Lifelover: Sjukdom (2011)

Rating: 5/10


Sjukdom is the first disappointment of 2011. And it's a huge one. I'm not sure what has really happened here, but it's really impossible to believe that this is the same band which gave us the amazing Konkurs 3 years ago. No more breathtaking moments, no more rabbits out of the hat. Most of the songs are extremely weak, with uninspired riffs and bad vocals, and the only good moments are the piano and guitar melodies on slower and more atmospheric pieces like Bitterljuv Kakofoni and Instrumental Asylum.

Identity crisis? Writer's block? I'm not sure, but if the band wants to keep their status in high levels Sjukdom should be their last mistake. The next one will be fatal.



(Originally written by emperorsakis for rateyourmusic.com)


www.lifelover.se/
www.myspace.com/lifeloverband

Funeral for a Friend: Welcome Home Armageddon! (2011)

Rating: 5/10


I didn't know what to expect from this album. For me Funeral for a Friend is a band with mediocre albums but with a few excellents songs. The The Young and Defenceless E.P. is their more solid and well composed efford to date and created great expectations for the new album. On the other hand, the first single, Front Row Seats to the End of the World was easily one of the worst songs I've heard during the last 10 years.

Anyway, what I hate more than bad songs, are songs that enter with great melodies and riffs but get ruined by ridiculous  emo/cheesy vocal lines and choruses. And Welcome Home Armageddon! is full of this kind of songs. Spinning Over the Island is a good example: a cool intro, cool riffs and a cool bridge until the really annoying, typical FFAF, chorus destroys the whole song.
I really don't get it... they can compose songs like Damned If You Do, Dead If You Don’t, they throw out cool songs from the E.P. like Serpents In Solitude and Vultures, and they fill the record with bubblegums like Old Hymns and Medicated.

Welcome Home Armageddon! was their last chance for greater things and they kicked it away. A clever artwork and 3 good songs don't make a record worth buying. So until the next time...

1. This Side of Brightness: 3/10
2. Old Hymns : 3/10
3. Front Row Seats to the End of the World: 1/10
4. Sixteen: 4/10
5. Aftertaste: 7/10
6. Spinning Over the Island: 3/10
7. Man Alive: 6/10
8. Owls (Are Watching): 5/10
9. Damned If You Do, Dead If You Don’t: 9/10
10. Medicated: 4/10
11. Broken Foundation: 8/10
12. Welcome Home Armageddon: 4/10

Overal: 4,75/10 - 2.5 stars


(Originally written by emperorsakis for rateyourmusic.com)


www.ffaf.co.uk/
www.myspace.com/funeralforafriend

Devin Townsend Project: Deconstruction (2011)

Rating: 9/10

Ok, here we have it. The long awaited Deconstruction (of a Cheeseburger) album.
If I was trying to find a good sentence to describe the content of this digital recording, this sentence would be something like "Devin Townsend on drugs"... like he is not already crazy enough...

Deconstruction leaves Ki and Addicted behind, while it brings back the sound of the twisted masterpiece Ziltoid the Omniscient. And believe me Devin's new creation surpasses Ziltoid in every aspect. Deconstruction is more progressive, more symphonic, more solid, more abnormally beautiful, more bombastic, more intelligent...

The symphonic parts of the album can remind you of any possible Symphonic Metal band, from the Danny Elfman influenced parts of bands like Sonata Arctica and Nightwish (in songs like Juular and Sumeria) to the inaccessible majesty of the latest Dimmu Borgir and Septic Flesh albums. But damn, Devin can make this sound even more original and unique than I could expect! The musicianship and production are absolutely phenomenal and further discussion could be unecessary, as it would need a 10 hour clinic by Mr. Townsend himself to be analyzed...

The spirit of Strapping Young Lad is still alive... welcoming you to newly found musical universes.


(Originally written by emperorsakis for rateyourmusic.com)




http://www.hevydevy.com/

Gallows Tree: Each Eleventh Hour (2011)

Rating:  9/10

 Back in 2006, when Gallow's Tree released their first demo, half of their band members were at the age of 15. The release was really impressive but the two songs featured on that demo were completely different from each other and the band was lacking identity. So before making another step and since they are aiming higher than just releasing a few demos, the band should make a few decisions about its future.

5 years have passed and Gallow's Tree are back with a few line-up changes and a new demo under the title Each Eleventh Hour. From the first seconds of "Somewhere in Between" you can sense the change in their sound to more Progressive forms. The song enters with heavy riffs and eastern melodies showing a great improvement on the guitar work. The bass (Dinos Athanaselos) is crystal clear, technical enough and it gives all the needed boost needed for the final outcome while the new drummer (Sotiris Sfikas) is simple offering a presentation of skill and essence. The instrumental work on the songs is simply amazing and it becomes top-class when the new singer Cons Marg makes his appearance. His singing style is dynamic and emotional, bringing in mind singers like Daniel Gildenlöw. His vocal variety from clean to raspy and his growls in Somewhere in Between and Exposed are excellent as well. I really doubt that the band could find a better singer than Cons.

All three songs of the album are outstanding with many sound and tempo changes (Exposed is a good example with a style that changes from thrashy to funky), while the whole band shines during the breath-taking choruses. The songwriting is mainly influenced from bands like Pain of Salvation, Fates Warning and Conception but in such a way that the band creates a unique identity and sound. The E.P. was recorded and produced in the Lunatech Studios (where Rotting Christ recorded Aealo) and the final result is the best you can expect from a self-released recording.

Gallow's Tree are back with the best E.P. of the year so far. Everything in Each Eleventh Hour screams that this band is ready for greater things and everything is carefully done in order to serve the purpose. They have the ability, they have the will, they only need luck and support.

(Originally written by emperorsakis for www.rateyourmusic.com)



http://www.facebook.com/GallowsTreeBand
http://www.myspace.com/gallowstreeband