Category Archives: Reviews

(record review)Haniwa-Helleven(Qua Rock Records)

Artwork

This band comes from Florence, Italy and this album contains eleven songs of energetic, brutal but still melodic trash metal. Since I am a sucker for more faster trash metal I was a bit disappointed when the album started with and opener “No More” and with the second song “@Daggers Drawn”. The first two songs are played in pumping mid tempo groove trash with aggressive vocals that in my opinion sound a lot like Chuck Billy(Testament). The whole sound of the band reminds a lot on Bay Area bands. “Tomorrow” and “Think This” were a lot better and then one of the album highlights “Volcano” stormed my ears. This song is just perfect combo of harshness and melody. Definitely a winner! “Tides of Time” is one of the longer songs of the album sounding almost balladesque at the start but it is in fact one of the hardest songs on the album. “Haniwa” is another great highlight of the album and I am sure that the catchy chorus goes very well live when used for singalong.  “Fire Eyes” is just a bit too long for my taste but thats only me. “Suffer” and “Helleven”, the title track of the album close the album just the way they should. This is very good modern metal album and I am looking forward to the new material over the years to come because I am sure that it will just be perfect. Check out this band cause they are worth it!

7,5/10

http://www.quarockrecords.com/sito/

https://www.facebook.com/haniwametal/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/qua.rock

 

(record review)Plugs of Apocalypse-Deeper Than Hell(This is Core records)

Artwork Plugs Of Apocalypse 600x600

Here is the new album by this great Italian band which formed in Rome in 2008. This is the third album but the first two differed from the style that the band plays now. Earlier albums were more in pure deathcore style and that albums and lots of work got them their rightful place sharing staged with many great international acts.

Foto gruppo 1

The new album sails in more melodic waters. The metal foundation that they built during the years is still here, hammering heavy guitars pound the album relentlessly track by track, with great double bass drumming. The combination of clean voice and keyboard melodies on top of harsh metal riffs is just great. When listening this album it creates in me an atmosphere of no hope sadness and blissful melancholy. Excellent interplay of male and female vocals in songs make this album great listening experience. All of the ten songs are equally great but if I should mention some album highlight, in my opinion that would be “Burn Everything I Love” and “Tears”. Damn, listening to this album left me feeling like floating in a boat on a desolate lake. Frightening, but at the same time beautiful. Great stuff.

7,5/10

https://www.facebook.com/officialPOA

https://www.facebook.com/thisiscoreagency/?fref=ts

 

Music reviews:DIE TOTEN HOSEN-Laune Der Natur/HAVOK-Conformicide/SIROVA SMJESA-Trovanje Mladeži

DIE TOTEN HOSEN-Laune Der Natur(JKP Gmbh&Co KG)

cover-laune-pnl

This legendary German punkrock band from Dusseldorf has a new studio album out after five years. This is already studio album number 16 in this bands rich career since 1982. full of ups and downs. Some people in the scene doubt and discuss how much punk is left in this band, but I think that Campino and company still have some dynamite in their old bones. The album is opened by strong and melodic “Urkrall” which is just perfect. There is some reggae influence in “Wannsee” which is kinda boring song for me. “Unter den Wolken” is a single which preceded the album but they could choose a better song from the album to make it a single announcing the new album. There are also some political lyrics so Hosen can remind people that they are still a punk band through songs like “Pop und Politik”. The title song is anthemic, just perfect for live arena singalong. The ballads are also kinda trademark of this band and “Alles passiert” is no exception. This is one of better Hosen ballads. the strongest song on this record in my opinion is “Wie viel Jahre(Hasta La Muerte)” because the lyrics and melodies of the music are just perfect. I also must say that “Lass loss” kinda reminds me on “Bonnie and Clyde”. Congratulations, Die Toten Hosen, you made it again! Good record!

8/10

http://www.dietotenhosen.de/

 

HAVOK-Conformicide(Century Media)

conformicide-cover

I just cant believe it! The energy, the aggression, the anger, the album just finished playing and I am still jumping all over the room. This is the fourth studio album by these trashers from Denver, Colorado and the album is just perfect from the first to the last riff. The album contains 11 songs and one Pantera cover(“Slaughtered”). This band formed in 2004.and since then they tear through the stages and put out some of the best trash metal that I have heard. The song lyrics are political but they also deal with some personal issues. The riffs are catchy but also enough melodic and agressive to have a just perfect measure of both. The vocals are angry and pissed off all the time, but the fit in with the song structures perfectly. To me the singer sounds like a mix of Bobby Blitz(Overkill) and Udo Dirkschneider(Accept,Udo). Check this album out because it will quickly become on of your favourite albums!

9/10

havokband.com/

http://www.centurymedia.com/

 

SIROVA SMJESA-Trovanje Mladeži

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This is the first studio output by Croatian punkrock duo featuring multitalented instrumentalist Jadran Ranj(Na Minimumu) who plays guitars and programs drum machine and Renato Posavec(vocals). This guys never met in person but they somehow clicked together through Renatos lyrics and Jadrans riffs. The album contains 9 songs sung in Croatian language, the music prevailing on this album is punkrock but there are a lot of more complicated song straucture influences so dont expect it to be simple! The vocals are in my opinion a little too monotonous but I am sure that in time Renato will learn how to sing better. Maybe the vocal lines could follow guitar melodies a bit more. The production is good and you can hear what is playing. As I said, I love faster stuff so this is not so good to me but it is above average record and I am eager to hear the future releases by these guys. Maybe they could somehow form a real band, I am curious how the songs would sound performed live.

6/10

https://sirovasmjesa.bandcamp.com/album/trovanje-mladezi