Review: The Order of the Solar Temple – “The Order of the Solar Temple”

 

Tracklist

1. Fallout Woman
2. Aeon of Horus
3. The Cult (Of Rock N’ Roll)
4. Jervas Dudley
5. Pale Horse
6. Back Home
7. Dominance And Submission
8. The Order

Release Date: July 2014 – I, Voidhanger Records

“Proto Love”

Revival; an occasion that tend to be a myth of the past or something that came to stay forever producing bands with personality? The answer is, time will tell and the same goes for The Order of the Solar Temple. This band meets all the requirements as a new coming. The occult clue is in the general image of the band, as the sound is not funeral doom or something common, but a combination of hard/doom rock with proto metal .

As the album begins, you get straight into the mood of it. The lyrics help a lot to learn and enjoy them at once as in “Fallout Woman”. Also from the first song it’s getting clear that the main weapon of the album is the guitar solos and the explosiveness that is being created. And if the first song is just the beginning, check out “Pale Horse” in which the guitars are set on fire. Think what could happen when this one will be played on stage. Rock n’ roll holocaust and “The Cult” can easily keep you burning with its a la punky “Running Free” rhythm section. Actually the NWOBHM style of ancient Iron Maiden and Demon is hidden in the album.

And when things are getting doomy “Aeon of Horus” and “The Order” behead us without mercy. Gravity, epicness and an ancient spirit from Pagan Altar haunts the atmosphere; darkened liturgy in its grandeur. Songs for a long aside singing ’till you feel empty of strength to go on. Also the successful cover of “Dominance And Submission” proves that into a BOC song a Uriah Heep dose can fearless erupt it. Even the vocals have something from David Byron and thus nothing can stop you from listening to it unstoppable.

Hard/doomy riffs, rock n’ roll riffs and a mystic spirituality like the addictive and excellent artwork are the set of this debut. Do not try to think if the band is one of the same with other new bands. They are not, because no other band loves setting everything on fire by torches and through dark eyes.

8/10

Review by Dr.Feelgood

Review: AUDIO PORN – “Jezebels Kiss”

Tracklist:
1. Deeper than the Bone
2. Cry me a River
3. Sweet 16
4. It’s not a Dream
5. Above the Stars
6. Let me go
7. Butterfly
8. Without you
9. Breath away
10. Cut
11. Arms of Suicide

Release Date: 31 August 2012 – JK Records

 

READ THE REVIEW:   AUDIO PORN – Jezebels Kiss

Review: KNOCK OUT KAINE – “House of Sins”

Tracklist:
1. The Welcome
2. House of Sins
3. Liquor Up
4. Little Cristal
5. Set the Night on Fire
6. Backstreet Romeo
7. Skinstar
8. Coming Home
9. Going down (She goes)
10. Time
11. Somebody save me
12. Moving On

Release Date: 2012 – Dust on the Tracks Records

Read the Review:        KNOCK OUT KAINE – House of Sins

German Review on  METAL ASCHAFFENBURG

Review: AWAKEN – “Awaken”

Tracklist:
1. March of Aachen
2. As the Dark so the Light
3. Bones to Dust
4. Beneath the Surface
5. Mourning Heroes
6. My Silent Breath
7. The Inquisitor
8. Death of Me
9. In this Circle
10. Awaken

Release Date: 2012 – self-produced

Debut of the heavy metal band Awaken, formed in 2009 by Gleen DaGrossa, chief songwriter and vocalist of the indie power metal band Lazarus. He found some New York all stars to release that self-titled album that points first, if you take a look at it, with the fantastic endtime artwork.
Hopefully the music can keep what the arwork promises.

It starts with the „March of Aachen“. Exciting song assembling. Slow with some acoustic guitars that lead to a heavy hookline. An melodic and monumental instrumental with progressive elements.
This early shows the know how of the musicians who worked before in bands like Quiet Riot, Lazarus, Holy Water or Widowmaker.
„As the Light so the Dark“ as consequence therefore is the real opener. Straight guitar theme, lots of classic hard rock elements. DaGrossa owns a great voice that sounds a bit to the old classic hard rock bands like Deep Purple combined with 80’s US Metal bands. In the refrain the band often works with twin vocals. Summary a good start with a more straight than progressive song.

