Giving Lamb Of God a chug of war is Shropshire’s Arceye.
Arceye describe themselves as a thrash/death metal band but seem to have many different elements including a strong modern metal influence.

The band have clear nods to their roots such as the Metallica-esque intro of ‘Torch Of Betrayal’ but rather than just copying their idols, they seem to bring their own feel.
‘The Divide Between Chaos And Order’ is definitely a full length for those looking for something heavy, having an instant impact with tracks such as ‘The Divide’ which is the musical equivalent of being hit by a bulldozer.

Arceye have created a strong piece of work but unfortunately at times the tracks can seem too similar in structure leading to some of the album being a blur. This does not mean that the album is not worthy of your attention however, with almost progressive moments featuring in ‘Between Chaos.’

Whatever your taste in metal, you will most certainly find something you like on ‘The Divide Between Chaos And Order.

Label: Unsigned
Website: http://www.myspace.com/arceyeuk

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Dave Evans
Judgement Day

Think AC/DC started with (the admittedly amazing) Bon Scott? Well time to go back to your rock n roll history book because they actually began with the talented Dave Evans. But it’s likely that many reviews could  be littered with comparisons to the aforementioned act, when it is clearly better to focus on the singers talent.

Opening track ‘We Don’t Dance To Your Song’ is a ballsy effort at creating a rock anthem and sets the tone for the rest of the album perfectly. The band backing Dave Evans stand up strong and seem to be powered by Red Bull with the amount of energy displayed.

The album contains has some cheesy numbers such as ‘Little Headbanger’ and the lyrically hilarious ‘Band Molls.’ Luckily these numbers don’t make the listener cringe but smile and appreciate the music’s good vibe which is present from first track to last.

A good effort which will hopefully put the singer back on the music map.

Label: Rock Sector Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/daveevansrocks

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Falling Red
Shake the Faith

It’s sleaze, sleaze and more sleaze from glam punk- rockers Falling Red.

‘Shake the Faith’ is eight tracks of catchy choruses, melodic solos and classic beats which are designed to shake the soul (or faith in this case)

The band comes across as a mix of Backyard Babies and Motley Crue which paints a clear picture of the sound the band are aiming for. The vocals of Rozey nod to the classic glam bands as well as being similar to last year’s hit Steel Panther.

Lyrically ‘Shake the Faith’ is corny but this seems intentional with a party atmosphere being a high priority for the music. Tracks such as opener “How You Feel (On Me)” being a prime example.

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

The Hicks - Start A War

With a sound clearly influenced by the likes of Monster Magnet, Black Sabbath and most notably Clutch, ‘Start a War’ delivers ground shaking grooves with some genuinely catchy guitar riffs. Songs such as opener ‘Trippin’ Hippy’ and ‘Green Dragon’ showcase a band which has an undeniably likeable sound but therein lies their biggest problem. The reason their sound is so catchy is because, honestly, they sound the same as Clutch. Now whilst it might not exactly be criticism, sounding like the ‘kings of California’, it does leave the band sounding rather two dimensional.  Though clearly Clutch has inspired this great local band this album gives the feeling that they can never be more than that. A great local band, playing good solid stoner rock.

But what’s really needed on this album is a leap of imagination. Another element to make them stand out, something to make them original. Without that they are, alas doomed to mediocrity.

Label: Unsigned
Website: http://www.myspace.com/thehickswigan

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Ares – Dawn Of Destruction

Hailing from sunny Florida death metallers Ares clearly don’t let their sunny environment affect brutal disposition. Opening for Deicide on their current US tour is going to be a challenge but one which they should be able to conquer. With technical sections to rival any band and solos which cannot fail to impress, they prove they have not just the power and raw aggression but also the extreme skill as musicians to pull this off. Instrumental ‘Remaining Ashes Fall’ is a perfect example of this. Whereas most young bands would feel the need to constantly play as heavy and as fast as humanly possible to prove themselves, Ares succeed primarily because they aren’t afraid of some experimentation.

This album has the rarest of qualities, by the end you want at least 7 more of their albums to play immediately.

Label: Dark Harvest Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/aresfl

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Black Spiders
Cinco Hombres (Diez Cojones)

With more balls and attitude than John Wayne, Black Spiders continue to build on their reputation as a band consistently capable delivering solid slabs of no bull rock. This EP gives you the feeling that for its duration your head has been trapped inside a 70’s Marshall stack. With crushingly heavy riffs aplenty, the band prove not only can they crush you remotely via your stereo but that they can do it with style. From the pounding intro of ‘Stay Down’ to the throat tearing rendition of ACDC’s classic ‘Kicked In The Teeth’ ‘Cinco Hombres . . .’ proves that Black Spiders can pay homage to their idols whilst still managing to do something original at the same time.

Perhaps that's the magic of this band? There’s so many classic influences that they don’t just end up sounding like one of the greats. They somehow give you something you can instantly relate to whilst at the same time subtly hitting you with something completely new and ultimately ballsy as hell.

Roll on their upcoming UK tour with Airbourne!

Label: Unsigned
Website: http://www.theblackspiders.com

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

The New Saints
Promise And Prediction

With a sound somewhere between Backyard Babies and QOTSA, The New Saints’ very own brand of hard/sleaze rock comes as a pleasant surprise after viewing the initial terrifyingly bad cover art. Though not entirely original in its scope their debut EP demonstrates a band which clearly has drive and ambition. It gives the impression of a band who know exactly what they want to play and where they want to be. With some exceptional lead guitar are some excellent production the only thing letting this debut down is a lack of variance. Though this is a good solid EP for a debut, the band will have to kick it up a notch if they want to ever gain critical recognition.

 

Label:
Website: http://www.myspace.com/thenewsaints1

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Moonstone Project
Rebel On The Run

Moonstone Project is the idea of guitarist mastermind Matt Filippini and on this outing his talent really shines through.
‘Rebel On The Run’ is ultimately a classic rock album but borrows from a large range of genres from prog to funk which gives the album a great range of songs. Tracks such as ‘Moonster Booster’ are a good example of what the band is all about with some great feel good rock.
Moonstone Project has a wide range of guest musicians which add the various colours to Filippini’s pallet. The finest moments occur with the guest vocals of Glenn Hughes who appears on the album’s mellowest moment ‘Closer Than You Think.’
The album is drenched in the things you need in a classic rock album, particularly the great guitar work from the man behind the project. The album also has some great prog like keyboards which remind the listener of such greats as Yes.
If you’re missing music which sounds like the classic bands you adore, here’s your answer.

Label: BLISTERING RECORDS
Website: http://www.myspace.com/moonstoneproject

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

After an album like ‘Runnin' Wild’ most bands would have called that the high point in their career and been resigned to the fact they would never produce an album of such quality again. Yet not so with Airbourne. The Aussie nutcases went back to the very same pub, the Criterion Hotel, where they played their first gigs and settled in to write another rock juggernaut with 'No Guts No Glory'.

In the past, after major successes bands tend to release a more commercial or softer album in an attempt to keep the momentum gained from the previous album going, alienating their hardcore fans. But Airbourne somehow haven’t, whether this is to do with their no compromise attitude, the whisky, or some unknown pact with Satan we’ll never know. All that is clear is that the album packs just as much punch as the first. Songs such as ‘It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over’ and ‘Back On The Bottle’ allow the band to play at a near supersonic pace whilst still keeping the sing-a-long factor needed for this kind of ballsy rock shown perfectly in the anthemic ‘Raise The Flag’.

