| ONE EYE SHUT - LAST IN LINE (Vallankumoustuotanto) |
| Finland has had a history of producing plenty of above average hard rock/metal bands in it's history such as Hanoi Rocks, a veteran solo artist known as Lars Eric Mattssson as well as the popular Hard rock/progressive metal label known as Lion Music. All show us how passionate Finland is about their homeland hero's who can shred with the best of them. One eye shut, from Helsinki is the alternative to what you might expect from Finland thanks to the bands hard rock and much more upbeat style of play. This two song promo titled Last In Line (Not to be confused with Dio's 1984 release) is a gutsy, well produced effort that will have you rocking out like when you first heard GnR, Motley Crue or even Skid Row. But don't be fooled, One Eye Shut sounds nothing like those mentioned above. Instead what you get is a pretty good thrill ride of hard rock chords that chug along well for a 3 piece. The disc does get more spins out of it even though it's a bit short. One thing's for sure, if this promo is a sign of things to come then Finland has raised eyebrows yet again with another stay at home band who's heart is entirely into it's music. Metal Mike.......................................................7/10 |
| SITTIN' IDOL - GALLERY (Indie) |
| Here's an interesting band that comes from Calgary, Alberta, Canada which is well known most recently for it's hockey team the Calgary Flames who reached the stanley cup finals versus Tampa Bay in 2003/04 and also the home of former pro wrestlers - now retired - Bret Hart and Lance Storm. Sittin' Idol is the name of this band as they've truly left something for the imagination with a hard rockin' blues style most bands are probably afraid to attempt today with the fear of being rejected for not imitating a specific sound/style. The new album titled gallery shoots straight without missing it's edge and raw blues/hard rock style, able to stay afloat the water level known as heavy metal since they combine much of a 70's, 80's and 90's influence on board this disc. Plenty of groove and hooks are presented as they blast off like a fired up 2005 version of ZZ-Top inside the belly of a california band called Tesla. Highlights include tracks "Forgotten Sun" and "Whole lotta' nothin" featuring more pedal for your metal. If Sittin' Idol had been formed in 1995 or earlier, an album like this would have failed with the ever growing buzz known as nu-metal hiting stages across north america. This is the time to release it. Even with it's Pink Floyd cover song fans looking for a new direction in the industry can look forward to hearing Gallery once they get their hands on it. Black Label Society's younger brother (without the solo's) looking for a place for things to happen and soon. Metal Mike..................................................7.5/10 |
| CESSATION OF LIFE - THE GLORY OF THE WORLD IS PASSING (Indie) |
| Three years after releasing their full length album Kill you again, ventura, california heavy metal band Cessation Of Life returns with another speed killing, mosh filled, four track EP called The Glory Of The World Is Passing. Since slowly making a name for themselves worldwide, as well as opening for some of the biggest names in heavy metal the past ten years, Cessation Of Life turns up the amps on this EP adding some punishing thrash metal and a little groove and aggression all which made them known for their brand of high velocity speed metal. Lead off track "Blindsight" shows what this band is made of as they change speed and riffs while vocalist Chris Violence screams and growls just like on previous release Kill you again. Thankfully the bands natural sound is still here but this time with an even better sounding CD which was recorded/produced perfectly by the band along with John Seymour in Hoboken, New Jersey. Such a great recording yet not long enough to enjoy a full taste of what they are capable of. The Glory Of The World Is Passing becomes an addiction as half a dozen spins or more are necessary each time you put this disc in your player. The kings of high velocity speed metal are here to stay and this EP can take them to places they've never been before. The road to big time label and headlining tours is on the horizon! Metal Mike.....................................................9.5/10 |
| CHAIN COLLECTOR - THE MASQUERADE (Sound Riot Records) |
| After being formed in 2003 with it's members from bands such as Green Carnation, Carpathian Forest and Trial Of Tears, you'd expect Norway's Chain Collector to bow down to the almighty norwegian black metal scene which was huge throughout the early-late 90's. With the bands history coming from different styles/genres they decided to create a very dark, melodic yet eclectic death metal album titled The Masquerade. Production is perfect and truly mind blowing yet thought provoking at times as well. Tracks such as "Neverwhere" and "Crucifixion" blend both clean and brutal vocals by Kjetil Nordhus and Svenn Aksel Henriksen making this one of the most breath taking concept albums since Nevermore's Dreaming Neon Black. Fans of Testament, In Flames, Nevermore and the Northern European metal scene will accept this as the groundbreaking album of 2005, a modern heavy metal CD with incredible passion throughout. Chain Collector prove to all that dare to inquire what being creative, superior, fast and loud enough is all about. Now that the truth has been told about this band, it's your turn to witness it for yourself as the best way to experience this is on your own, an album no one can reject. Moving heavy metal into another world of intense creativity both which come from within. Metal Mike..........................................................9/10 |
