Todd La Torre - Iotunn - Moonspell - Paranorm

 Some CD tips of albums released in February. Warning some extremly addictive gems among them.

Todd La Torre - Rejoice in the Suffering

Todd La Torre is nowadays known from Queensryche. I saw him first live, when he toured with Crimson Glory. In both cases he managed to bring the eighties material back to live. This album is a duo project with Craig Blackwell who plays guitar, bass and keys. Todd apart from singing also drums. In the booklet they declare they wanted with this album to go back to their roots, where they came from. Well they succeeded more than a bit as this album oozes good old  Heavy Metal. A bit heavier than Todd's work with Queensryche we get some proper Heavy Metal songs on high speed. During Vanguards of the Dawn Wall at times I think during the verses we are building up to Painkiller. This album shall please all who like Todd and Craig grew up with Heavy Metal of the eighties. Songs with a bite and when he does go slower for an intro or verse Queensryche does come closer, because his voice is current Queensryche. During the last song (or third bonus track) One By One Todd shows that he can also be called by any melo-death band taking care of clean/grunt voices. A versatile album that deserves wide audiences.

Iotunn - Access All Worlds

How often does it happen that on one day two bands release an album that blows you away. Further both released EP's in the past, but you never heard those. Well 26 February was such a day and Iotunn was one of the bands. The first name that stands out is Jón Aldará, since he is also known from Barren Earth, Hamfered and Clouds. His mix of clean and grunting voices is impressive again and does leave a mark on the music. Giving all the credits to him would be very wrong though as the songs make this album. Be it short at 4:40 or epic at 13:47 we are getting seven beautiful songs. Moods and music change constantly between the grunted and clean sung parts. Reading reviews in magazines and online makes me confident that enough people got their message and Iotunn will be the next big thing. Access all worlds indeed so to say.

Moonspell - Hermitage

After spending many weeks/months over the past five years in Portugal, there is no escaping Moonspell really. I never knew them that well before 2016, but I loved their 2017 album 1755. Especially the story being told in Portuguese fitted the music well. I also realized I need to get one day the live album Lisboa under the spell as it holds full perfromances of three of their best albums. Still having to do that I meanwhile did pick up my copy of Hermitage (btw also 26 Feb released, but not the one I referred to) This album must be harder to get into for diehard fans of their early days , than it is to me. This melancholic album seems at times to step in the gap left behind by disappearing Anathema. Just listen to songs like All or Nothing or Entitlement and you hear what I mean. Overall the album is just a notch heavier than latter day Anathema and at times vocals go growling, but never for long. Actually this album might break open whole new markets for Moonspell as I defintely hear traces of my beloveth progmetal in their music as well. Hope to catch them next time they play Beja.

Paranorm - Empyrean

Paranorm is that other newly discovered band that released a stunning album on 26 February. These Progressive thrashers from Sweden gave me with Empyrean the album I by far played most this year. I can't stop going back to it. Just listen to the opening drums and riff on first song Critical Mass and it is hard not to get hooked within five seconds. What follows are eight songs of incredible instrumental work, filled with guitar solo's and wonderfull riffs. The voice might not be for everyone and is at the lower end of thrash, close to grunting. At times I wondered if the voice of Alan Tecchio or Warrel Dane would have made this an even better album but I'm not sure as now it all perfectly fits together. Maybe some of my generation fans struggle a bit more now. Still is it possible not to be amazed by these songs being either around five minute bangers or the longer epics. I can only say that everyone should hear this album and it is a pity that Aardschok seemed to have missed it. I know February is early and Paris is still far, but do we have a candidate for my album of the year in hands, yes we definitely do. Go check them out at Redifing Darkness Records or Bandcamp. First lot of CD's is sold out a bigger bunch is arriving. Now I should try to get these guys to play Musicon, but with Covid and overfull agendas when concerts can happen again that is a bit of an impossible planning task for the time being.      

