Album Review: AVATARIUM The Fire I Long For (11/22)

Avatarium is a Swedish progressive rock / doom metal band from Stockholm, founded by Candlemass songwriter Leif Edling in 2012. It has been a very interesting journey to see this band flourish so fast. Jennie-Ann Smith voice added a new touch to Edling's typical heavy doom riffs. While not touring with the band Leif still write some songs for their albums. However, with the release of The Girl with the Raven Mask (2015) and specially Hurricanes and Halos (2017), singer Jennie-Ann Smith and guitarist Marcus Jidell contributed more and more to the songwriting and consequently their music has shift the Doom focused from the self titled debut album into a progressive doom/rock sound.

Now with The Fire I Long For, Avatarium's fourth full length studio album, the band is back and from the get go "Voices" brings back the doom sound from the debut album but here infused with the 70s rock vibe from the later albums. Other songs such as "Rubicon" and "Porcelain Skull" display the same direction. I specially like the guitar work in "Porcelain Skull". Not only the riffage but also the best solos on this record. In fact, I really like how distinctive the guitar tone of this album is. It’s really dirty sounding. "Epitaph of Heroes" is my favorite song out of The Fire I Long For. It feels as a lost track from the fantastic debut album. It's certainly the heaviest classic doom song here.

"Great Beyond" is a more emotional slow tempo song which also works very well and paves way to the title track which is another highlight of the album. It’s also slow tempo and an emotional song. Here Jennie-Ann Smith deep and bluesy shine. The album closes with an interesting track that sounds like a song being played in a piano bar at 2am.

While I really liked this album, I do miss the progressiveness of the first album. Longer songs with more variety, more in the lines of "Epitaph of Heroes". Also the album is not riff focused throughout and at moments lack of heavy doom riffs gives me the feeling of emptiness. For example "Shake That Demon" is a rocker almost like a Whitesnake song, and feels out of place. And "Lay Me Down" is not a bad track but it’s too slow to be number three and breaks the album flow.

Avatarium's The Fire I Long For solidifies the bands sound as a mixture of their Doom roots with the progressive 70's rock influences. You add to the mix the unique voice from  Jennie-Ann Smith, the proficient Marcus Jidell guitars and production values and Edling's typical heavy doom riffs and you have a good album for the old and new fans to enjoy.

SCORE: 79/100
Genre: Doom Metal
Released by Nuclear Blast Records on November 22nd, 2019

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Rating System
98 - 100 Perfect
92 - 97 Excellent
86 - 91 Great
81 - 85 Very Good
77 - 80 Good
69 - 76 Mixed
58 - 68 Bad

Album Review: ABIGAIL WILLIAMS Walk Beyond the Dark (11/15)

Abigail Williams is an American black metal band. The band's name comes from a girl who played a significant role in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Between 2008 and 2015, the band released 4 albums via Candlelight Records. The group has suffered numerous line-up changes, vocalist/guitarist/songwriter/bandleader and former vocalist for The Faceless, Ken Sorceron being the only original member remaining. The band was somewhat controversial for their early musical style, which was a fusion of metalcore and symphonic black metal. Abigail Williams eventually dropped their symphonic elements and adopted a traditional black metal sound.

2019's Walk Beyond the Dark is the first album in four years and now via Blood Music. Only seven songs running for just over 55 minutes, the album is a mesh up of different black metal branches. "Ever so Bold" and "Into the Sleep" are the shortest tracks and feature a more straightforward black metal with blast beats and guitar picking. The other five songs are longer and more progressive. The album opener and my favorite "I Will Depart" is a very dynamic progressive black n' roll song. There's a nice balance between groove and relentless speed. Overall fantastic drumming and metallic guitar work. "Sun and Moon" (also fantastic drumming including a tribal beat) and "Black Waves" bring the more emotional and atmospheric side of Abigail Williams. The longest track, "The Final Failure" closes the album with its eleven epic minutes. It's the closest song to their symphonic early days. It also features one o the best vocal melodies in the album, not to mention the rare, but nicely done, use of clean vocals.

This is the first time I take the time to listen to Abigail Williams and I'm happy I did it so. It's a diverse black metal record that shows different sounds and styles the band has previously experimented with . The production is dynamic and well balanced. I love the sound of the drums and the tasteful use of strings in small doses. The album cover is also a plus. I personally think that the longer and more progressive songs work better than the couple of short ones. Moreover, I can't say that the album is bringing something really new to the table. But overall, it's an entertaining extreme metal album to get us through the cold winter. I don't like many black metal albums, but every now and then one calls my attention. Walk Beyond the Dark is certainly one o the best in the genre that I've heard in 2019.

SCORE: 80/100
DR: 7
Genre: Black Metal
Released by Blood Music on November 15th, 2019

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Rating System
98 - 100 Perfect
92 - 97 Excellent
86 - 91 Great
81 - 85 Very Good
77 - 80 Good
69 - 76 Mixed
58 - 68 Bad

Album Review: QUIET RIOT Hollywood Cowboys (11/08)

Quiet Riot was the first band of Randy Rhoads with whom he released their first two albums. But interestingly the band is actually known for their first album after Rhoads departed to join Ozzy. Metal Health released on March 11, 1983, supported by the MTV hit "Cum On Feel the Noize" is notable for being the first heavy metal album to reach the top spot on the Billboard 200. The album went on to sell more than ten million copies worldwide. The song "Thunderbird" is dedicated to Rhoads. After that huge success, the band never came close to anything like it and they have had so many line up changes. In fact, 27 musicians have been part of the band over its 44 years of existence.

