Illuminate - Grenzgang (2011)

It’s interesting to listen to gorgeous vocals in a different language. You’ll hear nothing but that from Illuminate. The German 6 piece has recently released their new studio album, entitled “Grenzgang.” This is the bands 16th full length album and from the sounds of it, they’ve really out done themselves. It has a mixture of depressive melodic sounds mixed with beautiful gothic tones.

The album is introduced with “Hinab…” which is a short minute and a half instrumental that starts with sound effects of birds and footsteps of a person walking into a house. Soon after enter quiet strings as it set up the next song, entitled “Mein Leben Ohne Mich.” The strings become louder as distorted guitars begin to blast away along with thumping kicks and snares. As the verse begins, the guitars and drums cut out leaving only the eerie string in the background which really surround the clean vocals. The voice consists of depressive and yet soothing tones. The guitars pick up again as they are slammed in the background with a simple drum beat behind them. Female vocals soon take over in the verse and give off an amazingly beautiful feel to the mix. The German lyrics are refreshing and sound incredible. The song includes a powerful solo towards the end hitting s wide variety of notes which really brighten up the track.

“Gemeinsam” opens with catchy upbeat piano melodies and angelic strings that immediately grab you. This is followed with blaring guitar riffs and booming drums forcing you to want to bob your head. The chorus has the male and female vocals bouncing back and forth to each other with catchy guitars in the background. The melody of the lyrics will be stuck in your head for days. “Neuland” provides you with similar riffs as it opens with gorgeous piano notes that sound as if they’re speaking to you in a ravishing voice. When the verse kicks in, you can really feel the emotion that was put into the vocals. This is definitely a “must hear” song on the album.

Dark strings enter slowly in “Nebenrolle” along with haunting piano keys. The opening instruments create a very beautiful atmosphere as the male vocals come in with soft tones. The melodic keys fit perfect in the background as they echo gentle throughout the song. Later the female vocals slowly make their way to the front of the song as she sings alongside the male vocals in gorgeous harmony. More echoing vocals are heard in “Morgen Ein Stuck Weiter.” The melodies will make you want to replay this track a few times for sure.

Things start to pick up with “Gotterdammerung” which starts off slow with smooth female vocals but are soon interrupted by monstrous guitar riffs chugging away while snapping snares and bright cymbals clash together in the background. Pay attention to the drum rolls towards the end. The fills are absolutely mind blowing as you hear crushing patterns full of detail. “Ausgezahlt” is another aggressive track that starts out with evil strings and destructive guitar riffs. Surprisingly enough you are met with a wicked black metal vocal full of devilish features in the opening verse. It starts with evil clean vocals but then gets more and more angry and louder throughout the song. This is definitely a different sound for the band and really provides them with a unique tone. They also include a reckless solo that runs up and down the scales violently. The guitars are absolutely electrifying in this one.

“Grenzgang” is full of mixed emotions. The catchy piano riffs and sad vocals along with eerie strings and violent guitars really express a lot of feelings in many different ways. Illuminate shows an impressive performance with the instruments and structures of each song. I definitely suggest you check this album out.

8.5/10

Official Site - http://www.illuminate.de/

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The Podcast: Episode 27 (The evolution of sadness)

We always have so many things to say, but we do our best to keep it short and moving. And sure, we fail at that most of the time. But we're trying. Metal is just too fun to talk about. This week, Murmaider talks Fading Waves and Hedon Cries, and Hell22 is feeling very "doom-y" with new EPs by Morito Ergo Sum and the undisputed kings of doom, My Dying Bride.

With so many doom bands on the docket over the last couple of weeks, it got us thinking about the evolution of the doom metal genre. It isn't all melancholy crooning and slow moving beats. Now, you can find melody, you can find female voices, and you can find some intense musicianship, and a lot of symphonic elements. Where does it go from here?

Part 1 - http://www.sendspace.com/file/yszf32

Part 2 - http://www.sendspace.com/file/2mnf0b

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Falloch: The Interview

Andy and Scott of rising stars Falloch gave us a huge honor by taking part in an interview. This Scottish melodic post-metal band is certain for success. If you haven't picked up "Where Distant Spirits Remain" yet, it is about time. The guys give us a new perspective on their album, how it relates to Scotland, and what the music means to them.

Download the audio here.

