INFOS : webzine@femmemetalwebzine.net
Webzine dedicated to the metal band fronted by girls. We also like ambient,darkwave,rock & electronic music.
INFOS : webzine@femmemetalwebzine.net
Webzine dedicated to the metal band fronted by girls. We also like ambient,darkwave,rock & electronic music.
Independent Release
Review by Vard Aman
…It seems I didn’t have long to wait for something new from Risha (although to be honest, I wrote the review of their debut album “Leto” some time after it was released in 2011 – in fact, I was busy writing it when they released their single, so I took a little bit of license there). So yes, Risha are back with a new single, called “Dorozhenka”, although it’s more of a maxi-single than a single really, consisting of 3 tracks. With it they continue where they left off from “Leto”, delivering more of their unique and contrasting blend of beautifully melodic Slavic Folk style vocals over heavy Industrial / Industrial Metal music. But their sound is starting to evolve and progress as well. Their sound is generally more layered than it was before and they’ve added extra instruments and sounds to their music and vocalist, Rishafox, makes use of some complex harmonies, and in places experiments with her voice more so than she did on “Leto”. The single itself, “Dorozhenka”, is generally darker and more moody than most of Risha’s other material, although it picks up in the choruses. According to the press release, it is “permeated with the cold of February and anxiety of belated spring” and the song does carry this feeling across (even without having first read the press release). I have noticed that there is a general trend with Risha to allow the seasons and the weather to affect their music, here on this maxi-single and on their debut album, “Leto” (which means “summer”). The vocal melodies are very strong throughout. “Dorozhenka” ranks up there with the best of the songs off “Leto”. “Rechenka”, the second song on the maxi-single, is a traditional Belarusian folk song played in Risha’s unique style, with some guitar riffing reminiscent of early Rammstein. The final song, “Vesna”, is a far more chaotic Industrial orientated song than most of Risha’s other material. The song delivers a mood of “madness and panic” according to the press release, and once again, the description is spot on. If this is a musical depiction of spring (vesna), then it sounds like it’s during a period of spring where the temperature has risen by 30 degrees celcius in just a few days, which does happen on occasion in certain parts of Russia. You can download “Dorozhenka” from Risha’s official website. It’s available for free, but it would be kind of nice if you did give them a little something for their efforts. And now, as I might have mentioned at the end of my review of “Leto”: I’ll be looking forward to their next release with great interest.
Rating - 87/100
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Independent Release
Review by Vard Aman
Wizardmask is a recently formed band from Novosibirsk in South Western Siberia, made up of some very accomplished and professional musicians indeed.“Carnival of Illusions” is their debut album, and it is available from their website for free download (though they would be grateful if you gave them something for it; they have certainly earned it). Wizardmask play Dramatic Metal, which is Metal which includes a lot of dramatic elements (I mentioned it when I reviewed Blackthorn) and is not something that is very easy to describe. In the case of Wizardmask the closest I can come to describing what they play is very technical Progressive Symphonic Metal. The songwriting is very detailed and very intricate and very well executed by Wizardmask. Fronting the big symphonic orchestration, the heavy guitars and the technical brilliance of the band is vocalist, Svetlana Sokolova. She has immaculate vocal control and is extremely versatile and expressive – all necessities for Dramatic Metal of this kind, and she suits the role perfectly! “Carnival of Illusions” consists of 9 tracks but because of the technical nature of the music it takes a few listens to get into – there is too much to take in listening to the entire album in one go for the first time.
