February 2012
171 posts
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Sinergy - "Suicide By My Side" (2002)
Label : Metal Mind Productions Review By Tony Cannella “Suicide By My Side” is title of the third (and final?) release from Sinergy, this re-issue was recently put out by Metal Mind Productions out of Poland. Of the three CDs that this Finnish band produced, it is this one that features their best material (in my humble opinion). Each Sinergy album was better than the last...
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Sinergy - "To Hell and Back" (2000)
Label : Metal Mind Production Review By Tony Cannella After a number of line-up changes that saw Kimberly Goss and Alexi Laiho as the only returning members from their first album, Sinergy returned in 2000 with their second release, “To Hell and Back”. Joining the original members were bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala, who would later go on to join Nightwish and play a major...
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Sinergy - "Beware the Heavens" (1999)
Label : Metal Mind Production Review By Tony Cannella The band Sinergy were formed way back in 1998 by former and current members of some rather significant metal bands, such as: Children of Bodom, In Flames, Arch Enemy and Mercyful Fate to name a few. The band was/is a pure metal super-group. The band released three solid albums (does anyone know if Sinergy still exists?), including...
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Orphanage - "Driven" (2004)
Label : Metal Mind Productions Review By Tony Cannella Holland’s Orpanage have long been one of the most influential and respected bands in the Dutch gothic metal scene. Unfortunately, the band called it quits in 2005 after releasing 4 widely praised full-length CDs. Their final release “Driven” is considered one of their best by the bands loyal following, now that...
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Madder Mortem - "Deadlands" (2002)
Label : Peaceville Records Review By Tony Cannella Norway’s Madder Mortem originally released the “Deadlands” album in 2002 via the Century Media Records label, if I’m not mistaken. This was the bands third full-length release and they have recently re-issued the CD with a two exclusive bonus tracks. For fans who are just now latching on to the band via their...
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Eerie Sounds : Life's Decay - "Dysrieuses" (2009)
Label : Abstraktsens Productions Review By Tony Cannella The style of the French duo known as Life’s Decay is difficult to put a finger on. They play an eclectic mix of Dark Wave, Ambient, with one or two other influences thrown in to create an interesting sound. The band is made up of two members: Alea is the vocalist and Lykwasst does everything else. In listening to their...
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Eerie Sounds : Chariovalda - "Chariovalda" EP...
Independent Release Review by Danny Robertson Chariovalda presents this debut EP. Essentially a solo side-project of Sebas (from the band Heidevolk) who wrote the majority of the music, this EP also features vocal contributions from Iné Zijlstra, from the battle metal group Elexorien, in addition to two other musicians - former Heidevolk violinist Stephanie Achatz, and sometime-Rapalje...
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Industrial/Electronic Realms : Theatre of Tragedy...
Label : Metal Mind Productions Review By Tony Cannella The Polish label Metal Mind have re-issued two of the more interesting albums from Norwegian metallers Theatre of Tragedy. “Musique” and “Assembly” are the last two CDs that the band recorded with current Leaves’ Eyes singer Liv Kristine and they also saw the band abandoning their gothic metal sound...
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Industrial/Electronic Realms : Theatre of Tragedy...
Label : Metal Mind Productions Review by Tony Cannella Norway’s Theatre of Tragedy were undeniable leaders in the female fronted metal movement and one of the first bands of note to incorporate beauty and the beast style male/female vocals. They also served as an introduction to many (myself included) to that genre of metal. They released their fantastic self-titled debut in...
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Industrial/Electronic Realms : The Dreamside -...
Label : Lion Music Review By Tony Cannella Holland’s The Dreamside have been at it since 1994. In that period they have released four albums and on December 4, 2009, their sixth, “Lunar Nature” will be unleashed via Lion Music. The bands music can be described as dark, Gothic metal, with electronic and alternative elements thrown in - all of that and more can be heard...
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Industrial/Electronic Realms : The Birthday...
Label : Metropolis Records/Repo Records Review By Erwin Van Dijk The Birthday Massacre is a band from Canada, the country that gave us Melissa auf der Maur, Poutine and the Wolverine (X Men).The Birthday Massacre is from Toronto, Canada. Combining their interests in various musical and artistic styles, the band has successfully accumulated an impressive international fan base, press...
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Industrial/Electronic Realms : Sub-Division - "Ten...
Label : Danse Macabre Records Review By Tony Cannella From France comes Sub-Division. They play a unique mixture of Electro-Rock, Gothic and Industrial Metal. Their new album (and fourth overall) is titled, “Ten Years Before the Dream” and it features all of these styles and others to create a uniquely odd musical offering, so strap yourself in and get ready for “Ten...
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Industrial/Electronic Realms : Omega Lithium -...
