(9/10) Alex, Charles, David, Magnus and Pontus, it’s these five guys from Gothenburg, Sweden who embarked on a journey through hardrock and classic rock. What started in 2006 resulted so far in four well-done longplayers with the newest album being on its way to your record shop.

After the very good ‚Odyssey‘ it’s the highly anticipated album number five that will electrify fans of excellent hardrock. ‚About Time‘ is a longplayer that spreads some ease and comes in a relaxed manner. It looks like Horisont didn't feeling any pressure while working on this record. Each of the songs includes a levity which gives all ten numbers a light-hearted vibe.

The music of this quintet is mainly build on some inspiration coming from the 70’s and the 80’s. Bands such as Thin Lizzy, the early Scorpions and Fleetwood Mac left their marks. Just to be clear, Horisont doesn’t copy these iconic bands. The five guys from Gothenburg inhaled the feel and soul of those days and transferred them into the here and now. 

With such an inspiring base things just could go well. Basically each of the tracks on ‚About Time‘ is a true highlight and therefor it’s hard to pick some of them for this review. However, there are a few tunes that might stick out their heads a bit. 

One of them is for sure the opener called ‚The Hive‘. It has a relaxed verse that slowly builds up to a rocking chorus with a great riff. 

Like with the earlier records too, there must be at least one track in the band members native language. This time it’s the galloping rocker ‚Letare‘ that also belongs to the shining pearls on ‚About Time‘.

A fact that's remarkable is the length of the various tunes. Horisont is much more focussed on their newest release. While having e.g. a ten minutes opener on ‚Odyssey‘, songs on this release are mainly kept below a four minutes level. One exception though. The end is reserved for the sensitive title track. This final chapter on the album stands for a grande finale, a moment that stands for the entire beauty of rock music. It’s not only about loudness. It’s this sense for well done melodies, great hooks, gently singing guitars and an emotional depth which makes this song to a stunning closer of a ‚wow album‘.

‚About Time‘ is a record, build on the story of time-travel, told in ten chapters that are more than worth to listen to. My advice: Stop reading, start listening.


(9/10) 


Tracklist: 

1. The Hive
2. Electrical
3. Without Warning
4. Letale
5. Night Line
6. Point of No Return
7. Boston Gold
8. Hungry Love
9. Dark Sides
10. About Time

Label: Century Media 
Genre: Hardrock
Release Date EU: February 3rd, 2017

Fates Warning is one of the most important bands in the fields of powerful progressive metal, no doubt. Over a period of 35 years (incl. the ‘Misfit’ years) the guys influenced many bands while constantly releasing albums that are milestones in metal. Regardless if it’s the groundbreaking first releases or the newer ones like “Theories of Flight”, Fates Warning always delivered excellent music that is a treat for your ears. Of course it’s a mandatory to see their show when they are close to your hometown. As we speak the quintet is on tour through Europe, a trip that included two stops in The Netherland – Uden and Haarlem.

When I arrived at the venue the first support band started their show already. Greece symphonic power metal outfit Fallen Arise have been the first ones that night and to my surprise the room was already pretty much packed. This is even more surprising considering the fact that Sabaton and Accept played the same night in Amsterdam which is just a few kilometers away. However, Fallen Arise nailed down a solid show that was built on their first two albums. It got pretty tight though on stage. The six guys could only use parts of the stage in the smaller of the two rooms, which basically means that the potential space for moving was one square meter per musician. Fallen Arise was a good start, but not more.

This didn’t change with the second band that night and one can ask the question according to what criterias the support bands for Fates Warning's current tour have been chosen. Band number two was Armored Dawn from Brazil, another sextet that had to do with the same space issues as their predecessors. The guys played in total five songs, based on their debut album that came out mid-2016. What was the gothic visual expression of Fallen Away became a ‘Manowar-like’ one with Armored Dawn and what’s a bit strange in this context is that the set included a Dropkick Murphy cover, ‘The Rose Tattoo’, which felt heavily misplaced - soundwise and stylewise. Talking about sound; no idea what the soundman did during Armored Dawn’s show, but the band didn’t benefit from his work at all. Singer Eduardo Parras was almost unhearable, the drum were too much in the forefront and also the entire mix was far away from being optimal.

After these two bands and a 30 minutes stage rebuild the curtain rose (actually the stage had a curtain that was closed during the break) for the band most people came for that night– Fates Warning. What to say? As expected, this show was a true highlight. Jim Matheos and has gang inflamed pure metal magic that night, taking the audience on a journey through metal that included four new songs as well as the brilliant milestones ‘The Ivory Gate of Dreams: VII. Acquiescence’ from the ‘No Exit’ release and ‘Through Different Eyes’ from ‘Perfect Symmetry’.

