COLDSPELL - Infinite Stargaze (Escape Music)
A very ambitious and adventuresome collection of music – “Infinite Stargaze” is this Swedish quintet’s first release. ‘Coldspell’, founded by Michael Larsson – a well known guitarist & songwriter – has banded with some of Sweden’s most respected Rock Talents. A combined guitar/keyboard attack… Coldspell create towering, rhythm driven musical soundscapes that will hold you and draw you in to each sonic expression. A very elegant package; “Infinite Stargaze” is highly supported by the group’s label… Escape Music. Beautiful artwork and the liner notes are extensive. Adventuresome in the music – but also in the production. This debut is produced by Michael Larsson and Coldspell, but avoiding the over indulgent pitfalls of many self-produced records. “…Stargaze” is vibrant and slick… all five musicians are showcased ever so refined-ly and not weighing down the complete musical creation. Coldspell have a lot to say-sing and convey musically… this debut opens so many vistas and glimpses of future potential, leaving one with a feeling that the Coldspell will be upon us for a very long time. Bruce E.J. Atkinson (85/100)
CHRIS LANEY - Pure (Metal Heaven)
Although a highly accomplished songwriter and producer, Chris Laney has displayed colossal courage in deciding to release a full fledged solo recording. It is totally different playing and singing your own creations with your heart being completely exposed…as all of a sudden you are under the ‘hot lights’. But…no worries, Chris delivers a knock out cavalcade of punches with ‘Pure’. He has surrounded himself with a high calibre group of musicians that meet with his own multi-talent musicianship. “Pure” is twelve vital, high energy, uncompromised Rockers full of dynamics – straight on steel tinged vibrating sounscapes. Chris’ vocals are strong…clear and harmonious, taking you and each song to a higher level. This album just keeps building. Filled to the top with confidence and attitude, Mr. Laney has given us a very muscular and pure aural delight! May his recording career reach ever higher…. Rock music in its purest form – thank-you Chris!...we need this. Bruce E.J. Atkinson (89/100)
H.A.R.D. - Traveller (Hammer Records)
FREE SPIRIT - Pale Sister Of Light (Carpet Music)
LYRIAN - Nightingale Hall (Medieval Rec.)
SAXON - Into The Labyrinth (SPV)
This is the first time that I get the chance to listen to a Melodic Hard Rock band from Hungary. I came across other bands from Eastern Europe, but these guys have apparently a good experience in the local scene and gathered around a project that saw the support from the leading Rock label of the country. “Traveller” is a cool record with roots in the anthemic US Hard Rock of the 80’s. Especially a cut like “Rock Is My Name” can work very well in a live environment, with its big commercial hook along with “Troublemaker”. More AOR oriented are “Stay” (not miles away from Valentine), the title track “Traveler” and the radiofriendly tune “Dreamworld”. All in all a more than pleasant release which will be interesting for all Melodic Rock fans. PS: last news is that the guys started working with Beau Hill (Winger, Ratt, Unruly Child etc.) who is remixing some of the songs of the album, so the future looks bright for the guys ! Vitale Nocerino (72/100)
Lyrian is the brainchild of John Blake along with fellow librarians Alison Felstead and Paul W Nash. A progressive folk band whose fourth band member is a drum machine. This is not my usual fair, more my wife’s to be honest, but I’m used to the dulcet tones of Folk Rock around the house and I’ve even seen a few Folk bands live, so my life is not all Rock n’ Roll, I sometimes have a mellow chillout now and again. And this album is definitely that, the mellow Prog feel is very British summer garden croquet on the lawn and cucumber sandwiches, which after a hard days rockin’ really brings you down to earth on a fluffy cloud instead of a crashing thud. This may not be to everyone’s taste but it definitely is a great winding down album, what with the 17 minute serenity of ‘Nightingales’ and the 15.29 minutes of ‘He Who Would Valliant Be’, being two of the most divine musical pieces I’ve heard this year. Truly haunting and mesmerizing. This sort of album I use as my pallet cleaner akin to a wine taster who needs something to refresh his pallet after a hard day, this is mine. Leaving me ready to face another guitarladen riff frenzied day. Barry McMinn (60/100)
So here they are, the new sensation from Finland! There is nothing you can do about it, for some reason when you have to face a new band coming from the land of the thousand lakes, there are always good reasons to awake your attention for some good Melodic Hard Rock music. And this sextet is no exception to the rule: with a deep concept behind (the band’s name is based on Friedrich Nietzsche's book 'The Antichrist' and also lyrically there are interesting concepts developed), these guys are able to deliver a cool debut album which melts cleverly some folki-sh and spacey elements in more acoustic driven songs like the excellent “Heroes Don’t Cry” and “Easy Days”, with a typical taste for great hooklines and arena rock numbers. There are also some different influences here and there, which may appeal to some and put off others, in fact especially the singer Sami Alho low tone reminds of Him at times. Still, tracks such as “Moonlight Ride”, “Strangers” and “Far Way From Heaven” are truly Superb Melodic Hard Rock anthems which are sure to please everyone. This album definitely begs for your attention and this band can definitely stand up together with Brother Firetribe and Leverage up there in the Finnish Rock Heaven! Mario de Riso (82/100)
“Into The Labyrinth” is, in good and in bad, the nth album by Saxon. The historical band of Byford has never changed too much along the years – for that reason only Manowar are slammed, for evident media reasons – and in the end, as it always happens when speaking of NWOBHM bands, the differences among the various albums are made by the different balance between proper metal pieces and more rocking tracks. After the disappointing (but not ugly) “Inner Sanctum”, quite a more hard rock album, Saxon get back to their most fitting dress, and offer us some real hymns of metal power: “Battalions Of Steel” and “Valley Of The Kings” in particular, some huge epic pieces to scream out loud on the path of the unforgettable “Power And The Glory” (maybe with some more familiarity with the use of the keys), with some harder songs (the granite riffs of “Protect Yourselves” and “Hellcat”) and some faster (“Demon Sweeney Todd”) but also more rocking, like the involving “Live To Rock”, fairly chosen as opener single. And then? Then nothing, as usual the quality is swinging, among the ups all the tracks mentioned above, among the downs the rest of the album, among which it does not shine, but intrigues, the acoustic version of “Coming Home”, originally released for “Killing Ground”. Well, it's nice but not historical: another album by Saxon. Fulvio Adile (75/100)
MRF | 13