Lykaion - Nothin' But Death

Described as a blend of metal, hard rock, thrash and gothic, I'd say this Italian band is a cross between In Flames and Type O Negative. Oh, and they kick ass.The melodeath movement has clearly had a profound influence on European metal - which isn't a complaint, mind you. Italy's Lykaion shows this inspiration on their debut album, Nothin' But Death, while managing to differentiate themselves. True, the juxtaposition of heavy riffs replete with howling harmonics and very singable, melodic choruses are a staple of the melodeath movement. 

After kicking around in various forms since 2003 and putting out a handful of demos, they've put together a damn fine first album. Lykaion's hundreds of live shows have helped it develop into a well-realized rock band with a familiar at first sound that offers more upon subsequent listens. This is just great rock music, folks.

The Bottom Line: Lykaion's gothic vibe hearkens back to [bands like] Type O Negative's surreal moods and atmospheric textures, which makes for an energizing sound with a melodic smoothness to balance it all out. Funny, it's making me think of good beer.

Tracks to Make You Want To Crank It Up at Work: A Cold Summer Day, Free From All Your Fears, Fuck You (I Love Myself) & Together

- Genghis can't believe how much good new music he's discovered recently...

District 97 - Trouble With Machines

I may have a thing for chick singers, but only the ones that sound good. And Leslie Hunt sounds great.I have gone on record before about my penchant for female singers. They simply bring a unique sound to modern metal music with the potential to make any of its subgenres richer by the inclusion.  Case in point: Chicago's District 97, whose sophomore effort Trouble With Machines is one of the best things I've heard in a while, period.

My enjoyment of the band is largely due to Leslie Hunt, who some may remember as a finalist on American Idol a few years back. The band was originally an instrumental prog outfit a lá Liquid Tension Experiment before deciding they wanted to add a vocalist. Leslie's voice (sounding like a cross between Swing Out Sister's Corinne Drewery and Björk) is refreshing, being a rock singer that doesn't downplay the higher registers and soulful timbre of her natural voice within the medium of a heavy (at times) prog rock outfit.  Sure, there are others that resist the temptation to try to compete with the cookie monster roars of their male counterparts, but Leslie isn't afraid to put some real soul into it, providing a beautiful contrast to the often colder, more technical side of such music.

The music alone would still get a high rating from me, reminding me of simliar bands such as Spock's Beard or Gordian Knot with a more guitar-oriented sound.  Guest spots by such prog luminaries as John Wetton (King Crimson, Asia) and Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson, Gordian Knot) don't hurt either.

The Bottom Line: This relatively new band scratches my prog rock itch in a big way, and the vocals of Leslie Hunt on top really put things into a refreshingly unique soundspace. I'm loving this band!

Tracks to Make You Search for District 97 on YouTube: Open Your Eyes, The Actual Color, The Perfect Young Man, Who Cares?

- Genghis won't stop playing this album at the office today (suck it, co-workers!)...

Words of Farewell - Immersion

One of the best CDs I've heard in a while. I'm loving this progressive death metal subgenre, dude.Hot damn! Let's hear it for Words of Farewell's debut, Immersion. Following a couple of smaller releases over the last few years, the German prog death metal band has crafted an amazing sounding album full of everything you'd expect from one of my favorite new metal subgenres.

In the vein of classic In Flames or Scar Symmetry, you get the melodies and growly vocals of melodeath but with a progressive twist that makes for interesting music you can enjoy risking whiplash to. While the former may have played a huge part in creating melodic death metal, In Flames sadly strayed away from their innovative formula of heavy rhythms, melodic choruses and - most importantly - technically amazing guitar solos. And while technical death metal gets closer to that formula than most metal outfuits, that subgenre tends to favor dispassionate technicality in lieu of melody. Like Gandalf said, "It is in progressive death metal that we must place our hope."

At least I'm sure that's what he meant.