Hardly blurred guitars at the beginning of „Bones to Dust“. The song structures remember a little to Queensryche in Operation Mindcrime times with a voice near to Rainbow in the 70’s. Good combination. Melodic but ambitious stuff. Awaken has not to hide behind the named bands cause the musical quality is high enough to get into their footsteps.

„Beneath the Surface“ starts faster with a simple but effective riff. Both axemen, Joe Buddha and Scott Bennett, showing experience but for me the production of the guitars could have been better.
Again a refrain to remember and that is what good hard rock bands decorates. Easily to sing with.
Great rockin’ smasher, not too speedful but with enough power to throw it away from cheesiness.

The next 7 ½ minutes belong to „Mourning Heroes“. Mystical, acoutic start, followed by a huge riff. Sometimes the song offers darker vibes, progressive structures in the guitar section, lots of breaks. Guitar solo duet and a longer instrumental part stands against the harmonies of the vocals in the refrain. A more progressive highlight of this album based on the strong hard rock roots.

Balladesque moments now….“My silent breath“. Dreamful keyboards and acoustic guitars, clean vocals of DaGrossa that sometimes reaches the class of heavy weights like Glenn Hughes. A wonderul ballad that transports some tragic feelings.

Back on track with „The Inquisitor“. Fast guitars line in the beginning, melodic vocals to follow.
A hookline monster more progmetal orientated. Typical breaks like progmetal bands often use it. Played on high level, disharmonic elements in between. Great song with great vocals.

And the album continues in direction darkness…“Death of me“. Guitars and vocals are arranging darker vibes than before. Not wondering cause of the songtitle. Basically a straight song, only interrupted by a short guitar solo.

Another longer track follows with „In this Circle“. Straight guitar hookline together with pumping drums brings it more in heavy metal spheres. One of the hardest songs so far with straight vocals and short twin vocals refrain. Interrupted in the middle by a slower guitar part that again shows the knowledge of the guitarists. The vocals are not that present in this song….most time the instrumental
fraction does the talking.

In the end it is time for….“Awaken“. A huge riff rotates with silent vocal parts. A bit of oriental touch in the guitar work. Later the song moves to a stadium rocker. Great melodies together with a brilliant refrain. Definetely a song written for the big stages. Highest level of 80’s orientated US Hard Rock.
With this self titled debut Awaken created an album in the tradition of the great hard rock bands we knew from the past or we know today. Together with some progressive elements and the brilliant voice of Glenn DaGrossa this album can be highly recommended to all who like melodic hard rock on highest level. Even those who are in progressive bands like Queensryche, Fates Warning or similiar should risk an ear to it.
The only thing to criticize is the production. For me the drums are too much in the back and the guitars sometimes could sound a little cleaner. But we are talking about a debut album.

We will definetely hear more about Awaken very soon. It would be a shame if not….

Points: 8/10

Review by Kerbinator

Review: STUKA SQUADRON – “Tales of the Ost”

Tracklist:
1. Into the Breach
2. Tales of the Ost
3. The Last Resort
4. Stuka Squadron
5. A Cross of Iron
6. On the Volga Bridge
7. Tiger I
8. The Fall
9. Lovecraft
10. Zabulon’s Inferno
11. Lord of Valhalla
12. One Eyed God King
13. We Drink Blood

Release Date: 2012 – Metalbox Recordings

There is not a lot of informations about this band on their website or in any other papers and forums we know.
Stuka Squadron from the UK plays Heavy Metal….hm. Useful as an ungrilled chicken.
It seems that „Tales from the Ost“ is the bands first full length album and tells stories about vampires heading to the east flying the hellish stuka’s….or something like that.
Let the music talk !

„Into the Breach“ starts with a horrified intro, spoken words about the undead, sirens, laughter and old school rock’n roll guitars.
Leading over to the title track. And yes…the band is playing rock’n roll dirty style with most time clear vocals of James Duke Fang-Begley. Remembering to 80’s hard rock bands we found in the states. Great chorus, easy riffing, ear catching melodies. Old KISS can be a starting point to describe the sound.
„The Last Resort“ then is a 2 minute elegy with a storyteller talking about soldiers and blood before the „Stuka Squadron“ starts. „Vorsicht, Vorsicht..wie verlieren an Höhe“ – german words in the beginning. Midtempo swinging rock’n roll song. Good guitar bridge before the refrain. In the middle the song slows down with elegian guitars and whispering vocals. A kind of rock’n roll epic. Great song….but the vocals cannot hold the heights in some moment.