Fates Warning has a pretty stable line-up, something that benefits their music and sound a lot. However, next to the well-known Fates Warning icons Matheos, Alder, Vera and Jarzombek it was guitarist Michael Abdow who replaced Frank Aresti on second guitar. But since the axe man was part of earlier Fates Warning session it was to be nothing integrating him on this tour. This quintet nailed down a tight show that reflected 100 minutes of excellent progressive metal that combined history with present. It’s a pleasure listening to Matheos, a musician that becomes one with his guitar. Next Matheos more genius and introvert musical magic it’s power pack Joey Vera, building, together with drummer Bobby Jarzombek, a rock solid rhythm foundation for each of the Fates Warning tunes performed that night, all rounded off by a Ray Alder who obviously enjoyed every note he sang.

I think that there was nobody in the audience that night who was not impressed by a gorgeous concert of a band that stands for powerful progressive metal, performed in authentic and humble way. Fates Warning doesn’t need any gimmicks or fancy stage scenery. These guys have their songs, their setlist and their musical capabilities which is more than enough for concerts that are jaw-dropping moments.

There are two wishes though: Hopefully Fates Warning comes back soon to The Netherlands and hopefully with support band(s) that fit better to their music.

Setlist Fates Warning:

1. From the Rooftops
2. Life in Still Water
3. One
4. A Pleasant Shade of Gray, Part III
5. Seven Stars
6. One Thousand Fires
7. A Handful of Doubt
8. Firefly
9. The Light and Shade of Things
10. A Pleasant Shade of Gray, Part IX
11. A Pleasant Shade of Gray, Part XI
12. The Ivory Gate of Dreams: VII Acquiscence
13. The Eleventh Hour
14. Point of View
15. Through Different Eyes (Encore)
16. Monument (Encore)

Location: Patronaat, Haarlem, The Netherlands

Date: 29.01.2017

(6/10) Ashenspire is a Scottish metal outfit, releasing a new album beginning of February. The band is into avangarde black metal which is the base for each of the seven new songs on “Speak not of the Laudanum Quandary”. It’s the debut of the four piece and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand the record creates quite some emotional depth and each of the seven songs is well-crafted. Also from a variation-standpoint there is nothing wrong with the album. Including violins brings already a non-mental element into the entire sound setup and also an interaction between harsh guitars, fragile piano sections and desperate screams is a combination that might not be new, but leads to the expressed emotional journey the listener joins during this hour.

Now comes the ‘but’. Some of the sounds on “Speak not of the Laudanum Quandary” are really bizarre, stretching things a bit too much. The second thing is that the tunes as well as the album are too lengthy. I found myself more than once in the situation of being tempted to use the ‘skip’ button. I’m aware that these things are more subjective than objective, but it is what it is.

“Speak not of the Laudanum Quandary” is a longplayer that will create some excitement among some metal fans but it’s far away from catering for a bigger crowd. Ashenspire fills in a niche in metal and they do this quite good.

(6/10)

Tracklist:

1. Restless Giant
2. The Wretched Mills
3. Mariners at Perdition’s Lighthouse
4. Grievous Bodily Harmonie
5. A Beggar’s Belief
6. Fever Sheds
7. Speak not of the Laudanum Quandary

Label: Code 666

Genre: Avangarde Black Metal

Release Date EU: January 20^st, 2017

(7/10) Chrome Molly is a hardrock outfit, hailing from Leicester, UK. The history of this quartet comes with two eras. The first phase took place between 1981 and 1991, followed by a spilt. In 2009 the band reunited and released two additional longplayer, “Slaphead” and “Gunpowder Diplomacy”, with the latter being released via earMUSIC. Four years later the next record is ready to get out of the starting blocks. “Hoodoo Voodoo” is its name, an album that features ten new tracks, positioned somewhere between hardrock and traditional metal.

This record is a two-edged sword. On the one hand it doesn't bring too much new to the table, but it's honoring traditional rock and metal music in a good way. The production of "Hoodoo Voodoo" is another thing that comes with shadow and light. Each song suffers partly from a sound that doesn't really live up to current standards. It's a bit muddy and the mix could have been a better. On the other hand it's this imperfection that gives the longplayer a certain oldschool vibe.

