VNV Nation - The Great Divide EP

It looks like the release date for VNV Nation’s latest release, The Great Divide EP, is now just over a month away. Currently, the release date appears to be around early March (it had previously been set for February 12, 2010). The lead track, The Great Divide, originally appears on the last album, Of Faith, Power And Glory.

The EP will also include alternate versions and remixes by several other artists, of songs from the last album, as well as unreleased tracks. Michal Karcz has produced the artwork for the EP.

There is also  a promo video for the lead track, The Great Divide, that has  been put together by Crazy Clip TV, featuring footage filmed during the recent European Tour.

Keep your eyes out for other, extended and enhanced, re-releases including various extras and a new album in the pipeline for possible release in 2010.

Check out this real clear fan live footage of The Great Divide from Philadelphia 19/07/09.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezSzvARGiTY]

VNV Nation Official Homepage - http://www.vnvnation.com/

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Invasion – The Master Alchemist

Track listing:

1. Follow The Smoke
2. Conjure War
3. Alchemy
4. Spells Of Deception
5. Rainbows
6. Cursed Treasure
7. Kings
8. Moongazer
9. Invasion
10. Evil Forest
11. Six Red Wizards
12. Chaos & The Ancient Night

Invasion are a three-piece heavy metal band from London, England. Consisting of Marek Steven (guitar), Zel Kaute (drums) and Chantal Brown (vocals). This albums takes the sounds of early Black Sabbath and mixes it with the intensity of thrash, a dose of the psychedelics and a major toke of female soul heavy vocals.

With fantasy lyrics, a three stringed guitar and a drummer who sets their kit on fire, it sounds like a winning combination to me. Death to False Metal!!!

Reviewed at:

The Music Fix - http://www.themusicfix.co.uk/content/review/6904/invasion.html

I Like Music - http://www.ilikemusic.com/rock/Invasion_The_Master_Alchemist-7960

The Quietus - http://thequietus.com/articles/03166-invasion-the-master-alchemist-album-review

MusicOHM - http://www.musicomh.com/albums/invasion_1109.htm

NME - http://www.nme.com/reviews/invasion/10867

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKxXIyHKBzQ]

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9BHUtdMWhk]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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White Wizzard - Over The Top Video Released

The track is a teaser for the soon to be released album "Over The Top", White Wizzard’s follow-up to the "High Speed GTO" mini-album. The new album will be released on February 8 in Europe and March 9 in the U.S. by Earache Records.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfnIBnz2_zw]

http://www.myspace.com/whitewizzard

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Dark Fortress - Hirundineans Video Released

As previously posted http://newmusicexcess.wordpress.com/2010/01/15/dark-fortress-ylem/, Dark Fortress have a new album out, Ylem.

Check out the just released video for the track ‘Hirundineans’. CRANK IT UP!!!!!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x401frOxlAM]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Decibel – The Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums Of The Decade

I was a bit late off the mark on this one, but my Special Collectors Edition of Decibel: The Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums Of The Decade only arrived yesterday. So here is their Top 100:

