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RACER X
A.S. 7,5/10 |
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RADIOACTIVE
T.A. 8/10 |
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RADIOHEAD
A.S. 5/10 |
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RAGE
A.S. 8/10 |
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RAG I RYGGEN
G.K. 8,5/10 |
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RAGGEDY ANN
T.A. 8,5/10 |
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RAIN
T.A. 8/10 |
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RAJNA
T.A. 3/10 |
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RAJNA
A.S. 3/10 |
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RAN
T.A. 6,5/10 |
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RANDOM EYES
T.A. 7/10 |
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RAPTURE
T.A. 7/10 |
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RA’S DAWN
T.A.
6/10 |
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RATEOFDEPRESS
T.A. 7/10 |
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RAVENOUS
G.K. 4/10 |
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RAVENTHRONE
T.A. 7/10 K.P. 7,5/10 |
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RAZA DE ODIO
G.K. 7/10 |
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RAZORBACK
A.S. 7/10 |
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REBELLION
A.S. 7/10 T.A. 6/10 |
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RECKLESS TIDE
T.A.
6/10 |
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REIGN OF EREBUS
G.K. 0,5/10 |
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REMAIN THE SAME
T.A. 7/10 |
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REQUIEM
G.K. 7/10 |
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RETROHEADS
A.S. 5,5/10 |
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REVEREND BIZARRE
G.K. 8/10 |
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REVEREND BIZARRE
A.A. 5,5/10 |
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RHAPSODY
T.A. 8/10 |
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RIBSPREADER
G.K. 5,5/10 |
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RING OF MYTH
A.S. 4/10 |
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RIOT
T.A. 8/10 |
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RITUAL CARNAGE
T.A. 7/10 |
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ROB ROCK
T.A. 8/10 |
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ROCKARMA
T.A. 7/10
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ROCK ‘N’ ROLL RIOT
A.S. 6,5/10 |
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ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA
T.A.
3/10 |
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RONDAT PATRICK
T.A. 7/10 |
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ROSE TATTOO
T.A. 7,5/10 |
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ROT
D.F. 7/10 T.A. 7,5/10 |
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ROTTEN SOUND
G.K. 6,5/10 |
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ROTTING CHRIST
G.K. 5/10 |
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ROTTING CHRIST
T.A. 6/10 K.P. 5,5/10 |
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ROTTING FLESH
T.A. 7,5/10 |
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RPWL
A.S. 8/10 |
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RUBBER CITY REBELS (THE)
T.A. 7,5/10 |
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RUINS OF TIME
T.A. 7/10 |
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RUNEMAGICK
G.K. 6/10 |
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RUNNING WILD
A.S. 7/10
T.A. 6/10 |
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RUSH
A.S. 9,5/10 |
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RUSH OF USHERS
A.S. 7/10 |
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RYAN ADAMS
T.A. 6,5/10 |
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For those who are not aware of it, Racer X is the band of Paul Gilbert, Scott Travis, Jeff Martin and John
Aldrete. In other words members of the band are experienced musicians of successful groups (Mr. Big, Judas Priest, Badlands), who via Racer X find a way out to express their alter ego. Well, to be honest this ego is not that "alter", as Racer X play pure heavy metal. This is their third effort after their reunion ("Technical Difficulties" and "Superheroes" being the previous ones). The members of the band seem to be so free and loose to produce what they know to play best: traditional heavy metal - not power, not speed, not anything else. And to be honest they perform it very well. 11 songs where the good times roll. The speed is reduced in comparison to their previous works and I find that this works well for the band, as the riffs present a better technique, the solos are chaotic and the rhythm section amazingly solid. If some songs from here were included in the last Judas Priest album we would have been hyper-satisfied with a great come-back! "Golden God", "Heaven In '74", "Empty Man", "Everything's Everything", "The Siren's Eye" are huge anthems that can keep you good company. We are not talking about the masterpiece of 2003, but if you like pure heavy metal (you know, Accept, Priest etc), then this CD guarantees 50 minutes of qualitative enjoyable
music. Cheers!
Tommy
Denander, the well-known guitarist released with his solo project Radioactive, the second album in a row. Well, the impressive thing is that on Radioactive are participating some really recognized musicians. I really don't know where to start from…on the vocals we found Geir
Ronning, Fergie Frederiksen, Mikael Erlandsson, Steve Overland, Matti
Alfonzetti, on the bass Marcel Jacob, and Tony Franklin and on the drums Pat
Thern. The line up is really impressive, but the most important in this album are the songs. And in this point Tommy have managed to write truly and exciting hard rock dynamites like "Demon", "7 am", "and Fire Within", mid-tempo moody rockers like "Lies Feed On Lies", and "Souls On Fire", and the bluesier "Don't' Give Up" in which Geir's vocals will remind you David
Coverdale! As for the fans that love sentimental and touching songs, "Yeah" has actually two incredible ballads such as, "Over You", and "Until
I Change Your Heart". I believe that Radioactive's "Yeah" has all those things that a fan wants from a melodic
rock / AOR band. Truly good songs, variety, memorable vocal melodies, and emotional moments. If you actually like rock music and you looking for a good album to listen to then check out Radioactive and I don't think that you might be disappointed. The persons that participate in this album could be a good guarantee for those who will hesitate to try out Radioactive.
This is a weird band. With their amazing "Ok Computer" in 1997, I thought that they would dominate the modern rock universe for years, however since then their course is downward (according to my opinion). In their new album, they seem so "tired" and out of ideas and inspiration, that become boring. They play the same things that the whole new rock scene plays for years now, and they first introduced many years ago. If you have listened to Starsailor's "Love Is Here", you feel that you listen to the same album over again. In addition the use of guitars (the substance of any kind of rock music) is limited. Plus in some parts of the CD the feeling of decadence is so evident that becomes annoying for someone who is not steeped in it in his/her normal life. Gloomy, atmospheric, depressing and dark music shouldn't be related to decadence. Listen for example to Sisters of Mercy or
Candlemass, to understand the difference. If this is the attitude they pursue...
