Teramaze - Anhedonia

Teramaze sound like dream theater with some balls. True to thrash form they unleash plenty of staccato riffing but temper that steel with some killer vocals. Undoubtedly these guys are looking to make an impact on their scene down under in Australia.  I like it when you really have to strain to pick out the influence a band has. That, to me is a sign of a great band.

This one grabs your attention from the first riff and shakes you around like a great white shark. Tracks that stood out in my cd player were. “Machine”, “Fear of the Unknown”, and “without Red Hands”. This is a sound that combines so many of today’s new metal with the thrash classics of old. Bands like Testament come to mind as well as Nevermore.

 Mick Tallent on drums and Tijon Lolis on Bass are a juggernaut. Chugging through the backline like a freight train. These two are tight and this album owes a lot to their strength. Check out title track, “Anhedonia”, and “Black Circles” to get a complete sense of their power.

  Guitarists are often either pushed too far to the front or buried in the mix. Not so with this album. Perfectly matched and just simply incredible guitarists, Matthew Dawson and Dean Wells lay down a frontal assault of six string carnage. “ Black Circles” contains a screaming lead. I can’t get enough of the power of this band.

 Brett Rerekua on vocals is allowed to put in some incredible runs as his band stirs up a psyclone around him. He rises above the chaos and screams, sings, growls, and serenades your ears like a banshee gone wild.  He makes you sing along with their infectious and progressive sounding tunes.

  I was not expecting the wall of sound that melted out of my speakers on this one. Just a great album with some killer production.  Find this album wherever and however you can and buy it. Then buy another one and pass it on to your best friend (yes this album is that good).


--MetalRising

Syven - Aikaintaite

(Love it when two writers report on the same album.  Nice to see their various opinions.  Now Crimson King chimes in on Syven's newest)


For those, like myself, that think the darkness is like a warm soft blanket, cover yourselves with SYVEN.

This is what I would consider dark, but not sinister, new age electronic tribal folk (Did I just coin a new musical genre?). HEAVY beats that conjure an animalistic instinct, long forgotten in our psyche. Though our tribal instincts are dormant now, this music.... the heavy beat of an ancient heart, cuts through millenia of evolution, and touches our inner, primal selves.

It's drone vibrates the soul. You arrive in a meditative state with an audio mantra sung by SYVEN. If you let it, the sound can take you from your body and lead you on a journey of night flight. Stars watch over you, nocturnal creatures stare in wonderment as you float passed them in a dream.

"An incredible ambient musical entity born of a collaboration between Aslak Tolonen (Nest) and Andy Koski-Semmens (Ereipia) -- on February 7th, 2012." The date of a new birth of sound that surrounds you, speaks to your soul, calms the violent nature of the days impact, and sends you on an adventure in time, space and sound. I love this!!!!

--Crimson King

The Bell- Great Heat

This album come to me at a most ironic time as I was shivering in beanie's and other cold weather gear. There will be people going, “It snows in Australia?!” and my response will be no. It was just five degrees (Celsius) and I was freezing...

Moving on to the album...

The Heat is The Bell's second release (their first being back in 2007 with Make Some Quiet) and the Sweden based trio have been getting some attention for this one it seems.

The Heat held its appeal for me because it sounds like the 80's music I was brought up listening to- electronic and a little trippy on occasion.

It all kicks off with “Dope Makes You”, smooth riffs, electronic sounds and cool vocals.
“Dope makes you just likes like other men”

“Holiday” is more heavy on the electronics with the vocals also being shrouded with synthetics. It is also relies on the beat more.

“I Can't Change” is one of my favourites as it opens right away with really smooth, and rhythmic sounds, before going into more electronic vocals for the chorus.

“I can't change,
I can't the world”

“The Sound” isn't as heavy as “Holiday” on the synthetics but the chorus opens up and becomes really big electronic rock. The electronic sounds are back in quantity for “Tell Us You're Sorry.”

Opening with smooth sounds “Throw Me A Bone” is another stand out on the album, cool rhythms, raw vocals, catchy lyrics, it is all there.

“I knew it was over,
When you were gone.
You gained independence,
But you don’t know what from.”


“Today” takes you back to the heavy electronics of “Holiday.”

“Today,
I don't want to wait another day”


“What Ever Did You Say?” is the single of the album. It is clean and has catchy lyrics.

“Around and around
With my head in the clouds
I was just about to tell you a lie
What ever did you say?”

Grouped with neat riffs, perfectly balanced synthetics and a good rhythm it is a great song. Well chosen for the single.


“You Fell Behind” goes back onto the heavily electronic. Although it keeps up with the lyrics you would expect.

“You fell behind,
So many times”


Despite being named “23 Seconds” it actually goes for a lot longer than that. It is also much, much cleaner than the other songs. The riffs are more audible now and the vocals are sweet but icy. It is a nice end to a great album.

“The page is turning,
The bridge is burning,
And ashes keep holding on.”


The Heat is a really great album. The Bell hit all of the right notes and buttons to create something that sounds 80's and electronic. Best savoured in cold weather.


-Koala

From the last album