Monday, November 30, 2009

LAIBACH - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTARS (1996)

genre : avant-garde, industrial, symphonic, metal, gothic
similar bands : Rammstein, Ulver, Therion
origin : Slovenia
strong spot : songwriting, originality, arrangements, atmosphere
weak spot : kidding?

Heavy guitars, electronic loops, strange vocals, choirs, violins and brilliant dark melodies. This is a classic album. It is the soundtrack Andrew Lloyd Webber would compose if he was a gothic fan. The atmosphere is extremely claustrophobic and unearthly, it is an intense listen and a dramatically rich piece of art that every advanced listener should enjoy. Download and play it loud.

10 out of 10 goatheads
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Saturday, November 28, 2009

CRISTALYS - SUREMINENCE (2009)

genre : avant-garde, pagan, melodic black
similar bands : Artefact, Solefald, Orakle
origin : France
strong spot : songwriting
weak spot : sometimes french language in black metal is tiring

Cristalys deliver their debut album which is full of french avant-gardism and insanity. Imagine a more speedy and black metal-oriented version of Solefald.

7 out of 10 goatheads
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

ANTHELION - BLOODSHED REBEFALLEN (2007)

genre : melodic, symphonic death/black
similar bands : Chthonic
origin : Taiwan
strong spot : no obvious strong spot
weak spot : lacks originality

Anthelion's music reminds me of their fellow countrymen Chthonic. My objection? Chthonic try to push the envelope more than Anthelion and thus Chthonic are more interesting. Anthelion are more or less an average symphonic black band.

6,5 out of 10 goatheads
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PANTHEON I - WORLDS I CREATE (2009)

genre : symphonic death/black
similar bands : Dimmu Borgir, Emperor
origin : Norway
strong spot : performance, cover
weak spot : ''I've heard it before'' category

Fiendish symphonic parts, demonic riffs, insane drumming and all the other ingredients of a good but not exceptional extreme death/black metal album. Extra kudos go to the clever use and incorporation of the cello in the music.

7,5 out of 10 goatheads
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WOLVEN ANCESTRY - SILENCE OF THE BOREAL (2009)

genre : symphonic black
similar bands : Dimmu Borgir, Sothis
origin : Canada
strong spot : atmosphere
weak spot : ''I've heard it before'' category

Well performed symphonic black in the vein of Sothis, Dimmu Borgir, Vesania, Abigail Williams, Dissection and many many others. Sparkles of talent are here and there but sth is missing.

7,5 out of 10 goatheads
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

MIRRORTHRONE - CARRIERS OF DUST (2006) - GANGRENE (2008)


genre : symphonic black metal
similar bands : Transcending Bizarre?, Sigh, Cradle Of Filth
origin : Switzerland
strong spot : songwriting
weak spot : the duration of almost every track is too long and sometimes this is tiring for the listener

You probably already know Mirrorthrone. If you don't, download immediately.

9 out of 10 goatheads for ''Carriers of Dust''
8 out of 10 goatheads for ''Gangrene''
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Monday, November 23, 2009

STOLEN BABIES - THERE BE SQUABBLES AHEAD (2006)

genre : experimental, avant-garde, extreme metal
similar bands : Unexpect, Diablo Swing Orchestra, Cradle Of Filth
origin : USA
strong spot : originality, diversity
weak spot : kidding?

This is the debut album of a band that is here to stay. Fans of Unexpect and Diablo Swing Orchestra will be pleasantly surprised. It is not so easy to exactly pinpoint the style they play, your ears will come across a bizarre amalgam of dark cabaret parts, spooky accordions, atmospheric black metal touches, punk outbreaks, symphonic soundtrack-ish parts and so many others. I am not going to squeeze my mind more to describe this album, you just have to listen for yourself.

9 out of 10 goatheads
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DARK LUNACY - THE DIARIST (2006)

genre : symphonic, melodic death/black
similar bands : Agathodaimon, Graveworm, Dark tranquillity
origin : Italy
strong spot : clever songwriting
weak spot : no obvious weak spot

Rarely do I listen to bands from Italy but Dark Lunacy's music is really enjoyable. Their sound is not so unique but they are talented enough to compose very clever songs and finally differentiate themselves from the bunch of other melodic death/black bands. Their style? Maybe Dark Tranquillity with a symphonic touch?

