Thursday 28 March 2013

TEN reasons to listen to 'Nexus Polaris'

Funnily enough, the 1998 album by The Kovenant consists of ten songs. I am going to give you ten more reasons why you should listen to this creation of art!

1. The album is created by a bunch of talented musicians. We have Nagash (The Kovenant) on vocals/bass, Blackheart(The Kovenant) on guitar, Astennu (Dimmu Borgir) on guitar, Sverd (Arcturus) on keyboard, Sarah Jezebel Deva (Cradle of Filth) on vocals, Hellhammer(Mayhem) on drums. No wonder this album is so amazing.

 2. All the songs has a beautiful melodic(symphonic) sound. The album includes a lot of piano, synth and violins. And choir/opera song, which creates an epic atmosphere (in your head, while listening). I can imagine falling asleep while listening to this album would be some experience. Oh the dreams you'd have then...

3. The lyrics are well written, and brings you through some epic stories. 

4. The vocals are cool and different. Together with the opera/choir, it creates a big contrast in the music. While Nagash' vocals are rough and raw, Deva's vocals are softer and "prettier".

5. The album has won the title Best Hard Rock band at the Norwegian grammy's(1998). This is the first time in history this prize has been won. That's a damn good reason why you should listen to this album.

Awesome album art! The album came out before they changed their name to "The Kovenant".
6. When the re-release of the album came out in 2002, the songs where exactly the same as the 1998 recordings. Why? Because they are fucking awesome, they didn't need to be re-recorded.

7. Chariots of Thunder. Need I say more? THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST METAL SONGS EVER MADE, NO SHIT! The opening of the song includes an amazing, catchy guitar riff on top of an incredibly cool drum beat. Then comes the song of Deva. Her singing on this track is really what completes this song! After listening to this song, you'll be going around singing "ah, ah, ah, ah" (like she does) for days. Trust me, have a listen to it, and you'll figure out what I mean.

8. This album is considered The Kovenant's best album (the majority of the fans seem to think so anyway). That must be reason enough to check it out.

9. I can't think of any other bands that had a sound like this at the time the album came out (can you?). Which means this album is a revolution to the history of metal (the history of music, even).

10. While the album all in all sounds quite serious, the artists show that you are allowed to have some fun with the music as well. Just listen to the last track "New World Order". It is so funny. All the instruments are played in a funny way(a happy beat, and happy chords). The lyrics/vocals are also very funny. Honestly, the song makes me want to get on my feet and bounce around. But I have to say; listen to the original one, not the re-release.

I was one of the lucky few who got to see the band perform THE WHOLE ALBUM (Nexus Polaris) live! This was a special tour, which I don't think they've done before/since. This took place at the Inferno festival in Oslo(2010).

With that I will link you to the album on Spotify, that way you can listen to the WHOLE album. If you don't have spotify, get it now! (Or buy the album).

Monday 25 March 2013

Anders Fridén - 24 Years of Awesome Music

As a tribute to Anders Fridén's 40th birthday today, I thought I write a bit about him and what he's been doing. First of all, happy birthday Anders. It must be amazing to think about that you've been creating mind blowing music for over half your life?

Anders has been active within the music industry since 1989. He started out as the vocalist for Dark Tranquillity (based in Gothenburg). You can hear him on the first album Skydancer. Check out the song "Crimson Winds". This is how the earliest melodic death sounded like. Incredible how it started! (You could say it started with three bands: At the Gates, Dark Tranquillity and In Flames. They are the source of melodic death metal, or Gothenburg metal as it is also called). Fridén joined In Flames soon after he left Dark Tranquillity, which is the band he is most famous for. His first appearence was on In Flames' second album The Jester Race. Have a listen to the title track, it is amazing! The sound on this album had in many ways changed since the first album Lunar Strain, but they still stayed true to the Gothenburg sound!

After this, the band went along to become one of the most successful metal bands in Sweden's history. Metal fans all over the world wanted to buy their music and see them perform live. In 2001 their only live album "Tokyo Showdown" came out. It was a sensation, becuase not only had they recorded their first ever live album, but it was also recorded in Japan! People all over the world could now experience the live magic In Flames created, back home in their own living room(or wherever you may choose to listen to In Flames).

