| MAPLE CROSS - NEXT CHAPTER (Verikauha Records) |
| Finland is another one of those countries on the other side of the Atlantic which has produced artists such as Amorphis, Children of Bodom and Nightwish. Maple Cross is one of those soon to be mentioned in the same category. Next Chapter will impress all fans and writers of this genre we call heavy metal. Obviously influenced by In Flames, (among other bands) Maple Cross show some veteran like savvy on Next Chapter, as they've been around since the late 80's with a break up after releasing the "Cool Maggots" demo in 1994 and reforming again around 2001. Good thing they did too, because just like wine we all get better (and smarter) with age. Tracks "The spirit of the northern brotherhood" "Simple Simplicity" and "Invincibles" will surely be crowd pleaser's for years to come. There is some minor changes in tempo here and there, but that's what you get with all bands who push the creative button. Some do it well and some dont.. Maple Cross does a lot from Blistering solo's, catchy rhythm section, tight background vocals etc.. Well written with lyrics that come from the gut. We've all felt that way before, that angry, aggressive feeling you get from time to time. When we speak our minds, and hope someone is listening. Freedom of speech. My hats off to them as a reformation seems like the best idea they could have thought of not just for themselves, but for the new millennium, and the Metal world. The Next Chapter is here. Metal Mike........................................................................8/10 |
| MERENDINE ATOMICHE - WALK ACROSS FIRE (Deadsun Records) |
| If Thrash metal is your game then you wont forget this name. Merendine Atomiche who hail from Italy serve up a headbanging ritual with their latest album titled "Walk across fire". At one point in their so far short career Merendine Atomiche used to be a Metallica cover band but not long afterwards began writing original material once again and that experience payed off in the long run as they release this 8 track thrash metal gem. Riffs that pack punch spread out all over "Walk across fire". Today's Metallica should take notes as it might wake them up someday. Lead off track "Blood for glory" (which includes a Video Clip for the song on the CD) grooves and Thrashes like its 1984 all over again. When the Bay area thrash era bands started to peak. Annihilator's Jeff Waters makes a guest appearance on "Game Over" and contributes with his brilliant solo techniques. Lead vocalist Luca Zandarin gives you goose bumps as he echo's the title "Game Over". Final track "Victory over the enemies" gallops along in pure Kill em all fashion, something Merendine Atomiche's hero's would be proud of. Quality production, strong lyric content as well. Put it together and you have a return to one of the most important era's in Heavy Metal history. Thrash, just like heavy metal is not dead. Merendine Atomiche gets almost full marks for doing something they believe in, not being afraid to take chances and stick to what they love to do. If its attention they seek, soon the metal world will notice. Its just a matter of time. Metal Mike....................................................................8.5/10 |
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| SOULTORN - MASKS (Indie) |
| From northern California comes Soultorn, a melodic death/heavy metal band. Formed in 1995 under the name Harrow, Soultorn releases this 5 song E.P. titled "Masks" which by looking at the cover you'd think that its gonna be a Death Metal ride all the way, but the guys from Soultorn give you a not so bad melodic metal CD scattered with some tight riffs/rythmn section. The title track as well as "Legacy" show off some Iron Maiden type guitar solo's over an almost raunchy metal sound. The only thing that really turned me off was the vocals on "A piece of me dies", which I felt didn't suit the song very well at all. The most impressive was the cover of Dark Tranquillity's "With the flaming shades of fall". Great vocals by Ryan Montigny on that track. If they stick to the In Flames style vocals, and continue what they've done so far, with hard work you can achieve anything you put your heart and head into. Lots of time left for bands like Soultorn who are quite young and at the peak of the northern California Metal scene. Metal Mike.....................................................................6/10 |
| PROJECT APOCALYPSE - EPITAPH OF CREATION (Indie) |
| Do you like your Metal as dark as night? As black as the heart of a serial killer? Good, then read on... Project Apocalypse up from the ashes of Michigan in the town of Ionia. play a dark evil black metal in the most fans of Cradle of filth and Emporer will fall in love with. Blood curling, screeching vocals, frightening keyboards and crunching death/black metal style guitar riffs will fill your ears with some pretty interesting intense songs. The good (or evil) thing about Epitaph of Creation is how each song is different with tempo and creativity, unlike some black metal bands who rip right along at the same pace. Project Apocalypse put forward a true dark experiment worthy of your attention. Something though is missing, maybe like an addition of another guitarist to broaden the bands horizon, that might complement them well. For now touring with major acts like Deicide, Nile, and Vital Remains might just help them get a spot as the headliner someday soon. Raise a goblet of ale and toast the guys in Project Apocalypse as they keep things as deadly as they can. Metal Mike..............................................................7/10 |
