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British Alternative Metal band X is Loaded didn?t even have songs for a full album when they were signed to Music for Nations in April,2003.Just the demo they were signed with.
This is a very explosive unit in the same league as Hell is for heroes,Poison the well and In Me,you can call it modern agressive hard rock with posthardcore influences.
X is Loaded also have some Indie rock tendencies when they slow down in the songs but the roaring anger is never far away,their debut "Raw nerve" doesn?t have the songs to make it a classic album but good enough to sustain a solid rock effort.
Strange thing is that the other half of the album is stronger than the first half,it?s usually the other way around but this band seems to be a little different from other metal bands around.
Anyway,the album has a promising start though with the opening track "One more razor" that includes a diamond riff that will really heat up things for a while.
Do you want your rock to be well done,medium or rare?,if it?s rare......than X is Loaded is definitely the steak for you. |
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British rock band X is Loaded released their debut "Raw nerve" in 2004 on the now defunct label Music for nations, then they signed with Sugarshack (Anemic, Left Side Brain, Midasuno) and released their second album "Trench" last year.
This album leans more towards the grunge genre with elements of punk rock and less metal compared to the debut, "Trench" also feels a bit weaker with only a few bright moments like "Skeletons", "Heroin" and the new single "Momentum fails".
"Carousel" pays homage to The Queens of The Stone Age but since I´m not the biggest fan of stoner rock, this one goes away and several of the other songs as well.
I expected more from this band. |
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| The Epiphany is the debut from Symphonic metal band X Opus, the mastermind behind this neoclassical album is multi instrumentalist James Williams who composed and played/programmed all the instruments on The Epiphany. He´s joined by the two singers Brian Dixon and David Crocker, both with voices that are reminiscent of operatic metal frontmen like Geoff Tate, Rob Halford and James LaBrie. It´s a very well performed album where the music goes in the same vein as Symphony X, Yngwie Malmsteen and Royal Hunt. Williams is a truly wonderful guitarist who lifts the songs that in times feel a bit predictable, I think the album gets better for every time I listen to it. You can always get used to liking the songs whenever the instrumentation is this great. |
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Anyone else more than me that thinks a lotta new good bands have come from Finland lately?!
X-Prophets ain?t no exception,they have found a winning formula of combining 80?s L.A metal with 90?s raprock in a more modern numetal package.
This 6 piece band are fronted by 2 lead vocalist,one singer and a rapper - it?s a bit ridiculous that the whole band insists on performing with masks on stage,that?s something that belongs to Slipknot,Mudvayne and Mushroomhead,not this melodic band coz it feels so out place.
X-Prophets debut album reminds of bands like the Swedish 90?s band Skintrade (with vocals reminiscent of Matti Alfonzetti),Sinisstar that only released one album on Geffen and even Europe?s latest record "Start from the dark".
One thing for sure,they won?t sell any albums with this awful cover - take off the masks and re-release it with a new cover coz the music rocks! |
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X-Sinner released their AC/DC influenced debut album in 1989 and followed that with Peace Treaty two years later.
Peace Treaty has been long out print and after many years of silence they wanted to re-release the album but some legal affairs came in the way so they guys re-recorded the whole album and gave it the new title Fire It Up.
The start of the album did not impress me that much and the AC/DC sounding rockers Fire It Up, I Take Power and Gotta Let Go sounds like weaker AC/DC songs.
But after the weak start things start to happen and they deliver some great melodic hardrock songs in the same style as Def Leppard did on their On Through The Night and High ´n Dry albums. The harmony vocals sounds very close to the Leppards and the songs got great hooklines. I won’t say that they have as good choruses that Def Leppard has on their albums but a couple of songs rocks really good.
Just listen to the brilliant Rollin Thunder that rocks big time and sounds like a hungry Def Leppard. The mid-tempo rocker Don’t Go is great with nice harmonies and listen to the fantastic guitarwork.
You Got Me a up-tempo rocker with powerful background vocals and this is like Def Leppard at their peak, great song.
This is an album that has it moments and if you miss the sound Def Leppard had on their early days with some hints of AC/DC - should give this band a chance. The sound of the album is really good and there’s some Mutt Lange feel over it here and there. X-Sinner has now officially reunited and are recording a brand new studio album. A very nice album. |
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X-WORLD/5 was added to the rock scene in 2008, with vocalist Nils K Rue (PAGAN´S MIND), Big Swede (drums), Andy La Roque (KING DIAMOND) and finally Magnus Rosén (HAMMERFALL) who seems to be everywhere in the music business these days. He´s like a energized bunny and it feels like he´s working with music 26 hours a day.
