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Revisiting “Metal Edge” Magazine: The CD Reviews – Part 12

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These album overviews were originally written for Metal Edge Magazine when I was a contributor to their “Hear Us Out” CD reviews section back in 2006-2007. With the magazine wrapping up publication a few months ago, I decided to add them to the context of our PiercingMetal presentation. I felt that by doing this I would not only be raising the horns in remembrance of the magazine but would also be able to showcase just how different writing for a major publication was when it all came down to it. Since “Hear Us Out” notations were usually “100” words in length, these posts will feature several reviews each until we run out of them. The freelance writing tenure at Metal Edge Magazine was discussed on THIS LINK so please check that out when done. Here are the final reviews, so “Hear Us Out” one last time.

Various Artists: “Metal For The Masses V” (Century Media Records)

The great thing about this compilation is that it includes members of the whole Century Media family of labels and as result you get Into Eternity with Meshuggah with American Heartbreak. Two CD’s loaded with songs from existing and new signings make this a worthy slab of Metal, but lets not forget the DVD that features videos from the same rosters. It’s a great way to showcase the already known while allowing you time to absorb those that are new. You cannot go wrong with a release like that for who knows how many more fans it can make for legends and how many legends it can foster going forward.

Various Artists: “Saw III” Soundtrack (Artists Addiction Records)

Soundtracks are not often easy to review since many of them are sub-par but lucky us this is an exception. After the shaking in fear has stopped from seeing this movie, you can once again feel your blood boil hot with the power of the great bands presented here. Hot new acts like All That Remains, and Mastodon are tempered by the legends Slayer and Ministry while ever rising super powers like Lamb Of God and Meshuggah dole it out as well. A soundtrack helped Evanescence, perhaps this will make a spike marked dent on someone elses career. Yes, there will be blood.
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Revisiting “Metal Edge” Magazine: The CD Reviews – Part 9

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These album overviews were originally written for Metal Edge Magazine when I was a contributor to their “Hear Us Out” CD reviews section back in 2006-2007. With the magazine wrapping up publication a few months ago, I decided to add them to the context of our PiercingMetal presentation. I felt that by doing this I would not only be raising the horns in remembrance of the magazine but would also be able to showcase just how different writing for a major publication was when it all came down to it. Since “Hear Us Out” notations were usually “100” words in length, these posts will feature several reviews each until we run out of them. The freelance writing tenure at Metal Edge Magazine was discussed on THIS LINK so please check that out when done. Here are the reviews, so “Hear Us Out”.

Righteous Jams: “Business As Usual” (Abacus Records)

As much as I think elements of Hardcore truly work in the various brands of Metal as we have seen in bands like All That Remains, and I Killed The Prom Queen we are pointed out to how stagnant it can be if there is no change whatsoever. The RJ guys surely give it their all but there is nothing that stands out on this release and much of it comes across as repetitive. Similar riffs and vocals on top of a very short album make this as uninspiring as it was uninteresting for me. Want something original? Keep looking.

Sentenced: “Buried Alive” (Century Media Records)

Live recordings are not unusual these days but one that captures the final show in a bands career are rare. Presenting Buried Alive as it brings you the end of the band Sentenced who ended their life on The Funeral Album (their studio recorded suicide note to the world). The concert features most of that album as well as older material and allows their fans to pay last respects one final time before the casket is lowered into the ground. The intended purpose of this Dark Gothic Metal band completed, its members have moved on. May they Rest in Peace.
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Revisiting “Metal Edge” Magazine: The CD Reviews – Part 8

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These album overviews were originally written for Metal Edge Magazine when I was a contributor to their “Hear Us Out” CD reviews section back in 2006-2007. With the magazine wrapping up publication a few months ago, I decided to add them to the context of our PiercingMetal presentation. I felt that by doing this I would not only be raising the horns in remembrance of the magazine but would also be able to showcase just how different writing for a major publication was when it all came down to it. Since “Hear Us Out” notations were usually “100” words in length, these posts will feature several reviews each until we run out of them. The freelance writing tenure at Metal Edge Magazine was discussed on THIS LINK so please check that out when done. Here are the reviews, so “Hear Us Out”.