One thing is sure about this
band: It has the ability to be reborn from its ashes! I never believed that they would continue after the
"Missing Link" album and the withdrawal of their first guitar-player. And they produced they dynamite
"Black In Mind"! Then I never thought they could get out of the mud they were into during the last years and especially after Peavy remained alone in the
band! And now they produce this great album
"Unity"! What can I say? Peavy made the right choices with Victor Smolski
(guitar) and Mike Terrana (drums) and the chemistry between them seems to work just
fine! After all both the newcomers contribute to the songwriting. Ok it might not be their best
album, but it is a great comeback that will definitely satisfy their fans and not only
them. The approach has changed a bit from the "classical" one of the previous albums that proved to be a deadlock for the
band. The new songs are more straight and heavy, yet with the nice familiar Rage
melodies. Charlie Bauerfeind's production to the album is crystal clear and dynamic and pushes forward the great moments of the
album. Hansi Kursch and DC Cooper participate as well, a fact that works for the band giving a depth to the
refrains. Highlights? It's difficult but "Set the world on Fire" and
"You want it, you'll get it" just blew my brains! Welcome back my
friends!
This
a special release from Record Heaven/ Transubstans Records, because this
record is considered as a lost 70’s hard rock album! Rag I Ryggen (it
means something like “to have guts” as I was informed...) was a band
that was formed in the early 70’s in Sweden and recorded only this album
(1975) until 1977, when it disappeared after many live shows in the
Stockholm area and in Sweden in general. The band played 70’s hard rock
with progressive parts in the style of Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash
etc... The vocalist (Jonas Warnerbring) has a very good voice and sings with
passion like most of the great vocalists of the early 70’s (Ian Gillan,
David Byron, Ian Anderson etc...). The two guitars {Bjorn Nystrom (who later
played with Magnus Uggla, for our Swedish readers...) and Jan Aggemyr} will
remind you of many great metal bands that where influenced from the 70’s
hard rock bands with two guitarists (Thin Lizzy for instance). The 
Raggedy Ann comes from America and they exist almost 10 years! And that
fact shows that they are not some occasional guys that only play heavy
music in order to become rich. These guys know how to write good hard
rock/metal songs with excellent vocals melodies! Their music style as I
told before is moving between the hard rock and the melodic metal music.
The guitar work on this album is super and the singer of the band Brian
Carson is simply one of the best voices that come from the U.S (his way
of singing will bring on your mind great singers like Tate, Scott Soto
and Coverdale). Highlights of the album is the first song
"Superhero" that is simply a hard rock/metal hymn!, the
melodic rocker "Stop", that will stuck in your mind, the
sentimental "One More Time" and the great nostalgic "Show
Me The Way". The new album of Raggedy Ann is really a surprise to
me and I can't see the reason why big labels don't release albums like
this one and they don't sign contracts with super bands like Raggedy
Ann. Maybe, I will never find out why, but the only thing that is sure,
is that, as long as, so qualitative and melodic bands such as Raggedy
Ann exists our beloved metal music will never die! Excellent work guys.
You deserve the best!
"House Of Dreams" is the debut album of Rain, which is a German/Norwegian band. The vocalist of Rain is Michael Bormann (!) and it seems that he took it personally, and he does everything that is possible to spread the melodic rock/AOR music to the entire world! So let's see the whole thing from the start: Michael is an excellent singer and composer and it is understandable that he needs to sing and to write songs in many bands cause he is something like a "wild" spirit! Some of you may wonder, ok with that, but can Rain offer us good melodic rock songs once again with this album? This is obvious! The answer is Yes! And of course I must not forget to refer to the two guitarists of Rain, who are Tore Moren (guitars) & Lars Forseth (guitars), cause they have wrote many exciting songs on this album and they have, as well, made a wonderful work on the guitars. "House Of Dreams" is an album with many brilliant songs such as, the catchy big-hit "Anyway the Wind Blows", the emotive rocker
"Ain't Found Heaven Yet", the heartbreaking ballad "Can I Say If" (the album also has other two incredible ballads, which are
"Everytime You Go" and "Sentimental Sunday"), the radio-friendly rocker
"Talkin' To My Heart", and the gloomy rock "Make A Break" (on which Michael, will remind you Jon Bon Jovi). Well "House Of Dreams" is a damn good album, which is highly recommended to all melodic rock/AOR fans and also to those who don't listen to this kind of music! This album will change your
mind!
I remembered that I have taken another Rajna CD in my hands a couple of years but fortunately I gave it to my partner, Alex, to review it and as far as I know he hated it so I took my blood back and I was really happy about it!! Unfortunately the new work of the band came into my hands and I couldn’t do anything to avoid listening to it. I must also say that this release is slightly better than the previous one but again if you are into ethnic, Buddhism, music then this album will appeal to you… I’m not… I’m sorry… I cannot
stand it anymore...
Working for an E-zine can be devastating sometimes! It usually stands as a hobby or passion about music or other things. However once you start it you have to keep working on it, despite you might have much-much work (and I talk about work that earns you money and you need it in order to survive). Things are even more difficult when you have too much work, and yet many albums to listen to several times in order to do the reviews. Well, we might work on the site on expense to our work or study, but at least sometimes it does worth doing it as we listen to some great works. Nevertheless it is the worst of things to be extremely busy and yet having to devote a good deal of time listening to craps like the one coming from Rajna here. Un-listenable music, unless you are a
Buddhist in need of a soundtrack for your prayers. Oriental, electro, mid tempo mourning, with a touch of Dead Can Dance and Loreena McKennitt. The worst and by far the most meaningless and pointless CD I’ve listened to this year so far.
Every now and then my neighbours from Italy sent me some promos that enrich my musical knowledge and break the monotony of hearing rock and metal music for a long time period. This time the new band is called RAN and it’s a project that was formed by Romina and Giorgio. Romina used to be the singer of a known band in Italy (Antinomia which became estAsia) and Giorgio used to be the keyboardist of Templebeat, one of the most important Italian electro-crossover acts of the 90’s. So, Romina and Giorgio decided to join forces and their first “newborn child” is called “RAN”. The music of the band is rather a mixture of electro, mysterious, synth-pop with some gothic and even Eastern influences. The result is very atmospheric and “weird” but I believe that people who love the aforementioned music kinds and also like to experiment in their lives will listen to it.
