CORONARY Sinbad | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

   

Released by Cruz Del Sur Music on February 19th, 2021

Quick Background

The Finnish quintet Coronary came together in 2017 and the self-titled Demo was released in 2018. They make 80's heavy metal in the style of the NWOBHM with a bit of Accept, Van Halen and AC/DC. In other words, pure traditional heavy metal celebration and homage. 

Sinbad

Sinbad picks up where Coronary left off their debut demo. A pure metal album filled with catchy guitar leads, 80's groove, fiery lead vocals and memorable compositions. The Sinbad album title is a reference to Sinbad the Sailor, the fictional traveler and his amazing journeys. The album features ten tracks of four to five minutes totaling 47 minutes of unpretentious and fun heavy metal. "Firewings", "Bullet Train" and "Mestengo" formed the 2018's demo and are now also on Sinbad. Coincidently those are my least favorite songs on the album. To me that shows that the band is growing and evolving. The title track opens the album and I really like the guitar work here. It's indeed one of the best songs on the album. Singer Olli "The True Herman" Kärki sounds a lot Sammy Hagar which in my book is a compliment. The single "Reflector" is another highlight - a catchy fast-paced full of nice guitar licks. 

"Burnout" sounds so familiar but I couldn't point it out exactly. This is actually a constant feeling throughout Sinbad. It all sounds very familiar but not necessarily as a copy of something else, just strongly rooted in the bands I mentioned from the 80's. "Wonders Of The World" is the album closer and brings a slightly different flavor to the album. I do like when bands take some risk with the closing track. This one is bit slower tempo, longer and has some hints of early Iron Maiden. By the way, there's another moment on the album with a Steve Harris reference on the song "Fight St. 666" in which the bass riff is so Maiden. It's subtle but cool.

The Picky Guy

The obvious criticism here is that Coronary doesn't really bring anything new to the table. Coincidently I have been spending quite some time digging through the NWOBMH theses days. And I was sometimes confused if I was listening to for exmaple Def Leppard or Holocaust or Coronary. 

Wrap Up Opinion 

Coronary is not reinventing the metal wheel, but if all you want from Sinbad is just some well-written, executed and catchy traditional heavy metal, then you are in for a treat! I'm giving it 81/100, a good and fun album that would fit perfectly an afternoon of a sunny summer festival, if we ever get those again. We can only hope. Cheers and horns up. 

SCORE: 81/100

Genre: Heavy Metal

Released by Cruz Del Sur Music on February 19th, 2021

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

wordcount = 444

ARCHITECTS For Those That Wish to Exist | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

 

Released by Epitaph Records on February 26th, 2021

Quick Background

Architects are a British metalcore band from Brighton, East Sussex, formed in 2004 by twin brothers Dan and Tom Searle. With the release of their sixth album Lost Forever // Lost Together in 2014, the band achieved lasting popularity and critical acclaim. Soon after the release of their seventh album, All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, in 2016, guitarist and principal songwriter Tom Searle died after three years of living with skin cancer, making Dan Searle the only original band member. Architects are (or were) one of my favorite metalcore bands. I really like their latest albums and they put up fantastic shows. However, I have always wondered when would they make the leap to mainstream radio friendly music as the signs have been there. 

For Those That Wish to Exist 

'I wanna sing you different song, one that's easier to swallow, We can dance, we can all sing along' so it reads the lyrics of track number nine "Little Wonder". And that to me summarizes the album. For Those That Wish to Exist, is that leap. Their ninth studio, runs for one hour with 15 short 4-min tracks. It's very long for a metalcore album! But more importantly it confirmed the departure from the earlier albums into mainstream radio friendly music. 

As you starting hearing the opening intro track "Do You Dream of Armageddon?" you already think 'oh oh' what's this? It is only 1:40, so you let it pass. Maybe it's just the intro. Then in fact we are in for a decent start. "Black Lungs" features a heavy riff, aggressive singing and good screams. But then the bridge has this whispering singing from the opener and the chorus is very bright and clean. But OK, it is a fun song overall. "Giving Blood" is very catchy with some electronic flavors, more whispering but it's also a fun track overall. "Discourse Is Dead" track number four has some old style screaming, but here also doesn't last long. It's a good song with some mid-tempo heavy parts. 

But I must say after that is an avalanche of garbage, it's really difficult to listen to it. Specially if you know what they have done in the past. It's borderline boys band music, very soft, mellow, boring, generic and uninspired. "Flight Without Feathers" is just unlistenable or maybe if you are 15 years old shuffling some boys band songs, then this song will fit well. Like in this song the album features some many parts with whispering winning singing  that irritates me. Lots of electronics that could be played in a dance club like in "An Ordinary Extinction". 

