Category: Albums

{mosimage}The foursome from Kentucky strikes back with their second studio album. 

As I said in previous reviews, I am not a person very fond of mixing religious views and rock. A Black Stone Cherry´s component repeatedly thanks God for their album, but I suppose there must be some enlightenment there, when they were able to create such a little masterpiece. It is difficult to catalogue the style of the guys from Kentucky, but it is at the same time easy to see many influences in their music: Black Crowes, AC/DC, Nickebalck… 

From the first track (and one of the best in the albums) Blind Man, you can notice that this album is not the one meticulously planned in the studio. The guitar riffs sound raw and natural, and I personally like that feeling of little improvisation around the 12 songs that compose this Folklore and Superstition. With no song equal to the previous one, but at the same time with a common spirit of good rock with roots, Black Stone Cherry have been able to gladly shock me with this album; one of the nicest surprises of 2008 so far. 

Rating 5/5.

{mosimage}Exploring different aspects of indie rock Downstairs have crafted the perfect serenade for noise-punk lovers.

Fugazi, At The Drive-In, …Trail Of Dead. Three main influences that have influenced tons of group playing noise-post-punk, the references that clearly emerge from the debut of Downstairs. Mixing the best of each band the Finnish quartet has crafted a very good album that travels at light-speed.Ten tracks for nearly 40 minutes, a killing cocktail of noise and melody assembled according to a not so canonical but very intriguing sonic scheme. Violent and abrasive without going over the top, Downstairs trap a primitive energy ready to explode at every moment.

Blending electronics, sharp riffs, desperate vocals and powerful drums, the four Finnish musicians prefer variegating the attacking front: there is a lot going on with sudden rhythm changes Shudder Shudder, derailing hits Pale Cannibals and crazy rides Peephole City.    An extremely solid effort for a group with clear potential and strong personality.

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}Anathema offers in their new album an excellent collection of acoustic cover-compilation.

Vincent and Danny Cavanagh offer some old songs from Anathema, except the previously unreleased Unchained, this time played with an acoustic guitar. So basically what is offered here is nothing really new in their discography, but a new approach to their work. And the result is pretty fascinating. Great performances in every one of them, as an example take Leave No Trace, Angelica or A Natural Disaster. Background vocals are perfectly seized, and the inclusion of cello puts an emotive tone to the compositions.

Basically a must have for old and new fans of Anathema, although maybe some people who liked the old and more hardcore material from the British can feel disappointed here. In any case, this work sounds sophisticated and it really works as an acoustic project. A beautiful album.  

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}The long-awaited second part of Something Wicked Part 1 is out in the market.  

The long-awaited second part of Something Wicked Part 1 is out in the market.  

The American metal heads Iced Earth, that enjoys almost the status of gods in countries like Greece, or what is the same, Jon Schaffer and his boys, are back, This album was kind of special because of the returning of Matt Barlow on the vocals (it seems that the life as policeman did not totally satisfy him) instead of Tim Owens.

Many foresaw this as a return to the old sound that encumbered the band at the end of the 90s, like with the super album Something Wicked This Way Comes, but truly said, this new Crucible of Man has more to do with the last 2 albums, meaning that is Schaffer who decides the destiny of Iced Earth, and what side to take when facing a new project. Long epic songs, that start with a promising intro, full of beautiful background voices: In Sacred Flames, but becomes more and more predictable and a bit boring. There are a couple of good shots that will remind you of the old Iced Earth sound, like the marvelous I walk Alone where Barlow´s voice is at his best, or Sacrificial Kingdoms with a great instrumental work by the whole band, but in general, the album can be received with a bit of disappointment after the high expectations that had rose.

The same that the sad sound of the Epilogue that closes the album, Iced Earth needs to find his way in future works if they do not want that their die-hard fans live just on their older albums.

Rating 3/5.

{mosimage}New album by the well-known Finnish artist from Jyväskylä.

Laura Vuotilainen is a well known singer in Finland, but probably outside her native boundaries, many people do not know much about her.

A former participant in Eurovision contest, in 2002 in Tallinn, she has hosted also her own TV show. She has a dilated career as musician, although maybe she can be a bit too “old fashioned” for the new generations of listeners who prefer to hail the incoming youngsters musicians from TV shows like Idols.

What you will find here is a collection of easy-listening songs, with the sensual voice of Laura featured all over the 10 tracks. If you want to have a soft approach to Finnish music, certainly songs like Monta Monta or Villiviini can be good options while holding a party at home with some friends. But the album does not take any risks, so here there is no place for surprises or improvisations.

Surely Laura will sell a good handful of albums among the adult Finnish audience, but there is not much left to excitement for young people who want to experiment new sensations in Finnish pop. Not a bad album, but just another album of Laura Vuotilainen, no more, no less.  

Rating 3/5.

{mosimage}Another Helsinki indie wonder? Kastor is ready to invade the alternative rock world with elegance and a bag full of nice tricks.  

