Foetal Juice - Grotesque (Gorehouse Productions) [Charlie Rogers]
A band’s third record is often overlooked when fans weigh up the sum total of releases. Some will decry anything after the band’s initial terribly recorded demos as selling out, and others may only ever listen to a band via a compilation or “best of”.
With it only being their second album into their career, but also being their debut release on their new record label Inner Wound Recordings the band have done a lot of growing since then. For example on this release the band has collaborated with Francesco Ferrini of Fleshgod Apocalypse to provide a hand with the symphonic arrangements... and boy this has made a massive staple into their sound.
Care Of Night – Reconnected (Frontiers Music Srl) [Kira Hughes]
The latest release Reconnected from the Swedish AOR / Melodic rock band Care Of Night, the album holds 11 tracks that will blow you away!
A band’s third record is often overlooked when fans weigh up the sum total of releases. Some will decry anything after the band’s initial terribly recorded demos as selling out, and others may only ever listen to a band via a compilation or “best of”.
However, always ones to buck any trends thrust upon them, Manchester’s Foetal Juice have put together their strongest release so far. Building upon the momentum they jimmied up after 2020’s Gluttony, Grotesque is a smasher of heads, ears, teeth, and whatever else you have. 11 no-nonsense tracks of pure punishing death metal, blast beats and cavernous gutturals aplenty. Thankfully, there’s no samples or over the top guitar wankery in sight to distract you from the total carnage.
The album takes no prisoners and gives 0 fucks, delivering hard hitting riffs, insanely catchy groove, and no track overstaying it’s welcome. Lyrical themes vary within the realms of disgust, such as taking inspiration from the idea of two unappealing people getting it on, to drinking the fluids that seep out from decaying corpses, to straight up misanthropic violence. All burped up from savage frontman Derek Carley, who’s monstrous lows, shrill highs, and barking mid vocals blend together to conjure forth these sickening visions to torment your dreams.
The album takes no prisoners and gives 0 fucks, delivering hard hitting riffs, insanely catchy groove, and no track overstaying it’s welcome. Lyrical themes vary within the realms of disgust, such as taking inspiration from the idea of two unappealing people getting it on, to drinking the fluids that seep out from decaying corpses, to straight up misanthropic violence. All burped up from savage frontman Derek Carley, who’s monstrous lows, shrill highs, and barking mid vocals blend together to conjure forth these sickening visions to torment your dreams.
Ryan Whittaker’s guitar riffs bounce back and forth between sawwing discordant tremolo and frantic hooks that stick in your head. Lewis Bridges’ bass is given its own space to either back up the guitars’ madness, or ping around with really interesting counter melodies. Rob Harris’ relentless hammering on the drums ties it all together with furious energy, effortlessly encouraging you to bang your head along with the maelstrom of blastbeats and wild cymbal hits.
The mix is perfect too, with each instrument holding its own with absolute clarity - big points to the engineer here for allowing Lewis’ fantastic basslines space to breathe. Afterall, what’s the point in having interesting parts on a record when you can’t hear them?
Grotesque is a stonker of a record, completely worth your time and a strong contender for album of the year. Foetal Juice have made a rod for their own back now, having to try and top this with their next record, which I already look forward to. For now, another few listens to Grotesque will more than tide me over. 10/10
Mayfire - Cloudscapes & Silhouettes (ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records) [Matt Bladen]
Cinematic music always has a bit of hold on me, so a band such as Mayfield will always make me want to listen to them. On their latest album Cloudscapes & Silhouettes the have created an audio/visual world that is driven around a massive concept, musically inspired by Evergrey, Leprous, Tesseract and even bands such as 30 Seconds To Mars, combined with a love of filmmaking post-apocalyptic sci-fi especially, visually using the metaverse and VR to make accompanying visuals for this album.
Grotesque is a stonker of a record, completely worth your time and a strong contender for album of the year. Foetal Juice have made a rod for their own back now, having to try and top this with their next record, which I already look forward to. For now, another few listens to Grotesque will more than tide me over. 10/10
Mayfire - Cloudscapes & Silhouettes (ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records) [Matt Bladen]
Cinematic music always has a bit of hold on me, so a band such as Mayfield will always make me want to listen to them. On their latest album Cloudscapes & Silhouettes the have created an audio/visual world that is driven around a massive concept, musically inspired by Evergrey, Leprous, Tesseract and even bands such as 30 Seconds To Mars, combined with a love of filmmaking post-apocalyptic sci-fi especially, visually using the metaverse and VR to make accompanying visuals for this album.