The result is that after the first listen, I found myself greatly impressed by what I’d heard, but remembered nothing specific at all. Several listens later, I am still greatly impressed by all the technical intricacies of the music (even more so after several listens), but now I have several of the songs firmly stuck in my head. At first listen everything seems to merge because of the way the album and the concept flows, but after several listens the songs begin to stand out well from each other. It’s a bit like looking at a car engine for the first time… OK, let’s rather use a somewhat more appropriate theme: it’s a bit like visiting a Trade Fair in the Forgotten Realms for the first time – you only remember a few things, like where the ale tent is, but after wandering around for some time you soon get to know where everything else is: the stores selling clothes, books, weapons, spells, potions, etc; and the secret entrance to the mage’s dark tower. That is what the music of Wizardmask is like: the more you listen to it, the more you will discover, the better you will get to know it, and the more you will like it and the more you will want to listen to it again. Several songs from “Carnival of Illusions” stand out for me as highlights, although all of the songs are good. They are “Gromoverzhets”; “Sumrachniy Mir”; “Koroleva L’da”; “Karnaval” and “Bashnya”. “Gromoverzhets” is a fast, heavy and powerful track interlaced with beautiful vocal melodies; while “Koroleva L’da” and “Karnaval” are slower, also with amazing vocal melodies. “Bashnya” has everything. The production is top quality – everything has ample space in the mix and all the instruments are crystal clear. “Carnival of Illusions” is the cumulative result of a great effort by a very talented and professional group of people who know what they want to do and know how to do it. That said I can understand how “Carnival of Illusions” might not appeal to everyone, especially after only one listen – this is not a band that uses the “less is more” philosophy. But for fans of the “more is more” philosophy, you need look no further than this – everything you could possible want can be found right here, at the Carnival of Illusions!
Rating - 90/100
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Interview by Connie Bach
Here is a band with quite a strong, distinctive voice. Exoterik’s brand of metal blends raw power with sweetness, with element blending fluidly with the rest and yet standing on its own two feet.
Hello, Anneka. Hope your summer is going well. What is Exoterik up to these days?
Exoterik are very busy behind the scenes at the moment. We’ve just released a free single “Revive” for people to download and share amongst friends with a video to accompany it. We’re also in the process of planning and shooting out next two videos with a view to releasing the next one around October/November time. This will again be as a free download. And on top of that we also have quite a few gigs booked for around the UK.
I love the lyrics to “Butterfly in Your Hand”. Where did this song come from, and why was that the one Exoterik decided to contribute to “Beauty and Brutality”?
“Butterfly in Your Hand” was written mid-way through the songwriting process for the current album. The lyrics can be interpreted in many ways and it’s always best to get what you want out of them as opposed to me telling you what they mean to me. Although, at the time of writing the song we were all feeling a little exhausted and frustrated at focusing every ounce of our energy and being into the band whilst feeling that other people put barriers and obstacles our way to try to trip us up. The song is a slight dig at the backstabbing and two-facedness of the music business. If you had one song that was the most personal for you, which would that be?
Good question. I suppose I’ve spent so much time with the songs that I’ve become a little numb to them and I sometimes have to remind myself why we felt compelled to write them in the first place. “Butterfly in Your Hand” is an obvious choice, as it was a way of lyrically venting out our frustrations about certain types of people in the music business. “Uninvited” is another personally favorite, as myself and Tom wrote it very quickly and it just seemed to flow out of us with no effort at all. Even when we were writing it we could hear the drums and electric guitars in our head. We just knew what was needed for this track and it was exhilarating to hear it come to life.
Since “Butterfly in Your Hand” is Exoterik’s second release after “Don’t Swallow”, what goes into creating one really polished track? What is the process like? I mean it is clear that certain members contribute certain aspects but how hard do you have to work individually as well as collectively to produce the music that you do?It’s like the old saying goes – “You’re only a strong as your weakest point”. It’s very important to all have the same goal and the maximum time, effort and energy to put into the band. Each of us play our own important roles within Exoterik and each are gifted in different ways, whether it’s writing a song or marketing the band. We all live, eat and breathe Exoterik and that’s what’s kept it alive for seven years. Even when the band seems quite on the outside, I can guarantee you that we’re working our arses off behind the scenes! As for writing and recording a “polished” track – It really comes down to many factors. The song writing must be great, the lyrics must be memorable and the melodies must grab people. Even with this all in place, the song can still be killed in the recording process. As artists, it’s incredibly important to us to have our music recorded, produced, mixed and mastered in a way that gets across our sentiment and most importantly in a way that represents the band, our music, our talent and our vision for the song. It seems that the UK’s metal scene is reviving in comparison to the U.S. In what way, would you say this impacts the public’s feedback?
We’ve never had the opportunity to tour Exoterik in the U.S. so it’s difficult for us to put a perspective on the differences between the two audiences. However, there seems a definite divide between the U.S metal scene and the European one. It’s even noticeable between the UK and the rest of Europe. However, in the past few years festivals such as Download, Sonisphere and Bloodstock have really helped to raise the profile of metal in the UK.
