‘Sheol’ is the hebrew word
for "Hell", but this album is sheer bloody heaven for fans of superior Swedish
Death Metal. Naglfar is a band that almost defines the word “underground". Ten
years old, only three albums, and all of them for different labels. Quality
wins over quantity here, though, because this time the Swedish maniacs have
out-done themselves! ‘Sheol’ rocks from start to finish, with songs like "I Am
Vengeance", "Unleash Hell", and the syntax-twisting "Of Gorgons Spawned Through
Witchcraft", annihilating the listener's eardrums and chemically bonding them to
their seat with sheer force. Satan only knows when these guys will be able to
put out another album, so pick this one up and enjoy it for all you can right
now. (Taliesin Govannon)
This is a great time to be
plugged into the progressive hard rock underground. While American mainstream
music seems to be a cesspool of copy-cats and also-rans, the American and
European Progressive Hard Rock scene just keeps turning out excellent albums.
Case in point: Nightwish's newest symphonic metal opus "Once". To describe this
band, just imagine the best parts of Dream Theater heavied up dramatically, with
a dash of Iron Maiden and Yngwie Malmsteen's neo-classical flourishes. Top it
off with a classically-trained female vocalist soaring above driving, rolling
rhythms, and you have but the tiniest taste of what this band's all about.
Sheer bloody excellence is the best way to describe this, their fifth
full-length album. While past releases have often slipped into heavy metal
opera, more care is being taken with the songs this time. Lead singer Tarja
Turunen holds back more during the verses, saving the high notes for the
choruses. Breakout tracks include "Nemo" (the first single), as well as "Dark
Chest of Wonders" and "Dead Gardens". Overall, a much more melodic effort that
should, if there is any justice in the world, be their breakout album in the US.
[Editor's note: This album comes out in October on Roadrunner Records.] (Taliesin Govannon)
The
Ordinary – ‘Don’t Let Me Die a Waiter’ (Audiction)
Lucky for The
Ordinary they don’t live up to their name. The band has a reasonably fresh
sound and writes some pretty good songs. The basslines and vocals remind me of
eighties alternative music like Joy Division, Depeche Mode, and The Cure, but
the guitars are raw and distorted and the drumming is more aggressive. And no,
it doesn’t sound like Orgy’s cover of Blue Monday. This is much better than
that and much more mature sounding. I like the rocking “Summer in the Weeds”
and the more laid back “Klepto Wives” the best. The other tunes didn’t make as
much of an impression, but they're not bad. (Bob Ignizio)
Pale Blue Sky sound kind of
like Neil Young and Crazy Horse crossed with The Velvet Underground. It’s
pretty straight forward guitar based rock with heartfelt vocals and thoughtful
lyrics. Guitarist/vocalist Pete Vercelletti has an unpolished but pleasant
voice, and he and bass player Jamie Simms are both excellent players. Drummer
Justin Watt isn’t bad, either, but the production on here makes his playing
sound kind of “boxy”. All three tracks are good, but I particularly liked
“Cowboy Song”. Good stuff to listen to when you’re in the mood for something
mellow, but not too mellow. I’d like to hear a full album and/or catch
this band live sometime. (Bob Ignizio)
‘Sheol’ is the hebrew word
for "Hell", but this album is sheer bloody heaven for fans of superior Swedish
Death Metal. Naglfar is a band that almost defines the word “underground". Ten
years old, only three albums, and all of them for different labels. Quality
wins over quantity here, though, because this time the Swedish maniacs have
out-done themselves! ‘Sheol’ rocks from start to finish, with songs like "I Am
Vengeance", "Unleash Hell", and the syntax-twisting "Of Gorgons Spawned Through
Witchcraft", annihilating the listener's eardrums and chemically bonding them to
their seat with sheer force. Satan only knows when these guys will be able to
put out another album, so pick this one up and enjoy it for all you can right
now. (Taliesin Govannon)
This is a great time to be
plugged into the progressive hard rock underground. While American mainstream
music seems to be a cesspool of copy-cats and also-rans, the American and
European Progressive Hard Rock scene just keeps turning out excellent albums.
Case in point: Nightwish's newest symphonic metal opus "Once". To describe this
band, just imagine the best parts of Dream Theater heavied up dramatically, with
a dash of Iron Maiden and Yngwie Malmsteen's neo-classical flourishes. Top it
off with a classically-trained female vocalist soaring above driving, rolling
rhythms, and you have but the tiniest taste of what this band's all about.
Sheer bloody excellence is the best way to describe this, their fifth
full-length album. While past releases have often slipped into heavy metal
opera, more care is being taken with the songs this time. Lead singer Tarja
Turunen holds back more during the verses, saving the high notes for the
choruses. Breakout tracks include "Nemo" (the first single), as well as "Dark
Chest of Wonders" and "Dead Gardens". Overall, a much more melodic effort that
should, if there is any justice in the world, be their breakout album in the US.
[Editor's note: This album comes out in October on Roadrunner Records.] (Taliesin Govannon)
Lucky for The
Ordinary they don’t live up to their name. The band has a reasonably fresh
sound and writes some pretty good songs. The basslines and vocals remind me of
eighties alternative music like Joy Division, Depeche Mode, and The Cure, but
the guitars are raw and distorted and the drumming is more aggressive. And no,
it doesn’t sound like Orgy’s cover of Blue Monday. This is much better than
that and much more mature sounding. I like the rocking “Summer in the Weeds”
and the more laid back “Klepto Wives” the best. The other tunes didn’t make as
much of an impression, but they're not bad. (Bob Ignizio)
Pale Blue Sky sound kind of
like Neil Young and Crazy Horse crossed with The Velvet Underground. It’s
pretty straight forward guitar based rock with heartfelt vocals and thoughtful
lyrics. Guitarist/vocalist Pete Vercelletti has an unpolished but pleasant
voice, and he and bass player Jamie Simms are both excellent players. Drummer
Justin Watt isn’t bad, either, but the production on here makes his playing
sound kind of “boxy”. All three tracks are good, but I particularly liked
“Cowboy Song”. Good stuff to listen to when you’re in the mood for something
mellow, but not too mellow. I’d like to hear a full album and/or catch
this band live sometime. (Bob Ignizio)