Anders is a really great live act. He knows his audience well, and has a relationship with his fans like no other artist. When you see In Flames live, it is difficult not feel like you're getting a special bond with him! He speaks to you through his lyrics! But you also connect with him when he talks to you either in person on between songs on stage (at least that's the way I feel). 

Anders Fridén live on stage!

The first song I ever heard of In Flames was "Trigger". I remember thinking that this music was something I'd never heard before. Not long after, I was hooked. I started buying their albums and checking out everything from Lunar Strain to their newer albums (at that time the newest album was Come Clarity). In Flames was my favourite band in the whole world. And they still are one of my favourites! Whenever I listen to "Trigger", it brings me back to that first time I listened to it! I love that song!

I know there's been some discussion about their albums after Come Clarity (A Sense of Purpose and Sounds of a Playground Fading). But honestly, I don't really care. Their new music will never change how I feel about their old music. And also, what is a band if they never change and never develop? On that note, I will end this post. Make sure you check out In Flames and Dark Tranquillity (and his other prjoect Passenger).

Me with Anders Fridén and Daniel Svensson. (November 2009)

Sunday 24 March 2013

Band of the Week - Eisbrecher

Ich dachte, es wäre angebracht auf Deutsch zu schreiben, weil Eisbrecher ist eine deutsche Band... Just kidding. Yes, this is a very German band, playing a very German genre called "Neue Deutsche Härte"(new German hardness), which basically is industrial/elecronic metal. The reason why I say "very German", is because I feel only the Germans can get this sound right. Yes, you have bands from other countries which have tried to do a similar thing, but it isn't quite the same as the German sound. It is a bit the same as with Norwegian black metal or Swedish(Gothenburg) melodic death metal. 

Eisbrecher has been around since 2003, and they have made in total five albums in that period of time. My all time favourite is the second album "Antikörper"(2006). Yes, they play the same genre as Rammstein, but Eisbrecher is a bit more meoldic than Rammstein. The synth and electronic parts play a much bigger role in Eisbrecher's music than in Rammstein's music. However, what is similar is that the guitar riffs are quite simple, and recorded with a heavy tone. The vocals are very deep and they sing in German (of course). The vocals are a bit more distorted, and therefore it sounds a bit more metallic (industrial metal, you say?). 

I can definitely hear the inspiration from bands like KMFDM and Rammstein, but they have managed to find their own path. Take for example the song "Leider"(Antikörper, 2006) It starts off with a cool piece of percussion, and I can't help but tapping my foot to it. The vocals are pretty straight forward, but what I love is when the guitar riffs kicks in(yes, it is as if it's "kicking"). And with the synth, it sounds like you're in a haunted house. I'm sure we're supposed to feel that way. Maybe that's how the main character in the song feels like inside his head.

I love the lyrics, I think they are very well written, simple and straight forward. They are quite easy to understand. For those of you who know German, you might have the same impression as me... The lyrics make me think about being in pain, or a need to feel. As the chorus suggests, the main character feels very sorry for himself and therefore feels like he has to hurt himself. This person is clearly not in control of his own thoughts, because he feels he have to hurt himself all the time. He seems like a very vunerable person. "Ich muss, ich muss mir wieder weh tun. Ich tu mir leid, so leid. Ich muss mir wieder weh tun, weil nur der Schmertz mich heilt" (I must, I must hurt myself again. I'm sorry for myself, so sorry. I must hurt myself again, because only pain heals me). Whether the song refers to actual physical harm or mental harm, is something you will have to decide for yourself. The lyrics definitely match the sadistic image industrial German bands tend to have. 

Another song you might want to check out from the same album is "Ohne Dich". It is one of the most beautiful love songs I've ever heard. It is beautiful and raw, so sincere! "Gothkiller"(Eiszeit, 2010) is a bit different to their other songs. First of all it's in English, and secondly it is a bit more pop than the other songs. But what I do love about this song is the guitar solo! 

...This is only me mentioning a few songs I like, do make sure you check out their other music too!