X-WORLD/5 delivers a modern kind of progressive hard rock and metal, and if I´d have to compare them to one single band it would be QUEENSRYCHE. However, the sound is more hi-tech oriented and also heavier. Maybe also more power metal based, since the drumming is more static with not so much variation as could be desired. I guess you will totally dig this if you feel QUENSRYCHE could do with a more modern approach and a slightly rawer outfit. Then X-WORLD/5 is your band! Among my favourite songs are the opener "Cyberchrist" and "Stand up". It´s a decent CD but still I expected a bit more... |
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Location:Aarhus,Denmark
Discography:First among equals (2005)
Bandmembers:Jesper Jepsen - Vocals/Guitar,Jens Mann - Guitar,Jonas Andersen - Keyboards,Jacob Theill - Bass,Kent Henriksen - Drums
Influences:Kent,Manic Street Preachers,Oasis
Will appeal to fans of:PaloAlto,Kashmir,Snow Patrol
Album tracksTotal length:50,00
1.Fragments (5,14)
2.One (4,13)
3.Stone cold (2,49)
4.From beyond (4,20)
5.The machine (4,52)
6.Secret day (4,50)
7.Breaking through (4,14)
8.Miss you (3,41)
9.Is it good (3,02)
10.Like brothers (3,29)
11.When love becomes crime (3,31)
12.Venue (5,41)
Kaj?s final words:The songs on Xantom?s debut are in fact rather good at times but it is Jesper?s agonizing voice that takes away the full pleasure of enjoying the album to max.
Their agressive kind of melancholic pop works really good on songs like "Fragments","One","Secret day" and "Breaking through" - however the single "Miss you" is a pretty bad song with a supermonotone chorus.
Xantom are masters of finding that special autumn mood in their music,I just have a hard time liking the singer. |
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XCarnation is the brainchild of Turkish multi-musician Cenk Eroglu,this is a project of 2 album releases - this first one with heavy electronic in your face material and the second (no release date set yet) is more of a ethnic spiritual melodic concept that goes under the working title "Istanblue".
Cenk has had outside help from none other than my personal hero Kip Winger who played the bass,12 string guitars,sang background vocals,co-wrote 2 songs and also co-produced this album.
You can hear Kip?s spirit all over this album,even in Cenk?s vocals so that makes this a real special release in the year of 2005 - not only because the music is good itself,also because it?s not so often you get to see Kip?s name on a new album these days.
This project also features 2 fine names on the drummer side with Rod Morgenstein and Pat Mastelotto,top notch production and performance so to speak.
The good thing about this record is that you discover new things in the music everytime you listen to it,"Grounded" is not an album you put on when you?re having a romantic dinner with your soulmate.
I can recommend a moment of peace and no outside disturbance of any kind to be able to get the best effect out of this listening hour.
The 4th track "Desperately sad" is a masterpiece where Cenk really shows that the collision of eastern and western music can be magic.
One of the most odd but also best releases from Frontiers this year. |
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Shortcut:
XD Out is a rockband that consists of Josh Haynes ( guitars, backing vocals), Chris Haynes ( bass, vocals ) and Dave Brudnicki ( drums ).
They make straight forward rock with heavy guitarriffin’ and good vocals.
This 8 song ep is well produced by Barry Blair (Bleach) , Joel Wegleski and XD Out.
Enjoy songs like “Free”, “Lay me down”, “Born Again”and “Salvation” to name a few.
An okay ep. They don’t cover new grounds, but it is still enjoyable. So check out their website and give it a listen. |
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| Ireland is the home for influential bands like U2, Thin Lizzy, The Boomtown Rats, Gary Moore, The Corrs and Mamas Boys. It is also the home for Xerosun, their debut album "Absence of light" is a modern metal affair with traces of industrial rock. Definitely for fans of Sinisstar, Static-X and Vex Red. They´ve got some powerful riffs lined up in songs like "Cut me down" and "Driving me", just play it loud and bang your heads. Another great song is the melodic "All for nothing", great energy here. A good album from a new promising band. |
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If Asia, John Wetton, Cannata and Blind Alley are acts that you?re into then I suggest you read this review carefully.
Xinema is a Swedish act that released this album already back in 2002 but now has been re-recorded in some parts and remixed.
I don?t have much info about this act but I can say that these guys are skilled musicians for sure.
The singer Mikael Askemure must have John Wetton as a big inspiration and influence because he tries to sound like him and I must say that he does it with a pretty good result.
The 12 tracks on "Different Ways" don?t reach the whole distance because there are a couple of fillers that don?t reach the higher ground and maybe too many mid-tempo songs. But the tracks that are good are really good on the other hand.
"In The Scent Of The Night" is a very strong song that reminds of Cannata and Asia with a catchy chorus filled with superb keyboards.
If you think John Wetton?s era of Asia is something you prefer then listen to "Over The Sea" that smells early Asia for a long way. Really good stuff indeed. The ballads "Different Ways" and "Across The Styx" could have been written by John Wetton and been on the "Battle Lines album, good songs for sure.
"Distant Lights" is a great mid-tempo song with a chorus that turns up the heat with great riffs and keyboards a?la Cannata.
