Arrayan Path: Archegonoi (Pitch Black Records)
Move over Sabaton, Arrayan Path are going to be dealing with the classic Hellenic myths from now on. This double disc collection, the seventh full length from Cyprus is based around the Greek myths and characters that many of you may have heard of such as Hydra, Menelaus, The Lion Of Amphipolis, Pandora and of course the Spartans at Thermoplyae. Over blown and epic Arrayan Path take the Sabaton lyrical approach but with the music it's pure Rhapsody/Manowar theatrical symphonic metal from the opening moments as they recount these myths in their ott glory using traditional instruments as well as the de-rigueur guitar, bass, drums, keys.
Move over Sabaton, Arrayan Path are going to be dealing with the classic Hellenic myths from now on. This double disc collection, the seventh full length from Cyprus is based around the Greek myths and characters that many of you may have heard of such as Hydra, Menelaus, The Lion Of Amphipolis, Pandora and of course the Spartans at Thermoplyae. Over blown and epic Arrayan Path take the Sabaton lyrical approach but with the music it's pure Rhapsody/Manowar theatrical symphonic metal from the opening moments as they recount these myths in their ott glory using traditional instruments as well as the de-rigueur guitar, bass, drums, keys.
If you're not the biggest fan of symphonic heavy metal then I'd say it's best to stay clear of this record as I've said it is a double album at a whopping 14 songs meaning that for some it maybe too much. Me on the other hand I love something a little bit overly silly and I've got a classics degree so I did have a big goofy grin on my face for the overblown Seven Against Thebes or the heavy Sins Of Pandora and did find myself throwing the occasional fist and singing along by the second listen. Like I said it is an epic record both musically and in it's run time but for anyone brought up on Manowar, Rhapsody et al, then this should be on your New Year buying list. 8/10
Minus One: Red, Black, White (Mighty Music)
Cypriot alternative rock band, represented Cyprus at Eurovision. This is their debut album and it's a real mix of sounds two of the tracks the opener, The Greatest and Girl sound exactly like Shinedown from the fist pumping electronic rhythms to the vocals, the similarity is uncanny. But then you get plenty of different sounds with some swaggering hard rock on How Does It Feel which has some brass to really make it like an Extreme track and the title track is riddled with electronic buzz before Psycho 5 brings industrially tinged pop.
On these four songs alone you get the feeling Minus One are very broad church when it comes to influence they seem to be able to turn their hand to most styles due to the versatility of frontman, who's vocals are simply stunning throughout. The band aren't to shabby either mind you from the moody multi-layered approach of Nothing For Nothing, the bloozy acoustics of The Other Side Of Mind, the screaming solo in Girl, they're even a dab hand at a cover closing the album out with You Don't Own Me which is a brilliant duet version of this classic. It's unashamedly upbeat as you'd probably guess from a band that have competed in Eurovision but unlike fellow rockers Lordi there seems to be more than one string to their bow which makes this album an enjoyable listen. 8/10
Minus One: Red, Black, White (Mighty Music)
Cypriot alternative rock band, represented Cyprus at Eurovision. This is their debut album and it's a real mix of sounds two of the tracks the opener, The Greatest and Girl sound exactly like Shinedown from the fist pumping electronic rhythms to the vocals, the similarity is uncanny. But then you get plenty of different sounds with some swaggering hard rock on How Does It Feel which has some brass to really make it like an Extreme track and the title track is riddled with electronic buzz before Psycho 5 brings industrially tinged pop.
Minorfase: 5 Symptoms Of Spiritual Awakening (Self Released)
Greeks like stoner rock, that's a fact so it's always worth listening to a a band from the region that plays distorted riffs in homage to the finest green. Minorfase is one such band, NOLA sounding riffs and a powerful rhythm section mean that Moneymaker immediately brings to mind COC as frontman has that Pepper Keenan drawl, a few numbers get a psychedelic sprawl but most are are more to the point with some grunting heavy metal that gives way to reverebed soloing. At just 6 tracks this second album makes its point in the most direct way possible giving you what you need from this style of music right away without any of the other bullshit. The might be Minorfase but it's a major win for this album. 7/10
Automaton: Talos (Sound Effect Records)
Much like the usually metallic giants they take their band name from Automaton lumber, lurch and crush anything and everything in their path with a unflinching inhumanity. This is sludge driven doom metal it's nastiest, heavily distorted guitars, punishing bass and drums with the occasional anguished vocal outbursts to break the monotony of the aural assault that's pumping through your speakers. With 7 tracks on this album each one is and elongated drawn out number that occasionally shows flair with a whiff of the cinematic but it's ear bleedingly loud doom metal for the most part with Electric Wizard a natural comparison. This is the kind of Automaton Sabbath were warning us about on Iron Man a disconcerting entity that lays waste to all without fear. 7/10
Greeks like stoner rock, that's a fact so it's always worth listening to a a band from the region that plays distorted riffs in homage to the finest green. Minorfase is one such band, NOLA sounding riffs and a powerful rhythm section mean that Moneymaker immediately brings to mind COC as frontman has that Pepper Keenan drawl, a few numbers get a psychedelic sprawl but most are are more to the point with some grunting heavy metal that gives way to reverebed soloing. At just 6 tracks this second album makes its point in the most direct way possible giving you what you need from this style of music right away without any of the other bullshit. The might be Minorfase but it's a major win for this album. 7/10
Automaton: Talos (Sound Effect Records)
Much like the usually metallic giants they take their band name from Automaton lumber, lurch and crush anything and everything in their path with a unflinching inhumanity. This is sludge driven doom metal it's nastiest, heavily distorted guitars, punishing bass and drums with the occasional anguished vocal outbursts to break the monotony of the aural assault that's pumping through your speakers. With 7 tracks on this album each one is and elongated drawn out number that occasionally shows flair with a whiff of the cinematic but it's ear bleedingly loud doom metal for the most part with Electric Wizard a natural comparison. This is the kind of Automaton Sabbath were warning us about on Iron Man a disconcerting entity that lays waste to all without fear. 7/10