| CD REVIEW Alkemist Fanatix Europe special : Chaos Conspiracy – Fallingice – Fankaz – The Shiver – The Way Of Purity |
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As you may well now, the now renowned Metal major label Roadrunner Records once started off as a distribution company, licencing albums from the UK and US for distribution in the Benelux. Over the years the label grew from a mere distributor to an indie label that got to signing bands directly, and by spreading their wings States-wize the label eventually grew to a major label status, with regional offices all over the (Western) world, each of which would maintain some degree of decision-making in their own area. In the last couple of years now, some of the people at the Belgian offices have come to understand that there's a lot of albums being released that never reach the domestic market (meaning Benelux). Stuff which might not shift as many copies as the label's own releases, but which might sell a decent amount thanks to the local label managers' experience with and knowledge of their local market. Not so long ago, a deal was signed between Italy's Alkemist Fanatix Europe agency, and our editor-in-chief (part of said label's workforce) distributed some promo copies among his reviewers. When the reviews started pouring in however, he found out there was room for improvement. And being his editing assistant I couldn't help but propose I take on the job. Me and my big mouth...as if I didn't have enough work already (joke...though nót about the work load)!. At any rate, that's why you will find separate reviews posted by my colleagues, ànd specials by yours truly which will (most) possibly add to those (yeah, I dó have that reputation of goin' to the bottom of things in order to point out the positive qualities in a band's music, don't I?). Occasionally, a review by a colleague might even be erased in favour of a spot in the specials. The thing is, we're in this (un-paid for, voluntary) “business” in order to help bands along, aren't we...but a certain degree of honesty towards the offerings should never interfere with our personal preferences or dismay! Whatever, promotion being the key word, this first special tackles the music of Italian bands Chaos Conspiracy, Fallingice, Fankaz, The Shiver, and Scandinavian act The Way Of Purity. Expect a second (but smaller, 'cause this is partially a catch-up job) special in early December, with more to come in January! ----------------------------------------------------- Following the release of their debut full-length Out Of Place through Casket Music/ Copro Records in November 2005 (review by yours truly posted 29/12/2005, and therefore I know you'll fulfill all your fact-finding needs about the band's antecedents there), this Italian All-Influences Hardcore band submitted a video clip for their track “Red Mask” to all relevant music tv channels (MTV, Rock TV, All Music...) in early 2006, and in August of the same year American label Liberation Records licenced their album for distribution in the USA. Somewhere along the line the band also contributed one of their tracks to the 2006 Subsound Records/ Narcotica compilation Soundtrack For A Nightmare, Vol. 1. But without their knowing yet (that's usually the way the Fates play with us), things were about to change drastically for the band, when original singer Enrico Falbo leaves the band, and is replaced by one Mirco “Trump” Marmorale in October 2006. However, somehow things don't really work out, and later in 2007 guitarist Marcello Venditti, bassist Francesco Chiusolo and drummer Davide “Dr. Monkey” come to the conclusion that they're better off as a trio, and decide to continue as an instrumental band. Obviously, this meant reshaping their musical output or, as the guys put it themselves, “...focusing on disconnected rhythmic structures and on sharp accords, landing into new spherimental territories where the groove is one of the most important elements...”. So, off to the drawing board it was. Well...actually that wasn't so much trouble really, because the guys were kinda used to developing their music as a trio. Only, this time around they didn't have to keep things in check to allow vocal parts, could indeed let their musical aspirations float freely, and in many ways the “disconnected rhythmic structures” would not only be interesting, but also be an integrated part of their new music! Eventually, after two full years of work, the guys saw the Italian release of their new work, with distribution by New Music and Andromeda (biggest distributor over there). So, what can the unaware occasional listener expect from Chaos Conspiracy, anno 2010? You see, gone are the band's Post-Hardcore influences! What stayed is the musicians' weird influences from Free Jazz and Funk, which they've enhanced even more, and hybridized into a nice basis of Rock and Metal. Meaning, every instrument comes to the fore in equal measures, and everyone gets to do some quirky lead passages, while the other two fall into accompanying mode. Which doesn't mean they suddenly become effaced, oh no! In fact, each instrument stays “present” throughout the whole. Although there's an emphasis in the bio on the band's syncopated musical style, the listener will nevertheless be charmed by the many beautiful melodic passages, and I'm sure the more experienced and/or open-minded listeners will be able to enjoy the many tempo switches, sudden breaks, and wacky additions (the guitarist still incorporates some extra “noises”, and that's another thing which has remained from the days of old!), and