Xinema has done a very good album and should definitely please fans of Asia and Cannata. If they will release more albums I hope they put in more up-tempo and rockier songs to bring out a more variated album.
This is an album that has grown more everytime I have listen to it. While you are waiting for the new Asia album you can always check out this album from Xinema. |
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Swedish Xinema are back with their 2nd album and 2 years has passed since the debut album "Different Ways" was released.
That was a very good AOR album with pomp influences that reminded of 80s Asia and Cannata with a vocalist that sounded like a young John Wetton.
I fell in love with that album and was looking forward to hear more of this promising band, so now they are back with a brand new album called Basic Communication and a new sound I?m afraid.
Sure the AORish sound is still there but they have left the pomp out and instead gone the other direction leaning more to progressive melodic rock with a softer approach.
I would compare their sound to Saga, ACT and some Asia, but I would not say that they are on the same level. Sure, this is very well done where the fans of Saga will have a good time listening to but the drumsound is strange.
It?s not bad but I would have wanted a more powerful drumsound and it may not disturb many but it?s a thing that put down the rating, otherwise the production is very good.
The album starts with 3 normal songs but after that it turns out to sections called Speak To The World Part I-IV and Ghost Of A Memory Part I-V.
The keyboards are very important for the sound of Xinema and they have managed to come up with brilliant sections in the songs that are really strong.
But in the same time I miss the moments that captures you with hookladen songs that they had on the debut.
This is too progressive for me but they do it very good. Songs to watch out for are "Train To Nowhere", "Newton?s Cradle", "Nothing To Fear" (best song on the album with traces of Asia) and "Dust In Your Eyes". Jonas Thuren, Mikael Askemur and Sven Larsson has done a nice album and if you?re into Saga then give these guys a chance. Personally I think the debut was a better album. |
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Xoch (pronounced Zoach and means the goddess of flower and song) is a female artist from the states,she released this album already back in 2003 but has distribution through Now and then in Europe this year.
She was voted one of the 10 Best Unsigned Bands in 2003 by AlternativeAddiction.com and was featured with the song "The one" on their collection "Best of unsigned bands-The Addiction V.2" in 2003.
Her song ?My Desire? from her debut CD ?The One? is featured in MTV?s hit reality TV series, ?Laguna Beach?.
Xoch has also released a new mini album called "Cabaret" in Dec.2004 that will be reviewed here shortly,you can also download a new really good song called "The waiting" at her website that isn?t featured on any of these two albums.
How about her music then?! - well she can easily be compared to other female rockers like Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson but Xoch?s music isn?t as trendy as theirs.
She?s got more roots in her music but one thing I don?t like about her record is that her vocals sounds a bit weak on the more poppy songs and that?s a shame coz she sings really good on the rockers.
One thing I like though - she?s got the same attitude as Pink and you can go pretty far with only that thing.
Xoch needs to rock more! |
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Xoxh?s latest album is a mini album containing 6 new songs recorded in 2004 plus 3 bonus tracks taken from her 2003 album "The one",the good thing is that those tracks are the best ones from her debut for the ones who hasn?t heard this female artist and are thinking of checking out this record instead.
"Cabaret" opens with a rather misplaced song coz it?s more or less a nightclub song for...."exactly".....a cabaret???!!!!
Seems like this woman wants to do the unexpected even if it won?t fit in with the rest of the songs,the other 5 are laid back modern rockers like a mix of Alanis Morissette and Natalie Imbruglia.
I like these songs better than the shattered style on her debut,I think Xoch should continue writing songs like "Best I never had","Johanna?s Cafe" and "Yesterday" coz it suits her voice so much better.
I thought she sounded a bit weak on the poppy tunes on the first album but she has grown as a singer so I take it back when I wrote that she needed to rock more.
Well worth checking out! |
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Xoch?s 3rd release "Popcore du jour" is a 7 track EP where she finally included the website track "The waiting",I always thought this one was too good to be left unreleased but apparently Xoch and her band had plans for this very nice poprocker.
This new album is the most solid piece of work so far from this talented singer,she has grown as a vocalist and truly sings great on all these songs - I really like the humour in the cover of "Kyle?s mom" from the TV comedy "South Park",real funny version.
"Crazy over you" sounds like Susanna Hoffs meeting LeAnn Rimes,very catchy song that has potential of being a hit if a major label distributed it - groovy basswork by Eric Hoffman.
The laid back "Walk with me" is based even more on country rock harmonies,the vocal harmonies from Xoch are right on.
The only weak track is the straight ahead rocker "Dirty thoughts" that might work live but it just doesn?t come out alive on this studio version.
The opposite to Dirty thoughts must be the opener "Anything" where guitarist and producer Vince Ripper gets to shine with his brilliant axework,this song is without doubt the best one so far from this band.
A warm release! |
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Did you know that?
Keith Moon passed out on a The Who show in the early 70´s but the band asked if there was anyone in the audience who could play drums. A fan came up on stage to replace Moon and the band could finish the setlist for the night.
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