CD

I have little to no knowledge what's going on in the progressive metal scene at the moment, but I do know this, I enjoy what Haken have to offer. It's prog, so you know what to expect ..

Candlemass/Krux bass player Leif Edling have allied forces with guitarist Marcus J. (Evergrey) drummer Lars S. (Tiamat), organist Carl W. (Krux) and newcomer Jennie-Ann Smith.  While familiar sounding, a few of these songs have very catchy melodies and are delivered with solid execution.. The very good use of mood, well structured songs and musical ability makes this 50-minute album a good pick for anyone into a folkier sort of doom metal.

Aska was born during the alternative and grunge music movement of the early 90's, and is from Texas. The band can best be described as traditional power/heavy metal in the same line as “Judas Priest”. The band consists of George Call (vocals, guitar), Keith Knight (vocals, bass), Chris Menta (guitar), Danny White (drums) and Dave Harvey (bass).

The musical concept of ‘Swedish Hitz Goes Metal’ putting well-known hits from Abba, Roxette and Ace of Base in a metal jacket proved to be very successful. The album reached several chart positions in homeland Sweden and Japan and was followed by a successful tour. Now 2 years later and to heavy public demand  there has been a successor.

Reinxeed was formed in 2002, and this is their sixth release since.  Once again it’s released by Liljegren Records/Doolittle Group, the label owned by former Narnia vocalist Christian Liljegren.

Yet another new band hailing from Australia, more specifically from Melbourne.  Is it a welcome addition to a growing list ?  I’m afraid not (yet ?).

This album is a collection of almost every cliché you can find in metal. While the guitars aren’t too bad, the lyrics are awful. The fact that the guys in this band are very young might have something to do with that. If you ask me the should have waited a few more years, and hone their skills in the meantime, before having released an album.

The Answer were one of the very few Irish retro rock bands that actually made a name for themselves…at least for a little while..with highlight the support act for AC/DC.

This very new (founded in early 2013) Karlruhe-based German band consists of singer Oliver Hormuth, guitarist Jonas Herr, bassist Jan-Philipp Steinel, and drummer Linus Müller, and describes its music as “Alternative Hardcore”.

Scarecrow N.W.A. (and ‘N.W.A.’, for your information, stands for new world annihilation) hail from the Austrian city of Graz, and they formed more than fifteen years ago.

Whoever SAHG are, they’re good at it. Good at peddling classic/heavy/prog/stoner metal they knock it off here with taste and unashamed panache which keeps most of these 8 songs pretty appealing. Norway is where they come from a part called Bergen to be exact and this happens to be their fourth album..