JUSTIN’S METAL REVIEWS W/C 4/10/10
HAIL OF BULLETS / ON DIVINE WINDS
For me Dutch band Hail Of Bullets
have the perfect combination, Death Metal coupled with stories of World War
battles, tales of bravery and infamy, this is such a powerful way of presenting
Historical events I cant see how anyone could not find this both interesting
and informative.
All the songs on this 2nd
album are taken from and around the Pacific conflict, so we have “Operation Z”,
“Guadalcanal”, “Unsung Heroes” (about Japanese POW camps) “To Bear The
Unbearable”, (about the Japanese surrender), “Tokyo Napalm Massacre” (the event
that lead to the surrender) and all this is done to a Death Metal soundtrack,
proof positive that listening to Metal can be educational. The whole thing is packaged tin a hardback
digibook and even has short explanations about the incidents that the songs are
based on, what more could you ask, well how about a free DVD of the bands
appearance at the 2008 Summer Breeze festive in Germany which is damned good
indeed.
This is a fantastic CD, educational
and entertaining at the same time, an essential purchase and well deserved of
being in your collection, you might even learn a thing or two, someone famous
once said “If we cant learn from history, we are condemned to repeat it”, lets
make sure we learn! To find out where
the title comes from, see the album info.
WEBSITE http://www.hailofbullets.com
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 52 mins + 12
HISTORICAL TRACKS
RAUNCHY / A DISCORD ELECTRIC
To misquote Wiulliam, “There is something Rocking in the state of
It was 2001 when their debut album came out and the band haven’t looked
back since, the bands sound owes as much to 80’sband like Depeche Mode and Aha
as it does to say Trivium or Metallica and somehow they fuse the two into a
coherent, workable accord and not a discord as the title suggests. As
soon as “Dim The Lights And Run” comes out of the speakers you cant help but
warm to the excellent song, catchy and memorable but with enough driving riffs
to keep the most ardent Metal fan happy, “Night Prty” and “Street Emperor” are
just as good and the gruff singing on the verses juxtaposes really well with
the tight harmonies of the chorus.
Overall this is a very fine CD that owes it sound to a lot a diverse
bands and helps Raunchy cave their own niche in the Metal market, every track
on this fine CE would sound great coming out of a radio near you and deserves
to be heard by everyone.
WEBSITE http://www.rauncchy.dk
TTOTAL PLAYING TIME = 65 + 12 SCROCHING TRACKS
KILLING JOKE / ABSO.LUTE DISSENTION
Post Punk band Killing Joke released their first album 30 years ago
while nearly all their contemporaries have long since gone by the wayside apart
form a few years in the wilderness the band have consistently put out good
albums and this one is no exception.
The secret to the bands longevity has got to be their diverse influences
that keep their music interesting and current, that and the unyielding, biting,
political and social commentary that is present throughout all their lyrics,
their Punk roots are still evident but so are many other forms of Rock / Metal
and Reggae, their brand of driving riffs coupled with Jez Coleman’s unique
vocal delivery make the band instantly recognisable, you couldn’t mistake
lumbering, riff filled giant that is “The Great Cull” or the more Melodic
“Endgame” and the synth driven “European Super State” that has as much to in
common with say mid period Tangerine Dream as it does with Fear Factory.
The superb “Here Comes The Singularity” is a fore to be reckoned with but what
is the personal favourite on this album from the Man Of Metal, well is has to
be the Dub flavoured brilliance of the final track “Ghost of Ladbroke Grove”,
hard to believe I know but it’s the truth.
If you have ever liked Killing Joke in the past you will love the new
album, go on get a copy and be prepared to be totally stunned like I was.
WEBSITE http://www.myspace.com/killingjokeofficial
TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 64 mins + 12 BLISTERING TRACKS