Preview: Avaland - Theater Of Sorcery (Theatrical Metal Opera, 2021)

The release is set for April but the story revealed this far already feels like reading a book.

Inspired by heroic fantasy, history, mythologies, and esoterism, bandleader Adrien G. Gzagg decided to create an epic story album with 8 characters. 

Entitled “Theater Of Sorcery”, the debut will be a theatrical metal adventure that tells the story of a young sorcerer Adam Wilstorm who could be the salvation of bringing back the light to the kingdom of Avaland and during his journey, he must learn to control his powers linked to the Storm.  

The first single is the title track of the album. It has the typical broadband sound and refrain inside of it. But besides that I liked to hear that it is also able to keep things basic and simple in the verses. You can feel that that the music doesn't rely just on bombastic elements to keep you entertained. Instead it adds room to enjoy the moment on the simpler parts.

I'm looking forward to this. How will the story evolve ? How are the other chapters of the journey going to sound like ? With a guest list including Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Zak Stevens (Savatage/TSO), Zaher Zorgati (Myrath), Emanuelson (Rising Steel), Stéphan Forté (Adagio), Madie (Nightmare) is looks as if it could have very various moments. Keeping guests and instrumentation in mind I think maybe we will be able to follow the story just sitting in front of our stereo.

If you'd like to keep a eye on the release make sure to stick to Avaland's Facebook page. I'm sure more will follow in a not too far distant future.

CD Review: Static-X - Project Regeneration Vol. 1 (Nu Metal, 2020)

Sometimes there are these tunes that give you hope. This happened to me as I heard the new Static-X album "Project Regeneration Vol.1". One of the good sides of listening to music is that it is a source of good feelings. These came up quickly as I had these songs pumping out of the speakers.

It's the mixture of the heavy riffing with the driving force of the drums on the one hand that gave me good feelings. But all of this was topped by the vocals that always kept going up and down and always shining through in deep emotional shapes. It feels as if at times my feelings could speak through the noise that can be heard.  

Most of the time it's pure aggression coming out but on some tracks like "Bring You Down (Project Regeneration)" it also comes in waves of fear and sometimes despair. Few electronic effects underline this. That's something I love to hear.

A track like "My Destruction" illustrates the band's potential to transform today's merciless society's behaviour through straight and rough thrashing. It has lot's of mean laughs in it that sound like the evil showing it's face in it's many incarnations. Impressive to hear that music can make such things visible to the human ear.
 
The keyboards on "Something Of My Own (Project Regeneration)" follow more positive vibes, yet it has broken feelings in it the track shines a more lighter and better note out of it.
 
These are my favorites of the album. What are your faves ? Let me know in the comments below.
Make sure to buy a copy out of the band's hands.

CD Review: Krokodil Dental Plan - Feed my Krokodil (Stoner, 2020)

The music of the french stoner combo gave me hope and power on a cloudy day. Which route does the band take? It's the mixture of direct riffs that leave the speakers a unpolished way to lay the foundation for dirty Rock 'n' Roll.

 

Next to go is that groove that pumps relentlessly and will keep you rockin' out to the music. It makes you want more of the same once you've had taste of it. The second track "Die A Million Times" brings this on point. 

Finally the vocals are rough and mixed more to the background but it's welcomed. I think it would ruin the sound if taken too much to the front.

The biggest strength however is the many faces the band shows during performing it's music. Each of the six tracks has been worked on in detail. While sure it's loud and rude music it's also that Krokodil Dental Plan fine-tuned each number on the EP. 

 

"Né Pour Perdre" for instance is keen on giving you the extra of rough guitar sounds. It centers well around those loud notes but doesn't have the groove monster under it "Die A Million Times" presents.

The title track itself seems to focus on speedy vocal performance but surprises with a softer jamming solo-section. The bass guitar rules "Hot Served Enemy", a straight Rocker with slightly guitar-driven variations. The last song "Old Man of Sorrow" closes the release with midtempo slower music but with the distinct sound that makes this band remarkable for me.

The EP is well worth the money for the many sides of Dirty Rock it provides. The CD is shipped out for 5 Euro plus shipping and handling while the download comes at the same price at Bandcamp.

 

Lords Of Salem spit fire in these silent times

In this time of no live shows it feels like water in the desert when you're able to see a artist perform at all.
 
I had a lot of fun as I checked out Lords Of Salems newest live recording. The  heavy Rock band seeds a heavy potion of power in the 25 minutes of the video duration. It reminded me a lot of a mixture between harder Alice Cooper songs and the abrasive vocals of Udo Dirkschneider.  

Besides that I warmly welcome the directness of the sound Lords Of Salem perform with. You can rock out straight to the music without need to dig in too deep into the sound. That's the fun we need in these times!
 
Besides that the video has a very professional presentation on a bigger stage with fine lightshow and fire effects and even a girl spitting some fire.
 
Make sure to purchase the first EP "Hell Over Salem" produced by Achim Köhler so the band can continue to spread more fun in the future.