Wolftooth: Valhalla (Ripple Music) [Paul Hutchings]
Veterans from the metal scene, Wolftooth champion stoner riff worship. The US Midwest outfit follow a trusted formula that combines the sound of The Sword’s early works with the stoner bounce of Kadavar and whilst their music isn’t ground breaking by any means, this sophomore album is full of groove soaked riffs which resonate in all the right places. There are plenty of blues drenched solos soaring over the base sound. There are driving powerful tracks such as The Coven and the deep dark hypnotic thrust of opening track The Possession, with echoes of the true metal of Grand Magus with its muscular riff, and which introduces the sonic vocals of Chris Sullivan who also cranks out some of the mean guitar on the album. Clean harmonies from drummer Johnny Harrod add nicely to the choruses. Elsewhere the bass of Terry McDaniel and guitarist Jeff Cole anchor everything solidly. Ten tracks, all grabbing that stoner metal feel. Valhalla has much to commend it to the listener with variation to balance the pounding music. 7/10
Louise Patricia Crane: Deep Blue (Peculiar Doll Records) [Matt Bladen]
Veterans from the metal scene, Wolftooth champion stoner riff worship. The US Midwest outfit follow a trusted formula that combines the sound of The Sword’s early works with the stoner bounce of Kadavar and whilst their music isn’t ground breaking by any means, this sophomore album is full of groove soaked riffs which resonate in all the right places. There are plenty of blues drenched solos soaring over the base sound. There are driving powerful tracks such as The Coven and the deep dark hypnotic thrust of opening track The Possession, with echoes of the true metal of Grand Magus with its muscular riff, and which introduces the sonic vocals of Chris Sullivan who also cranks out some of the mean guitar on the album. Clean harmonies from drummer Johnny Harrod add nicely to the choruses. Elsewhere the bass of Terry McDaniel and guitarist Jeff Cole anchor everything solidly. Ten tracks, all grabbing that stoner metal feel. Valhalla has much to commend it to the listener with variation to balance the pounding music. 7/10
Louise Patricia Crane: Deep Blue (Peculiar Doll Records) [Matt Bladen]
One look at the bewitching sepia cover of Deep Blue and you'll instantly be drawn into the world of Louise Patricia Crane, she has a mystical retro styling, with gothic overtones. This unique styling is reflected in her music, she is a singer/songwriter who knuckled down in Cambridge (a town with lots of prog/folk heritage) to write her debut album Deep Blue. The music here weaves the guitar-driven '70s prog/blues with 80's dream pop as she deals with literature, horror films, seductresses and dreams lyrically. There are nods to art rock innovators such as Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel along with clear Pink Floyd and Canterbury scene influences, in fact the album features a myriad of guests, all of whom are known in the prog/art rock world; one being bassist Danny Thompson who has played with both Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel and appears on the closing track The Eve Of The Hunter. Throughout the album Louise works with Jakko Jakszyk the vocalist/guitarist of King Crimson who not only lets loose with his beautiful guitar playing but also adds to the lush vocal harmonies. He makes his presence felt on the majority of these songs especially the ethereal transcendent opener Deity.
However this record is all about the Crane whose talent shines through composing these magical tunes brilliantly and having a smoky soulful vocal that takes you into her intoxicating anthems to feminism, witchcraft and the occult while her main players of drummer Simon Rippin and bass player Steve Mercy along with violinist Shir-Ran Yinon all add their own mark along with Crane's co-writer and producer Stephen Carey on guitar. Art rock is very difficult genre to get right however Crane has mastered it here deftly composing the songs for maximum instrumental prowess but also feel playing on your deepest emotions with the tribal Snake Oil, which along with the excellent Ophelia features Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) on flute, as Painted World brings Floydian guitar on top of Scott Reeder throbbing bass playing (very Mostly Autumn). Things never stay similar for too long much like in in the tradition of the untouchable Kate Bush or Peter Gabriel, experimentation is the name of the game here, the mournful title track featuring Crane's stunning vocals layered with piano and swelling strings. Deep Blue is a fabulous debut album from writer who uses a multitude of styles never settling for just one and harking back to the days when music was expression. Dive into the Deep Blue with Louise Patricia Crane. 9/10
However this record is all about the Crane whose talent shines through composing these magical tunes brilliantly and having a smoky soulful vocal that takes you into her intoxicating anthems to feminism, witchcraft and the occult while her main players of drummer Simon Rippin and bass player Steve Mercy along with violinist Shir-Ran Yinon all add their own mark along with Crane's co-writer and producer Stephen Carey on guitar. Art rock is very difficult genre to get right however Crane has mastered it here deftly composing the songs for maximum instrumental prowess but also feel playing on your deepest emotions with the tribal Snake Oil, which along with the excellent Ophelia features Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) on flute, as Painted World brings Floydian guitar on top of Scott Reeder throbbing bass playing (very Mostly Autumn). Things never stay similar for too long much like in in the tradition of the untouchable Kate Bush or Peter Gabriel, experimentation is the name of the game here, the mournful title track featuring Crane's stunning vocals layered with piano and swelling strings. Deep Blue is a fabulous debut album from writer who uses a multitude of styles never settling for just one and harking back to the days when music was expression. Dive into the Deep Blue with Louise Patricia Crane. 9/10
Solar Flare: Solar Flare (Self Release) [Paul Hutchings]
Styling yourself on 1980s metal is a balancing act that requires a fair amount of skill. Solar Flare’s aim is to blend the mix of European power with the flair of American speed and rock-out nature. The five piece who hail from Ohio have been together for six years. This is their debut album and there is a lot going on in the opening track Medieval. Utilizing the thick synths of guest keyboard player Peter Danielson, Solar Flare race away, the duel guitar work of Mark Greene and Garian Perry combining in true Iron Maiden style. Under The Sun follows, and the retro sound is fully ensconced with the effects on the vocals of singer Ethan Jackson, whose range throughout the album is impressive. Comparisons with the other air raid sirens in the business including Geoff Tate and Bruce Dickinson are a little premature but Jackson certainly possesses a range. Under The Sun is a bit dull, the routine plod lacking urgency or excitement. Shortest track Born To Burn suggests promise with a driving riff but Jackson’s performance struggles, his tone variable and the scream at the start is blood curdling for all the wrong reasons.