However this doesn’t mean ‘No Guts No Glory’ is merely a faster version of a previous success. Songs such as ‘Bottom Of The Well’ and the second track ‘No Way, But The Hard Way’ allow the band to show their more melodic side whilst not compromising in any way on their intensity.

Opinions are divided on this band. People either love them or hate them. People dislike their larger than life attitude. People accuse them of sounding like AC/DC too much. But surely that’s what makes Airbourne not just a good rock band but shows them to be one of the greats with a bright future ahead. Who cares if they sound like AC/DC? That’s not an insult! Being crazy on stage and having no compromise is what rock is about!

This stunning album cannot fail to swing round even their harshest critics. Such a superb album cannot be ignored.


Label: Roadrunner
Website: http://www.myspace.com/airbourne

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

G.U. Medicine – Lords Of Oblivion

Hailing from Yorkshire the sunny disposition of their home is clearly evident on this, their third full length album. With drop tuned riffs, bellowing vocals and hammering drums the album is instantly accessible and likeable. This album is perfect for pissing off neighbours. Loud, punchy and just a little bit sleazy it delivers, if what you're in the mood for is a night's heavy drinking and unnecessarily loud distorted guitars. But beneath all the bluster and shout is clearly a honed machine with a purpose. With lyrics that are at times both perceptive and subversive, complemented by great riffs such as the one in track 3 ‘Shut Up (Take What's Coming Your Way)' they prove they are much more than another generic sloppy rock band.

After having their music video played on Scuzz and playing with greats such as the Wildhearts and Nick Oliveri and his mondo generator, this band are sure to enjoy even more success on the back of this album.

Label Undergroove Records
My Space http://www.myspace.com/gumedicine1

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

White Wizzard – Over The Top

Listening to White Wizzard’s debut full length album ‘Over The Top’ is like entering a time machine. Having been transported back to 1982 you are subjected to a masterpiece of all that is great about proper, classic metal. From the opener and title track ‘Over The Top’ you are left in no doubt that this album is truly something special. Showing both their capacity to be technical and still know how to rock out, it serves as a perfect introduction a superb album. The second track ’40 Deuces’ proves to be the highlight of the album with vocalist Wyatt ‘Screaming Demon’ showing his full ear bursting range, whilst the rest of the band gallops along in support. Songs such as ‘Out Of Control’ and ‘White Wizzard’ demonstrate that the band can keep the standard high throughout the album, with no room for filler tracks. While the solos in ‘Out Of Control’ prove themselves to be the best on the album, the whole band show their ability throughout and prove that rather than be just a gimmicky band they have more than enough ability to make their own material sound amazing. Therein lies why this album is so brilliant. Though admittedly they are not pushing the boundaries of music with this album, what’s wrong with something classic? White Wizzard manage to play classic metal without ripping anyone off and better still, anything they play could have been from the time of their heroes. Not only that but, had they released this then, it would now be a classic.

Label Earache Records
My Space http://www.myspace.com/whitewizzard

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Chris Laney- Only Come Out At Night

Get your graters at the ready, because here comes one cheesy album from Swedish producer Chris Laney. 

The good news is that for those who crave endless melodic catchy songs, ‘Only Come Out At Night’ is a worthy offering. The bad news is that this formula becomes a bit tedious past track four. 

The album does have moments which hint at future potential for the well known producer. Opener ‘Only Come Out At Night’ has one of those guitar lines that leaps from the speakers, something which is often sorely missed by new artists. 

For a solo album ‘Only Come Out Night’ is also luckily free of the self indulgence that often plagues solo artist releases. The tracks generally just stick to the classic rock formula, often also hinting at Glam acts such as Motley Crue. 

Label: Metal Heaven
Website: http://chrislaney.com

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Echovirus- Invictus

Brighton’s Echovirus have written the soundtrack for those gloomy cold nights that Britain specialises in. 

Invictus is a powerful stab at melancholic modern metal that sounds similar to bands such as Dark Tranquillity. The band have clearly been influenced by the Swedish metal scene but give it their own interesting twist.

Opener ‘Fragments’ sets the tone for the album well with melodic leads and screamed vocals. The album has a sorrowful vibe best displayed in the hypnotic ‘Prelude to Dystopia.’

‘Invictus’ stays on the harsher sound of the modern metal spectrum. This plays in their favour with melody not taking over the album but instead complementing it.

A solid effort from England’s answer to the Gothenburg scene.

Label: Casket Music
Website: http://www.myspace.com/echovirus

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Raising Sand- All Out War

Raising Sand’s album title says it all, this music is all out war against those who do not worship pure rock’ n roll.

This debut outing contains ten soon to be classics that are reminiscent of bands such as AC/DC and Rainbow.

What sets this band apart from the rest of the pack is ultimately the great vocals of TJ. It’s refreshing to see a female vocalist who carries the same punch as the male dominated scene, especially when it sounds as effortless as on ‘All Out War.’

The album is littered with highlights from the seriously infectious ‘Alchemy’ to the bluesy Led Zeppelin esque ‘Witness.’

As if this isn’t enough already ‘All Out War’ contains a set of riffs that are made for headbanging. Where this band found their magic formula I am unsure, but I am sure they aren’t going to be sharing it.

Label: Unsigned
Website: http://www.myspace.com/raisingsand

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Chimp Spanner- At The Dream’s Edge

Sometimes an album comes along that actually dares to push boundaries and ‘At The Dream’s Edge’ is a good example of when it happens and works. 

The album is a one man project, specialising in dizzying progressive metal and rock. The album often reminds the listener of Dream Theater but touches on many different musical landscapes.
‘At The Dream’s Edge’ also has the rarity of having no vocals. This does not mean that the album seems to be missing a layer but instead adds to the atmospheric effect that is present throughout.
Chimp Spanner also delve into some insane time signatures. This is backed up with a high level of technicality which luckily doesn’t become overbearing, but intriguing.
The only complaint is the name, which although will likely grab attention, does not seem to reflect the music in any way.

‘At The Dream’s Edge’ is a great album which has over an hour of convention breaking musical madness.

Label: Basick Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/chimpspanner

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Panic Cell – Fire It Up

Delivering another good solid slab of modern metal, Panic Cell push all the right buttons with their new album ‘Fire It Up’. With chugging and breakdowns aplenty ‘Fire It Up’ cannot fail to get your head nodding along to vocalist Luke Bell’s booming voice. A taught rhythm section provides a driving, powerful basis whilst lead guitars and vocals soar, giving the songs both the hard hitting edge and pace needed for their trademark sound without compromising on melody. The only down side to the album is every song, though passionately delivered and thoughtfully constructed, tend to be a little similar. Unfortunately, the album in turn shows little progression from their early material. Though there are some notable exceptions, songs such as ‘Jaded’ clearly demonstrate the band's ability to vary their sound, the album for me could have done with more diversity.

