As one of the employees from Livereviewer.com I hear a lot of music. But a couple of months ago I heard something that made me got an appetite. And if I got and appetite I want more! So I searched the internet to find more and  I found more and got really hungry. Then came “Beat The Devil”, so of course I had to buy that CD and it didn't disappointed me. On the contrary, I loved it! So time to ask Rob Carlyle from The Compulsions some questions by email:

(photo by Jerry Vasilatos) 

Hi Rob, can you introduce The Compulsions to our readers?
The Compulsions is Richard Fortus on guitar, Sami Yaffa on bass, Frank Ferrer on drums and me on vocal and guitar.

The Compulsions make no bullshit Rock N' Roll, from where came this passion?
I started the band so I guess it’s an extension of my personality. I’m a real straight shooter and I try to surround myself with people who are the same way.

The album Beat The Devil is a great record how is it received so far ?
Thanks for the compliment. Reviews have started coming in and quotes from the press include “the best rock band New York City has seen since Johnny Thunders,” “a must buy for fans of The New York Dolls, Guns N’ Roses and The Rolling Stones” and “the one true hope New York City has of reclaiming its rock ‘n’ roll glory.” So I’d say we’re off to a good start. You can find links to these articles and many others on The Compulsions’ Facebook page.

The Compulsions seems to be a gang of musicians who combine their passion for rock music. How does the writing process go with this group?
Basically, I write on the couch with an acoustic guitar and a tape recorder. Then I’ll have one or two pre-production meetings with [co-producers] Hugh [Pool] and Ken [Rich] where we develop the ideas a little further before sending rough demos to the band. Then we all work on the tracks together in the recording studio, building them up and perfecting them until they’re done.

(photo by John Miller) 

The lyrics are quit funny, where do you get your inspiration from?
Life can be pretty messed up sometimes but you have to laugh every once in a while otherwise you’ll go crazy.

How did the recording go? Because Richard and Frank where busy touring.
We work really fast, so whenever they had a little downtime, we just got it done.

On the record the late Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf/Muddy Waters) played on the song “Shut Yer Hole”, he did a great job on that as I may say, how was it to work which such a legend?
Hubert was amazing. Lots of style and a great sense of humor. He came in, we played him the track and he just started playing these incredible licks and bends. He wasn’t phased at all by the raunchy lyrics. As a matter of fact, at one point he stopped to read the lyric sheet and joked “I’ve been trying to say this for years!”

( photo by Roderick Angle)  

What I personally want to know from the first time I heard “Shut Yer Hole” , love the song, who's playing the harmonica?
Thanks. That’s Hugh, one of the producers I mentioned earlier. Yeah, he did a great job.

The Compulsions are offering “Ea$y Money” as a free download on your facebook, in Holland we're having BREIN a foundation who wants to shut down free downloads (starting with piratebay) through court for the Dutch people, what do you think about that?
It should be up to each individual artist whether or not they want to make their music available for free. The Compulsions give away tracks online from time to time because when people love the free download, they usually come back and buy everything.

Last week you had a sold out gig @ The Mercury Lounge, tell us all about it!
It was a lot of fun. Fans flew all the way in from Mississippi and Tennessee and one couple drove in from New Hampshire for their second Compulsions show. Like you said, the gig was sold out and I hear a lot of people were unfortunately turned away at the door. People took tons of photos of us on stage that night. You can see most of the shots on our Facebook page. We’ve got to be one of the most photographed bands in New York. I’ve never signed so many autographs or taken so many pictures with fans after a show. It was a  huge honor. We hadn’t played together for nine months but I got a lot of compliments on how tight the band was and that we sounded just like the record. The promoters are already talking about moving us into a bigger venue.

When is the next gig? I mean GN'R just announced a little club tour in America and also some European gigs, but there's probably coming more, is there a possibility we can see The Compusions playing in Europe  in between those GN'R gigs or maybe as a support? If not The Compulsions are on a hold then?
European festivals have been asking us to play so hopefully we can work out our schedules and come there this summer.

Is there a change of seeing the Compulsions live in Holland in the nearby future?
I hope so.

Besides promoting Beat the Devil and the live-shows what else is down the pipe line for The Compulsions?
That’s all I can reveal right now but we’ll definitely keep everyone posted.

Which band or artist made you decide to become a musician?
I’ve been a huge music fan since I was a little kid but it was seeing [The Rolling Stones concert film] “Let’s Spend The Night Together” at about the age of 12 or 13 that made me want to play guitar. Up until that point, I’d only heard the Stones on record but when I saw Keith [Richards] and Ronnie [Wood] in action, it looked like the most fun job in the world.

