The Night Watch - Boundaries

Folky instrumental metal is a super hard genre to pull off, but when you have guitarist extraordinaire Nathanael Larochette and the masterful violin of Evan Runge even the most impossible tasks become easy. The Night Watch have captured the power of their genre and distill into a truly unique sound. So now, with a single 36 minute long song that was two years in the making we are able to dive in and fully appreciate The Night Watch for all they have crafted. This is the sort of expansion on traditional metal ideas that I love.

There is a wonderful sense of forward motion that really defines Boundaries - even at its most laid back and chilled out moments. The Night Watch impress because even though this offering is just a single massive song they make it work. They take all of the magic that has defined their sound and distill it into something beautiful. There is a very sublime sense of poetry to what the band has done here, especially with regards to the violins which take some truly interesting turns and craft some beautiful melodic lines. This record fits largely into the classical canon which both Larochette and Runge come from, making it, for nerds like me, an addictive listen.

It's fun to get lost in the high minded pursuits of Boundaries partially because it is nowhere near as pretentious as I am making it sound. This is an album you could put on for just about any music fan and they would have to admit that there is something very special going on here. The Night Watch is a band who play by a lot of the conventional rules, but in their expansion upon them have found greatness. The combination of crunching electric guitar, swooping violins and perfectly composed drums makes for greatness.

Find them on Facebook!

Arctic Sleep - Passage Of Gaia

Sometimes you have those albums and bands that sound completely different that you expect them to be. I can surely add Arctic Sleep to that list. Because of the artwork, band and album name, I expected it to sound a little bit like Wintersun. I was completely wrong. The sound, which is a mixture between atmospheric metal with some rock parts, in a mixture of some progressive here and there with a classical cherry on top, and I must say, it is a joy to listen to.

I did some digging, and to my complete surprise, it is a two man band! Musical genius Keith D. did the guitars, bass, drums, keys, the vocals and sometimes even the cello. Mike Gussis adds his parts of guitar shredding and there we have Arctic Sleep. Starring as guest vocalist, we have Emily Jancetic adding her gorgeous voice to this amazing album.

This is a pure pearl and it blew me away. Passage Of Gaia is almost an hour long of the most incredible atmospheric metal I have heard in a long long time. Dim the lights in the house, sit down with a fine drink, crank up the volume, close your eyes and enjoy.

Find them on facebook; https://www.facebook.com/arcticsleep/timeline

Sanktuary-Something Fierce

Some of you may remember Sanktuary from my review of their single Raise The Flag last week. Well now I'm proud to say I have a copy of their debut record Something Fierce and this is most definitely a slab of manic hard hitting rock and roll. Dubbed 'Heavy Metal for Heavy Metallers' Sanktuary know how to write ear bashing metal anthems that pump the listener up with a glorious metal ferocity. A band who fully realize that denim and leather are what brought us all together this is a fiery debut record that will 'smoke your weed and smash in your face'.

What makes this album special is the cross section of anthemic choruses, incredible singing and perfect production. The end result would not have been out of place alongside the Iron Maiden and Judas Priest records in the vinyl racks band in 1983. That is not to say their is no modern flair here, some of the solos were probably influenced by more contemporary metal but the general feel of the music is very 1980s. I love the feel of the vocals, they have both D'Iannos grit and Dickinson's finesse they really bring the music to a whole new level.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a ferocious and fun NWOBHM styled record then this is the album for you. More violent than Iron Maiden but also quite a bit more laid back than Slayer this is a record that should appeal to metalheads across the globe. Rife with references to classic metal anthems, fiery solos that will take you by the throat and pounding riffs that are meant to be listened to as you roar on down the highway Sanktuary are not to be missed. If Something Fierce is any indication then these guys are well on the way to a long and successful career of pure heavy metal mastery.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/sanktuarymetal

Seraph In Travail-The Dawning Night

Some of you may remember Seraph In Travail as the band that impressed us so much back in September. Well now they're back with a powerful new song entitled The Dawning Night. Their brand of classically themed metal is a blast to listen too and will rip your head off with manic riffs, precise solos and wonderful song structure.. The Dawning Night appears to be a logical progression on their previous efforts. The crazed circle pit inspiring riffs of Seraph In Travail are always cool to listen too and The Dawning Night proves to be no exception. Toss in some absolutely stellar production and these Philadelphia natives (Go hometown metalheads!) are able to prove themselves as something really special. A stellar single worth many a spin I think a lot of death metal fans would find this new track from Seraph in Travail to be most enjoyable indeed. It shows that the future is bright for these guys, hopefully htey can play their cards right and take their music to a whole new stage!