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Isolysis – Condemned

Unfortunate. That's the first word that comes to mind when listening to this latest offering from Isolysis. Unfortunate not because they’re bad but because they’re about eight years late for nu-metal. With a sound as dated as it is predictable, they play an album mired by unnecessary chugging and terrible lyrics, without the courage of any originality to make it interesting. The album's only saving grace is some good solos, which provide a welcome respite from the otherwise stagnant monotony that is the rest of the band. The album however does have some good production with each boring element crystal clear and sadly unavoidable. The worst part about this band, is the fact that they are completely average. There are no memorable riffs, no hooks or sing-a-long choruses, no ambition and most importantly, no originality. However if what you want is nostalgia, and if when you were younger your favourite band was Spineshank, and you thought Jonathan Davis was cool then these might just be the band for you.

Label: Unsigned
Website: http://www.myspace.com/isolysis

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

The More I See
Tread The Darker Path

With a perfect mix of modern contemporary metal and classic thrash The More I See are one of those rare bands unafraid to push boundaries. With technical guitar parts, thundering drums, powerful vocals and screaming solos providing everything any self respecting metalhead requires, it’s hard not to take notice when they start mixing things up. Their technical twisting nature and unpredictable structures make this album a work of pure inspiration. Songs such as ‘Unholy Feast’ show an ability to maintain an unprecedented level of brutality whilst still allowing enough groove to make any stoner fan happy. In contrast, album opener ‘Veiled By Greed’ veers superbly between Exodus style riffs and vocals and Strapping Young Lad breakdowns without ever sounding directly like either band. Everything on this album is perfect, from the bizarre and eerie artwork to the masterful production and perfect cover of Iron Maiden’s Wicker Man.  After a stunning performance at this year's Hammerfest and with this album to follow, this band are going to be massive!

Label: Transcend Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/themoreisee

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Unfortunately not doing what it says on the tin is ‘Revelations’ by All Guns Blazing.
All Guns Blazing play modern hardcore and do not vary from the thousands of other bands doing the same. The main reason this problem occurs are the vocals, which largely seem lifeless.
The music behind the vocals can seem interesting, in particular the guitar leads. Another high point is the tight and passionate drumming of Tom Pepler that hints at a band that has a wide range of influences.
Another issue for ‘Revelations’ is the lyrics, which sound as if they haven’t taken much thought. Lyrics are not an important aspect to some, but to those of us who read along to the songs, ‘Revelations’ will be no doubt underwhelming.
If you like bands such as Bleeding Through and Whitechapel then this is by far not the worst modern hardcore band to give a listen to, but not one that shines particularly bright either.

Label: Rising Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/allgunsblazinguk

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Bleed From Within - Empire

More ‘core for the masses comes in the shape of Bleed From Within. ‘Empire’ is an eleven song effort from a hardworking band that are currently on tour with Deathcore giants Trigger The Bloodshed.
The aforementioned band appears to be a strong influence on Bleed From Within who certainly know the ABCs of the modern hardcore movement. Influences from bands such as Lamb Of God are also clear on tracks such as ‘The Healing’.
Bleed From Within seem to have overdosed on breakdowns, which is bad news for people who enjoy variance, but is no doubt great for those who do that bizarre karate in modern hardcore pits.
‘Empire’ is a well put together album and definitely can compete with the rest of the Deathcore scene. The album also has the crisp production down well which the modern music fan seems to prefer.
‘Empire’ is lacking in highlights, but will no doubt gain fans from those devoted to chug.

Label: Rising Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/bleedfromwithin

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Elimination- Destroyed By Creation

Howling with the rest of the new thrash pack are UK’s Elimination. ‘Destroyed By Creation’ is the band’s debut full length and has all the elements you’d expect for an aspiring thrash band.
The formula is pulled off well and is very similar in style to bands like Evile, the problem is that the formula can become tiresome. The album is over an hour in length and it seems if the songs were cut down somewhat the album would carry more of a punch.
There are, however, many strengths that shine in ‘Destroyed By Creation.’ Elimination seems to have a good ear for melody and when the melodic passages kick in, the band are at their most memorable.
The band also sound very genuine about what they’re doing. This is a relief in a scene which appears to have a lot of bands jumping on the bandwagon.
Not exactly metal thrashing mad, but a good effort.

Label: Rising Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/eliminationband

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Eye For An Eye- Downfall

It’s only a short trip back in time for grunge worshippers Eye For An Eye.
For a band that have only been going 3 years, Eye For An Eye seem to have nailed their style. Eye For An Eye has elements of bands such as Alice In Chains and Soungarden as well as more hard rock bands.
Eye For An Eye are driven by the deep, soulful vocals which dominate the album. These vocals give that depressive, mournful sound associated with the grunge movement.
‘Downfall’ also has some quite memorable riffs and acoustic moments such as the album’s title track. These riffs, as with the vocals, draw heavily from 90s music but do not seem dated.
With new albums out by bands like Alice In Chains, now is a good time for a grunge rock band to get some decent exposure. A solid album for those who crave Nirvana rather than Maiden.

Label: Rising Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/eyeforaneyeband

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Sarah Jezebel Diva- A Sign Of Sublime

‘A Sign of Sublime’ is the debut solo outing from former Cradle Of Filth vocalist Sarah Jezebel Diva.
As expected, the album is an operatic and gothic affair, bringing to mind chart toppers Evanescence. The album hints at influences from other genres outside metal, but this is mainly for those who enjoy gothic metal.
The album is described as being like ‘an epic film score’ at times by Sarah. The film score elements do appear to be true, but this film would have a 20 pound budget and heavily rip off Tim Burton.
‘A Sign of Sublime’ becomes tedious due to its lack of stand out moments. Almost all the songs are heavily guitar orientated, but manage to have no memorable guitar parts, the same can be said for the other instruments thrown in.
It appears Sarah made a mistake leaving her day job as this is unlikely to gather much attention from an already crowded gothic music scene.

Label: Rising Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/jezebeldeva

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

The Argent Dawn- A Blank Eternity

With Job For A Cowboy (unfortunately) getting an ever increasing spotlight, it’s no surprise to see more and more bands take a stab at the Deathcore trophy.
‘A Blank Eternity’ definitely has the genre's main feature which is breakdowns and it has plenty of them. In fact it is fair to say it has way too may of them, by the end of the disc I wanted to break down.
The band has the modern death metal vocals down well and are at times reminiscent of modern Cannibal Corpse. Behind these vocals is a repetitive formula which gets irritating past track 2. Perhaps the band should take some influences pre 2007 into the mixer?!
If you are into your modern production and anything with screamed vocals this may be for you. If you like your extreme metal ferocious with stand out tracks, look elsewhere.

Label: Rising Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/theargentdawnuk

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Why do these bands exist? In a market completely saturated with fringed kids thinking they’re cool, how do such bands think they’re being original? Lacking any sense of originality the album is a perfect demonstration of everything wrong with modern music. No element of this band is worthy of note. Musically it could be any one of a hundred bands, whilst the vocals attempt power and emotion and instead end up sounding like some pre-pubescent child’s in front of the mirror whinging.

The production could have been done better in a pond whilst the artwork looks like a cross between an album cover by ‘The Used’ and a postcard of Dorset. This album borders on insulting, in its duplicity. In one moment it tries to come across as original, inventive and new, whilst at the same time it clearly relies on image and endorsements to be successful. This is a horrid album of lies, fit only for the very worst kind of consumer whore.

