Faithfull to the musical traditions of their country, Austrian Metal musicians gather many influences from symphonic music, which turned into sonorities that I personally enjoy.
My first contact with the Metal music from this Central Europe country was through a band called Dreams Of Sanity, meanwhile extinct, whose singer was Sandra Schleret, now the singer of Elis, from Liechtenstein.
As a matter of fact, is from an Austrian band, inexplicably unknown, Hollenthon, an album that for me is one of the best Metal albums of all times. With Vilest of Worms to Dwell, released in 2001, is epic, powerful and symphonic... perfect!
Another of my favourite bands, and oddly unknown to many, is Visions Of Atlantis. Maybe because they have changed the female voice very often, they haven't assured the necessary stability to become more known.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Concert Review published on MetalStorm
Today, finally my review of Apocalyptica's concert was reviewed and published on Metalstorm.
You can read it here
Unfortunately, maybe because I'm not a staff member, my review didn't appear in the homepage of the site.
You can read it here
Unfortunately, maybe because I'm not a staff member, my review didn't appear in the homepage of the site.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Malta - Pure amateurs
The most famous band from Malta, is Forsaken, they play Heavy Doom Metal, with a revivalist touch.
And now, fans of Brutal Death Metal, step forward. Not that I'm particularly fond of this kind of music, but in Malta is the most popular genre in the Metal scene. So, this time, I have no other choice to give them some airplay here in the blog. Here go three bands in a row.
Beheaded... wait the first minute and a half before judging them.
Abysmal Torment... whose drummer recently passed away "in an accident where he got stuck under the arm of a small bulldozer, in an industrial area near Blata I-Gholja in Mosta"
And Martyrium, here in a live performance.
Finally for something more peaceful, Stillborn, which is classified as Symphonic Metal probably because they use a lot Keyboard arrangements.
Here is a life presentation in Hard Rock Café.
As you can see, it's still in a very amateur way that Heavy Metal is done in Malta, but if there is talent in the same amount there is will, then who knows, one of this days can appear in this Mediterranean island a band capable of a respectful international career.
And now, fans of Brutal Death Metal, step forward. Not that I'm particularly fond of this kind of music, but in Malta is the most popular genre in the Metal scene. So, this time, I have no other choice to give them some airplay here in the blog. Here go three bands in a row.
Beheaded... wait the first minute and a half before judging them.
Abysmal Torment... whose drummer recently passed away "in an accident where he got stuck under the arm of a small bulldozer, in an industrial area near Blata I-Gholja in Mosta"
And Martyrium, here in a live performance.
Finally for something more peaceful, Stillborn, which is classified as Symphonic Metal probably because they use a lot Keyboard arrangements.
Here is a life presentation in Hard Rock Café.
As you can see, it's still in a very amateur way that Heavy Metal is done in Malta, but if there is talent in the same amount there is will, then who knows, one of this days can appear in this Mediterranean island a band capable of a respectful international career.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Italy (part 2/2) - And other powerful bands
I'm going to talk about three more italian bands, playing different Metal genres, because are the ones that I like the most, but I could talk about many more, such is the richness of the Metal scene in the country.
The first one is Lacuna Coil, Gothic Metal band, with a sound that, not being exactly my favorite, but that in each album has always at least one song that really nails it. One of those that I can listen to countless times in a row without getting tired.
In Karmacode album, from 2006, is this Our Truth.
Novembre is a Death Doom Metal band, that alternates harsh and clean vocals, which gives them a very interesting sound.
The last band that I'm going to highlight in Italy's Metal scene, is Disarmonia Mundi, a Gothenburg Metal band, a sub-genre that appeared exactly in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, and that has been spreading a bit all over Europe.
The first one is Lacuna Coil, Gothic Metal band, with a sound that, not being exactly my favorite, but that in each album has always at least one song that really nails it. One of those that I can listen to countless times in a row without getting tired.
In Karmacode album, from 2006, is this Our Truth.
Novembre is a Death Doom Metal band, that alternates harsh and clean vocals, which gives them a very interesting sound.