the fact that the drummer is now able to express his Jazzy influences to the fullest. Somehow it seems weird that the guys didn't also include some Reggae and/or Dub passages (as they did on their debut album), but when push comes to shove, what you get in exchange is a nicely unified album in sound terms. As far as the Jazz influences go, the band pushed those to the top level by inviting horn player (I'm almost sure whether he's playing trumpet) Luca Aquino for the track “Naom Is My Copilot”. Definitely, this is not for everybody's ears...and the fact that I am now doin' this “special review” has a lot to do with the fact that a colleague of mine actually made mince-meat of the album (he clearly didn't get where the band came from, nor where it's going with the musical direction they've taken). Let those who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast, and recognize it for what it is by listening to the 4 tracks posted at myspace.com/chaosconspiracyband. Those who've read this far, know that once you're enticed into checking out what's posted there, you'll most probably wanna go get the complete album as a more than worthy addition to your collection! 98/100 ----------------------------------------------------- This North-Italian band was founded in 1999 when 3 students started expressing their love for Grunge, fronted by singer/ guitarist and main songwriter Vice. In 2001 the band records a 5-track demo, and on it the song “Another Day” wins the national music contest Coop For Music. As a result, the song was not only played over several radio stations, but also put on a single with a 20,000 copy rotation, sold together with magazine Rockstar as well as distributed in big stores all over Italy. Not long after the band played at the M.E.I. (Meeting of Independent Labels) in Faenza (between Bologna and Ravenna, and one of the more important events in Italian Heavy music). In the years to come Fallingice would play all over Italy , and in 2003 and 2004 the band topped the Alternative/ Punk/ grunge charts at Vitamin.com in America, Germany, England, France, and other European countries. In 2005 the band manages to attract the attention of Red House Recordings (known from Steve Albini, Linea 77, Charlotte Hatterley, Rob Ellis from PJ Harvey, Josh Klinghoffer, Michael Davis, OJM, and more), who like the band's music well enough to co-produce their first EP Lymph, recorded & released in 2006. In early 2007 the band, which had already gone through several line-up changes through the years, takes on its current form with the induction of bassist Bem Calavera and drummer Fab. The new-found enthousiasm of the band eventually has their manager Carlo Bellotti (main man behind A.F.E.) signing the band to British indie label UK Division Records in May 2007for the release of the Fallingice's debut full-length. Well, eventually the band took long enough, didn't they, but here it is: the 12-track, 47-minute debut by Fallingice, recorded at Pisa's West Link Recordings (by Alessandro Sportelli and Alessandro Paolucci, in a co-production between the latter and the band) and Senigallia's Red House Recordings (for the vocals, recorded by David Lenci & Massimilano Moccia), where David Lenci also did the mixing. For the mastering the band went abroad, to Tom Baker at Hollywood's Presicion Mastering. Sounds good, doesn't it, and indeed the music itself is hunky-dory, melodic and groovy from the first not to the last, expertly written and performed, and with a top-notch production for a sound! So why are you reading a “but” between the lines? Because there IS one, of course! In spite of more than a decade of practice, and a in spite of developing a quite unique singing style (a very peculiar type of moaning) trying to hide it, Vice (as you will be able to hear for yourself when listening to the threesome of songs the band posted at myspace.com/fallingice) simply cannot hide his native origin, resulting in a rather thick Italian accent in his vocals. Which is a pity, because the music itself is well written and performed. Why a pity? Well, it's gonna hamper the band from making any really big breakthrough, won't it? However, we dó have to take in account a rather large contingency of people of Italian extraction living in the Eastern (say Limburg) part of Dutch speaking Belgium...a contingency which also happens to be fond of Rock music in general. Yep, I'm sure Roadrunner Belgium may shift quite a few copies of this album in that part of our little country! 82/100 ---------------------------------------------------- Then again, I think they might even do better with this Skatecore band, and that in the whole country too! See for the why's later, first some band history! Hailing from Ferrara, Fankaz (some sources spell it as Fankàz) was borne in June 2003, but the line-up went through several changes with friends coming and going before settling on singer/ guitarist Ricky (akà Riccardo Daga), singer/ bassist Mora (Matteo Mora), second guitarist Elio (the latest addition), and drummer Pole (Alessandro Poletti). Originally a trio, the band records an untitled 4 track rehearsal room demo in 2004, and find out there's a lot to say for decent recordings. So in Summer 2005 they record their official 4-track demo What Is...? at Paolo Martorani's recording studio. They follow this up with July 2006's professional 7-track EP titled Don't Try This At Home and recorded at Natural Head Quarter (their first outing in collaboration with A.F.E.), and a participation in several compilation albums (i.e. Akam Productions' Akompilation Vol.3, Pecci