Label: Rising Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/depththeband

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Lacking in presence, power and originality ‘Home’ is an album generic from beginning to end. Filled with songs to cry over your girlfriend to, it is as annoying as it is bland, with uninspired lyrics, half-arsed guitars and predictable song structures. Though the band tries to create epic choruses with clear sing-a-long moments, the fact remains that all this has been done before and better than these guys.

The only saving grace for the band is the vocalist, Tom Kellow, who at times manages some perfect vocal harmonies. These moments, however, only offer a brief respite before some inevitable chugging breakdown, with someone screaming over his clean vocals about some broken relationship.

Though the last track tries to introduce some keyboard in an attempt to add even more soppy melody, it’s drowned out by the mix and feels more like a token gesture to show some ingenuity rather than a thought-out composition. Surely there are enough of these bands now!

Label: Rising Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/everythingburnsband

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Sworn Amongst – Severance

Sworn Amongst play with enough power, honesty and conviction to level cities, demonstrating a true mastery of metal. Their mind numbing thrash attack blends together classic grove orientated riffs with more modern influences; giving everyone what they want, without becoming cliché or compromising on their raw energy and aggression.

From the beginning the album barrages any listener with riffs and growling vocals, each and every element superbly executed and honed into a vicious metal machine. Having recently toured with thrash revival masters Gama Bomb, this new album sees them cementing themselves as flag bearers of the thrash revival, proud to play pure thrash without compromise.

Listening to Severance, it’s almost as if anyone who didn’t like the album would be physically beaten by the music until they submitted to its mastery. Such an amalgamation of classic thrash, modern elements and such honest tenacity is a truly refreshing thing.

Label: Rising Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/swornamongst

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

The Glitterati – Are you one of us?

Being a sleaze rock/glam band is always a risky game. A genre so based on image and attitude only works if it’s completely genuine, believable and has the kick-ass songs to match. If you can nail this formulae then sure success and all this sin you can handle are yours, but more likely you end up like the Glitterati. A poor slightly embarrassing, imitation.

Songs such as ‘Fight, Fight, Fight’ and ‘Right From The Start’, show a band desperate to be something they’re not. Its almost as if they’re trying to hard. Musically nothing much happens throughout the album, save for some unimpressive solos and repetitive choruses, but occasionally something truly horrendous happens. The singer Paul Gautrey can, for most of the album, muddle along with some sleazy melodies, but occasionally he does his own backing vocals, a painful enough torture without the torment of him trying to scream. The chorus to ‘Fight, Fight, Fight’ is destroyed by this man's ineptitude and constricted vocal range sounding more like a cat being throttled than Vince Neil.

Something seriously went awry when making this album. It’s like they almost made a good album, but in coming so close, made something utterly crap instead.

Label: DR2 RECORDS/GLOBAL MUSIC
Website: http://www.myspace.com/theglitterati

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Trigger The Bloodshed – Degenerate

Quite what this wall of noise is hoping to achieve is beyond explanation. With a poor mix giving the album no clarity whatsoever, the machine gun double bass crushes all other elements. It’s genuinely hard to understand how anyone has decided this mess is fit for release. With vocals sounding like a wounded pterodactyl rather than the deep powerful menace intended, the album comes across more as a laughable attempt to be extreme than a credible album. It's almost as if the band heard some extreme metal, decided to have a crack at it but forgot how to play when it came to recording.

With no change in dynamics, throughout the album, any listener is subjected to a barrage of ill-conceived riffs and a drummer who, though he seems quite capable at what he does, shows no variety or musicality throughout the album. Again that brings us back to the horrifying vocals. Unclear and uncontrolled they only serve to compound this disaster of an album with their constant, droning dirge. 

Label: Rising Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/triggerthebloodshed

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Obsessive Compulsive
Dreams Of Death And The Death OF Dreams

This is clearly a band with something to say. From the start it's abundantly clear that this is no half baked album, rife with filler tracks and commercial hooks. It is instead a lean, muscular killing machine ready to ram its message of self belief and determination so far down your throat you’ll choke to death on its anti-establishment ideals. Songs such as ‘$$’ and ‘Spit The Medicine’ are as ferocious as they are poignant whilst songs ‘The Decay Of Hope’ and ‘A Cocktail Of Toxins’, though slower in tempo and brutality, demonstrate an ability to convey all the same anger and resentment in a much more malicious and refined way.
This self propelled band give the impression that you can either like their music and appreciate what they have to say, or, be crushed beneath their inexorable rise to great heights.


Label: Vociferous Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/obsessivecompulsive

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Black Sonic PROPHETS
‘Out of the Light- Into the Night’

If you don’t think enough radio friendly rock has come out of the US already, then Black Sonic Prophets are here to give some from Europe.
What sets Black Sonic Prophets apart from their European competition I don’t know and ‘Out of the Light- Into the Night’ proves to be 11 tracks of forgettable music.
The band goes for those big choruses and hum along tunes and at times achieve their goal. This seems to be a rare occurrence though and as a whole the album just seems too clichéd.
Black Sonic Prophets has packed up a good live history supporting big names such as Stone Sour. Perhaps there’s more to their live show than on record because based on this outing I really don’t get how they’ve left the pub circuit.
Better than listening to Lostprophets, I suppose.

Label: Hype Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/blacksonicmusic

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Chthonic - Mirror of Retribution

Extremity evidently is a global thing, proven by Taiwan’s Chthonic. Chthonic play melodic black metal but have a unique edge incorporating oriental sounds into their music. This makes ‘Mirror of Retribution’ an intriguing listen and helps Chthonic gain their own identity in an overflowing extreme metal world.
From the atmospheric intro of ‘Autoscopy’ it is clear Chthonic aren’t a band who do things by halves. Each song is overflowing with the band’s culture from the music itself to the historical lyrics.
In terms of sound the band could be said to be similar to Cradle of Filth but with a more honest and, ultimately, metal edge. This music isn’t going to be for the black metal fan that lives in a cave but that clearly isn’t the band’s intention.
The album also has a good production job from Anthrax’s Rob Caggiano (a surprising choice). The most pleasant surprise from the production is that the band remains symphonic without the keyboards becoming overwhelming.
If you’re getting bored of Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth etc, then here’s your answer.

Label: SPINEFARM
Website: http://www.myspace.com/chthonictw

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Colonel Blast - For the Greater Good

Dragging the modern day ugliness of Britain into the sunlight are Colonel Blast. Fusing Hardcore, Death Metal and Grindcore (don’t read as Deathcore, this is miles away) together, Colonel Blast create one fierce beast.
At just over half an hour in length, the band pack a ton of ideas and variance into ‘For the Greater Good.’ Brief moments of calm appear amongst the all out pandemonium the band indulges in.
The vocals of Matt provide a selling point for the band with inhuman shrieks combined with guttural roars. The band behind the vocals are also an interesting proposition with occasional technical passages rearing their head amongst the fury.
A great album and a great sound of things to come.

