Spellcaster/Self Titled/Lone Fir Records (Band Run)/2014 CD Review

  Spellcaster  are  a  band  from  Portland,  Oregon  that  plays  a  mixture  of  heavy  and  speed  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  self  titled  2014  album  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Lone  Fir  Records  (Band  Run).

  Ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  hard  rock/heavy  metal  guitars  a  few  seconds  later  as  well  as  a  melodic  guitar  lead  and  after  the  intro  the  music  really  starts  going  for  a  more  traditional  and  old  school  metal  sound  along  with  some  fast  parts  that  bring  in  elements  of  speed  metal.

 Vocals  are  all  clean  singing  and  melodic  and  the  guitar  leads  seem  to  be  heavily  influenced  by  both  NWOBHM  and  early  80's  Canadian  metal  with  a  touch  of  the  more  west  coast  U.S  variation  of  metal  in  the  solos  and  the band  also  uses  a  mixture  of  slow,  mid paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  having  a  heaviness  that  is  almost  close  to  thrash  metal  at  times.

  And  while  the  musical  style  is  very  old  school  sounding  the  production  makes  it  sound  more  modern  and  they  also  add  in  a  brief  instrumental  and  clean   playing  before  returning  back  to  a  hard  and  heavy  musical  direction  as  well  as  adding  in  a  few  very  long  and  epic  in  length  tracks  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Spellcaster  bring  back  a  very  old  school  mixture  of  speed  and  heavy  metal  which  is  rarely  heard  these  days  and  updates  it  for  the  modern  times,  the  production  sounds  very  powerful  while  the  lyrics  cove r dark  and  everyday  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Speelcaster  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  heavy  and  speed  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Fading  Light"  "Ghost  Of  My  Memory"  "Haunted"  and  "Voyage".  8  out  of  10.

  

Beyond Violet Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

Beyond Violet is a five-piece band based in the Netherlands, which combines melodic, highly energetic rock and metal with influences from pop and classical music.

I started the band at the end of 2008, after having been increasingly involved in music production for several years. My roots are in rock music, however, and I was already mixing up gothic music, prog rock and metal back in the eighties. Ilona, who plays keyboards, soon joined, and was later followed by (fretless) bass player Joachim. Drummer Pim, who studies with Within Temptation’s Mike Coolen recently joined us, as did Debby, our amazing new vocalist, who studied with a wide range of metal and rock singers, including Floor Jansen.

2.Recently you have released an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about your musical sound?

Basically, it is melodic rock/metal with female vocals, lush harmonies and a substantial amount of energy. The focus is on catchy tunes, good arrangements and classical influences, but we also enjoy a fair bit of musical aggression and rocking out. Harmonically, we borrow a great deal from western classical music, old prog rock  and all that really well-composed pop music of the seventies.

3.The band has been around since 2008 and so far this is your first release, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait?

Well, we knew we wanted to do something different, which didn’t sound like the average female-fronted rock/metal band, and that just took time to develop. We also went through the usual personnel changes, and now have a pretty fantastic lineup. We also wanted to work with a label that was supportive, but allowed us a great deal of freedom, and found that in Ravenheart Records. However, before that we released a number of videos and demo EPs ourselves.


4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Many bands in the genre seem to favour mythological or fantasy-related topics almost exclusively, but we’ve never been interested in doing that. More recent lyrics lean more strongly towards nineteenth and twentieth-century literary and poetical themes. Basically, as far as subjects are concerned, anything goes, from analyses of robotics or business ethics to deeply personal dilemmas and experiences. As long as we’ve something to say about a subject, it’s fair game.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Beyond Violet'?

It’s basically the English translation of the Latin ‘Ultraviolet’, a description of light wavelength. So the origin is scientific, but it also has a nice romantic, aspirational, even mystical sound to it. Which seems to fit our musical approach nicely.  

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

We had a great time supporting bands like Autumn and Blutengel, but some of our best gigs have been in small rock & roll clubs. The Cave in Amsterdam was a good one. We’re very energetic on stage, occasionally bordering on manic, and pretty entertaining, I’ve been told.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

Definitely. We have some smaller gigs planned, to break in our new lineup. After that, we have some international gigs scheduled and we’re appearing at the Bram Stoker International Film Festival in the UK this October, with Fields of the Nephilim and some other great bands. Eventually, we hope to get to South America, where quite a few people have invited us.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of symphonic and gothic metal?

Pretty incredible, really. Not only do a lot of fans of symphonic and gothic metal seem to like what we’re doing, we also get great feedback from people who are more into rock, pop or indie music. We’ve built up quite a decent following through the various social media channels, and our videos have been watched tens of thousands of times. Of course, some people find us a bit too tuneful, or can’t get used to some of the more tense harmonies, but you can’t please everyone! We keep receiving lots of really nice reactions from all over the world, for which we’re obviously grateful.

