CD Review: The Light - The Light (Metal, 2025)

I cannot believe that this release didn't found my attention much sooner. What's so special about this band?

The Light's first album is a intensive listening experience.

It's the way the music is build up. I know many bands say that the output they just released is standing out of the many other one's available. But this particular band really proves it. 

Ten songs can be found upon this self-titled album. It's obvious that they belong to the Metal sector - but each and every song offers something that gives it it's own note. Sometimes it's the slow rhythm pattern (Swinging) that hangs on my mind. Other times it's the riff that runs so hammering through the song that I recall the song "War" for a long time. 

The intensity of "Toxic dependence" seems to be structured the way it is to give the listener a idea of how hard and stressful something like this can be. Happily there are also lighter songs like "Fall" that aren't packed so much. Here the focus is set on the extremely heavy use of drums. Vocals are held in a more flat way. The other songs on the album are of a similar quality like the one's mentioned before.

If you're after a album filled with intensive heavy music this one by The Light is for you. It's not a easy album at all so it takes some time to get inside. If you take the time to discover it song by song I think you'll be rewarded with Metal music as you love it. The album is available as a CD as well as a limited 12 inch vinyl album at the Bandcamp shop of the record company Fastball Music.  

Video Preview: Nhibitions - Hourglass (Metalcore, 2018)

A hourglass is often used to symbolize that something won't be endless. How does such strong metapher sound if it is transfered into the metalcore universe?

The release of the single "Hourglass" is not far away anymore...

Nhibitions have crafted a powerful debut single along with a proper lyric video to bring the message out to the listener. First of the heavyness dominates the sound with it's bold guitars and even stronger drums. The vocals of Chris Fronzak are loud, clear and of dark tonality. The overall feel is dramatic and could talk of a soul that has taken a lot of hurt in his lifetime. The performance is great since he changes the mood throughout the whole track duration. Every section comes with it's own tonality.

But there's much more. Something special comes down as the refrain takes it's place in the song. It's different you can feel from the start. It feels like cut out and from a different look upon the same scene. It won't take long and it will stick into the listeners mind. I've not come across such metalcore track so far so the surprise was there and it touched me deep inside.

As for the music: it's a sharp riff hacker going in straight. Nevertheless it's still feeling slightly complex to me as it's not easy to quickly get a idea of how all of this was done. A sign that re-listening to this one pays off.

All in all "Hourglass" makes curious about what else Nhibitions are about to put out in the forthcoming time. As for the first be sure to mark your Facebook calenders (or any other one you may use). On September 21th 2018 the full song and video are going to be revealed. On that day check the Ghost Killer Entertainment Youtube page to hear the full song (the band has teamed up with them to share the video to a wide audience).

To skip the waiting time surf to the band's Facebook page. That's where you can check a little teaser snippet of the video.

Graveshadow open the doorway to heaven

It goes up and down many times in life. I think this is maybe one of the biggest ressources for musicians to create their sounds and texts of. This particular one song talks soundwise for me a lot about that.

It also has it's highs and lows changing all the while. It's cool to hear that it has a controlled and finetuned dose of power with it something not to be found everywhere. Most of all the vocals stand out with it's many faces (good and dark/bad parts all shine in many variations on this track). This must have taken lot's of effort to get it on tape but the result for sure sounds impressive and it invites to listen once more just to make sure to have not missed out a vocal layer through the tracks duration.


"Doorway to heaven" is part of Graveshadow's new album "Ambition's Price" that has been put out on M-Theory Audio in April 2018. This band features Heather Michelle performing the vocals.

The cover for Graveshadow's album "Ambitions Price", painted by Dusan Markovic. (c) by Graveshadow, used with kind permission

Tune in to the band's channel on Facebook for more info like tourdates and so on.

CD Review: Chemical Wedding - Don't Look Back (2015)

A massive hardrock metal album showing that good and clear riffs are not of out of date these days. The wonderfull production comes with much heavyness but it never misses out warmth and a little smile.

Introduction

A lonely man stands at the end of a road. The path is small and some vegetation can be seen at the right side. Where does he go? Well, I think you need to take a look for yourselves to find out. Just one thing is clear: he doesn't look back, all of his action takes place in front of him. So, let's follow the story on how we came here told by the french band Chemical Wedding...

The album cover of Chemical Weddings "Don't Look Back", (c) by Chemical Wedding, used with kind permission

Summary

This is a beautiful example of what a band is able to accomplish if they put all of their strenghth into one album. They are making it clear from the beginning that this band knows what they want. Massive, powerfull yet catchy riffs burst into your ears when you start the CD player. The constant pushing rhythm comes all along and it comes to the burst when the vocals come pushing in.

The song structures are kept clear on forward and heavy on most of the tracks. It's the driving power that brings on the fun when listening to the twelve tracks of the record. On some points you'll witness intermissions that bring in a fresh breeze. The track "Dead Man Walkin'" is a good example for that. It contrasts the other songs with a more complex build structure and a bit unusual drum pattern towards the end of the song.

But it's not all just guitar riffs. "Don't Look Back" also lives off the beauty of the slow and silent tracks. It's as strange as it is but many records that roar it out heavy are the most intensive in their slowest and soft moments. It's like this with songs such as "A poor toy in your hands" and "Bereaved Soul" that you realise how much deep emotions this band breathes. It's these breathtaking moments that make you aware how much the musicians give you that you realize the worth of all the work they spent on this album.

All in all this album made me feel good. It comes around with a smile and also doesn't miss some fun every here and there when the tracks begin or end in a unusual way with just screaming the song name.

Purchase-Link and Player

The album comes around as a digipack. It is wrapped in a case of outstanding artwork. This goes for the front as well as for the back cover and also inlay and CD have their own artwork with them. The band sells the album for twelve euro online in their online shop. This is a bit more than you may pay for other albums but keep in mind that you'll also get twelve instead of eight or ten tracks that are up on most records of today. You won't regret purchasing this one.

As a example here's the track "Dead Man Walkin'" of the album.


Contact Link and Tourdates

Chemical Wedding have a own Facebook page where you can get in touch with them.
Also make sure to see them live this summer/fall:

24/09/2016 Brin de Zinc (tribute Lemmy et Camille Marquet)
04/09/2016 Leyment Fest (01)
07/10/2016 Décines Warmaudio