Label: Condate Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/colonelblast

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Die So Fluid
‘The World Is Too Big for One Lifetime’

Bridging the gap between London and Hollywood are rockers Die So Fluid.
Die So Fluid’s new album ‘The World Is Too Big…’ shows off the blatant talent of singer/bassist Grog who gives us 11 twisted anthems.
Musically, Die So Fluid touches on a wide selection of genres but fall easiest into the goth rock category, with the refreshing bonus of avoiding the (overused) keyboard. The band could appeal to a large selection of fans, with rock and metal riffs melding together throughout.
The album’s only flaw seems to be that it seems a little one paced, but Die So Fluid have potential to get much bigger based on the strengths of this long player.

Label: DR2 / Demolition / GLOBAL MUSIC
Website: http://www.myspace.com/diesofluid

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Diva Suicide - Scars

‘Scars’ is the new mini album from synth goth lovers Diva Suicide. The main focus of the band is evidently the vocals of XS who has a smooth, harmless enough voice which helps the choruses stick in your brain.
Diva Suicide place the beep over the riff and this is definitely not for rock and metal fans. Those who like their cyber and goth may find some pleasure in this however, with some well arranged songs.
It seems ultimately that ‘Scars’ will not get Diva Suicide noticed in a global scene with more goth bands about in each city than I would dare count!

Label: MTG Music Management
Website: http://www.myspace.com/divasuicide

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Neverborne - Glasstone Records Promo

Here, before me, lies a 3 song taster of modern metal’s next hope Neverborne. This band aren’t holding any pretences, wearing their musical influences, such as Dark Tranquillity, on their sleeves.
The vocals are often reminiscent of bands such as Lamb of God, which is no bad thing for the band who pack in a ton of memorable hooks to back them up.
Neverborne don’t break the mold on these three songs, but do what they do well with each song proving a stand out. Tracks such as ‘Cycle of Existence’ are based around supreme melodies which should rise them above the mediocre tidal wave that is the rest of the modern metal scene.

Label: Glasstone Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/neverborne

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Saints of Eden - Forbidden Pleasure

Trying to persuade you to the dark side is gothic metallers Saints of Eden.
‘Forbidden Pleasure’ is eleven tracks of Industrial flavoured metal that varies from cyber anthems to chugging metal. The problem with this is the two styles do not seem to mix well and because of this the album has no sense of coherence.
For some, ‘Forbidden Pleasure’ could be seen as a high point of their gothic calendar. The lyrics have clearly had thought put into them, the start-stop riffs are at times imaginative and some of the synths are very infectious.
This is not the case for the whole album unfortunately and the disc definitely contains some filler tracks. This is a worry for an album that is only just over 45 minutes in length.
A good effort but I think Trent Reznor can still sleep easy for the time being.

Label: Metech-recordings
Website: http://www.myspace.com/saintsofeden

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Serpentine - A Touch of Heaven

Get your tissues ready, 'cause it’s an emotional outing from Serpentine. Fitting into the soft rock category, ‘A Touch of Heaven’ could be seen along the same lines as Journey and doesn’t seem ashamed to do so.
For this long player, Serpentine make their musical intentions clear from the beginning. Almost every (if not every) song is about love and heartbreak, with the typical soft rock structure. Although the music is typical of the genre, the band pulls off the style well and some of the guitar and keyboard elements prove very effective.
The vocals provided by Tony Mills are the most standout part of the album. The singer has an impressive wail and sounds very similar to Edguy vocalist Tobias Sammet.
Full of catchy choruses and emotion drenched solos, ‘A Touch of Heaven’ is ideal for those who miss the days when soft rock dominated the airwaves.

Label: AOR Heaven (Europe) / Marquee Avalon (Japan)
Website: http://www.myspace.com/planetserpentine

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Skull Branded Pirates
The Legend of Salty Jim

You certainly won’t find any treasure on this outing from Skull Branded Pirates. The pirate gimmick is used to the maximum here and becomes incredibly tedious over the 9 track album.
Similar in style to Alestorm, Skull Branded Pirates have little going on musically and rely largely on the gimmick. Any moments that do shine through become overshadowed by the cringeworthy lyrics such as ‘Blackbeard’s last stand.’
The band, luckily, are guitar orientated rather than relying on keyboards which has become too familiar in the gimmick metal scene. The problem is the guitar leads are often poor and sometimes bewilder by not fitting the music whatsoever.
Skull Branded Pirates often seem to sound the same as their idols. Scandinavian influences of the band aren’t subtle and the band often sounds too similar to bands such as Turisas.
For your own sanity, just type Running Wild into Google and leave it there.

WEBMASTER'S NOTE
I happen to like SBP with their pirate style metal and let's face it, any theme based music is a 'gimmick'. SBP portray a modern day musical look at life on the open seas and pirate shenanigans. They capture this very well and unlike 'Alestorm' they also look the part too. Themed bands have their place in this world.  SBP achieve what they set out to do, providing a fun and entertaining live set. Whether the fantastical tales of pirates are true or not, singing about rainbows, wizards  and dragons didn’t do Dio any harm. a-hargh!

Label: UNSIGNED
Website: http://www.skullbrandedpirates.com

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Stone Run - ‘Stone Run’ and ‘II’ eps

Hailing from Sheffield are alternative rockers Stone Run who have not one but two releases to sink your teeth into.
The first, self titled offering sees the band attempt to balance catchy riffs with grunge sensibilities. This works to a degree and although the songs do have a sense of enthusiasm, they all seem to meld in to one large Alter Bridge tribute.

The second EP, imaginatively titled ‘II’ unfortunately makes no progression. The material is so similar in sound to the first EP that they may as well have just re-released the first.

There are however moments that shine within this band and a wide range of influences make themselves known across the two EPs. These moments are, however, too few and far between and ultimately the band just seems a bit dull.

Label: UNSIGNED
Website: http://www.myspace.com/stonerunmusic

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Arthemis – Heroes

A stunning lesson in modern thrash and power metal, ‘Heroes’ serves as an example to all what modern metal can be. With enough classic influences and harmonies to keep even the purest of metal heads satisfied, Arthemis instantly make an impact. With powerful vocals and ludicrously heavy guitar parts ‘Heroes’ showcases a band capable of producing the very best kind of metal. Stunning solo’s riddle the album like bullet holes, complementing the drums and bass perfectly, demonstrated perfectly on the instrumental masterpiece ‘Crossfire’. With such power and musicianship it’s hard to see how this band can’t get massive.

Label: Crash & Burn Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/arthemisweb

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Bad Habit – Timeless

This ‘best of’ from Swedish giants Bad Habit is a perfect representation of their career. Formed in 1986 by American born guitarist Hal Johnson, Bad Habit’s sounds has clear influences. Bands such as Boston, Van Halen, and Journey have clearly had a massive impact on this band, yet it’s not until you listen again and compare it to Bon Jovi that it becomes apparent exactly where they ripped off their sound. Their attempt at powerful, stadium filling soft rock, sadly falls short of the bar, making for and hours worth of cringe-worthy, painful listening. Constantly underwhelming, the album lacks the intensity, or conviction needed to make this kind of music convincing. Though this album does have its moments (mostly during the guitar solo’s) they never capitalise on these opportunities and instead always slip back into the safety net of cliché, soft rock.