Listen to it here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZLfHNm_oCA

Molllust-Bach Con Fuoco

I have always loved the bombast of Bach. His music is filled with twists and turns and is very influential in the world of heavy metal. So what better way to celebrate Bach's bombast and virtuosic work than by having a metal band re-arrange it? That is exactly what Mollust seek to do on their latest EP Bach Con Fuoco. It is a tribute to the masterful music of the great Johann Sebastian Bach himself. their musical artistry has seemingly reached its zenith as they take these baroque masterpieces to a whole new level.

The arrangements are not heavy handed at all, instead the use of metal instruments is very tasteful and keeps the spirit of the music. I really like how the guitars and keys work in tandem to craft Bachs intricate melodies. Meanwhile the vocals give credit to the original spirit of Bach while adding the operatic quality that defines Molllusts sound. Bach Con Fuoco is a work full of promise and hope for the symphonic metal genre. In brief, Molllust manages to make the songs very much their own while paying respect to one of the greatest musical masters of all time.

To conclude, Bach Con Fuoco is a beautiful piece of classical artistry that makes for some very intelligent and majestic metal. It pays full tribute to one of the most influential musicians of the second millennium. Clearly the work of virtuoso musicians who know how to create some wonderful work that will surely stand the test of time Mollust continues to drive their music forward and prove that classical music and metal really aren't that far apart at all!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/molllust?fref=ts

Atrium Noctis-Home

I have long loved the most mysterious and occult black metal bands. The occult aura surrounding their music has always been a source of inspiration for me. Maybe thats why I love Atrium Noctis's debut album Home, or maybe its just the virtuosic musicianship and beautiful songs that make dreams into a reality. With a combination of classical rearrangements and black metal epics Atrium Noctis prove themselves to be capable and intelligent musicians on this premier effort. It shows a band filled with potential and ready to take the world of black metal by storm.

The music on this album is wonderfully arranged and the songs flow nicely. I really like the Rip sequence, a set of 4 variations on Beethoven themes. They help to give a sense of magic realism to the album and add a lot of flavor to the music. Meanwhile, the black metal parts are majestic with tints of pagan and folk metal that help to give the music an old and earthy feel. There is a nice interplay between death metal growls and black metal shrieks here too. I think that helps to make the music a bit more layered and varied. However they might be further improved by the occasional implementation of clean vocals. All in all though, this album is very solid musically and allows some stellar musicians to shine in black metals grimmest pits.

In conclusion, Home is a musical journey filled with pagan and folk influences upon a devilish black metal sound. This tour de force of 12 intricately arranged tracks manages to make a epic artistic statement that stays with the listener long after the first few spins. It draws the listener into its finely crafted soundscapes and refuses to let them escape. With lots to contemplate and many layers to this bands grim yet well produced sound Home is worth many a listen. It is a very strong release from what seems to be one of the greatest up and coming teutonic black metal acts!

Find them on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Atrium-Noctis/317216824976688?fref=ts

Metal Message Compilation 5

It is rare nowadays that one finds a compilation that is dedicated to one genre. Metalheads have been expected to diversify and explore different genres within compilations. Yet on occasion one comes across a compilation made by someone with a true understanding of one genre, someone who lives breathes and dies by it. On this occasion the compilation is Metal Message Compilation 5 the genre is pagan metal and the person is promoter and manager Markus Eck. Clearly the result of an extended travail this is a compilation for the ages.

The songs on this compilation have been chosen to appeal to all fans of the genre. From more black metal tinged pieces, to folky ballads there is a bit of something for every pagan metaller. I think there is a nice mix of groups here that provide a taster for the genre as a whole. The track listing is also pretty well done, the songs seem to flow rather nicely and compliment each other well. The vast majority of the tracks are in languages other than English and I think that adds to the "trve" quality of this release. Suffice to say their is not a bad song on this record!

