Here we are, album number twelve of Arch Enemy. I will say a blasphemy now in the eyes of many fans, but for me personally, last three albums are the best that this band made in their career. That are the three albums with Alissa White-Gluz on vocals. Her arrival brought new energy to the band, new versatility in vocals and melodies, also new aggression and brutality. Not to sad Angela Gossow was bad, quite opposite, but I love the last three records. This one offers 11 songs and I am at hardship to choose which one I like more. It took listening for like three times to decide, so I will do it like that: Handshake With Hell-awesome straightforward aggressive death thrash anthem with superb clean vocal middle parts, courtesy of little demon Alissa. In The Eye Of The Storm kicks ass with mid tempo, heavy song which adds to epic anthemic chorus and great lyrics. Poisoned Arrow-the song with contagious and such wicked little guitar melody that it stays in your ears to hum all day. There is also one short but epic instrumental called Mourning Star in which all splendid musicianship of this veteran band comes to forefront. One Last Time is melancholy, mid tempo anthem with story how to rise up and live on and I love this perfection of a song. Not to discover just everything, check this one out. One of the best records to come out this year.
Between Bodies are from Germany and this is their new full length album containing 11 songs. After listening to as a whole and when writing this, I must admit that I enjoyed this one through and through. This is a nice record filled with melodic, emotional punk rock with lots of melody, heart and superb songwriting and lyrics. The vocals are beautiful, fitting just perfectly to the songs. Guitar work delivers punk rock melodies, energy and strength but there are also some indie and post punk influences here and there, as well as pop punk. But, rather this band being snotty clone or boring pop punk, Between Bodies have that something what it takes to write great songs and play great music. This is mid tempo, not fast, but strong material nonetheless. My personal favorites are Stronger Than Me, Gallows and Crosses In The Distance.
Jerkswitch are from Canada and are no strangers to the pages of this zine. They were already featured with couple of great singles and now it is time for full length to grace the pages of this zine. Well, this one contains 9 songs. Jerkswitch play emotional melodic punk rock with a bit raw and dirty yet melodic guitar work, great choruses and backing vocals, but the songs are not your fast skate punk. No, this is more like PUP, The Flatliners and similar bands with also some ska punk influences in song structures. Lyrics are every day life, emotions and something I can relate to, like excellent Running From Myself, Killing Machines or King Of Shit. This is a good album by good band.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 