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This could very well be the surprise record of the year,many of you numetal lovers out there will open up your eyes when you hear this latinometal band?s new album "Confession" when it?s out sept.30.
Without losing their agressive numetal with latino feel,Ill Nino has taken their original style a one step further with a crispier sound and more melodic refrains but also keeping their mix of brutal guitar riffs and supercool Latin rhythms and lyrics that alternate between English and Spanish.
It has been 2 years since their highly acclaimed debut "Revolution revolucion" was released and with *Captain Massive
Guitar Production* Bob Marlette handling the gear,the result can be nothing but extraordinary lava hot numetal,once again he?s proven that he?s one of the
best producers around today.
?The first record is the foundation,? says drummer Dave Chavarri. ?The second record is where we built the house.?....and this house called "Confession" is built on solid ground with thick walls and a grande design.
This New Jersey based act with South American descent came up with the brilliant idea of being as heavy as possible and as melodic as possible but with a latin twist,if they hit the closest circle to the bullseye on the debut-this one hits the bullseye!
Cristian Machado - Vocals,Dave Chavarri - Drums,Ahrue Luster - Guitars,Jardel Paisante - Guitars,Laz Pina - Bass and
Danny Couto - Percussion stands behind one of the best numetal releases of 2003 and some of you have already
heard "How can I live" which is the first single and also featured in the Freddy vs Jason movie,that one has a strong chorus but it?s also the most commercial
song on the new album so don?t be scared if you are more of a fan of their more agressive stuff.
Coz with wallcrushers like "Te Amo I hate you","Lifeless" and "Cleansing" I see no problem why you shouldn?t go to sleep with a smile on your face with this record in your collection.
13 songs and no fillers,they?re all killers ...... on Sum 41?s album title it
was dead wrong but so totally god damn right on ILL NINO?s masterpiece "Confession",the guitars man,the guitars....listen to the guitars!!!!!! |
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Ill Nino are back with their latino based numetal on "One nation underground" and this time they have returned to their more brutal style from the debut "Revolution,Revoluci?n.
I really loved the previous "Confession" which was the band?s most melodic effort so far thanks to producer Bob Marlette.
Ofcourse a truly great record in the eyes of melodic.net and other wimps but Ill Nino?s older fans must?ve thought that album was too wimpy and are much happier now with ONU when it?s more aggro-metal.
But guess if I was surprised to hear the chorus on the new single "What you deserve" which is a rip-off of the hitsingle "How can I live" from their previous record.
This pre-Confession style may suit the band better but the songs aren?t there on half of the album and even if they riff away like killer whales on the hunt,the opening track "This is war" pretty much speaks for the majority of ONU with it?s *run you over* attitude and it?s not bad - just not as good as the Marlette record.
"La liberacion of our awakening" and "All I ask for" are two of the more melodic tunes and it could?ve easily been featured on "Confession".
The pumping numetal riff on "Corazon of mine" is something you could scare your grandma with,total kick ass song.
Some great stuff,some ok and some you can live without - that is how I feel over Ill Nino?s 3rd effort.
Megafat production by the way from drummer Chavarri and Eddie Wohl (Anthrax). |
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The first release from Ill Nino on their new label Cement Shoes is the 5 track EP "The undercover sessions" which contains 2 brand new songs "Arrastra" and "Reservation for two" and 3 cover versions of Peter Gabriel?s "Red rain", Faith No More?s "Zombie eaters" and Nirvana?s "Territorial pissings".
The band pays a tribute to the bands they grew up listening to and it?s really nice to know they are fans of Gabriel.
First out is the brutal "Arrastra" which takes the band back to their melodic "Confession" album from 2003 soundwise, this one has a perfect mix of growl and clean vocals - great numetal so to speak.
Ill Nino does remarkably strong versions of "Zombie eaters" and "Red rain", it?s a joy to hear the latino rhythms mixed with mega heavy guitars on these 2 songs.
The best song of the EP is the 2nd new track from the band - "Reservation for two" gives the listener a ride of suggestive and mighty numetal with a powerful chorus that I can?t get out of my head.
The Nirvana cover ends the EP and this one sounds almost exactly like the original version, "Territorial pissings" is the weakest song of the EP but it ain?t bad.
Ill Nino?s upcoming album will drop in spring 2007, I believe that will be something extra! |
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Atlanta based Illbreak are signed to 3 Doors Down bassist Todd Harrell?s new label Imprint records,we?re talking postgrunge here in the same vein as Puddle of Mudd and Incubus with some 3 Doors Down vibes over it.
Singer Gareth Asher sounds a bit like Ed Kowalczyk of Live,he doesn?t have the same characteristic voice but Gareth sure suits this band like a hand in glove.
This quartet has worked with a fine team of producers and came up with 10 solid and trendy songs,they won?t write history with "The flood" but any fan of these bands I compare them with will be satisfied by songs like the first single "How it feels" and the groovy "Flesh and bone" that I like so much.
Good album.
