Album Review: Leatherjacks - Surviving The Beginning Of The End (Rock 'n' Roll)

Once you start to listen to this album by Leatherjacks you may think that it is indeed the typical Rock 'n' Roll song collection you would expect by them. But it all comes quickly to a change by track number two already. That's the point where I started to realize something different is going on with this one.

Many symbolic elements make this cover one to have a closer look at. 

Having heard this record on my very own just sitting in front of my trusty stereo system made listening to music different.

You just have the music and nothing else around you so you focus more on what's coming out of the speakers. This time it felt like a blessing that's coming my way. 

The beginning of the album with "Who cowers against the law" feels rough and hard. It knocks me out of everyday routine with it's hard hitting refrain and the hacking guitar riffs. But one thing is already evident: the rhythm style is centered in Rock 'n' Roll style.

"Baby Hit and Run" goes a similar route but blazes with more aggressive intensity and a much faster vocals. It presses heavily through the speakers.

If you need air to breathe now hold on - track three gives a lighter feeling also the heavyness in the vocals can be felt. It's a joy to follow the riff packed music with intermissions of lighter music sections.

The air keeps being lighter with the "Mechanimals" rising in the next round. It's a easy rock tune which is fine to enjoy. A solid tune.

"Surviving The Beginning of the End" unfolds as a balanced rocker with a longer refrain. 

If things become too flat for you just go to "Dead and Gone" - here's the full package of agression put into the song. The refrain won't leave your ears and brains for a long time so this is one to remember.

Leatherjacks has always been good for a surprise and "Somehow" needs no drums to still put out a hard rock song and made me curious on how it can be able to move just with guitars present in the music.

So this list is a short look into how the songs of the album sound like. The full record comes with twelve tunes so maybe you'll want to check it all out for yourselves now. Just hit the button on the player below. Mauro Cordeiro is the head behind the music and the record is available for download for only 10 Euro at the Bandcamp page of the Leatherjacks. 

CD Review: Tad Morose - March Of The Obsequious (Power Metal, 2022)

Reviewing a album of the swedish power metal icon Tad Morose has been a dream I always had. So you can easily imagine how I felt when the "March Of The Obsequious" album hit my inbox. I've been more than excited when the download started. Have I been disappointed or am I glad about the new songs?

A look upon the present line-up of Tad Morose.

To make it short. Tad Morose deliver quality music. They've always sticked to the formula to release music worth listening to.

This also goes for the new album. It heavily hits the same route that the predecessors of the "new" era that the Revenant LP started have set up.

The music is comprised of pure metal riffing. The drums and bass guitars heavily follow on the trails of the compositions. I think it's a no-brainer up to this point for many metal heads.

Inside view on each track

The title track and "Witches Dance" benefit of the vocals and go in straight without doubts. It's just with track number three that things become a bit harder. The high pitched vocals climb to the max on this tune. That's of high quality but sometimes I would like to see them set a bit lower because it can be a bit too much of it all at times.

This goes very much for the next number, too. A solid midtempo song but the vocals leave a feeling of overload behind.

Happily the next one "Dying" offers more variations, some even a bit unusual for the Swedish band.

"Escape" returns to the fine tradition of compact riffage mixed up with power pushing drums - a combination that leaves room for evolution of the track through it's duration. Such songs go in quickly. 

The cover art has become darker than on all the previous releases.

"A Trail Of Sins" comes with nice melody blocks and solid riffing. I think those melodies should point a bit to the old Tad Morose Records, those days where the band still used keyboards. I love those songs and it's cool to see the band pays sort of hommage to those days when they started releasing music (yet at a more progressive level).

This calls for more and the band heeds to this with "A Quilt Of Shame". A good midtempo creeper with a lot of changes in the vocals. Sometimes these composition feels like a journey in my mind.

"The Legion" unvels itself as a midtempo and very loud vocal oriented song. The mix sets a spot on the vocals that aim for high peaks. Once again I think less could have been more here. High vocal performance is great but please not that often.

The album closer shows few softer notes coming in at the start and changing into rougher territory shortly afterwards.

This scheme carries on through the whole song. A good idea to finish the record in a more unusual way.

Is it worth it?

The whole album is mixed to a loud volume so make sure to chose the volume control carefully.

Most songs are great but I'd like to hear the band mixing the next album a different way with less loud high vocals. It could make the music more variable this way.

Besides that don't hesitate to give "March Of The Obsequious" a try because it's still a well outworked album with some fine surprises for those who are longtime fans of the band.

You can listen to the full record on a digital service of your choice. This overview offers links to Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music as well as to Spotify and Apple Music.

The webshop of GMR Music holds the chance to order physical copies on Vinyl, undead Compact Disc and even a Digipack with signed card and pin. 

