Thursday 14 June 2012

Sabaton announce UK tour

So Sabaton where just 'trolling' us when they left us out of their tour. Swedish Empire tour UK:


Gig: Sabaton Glasgow Garage 4 Nov

Source: http://www.kililive.com/?s=sabaton
Swedish Empire tour: http://www.sabaton.net/tour-2/

 Excited? I know I am! Sabaton are one of the best live bands around...

Monday 11 June 2012

Firebirth by Gotthard First Impressions


First Impression is where I quickly review an album as I listen to it for the first time, so lets crack on with Gotthard's new album 'Firebirth' but first let me set the scene. With the loss of their distinctive and somewhat awesome lead singer Steve Lee in a tragic accident, people questioned what was going to happen to Gotthard a long running band still in their prime. They decided to continue with the new singer Nic Maeder and released 'Remember it's Me' a song that was very well received, their latest single off the album 'Starlight' seemed to me to received with mixed response, particularly in the metal community, so what will their latest album be like? A new sound? Can Nic live up to Steve a so renowned singer?
The album opens with Starlight, a song heavily criticized by the metal community, perhaps due to Gotthard's current label being the stereotypically heavily Nuclear Blast. The song has a Nickle back feel to it, which personally is no bad thing for me. Its not metal but its a good light hearted song that rather catchy, I like it myself!

Then we hit 'Give Me Real' its instantly recognizable as a Gotthard but a more classic Gotthard sound opposed to the later Steve Lee albums. Its not a stand out song but its very satisfactory, its the kind of song that you would feel very contented with if it came up on shuffle but you probably wouldn't pick it.

'Remember its me' a simply brilliant and moving song. One of the stand out songs of last year when it was released. Enough said a great song.

Now we hit a heavier song, 'Fight', again there is no mistaking it's Gotthard. Fight is a pretty good song, easily over a 6/10 but not above a 9/10 'Fight' lacks a special something, a kick to make it a great song but its not disappointing at all. Really grows on you.

'Yippie Aye Yay', Yea yea yippie aye yay! Up beat, rocky and thoroughly enjoyable! 'Lift u Up' kind of feel to it. Strange robotic sound effect in the back ground gives it an interesting feel. All round a strong song.

'Tell me' is a ballad, not a power ballad, just a ballad but a bloody good ballad. This song could easily have been messed up but its well executed.  I really like this one, its also not too long! Well done to Gotthard.

We now leave the ballad behind to 'Shine'.. and shine indeed a great song, a great Gotthard song. That rock sound with a dabble of heavy, catchy reconcilable. Good.

'The Story's Over' well its not at track 8/13 but regardless of that the 'The Story's Over' is hard to fault. Its probably the heaviest song on the album, its once again a good metal song. Nick's voice lacks the punch that a strong metal singer could bring to this but its doesn't feel lacking.

'Right on', Right, I'm writing this as I listen and I retract my previous statement, 'Right On' is a lot heavier than 'The Story's Over'. 'Right On' is a Metal song, its nailed superbly, Nic's vocals are prefect here. Perhaps to appeased some of the doubters they should have released this song. Very good.

'S.O.S' is not a plea for help its the album maintaining the stand it seems to be picking up, 'S.O.S' remains heavy. Again a very Gotthard sounding song, 'S.O.S' is great! Strong drumming, good guitar solo in the middle, , Nick once again does a good job.

'Take it all back' is less heavily that the previous few, returning to a more ballad theme, again its not a knock out song but its a good song. I can't really say more.

'I Can' remains fairly heavy, it shakes off the ballad song of 'Take it all back', its a much faster song. I really want to love this song and perhaps 'I can'  in time. Its a strong song, catchy if not very simplistic chorus of you guessed it 'I can, I can.. I can'.

'Where are you' another Gotthard ballad, this time a standard gotthard rock ballad. This kind of song is what they would have recorded with Steve and he would have nailed it but equally so does Nic, there's a lot of similarity in their voices on songs like this. It quiet slow but thats not bad, very likeable.

So thats it, all reviewed. First thoughts, this is a good album! Like a phoenix Gotthard have had their  'Firebrith' this is still very much Gotthard but it reminds me of their earlier works. Nic lacks the punch that Steve had and watching live videos he can struggle with some of the classics, particularly the heavy ones, but his voice has advantages and he doesn't feel at all out of place or lacking on the album. I think I'd call this a Rock album not a Metal album but Gotthard have always boarded Metal and Hard Rock, if your a Gotthard fan I find no reason why you won't love this album. To the causal or fan of their later works you might not so much.

Firebirth is a good album, its not expectational but its hard to fault, I like it a lot. Upon finishing it all I recon 7.5/10 is fair, perhaps 7 but certainly not bad! They don't feel lacking without Steve, rest his soul, I certainly think they deserve to carry on! I look forward to more, although perhaps they should let Nic sing his songs live rather than force out sub standard classic? Or is that too harsh. Please comment away!