I’ve watched Exoterik perform online and the crowd seemed pretty wild. What is the craziest thing a fan has ever done to show support?
We recently had a fan get our band named tattooed on his arm to show his loyalty and appreciation for Exoterik. That was really cool and we felt quite humbled by the gesture. It was such an honor for us to feel that we’d made such a difference in his life that he felt compelled to get a lasting impression of us to carry with him everywhere.
For that matter, what kinds of fans does Exoterik’s music seem to connect with the best (meaning within the obvious genres)?
I hate “pigeon holing” our fans. We hate being distinctly categorized as anything as a band and I wouldn’t like to do that to our fans. After gigs when we get to talk to fans, it becomes apparent that they are quite varied. Some are metal-heads whilst others prefer rock. Some are still at school whilst others are nearing retirement. We really do seem to have a broad fan base and we seem to appeal to a mixed group of people which is fantastic and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Moving on, how did you, Tom, Darren and Steve become Exoterik? How have the four of you grown?
Myself, Tom and Steve are the founding members of Exoterik and Darren joined us around two years ago after our bassist left the band. We’ve definitely developed as a band throughout the years and when we look back at how we were when we first started we’ve definitely changed and progressed. I think that experience is the key part to our development – whether it’s from the countless gigs that we’ve played or travelling abroad to record material to spending days and nights living in the band van whilst touring the UK. It’s all part and parcel to being in a band and molding us to who we are as individuals and as a unit.
Where are your future goals, as well as the band’s?
It’s very important that we all share the same goals within the band. Of course we’d love to be an over night success but that rarely happens in the metal scene and I think it’s very important that a band should have to work hard and truly deserve the success that comes there way rather than it being handed to them on a plate overnight. We always like to see ourselves progressing and never halting or taking steps backwards. When I look at where we were this time last year I ask myself, how have we progressed and improved ? What have we done within this year that we have never done before ? At this current moment in time I can say that we have 3 new singles with videos to accompany them, which is something very new to us. We also have a publishing deal with LoveCat who are in talks with television and movie companies about placing our songs in their projects. We’re gigging further afield throughout the UK and we continue to expand our fan base. So far, so good!
Have you become what you had in mind when you became a singer, Anneka?
I can’t say that I ever really had any particular preconception of what I wanted to be like as a singer. I can’t even say that I ever decided to sing – I simply always have! I’ve always enjoyed singing, for as long as I can remember. The enjoyment I get from it, and the seeing the enjoyment it gives others, is what keeps me going from strength to strength and spurs me on to push myself a little further every time I sing.
How did you also take over keyboards for Exoterik?
I originally started out as the keyboard/vocalist in the band. Keyboards was a focal point in the band when we first started Exoterik, although we now tend to pre-record them for live performances so that I can engage with the audience more rather than being stuck behind a keyboard. I’m only 5’1’ so I very quickly get hidden behind a stack of keyboards! However, I still play and record them the studio and occasionally live. It’s something that is often used in the song writing process too.Finally, this is something I’d like you all to contribute to, if possible. What is the symbolic value of music, and how did you come to realize that (at what point)? What could it do for us all, potentially?
I have always thought of music as a universal language. It is something that touches every person’s life, from the modern Western world to African tribes and so on. Music has a place in everyone’s lives. We can all find a song that stimulates memories, that makes us smile, that makes us cry and that we simply never tire of hearing. We may not all share the same tastes in music but that’s what is so great about it. Music gives us an identity, a connection with others. Following your favorite band and meeting others who share the same passion for them can really give you a sense of belonging. A little community. And those people may not talk the same language but they can share the same emotions that the piece of music or band evokes. I think that’s truly inspiring and I love being a part of it. Thanks a lot, Anneka, both for the interview and also for Exoterik’s contribution of “Butterfly in Your Hand”. Hopefully we’ll see you here in the States soon.
The pleasure’s been mine. Thanks for interviewing me and I hope it will encourage people to check out Exoterik and download the free single from the website: www.exoterik.co.uk.