However, there are some genuine exceptions. Though the cover may look like a Westlife album the two new songs ‘Turning Water into Wine’ and ‘Rock This City’, most notably the former, are genuinely good powerful material, ‘Turning Water into Wine’ have a massive sing along chorus. Perhaps finally they have nailed their sound and managed what they originally set out to do.

Label: AOR HEAVEN
Website: http://www.badhabitvip.com

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Propax – What Lies Inside

‘What Lies Inside’ sounds like an album written without thinking first. From the outset the album chugs and blasts away without really making any impact. After an annoyingly long air raid siren for an intro the band proceeds to play like a group of angry teenagers who have just decided to make an album and are angry about it. The band play like they’re more bothered about trying to be heavy than they are about being serious musicians. After the same riff has been played eight times, the album takes an unexpected an unwelcome stab at playing some thrash and ends leaving you feeling cheated and at a loss as to just what has happened. With cheap production only making the situation worse this album surely can’t be the best this band can do. Lets hope the next release is better.

Label: Unsigned
Website: http://www.myspace.com/propax

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Sa-Da-Ko

This EP truly does provide us with a problem. Sometimes its raw Hardcore edge carries with it such presence and conviction that as a listener you’re forced to pay attention and admire a band with such tenacity. Yet at the same time it equally has it moments where you just think ‘Why have you done this?!’ Case in point being opener: ‘Grow’. Undeniably heavy, it certainly makes an impact. Its message of futility and a bleak outlook on the future lend the music a depressing anger and power unrivalled at their level. Yet some lyrics, such as those in the chorus just sound like the drunken ramblings of a dejected, unemployed individual without direction. Yet if raw energy is what you seek, then Sa-Da-Ko is undeniably the thing for you. This is to murder to.

Label:
Website: http://www.sa-da-ko.com

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Second Skin – Captive Audience

It seems impossible that four separate individuals can make music with such focus and direction. Captive Audience, sounds so energised and directed that it almost feels as if the band have been honed into playing as a single instrument, yet at the same time the music carries with it such depth and passion that at times it sounds as though a bleak orchestra of guitars and drums is directed at you personally. Disturbingly bleak lyrics and vocals are supported by a masterfully technical band, giving the music a constantly unexpected direction. Morose and beautiful this is truly a glorious  album for anyone who likes to think differently about life and music.

Label: Unsigned
Website: http://www.myspace.com/secondskin

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Subject 7 – Self titled

From the ashes of local bands Hockey Mask Heroes and Asylum comes the new offering Subject 7. From the beginning their aim is clear. Make some modern metal people will buy. Whilst their songs aren’t exactly bad they are good either. An exercise in being average they run off songs that could be on any Trivium or Bullet For My Valentine CD, with the proficiency and an American accent to make any modern metal fan happy. That being said, there are some genuine moments on this EP. At times the band shows hints of originality and musicianship which belies their overall trendy sound. In short they need more balls. If they go with their instincts and follow their hearts rather than what’s commercially successful they could be truly great.

Label: Unsigned
Website: http://www.myspace.com/subjectseven

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

It’s hard to quite pin down what this could be described as. One genre, clearly just isn’t enough for this band. Songs such as ‘Better World’ and ‘Running Through Your Veins’ have an almost power metal edge to their sound whilst tracks such as ‘Give it up’ demonstrate an odd amalgam of groove orientated riffs and jazzy, Toto-esque keyboards. Toward the end of the album the soft, lilting tones of ‘The Love I Used To Know’ offer a safe point of reference as a genuine power ballad before the album once again starts mixing things up.

Label: Metal Heaven
Website: http://www.myspace.com/wickedsensationmusic

Reviewer:

MATTHEW GERRARD

Brutal Deluxe- Wall of Damage

Brutal Deluxe strip metal down to its bare bones for all to see. The band play metal in a form that sounds somehow primitive as well as inventive.
The bands influences are clear with bands like Machine Head and Sepultura playing a big part in their sound. This is no doubt why they put brutal in their name with more chug than a drinking competition.
Tracks such as ‘All Things Meaningless’ show a more melodic edge to the band. Each instrument is essential to the overall sound and the melodic parts in particular make good use of the bass provided by the talented Guary MacSeanlaoic.
The artwork for ‘Wall of Damage’ seems similar to Pantera’s ‘Vulgar Display of Power’ which is another blatant influence on the band. The simple black and white picture of violence matches the minimalist riffing contained within the album.
A taste for experimentation as well as creating all out pandemonium is why ‘Wall of Damage’ is worth your time.

Label: Chimerical Recordings
Website: http://www.myspace.com/brutaldeluxe

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Buckcherry- All Night Long

I’ve got my fun factor 5, I’ve got my 24 case of beer, I’m ready for Buckcherry’s latest outing.
‘All Night Long’ is exactly what you’d expect from the band, sleazy lyrics, glam riffing and a lorry worth of debauchery. The title track for the album is an instant reminder of why this band are playing festivals worldwide with a good times, Friday night vibe.
Buckcherry can’t be crowned the masters of subtlety with track names like ‘It’s A Party’ but do what they do well. Typical ballad songs are also present here such as ‘I Want You’ and though predictable, do show the band have talent.
Some of the tracks on ‘All Night Long’ seem like sleaze by numbers with tracks such as ‘Recovery’ being blatant filler. It seems only true die hards of the band could appreciate every track.
Clearly generous to their fans, Buckcherry have stuck a seven song acoustic EP on the end of the album. Certain songs like ‘These Things’ have a surprising amount of power as acoustic numbers but, again, this is more for the die hards than the casual fan.
‘All Night Long’ is an album that should cement the band as one of hard rocks most reliable talents.

Label: Eleven Seven Music
Website: http://www.buckcherry.com

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Citizen Charlie- Until the Day

Citizen Charlie sprinkle some sugar coated pop rock on 3 song EP ‘Until the Day.’ With catchy guitar melodies and simple structures ‘Until the Day,’ could easily fit in with the kind of rock music you hear played on mainstream radio.
The songs draw on personal topics and the lyrics to ‘Cheater’ in particular show an honest display from the vocalist. The music behind these words captures the mood of the lyrics and occasionally proves somewhat atmospheric.
This EP is probably a safer bet for those who like Avril Lavigne than Anvil, but if that’s your bag you’ll be at home with Citizen Charlie.
 

Label:
Website: http://www.myspace.com/citizencharlie

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Exit State- Death of a Rockstar

Modern rockers Exit State have pulled out all the stops on their debut album. ‘Death of a Rockstar’ is nine songs of accomplished noise that carries quite a punch.
At times seeming like a heavier version of Foo Fighters, Exit State have evident mainstream potential. The songs here have clearly had some thought put into them and tracks such as ‘Bad Days’ are custom built for those sing along moments.
‘Death of a Rockstar’ also flows well with the heavier numbers mixing effortlessly with softer moments such as part one of the title track. The heavier parts of the band stick out more overall but bonus points are awarded for not playing it safe.
Well done on ‘em for getting signed to King Prawn Records and proving why they’ve landed that deal.
 

