HOPE AND DESPAIR. And lucky as I am, I could listen to it before it’s available on Amazon. Isn’t it great to be an undead?
The whole album starts with a totally strange and scary arrangments. Later I should know that these disharmonias can be heard on the whole album. So more dark corners you spot, so more disharmonias. Nothing extraordinary for SKELETAL FAMILY. Remember the song freak. Isn’t there something in the song, which makes it sound – special? This exotic spice is what people often call disharmonia. However, this is what the SKELETAL FAMILY makes a very special and a very, very great band. And yes, the good news is, this spice is there and it starts with the first song LOVE, HOPE, DESPAIR and ends with 13, the last song in line.
It’s scary, it’s rock. All songs are straightforward and sometimes remind me on Alice Cooper (Make it alright). Very catchy refrains go straight to your ears. I mean: what can I do to make it alright? This is so simple, I will never forget this phrase again. This is best beeing played very loud – and you need to sing along with. Other songs remind me on Munster and give the listener this feeling of old caves, dusty clubs, goth rock like we had back before ages. Yes, this one is definitly for oldschoolers.
That beeing said, the album is greatly mixed too. There is nothing to hear of the loudness war. There is dynamic, there is life in the whole production. I am glad they did it this way, I am too tired of all that dry, metal-sounding (I mean the chemical element, not the music genre) mixes. SKELETAL FAMILY sound like the elder of us are used too, just a bit better. Execellent mix, warm and bright (please you ghuls out there, sit down, it’s good if something sounds bright, even when music is dark).
Such a great band. It’s pity that I cannot attend the CD launch party. Definitly, this band stands for a great era of UK based music. If somebody says ‘batcave’, then SKELETAL FAMILY come immediatly to my mind. Don’t miss them live, they have played several times in Leipzig at the WAVE GOTIK TREFFEN.
Offical Skeletal Family Website
Offical MySpace
Tags: Reviews
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Monday, August 24th, 2009
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
Tags: Gothic Rock, Reviews
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Thursday, August 20th, 2009
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
Tags: Gothic Rock, Reviews
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Thursday, August 20th, 2009
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
Tags: Gothic Rock, Reviews
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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
Wavves – Wavves
To be honest, I never heard of the genre called Lo-Fi. According to mighty Wikipedia this genre describes music recorded with worse and outdated equipment – or sounding like this. Lo-Fi looks like beeing a musical stream against todays music industry. As a prime time rebell I was excited about this and put the music immediatly into my player.
WAVVES tunes are totally strange. You’ll hear musical experiments. It’s good that I had in mind that this is Lo-Fi music and gave it the chance to develop. Otherwise I think I would have thrown this thing out of my window and would have played Slayer. After a while I could get into the music and suddenly the actual good quality of the release stunned me. When you listen with care, you’ll hear much very cool harmonies (and disharmonies too ). Sometimes WAVVES reminds you on the totally stoned Beatles, sometimes it’s going to remind you on the experiments Skinny Puppy did long time ago. If you would force me to put another label on it, I actually would say its experimental sixties music.
If you are one of those guys who needs perfect harmonies to sing along, you have the wrong album. On the whole record there are just 2 or 3 parts which are straight enough to name it “refrain” or simliar. SUMMER GOTH for example is one of the most rocking songs. KILLR PUNKX, SCARY DEMONS must be labeled ambient. It’s simply industrial noises.
By all its experimental sounds, there are no modern synthesizers or anything else on it. If you are looking for todays soundstandard go ahead, buy new Mortiis. This one here is at a basic recording level, a medium composition level and at a very high experimental level. I enjoyed it and will do it again – but not very often. This is not an album for prime time listening.
Offical Wavves Website
Offical MySpace
Images as usual on the review site.
Tags: Reviews
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