Genres: Death Metal, Thrash
Label: Pulverised Records

All hail the Master of old school death metal!
Master’s newest assault on the senses is fast, brutal, and politically charged. There’s great riffs, great solos, and great vocals. But at times it touches cookie-cutter territory, taking the same riff for too long, or similar riffs used in different songs. Thankfully, these times are few and far between, leaving the listener to bang their head to good stuff like “Twisted Truth”, “Suppress Free Thinking”, and the album closer “Impale to Kill”.
If you’re looking for American death metal the way that it should be played, while adding in some thrash and punk elements, look no further than The Human Machine.
7 out of 10.

Master on MySpace.

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Genre: Pop Rock
Label: Independent

It’s not something that I usually seek out, this kind of pop rock music. But I know Stephanie, kind of, and I told her I’d do up a review. I also mentioned that I’d be brutally honest.
And honestly, I really like this. It’s in the vein of Tegan and Sara, but Stephanie has a more melancholic voice, something like Natalie Imbruglia’s and Fiona Apple’s put together into a Canadian girl. The thing I love about her voice the most is that she’s not perfect. She sometimes goes out of tune a little.
Stephanie keeps the listener on their toes, on the edge of their seat, on a rollercoaster of emotion. And I love it. It’s great to hear real, honest, immediate pop rock again, especially in this age of pre-built, canned, robotic stars. I’ll be making repeat Departures for sure.
9 out of 10.

Stephanie Bosch on MySpace.

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So I sent these questions forever ago, and honestly I forgot I did. But they came back, answered and ready for the world, and I’m happy to post them for you all to read. This is my interview with Sarah Jezebel Deva, enjoy; and look for it to also be in the second print issue of Funeral Rain Zine.

Can you update us on what is going on these days?

There’s loads of things going on these days… What would you like to know? Price of petrol keeps going up

How would you describe the sound of the new album?

Emmm… Mixed. Its for open minded people. if you are solely into one kind of styled music, then its not for you. Some is metal, some has a BM edge, some is more rock, some is like a movie score and there is a piano song. So its very varied.

How would you describe the lyrical content of the new music?

Well its not a concept album but of course every song has a concept. I do not sing about mincing vampires and the slitting of wrists while bumming on a grave stone, I like to sing about real things like mental illness, sex, hate, disappointment, betrayal, life!

Do you have any plans to do a tour for the new album?

Well we just did our first ever tour in the UK with label mates The Dead Lay Waiting and LOVED it. We have 2 more UK shows with them and then head out to Europe with them for a 3-4 week tour. Can not wait because although The Dead Lay Waiting are totally different in music style, they are so tight, so professional and so energetic. We all gel so well.

You have worked with plenty of bands over the years, which ones did you enjoy the most and what are some of the albums that you have worked on that you are the most satisfied with and do you have plans in the future to work with any other projects?

Every band has its pro and con, its good memories and its shit ones and to tell you the shit memories just wouldn’t be good. My proudest albums are of course my band Angtoria “God Has A Plan For Us All”, COF “Midian” and “Vempire”, Mortiis “The Star Gate”. The Kovenant “Nexus Polaris” and Therion “Vovin”. I am active with The Kovenant again, we just played Inferno festival in Oslo, Norway. We headlined our day and it was amazing. We played the entire Nexus Polaris album from start to finish and we hadn’t all played together as that line up for 13 years. We are all older, maturer and it was just an great experience.

The new album came out on Candlelight Records, how would you describe the support that the label has given you so far?

Well right now, I cant really comment because its only the beginning. I have know Paula for many years and she has been my main contact so far, other than that, I can not comment yet but I am very happy and proud to be on such a well respected label!

What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?

This album was a “finding my feet” album… there are ways I worked on this album, that I will never work on an album again. Like recording in four countries didn’t help. Recording with a stranger over the internet didn’t work out as well as I had hoped. The next album, I will work closer to home and not take so many chances. Not saying stick to what is safe, I mean stick to real friends, people who have passion for music and not money. I did plan on A Sign Of Sublime being no fixed style, totally intentional but the next album I want to be more extreme for sure.

How have fans reacted so far to the new album?

Well I can not really comment on the USA/Canada right now, I know a lot of people bought the import and I am so so grateful that they did that as I know it wasn’t cheap. My side of the world, I think its doing ok but you cant expect to sell if your not doing shows and we have only just started, so next year, I hope more and more people will have the album and the shows get bigger and better. So all I can say is, people have been very supportive.

What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and what are you listening to nowadays?