Label: King Prawn Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/exitstate

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Fury UK- A Way of Life

Let’s face it, since the 80s British metal has never had the attention it deserves and so, has remained in the underground. One band who may be able to change that, by grabbing the global spotlight, are Fury UK.
The band have a clearly British sound that is missing from many of UK’s modern bands. Elements of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Motorhead are all hear in on one unholy cocktail of rage.
The songs on ‘A Way of Life’ have that x factor that makes them stand out from the rest of the traditional metal hopefuls. Tracks such as ‘Fall from Grace’ should be a starting point for anyone who thinks England’s music scene has nothing else to offer.
The only negative point on ‘A Way of Life’ is some tracks seem too lengthy.  But as this is the only real problem with the disc, Fury UK’s latest album is a triumph.

Label: Rocksector Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/furyuk

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Godsized
 The Phoney Tough and the Crazy Brave

Far from phoney are one of English rock’s biggest hopes Godsized. New EP ‘The Phoney Tough..’ continues to prove why this band are gaining an ascending status in the world of the riff.
The title track makes the band’s game plan blatant with soulful vocals and a mountain worth of groove to chew on. The guitar work on this track is heroic and beckons back to the glory days of the music we all love.
‘The Phoney Tough..’ sees Godsized wearing their hearts on their sleeves, playing honest, monolithic rock. They also manage to shove in more ideas into three songs than some bands do a whole album. The power of the riff compels you!

Label:
Website: http://www.myspace.com/godsized

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Immortal Sense- Call It Anything

Immortal Sense like to mix things up. The lyrics are part Japenese, part English, while the music rams through various metal subgenres.
Ultimately a modern metal band, Immortal Sense have produced something very appetising for those who listen to bands like Lamb of God and Whitechapel. The band seems to be out to defy getting the ‘just another metalcore band’ tag with a long player that separates them from the mediocre.
A track that has the same name as your band has to be among your strongest and the second track of ‘Call It Anything’ achieves this. The track has a melodic hook that pierces the flesh and won’t let go.
‘Call It Anything’ has some of the most interesting guitar work I have heard from a band in this field. Beating the Americans at their own game should surely make Immortal Sense proud and rightly so.

Label: Rising Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/enemajapan

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Spitting in the face of genre classifications are Kinasis. Three songs are given here that constantly change form and constantly surprise.
First song ‘In Vivo’ sets the tempo well with screamed vocals and clean vocals balancing on top of an ever changing layer of heavily distorted guitars.
It is fair to say this band have been influenced by the industrial and modern metal scenes, but instead of imitating they have tried to form something of their own.
The only dilemma which occurs is that the constant change means the songs lack a sense of fluidity, but this will no doubt just be teething problems for the band.
Those who like their modern metal to be a bit more than just breakdowns will enjoy this.

Label: Unsigned
Website: http://www.myspace.com/kinasis

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Morgue Orgy- The River and I

If George A Romeo was an extreme metalhead, he’d probably back Morgue Orgy. Their debut EP sees the Brummies create a Frankenstein creation of different musical styles.
At times sounding like fellow Englishmen Cradle of Filth, Morgue Orgy seem to aim to create a theatrical and symphonic take on underground metal. They give it a fair stab too, but occasionally the keyboards seem too over the top and overcompensating for a lack of memorable riffs.
Tracks such as ‘Such an Unsuccessful Abortion’ are, however, very powerful and the talent of vocalist Gray is blatant throughout ‘The River and I.’
Five tracks of bombastic metal that will surely see their career rise from the (unholy) grave.

Label: Unsigned
Website: http://www.myspace.com/morgueorgy

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Scenario II- Uniforms of Death

Somewhere between Lamb of God and In Flames lies Scenario II. ‘Uniforms of Death’ contains twelve songs of melodic madness.
Scenario II have that Gothenburg sound nailed and use it to their advantage. If you’re missing the old style of In Flames, tracks such as ‘Doomsday’ may be just what you’re looking for.
‘Uniforms of Death’ has a harsh balance of keyboards and guitars which at times seems bewildering. It seems if the band picked one over the other they would ultimately have a stronger album.
Another factor that seems a bit strange on ‘Uniforms of Death’ is the female vocals. The screamed male vocals regularly clash with the operatic female ones leading to songs like ‘Hallowed’ seeming a little disjointed.
What the album does succeed in is variance. The intro to ‘Prelude to…’ gives a moody atmosphere that helps build up to the balls to the wall following track ‘…Forever.’
It’s unlikely they’ll get to Soilwork’s level of popularity, but they’ve given it a good go.

Label: DL
Website: http://www.myspace.com/scenario2

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

The Empire Shall Fall- Awaken

Rather than being bitter at his former band’s success, Ex Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse leach has given some serious competition with ‘Awaken.’
In terms of style, comparisons can be drawn to his previous band, but The Empire Shall Fall prove a more surprising, technical and interesting prospect than Killswitch Engage.
Rather than play it safe and doing another breakdown by numbers longplayer, The Empire Shall Fall have clearly tried to push themselves musically. The music they’re playing isn’t exactly ground braking, but is much better than 99 percent of the crap modern metal scene.
The one major let down of ‘Awaken’ is the corny lyrics. The lyrics are largely a terrible attempt at ‘smashing the system’ and come across as a bad version of Rage Against the Machine (quite a feat.).
This is luckily the albums only real flaw and hopefully the effort the band has made will get them more noticed than the next Avenged Sevenfold copycats.

Label: ANGLE SIDE SIDE
Website: http://www.myspace.com/theempireshallfall

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

The Perfect Crime
Everything Else Can Wait

Post hardcore is a genre that is overcrowded. There are thousands upon thousands of up and coming bands in this genre, including The Perfect Crime.
What makes The Perfect Crime stand out then?! The vocals of Adam Mortaro are above average and the balance between screamed and clean vocals seems effortless.
Apart from this ‘Everything Else Can Wait’ is the same as every other post hardcore album. The only unique aspect to the band seems to be the artwork, which has a nature theme that is simple yet effective.
Buying an album for the artwork seems pretty pointless, so I’d say unless you like endless repetition and regurgitation of what’s been done before, look elsewhere.

Label: Speechless Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/theperfectcrime

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

The Refreshers- Life

Good vibes are aplenty from English rockers The Refreshers. Five song EP ‘Life’ cashes in on the distinctive vocals of vocalist Sarah “Blottie” Richardson and appears to pay off.
The Refreshers don’t re invent the wheel here and seem a little clichéd at times, but a certain charm creeps in to the EP. Tracks like ‘Devil in Me’ have catchy vocal lines which no doubt transfer well on to the stage.
The minimalistic riffs on ‘Secret’ are also a highlight, proving sometimes less is more. The Refreshers have produced an EP, which fittingly, is refreshing and for that reason deserves your attention.

Label: Unsigned
Website: http://www.myspace.com/the.refreshers

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

The Virginmarys- Cast the First Stone

The Virginmarys are a take no prisoners, hell fuelled, music trip. Contained within the six tracks of ‘Cast the First Stone’ is a musical formula that a lot of bands have tried to nail, but haven’t come close to The Virginmarys.
Breaking down the style of their music, there is a wide appeal here for an alternative audience. A hard rock fan, an indie fan and a good-times music fan could walk into a bar and enjoy what’s on offer here.
What drives this band seems to be gigantic riffs. This is most evident on opener ‘Bang Bang Bang,’ which has a riff that’ll stick in the head for months. The Virginmarys are doing nothing technical or new here, but have that winning rock formula under their collective thumbs.
A sign of great things to come.

