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| Reviews S (5) |
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| Sonata Arctica "Successor" 2000 7/10 |
| The challenger to the throne of Finnish power metal, Sonata Arctic, releases an E.P. in the wait for their next full lenght album. After Stratovarius attempt to do an more �Radio friendly� album with �Infinite� must I say that Sonata Arctica have passed their countryman as the Finnish power metal kings No.1 and whit this E.P. they show us why. The CD contains three songs from the last album, �Ecliptica�, there two of them are live versions, there is two covers, Scorpion�s �Stll Loving You� and Helloween�s �I Want Out� and two new songs. My first thought where �Why Scorpion�s? Have they done anything worth covering.� But this version is the best cover i have heard in a long time. Then it was �I Want Out�s� turn (Why does every single power metal band cover that song?). Then it starts out and it�s awesome, specially when the guitar duels with the keyboard. The two new songs is straight power metal with Sonata Arctica�s special sound, the first �San Sebastian� is an fast track with great keyboards that could been from their last album. The other is an ballad called �Shy� and here comes the singers biggest problem, he can�t sing whitout his finnish accent, but if you can overlook that you hav ena beautiful little song. I look forward to the next album whit these Finnish kings of metal. -Uffe |
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| The Storyteller "Crossroad" 2002 7/10 |
| The Swedish Power Metal outfit are back with their second full-lenght album �Crossroad� and it includes the new members Jacob Wennerqvist on guitar and Janne Bj�rk on bass for the first time. For you who have heard The Storyteller before know that the play Metal somewhere between Helloween and Hammerfall but have their own sound and touch to the music. Singer L-G Persson add his personal touch with his voice that is perfect to the music and the best thing is that L-G doesn�t sound like all the other Kiske wannabe�s that trys to high-pitch their voices with bad results. �Crossroads� have all the things you can except from an Power Metal album, catchy great riffs, memorable choruses, speed, agressivnes and Storyteller�s special medieval feeling. �Crossroad� is very much alike their self-titled debut only this time the have some of the best songs they have ever written. If you liked their debut, you can buy this without listen but if you have never read them listen first. -Uffe |
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| Soilwork "Natural Born Chaos" 2002 10/10 |
| The Swedes have done it again. After have made some big impression on me with �A predators portrait � last year , I were really excited to hear the new material. I have never been so wild over and album as I been over this one. I have been listening and listening to it and I can�t get enough of it. It have a lot of melodic death tunes, so if you are into bands like In Flames you will love this one. I must say this is even better than the last In Flames album. They have put a lot of keys into it and they have made it commercially available. This one will absolutely be hanging on to my top 10 list for the rest of the year. I guess the producer Devin Townsend have made a lot of impression on the guys to. So just run away to the closest recordstore and pick up "Natural Born Chaos". I know I put on a lot of 10 points here. But I have so far only got my hands on 10 points albums. � Henke |
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| I don�t think that these finnish veterans need any presentation with now eight album behind them. �The Cold White Light� is their latest effort and I am ready to say that this is their best so far. With melancholic dark metal, heavy riffs and lyrics filled with agony this is an masterpiece. I can�t stop compare �The Cold White Light� to my big favourites from the gotic scene, Beseech, the only difference is that Sentenced �rocks� more in a way they haven�t done for a long time. �The Cold White Light� is not an album for touchy persons. With song like �Cross My Heart And Hope To Die�, Excuse Me While I Kill Myself� and �The Luxury Of A Grave�, there is no room for suicidal persons. But even if it�s dark and hard music there is also catchy choruses and melodies that�s easy to remember. I don�t know what more to say about this excellente album, either you like it or you don�t and their is only one way to find out, go and get it. -Uffe |
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| Sentenced "The Cold White Light" 2002 9/10 |
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| If you have members that�s have started up both Dimmu Borgir and Old Man�s Child, can it be more then black metal, yes it can. I have missed Susperias first album �?� totally so it were a big surprise for me when I put their latest album, �Vindication�, in the stereo and out from the loudspeakers came the first tunes from �Cags Of Remembrance� and I was in love. These guys have an wonderful mix between heavy metal and death metal but it also sneaks in some black metal and thrash. Is it possible to mix all that? You think. Yes you can! I say and Susperia manage to create their own sound wich is hard to day. The tracks have high quality all the way through the album and they are very variable so you don�t have to be bored. �Vindication� should be in every death metal fan�s CD collection. -Uffe |
| Susperia �Vindication� 2002 8/10 |
| No Cover |
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