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Black Tusk - Set The Dial (2011)

Falling into the stoner metal genre, Black Tusk is back again with another pulverizing album. The title is “Set The Dial” and it’s got some powerful guitar riffs and wild vocals throughout the album. The production is great as you'll hear that it isn't perfectly recorded but that they leave a little bit of rawness in their instruments.

“Brewing The Storm” opens up this energetic album along with its guitar heavy riffs and deep bass melodies that follow. You’ll also find some awesome drum patterns in the background that definitely pack a lot of power in the mix. “Bring Me Darkness” is the follow track on the album. It starts with lead singer Andrew Fidler screaming out the lyrics “666.” This track really gets your blood flowing with its catchy guitar riffs an exploding drum rolls that knock you on your ass constantly. The vocals switch up between harsh screaming and clean sing. Definitely get ready to bob your head to this one.

Machine gun snares start of “Ender Of All.” Distorted guitar riffs get right to work with Fast pace chugging layered with heavy bass melodies behind them. The drumming is incredible with its detailed fills constantly beating you down. The upbeat tempo of the song really keeps you at the edge of your seat the entire time. The mood gets darker with “Mass Devotion” which starts with slow guitar riffs that eventually build up and get louder along with the cymbals and snares. The first minute is all instrumental but then quickly breaks into violent vocals with a light spoken voice that is set barely in to the background. This adds a really cool effect to the vocals. Overall it’s a short song but definitely packs a punch. “Set The Dial To Your Doom” is another short song but probably has some of the most incredible drumming on the album. It reminds me of old school Mastodon with its wicked guitars and strange song structure. The different layeres of vocals also add an interesting sound to the whole thing.

“Resistor” comes crashing in with catchy guitar melodies and booming drums that’ll make you want to throw you devil horns in the air immediately. This is a great instrumental and really gives this album a kick. This fades right into “This is Devine” which starts with splashing cymbals and fast upbeat guitars. The snares are absolutely relentless in this one. The vocals are delivered in a low but aggressive voice. This changes to higher screamer as you move deeper into the song. “Growing Horns” and “Crossroads and Thunder” are the final two tracks on the album and really end things with a bang. They are nothing but monstrous guitars chugging away chord after chord with bass lines that’ll blow you away. Needles to say, the drumming is phenomenal. Every roll carries you right into the next riff perfectly. Also you’re constantly surrounded by crashing cymbals keeping you wide awake and focused. You find yourself hitting the repeat button on these two tracks.

“Set The Dial” is one of those albums that great beginning to end, and you don’t even realize when you’ve gone through the whole album. I end up losing track of how many times I play it when listening to the whole thing. Black Tusk has really stepped up and showed their true colors with this new album. Definitely check it out!

9/10

Official Site - http://blacktuskterror.com/
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/blacktusk

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My Dying Bride - The Barghest O' Whitby (2011)

The undisputed kings of doom and gloom, My Dying Bride, never keep you waiting long. A mere six months after their stunning orchestral offering, "Evinta," the morose sextet are poised to release an EP that takes "epic" to an entirely new level. Much like the classic Swallow The Sun offering, "Plague Of Butterflies," this is a single track, twisting and turning through tempo changes, mood swings and emotional passages. And much like the album cover, created by vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe, suggests, this one will be a bleak affair. The underlying theme is one of folklore and superstition, following the tales of the Barghest, a spectre that is often said to be in the form of a large black dog. The creature has become a mainstay in English folklore, with stories of it's presence coming from all over the country. But the town of Whitby, located in North Yorkshire, has become synonymous with the legend.

Broken into three distinct movements, the track wastes no time, beginning with the loud clap of thunder and a frigid wind. My Dying Bride has always been a band rooted in imagery, and they certainly do it with gusto. Distorted guitars play off of one another with a traditional funeral atmosphere. A somber violin melody kicks in, and the down tempo patter of drums joins the party. But coming off a strictly melodic performance on "Evinta," the first wicked screams that break through are a shock. What may stand out is the production, much more raw in nature than the last few efforts. Each note resonates in the heavy air, haunting you like a dense fog. Only a few bursts of double kicks and faster paced guitars can get the track up to speed. Vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe unleashes his signature tone, oozing with sadness and hopelessness. The lyrics will never blow you away with their deep rhyme scheme or subtleties, but the emotional story they convey is enough to give them weight. A melodic riff is repeated, with Stainthorpe crooning with despair.

