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RUSH
A.S. 9,5/10
RAGGEDY ANN
T.A. 8,5/10
RUINS OF TIME
T.A. 7/10
RUNNING WILD
A.S. 7/10 T.A. 6/10
RAVENTHRONE
T.A. 7,5/10 K.P. 7,5/10
ROT
D.F. 7/10 T.A. 7,5/10
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ROTTING CHRIST
T.A. 6/10 K.P. 5,5/10
RIOT
T.A. 8/10
RITUAL CARNAGE
T.A. 7,5/10
ROSE TATTOO
T.A. 7,5/10
ROTTING FLESH
T.A. 7,5/10
RAGE
A.S. 8/10
RAIN
T.A. 8,5/10 |
A new studio album from Rush after almost 5 years. How would
the holy triad of prog rock might sound in 2002? Fresh, vigorous and pioneering for once
more, my friends! One of the most intelligent bands ever
is here to provide us with a record, which redefines their position. Those
who believed that would hear the "old" rush are mistaken, as their approach
has only a few similarities with the "classic" Rush period (see
"A Farewell to Kings" etc). The three talented musicians seem to have listened to the
new evolutions in our music and have produced one of the most straight-rock
albums in their career (and quite heavy too). The guitars are heavier, the
drums more massive than in their previous works (the introduction of the
album reminded me of the introduction of "Painkiller"), but Lee's voice is
still so characteristic...it seems as if not a single year has passed by.
The songs are shorter this time (around five minutes each), but they are still
characterised by this complex simplicity, that's always characterised
them: riffs, harmonies and bridges that are complex and reveal the amazing
capabilities of each musician, yet so simple that everyone can follow
them. The conception of each song reveals that the band has had tremendous
inspiration these days. The music seems to flow effortlessly, while everything is
here: Rush themselves, Camel, Led Zeppelin, Tool. Their new
sound can be characterised as heavy-psychedelic progressive rock. Once more
this super-group has been proved to be progressive in the real meaning of
the term. Be brave and follow them with open minds now. Because in a few
years time this record will be a monument and a beacon of inspiration for
the bands to follow.
Raggedy Ann comes from America and they exist almost 10 years! And that
fact shows that they are not some occasional guys that only play heavy
music in order to become rich. These guys know how to write good hard
rock/metal songs with excellent vocals melodies! Their music style as I
told before is moving between the hard rock and the melodic metal music.
The guitar work on this album is super and the singer of the band Brian
Carson is simply one of the best voices that come from the U.S (his way
of singing will bring on your mind great singers like Tate, Scott Soto
and Coverdale). Highlights of the album is the first song
"Superhero" that is simply a hard rock/metal hymn!, the
melodic rocker "Stop", that will stuck in your mind, the
sentimental "One More Time" and the great nostalgic "Show
Me The Way". The new album of Raggedy Ann is really a surprise to
me and I can't see the reason why big labels don't release albums like
this one and they don't sign contracts with super bands like Raggedy
Ann. Maybe, I will never find out why, but the only thing that is sure,
is that, as long as, so qualitative and melodic bands such as Raggedy
Ann exists our beloved metal music will never die! Excellent work guys.
You deserve the best!
Ruins
Of Time is a Greek/Sweden band as it was formed in 1997 from the Greek
homogenous Chris Chatzikonstandinos and the drummer of the band Juan
Araya. "Timetraveller" is the band's second self produced
album and I hope that they will soon sign in a record label. As it
concerns the musical style of the band, Ruins Of Time, plays heavy
music, with many elements from the thrash / death metal scene, and
especially the vocals of their singer is like their coming straight from
the 80's thrash (and mainly the German thrash) period. They also brought
on my mind the first albums (in the musical style and also as a feeling)
of Death. In a few parts of the songs they have some clear vocals and
they fit very good with the whole music. The production of the album is
quite good but I would specially prefer a much more massy guitar sound.
Some very interesting songs of album are the heavy "The
Cellar", the strange "The Bellfounder" and the homonymous
"Timetraveller". Straight heavy music that will satisfy the
fans of the old death/thrash metal scene. Well, I'll suggest to the fans
of this genre to support the band and to visit their official website
for more informations about them at: 
When Raventhrone released their
debut album almost four years ago, left to me the best impressions!
