SONATA ARCTICA - PARIAH'S CHILD ALBUM REVIEW

SONATA ARCTICA - PARIAH'S CHILD ALBUM REVIEW

Band: Sonata Arctica
Album: Pariah's Child
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Power Metal
Country: Finland
Release Date: March 28, 2014

Before I start the album review, I would like to give a brief album history of Sonata Arctica and my reaction to each release:

Ecliptica - Excellent
Silence - Mind blowing
Winterheart's Guild - They keep getting better
Reckoning Night - Instant classic
Unia - This is different, but still good
Days of Grays - What happened to Sonata Arctica?
Stones Grow Her Name - Better, but still not Sonata Arctica

I heard the singles "Wolves Die Young" and "Cloud Factory" and my hopes were up.  Could this be the Sonata Arctica of old coming back in full circle to what made them great?  I pressed play and listened.  I was not disappointed.  It's not a full circle return to those Epic Power Metal days but that's not a bad thing.

Let's face it, most bands change as the years go by and Sonata Arctica is no exception to that rule but change isn't always a bad thing.  In this case, it's a wonderful thing as they have created an incredibly catchy album.

The album starts off with a blast with "Wolves Die Young" which brought me back to the days of being blown away from this band.  Tony Kakko is in his prime and he proves it by belting out incredible vocal ranges thought the song.  That epic feel is back, as it should be.  That same vibe continues as the album goes right into "Running Lights", a song about a young man, his car and his love having the time of his life as they drive fast through the streets.  The song is incredibly catchy, right down to the chorus.

Sonata Arctica has always had a theme with wolves on their album covers and songs and they do it again with the song "Blood", which is a song comparing wolf and man and who's more of a beast.  The album goes on with the incredibly well written song "What Did You Do in the War Dad?" which is a song about a child asking his dad about the war and what war does to soldiers after the fighting is done.

The most unpredictable and high point of the album is the song "X Marks the Spot" where Tony Kakko takes on the personality of a Southern Baptist preacher, complete with a southern drawl, narration and a call and response moment that is normally done in Southern Baptist churches.  It's absolutely brilliant.  Then the album comes to my personal favorite song, "Love" because it reflects the way I feel about someone in my personal life.  The last song, "Larger Than Life" is a 9:57 song that brings back that epic feel as the album comes to its brilliant end.

What did I do after the album ended?  I did what I haven't done in a long time after listening to an album.  I listened to it again right away.  This album is that good.  Sonata Arctica are the masters when it comes to song writing and storytelling.

Die hard Sonata Arctica fans who are looking  for a full return to the days of "Ecliptica" and "Winterheart's Guild" will be disappointed.  Sonata Arctica has matured and moved on from those days but there is something here for everyone and this album is their most accessible to date.  It's a clash between the Epic Power Metal days and the current Power Metal style that is Sonata Arctica today.

In conclusion, this album is brilliant and is incredibly catchy, unpredictable and there's a song for everybody here.  Tony Kakko is at his best with his songwriting and his vocals shine throughout the entire album.  For those that didn't like "Days of Grays" or "Stones Grow Her Name" will be pleasantly surprised with this release.

Total Playing Time: 53:04

Overall: 9/10

Tracklist:
1.  The Wolves Die Young
2.  Running Lights
3.  Take One Breath
4.  Cloud Factory
5.  Blood
6.  What Did You Do In The War, Dad?
7.  Half a Marathon Man
8.  X Marks the Spot
9.  Love
10.  Larger Than Life

Delain - The Human Contradiction

Delain - The Human Contradiction

1. Here Come The Vultures

2. Your body Is A Battleground

3. Stardust

4. My Masquerade

5. Tell Me, Mechanist

6. Sing To Me

7. Army Of Dolls

8.  Lullaby

9. The Tragedy Of The Commons

10. Scarlett

11. Don’t Let Go

Delain is a symphonic metal band hailing from Holland.  It is the brainchild of former Within Temptation keyboardist Martijn Westerhold and Charlotte Wessels and has garnered quite the following since.  With three very good albums already under their belt they bring us “Human Contradiction” but how does it measure up? Will it titterlate the grey matter into transporting me to another realm, a fantasy world?  Or will it be like entering a kind of hell?  