It seeems that the band puts an intro before every main song. So „A Cross of Iron“ forwards the story again with spoken words before we arrive „On the Volga Bridge“. The guitars playing homage to Deep Purple. From the base of pure hard rock to galopping guitars in the refrain.

„Tiger I“ starts with a bass intro and the guitars create a sound of sirens. Simple riffs, slow and historic. A little boring before the refrain. But then with lots of breaks the song becomes a real slow tempo smasher. Good guitar solo rounds up an interesting song cause of its structures. Could be better with better vocals.

Next intro to come….“The Fall“. Gunfight in the back, tragic melodies and vocals about the fallen soldiers, senseless and cruel. But the vampires rise….
„Lovecraft“ points with great guitar work. Dark and mighty sounds. Slower rhythms speeding up when heading to the refrain. Twin vocals as we know it from the traditional hard rock bands. A mix between harmonies and strange arrangements. Partly a singalong song.

An 8-minute long track to follow….“Zabulon’s Inferno“. Dark and doom riff, very heavy, opens it, before the leads in best Maiden tradition forward the song. Remembers a little to Iron Maiden in Killers times. Straight ground theme, supplemented with great vocal performance. Fullfilled with harmonies. Not really an inferno….interrupted with a silent sequence and sung spoken words meeting drums in the middle. Epic elements supported by great guitar solo parts.
The varied song so far. Reference track for Stuka Squadron, that contains all the band stands for. The ultimate highlight of the album.

Short acoustic guitar intermezzo with „Lord of Valhalla“. The storyteller is back to continue the story.
And it continues with the „One Eyed God King“. Quiet and restrained beginning. Followed by cool rock’n roll guitar leads. James Duke tries to bring more dirt behind his vocals. A song with a lot of street credibility. Dirty, direct from the smoke and dust of the cities undergrounds. In another solo the guitarists show their knowledge again. In summary one ot the straightest songs so far.

Finally „We drink Blood“. A song with more speed kicks out the album. Shouted refrain….really heavy song.

Stuka Squadron are deep rooted in the hard rock world of the 80’s. A cool but twisted concept about wars and vampires is new in the rock world, but the sound could be a lot better.
The funny pseudonyms the musicians own, like Baron Von Hammerstein, Sir Graveghoul Terrorsound, Gravedigger Cox or Lord Graham Pyre do the rest.

Interesting album, not really new sound, but fresh in the arrangements and lyrics.

For fans of legendary hard rock bands and people who like raw and pure rock sounds. With a better production the band can climb the rock ladder some steps higher. We will find out if the next releases appear.

Points: 7/10

Review by Kerbinator

Upcoming Release: POLUTION – “Beyond Control”

Track List:
1-Rising Danger
2-Fire
3- Live until you die
4- Forever and a day
5- Follow me
6- Prefix
7- The Band
8- War
9- Flying
10- RIP
11- Bite me
12- All-in

Release Date: Release date: 25th May 2012 – Escape Music

Marcel Betschart– Lead guitar / Andreas Betschart Bass Guitar / Armin Betschart – Drums / Matthias Betschart – Rhythm Guitar / Pascal Gwerder – Vocals

Polution was founded in 1997 and has been playing in today’s music scene since 2005. The band are used to playing their music in various `rock-cellars` right up to renowned clubs such as the Rohstofflager in Zurich, the Treibhaus in Lucerne or the Transsilvania in Erstfeld. Polution have acted as support for bands such as Krokus, Sideburn and John Coghlan (formerly of Status Quo). Being placed third at the Emergenza Bandcontest `06 in Zurich currently ranks among the band’s greatest success story.

While originally having focused on cover-versions of bands like AC/DC, Metallica and Motörhead, the band has started to continually include more and more of their own songs into their repertoire. They have developed a style based on supportive melodies and hard guitar riffs. This music style has gained large approval amongst listeners and has gained them a following beyond the local area for their outstanding instrumental communication on stage.

In spring 2007, Polution took the chance and ventured into producing a CD at the New Sound Studio. The debut CD “Overheated” (ESM172) by Polution really made people listen with its quirky approach to rock music. “Overheated” was full of great catchy songs with an energetic sound.