Moonspell: “Memorial” (SPV Records)

Fans of the Gothic Metal genre rejoice for there is no better band to bring it to the table than Moonspell. Heralded as the most successful Portuguese band ever, they return to us after a couple of year’s absence from album releases with “Memorial” – it is an album that holds you in its dark grip from beginning to end without question. Musically this effort is one of the strongest I have heard from the Gothic Metal sector in my times observing the genre and to the bands credit, working with producer Waldemar Sorychta (Lacuna Coil, Sentenced, Tiamat) was probably the smartest thing they could have done with this album. Gloomy and intense instrumental intros lead you into a thunderous display of musical power that is so dramatic you feel as though you are listening to a horror movie put to music. “Finisterra” and “Mememto Mori” and among my favorite numbers along with “Sanguine” as they especially deal with darker subject matter and are written it would seem by Darkness itself. Fernando is mesmerizing across the length of the album and as each song plays you can almost envision him atop a moonlit mountain as mists and other workings of the midnight sky happen all around him. “Luna” has a strong level of appeal for not only is a mix of clean vocal happening but there is also the haunting voice of Brigit Zacher. Moonspell have outdone themselves with this recording and I feel that those who have only sampled the band before do themselves justice and grab a copy of “Memorial”. While it is not the bands first effort, it is very clearly their best to date. This will be an album that true Gothic Metal is gauged and rated against so other bands who deliver this aspect of the genre will do well to study it. I think the main part of the records appeal is the fact that it does not totally follow the Gothic definition by being overly depressing and melancholy. The keyboard use and the deeper clean vocals and guitar chord structure make the Gothic vibe come to life, but the album is also very energetic, heavy and darker than the abyss. A lyric and photo booklet is included which will serve to enrapture you more into the midnight world of Moonspell. This is an album for all fans of Atmospheric, Dark, Progressive and Gothic Metal. It’s a winner from beginning to………………End.

Nightmare: “The Dominion Gate” (Candlelight Records)

Fans of Power Metal will be chanting “Vive La France” as they jam out to France’s legendary but still widely secret masters of the Melodic. All the elements for success in the genre are under the bands command and with TDG they stand to be the next big discovered secret by a wider demographic of appreciative fans of the form. This is majestic and entertaining, technical and resounding and there is little chance for boredom as they bound from one track to the next. It’s time for them to join the charge into glory like those who came long after them. Anyone coming along?
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Revisiting “Metal Edge” Magazine: The CD Reviews – Part 7

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These album overviews were originally written for Metal Edge Magazine when I was a contributor to their “Hear Us Out” CD reviews section back in 2006-2007. With the magazine wrapping up publication a few months ago, I decided to add them to the context of our PiercingMetal presentation. I felt that by doing this I would not only be raising the horns in remembrance of the magazine but would also be able to showcase just how different writing for a major publication was when it all came down to it. Since “Hear Us Out” notations were usually “100” words in length, these posts will feature several reviews each until we run out of them. The freelance writing tenure at Metal Edge Magazine was discussed on THIS LINK so please check that out when done. Here are the reviews, so “Hear Us Out”.

Madina Lake: ”From Them, Through Us, To You” (Roadunner Records)

Madina Lake is quite the Rock band as they work the angles of melody with clever abandon and throw down tasty riffs to bring out some memorable tracks on their major label debut. They present emotion without an Emo stain and rock as hard as the big boys on tracks like “House Of Cards”. Catchy hooks and detailed lyrical storylines bring listeners one classy piece of music that was thought out for a change and should appeal to a wide audience. Big things await the listener in the region of fictional town Madina Lake, lets let the guys take us on a tour into their world.