Records' The Explosion Of Punk Vol.2, and Power90 Records' Notes-Sk8Rock Connection and Berkley Dream). Thanks to their management agency, which strives to make Italian music heard throughout the world, Fankaz now starts getting positive reactions both nationally and internationally. Over the years Fankaz succeeds to get ample gigging possibilities, participates to a couple of band contests (making it to the finals of RockaFEin 2007 and 2008), and often gets to play on main stages of small and medium-sized festivals as well. Eventually the band signs a deal with Quick Flow Records for the release of their debut album. Recordings are done between October 2008 and February 2009 (in early 2009 the band ads second guitarist & backing vocalist Christian “Chri” Costazza to their line-up, and even include him in the recordings – obviously, he's since replaced by the new guy of whom I only know the first name) at West Link Recordings near Pisa (again with the two Alessandro's mentioned in the Fallingice review), and the mastering is confided to the well-known Alan Douches (West West Side Music in New York). Influenced mainly by Belvedere and other bands in the Technical Hardcore and Skatecore (This Is A Standoff, A Wilhelm Scream, BigWig, Strung Out, Action Men, Pendelton, Forus, SunEatsHours, Lagwagon, Venerea, and so on...you get the drift, right?), the guys after all play a rather globally popular genre. And they do so quite nicely too. With partially screamed, partially shouted, partially “normal” singing styles, the guys go through their songs at quite a pace, which they frequently alter in order to bring some diversity. Further diversity comes halfway through the album, when the guys bring a first of a total of 5 songs sung in their native language. Frankly speaking, I find it amazing that it took the album over a year to find its way into our corner of Europe (after all, I thought Concrete Web maintains rather good relations with A.F.E.!?), because after all the Benelux have somewhat of a reputation of liking Italian Hardcore bands...or has that situation changed over the years? I mean, I speak of experience which goes back a couple of decades, but I can hardly claim to know what lives in the hearts of the younger generation of Punk Rock and Hardcore fans (I dó know that the “big business” of the scene doesn't fair all too well, except for those couple of local labels). Anyhow...those not having geared away (because of disinterest in the genre) from this review yet should definitely check out the 5-some of tracks posted at the band's facebook page (I failed to find a MySpace connection), even if there's only the one track with Italian lyrics! 87/100 -------------------------------------------------- In his review of this album, new colleague Nick (and posted on Nov. 8 of late) kinda went on about this Italian band's reminiscence to Evanescence, and eventually broke the album down somewhat, but neglecting to mention any of the band's history. Something which I will now remedy, while also somewhat appeasing his harsh conclusions. So, The Shiver was born in 2005 when Faith (lead vocals, synth player, and main composer – real name Federica Sciamanna) joined forces with drummer Francesco 'Finch' Russo (also handles additional samples) to create their first demo Shade's Changing. Following some promotion of the demo, the duo attracts the attention of our dear Carlo Bellotti (A.F.E.), whom eagerly signed the new project to his roster. In 2007 the band is signed to British label UK Division (good connections to A.F.E.) for the worldwide release of the project's debut album Inside in January 2008. With hired help the duo then presents its music to live audiences across Italy, before crossing the Channel to do a UK tour, where the band is warmly received by enthoused concert goers. It gets the band talked about in some of the UK's better known newspapers (The Guardian, The Chronicle), and this in term generates some amazing feedback from the music press, resulting in the band being featured in several magazines (UK's Rocksound, Big Cheese, Fireworks, and Ravenheart Music; USA's Gothic Beauty; Italy's Rocksound, Flash Mag, Benzoworld, Metalwave and Percussioni, who do a special with Finch), with Rocksound, Fireworks and Big Cheese including songs of the band in their covermount compilations...and the band's music being aired on several radio stations. During Summer 2008 Faith and Finch went to work on new material with a sound which, according to their own saying “...is fresh, dynamic and marked by a particular style...”. While already booking studio time for December, the band then still puts in some UK shows around Halloween. Recorded by the two Alessandro's at West Link Recordings and co-produced by Paolucci (whom contributes to the band in arrangements, playing bass and also playing the guitar on the album's closing track “Bring Me to The Horizon”), the duo of Faith and Finch is fortified by the help of guitarist Stefane 'Finger' Tocci (most probably the 3rd person pictured in the booklet). Well, this is as good a time to admit I've only once before heard an Evanescence song once before, and that a couple of years ago. I'm therefore not well placed to make any comparisons, and I can only speak about what The Shiver offers. At any rate, considering the fact that I also buy a healthy bit of records outside that which I come across with through the website, and that on a musically diverse basis as well, one can hardly expect to find the usual music lover out there, even when specialised into one specific genre or sub-genre, to get