Junius - Eternal Rituals For The Accretion Of Light

Junius is back with their Neurosis meets The Smiths sound to complete their conceptual trilogy.You may remember my praising the lads in Junius for their intriguing brand of post-metal jams back when their album, Reports From The Threshold Of Death, came out a few years ago. Apparently it was the middle chapter of a conceptual trilogy that culminates in their latest release, Eternal Rituals For The Accretion Of Light (dem titles tho).

It should go without saying that if you're down with the last album, you'll know what to expect, and will most likely dig this new material. Despite the loss of guitarist Mike Repasch-Nieves, Joe Martinez has taken up the reins on his own to flesh out the loose storyline that previously delved into the state of the soul in the afterlife. Working once again with producer Will Benoit, these ten tracks make for an intense but somehow calming aural journey. At times, the hoary head of Opeth looms large in the band's gothic leanings as on Clean The Beast. But then tracks like All That Is, Is Of The One with its ethereal chorale takes you in a different direction, like a majestic beast winding its way along a lazy path. As with their last album, it's Junius' compelling way of being heavy without really being aggressive that impresses me so much - like a slow-flowing river that will inevitably crush you under its path.

The Bottom Line: Though you don't need to have heard previous entries in the trilogy, Eternal Rituals For The Accretion Of Light maintains Junius' penchant for hybridizing heavy, gothic, post-metal and introspective, 80s era, alt rock. Nice work, that.

- Genghis is imagining Robert Smith with a leather jacket and a Gibson Explorer...

Persefone - Aathma

This Andorran sextet knows how to write some incredible djenty prog, and I. am. loving. it.I am well on record by now for extolling one of the main virtues of heavy metal, specifically the subgenre of progressive metal, as being its ubiquity. I mean you can find practitioners pretty much anywhere on the globe. And that includes the tiny, independent principality of Andorra with the band Persefone.

Their new album, Aathma, is the latest bit of melodic pyrotechnics from this talented sextet, and fans of classic subgenre heroes like Dream Theater or Symphony X would do well to check them out if they haven't already. There's a rather djenty vibe to it all, but the addition of melodeath growls and progressive breaks, as heard in One Of Many, Prison Skin, and No Faced Mindless (check out the exhilarating piano interlude at around 3:12) make for a compelling musical stew I can't get enough of. Especially how that aforementioned progressive element plays itself out in the dynamics that devotees love on slower tracks like the haunting, delayed guitars of the atmospheric Cosmic Walkers or the pensive opening to Living Waves. This is just really well done music, people. All of which culminates in the frenetic, four-part, 20 minute Aathma suite. Just in case you wanted to know if they really know their progmetal chops.

The Bottom Line: This is djenty progmetal along the lines of TesseracT that takes you on a thrilling musical ride from the opening track to the last. 'Nuff said.

- Genghis would eat nails to see these cats on a bill with TesseracT - and maybe Animals As Leaders...

Podcast Interview: John Corabi

The boys caught up with vocalist John Corabi of The Dead Daisies, a few months ago, before he headed to Europe with his band for a round of dates.  John discussed the Dead Daisies latest release Make Some Noise as well as their upcoming tour plans.  John also discusses the addition of guitarist Doug Aldrich, and his impact on the band.  Be sure to stay tuned as John also give some insight into some of the band's tunes. 

And if you dig their music as much as we do, show the band some love by purchasing their lastest album, Make Some Noise, from your favorite online store, won't you? HORNS UP!

Featured Tracks: Motley Crue - Power to the Music, The Dead Daises - Long Way To Go, Last Time I saw the Sun, Mainline, The Scream - Man in the Moon

-Ragman still has a few more of these to dust off. 

John Corabi Interview

Podcast Interview: The Raskins

The boys caught up with The Raskins, a few months ago, before they opened for Ted Nugent.  Roger and Logan Raskin invited the lads back for a fireside chat.  The Raskins discussed life on the road with Ted, as well as the other major acts that they have toured with.  Logan and Roger also discussed the direction of their next album, as well as their plans for the new year. 

And if you dig their music as much as we do, show the band some love by purchasing their self titled debut album, from your favorite online store, won't you? HORNS UP!

Featured Tracks: We Had it All, Never Too late, Lost in the Dark

-Ragman is ashamed that it took this long to post this interview.  Sorry guys!

The Raskins Interview

Dirkschneider - Live at Scout Bar (Houston, TX)

The last time I saw Udo Dirkschneider perform, was all the way back in 1985 with his former band Accept, on the Metal Heart tour.  Of course, I was only 2 at the time (I wish).  Though I'm dating myself, yes I did witness the band at their peak in a small auditorium in Houston, with Keel opening.  What a great night for headbanging.  Fast forward 32 years and I'm seeing Udo performing, with his solo band, in a club in Houston.  Here's the capper though, they're just doing Accept tunes.  Yep, Udo and band have embarked on a world tour performing just Accept tunes, to put the rumors to rest that Udo will be re-joining his former band mates.  Udo will do this tour, and then will return to focussing only on U.D.O.

Udo and band were on fire this past Saturday, ripping through an impressive 24 song set.  The show clocked in over 2 hours.  What a bang for your buck.  The band sounded great, and executed these classic songs perfectly.  Udo himself, was as impressive as he was over 30 years ago.  The man has not lost anything vocally.  The setlist was made up primarily of songs from Restless and Wild, Balls to the Wall and Metal Heart.  They did perform classics like I'm a Rebel and Breaker as well.  It was a well rounded set list, leaving the crowd most pleased.

This was a great show to start the year.  The band was hitting on all cylinders and appeared to be having a blast.  Udo had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.  The feel of the show had a European vibe.  There was lots of sing alongs and chanting going on, which just made this show magical for me.  There are not many artist that can get the crowd going like Udo did.  This is one for the record books.  Catch these guys live before they go back to Germany.

Bottom Line: Udo and band bringing it hard.  This was a perfect way for Udo to close the chapter in his book titled Accept.  Udo also proving that he still has a lot of gas in the tank.  His band was tight and ruled the venue.

-Ragman is looking for some fatigues and a wrecking ball.