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Photos by Stuart Glossop
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Independent Release
Review by Tony Cannella
On their second album, “Sun as Never”, the Dutch heavy rock outfit Cardamon offers a strong sophomore effort and one that should satisfy fans of the band, I would think. The opening track “Away from the Light”, blasts off with a chunky, persistent guitar riff. Vocalist Floortje Donia is an extremely talented singer and she contributes a lot to the songs. The music of course is excellent as well and they remind me of another outstanding Dutch band, Autumn. “Down Alone” has a nice melodic tone to it with some brief tempo changes and more heavy guitar riffs. “Sun As Never” never lacks good material, “Spanning the Distance”, “All You Were Meant to Be” and “Wide Eyes” are all killer songs, but my favorite was the up-tempo “Amaze Yourself (Sun as Never)”. This song instantly stands out because of its positive, up-tempo vibe. Musically, there is not much variation on “Sun as Never”, so the album may get old for some fans. But for the most part “Sun as Never” keeps a consistent pace and Cardamon is another promising addition to Holland’s metal tradition. Oh, and by the way, you can download their album free at their official website.
Rating - 90/100
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Independent Release
Review by Tony Cannella
Noxiferis are a new Gothic/Progressive metal entity from Poland. This 5-member band has just issued their new demo and I have say that “Signum Noctis” proved to be a worthwhile and enjoyable listen. First thing that is quite obviously from the get-go is that the songs on “Signum Noctis” are sung in Polish. The CD includes 7-songs and a playing time of just over 45-minutes. Noxiferis mixes standard 4 and 5 minute songs with more epic type 7 and 8 minute numbers. There are certainly some heavy guitar riffs, lots of intricate musicianship and melodies. The lead vocals are handled by Eydis, who does a remarkable job giving the songs a semi-operatic touch. I have to say that one of the biggest highlights for me was the 9-minute instrumental “Mrok”. On this track, the band has delivered a complex and interesting instrumental. “Signum Noctis” is a great offering from Noxiferis. Even though this is a demo, it has the look, feel and presentation of a professional release.“Signum Noctis” is available for a free download on the band’s official My Space profile.
Rating – 89/100
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Independent Release
Review by Tony Cannella
Magdalen Graal is quite an accomplished and talented vocalist hailing from the U.K. She plays an avant-garde mix of metal and Gothic with elements of electronica as well. She is backed by a stellar line-up of musicians that can be heard on her self-titled debut release. The opening track “Behind You” is a good indication of what to expect throughout this 32-minute, 10-track release. The vocals of Magdalen are quite impressive as she demonstrates a great range throughout the CD and her style - which is on the operatic side of things - really gives the songs an added dimension. The third track “Together” is one of the highlights with it’s up-tempo style and more great vocals. Other highlights include: “There’s No End”, “Incredible” and the closing number “Moonlight Brightness” which is a beautiful piano ballad and ends things on a wistful note. Piano is featured prominently throughout the CD. Overall, I found myself enjoying this CD more and more with each listen. Maybe it could have benefited from a better production, but there is no denying the quality of the material. The CD is currently available as a free download on the official web site.
Rating - 75/100
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Independent Release
Review By Tony Cannella
New Mexico’s For the Suffering has previously released one full-length self titled album. They have just issued their 4-song EP titled “Life Without a Cure” and I had no idea what I was in for. The band plays wickedly intense thrash/death metal/hardcore type music with lead vocalist Kierston Graham just absolutely tearing it up on the mic. She alternates between a clean singing style and otherworldly screaming. The thing is, she can actually sing – quite well – as her clean vocals will prove. Strap yourself in, because the opening track “Blue Collar Noose” really gets things going fast and furious. Right away Kierston Graham alternates between her vocal styles, as this opening track proves to be relentless and quite ferocious. The next two songs, “Life Without A Cure” and “Oubliette” are two more brutal numbers. On the final track “Belly of the Beast” the band throws us a curveball. After three songs of belligerence, For The Suffering ends with a 4-minute ballad that is just Kierston’s beautiful vocals accompanied by acoustic guitar. What a change of pace, but a memorable way to end the CD. Fans, who like their metal with an aggressive edge, should by all means check out For the Suffering. “Life Without a Cure” is a high octane, high adrenaline rush of a CD.
Rating – 85/100
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