The album features Baard Kolstad of Leprous on Shadows, doubling down on the influences I referenced earlier. The Fall sets the scene with a bubbling orchestral backing, swelling against the introductory spoken word, the first glimpses of melodic, introspective guitars (Evergrey) leading into first song proper City Of Ruins which adds a little System Of A Down in the pulsating synths against the lead guitars of Rex, then the chugging guitar of Locke and bass of Aiden again remind me of Tom S Englund's band of not so merry men.
Eros' drumming extremely dexterous on the title track. For me though all modern prog like this needs a great vocalist and in MJX Mayfire have a brilliant one. He carries the right amount of angst and power on Thicker Than Water adding some more aggressive notes on the grooving riffers such as A Sense Of Purpose. I found myself extremely impressed with this debut album from Mayfire. The exact kind of modern prog I like, filled with emotion and thematic changes, taking a more emotional rout with tracks such as Fearless. For fans of Evergrey, Leprous and Tesseract, Cloudscapes & Silhouettes is a superior debut. 9/10
Draconicon – Pestilence (Inner Wound Recordings) [Zak Skane]
Draconicon – Pestilence (Inner Wound Recordings) [Zak Skane]
With it only being their second album into their career, but also being their debut release on their new record label Inner Wound Recordings the band have done a lot of growing since then. For example on this release the band has collaborated with Francesco Ferrini of Fleshgod Apocalypse to provide a hand with the symphonic arrangements... and boy this has made a massive staple into their sound.
For example the many orchestral elements on this album such as the Tim Burtonesque elements of the opening track Twisted Reflection and Circus Of The Dead have gothic sounding cellos and percussion combined with swooning melody lines from woodwind instruments and pulsing string arrangements.
Drowned has epic cinematic moments with it’s booming percussion and eastern sounding choirs, which could sit perfectly in an Assassins Creed game and the moving piano and string sections of Under The Weight Of Your Sins will make you shed a tear.
If you think this is going to be an orchestral heavy album, fear not because guitarist Alex and Grym will provide some serious guitar work on songs such as the harmonised tremolo picked melodies of Thorns, the sweep picking of Pestilence and the Dream Theater inspired chops of Slumber Paralysis. There is some serious drum work on songs like Pestilence and Theatre Of Sorrow.
Finally we can’t talk about this album if don’t address the amazing vocal efforts of Arkanfel. From open track Twisted Reflections where the tales were sung with powerful cleans combined with harsh vocals to being emotionally moved by the sweet melodies of Under The Weight Of Your Sins. You can easily hold Arkanfel up with the greats.
Pestilence ticks all the right boxes for it being a worthy modern power metal album. Epic cinematic orchestras, check. Virtuoso level musician ship from the guitars rhythms sections, Check. Finally powerhouse level vocals, fucking check. This band has all the tools to flawlessly win over the power metal tribe. 7/10
Care Of Night – Reconnected (Frontiers Music Srl) [Kira Hughes]
The latest release Reconnected from the Swedish AOR / Melodic rock band Care Of Night, the album holds 11 tracks that will blow you away!
Immediately grabbing your attention Street Runner tells us a story alongside a bouncy bass and energetic guitar, which make this a great track to rock out and dance around too! The entirety of Reconnected gives us classic 80’s rock nostalgia using melodic tones, super catchy hooks, bold drums, and impactful guitar solos alongside phenomenal vocals.
The vocals are outstanding as they emphasise the emotion within each song incredibly, with songs such as Half Of My Heart. This track really stood out to me as a fan of Whitesnake and TOTO.
The intro to the penultimate track Stay With Me instantly reminds me of Cutting Crew (I Just) Died In Your Arms; with the use of a light-hearted keyboard, while the rest of the band hit heavy with classic 80’s tones, especially during the guitar solo!
The last track You’ve Been Right Here All Along is heart throbbing! A powerful, passionate and personal ballad, a love letter to hold on to until the next album.
I truly enjoyed every single track and recommend it to all! 10/10