The opening track, “Here Come The Vultures”, has Charlotte Wessels excellent classic sounding voice, singing a beautiful intro.  This is only to lull you into a sense of false security as at the 44 second mark we have riffage.  And it’s powerful.  I loved this song.  It’s catchy but in a very good way and opens the album with the promise of good things to come.

“Your Body Is A Battleground” opens with a quadraphonic electronic pulse which moves from one ear to the other before it opens with more powerful guitar work.  One Marco Hietala of Nightwish (Another symph-metal band I adore) also lends his trademark coarse vocals to this track.  The song is single short but excellent in its delivery of catchy riffs and a very catchy chorus with a great little soaring guitar solo.

“Stardust” is utterly catchy, almost anthemic and appears to be more in keeping with their usual formula.  This track, I would imagine, is going to be part of their next live set and for good reason.  It’s a song you can nod your head to.

“My Masquerade” starts with an ethereal sounding intro which is joined by much softer guitars than previous tracks, at least until the chorus.  The chorus has male backing vocals which are reminiscent of Paradise Lost.  The track as a whole seems more downbeat than the others but it’s still catchy and well executed.  It’s a good mix of soft guitars and hard guitars and is more diverse, rhythmically than previous tracks.  Yet another great track on this, so far, very good album.

“Tell me, mechanist” has the obligatory heavy riffs and wonderfully lush and, dare I say, luxuriant keyboarding. It also has the guest vocal growls of George Oosthoek.

Marco Hietala lends yet more wallpaper stripping vocals to “Sing To Me”, which is another dark track.  It’s powerful and well crafted just like all the other tracks.  This one also sound a little like it could have been written by Nightwish, which isn’t a bad thing at all.

An almost 80’s like electronic intro opens “Army Of Dolls” but stops short at 15 seconds to plunge into some more heavy guitar work. I love this song and not just because of the performance given by the band but because of the subject matter, which i construe to be a blast against the shallow world we live in where beauty and looking “perfect” are more valued than substance and happiness.

“Lullaby” is as beautiful as it’s heavy.  Again with excellent performances from all members, while Charlotte’s vocals particularly have the power to move you here.

“The Tragedy Of The Commons” sees former The Agonist and current Arch Enemy singer Alissa White-Gluz lending a hand.  Her vocals, as you can imagine, contrast with those of Wessler’s but work exceptionally well together and in the format of the track.  It’s yet another great track with very well done choral elements that lands to give the song a rich and emotional feel.

A wonderful piece of piano accompaniment joins Charlotte’s beautiful voice on “Scarlett”.  I think this track is very beautiful and shows that Delain are a serious band with very real musical and writing skills.  It certainly shows that the band are on top of their game and know what they are about and, indeed, doing.

Another bonus track “Don’t Let Go” appears to be a fusion of metal, symphonic and electronica.  Indeed, some points of the track sound as if they could be performed by Rammstein’s synth master, Flake, while others wouldn’t be seen as amiss in modern pop.  I don’t mean to detract from the track at all, I’m just pointing out that their ability to explore different styles is great and that they put the more poppier elements to good use.

So, in conclusion, the album is very well written and performed.  The band appear to be stepping away from the over zealous amounts of keyboard and have much better riffs than previous albums.  Many people say that Delain and similar bands are poppish and shouldn’t be classed as “true” metal.  I say to these “What is true metal?”.  I also put it to them that if music like this was in the charts (I speak as a UK resident) then I would have the radio on constantly.  Although I had listened to Delain previously I had never really been a fan.  But, after listening to this release I think it’s safe to say that I now am.

A very good 8 out of 10

Lacuna Coil Broken Crown Halo

So this is my first review writing for the amazing blog \m/etalbox. I would like to thank you guys for giving me the opportunity to write this review and to have it posted on your site. With that being said I have chosen my first review to be on Lacuna Coil-Broken Crown Halo. I have been a fan of this type of metal for quite some time now, anything from Tristania to Lacuna Coil. I figured this would be a good fit for me.