Besides being a musician what else keeps you busy?
These days, I’ve mostly been busy buying new furniture for my apartment. I know that doesn’t sound too exciting but I’m actually having a blast.

Thank you for your time, as a last question: do you have anything to say to our readers?
My pleasure Kiki, thank you for the great questions. I’d like to say thanks to everyone out there for all your love and support. The more interest we get from the fans, the more likely we’ll be able to get on the road and play your town. So again, thanks a million and hope to see you all very soon.

Visit facebook.com/thecompulsions now and get a free MP3 of "Ea$y Money." Offer expires February 10, 2012.

Interviewer “Kiki”

Check out The Compulsions online:

http://thecompulsionsnyc.com/
http://www.facebook.com/thecompulsions
http://www.reverbnation.com/thecompulsions

CD Purchase Links:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-compulsions/id470003794
http://www.amazon.com/Beat-Devil-Compulsions/dp/B006G2GCPI/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1325213079&sr=1-1

Picture is:

• Pete Lovell – vocals
• Rinus Vreugdenhill – bass
• Laurens ‘Bakkie’ Bakker – drums
• Peter Bourbon – guitar
• Mike Ferguson – guitar

WARHORSE

Het eerste wat in het oog springt is het fenomenale artwork van Tom van Wanrooy, maar we laten ons niet misleiden door al dit moois! Na wat sfeergeluiden van kruisende zwaarden en hinnikende paarden worden we meteen overdonderd door dreunende drums en harde riffs van opener en single “Battle Plan”. Picture gooit het duidelijk over een hardere boei! Zelfs de stem van Dee Snider look-alike (toch zijn immense haardos!) Pete Lovell heeft aan kracht gewonnen. Verder valt er rijkelijk te smullen van de vurige gitaren van beide snarenplukkers. Ze hebben met dit strijdplan alvast hun eerste veldslag gewonnen in het moderne metallandschap! “”Shadow Of The Damned” kent enkele heerlijk melodieus klinkende riffs bovenop de wederom beenharde en strakke riffs. “Rejected” boet niets aan hardheid in maar klinkt toch iets commerciëler en dat wordt nog versterkt door het refrein. Pete’s stem komt steeds krachtig over en is heel duidelijk verstaanbaar. Alle nummers hebben een groot headbanggehalte en het loodzware “Edge Of Hell” is daar geen uitzondering op.

“The King Is Losing His Crown” is een trager nummer met een beukende riff en een weergaloze Pete als voornaamste kenmerken. Deze zes minuten vliegen in geen tijd voorbij. Na al dit geweld vormt de ballade “Think I Lost My Way” een welkome afwisseling en kunnen onze nekspiren wat recupereren. Lovell laat zich hier van zijn gevoelige kant horen en weet ook deze klus met het grootste gemak te klaren. We worden aanvullend nog verwend door gevoelig gitaarwerk van Peter en Mike.

Licht shreddende gitaren doen je uit de romantische droom wakker schudden tijdens het riff gedomineerde “Killer In My Sight”. “My Kinda Woman” is een ware banger en ‘womanizer’ Pete zingt op een dergelijke manier over zijn type vrouw dat je fantasie op hol slaat. Elke solospot is telkens opnieuw één van de hoogtepunten in de songs! Tijdens het mid-tempo “The Price I Pay” zorgt het commercieel refrein voor een mooi contrast.  Het titelnummer komt met een overdonderende kracht en hoge snelheid op je af. Het strijdpaard verpletterd alles op zijn pad, gewapend met vlijmscherpe riffs en dreunende drums! “We’re Not Alone” is een beuker volgens de oude traditie en tijdens “Stand My Ground” wordt het gaspedaal nogmaals stevig ingedrukt! Als uitsmijter krijgen we nog de 2011 versie van die cultklassieker “Eternal Dark”. Deze loodzware versie bewijst nogmaals dat goeie songs na een kleine 30 jaar nog stevig overeind blijven tussen al dat nieuw geweld!

Conclusie:
Picture deed in 2008 een geslaagde comeback met optredens en een liveplaat! Hun vorige schijf “Old Dogs New Tricks” uit 2009 was een goed ontvangen schijfje muziek. Maar deze “Warhorse” laat een herboren Picture horen, waar vooral de heftigheid van de gitaren in het oor springen. Oscar Holleman (Gorefest, Within Temptation, Ayreon,…) heeft het album van een knallende productie voorzien. Ook de stem van Pete heeft een rauwer karakter gekregen en sluit naadloos aan bij hun hardere koers. Dus bestijg je met staal gepantserde oorlogspaard en doorkruis het metallandschap waar je meerdere veldslagen roemrijk zal winnen en vele metalheads  zullen je volgen in je ‘metalcrusade’!

