Ayreon: Into The Electric Castle - 20th Anniversary Edition (Mascot Records) [Rich]
Into The Electric Castle was the third album by progressive super project Ayreon released all the way back in 1998. It’s one of the fan favourites amongst the Ayreon back catalogue and so to commemorate its 20th anniversary the album has been re-released and completely remixed by Arjen Lucassen. Into The Electric Castle was an important album in Ayreon history. Previous album Actual Fantasy hadn’t sold as well as expected and wasn’t as well received by the fans so this was very much a make or break album. Thankfully the album was a success and ensured that Ayreon lived on. As previously mentioned the album has been completely remixed and sounds quite frankly magnificent. It doesn’t take anything away from the original mix of the album which still sounds fantastic but adds extra clarity and depth.
Although not my personal favourite from the Ayreon discography (01011001 will always be top for me) it’s clear to see why this is such a defining album for the project and such a fan favourite. It’s the classic mix of progressive rock, progressive metal, psychedelia, folk and electronica that Ayreon is so known for all combined into this magnum opus of a concept album spread across two discs. Arjen Lucassen didn’t hold back in his ambition with this album and the results show from the out-there science fiction concept to the frankly astonishing musicianship and songwriting throughout the album. As is given with an Ayreon album there is an impressive cast of vocalists throughout including Anneke Van Giersbergen, Fish, Sharon Den Adel, Damian Wilson and Peter Daltrey amongst others. This album also heralded the first appearance of drummer Ed Warby who would go on to drum on every Ayreon album from here on as well as the Star One albums. It was nice to revisit this album although listening to the album in one sitting is a mammoth undertaking as there is so much for you to take in.
Ayreon is a project that is definitely not for everyone with its science fiction concepts to the excessive and overblown sound and song lengths. I personally love this sound and look forward to hearing how Arjen Lucassen is going to blow my mind with every new Ayreon release. The formerly reclusive Arjen will be bringing Ayreon back to the stage in 2019 with several live performances of the entirety of Into The Electric Castle which will be a definite treat for fans. If you are a prog fan and have never heard Ayreon then this is a great starting point. 8/10
Bloody Times: On A Mission (Self Released) [Matt]
Bloody Times were founded by bassist and songwriter Simon Pfundstein, on the debut album he did pretty much everything except drums which were ably beaten by Raphael Saini. Again he's got Saini behind the kit but has ramped things up on the guitar front adding Kikidakis S. Nickolas for solos, Balasz Fleischhauer, Marco Cossu, Rainer Pfundstein (Simon's dad) for rhythms and solos along with Judas for rhythms. The headline name though is Ross The Boss Friedman who plays rhythm and solos meaning that you can count this as another act the legendary guitarist has contributed too. Adding his chunky riffs and blistering solos to the record mainly to the 8 minute epic Alliance.
Behind the mic too is a name that fans of 'proper' metal will recognise; John Greely the singer of Iced Earth on their Night Of The Stormrider album (the one that really broke them) his muscular voice means that yes there is a big dollop of Iced Earth on this record but also the metallic power of Blaze Bayley (Die In A Hole) and of course Manowar. On A Mission is a stomping, fist pumping rager of a metal record, it's as I said classic heavy metal with roaring vocals, big chugging riffs, thumping basslines and pounding drum beats but unlike the hundreds of bands that do this style of music Simon clearly has a vision for this band that he began on the debut but he's managed to up the ante for this sophomore record recruiting some well-known faces to the band to really let it grow from a solo project to fully fledged Bloody Times are definitely On A Mission to bring back proper metal and its mission accomplished. 8/10
Blasphemer UK: Lust Of The Goat (Grindscene Records) [Paul H]
Quite simply, this is a blisteringly excellent release. Intense and bursting with ferocity, this is death metal performed the old way. From the days of tape trading and when the scene was erupting with new talent. Having returned in 2014, Blasphemer have become a band that quite rightly are talked about with deep reverence. Lust Of The Goat opens the album, four and a half minutes of chainsaw guitars, demonic growling and abusive drumming.
Although not my personal favourite from the Ayreon discography (01011001 will always be top for me) it’s clear to see why this is such a defining album for the project and such a fan favourite. It’s the classic mix of progressive rock, progressive metal, psychedelia, folk and electronica that Ayreon is so known for all combined into this magnum opus of a concept album spread across two discs. Arjen Lucassen didn’t hold back in his ambition with this album and the results show from the out-there science fiction concept to the frankly astonishing musicianship and songwriting throughout the album. As is given with an Ayreon album there is an impressive cast of vocalists throughout including Anneke Van Giersbergen, Fish, Sharon Den Adel, Damian Wilson and Peter Daltrey amongst others. This album also heralded the first appearance of drummer Ed Warby who would go on to drum on every Ayreon album from here on as well as the Star One albums. It was nice to revisit this album although listening to the album in one sitting is a mammoth undertaking as there is so much for you to take in.