The story of this band begins in 1999 where guitarist/songwriter Timo Kuusjarvi met vocalist Christian Palin while both were serving in Finnish army and they found out that they were both sharing the same musical interests. After almost two years, the vocalist Katja Rimpelainen, the guitarist Mikko Tuliniemi, the drummer Timo Peltokangas, the bassist Timo Maki-Marttunene and the solo guitarist Samuel Hoikso joined the band and the line up was completed. In this point I have to say that Random Eyes were the winners of a nationwide contest that was held in Mantsala, Finland in the spring of 2002. So, afterwards they decided to enter the studio and record their debut album along with producer Arttu Sarvanne of the acclaimed studio Watercastle in Jyvaskyla, Finland. Thus, as it concerns the music part of the debut “Eyes Ablaze” I must say that it is a very good album of melodic metal music which is rather influenced from the goth and the atmospheric music also. The voices of the two singers are fitting very well together, although Tarja has more space to sing in the songs. The songs that I like while listening to this album, were the opener “Hero”, the gothic rock “Son Of Perdition”, the heavy “Faith”, the rocker “Fallen” and the mellow “Tomorrow Will Come”. I will not try to compare Random eyes with The Gathering or Evanescence although they have some influences from those bands and especially from The Gathering, mainly when Anneke joined the band. Random Eyes are trying to present their own music sound and they do not make the mistake to become the followers of anyone and that’s very encouraging for the band. One thing is for sure about this band: they play well, they have nice songs and they can definitely become better in the future if they try to write catchier songs with more memorable choruses. They have the potentials to achieve such a thing, therefore let’s see if they decide to do so. To sum it up, “Eyes Ablaze” is a very good debut from a band that the fans of melodic/atmospheric metal will like a lot. The next album of the band will show, whether they are going to make the big breakthrough or not.
The
third album of Rapture is showing the maturity of the band. Surely is the
best album of the band to date and it is a work that musically is close to
the previous albums of the band. Rapture seems to be influenced from bands
like Katatonia, Amorphis, Green Carnation, Anathema and Entwine but they
keep using some brutal vocals (except the very good clean vocals) in their
songs. Their music is atmospheric and has many gothic elements at the same
time and that is something that the fans of the aforementioned bands are
going to like. The production is excellent and the album has many good
gloomy/atmospheric songs such as “Misery 24-7”, “Past Nightmares”,
“I Am Complete”, “Silent Chrysalis Stage” “Dreaming Of
Oblivion”, “The Times We Bled”. “Silent Stage” is showing that
the band is moving in the right music way although I believe that in the
next releases of the band there will be no more brutal vocals as many
other bands have done in the past. I like this album and I believe that it
will satisfy most of the atmospheric/gothic metal fans that do not mind
listening to some brutal vocals as well. The final choice, as always, is
up to you.
Ra’s
Dawn is a new metal band that comes from 
Rateofdepress is a quite new band that was formed almost two years ago. They were longing just to play the music that they love most and to be brutal and melodic at the same time. So, do they succeed it? The answer is cannot be a simple yes, or no. In my opinion they manage to succeed more than other bands that exist more than ten years haven’t succeeded to do and maybe they will never make it. Those five guys seemed to be influenced from bands like, Tool, Fony, Rage Against The Machine, System Of A Down, Soilwork and Soulfly. Thus, they have created a very powerful and fresh sound that although someone can tell their influences, cannot also accuse them for being thieves, like many other bands do today. Believe me, that this music style of modern rock/metal with aggressive guitars and angry/melodic vocals is not that easy to be played by many. If you do not have inspiration it’s very effortless to copy-paste from the big bands and everyone to make fun of you. Fortunately Rateofdepress are not in that category, contrary, is a hard working band and that I can tell it for sure. Almost two years after they were formed and they released a very good heavy, fresh and melodic album! Just listen to the fantastic opener “D.O.A. (which reminded me a little bit of Soilwork), the heavy “Because You’re Mine”, the catchy, melodious “Garden Of Roses”, the groovy “Why I Can’t Sleep”, the heavy rocker “When A Fad Becomes Fatal”, and the rocker “Familiar Faces”. The production of album is very good and strong and gives more points to the whole result. The lovers of the specific sound and of the aforementioned bands should listen to Rateofdepress and they will not regret it.
Ravenous is the band from America that consists of: Chris Reifert
(ex-Autopsy and ex-Death) on drums, vocals and guitars, Killjoy (Necrophagia)
on vocals and Danny Lilker (ex-Brutal Truth, ex-Anthrax, Nuclear Assault,
SOD) on bass! From the above musicians you can understand that the band
plays death metal with many grind parts… The band will remind you much
of Autopsy and Necrophagia, so the lovers of oldschool gore death metal
will surely like this album. Their main characteristics are the intros in
many tracks that come from old spatter and horror movies. The vocals are
brutal and a little bit strange something that makes the atmosphere sick.
If you also add the gore lyrics you can understand what kind of album do
we have here… The production cannot be characterized as a good one, but
their music style and the oldschool influences cannot offer a better
result… I believe the fans of this kind of music will appreciate the
“Blood Delirium” album, but since I am not a gore death metal fan I
don’t think I’ll ever listen to it again…
When Raventhrone released their
debut album almost four years ago, left to me the best impressions!
"Endless Conflict Theorem" is the second work of the band and in this album we can find beautiful epic atmospheric
heavy-black metal songs like the melodic "Among Whispering Walls", the heavy
"Soulstorm", the folk "The Dragon Of The Nightsky", the black with the eastern melody & rhythm
"A Night Among The Ruins Of Basra" and the homonymous epic
"Endless Conflict Theorem" (the outro of the album is
excellent!). I don't consider Raventhrone as an epic black metal band anymore and also they shouldn't consider themselves as a black metal band cause that would be a limiter for their music and it will mean the end for the
band. Raventhrone is a very capable band and they shouldn't be categorized to a specific kind of metal
music. If they want to be one of the top bands in the atmospheric metal
genre, they must let the music guide them and they also must be free from the black metal
stereotypes.
I like this album very much but I'm waiting for the next release to see if they'll choose to make the step forward as a
band.
Raza De Odio is a new project band coming from Italy. The band consists of Peso on drums, John on bass (both ex-Necrodeath), Zanna on vocals (ex-Sadist), Lopez and Paco on guitars. Their music can be easily described by the thrash metal term, but has also some death metal influences. Their main characteristic is that they have added some tribal and flamenco elements in their music. I think that their music is mainly influenced from Grip
Inc. (especially the last album) and other bands like Soulfly and Sepultura. The aggressive music they play is very well combined with the influences I mentioned before, but I believe they are not as good as Grip Inc. were in the last album… The guitars are really thrashy and so is the rhythm section, which will remind you of the classic Slayer rhythm section or even a typical death metal band in some parts. The vocals are aggressive and a little bit brutal. The album contains three covers and I think that they are too much for a band’s normal album and especially for a debut album. On the other hand, I haven’t listened to the original tracks and they sound similar to the album’s atmosphere and so, I was not bothered at all! These tracks are: “Matando Gueros” from Brujeria, “Vente Pa’Madrid” from Ketama and “United Forces” from S.O.D. I think that the fans of Grip Inc. who loved the last album and want to hear something similar, but more aggressive, they will enjoy listening to this album very much! Best tracks: “La Nueva Alarma”, “Otra Vez”, “Vente Pa’Madrid”, “Una Luz” and “Mienten”.
