Crime Records

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Amberian Dawn - Magic Forest Review

Band:  Amberian Dawn
Album:  Magic Forest
Label: Napalm Records
Genre: Symphonic Power Metal
Country: Finland
Release Date: July 8, 2014





    In the world of female fronted Metal bands, Amberian Dawn stood out among them with their incredibly talented former singer, Heidi Parviainen and made 4 incredibly catchy albums with her as she fronted the band.  After the “Circus Black” album, Amberian Dawn and Heidi parted ways and the new singer Capri Virkkunen was introduced with an album of previously released songs redone to fit her vocal range.  Now fast forward to 2014 with the release of “Magic Forest”.


    The first song, “Cherish My Memory” gives you a taste of what you’re going to be in for throughout the entire album, which is big, epic sounding and melodic Symphonic Power Metal.  The song has a catchy chorus that you can’t help singing along to (even if you have a bad singing voice like I do).  Capri’s vocals are amazing and haunting.  It sends chills up your spine.  She’s that good.


    The standout track on this album is “Magic Forest”  It’s another song with a catchy chorus that you will find yourself singing along to even after the song is over.  Once again, Capri delivers with her voice that hits you right down to your soul and the song is heavy with epic melodic riffs and keyboards.  You will be banging your head as you listen.


     Even though the album is pretty balanced throughout and Capri delivers on each song, there are some dull moments.  “Agonizing Night” is a song with a slow intro and stays slow and dull throughout the entire song.  “Memorial” is another song that brings the overall tone of an album to a halt with the odd baritone male vocals that just sound silly.


    There is one thing that sets Amberian Dawn apart from all the other female fronted Metal bands and that’s the songs.  They’re upbeat while the majority of other female fronted Metal bands have more Gothic elements.  All of these songs are upbeat and happy sounding and you can’t help but feel good when listening to this album.  That’s what sets Amberian Dawn apart from the rest of the pack.


    Overall, aside from the few duds on this album, Capri’s official debut with new material was a success.  I know I have talked about how amazing and haunting Capri’s voice is earlier but I have to mention it again and how well she fits right in with the rest of the band.  The album may not be perfect, but the album is still killer.


Overall Rating: 7/10


Tracklist:
1.    Cherish My Memory
2.    Dance of Life
3.    Magic Forest
4.    Agonizing Night
5.    Warning
6.    Sons of the Rainbow
7.    I’m Still Here
8.    Memorial
9.    Endless Silence
10.  Green Eyed
11   Dance of Life (Bonus Instrumental Version)
12.  Warning (Bonus Instrumental Version)

Total Playing Time:  45:30

Rating:




Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Elvenking - The Pagan Manifesto Review

Band: Elvenking
Album: The Pagan Manifesto
Label: AFM Records
Genre: Power Metal / Folk Metal
Country: Italy
Release Date: May 9th, 2014