As we move to the second section, things change in both tone and feel. Guitars whine with feedback, and the light tapping of snares begins the transition from one piece to the next. A light riff is all that remains, fading into the dark silence. The thunder roars again, and a more commanding guitar lead enters. A second guitar enters, forming a broken harmony of depressive riffs. This is where My Dying Bride shines brightest, crafting a sound that is somehow melodic but not. The give and take between guitars and vocals is a strength that few demonstrate in doom today. As the music takes a darkened turn, as do the vocal passages, combining a raw yelling with the off-key singing. You may feel as though you have been transported to a cold, dark place of ghostly possession. Chills are normal, and you may feel a tingle move up from the base of your spine.

As the guitars shriek and squeal, feeding back and bending strings, things change again, but this time into a heavier territory. Fans of the more sublime compositions need not proceed. If you think "Evinta" was everything this band should be, just press stop and move on. The double kicks come in hard and heavy, and the guitars blare. There is no finesse this time around, no amelodic crooning. The finale act comes in the form of a brutal, heavy handed assault. The music is unrelenting, pounding and throbbing ahead with no consideration for your neck or any case of whiplash that may ensue. The murky production is actually welcomed, burying you in a thick sludge of distortion and chugging chords. We have moved passed the haunting, moved passed the shivers. This is the massacre at the hands of a demon dog of the night.

After twenty years, eleven full length albums, and scores of EPs, My Dying Bride has earned that highly sought after right of artistic expression. They can do whatever they choose, move in any direction they want, and should be free of criticism. However, the decision to release one long track rather than breaking the work up into three stand alone pieces is a bold decision, one that may not have paid off this time around. And while "Evinta" was a complete departure, seemingly a one off creative endeavor, "The Barghest O' Whitby" is a brilliant return to doom form; one so vivid you may see visions of a ghostly black dog in your dreams for days.

8.5/10

Official Site - http://www.mydyingbride.org/
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/officialmydyingbride

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Hedon Cries - The End Of The Path Is Nigh (2011)

A death metal band from Greece has stepped into the light of the world of metal. They go by the name Hedon Cries. The band has a new album, entitled “The End Of The Path Is Nigh.” It’s got some aggressive growling vocals mixed with some wicked guitar riffs and drum work. The album falls under a mixture of death metal riffs and thrash metal drumming with a small dose of black metal tones in between.

Wild guitar riffs rain down on you immediately in the first track, entitled “Like Snow In Her Hand.” The vocals come in with low deep tones, delivering vicious growls that rumble along with the quick double bass pedal drumming. The chorus adds a bit more flavor to the music as the guitars slow down and become more melodic with catchy notes layered with more monstrous growls. As this track fades, you are met with more melodic riffs in “In Deep Red.” The guitars start off repetitive along with devilish vocals. The drum fills are full of detail as they carry you right to the next verse. The tempo changes up a lot in this track keeping you at the edge of your seat at all times. There’s even some fancy guitar work towards the end of the track that really draw emotion to the music.

Explosive drum rolls open up in “Your Morbid Figure.” Rapid snares pound away at you as screechy guitar come flying in with heavy distortion. This will definitely get your head bobbing. Extremely quick guitar riffs make it hard to catch everything at once so you may consider replaying this one a couple of times. The riffs are just relentless and don’t give you anytime to breathe. Songs like “I Hate You” and “In A White Page” open up with similar screechy guitars as other instruments slowly enter. The vocal performance is excellent as it drives straight through the music. Some of the guitars get a little basic in certain areas but it’s the deafening growls that keep you hooked. A hell raising solo would have mad things a little more interesting.

“Forgotten Beauty” has got lots of energy as crashing cymbals and catchy melodies jump out right from the get and really build up the verses. The reverse contain chugging guitar riffs and eerie string synths that surround the demonic growls as you’re lead quickly to the refrain. The drums really pick up with detail during the chorus as the guitars also become layered giving a more thick sound to the mix. The last couple of minutes have some really catchy repetitive riffs that’ll have you pumping your fist in no time.

The album comes to a close with “Touching The void,” which runs for about seven and a half minutes and opens with another catchy guitar riff which are later combined with upbeat drum patterns. This really gives off a progressive sound in the beginning as more and more instruments later jump in as it all builds up to the verse. Monstrous growling vocals enter along with deep chugging guitars that follow in the background. The best part about this song is that they include a lot of dirty guitar work throughout the song. You’re hit with some sort of solo after almost every verse. This pays off for some of the empty solo songs earlier in the album.