| BIG BABY SATAN - BIG BABY SATAN (Indie) |
| Here's New York based band called Big Baby Satan which upon first listen reminds you totally of Black Sabbath minus Ozzy, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Martin, the late great Ray Gillen (ex Badlands) because Big Baby Satan have the same Doom type riffs as Sabbath but vocalist Kerry Merkle sounds nothing like those mentioned above. Kerry sounds more like Chris Cornell than anyone else. Big Baby Satan Doom style riffs and groove's chug heavily along, kinda too simple and polished at times but go along very well with Kerry's vocals. By looking at the cover of the CD you'd think your in for a death metal treat with the Venom style satanic star sitting on a baby's palm engulfed in flames. Not quite the case though. Every song clock's under 2:45 on this 9 track disc. Songs that standout include "Commercial" "Like the sun" and the fun version of Ronnie James Dio's Holy Diver titled "Holy Dio". The band was not able to finish it though as they Jam away with Kerry doing his best Dio impersonation. Big Baby Satan may be the bands debut CD but these guys are experienced in the Heavy music scene playing in local area bands such as Redshift, Sorrow, and Wehatejulia. Overall a good Heavy groove filled disc in a doom oriented way. Big Baby Satan rears its evil head. Metal Mike............................................................7.5/10 |
| MEATLOCKER SEVEN - THE BIOLOGICAL MECHANISM OF HATE (Indie) |
| More people worldwide should notice that the Canadian Metal scene has the most underrated talent in the business. Meatlocker Seven, formed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1995 are a perfect example of that. Meatlocker Seven consists of Bram Harvey - Lead vocals, Steve Migliarese - Bass and background vocals, Mike Selman - Guitars, Tony Oliveira - Guitars, and Chris Lorette - Drums. The band release "The Biological Mechanism of Hate" which first I must say is well produced and quality assured. Very powerfull riffs explode throughout the CD. Bram Harvey's vocals cannot be ignored as he belts out some earth shattering growls. No shrieks or opera like echo's here. Mike Selman and Tony Oliveira the bands founding members hired the best man for the job in Bram as he gives the band as much depth and stability as anyone ever could. Tracks that stand out on this CD include "Systemic" "Against the dying" and "Pyroclastic Flow". These are just a few reasons why your next decision should be to pick up this CD. So dont wait too long, you may regret it later. It's not only to support Meatlocker Seven and the Heavy Metal scene, it's also Canadian, and that itself is a big reason. Metal Mike...........................................................8.5/10 |
| SANITY - THE DEMO (Indie) |
| Here's a great concept for a Promo release by the band Sanity from the Netherlands. This 2 Disc set is an idea most other bands should follow in the future. Disc 1 consists of 5 Audio tracks. The first two songs kick off with a progressive rock edge. Very much Influenced by Fates Warning with a little Dream Theater blended in too. Lead off track "Together as one" adds a pretty good riff to a song almost 8 minutes long. Good work on the keyboards by Nathan Cairo for this track as the 5 man band is smooth and fluid with it's sound and change of tempo, just what the Progressive Rock doctor ordered. The next three songs were recorded live at the music awards gelderland. Not quite the sound and quality I expected, as some of the drum sounds and guitar solo on "Beyond Believe" were either too loud or not loud enough. But when recording things live like this, this kind of thing help you get the feel of the show as if your actually there in person. That brings us to Disc 2 which is the same recording of Sanity live at the music awards gelderland but this is a DVD with about half a dozen live songs. I enjoyed not only the DVD's excellent footage but this CD/DVD concept (since it is my first) is a great idea for young bands looking to promote their music with a little extra things added on. Sanity does it all very well indeed. Everything you could want to satisfy your Progressive rock craving in a 2 disc set. See and hear Sanity in every way possible. Metal Mike...............................................................7/10 |
| ODIUM - ODIUM (Indie) |
| I never listen to what people say about Canada or the Greater Toronto Area when I hear how Heavy Metal is non existent, dead or even a dying trade. Odium is one of those bands who put those kind of rumours to rest in a hurry. Odium comes from Brampton, Ontario and delivers the goods with some seriously kick ass, in your face Thrash metal! Odium's self titled 5 song Demo was recorded over a two week time frame in March 2003. This trio is going places. Remember Sepultura when Max was still in the band? I can see mosh pit's everytime I put this CD in to listen to it. Lead off track "Without Love" is nothing but pure brutal speed/thrash metal. Killer kick drums all over the place throughout the bands selftitled CD. Fantastic Chaos A.D. like vocals on the entire disc, but probably most obvious on "Waste of good suffering". There is no moment of silence in Odium's future as this CD (which never lets up at all) is a great example of what three Canadian guys can do for a scene and Industry waiting for another Heavy Metal band to take charge. The Hostile Takeover has begun! Metal Mike............................................................9.5/10 |