 Tracklist:

1. Battle Plan
2. Shadow Of The Damned
3. Rejected
4. Edge Of Hell
5. The King Is Losing His Crown
6. Think I Lost My Way
7. Killer In My Sights
8. My Kinda Woman
9. The Price I Pay
10. Warhorse
11. We’re Not Alone
12. Stand My Ground
13. Eternal Dark MMXI

Score: 4,25 out of 5

Links:

• http://www.pictureofficial.com
• www.rockinc.nl

Geschreven door Rik Bauter

Wolfen  is:

• Frank J. Noras – guitar, backing vocals
• Andreas von Lipinski – bass, vocals
• Björn Grüne – gitaar
• Holger Bloempott - drums

CHAPTER IV

Howling wolfs can be heard accompanied by marching drums. After one minute the thrash riffs and hard hitting drums crack your brain. Besides the typical furious thrash riffs, you also will discover more melodic riffs during opener “Revolution / Evolution”. “D.F.A.I.T.” starts with threatening riffs but goes further in a more power metal way! The instrumental breaks holds some very melodic guitar work. “The One” can be described as melodic thrash with some progressive influences. Even subtle metal core parts can be heard in the middle.  “Nefilim” is fast played thrash in it’s purest format with raw sounding vocals. Later on you’ll discover some doom inspired parts. The calm returns with the balladesque “Hole In The Sky”. But after a while the guitars take over and bring the power back in the song. The vocals in those soft parts sound a bit flat and lack of power. “I Am I” is luckily more up-tempo! The pounding drums and the rolling riffs are the main attraction here. The chorus has a more commercial feel!

“Dolor Mundis” is a powerballad and again the voice in the more sensitive and higher regions aren’t top notch! “Unbroken” is a furious and fast thrasher, an interface from early Slayer, Pantera and even Helloween comes to mind. “Birmingham 6” is a duet between Andreas and female singer Verena-Alexandra Große-Kathöfer. Alexa is a friend from the band and was willing to help the guys. The song is more in the vein of melodic rock with a powerful chorus. “Soul Collector” starts acoustic with sensitive vocals. But the ballad sound is pushed aside by some soaring, screaming guitars. The vocals are a combination of rough growls and powerful clean-vocals. But the angry guitar is a lust for the ear. We enter the doom world again with “White Chapel”. Then a drum sequence sounds a lot like the opening from Diamond Head’s “Am I Evil”. But  galloping guitars bring speed and a link with Slayer can be heard here. Squeaking guitars and a brilliant solo make this long song the highlight of the album. The riff dominated “Demons” closes this decent German album.

Conclusion:
This fourth chapter from German metal heads Wolfen is packed with powerful thrash tracks. They incorporate influences from many kinds of metal into their songs. This makes that the album has the necessary variety. A little minor is the fact that the vocals on the more sensitive songs lack a bit of power. But the other tracks have power in abundance!

Tracklist:

1. Revolution / Evolution   (5.13)
2. D.F.A.I.T.   (4.43)
3. The One   (5.59)
4. Nefilim   (5.29)
5. Hole In The Sky   (5.29)
6. I Am I   (4.30)
7. Dolor Mundis   (6.17)
8. Unbroken   (4.13)
9. Birmingham   (5.49)
10. Soul Collector   (4.57)
11. White Chapel   (7.26)
12. Demons   (6.50) 

score: 3 out of 5

Links:

• http://www.wolfen-metal.de

First up, how are you guys feeling right now?
Mark Ruffneck and also other OZ hard core members, Ape De Martini and Jay C. Blade just feeling well! And also both Guitar Players Michel Santunione and John Berg are just fine! So OZ is alive and breathing, ha, ha! To be back in action after a so long break is just wonderful!