Good suggestion! This is what this album is. Especially for friends of melodic heavy metal - you know:
Dio, Stratovarious, Europe (of the early days), Malmsteen etc. I think that fans of such bands who are not fed up with the genre and are not looking for surprises in a listening as such will fancy this one a lot. But to be honest, I find it a good release anyway. Setting aside that this style has been heard many times in the past, the compositions here are really good, the melodies catchy, the production clear and massive. Members of the group (most of them are
x-Vanize) have made a magnificent effort to breath a fresh air to the
cliché sound, but the pleasant surprise comes from Stefan Berggren on vocals. We knew him from Company Of Snakes (and the magnificent “Burst The
Bubble”), but here he sounds even better and most of times reminds me a lot of Ronnie James Dio. In general there are some really good songs here, like “The Hymn” and especially “Fire And
Rain” that lead the way for a good breakthrough.
Rebellion is the new band of x-Grave Digger guitarist Uwe Lulis and bassist Tomi
Gottich. Yes, you don't need much thinking to understand what kind of music the band plays: pure heavy metal, with power elements and speed parts. In the beginning let me tell you that I find the cover of the album kind of childish and old fashioned. But then the music here is old fashioned anyway. Is this bad? Not really. Someone who likes pure heavy metal and is not bothered by the numerous cliches can have a good time with this album. Heavy guitars, based on riffs and not on harmonies, double drums at times, hymnical Accept-like refrains and bridges and a singer (Michael Seifert) with lot of "dirt" in his voice to differentiate the band from the others with the treble singers. The production is clear and powerful, with the guitars pushed in the front, something the works well for the band. In sum, it is a good record, without anything new to offer, but enjoyable to listen to.
The
german thrash metalers Reckless Tide finally released their debut album.
The band 
What? Another CD coming from the Blackened Records? Shit! I think I know what I am going to listen to for once again... Reign Of Erebus, the English black metal group that writes music only for themselves, as their label claims. Ok, I can accept that and I know that anyone can compose “music”, but why the hell some labels sign contracts with groups that want to play “music” only for themselves? After listening to this CD I think that even the band’s members will not want to listen to it again! Their black metal “music” has no melodies or something interesting. They all just play their instruments as fast as they can and create a noise without any purpose and result. As far as it concerns the vocals, I believe that even if I had the lyrics in front of me, so that I can read them, I would understand a thing, because of the way that the “vocalist” roars! The production is so bad that I can’t believe that they entered a studio and paid a producer for this result! Don’t even think to listen to these guys, even if you have to listen to this album as I had to, in order to write this review... I hope I could put a lower grade but I’ve reached the bottom limit of grades and I still didn’t find the appropriate one for them!
Remain
The Same was formed in the mid 90’s in Stockholm, Sweden. “Under The
Surface” is their second full-length album (they have also released an
E.P. in 2000 and a single in 2003), which shows the evolution of the band
all these years. Their music is based in simple rock forms and is
influenced from bands like Rush, Saga , Triumph and generally from the
70’s-80’s era of rock music. Although they have some good ideas in
their songs… the production does not help them a lot. I mean that the
production is too flat for my taste and I would prefer a better sound on
the guitars and of course on the drums, which sound too stiffly as well.
The voice of the singer (Daniel Nilson) is very good and I like very much
songs like “Without A Warning”, “I’m Falling Down”, “Another
Day Is Drawing” and “Strangers In The End”. One thing is for sure…
if those songs and especially the excellent “Without A Warning” had a
better sound they would help the band to become more popular in the rock
scene. Definitely the aforementioned song can have an airplay, but it
needs a better sound on the guitars and on the drums. The band has all the
time to fix those little problems that hold it back and I believe that the
next time would be more ready to make the big step. I would suggest you to
listen to them cause they are a good hard working band and it needs your
support. Visit them for more info at: 
In 1999 the band Requiem was formed in Finland and played death/power
metal. After some line-up changes, many live shows, a contract with Sound
Riot, they changed their music direction and they released their first
full-length album “The Arrival”. The line-up that recorded the “Mask
Of Damnation” album is: Arto Raisala (guitars), Teemu Hanninen (guitar),
Pasi Kauppinen (bass), Jouni Nikula (vocals), Jari Huttunen (drums) and
Henrik Klingenberg (keyboards) from Sonata Arctica. Their music has many
power and speed metal elements along with progressive and neo-classical
parts. The guitar work of the album is very nice, because of the nice
melodies and the wonderful alternation between fast and mid-tempo
melodies! The vocals are awesome and the fast and technical rhythm section
is very good. The keyboardist, Henrik Klingenberg, has done excellent work
for once again and his participation in this album makes the final result
much better! The album was recorded at the Sonic Pump Studios in Finland,
mixed by Nino Laurenne (Thunderstone) and produced by Arto Raisala and
Teemu Hanninen. Generally, I think that the fans of Helloween, Symphony X,
Sonata Arctica and Rhapsody will like this album. If it wasn’t for the
particular keyboardist, I think that the album would have sounded much
different. Finally I think that it’s a worth listening CD.
Hmmm… the webmaster had warned me that he had many prog rock promos for me... Sometimes I curse myself for my lickings! Not because the promos are bad, but every prog release needs more listenings in order to understand it. Plus most of them seem to be very similar. Well, Retroheads here play a kind of prog rock that owes a lot to the great bands of the 70’s: Yes, King Crimson, ELP, Camel etc. The songs aren’t bad at all, but something seems to be missing. Whenever the band focuses on “normal” structures, it delivers nice melodies and very good couples (which become even more interesting with the addition of female vocals). However the band resorts to many improvisations that at least to my ears have no real substance. Furthermore, I think that the band should work a bit more in giving a faster evolution to its songs, which evolve so slowly that sometimes you are willing to press “forward”.