9 out of 10 goatheads
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CALLISTO - PROVIDENCE (2009)

genre : experimental, atmospheric, progressive, post-rock/black
similar bands : Burst, 65 Days of Static, Mogwaii, Opeth, Katatonia, Leprous
origin : Finland
strong spot : atmosphere, performance, originality
weak spot : no obvious weak spot

Callisto are Finnish, such an origin is like a guarantee that a band is at least descent. But these guys here are more than descent, to be honest they are quite impressive. They play a quite minimalist, psychedelic post-metal type of music that is both melancholic and aggressive but most of all it is mysteriously compelling. Sometimes it sounds like the soundtrack of ''28 Days Later'' or ''The Fountain'', some others it balances between psychedelic doom black metal and post-rock in the vein of 65 Days of Static. Definitely, albums like this stretch the barriers of metal music.

9 out of 10 goatheads
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

RAM-ZET - NEUTRALISED (2009)

genre : avant-garde, progresive, symphonic black
similar bands : Arcturus, Unexpect
origin : Norway
strong spot : songwriting, orchestrations, diversity, performance
weak spot : no obvious weak spot

This is the first album from this band that really impressed me. Their previous albums lacked a certain something I can not specify. In this album we have a nice balance between progressive performance, clever songwriting and experimentation that is not an end in itself but a creative element that contributes to the rest of the music. Brilliant.

9 out of 10 goatheads
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FJOERGYN - JAHRESZEITEN (2009)

genre : avant-garde, symphonic, melodic black
similar bands : Fleurety, Lacrimosa, Dornenreich
origin : Germany
strong spot : originality, diversity
weak spot : lyrics are in German

If you can overcome a vocalist singing exclusively in German, then this may sound like an interesting album. BM riffs, acoustic guitars, violins, pianos, combination between black and clean voices, an overall melancholic mood. Ignore the second track of the album, ''Verklarte Welt'', it is as cheesy as it gets.

7 out of 10 goatheads
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Sunday, November 15, 2009

W.E.B. - JESUS HEIST (2008)

genre: symphonic black/death
similar bands : Graveworm, Septic Flesh, Moonspel, Transcending Bizarre?
origin : Greece
strong spot : songwriting
weak spot : there are at least 3 filler songs that ruin the show, some riffs are childish

The Greek combo here delivers an album that has some elements that may charm the devoted symphonic black/death fan. Half of the album is ok but there are also songs like ''Enthorned'' or ''Blossoms Cry'' that are more predictable than a Jennifer Aniston romantic movie.

6,5 out of 10 goatheads
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FANTOMAS - THE DIRECTOR'S CUT (2001)

genre: avant-garde, experimental, symphonic, gothic,alternative, extreme metal
similar music : Omen movie OST, Rosemary's Baby OST, Mr. Bungle, Morgul
origin : USA
strong spot : originality
weak spot : -

Fantomas is Mike Patton's (Faith No More) extremely interesting metal project. This album contains some of the most sinister covers you will ever come across. A mix of avant-garde metal and movie themes. Some of the songs will surprise you, I am sure. A 100% must-have album.

Tracklist:
1. The Godfather
2. The Golem
3. Experiment In Terror
4. On Step Beyond
5. Night Of The Hunter (Remix)
6. Cape Fear
7. Rosemary's Baby
8. The Devil Rides Out (Remix)
9. Spider Baby
10. The Omen - Ave Satani
11.Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer
12. Vendetta
13. Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion - Fantômas,
14. Investigation Of A Citizen Above Suspicion
15. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
16. Charade

9,5 out of 10 goatheads
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Friday, November 13, 2009

THY CATAFALQUE - ROKA HASA RADIO (2009)

genre : avant-garde, post-black, ambient electronica
similar bands : Arcturus, Shining, Ulver, King Crimson
origin : Hungary
strong spot : originality, diversity
weak spot : clean vocals sound bad at parts, lyrics are in Hungarian

Most post-black metal bands play elevator music with the addition of distortion, they try to be different just to cover up their lack of talent. Fortunately, there are also bands like Thy Catafalque that recently released another intriguing album, so far this is their fourth one. Avant-garde post-black with an ambient psychedelic twist that can ONLY appeal to the experienced and tolerant avant-garde black listeners. Their previous efforts were a bit exaggerative but I think with this one they hit right on target.


9 out of 10 goatheads
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

MORGUL - THE HORROR GRANDEUR (2000) - SKETCH OF SUPPOSED MURDERER (2001)


genre : avant-garde, symphonic black
similar bands : Arcturus
origin : Norway
strong spot : originality, insanity, vocals
weak spot : -

Morgul released two outstanding albums in the beginning of this century and amazed all critics. Their unique avant-garde style and horror ambience are an anthem for expressional freedom and artistic inspiration. They were definitely inspired from the legendary ''La Masquerade Infernale'' but their creations were never based on mimicry. Fans of Arcturus, this is a must-have album (needless to say that if you are not familiar with this band , your jaw will drop)

9,5 out of 10 goatheads
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