The reviews for “Burning Leather” that I've read where all raving! Any thoughts on that?
We have been extremely well received everywhere, so we are really happy with the feedback! The best comment; Burning Leather is a great album! And the reviewers understood our idea about showing with this album what OZ is about 2011. The worst comment; Why we were re-recording OZ old classics? We shouldn’t touch those classic songs! So reviewers didn’t understand our idea about this album! So, the majority of reviewers have liked “Burning Leather” and understood our purpose with this album, but there have been also a few reviewers who didn’t like our idea to mix new songs and re-recorded old songs! So I like to give here one more reason why “Burning Leather” is as it is! We haven’t been in any contacts with our old record company owner Börje Forsberg since 1991! Why? Because He is Asshole!  So we were re-recording old songs that we could ensure that people also could get some old songs in good quality together with new songs and this way people could get the good picture what OZ is about 2011. This is the main reason to re-record old songs!

The band lay dormant since 1991. How did the resurrection occur?
The Afterburner Story started at a Midsummer Party 2009 while being sponsored by Carlsberg (ha ha) and Nokia ("Connecting People"). I called both Jay and Ape and asked if they were interesting to make some music together again. They both were thinking some weeks and after that they informed me that yes, let’s make some metal music together! So, the main reason for OZ reunion is:  We just like to make music together again and now we have time and possibility to play together again! So why not?

The band has a new record deal with AFM now. Was that a difficult search for a getting a good deal?
We were talking with quite many record companies in Scandinavia and also in Europe about the distribution contract for the new album Burning Leather. We got contact with AFM Records somehow by some contacts that we had. AFM was showing quite fast their interest to work with OZ, and when we start discussions with them, It was developing quite fast after that they were listening Burning Leather. And we are really happy that we could sign OZ to AFM. Well UDO can’t be wrong! 

Ape hasn't lost any power in his voice over the years! Above that he looks that a member of the WWF! Has he done some special training to keep his voice (and body) fit?
No, I think that he hasn’t made any special training, but he has been training his whole life and he has also been living the healthy life! And he has his genetic background, ha, ha! His father was an Olympic athlete and that probably clarify a part of story! And he is really special as a person, one of a kind and he is really in a great physical shape and can sing better nowadays as he did in the 80’s! Miracle or not, but this is the story, ha, ha!

You're booked for the next K.I.T. Festival in 2012 with other cult bands like Witch Cross, Sword, Dark Wizard, Ostrogoth and Tytan! I imagine you're all looking forward to that? Are you planning on doing something special? A Scandinavian metal special perhaps?
Yes, we think that it’s really fun to play there as it has been in summer 2011 when we were playing at different festivals. We probably do something special, but playing next K.I.T. Festival is not so much different than other festivals. We have the same rules as other bands! Money Talks! When we're getting more money we will put all that money on OZ stage show!

Besides that German festival, does the band have other tour plans?
Yes, we try to play some other festivals in Europe during this summer and probably after summer we start to record some new songs!

The intro for the new version of “Searchlights” sounds like the red alert from the original Star Trek series! Is this a coincidence? Or is there a Trekkie among the band or crew?
Yes, It’s a coincidence. We just like to have the red alert siren as the intro for the new version of “Searchlights”. We didn’t think that it sounds like the red alert from the original Star Trek series. No, we are not any special Star Trek fans, but I think that Jay is more interested about those series than others in the band.

Many bands from the 80's did a comeback with a new album(s) and tour the globe (Europe – Exxplorer – Overdrive – etc). Even Black Sabbath are planning a new tour with Ozzy now! Do you have any idea how this is possible? Is it the lack of “real” new bands with an unique sound, or what?
Well, if they like to do that! Go ahead! Just do it and at the end, you as an artist have a total freedom to do what you like! What do I think about that? Maybe the music business is right now without new ideas and good bands and we are starting from the beginning again. New wave or heavy metal (part 2) and Hell Yeah! Just do it, ha, ha!

To finish this interview, do you have some words for the fans and readers?
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our loyal fans out there, and also welcome new fans into our fold. For more info, please check out our website: http://www.ozofficial.com

And Keep on Rocking…\m/
Cheriouz
Mark Ruffneck (Drumz) OZ

Interview done by -Rik Bauters

Dat meldt concertorganisator Mojo Concerts.
In 2008 verscheen het langverwachte album Chinese Democracy, nadat er anderhalf decennium niks meer door de band rondom Axl Rose uitgebracht was. In 1987 brak Guns N’ Roses door met het succesvolle debuutalbum Appetite For Destruction.

