| FLAT PLANET - FLAT PLANET (Indie) |
| Flat Planet who come from Toronto are not just your average Mosh style Death/Black Metal band which you see often today. Actually they are the complete opposite. Here we have four guys who have been around for a few years together playing straight up groove oriented Hard Rock/Metal which sounds a little like Slash's Snakepit at times with a hint of Tesla, but a bit more like Canada's Von Groove sounding in the Mix. Chris Calderbank, lead vocals/Guitars has a very similar style to Ex-Slik Toxik, Raised On Mars vocalist Nick Walsh. I guess Nick was a big influence since this seven song EP was recorded at Nick's Electric Machine Studio's in Toronto. Highlight's include lead off track "Bloodshot Eyes" and "Understand". Both songs explode with serious hard rockin' groove bringing you back in time to the 80's when the music mattered more than image like it does today. Sounding a bit clean and polished at times kinda like when you varnish your favourite backyard picnic table or deck. But hard rock like this has always had that little extra to offer. Something to believe in anyway you look at it. Flat Planet..another page in Toronto's hopefully growing Hard Rock industry. Metal Mike............................................................7.5/10 |
| BLACK HOUR - REBELLION (Indie) |
| Here is yet another very interesting Toronto band known as Black Hour. Black Hour offers more of a party type atmosphere with it's overall sound on this 4 track EP. Right away the first influence that comes to mind is Andrew W.K. I personally dont think Andrew W.K. is metal at all. More like swiss cheese type corporate rock. Black Hour does display a really good rhythm section. Some of this disc I dig some parts I dont. The title track is a great song with it's heavier less party filled type riffage and some solo's on this CD do have a strong Van Halen and Iron Maiden influence on them. From what I read on the band's bio they really have it all together when it comes to popularity and promotion so far. Playing the local club scene as often as possible and getting Airplay on not just local but U.S. Radio stations as well. All this wont hurt, but unlike what others say this CD didn't give me the same feeling when I've listened to or seen other Toronto bands like most recently Endorphins or veteran thrashers Anvil in the past. Maybe seeing Black Hour play live or the next full length disc they release will change my mind but for now things will stay the same. Time will tell for myself. Others have already jumped on the wagon and ride the tide with Black Hour's fast start to the top of the Canadian Rock(y) mountains. Metal Mike............................................................5.5/10 |
| MOONSTONE - THE SECOND RUNE (Brennus) |
| Originally known as a cover band called Slacker in 1994, Moonstone who come from France release their second album titled The Second Rune and what a masterfull peice of work we have here. Moonstone's lineup of Paula Guittard on Vocals, Emilien Vincent and Franck Vidal on lead and rhythm guitars, Gilles Lesoin on bass, and Mikylee on drums attack us with their melodic Power Metal rich and full of melody and power riffs.Old school heavy metal fans of Blind Guardian, Helloween and Savatage will fall in love with this band. The Second Rune breathes fire on just about every track. Paula's voice makes all this sound so special each time you listen to this disc. She along with the rest of the guys have such a tight melodic sound North American's must listen to this CD to see what I mean. The tracks "Run" and the title track set this disc on fire with a fantastic chorus that will grab hold of you from the first listen. These tracks build up this CD to make it possibly one of the best album's of the year. The final track "I'm back" will end things on such an impressive high note you'll wonder what is next for these five great musicians. Nothing but great things ahead for Moonstone as this Canadian Heavy Metal fan is on board and will offer them support in every way I can. You should too. Pick up this disc today! Metal Mike........................................................9.5/10 |
| KRAISED - HAYWIRE LOGIC (Beltin' Records) |