Its now 2012 and Polution are eager to unleash their new recording on us, and what a cracker it is. Razor edged riffs and aggressive hooks are abound, they certainly know how to hit the right notes, and with a more polished sound than before they smack of Nickelback in places. However, they still retain that hard edged sound that fans of Gotthard, Krokus and AC/DC will love. What we have here is 12 tracks of pure entertaining rock music and it can only attract more fans to their ever growing popularity.

www.Escape-Music.com

TAINTED NATION sign with Rock’ N Growl

UK’s modern hard rock band “TAINTED NATION“ have sign a worldwide management deal with Germany’s ROCK N GROWL MANAGEMENT.

TAINTED NATION are: Pete Newdeck – Vocals (Eden’s Curse, Grim Reaper, Killers, Steve Grimmett), Pontus Egberg – Bass (The Poodles, Lions Share, Zan Clan), Ian Nash – Guitar (Steve Grimmett, Lionsheart) and Mark Cross – Drums (Firewind, Outloud, Helloween, Kingdom Come).

Rock N Growl and Tainted Nation are currently shopping the recording “F.E.A.R.“, produced by Pete Newdeck and mixed/masterd by Dennis Ward, securing a record deal very soon, to get out live and start the talking!

Pete Newdeck, UK based drummer, singer and song writer, who is mostly known for his work with Eden’s Curse and bands like Grim Reaper, Killers and Steve Grimmett, started writing songs with band mate and friend Ian Nash, also Steve Grimmett’s guitar player in 2009.

Being on tour with Eden’s Curse supporting Scandinavian band Stratovarious and Firewind in May 2009 on their UK tour, Pete and Mark Cross, drummer of Firewind at the time, also Outloud, ex – Helloween, Kingdom Come …), became close friends and talked about the idea of forming a new band, only this time with Newdeck as the lead singer!

Newdeck’s vocal abilities were truly convincing and in spring 2010 Pontus Egberg, Bass player of Sweden’s rock sensations «The Poodles» completed the line up.

Newdeck, Nash, Cross and Egberg, recorded their debut album in the UK and mixed and mastered it in Germany under the supervision of Dennis Ward, producer of many successful international artists and «TAINTED NATION» was brought to life.

The four of them gave interviews to the British press and announced the new band at FIREFEST in Nottingham, UK on October 30th.

Tainted Nations’ music can be described as a commercial, modern and powerful sounding rock mix.

Source:www.rockngrowl.com/tainted-nation-sign-with-rock-n-growl

Review: VENGEANCE – “Crystal Eye”

Tracklist:
1. Me And You
2. Bad To The Bone
3. Barbeque
4. Shock Me Now
5. Five Knuckle Shuffle
6. Desperate Women
7. Whole Lotta Metal
8. Promise Me
9. Crystal Eye
10. Missing
11. Jans End Piece

Release Date: 24th February 2012 – Steamhammer/SPV

30 years !! Unbelievable that the dutch hard rock insitution is heading to their 30th year in band history. It seems that fronter Leon Goewie didn’t get older since that time and is still in biggest competition with the young followers cause of his powerful voice.

For „Crystal Eye“ he worked together with the full time professionals Chris Slade (ex-AC/DC), guitarist Keri Kelli (ex-Alice Cooper) and bass player Chris Glen (Michael-Schenker-Group) to celebrate this anniversary with the best result they could do. Even ex-guitarist Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon) was involved in the title track that he wrote by himself. Tony Martin (ex-Black Sabbath) even tailored the band a song called „Whole Lotta Metal“.

The final result is gorgeous. „Crystal Eye“ is a superb rockin’ hard rock album without any failures but with amazing material (my favourite songs: „Five Knuckle Shuffle“, the named unusual dark title track and the speedy opener „Me and You“).

Fans, catch it immediately !

Points: 8/10

Review by Michael Klein (Metal-Aschaffenburg)

German Version: www.metal-aschaffenburg.de

Upcoming Release: PHENOMENA – “Awakening”

Tracklist:
1.Smash It Up (Lee Small on Vocals, Mat Sinner Bass, Magnus Karlsson Lead Guitars)
2. Reality (Toby Hitchcock on vocals and Mike Slamer on Lead Guitars)
3. Homeland (Rob Moratti on vocals and Martin Kronlund on all Guitars)
4. Going Away (James Christian vocals and Tommy Denander Martin Kronlund on Guitars)
5. Gotta Move (Ralf Scheepers on vocals and Christian Wolff &Tommy Denander on Guitars)
6. How Long (Lee Small on vocals and Martin Kronlund on Guitars)
7. Shake (Mike DiMeo on Vocal and Martin Kronlund on Guitars)
8. Fighter (Terry Brock on vocals and Steve Newman on Guitars and backing vocals)
9. Dancing Days (Niklas Swedentorp on Lead Vocals with all Coldspell members)
10. Stand Up For Love (Chris Antblad with JAVA Gospel Choir)

Release Date: 23. March 2012 – Escape Music

People should learn to expect a little awe and mystery. Phenomena take us upon a journey where there is nothing pretty about the protagonists of the story that we shall meet along the way. The subject is good against evil.

