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A few days ago, we published a first batch of so-called "Brieviews". They were well received by our loyal readers and by the bands so I guess we'll make it a tradition of some sorts. Today, we're back with another heap of brief reviews, including some heavy hitting rock music.
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Glory Hole - First Experience
hard rock
First, a warning: Don't go searching for this ep on Google, I think you know why. This Glory Hole was formed by Cedric La Piche in order to create "sexy music". In a way, they quite succeed in that, as I can certainly imagine some beautiful women shaking their shapely hips to this infectious blend of rock, hard rock and funk. The music reminds me of a mix of Living Colour, Rage Against The Machine and Prince, the latter mostly in the song 'Anaconda's Sister'. My favorite song is the heavy rocker 'Kill Your Flatmate' but the whole album is highly enjoyable, loaded with dirty rock 'n roll which will absolutely get you off your feet wherever Glory Hole decide to play.
Noire - The Tracks of the Hunted
black metal / folk
Opening with a piano-track, followed by a lengthy passage with only an acoustic guitar and soundscapes and still being a black metal album, that's something very few bands successfully pull off. The acoustic guitar is the central instrument on this ep by Winnepeg (Canada) band Noire, but they can also deliver a decent slab of progressive black metal. In a way, the songs on this epic piece of work remind me a bit of bands like Agalloch, teaming up with black metal icons like Immortal or Enslaved, and Opeth-influences are never far away. The title track is a massive anthem, definitely my favorite here, but I also like the ritual ambient and acoustic tracks. This is a brilliant ep, period.
Etrusgrave - Aita's Sentence
heavy metal
Epic heavy metal from Italy, obviously with testicles of steel. I mean, it takes guts to write music that sounds somewhat outdated, compared to whatever the young generation of metalheads is spewing out. Etrusgrave has those guts, coming up with an album that might have well been an effort by Manowar or Grave Digger. With lengthy songs, containing flashing solos, battle-ready riffs and heroic vocals, Etrusgrave brings back the glorious days of the eighties' heavy metal scene. Honestly, it took me a while before I was getting into this album because it really sounds like it's recorded in 1984 or so, but it gradually grew on me. Now, I'm singing along with epic tunes like 'Coward' and 'Festering Slash'.
Disemballerina - Poison Gown
funeral doom / neo classical
Funeral doom is one of my favorite genres but it's always hard to write about it, mainly because there is not that much happening on those albums. This album by Portland, Oregon, US residents Disemballerina is somewhat different. It's not that much doom metal but nudges more towards the dark chamber music of acts like Ataraxia or Dargaard. Yet, there's always that grim doomed atmosphere throughout the whole album. How best to compare it? Well, how about Apocalyptica and Olafur Arnalds crawling into a dark recording studio to rewrite the music of Esoteric or Shape Of Despair. In all, this is a beautiful piece of work, dark, immersive and grievous.
Forged In Black - Fear Reflecting Fear
heavy metal
Another flashback in time, this time courtesy of English metal band Forced In Black (formerly known as Merciless Fall). With this four track ep, these guys are aiming for their spot in metal history. What kind of metal? Well, they don't seem to care. Parts Judas Priest, parts Candlemass, parts Testament, parts Iron Maiden and about six percent other influences. The result is, unsurprisingly, a highly varied ep, loaded with massive solos, epic riffs and a wide array of vocals. Headbanging is obviously an absolute must, and quite frankly, I think it's going to be pretty impossible not to bang your head to this. If you can, I'm afraid you're not really a metal fan...