Reverend Bizarre is a doom metal band that comes from Finland and although
that they may not be very popular they are really good! They have released
one album (“In The Rectory Of Reverend Bizarre”) and one EP (“Harbinger Of
Metal”), as far as I know. Now, their debut album, which is considered as
monumental among the doom metal fans, is re-released in a double CD
package! All the classics tracks such as “Burn In Hell”, “In The Rectory”,
“The Hour Of Death”, “Cirith Ungol” and the rest together with the amazing
artwork are here plus the bonus CD. Let’s go now to the bonus CD, which
contains seven new songs and a video for the track “Doom Over The World”.
The new tracks have the same influences with their debut album (Candlemass,
Saint Vitus, Pentagram, Trouble etc...) and there are a few quicker moments...
The vocals of Albert Witchfinder are still dark and mourning (maybe a
little bit changed, but they are still very good). Generally, their music
remains powerful, heavy, doomy and darker than the past. If you don’t know
them and you like heavy and doom music this is the best time to meet them
and buy this very good package, which contains over than two hours of
music! Their fans have already bought it, so... hurry up!
Reverend Bizarre, the doom metal band from Finland, came up with their second full-length album after the promising “In the Rectory Of The Bizarre Reverend” which was released in 2002.To be honest, I was very curious to listen to this CD cause I am fond of doom dark metal, the way Black Sabbath and Candlemass performed once upon a time. However, my curiosity turned to wonder when I inserted the CD in my player. The first track “Harbinger” starts with a mighty brutal growl, which we usually listen to only in pure death/black metal bands so I wondered where’s the doom style the band was referring to? Hopefully the things have changed few seconds later. Albert Witchfinder’s clear doomy voice, Peter Vicar’s heavy guitar riffs (In some tracks like “Strange Horizon” you have the feeling that Tony Iommy - from Sabbath - lent his guitar to Peter Vicar for a while) and the general production, which is good enough, give the right dark creepy atmosphere that a doom metal band ought to offer. It’s true, though that in this album Reverend Bizarre balance between doom and death metal because of the vocals, which sometimes turn to roars and death-like voice, a fact that will disappoint pure doom fans. But the most vulnerable point of the album is that the songs are so extended (from 12 to 20 minutes each) with no many riff or melody changes that become boring after a while. To sum it up, “Harbinger Of Metal” is nice, but unfortunately doesn’t stand out. Doom metal must be dark depressing and painfully slow. And when we say slow, we don’t mean endless…
Ribspreader
is a new band coming from Sweden and Dan Swano (Edge Of Sanity, Bloodbath,
Nightingale and others) belongs to the band’s members. 
Goodness,
what have I done?? Sometimes progressive rock can be really non-substantial,
boring and enervating. This is the case with Ring Of Myth. Unfortunately, I
ignore the history of the band... that is if this is not their first album.
Anyway, the band here exercises itself in a kind of prog rock and tests the
limits of our patience. The songs are so piercing, embellished with loads of
funk stuff and the singer has such a sharp voice that it becomes annoying at
times. No real melody here, and despite the obvious high skills of the band
- no real substance. At times it seems to meet hat the band bangs and makes
noise just to prolong the duration of the songs, which lack a clear and
rational structure. Sorry, I can’t cope with that...
As
you all know, Riot is a steady value in hard rock/metal music. So, once again
they offers us a very good and qualitative album. It is true that Mark
Reale knows how to write interesting songs and heavy thunderous riffs
and also Mike Dimeo has become a part of Riot's music. The album has
some excellent hard rock/metal songs like "Lost Inside This
World" and "Burn The Sun" but the best song of the album and
one of the best ballads of this year is for sure "Let It
Show". This song will touch your lonely souls! In the other hand,
the album has one cover from UFO's "Only You Can Rock Me", and
one acoustic cover of Beatles' "Here Comes The Sun". Both the
covers are very good. Also the production of the album is very clear and
the guitar sound is quite massy. Some points more to the whole result is
giving the dark and beautiful artwork. The Riot's fans have no reason to
be anxious about their beloved group. Riot have never disappointed us
and I don't believe that they would do such a thing. Speaking in general
"Through The Storm" is a high-quality album and has many good
songs. Trust Riot cause they really worth it!
Out
of this world!!! This is fuckin' Bay Area Thrash! Ritual Carnage brought
back the sound of Bay Area again in the 00's! Heavy riffs, up-tempo
songs and paranoid vocals. In a moment I believed that I was living in
the mid 80's. They remind me a little bit of Forbidden and Death Angel.
All the fans of this genre should listen to dynamite songs like
homonymous, "Paradox Of Democracy", and "Dawn To
Decadence". Also the production of the album is heavy enough and
has an uncontested 80's feeling. "The Birth of Tragedy" will
make you do headbanging again but especially to the older ones will
remind them their youth! I don't know if any of the new metal fans have
listened to or like this kind of music, but they must give a chance to
their selves to see how Bay Area thrash music was played in the 80's.
Moreover I have to say that the cover to Death's song "Infernal
Death" is very good. And one more thing is that the dig pack
version of the album has two more bonus tracks. It is sure that all
those who love the Bay Area scene will buy right away this very worthy
album. We're talking about speed/thrash metal music and nothing else. So
if you are not into this kind of stuff stay away, or else get now Ritual
Carnage's "The Birth Of Tragedy".
Rob Rock's Rage Of Creation released their second album. That is something that a lot of people in the music community were waiting with anxiety cause the debut "Rage Of Creation" has left them with the best impressions. Also to remind you that Rob Rock has participated as a singer, in many first class bands, such as Impellitteri, Axel Rudi Pell, and M.A.R.S. So, does Rob Rock manage to release an album that is equal to the debut and his previous works or even a better one? I will answer to that question by telling this: "Eyes Of Eternity" is a pure guitar driven, hard rock/melodic metal album that grabs someone's attention from the very first second till the last one! So, do you want more proofs to that? Moreover the legendary Roy Z made the production of the album. Want more? Just listen to the opener "Rock The Earth", the grotesquery homonymous "Eyes Of Eternity" (the spirit of Helloween still alive!), the sentimental (which is a bonus track) ballad "Beautiful Lady", the astonishing "Stranglehold" (the bridge of which bring on my mind "Ripper" Owens' way of singing), the heavy mid-tempo "Rage Of Creation", the heavy/power "Conqueror's Hymn" and the brilliant epic hymn "The Hour Of Dawn", to see that we are talking about genuine melodic heavy music and no bullshits! You just cannot get enough of this album and you will definitely listen to it many times! Well, I believe that Rob didn't need to be beside famous guitarists to gain most popularity. He proved that can do it very well also himself just believing in his own powers and do not doubt about that. Do not miss "Eyes Of Eternity" especially all of you that you like melodic heavy music.
