Reviews

GALT AUREUS..'CITADELS'

(Self Release) Reviewed 31st December 2009

The second album from the young alt rock duo from San Diego comprising Saher, on vocals and piano, and Susan on guitar and vocals. Imagine a mixture of Muse, Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Take That and Chopin, and you will have some idea of their wonderful music. Saher is very much the lead singer, his voice a mixture of Billie Joe and Gerard Way, with a touch of Will Young and Jeff Buckley. Susan with her pure voice provides backing vocals and occasional leads. A brief overture leads into 9 symphonic rock opuses, full of drama, passion and emotion, which swing from the tender to the thunderous. Highlights are too many to mention, but ‘Our Own Versailles’ and ‘Eight’ have glorious refrains, ‘Before the Fall’ gives Susan a chance to shine with some delicious piano from Saher before building into an epic, and the album ends with the roar of ‘Conquerors’, with a brief piano coda. This is breathtakingly brilliant; they really deserve to break into the big league, so rush to CD Baby and snap up a copy, 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Philip Wooldridge).

GATE OF SORROW..'ENTER THROUGH THE GATE'

(Open Media) Reviewed 14th November 2009

This debut album from the Czech symphonic metallers is the culmination of years of gradual evolution. They started as a death/thrash metal band called Gate back in 1997, founded by guitarist/vocalist Roman Turacek. Gradually they added a guest female opera singer and keyboards to their albums, as they became increasingly melodic. In 2005 they decided to demonstrate this by changing their name to Gate of Sorrow and recruiting a full time operatic singer, Milada Miltakova, who also looks after all the deeply emotive lyrics, and keys player Ludvik Cihanek. The final piece of the jigsaw was when guitarist Libor Miklas joined the band in 2008. A suitably mournful intro leads into eight songs packed with melodic orchestrations, soaring operatics, and deep melodic growls, with elements of thrash, Epica and Nightwish. This is so much crammed into each song, it is difficult to pick out favourites, but I was particularly taken with ‘Tears in the Ashes’ and ‘Follow Me to the Other Side’. The album ends the solemn and achingly beautiful piano ballad Sirius. The producer has created an almighty, powerful, and thunderous sound, but everything is perfectly balanced and crystal clear. The interplay between melodic growls and operatics is something that Epica has lost, but Gate of Sorrow show how it should be done, mainly by keeping the male voice deep in the mix and in the bass register, so that it does not become dominant. Easily available for only 5 Euros plus postage from their website, http://www.gateofsorrow.com/. Even anti growlers like me will find an enormous amount to enjoy in this awesome CD, full of atmosphere, drama, emotion and soaring melodies. 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

THE GATHERING..'THE WEST POLE'

(Psychonaut Records) Reviewed 25th May 2009

The West Pole is the ninth studio album by The Gathering, who themselves have been around 20 years or so. It is the first album however, since the departure of lead singer Anneke van Giersbergen with the inclusion of new vocalist Silje Wergeland, previous front woman of Norwegian band Octavia Sperati. So what about the music? Well this album is a slow burner, and it may take two or three spins to sink in, but it ain't bad. Kicking off with the instrumental 'When Trust Becomes Sound', this track is a little repetitive, but has a sorta 70s feel. Next track in 'Treasure' is one of the strongest songs from the record, and is a good showcase for Silje's vocals, who I think has adapted to her new role very well. The slower title track is another strong offering, with the album as a whole offering up plenty of atmosphere and awesome musicianship. Some of the slower paced songs come across as quite sombre however, so perhaps not a cd to listen too if feeling down, but to summarise, The Gathering are back, and a great choice of singer too! 7.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

NATALIE GELMAN..S/T

(Independent Release) Reviewed 18th January 2009

Singer/songwriter/Subway&Street Performer Natalie Gelman, is quickly gaining acclaim and recognition for her music. Her passionate songs and voice have brought comparisons to Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell and Jewel. And this album so happens to be a Jewel. I pride myself that I like all types of music. It doesn't have to rock out. Kicking off with 'Rest Of The Way', this track showcases the sort of path this record takes. Following with 'Sweet July', and this catchy little offering so happens to be one of my faves on this record. Other little favourites are 'Leave', 'Half Dead', 'Never Had You' and the rockier 'Forgive Me'. Get out there, light up your camp fires and get your accoustic guitars out. Listening to this in-fact brought back a memory of a certain lass I know playing her accoustic guitar at the top of Glastonbury Tor last Summer. This cd is cool stuff with cool lyrics by a cool lass who has been featured on the front page of the NY Times and in Billboard Magazine. Check her out at www.myspace.com/nataliegelman. 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

GHOSTHILL..'EMBRACE OF A CHASM'

(Fono) Reviewed 13th August 2010

Ghosthill are a hugely talented young band from Kaliningrad in western Russia. Their style is super speedy, mega mighty, symphonic power metal, a mix of Holyhell, DragonForce and Fairyland. Guitarists Val and Nick thrashing like a Tasmanian devil, drummer John peddling faster than Chris Hoy and Ilia’s keyboard solos sounding like Rick Wakeman at 78rpm (ask your granddad). However they vary the tempo and dynamics enormously, so you get a burst of speed and then they ease on down, which gives the rather lovely Mira space to operate. She has an outstanding and very powerful voice packed with attitude, for some strange reason she reminds me of a young Shirley Bassey, Mira would certainly make mincemeat out of a James Bond theme. I sent Ravenheart Dave a speedy metal track to listen to, he said there was too much going on, which made me realise just how much I’ve got used to the speed, 10 minutes worth of music rammed into 3 minutes, it can be very disorientating for the uninitiated. Production by the appropriately named Val Metal is excellent, the sound rumbling rather than pounding, which, with the variations in pace, avoids the drums getting tiresome, a major problem with some power metal. Standouts include ‘The Last Dimension’ (live video on Female Voices Blog), the title track ‘Embrace of a Chasm’, the brace of slightly more mid tempo numbers ‘The Mist’ and ‘Silent Night’, and the closing epic ‘Vigilant Forest’. This will fill the chasm in any power metal fans collection, and you can embrace a copy at their Myspace www.myspace.com/ghosthillmetal , but hurry, they’re going fast, 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)