"Endless Conflict Theorem" is the second work of the band and in this album we can find beautiful epic atmospheric
heavy-black metal songs like the melodic "Among Whispering Walls", the heavy
"Soulstorm", the folk "The Dragon Of The Nightsky", the black with the eastern melody & rhythm
"A Night Among The Ruins Of Basra" and the homonymous epic
"Endless Conflict Theorem" (the outro of the album is
excellent!). I don't consider Raventhrone as an epic black metal band anymore and also they shouldn't consider themselves as a black metal band cause that would be a limiter for their music and it will mean the end for the
band. Raventhrone is a very capable band and they shouldn't be categorized to a specific kind of metal
music. If they want to be one of the top bands in the atmospheric metal
genre, they must let the music guide them and they also must be free from the black metal
stereotypes.
I like this album very much but I'm waiting for the next release to see if they'll choose to make the step forward as a
band.
There are sometimes (rare I must admit) that bands appear in your way with something really interesting to suggest. This of course happens with everything in life, it happened with music before and consequently happened with metal about a decade ago… Anyway, Rot obviously are very talented and hard-working. This becomes apparent from the beginning of their
demo-cd, which includes 9 tracks (!) plus computer data, concerning band info and pictures. A very carefully directed artwork completes a generally well looked after project from Greece. The band's influences appear to be Tool, System Of A Down, Rage Against The Machine, and even late Sepultura and are obvious in their music, which is very well produced and presented. Especially songs like "Dark Lashes" and "Here Inside" will be loved from the fans of the bands that I referred above. Contact Rot now!!! To order their audio
cd/cd-rom at: rot@rot1.com and visit them for more details at:
www.rot1.com. The thing that is the most interesting about this band is their future rather than their present. I'm really curious to see how this band evolves during the next few years. 
Well,
first of all I ought to say that I was always a big fan of Rotting
Christ, since I've been watching the band from their beginning. So, it
was very natural to wait impatiently for their new work to see the next
step that they would make. But, after I have listened to the album many
times, I can say that it was not as I was expecting it! And that is not
a very pleasant conclusion for Rotting Christ. After their previous very
good album, which was called "Khronos", I was expecting
something much better. But instead of this I listened to
"Genesis", and found in it songs and vocal melodies that have
no inspiration at all and they are very predictable. Why that thing
happened? Where are the wonderful riffs that they used to write? I
obviously cannot answer to those questions. Anyway…the band is moving
in their known death/black style and the songs of the album has no
variation, as the tempos are repeated as all are between high and mid
tempo. One or two songs that I managed to separate from the album were
"Nightmare" and "Dying". Nevertheless, the whole
result of the album is flat and so far away from the high standards of
their previous works. I'm very sorry but I was really disappointed of
the new Rotting Christ's album. I hope that "Genesis" will be
a bad-break to the whole discography of this great Greek band.
As
you all know, Riot is a steady value in the metal music. So once again
they offers us a very good and qualitative album. It is true that Mark
Reale knows how to write interesting songs and heavy thunderous riffs
and also Mike Dimeo has become a part of Riot's music. The album has
some excellent hard rock/metal songs like "Lost Inside This
World" and "Burn The Sun" but the song of the album and
one of the best ballads for this year is for sure "Let It
Show". This song will touch your lonely souls! In the other hand,
the album has one cover from UFO's "Only You Can Rock Me", and
one acoustic cover of Beatles' "Here Comes The Sun". Both the
covers are very good. Also the production of the album is very clear and
the guitar sound is quite massy. Some points more to the whole result is
giving the dark and beautiful artwork. The Riot's fans have no reason to
be anxious about their beloved group. Riot have never disappointed us
and I don't believe that they would do such a thing. Speaking in general
"through The Storm" is a high-quality album and has many good
songs. Trust Riot cause they really worth it!
Out
of this world!!! This is fuckin' Bay Area Thrash! Ritual Carnage brought
back the sound of Bay Area again in the 00's! Heavy riffs, up-tempo
songs and paranoid vocals. In a moment I believed that I was living in
the mid 80's. They remind me a little bit of Forbidden and Death Angel.
All the fans of this genre should listen to dynamite songs like
homonymous, "Paradox Of Democracy", and "Dawn To
Decadence". Also the production of the album is heavy enough and
has an uncontested 80's feeling. "The Birth of Tragedy" will
make you do headbanging again but especially to the older ones will
remind them their youth! I don't know if any of the new metal fans have
listened to or like this kind of music, but they must give a chance to
their selves to see how Bay Area thrash music was played in the 80's.
