Akoma – “The Other Side” EP (2012)

Independent Release

Review by Tony Cannella

From Denmark, the Symphonic/Gothic metal band Akoma formed in 2004. Since their inception, the band released an EP in 2006 (“Angels of Revenge”), followed that up with a demo in 2007 (“Lost Forest”) and then… there was silence, until now. In late 2012 Akoma released a new EP (finally), entitled “The Other Side”. The sweet symphony of the opening tune “Bittersweet Memories” gets things going and this is a beautiful piece of music which segues into a heavier metal riff and crashing drums. Before long the operatic vocal of Tanya Bell join in and helps to transcend this song into a great opener. “Your Sacrifice” is next and has more of a deliberate pacing than the previous song, but it is full of bombastic elements, heart, passion and melody. Next up we have “My Love”, which being a ballad is a change of pace. I really didn’t know if I was a fan of this song or not, but once the track got heavier it won me over. The final three songs “Without You”, “Guardian Angel” and “Immortal Love” brings things to its conclusion and should please fans of the band. “The Other Side” is not the full-length that we had been hoping for from Akoma, but for now, it’ll do just fine. Continue reading »

Touchstone – “Mad Hatters” EP RE-ISSUE (2012)

Label : SPV/Steamhammer

Review by Tony Cannella

In 2007 the progressive/AOR rock band Touchstone, first came on the scene with this – their debut EP “Mad Hatters”, which has now been re-issued by SPV. Their melodic prog style is on vast display, with one difference from their albums that followed – this is the one and only appearance of female vocalist Liz Clayden; she was replaced by Kim Seviour following the release of “Mad Hatters”.

In the later years the female vocals has become more prominent with Touchstone. Rob Cottingham does the lion’s share of the vocal work, with only occasional vocals from Liz – mostly in a background or support capacity, like on the 8-minute “The Mad Hatters Song”. This song has a lot of nuances, twists and turns and tempo changes; it is as huge and grandiose as what was to come after. Beyond the 8-minute epic, the rest of the songs fall in the 4-6 minutes range and are all very intelligent and well crafted songs. Like on the other re-issues, “Mad Hatters” comes with two bonus tracks, live versions of “Original Sin” and “Dignity” close out this 31-minute CD. I really like Touchstone’s music but I would have to say that “Mad Hatters” is my least favorite, but it is still a worthwhile release for anyone who is just discovering the band. Continue reading »

Reasons Behind – “Overture” EP (2012)

Independent Release

Review by Tony Cannella

So is it fair to say that Italy is the center of the female fronted symphonic metal universe? I think Spain, Russia and France might have something to say about that but the fact remains that there continues to be an influx of top-shelf talent coming from Italy and with their debut EP “Ouverture”, Reasons Behind are here to stake their claim. “Ouverture” is around 26-minutes worth of Nightwish inspired operatic metal. The songs feature heavy doses of orchestration at times like on the fantastic opener “The End of Our Chapter”. Lead vocalist Ely gives the band a super operatic presence. “My Last Act” is just a heavy straight-forward track that races to its conclusion. The final three songs “1000 Fading Lives”, “Choices” and “The Last Night of Illion” are not much of a departure from the opening two, but they are still pretty potent songs. “Ouverture” is a mighty fine debut in the realm of Symphonic Metal. Reasons Behind may not really offer anything new to the genre, but “Ouverture” has its moments of sheer virtuosity.

Rating – 77/100

Tracklist

1. The End of Our Chapter
2. My Last Act
3. 1000 Fading Lives
4. Choices
5. The Last Night of Illion

Line Up

• Elisa Bonafé – Vocals
• Gabriele Sapori – Guitars
• Dario Trentini – Keyboards & Piano 
• Massimiliano Tebaldi – Bass
• Francesco Aloisi – Drums 

Links

MySpace * Facebook * Twitter 

Kylesa – “From the Vaults Vol 1.” (2012)