1. Converge – Jane Doe (Equal Vision 2001)
   
2. Cave In – Jupiter (Hydra Head 2000)
3. Opeth – Blackwater Park (Koch 2001)
4. Isis – Oceanic (Ipecac 2002)
5. Mastodon – Remission (Relapse 2002)
6. Katatonia – Last Fair Deal Gone Down (Peaceville 2001)
7. Queens Of The Stone Age – Songs For The Deaf (Interscope 2002)
8. Iron Maiden – Brave New World (Columbia 2000)
9. Pig Destroyer – Phantom Limb (Relapse 2007)
10. Electric Wizard – Dopethrone (Rise Above 2000)
11. Torche – Meanderthal (Hydra Head 2008)
12. Discordance Axis – The Inalienable Dreamless (Hydra Head 2000)
13. Baroness – Blue Record (Relapse 2009)
14. Napalm Death – Enemy Of The Music Business (Dream Catcher 2000)
15. Pelican – The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw (Hydra Head 2005)
16. The Red Chord – Clients (Metal Blade 2005)
17. Converge – Axe To Fall (Epitaph 2009)
18. Neurosis – A Sun That Never Sets (Relapse 2001)
19. Melt-Banana – Cell Scape (A-Zap 2003)
20. Agalloch – Ashes Against The Grain (The End 2006)
21. Enslaved – Isa (Candlelight 2004)
22. Tragedy – Tragedy (Tragedy 2000)
23. Fugazi – The Argument (Dischord 2001)
24. Mare – Mare EP (Hydra Head 2004)
25. Celtic Frost – Monotheist (Century Media 2006)
26. Jesu – Silver EP (Hydra Head 2006)
27. High On Fire – Surrounded By Thieves (Relapse 2002)
28. Dimmu Borgir – Death Cult Armageddon (Nuclear Blast 2003)
29. The Dillinger Escape Plan – Miss Machine (Relapse 2004)
30. Andrew W.K. – I Get Wet (Island 2001)
31. Mastodon – Leviathan (Relapse 2004)
32. Craft – Fuck The Universe (Carnal 2005)
33. Isis – Panopticon (Ipecac 2004)
34. Anaal Nathrakh – The Codex Necro (Mordgrimm 2001)
35. Shellac – 1000 Hurts (Touch & Go 2000)
36. Witchcraft – Witchcraft (Rise Above / Music Cartel 2004)
37. Killswitch Engage – Alive Or Just Breathing (Roadrunner 2001)
38. Pig Destroyer – Prowler In The Yard (Relapse 2001)
39. Converge – You Fail Me (Epitaph 2004)
40. Deathspell Omega – Fas – Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum (Ajna 2007)
41. Primordial – The Gathering Wilderness (Metal Blade 2005)
42. Opeth – Ghost Reveries (Roadrunner 2005)
43. Nile – Annihilation Of The Wicked (Relapse 2005)
44. Watain – Sworn To The Dark (Ajna 2007)
45. Between The Buried And Me – Alaska (Victory 2005)
46. Evoken – Quietus (Avantgarde 2001)
47. Electric Wizard – Witchcult Today (Rise Above 2007)
48. Mastodon – Blood Mountain (Reprise 2006)
49. Arsis – A Celebration Of Guilt (Willowtip 2004)
50. The Dillinger Escape Plan – Ire Works (Relapse 2007)
51. Ludicra – Fex Urbis, Lex Orbis (Alternative Tentacles 2006)
52. At The Drive-In – Relationship Of Command (Grand Royal / Virgin 2000)
53. Isis – Celestial (Escape Artist 2000)
54. Jesu – Jesu (Hydra Head 2004)
55. Enslaved – Below The Lights (The End 2003)
56. Cult Of Luna – Somewhere Along The Highway (Earache 2006)
57. High On Fire – Death Is This Communion (Relapse 2007)
58. Disfear – Live The Storm (Relapse 2008)
59. Dying Fetus – Destroy The Opposition (Relapse 2000)
60. Napalm Death – Time Waits For No Slave (Century Media 2009)
61. Deftones – White Pony (Maverick 2000)
62. Botch – An Anthology Of Dead Ends EP (Hydra Head 2002)
63. Converge – No Heroes (Epitaph 2006)
64. Hatebreed – Perseverance (Universal 2002)
65. Withered – Memento Mori (Lifeforce 2005)
66. Leviathan – Tentacles Of Whorror (Moribund 2004)
67. Meshuggah – Catch 33 (Nuclear Blast 2005)
68. Thorns – Thorns (Moonfog 2001)
69. Rotten Sound – Murderworks (Death Vomit 2002)
70. Trap Them – Seizures In Barren Praise (Deathwish 2008)
71. Deathevokation – The Chalice Of Ages (Xtreem Music 2007)
72. Nachtmystium – Assassins: Black Meddle, Part I (Century Media 2008)
73. Immortal – Sons Of Northern Darkness (Nuclear Blast 2002)
74. Nasum – Human 2.0 (Relapse 2000)
75. Fucked Up – Hidden World (Jade Tree 2006)
76. Neurosis – Given To The Rising (Neurot 2007)
77. Taint – The Ruin Of Nova Roma (Rise Above 2005)
78. System Of A Down – Toxicity (American 2001)
79. Akercocke – Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone (Earache 2005)
80. Warhorse – As Heaven Turns To Ash (Southern Lord 2001)
81. Mayhem – Chimera (Season Of Mist 2004)
82. Gojira – From Mars To Sirius (Listenable 2005)
83. Drowningman – How They Light Cigarettes In Prison EP (Revelation 2000)
84. Pig Destroyer – Terrifyer (Relapse 2004)
85. Watain – Casus Luciferi (Drakkar 2003)
86. Killswitch Engage – The End Of Heartache (Roadrunner 2004)
87. Psyopus – Ideas Of Reference (Black Market Activities 2004)
88. The Haunted – The Haunted Made Me Do It (Earache 2000)
89. Cryptopsy – …And Then You’ll Beg (Century Media 2000)
90. Asunder – Works Will Come Undone (Profound Lore 2006)
91. Godflesh – Hymns (Koch 2001)
92. Cathedral – Endtyme (Earache 2001)
93. The Paper Chase – Now You Are One Of Us (Kill Rock Stars 2006)
94. Decapitated – Nihility (Earache 2002)
95. Coalesce – Ox (Relapse 2009)
96. In Flames – Clayman (Nuclear Blast 2000)
97. Battle Of Mice – A Day Of Nights (Neurot 2006)
98. Cobalt – Gin (Profound Lore 2009)
99. My Dying Bride – The Dreadful Hours (Peaceville 2001)
100. Slayer – World Painted Blood (American 2009)

 http://decibelmagazine.com

http://store.decibelmagazine.com/collections/holiday-specials/products/top-100-albums-of-the-decade-special-issue

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Terrorizer – Top Ten Essential Hardcore Albums Of The Decade

As part of Terrorizer’s Secret History #2 souvenir issue, they included a Top Ten Essential Hardcore Albums Of The Decade on p23. Trapped Under Ice’s 2009 release, “Secrets Of The World”, was the most recent  release to make the list. Here is the complete list:

Converge - “Jane Doe” (Equal Vision 2001)

Hatebreed - “Perserverance” (Universal 2002)

Fucked Up - “Hidden World” (Jade Tree 2006)

The Dillinger Escape Plan - “Miss Machine” (Relapse 2004)

Terror - “Lowest Of The Low” (Bridge Nine 2003)

Killswitch Engage - “Alive Or Just Breathing” (Roadrunner 2002)

Shadows Fall - “Of One Blood” (Century Media 2000)

Throwdown - “Haymaker” (Trustkill 2003)

Sworn Enemy - “As Real As It Gets” (Stillborn 2003)

Trapped Under Ice - “Secrets Of The World” (Reaper 2009)

Reference links:

Terrorizer - http://www.terrorizer.com/frontpage

Terrorizer’s Secret History #2 - http://www.terrorizer.com/decadesrow

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Mantra – In Vain

Track listing

1. Captivating Solitude
2. Mannefall
3. Ain't No Lovin'
4. On The Banks Of The Mississippi
5. Circle Of Agony
6. Wayakin (The Guardian Spirit Of The Nez Perce)
7. Dark Prophets, Black Hearts
8. Sombre Fall, Burdened Winter

On In Vain’s second album, Mantra, the band in my opinion have captured a complete listening experience. I would strongly suggest setting aside enough time to listen to the album all the way through, in a single sitting, as listening to individual tracks or part of the album does not get the full effect. The album has very high production values and has a wonderful crushing sound when the band go full tilt. However, amidst the bands effortless combination and execution of Black, Doom and Progressive Metal are bluegrass/folk and some of the most wonderfully melodic phrases I have heard on an extreme metal album. If you are in the UK/Europe and have a membership, you can check it out on Spotify.

Reviewed at:

Sputnikmusic - http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=34513

Noisecreep - http://www.noisecreep.com/2010/01/20/in-vain-mantra-album-art-of-the-week/

Encyclopaedia Metallum - http://www.metal-archives.com/review.php?id=259208

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKyQ54iVPBY]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Owl City – Fireflies

Owl City’s single, Fireflies, has made #1 in the UK singles chart. The song had been released as download on January 8th 2010 and on the 24th January, 2010 the song climbed to #1 on download sales alone, as the CD single is not due to be released in the UK until February 22, 2010.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psuRGfAaju4]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Hot Chip – One Life Stand

The Guardian have the imminent Hot Chip release One Life Stand streaming from their site  on the following page. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/jan/25/hot-chip-one-life-stand

However, if you are outside of the UK you will only get extracts.