Label: Townsend Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/thevirginmarys

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Touchstone
Live in the USA East Coast West Coast

Live efforts are always a tricky one to asses and Touchstone’s ‘Live in the USA….’ is no different.
The mix on the album is very polished and it is unclear how close the songs actually sounded on the night compared with how they do now. Regardless of this, the musicians themselves have undeniable talent.
On songs such as ‘Zinomorph’ Touchstone show why they have gained a reputation for musicianship with a dizzying display of technical ability.
The main issue with the band seems to be that, despite their technical brilliance, the songs are somehow a bit dull. Many of the songs seem to melt into each other and the stand out moments are few and far between.
One moment that does stand out is a fantastic cover of ‘Mad World,’ which has been given a unique spin by the band. Unfortunately the fact that the band’s strongest song in the set is a cover means that their own material has failed to make an impact.
Touchtone fans may well be more than happy with this, but for the rest of the prog crowd this may seem too lifeless a live album to be worth purchasing.

Label: Factory Music
Website: http://www.touchstonemusic.co.uk

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Amberian Dawn- End of Eden

The Scandinavians have taught us the way of symphonic keyboards and epic landscapes and Amberian Dawn seek to capitalise on that. 
The band has obvious musical ties with fellow countrymen Nightwish with strong female operatic vocals being the band's main selling point. The vocals provided by Heidi Parviainen don’t seem to quite match the former Nightwish front woman but meet the atmosphere of the album well. 
Amberian Dawn seem happy to be part of the scene and it’s not surprising seeing its popularity in their native Country. The overall sound fits together nicely and each instrument has its own chance to shine during the album. 
‘End of Eden’ also has some experimentation such as the classical ‘‘Virvatulen Laulu.’ This song has duelling operatic vocals which help to give a tranquil moment on an otherwise guitar and keyboard driven offering. 
No doubt this album will be snapped up by those who like their metal bombastic.

Label: Spinefarm
Website: http://www.myspace.com/amberiandawn

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Helloween - 7 Sinners

Helloween’s ‘7 Sinners’ is a test of a man’s metal. Because you are on a metal site there’s no need to introduce these legends, with any self respecting metal fan already being an avid follower. 
‘7 Sinners’ sees the heaviest album that the band have produced for years. It sounds like the band have been locked in a room that plays nothing but Megadeth and have remembered the power of the riff. On every song Helloween make a point of showing why they are still 100% relevant with a full on assault. 
This does not mean that ‘7 Sinners’ is an extreme departure for the band. Tracks like ‘You Stupid Mankind’ are still full of the band's trademark humour and still experiment with a bizarre flute solo making its mark on ‘Raise the Noise.’ 
The ultimate highlight from this album comes from closer ‘Far in the Future.’ This song deserves to be called epic, flaunting the skills of every musician. 
‘7 Sinners’ will please the old school elite and hopefully gain them a larger fan base in the UK.

Label: Sony Music
Website: http://www.myspace.com/helloween

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Lost in Vegas- A State of Mind

Lost in Vegas are described as ‘power rock.’ Although it may be a made up genre it describes the band well with a very go for the throat attitude evident on this mini album. 
Opener ‘Wash Away’ is possibly the best number on the mini album with an infectious chorus thanks to vocalist Chris Lynch. The bands sound has a potentially wide appeal and not being much heavier than the Foo Fighters means the group are harmless enough. 
The only issue here seems to be that all the riffs are a bit mid paced and the mini album just generally plods along. This does not mean that Lost in Vegas are boring, however, with some great bass intros and memorable solos rearing their head occasionally. 
More Lost in Birmingham than Lost in Vegas, but a good effort.

Label: Plastic Head
Website: http://www.lostinvegas.co.uk

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

MichaEl Monroe
Another Night in the Sun- Live in Helsinki

‘Another Night in the Sun..’ is the latest live album from Hanoi Rocks legendary front man Michael Monroe.
The live album proves very upbeat thanks to the euphoric vocals of Mr. Monroe. The music that backs him is straight up classic riffing with a splash of punk, which sounds ideal for the live environment. 
Luckily the album has not been polished too much and still has a genuine feel to it. Every instrument has a chance to shine through the mix including some fantastic harmonica solos! 
The songs on ‘Another Night in the Sun..’ all stand their own ground and it seems at times Monroe can do no wrong. ‘Not Fakin’ it’ in particular shows off the front man’s talent as well as a dizzying display from guitarist Ginger. 
This is pure, undiluted rock n roll. Handle with care.

Label: Spinefarm Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/michaelmonroeofficial

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Epysode main-man Samuel Arkan has taken on a mammoth project for his band’s debut album ‘Obsessions.’ The album is a prog-power fan’s dream, with a ‘cast’ of vocalists who play out Arkan’s masterful concept.
‘Obsessions’ has everything you’d expect from the sub-genre, and if you haven’t guessed already is a very theatrical outing. The ‘cast’ is a who’s who in the sub-genre with members of Communic, Ayreon and Thunderstone contributing their own unique vocal styles to Arkan’s musical backbone.
The main downfall of ‘Obsessions’ is that it’s exactly what you expect it to be. Although the album hits all its targets and is a powerful collection of work, it’s hard to not feel a bit disappointed by the predictability of it all.
That said, the album is not to be underestimated with a large amount of thought and an impressive range of ideas on this opus. You could do far worse in 2011 than giving ‘Obsessions’ some of your time.

Label: AFM RECORDS
Website: http://www.epysode.com

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Pro-Pain 20 Years Of Hardcore

Pro-Pain have gone all out for their Twentieth anniversary with a compilation of unreleased tracks, re-recorded classics and live material.
This 23 track affair would be a great introduction to someone getting into hardcore with all the genres aspects present here in harmony. Vicious vocals, slamming bass and chugging guitars make up a majority of an album which shows what a powerful past the band has.
The biggest thrill for fans of the band will no doubt be the live tracks that make up over half the album. The live set has a great deal of honesty to it, with tracks such as ‘Fuck It’ (bit rude) as ferocious as when they were first recorded.
Check out Pro-Pain and get some proper hardcore down ya.
 

Label: AFM RECORDS
Website: http://www.myspace.com/propainspace

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY

Wolfpakk - Wolfpakk

Wolfpakk is one ambitious project. Big things should be expected from a debut that has thirty, yes thirty, guest musicians, created by Crystal Ball vocalist Mark Sweeney and Mad Max’s Michael Voss.
From opener ‘Sirens’ it’s clear that this is going to be a very pompous, ott affair custom designed for those who love power and melodic metal. Each track is a symphonic and enjoyable take on melodic metal with enough twists and turns to sustain interest.
The band’s big name stars leave an impressive mark, in particular ex Black Sabbath man Tony Martin and metal’s back-up man Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens. The only real downside is that the sheer number of guest musicians becomes overwhelming and it’s hard to keep up with who plays on what track.
If you like Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia or orchestral nutters Therion tracks like ‘Lost’ will be exactly what you’re after.

Label: AFM RECORDS
Website: http://www.wolfpakk.net

Reviewer:

ALEX VARLEY