9.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

An album is scheduled for early 2015! With our newer material and new members, we’ll be heading in a more edgy, rock-oriented  direction, with driving vocals and very powerful drums. There will be even more emphasis on energy and good tunes! There’ll also be a little more experimentation, with the occasional odd time signature, and plenty of interesting vintage keyboard noises. The characteristic arrangements, where no instrument overpowers the others, will remain, though.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

We all seem to like bands such as Rammstein, Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, Queen and Muse. My own favourite band is Cardiacs, and I have been listening to very little else over the past year. Although recently I’ve been listening to Beethoven, Takamitsu, Shostakovich, Discharge and Ministry a lot. Joachim and I love proggy things like early Genesis, Camel, Pink Floyd and Van Der Graaf Generator and various new wave bands. Pim is into Slayer and Dream Theater, and Debby has introduced us all to Halestorm. Debby likes raw rock bands and prog metal with strong vocals, anything from Anouk to Revamp. Ilona and I like bands such as Depeche Mode and NIN. She also likes indie, industrial and ‘tanzmetal’!

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

I like reading and anything to do with science, history or culture.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thanks for having us here! Bloggers, independent critics and music sites are increasingly important in introducing people to new music they might be interested in, so keep up the good work!


Check out our latest release on Spotify!

https://play.spotify.com/artist/4b9sXoIL4XxtYcRxZuTNTd

... and our videos!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlnBpldC60Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHyvGMg6KbI


www.beyondviolet.nl
https://www.facebook.com/BeyondViolet

Iron Man/Generation Void/Shadow Kingdom/2014 Vinyl Re-Issue Review

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Iron  Man  which  continues  their  70's  approach  to  doom  metal  with  the  album  originally  being  released  in  1999  and  called  "Generation  Void"  which  will  be  re-issued  by  Shadow  Kingdom  Records  on  vinyl  this  year.

  A  70's  metal  sound  along  with  melodic  vocals  start  off  the  album  and  you  can  hear  a  decent  amount  of  melody  in  the  music  along  with  a  doom  metal  sound  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  added  they  enhance  the  retro  rock  qualities  of  the  recording  along  with  a  great  amount  of  heaviness.

  Just  like  with  the  previous  album  reviewed  the  band  remains  true  to  their  70's  doom  metal  sound  while  also  having  a  more  straight  forward  approach  this  time  around  and  at  times  they  show  a  side  of  doom  metal  that  actually  appealed  to  hardcore  and  punk  fans  at  the  time  while  being  purely  metal.

  As  the  album  progresses  the  band  starts  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  on  one  of  the  later  tracks  they  add  in  acoustic  guitars  and  bring  in  a  power  ballad  before  returning  back  to  a  more  heavier  and  darker  direction  on  the  following  songs  and  they  also  bring  in  a  brief  acoustic  instrumental  and  the  music  on  the  album  has  a  retro  yet  ahead  of  its  time  feeling  to  it.

  Iron  Man  created  another  great  sounding  retro  doom  metal  album  with  this  recording  as  well  as  updating  the  style  for  the  mid  90's,  the  production  sound s very  powerful  and  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  gloomy  and  historical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Iron  Man  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Boston  Strangler"  "King  Of  Kings"  "As  The  Gods  have  Spoken"  and  "Shadows  Of  Darkness".  8  out  of  10.

  

Iron Man/The Passage/Shadow Kingdom Records/2014 CD Re-Issue Review

  Iron  Man  where  a  band  from  Maryland  that  played  a  very  traditional  form  of  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  1994  album  "The  Passage"  which  will  be  re-issued  by  Shadow  Kingdom  Records.

  A  very  heavy  70's  metal style  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  melodic  proto  metal  style  vocals  and  the  music  starts  getting  more  heavier  and  heads  for  a  doom  metal  direction  along  with  some  dark  sounding  melodies  and  they  also  bring  in  clean  sections  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  All  of t he  musical  instruments  on  the  album  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  the  solos  and  leads  the  band  uses  are  very  dark  and  doomy  sounding  and  mix  in  very  well  with  the  riffing  and  vocals,  when acoustic  guitars  are  brought  in  briefly  they  add  a  more  classic  rock  style  feeling  to  the  recording  while  the  main  focus  is  on  a  true  form  of  doom  metal.

  While  the music  is  very  70's  sounding  the  production  on  this  album  made  the  music  have  a  more  modern  feeling  for  the  time  it  was  released  and  they  also  add  in  brief  intros  and  synths  before  a  few  of  the  tracks  and  as  time  goes  on  by  the  band  brings  in  a  power  ballad  before  return  back  to  a  more  heavy  and  retro  sound  on  the  following  songs.