Ayreon is a project that is definitely not for everyone with its science fiction concepts to the excessive and overblown sound and song lengths. I personally love this sound and look forward to hearing how Arjen Lucassen is going to blow my mind with every new Ayreon release. The formerly reclusive Arjen will be bringing Ayreon back to the stage in 2019 with several live performances of the entirety of Into The Electric Castle which will be a definite treat for fans. If you are a prog fan and have never heard Ayreon then this is a great starting point. 8/10
Bloody Times: On A Mission (Self Released) [Matt]
Bloody Times were founded by bassist and songwriter Simon Pfundstein, on the debut album he did pretty much everything except drums which were ably beaten by Raphael Saini. Again he's got Saini behind the kit but has ramped things up on the guitar front adding Kikidakis S. Nickolas for solos, Balasz Fleischhauer, Marco Cossu, Rainer Pfundstein (Simon's dad) for rhythms and solos along with Judas for rhythms. The headline name though is Ross The Boss Friedman who plays rhythm and solos meaning that you can count this as another act the legendary guitarist has contributed too. Adding his chunky riffs and blistering solos to the record mainly to the 8 minute epic Alliance.
Behind the mic too is a name that fans of 'proper' metal will recognise; John Greely the singer of Iced Earth on their Night Of The Stormrider album (the one that really broke them) his muscular voice means that yes there is a big dollop of Iced Earth on this record but also the metallic power of Blaze Bayley (Die In A Hole) and of course Manowar. On A Mission is a stomping, fist pumping rager of a metal record, it's as I said classic heavy metal with roaring vocals, big chugging riffs, thumping basslines and pounding drum beats but unlike the hundreds of bands that do this style of music Simon clearly has a vision for this band that he began on the debut but he's managed to up the ante for this sophomore record recruiting some well-known faces to the band to really let it grow from a solo project to fully fledged Bloody Times are definitely On A Mission to bring back proper metal and its mission accomplished. 8/10
Blasphemer UK: Lust Of The Goat (Grindscene Records) [Paul H]
Quite simply, this is a blisteringly excellent release. Intense and bursting with ferocity, this is death metal performed the old way. From the days of tape trading and when the scene was erupting with new talent. Having returned in 2014, Blasphemer have become a band that quite rightly are talked about with deep reverence. Lust Of The Goat opens the album, four and a half minutes of chainsaw guitars, demonic growling and abusive drumming.
It’s tight, powerful and massively effective. Arno Cagna and Mass Firth’s double fret assault adds to the hideously monstrous sound, with the solo work lacerating. There is no let up, with brutality the watchword here. Suicidal Execution, Command To Kill, The Scythe and the bludgeoning heavy Nazarene all flatten all in their path. It may have arrived late, but this is one of 2018’s most impressive releases. 9/10
Deus Mori: And From The Trenches Bore Darkness (Self Released) [Matt]
We've seen Manchester black metal horde Deus Mori tear up the stage with our own Agrona in Fuel this year and we will again at Winter Eradication on the 15th December. So it's with glee that this debut EP landed in my inbox, although this being black metal this is the only glee that is present. What we have here is punishing, furious black metal that hails Satan, with a sound that pairs explosive black metal and a hint of punk similar to America's Necrot. Opening with the spoken word piece And From The Trenches a spoken word piece that laments the existence of God from one man who has suffered the horrors of the first world war. As the piece ends a furious bluster of tremolo picking bursts out of the speakers with some delightful D.I.Y production making the EP sound like those early black metal masterpieces.
It's Enecate and Exigne that are the twin axes here they play destructive riffs for Dødsklokken to scream out his lungs over, he's got harsh but clean sounding vocal that's almost echoed but totally understandable (which is rare). On Uprising Kronis adds a bit of cowbell and it's the first opportunity to hear Skogen's basswork when the track slows down, the punk element barrels in on The Guilty Ones which flashes by with aggression while Gospel builds before exploding into None of the tracks are that long and it's rhythm that's the big winner here with lead breaks replacing any solos. The album is bookended by Epilogue a wartime tune played in the distance, augmented by blowing winds and crackling fires of battle lost. And From The Trenches Bore Darkness is a killer debut EP that hints at great things to come for the Mancunian band, come down to Cardiff on the 15th and see them in full flight. 8/10
Deus Mori: And From The Trenches Bore Darkness (Self Released) [Matt]
We've seen Manchester black metal horde Deus Mori tear up the stage with our own Agrona in Fuel this year and we will again at Winter Eradication on the 15th December. So it's with glee that this debut EP landed in my inbox, although this being black metal this is the only glee that is present. What we have here is punishing, furious black metal that hails Satan, with a sound that pairs explosive black metal and a hint of punk similar to America's Necrot. Opening with the spoken word piece And From The Trenches a spoken word piece that laments the existence of God from one man who has suffered the horrors of the first world war. As the piece ends a furious bluster of tremolo picking bursts out of the speakers with some delightful D.I.Y production making the EP sound like those early black metal masterpieces.
It's Enecate and Exigne that are the twin axes here they play destructive riffs for Dødsklokken to scream out his lungs over, he's got harsh but clean sounding vocal that's almost echoed but totally understandable (which is rare). On Uprising Kronis adds a bit of cowbell and it's the first opportunity to hear Skogen's basswork when the track slows down, the punk element barrels in on The Guilty Ones which flashes by with aggression while Gospel builds before exploding into None of the tracks are that long and it's rhythm that's the big winner here with lead breaks replacing any solos. The album is bookended by Epilogue a wartime tune played in the distance, augmented by blowing winds and crackling fires of battle lost. And From The Trenches Bore Darkness is a killer debut EP that hints at great things to come for the Mancunian band, come down to Cardiff on the 15th and see them in full flight. 8/10