GREAT WORKS: Deep Purple - Machine Head

Machine Head is by many considered the best album of Deep Purple. This album of 1972 that Richie Blackmore , Ian Gillan, Jon Lord,Ian Paice and Roger Glover created and performed is a magnificent sample of what music is capable of.
The story of this album is quite noticeable as it was recorded in Switzerland. There in Geneva happened a story that almost everyone has listened but doesn't know. They had booked the casino for two weeks for the recording. Frank Zappa was giving a show there and someone fired a flare gun into the roof. The casino was burnt and Deep Purple had nowhere to record their album. They found Grand Hotel that was closed for the winter and they rented part of it. The album was recorded in a corridor (basically because Paice considered that the Drums was sounding better there). This story, the story of this superb album is narrated in the most famous song of the album and one of the most known songs of Rock music, Smoke on the water.
Smoke on the Water is a song that has everything it takes to be a masterpiece. It is quite simple and to it belongs the riff that everyone knows. The lyrics are simple and yet effective. The mixing is superb ( the album was originally recorded in quadraphonic sound. The original mixes are available on the SACD).
The lyrics of the album surprise us with their simplicity that works in favor of the poetic result and not against it. The music with outbursts that seem to come from a metal album but also with clear and nice melodies combine practically everything. The allegro is mated with andante and the voice is clear and captures your attention. This album cannot be described by words since its diversities leave us incapable of describing without analyzing every second. One last thing is that this album contains some of the nicest keyboard parts that I have listened to (Jon Lord did an exceptional job and is my favorite of course).
Concluding the SACD presents the original sound as it was meant to be presented so for those that possess the appropriate sound system I strongly suggest they acquire it. In the SACD there can be found the "when a blind man cries" a terrific song that was not originally included on the album. If you have not listened to this album it's time you do!

DODHEIMSGARD - SUPERVILLAIN OUTCAST [2007] (album review)

In this year of grace, the black metal pioneers Dødheimsgard (Dhg) released their new, 4^th in order full-length album, “Supervillain Outcast”. For about eight years after their last release, 1999’s “666 International”, I was waiting impatiently, and I guess all the band’s friends, for this one. I can’t explain the reason why I was so impatient, whole this period, but I guess that I must “put the blame” on their innovative last album. Ladies and gentlemen, Dødheimsgard crossed the threshold of this solar system, in 1999 and they sent us a brief report about what exists out there, written into “666 International” album. Now, with their triumphant return back to earth, they are describing their whole experience into “Supervillain Outcast”.

With the first listening of the album, it’s clear that we have to do with a “special” album, for once more time. The riffs are amazing and somewhere between 1998’s EP “Satanic Art” and “666 International”, with continuous changes from melodic to morbid, and from frenzied to groovy. The programming/effects are diminished a little bit, comparing to “666 International”, but they are placed to the appropriate points in order to serve each song’s aim, by creating cold and weird atmospheres. The drumming is simply genius from a gifted musician, Czral. Behind the microphone, the new singer Kvohst replaces Aldrahn and he manages to almost disappear, this absence, as his performance is remarkable. I believe that it’s not coincidental that Vicotnik the band’s master and guitarist, released his project’s Code debut album, in which Kvohst sings also, before “Supervillain Outcast”, in order to make clear to all of us, Kvohst’s abilities. It will be not fair, if I don’t mention the psychedelic cover of the album and the beautiful artwork.

If I had to made a further mention for some tracks from the album, these will be “Horrorizon” which is atmospheric with many Ved Buens Ende references, “Ghostforce Soul Constrictor” which is my album’s favorite, “All Is Not Self”, which seems to have escaped from Ved Buens Ende’s “Written in Waters” album, and finally “21^st Century Devil”, whose main theme is based to a melody from “Sonar Bliss” song (this melody is played by grand piano at 4.05’ min ) of “666 International” album.