RocKarma
is the personal project of the guitarist/singer Damon Kelly. With a little
help from his friends: Michael Foster (on drums – Firehouse) and Allen
McKenzie (on bass), Damon managed to complete his musical work. The album
was recorded at Bill Leverty’s (Firehouse) studio and also produced by
Bill himself. The final result is very good and very rock. RocKarma’s
music style can be characterized as melodic rock with some 80s hard rock
elements and some very few AOR influences. The music on this album is
guitar driven with a steady rhythm section and nice vocal melodies. If you
like the “modern” side of Firehouse or the Motley Crue riffing then
you will like the album. After all will be a pity not to listen to some
truly good rock tunes like: “Each Other”, “Rock All Night”,
“Feels Like I’m Falling”, “The Other Side” and “Honestly”.
RocKarma is a rock band that can and will offer us many good albums in the
future so better not let them go by unnoticed.
As you must have understood from the title, this is a split CD by two groups: Superstarz and Sonickollz. Not sure if this is the first effort for the two bands, but it sounds ok. The style of the groups is a punking hard rock, embellished by heavy riffs. Hmm, maybe I shouldn’t have used the term “punking” at all as in the case of Sonickollz the listening refers to some NWOBHM hearings (especially in the structure and in some riffs - listen to “B.I.T.C.H.”), while Superstarz’ sound is closer to the Swedish school of Hard Rock (The Hellacopters, Spiritual Beggars). But again, I feel that the whole attitude is related to punk music, while it also has some glam elements here and there. Anyway, the groups are fine (especially the case of Sonickollz is very interesting) and the CD is fun to listen to. Nothing really extraordinary, but ok. Taking into consideration that such split CDs, LPs gain value through time, it is interesting. However I have to warn you that the production could have been better.
What
is this? A reality rock show? Have we all gone bananas?? Excuse me but I
just cannot get it! Yeap, we have several thrash music reality shows here in
Greece too… but those who knows about good music were just laughing at the
beginning and now they ignore those shits wannabe music shows… where a
bunch of untalented people go there just to become famous and to get some
chicks around them until they fad away after a while. But I would never wait
to see some very famous rock artists to participate in such shows. And
what’s the point is having a reality rock show? Don’t we have enough
bands around already? Don’t we have lots of singers going on solo these
years? Don’t we have many known musicians that cannot write down just a
single note and bothering us with shit-wannbe-music? So, why do we need a
rock show like Superstar? And who’s the Superstar here? Just don’t get
it? The singer that they have chosen? The “allstar” band? Cannot see any
Superstar here just some guys that are fooling themselves and their fans.
That’s why Jason wanted to leave Metallica?... to be free to do such silly
things? That’s why Tommy is not recording with Motley Crue a new album?...
‘cause he is busy teasing some chicks and playing music with RockStar
Supernova? Do not wanna say anything about Gilby Clarke… I think this was
his show to be more famous as he never had the chance to do with Guns N’
Roses. It’s obvious that no other serious-famous guitarist wanted to
expose himself and they have chosen Gilby. Alright, some may say that
allthose things have nothing to do with music… and that matters in the
very end is the music… but where’s the fuckin’ music??!! Modern shity
rock for teenagers? That’s good music? Tell me that’s all what you were
waiting for from Tommy and Jason? Cheesy – silly ballads that can break
the heart of a college boy and girl?! They have disappointed their fans
worldwide. Who will take them seriously after this record? Do you think that
Epic records will be interested in releasing a new album if this one fails?
Do not think so. Tommy better start recording with Motley Crue (before
it’s too late for you)… Jason… please get a band… or a job… and as
for the others… music ain’t your forte… just do something else!! The
rating is symbolic of course... :)
Patrick is a guitar hero from France. He became more known to the metal fans after he joined some years ago the excellent heavy/prog band Elegy. Personally I had the chance to listen to him in the early 90’s where he had participated in two albums (“Chronologie” and “Hong Kong”) of the great Jean Michel Jarre. I was totally sure back then that it was only matter of time to become more known to the whole world due to his excellent musical talent. Finally as you can see, I was not wrong at all. So, “An Ephemeral World” is his new instrumental solo work, where we can listen to him “hurting” his guitar by his great playing! I like very much guitar albums and Patrick is one of those guitar heroes that can offer us good music. Here you can listen to mid tempo rhythms, super-fast and emotional solos and many atmospheric mellow parts. I enjoyed very much, songs like “Born To Buy”, “Tethys”, “Twilight”, “The Circle” and “614 HSO”. The production is very good as well. The album contains a CD-rom track where Patrick gives us many details about the making of the album… unfortunately I do not speak French, so I didn’t understand not a single word from what he is saying there! This album is suggested to the die-hard fans of Patrick and to all the new or old guitarists in the world who like to listen to every guitar-album that is being released.
This comeback was really
unexpected! Rose Tattoo, after almost 18 years, are back again with a new studio
album. The album of that great band is titled "Pain" and it has 16
songs! And for once again, they play dirty old rock 'n' roll music, which has many influences
from, AC/DC. The band is in a really good shape and especially Angry
Anderson, sings like he is 25-years old! Rose Tattoo wrote once again impressive rock
'n' roll songs such us "House Of
Pain", "The Devil Does It Well" "Heat Of The Moment". Don't expect many
changes in the musical style from the band. If you love rock 'n' roll or if you are fan of Rose
Tattoo, then this album will make your
head banging! Support the band and listen to their new album. Rose Tattoo are back and all that you have to do is to follow
them!
There are sometimes (rare I must admit) that bands appear in your way with something really interesting to suggest. This of course happens with everything in life, it happened with music before and consequently happened with metal about a decade ago… Anyway, Rot obviously are very talented and hard-working. This becomes apparent from the beginning of their
demo-cd, which includes 9 tracks (!) plus computer data, concerning band info and pictures. A very carefully directed artwork completes a generally well looked after project from Greece. The band's influences appear to be Tool, System Of A Down, Rage Against The Machine, and even late Sepultura and are obvious in their music, which is very well produced and presented. Especially songs like "Dark Lashes" and "Here Inside" will be loved from the fans of the bands that I referred above. Contact Rot now!!! To order their audio
cd/cd-rom at: rot@rot1.com and visit them for more details at:
www.rot1.com. The thing that is the most interesting about this band is their future rather than their present. I'm really curious to see how this band evolves during the next few years. 