Tuesday 19 March 2013

Band of the Week - Gojira

It may not come as a surprise that the week I'm seeing them live, they are one of my most listened to. Gojira is a French progressive death metal band, which is as heavy as it gets. They take the word "heavy" to a new level. They have a unique technical skill that I've never seen before. I will even go as far to say they've created a musical style many other bands crave to understand and wish they could use themselves. Some bands use Gojira as an inspiration to their own music, which is fine, but they will never quite get to where "Godzilla" is today.

The emphasis might be on the heavy riffs Gojira creates, but one must not forget the beautiful melodic parts they include in most of their songs. Take for instance the song "The Gift of Guilt" from their newest album "L'Enfant Sauvage". The opening riff is amazing, loaded with feeling. It echoes throughout the whole song, and I can't help but think what went through their heads as they wrote this song. It makes me think of longing for something, and the desperation you might feel from this. As the title suggests, the song is about guilt. I can picture this music ringing in my ears whenever I feel gulty. It is a feeling I believe many of their listeners will have found in themselves at one point in their life. Incredible that a band can recreate a feeling like that, just by playing their instruments.
L'Enfant Sauvage. Picture taken of the head used on stage on the Jägermeister Music Tour.
 "Esoteric Surgery"(The Way of All Flesh). Need I say more? Try listening to this song and tell me you don't love this band. The drums are so powerful and awesome. Some drummers will have a thing or two to learn from this guy(Mario Duplantier). He knows drums! Yes, the rest of the song is mind blowing as well, but had it not been for this perfectly created piece of percussion, this song would've been nothing. This song always gives me a big lump in my throat, which I struggle to swallow. You know that lump that makes it impossible to speak, that makes  you want to cry or scream. But all you can do is sit still, listen to the music, and take it all in.

Speaking of heavy. VACUITY. This song is on the same album as Esoteric Surgery, and I believe these songs compliment each other. On one hand you have the faster song, where the focus lays on the drums. On the other hand you have this slow, heavy piece. I can't help but to nod my head to this track, and when seeing this song live, I woulcn't be able to hold back the rage it creates inside me.

I could continue writing about their other songs as well. For example how insanely awesome "From the Sky" (From Mars to Sirius) is, but unfortunately this entry would end up being way to long. If you have never listenend to Gojira before, check out the songs I have mentioned here. If you are an experienced Gojira listener, please leave a comment with your favourite songs and let me know what you believe makes those songs awesome.

Here's a full concert from Graspop Metal Meeting 2012. Check it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw4BH6UFaCw



Jägermeister Music Tour

Yesterday I went down to the O2 Academy in Sheffield to enjoy some good music. It's been a while since I've been to a metal concert, so it's good to fresh up my memory on how it's really like.

The first band was The Defiled. Now, when they walked on I can't say I was very impressed. They looked like a cross between Ronnie Radke and Marilyn Manson. So what kind of music can you expect from that? The sound wasn't very good, which I suppose wasn't really their fault. It was way too heavy on the bass. The keyboard served no purpose what so ever, because you couldn't hear it. And The AvD (on keyboard) looked dead uncomfortable throughout the whole concert. To the musical part, I didn't really like the vocals. However, the instrumental part was alright from time to time. I did like the heavier riffs. And the last song they performed, "Call to Arms", was quite cool! 
The Defiled
The next band on is a band I would like to call the kings of heavy riffs. Gojira are truly amazing. They know how to deliver a show you just want to headbang the shit out of! And if you ever want to learn how to play drums, have a look at Mario Duplantier. He is one of the best drummers I know. And he kicked ass last night! Gojira played some songs from the new album L'Enfant Sauvage, like for instance the title track. But they also played some older stuff like "The Heaviest Matter of the Universe", which I suppose is a suitable title for one of the heaviest bands of the universe. One of the songs I enjoyed in paricular was "Oroborus" of "The Way of All Flesh". All in all, Gojira is an amazing band, both live and in the studio. If you ever get the chance to see them, do not pass on that opportunity!

Gojira.

