Italian label AltrOck have so far released wonderful avant-rock/avant-garde and related albums (Yugen, Rational Diet, Finnegans Wake, Simon Steensland, miRthkon, Kurai, Accordo Dei Contrari etc.). With this release, Sleep Talking, they present a band, Chance:Risiko, that is quite different from those signed so far to the label.
At first listen, one may think he has figured this band out; being able to point out their influences and pigeonhole their style. But that would be only a partial picture of what stand behind their music. Yes, the vocalist’s voice reminds of Thom Yorke, and yes, there are some Radiohead characteristics here: a certain subtleness and abstractness that permeates throughout the entire album as well as a sense of mystery and magic, a place where time seems to move slower.
But that is not all.
Continue reading ‘Chance:Risiko – Sleep Talking (AltrOck, 2009)’
Matt Finney is one of those rare modern day renaissance men that seems to have a hand in everything. Whether creating unique and immersive ambient, experimental and noise music to stimulate your ears or crafting poetry that jumps off the printed page directly into the center of your mind, Finney is an artistic jack-of-all-trades. I first interviewed Finney as part of the ambient/spoken-word duo Finneyerkes and found him to be a highly articulate and engaging subject. Much to my surprise, he e-mailed me a few months later asking if I would be interested in another round of interrogations, an offer I couldn’t possibly pass up.
When I conducted this second interview via e-mail with Mr. Finney, Finneyerkes had recently dissolved and another project, the lo-fi acoustic Ferdinand the Bull had sadly crashed and burned before it had a chance to blossom. But, in a fortuitous turn of events as I was all set to post the piece, Finneyerkes has gotten back together and Finney also has several written projects in the can as well.
Continue reading ‘Interview: Matt Finney’
Kinetic Element was originally formed to perform keyboardist and vocalist Mike Visaggio’s music form his solo album Starship Universe, released in 2006. Things, however, took a turn and they liked the idea of playing together as a band and along with playing covers of classic rock and prog-rock songs, they have been playing their own original material. Some of it already released as a promo ep, The Powered By Light Suite in 2008. In 2009, the band self-released Powered By Light Continue reading ‘Kinetic Element – Powered By Light (self-released, 2009)’
I’ve always enjoyed split releases. Typically they’re like getting two eps for the price of one, and can often serve as a great (not to mention cost effective) way to discover new artists. Afterall, if a band/artist you already respect deems another, lesser known band/artist worthy of sharing a release, chances are you just might enjoy that lesser known musician as well. Such is the case with this split release between A Death Cinematic and Sons of Alpha Centauri.
Continue reading ‘A Death Cinematic / Sons of Alpha Centauri – split (self released, 2010)’
Sometimes, all it takes is a simple acoustic guitar and a voice to create powerful and beautiful music. Nowhere is this more apparent than on Rome’s latest album, Flowers From Exile. Since forming in 2005, singer-songwriter Jerome Reuter and producer friend Patrick Damiani have released 3 albums and 2 Eps. Their latest album is marked by violin player Nikos Mavridis officially joining the group, allowing their unique sound to evolve further. Continue reading ‘Rome – Flowers From Exile (Trisol, 2009)’
Some of you are probably looking at the headline of this review and thinking, “it’s 2010, why in the world are they posting a review of an EP that originally came out in 2008.” The answer is quite simple, really. Enemy Reign flat-out slays, and their self-financed debut Means to a Dead End deserves the undivided attention of extreme metal fans regardless of what year it was released in. If you’re looking for a short, sharp, shock of unmitigated brutality, look no further than this sleeper release.
Continue reading ‘Enemy Reign – Means to a Dead End (self released, 2008)’
I have to admit, the combination of the name Mr Death and the claim of playing old-school death metal left me skeptical about the quality of this release before I even listened to it. However, the fact that some of the band members have been involved in the Swedish metal scene before, in such acts as Treblinka and Expulsion, left a glimmer of hope.
Fortunately, my expectations were far surpassed. As soon as the opening riff thundered through my speakers, my first thought was “Nihilist!” The production may not have that cryptic “dungeon” feel that permeates parts of those infamous Nihilist demos, but otherwise feels pretty close. The guitars have that thick, chunky sound, and while it may lack that certain feel that many old-school death metal bands elicited, Detached From Life is definitely not overproduced. The vocals are perhaps more refined than some OSDM bands, offering a mid-range raspy scream. The drumming is solid, tastefully utilizing blastbeats but otherwise does not stand out. The bass hides in the back, doubling the guitar and lending an additional element of heaviness to the album.
Continue reading ‘Mr. Death – Detached from Life (Agonia, 2009)’
Published by
Assaf Vestin on
January 8, 2010 in
Features.
Tags: Avant-rock, Between The Buried And Me, Cheer Accident, Deluge Grander, Fun Machine, Gargamel, Gosta Berlings Saga, Kalisia, L'oeil Du Sourd, metal, Osada Vida, Phideaux, Present, progressive, Wobbler.
We now return to our feature: Part II of Assaf’s Favourite Albums of 2009
In Part I, I featured 17 great albums of various genres and styles, ranging from metal, to jazz, avant-rock and progressive.
In Part II, I will go over my 12 favourite albums released in 2009. The choices here too are eclectic in their style, sound and influences. Each one of these is worthwhile to check out, in my opinion. So with no further delay, here are the albums that made my year:
Continue reading ‘Top of the Crop: Assaf’s Favourite Albums of 2009, Part II’
Since the common “wisdom” during the end of year/beginning of the year is to make best-of-year album lists I’ll hereby contribute my own small stance on 2009 albums I’ve listened to. I’ll go through the albums I’ve heard this year and point out those I liked the most and think are the best, then list the good, the mediocre and the flat out bad (according to my tastes of course). Continue reading ‘Top of the Crop: Assaf’s Favourite Albums of 2009, Part I’
Published by
Josh Haun on
January 3, 2010 in
Columns.
Tags: 1349, Absu, Beherit, best of 2009, black metal, Cobalt, death metal, Destroyer 666, Drudkh, Embrace of Thorns, Fatalist, Goatwhore, Gorgoroth, Helcaraxe, Impetuous Ritual, Marduk, Master's Hammer, metal, Peste Noire, Portal, Skeletonwitch, The Chasm, Ulcerate, Wodensthrone.
Well, what can I say? ‘Tis the season for year-end best-of lists, why should Sonic Frontiers be immune? In an attempt to keep to the spirit with which Dethroned Emperor was founded, I decided that this list must be constrained by two key parameters. First, no major label releases and second, only black and death metal albums allowed (although I decided to play it a little more fast and loose with the individual awards). I could go on a spiel about what a great year it was for metal in general, but no doubt if you’re bothering to read this monstrosity, you’re already a fan of the genre and don’t need me to tell you about it. Besides, every true ‘head out there knows that every year is a great year for metal. And so, without further ado…
Continue reading ‘Dethroned Emperor – Best of 2009 Edition’
Italian label AltrOck have so far released wonderful avant-rock/avant-garde and related albums (Yugen, Rational Diet, Finnegans Wake, Simon Steensland, miRthkon, Kurai, Accordo Dei Contrari etc.). With this release, Sleep Talking, they present a band, Chance:Risiko, that is quite different from those signed so far to the label.