In an indie slowly growing domestic panorama it is always intriguing to meet bands which are consciously aware of their sound, steering and shaping it instead of letting it control them. Kastor belong to this category and their latest offering Lost Station proves it. 

After the 2005 mini-album debut Invisible Triumph the Helsinki quintet returns with eleven tracks that explore the different angles of music with shades of pop and alternative rock fascinations. Soft music plots interweave bracing sonic diagonals, while the ethereal voice of Matias Koponen moves deftly between elegant instrumental nets and occasional shakes made by guitar and drums: the combination of these three basic elements gives life to the best track: Lost Station. Other outstanding tracks are the marriage between rock and electronic music of Melody I Hear in Your Heartbeat which reminds of Mew, the epic melancholy of Something Beautiful and the enjoyable nostalgia of Stop Stop.  

Kastor might be a surprise for those ones still new with the band, definitely a confirmation for those ones have witnessed their live performances. Something more than a simple hope. A very solid album indeed.

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}We don’t know what Kate did to be hated like this, but sure we know that the Californian guys are able to provide some awesome lyrics.

From Huntington Beach in California comes this original band with a good load of power pop that turns to be in some songs pretty danceable. Listening to their new album, embrace the curse, during the first couple of songs I had the impression that they could share some features with the Australian the Wombats, but I hate Kate goes far beyond the simple formula of just offering easy listening songs to forget about worries, and are able to compose intelligent and wonderful pieces like the funny I´m in love with a sociopath or the romantic It’s you.

The band has been around for 3 years now, and it is comprised of Justin Mauriello (vocals/guitar), Scott Hayden (bass) and Jeremy Berghorst (guitar). Step by step, they have gained a reputation touring around USA and recently they also had the chance to play a visit to Japan.

We wish good luck to the Californian guys, and hope that in a near future they will be able to visit Europe and delight us with some kickin´pop-rock.  

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}The band from the Finnish capital features their debut album during this August, followed by an extensive tour around Finland.

Coming from the capital, there is no wonder that the introductory track of the album is named after the band: Haloo Helsinki!. A good representative track of what you can expect later: the voice of Elli singing lyrics for a youthful urban audience. At some point it feels a bit like the singer is a younger version of Maija Vilkkumaa, with the record company EMI making an effort to catch teenage audience around the country. The rest of the members of the band are Jere and Leo on the guitars and Jukka on the drums.

Do not misunderstand me. For being a debut album from a young band, Haloo Helsinki! sounds pretty cool. The production work is nice and some songs are really catchy like Yksinäiset or Perjantaina. It is just the feeling that the Finnish market is a bit overwhelmed with bands and female singers with similar style. Sure Haloo Helsinki! will leave a good feeling when appearing on live gigs and festivals together with the bunch of the other pop-rock Finnish bands aimed at youngsters, but it will be difficult that they can head out unless they are able to find a bit more personal style and “trademark”.  

Rating 3/5.

{mosimage}With this philosophical title the Finnish guys introduce us their new studio album full of good indie pop.

Indie Finnish music scene is not as strong as hard rock and heavy metal scene, but surely it has improved a lot in the recent years with fresh bands like Brightboy or the invasion by the record label Fullsteam. What we have here is (thanks god some diversity…) not another band “made in Fullsteam”, but a group of 5 guys that started 3 years ago with this project and are at the present day signed with Pyramid/Johanna Kustannus, releasing their debut album after having gained experience in the international music scene.

Actually, we recently talked to you about the Californian guys from I hate Kate, and saving the distances, there are some resemblances between both bands: they have been around for the same time, they both gained a good reputation in Japan and they both have new albums with excellent lyrics. As an example, listen to Weakness for Welfare or Brand New Beginning from the Finnish guys, and be ready to enjoy.

Maybe the compulsory melancholic mood is here more constantly present than in the Americans I hate Kate, but certainly Automatic Eye deserves to be recognized far beyond the frontiers of Finland. We hope that they can get a good push of promotion and show the world that in Finland there is also space for a good indie pop scene.  

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}The Finnish guys feature their self-titled debut album with a sound that will remind you of the rock from the 80s.

Land of Tales is a band led by Kristian (Juhan Kontu) on the vocals and guitar and Palle (Harri Lehtonen), and certainly you can notice that when listening to their debut album, because it is the keyboards and the guitar riffs the ones that steal the show here to the other instruments. The other two members of the band are Sami on the Bass and Sami O. on the drums.

It seems that looking back to the American sound of the 80s, with so many nice melodic bands, is becoming a trend in Finland. If few weeks ago we were talking to you about the virtues of Brother Firetribe, now Land of Tales seem to follow the same path. Although being their first album, the musicians are experienced in the music business. Kristian and Palle have been playing together for 15 years in a previous band called Naiskala. About the record, it certainly has everything you can expect if you like the genre: catchy lyrics, some excellent cutting riffs, good melodies, nice vocals skills by Kristian and a couple of songs that can work perfectly as hits like the introductory Silence or the blowing Slow Waters. Outlander could fit perfectly in the soundtrack of a Hollywood romantic comedy.