Label : Drakkar Records Review by Tony Cannella Croatia is not a country you would normally associate with metal, but it does seem like some good bands are coming from that part of the world these days. Omega Lithium are one such band. The band is fronted by Mya Mortensen on lead vocals. She is joined by Malice Rime (Guitars, Synths and Backing Vocals), Zoltan Harpax (Bass) and...
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Industrial/Electronic Realms : Lahannya -...
Label : Kabuki Records Review By Danny Robertson This is “Defiance”, the second full-length album from British underground act Lahannya who, though possible to classify as an industrial-goth act, mix in many genres into their sound to create something that has proven quite popular both in the clubs and on the live circuit across the UK and beyond, as previous tours have...
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Industrial/Electronic Realms : Interria - "Les...
Independent Release Review by Tony Cannella From Paris, France comes Interria. The band features two female members Jenni Signorino on vocals and keyboardist Julie Hénau. The rest of the band line-up is as follows: Xavier Dafonte (Guitar/ Sounds), Stef Montiel (Guitar), Fabien Calmon (Bass) and Franck Metayer (Drums). They have already released a demo (in 2006) and an EP called...
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Industrial/Electronic Realms : Erben der...
Label : M.O.S. Records Review By Tony Cannella Hailing from Lichtenstein Erben der Schöpfung have been in existence since 2000 and have just released their second full-length CD titled “Narben der Zeit” and it features 10-songs and 56-minutes worth of some pretty good goth/electronic metal with an emphasis on melody. Usually whenever this band is mentioned, it is in...
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Yotangor - "King of the Universe" (2009)
Label : Brennus Music Review By Tony Cannella Yotangor are a melodic, progressive/symphonic metal band from France. The band is a rather large musical ensemble featuring seven members in its current line-up (3 females and 4 males). Their recently issued debut is titled “King of the Universe” and it is a fairly complex concept album spread out over two CDs and 26-songs. ...
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Xanima - "Inside Warrior" (2009)
Label : Lion Music Records Review By Tony Cannella The Swedish band Xanima were originally formed in 2007 by Pelle Handen and female vocalist Jade Ell. The band have been compared to Evanescence, Enigma and Kate Bush and have just issued their debut CD “Inside Warrior”. I have to admit that I was a bit taken aback when I first started listening to the CD, but it only took me...
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Without Mercy - "Without Mercy" (2009)
Independent Release Review By Tony Cannella From Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada comes Without Mercy, a female fronted 4-piece band that specializes in death metal. On their self-titled debut, Without Mercy unleashes an unrelenting feast for aggressive metal fanatics everywhere. “Without Mercy” only features 8-tracks, but they are loaded with aggression, energy and raw...
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Witchbreed - "Heretic Rapture" (2009)
Label : Ascendance Records Review By Tony Cannella Lisbon, Portugal’s Witchbreed are a band that have generated a large amounts of excitement in metal circles. The band have just released their debut offering titled “Heretic Rapture” and I was more than curious to see what all the fuss is about. After only a few listens, I am pleased to say that all of the accolades...
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Winter Haze - "The Storm Within" (2009)
Label : UK Division Records Review By Tony Cannella Italy’s Winter Haze play straight up, no frills symphonic power metal and man are they ever good at what they do. The band have just issued their debut release, “The Storm Within” and it is 10-songs and 47-minutes worth of high class power metal that is really a joy to listen to. The band are fronted by Giorgia...
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White Skull - "Forever Fight" (2009)
Label : Dragonheart Records/SPV Review by Tony Cannella Italy’s White Skull have already been around for a number of years. Their debut CD “I Won’t Burn Alone” was released in 1995 and since that time they have just managed to fly under the radar, all-the-while releasing strong traditional power metal albums. After their original female singer Federica De Boni...
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While Heaven Wept - "Vast Ocean Lachrymose" (2009)
Label : Cruz Del Sur Music Review By Tony Cannella From Virginia, While Heaven Wept have been around since around 1994. They play progressive metal and their line-up includes current and past members of Brave, Twisted Tower Dire and October 31 among others. Their newest release is titled “Vast Oceans Lachrymose” and it is a welcomed treat for those of us who love complex,...
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WildeStarr - "Arrival" (2009)
Label : Furnace Maximus Records Review By Tony Cannella WildeStarr is the new project formed by ex-Vicious Rumors guitarist Dave Starr and vocalist London Wilde. The duo have hooked up to unleash their debut CD titled “Arrival” and it is 10-songs and over 50-minutes worth of powerhouse metal that really delivers the goods in every way imaginable.The intricately crafted...
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Weeping Silence - Promo CD 2009 (2009)
Independent Release Review By Tony Cannella From Malta, Weeping Silence plays symphonic power metal with goth and doom undertones. In 2008, the band released their full-length debut, “End of an Era”, now Weeping Silence are back with a new 4-song, 25-minute promo CD. The 4-songs contained on the promo CD feature sweeping, epic arrangements and intricately played musicianship....