De voorverkoop voor het concert start vrijdag 3 februari. De concertorganisator verwacht dat Guns N’ Roses zijn hits speelt. "En voor de rest weet je het maar nooit met Axl Rose", aldus Mojo Concerts. In 2010 trad Guns N' Roses nog op in het Gelredome in Arnhem.

http://www.livenation.nl/artist/guns-n-roses-tickets?c=alert_Guns%20N'%20Roses

Bandleden:

·         Simone Simons (Vocals)

·         Mark Jansen (Guitars, grunts & screams)

·         Isaac Delahaye (Guitars)

·         Coen Janssen (Synths and Piano)

·         Yves Huts (Bass guitar)

·         Ariën van Weesenbeek (Drums)

Requiem For The Indifferent 

Na het beluisteren van enkele nummers is al snel duidelijk dat dit een plaat is van kwaliteit. Zowel de productie als het inspelen van instrumenten en zang is erg goed. Het geheel klinkt helder maar toch warm, met vlagen zelfs bombastisch. Zo ook het intro “Karma”, waar een koor het geheel kracht bijzet. En daarmee is de toon gezet. Over stevige gitaarrifs, heldere pianoklanken en strakke drums galmt de engelenstem van Simone Simons met daarnaast de opvallende grunts en screams van Mark Jansen. Epica levert met dit album vooral een mixje van opera en klassiek met stevige metal. Zij weten zich daarmee wel te onderscheiden van de meeste bands in hetzelfde genre. Eigenlijk kan ik het antwoord van Coen Janssen in het interview van afgelopen week beamen; de band maakt nummers die lekker in het gehoor liggen, maar niet naar commercie neigen. “Storm The Sorrow” is zo’n nummer dat eigenlijk te hard is voor het grote publiek, maar die toch uren later nog door je hoofd blijft galmen. De vocalen van Simone zijn daarnaast loepzuiver, en bieden veelzijdigheid.
Bij “Internal Warfare” vind ik echter dat haar stem wat naar schreeuwerig begint te neigen. Maar de gitaar en het keyboard zetten dan wel weer een solo neer waar je spontaan van begint te watertanden. Er wordt op dit album veel afwisseling geboden tussen ballades en stevige metalen. “Deep Water Horizon” is één van die prachtige ballades, waar de stem van Simone dan weer puur tot z’n recht komt. “Stay The Course” knalt weer lekker je boxen uit. Bij “Deter the Tyrant” klinkt wederom dat prachtige koor. Het hele album hangt van geweldige melodieën aan elkaar. Knap staaltje muziek.

Conclusie
In alle eerlijkheid moet ik zeggen dat ik nog niet helemaal wist wat ik van Epica moest vinden. Maar dit is echt zo’n album waar je gewoon niet omheen kunt. Op alle fronten scoren ze bovengemiddeld, en daarmee zijn ze opvallend. De band heeft een fenomenale instrumentenbeheersing, zangtalent en technisch inzicht in de opbouw van de nummers. Als toef op de slagroom hebben ze er dan ook nog eens een dijk van een productie op los gelaten. Enig minpuntje; de vocalen van Simone Simons zijn op een enkel nummer wat te doordringend, waardoor het neigt naar schreeuwerig. Terwijl je vooral bij de rustige nummers hoort hoe prachtig haar stem is. Het is vergeven. Deze plaat is een dikke dubbele aanrader.

Beoordeling op schaal 1 tot 5: 4

Tracklist:

1. Karma
2. Monopoly on Truth
3. Storm the Sorrow
4. Delirium
5. Internal Warfare
6. Requiem for the Indifferent
7. Anima
8. Guilty Demeanor
9. Deep Water Horizon
10. Stay the Course
11. Deter the Tyrant
12. Avalanche
13. Serenade of Self-Destruction

Links

• www.epica.nl
• www.myspace.com/epica

Geschreven door Taggi Eenstroom

France, Italy and  Bulgary are confirmed more dates will follow

Confirmed dates:

June 5th, 2012 - Paris, France @ Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
June 10th, 2012 - Lyon, France @ Halle Tony Garnier
June 11th, 2012 - Strasbourg, France @ Zenith Strasbourg
June 14th, 2012 - Toulouse, France @ Zenith de Toulouse
June 18th, 2012 - Montpellier, France @ Park&Suites Arena
June 19th, 2012 - Toulon, France @ Zénith Toulon
Presale for all French shows: February 2nd at 10:00 at www.gdp.fr.

July 8th  - Sofia, Bulgary @ Sofia Rocks Festival

source: 

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/index2.php

Guns N’ Roses have announced they will perform an intimate six-date club tour featuring three shows in New York City next month.

One of the highlights of this run will be a return to Webster Hall, the site of the band’s famous 1988 MTV televised concert. The venue will temporarily go back to its old name, The Ritz, for this show.