The last band that I'm going to highlight in Italy's Metal scene, is Disarmonia Mundi, a Gothenburg Metal band, a sub-genre that appeared exactly in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, and that has been spreading a bit all over Europe.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Italy (part 1/2) - The Italian Power
Speaking about Italian Heavy Metal must always include speaking of Luca Turilli. Besides his solo albums and his Luca Turilli's Dreamquest project, he is the main composer, along with Alex Staropoli, of Rhapsody Of Fire, the biggest name of the Italian Power Metal, whose international success is the main responsible for a wave of new Italian Metal bands, specially in the second half of the nineties decade of the last century.
I found Rhapsody Of Fire (at the time just Rhapsody, before some legal problems with the rights over the name had forced them to change the band's name) in 1998, in a Metal shopping trip with some friends to a specialized store. We asked to play the CD, which was their second album, Symphony Of Enchanted Lands, and we heard this...
It was epic to a whole new level, something like we never had heard. It was an immediate passion and, for a while, Rhapsody was my favourite band. In the mean time the band changed a little and my tastes changed a little more, but I still listen with joy to everything that is released by the band now called Rhapsody Of Fire, like this Sea Of Fate, from their last album, The Frozen Tears Of Angels.
From the new wave of Power Metal bands in Italy, the more noticeable are probably Elvenking, with a touch of Folk in their sound.
And also Raintime, with a more Extreme Power Metal.
Besides these ones, there are more bands deserving a listen, like Vision Divine, Labyrinth, or Thy Majestie.
I found Rhapsody Of Fire (at the time just Rhapsody, before some legal problems with the rights over the name had forced them to change the band's name) in 1998, in a Metal shopping trip with some friends to a specialized store. We asked to play the CD, which was their second album, Symphony Of Enchanted Lands, and we heard this...
It was epic to a whole new level, something like we never had heard. It was an immediate passion and, for a while, Rhapsody was my favourite band. In the mean time the band changed a little and my tastes changed a little more, but I still listen with joy to everything that is released by the band now called Rhapsody Of Fire, like this Sea Of Fate, from their last album, The Frozen Tears Of Angels.
From the new wave of Power Metal bands in Italy, the more noticeable are probably Elvenking, with a touch of Folk in their sound.
And also Raintime, with a more Extreme Power Metal.
Besides these ones, there are more bands deserving a listen, like Vision Divine, Labyrinth, or Thy Majestie.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Apocalyptica: 7th Symphony Tour - Aula Magna, 13th of October 2010
For sure, in the weekend one or two more posts on our trip through the European Metal scene will be posted. This time about the Italian Power Metal and more.
I also hope that I can return to the rythm of one post each 3 days, that I've kept steadily until recently.
Now, onto one of the (good) reasons why the next post is taking so long...
Great concert from Apocalyptica, last night at Aula Magna.
Here go two photos, the only ones that aren't just a big flash of light, that were taken during the two ballads played by the Finnish band, in a concert that was much more Heavy than
It's probably the worst photos of the concert, since there were many people with iPhones or even proper cameras, but it's the best I can manage right now.
Matching the band's great performance, also a great performance from the Metal crowd. Perfect behavior, an example for fans of other musical genres.
In a sitting room and without assigned seats, two orderly lines waited calmly, even when the doors opened later than the schedule. A reduced number of securities were simple spectators of the concert, since the concert was so peaceful.
But don't confuse peaceful with passive... in the end of the first music Apocalyptica ordered everyone to get up, and the chairs were empty the remainder of the concert, except for the mentioned two ballads, when the band was also seated.
In spite having few fans in the room, since they are not a Metal band, Livingston gave all they got on stage, and were corresponded by the respect and support of the audience.
As usual, leave you here the video of one of the special moments of last night's concert, in a video that I found today.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Liechtenstein - Elis e mais nada
Procurei bastante, mas só encontrei uma banda de metal deste pequeno principado, situado entre a Suíça e a Áustria.
Os Elis, banda de Gothic Metal, ganham por isso direito a um post só para eles.
Formados em 2003, rapidamente atingiram notoriedade com o seu álbum de estreia God's Silence, Devil's Temptation e ainda mais com o seu álbum seguinte, editado em 2004, Dark Clouds In A Perfect Sky.