The album is due for release next week.

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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RetroBlog: Now That’s What I Call Memories ‘79

On Saturday morning we were having a discussion, over breakfast, about favourite years for music. A very popular discussion between myself and my wife. I have a specific fondness for 1979, of which I am noted for, my wife prefers a wider range of years. Consequently, we both ended up composing a list of 20 favourite singles from  1979, being of an age when we both around 15-years-old. Although, we do have overlapping musical tastes, I think we were more interested in the possible differences owning to the fact that I am from the UK, while my wife is from Canada.

While we put together our lists the discussion moved to the selection criteria and it became apparent that to repeat the process for other years may result in different criteria based on the environment the music was listened to in a particular year. But, would it be possible to come up with a selection criteria that could then be applied to other years even if the particular ‘listening situation’ might not have occurred?

For example, in 1979, I was taping my favourite stuff of the radio in the UK using the Top 40 chart rundown on a Sunday evening. In putting together my 1979 list I wanted to ensure that I adopted a method for selection which I felt would both prevent me from missing some things forgotten in the mists of time and encompass the selection restraints due to taping the tracks of the radio.

So, I started of with a list of UK chart singles released that year, working on the assumption that I would have only heard them on the top 40 chart show on a Sunday night. I then took out all the stuff I did not like, then all the stuff I did not like at the time, and then selected my favourite track by an artist if there was more than one release in that year.

At this point I had something in the region of 30 singles, to get that down to 20 took some work. To help this process I then tried to think about which tracks I was really sure I had recorded to tape at the time. I then got down to 25, so to remove 5 from the list I had to think about which were my least favourites and possible had unconsciously grown on me over the years. Here is my list of 20 I ended up with, in no particular order:

"Heart of Glass" - Blondie
"Cars" - Gary Numan
"Boys Keep Swinging" - David Bowie 
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" - Queen    
"The Eton Rifles" - The Jam  
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" - ABBA
"Girls Talk" - Dave Edmunds     
"Hold the Line" - Toto
"Into the Valley" - The Skids
"Just What I Needed" - The Cars  
"London Calling" - The Clash 
"Lucky Number" - Lene Lovich
"Milk and Alcohol" - Dr. Feelgood
"My Sharona" - The Knack
"Oliver's Army" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
"Parisienne Walkways" - Gary Moore
"Since You Been Gone" - Rainbow   
"Sultans of Swing" - Dire Straits  
"The Sound of the Suburbs" - The Members   
"Waiting for an Alibi" - Thin Lizzy 

“What, no Police”, you cry. Well, my brother liked them at the time. So, come on, you can’t like the same band a sibling likes. Where’s the confrontation in that! Speaking of confrontation, here is my wife’s list, based on some inscrutable selection criteria I suspect:

“Rock Lobster” - B-52s
“Video Killed the Radio Star” – Buggles
“Chuck E.’s in Love” - Rickie Lee Jones
“Cars” - Gary Numan
“Don’t Do Me Like That” - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
“Roxanne” (re-released 79) – Police
“Brass in Pocket” – Pretenders
“Message to You Rudy” – Specials
“Making Plans for Nigel” – XTC
“I Want You to Want Me” - Cheap Trick
“I Will Survive” - Gloria Gaynor
“Heart of Glass” – Blondie
“Cruel to Be Kind” - Nick Lowe
“Is She Really Going Out with Him” - Joe Jackson
“Sultans of Swing” (re-released 79) - Dire Straits
“Rock with You” - Michael Jackson
“We Are Family” - Sister Sledge
“Renegade” – Styx
“My Sharona” – The Knack
“Goodbye Stranger” – Supertramp

So, hopefully, this leads on to a, sort of, “New Music” aspect of the post. What singles would I select if I was taping chart music of the to 40 chart show in 2009? How could I draw up a top 20 favourites list, when I don’t really listen to that much chart music, well, not like I did in 1979.

The only way I can think of emulating the process is to go through the UK Top 40 single lists for 2009 http://www.everyhit.com/, remove all the stuff I don’t like, all the duplicates, and imagine that I was consigning it to tape. What would warrant me sitting in front of the tape deck and tuner and pressing record and pause at the appropriate points over the course of several weeks. So here goes…. A day later…. Ta-da!:

“Omen” – Prodigy
“I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris” – Morrissey
“Halo” – Beyonce
“Juggernaughts” – Enter Shikari
“Ignorance” – Paramore
“Kids” – MGMT
“Farewell To The Fairground” – White Lies
“Daniel” – Bat For Lashes
“Poker Face” – Lady Gaga
“I Kissed A Girl” – Katy Perry
“Sweet Disposition” – The Temper Trap
“Rock It” - Sub Focus
“Run” – Leona Lewis
“In For The Kill” – La Roux
“Beautiful” – Eminem
“Papillon” – Editors
“I Remember” – Deadmau5 + Kaskade
“That Golden Rule” – Biffy Clyro
“Kings And Queens” – 30 Seconds To Mars
“Take Me To The Hospital” – Prodigy

Mmmm. I think there may have been a massive FAIL with regards to new music.

OK. So I did go against my rule of removing duplicates, well, just in the case of The Prodigy. I think a major contributing factor to this was the lack of anything else that really made me go, WOW! Unfortunately, a large percentage of singles, regardless of musical genre, seemed to sound like winey adolescents who’s major life trauma was that their mum had forgot to wash their sports kit.

Also, “ENOUGH ALREADY WITH THE VOCODER!!!” I’m a big Battlestar Galactica fan, but, sounding like a Cylon all the time is not cool. Very few bands can actually make voice processing sound cool, the Prodigy being one.

Someone, take me to the hospital. Please!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncaNlxvTFzg]

Links:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1979/

http://www.everyhit.com/

http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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RetroBlog: Decapitated

Owing to the fact that the most excellent Polish Technical Death Metal band Decapitated are due to tour the UK in February and certain extreme music posts on the blog are picking up a large number of vistors from Polish metal sites (Jak się masz?), I felt it timely to do a post about the band, celebrating their awesome musical prowess.

