CD

Abigorum are the project by Satanath’s owner Aleksey Korolyov. There was an untitled demo-MCD in 2012, totally instrumental, which was the first release on Aleksey’s label as well, and now the guy had the time to record a new track, My Haemophilia, and have it released on his very own label in order to please or irritate (delete as appropriate) our presence. In my case: please or irritate. It deals with one song only, which lasts for three minutes, but it surely is a monument of a hymn!

Terdor are a Dutch act, consisting of vocalist (and poet / lyricist) Lafawijn, and multi-instrumentalist, mixer, master, producer and music writer Elshschappij Tovenaere. Seen the title of this album, you might expect a first part as well (which actually was released in 2011), but Terdor debuted (at least when talking about full length studio material) in 2008 with Axis Panzerzug Anno November 1942 (and before there were a split with Gheestenland and an EP).

Asgard Hass Productions from Switzerland are one of those labels that do understand the essential importance of the musical underground. This fact gets translated by the release of some highly interesting recordings. There is no need to search for the most original, renewing approach, but rather they focus on the purity and excellence of our beloved sonic expressions. Respect!

A great example of this label’s supremacy is this newest release, the From Mute Remains-EP, the first official material after the 2011-demo Serpens Antiquu

Line up :

Lee Tobin – Vocals

James Colley – Guitars

Sam Colley – Guitars

Oz Craggs – Bass

Chris Kybert – Drums

If you like gothic or symphonic metal, then ‘Sacrificium’, the sixth studio album from Xandria is a must have. Despite a change of vocalist, Manuela Kraller has been replaced by Dianne Van Giersbergen who also sings in Ex Libris, who’s Dutch, but no family of Anneke Van Giersbergen. It is clear that Dianne has been inspired by Tarja, and also that founder and composer Marco Heubaum has gotten some inspiration by listening to Nightwish.

Naming your band Valley of the sun can only mean that we’re talking Stonerrock.  Valley of the sun hail form Cincinnati, and Electric Talons, is their first full length.

The very young Tampere, Finland-based label Saturnal Records suddenly appear out of the blue with some highly interesting releases; On Death’s Wings by Blood Red Fog and HellSpirit with Dawn Under Curse will be the first releases, available as from May 26^th on, and at the end of July one can expect Anticipation For Blood Leveled In Darkness by super-group Voodoo Gods.

To say this album contains some of the best Dio songs would be an understatement.  ‘Stand Up And Shout’, ‘Don’t Talk To Strangers’, ‘Holy Diver’ to name but a few of his own songs.  Besides those there are also Black Sabbath covers, like ‘The Mob Rules’, ‘Children Of The Sea’,  and finally also a Rainbow cover ‘Man On The Silver Mountain’. This is, of course, no more than logical, since Ronnie has been the frontman in all of those bands.

Second release of COC after a while on hiatus whilst Pepper Keenan is living it up with DOWN… I ‘ve been listening several times to this album and unfortunately I cannot get myself to really appreciate it..  Production wise it’s obvious that together with Pepper also a decent recording budget went…  (it’s  really a shame how Reed Mullin’s drums are sounding like a someone hitting cardboard boxes and sheetmetal whatevers instead of his well known  hammering …. ).

I plead guilty your honor…  I once bought a copy of Chicago’s ‘17’ album, an album that was released in 1984.  Once in a while when going on holidays with the car, I take this album with me, because it’s still some sort of rock album, and my wife likes it a lot.  But that album was and has for a long time been the only Chicago album I ever listened to.