Rage Of Light: Imploder (Napalm Records)
It’s a bit of a surprise when the clean, operatic vocals kick in after a heavy intro that sounds like it’ll give way to straight growling in this album’s first song, Enraged. Now, the growls do come in before too long, creating some striking harmonies and flawless contrast with the cleans. The rest of the albums juggles and blends the two vocal styles, and those alone would be enough to pay attention to. But as awesome as they are, it’d be a shame to hear this record just for the vocals. There’s some incredible guitar and drum work building the songs, and even some electronic elements that don’t distract, but also add to the busy songs. Rage Of Light do a fine job blending heavy with melodic, yielding impressive results in this record. 8/10
Joe Stump: Symphonic Onslaught (Lion Music)
Let’s just start by saying this album has an appropriate title. It lives up to its namesake. Yep, Joe Stump’s Symphonic Onslaught is, well… a symphonic onslaught. Centred around neoclassical noodling, these tunes let the guitar stand front and centre, but aren’t basic enough to just be vehicles for the shredding. Speaking of the shredding, the shredding is killer. It’s killer on every track, but that’s kind of because it’s almost the same on every track. There’s nothing wrong with Stump’s formula here, except a bit of overuse. It starts to sound like one long song at some point in the record, and 11 songs is a lot when they’re all so similar. Breaking it up with a few different playing styles here and there would do the record justice, and be a better way to show off Stump’s chops. Nobody wants to be a one-trick pony. 7/10
Erja Lyytinen: Another World (Bluesland/Tuohi Records)
There’s a lot of highs and lows on Finnish singer Erja Lyytinen’s new record. Not in terms of quality, just in terms of emotionality. It’s a great record for what it is. It’s blues rock, but there are places where it goes in some surprisingly modern directions as well. There are a couple musical guests featured on some of the tracks, but it’s not like those are the only ones worth a listen—or even the best ones. If there’s a true standout track on this record, the pleasant Another World would take that title. All in all, the record is enjoyable. It should be a fan-pleaser, and maybe be enough to recruit a few new fans too, if there are any blues-rockers who are unfamiliar with Lyytinen. 7/10
Magic Circle: Departed Souls (20 Buck Spin)
Straight out of the 70s is this stoner-doom demonstration record, complete with warm tubey guitar sounds and Sabbath-meets-prog vocals. At the forefront of every song is the riffs that drive the tunes. There’s hardly a forgettable riff on the record, which is nice and refreshing to hear, as good riffs are a big part of what separates good doom from lame doom. Of course, the songs are all long too, with the exception of one short interlude. A couple pass the seven-minute mark, managing to do so without sounding like they’re just dragging on forever. It’s easy to get lost in the riffs on tunes like I’ve Found My Way To Die and Nightland. It’s hard to imagine any stoner metal or doom fans having complaints about this one. 7/10
It’s a bit of a surprise when the clean, operatic vocals kick in after a heavy intro that sounds like it’ll give way to straight growling in this album’s first song, Enraged. Now, the growls do come in before too long, creating some striking harmonies and flawless contrast with the cleans. The rest of the albums juggles and blends the two vocal styles, and those alone would be enough to pay attention to. But as awesome as they are, it’d be a shame to hear this record just for the vocals. There’s some incredible guitar and drum work building the songs, and even some electronic elements that don’t distract, but also add to the busy songs. Rage Of Light do a fine job blending heavy with melodic, yielding impressive results in this record. 8/10
Joe Stump: Symphonic Onslaught (Lion Music)
Let’s just start by saying this album has an appropriate title. It lives up to its namesake. Yep, Joe Stump’s Symphonic Onslaught is, well… a symphonic onslaught. Centred around neoclassical noodling, these tunes let the guitar stand front and centre, but aren’t basic enough to just be vehicles for the shredding. Speaking of the shredding, the shredding is killer. It’s killer on every track, but that’s kind of because it’s almost the same on every track. There’s nothing wrong with Stump’s formula here, except a bit of overuse. It starts to sound like one long song at some point in the record, and 11 songs is a lot when they’re all so similar. Breaking it up with a few different playing styles here and there would do the record justice, and be a better way to show off Stump’s chops. Nobody wants to be a one-trick pony. 7/10
Erja Lyytinen: Another World (Bluesland/Tuohi Records)
There’s a lot of highs and lows on Finnish singer Erja Lyytinen’s new record. Not in terms of quality, just in terms of emotionality. It’s a great record for what it is. It’s blues rock, but there are places where it goes in some surprisingly modern directions as well. There are a couple musical guests featured on some of the tracks, but it’s not like those are the only ones worth a listen—or even the best ones. If there’s a true standout track on this record, the pleasant Another World would take that title. All in all, the record is enjoyable. It should be a fan-pleaser, and maybe be enough to recruit a few new fans too, if there are any blues-rockers who are unfamiliar with Lyytinen. 7/10
Magic Circle: Departed Souls (20 Buck Spin)
Straight out of the 70s is this stoner-doom demonstration record, complete with warm tubey guitar sounds and Sabbath-meets-prog vocals. At the forefront of every song is the riffs that drive the tunes. There’s hardly a forgettable riff on the record, which is nice and refreshing to hear, as good riffs are a big part of what separates good doom from lame doom. Of course, the songs are all long too, with the exception of one short interlude. A couple pass the seven-minute mark, managing to do so without sounding like they’re just dragging on forever. It’s easy to get lost in the riffs on tunes like I’ve Found My Way To Die and Nightland. It’s hard to imagine any stoner metal or doom fans having complaints about this one. 7/10