The band was formed in 1996 by Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (guitar), his brother Witold "Vitek" Kiełtyka (drums) and Wojciech "Sauron" Wąsowicz (vocals). At that time the average age of the members was 14, with Viteck a mere 12-year-old. A year on 13-year-old bassist Marcin "Martin" Rygiel joined.

Following the release of a couple of demos, the band signed with Wicked World, a subsidiary of Earache Records.  In 2000 the band released their debut album, Winds of Creation. It is important to remember that at the time of the recording Winds of Creation the band were still relatively young. Vitek and Martin were around 15, while Vogg and Sauron were around 18, which is hard to believe when you hear the technicality of the playing. In 2002 they released Nihility and in 2004 The Negation. In 2005 "Sauron" was replaced by Adrian "Covan" Kowanek, with the band's fourth album, Organic Hallucinosis, being released in 2006.

Sadly, Vitek died at the age of 23 on the 2nd November 2007 of injuries he sustained from a road accident on 28th October 28 2007. Vocalist Covan survived the accident, but subsequently slipped into a coma. These tragic events forced what remained of the band into hiatus. Vogg later decided to continue and subsequently reformed Decapitated during 2009, with Kerim "Krimh" Lechner (drums), Rafał Piotrowski (vocals) and Filip "Heinrich" Hałucha (bass).

The UK Tour dates co-headlining with Kataklysm are as follows:

• 01 Feb - UK - Birmingham - 02 Academy 2
• 02 Feb - UK - Glasgow - Ivory Blacks
• 03 Feb - UK - Manchester - Moho Live
• 04 Feb - UK - Bristol - Blerkeller
• 05 Feb - UK - Reading - Sub89
• 06 Feb - UK - Leeds - Rios
• 07 Feb - UK - Wrexham - Central Station
• 08 Feb - UK - London - 02 Academy Islington (without Kataklysm)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvzfVrq-g3M]

 

So, fingers crossed, here’s hoping for a new album this summer.

R.I.P. Vitek

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Fever Ray – Fever Ray

Track listing:

1. If I Had a Heart
2. When I Grow Up
3. Dry and Dusty
4. Seven
5. Triangle Walks
6. Concrete Walls
7. Now's the Only Time I Know
8. I'm Not Done
9. Keep the Streets Empty for Me
10. Coconut

The creepy electronic tones on Karin Elisabeth Dreijer Andersson’s debut, Fever Ray, makes me think of a Doom Metal band that’s gone synthpop. I hear all sorts of musical reference points in both the vocals and the music as I listen to this album. A smattering of Propaganda here, a bit of Depeche Mode there, some Björk, a pinch of Katatonia, and some Kate Bush to name a few. It also takes me back to an alternative universe ‘80s era of ZTT Records, you know, around the time of Art Of Noise et al. But, in slow motion. Excellent stuff.

Reviewed at:

The Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/mar/27/fever-ray

The Onion (A.V. Club) - http://www.avclub.com/articles/fever-ray-fever-ray,25935/

Delusions of Adequacy - http://www.adequacy.net/2009/04/fever-ray-fever-ray/

Pop Matters - http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/71581-fever-ray-fever-ray/

Pitchfork - http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12845-fever-ray/

Drowned In Sound - http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14201/reviews/4136379

New Musical Express - http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14201/reviews/4136379

musicOHM - http://www.musicomh.com/albums/fever-ray_0209.htm

Tiny Mix Tapes - http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/fever-ray-fever-ray

Slant Magazine - http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/fever-ray-fever-ray

All Music Guide - http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jnfrxzykld6e~T1

Dot Music - http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/090401/33/220xz.html

Prefix Magazine - http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/090401/33/220xz.html

Cokemachineglow - http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/4328/feverray-feverray-2009

Dusted Magazine - http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/4859

Boston Globe - http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2009/04/13/fever_ray_fever_ray/

Blender - http://www.blender.com/guide/new/77143/fever-ray.html

Spin - http://www.spin.com/reviews/fever-ray-fever-ray-mute

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HvjK29Gpn0]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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The Guardian – Unsettling Songs

As part of the Readers Recommend blog, The Guardian have been running an “unsettling songs” poll for readers of the blog. For the past week they have turned their attention to songs that ‘push you out of your comfort zone’. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/jan/14/readers-recommend-unsettling-songs

After a week they followed this up with a post about the final 10 which were split roughly between songs with unsettling music and those with unsettling lyrics. Here is a list of the final 10 mentioned in the post http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jan/21/readers-recommend-unsettling-songs:

‘Clara’ – Scott Walker [‘The Drift’, 2006]
’If I Had A Heart’ – Fever Ray [‘Fever Ray’, 2009]
’Gwely Mernans’ – Aphex Twin [‘drukQs’, 2001]
’We Hate You’ – Throbbing Gristle [7” Single, 1979. CD of ‘D.o.A: The Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle’] ’Free Jazz’ – Ornette Coleman [‘Free Jazz’, 2001]
’Mack The Knife’ - Bertolt Brecht [‘The Threepenny Opera’, 1928/1929]
’The Kids’ – Lou Reed [‘Berlin’, 1973]
’In Germany Before The War’ - Randy Newman [‘Little Criminals’, 1977]
’Killing Jar’ - Richard Thompson [‘Invisible Means’ - French Frith Kaiser Thompson, 1990] 
‘Jugband Blues’- Syd Barrett [‘A Saucerful of Secrets, 1968]

I would say, enjoy! But, maybe not.

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Shining - Blackjazz

Track listing:

CD version
1. The Madness And The Damage Done
2. Fisheye
3. Exit Sun
4. Exit Sun
5. HEALTER SKELTER
6. The Madness And The Damage Done
7. Blackjazz Deathtrance
8. Omen
9. 21st Century Schizoid Man

 

 

 

LP version
Side A
1. The Madness and the Damage Done
2. Fisheye
3. Exit Sun
4. Exit Sun
Side B
1. HEALTER SKELTER
2. The Madness and the Damage Done
3. Blackjazz Deathtrance
Side C
1. Omen
2. 21st Century Schizoid Man
Side D
1. Fisheye [Extended Version]
2. RMGDN

With so many boundaries crossed and new sounds on this album, I thought my brain would explode with intense musical pleasure. I cannot begin to explain who this band even sound like as there are so many musical reference points and any comparison would do no justice. If you like music that challenges the norm then check them out, if not, then stay well away, you’ll hate it.