Demoniac - Jason Bieler - Soen - MSG

While the first three montsh are almost over already I have not reviewed any albums yet. And this while we did not have a bad start of the year. So herewith some CD's released in January that deserve a listen at least.

Demoniac - So It Goes

The biggest surprise came from the other side of the world. Demoniac are from Chili and play Thrash Metal with some blackened influences. The songs are both sung in English and Spanish. I have the impression that their English is a challenge. When your guitarist/vocalist calls himself Heavier Mortiz I can't stop thinking so what does Lighter Mortiz play? Second guitarist calls himself Young and plays Clarinet as well. Clarinet? yes this band dares to go all directions. Best example for that is Extraviado an almost instrumental song. The closing 20 minute lasting epic title track is a true adventure as well. When they mainly play thrashy metal, there is also an eighties speed metal feel to their music. I found them through Angrymetalguy who made them album of the month. While listening I was sold immediately even if it takes some time to get their music. I just checked and on FB they still have only 1105 followers. So AMG and a very positive review in the last Loud! did not convince too many yet. Check them out and support these Chileans. 

Jason Bieler and the Baron von Bielski Orchestra - Songs for the Apocalypse

Guaranteed to Amaze and Astonish. Sensational Auditory Oddities and jaw dropping Musical Feats around an Awe-inspiring Spectacular. A Tremendous Euphorical Experience and Oppulent Sonic Odyssey Freaks Galore a Mesmerizing Extravaganze. That is how the Circus sells itself in the booklet. Well they aren't far from the truth. Jason Bieler is known from Saigon Kick who played the legendary DOA 91. This album he called friends for help and a.o. Dave Ellefson, Devin Townsend, Todd la Torre and Bumblefoot helped out. The result a remarkable uplifting album that made me smile. This is music for when the spring relaizes it should bring the sun along and evenings are getting lighter. Also here some time investing in multiple plays is needed, but if open for this style you will be rewarded.

Soen - Imperial

I almost missed out on this album. It was that Hans in our concert app group pointed out this was a winner of an album, that I looked it up. To my surprise it probably is their best album to date. Eight songs in their characteristic melancholic style. Great vocals as always, solo's where needed and atmosphere all around. I guess that with Anathema on a undefined hiatus Soen should win over many of their fans who don't know the band yet. So why did I almost miss out? I tought by myself that after a few of their albums Soen could not add much more and I would stop buying all in the blind. This happens more often to me, when I realize that holding 3 a 4 albums of a band is enough (example I stopped buying Leprous' last two albums) This time I thought wrong. I already recently posted their brilliant The Antagonist videoclip, so another one today. Later this year in de Boerderij, plaease let that show go on.

MSG - Immortal

Michael Schenker is no longer a Temple of Rock or a Fest, but back to being a Group. Does not really matter as the idea stays the same. Several vocalists dividing the songs and sometimes singing all together. I knew I would get this CD when I heard opening song Drilled to Kill with Ralf Scheepers. That is one heavy opening track. That level is not maintained throughout, but in general a pleasant album again. Joe Lynn Turner and Ronnie Romero (him again) are the main vocalists. I think it is a pity that producer and friend Michael Voss also sings on two songs, as his voice is a bit flat. The power ballad would for sure be better of with one of the other three mentioned voices. The album closes with a re-recording of 50 (!) year old song In Search of the Peace of Mind. I have that song on Tokyo Tapes live, but this version is a highlight on the album. I bought the version with the bonus DVD MSFest live at Bang Your Head. I saw that set in de Melkweg some years ago and you can never have too much Into The Arena or Rock Bottom. When the show starts I rememberd my thoughts at the day. Holiday opens and Michael Schenker sings himself intending to have the audience taking over,. That not all clear results in a shaky start (hey you bring four vocalists why do this?)  From there on the show is a Fest indeed and Michael Schenker seems fitter than ever nowadays, remaining the guitar god he always was.