| Only once every several years does an album come along that is so in tune with your own resonant frequency you would swear it was created for you alone. When I heard Abdullah's Graveyard Poetry I was blindsided by the subtle enormity of its power, helpless to move or think or do anything but listen and feel the sound washing over me. Hungrily I played it over and over again, am still playing it almost daily, the songs now planted permanently in my consciousness. I find the melodies entering my thoughts unbidden, bringing me a moment's joy as I go through the day. Will Graveyard Poetry speak to you, resonate within you, mesmerize you the way it does me? That I cannot answer, although I certainly hope you'll explore the possibility. In an attempt to explain the music itself, beyond the overall feeling it stirs, let me begin by saying that vocalist Jeff Shirilla has the most beautifully expressive voice I've heard in eons. In tone he compares to Dax Riggs (ex-Acid Bath) at his best and most inflective. But where Dax always left you feeling down, Jeff's is a voice to soothe the soul, and never gets abrasive or shrill even on fast-paced tracks like "Guided by the Spirit". As the principal songwriter in the band, he carries his vision through his vocals, adding that much more to the power of the performance. Though the poetic lyrics and their deeply spiritual meanings are a story for another day, songs with titles like "A Dark But Shining Sun", "Behold A Pale Horse" and "Secret Teachings Of The Lost Ages" are clearly not your average "Hey Bud, let's party" rock and roll. Together with Jeff are three outstanding musicians who play a brilliant, inspired blend of modern doomy rock melded with textbook Diamond Head/Angel Witch NWOBHM. Believe it! The charging riffs that embody "Deprogrammed" and "Strange Benedictions" are the most telling examples, but the essence of the great British movement is threaded throughout this amazing album. Guitarist Alan Siebert's clean, true guitar sound and flawless leads, along with Ed Stephens' impeccable bass work and the understated drumming of Jim Simonian, certainly harken back to better days, musically speaking at least. Where many bands today are simply tuning down to create a heavy sound, Abdullah crushes them all through mood, atmosphere and meaning. And so from somewhere in Ohio comes a band that matters. A band that speaks softly, carries a big stick and is waiting to pummel you with it. A sleeping giant has awakened, and you have been warned! QUICK REVIEWS: Vanderhoof, A Blur In Time: Ever have a guilty pleasure in your record collection? C'mon, admit it, I can see that copy of Slippery When Wet from here! What we've got is Kurdt Vanderhoof, the on-again, off-again guitarist and songwriter of Metal Church fame, taking a turn at the classic/arena rock sound and updating it to include the smooth production and abstract musicianship of Dream Theater, Fates Warning and Queensryche. Really well-written tunes and a highly accessible vocalist make this a light and pleasant listen, perfect for a hot summer day. Metallica, St. Anger: Judging by the songs on the radio, this album has the single worst production sound ever caught on tape. And to think they probably paid millions of dollars for it!! What's even more sad is that millions of people have bought this piece of garbage, while countless great bands remain lost in obscurity. For the best review yet on this, check out Ray Dorsey's Chaos Realm at: http://hometown.aol.com/raysrealm/myhomepage/index.html Blind Dog, Captain Dog Rides Again: I was really kind to this album in Metal Maniacs, but truth be told, it's not all that good. The one song that is heavily Captain Beyond-influenced is very cool, but the vocals on the rest of the tunes are too one-dimensional and bland. Some of the music is decent and fairly heavy, but with so many other stoner rock bands out there, this one does little to differentiate itself. The Lord Weird Slough Feg, Traveller: One of the best of '03 - this highly creative band returns with a fast, heavy work. Celtic melodies meet NWOBHM! Bellringing production, powerful vocals! A guitar onslaught to rival 80's U.S. metal at its best! Doomed to massive commercial failure - that's why I love it! Meatjack, Days of Fire: Intriguing and engaging musically, but I can't stand the screamy vocals. Yet another good band suffers from a lazy vocalist who can't figure out how to sing with inflection, emotion and pure power. Jezabel, Legiones del Sur: They sure love Iron Maiden in Argentina! Jezebel vocalist Leandro Coronel does a good Bruce Dickinson, and guitarists Nestor Rodriguez and Diego del Rio pull off the Smith/Murray thing admirably as well. It's the prominent, campy keyboards that teleport this band halfway beyond Maiden and into the realm of Euro prog-metal. The lyrics are sung in Spanish - what's the difference? Great album! Pharaoh, After the Fire: Metal Maniacs scribes and longtime friends Matt Johnsen and "Professor" Chris Black have crafted a powerful meld of NWOBHM riffage meets the advanced guitarwork of today. Strong Iron Maiden influence is carried through by veteran vocalist Tim Aymar. Recommended! Force of Evil, Force of Evil: Shermann & Denner are back with a traditional power metal offering. FOE obviously impresses in the guitar dept. - those guys don't know any other way - and M. Fate/King Diamond sidemen Hal Patino and Bjarne Holm are no slouches either. It's vocalist Martin Steene that's the weak link in the band. He's not "bad", but not distinctive - and overall, the songwriting isn't either. Buit if you've been missing metal guitar (and you should be!), check it out. www.forceofevil.net |
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| 2002's* ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Abdullah Graveyard Poetry MeteorCity Records |
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