Another band worth checking up on this label is Fall as well. |
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The debut album from German band Illectronic Rock was a nice surprise. High quality modern rock that combines metal, emo and gothic influences. On the whole they are perhaps best described as a slightly heavier Kill Hannah although excellent opening track Fear Inside could easily be a new Marilyn Manson song.
Another standout track is the very catchy Heart and Bonebreaker which has nu-metal influences and is probably the heaviest on the album.
Most songs have similar construction and all except for the instrumental have a running time of about 3 to 4 minutes.
The production by Uwe Luilis is first class and if enough people get to hear this band they have the potential to be huge. No doubt they have both the image and the sound. They have combined heavy guitars, electronics and emo styled vocals to produce a very enjoyable if not completely original sounding album. |
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| Danish female fronted death metal band Illnath formed in 1999 and released their debut "Cast into the evil fields of pleasure" in 2003, which was followed by "Second skin of harlequin" in 2006. Now they have joined Pitch Black Records for the release of their 3rd album "Third act in the theatre of madness", initially labeled as a symphonic black metal act, their style is now a mature blend of melodic/symphonic death metal. The band features Pete Falk on guitars, Mona Beck on vocals, Kenneth Frandsen on bass and session drummer Reno Killerich. There are traces of Opeth and In Flames in their sound but also Necrodeath, the riffs in "Vampiria" are superb and I also dig the massive "Lead the way". The album is well produced and I appreciate the symphonic parts more than the speed metal parts, "Third act" is a strong opener but the new album gets weaker from track 4 to track 8. It´s a decent piece of work anyhow. |
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80?s influenced synthpunkglampop like a mix of Ultravox/Devo and Sex Pistols,hearing this electro-pop band IMA ROBOT feels like time stood still....is it 1982 or 2004?!.
I fell immediately for this L.A band?s new age romantic styled music that is like Betty Boop going wild with Iggy Pop or
if Nina Hagen had 5 sons with Johnny Rotten and they all started a band-it would be Ima robot.
Since I?m an old fan of these charming bands Devo,Spliff (Nina Hagen?s band),Stranglers and Ultravox-it wasn?t hard to enjoy this supercool music chapter of the 21st century history book.
If The Darkness brought back the 80?s of rock and roll,I am certain Ima Robot will bring back the 80?s of synthpunk!
Get wild to "A is for action",get freaked out to "Dirty life",get high to "Scream",get over the edge to "Alive" or just Get out of your mind to "Dynomite"....because who wants to be normal 7 days a week,24 hours a day-thank god there is a band like Ima robot on the planet earth! |
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L.A based new wave band Ima Robot did a really cool debut album back in 2003 and will also release a brand new album titled "Monument to the masses" on Sept.12th via Virgin.
But as a real teaser for the die hard fans,the band has recorded the 9 track EP "Search and destroy" which is only available at shows.
But the songs also sounds like demos and leftovers that didn?t make onto the new album,"Sing boy" and "Alien" are the only songs that matches the high quality of their first record while the rest is ok I guess but nothing to get excited about.
Ima Robot are a whole lot better than this!
Hrm....I?m not sure they?re serious with this release coz it sounds like they were kidding around in the studio. |
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Vocalist Alex Ebert, guitarist Timmy Anderson and their band Ima Robot were ahead of their time with the excellent debut album from 2003, before everybody started to hum along to The Killers and Panic! at the disco.
Now it?s 2006 and the new album "Monument to the masses" continues the new wave parade heavily influenced by bands like Devo, Joy Division, Talking Heads and The Cure.
The new single "Creeps me out" should do well on radio with it?s hookladen chorus but the opening track "Disconnect" is the pearl on the album, this one is the perfect floorfiller that everyone wants to dance to.
Other single candidates are the infectious "The beat" and the intergalactic synth injection of "Cool cool universe".
I also must mention their wonderful flirt with Sparks on "Eskimo ride", any band who pays a tribute to Sparks should be honored a spot on prime time TV just as much as Sparks should be voted into the RocknRoll Hall of Fame. |
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Keyboard guru Bob Katsionis stands behind this powermetal act called Imaginery,among the musicians we find singer Bjorn Jansson (Tears of anger),Marcel Coenen (Suncaged),Michael Harris both on guitars,drummer Mark Adrian and bassist Olof Sundfeldt.
This is a competent album with good musicianship but I kinda misses the songs,they play in the same leauge as Thunderstone,Stratovarius and At Vance but not with the same strong songs.
"Long lost pride" works for what it is and die hard fans of the powermetal genre will appreciate this album but in my house - it won?t leave any bigger marks. |
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The first album from multi instrumentalist Dave Gastambide is like a big salute to Rush, these songs sound like lost songs from the "Power Windows" sessions by Rush and I do believe Dave must have bought or stolen Geddy Lee?s old synthesizers - the keyboardsound is right on spot.
Dave?s basslines are also very close to Lee?s but his guitarwork reminds more of Trevor Rabin (the Yes era) and his vocals can be described as a mix between Michael Sadler (Saga) and Rupert Hine.