Moreover I have to say that the cover to Death's song "Infernal
Death" is very good. And one more thing is that the dig pack
version of the album has two more bonus tracks. It is sure that all
those who love the Bay Area scene will buy right away this very worthy
album. We're talking about speed/thrash metal music and nothing else. So
if you are not into this kind of stuff stay away, or else get now Ritual
Carnage's "The Birth Of Tragedy".
This comeback was really
unexpected! Rose Tattoo, after almost 18 years, are back again with a new studio
album. The album of that great band is titled "Pain" and it has 16
songs! And for once again, they play dirty old rock 'n' roll music, which has many influences
from, AC/DC. The band is in a really good shape and especially Angry
Anderson, sings like he is 25-years old! Rose Tattoo wrote once again impressive rock
'n' roll songs such us "House Of
Pain", "The Devil Does It Well" "Heat Of The Moment". Don't expect many
changes in the musical style from the band. If you love rock 'n' roll or if you are fan of Rose
Tattoo, then this album will make your
head banging! Support the band and listen to their new album. Rose Tattoo are back and all that you have to do is to follow
them!
Rotting Flesh is a band that comes from Thessaloniki (Greece) and
plays atmospheric black/death metal. Due to "Dreaming …The Underworld"
they managed to sign a contract with the German label "Kmg/System Shock". So this album will be released officially from
"Kmg/System Shock" in the beginning of 2003 so this time, it will be remastered in another studio somewhere in
Germany. About the musical style of the Rotting Flesh, as I have said before, they play
atmospheric black/death metal music. Their music, seems to have many influences from the very known -in Greece and in Europe also- Greek
bands Rotting Christ and Septic Flesh. Also I've noticed some elements from the Norwegian black metal scene, especially in the high tempo
songs. The songs that I liked most were "Twisted Demons" and "Throne of Thor", but also all
the songs in this album are well written and played. The production is quite good but I hope that
the remastering will make the whole sound of the album better. If you like the Greek and the Norwegian black metal scene also
(and especially those groups that I have referred to above) then you must check out Rotting Flesh. You can contact the band
at: 
One thing is sure about this
band: It has the ability to be reborn from its ashes! I never believed that they would continue after the
"Missing Link" album and the withdrawal of their first guitar-player. And they produced they dynamite
"Black In Mind"! Then I never thought they could get out of the mud they were into during the last years and especially after Peavy remained alone in the
band! And now they produce this great album
"Unity"! What can I say? Peavy made the right choices with Victor Smolski
(guitar) and Mike Terrana (drums) and the chemistry between them seems to work just
fine! After all both the newcomers contribute to the songwriting. Ok it might not be their best
album, but it is a great comeback that will definitely satisfy their fans and not only
them. The approach has changed a bit from the "classical" one of the previous albums that proved to be a deadlock for the
band. The new songs are more straight and heavy, yet with the nice familiar Rage
melodies. Charlie Bauerfeind's production to the album is crystal clear and dynamic and pushes forward the great moments of the
album. Hansi Kursch and DC Cooper participate as well, a fact that works for the band giving a depth to the
refrains. Highlights? It's difficult but "Set the world on Fire" and
"You want it, you'll get it" just blew my brains! Welcome back my
friends!
"House Of Dreams" is the debut album of Rain, which is a German/Norwegian band. The vocalist of Rain is Michael Bormann (!) and it seems that he took it personally, and he does everything that is possible to spread the melodic rock/AOR music to the entire world! So let's see the whole thing from the start: Michael is an excellent singer and composer and it is understandable that he needs to sing and to write songs in many bands cause he is something like a "wild" spirit! Some of you may wonder, ok with that, but can Rain offer us good melodic rock songs once again with this album? This is obvious! The answer is Yes! And of course I must not forget to refer to the two guitarists of Rain, who are Tore Moren (guitars) & Lars Forseth (guitars), cause they have wrote many exciting songs on this album and they have, as well, made a wonderful work on the guitars. "House Of Dreams" is an album with many brilliant songs such as, the catchy big-hit "Anyway the Wind Blows", the emotive rocker "Ain't Found Heaven Yet", the heartbreaking ballad "Can I Say If" (the album also has other two incredible ballads, which are "Everytime You Go" and "Sentimental Sunday"), the radio-friendly rocker "Talkin' To My Heart", and the gloomy rock "Make A Break" (on which Michael, will remind you Jon Bon Jovi). Well "House Of Dreams" is a damn good album, which is highly recommended to all melodic rock/AOR fans and also to those who don't listen to this kind of music! This album will change your
mind!