Dødheimsgard discography:

[1995] Kronet til Konge
[1996] Monumental Possession
[1998] Satanic Art EP
[1999] 666 International
[2007] Supervillain Outcast

for further information visit: www.myspace.com/dodheimsgard

Dew Scented - Incerate (Album Review) (2007)

Hello friends and music brothers!!!! Today I will put my comments on an album that after hearing it several times I can say that it is a rewarding offspring of the band named as "Dew Scented". The album is called "Incinerate", a classic melodic-death metal album with brutal vocals, as in every death metal album, and guitar riffs that will make you headbang for every second of every track. Following the new, and old in some ways, wave of melodic death metal, made by bands such as the "At the gates", the "Dew Scented" have made an album with powerful riffs followed with very nice guitar solos and fast drum beats that can be characterized as "stone breaking". Some of the listeners may say that they look alike the style of the band named "The Haunted", but as I have said before, we have a new wave of melodic death metal and now just a style coping. There are few to say more about this METAL album... just hear it... It has something to say since the band isn't new in the neighborhood :P

So fans out there, hear the album and HEADBANG as much as you can!!!

"Dew Scented" have also released the following albums:
Immortelle 1996
Innoscent 1998
Ill-Natured 1999
Inwards 2002
Impact 2003
Ill-Natured & Innoscent [Compilation] 2003
Issue VI 2005


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IN MEMORY OF : QUORTHON (02/17/1966 - 06/06/2004)

Among other articles, reviews, or news, you can find to our blog every month a tribute to an extinct artist, who left his mark indelible to our music with his work, over the years. This month we pay homage to a legend of extreme music, who created music which was influential for innumerable bands in metal music, from black to epic metal bands. We pay homage to a man who was creating music straight from his heart. We pay homage to a man who listened to his heart, before his every step, without compromising. This legend’s real name was Tomas Forsberg, but he will stay immortal in metal’s music history as QUORTHON.

Quorthon created his band Nosferatu, at 1983, which later renamed to BATHORY. Bathory released their same name debut at 1984, which was an irregular mixing of Motorhead, The Exploited and GBH influences, with totally insane solo parts and vocals from the other side. The first critics were disappointing, but a core of fans, who were thirsty for extreme and uncompromising music, created in due. In 1985 “The Return” released and the music turns to a more thrashy direction. What released on that album, was that created a whole scene some years later. That scene was the famous Norwegian Black Metal scene. The lack of promotion of Bathory’s albums, the lack of photos in albums’ inlays, the lack of interviews and the denial for live shows, was spreading a veil of mystery around Bathory, which helped their myth to become huge enough, among the metal fans. That fact leaded fans to confess their dedication to group with very weird ways. For example, Quorthon received once, a letter from two Japanese girls, fans of the band, which was written to a four meter long rice paper. In 1986’s “Under the Sign of the Black Mark”, Bathory let some epic elements to make their apparition into some songs, fact that leaded to the next album’s songs, the epic elements to be dominant. 1988’s “Blood Fire Death” was a masterpiece, with lower speed tempo, majestic melodies, brutal and hymn vocals and lyrics taken straight from the Scandinavian mythology and tradition. “Blood Fire Death” was the beginning of a trilogy, which continued to 1990’s “Hammerheart” and 1991’s “Twilight of the Gods” albums. These two albums are full of Viking related music, effects and lyrics and they are probably the most original epic albums in the history of heavy metal. After all these albums, Quorthon showed signs of tiredness and a transition era started for the band. Two compilation with unreleased songs and also two albums free from the epic elements released. Those albums brought back the thrash character of the band, and they were 1994’s “Requiem” and 1995’s “Octagon”. After these, “Blood on Ice” released in 1997, which was an album with leftovers from 1990-91 sessions. Two more compilation albums followed and after 5 years at 2001 “Destroyer of Worlds” released. The last two albums that Bathory released were 2002’s “Nordland I” and 2003’s “Nordland II”, which were a return to the epic sound, after fans’ demand.

Unfortunately, Quorthon didn’t have the chance to create more albums, since his heart betrayed him and all his fans. Tomas Forsberg passed away at 06/06/2004 due to heart failure. He was found dead in Monday 7^th of July, in his small apartment at Stockholm. It was not later than that moment, that it was made known that the last years he encountered some heart problems. He was only 39 years old. The figure that Quorthon dedicated most of his songs, took him to the other side. His life’s ending had the same ending with the most Scandinavian myths, a sad one. Even to his last moment he stayed consistent to the principles, that he chanted to his songs. The world and our music are poorer with his absence. Only Valhalla earned from this departure.