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Viveynne - "Becoming Jane Doe" EP (2009)
Independent Release Review By Tony Cannella Canada’s Viveynne are a project that features 14-year old Mikaila “Mikki” Straatsma on vocals and piano. Yes, that’s right I said she is just 14-years old, although you wouldn’t know it by listening to the songs on the debut release titled “Becoming Jane Doe”. In addition to adding her lead vocals and...
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Viper Venom - "Unskinned" EP (2009)
Label: Anko Music Review by Tony Cannella Viper Venom are another band from Italy. They play heavy - and I do mean heavy - metal. Their band line-up features Miriam Maiorano who goes by the name of Miriam In Chains on vocals. She is joined in the band by: Stefano (Guitar), Marco J (Bass) and Dario (Drums). Their new EP is titled Unskinned and it is 5-songs and 20-minutes worth of a pure...
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To Mera - "Earthbound" EP (2009)
Independent Release Review By Danny Robertson This is the first To-Mera release to feature new members Richard Henshall and Mark Harrington, and with these new members, comes a new sense of maturity to their sound. Confident yet also relaxed, nothing here sounds forced and demonstrates the band’s continued desire to blend many different genres to create their own brand of...
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Todio - "Sixteen" (2009)
Independent Release Review By Tony Cannella Believe it or not, Italy’s Todio have actually been in existence since 1992. I was shocked when I found out that piece of info, since this is first time I have ever heard of this band until now. Todio play progressive rock and metal mixed in with alternative and modern rock elements. Their new CD is titled “Sixteen” and all of...
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The Shiver - "A New Horizon" (2009)
Label - Reality Entertainment/Dreamcell 11/Aural Music Review By Tony Cannella The Shiver is a melodic, gothic metal band from Italy. Their second album is titled “A New Horizon” and the band has already drawn favorable comparisons to Evanescence, thanks in part to the infectious melodies that can be found throughout the CD and the Amy Lee-esque vocals provided by Federica Faith...
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The Mary Major - "04:13" (2009)
Label : TMM Productions Review By Tony Cannella Sweden’s The Mary Major feature in their ranks, Lotta Höglin who some people might recognize from her time as a member of swedish gothic metallers Beseech who released a number of pretty good albums, before (I believe) calling it a day. Her new outfit The Mary Major has just issued their debut titled “04:13”. If...
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The Mariana Hollow - "Come Heart" (2009)
Label : Trieste Records/Plastic Head Distribution Review By Tony Cannella From London, comes the alternative/modern metal band The Mariana Hollow. Their debut album “Coma Heart” is out now and features 7-songs and only 37-minutes worth of music but throughout the duration of the CD the band offers the listener something a little different than the usual operatic or classical...
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The Gathering - "The West Pole" (2009)
Label : Psychonaut Records Review By Tony Cannella It’s always a risky proposition when an established band decide to change singers after having a long successful run with their previous one. Sometimes it works out, other times it is an unmitigated disaster. That is exactly the situation that Dutch rock/metal legends The Gathering find themselves in. Out is Anneke van...
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Thee Orakle - "Metaphortime" (2009)
Label : Recital Records Review By Tony Cannella From Portugal, Thee Orakle play gothic/death/doom metal. Their full-length debut is titled “Metaphortime” and it is out now via Recital Records. The band utilizes the tried-and-true formula of aggressive death metal-like male vocals (provided by Pedro Silva) contrasted with angelic sounding female vocals courtesy of Micaela...
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Theatre of Tragedy - "Forever Is the World" (2009)
Label : AFM Records Review by Tony Cannella It’s no secret that the long running Norwegian band Theatre of Tragedy have rich history and have been highly influential on many of today’s bands. Thanks in part to the tremendous work they did on their first three albums. After that the bands direction changed course and they released a couple techno/electronic CDs that polarized...
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Tears of Martyr - "Entrance" (2009)
Independent Release Review By Tony Cannella The pairing of extreme male vocals and female opera vocals, is nothing that hasn’t been done before. Some do it well, some not so well. The Spanish band Tears of Martyr do it very, very, very well. The bands history actually dates back to 1996 with the release of their first demo, after releasing another demo in 2005, the band have just now...
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Tantal - "The Beginning of the End" (2009)
Label : Mazzar Records Review By Tony Cannella From Moscow, Russia comes the band Tantal. Their style of music is described as modern, progressive, death metal. Fans can judge for themselves, if that title fits by checking out their debut release “The Beginning of the End”. One thing is for certain… there are healthy doses of melody and musical virtuosity to go...
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Streben - "Wild Enchanted Garden" (2009)
Label : Naturmacht Productions Review By Tony Cannella Streben is a duo from Italy. They play black metal with some orchestral arrangements and some pretty acoustic passages as well. Their debut release goes by the title of “Wild Enchanted Gardens” and is sure to please fans who love Black Metal. The band does not play simple Black Metal, they are not afraid to go off in...