To all fairness there are a couple of nice moments in the middle of this fluffy whining. "Impermanence" with Winston McCall vocal contribution (Parkway Drive) is a better song. Also "Libertine" is good groovy and heavy song, you know relatively speaking.

The Picky Guy

As I said, not all songs are bad, there are actually some very good moments here and there as discussed. But it's not consistent, even the better 5 songs of 15 have a disappointing moments. It's the electronic music beat, or the soft singing or the use of industrial samples and keys, I dunno, something ruins them. It's just that the aggressiveness and raw energy is not there anymore. And of course nothing here comes anywhere close to previous albums.

Wrap Up Opinion 

Architects' For Those That Wish to Exist marks my first big disappointment of the year. I used to really like this band, but I was always afraid this day was gonna come. It was just a matter of time that they would try to make the jump to an even more accessible mainstream sound. Just like many of their peers have done it. It's their choice and I won't condemn them for doing so, but it's just not for me and don't expect me to stick around. I haven't given a score that low in a long time, but even 71/100 seems like a high score for this album. I hate to be that negative, but I have no choice here. If you enjoy it, that's cool. I respect bands and people who like them. But I suspect this album will split their fan base, but also bring a new public and that's probably what they are counting on.

SCORE: 71/100

Genre: Metalcore

Released by Epitaph Records on February 26th, 2021

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

wordcount = 733

AD NAUSEAM Imperative Imperceptible Impulse | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

  

Released by Avantgarde Music on February 12th, 2021

Quick Background

Ad Nauseam is an experimental death metal band from Northern Italy. They make music that is unorthodox, odd and obscure. In March 2015 they released the debut album Nihil Quam Vacuitas Ordinatum Est. All Ad Nauseam records are self-produced, and each band member contributes researching, designing and building most of the equipment used for the recordings (drums parts, cabinets, bass/guitar/studio related electronics) and collecting mainly vintage, odd and uncommon gears.

Imperative Imperceptible Impulse

Imperative Imperceptible Impulse is Ad Nauseam sophomore album featuring 6 tracks in just under one hour. Experimental extreme metal is not a sub-genre that I review often or even listen frequently. But first impressions from Ad Nauseam were good and honestly nothing else this week popped up for me to review. Imperative Imperceptible Impulse is no easy album title and same goes to listening to it. It requires attention. Ad Nauseam's music features very layered and complex patterns dominated by polyphony and polyrhythms. It merges extreme death/black metal, avantgarde, jazz, classical, post-core, doom/sludge and ambient. Dissonant and unusual sounds are a constant. Musically that's the only parallel I can make: Experimental Pink Floyd (late 60's) meets Meshuggah. It's no Wish You Here at all that I am talking about, but it's more in the line of Ummagumma. 

All songs are around the 9 minute mark with only "Coincidentia Oppositorum" going up to 12 minutes. But the band does not rely on solos to extend their songs. It's mostly based on going to different places during a song while taking the time for us to appreciate a new musical passage or transition. That includes some quieter and slower moments. I appreciate that as those moments give some relief and it's not chaotic all the time. For example "Horror Vacui" has some slow and quieter moments, a sludge super slow heavy section and the more characteristic aggressive moments. Behind all of this you can actually hear the sound of vintage instruments forming the base of songs. It's all pretty cool and meticulously thought out. 

The production is raw and refreshing as it moves away from the pristine over produced trend of these days. In a way the production values also remind me of very early Pink Floyd. 

The Picky Guy

As I mentioned this is not my go-to-metal, so it takes time to get used to it. All the noises, sounding chaotic at times, make it difficult. But while not my favorite, I do appreciate it after some time. Personally I'd like more groove and melody here and there, but that's not the goals of those guys. On top of it it's not a short album. 

Wrap Up Opinion 

Ad Nauseam will certainly pop up in many year-end lists, not only due to the quality of the album, but for standing out as a very innovative experimental and unconventional band. Is it for everyone? Certainly not, it's not even for a big segment of the metal community, but it will captivate the metal listeners with an open mind and looking for something challenging and distinctive. I'm giving it a 82/100 a very good album with the potential to grow further on me as it is that kind of album that takes time. 

