My Soliloquy - The Interpreter

I gotta give mad props to Pete and company for this sweet steampunk album cover.Having been with Threshold since 2007, and perhaps itchy to be in a recording studio since then (last year's long-awaited March of Progress notwithstanding), guitarist Pete Morten has branched out with a progmetal album of his own from his erstwhile project (which actually did several high-profile gigs before he joined Threshold apparently), My Soliloquy, called The Interpreter.  And having played all the roles on this recording, save for drums, it makes for quite an impressive debut.

The Interpreter runs the gamut of influences while staying squarely in the progressive metal milieu; from the Images and Words era Dream Theater vibe of opener Ascension Pending, to the metalcore tinged Flashpoint, to the slight funk edge of Corrosive De-Emphasis, and the more mellow Marillionesque Inner Circles and Star. This is damn fine bit of heavy prog, people.

The Bottom Line: Prog metal fans should find a lot to like in this debut album from Threshold's Pete Morten, which easily proves that he's the real deal when it comes to prolific, multi-instrumentalist artists with ideas beyond their more high-profile gigs.

Tracks to Make You Sigh at Your Dusty Tascam: Ascension Pending, Flashpoint and Corrosive De-Emphasis

- Genghis actually wishes he could've rated this one higher...

Solisia - UniverSeasons

Another female fronted symphonic/power metal band that really knows how to headbang? Nice!With bands like Denmark's Within Temptation and Finland's Nightwish flying the flag of symphonic/power metal bands fronted by powerful female vocals, it's no surprise that Italy's Solisia should come vying for their place in the genre. And make no mistake, they're not just going through the motions; these guys are good.

The most striking difference between Solisia and its sonic brethren is its more varied style. Culling different bits from thrash, progressive and symphonic/power metal, and combining it with the voice of new singer Elie Syrelia, these crafty Roman metalheads have forged a unique sound that comes together nicely on their ambitious concept album, UniverSeasons. Having not heard their debut album, I can't truly speak to their dodging a sophomore jinx, but after listening to it, there's no way they can't have topped it. This album kicks ass.

There are moments of brilliance where their use of dynamics breaks up monster grooves, showing a masterful sense of tension. And in fact, you'll find a great many moments of metal inspiration calling to mind the works of bands as varied as Dream Theater, Megadeth, Evanescence, and Anthrax. There's no question that this band is well set with talented musicians and I look forward to their next work.

The Bottom Line: Solisia takes a cue from the female-fronted sym-power metal playbook while adding their own heavier leaning influences from thrash and prog metal to make a gothic sound with a more throughly metal edge to it. The result is very impressive. Fans of Lacuna Coil who want more heavy grooves should check this out.

Tracks to Headbang to While Applying Your Heavy Eyeliner: UniverSeasons, Mind Killer, Dirty Feeling and Symbiosis

- Genghis was really impressed with this one...

Pelican - Ataraxia/Taraxis

Who knew that Chicago is a hotbed of interesting new metal? Well, NOW you know!Stoner Metal has an appeal that's a bit inexplicable. That's not to say there's no reason I should like it, not at all. In fact, there's something almost comforting in allowing it to carry you along its lumbering groove much like a good buzz (however you may get yours). 

What I find most fascinating about listening to good stoner metal is the imagery it conjures. There's always a very clear mood that it sets for me, like a soundtrack to a movie that's writing itself in my mind as I listen to it; I'm always intrigued by what my mind's eye conjures for me with each instrumental session.

In the case of Pelican's Ataraxia/Taraxis, I am whisked away to a science fiction western where cowboys roam an alien landscape. Okay, maybe I'm crazy, but as it concerns this Chicago quartet, Pelican has wisely eschewed the pigeon-holing that can come from having a singer. The focus is on the music and the mood that it sets.

The Bottom Line: Call it stoner, sludge, or post metal, but you can't deny there's some good heavy and atmospheric grooves all over their latest EP, from the industrial Tangerine Dream opener, Ataraxia, to the dobro-flavored cadence of Taraxis, this is 18+ minutes of trippy jams for a lazy Sunday of gettin' your mind right, dig?

Tracks to Enjoy While You Break In A New Vaporizer: Ataraxia, Lathe Biosas, Taraxis

- Genghis is intrigued by the Ploom Pax...

Merry Christmas and HORNS UP!

Like Santa wouldn't be a total shredder if he wanted to play guitar...On behalf of the staff here at The Right To Rock world headquarters in Houston, Texas, I want to wish all of you the happiest of holidays and hope you get to spend time with those you love.

And if you get to do that with a dose of heavy metal and/or good beer then cheers to ya!

With any luck, maybe you got Sir Christopher Lee's awesome album of metal Christmas songs...

- Genghis is considering a glass of egg nog...

Kill Ritual - The Serpentine Ritual

Now *this* is the kind of metal I'm looking for. Rags calls it meat and potatoes, I just call it METAL.Former Imagika members Steven Rice and Wayne DeVecchi were dead set on making an original straight ahead metal band, and found a similar intent in former Eldritch guitarist Roberto Proietti, and former Dark Angel bassist Danyael Williams. The result is Kill Ritual and their impressive debut album, The Serpentine Ritual.

Generally speaking, this is what Ragman would call "meat and potatoes metal", in that it's straight ahead heavy metal, not swinging too far into any particular subgenre. It's not symphonic, but it is satisfyingly dramatic. It's not progressive, but it's got more sophistication than, say, Motörhead. It's not power metal, but it does have moments of gothic bombasticity. Basically, this is the kind of thing you were headbanging to in the late 80s when metal ruled the airwaves with an iron fist.

Vocalist Josh Gibson really tops the sound of the band off with a classic metal voice, usually coming off like a cross between Bon Scott and Vince Neil. You can just picture this band rocking the shit out of clubs all over the place. BONUS: Andy La Rocque plays guest solo on Coat of Blood. Score!

The Bottom Line: This is good old-fashioned heavy metal at its finest, wreathed in smoke, smelling of beer and whiskey, and making it impossible to keep your head from banging and your leg from moving. Swagger, damn you!

Tracks To Make You Consider Getting a Pair of Leather Pants: The Serpentine Ritual, Ambush, Old School Thrasher, and Coat of Blood

- Genghis is an old school thrasher (and he wants metal tonight)...