The headliner's of the whole Jägermeister Music Tour were Swedish, Satan worshipping, Ghost. Before the concert started, the venue was filled with insence. It smelled like what I can imagine a medieval church would smell like. As you might expect, the concert was like a big sermon, like a sermon you've never seen before. An anti-christian sermon, I have to point out. The songs were all well performed, and Papa Emeritus II's voice was as mesmerizing as ever. They played five songs from their upcoming album "Infestissumam", which comes out in April. The new songs were truly amazing. As a big fan of the band, it made me very pleased to know that the next album will most likely be as big of a success as the previous album. Two of the new songs, "Secular Haze" and "Year Zero" have already been released. The other three were a preview of what to expect. Other songs they played were "Elizabeth" and "Con Clavi Con Dio" (to name a couple). The band is unique, and it is unlikely that you've seen anything like it before! Yes, it might remind you a bit of Mercyful Fate (King Diamond). Ghost's inspiration might come from the 70s and the 80s, but the music has its own sound and personality. Make sure you see them live!

Papa Emeritus II
The sermon.


Tuesday 12 March 2013

Nifrost

Nifrost is a folkloric black metal band from Jølster in Norway. The band was formed in 2005 by Eyvind Aardal, Kjetil Andreas Nydal and Tage Årdal. Jørn Ståle Norheim joined the band later on.

Unless you're not Norwegian, you might not understand a word of what I'm about to say in the next paragraph, but here we go...

All their songs are written in their own dialect called "jørstamål" . Which I think is incredible cool. I wish I could read the lyrics while listening, so I can only assume what the lyrics are about from the titles. And with it being a folkloric/black metal band, I'd guess it has some aspects of Norwegian nationalism to it.

The songs are genreally very catchy, and has a cool beat. The song "Ei Vinternatt" is the sort of song I can picture myself listening to while sitting on the grass with a beer in my hand (preferably at a festival like Hellfest). I really enjoy some of the heavier guitar riffs. The transition from a fast tempo to a slow, heavier tempo is always appreciated from my point of view. Some of the heavier riffs in for example Svigersvorne actually reminds me a bit of some of Gojira's heavier riffs.

The ending of Svigersvorne is very beautiful and raw. And this is one of the places where I can fully hear and understand the lyrics. This makes the song even more powerful than before. The contrast between the clean vocals and the instrumental part is tremendous.

I can definitely hear an influence from other Norwegian black metal (such as Taake) in their songs. If you're going to be influence by black metal bands, the Norwegian ones are definitely where you want to start. Norway is the land of black metal, no doubt. Glad to be able to recognise the country of origin just through the black side of the music. Of course, I can hear it in the folk as well (and the lyrics). But just as melodic death metal from Gothenburg has its own sound, Norwegian black metal has its own sound too.

Will you enjoy listening to this band as much as I did? Check them out on their website.

Sunday 10 March 2013

Band of the week - The 69 Eyes

I remember when I first started listening to The 69 Eyes. It must have been about six or seven years ago. My sister sort of indirectly introduced me to them. She used to listen to them all the time, but at first I thought it was two different bands... Let me explain.

The older 69 Eyes sounds completely different to the newer 69 Eyes. So when listening to it in the background without knowing who they are, you don't realise that all the songs are made by the same people. Over time, 69 Eyes has changed a lot. It started out as glam rock, where as today it is a lot more gothic than glam. I remember listening to songs like Juicy Lucy(Bump N' Grind), Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams(title track) and Feel Berlin(Devils). If you know the band, you'll automatically know that these three songs are completely different to each other. The vocals change and their whole musical style changes.

The 69 Eyes is a strange band. I know bands that have changed a bit over time, and there's nothing wrong with that. It means that the band is evolving. You don't want to keep doing the same old thing over and over again. But I have never seen a band change as much as The 69 Eyes.

I really enjoy most of the bands work, but lately I've been in to their older stuff. I've been listening a lot to their three first albums Bump N' Grind, Motor City Resurrection(technically this album has many of the songs from the previous album) and Savage Garden.

I'll write this today, even though it might change tomorrow...my favourite 69 Eyes song is Juicy Lucy. I can't explain it in any other way than: it's ROCK N' ROLL! Juicy Lucy has an awesome beat, catchy lyrics and cool guitar riffs(and I do love the guitar solo). The piano parts lifts the song to a different level. Perhaps it's not the most complicated song ever, but it doesn't need to be. Juicy Lucy is leather and sun glasses, it is layered hair cuts and ripped jeans. It's old school (for 2013 anyway).



