All customer reviews by Valentin S.
Posted on: February 15, 2017
The legacy lives on
Classic STORMWITCH line-up without their charismatic singer Andy Muck and their main songwriter and founding member known as “Lee Tarot†. No way, do you say? Forget it, it can’t be any good, eh? But it IS really good! In fact, it’s the project started by original STORMWITCH members after the demise of Lee Tarot and based on his legacy, his songs the death hadn’t allowed him to complete. And the result is wonderful indeed. Excellent Heavy/Power Metal with great melodies in the best STORMWITCH tradition.
Posted on: February 3, 2017
My God, “Nightfall† is coming
Why bother trying to find out the essence of Doom when we have it already since 1987 in the shape of this godly album, the mightiest “Nightfall† from Sweden’s own masters of Doom Metal, from one and only CANDLEMASS. “Nightfall† represents in the most convincing manner anything that real Doom Metal should be radiating with – heavy as the mammoth riffs, melodies to hum even sleeping and crushing, smashing and devastating heaviness out of this world. They are here all around, in every note, in every riff, in every song. Plain “masterpiece† might be too unconvincing word to describe the real greatness of this unique work of genius.
Posted on: January 31, 2017
"Men han har jo ikke noget paa"
So, what all the fuss, created by big (and well-paid for that, remember) media is really about? Is it really what all the Heavy Metal world was waiting for years? Come on, don't let yourselves be fooled, just listen to this "masterpiece and so on" and try to figure out what is really so great in this album. I tried, honestly, but failed to find anything worth banging my head to. A couple of more or less decent tracks don't make this anything but another dull and pointless endeavour of once so great band. Its time to ask Mr. Mustaine for a crash course in real Thrash.
Posted on: January 13, 2017
The legacy for all times
The legend, the icon, the cornerstone. THE Death Metal album for all times, although the purists of the genre may find too many Thrash Metal ingredients in its recipe. No wonder, back then the boundaries between Death and Thrash Metal were very fragile, remember the year of its release. It was 1987, boys and girls, some of us weren’t even born yet. As for this reissue of “Scream Bloody Gore†, it must be the best one so far. Dark-red hotfoil stamping of the band’s logo and the album’s title looks really great and compliment the cover art just perfectly. Add to the deal four pages LP format booklet with lots of pictures of the young Chuck†¦ A pity he never got to grow old. Rest in peace, Death Metal Master.
Posted on: January 6, 2017
Death Metal the brutal way. As it was supposed to be.
The new album from Dutch Death Metal veterans sounds neither dated nor tired. On the contrary, its surprisingly fresh and enthusiastic, as if delivered by some young and hungry newcomers. Is it brutal? You bet, brutal as hell, its ASPHYX after all! Their crushing riffs sound really convincing, with the hints of CELTIC FROST (or even HELLHAMMER) here and there, and one-of-a-kind voice of Martin Van Drunen is still as easily recognizable as it used to be in PESTILENCE many years ago. Sure, ASPHYX have never been the leaders of the pack or the most popular band around, and their new effort won't change this state of affairs either, but they have always been sincere and devoted to their own style and their fans – that's what really matters.
Posted on: December 28, 2016
The very best of MY DYING BRIDE
It may be hard to believe, but here we have the very first vinyl reissue of this legendary (but hard-to-pronounce Latin titled) song since its first coming in 1991. Moreover, this reissue is in a way even better than the original 12'' EP. There they divided the song in two parts to cut one half of it on each side, but here we have it full on A-side, while B-side contains two more songs of that era, namely "God Is Alone" and "De Sade Soliloquay" (both originally released a bit earlier in 1991 on 7" EP only). A perfect company for a title track I'd say, as both of them represent more Death Metal roots of MY DYING BRIDE. As for the title track itself, I believe its the very best song ever created, recorded and released by MY DYING BRIDE. Its that simple. High quality reissue on excellent sounding 180 gr. black vinyl leaves very little to ask for. Go for it, you can't go wrong with a gem like this.
Posted on: December 6, 2016
Perfect. Just perfect.
Perhaps the long time dream of Dave Mustaine to top his ex-bandmates from METALLICA is going to be finally fulfilled with the latest MEGADETH effort. “Dystopia† has in perfect measures everything that made MEGADETH the force to be reckoned with. Great catchy melodies, over-the-top musicianship, perfect production, you name it. Their new guitarist Kiko Loureiro from ANGRA fitted into the band as if they were playing years and years together, moreover the tracks penned by him are very hard to distinguish from Dave’s ones not having the songwriting credits in front of your eyes. The chemistry is absolute. I have no idea how “Dystopia† sounds in digital, but on the good old vinyl its just a monster. The artwork is also much more convincing on LP format. Top grade.
Posted on: December 1, 2016
The name says it all
The third album of resurrected in the early 90s Danish legend MERCYFUL FATE, really to the point entitled “Into The Unknown†, in some way turned out to be a kind of transition effort. On the one hand, it was evident that some changes should be made to keep their music as intriguing and interesting as it used to be, on the other, the band, perhaps, wasn’t really ready for them at that point. You see, the one before, “Time† from 1994, was one solid and focused piece of work, the one after, “Dead Again† from 1998, would be really different, progressive and self-confident as well, but this album in some way got just in between. It doesn’t make the impression of the solid “album†, rather a collection of some independent songs. Still, for the most part quite strong songs, so “Into The Unknown† surely wasn’t a failure no matter what.
Posted on: November 27, 2016
A real bargain
I would feel stupid even trying to describe the music on this album. If you don't know "Sad Wings Of Destiny" you just don't know what Heavy Metal really is. Its that simple. The living legend, the icon of the genre and so on. Here we have another vinyl reissue of this classic, the American one by Koch Records. I have no idea how it got so bargain price as nothing in it gives the impression of some low-budget product. On the contrary, its gatefold sleeve and good quality 180 gram vinyl make it a release to be taken really seriously.
Posted on: November 10, 2016
Victim of Changes?
The Changes (right so, with the capital C) must have been the main priority of “Dead Again† album released by MERCYFUL FATE back in 1998. The most important and painful of them must have been Michael Denner’s decision to leave the band he had always been the highly important part. Then the sound of this album, which wasn’t like three of his predecessors from the second coming of the band. More alive, rawer and differently toned. And the music itself, which went more progressive, harder to follow way. Not an easy listening stuff, that’s for sure. It really needs some serious attention and several attempts to feel it the right way, and this new pressing of Metal Blade Records is the finest media to try it.