Silent Memorial - Retrospective

Leaves' Eyes - Njord

Napalm Records

Finally the waiting period is over. Leaves' Eyes, the number one German Gothic Metal band pleases their fans again with a new record which they baptised Njord. Strangely enough this is  only the third full length in their career. The previous one Vinland Saga already dates from 2005, a year after the bands debut Lovelorn. Since that time the band's flag kept on rising, which resulted in a few big tours and a couple of EP's. Anyway, that's the past, now let's focus on the present!

Chris Caffery - House Of Insanity

AFM Records

 

Everytime one of my great rock heroes is releasing something new it's both exciting and frightning: "yearh, a new album!" but also: "hopefully it's as good as...". And sometimes expectations can be very high. Maybe too high?

This scenario enrolled when I heared about the release of "House of Sanity" by former Savatage guitarist Chris Caffery. Other than it's predecessor Pins & Needles (2007) it took a couple of listens before I knew what to think about it.
But do I? Is it any good? And do I like it? Not really. To be frank, after Pins and Needles this is a real let down. I really don't know what happened but to me "House Of Insanity" sounds like a couple of old Savatage and Doctor Butcher demoes which had never seen the light of day and, maybe they better never had. Some of the compositions on the album are really poor.

The Adicts - Life Goes On

I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records

31 years and counting, that's how long the British lads from the Adicts are around. Back then, in the 1980's the band from Ipswich had quiet a lot notations in the Indie Charts. LP's like Songs Of Praise and Sound Of Music are still considered punk rock classics. The strength of The Adicts was the combination of strong lyrics, catchy melodies and an all white dressed stage act. During the 1990's they suffered -like many other bands- from the overtaking dance and grunge music, though they never gave up. Since the year 2002 the Adicts started to record again on a regular base but the main attention went to the 2008 re-recorded 25years Songs Of Praise record, which they also supported by a tour.
Now People Like You releases the first new record since the 2005 effort Rollercoaster.

Loadead - Taste The Power

Self Financed

Loadead must be an unknown band to many people, but since they played my hometown several years ago I kept following them. At the time they just released some demo’s of which their 2006 effort The Ultimate Thrill sounded really promising. They band played some kind of Motörhead vibed rock ‘n roll with a punk attitude and tons of stage presence. This resulted in many gigs inside and outside Belgium with respected acts like Peter Pan Speedrock, The Bronx, Alabama Thunderpussy and appearances on several festivals.

Now the trio recorded their first full length at the Chênée Palace studio in the suburbs of their hometown Liège.

Dead Swans - Sleepwalkers

Bridge Nine Records

After having been nominated for a kerrang! award as "Best British newcomer" ,
everything went up hill for DEAD SWANS!
This UK hardcore band was formed in 2006 and only released a demo and split 7"
together with Architects.

Nevertheless they succeeded in creating a huge fanbase in their local scene and attracting decent
international attention.With their new album Sleepwalkers they prove that they're worth all the support! Being released by Brigde 9 (Have Heart, Terror,...) they are the first European band to sign with this American record label.

Bitter Twins - Global Panic

Wild Kingdom Records/Suburban

"Hey, The Clash are back!" . This can easily be the reaction when listening to Bitter Twins' album Global Panic!. The first two songs on the album, "Virtue & The Thief" and "Riot Club" but certainly "Fight The Power" even sound like vintage Clash from both the London Calling and Sandinista! album (also with the exclamation mark - coincidence?) but then a bit revamped and brought to this time area.

The Bitter Twins, ressurected from the ashes of The Hellacopters and Diamond Dogs, themselves describe their sound as "hardcore house, techno funk, reggae rockers digging punk". I can't say I hear any house or techno on this record, but they definately pay tribute to the legacy of punkrock reggae, ska and dub and add some funky grooves and rock ‘n' roll to it.

The End Of All Reason - Fragmented

Unsigned/Self Financed

The End Of All Reason is just one of the so many metalcore bands, their new EP Fragmented proves this once more. The five piece progressive metal band from Brussels brought us an EP with some very technical and melodic songs.

Tracks as 'Redemption' and 'Barbara' proves that they are really good musicians, but unfortunately the technical aspect can't even match the predictability of some of the songs.

Nevelfest 2009 - The Review

After an easy drive to the festival ground we arrived there shortly after 14.00h. Normally the first band had to start already some time ago, but nothing seemed to happen on stage. The visitors of the fest were just hanging around, drinking or having a chat. No stress at all and almost with an hour delay Seconds From The End could start their set. With this delay they surely must cut half their set, but these youngsters didn’t. The band played a kind of NYHC with fluences from most known bands in the genre. Nothing original, but it wasn’t bad at all.

Death Before Dishonor - Better Ways To Die

Bridge Nine Records

24 minutes and 24 seconds of blistering hardcore, that's what Boston's Death Before Dishonor delivers with their Better Ways To Die album. Starting with the "Peace And Quiet", the bands sets the tone for the record. Straight forwarded hardpunk with seizing lyrics, aggressive mosh-able parts and - not to be forgotten - a dose of melody. From "Remember", "Coffin Nail" or "Fuck This Year" to the titletrack or "No More Lies"... almost every track has this catchy and energetic vibe other bands would kill for.

 

24 minutes and 24 seconds Death Before Dishonor sprayed their music above the listener when the final "Our Glory Days" ends. Now it's about time the bands glory days start.