Funeral Rain Press Corps

Genres: Black Metal, Death Metal
Label: Independent

Auroch are one of my new favorite bands. Throwing down a Morbid Angel inspired full length of Lovecraftian lyrics and the most unusual singing in death metal I’ve ever heard, this CD is going to get a lot of plays from me.
Picture this for a vocalist: gutteral death growling giving way to clean vocals, then back, then to a Judas Priest/Iron Maiden/Classic metal falsetto. The instrumentation is fairly technical too, which makes me pretty damn happy. I like hearing people that know what they are doing.
Possibly the most interesting thing about Auroch, however, is the ages of the guys in the band. I don’t think any of them are 25 yet. They’re young, and very promising. This is another band you’re going to be hearing from a lot in the near future.
8 out of 10.

Auroch on MySpace.

Genre: Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Symphonic Power Metal
Label: AFM Records

Oh my, oh my. What to call this? Good, for one, that’s obvious. But really, genre wise, what should I say? It’s got a ton of Power Metal, some Gothic Metal, Symphonic Metal, and Progressive Metal. And I think there’s even some thrash elements smacking my eardrum here.
How about this: Neverland bring a Progressive Symphogoth Power Metal to the listener that hearkens to Judas Priest-meets-Lacuna Coil-through-Metallica-covering-Iced Earth. Sound fucked up enough for you? I assure you, skeptic, that it works. Wonderfully. I’m genuinely liking Neverland a lot, and their awesome sound on Ophidia. It’s got Metalgasmic solos, a stunning rhythm section, and some seriously awesome traditional metal vocals.
If you call yourself a metalhead, you’ll like this. If you worship at the Temple of Trad, you’ll love it.
7.5 out of 10.

Neverland on MySpace.

Genre: Melodic Power Metal
Label: AFM Records

The title track off Heavenly’s newest album Carpe Diem is also the leadoff track, and it’s a gorgeous example of power metal, in a similar vein as Hammerfall and Elegy, but with more melodic tendencies.
Vocals are fairly ranged, from the soaring, higher register to a nice tenor, and guitar riffs are lightning fast with wicked solos that make me think of Judas Priest and Queen.
Thinking of Queen, the song “Farewell” reminds me strongest of them; vocally, riff structure, piano and all. It’s a really wicked song, too. Freddy Mercury would be proud.
In all, the entire album is strong, with epic songs full of fist-pumping metal. Not the best out there, but still worth buying.
7.5 out of 10.

Heavenly on MySpace.

Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Independent

Quick history lesson on how I got this CD to review: I saw Fenriz had posted his Band of the Week blog and it was these Canadian metalslingers. The quote that made me want to hear them specifically is: “They sound ANCIENT and have cool influences like Thin Lizzy and probably Diamond Head. And they are alive and playing NOW.” (Read the whole blog.)
And so I sent an email to them, and the gents were happy to send me a copy of Wasteland for review.
And what an easy review to do.
Basically, if Judas Priest were formed now, and in Canada rather than England, they’d be called Metalian. This is true, pure heavy metal, and it does sound ancient.
There seems to be quite a bit of Iron Maiden influence going on too, especially in the title track.
I love it. I’ve taken a few trips through the Wasteland, and I’ll be taking a lot more.
10 out of 10.

Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: AFM Records

So Udo has been around forever, and for those that don’t know, he’s the original singer for Accept. And this album, U.D.O.’s 12th, shows that Udo has no intention of slowing down.
Dominator is ten tracks of pure German heavy metal in the finest, most true traditions, and it’s essential that you own it. If you’re a fan of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and yes, Accept, you need this album.
My favorite track on the album is hands down “Heavy Metal Heaven”, which has just the most METAL chorus ever, with a nice, slow groove. The title track is up there in the list, along with “Stillness of Time” and “Devil’s Rendezvous”, which sounds like Voltaire’s Boo-Hoo album turned metal. Naturally, though, what self-respecting old school metal album doesn’t have a ballad? Dominator does in the closing song “Whispers in the Dark”.
All in all, fucking amazing stuff.
9 out of 10.

U.D.O. on MySpace.