Rotten Sound was formed in 1993 in Finland and this is the first time I come
upon the band, although it has released three more full-length albums in the
past. The band’s name made me think that this would be an aggressive album,
but I admit I didn’t expect so much hate and anger... Their music balances
between grindcore and aggressive/extreme metal in general (most of all death
metal). These guys must be totally crazy or at least this is what I got from
their music! The whole album is an ultra fast attack and the 18 tracks that
are included in the CD, last only 28 minutes! The drums (K or Kai Hahto) are
unbelievable fast, aggressive and technical. I pay my respects to the
drummer, if he has played his parts indeed without the use of the
drum-machine. The guitars (Q or Mika Aalto) are fast and similar to many
grindcore bands and didn’t offer me something new... The vocals (G) are so
aggressive that I thought that I was listening to a beast singing/spiting
the lyrics! This is one of the most aggressive albums I have listened to
this year and although that I don’t listen to this kind of music these guys
made me to listen to the whole album and I enjoyed it too! Finally, Mieszko
Talarczyk (Nasum) made the production at the Soundlab Studios and it is good
and the artwork is really “Rotten” as you can see… The only thing that can
make you complain, if you are a fan of band or of grindcore music in
general, is the length of the album…
Two years after the “Genesis” album, Rotting Christ strikes back with their next release. First of all, I must say that within these two years there was a change in the band’s line-up, since Kostas the guitarist and George the keyboardist left the band, which now continues as a trio: Sakis (guitars, vocals and keyboards), Themis (drums) and Andreas (bass). The new album can be characterized as a return to the black metal roots of the band. This does not automatically means that the new album is great, as many of you may think, because as I found out after many hearings, the album lacks of inspiration! There are almost no inspired riffs and vocal melodies, no solos and many times some parts of the tracks sound like a noise! The new elements that Sakis has added in the band’s music are the choirs, with the help of Spyros Antoniou (ex-Septic Flesh, Chaostar). Also there are many alternations in the atmosphere of the album while there are fast and slower parts and many styles of vocals, but I can’t say that all these are very good mixed
up... Another change for the band is that “Sanctus Diavolos” is the first album recorded in Greece, after “Non Serviam”. Sakis made the production and I believe he could do it better, because sometimes the vocals sound too low, compared with the
instruments... Finally, Seth made the artwork and I found it very common, because the last artworks he has made for other bands are more or else the
same... The tracks I liked most are: “Visions Of A Blind Order” (the guitar solo is played by Gus G.), “Thy Wings Thy Horns They Sins “, “Athanati Este” and “Sanctus
Diavolos”.
Well,
first of all I ought to say that I was always a big fan of Rotting
Christ, since I've been watching the band from their beginning. So, it
was very natural to wait impatiently for their new work to see the next
step that they would make. But, after I have listened to the album many
times, I can say that it was not as I was expecting it! And that is not
a very pleasant conclusion for Rotting Christ. After their previous very
good album, which was called "Khronos", I was expecting
something much better. But instead of this I listened to
"Genesis", and found in it songs and vocal melodies that have
no inspiration at all and they are very predictable. Why that thing
happened? Where are the wonderful riffs that they used to write? I
obviously cannot answer to those questions. Anyway…the band is moving
in their known death/black style and the songs of the album has no
variation, as the tempos are repeated as all are between high and mid
tempo. One or two songs that I managed to separate from the album were
"Nightmare" and "Dying". Nevertheless, the whole
result of the album is flat and so far away from the high standards of
their previous works. I'm very sorry but I was really disappointed of
the new Rotting Christ's album. I hope that "Genesis" will be
a bad-break to the whole discography of this great Greek band.
Rotting Flesh is a band that comes from Thessaloniki (Greece) and
plays atmospheric black/death metal. Due to "Dreaming …The Underworld"
they managed to sign a contract with the German label "Kmg/System Shock". So this album will be released officially from
"Kmg/System Shock" in the beginning of 2003 so this time, it will be remastered in another studio somewhere in
Germany. About the musical style of the Rotting Flesh, as I have said before, they play
atmospheric black/death metal music. Their music, seems to have many influences from the very known -in Greece and in Europe also- Greek
bands Rotting Christ and Septic Flesh. Also I've noticed some elements from the Norwegian black metal scene, especially in the high tempo
songs. The songs that I liked most were "Twisted Demons" and "Throne of Thor", but also all
the songs in this album are well written and played. The production is quite good but I hope that
the remastering will make the whole sound of the album better. If you like the Greek and the Norwegian black metal scene also
(and especially those groups that I have referred to above) then you must check out Rotting Flesh. You can contact the band
at: 
Wow, this is quite a surprise for me. I’m used to listening to average albums lately (some 2004 promos that fell in our hands very late) and I thought that this would have been one of those. But how mistaken I was! This is a CD I’m going to play again and again, because I like the melancholic atmosphere. We are talking about truly atmospheric music, that has nothing to do with goth, symphonic etc. The guys here seem to be inspired by Genesis’, Pink Floyd’s, Marillion’s and Camel’s softest approaches. Thus, the music here has a touch of progressive (the songs are 7-8 minutes length in average), without becoming boring. Nice piano melodies, sentimental solos, great vocal lines... and atmosphere! You won’t find fast outbreaks here, only some mid-tempo parts, which make references to Spock’s Beard. I can also say (for those who have... delved a bit more) that the approach here reminds me of Rain. In general this album is not only for rockers, but also for those who are looking for melody, and are not afraid to put on something “softer” in their more quiet moments.
Here we have a unique situation.
I’m talking about The Rubber City Rebels, a band from Ohio that managed to release its second album “Pierce My
Brain” after 24 years! Whether you believe it or not, their debut album was released back in 1980! They exist for over 27 years and they were along with The Dictators and The Ramones, those that started the whole punk movement back in the late
70’s. So hard to believe it, but it is damn true. Well, when you push the play on your CD player it becomes obvious that those persons are not only trying to follow some other punk bands but they feel and live for punk music.