| SCARLET SINS - REBORN (Indie) |
| One thing Toronto is missing is an all female hard rock band just to mix things up within this male dominated hard rock/metal world. Here is four females who call themselves Scarlet Sins led by Surface Underground vocalist Sylvia Niewinski who continues where she last left off fronting an original hard rock band, but this time she found some female friends to fill that void with some interesting catchy chorus' adding a nice guitar groove too. Highlights on this CD would be lead off track "Reborn" and "Above Ground" two tracks with some great inspired chorus' and fire breathing down tuned guitar riffs. This is the female version of what you'd get if you combined Iron Maiden with members of Tool. Reborn may take you a few spins to really get into but you'll truly have a favourite track to listen to over and over again. What's even more impressive is that these four females are much better live than they are on disc. They proved that opening up for Helix as Scarlet Sins do Rock you. With five tracks on Reborn and a good recording this EP will be a keeper among fans of Scarlet Sins. You know what they say, girls do it better. Metal Mike..........................................................7/10 |
| EXODUS - SHOVEL HEADED KILL MACHINE (Nuclear Blast) |
| After the release of their 9th album titled Tempo of the damned, Exodus seemed ready to begin life without Paul Baloff who sadly passed away in February of 2002 due to a stroke. But when the return of Steve "Zetro" Souza was short lived yet long enough to record and Tour in support of the incredible comeback album of 2004 Tempo of the damned, (as well as the departure of Rick Hunolt) who would have guessed that Exodus would have overcome all this and release the thrash album of 2005? Gary Holt himself told us all before the release of Shovel Headed Kill Machine that it would be some of the heaviest stuff he's put to CD and oh my god was he dead on! At first, like most people I was skeptical when a long time guitarist leaves and a vocalist named Rob Dukes (who no one has heard of) comes on board and blows us all away! What an amazing transition for Exodus! When you first listen to SHKM it will take a few tries to really get into it especially if you've been so used to Baloff and Souza all these years. Rob Dukes on vocals and Lee Altus pounding out riffs along side Gary Holt is a recipe for thrash metal supremacy! Not to be forgotten is Paul Bostaph (Forbidden, Slayer) on the drums. The highlights of this album include tracks such as "Deathamphetamine" "Going Going Gone" "Now thy death day come" and "Magnum Opus" with Dukes who sounds like a cross between Phil Anslemo and Steve Souza yet still able to keep things original and most of all real. So forget all the other thrash releases the past few years as Shovel Headed Kill Machine will no doubt be in the top 3 Heavy Metal releases since the dawn of the new millennium. Metal Mike.........................................................10/10 |
| PATHS OF POSSESSION - PROMISES IN BLOOD (Metal Blade) |
| One of the many reasons I enjoy today's heavy metal scene is the fact that there are so many interesting bands that come along every so often. Many of them recruit members who have a history of being in some well known bands which often gets fans curious about what they can expect from this new artist. Paths Of Possession consists of five members with most the recognized being George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher (Cannibal Corpse) along with a very respectable rhythm section, fans should not expect to hear Cannibal Corpse but instead you get a much more diverse and open death sound with hints of melodic/Thrash metal built within the system. From the start, Promises in blood delivers with a great production sound yet not as fast as what you might expect when you first listen as they keep things much more creative/melodic with a slow tempo death like attitude but they don't over do it. Things start to pick up about halfway into the album with track "In my eyes" which is more creative yet loads of moshing fun for others. Many of the tracks have a slight groove/death presence to them as George Fisher does prove he can experiment within another universe of the heavy metal genre. Overall I guess I expected a little more death metal but got a little less in that department. That doesn't mean It's a disappointment as the production is killer and helps Paths stand out very well. To others it all depends on how you view it, if the glass is half full or half empty. Metal Mike.........................................................7.5/10 |