Midway point and the seven-minute Pharaoh appears. Opening with an Egyptian flavoured riff and some interesting effects, Pharaoh suggests better things to come but I’m afraid it really is a bit mundane by here. Struggling with Jackson’s wailing pitch, which is high throughout, the song is crying out for variation, but it simply gets worse. The musicianship is competent and solid, with the battery drumming of Jordan Cavalaris holding things tight. Disappointingly, Nous Sommes is no better and although the band do finish with a reasonable duo in Taken To The Other Side and the longest track on the album, World In My Head. Whilst Jackson is classically trained, his constant high pitch is a real challenge to listen to and detracts from the playing at time. I suppose the biggest compliment I can give Solar Flare is that if they were playing at a festival, I’d give them more than one song. Apart from that, there’s not masses to get excited about here. 4/10
WarlocK A.D: Rise EP (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
Let's get just this out of the way shall we? WarlocK A.D are a comedy metal band from Stoke-On-Trent, yes that's right comedy metal, that often ridiculed genre favoured mainly by extreme metal acts such as Raised By Owls. WarlocK A.D however have a classic metal sound and songs that, and I quote "no matter how taboo or macabre with one plan - Live, Laugh, Love". So what do we get 5 songs four of which have awful titles such as Scratch N Sniff and Balls First while they get worse with Geralt Of Labia and Expecto My Patronum along with members that go under pseudonyms and contribute not only instrument/vocals but are also known as sexual tension, little bitch, pervert, being long and meth.
So far so meh, a band trying to be overly 'humorous" by shock tactics and lots of crude jokes. Already I'm jumping to conclusions and that's without the band playing a single note, so the music, well it's a very poorly produced classic sounding metal, imagine a really self aware but Manowar but they record their songs in a public toilet with vocals that annoy and riffs that sound at times like they've been stolen from any 80's metal band you can think of. It's poorly recorded, desperately unfunny and tries far too hard, there are probably people who love it, I am not one of those people. Do yourself a favour and listen to the real Warlock (Doro Pesch's band) instead. 2/10
Styling yourself on 1980s metal is a balancing act that requires a fair amount of skill. Solar Flare’s aim is to blend the mix of European power with the flair of American speed and rock-out nature. The five piece who hail from Ohio have been together for six years. This is their debut album and there is a lot going on in the opening track Medieval. Utilizing the thick synths of guest keyboard player Peter Danielson, Solar Flare race away, the duel guitar work of Mark Greene and Garian Perry combining in true Iron Maiden style. Under The Sun follows, and the retro sound is fully ensconced with the effects on the vocals of singer Ethan Jackson, whose range throughout the album is impressive. Comparisons with the other air raid sirens in the business including Geoff Tate and Bruce Dickinson are a little premature but Jackson certainly possesses a range. Under The Sun is a bit dull, the routine plod lacking urgency or excitement. Shortest track Born To Burn suggests promise with a driving riff but Jackson’s performance struggles, his tone variable and the scream at the start is blood curdling for all the wrong reasons.
Midway point and the seven-minute Pharaoh appears. Opening with an Egyptian flavoured riff and some interesting effects, Pharaoh suggests better things to come but I’m afraid it really is a bit mundane by here. Struggling with Jackson’s wailing pitch, which is high throughout, the song is crying out for variation, but it simply gets worse. The musicianship is competent and solid, with the battery drumming of Jordan Cavalaris holding things tight. Disappointingly, Nous Sommes is no better and although the band do finish with a reasonable duo in Taken To The Other Side and the longest track on the album, World In My Head. Whilst Jackson is classically trained, his constant high pitch is a real challenge to listen to and detracts from the playing at time. I suppose the biggest compliment I can give Solar Flare is that if they were playing at a festival, I’d give them more than one song. Apart from that, there’s not masses to get excited about here. 4/10
WarlocK A.D: Rise EP (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
Let's get just this out of the way shall we? WarlocK A.D are a comedy metal band from Stoke-On-Trent, yes that's right comedy metal, that often ridiculed genre favoured mainly by extreme metal acts such as Raised By Owls. WarlocK A.D however have a classic metal sound and songs that, and I quote "no matter how taboo or macabre with one plan - Live, Laugh, Love". So what do we get 5 songs four of which have awful titles such as Scratch N Sniff and Balls First while they get worse with Geralt Of Labia and Expecto My Patronum along with members that go under pseudonyms and contribute not only instrument/vocals but are also known as sexual tension, little bitch, pervert, being long and meth.
So far so meh, a band trying to be overly 'humorous" by shock tactics and lots of crude jokes. Already I'm jumping to conclusions and that's without the band playing a single note, so the music, well it's a very poorly produced classic sounding metal, imagine a really self aware but Manowar but they record their songs in a public toilet with vocals that annoy and riffs that sound at times like they've been stolen from any 80's metal band you can think of. It's poorly recorded, desperately unfunny and tries far too hard, there are probably people who love it, I am not one of those people. Do yourself a favour and listen to the real Warlock (Doro Pesch's band) instead. 2/10