Funeral Rain Press Corps

Genre: Power A Cappella
Label: Napalm Records

I was a little more than excited when I saw that there was a download link waiting in my Inbox from Napalm Records. Why? Because I had heard earlier that day that I should be receiving the (then) upcoming album from the world’s greatest a capella  metal group, Van fucking Canto!

My initial thoughts on the album based entirely on the promo info, before I actually listened to it (past the deafening “SQEEEEEEE” sight reaction) were as follows:

- Did I accidentally download a Dragonforce album? The cover says “yes”.
-  Could they of chosen a more generic album title?
-  A cover of Sabaton’s Primo Victoria featuring guest vocals by wildman Joakim Broden? Too much!!!

And now, after listening to it for a couple of weeks straight:

After getting over a bit of a sour patch with this album (since I wasn’t instantly enthralled with Break The Silence like I was with Tribe Of Force, fear that all of those “poser metal/gimmick metal insults were true) I had come to find that it is in fact a robust album, full of catchy melodies and a metric ton of fun! Album opener If I Die In Battle sounds like it could be yet another tribute to Manowar… which it isn’t… at least I don’t think it is. Either way, it’s a great way to start things off.

I mentioned a Sabaton cover of Primo Victoria earlier. Yeah. This cover fucking kills! I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it dwarfs the original in terms of awwwwwwesome (no disrespect to Sabaton at all since the song wouldn’t exist without them). After that, Black Wings Of Hate is a beautifully track where Inga takes the lead and just owns it all.

I noticed that in a lot of the reviews about Van Canto feature either no mention of the rakkatakka or they bash the guys who belt this shit out. I think these guys rule! How many of us can honestly do what they do? Honestly, I think they have a much harder job than anybody else in the band (especially Ingo! Up to about five minutes of DOOMDOOMDOOM would destroy a lesser man!) Also mysteriously missing from the spotlight in other reviews, drummer Bastian Emig. The man is a machine and nobody seems to care! Well, I for one salute this (probably) mechanized percussionist for his energy throughout the album and albums past!

Overall: I wasn’t nearly as initially impressed as I was with Tribe Of Force. But after a couple of listens, I found that they are equal in quality. Break The Silence is an excellent album from a band that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves in the metal community. Hopefully this review will change a few minds and bring a few more fans their way. They deserve it all.

8.5/10

Van Canto On Facebook

Genres: A Capella Metal, Power Metal
Label: Napalm Records

Raise your fist and your mead horn! Van Canto are fucking unreal. It’s a super easy review, and I wish I could write a longer one. But really, it’s A Capella power metal with a drummer and people singing the guitar and bass parts. There’s not much to describe in a way that’s easy. All I can say this is a great album, and if you’re a power metal fan you should get this in your collection NOW. You won’t regret it.
9 out of 10.

Van Canto on MySpace.

Genre: A Cappella Metal
Label: Napalm Records

For those of you who don’t know, Van Canto is an a cappella metal outfit. Huh? Weird right? No guitar. No bass. Just five vocalists and a drummer. Skeptical? Yeah, me too… so let’s have a listen and see where the unique sound of a cappella metal’s champions Van Canto and their third full-length album Tribe Of Force takes us.

…within seconds of the first track entitled “Lost Forever”, I am completely and utterly blown the fuck away! Lead (male) vocalist Phillip “Sly” Schunke has a set of pipes on him that would undoubtedly take him and any band he’d choose to join, far. Lead (female) vocalist Inga Scharf enchants with her melodically haunting siren song (which is showcased in Lost Forever and Magic Taborea). As for the Rakkatakka vocalists, (Stefan Schmidt – Lower and “guitar solo” vocals, Ross Thompson – Higher vocals, Ingo “Ike” Sterzinger – Bass vocals) they come off as a mixture of impressive and comedic. Impressive: the fact that someone can go, “Bumbumbumbumbumbumbum” throughout the entirety of a four minute song and not pass out is nothing less than extraordinary. Comedic: the fact that someone is going, “Bumbumbumbumbumbumbum” throughout the entirety of a four mintue song. Oddly enough, the drummer (one Bastian Emig) damn near overshadows most of the vocalization with his creative rolls and flourishes that paint the backdrop to Van Canto’s fantasy world.

Oh yeah! Grave Digger vocalist Chris Boltendahl guest’s on Van Canto’s cover of “Rebellion”! How sweet of a plum is that? And speaking of covers… they do “Master Of Puppets”. Cool? I guess…

Overall: A cappella metal? Yes it is. Should it really be called that? No. Let’s stick with a ca-power metal or something much less lame. Tribe Of Force is eleven tracks of sheer brilliance with one Grave Digger cover (which is fucking awesome!) and a Metallica cover (meh). Don’t pass this up if you’re a power metal geek or like bands that function outside the metal norm.

8.5 out of 10.

Van Canto on MySpace.