Julie Kiss – To-Mera

Interview by Alessandra Cognetta

One of the most varied and well-crafted albums of 2012, To-Mera‘s “Exile” has already been praised in our “Reviews” section and is definitely one of the best records from last year. We took the chance and got in touch with lead vocalist and original founder member Julie Kiss to ask her some questions about the band, her career, Egyptology (!) and the current state of the music industry. Scroll below and dive in to read more!

Thanks, likewise. I’m great thank you, life is good right now. As you know, To-Mera have recorded a new album so it’s been pretty exciting. All the more so because the album almost never got made… Then when it did, we recorded and produced it all ourselves which was a very new but immensely rewarding experience.

I think I would refuse unless I had a lot of time on my hands there is so much going on but the songs are all connected: they follow a plunge into a deep dark place that ends in a sort of spiritual enlightenment… Continue reading »

Edge of Attack – “Edge of Attack” (2013)

Label : Spread the Metal Records

Review by Tony Cannella

Canada’s Edge of Attack has recently been signed to the label Spread the Metal which is a great thing because it is clear to me that this four member outfit has something special. The songs that make up this 9-song, 47-minute debut delivers on so many different levels. Edge of Attack combines power metal with some old school thrash metal, some modern elements but is always mindful to infuse the songs with healthy doses of melody. I’m not sure which genre they belong in; the riffs border on thrash metal at times but they also mix it up with changes in tempo, some traditional metal style solos (guitarist Jurekk Whipple is just great!), technical metal and some straight up power metal – it’s all really well done. Vocalist Roxanne Gordey has got an excellent voice. She is not a thrash metal style screamer. Her vocals are clean yet gritty and they soar along with the music, she can take on an aggressive tone when need be, but most of the aggressive vocals are handled by Jurekk who contributes thrash metal like screaming vocals. Continue reading »

Blood Ceremony – “Blood Ceremony” (2012)

Label : Metal Blade Records

Review by Luisa Mercier

After four years from the first release, Blood Ceremony, Canadian doom band is reissuing their self-titled album. Sometimes happens that some young, new bands decide to pay a tribute to old school masters. Therefore they compose albums that are very reminiscent of the past, adding their own elements and creating something which is old and new at the same time: an original music album.

This is what Blood Ceremony has decided to do, so we can listen to their omage to the old masters Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Pentagram and also the reknown Italian prog rock school of the seventies. We can also find a certain influence of the horror movies of the same period, both in the lyrics and the visual imaginary that the band has been able to create.While the band we have listed as the main inspiration sources for Blood Ceremony lean more on the doom or the prog side, the two aspects are well balanced in their compositions. “I Am Coming With You” is a good example. Continue reading »

Janika Groß – Molllust

Interview by Matteo Bussotti

After the release of their first full-length, “Schuld”, Molllust are now ready to answer some questions; so we couldn’t let escape this chance to ask the newest, most interesting “opera metal” band! Well…there isn’t much to say, since Janika explained pretty much all we needed to know (and even more!) in the interview…so…we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!

Hallo Matteo! My feelings concerning the album are a bit hard to describe. Of course, I was very proud to hold it in my hands – but there is much more. All the memories related to the CD – the time in studio, the rehearsals, the meetings with our designer – the joyful moments, when we had a good take in studio. And also the sorrows, when something didn’t work as planned. The fear to send a work full of personal emotions out into the world – and the hope to reach people who feel like me when they listen to the music.

Continue reading »

Anna Belaeva – Lanewin

Interview by Vard Aman

To rise from the sea of Female Fronted Symphonic Metal and stand out as a band that is both of an exceptional quality as well as something that is distinctly different from the rest takes quite an act; and Lanewin, from St. Petersburg, is just such an act. They are fronted by Anna Belaeva – a multi-talented, versatile and highly imaginative vocalist; if you listen to their newly released masterpiece “Eclectic Tour”, you’ll hear what I mean. I was honoured to interview her recently.

Hi! I’m glad to be here and answer your questions! Honestly I didn’t have any singing career before Lanewin. I started singing at the age of 18 and immediately formed Lanewin, because I was not able to live without music and singing. What inspired me? Well, one evening heard amazing song that my friend sang to me. It was Nightwish’s “Sleeping Sun”. I was so impressed by that music, that the same day I listened to all their songs, and straight after that I started listening to music, before that day I didn’t listen to it. And several days later I tried to sing with Tarja’s voice, and soon realized that singing is what I want to do in my life. Continue reading »