An album easy to listen and easy to like. Let´s see what Land of Tales will offer in follow-up projects, but the first impression is certainly very positive.  

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}The Swedish band is back with an excellent live DVD recorded in Warsaw, Poland.

The Swedish band is back with an excellent live DVD recorded in Warsaw, Poland.

After having released in 2007 the studio album Gothic Kabbalah, here comes one year later a superb live DVD recorded in Warsaw that will serve as a testimony of the end of an era in the band, because it was recently announced in their official website that the main members of the band were departing in different musical ways, staying the founder Christofer Johnson as the core to build up a new formation in the future. 

What you can find here is more than 2 hours of an excellent show that goes through the extensive career of the band. Lori Lewis and Katarina Lilja  put a note of glamour with the female voices and the band sounds consistent and having fun in front of quite a warm Polish audience. The stage is not very big, but on the other hand the close contact with the public is clearly perceived. As highlights we can comment the exotic drum solo with two other members of the band joining Petter Karlsson, and of course the final climax of the marvelous symphony To Mega Therion.

If you like symphonic metal, you can simply not miss this one in your collection. Apart from the DVD the concert has also been edited in a double CD version.

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}Canadian indie pop band features their second studio album.

After the release Apologies to the Queen Mary, Wolf Parade gained quickly a place as a cult indie band. Now, with this second album, the Canadian trying to settle down into the international scene touring also around Europe.  

Founded by ex Frog Eyes member Spencer Krug, who enlisted promptly Dan Boeckner in the vocals, Wolf Parade offers a wonderful and sometimes psychedelically album with certain notes of melancholy spread here and there that surely with make it catch very well with the Finnish pop audience.

Good work with the sound manipulation by Hadji Bakara and songs sharply built like Call it a Ritual or Language City that make this new work a sure success when playing on stage either at festivals or smaller venues. Special mention to the nice artwork of the album that serves to pinpoint even more the oniric atmosphere of this At Mount Zoomer. Some moments in the album like while listening to Bang  your Drum can remind you of The Doors. Not a bad effort.  

Rating 3/5.

{mosimage}The former founder of bands like The Dictators or Manowar features a new album well into the roots of heavy metal.

Beloved by many Manowar fans around the world who would like to see him back with Dimaio and Cia, Ross the Boss has forged an outstanding career as heavy metal and punk rock musician during the last two decades, with many collaborations and new projects with new and old fellas. Now, in August 2008, it is about to see released his new album: New Metal Leader. With Patrick Fuchs doing a decent job in the vocals, the album will give you exactly what you expect, no more no less. This means Ross´cutting guitar riffs all over and a style resembling in many parts of the album the old classics of Manowar. As some of the favorite tracks in the album I would highlight Blood of Knives and the catchy I got the Right.  

The production is well made and taken care by Tarek Maghary and the album sounds consistent, clean and compact. But as usual the question arises: would not be better to hear Ross´efforts back with his Manowar fellas, instead of having an alternative project that sounds pseudo-Manowar? It is up to you to decide after listening to his new album.

Rating 3/5

{mosimage}The guys from Tampere have joined forces with Fullsteam Records to release their second studio album.

Fullsteam Records is well known in Finland for dominating the pop and indie scene with bands after bands that are achieving a kind of “Fullsteam sound”, maybe nothing seen in the country since the times of Love Records. So in a way it is refreshing that they turned their eyes into a project like Medeia, more oriented into a gloomy death metal scene.

Founded in 2002, Medeia as any other small band that tries to head out worked hard at the beginning self producing their first album. Now, with a strong record company backing them up, they are projecting to conquer the European market, and no doubt that this Cult is a good step. Just the artwork of the CD exhales quality, and when you start to listen to the album, you realize that it has a lot to offer far beyond a typical death metal sound. Listen to tracks like Manifestation or The Lowest Filth and you can see how the lyrics are carefully mastered and the touch of experimentation puts the band aside from the risk of resulting boring or repetitive. Even when death metal Is not my favorite style, I must admit I am gladly please with Cult. We wish all the best for the Tampere fellas!

Rating 4/5.

 {mosimage}Here comes the premier album by the French-Finnish band led by the sensual voice of Olivia Merilahti. 

Olivia Merilahti and Dan Levy are the leaders of this new band that in a short time is getting popular all around Europe. If you want to see them on live this summer, they are a perfect excuse to travel to France and enjoy some sun and good wine there. The Do offer a sensual and evolving pop, and certainly the voice and presence of Olivia makes the band stand up from others.

What you will find here are easy listening songs about love, unconformity, and relations all wrapped with a thin lay of sadness. Listen to some highlights like Playground Hustle, Song for Lovers or On my Shoulders. An album easy to feel identify with, specially if you belong to the increasing group of middle age people whose dreams start to vanish into the harsh reality of the world. The band offers a good mouthful of good music; Recommendable!  

Rating 4/5.