Even the artwork goes in the Rush vein, similar to their classic album "Moving Pictures" - the musicianship on this album is top notch and a must for all Rush fans.
Dave recorded an electronic pop album in 2005 with the title "Project Vector" that I will review very soon and before the end of the year, he will release a brand new album which I will keep an eye on for sure.
What a great performer! |
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Impera is a new Swedish supergroup with Matti Alfonzetti (Jagged Edge, Red White & Blues), Tommy Denander (Radioactive), J,K Impera (Bruce Kulick, Vinnie Vincent) and Mats Vassfjord (Grand Design, Vinnie Vincent). Are you up for some melodic hardrock with traces of AOR with first class vocals then Impera is a album you should check out. These guys have come up with a strong album with influences from Jagged Edge, Great King Rat, Europe and Alfonzetti´s first solo album. The album is filled with riffantastic guitars and Tommy Denander gets to shine out and I have not heard any album with Tommy were he has pulled out this kind of rocking riffs. There´s one small thing I have to complain on and that´s the choruses. I would have loved to hear couple of catchy hookladen huge choruses. But otherwise there´s nothing to complain about. Just listen to Turn My Heart To Stone, Shoot Me Down, Sunset Rider (listen to the wonderful riffs), Tell Me and Is This Love. The sound and production is crystal clear. Great album and it´s a joy to hear Mattis sing. Check out this album if you’re into those mentioned bands.
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| I´m constantly impressed by the amount of Scandinavian top class melodic hard rock and AOR bands that pop up from time to time. This time we´re lookin´ at IMPULSIA, which is to be considered as a studio project. The basis of the project is a group of three: Uno Sjöström (guitars), Johan Langquist (vocals, keyboards) and Marcus Jidell (guitars, keyboards). The style is classy melodic hard rock with some AOR but also hints of progressive elements. These guys have the good taste of inviting some very good musicians to contribute, like ROBIN BECK who´s guesting on vocals. Just take the opener "Fly Away", with its slight similarity with KANSAS´ "Carry on my wayward son" - it has got this progressive touch in an otherwise AOR and melodic hard rocking costume. Beck always gives her best, and she lifts this strong tune even higher. She´s back in "Alone", where the beginning feels a bit like KATE BUSH. When the song really gets kickin´ it´s more like LANA LANE, though. And good it is! A rather surprising but almost as good guest is PANDORA with her vocals on "Oceans of love", seeing her sing melodic hard rock! Finally, I´d like to mention the awesome singer JOHAN LANGQUIST - yes, one of the three "real" Impulsians. His lead vocal is amazing! A lot like DAVID COVERDALE mixed with PHIL LYNNOT! There are very good songs here, and with voices like these people it´s a sure buy if you really like QUALITY. I have listened many times to this CD and it will remain on my closest shelf for quite some time. This is solid melodic hard rock with AOR twists and the occasional progressive hint. A must have for all hard rock fans. |
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| Swedish bulldozerrockers with their 6th full length album ready to take over the world. This is their best album up to date without doubt,they say so themselves and I agree 100%. I have had a hard time liking their brutal metal before but on the new "Reroute to remain" they have stronger songs with lots of good refrains and machine gun riffs that will probably kill ya if you have a weak heart! Only Korn have a heavier sound on their latest "Untouchables" but In Flames are not so far behind,a mighty wall of thunder striking guitars turns the heat on in your body! Singer Anders Friden screams almost the whole time and thats the negative part but since the melodies and vocals on songs like "System" and "Free fall" are so enjoyable,it saves the music. Remains of the past can be heard in tunes like "Drifter" and "Egonomic" which are pretty fast! Still they are only a few and the rest of the album rocks totally like a tank! My fave is "Cloud connected" with wonderful keyboards taking the song to another level. I st say I am surprised over liking this album so much that I do,I never thought I would. Big rock it is! |
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The most massive rockers in Scandinavia,In Flames gives their fans value for their money because the new single EP "Trigger" from the mammuth heavy CD "Reroute to remain" contains 1 new song titled "Watch them feed" which sounds just like the older material with a
little bit faster metal but still with the new
mighty production that R.T.R has.
The nice bonus on this EP is the monster cover of Genesis classic hit Land of confusion and I can promise you that all your girlfriends and you mothers will put
something in their throats while listening to this firing version,I la la la love it but it?s a 1000 times heavier than the original version so not every one will appreciate it but I think it?s pretty cool.
The song Trigger is one of the better songs on the new album along with the first single Cloud connected which also is featured on this EP,so if there are any people out there who feels that the whole album is too much to take for their body and soul,I can recommend this "Trigger" EP because you
get a lot for your money....plus an old track titled "Moonshield" from 95 with the band,a little bit of everything so to speak.
Pull the trigger and you?ll be lost in flames. |
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Did you know that?
Prior to forming his band “Sound Garden,” Chris Cornell worked as a short-order cook in a male “strip-club” in Seattle.
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latest reviews
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