SCORE: 82/100

Genre: Death Metal

Released by Avantgarde Music on February 12th, 2021

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

wordcount = 535

TRANSATLANTIC The Absolute Universe: Forevermore (Extended Version) | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

  

Released by InsideOut Music on February 5th, 2021

Quick Background

Transatlantic is the Prog Supergroup of vocalist/keyboardist Neal Morse (ex-Spock's Beard), guitarist Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings) , bassist Pete Trewavas (Marillion) and drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater). They formed in 1999  and released its debut album, SMPT:e, the following year. Sophomore effort Bridge Across Forever followed in 2001, but they disbanded in 2002. Transatlantic  then reunited in 2009 and released the third album The Whirlwind. The forth album, Kaleidoscope, was released in 2014.

The Absolute Universe: Forevermore (Extended Version)

The Absolute Universe was created in two versions. The Absolute Universe: The Breath Of Life (Abridged Version) and The Absolute Universe: Forevermore (Extended Version). As Portnoy explains: "You must appreciate that what we have done is unique. We revamped the songs to make the two versions different." Therefore,  the Abridged Version is NOT merely an edited version of the double CD, The Absolute Universe: Forevermore (Extended Version). Today I am reviewing the Extended Version which features 18 songs in 90 minutes. The longest song, "The World We Used to Know", is "only" 9-min long. However, as it's a concept album, in fact it is just one giant song split into chapters. Actually some musical themes come back at some moments on the album and there are even songs labeled 'Reprise' and 'Prelude'. The storyline is about the struggles facing everyone in society today. 

Musically, you know what to expect here, high quality prog rock delivered flawlessly by a group of very seasoned prog nerds. On the good sense of the word. This is not metal and you won't find guitar shredding or anything like Portnoy's era with Dream Theater. It's more like a modern sounding version of classic 70's prog rock. After the overextended intro "Overture", "Heart Like a Whirlwind" and "Higher Than the Morning" clearly exemplify the best the album has to offer. Focus on melody and catchy vocal lines. Most of them sang very beautifully and with emotion. The guitar solos are all also very melodic and emotional, the notes are tastefully enjoyed at each phrase. The sequence of shorter songs "Swing High, Swing Low/Bully/Rainbow Sky/Looking for the Light" works very nicely and reminds me a lot of Beatles' Abbey Road Side B. CD 1 closes with one of the best songs on the album the 9-min musical journey "The World We Used to Know", featuring a very cool drum and bass intro. 

By now we've been through 48 min of good music. And yet CD 2 brings 9 songs more in 44 minutes. "The Sun Comes Up Today" kicks things off with a groovy upbeat tempo, but the vocals don't sound very good. Still not a bad start. The song has a call back to "Higher Than the Morning" which is a nice way to link the two CDs from the start of the second part. "Owl Howl" is a darker song that brings some needed heaviness to the album. In contrast "Solitude" is a  mellow and sad song reminding a lot of Steve Wilson, specially due to the singing. The last 24 minutes of the album are not successfuly keeping my attention all the time. "Belong" don't add much to what we already heard in the first 68 minutes of the album and the closer "Love Made a Way" drags us into still 8 more minutes when I personally have had enough. Some highlights from CD 2: The acoustic "Lonesome Rebel". Moreover, I must say that I love the bass sound and basslines throughout the album but specially on "Looking for the Light (Reprise)" like in other moments on the album, this song is a very Yes influenced and another heavier moment. This song blends into "The Greatest Story Never Ends" which would be a perfect ending for the album. 

Overall very nice production. Clear, well mixed and dynamic. All musicians, not surprisingly, deliver strong performances. It's no early Dream Theater and a miss a bit of shredding here and there, but very well executed album overall. 

The Picky Guy

A disclaimer here, I am not a huge fan of Neal Morse's music post Spock's Beard. There are albums and moments I like of course, but certainly not an expert. On the flip side, I remember enjoying Transatlantic last album quite a lot.  But all these albums and bands Morse and Portnoy put together start to blend in for me. That's me anyways. And this two versions confusion is so bizarre and pretentious. Life is too short  for that...so I stay with just one version. It's cool if you are a diehard fan and want to consume it all, no problem with that whatsoever, it's just not for me.

Wrap Up Opinion 

Apart from the unusual and unnecessary two album version, there are no surprises here. If you are into Transatlantic or any other Portnoy/Morse projects you know what to expect and will probably love it. If you are not, this is a lot to take in and should be approached with carefulness by casual listeners. Despite all my criticism and some frustration I am giving it 81/100 a solid good album rating. I am curious if it will stand the test of time and if I will actually get back to it often. Time will tell.  

SCORE: 81/100

Genre: Progressive Rock

Released by  InsideOut Music on February 5th, 2021

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

wordcount = 873