A Good album - 7.5/10

Thursday 31 May 2012

We Are The Others by Delain

I've been looking forward to this album for a long time. Charlotte Wessels is my favorite female vocalist, such a character with a breath taking voice. Martjin Westerholt writing skills flourish in Delain when combined with Charlotte, although apparently all the band had an input in this album. 
Delain's first album saw hauntingly beautiful songs with many singers but Charlotte taking the lead using her voice to devastating effect (listen to Sleep Walkers Dream if you don't believe me), then April Rail saw the band forming properly to pump out this metal album with a more power metal feel. Charlotte switched on what I shall call her 'Diva' voice for April Rain but we know she can also this sort of thing: THIS! Talent which may I add you won't find in most mainstream music, so I was praying for a combination of the two!
Does 'We are the Others' live up to what I hoped? Yes, pretty much. Its a great work, credit goes to all the band! Here's a break down of my thoughts on the songs:

01 Mother Machine ----- 9/10 
      Starting strong, Mother machine has a fantastic intro (reminds me of 'Age of Shadows' by Aryeon) very industrial, this song opens how the album continues. The modern Delain feel of rocky rifts with Charlotte hitting you with her powerful 'diva' voice switched on, yet there's that eery Lucidity feel in the back ground breaking through at times.

02 Electricity ----- 8/10 
      Very listenable, great live, electricity is just a good metal song. I love the piano work at the end.

03 We are the Others ----- 10/10
      I think in an interview Charlotte called this an 'anthem', thats how I see it. Its a song I feel instantly in love with, its a rallying call for people to break the norm if they want, dedicated as the album is to Sophie Lancaster who was murdered for dressing as the Goth (fairly close to where live in the country). Its so catchy and strong! One of those metal anthems!

04 Milk and Honey ----- 7.5/10
      The guitar work in Milk and Honey is may favorite part, it has a metal prog (see Guilt Machine etc) sound I feel. There's nothing wrong with the lyrics or vocals but I don't feel this song works as well as some of the others on the album, still good mind. 

05 Hit Me With Your Best Shot ----- 7.5/10
      Like Milk and Honey there's nothing wrong with this song, I like it, but I find it's weaker compared to the rest of the album. There's a lot going in this song, it ends strong but just lacks something some of the other songs on this album have. 

06 I Want You ----- 7.5/10
      A hot dark love song about somebody in love with someone they can't have so they run them over with their car.... I don't have more to add really.

07 Where is the Blood ----- 10/10
      Where is the blood powers in at track 7 to pull the album back up from a good album to a fantastic one! An incredibly powerful duet between Charlotte and Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory). There's only really one word to describe this song: Strong.

08 Generation Me ----- 8.5/10
      A very 'Delain' song, Charlotte as always using her voice to add that character that makes a good metal song into a great one! About people posting themselves to facebook etc it has a catchy sound like most of this album.

09  Babylon  ----- 8/10
      Its another metal song about Babylon, I swear I could make at least a double CD compilation of  metal songs about Babylon! About a lost (in babylon) relationship falling apart, a common Delain theme. For come reason any chorus that contains the word Babylon sounds slightly better, there's something 'cool' about Charlotte belting out 'Lost in Babylon!'

10 Are you done with me ----- 8.5/10 
      One of my favourites on the album, fantastic sound with Charlotte showing off the high end of her voice something slightly lacking on the rest of the album. Not quiet a 9/10 but over an 8.

11 Get the Devil out of me  ----- 9.5/10 
    Very catchy, very rocky, Charlotte nails the vocals and there's not much left to fault... perhaps that it's too short? 

12 Not Enough ----- 8/10
      A hauntingly beautiful song, perfect end to the album. 



Over all ---- 9/10
A very good album, surpasses April Rain but it still doesn't feel like the best they can do. My only real issue with this album is that I was hoping for a little bit more of that Lucidity feel, although there's certainly more of that haunting vocal and symphonic effect than April Rain. Of course there's a reason for this, Lucidity was a musical project while the Delain we see now is a proper band, a live band at that. Delain blew me away live and I feel that these songs have been written with that in mind, there's less technical sound and vocals on this than Lucid because Lucid wasn't really built for live and this album certainly is!
Personally this is a must buy (but get the special edition with The Gathering on it, as that song is just perfect). I think people will take different favorite songs off this album and it makes good listening, doesn't bore you. It's their best album to date but it's not a 10/10. Save that 10/10 for a later album perhaps? I'm sure Delain have a good few albums left in them, Thank god.  

Interview and album stream here: http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/music_and_videos/music-delain-stream-their-new-album-in-its-entirety/