Influencial for: Black metal bands (Darkthrone, Mayhem, Burzum, Emperor and more), Death metal bands (Amon Amarth, and more) Epic metal bands (Doomsword, Grand Magus and more)

GREAT WORKS: Beethoven's 9th

First I want to thank all authors for their passionate support and participation. This blog is alive and this is clearly visible. Keep on good work.
Today I will talk about what I consider maybe the most important monument of classical music. I am referring to the 9th symphony from Ludwig van Beethoven. It is a long work (about 1 and a half our) that is also called the symphony of joy. Even though so long a work it never becomes boring and possesses the rare ability to make the repeat of the main themes, that is a standard characteristic of symphonic works, as interesting as a continuous change of melodies.
Listening to this masterpiece under suitable conditions of sound system's quality and power the auditor perceives a constant dialog between the instruments. A dialog that becomes chat, agreement or disagreement and possesses the natural pattern of a human conversation. The instruments play with each other, try to cheat or hide and comment on what is happening. It is like listening to a gathering of diverse group of people. Every crescendo is breath-taking and the sound is full and with power but also sometimes gentle like a breeze. Its themes stay and haunt your mind. This work is as simple and as complicated as life.
It would be impossible not to make a special mention to a specific part of this symphony that is its trademark. And of course is the Ode to Joy. Five notes played in ascending and descending order create one of the most recognizable music patterns of history. It is worth noting that this part that includes human singers is the first to have such an element since all symphonies before used no human voices. Beethoven genius uses maybe the most advanced and capable instrument that exist and this is voice to give a more sentimental approach and to loudly declare the triumph of joy and life.
All in all the 9th symphony of Beethoven ( his last one) is a work that everyone should listen even these people that are not attracted to classical music since it is a work beyond genre and beyond eras.

Hi!!!!!!!

Hi, guys!!!!!!!! I'm happy to be in this fantastic blog.
Special thanks to the administrator who create it.

ROTTING CHRIST - Theogonia [2007, Season Of Mist] (Album review)

This is the tenth LP for Greek pioneer metallers ROTTING CHRIST. It's their first concept album that has to do with the birth of Gods in Ancient Greek Mythology. Musically speaking it is the one of the fourth best albums they have ever made. It's simply perfect. It combines all the things that made them famous to their fans with some new staff from greek folk music.

The album has a lot of metal riffs (so many only Triarchy had) that makes the concept to seem to have be borned in ..Hell. The vocals are exactly as they had to be, the bass lines the same and of course the drums seems to be played from another drummer not Themis ( He had to play like this for many years, congratulations!!). The music seems the darkest ever and the black metal feeling back in roots!! It's amazing 20 years later Sakis has made an album that can show to a lot of new bands the way of playing excellent Brutal Metal.

They recorded, mixed, produced and mastered this album here in Greece of course by Sakis Tolis with the help of Aris Christou the owner of SCA studios in Athens in a hot summer of 2006. Horns Up metal brothers & sisters!!

P.S. For further information for things about R.C. visit : http://www.rotting-christ.com http://www.myspace.com/rottingchristabyss
http://www.season-of-mist.com

ROTTING CHRIST discography :

1991 Passage to Arcturo (Decapitated Records)
1993 Thy Mighty Contract (Osmose Productions)
1994 Non Serviam (Unisound Records)
1996 Triarchy of the Lost Lovers (Century Media Records)
1997 A Dead Poem (Century Media Records)
1999 Sleep of the Angels (Century Media Records)
2000 Khronos Χ Ξ Σ (Century Media Records)
2002 Genesis (Century Media Records)
2004 Sanctus Diavolos (Century Media Records)
2007 Theogonia (Season Of Mist Records)

MACHINE HEAD - THE BLACKENING [2007] (album review)

The new Machine Head album is finally out. After the successful 2003’s “Through the Ashes of Empires” and its return to roots, Machine Head acquired back a lot of fans that they lost after the unsuccessful experiments of 1999’s “The Burning Red” and 2001’s “Supercharger”. It seems that they will continue their upward course, as the new album contributes the maximum in this path.