There are some highlights on this longplayer like the pumping metal stampede "Pillars of Creation" which is a homage to a number of metal pioneers like "Sabbath, Purple, Zeppelin" and many more. Also the Deep Purple influenced "Save Me" belongs to the better songs on "Hoodoo Voodoo", a record that contains some good tunes, an average production, a lot of oldschool vibe and a passionate musicians. It's a bit like good intention which could have been even better with a more solid execution. However, it's still worth seven points since I like the ambition.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. In the Beginning
2. Can't Be Afraid of the Dark
3. Some Kind of Voodoo
4. Pillars of Creation (Albion)
5. Now That Those Days Have Gone
6. Indestructible
7. Save Me
8. Rock for You
9. Feeling Pressurised
10. Dial "F" for Freakshow

Label: earMUSIC

Genre: Hardrock

Release Date EU: January 27^th, 2017

(6/10) Jack Russell’s Great White releases with “He Saw it Comin’” a new longplayer, an album that features 11 songs. I was really excited when I got this record. Jack Russell’s great rock’n’roll’ voice and Great White’s vibe is a combination that hits bull’s eye. Based on that, expectations have been quite high when it comes to “He Saw it Comin’”.

My foot began tapping when the opener started. “Sign of the Times” is a pretty cool rock song that, at least partly, contains the good old’ Great White expression. The first sign of something’s being different shimmers through on “She Moves Me”. The song comes with a bluesy vibe and some ‘interesting’ vocal parts half way down the road. It almost sounds like Russell having an ambition to rap. Strange, but OK. It is what it is, a tune that’s good but not the greatest moment of harder rock music. “Crazy” brings back moderate paced hardrock that reminds of Aerosmith before things get more silent with “Love Don’t Live Here”. This number refers best to a Great White approach, something that goes even more for “My Addiction”.  So far, so good.

Unfortunately the second half of the album takes an unexpected twist. “Anything for You” is a nice ballad, but not more than that and what comes next is even stranger. The title track is a more an average rock song that contains some Queen cross-references. This could be great, but it’s only solid. “Don’t Let Me Go” feeds, with its funky approach, the confusion and also the straight-forward “Spy vs. Spy” doesn’t change things. “Blame it on the Night” sounds like a more standard Alice Cooper remake before the acapella “Godspeed” marks the end of an album that comes with many surprises.

After having listened to the record several times I have to conclude that it doesn’t live up to expectation. Like mentioned in the beginning, if a longplayer is released under the header of Great White (regardless of the add-on ‘Jack Russell’s’) you immediately expect a certain kind of sound. This expectation is partly fulfilled in the first half. The rest of the release comes with tunes that are maybe good rock songs, but they have nothing to do with classics like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy”, “Rock Me” and “Desert Moon”. The label info states that “Jack Russell set the sight on the future”, which I think describes “He Saw it Comin’” very well. However, it would be better to not use the name ‘Great White’ in this context because it’s misleading for fans of the highly successful hardrock outfit.

(6/10)

Tracklist:

1. Sign of the Times
2. She Moves Me
3. Crazy
4. Love Don’t Live Here
5. My Addiction
6. Anything for You
7. He Saw it Comin’
8. Don’t Let Me Go
9. Spy vs. Spy
10. Blame it on the Night
11. Godspeed

Label: Frontiers Music

Genre: Rock

Release Date EU: January 27^th, 2017

(8/10) It feels like it would have been yesterday that Black Star Riders released their fabulous debut "All Hell Breaks Loose" and indeed, it was just three years ago. However, the band used these years to become a constant player in rock. The group, that was build in the roots of Thin Lizzy, started back in 2012. Scott Gorham, Damon Johnson, Marco Mendoza and Ricky Warwick began to record new songs that, due to various reasons, didn't end up on a Thin Lizzy record. The guys decided to publish them under a new banner - Black Star Riders.

"All Hell Breaks Loose" was the title of the album and it was the ignition of a band that gained more rock fans with each album the unveiled. Two years after having released the debut the band pushed with "The Killer Instinct" the next album into he record shops, followed now by "Heavy Fire".

The newest 'kid in town' features ten brilliant rockers that have the potential to make the band even more popular than what they are today. It all starts with the title track. "Heavy Fire" is a moderate paced tune that's raw and powering, some attributes that also go for "When the Night Comes In". It's the catchy chorus, which makes the latter to a special one on the album. Classic metal is the base for "Dancing With the Wrong Girl" before the heavy grooving "Who Rides the Tiger" takes over. Here we talk about a wild ride that leads to the more silent "Cold War Love".

After having gone through a more sentimental track like "Cold War Love", it's again time for some harder stuff. "Testify or Say Goodbye" delivers what's needed. For me, this tune belongs to the best ones on this great longplayer. The verse reminded me actually of New Model Army before the track turns into an excellent chorus that's fully reflecting traditional classic rock a la Black Star Riders. This number is a real treat for your ears.