There is just too many to mention. Nothing influences the music for me because then I would be copying wouldn’t I. But bands that I adore are anything from Dead Can Dance to Emperor. Faith No More to Mysticum. My Dying Bride to Moonsorrow. Type O to Gun’s N Roses. As for lyrics, whats going on around me influences my writing. I find it hard to write when I know nothing about a subject, I cant just make things up to fill a song out.

What are some of your interests outside of music?

Right now, the only thing that exists outside of music is my wedding next year. When I am not touring and paying my lovely bills, its wedding, wedding, wedding draining the very life from me ha ha… I have even fallen behind on music. I am so behind, I think the last album I bought was the new Immortal, I don’t even remember the last time I went out to see a film. I am so not grim huh! As you get older, life takes its firm grip and you find yourself having less and less time. When I can think, I am very much into animal rights. I am TRYING to get 10,000 names for an Anti Fur petition in the UK to take to my local MP.

Any final words or thoughts?

Yeah…… We really wanna come to the USA….. We so want to tour. Its been a few years since myself and Gian Pyrez were there, so guys, hate us or love us, give us a chance and check us out! Thank you

Sarah Jezebel Deva on MySpace.

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Brooklyn kings of atmospheric doom, A Storm of Light, are gearing up for a short stint of U.S. tour dates next week that include performances with experimental metal/noise exhibitionists Today Is The Day and reunited stoner metallers Sleep before heading to Europe for a month’s worth of shows in October. Said guitarist/vocalist John Graham of the upcoming shows: “The next couple of months are going to be a lot of fun for us. We’re lucky enough to share the stage with the legendary Sleep, brutalists Today Is the Day, and then embark on our fourth European tour. Awesome!”

A Storm of Light U.S./Euro Tour Dates 2010

08/31/10 32st St Pub – Pittsburgh, PA w/ Today Is The Day
09/01/10 Ottobar – Baltimore, MD w/ Today Is The Day
09/03/10 Santos Party House – New York, NY w/ Today Is The Day
09/04/10 AS220 – Providence, RI w/ Today Is The Day
09/07/10 Starlight Ballroom – Philadelphia, PA w/ Sleep
09/08/10 Brooklyn Masonic Temple – Brooklyn, NY w/ Sleep, Lichens
10/01/10 Brudenell Social Club – Leeds, UK
10/02/10 Whelans – Dublin, Irelandw/ Stand Up Guy
10/03/10 The Spring And Airbrake – Belfast, Ireland w/ Stand Up Guy
10/04/10 Captain’s Rest – Glasgow, Scotland
10/05/10 The Croft – Bristol, UK
10/06/10 The Underworld – London, UK w/ Sedula, Sons Of Alpha Centauri
10/07/10 Nouveau Casino – Paris, France
10/08/10 Simplon – Groningen, Netherlands
10/09/10 013 – Tilburg, Netherlands
10/10/10 Juha West Matinee Show – Stuttgart, Germany
10/12/10 Rhiz – Vienna, Austria
10/13/10 Kset – Zagreb, Croatia
10/14/10 Randall – Bratislava, Slovakia
10/16/10 Firlej – Wroclaw, Poland
10/17/10 Powiekszenie – Warsaw, Poland
10/20/10 Nabaklab – Riga, Latvia
10/21/10 Nosturi – Helsinki, Finland
10/23/10 Garage – Oslo, Norway
10/24/10 Debaser – Stockholm, Sweden
10/25/10 Loppen – Copenhagen, Denmark
10/26/10 Hafenklang – Hamburg, Germany
10/27/10 Feierwerk – Munich, Germany
10/28/10 Spazio – Turin, Italy
10/29/10 Urban – Perugia, Italy
10/30/10 Init Club – Rome, Italy

A Storm of Light — guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Josh Graham (Neurosis visuals, Blood And Time, Battle Of Mice), bassist/vocalist Domenic Seita (formerly of Tombs and Asea) and guitarist/keyboardist Joel Hamilton (Book Of Knots, Battle Of Mice) — released their second full-length, entitled Forgive Us Our Trespasses via Neurot last October.

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Genres: Ambient, Metal, Rock, Shoegaze
Label: Independent

A CD that was unexpected in my mailbox, Auternus was not unwelcome. Their soundscapes are very much reminding me of a cross between A Perfect Circle, whom they cite as an influence, and My Bloody Valentine, with some Isis for flavor.
According to their promo package, they’re playing a lot of shows, getting distributed, and just all-around trying to get their music out there. These guys are working their asses off, and I’m sure that if I didn’t review this CD, you’d still hear about them in time.
If you’re into ambient that’s not boring, or metal-edged rock that makes you think a little, check out Auternus.
7 out of 10.

Auternus on MySpace.

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