Ankit Sood

Altitudes & Attitude – “Get It Out”

 Posted by on February 10, 2019 at 19:43  No Responses »
Feb 102019
 

When two bass players from the Big Four thrash outfits team up to join forces in creating music, the outcome has to be truly refreshing. So when Frank Bello of Anthrax & David Ellefson of Megadeth met back in 2010 to form Altitudes and Attitudes, they left their fans in anticipation which comes to an end this year, as they released their first album “Get it out” on the 18th January 2019 under the record label of Megaforce records.

Frank with his grungy voice handles the vocals for the album along with strumming some great riffs on the guitars, David fills in rhythm and bass and we have Jeff Friedl (of the A Perfect Circle’s fame) kicking it hard on the drums. To top that, the album has a plethora of artists collaborating such as Ace Frehley (ex-KISS), Gus G. (Ozzy  Osbourne, Firewind), Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper), Christian Martucci (Stone Sour) and Satchel (Steel Panther). Continue reading »

Kalidia– “The Frozen Throne”

 Posted by on December 11, 2018 at 18:10  No Responses »
Dec 112018
 

Power metal stands synonymous with fast guitar riffs, cinematic soundscapes, married with upbeat and anthem like singing style. The Italian band Kalidia, formed in 2010, stands true to this definition, released their first demo-EP in 2012 and their debut album “Lies’ Device” in 2014, and are out with their latest album ‘The Frozen Throne’, released on Nov 23rd 2018 under the record label of Inner Wound Recordings. The album was recorded and mixed by Lars Rettkowitz [Freedom Call], mastered by Achim Köhler [Primal Fear, Amon Amarth, Brainstorm] and the artwork was created by Stan W Decker [Vanden Plas, Primal Fear]. Kalidia toured around the major centres of Europe namely Italy, Germany and the UK and list Rhapsody of Fire, Hammerfall and Stratovarius and Beast In Black as some of their influences.

The album opens up with “Frozen Throne”, the name reminds of the Warcraft’s game of the same name, and as it builds up and gathers momentum it outleashes fast paced guitar riffs meddling well with keys. Nicoletta Rosellini’s impressive voice keeps the song upbeat and full of energy. “Circle’s Spell” opens up with middle-eastern styled riff and brings forth a catchy and uplifting rhythm. Nicolletta showcases her tremendous vocal range and Federico churns out an impressive palm muted riff right after the chorus and doesn’t shy away in making the guitar bleed with a melodic solo. Continue reading »

Perpetual Paranoia – “The Reapers”

 Posted by on November 14, 2018 at 00:43  No Responses »
Nov 142018
 

When two veteran musicians, separated by the Pacific ocean, Dale Thompson (of the Bride and The world will burn fame) and Tiago James de Souza (Sole axe-wielder of the Hand of Fire) decide to collaborate, they come out with a brutal debut record “The Reapers” and are calling themselves Perpetual Paranoia – which stems out of a constant fear one evades through the passage of time.

With the advent of the internet and technology, a lot of people have come together from different spheres of lives and aligned thoughts and ideated on work that baffles and captivates the intended audience. Leveraging the benefits of the above, Perpetual Paranoia came to existence and composed an amalgamation of Thrash, doom and hard rock in this album. The lyrical duties were fulfilled by Thomson and the song writing and arrangements were managed by Souza. The band had signed up with Rottweiler Records and N.O.G. and released this album in August 2018.

Without much ado, I queue up the record and as it opens with “Intro” it immediately paints a scary yet ambient soundscape with ghastly shrills lingering at the backdrop. “The Reaper” starts off as a monologue and before you know it speeds up with a doom styled guitar riff accentuated with blast beats. The vocal delivery modulates and swings between different styles that of doom and thrash metal. There’s a subdued guitar soloing which is not very evident but needs to be picked up to laud the fine craftsmanship of the guitarist. Continue reading »

The Skull – “The Endless Road Turns Dark”

 Posted by on October 7, 2018 at 21:19  No Responses »
Oct 072018
 

The Skull, which derives its name from Trouble’s second album, have released their own sophomore record “The Endless Road turns Dark” on 7th September, 2018; under the record label of Tee Pee Records. Hailing from Illinois USA, Trouble was considered as the pioneers of Doom Metal alongside bands like Candlemass and Saint Vitus. The Skull spun off from Trouble in early 2012 with its three former members Ron Holzner , Jeff “Oly” Olson and Eric Wagner and saw a lot of line-up changes before releasing their first album, “For those which are Asleep”.

With this record, The Skull creates a classic Sabbathian doom with a psych-tinged metal vision which benefits greatly from the pedigree and experience of the band’s members and pushes authentic, old-school metal to heavier and more foreboding places, fuelled by burly riffing, metallic groove and a crushing punch. Ethereal and wonderfully moody with a heart of heavy metal beating at its centre, the record delivers definitive doom metal full of powerful builds and mesmerizing dynamic range. Continue reading »

Dark Sarah – “The Golden Moth”

 Posted by on September 20, 2018 at 19:36  No Responses »
Sep 202018
 

Scintillating, enigmatic Dark Sarah, a Finnish cinematic metal band led by classically trained singer/songwriter Heidi Parviainen, is back with the Final leg of her chronicles, with “The Golden Moth”. The album is going to be released on the 21st of September 2018 in Europe and North America under the label of Inner Wound recording, and is the brainchild of Heidi Parviainen, former Amberian Dawn’s vocalist. Dark Sarah ́s music combines metal, film music and theatrical elements. I reviewed “The Puzzle” back in 2016, I have been waiting for the final leg of the journey, without a doubt with tremendous curiosity.

The concept albums tells the story of a young woman called Sarah and her evil half – Dark Sarah and a mystical journey through three worlds. Dark Sarah’s first album “Behind the Black Veil” introduces the listener to the main character Sarah, a young woman left at the altar by her husband. When she is on the verge of breaking down, something wakes up inside and changes her into her meaner half, Dark Sarah. While her Second album “The Puzzle” we embark on a journey where she’s sent to Underworld, an island where the banished souls live, and solve a puzzle to come out it.

With “The Golden Moth”, she takes us on a journey from the netherworld to the Upper world, a deserted waste land where the gods rule. The Dragon sneaks into the new world following Dark Sarah. And as they team up together they try to find their way to the gods that live on an island floating upon the desert. All the three albums have been crowdfunded by the fans on Indiegogo. Continue reading »

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