Check out Juicy Lucy on Spotify or Youtube

Saturday 9 March 2013

Agonyst

Here's another band I found in my followers on Twitter. I thought I'd give them a listen.

The band is called Agonyst. They are a progressive death metal band from Norwich, UK. The band consists of four members; Louis Coates on lead guitar/vocals, David Perrin on guitar/vocals, Zac O'Neil on drums and Nathan Weanie on bass. 

When I first started listening to "Omni" ,the first song of their debut album "Centennial", my initial thought was the band is definitely inspired by Mikael Åkerfeldts(Opeth) clean vs. growl vocal. But that is what makes the music more interesting; being able to hear their inspirations, while they're still being able to do something new. Being inspired by others is definitely not a negative thing. It is what all musicians have done and one point or another.

When getting further into the track, I soon realise that this is not like Opeth at all. It is clever, like Opeth, but in a different way. The songs in general seem to be well composed. Some bands can be very repetitive and you can often tell where the song is going to go next. That is not the case with this band. All the songs are all very different to each other, and it is extremly difficult to predict what is going to happen next.

What you have to remember when listening to a progressive band is that patience is key. Long songs will have to be appreciated, but if you're the sort of person who cannot handle long songs, this band isn't for you. However if you appreciate the exploration of music that progressive bands do, this will probably be right up your street.

My impression of people making progressive music is that they are extremly clever (musically clever, anyway). But because I don't know the people in this band, I don't know if that is the case here as well. What I do know, however, is that mastering progressive music is not something you can just do without having any experience. It's technically challenging, and not everyone is cut out for making such music.

You should definitely check out their music on MySpace

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Stegosaurus on Marshland Acidic Trip

Fru Luna, better known as Kristin Burdal, is a 22-year-old musician/composer from Norway. She composes her music using Mixcraft with plug-ins like East West and Quantum Loop.

Her main project is an electronic project called Stegosaurus on Marshland Acidic Trip. All Stegosaurus albums tell individual stories. My impression of the latest album, "Are You AnyWhere?", is that Stegosaurus is on a quest to find/save the Green Goddess. It seems like it (Stegosaurus) has to get through different obstacles to get to where it needs to be. Stegosaurus seems to be coming very close to the Green Goddess a few times, but then something happens and it has to keep on searching for her. However, I have concluded that Stegosaurus does in fact manage to save the Green Goddess in the end, because the title of the second to last song on the album is simply just "The Green Goddess".

One song that in particular caught my attention was "Calling Upon Ba'al Shamin". The music itself is well orchestrated. We've entered a completely different part of the world now. Because the contrast between the previous song "Spring the Lamb's Bread" and "Calling Upon Ba'al Shamin", is huge. The track starts of quite calm, as if we are getting introduced to a new world. Then it speeds up. It's as if we're running through an adventure. But where/what are we running towards/from? After doing some searching around, it has been brought to my attention that Ba'al Shamin is in fact an ancient Syrian god. I can't figure out what role Ba'al is supposed to play in this matter. Is he supposed to help Stegosaurus find the Green Goddess?

This is what Kristin says about the song: "at one point, Stegosaurus is about to give up. It feels as though it is impossible to find the Green Goddess. For that reason he seeks help from 'the Sky Lord' Ba'al Shamin.This song is connected to the next song, 'The Answer', which is supposed to be Ba'al Shamin's answering to Stegosaurus' prayers. It's important that I mention that this in no way is supposed to be some religious message or anything. Why I chose Ba'al Shamin, is basically because what really happens is that Stegosaurus gets high, and therefore calling upon a 'Sky God' seemed appropriate..."

I could probably analyse all the songs on this album, but this little blog would turn into a book if I did. As for the musical side to it, each individual song tells their own story. They are all very well composed and it seems like nothing is done by random. Kristin has an ear for putting strange notes together, that some people wouldn't necessarily put together. Somehow she makes it work, and that can't be an easy job, not even for the most experienced musician. She is definitely no stranger to the progressive and experimental genre. This album is a work of art, and it certainly is an experience listening through it. This is the future!