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Stream of Passion - "The Flame Within" (2009)
Label : Napalm Records Review by Tony Cannella When it was announced that Arjen Lucassen was leaving Stream of Passion, many people were shocked since it was generally thought that SOP was his project. We couldn’t have been more wrong. The band has returned with several new members: Stephan Schultz (Lead Guitar), Erik Hazebroek (Guitars) and Jeffrey Revet (Piano, Keyboards) join...
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Solsikk - "Volatile Territory" EP (2009)
Label : Klotho Records Review By Tony Cannella I first became familiar with the UK.’s Solsikk via their 2007 EP that I reviewed here. That CD really left quite an impression on me, with it’s aggressive yet melodic rhythms and the bands energy which is off-the-chart. Now the band have returned with a new EP titled “Volatile Territory”. It’s all right there...
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Skyward - "Chasing Horizon" (2009)
Independent Release/IVK Music Finland Ltd Distribution Review by Tony Cannella Finland’s Skyward are a female fronted band who specialize in classy, melodic metal. Their new release is titled “Chasing Horizon” and it is actually their second recorded output, following up their selftitled debut from 2005. The band are fronted by the strong, emotive operatic vocals of Sanna...
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Sirenia - "The 13th Floor" (2009)
Label: Nuclear Blast Records Review by Jenna K. Barry Fans of earlier Sirenia offerings will find a satisfying fusion of both style and performance with “The 13th Floor”. This band, founded by the ambitious Morten Veland (formerly of Tristania), has thrived despite the fact that Sirenia has gone through three female singers already. This release is the first to feature the...
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Sinking Soul - "Sinking Soul" (2009)
Independent Release Review By Tony Cannella Italy’s Sinking Soul play an interesting mix of metal, progressive combined with unlikely influences such as baroque, jazz and fusion. It is a unique combination that all goes into the creation of their self-titled debut. You have to give a band like Sinking Soul credit for searching for influences in the most unlikely of places , this...
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Silentium - "Amortean" (2008)
Label : Dynamic Arts Records Review By Tony Cannella The history of Finland’s Silentium dates all the way back to 1995. Their debut was released in 1999 and now ten years later the band are back with their fifth (I believe) full-length release titled “Amortean”. For a band to still be around after over ten years of activity is quite a feat and it is also quite...
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Siegfried - "Nibelung" (2009)
Label : Napalm Records Review By Erwin Van Dijk My first idea when I got my hands on the promo was: Wagner and metal? And having read the bio I was correct. I had never the opportunity to listen to the first two Siegfried albums of this trilogy before so this is my first contact with the band. Since Sandra Schleret is female singer of Siegfried you might be tempted to compare Siegfried...
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Shadowside - "Dare to Dream" (2009)
Label: LCM/Sky Blue Music Review by Tony Cannella Brazil’s Shadowside made quite an impression on me with their fantastic 2006 CD “Theatre of Shadows”. I was instantly drawn to the power and passion of that CD and the fierce vocals of Dani Nolden. The band plays no frills unadulterated heavy metal and they have returned with their newest CD “Dare to Dream”. ...
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Sariola - "Deathfrozen Silence" DEMO (2009)
Label : Padlo Records Review By Tony Cannella From Germany, Sariola plays Gothic Black Metal with the operatic vocals of Loreley. Their new 4-song demo “Deathfrozen Silence” is out now. The bombastic “Selene in Seven Mirrors” gets things started and it is quite a complex opener. The song utilizes different tempos and manages to incorporate a classical music...
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Saprophyte - "Saprophyte" DEMO (2009)
Independent Release Review By Tony Cannella From Toronto, Canada comes the band Saprophyte. They play a form of extreme metal, but they are not bound by that one genre. In addition to the sledgehammer riffs and the growly vocals by Isabelle Tazbir, the band manage to incorporate such influences as eclectic as Death Metal, Progressive and Thrash Metal as well as elements of Jazz and even...
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Sanity Falls - "Imorh" DEMO (2009)
Independent Release Review by Tony Cannella Sanity Falls are a female fronted band based in Leeds, UK. They play a style of music based around driving rhythm’s, heavy guitar riffs and the diverse vocal style of Jinny Hayman. Having already heard - and liked - their first demo, I was quite interested to hear what the band would come up with next. Well, Sanity Falls have indeed...
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Sacramento - "Sacramento" EP (2009)
Label : Mechanix Records Review By Tony Cannella From Chile, the band Sacramento has recently issued their debut 6-track demo. The band is fronted by the impressive vocals of Laura Vargas and some all around good musicians to create a consistently entertaining debut. The CD opens with the best of the 6-tracks (in my opinion), “Die Alone”. This is an energetic straight...