My first impressions of Broken Crown Halo is that it is not really what I was expecting, it does feature Cristina's amazing vocals (which is what drew me to Lacuna Coil in the first place), however, the symphonics and guitars are pretty weak, repetitive, and predictable, same goes with the male vocals. Even though Cristinas vocals are there, they are also weak compared to past albums, and the lyrics just are not there. Take the song dead and rise for example, its as if a good part of the song is the male and female vocals screaming dead and rise over and over to a small beat in the background with minimal keyboards and guitars.

Half way through the album I had not replayed one song, I sat scratching my head as songs come and go, wondering if there will be at least one song that will catch my ear, so I can really grasp what the album is all about. As what seems to be the same guitar, vocals, and symphonics play through my speakers at volume 60, I realize that it isn't going to happen. As disappointing as it was I decided to listen to the entire album.

Finally, when the album was finished ,I could not believe what I had just heard. Aside from “One cold day” (which really wasn't all that good) the rest of the album was like one big mush of a song. All of the songs had the same repetitive beat, with male, then female, then male, then female vocals with weak guitars that reminded me of Sevendust (not that that is a bad thing) but it just didn't work. I for one am very disappointed and sit here hoping that their next album is more creative. Before passing judgment on me, keep in mind I'm used to old Tristania and older lacuna coil sounds for this type of music, and I did give it a chance by listening to the entire album. I suppose this album could work for some people but not this writer. For fans wanting the older style of lacuna coil with Cristina's soaring vocals and bad ass guitar riffs....this album is not for you. However, if you prefer lacuna coil in their newer style then by all means buy this album, though its going to take some work from them in their next album for this writer to be won over like I was in the past.

Final Rating: 5 out of 10

Track List:

1. Nothing Stands in Our Way
2. Zombies
3. Hostage to the Light
4. Victims
5. Die and Rise
6. I Forgive(But I Wont Forget Your Name)
7. Cybersleep
8. Infection
9. I Burn in You
10. In the End I Feel Alive
11. One Cold Day

Dio.  This Is Your Life.  Various Artists.

1. Neon Knights. Anthrax

2. The Last In Line. Tenacious D

3. The Mob Rules. Adrenaline Mob

4. Rainbow In The Dark. Corey Taylor et al

5. Straight Through The Heart. Halestorm

6. Starstruck. Motorhead & Biff Byford

7. The Temple Of The King. Scorpions

8. Egypt (The Chains Are On). Doro

9. Holy Diver. Killswitch Engage

10. Catch The Rainbow. Glenn Hughes et al

11. I. Oni Logan et al

12. Man On The Silver Mountain. Rob Halford et al

13. Ronnie Rising Medley. Metallica* *This Is Your Life. Dio* *

Ronnie James Dio is a name we all know in the world of metal and rock.  A name associated with excellence and a man who has touched and influenced the lives of many.  A man who was and, indeed, is a legend.  He was one of the best singers ever, period!  So it is no surprise that a plethora of big names in metal and rock have stepped up to give tribute to the legend.

Anthrax are charged with the initial assault, giving a performance of “Neon Knights” that's so similar to the original that I had to check the performer name to make sure I hadn't missed something.  It's an absolutely amazing cover of the original and is a fitting way to start the proceedings.   

    

Next in line (excuse the pun) is “The Last In Line” performed by Tenacious D, complete with flute solo (I'm not kidding).  The track itself is well performed, if a little odd (we are dealing with the "D" here) but it may seem a little insincere to many.  More of a mockery than a tribute.  But, anybody that knows the “D”, I think, can safely assume that it is sincere.

   

It’s certainly a surprise to many upon hearing Corey Taylor sing.  Most people associate him with slipknot, so they’re not accustomed to his often beautiful voice.  And boy does he glisten here.  Taylor and elements of Stone Sour and Steel Panther give us a rendition of “Rainbow In The Dark” which I, for one, cannot stop listening to.  The guitar solo(s) provided by Steel Panther’s Satchel are electrifying and have given me a different perspective on the performer.  This is nothing to say of the other performers on the track who shine just as bright.