Album artwork by Inna Hansen - www.doodlepod.blogspot.no


For your own interpretation of the album, listen to it here - FruLuna-

Monday 4 March 2013

Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators

As the headline might suggest, this is another concert review. Slash played two dates in England, one of which took place in Nottingham on Thursday 28. February.

After waiting one and a half hours after the doors openend, the warm up band, The Treatment, entered the stage. The band was full of energy and ready to try to get the crowd going You could clearly see that their biggest inspiration is Mötley Crue, simply from the hair cuts and clothes. It sort of looked like they had been dragged out of the 80s, which I suppose went along with the music they played. They were very fun to watch, but some of the songs didn't feel that original to me. Considering that this was the biggest show they had ever done, they did a decent job, but I think most of the people in the audience were ready for Slash not long after they started playing.
The Treatment

Slash and the band always seem to deliver, and so they did yet again. Playing a variety of some new and some old songs, they created a great vibe throughout the whole venue. Everyone were singing along and moving to the drumbeats. Some of the songs they played were Anastasia (from the new album), Back from Cali (from the previous album) and of course some Guns N' Roses like Paradise City, which is always to be expected at a Slash concert. Myles Kennedy is difficult not to love. He has this innocent sort of look, and a voice of an angel. He always hits the high notes, and - speaking for myself - it gave me goose bumps several times during the concert.

Myles Kennedy and Slash
When I have seen this line-up before, the focus has often been on mainly Slash (obviously) and Myles Kennedy. But on this concert, bassist Todd Kerns got the spotlight on a few songs, such as Doctor Alibi and Welcome to the Jungle. Who said bassists can't sing? I'm not sure if it was like this on the whole tour, or whether he got to sing a few more songs because Kennedy had a cold. Either way, it was awesome!
Todd Kerns on bass and vocals

For many, the highlight of the evening was probably Rocket Queen. The band had made a slight alteration to the song - a 15 minute guitar solo from Slash. It did drag out a bit, but you can't complain. After all, it was a Slash concert... If I had to pick on anything, it would be the fact that neither of them said much through the whole concert. But I concluded that this was because they had been on tour for a long time, and every day they wake up in a new city. They had a job to do (play the concert), and they did the job pretty damn well.

Welcome to the Jungle




Sunday 3 March 2013

AngelFlayeR

AngelFlayeR is a German/Swedish melodic death metal project, which was founded in 2012. It consists of two members, Heiko Lange and Daniel Friberg. When hearing the song "For My Betrayer" I immediatly think about a cross between In Flames and Amon Amarth. The sound is very unique and in this song in particular you get a flavour of melodic guitar roaming over heavy guitar riffs. The vocals are well executed and it goes well with the instrumental part.

The second song I listened to is called "Crown of Thorns". This song is truly amazing. The music is indeed very cool and catchy, but what really makes this song is the lyrics. Reading the lyrics while listening to the track makes me shiver, and it is not often I react like that to written words. The lyrics seem so honest and sincere, so that might be the explanation why I feel this way about the song.

You can clearly hear that this band consists of experienced musicians. The music flows so easily, and the songs are mixed to a very high standard. It is easy to forget that the band was founded just a year ago, because when listening to their music they could've easily been around since the 90s, growing and getting recognised with other bands from that era such as At The Gates.

As a big fan of Swedish metal, this band lives up to the standard that has already been set by the older bands. It is reassuring and amazing to see that bands like this still exists, even 20 years later.

The band has uploaded their songs to their website www.angelflayer.com
Make sure to check it out, you won't want to miss out on this one!

Changes

I thought it was about time to do something new on this blog. And what I'm going to do now is look at some of the bands who are following me on Twitter and write a review of it! I mainly want to review bands I don't already know, who are new to the industry and so on. I am open to review anything you've got for me, so for the bands who already follow me - thank you, I will try and write a review for you all. And for those who do not yet follow me, do it now, and I'll see what I come up with.

Find me on Twitter @annaburdal .