The Bottom Line: Picking up where melodeath left off, Words of Farewell perfects and improves the formula with a progressive edge that is just what the subgenre needed. One of the best debut CDs I've heard in some time. I can't wait to hear more.

Tracks to Make Your Nickelback T-shirt Wearing Roommate Do a Spit Take: Project: Daybreak, Ever After & Sundown Seranade

- Genghis cannot wait to enjoy some good beer tonight...

SOiL - ReLiving The Scars in London

Soil has always been a band that has intrigued me.  On paper, you would think that they were a death metal band, based on the resume's of many of the band members; but in reality they are a Alt-Metal band with balls and chunk.  Formed back in the late 90's the band has put out 5 studio albums and just recently their first and only live album/DVD Re-living the Scars in London. 

The band has been fairly active since their inception, but has unfortunately not been able to achieve the success that they deserve.  Not sure if is was the departing of original vocalist Ryan McCombs, early on to front Drowning Pool, during their peak or just the market.  McCombs left the band, but returned to the fold just this past year, after the departure of his replacement A.J. Cavalier.  The band released (3) albums before his departure, and two since.  The last of the albums being Picture Perfect, which made some waves on radio, but never exploded. 

The live DVD is sort of a celebration of the Scars and Redefine records.  The set list on the DVD/CD is compiled from these two records, omitting material from the non-McCombs era of the band.  Too bad, because there was some strong material on those records as well.   That being said, what has been included rocks.  The band look and sound great, and what a great package, being a DVD/CD combo set.  The show is a concert film, with some special camera work, that is tasteful and not distracting.  All in all a nice package and a great way for these guys to get back on track and start trying to take over the world again.

Bottom Line: A solid performance by a band with new found life.  It is amazing when a band reunites and just starts clicking again.  A nice heavy show, from a band that is going places.

-Ragman loves the Scars record and will pull it out of the library to prove it.

Jorn - Bring Heavy Rock to the Land

It goes without saying that Jorn Lande is one of the best hard rock vocalist out there today.  Evoking the power of Ronnie James Dio and the soul of David Coverdale, this guy is the real deal.  He is solid with every release and never disappoints.  Maintaining a momentum like this can become a challenge, especially in a band like Jorn's, due to the ever revolving door of musicians that play in his group.  No knock against Jorn, because he is a good guy and great vocalist, but it makes you wonder why he can't keep a line-up intact.  I've read it is due to his rigorous schedule with side projects etc.., but who knows or really cares?  As long as the guy is putting kick ass material, it really doesn't matter, does it?  That being said Jorn has just released his 7th studio album Bring Heavy Rock to the Land.  Sounds cheesy, I know, but hopefully, like most of his records, it will rock.

With a Jorn record, you pretty much know what you're gonna get, powerful heavy rock with great melodies and soaring vocals; and Bring Heavy Rock to the Land is no exception.  I have to admit, this took a few listens, before I started to get it.  At first, I was a little turned off by the title of the record, but was willing to look past it due to the pure greatness of Jorn's vocals.   The title track was surprisingly strong, but it wasn't until the Dio inspired 3rd track, A Thousand Cuts that I was sold.  It is an up-tempo rocker with great melodies and a memorizing chorus. 

Jorn and band sound great as usual and this tune re-affirms why he is one of the better vocalist out there today.  Bring Heavy Rock to the Land, is chock full of solid hard rock, teetering on the metal side.  A great example of this is the killer rocker The World I See.  It is the quintessential rocker of the record, that will have the hairs on your arm standing at attention.  Like I stated earlier, this CD took a few spins before it really grabbed me.  At first, with the exception of a few stand outs, I was kind of disappointed, but after consecutive spins, I was hooked.

Bottom Line:  Jorn returning in firne form.  The man proves time and time again why he is one of the best ones out there today.  Solid hard rocking tunes with some major bit.

Standout Tracks: A Thousand Cuts, The World I See, Black Mourning and Time to be King.

-Ragman thinks this one has passed the goose-bump test.