  Iron  Man  where  playing  a  70's  form  of  doom  metal  during  the  time  when  most  metal  bands  where  playing  death  metal  and  they  really  stood  out  back  then  and  where  very  underrated,  the production  sounds  very  professional  and  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  gloomy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  a  very  great  sounding  album  from  Iron  Man  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Fury"  "Harvest  of  Earth"  "Waiting  For  Tomorrow"  and  "End  Of  The  World".  8  out  of  10.  

Axegressor/Last/Listenable Records/2014 CD Review

  Axegressor  are  a  band  from  Finland  that plays  an  old  school  form  of  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "Last"  which  will  be  released  by  Listenable  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  thrash  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  after  awhile  the  music  goes  into  a  faster  direction  along  with  some  aggressive  vocals  and  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  they  also  bring  in  a  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  good  amount  of  melody.

  The  guitar  solos  and  leads  on  the  album  remain  true  to  an  old  school  thrash  metal  sound  and  the  music  on  this  album  is  as  heavy  as  this  genre  gets  without  having  death  metal  elements  in  their  sound  only  the  purest,  rawest  and  heaviest  form  of  thrash  is  in  the  bands  musical  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  While  the  music  is  very  old  school  and  80's  sounding  it  still  has  a  more  modern  feeling  due  to  the  production  and  update  technologies  as  well  as  some  of  the  later  tracks  utilizing  back  up  gang  shouts  and  the  vocals  adding  in  melodic  screams  and  the  music  also  combines  the  Bay  Area  sound  with  the  more  raw  German  form  of  thrash  metal.

  Axegressor  take  a  very  old  school  form  of  thrash  and  takes  it  into  the  most  aggressive  style  this  genre  created  as  well  as  updating  it  for  the  modern  day,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  and  the  lyrics  cover  violent  and  hateful  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Axegressor  are  a  very  great  sounding  thrash  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Freedom  Illusion"  "!5"  "A  Fistful  Of  Ignorance"  and  "Determinator".  8/5  out  of  10.    

God's Army A.D/Self Titled/Massacre Records/2014 CD Review

  God's  Army  A.D  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  hard  rock  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2014  album  which  was  released  by  Massacre  Records.

  A  hard  rock  style  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  adding  in  a  more  metal  style  along  with  some  melodic  vocals  and  the  music  sounds  very  80's  but  with  a  more  modern  approach  and  they  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  guitar  solos  and  leads  that  have  a  great  amount  of  melody  to  them  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  There  are  a  great  amount  of  NWOBHM  elements  in  their  musical  sound  along  with  a  small  amount  of  pop  metal  elements  while  they  are  a  bit  heavier  than  that  genre  and  closer  to  a  pure  metal  style  and  they  also  have  fast  riffs  being  utilized  at  times  which  are  true  to  old  school  metal  and  later  on  they  bring  in  a  power  ballad  along  with  a  small  dose  of  symphonic  sounds  before  returning  back  to  a  harder  direction  on  the  following  tracks.

  God's  Army  A.D  take  a  very  old  school  rock  orientated  form  of  heavy  and  traditional  metal  and  updates  it  for  the  modern  day  along  with  a  great  amount  of  melody,  the  production  is  very  professional  sounding  and  the  lyrics  cover  society,  politics  and  life.

  In  my  opinion  Gods  Army  A.D  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  hard  rock  and  traditional  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "City  Lights"  "Hear  You  Scream"  and  "God's  Army".  8  out  of  20.  

 
    

The Austerity Program/Beyond Calculation/Controlled Burn Records/2014 CD Review

  The  Austerity  Program  are  a  band  from  New  York  that  plays  a  very  heavy  form  of  post  hardcore  mixed  in  with  elements  of  metal  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "Beyond  Calculation"  which  will  be  released  by  Controlled  Burn  Records.

  A  very  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  for  a  couple  of  minutes  before  going  into  the  next  track  and  adding  in  powerful  sounding  bass  guitars  and  semi  melodic  vocals  and  the  music  starts  going  for  a  more  post  hardcore  direction  while  also  having  a  good  amount  of  heaviness  and  melodic  guitar  leads.

  The  other  tracks  stick  to  the  musical  style  that  is  present  on  the  first  2  tracks  and  the  drum  machine  also  has  a  very  powerful  sounding  presence  on  the  recording  and  the  band  sticks  mostly  to  a  slow  or  mid  paced  direction  as  well  as  having  a  couple  of  songs  that  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  The  Austerity  Program  play  a  very  melodic  and  heavy  form  of  post  hardcore  and  while  it  is  not  very  original  sounding  the  songs  are  very  well  executed  and  more  enjoyable  than  most  bands  of  this  musical  genre,  the production  sounds  very  professional  and  the  lyrics  cover  everyday  themes.

  In  my  opinion  The  Austerity  Program  are  a  very  decent  sounding  post  hardcore  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Song  30"  Song  33"  and  "Song  37".  7/5  out  of  10.