When the first song “Clenching the Fists of Dissent” starts to play, a Middle-East chant opens the track and an amazing acoustic theme follows. Rob Flynn says that they tried to write the saddest acoustic verse they could write. After this, a bulldozer riff explodes and from that point the listener can easily understand that some brutal staff will succeed it. The epic continues on this 10mins long song with rotation of riffs, lead and melodic parts, pick slides, breaks and groovy parts. After the sixth minute and an UNBELIEVABLE solo, a choir starts to shout “Fight, fight, fight!!!” with a backing riff that contributes the whole thing to remind a little bit the respective famous break of Metallica’s “Creeping Death”. The 2^nd track, “Beautiful Mourning” is a typical groovy Machine Head track with many harmonics and many melodic vocals. “Aesthetics of Hate”, the 3^rd track, is another great song and it is the most thrashy of the album. This will be a killer live one. I can already imagine the mosh pits and the rolling heads at band’s live shows. It was not coincidental that before the album's release, the band used to play this single one song at live shows, as an album preview. Razor-like riffs, killer lead parts, brutal vocals, on the solo the two guitars have a beautiful “conversation” and not to forget the amazing drumming. You CAN’T simply ask for more. “Now I Lay Thee Down” is another beautiful song with many modern metal riffs. “Slanderous” is the 5^th track and it starts with a monster pick slide. In it’s flow and after some heavy staff, turns to a groovy mood and… are they Hammet/Hetfield that play the solo here? “Halo” is the next one and a more than classic Machine Head track, with many groovy, lead/melodic parts and great solo. Number 7 on the album is “Wolves”. Another lengthy song, as it counts 9 minutes. An almost progressive song, as it has innumerable riffs and demands to be listened many times to find out what is going on here. It’s a great song. Rob Flynn said that it was a big challenge for him to write some complicated and also lengthy songs, keeping in parallel the listener’s interest unimpaired. The album’s last song “A Farewell to Arms” follows the same pattern with “Wolves”, as it counts 10 minutes and has also complex structure. No need to say that it is another great song.

In conclusion, Machine Head created a killer album with qualitative guitar work, great ideas, a very strong rhythm section, fantastic drumming and also strong and steady sound, which helps at maximum the listener to distinguish what each instrument, plays exactly. It is the best album they have released since their debut, and I dare to say that it can stand equally next to 1994’s “Burn My Eyes”. An album that offers great moments to listener and deserves a seat at every serious metal compilation.

P.S.: If somebody decides to buy it, prefer the Limited Edition which contains a Metallica cover to “Battery” and also a bonus DVD with the making of “The Blackening” and a 2006 tour documentary.

MACHINE HEAD discography:

[1994] Burn My Eyes
[1997] The More Thing Changes…
[1999] The Burning Red
[2001] Supercharger
[2003] Hellalive (live)
[2004] Through The Ashes Of Empires
[2005] Elegies (dvd)
[2007] The Blackening

Freedom Call - Dimensions (2007) (Album Review)

"Freedom Call" their name and the are coming from Germany. From the title someone can understand that we are talking about a power metal band that speaks of freedom and innocence in their new album called "Dimensions". An album that will bring memories, to those how will listen it, of bands like "Helloween" and "Hammerfall" since the voice of the singer is singing with the same way. An interesting power metal album with sound from the good old "power" that we all have been fans of and some of us still remains. Pleasant melodies and music compositions but I didn't like the voice of the speaker in the intro and the name of the 4th song called "Mr. Evil", it is a bit of copy from the song of "Helloween" called "Mr. Ego" and the fused with the song of the same band called "Dr. Stein", plus the 80's guitars and drums of the same song. All the other songs are much much better, with far better melodies such as the "Queen of my world" and guitars that has the speed character of the power metal of this decade and from the 90's. Generally we are talking about an album that can be adorable by a power metal fan and pleasant for the rest of the listeners and for some others just an other album for the stores and only. Hear it before judging it!

Also "Freedom Call" has released the albums:

1999 Stairway To Fairyland
1999 Taragon [EP]
2001 Crystal Empire
2002 Eternity
2004 Live Invasion [Live]
2005 The Circle Of Life


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After Forever - After Forever (2007) (review)

Hello again to you all out there music freaks. This time I will say my opinion about the new homonym album of "After Forever". After careful listening of the album, I can say that it is maybe the best of the rest their albums. They have kept the "opera sound" of their female vocals and the style that can remind us the style of the "Nightwish". Violins and classical instrumentals make more atmospheric the originally power metal sound of the band and the melody of the keyboards fills the rewarding sound of the electric guitar and bass. The whole album is very pleasing and easy to hear without anything complicated, with nice melodies, heavy parts, a few brutal vocals that you forget that you have heard them after some seconds and refrains that lift the songs higher. A very good Opera-Power Metal album that the fans of the style will love and the rest of the listeners will be satisfied after listening the "After Forever" playing... "After Forever"

"After Forever" has also released the albums:
2000 Prison Of Desire
2001 Decipher
2003 Exordium [EP]
2004 Invisible Circles
2005 Remagine

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