| This band known as Kraised comes from Phoenix, Arizona. The name alone should give you an idea of what they sound like and probably offer with their live performance as well. The energy and hard work does seem to be there the minute you throw Haywire Logic into your CD player. Lead singer known as "The Tones" reminds me a little like Spider vocalist for Powerman 5000 at times as he surprisingly or not stands out on this CD. The bands influences range from Slayer to Metallica to Iron Maiden to Kiss. But don't be misled by that as they sound nothing like those four bands mentioned. This is more of a Hard Rock sound with some early rap like vocals thrown in during the first few tracks. The disc gets better as it goes along, with more groove than rap once you get past track seven "Bury me alive". Riffs and vocals are pure and clean throughout. Kraised does mix things up from start to finish on Haywire Logic but will most fans be happy with that? From the looks of things with their success so far in the bands home town of Phoenix, Arizona fans have really caught on to what they have done so far in the five or so years they've been together. It all depends on how you like your Hard rock/ riffs to sound like. This is something like medium-rare. But the all out effort is there especially in the promotions department as they get an A+ for the cool Promo pack. What you think is always important to bands like Kraised since what doesn't kill them makes them grow stronger. Worth checking out if your open to it. Interesting things ahead. Metal Mike...............................................................7/10 |
| PROJECT: FAILING FLESH - A BEAUTIFUL SICKNESS (Indie) |
| I can't say that I've heard of Alexandria,Virginia but they certainly do have some very interesting and talented homegrown metal musicians who hail from there. Three guys that come to mind which make up Project: Failing Flesh are Eric Forrest on vocals with Kevin 131 and Tim Gutierrez both on instruments. Proudly they put together this album called A Beautiful Sickness which sounds like Fear Factory meets Voivod with some Strapping Young Lad thrown in for good measure. Lead off title track blows you out of your seat right away as the almost industrial pounding guitar riffs take you to another level of Heavy Metal. The instruments on the disc range from synthesizers, piano, cello's and more. This mix of instruments does broaden the bands sound but dont let this fool you into thinking it may not sound as metal as you hoped for. Eric Forrest belts out some of the most seriously brutal death metal type screams I've heard since..well Burton C. Bell. A great job covering the classic Venom track Warhead is added at the end of the disc. More heavy metal for you to savour. A beautiful sickness should be picked up soon by you. Hesitate no longer and treat yourself in a big way. Metal Mike................................................................8.5/10 |
| DENATA - ART OF THE INSANE (Arctic Music Group) |
| For years Sweden has been known for bringing us some of the best bands in the Heavy Metal world. Denata is one of those best kept secrets, but maybe not for long. This is some of the best and fastest Thrash riffs I've heard in ages. Art of the Insane should have also come with a "How to Mosh/Slamdance" manual due to it's seriously intense riffage. I love the way this Disc does not let up at all! What three guys from Sweden can do when you give them Instruments is pretty incredible. Art of the Insane being Denata's forth CD release since 1999 has shown the bands maturity with experience over the years. Tomas Andersson and his other band mates have taken the Thrash Metal torch and hold it up high for all to see. As black/death Metal bands worldwide stir things up with their brand of metal, Denata have shown true passion to their roots sticking with the bands early to mid 80's Thrash Metal sound still in tact with each release. They also pay tribute to a very influencial band from the 80's covering the classic Celtic Frost track "Morbid Tales" in excellent fashion. Brutal metal fans worldwide beware! Denata has come to saw off a few limbs and keep the Art of the Insane as Heavy and fast as you'd expect. Metal Mike...............................................................9.5/10 |
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| DRILLPOINT - 6 SONG DEMO (Indie) |
| More Canadian Heavy Metal is always a good thing. Ottawa, Ontario has just one of the many good reasons to support Heavy Metal bands such as Drillpoint. The band consists of four guys who are on the look out to change today's trend back to something heavy but for good this time just like what the 80's brought forward back in the day. Drillpoint's influences range from, first the obvious being bands like Disturbed as well as the now disbanded Pantera. Drillpoint falls somewhere in between. Musically Drillpoint are totally on board with every riff and beat they pump through your speakers. This 6 song CD is far more catchy with it's groove than what most bands might want to even try or consider. Not as heavy as some of their influences such as Slayer, Pantera or even Disturbed but they do make things quite interesting all while easing the throttle just enough to make a (Drill)point. The vocals are really really solid and jump out at you from the get go with lead vocalist Patrick Fynn's talented metal growls. From the Nation's Capitol to the rest of the world, Drillpoint send a clear message through their music. Metal Mike.................................................................7/10 |