Even more reviews 6/15/2009

Ava Inferi-Blood of Bacchus-CD (Season of Mist)

I'm not sure what happened to have Guitarist from Mayhem to leave them and come over to the powerhouse that is Ava Inferi but I will tell you as it goes now after Grand Declaration of war mayhem has been losing its touches and Ava Inferi is far more impressive. They are not Black metal in any way if was to call them anything I would be a Progressive Gothic Doom metal band with some amazing arrangements that almost come into the neoclassical style of metal. There is a melody and majesty that is not seen much anymore in the 21st century I miss the days were bands like Tristania, Theatre of Tragedy, The Gathering and Within Tempation were making brilliant music well we have Ava Inferi now to fill that void. The female vocalist Carmen Simoes is a classically trained gem in the making. I love how the folk, doom, classical and dark metal elements all mix into the gothic overtone of each track. Each track is just so eleqently layered and approached. At time I even have a Therion feeling come across me with this unit with the choir vocals that come about. Again this is the kind of band with some Video and TV presence they will be a major musical force. There live shows must be things of awe.... Simply wonderful release all around.
http://season-of-mist.com/



Cantata Sangui - On Rituals And Correspondence In Constructed Realities-CD (Season of Mist)

Hell ya two bass, synths, drums and male/female vocals in what I want to call an electro black/doom band . This band is just interesting as all get out to begin with . You will never miss the guitars here as they way the do the dualing Bass guitars one is the driving low end the other is a funky lead bass with some sick chops. The vocals go from angelic sung/spoken female vocals very similar to Lacuna Coil meets Jarboe at time to me. The male vocals are guttural and grim and work so well in the mix. The very electro/industrial synth elements work very very well with the ultra complex drum timing . There is a dark sexuality to the music and arranging as a whole it draws you in and does not want to let you go. There is a very pagan fire burning here in the structures to the songs. Cantata Sangui have a bit of Amorphis in sound going on too maybe that the prog side that comes out more and more as the CD plays on. Season of Mist has a great band here but it will be more then the mainstream will ever except this is way to versatile and thought provoking for just one simple listen or to dabble in. At times there even glimse of a Black metal edge to the total picture. Season of Mist is just having winner after winner in this back for me...
http://season-of-mist.com/




Gonin-Ish - Naishikyo-Sekai-CD (Season of Mist)


??????????????? ########## &&&&&&&&&&&&& . This is what is going through my head on 1st listen of a 2005 ultra limited reissue of a Japanese band that makes bands like Sigh and The Boredoms seem down right normal. Imagine Dream Theater and Crisis forming one band and then singing all in Japanese. Well you have Gonin-Ish if you can accept this and then add even more chaos and bit of Industrial elements in for go measure. From the 1st two tracks alone its mandatory for me too hear there other titles asap. One moment I swear Gonin-Ish are creating music for sci fi / fantasy Anime the next minute they are here to destory the earth for all the wrong's the human race as done to our mother. The sung vocals are just stunning and the tormented scream and cries remind me 100% of Karen Crisis and that is a good thing. Gonin even go into eastern and post rock sounds so fans of this style check it out. I don't know what else can be said about this band other then BUY BUY BUY!!!

http://season-of-mist.com/



Gnostic- Enginnering the Rule-CD (Season of Mist)

Well it was bound to happen this is not for me and I will tell you way. Its a mix of Nu Metal, Thrash and Prog elements but its just so disjointed. Its like they want to Cynic and Slipknot at the same time and it just come across a forces where bands like Messugah and Gorija just seem to have the balance much more thought out. I know there very talented musicians as you can clearly hear this it just a bit too much more me.

http://season-of-mist.com/



HDK- Sytem Overload-CD (Season of Mist)

Progressive Thrash in the highest of reguards my friends if you like bands like Thrash Testament, Death Angel mixed with bands like Rage, Blind Guardian and Symphony X then this is going to be a win win for you. I like the over the top powerfully sung vocals almost in the Judas Priest or Gamma Ray. HDK is not so much a band as a project in the way Ayreon is where a bunch of friends got together to make a Melodic album mixing Death metal, Prog Metal, Thrash and Hardrock in one very kick ass release. I like the mix of the several different vocal styles ( Sung, Growled, Screamed and even Odin help me rapped). I'm going to let you know as well there is a heavy gothenburg metal sound going on here so Inflames, Soilwork & DT fans . You will want to pick this up but there is so much more going on as members from After Forever, Ayreon, AVANTASIA,Angra and God Dethroned (Yes a lot of A bands there huh). There is so much going on here both Male and Female vocals to top it all off as well. At time it sounds like something Devin Townsend would do as well . So with this praise just check it out ....

http://season-of-mist.com/




NOVEMBERS DOOM- Into Night's Requiem Infernal-CD (The End Records)

Though I haven't spoken to the members in Novembers Doom for a good 3yrs now I still call Paul and Larry friend as in the late 90's/ early 21st century my old band Long Winters Stare were label mates with them on Dark Symphonies and we played many times together. So I start with this is a very different Novembers Doom from those days. I would very little call them a Doom band and more as more a Dark Death Metal/ Experimental metal band with the much more aggressive and progressive elements going through out the band. It's also down to just Paul and Larry from those days with all new members. There are still some very doomy moments but ND like to add so many more sonic layers to the production as a whole and the songs are no longer at a snails pace with heavy string or synths. Novembers Doom now walk the path were bands like Opeth, Dan Swano & Morbid Angel walk the like between the Brutal and the fragile and let me tell you " Into Nights Requiem Infernal" is the most expansive release to date for Novembers Doom. I hope ND never reverts back to the days of old . Let the past be the past and grow with each album some will follow and I'm sure even more people will add to the fold. Long live Novembers Doom ....

http://theendrecords.com/




Kult ov Azazel - Destroying The Sacred-CD (Arctic Music)

US Black metal force from florida is out with there newest assault of the Christian nations of the world once again on Arctic Music Group. With Two verision of the artwork as one as we can see if a bit to extreme for the mainstream masses lol. Kult ov Azazel is a epic Black metal band that never really changes there vision or path. They make over the top grim and brutal Black Death with a bit of melodic overtones to make the cold and dark sounds all the more interesting. This is not ever going to win over the popular culture and music and art like this should never do such. This is for the underground to embrace and keep to themselves. The vocals are just hate spewed and the pace of the music never really slows down . Kult ov Azazel are just a breed of those that the Corpse Paint is an essential part of the overall mode of the band. If your fan of bands like Immortal, Satyricon, Khold even Krieg and earlier Absu you will not want to miss out on the brutality that " Destroying the Sacred" will present you with...

http://www.arcticmusicgroup.com/