METAL REVIEWS W/C
CAGE / SCIENCE OF ANNIHILATION
I have to say that when I came across Cage in 2003, when
their Darker Than Black album came out I was well impressed and when Hell
Destroyer followed it in 2007 I was totally blow n away and thought myself, “it
doesn’t get much better than this!”, however I am proved wrong because it does
with this the bands latest blockbuster.
If you haven’t heard the band before they are in a similar
vein to Iced Earth with mid period Judas Priest thrown in for good measure and
if that doesn’t wet your appetite then nothing will but I cannot see how any
Power Metal fan could not be bowled over by the fantastic opening track “Planet
Crusher” a better opening track you could not get and that’s just for
starters. the Power chords just
keep on coming with “Scarlet Witch”, the Mercyful Fate
styled “Black River Falls” and the riff hungry “Speed Kills” that is closer to
Thrash Metal with its almost Testament like pace and bludgeoning rhythms, that
leave you stunned, like being hit by an express train.
This isn’t just another Power Metal album that will get lost
in the mass of releases, the stunning artwork will see to that, it will appeal
to Thrash fans as well and once you’ve heard it you will be hooked like me, you
may have problems getting hold of this CD but thankfully the band are selling it
through their website (link below) and you will get a free patch, so do yourself
a favour and go and buy it, well, what are you waiting
for!
WEBSITE http://www.cageheavymetal.com/
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 56 mins + 13
SCORCHING TRACKS
LAY DOWN ROTTEN / GOSPEL OF THE
WRETCHED
If you like your Death Metal, tight, brutal, aggressive and
relentless full of harmonised chords and fantastic riffs, then this new CD from
German band Lay Down Rotten is just what you’re looking
for.
Musically they are in the same vain as early Amon Amarth and if that doesn’t
wet your appetite then nothing will, opening track “Hours Of Infinity” is a fine
statement of intent that is hard to ignore, as is the riff filled “Alienating
The Wore”, not to mention the haunting guitar melody of “Beyond Damnation”, “Thy Wont Be Done”, all full of Metal
madness that don’t know the meaning of subtlety. What this album lacks in diversity or
dynamics is more than made up for in the sheer frenzy of the shredding of chords, like it was going out of
fashion, there are time when you just want wall to wall mindless riffing and that’s where this album come
in.
This album wont win any prizes for originality or creativity
but for sheer power and Metallic guitar frenzy it cant be beat, not for the
feint hearted or the casual listener but if like me you love Metal then you will
certainly get plenty of Headbanging enjoyment of
it.
WEBSITE http://www.laydownrotten.com/ & http://www.metalblade.co.uk/
DOWNLOAD
“He Who Sows Hate”
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 44 mins + 9
BRUTAL TRACKS
STEADLUR / STEADLUR
If your looking for some good time, hook laden, commercial
Rock / Metal that will have you singing along in no time flat similar to Classic
bands like Poison, Motley Crue, Aerosmith and Cheap
Trick, then you will want to buy this album.
All the tracks could easily be hit singles, the pop
sensibility and credentials of tracks like “Bumpin’”,
“My Mom Hates Me” and “Turn It Up” are impeccable and the balladesque “Angel, (On The Wrong Side Of Town” is sure to
win friends and influence people everywhere. There is nothing deep about this album,
it has no pretences or hidden agenda, its just good old fashioned Rock with a
high Metal content commerciality that just begs to be played on the radio and would sound
great coming out of car stereo in the summer with the top
down.
This is the very antithesis of the Lay Down Rotten I album I
wrote a review for and in its own right is just as viable, if not even more so,
because it has a much wider appeal and should be enjoyed for what it is, writing
and playing faultless material like this does take talent and flair and I see no
reason why it should net be rewarded by huge success, buy, sing a long and
enjoy!
WEBSITE http://www.myspace.com/steadlur &
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 36 mins + 12
LIVELY TRACKS