Marion Raven: “Heads Will Roll” (Eleven Seven Music)

The way I see it, Marion Raven stands ready to capture the hearts of music fans everywhere. This Norwegian siren was part of the Pop sensation M2M long ago, who shares the song writing today with rockers such as Nikki Sixx. The title track proves that Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Her strong vocals and stunning look makes me confident that good things are waiting for her as she sings of strength and empowerment. Raven appears with Meat Loaf on the single “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” and with this on her resume I am sure she is paving a solid path to success. Are you ready for the next big thing?
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Revisiting “Metal Edge” Magazine: The CD Reviews – Part 6

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These album overviews were originally written for Metal Edge Magazine when I was a contributor to their “Hear Us Out” CD reviews section back in 2006-2007. With the magazine wrapping up publication a few months ago, I decided to add them to the context of our PiercingMetal presentation. I felt that by doing this I would not only be raising the horns in remembrance of the magazine but would also be able to showcase just how different writing for a major publication was when it all came down to it. Since “Hear Us Out” notations were usually “100” words in length, these posts will feature several reviews each until we run out of them. The freelance writing tenure at Metal Edge Magazine was discussed on THIS LINK so please check that out when done. Here are the reviews, so “Hear Us Out”.

Killswitch Engage: “As Daylight Dies” (Roadrunner Records)

You can say with levels of certainty that bands like All That Remains and Burn In Silence along with a laundry list of others owe a debt of gratitude to Killswitch Engage for both their music and their efforts on the Heavy Metal genre as a whole. It was Killswitch who made it clear that both the intensity of Metalcore and the traditional melody of conventional Metal could and would work together with a bombastic result; now with As Daylight Dies, the band continues to show why they are the undisputed masters of this formula for many years. As you listen, you find that the aggression is still there and you find it prominently displayed on “Unbroken” where Jones rails against the world in anger only to break into the melodic parts with ease and perfection. Tracks like opener “As Daylight Dies” and “This Is Absolution” remind you that you are listening to professionals who have really grown into their role as a leader for this brand of Metal. The success that they have achieved over the past few years have really given the format a massive push ahead the rest and with every tune on the new record you can see why they have become so influential in this kind of sound. Instead of choosing to rest upon the laurels of success, we find the new album once again taking the band in a venture ahead to new again and focusing a little more on the melodic side than ever before. This might cause some dismay in the folks who wanted a non-stop brutality fest and they should be aware that the use of melody does not mean that they have grown soft by any stretch. This is actually a very killer album and I expect that when its numbers come back that it turns more people onto the group than it does turn off. In Metal, the only constant is change and since they deal with so much in the way of competition, I am glad to see KE opting to lead the charge one more time. One of my favorites is “Still Beats Your Name” which is an intensely dynamic number with throttling drums by Justin Foley, while “Reject Yourself” closes out the release with a punch that is as hard as only Killswitch Engage can deliver. As Daylight Dies, the power of KE grows all the stronger.

KISS: ”Alive 1975-2000” (Universal Music)

It’s been over thirty years and KISS is still one of the most visually exciting bands ever formed and the levels of spectacle and entertainment at their concerts have given millions of fans worldwide experiences that are forever remembered. This CD collection celebrates the performances of KISS by featuring all three of their Alive releases as well as a special bonus disk. Alive was the album that saved KISS’ career for it was not until the band took the risk of releasing a double live album that their true powers over the listener were realized. Yes they had an ever-growing fan base but the albums were not selling. Instead of the career suicide many predicted with this effort it became a blockbuster that many live recordings are measured against. The band’s anthem would officially claim that status as a result of Alive and soon “Rock And Roll All Nite” was on radio stations everywhere. Alive II was culled from three shows at The Forum in LA and the increase in technology allowed KISS to make this release much more of an in your face listen than its predecessor. The third side would give the listener five new studio tracks to enjoy. “R&R All Night” is presented as a bonus on this set. Alive III finds a long unmasked and different roster KISS (Peter Criss and Ace Frehley were long gone). In their place were Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer (Singer had joined shortly after the passing of Eric Carr). Also released on video the album was met with approval but dissent at the one CD instead of two. The bonus CD is the long missing Millennium Concert, recorded in front of 45,000 fans during the bands “Farewell Tour” and once again featured the founding four members. Continually delayed, this album would simply vanish from the radar of fans. Some tracks made their way to the Boxed Set but that would be it. It would also be the final live recording to feature completely original members, as Ace would leave again and be replaced by Tommy Thayer. Wrapped in a highly decorative deluxe digipack it includes a booklet that features every insert found in the original albums as well as a score of bonus photos. It’s time to get out the greasepaint and stick out your tongue once again for KISS – “The Hottest Band In The World”.
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