Saturday, November 1, 2014

Soulbender - Soulbender II


Band:Soulbender

 

Album:Soulbender II

 

Date Released:Sept 30 2014

Tracks:

New Tracks 

Turn Anger Up
Shoal
Slave To Reality
Seraphim


Remastered 

Fix Me
Clockwork And Compass
Rabbit Hole
The American Dream
Samsara
Prime Time
Shoot Poem
This Ocean
Hunger Three Towers

 

Band Members:

Micheal Wilton
Nick Pollock
Wes Hallam
Dave Groves

 

Formed:2001


Originated:Seattle Washington

 

Label:Rat Pak Records

 

Quality & Originality:This album is partially a new release old release material but both have great production and sound with great clarity from the mixing and mastering. The songs are bold and brilliant with a huge step away from the Queensryche sound we have all fell in love with from Wilton. I hear a bit of that alternative sound that was huge in Seattle back in the 90's but still has the huge guitar leads that should be in any metal band. The vocals are gritty but powerful with tons of melody at times that really ties this album together. 

 

My Opinion:Wilton and company took a very bold move in rehashing out songs from basically ten years ago then adding four new tracks. In most cases this would lead up to a total flop but it works and works very well cause the music does not seem dated at all. They prove that they are not just another grunge/alternative band rehashing out the 90's by having songs that are brilliantly written and performed. I hear so many styles from alternative, rock, metal, blues and classic overflowing into just a great album. If you love what Wilton has done in the past chances are you will really take to this album and have it a constant in your player!

 

Overall & Favorites:Turn Up Anger, Slave To Reality, The American Dream. I give this album a 8.5/10 because of the brilliance of the music bringing the old mixed with the new era of Soulbender!!!

 

Contact:http://www.ratpakrecordsamerica.com/michael-wilton

 

 

Lyriel - Skin And Bones


Band:Lyriel

 

Album:Skin And Bones

 

Date Released:Nov 4 2014

 

Tracks:

Numbers
Falling Skies
Skin And Bones
Black And White
Days Had Just Begun
Your Eyes
Dust To Dust
Der Weg
Astray
Worth The Fight
Running In Our Blood
Dream Within A Dream
Black And White (Second Skin Version)

 

Band Members:

Jessica Thierjung
Oliver Thierjung
Linda Laukamp
Tim Sonnenstuhl
Markus Fidorra
Joon Laukamp

  

Genre:Rock/Metal/Gothic/Folk


Location:Gummersbach / Köln

 

Label:AFM Records

 

Quality & Originality:Lyriel have really hit the stars on this over the top album. From the massive amount and massive sound of instruments like the cello and violin that are extremely tight and well focused to the bright and strong vocals of Jessica Thierjung. The production on this album is simply flawless mixing and mastering was done by  Thomas Johannsen. It is albums like this that really excite me cause the amount of styles is endless and the song writing is superb. The song Black And White is really something different with a duet with Jessica and Christian Alvestam (Ex-Scar Symmetry, Solution .45) showing how this band has matured and focused on really recording there strong sides to really push Lyriel into new dimensions.

 

My Opinion:When it comes to a project like this it can be really tricky cause if it is not pieced together the right way it can be almost to much to the ears but Lyriel have worked up a total masterpiece. The orchestra end is bright and bold with goth and symphonic but then the almost folk at times really take you to another place. The heavier end of things are very dark, heavy and tight.This is a album that fans of everything from thrash, prog, rock, metal, symphonic and goth can really enjoy. I do have to admit that Jessica's vocals is what really does it for me cause she has one of them seductive voices that take you by the soul and just rip it out!!!!!

 

Overall & Favorites:Skin And Bones, Black And White, Dust To Dust. I give this album a 9.5/10 cause of the sheer amount of volume and epicness this album brings and pulls at the metal heart strings of this metalhead!!

 

Contact:Facebook Link

www.lyriel.net 

 

TEN - Albion


Band:TEN

 

Album:Albion

 

Date Released:Nov 24 2014

Tracks:

Alone In The Dark Tonight
Battlefield
It's Alive
Albion Born
Sometimes Love Takes The Long Way
A Smuggler's Tale
It Ends This Day
Die For Me
Gioco D'Amoure
Wild Horses

 

Band Members:

Gary Hughes
Dann Rosingana
Steve Grocott
John Halliwell
Steve Mckenna
Darrel Treece-Birch
Max Yates

 

Genre:Melodic Hard Rock

 

Label:Rocktopia/Cargo Records

 

Promotion:Rock N Growl

 

Quality & Originality:Albion is the next step for the amazing band Ten with a powerful prog hard rock epic album. Gary Hughes produced, wrote and arranged this beautifully written album. Albion was Mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward. I love how the songs were written and the meaning behind them. I think Gary did such a amazing job really getting his point across that Ten is and always will be at the front of the prog rock genre.