It’s been a while since the last time that I listened to a punk album, that has a punk attitude of the late
70’s, bizarre lyrics along with rock elements. Maybe some new punk fans do not know anything about this band, but some old ones they would have surely heard them back in the early
80’s. In the following year, the band disappeared from the music scene and it returned nowadays to kick some punk asses! Forget all those retro-wannabe-punk bands that you have listened from time to time… cause The Rubber City Rebels can and will turn them to dust due to their playing and to their attitude! The production of the album is a kind of punk-dirty and very powerful as it must be for a release like this one. I cannot imagine not a single punk fan not to have this album in his collection cause… The Rubber City Rebels not only were one of that bands that started the whole punk movement, back in the late
70’s, but they also play truly good and they will make you remember the good old days of The Sex Pistols. Just listen to “(I Wanna) Pierce My
Brain”, “Grip Of
Fear”, “I Do Not Wanna Be A Punk No
More”, “Paper
Plane”, “Warlord”, “Your Television
Lies” and “Pinhead”. There is also a very good cover of Music
Machine’s “Talk
Talk” in the album. Punkers this is your time. I know that you have waited too long, but do not leave the chance to listen to a great band that has returned just to play the music that it loves and that you love. Have a good time!
Ruins
Of Time is a Greek/Sweden band as it was formed in 1997 from the Greek
homogenous Chris Chatzikonstandinos and the drummer of the band Juan
Araya. "Timetraveller" is the band's second self produced
album and I hope that they will soon sign in a record label. As it
concerns the musical style of the band, Ruins Of Time, plays heavy
music, with many elements from the thrash / death metal scene, and
especially the vocals of their singer is like their coming straight from
the 80's thrash (and mainly the German thrash) period. They also brought
on my mind the first albums (in the musical style and also as a feeling)
of Death. In a few parts of the songs they have some clear vocals and
they fit very good with the whole music. The production of the album is
quite good but I would specially prefer a much more massy guitar sound.
Some very interesting songs of album are the heavy "The
Cellar", the strange "The Bellfounder" and the homonymous
"Timetraveller". Straight heavy music that will satisfy the
fans of the old death/thrash metal scene. Well, I'll suggest to the fans
of this genre to support the band and to visit their official website
for more informations about them at: 
Runemagick, from Sweden, released their seventh (I think…) full-length album. The band that was formed in 1990 has changed its line-up many times in the past so, this time the musicians are: Nicklas Rudolfsson (Bells Of Doom, The Funeral Orchestra and ex-Sacramentum) on guitars, vocals and effects, Emma Karlsson on bass and Daniel Moilanen on drums. As you can see there is no second guitar this time... Their style, as you probably know, is doom/death metal and it hasn’t changed at all! Slow and tortured guitars and death/dark vocals are for once again here. Most of the tracks last more than six minutes as their music style proposes. The fans of this sound will surely love this album, but since I am not a fan of this music I found it a little bit boring. If the tracks weren’t so long, I would almost love this album, but now it is a bit boring to me. The mid-tempo tracks are more interesting and I think I found some black metal influences in the guitar sound… The production is very heavy, as the doom sound commands, and only heaviness can describe it! Fans of doom/death metal listen to this album and travel “On Funeral Wings” through the darkness! The grade below is for my personal liking so, for the fans of the band and the particular sound the grade is higher…
A new studio album from Rush after almost 5 years. How would
the holy triad of prog rock might sound in 2002? Fresh, vigorous and pioneering for once
more, my friends! One of the most intelligent bands ever
is here to provide us with a record, which redefines their position. Those
who believed that would hear the "old" rush are mistaken, as their approach
has only a few similarities with the "classic" Rush period (see
"A Farewell to Kings" etc). The three talented musicians seem to have listened to the
new evolutions in our music and have produced one of the most straight-rock
albums in their career (and quite heavy too). The guitars are heavier, the
drums more massive than in their previous works (the introduction of the
album reminded me of the introduction of "Painkiller"), but Lee's voice is
still so characteristic...it seems as if not a single year has passed by.
The songs are shorter this time (around five minutes each), but they are still
characterised by this complex simplicity, that's always characterised
them: riffs, harmonies and bridges that are complex and reveal the amazing
capabilities of each musician, yet so simple that everyone can follow
them. The conception of each song reveals that the band has had tremendous
inspiration these days. The music seems to flow effortlessly, while everything is
here: Rush themselves, Camel, Led Zeppelin, Tool. Their new
sound can be characterised as heavy-psychedelic progressive rock. Once more
this super-group has been proved to be progressive in the real meaning of
the term. Be brave and follow them with open minds now. Because in a few
years time this record will be a monument and a beacon of inspiration for
the bands to follow.
This is a very interesting proposal. The musical stigma of the band is somewhere in melodic rock, but not only. You see, Rush Of Ushers here manage to combine old-fashioned listenings with many elements of modern music, which give to the whole listening the needed variety, which differentiates it from other melodic rock bands. Listen for example to the opening track "Collide" which until the refrain sounds like a nostalgic 50's-60's lullaby, in order to become a REM-like track. In general the band seems to be influenced by REM and U2, but also by
Radiohead, Oasis, country music and Marillion. Now that I give a second thought Marillion of the latter years (with Hogarth on vocals) must be the main influence here - but only if we set aside the complexity of the songs of the British band. Rush Of Ushers is not afraid to adopt some electronic elements to create a basis for some songs, which works well. I think that you have got the point of what we are talking about. I would suggest it for sure to melodic rock fans.
When I took this CD in my hands I believed that something wrong is going on with the artist's name. I though: "maybe the guys from the label forgot to put a B in front of Ryan"! But as it was proved afterwards, I was totally wrong. I must admit that I didn't know Ryan Adams and many will be confused when reading this name cause it is so similar to Bryan Adams but those two artists have nothing in common except their names! Ryan is a young artist (if I'm not wrong this is his third full-length album) who has the freshness and the will to play rock based music which is rather influenced from The Strokes, The Beatles and a little bit from Pink Floyd. The modern elements in this album are not few but they are been mixed up very good with the "old" rock elements. Ryan's voice is a typical good rock voice and the music although is quite simple can win you attention, if you probably like easygoing rock music. The production also is good and surely I enjoyed very much, listening to songs like, "This Is It", "So Alive" (which is totally the hit of the album), "Anybody Wanna Take Me Home", "Luminol", and "1974". "Rock N' Roll" is a typical good rock album, not something really special and time passes fairly good while listening to it. Better listen to it first in order to have a better view of this album.