I always get a little excited at the prospect of a new pagan, folk metal album.  I'm not strictly pagan myself but I enjoy the sentiment.  After all if you're going to worship anything at all then it may as well be something that's physical such as the sun, moon, water, trees etc.  After all, we know they're there and we know they exude life giving properties.  But, Elvenking aren't a band I've previously known.  They don't fit the "normal" folksy pagan metal mold that I usually gravitate toward.  To begin with they're not Finnish or Swedish or hail from some Germanic land oft associated with such music and they don't confine themselves to the "lets all drink copious amounts of alcohol and slay our enemies until we meet in Valhalla, thank you very much" kind of mish-mash. Secondly, if you're used to pagan metal being raw or rough around the edges, such as Korpiklaani or Finntroll, you're in for a surprise.  Elvenking fit more into the ilk of Stratovarious but with folk instruments thrown in. Due to this I feel a little dubious about it because pagan metal, to me, means dirty and raw.  Will I want to don a pair of buck antlers and head to the local sacred grove, or will I want to hex this album from the face of the earth?
     Elvenlegions is the first single off the album and it's a corker.  It has all the old Elvenking magic here and more.  Not only do we have the famous EK melodies but also a much more mature heaviness, something this album seems to show case.
     King Of The Elves is one of the stand out tracks, and may be the longest track EK have made to date and it's truly epic.  It's also incredibly uplifting which is something pagan or folk metal seems to possess in juxtaposition to most other metal styles.  That said, it works well if only for the reason that it's ambitious and technical.  Not that it's the only reason, the fact that it's long and doesn't seem to grow tedious is another.
     There is loads to be getting on with in this album as a whole, and it's a long one but what really shines are the performances of the band.  Im not going to suggest that they are the best at their game but Damna, Aydan, Rafahel, Jakob, Symohn and Lethien all work so well together that you'd be forgiven for thinking so. The only real criticism I could have for The Pagan Manifesto, apart from the lack of any real originality (nobody was expecting ground breaking stuff anymore than they'd expect the Spanish Inquisition), is its high level of polish.  That said, it gives the band an incredibly professional sound.
     But all good things must come to an end and the whole story is nicely finished with my personal favourite, Witches Gather, with its well crafted guitar hooks and "Ye Olde Inn"  folk dance moment.
     Elvenking, in short, seem to be making leaps and bounds toward a more mature, heavier and streamlined sound.  Get me not wrong, the melodies and the catchiness are still here aplenty and on probably every track, but there's a new chunkiness, for want of a better word. Another point worth mentioning, and it would be a negative point for some, is that it still retains the fromage, the cheesiness of previous EK offerings.  Personally I love this, it brings to mind Blind Guardian at their cheesiest moments and is what folk is all about. In my opinion the genre of which EK are purveyors has become stagnant but they have definitely brought a little freshness with The Pagan Manifesto, due to it's beautiful song-writing, great solos and general catchiness.  So, I think it's safe to say that I can now don my buck antlers and jauntily make my way to the local sacred yew.

Tracklist:
1. The Manifesto
2. King of the Elves
3. Elvenlegions
4. The Druid Ritual of Oak
5. Moonbean Stone Circle
6. The Solitaire
7. Towards the Shores
8. Pagan Revolution
9. Grandier's Funeral Pyre
10. Twilight of Magic
11. Black Roses for the Wicked One
12. Witches Gather

Total Playing Time: 63:57

Rating:



Monday, July 14, 2014

MetalPeople - Diogo


Age: 22

"hai there. Im Diogo, A 22 bass player from Portugal .
Im sorry for the lack of hair, but truth is that some “details” of my life made me get rid of it at some point, as any metalhead i felt a bit “destroyed” when i got rid of it ;_;. "

Follow Him: tumblr - http://judaschristo.tumblr.com/







Friday, July 11, 2014

Novembers Doom - Bled White Video Review

Band: Novembers Doom
Album: Bled White
Label: The End Records
Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: 15/07/2014


One of America's original death/doom acts returns. Mastered by the legendary Dan Swano and featuring arguably the bands most mature musical compositions to date, "Bled White" is an excellent record from a very consistent band. 





Tracklist: 
1. Bled White
2. Heartfelt
3. Just Breathe
4. Scorpius
5. Unrest
6. The Memory Room
7. The Brave Pawn
8. Clear
9. The Grand Circle
10. Animus
11. The Silent Dark

Total playing time: 68:21

Rating: 





Friday, July 4, 2014

Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls Video Review

Band: Judas Priest
Album: Redeemer of Souls
Label: Epic/Columbia
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: United Kingdom
Release Date: 08/07/2014


It is not very often a truly legendary band of heavy metal releases an album these days, especially one the scale of Judas Priest. Visiting virtually all of their career sounds to date, "Redeemer of Souls" see's the Priest machine march steadily on with Ritchie Faulkner replacing KK Downing. The production on this thing though. Honestly. 



Tracklist: 
1. Dragonaut
2. Redeemer of Souls
3. Halls of Valhalla
4. Sword of Damocles
5. March of the Damned
6. Down in Flames
7. Hell & Back
8. Cold Blooded
9. Metalizer
10. Crossfire
11. Secrets of the Dead
12. Battle Cry
13. Beginning of the End

Total Playing Time: 61:58

Rating: