Anti-M – “Damage” (2008)
Independent Release
Review by Luisa Mercier
Anti-M is a California electronica band formed by keyboardists John Wardlaw, Ruston, and Mark Rumer (who’s no longer with the band). This album is their third full-length release, all self-recorded, produced and released by the band. This album has a nice range of styles within its seventeen tracks spanning from hard edged goth metal tracks to dreamy ethereal interpretations.
The album is opened by the pulsating ethereal “Dreamin in Metaphor” who prepares us for the alternative gothic rock pieces “Let U In”. This features Barbara Mosely‘s melodic vocals over the guitars and sets the stage for other catchy tracks along this style like the title track (more-guitar-oriented), the sweet electronic ballad “Deep” and following the down-tempo, gloomy and sexy but edgy piece “Rage”. Later, “Little Things” also deliver itself as a nice example of female-fronted alternative rock style. Continue reading »
Havnatt – “Havdøgn” EP (2012)
Label : Secret Quarters
Review by Luisa Mercier
Havnatt is a Norwegian duo, they write music and perform songs based on the poems by the Norwegian author Tormod Skagestad. Their sound is fairly stripped down and acoustic, a style that well suits the classical lyrics. This is a reissue of their 2006 EP which was commissioned to the band by Skagestad family, with the addition of two completely new tracks. The opener “Myrulla” is a quiet song. The acoustic guitar backs Cecilie Langlie vocals. The overall mood is very peaceful, relaxed, chilling and matches the twilight Norwegian landscapes. “Havnatt”is a little bit gloomier and the vocals have almost an echo sound, like they are sung in an empty room. The music is always really kept simple.
The third song is “Prammen”, the longest and last one in the original EP. Though very atmospheric, I have to admit that it can be a bit boring due to the lack of variety in the music. The vocal lines are interesting and to them is given the task to keep things more interesting “Han som Skyggar Meg” is one of the unreleased songs and it has been composed in the same vein of the previous three: acoustic guitars and vocals. Continue reading »
Visioni Gotiche – “Cancellata del tempo” (2012)
Independent Release
Review by Luisa Mercier
Visioni Gotiche is a dark-horror Italian band that has already released four records and several soundtracks for indie horror movies. “Cancellata del tempo” has been self-released by their own choice and it is not easily labelled. It mixes different genres like gothic metal and ambient with prog and new wave influences. The atmospheres are quite gloomy, thick and lead the listeners into another temporal and spacial dimension that recalls other Italian groups like Jacula.
The album is based on a concept written by the keyboardist Roby Tav. The story tells of a very beautiful girl kidnapped by the local lord who tortures her. She will be helped by a handmaid to find some old magic books and eventually find revenge and her true love. The opener is the title-track played by Andrea Cardellino from doom band Impero delle Ombre that sets the mood of the record. Continue reading »
Blue Dawn – “Blue Dawn” (2011)
Label : Black Widow Records
Review by Luisa Mercier
Blue Dawn is an Italian rock band and this self-titled record is their debut full-length.
Even though in their decription they define their sound as a mixture of gothic and doom sounds with a progressive structure, I would better say that they play quite straightforward rock music. The intro “Crossing the Acheron” is synth/keyboard based and it creates a certain gothic atmosphere, indeed, but the following “The Hell I Am” reveals the band true identity.
Simple hard-rock music fronted by Monica Santo. Her vocals are typical heavy metal ones and do not offer a great variation in style, to say the truth. In their presentation they state that their main influences are Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Who, Deep Purple, but the traces of these legendary bands are quite faint. Maybe “Shattered Illusions” and “In My Room” are the ones which shows more the progressive and doom echoes. The most notable thing is the fact the rhytm section is quite apparent in all the tracks, maybe because the bass player is the main composer in the band. Also guitars and solos are very prominent. But all the songs sound quite similar with few spots left free for keyboards apart from the last track “Deconstructing People”. Continue reading »
Molllust – Schuld (2012)
Independent Release
Review by Matteo Bussotti
I’ll make it clear from the beginning: if classical music is not for you, then you can ignore this album. “Schuld” is a pretty good album,but it does nothing to get people interested in classical music, “opera metal” or anything: it simply is an album from people interested in this kind of music for people interested in the same kind of music. First of all, I’d like to congratulate with the whole band for their self-production (which is something I always appreciate) and the awesome packaging of the album itself.
Speaking about songs…they don’t differ much one from the other, and, although this being a nice thing to get immersed in the album, it’s not a point in favor of variety. Well…what more can I say, not being an expert in classical music. To my ears, I think “Schuld” is a good start. Molllust have all the elements to make a good album, but they’re like rough diamonds now. Some things need practicing, they need to redefine their sound, and to improve a little bit in songwriting. Continue reading »
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