Overall "The End Of The Path Is Nigh" stands well on it’s own and has some pretty amazing vocals that stay consistent throughout each song. I think Hedon Cries still need to add a little more creativeness to their song writing and maybe find a couple new ideas to keep them running for longer than three minutes long. I definitely see potential in the band and would definitely keep an eye out for more of their work in the future.

7/10

Official Site - http://www.hedoncries.com/
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/hedoncries

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Fading Waves - The Sense Of Space EP (2011)

Coming across another one-man band, Fading Waves is operated by a musician by the name of Alexey Maximuk. The Russian atmospheric post-metal band has come out with a new EP, entitled “The Sense Of Space.” It includes multiple guest musicians and many different instruments and sounds to create a unique and beautiful background.

“Air” opens up the album with two minutes and 45 seconds of eerie sound effects and haunting synths. You also hear voices in the distance. It almost sound like some sort of radio with people talking lightly in the background. As this strange introduction fades you are met with the song “Flashes.” It starts with calm guitars notes and soft hats and snares. An angelic voice soon follows starting off the verse with a gorgeous ghostly sound. This is the only verse throughout the entire song. The rest of the song includes a couple of different synthesizers and mixed melodies but keeps the overall pace the same. The track itself is over nine minutes long however after about five minutes a lot of it starts to sound the same. Nothing to exciting to look forward to later towards the end. It would have been better if they song faded out around five minutes in. The beginning is great and the vocals are beautiful but get ready to be bored as the second half of the song sort of just drags out with the same old repetitive melody.

The next song, “Destroying The Time,” becomes a little more aggressive as it starts out with distorted guitar riffs that build up as louder drums rush in with smashing cymbals and snapping snare drums. Things quiet down for a brief moment while just the bass continues to thump. Not even two minutes in however, the monstrous drum rolls and rapid guitars come right back in with a wicked melody and lots of distortion. And even more exciting, vocals kick in soon after with roaring growls and exploding drum fills. This is where the devil horns come in handy. The vocals could be turned up just a little more in the mix however for the most part everything sounds pretty good. The guitar work is crystal clear and almost becomes more of a lead than the actual vocals. Either way it’s a kick ass track with lots of energy and power.

“Perforate The Sky” keeps the mood heavy with more heavily distorted guitars chugging away while vicious growls rip through the first verse with harsh demonic tones. The drums are relentless through most of the song as they continue to pound away at you non stop for the first three and a half minutes straight. The great part about this song is that its got a softer side to it as well. The vocals switch from the aggressive growling to the gentle female singing vocals as slower guitars play soothing melodies in the background. Even the drums become a lot lighter during her verse. In the end, both vocals share a part as they go back and forth giving off a beauty and the beast type of feel to the music. The drums start to pick up again with rapid cymbals exploding behind the thunderous kick and snare patterns. You can tell a lot of emotion went into this song.

The final song on the EP is called “Through The Veins.” It too starts with distorted guitar blaring away with wild melodies. The thing you really want to pay attention to here is the drum fills. The detail delivered with the snare and toms are incredible and add a lot of energy to the music. You aren’t greeted with any vocals until a little of two minutes into the song. More devilish growls are thrown at you with reckless guitar riffs. The track starts to calm down for a bit while the drums and guitar become a little more basic and slower. This is around the time the female vocals fade in slowly with stunning melodies covered in lots of reverb. Afterwards are more demonic growls along with catchy guitar riffs and crazy drum rolls. The ending only gets better from here. After you hit the 6 minute mark, the guitars go absolutely insane with speedy melodic riffs that run throughout the rest of the song giving you no time to catch your breathe. Meanwhile the drums continue to blow up in the background. This will definitely make you want to hit the replay button. The ending is just phenomenal.

As a fairly new band, Fading Waves has got a lot of potential as the compositions show much detail into each song musically and lyrically. The EP started out kind of slow but really picked things up at the end. The performance in the guitars were excellent as well. The more creative this band gets, the better they’ll be. Especially delivering such a unique style of music.

7.5/10

Official Site - http://fadingwavesband.com/
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/fadingwavesband

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