Label : Season of Mist

Review by Davide Torresan

2012 sees the reappearance of Kylesa in the worldwide metal scene. After the album of 2010 “Spiral Shadow” and many live dates, the masters of stoner metal started to gather together their ideas to give birth to a new work. According to some rumors of the band, it will be out in 2013. In the meantime, between a concert and another, they found the time to pick up the material so far composed and propose it again in a new guise. Indeed there are many bands that lately try to do that. The first that comes in my mind is Anathema with “Hindsight” and the following “Falling Deeper”, or My Dying Bride with “Evinta”. Kylesa decided to travel a different path, redefining its original sound. They picked up some songs of their past giving them a fresher sound. The production has benefited of this restyling, so songs like “Between Silence And Sound” and “Bottom Line” live a second life. Hard and dry sounds, but sometimes they are enchanting and even soothing. The work on guitars of Phillip and Laura is accurate and well done. Psychedelic and progressive rock are fused in one soul, giving to the listener a sound experience to live at 360 grades. Their vocals are unique, as they switch from an aggressive style to another more melodic. In this album they have also included some previously unreleased songs, so you can pretty much say that this “From The Vaults Vol. I” is a new album. There is a new song too, “End Truth”, which has a quiet pace compared to what they’ve reproposed so far. Kylesa realized also a couple of cover songs. The first is “Drained” of the American sludge metal band Buzzov-en. This song, like the original, has a doom rhythm, really oppressive and heavy. The second is “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” of Pink Floyd. Kylesa proposed the pearl of the masters of English prog-rock in a overwhelming version thanks to the wall of sound of the guitars and the rhythm section. In conclusion, this album is really good for the neophytes of stoner/sludge metal like me, and the band fans. Today I can say to have discovered a new talented group. Give them a chance!

 Rating – 77/100

Tracklist

1. Intro
2. Inverse
3. 111 Degree Heat Index
4. Between Silence and Sound II
5. Paranoid Tempo
6. End Truth
7. Bottom Line II
8. Wavering
9. Bass Salts
10. Drained (Buzzov-en)
11. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
12. Drum Jam

Line Up

• Phillip Cope – Guitar & Vocals
• Laura Pleasants – Guitar & Vocals
• Eric Hernandez – Bass
• Carl McGinley – Drums
• Tyler Newberry – Drums

Links

MySpace * Facebook * Twitter * Site

Straight Line Stitch – “The Fight of Our Lives” (2011)

Label : eOne

Review by Tony Cannella

From Knoxville, Tennessee come the metal core outfit Straight Line Stitch. The band was originally formed around 1999, and has previously released three full-length albums as well as a bunch of EPs. The fourth – and newest –output from Straight Line Stitch is called “The Fight of Our Lives” and that is a very appropriate title “The Fight of Our Lives” is just all out fist pumping, headbanging, adrenalin fueled aggression. From the beginning of the chaotic, beautifully brutal opening tune “Tear Down the Sky”, Straight Line Stitch delivers 42-minutes worth of an all out metal assault. “Conversion” offers the listener no reprieve as the band continues with another heavy track. Alexis Brown is the very talented singer as she alternates between a screaming, extreme style and a cleaner vocal style. The band also injects some melody to go along with the mayhem presented here. “Laughing in the Rearview” is a highlight and while it still maintains the heaviness of the other material, there is something catchy and more accessible about this track – this chorus is just so damn infectious. “Cold Front” slows the tempo down a notch or two, but still delivers a crunchy riff and Alexis uses her clean vocal style for the majority of this song. Other highlights included here: “No Tomorrow”, “Bar Room Brawl” and “Ashes in the Wind”. “The Fight of Our Lives” is definitely an album you want to play after a hard day at work or you just want to release some pent up aggression and then Straight Line Stitch may be the band for you. This is definitely recommended for fans of In This Moment (who SLS is on tour with) and The Agonist.

Rating – 77/100

Tracklist

1. Tear Down the Sky
2. Conversion
3. Laughing in the Rearview
4. Cold Front
5. No Tomorrow
6. Bar Room Brawl
7. One Reason
8. Never Surrender
9. Living Dead
10. Sound of Silence
11. Ashes in the Wind

Line Up

• Alexis Brown – Vocals
• Seth Thacker – Guitars
• Kris Norris – Guitar
• Jason White – Bass
• Kanky Lora – Drums

Links

MySpace * Facebook * Twitter