Genres: Progressive, Rock
Label: Allroundniceguy Music
Being as big a fan as I was of Scott Mosher’s 2006 album “Deep Horizon”, I was tickled 27,000 shades of pink at the announcement of Scott’s new project, Oceans Of Night. More so at the arrival in my mailbox of their debut album, “The Shadowheart Mirror”! My excitement was more than well placed… The pace was set with album opener A Way From You, a song so mind boggling perfect that it very existence defies logic! …fuck that. Take what I just said and apply it to this whole album! Scott Mosher’s progressive guitar licks and airy keyboard works are the height of all that is progy and “out-there”. Not to be outdone, with a voice that would make Geoff Tate cry with jealousy, Scott Oliva, who you may know from Wind Wraith, Last Vision Black, Inner Strength or his earlier work with Mr. Mosher (Album Drop: “Deep Horizon”). What a voice! The perfect match up to Mosher’s progressive tones. Long story short, the Scott’s do it right. “The Shadowheart Mirror” is the progressive rock/alt metal album of the fucking year!
Overall: The Scotts do it once again! If you dig progressive metal/rock, then you can’t afford to miss this album!
10/10
www.oceansofnight.com
www.theambientmind.com
www.myspace.com/scottmosher
Originally posted at E-MetalSpace
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Genres: Hardcore, Progressive
Label: Unsigned
Damn you The Pax Cecilia! Aside from a less than descriptive booklet, almost nonsensical cover art and a double sided poster that also did nothing to tell me what the fuck was about to happen to my mind, I had no warning. None. I had no idea that I was about to experience a brilliant mindfuck of alt-rock, progressive rock, ambient and hardcore called “Blessed Are The Bonds”! (Where the hell did these guys come from and how the hell aren’t they signed to Deathwish Inc.?) It’s noisy as fuck one moment, then as tranquil as a step-mom that’s passed out on Sudafed the next. Belligerent screams fill the void as the tracks ebb and flow between the polar opposites of life and death! Love and hate! Happiness and rage! It’s definitely an album that took me a couple of listens to get the hang of. But once I did, “Blessed Are The Bonds” found it’s way into my nighttime rotation of “chill/mellow out” music. “Bless Are The Bonds” is, in a word: Breathtaking.
Overall: An interesting take on hardcore as a whole. Dark chocolate covering a light and fluffy, creamy center… yum!
9/10
www.paxcecilia.com
www.myspace.com/thepaxcecilia
Originally posted at E-MetalSpace
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Genres: Thrash
Label: Punishment 18 Records
If you’re looking for politically charged thrash from Italy, look no further than the mayhem maestros featured in the documentary “Get Thrashed”, Urto! These guys managed to effectively recapture the ultra aggressive attitude of 80’s thrash with their powerful vocals (Neil Turbin into Joey Belladonna era Anthrax-ish), crunchy yet raging thrash riffs (Dark Angel-ish) and heavy handed political messages (take your pick) that run rampant throughout the course of “Upside Down”. Album opener, The Dilemma Remains starts off with an obvious homage to Metallica’s instrumental opus Orion, and works it’s way into an explosive fury that sets the pace for the rest of the album. I especially enjoyed their American Idol bashing anthem, Remote Control Seizure! Not a single note is wasted, not a single track is dull. It’s all thrashin’ and it’s all awesome! “Upside Down” is proof positive that Urto is an up and coming band that is worthy of your watchful eye and thrash eager ears! Punishment 18 Records grabs another one!
Overall: About as thrashin’ as thrash gets!
8.5/10
www.myspace.com/urtoband
www.punishment18records.com
Originally posted at E-MetalSpace
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Genres: Power, Heavy
Label: Unsigned
Hailing from the mythical land of Minnesota, Dawn Of Valor comes to you atop a noble steed, clad in shinning armor and wielding the mighty magical sword known as power metal! The vocals are the centerpiece of this band (which is generally the case in power metal) with vocalist Sean having an impressive set of chords and a powerful set of lungs to back them up. His talents are displayed most prominently in the song Fight For Our Lives, as is the frantic drum work of kit king, Matt. Not to be left out of the fray, dual axe men Seth and John reek havoc across the land with their screaming solos and rampaging riffs of metaldom! If you’re a fan of power metal of any sort, then Dawn Of Valor will do you just fine.
Overall: Over the top power metal that dishes out music about honor, wisdom, loyalty and doing what’s right as apposed to something pertaining to “in the time of the Elves! In a castle made of Dragon’s Blood…” (ß Thanks to Patton Oswalt for the lyrical inspiration)
8/10
www.myspace.com/dawnofvalor
Originally posted at E-MetalSpace
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Genres: Crossover, Thrash, Hardcore, Punk
Label: Paranoic Music
High energy crossover! How can you not be a diehard fan of this awesome subgenre? One reason might be because you’ve never heard Devastator’s “Underground ‘N’ Roll”. This Italian trio serves up a thrashtastic album with a sunny California suffer attitude. Bombastic bass rolls and Pipeline-esque solos are abound from start to finish with spastic vocals pounding thick accented insults and slang into your sea water soaked ears! Most songs are two minutes (or way less) long for the A.D.D. crowd and are catchy enough to make an impact, despite their microorganismic lifespan.
Overall: “Surfs up!” with these Italian crossover badasses! If you like thrash ‘n’ hardcore that sounds like it shotguned a case of Red Bulls then hit the beach, then “Underground “n’ Roll” is just for you!
9/10
www.devastator.it
www.myspace.com/devastatorcrew
www.paranoicmusic.com
Originally posted at E-MetalSpace
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