The desert is not dead – the desert is ALIVE! Kyuss is back. Of course under a new name (Vista Chino), but with the same sound. After years of Garcia Plays Kyuss and Kyuss Live John Garcia started a band with new name – Vista Chino. This was mainly due to some legal reasons, but I also think, that the name doesn’t matter as long as the music is good. And I have to say that the music is good.

“Peace” is now the first album of the band and has 10 great songs. The starting point of the album is where they ended in 1995 with Kyuss’ “…and the circus leaves the town”. To stick to the terms I have to say that the circus is back. And that’s good.

Vista Chino plays very cool stoner rock. Nick Oliveri’s booming and pumping basslines together with Brant Bjork’s energetic drumming build the foundation for all the songs. On top of that the cool down-tuned swinging guitar from Bruno Fevery which creates together a sound like shimmering air in the desert heat. And with John’s distinctive voice you’re just back to the 90’s. Listen to songs Like “Barcelonian” or “Sweet remain” and you know what I mean. Also to mention is the 13 minute long “Acidize…the gambling moose”. Even though it is a very long song it doesn’t get boring at all. It is exciting from the beginning to the end. But actually it is not fair to just mention some tracks since all of them are good and there aren’t any fillers on the record.

“Peace” is an album which brings the heat into the coming autumn and for me this album is another highlight in 2013. Put on your sand storm glasses and enjoy the trip.

(9/10)

Tracklist:

1. Good morning wasteland
2. Dragona Dragona
3. Sweet remain
4. As you wish
5. Planets 1&2
6. Adara
7. Mas vino
8. Dark and lovely
9. Barcelonian
10. Acidize … the gambling moose

Label: Napalm Records

Genre: Stoner Rock

Imagine the situation. You’re standing in a hurricane and the wind tries to blow you away. You don’t really know what’s coming next but you enjoy it.

This is almost the feeling when you put the new album of Speedtrap into your CD player. The band is from Finland and they are fairly new. Even though they released a split-CD and an EP already “Powerdose” is their first full length album.

I was just blown away when I heard the album for the first time. The four guys from Finland bring good old speed metal back to life. They don’t give you time to get into the album. From the very first note on they just give full speed. From 0-100 in 0 seconds. Great. The first song which takes away speed a little bit is “Out of time, out of line”. This a more mid-tempo track with a great rock’n’roll attitude. All the other songs are reminding me to pretty fast Motörhead song with a little bit of Venom, combined with traditional power metal and speed metal elements. This is the translation of old-school metal into the 21^st century. The vocals are also excellent and even reminds me partly to Joe Comeau when he did the vocals for Liege Lords “Master Control”. It’s the right mix between singing and screaming.

After 30 minutes (or 8 songs later) the hurricane stops as fast as it started and leaves you standing there, thinking about what happened the last half an hour. Whatever it was, it gave you a good feeling.

So, take your seat, fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the journey. This album is definitely one of the highlights in 2013. Good to see those bands like Speedtrap, but also e.g. Night Demon. They are really a refreshment for the whole scene. Check out the album. You will love it.

(9/10)

Tracklist:

1. Redemption of might
2. Take their lives
3. Ready to strike
4. Out of time, out of line
5. Powerdose
6. Battle cry
7. Reckless endangerment
8. No sympathy

Label: Svart Records

Genre: Speed Metal

The circumstances under which “Wild card” was created weren’t the best ones. You could almost say that “Wild card” wasn’t a wild card at all. After the split up of After Forever, in which Floor was singing for years, she started with ReVamp in 2010. She released the first album and shows were planned. But then Floor had to suffer from a burn-out. This sickness stopped all activities for a longer time. Now we are three years further and next to the new ReVamp album Floor also joined Nightwish.

What I like with “Wild card” is the fact, that the album is heavy and spreads a dark feeling. I think, that Floor used the album to get over all the disappointments in the last three years and this is what makes the album very different from bands like e.g. Within Temptation since they have decided to go for more catchy songs with a certain pop-appeal. “Wild card” combines really heavy guitars and great riffs with a very complex way of singing. Both, guitar and vocals, got the same attention during the production. It’s not like often in this genre that the guitars are in the back and the vocals are in focus. It’s a good balance. Also keyboards were used to support the songs instead of dominating songs. And there is anyhow no doubt on the singing capabilities of Floor. She can handle classical soprano parts as well as rock vocals.

What I don’t really like with the album is that I have the feeling, that guitar and vocals don’t really fit together. The heavy guitars and the operatic vocals are sometimes for me a contradiction and doesn’t really fit together. This could be the special charm for some, but not really for me. I like Floor’s singing most when she turns on her rock voice. I would wish that this part could increase on the next album and that she focus with her classical way of singing with Nightwish. Furthermore there is no song on the album which I kept in mind. They are all good, but none of the songs really stands out.

All in all ReVamp released with “Wild card” a good album and it is good to see Floor back in business after some difficult years. I just hope, that the double work (ReVamp and Nightwish) will not demand too much from her. But the future will tell…

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. The anatomy of a nervous breakdown: On the sideline
2. The anatomy of a nervous breakdown: The limbic system
3. Wild card
4. Precibus
5. Nothing
6. The anatomy of a nervous breakdown: Neurasthenia
7. Distorted lullabies
8. Amendatory
9. I can become
10. Misery’s no crime
11. Wolf and dog

Label: Nuclear Blast Records

Genre: Female Fronted Metal

British metal band Hell is working on a new album which will follow their 2011 release "Human remains". The new record will be titles "Curse and chapter" and will be released November 22 via Nuclear Blast.

Brazilian thrash metal band Sepultura revealed the album cover and the tracklist of their new album "The mediator between head and hands must be the heart". The album will be released in October via Nuclear Blast records and will contain 10 songs.

Here is the tracklist:

1. Trauma Of War
2. The Vatican
3. Impending Doom
4. Manipulation of Tragedy
5. Tsunami
6. The Bliss Of Ignorants
7. Grief
8. The Age Of The Atheist
9. Obsessed
10. Da Lama Ao Caos (Chico Science & Nação Zumbi cover)

After Grave released their last full-length album a year ago they are releasing now a new EP. The album contains 5-tracks which are a logical next step after the “Endless procession of souls” album in 2012. The tracks are well chosen. There are two new tracks, one cover version and two older tracks from Grave.

The album starts with the mid-tempo song called “Venial sin”. The song contains a real heavy riff and has also some doom parts.  With “Morbid ascent” the speed increases. This is like a 5:30 minute long steam hammer treatment for your ears. With “Possessed” Grave covered a song from Satyricon and the version sounds good. I was curious how they will interpret a black metal song. The experiment worked out fine. After remixed version of “Epos” from the last album the EP contains also a song from the older days of Grave. “Reality of life” is originally from 1989 and shows the intransigence and energy of Grave in those days.

“Morbid ascent” is a good release which will shorten the waiting time till the next full-length album.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Venial sin
2. Morbid ascent
3. Possessed (Satyricon cover)
4. Epos (Risen from the tomb – remix)
5. Reality of life

Label: Century Media

Genre: Death Metal