Reviewed at:

No Ripcord - http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/shining/blackjazz

The Omega Order - http://www.theomegaorder.com/SHINING-NOR-Blackjazz

Blistering.com - http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/18229/tempidx/4/menuid/2

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqn2QMD3ZSE]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Slayer Announce Rescheduled UK Dates

The rescheduled dates for Slayer’s 2010 UK Tour are:

May 26th – Leeds O2 Academy
May 27th – Glasgow Barrowland
May 29th – Birmingham O2 Academy
May 30th -  Manchester O2 Academy
May 31st -  Nottingham Rock City
June 2nd – London HMV Forum 
June 3rd – London HMV Forum

They will also be part of the Sonisphere bill which runs from 30th July to 1st August at Knebworth.

Good news for the UK, but unfortunately the dates rescheduled in Halifax, NS, Canada have now been cancelled. So, looks like I will have to wait for my dose of Slayer.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rt-_BwCPxo]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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UUVVWWZ - UUVVWWZ

Track listing:

1. Berry Can
2. Shark Suit
3. Japdad
4. Neolano
5. Castle
6. Green Starred Sleeve
7. Trapezeus
8. The Sun
9. Hum Jam

Ahh, angular art punk. Listening to this album made me want to seek out a bit of X-Ray Spex, Bow Wow Wow or Lene Lovich. Not that they sound exactly like any of those bands/artists, it’s just something about certain songs reminded me of that quirky screechy singing that both employ. But, then the next minute they have a riff that makes me think of Black Sabbath. Also, the band actually has an explanation of how to say the name on their web site.  http://www.uuvvwwz.com/

Reviewed at:

No Ripcord - http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/uuvvwwz/uuvvwwz

All Music Guide - http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kjfpxz90ldje~T1

musicOMH.com - http://www.musicomh.com/albums/uuvvwwz_0809.htm

Pitchfork - http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13250-uuvvwwz/

PopMatters - http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/110333-uuvvwwz-uuvvwwz/

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HazWajdi_K0]

Oh, eh, ah, oh! I’ve found some Lene Lovich!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjHBgrVBrNI]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Terrorizer – The Top 40 Albums Of 2009 – Critics Choice

Looks like the blog is getting extreme music heavy, well, nothing wrong with that.

I have just got the January issue of Terrorizer mailed from the UK to Canada, and it’s that time when they publish various yearly polls. One in particular, I always look forward to, is the Critics Choice Top 40.

I was thinking of also comparing the chart with their Albums of The Month for 2009 in this post, but unfortunately a couple of issues are in my ‘shipping’ goods from the UK and so somewhere on container ship in the Atlantic Ocean at this moment.

So here is just the Critics Choice for 2009, maybe I will save the ‘compare’ for another post.

1. Converge – Axe To Fall (Epitaph)
   
2. Cobalt – Gin (Profound Lore)
3. Kylesa – Static Tensions (Prosthetic)
4. Blut Aus Nord – Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue With Stars (Candlelight)
5. Napalm Death – Time waits For No Slave (Century Media)
6. Mastodon – Crack The Skye (Reprise)
7. Megadeth – Endgame (Roadrunner)
8. Agoraphobic Nosebleed – Agorapocalypse (Relapse)
9. Funeral Mist – Maranatha (Noevdia)
10. Immortal – All Shall Fall (Nuclear Blast)
11. Drudkh – Microcosmos (Season Of Mist)
12. Beherit – Engram (Spinefarm)
13. Portal – Swarth (Profound Lore)
14. Sunn O))) – Monoliths & Dimensions (Southern Lord)
15. Marduk – Wormwood (Regain)
16. Absu – Absu (Candlelight)
17. Tombs – Winter Hours (Relapse)
18. Burnt By The Sun – Heart Of Darkness (Relapse)
19. Heaven And hell – The Devil You Know (Roadrunner)
20. Anaal Nathrakh – In The Constellation Of The Black Widow (Candlelight)
21. Arckanum – ÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞ (Debemur Morti)
22. Baroness – Blue Record (Relapse)
23. Madder Mortem – Eight Ways (Peaceville)
24. The Devils Blood – The Time Of No Time Evermore (VAN)
25. Archgoat – The Light-Devouring Darkness (Blasphemous Underground)
26. Shining – VI Klagopsalmer (Osmose)
27. Candlemass – Death Magic Doom (Nuclear Blast)
28. Hacride – Lazarus (Listenable)
29. Fukpig – Spewings From A Selfish Nation (FETO)
30. Amorphis – Skyforger (Nuclear Blast)
31. Brutal Truth – Evolution Through Revolution (Relapse)
32. Grey Machine – Disconnected (Hydra Head)
33. Behemoth – Evangelion (Nuclear Blast)
34. Unanimated – In The Light Of Darkness (Regain)
35. Obscura – Cosmogenesis (Relapse)
36. Gnaw Their Tongues – All The Dread, Magnificence Of Perversity (Crucial Blast)
37. Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder (Neurot)
38. Teitanblood – Seven Chalices (Noevdia)
39. Gorgoroth – Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem (Regain)
40. Evile – Infected Nations (Earache)

Above list appears in Terrorozer Issue 192 Jan 2010 - http://www.terrorizer.com/issue/192

So, in honour of their position at #1, lets have some Converge performing ‘Darkhorse’ live.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POI177l-Ilk]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Salem – Water EP

Track listing:

1. Redlights
2. Skullcrush
3. Water
4. Whenusleep

On the Water EP it’s once again slow-it-down and spook-it-out time for Salem. John Holland’s, Heather Marlatt’s, and Jack Donoghue’s slow bass heavy electronic beats, funeral washes, fuzzed out melody lines, and ghostly vocals brings to mind the soundtrack to a John Carpenter movie played at the wrong speed. Actually, it’s rather like the Halloween soundtrack gone all shoegaze.  Perhaps the band are really fronted by Michael Myers. Funeralgaze, anyone? Remember to play with all the lights out, unless of course your name is Laurie Strode, in which case, best leave all the lights on.

More band info:

The Guardian (New Band Of The Day) - http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/dec/10/new-band-salem

Reviewed at:

Pitchfork - http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12650-yes-i-smoke-crack-ep-water-ep/

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eah5aN1JZpI]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal

I was putting together a playlist on Spotify this morning for 1983, to provide an ambience for the day.