CD Review: Inner Siege - Fury Of Ages (Power Metal,2021)

Had a good time on most of the album also some tracks shine brighter than others.  

Colored vinyl and a printed jacket should please collectors.

The grand opening "Calling For Violence" surprised me quite well. Giving a midtempo punch it let's you come in slowly to the bands sound. The refrain calls for some scream along in live situations and it woke my interest to hear more of the "Fury Of Ages" album.

Happily "Reborn" track number two continues the good start. In contrast to the opener it changes more often throughout it's duration. The song keeps a constant riffing as a base but adds slight moments of excitement in. High screams and well placed guitar intermezzos shine.

"Firewind" speeds it all up. I'm glad to hear the cranking up doesn't ruin the sound. It's kept straight foward and the joy-factor intact. Keep the volume adjustment low, this feels great on moderate level.

Some guitar wizardy is shown on the short intermezzo "Virtuos Iniquity" before "Echoes Into Eternity" let's a high scream out. Being a good riff shooter this let's us headbang further and mixes some midtempo stop-overs into it's passages - something I love to hear.

"World Of Darkness" is a solid track but didn't resonate so well than the previous songs. Same goes for "Power.Metal.Glory" also sure it has a great refrain with it.

I love to hear the band from the United States keeps the sound on a more clear tone most of the time also on some moments I'd like to have less high tones in the sound. "Iron Lotus" is a negative example for that. I got on my nerves with the many solo sections on it.  

On "Stronghold" parallels to the great band Hammerfall come to my mind. It has a more narrative way of speaking to the audience and the refrain rushes into my heart quickly. Some high screams are placed well. 

The album becomes more direct and on-point soundwise when the album comes towards the end. The tenth track "Hero" and the closing riffer "World on fire" are such tracks. The vocals are variable and you feel they have been painfully worked on many times but the result should make all headbangers out there happy.

The album is available as a CD as well as colored vinyl with lyrics-printed jacket. Please check out one song below and consider a purchase to increase touring chances for these guys.

CD Review: A Place To Fall - Lost Myself (2016)

What we have here is a bitter brutal post hardcore album that leaves no mercy as about it's message. This band screams out that they really want it all and they've put in so much energy that it will make your speakers blow. Find out how post hardcore should sound in 2016.

Introduction

The band came to my attention at a Open Air festival here in Lingen - the Rock am Dom. At that time the band was starting to form in line-up as well as soundwise but it was already clear that they would sound very promising. So I kept a eye on them and followed them further both on Facebook as well as live at the Rock am Pferdemarkt and a little later at the Abifestival contest. In the meantime the band wrote and recorded "Lost Myself" and over the gigs one could easily see and hear that the band has evolved quite a lot.

The cover of Lost Myself, (c) by A Place To Fall, used with kind permission

Summary / Album overview

The album has a lot of killer qualities. As I wrote above I was able to follow the development of the band but never expected such a result in the end. The record comes straight in with the intro for "The Rise", a dark haunting melody carving the way for what is about to come. The following "Your Fall" shows the heavyness the band combines along with great rhythm. The vocals come in quite harsh on this one but are always melodic and outworked with much passion.

The same goes for "All your lies". That song was already available as stream early at the band's Youtube channel but this version is quite different. The contrast of growls of guitarist Oliver and the clean parts of vocalist Sebastian gives this one a special kicking note. You'll remember this after listening. The tile track that follows shows a masterpiece in my eyes and a first high peak of the record. This one builds slowly crawling on the floor just to explode at the refrain directly into the listeners face. Don't miss out this one.

"New Hopes" goes a more straight way vocal-wise but I love the riffing and drumming on this one. It goes back and forth and shakes 'till the end. "We're Fading Away" has a anthemic refrain and is most melodic and straight forward of the album. The clear guitar parts have been my favorite from the first listen.

We continue on "Dream of Memories" that rips us up with a direct riff. Many vocal layers and variations on this one. Very heavy indeed. "Photographs" is next to go. It's a dark number which much heavy distorted guitar sounds and rhythm changes but a lot of brutal elements nevertheless. "Behind A False Light" closes the album in a straight forward way. The clean notes towards the end leave you with a redemption feeling.

Purchase-Link

The record is up on digital outlets such as Amazon, iTunes and Google Play for 8 Euro. The band also has physical copies on sale in a beautiful fold-out case for the same price. It is available through their webshop or you can message the band through Facebook if you don't have Paypal.

Player

The whole nine songs can be heard on Spotify or Deezer. I've also included the track "We're fading away" for all of you who don't have a acoount there or just want to quickly check out the bands sound.





Contact Data

The band has a cool Facebook page up and running and also offers a insight into the bands activities via Instagram. Also make sure to have a look on their homepage if you want to contact or book them.