Album review: GRAIN: Flame mini-cd


GRAIN have decided to do more up-tempo stuff on this their first sale for public -cd compared to previous promo-cd. Disc starts with "Flame" which even reminds me of their speed metal past. GRAIN have now reached the point in their career when everything they release is good and special mention must be given to the fact that they now manage to put decent chorus to every song. Surprise of the cd is bandīs namesong "Grain" where they experiment with normal singing and the result is succesful. I wonder if this represents something Grain may be choosing for their future direction? This time critical views must be pointed to re-arranged version of "Within" which for some reason doesnīt work as well as older version.


Album review: ANNIHILATOR: Remains


Beforehand I was a little bit suspicious about this new ANNIHILATOR -record when I heard advance information that musical style is heading towards industrial. There's nothing wrong in well-done industrial -metal, it was just at first odd to think ANNIHILATOR with machines. My fear turn out to be unnecessary as changes in sound weren't so drastic as I thought. Most evident industrial tracks are the three first ones but even they can still be recognized as ANNIHILATOR. Although I must say "No Love" is strongly influenced by MARILYN MANSON. It's positive that Jeff Waters doesn't fear to write couple of fast tunes for his every record as opposed to METALLICA who hasn't written any in nineties. Especially "Reaction" is dream-stuff for headbanger. Jeff's playing and singing are top notch quality as always in ANNIHILATOR -records. Only minus point go to closing-instrumental which doesn't seem to progress anywhere and has a little bit of filling track flavour. But all in all, not a bad investment for friends of good metal.


Album review: GEEZER: Black Science

I didn't really have great expectations for this record. As my opinion of preceding G//Z/R -album was it being one dimensional and only having few good moments. And my expectitions didn't at least grow bigger when I read quite negative review of SOUNDI -magazine. On that ground one might believe that this record is only depending on Clark Brown's vocals. That criticism would have suited a whole lot better for "Plastic Planet" -album which was indeed saved from catastrophe by Burton C. Bell, who sung for the band that time. Anyhow Pedro Howse has bettered his playing considerably since the first record. Although some part of the development may go to the credit of better production. Band has developed their brand of attitude Metal towards industrial but thankfully not too much. I give a title of "ace" -song on this album for "Mysterons" which I nominate as the best song of GEEZER's solo-career so far. GEEZER is also heading for new territories in "Unspeakable Elvis". The man has played his whole career serious Heavy Metal and for that I find surprising the tongue-in-check attitude of lyrics in that song. I guess I'll have to dig up also something to criticize so I just say that those hip-hop-or-whatever rhythms in "Northern Wisdom" doesn't cheer at all puritan Heavy Metal man like me.


Album review: GALACTIC COWBOYS: The Horse that Bud Bought

I was very glad when I heard that one of my favourite nineties bands has released again new material. Many bands would have lost their motivation when they had dropped from major-label but not GALACTIC COWBOYS. They have come now to their second full-length for Metal Blade. Harmony-vocals and Metal are combination which lot of people can't bear but at least this band can't be blamed for lack of originality. In "Tomorrow" GALACTIC COWBOYS are in fact taunting bands who surf on latest trends. Style of this new record has returned to the direction of two first albums. Last year's "Machine Fish" emphasized on band's harder side but now there's more melodic stuff included again. My fave -songs are album starter "Tilt-a- Whirl", before mentioned "Tomorrow" and slow-tempo "Ribbon" which have nice chorus. Right away in the morning to the record-store!

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