Halestorm’s Lizzy Hale could, in an alternate universe, be Ronnie’s alternate self.  Although I’m not the biggest fan of Halestorm (good band, just not to my taste) it’s always a joy to hear her sing.  Yet again, in their cover of “Straight Through The Heart” she’s strong, gutsy, sexy and excels at her craft.  The other members of the band certainly stepped up to the parapet for an all out assault to slay us with this gem.

Adrenaline Mob’s “Mob Rules” is one of my personal favourites from the album.  It’s extremely well executed, heavy and powerful.  Again another power attack to lay us all low.

    Into legendary territory here with a raw, energetic and visceral adaptation of “Starstruck”.  Who doesn’t like Motorhead or Saxon, right?  Motorhead are always raw and powerful and Saxon send shivers down the spine of any red blooded Englishman/woman (I’m not English and they still do).  All of the guys involved in performing this track are venerable and legendary and you’ll get the feeling that they came in, performed the song once and went for a pint like the seasoned, elite masters they are.

Yet more legends (we’re not worthy) The Scorpions discharge a volley of perfection with a version of “Temple Of The King” which is utterly beautiful and masterfully wrought.  In my opinion it’s one of the best covers on the list (and it’s in good company) and is an utter joy to listen to and the intro made my hairs stand on end.  A highlight of the song is definitely the guitar work which feels so emotional and engaged.  Schencker & Co. definitely felt this song.

God’s teeth but I love Doro!  Warlock’s former vocalist wants to melt my knees, I’m sure!  This is a very powerful hard, power rock version of “Egypt (The Chains Are On) “and is an excellent tribute to Dio and yet another emotional track.

The next track is one I’ve been listening to on my player for a few years now.  And I love it (the vid is funny)!  Those tricksters Killswitch Engage give a corking performance of “Holy Diver” giving it a slight twist with their take on the metal format.

Soaring guitars open Glenn Hughes heartfelt performance of “Catch The Rainbow”.  Hughes and Dio have fronting for Black Sabbath in common so it’s very fitting that Hughes has an entry here.  It’s a solid performance in true Hughes style and fits nicely.

“I” is one of my favourite songs that Dio sang.  Although reviews should really be objective and not subjective, it’s really hard with this album and in particular, this song.  You see, all of the performers on this track were either former bandmates or associates/friends of Ronnie but, even taking into account these factors, I can’t get this cover to grow on me.  It’s not the performance per se, I just think it’s a personal issue.  I’m sure there are those who are going to shoot me down for this but it’s my own opinion.  See what you think.

The first thing I’m gonna say about this track is it’s pant wettingly good.  Rob Halford, Vinnie Appice, Doug Aldridge et al perform “Man On The Silver Mountain”.  It’s a great homage and a grand performance to rock out to.  Rob Halford also, like Dio, sports a unique voice in metal and rock.

In recent years Metallica have been the target of much merriment and, dare I say, controversy.  These masters (some say, former) of thrash are known for many things such as crushing riffs, superb solos, a multitude of “yeah’s” and Lars Ulrich.  But one other thing they’re aficionados of are medleys and covers and they deliver a jaunty 9 minute example here.  The ‘tallica boys always sound as if they’re having heaps of fun (and who can blame them, being the worlds biggest metal act) and it certainly exudes this here.  This medley also deserves a few listens.

The last track on the album (unless you have the bonus material which I’m not going into here) isn’t a cover.  I don’t want to sound like a fawning idiot because I surely am, but the title track “This Is Your Life” is an onslaught of emotional beauty performed by Dio, himself.  I can’t say much else about this track except that you need to hear it to appreciate it.

So, after completion of listening to this tribute album for the final time before writing this, I am quite impressed by the material.  I can’t say that there’s a weak track except that, naturally, some shine just a little brighter than the others.  But it’s a tribute after all and giving a personal interpretation of a man that’s influenced you is a great thing.  After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. A very good 8.5/10  

“This is your life. This is your time. What if the flame won't last forever.