A strong bass line kick starts "Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed" and it stays the rhythm that dominates the song that also comes with cool hooks. This is the way hardrock must sound like - groovy and dirty.

"True Blue Kid" is a good song even though there are better ones on the album, like the next burner called "Ticket to Rise". The female background vocals in the chorus add some extra suspense to this tune that is kept again in mid-pace.

We're getting closer to the end and the last track is near. "Letting Go Of Me" is an excellent choice and a well done closer. It's again one of these Black Star Riders tracks that kicks ass. It's a powerful way of rounding off an album that can easily handle a comparison with the two predecessors.

Overall "Heavy Fire" is a longplayer that is 'heavy' and 'fires' on all cylinders. Black Star Riders is a vital rock'n'roll engine that energizes and entertains as far as it will go. Good music for a good time, something that's not too bad for the new 2017 year.
 

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Heavy Fire
2. When the Night Comes On
3. Dancing With the Wrong Girl
4. Who Rides the Tiger
5. Cold War Love
6. Testify or Say Goodbye
7. Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed
8. True Blue Kid
9. Ticket to Rise
10. Letting Go of Me

Label: Nuclear Blast

Genre: Hardrock

Release Date EU: February 3rd, 2017

(7/10) Ratt was extremely successful in the eighties and records like “Invasion of Your Privacy” and “Dancing Undercover” are excellent examples for how to combine melody, metal and commerciality to something that creates excitement with a wider group of rock fans.

One of Ratt’s success factors is and was their lead singer Stephen Pearcy. Next to being a great front man and entertainer Pearcy also stuck out from the rest with his a bit more mumbling vocals that became a trademark for Ratt.

2017 is the year for the forth solo album of the singer, entitled “Smash”, a disc that was mixed and mastered by bass player Matt Throne and Pearcy himself, with “I Can’t Take It” being handled by nobody less than iconic producer Beau Hill.

The issue with these kinds of records is that they will be mostly compared to early classics, like the two mentioned Ratt records. “I Know I’m Crazy” is the first chapter of this new output and it’s a dark rock song that grooves very well. The tune is a well-chosen opener with a harder chorus while the verse stays gloomy and more silent.A track that brings back the earlier Ratt days is called “Want Too Much” and also “Jamie” is a grooving melodic metal anthem that shows Pearcy at his best.

Unfortunately “Smash” also includes tracks that aren’t real highlights. “Lollipop” and “Dead Roses” aren’t more than standard hardrock song without any thrill.

To conclude, “Smash” is a good and solid hardrock album, featuring with a few songs that come closer to what we know from Ratt. However, there’s light and darkness with some numbers that are more average. In the end “Smash” is an entertaining longplayer that is nice to have – not more, but also not less.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. I Know I’m Crazy
2. Ten Miles Wide
3. Shit Down Baby
4. Dead Roses
5. Lollipop
6. Hit Me With a Bullet
7. Rain
8. Want Too Much
9. What Do Ya Think
10. Jamie
11. I Can’t Take It (Album Version)
12. Passion Infinity
13. Summers End

Label: Frontiers Music

Genre: Hardrock

Release Date EU: January 27^th, 2017

(8/10) „Dead Shores Rising“ is the pathbreaking third album of German death metal outfit Deserted Fear. The three piece band from Eisenberg, Thuringia published two earlier releases via FDA Rekotz, the German label with a great sense for excellent death metal. „Dead Shores Rising“ is the first longplayer that comes via Century Media and the trio continues ,with support of the new label, their journey through forceful death metal that will be acclaimed by fans of bands like Bolt Thrower and Obituary.

The record starts with a sinister intro which brings you to „The Fall of Leaden Skies“. This opener is a raging death metal track with a vigorous effect. Not getting lost in unnecessary side-tracks, this song is to the point. Not that Deserted Fear reinvents the ‚death metal wheel‘, it’s more like the guysusing the existing ingredients to make something really good out of it.

Each of the songs is kept in a 3-4 minutes framework and is a true attack on your  neck muscles. You better train them before you start listen to this release. „Open Their Gates“ and „Corrosion of Souls“, all good songs with brutal riffs and excellently done growls.

After all these songs the „Interlude“ comes at the right spot on the ‚batting order‘. It’s a moment of silence, even though it picks-up the sinister atmosphere from the introduction.