éverything into his of her collection, right? Generally speaking, what you get with The Shiver is a female fronted Goth Metal. Although the guitar is mainly geared towards inducting the heavy riff into the music, there's a couple of songs where the listener will nevertheless discern two guitars at the same time as well...creating additional tensions in that field. On top, or rather underneath, Faith uses the “synth” in several modes. One moment she's be adding orchestrated (violin-like) passages, then adding a layer of piano or organ play, and at another moment even adding wacky futuristic synth sounds. What with the additional samples provided by the powerful and diverse drummer, you get a well-filled whole which is simply delectable, and one which would even please the more experienced listeners among us (meaning, quite simply, that underneath the seemingly simple overtones there nice complexities which will certainly entertain those among us who're into the less straight-forward). Special note goes for the guitar sound of the song “Leech And Flower”, which is based on Rock, and completely different from the rest of the album. Whence my need to mention this? Simply because the melody is só captivating, it would warrant my buying the album for that track alone! Okay, the vocals now. With Faith providing the frail-but-strong high-pitched female part (in some occasions whispered – ending of the balladesque near-instrumental album closer – or spoken word-ish...the whole done in almost accent-free English – not such an evident thing to find in Italian bands) she occasionally gets different types of backings : there's moments when a truly fitting male voice gives her truly harmonic backings...but when she does her own backings (impossible to perform in live conditions, of course) the harmonics are even higher...and then there's moments when she gets “beauty vs. beast” screamed backings. With 12 songs, A New Horizon provides the Goth Metal fan with a delicious near 42-minutes album, two songs of which can be savoured at myspace.com/theshiverband. If colleague Nick's assessment was somewhat harsh, mine is indeed more mellowed, and I'm sure fans of Evanescence will rise to the occasion of discovering The Shiver for what it's worth! As far as I'm concerned, this band certainly has a reason for existence, and not just as a soother in-between albums of its more important (in the music business) influence! 90/100 -------------------------------------------------- Colleague Ivan made a very fitting review for this Swedish band's debut mini-album (I follow his assessment of the 10-track, 29-minute recording not quite deserving the “full-length” status), but he left out some details which I'm not adding. You see, TWOP claim to be a militant band with a strong message. As they put it themselves (without elaborating), “The message about God intended as nature (animals and the perfection of their creation) is our faith, but the power for The Way Of Purity is a high level of inspiration, self control, and correction of human errors through the inspiration of the animal perfection. We are the hand of God, we're here to bring the animals' message to liars, weak individuals, prostitutes, drug addicts, nymphomaniacs and many more. We are not an organisation, we are just a potential event in every animal's life...inspired by a dark dimension where Christ and Satan, evil and good, are the same. This ultraviolent dimension takes it shape in music. The voices we hear everyday are our nightmares and dreams. These voices asked us to change things, giving us the chance of salvation by becoming the hand of God and finding the real way of purity!” Sounds perhaps somewhat “blasé”, but the band members actually put aside their own identities, preferring not only to go by surnames [DeathGirlBetty was the female grunter (read on for the “was” thing), the guitarists go by the “names” DeathWish and WithoutName (both also bringing additional vocals in the mix), the keyboardist/ backing singer's named LostMyFaith, the bassist Jeffrey, and the drummer WallOfDeath], but also prefer to go through their musical lives as a masked entity (just ski hoods, but masks anyway). That anonymity thing changed when lead vocals were taken over by new front woman Tiril Skärdal (of Norway, and thereby making the band Scandinavian rather than purely Swedish), whom goes through life unmasked indeed. For the realisation of their debut “album” the band used a somewhat weird method. After having recorded the drum track in Sweden's, the band moved to Italy's West Link Recordings, where Jeffrey engineered the recordings. The material was then mixed at The Garage Studio by one Chris Donaldson, and eventually mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox. As mentioned by my esteemed colleague, the overall sound of the music is somewhat punishing, being a blend of Black Metal (vocally), Grindcore (technical twin guitar assault), and New Wave (them keyboards, maties, them keyboards!)...but to those listeners who'll persevere, it will disclose a pleasant amount of underlaying niceties...and I'm sure the diverse vocals will aid the persistant in his/her pursue). As an introduction to the complete album, you might wanna surf on over to myspace.com/thewayofpurity, where the band posted all tracks (including their version of Christian Death's “Deathwish”) for your ear's peasure! I lóve this band, but then I've always had a soft spot for Grindcore, and when they come in such a neat package as this, I'm just lost! Year-list material, by all means...at least in my book! 98/100 Tony. |