This is your here. This is your now. Let it be magical”

                                -Dio

Please remember I’m no expert and this is entirely my opinion.  I’m just a guy who likes metal \m/

Gamma Ray - Empire of the Undead Review

Band: Gamma Ray
Album: Empire of the Undead
Label:  earMusic
Genre: Power Metal
Country: Germany

Kai Hansen and company are back with “Empire of the Undead” and they are back with a vengeance.  After a rash of negative influences with longtime drummer Daniel Zimmerman who was replaced by Michael Ehre to their home studio and rehearsal room, Hammer Studios, being burned to the ground, something positive was going to come out of it all and it was this album, which is heavier than their last effort, “To the Metal.”

  The album starts off with Avalon, a 9:21 epic song that takes you for a majestic ancient Power Metal ride.  The song is very reminiscent to “Rebellion in Dreamland” off of the “Land of the Free” Album.  It has that same epic feel.  Hansen vocals sound clear and the guitars are heavy.  Then the album takes off from there and goes right into the pulse pounding “Hellbent” which is Power Metal to the core and packs a punch.  The entire album brings a smile to your face because Gamma Ray hasn’t sounded this good since “Land of the Free II”.  “Master of Confusion” seems like a simple song but it’s actually more complex than you think.  The song uses previously used riffs (“Send Me a Sign” off of the “Powerplant” album) as Hansen sings through what the band went through during the making of the album.

     Even though the album is excellent, there are a few down points.  Lyrically it falters on “Born to Fly” with the uninspiring chorus: “Flying high like an eagle/Touching rainbows in the sky/Flying high like an eagle in the sky/Born to fly!”  It doesn’t take away from the overall heaviness that Gamma Ray songs usually deliver.  Another weak point is “Time For Deliverance” which sounds very similar to “We are the Champions” by Queen, complete with the “Wah-ooo wah-ooo” backing vocals.  That’s all for the negative.  The rest is all positive.

     Overall, “Empire of the Undead” is a return to form for Gamma Ray.  Fans who have complained about their two previous efforts will be pleasantly surprised.  This is Power Metal at its best.

Total Overall Time: 56:46

Overall Rating: 7/10

Tracklist:

1.  Avalon
2.  Hellbent
3.  Pale Rider
4.  Born to Fly
5.  Master of Confusion
6.  Empire of the Undead
7.  Time for Deliverance
8.  Demonseed
9.  Seven
10.  I Will Return

Drakwald - Resist Fatality review

Band: Drakwald
Album: Resist Fatality
Label: Self Released
Genre: Folk Metal
Country: France
Release Date: 1st Feb 2014

Firstly I should mention that on the band's official homepage they claim to be influenced by, and I quote "Scandinavian Death Metal and Pagan Folk". OK, so I'll give them Pagan Folk, but I hear very little Scandinavian Death Metal on this album. To my ears it comes across as a (brilliantly delivered) cross between Svartsot and Eluveitie - and yes, it is every bit as good as it sounds. There are plenty of nods to the Irish Pagan Metal scene and especially Waylander and Cruachan, yet at the same time this album evokes the (ancient) spirit of countrymen such as Bran Barr and Heol Telwen.

Although their influences are worn proudly on their collective sleeves, Drakwald have recorded an album that positively shines with personality and their passion for the genre is very much evident. A cursory glance at the song titles and it becomes abundantly clear that English isn't the band's first language and to be honest, I think that this just adds to the charm of this superb little gem.

I do, however, have a couple of gripes. For their debut release, you might expect that a band would want to go all out with the presentation to grab the attention of potential punters. Instead, it appears that Drakwald have opted for a forgettable, drab effort. So "nul points" then for the artwork which is irredeemably terrible. This is a real shame as dull, forgettable and drab are words which couldn't be further from describing what this excellent French act have to offer - which is actually a really solid, classy and exciting take on the Folk Metal genre. But my biggest issue with this album - the Eluveitie-aping "Enter in The Den of The Night" aside - would be the running time. It is far too short for an album - clocking in at only slightly over 31 minutes (including an instrumental intro), this is barely an EP, let alone an album and just as you start to really get into it, it's all over. But to turn a negative into a positive, this just gives you an excuse to do as I did and put it on repeat.