One album that caught my eye from that year was Into Glory Ride, the second album from Manowar. So I skipped over to YouTube and checked out the video for “Gloves Of Metal” and before long I was pounding my fist on the coffee table, chanting “Leather, Metal, Spikes and Chains”, and flicking a malocchio at the cat.

So, come my “Manowarriors”, let us done our “Gloves Of Metal” and lay waste to “false metal”.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4qTi7cDtI4]

 

So where is this all leading?

As I have been rather busy this year with immigration to Canada and that it entails, I have not really had a good chance to read through last years issues of Terrorizer magazine. But now my move is complete I am starting to catch up and it appears that  things have come full circle with the advent of the so called NWOTHM (New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal) in the last year. There are a number of bands that seem to be classified under this banner:

• Powervice
• White Wizzard
• Cauldron
• RAM
• Enforcer
• H.O.D.
• Crowning Glory
• Portrait
• Celtic Legacy
• ALLTHENIKO
• Voltax
• In Solitude
• Cast Iron

Better call for the White Wizzard!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8-zehtCs7U]

Amusingly, in a side bar of Terrorizer’s Secret History #2 (the magazines special issue for the past 10 years), it has The True Ten, ten albums of this decade that sound like they’re not:

• Enforcer – Into The Night (Heavy Artillery, 2008)
• Portrait – Portrait (Iron Codex, 2008)
• In Solitude – In Solitude (High Roller, 2008)
• Widow – Nightlife (Cruz Del Sur, 2007)
• Bullet – Heading For The Top (Black Lodge Records, 2006)
• Bible Of The Devil – Freedom Metal (Cruz Del Sur, 2008)
• Slough Feg – Down Among The Dead Men (Dragonheart, 2000)
• Wolf – Black Wings (No Fashion, 2002)
• Manilla Road (Battle Cry, 2005)
• Metalucifer (Heavy Metal Bulldozer, 2009)

Although, seriously, I think this retro stuff is great as it reminds me why I got into metal way back in ‘79, basically an escape from the mundane. But, my fanatics, beware the ‘metal by numbers’.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chiVMrWMHko]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Terrorizer Critics’ Albums Of The Decade

As part of an extensive guide to extreme music in 2000-2009, the recently issued, Terrorizer’s Secret History #2 includes a Top 100 Albums Of The Decade. Here is the extreme 100 in full:

1. Electric Wizard – Dopethrone (Rise Above, 2000)
   
2. Celtic Frost – Monotheist (Century Media, 2006)
3. Watain – Sworn Of The Dark (Season Of Mist, 2007)
4. Converge – Jane Doe (Equal Vision, 2001)
5. Opeth – Blackwater Park (Music For Nations, 2001)
6. Negura Bunget – Om (Code 666, 2006)
7. Deathspell Omega – Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice (Norma Evangelium Diaboli, 2004)
8. Enslaved – Ruun (Tabu, 2006)
9. Clutch – Pure Rock Fury (Atlantic, 2001)
10. Emperor – Prometheus: The Discipline Of Fire And Demise (Candlelight, 2001)
11. Immortal – Sons Of Northern Darkness (Nuclear Blast, 2002)
12. Iron Maiden – A Matter Of Life And Death (EMI, 2006)
13. Pig Destroyer – Terrifyer (Relapse, 2004)
14. Mastodon – Leviathan (Relapse, 2004)
15. Anaal Nathrakh – The Codex Necro (Mordgrimm, 2001)
16. Gojira – From Mars To Sirius (Listenable, 2005)
17. Meshuggah – Catch Thirtythree (Nuclear Blast, 2005)
18. Neurosis – A Sun That Never Sets (Relapse, 2001)
19. Primordial – To The Nameless Dead (Metal Blade, 2007)
20. Napalm Death – Enemy Of The Music Business (Dreamcatcher, 2000)
21. Isis – Oceanic (Ipecac, 2002)
22. Drudkh – Forgotten Legends (Supernal, 2003)
23. Dissection – Reinkaos (Black Horizon, 2006)
24. Motorhead – Inferno (Steamhammer/SPV, 2004)
25. Reverend Bizarre – In The Rectory Of The Bizarre Reverend (Sinister Figure, 2002)
26. Blut Aus Nord – The Work Which Transforms God (Candlelight, 2003)
27. Thorns – Thorns (Moonfog, 2001)
28. Wolf – Black Things (No Fashion, 2002)
29. Hammers Of Misfortune – The August Engine (Cruz Del Sur, 2003)
30. Hate Eternal – King Of All Kings (Earache, 2002)
31. Lightning Bolt – Ride The Skies (Load, 2001)
32. Ephel Duath – The Painters Palette (Elitist, 2003)
33. High On Fire – Death Is Communion (Relapse, 2007)
34. Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamless (Hydra Head, 2000)
35. Strapping Young Lad – Alien (Century Media, 2005)
36. Whitehouse – Bird Seed (Susan Lawley, 2003)
37. Melt-Banana – Cell Scape (A-Zap, 2003)
38. Akercocke – Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone (Earache, 2005)
39. Bloodbath – Resurrection Through Carnage (Century Media, 2002)
40. Tool – Lateralus (Zoo, 2001)
41. Nile – Black Seeds Of Vengeance (Relapse, 2000)
42. Rammstein – Mutter (UMVD, 2001)
43. Weakling – Dead As Dreams (Tumult, 2000)
44. Bolt Thrower – Those Once Loyal (Metal Blade, 2005)
45. Cynic – Traced In Air (Season Of Mist, 2008)
46. Insect Warfare – World Extermination (625 Thrash, 2007)
47. Nasum – Helvete (Relapse, 2003)
48. Behemoth – Demigod (Regain, 2004)
49. Anata – The Conductor’s Departure (Earache, 2006)
50. Entombed – Serpent Saint: The Ten Amendments (Candlelight, 2007)
51. Sunn O))) – Black One (Southern Lord, 2005)
52. Warhorse – As Heaven Turns To Ash (Southern Lord, 2001)
53. Decapitated – Organic Hallucinosis (Earache, 2006)
54. Big Business – Here Come The Waterworks (Hydrahead, 2007)
55. Warning – Watching From A Distance (The Miskatonic Foundation, 2006)
56. Dillinger Escape Plan – Miss Machine (Relapse, 2004)
57. Unsane – Visqueen (Ipecac, 2007)
58. Funeral Mist – Salvation (Norma Evangelium Diaboli, 2003)
59. Municipal Waste – Hazardous Mutation (Earache, 2005)
60. Between The Buried And Me – Colors (Victory, 2007)
61. Deicide – The Stench Of Redemption (Earache, 2006)
62. Necrophagist – Epitaph (Relapse, 2004)
63. Amorphis – Eclipse (Nuclear Blast, 2006)
64. Disfear – Live The Storm (Relapse, 2008)
65. Ensiferum – Ensiferum (Spinefarm, 2001)
66. Metallica – Death Magnetic (Warner Bros, 2008)
67. Ulver – Shadows Of The Sun (Jester, 2007)
68. Wolves In The Throne Room – Diadem Of The 12 Stars (Southern Lord, 2006)
69. Witchcraft – Firewood (Rise Above, 2005)
70. Angels Of Light – We Are Him (Young God, 2007)
71. Darkest Hour – Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation (Victory, 2003)
72. Kreator – Enemy Of God (Steamhammer/SPV, 2005)
73. Absu – Tara (Osmose, 2001)
74. Death Breath – Stinking Up The Night (Black Lodge, 2006)
75. Melechesh – Sphynx (Osmose, 2003)
76. Rotting Christ – Theogonia (Season Of Mist, 2007)
77. The Red Chord – Fused Together In Revolving Doors (Robotic Empire, 2002)
78. Melvins - (A) Senile Animal (Ipecac, 2006)
79. Torche – Meanderthal (Hydra Head, 2008)
80. Anathema – A Natural Disaster (Music For Nations, 2003)
81. Cathedral – The garden Of Unearthly Delights (Nuclear Blast, 2005)
82. Turisas – Battle Metal (Century Media, 2004)
83. Xasthur – Telepathic With The Deceased (Moribund, 2004)
84. Nightwish – Once (Nuclear Blast, 2004)
85. Paradise Lost – Paradise Lost (Gun, 2005)
86. Slough Feg – Traveller (Dragonheart, 2003)
87. Enforcer – Into The Night (Heavy Artillery, 2008)
88. Laibach – Wat (Mute, 2003)
89. Agoraphobic Nosebleed – Frozen Corpses Stuffed With Dope (Relapse, 2002)
90. Nifelheim – Servants Of Darkness (Blacksun, 2000)
91. Katatonia – The Great Cold Distance (Peaceville, 2006)
92. Dying Fetus – Stop At Nothing (Relapse, 2003)
93. Porcupine Tree – Deadwing (Lava, 2005)
94. Cryptopsy – And Then You’ll Beg (Century Media, 2000)
95. Morbid Angel – Gateways To Annihilation (Earache, 2000)
96. Boris – Pink (Caroline, 2005)
97. Sonata Arctica – Winterhearts Guild (Spinefarm, 2003)
98. Shining – V: Halmstad (Osmose, 2007)
99. Satyricon – Now, Diaboolical (Roadrunner, 2006)
100. Children Of Bodom – Hate Crew Deathroll (Spinefarm, 2003)