 

My Opinion:Albion is a great follow up to the bands Heresy And Creed from 2012. They have always pushed themselves to not just be another prog band but to be at the front setting the standards for all other bands to follow. This album is no different with great playing from all parties involved. So many of the songs off this album are almost instant prog rock anthems that have such a positive and bold presence to them that so many people can easily connect with!!

 

Overall & Favorites:Alone In The Dark Tonight, Albion Born, Die For Me. I give this album a solid 8.5/10 cause Ten really brings back how prog rock should be done with Albion brilliance!!!!!

 

Contact:www.tenofficial.com 

www.facebook.com/TenOfficial 

 

 

Onslaught - VI

Band: Onslaught

 

Album:VI

 

Date Released:Sept 24 2014


Tracks:

A New World Order
Chaos Is King
Fuel For My Fire
Children Of The Sand
Slaughterize
66 Fuckin 6
Cruci Fiction
Dead Man Walking
Enemy Of My Enemy

 

Band Members:

Sy Keeler
Nige Rockett
Jeff Williams
Andy Rosser
Mic Hourihan
Leigh Chambers

  

Formed:1983

 

Label:AFM Records


Genre: Thrash/Metal

 

Quality & Originality:VI is a brilliant bold heavy sign that thrash and the genre are still very much alive and heavier then ever. Onslaught put everything but the kitchen sink into this album but while keeping the essence of the band they really broke the mold of what to expect from a ''Thrash'' album. The album has everything you want from massive palm muted guitars and bold fast drums but they add other instruments you normally do not see in thrash and to not over inflate my thoughts but even time signatures and feel. The production is great normally thrash has a very almost dull tinge or analog feel to it and this is production on a massive scale that really raises the bar. I love it when bands show they are not just a one trick pony and they try bold different arrangements for there songs and even almost prog sounding at times and then wrench it back up and almost kick you in the teeth.

 

My Opinion:Onslaught is a veteran band and have had legion of underground fans for many many years. They have had many line up changes over the years that usually will destroy the essence of a band but Onslaught shows they are bigger and badder then ever. I have been a huge fan of this band for many years and this album is by far my favorite cause of how they have really thrown out the book on what a thrash album should be and done it there way. This is a extreme riff saturated brilliantly metal that everyone from metal and thrash lovers to new age metal fans and even some prog fans should really take a interest in. Get ready to be metalized by the amazing Onslaught!!!!!!

 

Overall & Favorites:Enemy Of My Enemy, Children Of The Sand. I give this album a solid 8.5/10 for the brutal but tasteful way that the veterans come out swinging with the best of the best!!!!

 

Contact: Facebook Link

Website Link 

 

 

October 2014 Band Spotlight - Evil Masquerade

                           October Spotlight Artist
                                 Evil Masquerade

Evil Masquerade dropped there first album in 2004 fueled with melodic guitars and amazing song writing the band was off to take over the world. Henrik Flyman is the main contributor for the band and has a great sense of the industry from the other projects he had been prior (Zool, Moahni Moahna, Wuthering Heights). I heard the band for the first time not long before there Pentagram album dropped and I was hooked. I have had the honor of interviewing there drummer Dennis Buhl and Henrik Himself a couple of times and getting to know them. I am blown away with the passion the entire band has put into the albums and how each album unveils another layer of what they band is about. EM has had a few member changes over the years but it never slowed or changed the direction of the music. The fans the band has earned are as die hardas any fans can be supporting the band in all avenues. The latest release the band dropped is called ''The Digital Crucifix'' that really has some of the best riffs and melody to date. They have released a video with the album called ''Like Voodoo'' what is a song that is very catchy and has new power house singer Tobias Jansson. Henrik also keeps himself busy by being the guitar player for Lacrimosa and recording and touring with them.



                                        Henrik and I talked a bit about the band.
RBJ
1. The band is part of a unique label tell us about Dark Minstrel Music.
 

HF
DMM is a label that was founded 2011 to allow us 100% artistic freedom. It's also our guarantee that record sales are invested back in the band. Definitely one of the best decisions Evil Masquerade ever made.