The story began in the year 1983, when Tom Galley wrote a couple of short stories with a transcendental background. Backed by record label Bronze, the recordings for the album “Phenomena” started soon which finally hit the stores in 1985. Besides the extra-ordinary concept story both musicianship and the names involved with the project are highlights to mention. Names such as Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, HTP), drum legend Cozy Powell (RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE a.o.), Don Airey (DEEP PURPLE), Neil Murray (WHITESNAKE) – the elite of the British Hard Rock scene had joined the project. “Phenomena” received high critical acclaim in the press and extremely good sales.

The second PHENOMENA album “Phenomena II – Dream Runner” was released in 1987 and was welcomed with a similarly warm response. The musicians around the Galley brothers had changed slightly, so that this album in the end featured contributions from Ray Gillen (BADLANDS, BLACK SABBATH), John Wetton (ASIA), Scott Gorham (THIN LIZZY) and Max Bacon (GTR), amongst others.

With new label Parachute involved, in 1991 the time was right for “final part” of the conceptional story; Phenomena III – Inner Visions”. Besides Brian May (QUEEN) and Keith Murrell (AIRRACE), you’ll here also find performances by Michael Sturgis (A-HA) and Scott Gorham (THIN LIZZY). The Complete Works were released in a triple fold out Digipack by Escape Music (ESM142).

However, the PHENOMENA concept continued in 2006 under the banner “PsychoFantasy”, (ESM125 ecolbook and 125r regular version) which strictly follows the traditions of its three predecessors. Besides the concept story background, you will once again will find a whole bunch of amazing artists performing on this record: Tony Martin (BLACK SABBATH), Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE), Keith Murrell (MAMA’S BOYS) – and Mel Galley (WHITESNAKE, TRAPEZE).

In September 2010 a new chapter began with a whole host of musicians, and “Blind Faith” (ESM216) was born to explosive effect. With new Vocalists like Robin Beck, Terry Brock (Strangeways) and Rob Moratti (Saga) a whole new world was unveiled and the concept became so fresh again. The rock audience once more were thrilled to hear the latest in this timeless story.

In 2012 we will all hear the new Album “Awakening”, an album chock full of new ideas and featuring James Christian (House of Lords), Lee Small (Shy) and Toby Hitchcock (Pride of Lions) as well as familiar faces like Rob Moratti, Terry Brock and Mike DiMeo. Powerful songs executed by some of the finest rock musicians make this a hugely enjoyable album and it boasts a fine production from Tom Galley and Martin Kronlund. Here you will find straight ahead rockers with powerful melodies along with up-tempo ballads and beautiful choruses.

Awakening is a fantastic way to start 2012, it is another chapter in the engaging story that Tom Galley began in 1983. In Short, a must.

http://www.Escape-Music.com

line-up:
Martin Kronlund: Guitars, and Bass
Tom Harlan: Guitars & Keyboards
Imre Daun: Drums.
Henrik Thomsen: Bass
Per Aronson-Andersson: Hammond, keyboards JAVA Gospel on “Stand up for love”

Additional Musicians:
Carl Anthony Wright – Guitars
Christian Wolff – Guitars
Tommy Denander – Guitars
Mike Slamer Guitars
Magnus Karlsson – Guitars
Mat Sinner – Bass
All COLDSPELL members
Steve Newman – Guitars and backing vocals Fredrik Bergh – Keyboards on “Smash It Up” And “Gotta Move”

Produced by: Tom Galley and Martin Kronlund Recorded and engineered by Martin Kronlund / Executive Producer: Khalil Turk

LORDI: Drummer Otus passed away

Statement on the Lordi website:

“Our dear friend and band mate, “Otus” Tonmi Lillman, has sadly passed away.

He will be greatly missed and we send our condolences to his family and friends.

Otus: we thank You from the bottom of our hearts for the short time we got to know you and spend with you together.

Rest in peace, friend.”

Soure: Lordi website