Now the veterans are releasing their fourteenth studio album Hollywood Cowboys as the the follow-up to 2017's Road Rage. Singer James Durbin quit almost immediately after the record was completed and was immediately replaced with Jizzy Pearl, who previously fronted the band from 2013 until 2016. Hollywood Cowboys is a good hard rock album bringing 12 relatively short tracks in 45 minutes. It features the 80's vibe that they are known for but never going glam metal or too cheesy. The musicianship is quite high level from all member. Durbin has a versatile vocal range, more technical and more operatic than original and late singer Kevin DuBrow. The drum and guitar work are excellent and the bass very competent and well positioned in the mix.

The album starts well with the single and rocker "Don't Call It Love" and the next four songs keep it up on the same line. Interestingly when "Roll On" started I was fearful that the mandatory ballad was coming, but to my surprise it is a very nice bluesy song reminding me of 90's Great White. Yes it is slow tempo but not cheesy and features nice guitar work. The track order was well crafted because right after the heaviest songs follow "Insanity" (fantastic drumming and nice headbanging speed) and "Hellbender" (nice groove). After that, unfortunately, the last four tracks loose me. They are somewhat of fillers being less inspired, lower energy and more pop/cliche. Maybe crafting two songs a bit further and cutting a couple would make the album stronger till the end.

All things considered, Hollywood Cowboys is a hard rock album worth listening to. Especially the first two thirds. Those first eight songs can work well live, particularly during summer festivals. If you are looking for good old 80's rock n' roll fun, look no further, Quiet Riot has the answer.

SCORE: 79/100
DR: 6
Genre: Hard Rock
Released by Frontiers Music Srl. on November 8th, 2019

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Rating System
98 - 100 Perfect
92 - 97 Excellent
86 - 91 Great
81 - 85 Very Good
77 - 80 Good
69 - 76 Mixed
58 - 68 Bad

Album Review: NILE Vile Nilotic Rites (11/01)

Nile is a four-piece American death metal band formed in 1993. Vocalist/guitarist Karl Sanders is the only original member and main song writer. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian history and Lovecraftian horror (named after American author H. P. Lovecraft). Nile's music is characterized by speed and brutality combining traditional and technical death metal. Their debut album Amongst the Catacombs of Nephren-Ka (1998) is considered to be their breakthrough record and often regarded as a top influential death metal record.

Vile Nilotic Rites is the ninth studio album following 2015's What Should Not Be Unearthed. It is the band's first album with Brad Parris on bass/vocals and Brian Kingsland on guitars/vocals. This time around while all lyrics were written by Karl Sanders, long-time drummer George Kollias co-wrote virtually all tracks. Additionally the new members also contributed in some songs. The team spirit can be heard as we have a very energetic and coherent album from beginning to end. My initial impression was of a mix of influences from early Opeth and Meshuggah which is a very good thing.

The albums opens with 3 relatively short tracks two being the singles released as lyrics videos, "Long Shadows of Dread" (displays a good balance between speed and groove) and the title track . Another short powerful song is "Snake Pit Mating Frenzy" which is already being played live. While there are longer tracks and one short instrumental, the album is very cohesive, a clear consequence of the band spending so much time crafting Vile Nilotic Rites. The record comes out with a big bang, Brian's scream followed by relentless drum fills and guitar riffs. The drumming will continue to be top-notch throughout the record (check "Where Is the Wrathful Sky"). Rarely Kollias relies on blast beats for too long and some songs sound like a very long drum fill. "That Which Is Forbidden" depicts the contrast of the fast drumming and groove. I also love the vocal work. It may be difficult to point out, but the three singers are alternating vocal parts during the whole song and the rest of the album. It brings contrast to the songs as we hear deep guttural singing and also higher pitched screaming. It's like Mikael Åkerfeldt and Chris Barnes were in the same band. Other tracks are more progressive and bring to the front the Egyptian sound influence via sound samples and other instruments. "Seven Horns of War" and the fantastic "The Imperishable Stars Are Sickened" being good examples of it.

With Vile Nilotic Rites, Nile focused on laser sharp music writing and cut all the fat and excess. Every passage, riff, sample and vocal line serves a purpose. The album ticks like a clock but without loosing its emotion and energy. The quartet found a good chemistry on their first record together and I certainly hope they can further evolve this fruitful collaboration. Nile, and tech death in general, is not for everyone and requires some focused time to get into it. Vile Nilotic Rites is a highlight of this genre in 2019 and deserves this investment.

SCORE: 82/100
DR: 6
Genre: Death Metal
Released by Nuclear Blast on November 1st, 2019

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Rating System
98 - 100 Perfect
92 - 97 Excellent
86 - 91 Great
81 - 85 Very Good
77 - 80 Good
69 - 76 Mixed
58 - 68 Bad