Apr 21
Marty reviews…Suvern rockers slumming as prog rockers?
Music Reviews: The Bakerton Group, Black Crowes, Hanging Doll, The Great Kat, and the To Live is to Die Book
The Great Kat appals, Black Crowes disappoint, while Hanging Doll & The Bakerton Group enthrall.
Some of the stuff that warrants a mention.
Magica: Wolves & Wtiches
Romania female-fronted goth metal that I completely missed last year. There are touches of Dream Theater and, of course, Nightwish & other such bands. The music is quite good with a fantasy theme, loads of over-lapping vocals and epic soundscapes. Despite being named after a Dio album they have truly taken the genre to their core.
I would suggest that Magica are well worth a look if you are into this sort of music. There is just enough originality there to make things interesting. A band to watch that is for sure. Certainly a CD to seek out next time you are in the mood to find something interesting.
Tankard: Thirst
With a name like Tankard and an album title like Thirst you rather know what to expect. Tankard continue their beer-soaked thrash with full gusto. Its damn good stuff and a heck of a lot of fun. This stuff is meant to be listened to loud and preferably in yer cups (rather tankard) with several beers in. Its frat party metal for those that aren’t in frats. It sounds like a medieval piss-up should have sounded like. You get the drift…hopsy thrashy fun.
Esoteric: The Maniacal Veil
This CD slipped down the crack of my pile of CDs. It didn’t deserve that fate. Its proggy atmospheric heavy metal with a touch of blackness. It doomy deathy, but full of quality and talent. In there is the same thing that makes Mastadon tick but with less mainstream attitude. This CD gets better and better with every listen, to the 4 epic tracks. There is nothing here that is for the faint of heart. At the risk of making a groan inducing pun…the music is truly esoteric with its doom tinged with beautiful melody. Its worth the effort.
If you like your doom metal with some brains and talent then this lot of British doom mongers might be the ticket.
Livid: One
Its rare that I get an album I just don’t get. This is one such CD. After a whole spate of quite good young British heavy rock bands I get this release. There is something about that just doesn’t work. Every time I listen I just get the feeling tha I am listening to a long lost Kingdom Come album. I think they were aiming for something a bit more Diamond Head-ish.
I understand this lot are great live but on album there is nothing here. I think it might be the lack of decent songs on the release, not quite sure. It’s a bit like listening to some of the D-list LA bands that were flooding reviewers in-boxes in the 80s.
Justin Hawkins is a fan, then again consideing his current output with the lame named Hot Leg, one has to wonder. They might be great live but Livid on album just don’t cut it. File under…missed opportunity methinks. Who knows maybe I had a dodgey copy of the review CD.
Update: I got this in the email today regarding the Great Kat review:
After reading your ignorant and obviously uncultured review of “Beethoven’s Guitar Shred” DVD, we have deleted you from The Great Kat database and you will no longer receive Great Kat products.
-The Great Kat
Considering the DVD in question has some dubious video that mocks torture of prisoners and the whole Abu Garib saga methinks I am not the one who is “uncultured”; I am relieved I will not longer have to receive crap like the Great Kat’s latest release. Angry PR emails are so much fun.