„Towards Humanity“ is the beginning of the second half and it’s another merciless death metal beast that reaches your ears, mind and neck. A tune that stands out a bit is „Carry On“. Not only that the number feels with five minutes almost epical, it’s also Deserted Fear taking down the pace a bit which gives a well-received alternation in the entire flow of „Dead Shores Rising“.

This longplayer will not fall on deaf ears. It is a well done release that features great songs, an excellent production and a cool artwork. It all fits together in any shape or form. Congratulation for this dynamic and refreshing death metal record.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

(7/10) You're right, this album might not fully fit into a heavy music context. Lo Fat Orchestra is a trio from Switzerland and harsh riffs are something the guys definitely don't include in their sound.

The three guys are more into elektro rock that comes with a certain pop appeal and some alternative rock. Chris Schmid, Roman Staehli and Daniel Zimmermann recorded seven songs and put them on their new output called "Neon Lights". The foundation for each of these tunes is a solid groove. This leads, combined with a good sense for melodies, to songs that could become indie hits on the dancefloor. The range of songs goes from the uptempo "Stop Diggin' the Ground" to the slower-paced "Higher Tower", not to forget the John Lennon cover "Imagine" that got a new arrangement.

Lo Fat Orchestra's reminded me of Mando Diao meets electro meets indie rock. This is a mixture that per se doesn't fit to this blog. Anyhow, for whatever reason a liked what I heard and I thought it's worth to share it with you. In case you're interested in various musical styles, than, and only than, you should check out this album.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Neon Lights
2. Imagine
3. Stop Diggin the Ground
4. Higher Tower
5. Bankrupt Democracy
6. Hands are Tied
7. Te 230

Label: Sounds of Subterrania!

Genre: Elektro Indie Rock

Release Date EU: January 20^st, 2017

These are the German dates. For all dates check-out www.trivium.org

(7/10) To be honest, I haven't heard of Fight The Fight earlier. OK, the guys aren't around that long which is maybe an excuse ;) However, the young dudes from Norway have inked a deal with Indie Recordings and worked on their self-titled debut. 

The band members are all in their 20's and this is already one of their biggest benefits. In this age you're just looking for outlets of an endless stream of energy and that's what "Fight the Fight" is about. The songs this quintet put on the longplayer are a sonic Red Bull that hit bull's eye. 

A first view on the artwork might give you a wrong impression about what to expect of Fight The Fight's sound. The band's name is in a strong contradiction with the colorful packaging of this debut.

These songs have nothing to do with joyful flower-power sounds. The opener "Fight the Fight" swipes away such an assumption with the first tone played. It's a mean modern metal track that's build on a mighty riff. There are some melodic parts weaved in, but in the end it's about power and heaviness. "The Edge" doesn't change this pattern, even though the melodic elements get more space, a tendency that gets even stronger with "The Other Side".

"Fight the Fight" is a surprisingly good debut that also comes up with a proper production and a good sound. If this Norwegian metal gang can maintain their energy level and continue developing their sound, than I guess that they we will hear more of them in the near future.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Fight the Fight
2. The Edge
3. The Other Side
4. Perfect Combination
5. Addictions
6. This is War
7. My Emperor
8. Patient Zero

Label: Indie Recordings

Genre: Modern Metal

Release Date EU: January 27th, 2017

(7/10) I have to admit that grindcore doesn't belong to my special fields. There are bands like Napalm Death who's releases belong to my metal collection, but in general this style of metal got too little attention from my side.

However, I got The Drip's newest album called "The Haunting Fear of Inevitability" and I found my way into it. The group from Richland, Washington started 10 years ago and so far the guys released three EP's, followed by this longplayer which marks the band's debut.

Grindcore isn't music that comes with long epical tracks; and the same goes for this record. The tracklist consists out of 13 songs, providing you with 31 minutes of brutal and uncompromising metal. Most of them are highspeed ones with some exceptions. "Wretches" sticks out from the mass. It's a number that is kept more moderate with The Drip discovering the heaviness of slo-mo.

Additionally the disc benefits from a proper production, leading to a modern, dynamic and aggressive sound that fits the songs very well. Combined with a well done artwork "The Haunting Fear of Inevitability" became an album that will be appreciated by grindcore fans as well as it might act as a door opener for metalheads that didn't pay too much attention to this kind of metal music either.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Blackest Evocation
2. Anathema
3. Gruesome Poetics
4. Dead Inside
5. Covered in Red
6. Terror War Industry
7. Painted Ram
8. Wretches
9. In Atrophy
10. The Answer
11. Exile
12. Consigned to Fate
13. Bone Chapel

Label: Relapse Records

Genre: Grindcore

Release Date EU: January 13^th, 2017