This seems to validate GN’R bassist Tommy Stinson’s revelation last week that the band would be leaving soon for some “big stuff.” The New York shows are apparently timed to co-ordinate with the city’s fashion week. In 2010, Guns N’ Roses also performed a special club show during this event, so it seems someone in the group is a big fan of runway shows, who knew?

According to Blabbermouth, tickets go on sale starting Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 10 AM EST. Tickets and VIP packages will reportedly be available through the band’s official site, although right now it seems to be under construction.

Guns N’ Roses 2012 Tour Dates:

2/10 — New York, N.Y., Roseland Ballroom
2/12 — New York, N.Y., Terminal 6
2/15 — New York, N.Y., The Ritz (Webster Hall)
2/19 — Chicago, Ill., House of Blues
2/23 — Silver Spring, MD, The Fillmore
2/24 — Atlantic City, N.J., House of Blues

 source http://ultimateclassicrock.com/guns-n-roses-announce-small-club-tour

Eluveitie is:

• Merlin Sutter - Drums
• Siméon Koch - Gitaar
• Christian "Chrigel" Glanzmann - Zang, mandola, orgel, gaida, akoestische gitaar, bodhrán, verschillende soorten fluiten.
• Meri Tadic - Viool, zang
• Ivo Henzi - Gitaar
• Anna Murphy - Draailier, zang
• Kay Brem - Basgitaar
• Patrick "Päde" Kistler - Doedelzak, verschillende soorten fluiten

Helvetios

Na een korte intro in de vorm van “Prologue”, een mystiek verhaal verteld door een eveneens mystieke man, is het gedaan met de rust, althans voor het grootste gedeelte van deze plaat. Titelnummer “Helvetios” zet meteen vrij groot in; met veel folk gerichte instrumenten en een zangeres, maar dit blijkt slechts een intro want daarop volgt dan vooral veel scream en grunt. En al vrij snel is duidelijk dat deze plaat vooral hierdoor wordt beïnvloed. De meeste nummers hebben als kern dat typische deathmetal geluid met als tegenwicht fluiten,violen en andere folk-instrumenten. Hoogtepunt van dit album vind ik “Scorched Earth” , de dromerige ambiance wordt met een akelig sterke overtuiging gebracht. Prachtig! Het is bijna jammer dat je bruut uit je dagdroom wordt wakker geschud met “Meet The Enemy”. Deze nummers liggen hemelsbreed van elkaar verwijderd. En het is dus ergens wel knap dat deze band over zoveel veelzijdigheid kan beschikken.

Conclusie
Met Helvetios wordt het genre van folk metal toch enigszins omzeilt. Er wordt wel gebruik gemaakt van typische folk gerichte instrumenten en muzikale uitwerkingen, maar de nadruk wordt bij de meeste nummers vooral gelegd op deathmetal. Of dit een goede keuze is geweest, is vooral sterk afhankelijk van de luisteraar; waar zijn of haar voorkeur ligt. Het album was wellicht wat kleurrijker geworden wanneer er was gekozen voor meer afwisseling zoals bijv. bij het nummer “Scorched Earth”, dit is een aangename verrassing in het totale repertoire. Door meer af te wisselen in harde en zachtere nummers had Eluveitie wellicht meerdere soorten luisteraars vast weten te houden. En dat geldt met name voor de vocalen, die in mijn beleving te veel gericht zijn op het grunten, terwijl de band ook beschikt over een goede zangeres en zanger met clear vocals. Daar mag dan wel aan toe gevoegd worden dat binnen de nummers zelf wel voldoende afwisseling geboden wordt juist door de instrumenten.

Er kan gesproken worden van een veelzijdige groep muzikanten, die makkelijk in staat zijn om een plaat van hoog niveau af te leveren. Als je luistert naar de opbouw van de nummers, de intro’s of solo’s en zangtechnieken dan kun je daar onmogelijk omheen. Daarmee gezegd, is deze plaat dus zeker niet verkeerd. Maar de waardering zal voornamelijk bij de deathmetalheads hoog liggen. 

Beoordeling op schaal 1 tot 5: 2.5

Tracklist

1.      Prologue

2.     Helvetios

3.     Luxtos

4.     Home

5.     Santonian Shores

6.     Scorched Earth

7.     Meet the Enemy

8.     Neverland

9.     A Rose for Epona

10. Havoc

11. The Uprising

12. Hope

13. The Siege

14. Alesia

15. Tullianum

16. Uxellodunon

17.  Epilogue

Links:
http://eluveitie.ch/

geschreven door Taggi Eenstroom