 RBJ

2. Tell us what the band has been up to lately? 

HF
It has been all about the new album and playing live. We have played some festivals and clubs to introduce 'The Digital Crucifix' to a wider audience and we have given a large number of radio interviews. That's basically what's occupied most of the 4 months since the album was released. We have a few more things coming up this year to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the band.

RBJ
3. How has the music changed since you first put the band together?
 

HF
We started out completely clueless about what Evil Masquerade would become. Basically it was a lineup of local musicians I put together to document a bunch of songs I had laying around and didn't know what to do with. Along the years our musical direction crystallized and we evolved into a solid band. In the early days we played some odd sort of progressive neo-classic metal. This later matured to our own brand of classic hard rock. These days we sound like a mixture of several well-known bands that have gotten a severe Evil Masquerade kick in the ass.


RBJ
4. Your latest release ''The Digital Crucifix'' that is such a powerful name what caused you to go with that theme?
 

HF
It's a rock'n'roll wake-up call aimed towards the people that slipped into a digital coma a decade ago. But they will most likely just press snooze and continue down the same road until they hit rock bottom. Perfectly fine with me. We don't intend to save the world. We just play hard rock, drink beer and enjoy that quite a lot.
 

RBJ
5. The Digital Crucifix has such a brilliant sound all the instruments are they programmed or are they played by actual people?
 

HF
Of course everything is played by the band. In fact, we have done our best to keep it as live and simple as possible. There's no quantization on the drums and mostly one-takes. Some of the rhythm guitars are recorded twice, identical, to beef up the sound a bit and the solos are just one guitar in mono. Keyboard and bass are also kept as simple as possible. A stereo track for keys and a mono track for bass. We entered the studio well-rehearsed and just beat the crap out of the instruments. All vocals were recorded in 4 days and I think we mixed the whole thing in just 4 days as well.




                                                Henrik Flyman & Tobias Jansson


RBJ
6. Youtube had given the band a bit of flack about the video for ''Like Voodoo tell us a bit about that.
 

HF
Suddenly they had removed the video and accused us of buying fake views. Completely strange accusation since the video didn't have more than 20.000 views 4 months after the release. This is perfectly normal for Evil Masquerade. We had no other option than to upload it again. Well, screw them. I'm happy as long as our videos are available for the people that are interested.
 

RBJ
7. You also play with another band called Lacrimosa. Is there anything new on the Lacrimosa front?
 

HF
There's always stuff going on. Next out is a Russian tour to support the brand new double live album we recorded last year in Mexico City before 5000 people.
 

RBJ
8. The band has got a new singer for this album with the ex Firewind singer Apollo leaving the band how did that come about?
 

HF
I had a talk with Apollo before starting with 'The Digital Crucifix' because I could see we were moving in different directions. Me wanting to continue keeping busy with the music and he focusing more on family and his daytime job. I suggested we took a break to avoid problems
because of our different priorities. He could see my point and agreed. We are still good friends and will most likely be making music together again one way or the other.


                                                              Henrik Flyman


RBJ
9. What is the most memorable show the band has done and why?

HF
Every show offers something unique, big or small, so it's hard to pick just one. Maybe this summer at the Dokk'em Open Air in The Netherlands. We had a very early spot and people were slowly recovering from last night's party. We were really taken by surprise with the crowd that found their way to the stage and stayed there with horns in the air. We didn't expect that.

RBJ
10. Why a musician? Why not a Doctor or Lawyer or maybe a politician.

HF
Because I can be myself. I'm sure I could also manage a career as a lawyer or a politician, maybe even a doctor – but it wouldn't come directly from the heart, which means I wouldn't be at my full potentials.

                                                                  Evil Masquerade
 
Henrik and his band Evil Masquerade are showing no signs of slowing down. The entire band is amazing musicians that really are one of the most under rated groups on the prog/metal scene across Europe. The thing I always noticed about Henrik is he is so humble and loves his fans he is very upfront with them and tries to be as one on one as he can. This is a band I would love to see tour here in the United States where music like this is finally becoming accepted and starting to get a bit of radio play. I honestly feel that this band and other like them are the future of the industry and will be a house hold name in the very near future!!!!!

Contact
www.facebook.com/evilmasquerade/timeline
http://evilmasquerade.com/

Reviews By Jon also did a review of the latest release by Evil Masquerade
http://reviewsbyjon.blogspot.com/2014/07/evil-masquerade-digital-crucifix.html



                                                       Like Voodoo From the new album