JUSTIN’S METAL REVIEWS W/C 29/3/10

BARREN EARTH / CURSE OF THE FED RIVER

This is a new band formed by two ex Amorphis members along with a few friends from Swallow The Sun, Moonsorrow and Kreator, so you can see form the pedigree that they are going to be a class act.

Musically their brand of Melodic Death Metal with a touch of Doom sounds similar to Opeth and Novembers Doom, which means that everyone should like them, just check out the opening title track, it has everything you could ever want, aggression, melody, great riffs, with some great keyboard touches, with plenty of dynamics and a very nice flute solo, “Our Twilight” is just as good, if not even better. The superb tracks just keep on coming as “Forlorn Waves” comes flooding out of the speakers its impossible not to get swept away by the sheer energy and emotion of the track, the mix of harsh and tuneful vocals similar to both the bands above really works well and it makes tracks like “The Cold Earth Chamber” and “The Leer” a pleasure to listen to and makes you want to hear more.

I do hope this is more than just a side project as Barren Earth really have something special to offer, if you like any of the bands mentioned above you will love Barren Earth, they also have a four track a 4 track E.P. that came out before this that is well worth getting hold of as none of the track are duplicated on this fantastic CD, this is one of the best albums so far in 2010 and I feel sure it will be in my top 10 of this year, no problem, an essential buy.

WEBSITE http://www.barrenearth.com & http://www.peaceville.com

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 54 mins + 9 ESSENTIAL TRACKS

CATHEDRAL / THE GUESSIG GAME

It’s been a long 5 years since the last Cathedral album but at last the wait is over and “The Guessing Game” is with us and thankfully it’s more of what we have come to know and love about the band and fans will be happy.

Cathedral’s Progressive Stoner / Doom Metal is unrivalled by anyone else, just listen to first proper track “Funeral Of Dreams”, yes there are influences a plenty but I can’t thank of anyone else who could write a song just like it or even come close. If you’re looking for something sounding a bit more commercial then “Painting In The Dark” fits the bill nicely with the usual quirky lyrics and a suitable great riff to match as good as “Corpsecycle” or “Urko’s Conquest”. If you like the slower paced tracks then check out the superb “Death Of An Anarchist” that starts off with a very nice acoustic bit before building slowly into a monster of a track. The title track is a short instrumental that sounds like it has come from the soundtrack of some movie and then we have the jewel in the crown, “Edwige’s Eyes” that has everything in it that we have come to know and love Cathedral for, great hook, superb lyrics and a fun loving melody.

Its good to have the guys back and even better news that this is a classic Cathedral album that I know fans will come to know and love, easily album of the week and if you’ve listened to my Pipeline Radio or HFM shows you know I have already played tracks. Listen out for: “Casket Chasers”, Ghost Galion” and “Journey’s Into Jade” which is an autobiographical song about the band.

WEBSITE http://www.cathedralcoven.com & http://wwwlnuclearblast.de

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 85 mins + 13 TRACKS