In conclusion, Metal Message Compilation 5 is a slab of pagan metal that every fan of the genre will love. Both epic and down to earth Markus Eck manages to capture the essence of what folk metal is with just 13 songs. The packaging one again shows the dedication and hard work that went into this comp, with an excellent set of liner notes and a heartfelt message from Eck himself. The album comes in a DVD case with art by Ed Repka (Megadeth, Death, Evildead). With only 2000 hand numbered copies I know that I have a rare treasure in my album box. To finish, all folk metallers NEED to check these bands out, they will broaden your horizons and introduce you to tons of new music!

Check them out here: http://metalmessage.de/releases.php

Molllust-Schuld

Molllust is an operatic metal band who take the genre to a whole new level on their new release Schuld. With a perfect combination of metal and classical elements this band really knows how to take it to the next level. The sum total of having great arrangements, brilliant musicians, and beautiful vocals is one of the symphonic metal releases of the year. The arrangements provide a special atmospheric magic. The musicians provide the skill to execute it and the vocals are simply the icing on the cake. This band is incredibly for such a small unsigned band. They will blow you away!

The arrangements are very smooth and show a lot of thought. I love the way that they are mixed together to provide the perfect blend of operatic and metal. While for many symphonic metal bands this combination can be awkward Molllust pulls it off perfectly! Don't think that these guys are Nightwish knock-offs either. They know how to arrange songs in their very own style and many times I think that it comes across better, and smoother than any Nightwish track. I really like the implementation of strings into the mix. In particular I think that having a cello adds a very unique flavor to the songs. In brief, the metal instruments help to accentuate the opera, they give it a crushing power and take the music to a whole new level.

The musicians on this album are absolutely stellar. The guitarist seems to have a very solid handle on what he is doing. He adds a lot of energy to the music and helps keep things moving forward with the rhythm section. The bass work is very solid and adds a nice beating hear to the songs. He also helps to keep the music moving forward. Yet it is really the drums that assure constant forward motion in the arrangements. Maybe it is because of the drummer that the album clocks in at a relatively short and manageable 48 minutes. The violin is very nicely implemented with lots of long melodic lines. The same goes for the cello, yet there are bits of ground bass ostinatos to add structure. Finally, the keys add an atmospheric power that really shines in songs like Erinnerungen.

Lastly, we have the vocalists. While primarily dominated by a female singer there are also some very solid male vocal lines. While the female vocals mostly provide melodies and epic parts the male bits are mostly there for flavor. The female singer has one of the greatest voices in metal. I love how she caresses your ears with her beautiful and gentle voice. She takes you away to another time, a place dominated by Bach and Handel. The baroque-influence is really interesting and tasty. I get the feeling that live it must be mindblowing to see such a great pair of singers taking the audience by storm. Their music is beautiful and powerful and they realise how to do opera metal properly.

In conclusion, Molllust's Schuld is one of the greatest symphonic metal albums that I have heard in a long time. Staying away from cliches by having excellent arrangements these guys provide interest. Meanwhile the musicians are brilliant and really get how to fit their instruments into the songs. I think that their implementation is really fabulous. Finally, the wonderous soothing vocals are just the icing on the cake. So go check out Molllust they will not disappoint!

https://www.facebook.com/molllust

Carnal Agony

Carnal Agony is a fairly heavy metal band that seems to combine elements of Iron Maiden and Bathory. Their music features wild and high flying solos and tons of guitarmonies. This adds a nice classic vibe that tempers the atypical vocals. Really thats what makes this band unique, the vocal stylings are pretty out there yet somehow still reasonably accessible. In many ways this bands singer is a bit of a blend of Tom Warrior and Joey Belladona. It is rather cool to hear. Otherwise instrumentally this band is very tight and uses a lot of classic sounds yet still manages to be their own thing. I really like the classic vibe and all the magic it provides. Its cool to see a band with a death metal image have that kind of sound. Overall Carnal Agony is an interesting band who will probably get you headbanging. Check them out!

https://www.facebook.com/CarnalAgony

Moongate Open

 