So, by way of celebration of their top spot in the Albums Of The Decade lets have some Electric Wizard performing “Dopethrone” live at the Damnation Festival 2009.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieo4E13m_eQ]

Links:

• Terrorizer - http://www.terrorizer.com/frontpage
• Terrorizer’s Secret History of The Decade - http://www.terrorizer.com/decadesrow

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Dark Fortress - Ylem

Track listing:

01. Ylem
02. As The World Keels Over
03. Osiris
04. Silence
05. Evenfall
06. Redivider
07. Satan Bled
08. Hirundineans
09. Nemesis
10. The Valley
11. Wraith

 

 

German black metal band Dark Fortress release their latest album, "Ylem" (Century Media Records) on the following dates:

• Germany, Austria, Switzerland: January 22
• Rest of Europe: January 25
• USA: February 9

Here are the 2 parts of the Electronic Press Kit as posted on YouTube:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv0B9jjrPZw]

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcWvVlJ_8vw]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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RetroBlog: Now That’s What I Call Memories ‘97

The year is 1997 and I was working on the CLASS Support helpline in the Accounts Office at Radio Rentals. It was my last year there and I foolishly left for a better paid job. Big mistake! However, in the grand scheme of things it ultimately led on to better things, much, much, better things. In the office we had the radio on all day and these songs that follow just remind me of those times and my friends there. It was such a cool office to work at.

• “Halo” – Texas [White On Blonde]
• “Fighting Fit” – Gene [Drawn To The Deep End]
• “Song 2” – Blur [Blur]
• “She’s A Star” – James [Whiplash]
• “Ain’t Talking ‘Bout Dub” – Apollo 440 [Electro Glide In Blue]
• “To The Moon And Back” – Savage Garden [Savage Garden]
• “Mo Money Mo Problems” – The Notorious B.I.G. [Life After Death]
• “Block Rockin’ Beats” – Chemical Brothers [Dig Your Own Hole]
• “Barrel Of A Gun” – Depeche Mode - [Ultra]
• “Everlong” – Foo Fighters [The Colour And The Shape]
• “Breathe” – Prodigy [The Fat Of The Land]
• “Only When I Sleep” – The Corrs [Talk On Corners]
• “Angels” – Robbie Williams [Life Through A Lens]
• “I’ll Be Missing You” – Puff Daddy and The Family [No Way Out]
• “Karma Police” – Radiohead [OK Computer]
• “Trust” – Megadeth [Cryptic Writings]
• “Local Boy In The Photograph” – Stereophonics [Word Gets Around]
• “The Drugs Don’t Work” – The Verve [Urban Hymns]
• “James Bond Theme (Moby’s Re-Version)” – Moby [I Like To Score]
• “Torn” – Natalie Imbruglia [Left Of Middle]

But we must not forget the new music in all of this nostalgia, so what bands have subsequently absorbed some influence from the above list:

• Texas >>> The Clicks
• Gene >>> The Boyfriends
• Blur >>> Exit Clov
• James >>> Stornoway
• Apollo 440 >>> Digitalism
• Savage Garden >>> Your Vegas
• The Notorious B.I.G. >>> D.O.E
• Chemical Brothers >>> Hybrasil
• Depeche Mode >>> Uh Huh Her
• Foo Fighters >>> Vamps
• Prodigy >>> Japanese Popstars
• The Corrs >>> Bluetree
• Robbie Williams >>> Dima Bilan
• Puff Daddy and the Family >>> Jim Jones
• Radiohead >>> Broken Records
• Megadeth >>> House Of Heavy
• Stereophonics >>> Keane >>> Heathrow Yesterdays
• The Verve >>> Delta Spirit
• Natalie Imbruglia >>> Sandrine
• Moby >>> The Angry Kids

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Delphic - Acolyte

Track listing:

1. Clarion Call
2. Doubt
3. This Momentary
4. Red Lights
5. Acolyte
6. Halcyon
7. Submission
8. Counterpoint
9. Ephemera
10. Remain

Recycling and reimagining the best of New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Bloc Party and Klaxons, the debut Acolyte sees Delphic present their take on merging club-floor filler music and indie. Placed in the Top 5 of the BBC Sound of 2010 list, it’s not difficult to see why the band did well and why they should continue to do so. They seem to capture a certain mood that reflects the current pop music zeitgeist.

Reviewed at:

Scotsman - http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Album-review-Delphic--Acolyte.5969910.jp

musicOHM - http://www.musicomh.com/albums/delphic_0110.htm

The Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jan/07/delphic-acolyte-cd-review

The Independent - http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-delphic-acolyte-polydor-1856721.html

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxgeTrku6zE]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Esben and the Witch – 33 EP

Track listing:
1. (abstract)
2. Eumenides
3. Marching Song
4. About This Peninsula
5. Corridors
“Marching Song” makes you think how cool it would have been if Siouxsie had fronted Bat For Lashes playing interpretations of Bauhaus songs, but then you think, actually no, Esben and the Witch are so much more than that comparison, and actually much more sinister sounding than any of those. On the track “Corridors”, there is sound like metallic-winged bats fluttering. Turn in, tune in, and hide under the sheets! The bats, the bats, the bats are coming….   mummy!
The great news is that the  33 EP is now free to download at: http://www.esbenandthewitch.co.uk/
Reviewed at:
Hydragenic - http://www.hydragenic.com/2009/09/08/esben_the_witch_33_ep/
[sic]Magazine - http://www.sicmagazine.net/articles/429/esben-the-witch-33

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4-wwnPksTg]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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BBC Sound of 2010

With the start of 2010 it’s no surprise to find a whole raft of “Artists to Watch” lists published, so lets take a look at what’s in the BBC’s crystal ball.

This is the eighth year that the BBC have run their Sound of… list. If you are not familiar with how the list is arrived at, details of how it’s put together can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8388117.stm 

With the list of the ‘tastemakers’ here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8386514.stm

First, here is the ‘long list’. It’s made up of the 15 acts with the most votes:

• Daisy Dares You
• Delphic
• Devlin
• The Drums
• Everything Everything
• Giggs
• Gold Panda
• Ellie Goulding
• Hurts
• Joy Orbison
• Marina and the Diamonds
• Owl City
• Rox
• Stornoway
• Two Door Cinema Club

The top five were ranked and revealed in reverse order in the week commencing 4 January 2010, one act was named each day until the winner was revealed on 8 January.

Each act from the top five was  featured on the BBC News website entertainment section, and BBC 6 Music featured the top five artists with live sessions and interviews on Lauren Laverne's show and online.

The final top 5 are:

1. Ellie Goulding
2. Marina and the Diamonds
3. Delphic
4. Hurts
5. The Drums

More information about the list and the acts, can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/entertainment/2009/sound_of_2010/default.stm

So, looks like all eye’s are on Miss Goulding then…… no pressure.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVAy87yJcBY]

*cough*- Bat For Lashes+Lilly Allen

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Artists To Watch 2010: Ellie Goulding

 

Info:

• Singer-Songwriter, born in December 1986, Hereford, England.
• Writing songs since she was 14.
• Genre(s): Folktronica, Indie pop, Electropop, Synthpop.
• First live show: University talent show.
• Next gig: UK tour starts 25th March 2010 @ Thekla, Bristol.

 

Releases:

• “Wish I Stayed” demo, downloadable from website.
• “Under The Sheets” single 15 November 2009

1. Under The Sheets
2. Fighter Plane
3. Under The Sheets – Jakwob remix

 

 

 

Upcoming Releases

• The first single, “Starry Eyed”, from the debut album, Lights, is due for release on 22nd February 2010.
• The debut album, Lights, is due for release on 1st March 2010.

 

Links

• Website - http://elliegoulding.co.uk/
• Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellie_Goulding
• BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8442389.stm
• The Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/dec/02/ellie-goulding-review

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Navl4fYI-Zk]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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Bands To Watch 2010: Calories

 

Info:

• Three piece rock band from Birmingham, UK.
• Genre(s): Alternative, Indie, Lo-Fi, Noise, Pop, Rock.
• Ex-Distophia members.
• Line-up:
  • John Biggs - Guitar/Vocals
  • Pete Dixon - Bass/Vocals
  • Tom Whitfield - Drums/Vocals
• First live shows in June 2008
• Next gig: 5 Feb 2010 The Victoria - Birmingham (Split 7" Launch)
  

 

Releases:

• Debut album Adventuring released 09/03/2009.
  1. A Bear A Bison
  2. Caught In The In-Between To Encounter A Deer
  3. Adventuring
  4. Fragile Numbers
  5. Oh K.S.S.T.
  6. Drugged
  7. Same Ideals
  8. (See You On The Expedition)
  9. Forests Of Varg

 

• Let’s Pretend That We’re Older EP released 09/11/2009
  1. Let's Pretend That We're Older
  2. Arm A Leg
  3. Expect The Language
  4. Hands Off

 

 

 

Upcoming Releases

• Split 7” with William in early February 2010
• Habitation album due early 2010

 

Links:

• Calories MySpace page - http://www.myspace.com/caloriesband
• Smalltown America - http://www.smalltownamerica.co.uk/artists.php/193/Calories
• Drowned In Sound - http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/3835441-discover-monthly--august-2008
• Clash Magazine - http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/calories-adventuring

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0XAnDpwsvU]

Note: Cross posted from New Music Excess.

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