Overall though, this is a fantastic effort and a wonderful debut album from a band I am looking forward to hearing a lot more from in the future. If they can follow this up and maintain their momentum, then Drakwald will be a band to watch within the Folk Metal scene. The best Folk Metal band you've never heard of. Probably.

Total Playing Time: 31:42

Overall: 8/10

Tracklist:

The Drowning
Let The Slaughter Begin
Diving In The Depth Of Agony
Escape The Claws Of Fate
When Beer's Flowing
Enter In The Den Of The Night
Giant With The Axe
Raise Our Swords
Inhale The Ashes of Honor

Official Website: www.drakwald.com/en

Kampfar - Djevelmakt review

Band: Kampfar
Album: Djevelmakt
Label: Indie Recordings
Genre: Pagan Black Metal
Country: Norway
Release Date: 27th Jan 2014

Losing a founder member can derail the best of bands and when said member has also formed part of the core songwriting duo for the best part of two decades, then it can be truly disastrous. A lesser band would have been forgiven for taking the easy route by merely regurgitating and recycling what had come before. Well, clearly then, Norway's Kampfar aren't just any band. Instead of letting this unfortunate development phase them, they refocused their energy, wrote some great songs and have come out of the experience a leaner, more streamlined beast and one that, in hindsight, may have been overly reliant on its core members. On listening to Djevelmakt, it would appear that the band's creativity may have been stifled for too long. That a band almost 20 years into its career - and with members now in their 40's - can release an album with this much passion, energy and pure heart is testament to their tenacity and shows that they genuinely enjoy what they do.

Anyone familiar with Kampfar will have a fairly good idea of what to expect here and for those who haven't heard this superb band yet, I would say the likes of Vreid and Thyrfing could be listed under "similar artists" and whereas all three bands belong firmly in the Pagan Black Metal sub-genre, they also have a special sound that distinguishes them from the crowd.

So what does it actually sound like? Well, the overall sound and feel of this album is almost trance-like and enraptures the listener in a way that is hard to convey in words -  the thundering, hypnotic and almost martial drumming can be a little overpowering on occasion, but they also fit perfectly with the distinctive, harsh rasp of vocalist Dolk and the guitar tone throughout is suitably ice cold. Sharp, ferocious riffs vie for position with the often sublime melodies (just listen to "Kujon") and acoustic guitars and the piano are used sparsely, but to wonderful effect. Not only do these calmer moments counterbalance the heaviness of the more raw Black Metal moments, but they also add the perfect amount of atmosphere to the proceedings, giving the album a more rounded feel and prove that Kampfar have been around long enough to know when to slow it down.

The songs themselves are perfectly crafted, almost to the point of being truly beautiful - a word not often, if ever, associated with the Pagan Black Metal scene - and the production is as good as it needs to be - crisp and clear without being too polished, so the album retains its extreme edge. Despite the underlying and undeniable Black Metal sound, Kampfar have a similar progressive edge to their music as fellow Norwegians Enslaved and although this is without a doubt an extreme metal album, it also manages to be strangely accessible and very easy to listen to (over and over again in my case). Djevelmakt is a genuinely rewarding and remarkable album that keeps improving with each and every listen and stands as a reminder of just how good the Pagan Black Metal sub-genre can be when done properly and a clear indication that there is still a lot of life left in it yet. As their countrymen did before them, back in the infancy of Black Metal, Kampfar are again pushing the boundaries and taking the sub-genre in new and exciting directions.

This is very possibly the finest moments in their long, illustrious career and is absolutely guaranteed a (high) spot on my "best of 2014" list. In fact, this is an early contender for album of the year.

Total Playing Time: 47:17

Overall: 9/10

Tracklist:

Mylder

Kujon

Blod, Eder og Galle

Swarn Norvegicus

Fortapelse

De Dødes Fane

Svarte Sjelers Salme

Our Hounds, Our Legion

Official webpage: http://www.kampfar.com/frontpage.php