Em 2006, no entanto, a tragédia atinge os Elis. A sua vocalista Sabine Dünser morre aos 29 anos vítima de uma hemorragia cerebral.
Os Elis editam o seu terceiro trabalho em homenagem a Sabine que já havia gravado todas as partes vocais do álbum, e partem para uma nova vida procurando uma nova vocalista, mas mantendo o nome da banda, o que caiu mal junto de muitos fãs.
A escolha recaiu em Sandra Schleret, que eu já conhecia do seu trabalho nos austriacos Dreams Of Sanity (extintos em 2003).
Em 2007, o EP Show Me the Way, marcou a estreia de Sandra nos álbuns dos Elis e em 2009 a banda lançou o seu mais recente trabalho, Catharsis.
Penso que, apesar do esforço, a banda e especialmente os fãs, ainda não ultrapassaram a perda de Sabine, e por isso os trabalhos mais recente não atingiram no mercado, o nível dos primeiros trabalhos, mas fico a aguardar com curiosidade o próximo álbum.
Os Elis, banda de Gothic Metal, ganham por isso direito a um post só para eles.
Formados em 2003, rapidamente atingiram notoriedade com o seu álbum de estreia God's Silence, Devil's Temptation e ainda mais com o seu álbum seguinte, editado em 2004, Dark Clouds In A Perfect Sky.
Em 2006, no entanto, a tragédia atinge os Elis. A sua vocalista Sabine Dünser morre aos 29 anos vítima de uma hemorragia cerebral.
Os Elis editam o seu terceiro trabalho em homenagem a Sabine que já havia gravado todas as partes vocais do álbum, e partem para uma nova vida procurando uma nova vocalista, mas mantendo o nome da banda, o que caiu mal junto de muitos fãs.
A escolha recaiu em Sandra Schleret, que eu já conhecia do seu trabalho nos austriacos Dreams Of Sanity (extintos em 2003).
Em 2007, o EP Show Me the Way, marcou a estreia de Sandra nos álbuns dos Elis e em 2009 a banda lançou o seu mais recente trabalho, Catharsis.
Penso que, apesar do esforço, a banda e especialmente os fãs, ainda não ultrapassaram a perda de Sabine, e por isso os trabalhos mais recente não atingiram no mercado, o nível dos primeiros trabalhos, mas fico a aguardar com curiosidade o próximo álbum.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Suiça - Metal para (quase) todos os gostos
Li algures um comentário que traduzido dizia "não sabia que folclore e metal juntos podiam soar tão bem". O comentário era sobre os Eluveitie, e eu subscrevo por inteiro.
Ouvi Samael em 1996, o álbum Passage, mas nessa altura ainda não estava com os horizontes muito alargados em termos de Metal, não gostei muito. Quando ouvi de novo ao preparar esta crónica, fiquei com a sensação que devia revisitar a minha opinião sobre estes veteranos do Heavy helvético.
Mais uma prova que o Symphonic Metal com voz feminina está a dar cartas na Europa. Os Lunatica são a prova disso. Não são os Epica mas ouvem-se muito bem.
De salientar também os recém-formados Triptykon, herdeiros dos lendários Celtic Frost, uma das bandas mais antigas do Trash Metal. Aqui fica o vídeo, apesar de não ser som que eu aprecie muito.
Ouvi Samael em 1996, o álbum Passage, mas nessa altura ainda não estava com os horizontes muito alargados em termos de Metal, não gostei muito. Quando ouvi de novo ao preparar esta crónica, fiquei com a sensação que devia revisitar a minha opinião sobre estes veteranos do Heavy helvético.
Mais uma prova que o Symphonic Metal com voz feminina está a dar cartas na Europa. Os Lunatica são a prova disso. Não são os Epica mas ouvem-se muito bem.
De salientar também os recém-formados Triptykon, herdeiros dos lendários Celtic Frost, uma das bandas mais antigas do Trash Metal. Aqui fica o vídeo, apesar de não ser som que eu aprecie muito.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)