So today I'm going to start off with a review of Moongate Open. They are a fascinating band that combines a lot of different elements to get a singularly unique sound. With a combination of pop ballads, symphonic metal epics and general electronic insanity I'm not quite sure what to make of these guys. I know for a fact that I like their sound, but they are just so hard to define. Their are a lot of different elements that come into play on this bands record and they are all excellent. The musicianship is great and I really like the classical element to the songs. It gives everything a feel of power that hearkens back centuries. The singing is brilliant and beautiful. They do a good job of capturing the sheer majesty and uniqueness of this record. I really like the contrast between the male and female vocals, it truly is incredible. I have never heard anything more different in my life, yet it somehow manages to stick everything together and sound great. I think part of this might be the absolutely stellar production on the record. It's impressive to hear this level production on a band of this level of popularity. Moongate Open is a mindblowing act and they can do it all. You must listen to them!

https://www.facebook.com/MoongateOpen/app_178091127385

XII Boar

 

XII Boar is a heavy and brutal stoner metal band. (I know I've reviewed a lot of this type of stuff lately.) I actually found out about them through MetalSucks and have dug them ever since. The guitar playing is at once typical of the genre, but it has something more. It has a classic rock vibe that you can not easily forget. The riffs might be slightly less huge than in most other stoner bands but here we see more of an energetic attack. The bass work shows a great example of that with its heavy riffing in Hellspeed Viper. Here we see the bassist at his rifftastic best. He provides a lot of energy to some really cool music. The drumming is fantastic and it has all of the stoner metal glory of legendary guys like Bill Ward from Sabbath. They prove once more that stoner metal drums are the greatest drums. The vocals have the spicy edge to them that makes them at once stoner but also gritty classic rock. In some way they remind me of a heavier version of the vocals from Gypsyhawk. Lyrically this band is very fun and they have cool songs about partying and going out on the town. In conclusion, XII Boar is an awesome band and you NEED to check them out.

https://www.facebook.com/xiiboar/app_178091127385

Charlemagne-Christopher Lee (Yes that Christopher Lee)

When I found out that Christopher Lee had a metal album out. (Yes that Christopher Lee) I was like I have to review this thing. Remember the dude was 87 when this was released back in March. I'm pretty sure he's the oldest person ever to release a metal album. It starts out with the track Overture which shows a really good combination between metal and classical music. There is orchestral backing for it and then guitar comes over it dominating the music, which still retains that classical feel. Actually its the coolest classical music ever. Actually I can not stop listening to this. Its literally a heavy metal play. This album has a bit of the Tolkien feel, in fact he uses the Tolkien Ensemble to provide the classical feel to the music. There is a really amazing story here but it still retains a heavy metal feel for some tracks.

The lyrics tell the story of Charlemagne, who in fact is an ancestor of Christopher Lee, whose just racking up points here. Wikipedia calls this album Symphonic Metal, which pretty much describes it. Its basically classical music with really cool electric guitar parts. This album is really beautiful and explosive. There are some sing-a-long bits as well. Actually the sing-a-long bits mostly compose of “Charlemagne oh Charlemagne” but still it's pretty cool. The story is a lot more plotty than other rock operas and tells more of a story then those other rock operas. The music is very ominous and dark preparing you for the explosion of the guitar parts. The guitar is reasonably skilled and the orchestra is just fantastic.

The lyrics are dark and imposing and operatic. Actually half of the heavy metallness of this album is the darkness of the lyrics, the guitar is not always present but the heavy metal style. The music is very epic in style and bleak. The vocalists on it are good at strengthening the dark feel of the album. It has literally the most ominous soundtrack that I have ever heard. The story is really amazing and just makes me smile, it has so much beauty in it. Actually I am considering playing this for my family, yes this is a very wide appealing album. I mean from a front of combining metal, opera, and classical music.

Overall this is a good album but it is not a traditional metal album. While it combines some heavy metal sounds it is by no means heavy metal in and of itself. However it is so powerful and symphonic that it is worth a listen. Soon I will try to do some of the heavier stuff Christopher Lee has done. Apparently he has worked with the classic bands Manowar and Rhapsody of Fire. When the guitar comes through this album this is an even more epic album. Totally worth a listen no matter what style of music you like. Even you extreme-metalheads might find something in the dark and doom laden lyrics.

OVERALL 8/10