CULT OF LUNA The Long Road North | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Metal Blade Records on February 11th, 2022

Quick Background

Cult of Luna is a Swedish post-metal band founded in 1998. They are known for pioneering music similar to the contemporary bands Neurosis and Isis. Cult of Luna have created a unique style of metal that is ambitious, epic, visceral, and drenched in emotion. In 2019 the band released A Dawn to Fear which was their seventh studio. It was the band's first studio album since Vertikal (2013) and first new material since Mariner (2016), their collaborative album with Julie Christmas. All of those three albums were very well received by fans and critics. I personally did not care much for Mariner but I really liked the other two. So let's see now how the new one stacks up to them. 

The Long Road North

From the get go we realize that the band's 8th studio album is big and cinematic sounding record. The almost 10 minute "Cold Burn" opens the album and goes straight to your jugular with a dark atmosphere and an engaging groove. The deep emotional screams which is one of my favorite trademarks of the band are soon to be heard. I was hooked on the first listen, 10 minutes of mid tempo headbanging. "The Silver Arc" features the same energy and emotional toll from the opening track but here it's combined with more ambience and soundscapes in the mid section of the song but it all builds up to a glorious heavy ending. 

"Beyond I" is s short track bring back some elements from Mariner. A female singer, Mariam Wallentin, who is an acclaimed Swedish jazz vocalist is the highlight of this melancholic piece. I went back to listen to Mariner and I really don't connect with that album, but I do like this song, specially the melody and how this songs bridges well into "An Offering To The Wild", which is the longest song on the album with almost 13 minutes. It takes its times with the instrumental sections, building very gradually. Actually this song features another guest the Canadian-American saxophonist, and composer Colin Stetson. You can hear his influence which brings a different flavor to the song.

"Into The Night" is different track altogether. It's almost like Gothic Metal. Very melancholic and slow tempo song in which singer Fredrik demonstrates his abilities singing with a clean voice from start to finish. The short instrumental "Full Moon" bridges us into the 10-min title track. After a Pink Floydian Live At Pompeii intro, the songs explodes in usual aggressive emotional screaming. I really enjoy the drum work on this record, but specially on this song, very tribal and groovy. After another burst of screams the songs calms down and fades out, to me that would already be a great ending for the album. But we still get another epic, the almost 12 minute long "Blood Upon Stone". We don't anything very different from the other songs, but still works, in this case is more of the same, but the same is really good, so why not? To really close the album is a shorter song "Beyond II". This was a fully opened interpretation of the song by Colin Stetson.

The Picky Guy

One could argue did we really need the last two tracks? Finishing with the title track and 54 minutes of music seems already quite fulfilling. Also the 3-min "Full Moon" is questionable. But other than that, not a lot to complain here. 

Wrap Up Opinion 

Cult of Luna have very productive the last few years. The emotions and dedication of the band in those albums in undeniable. The lack of fixed structures and templates gives the album an open and honest artistic vibe. The music takes you to different places from super heavy screams, to beautiful melodies, melancholic moments and ambient soundscapes. All these combined really appeals to me and I like this album a lot, so I am giving it 84/100, a very good album.

SCORE: 84/100

Genre: Post-Metal

Released by Metal Blade Records on February 11th, 2022

Rating System

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

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SAXON Carpe Diem | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Silver Lining Music on February 4th, 2022

Quick Background

British heavy metal legends and leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) Saxon released their debut self titled album back in 1979.  During the 1980s, with classic releases such as 

Wheels of Steel & Strong Arm of the Law (1980), Denim and Leather (1981) and Power & the Glory (1983) Saxon established themselves among Europe's most successful metal acts.

Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem is their 23rd studio album and follow-up to 2018's Thunderbolt. A few weeks ago I praised Magnum for having 22 albums and Saxon has now even 23, probably some kind of record among heavy metal bands. Anyways, the new effort is comprised of 10 titanic tracks which are all between the 3 and 5 minute mark, except "The Pilgrimage". And let me start with it because it is my favorite song on the album. This 6:30 epic track builds up from a choir melody over keys into a clean guitar riff and finally the bass, rhythm guitar and drums set a groovy pace. It all reminds me a lot of "Crusader" which is a very good thing. The verse is epic, the bridge is contagious and the chorus is suitable for a live sing along. The mid instrumental section is also beautiful and the guitar solo melodic and tasteful. Biff Byford who is over 70 continues to sing well with his trademark voice, as with Bob Catley, this is quite remarkable. Overall the first half of the album is very strong, we get speed, energy, cool riffs and catchy choruses. The title track "Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)" opens the album with a trademark high tempo Saxon song but from the get go the album also sounds modern. Produced by Andy Sneap (Judas Priest, Accept) with Byford and Sneap mixing and mastering, Carpe Diem strikes the ear as an essential British metal statement with modern flavor. "Age of Steam" features a one minute cool intro with nice riffs and drum work, very upbeat song with great vocal lines and chorus. 

Another killer opening riff on "Dambusters", a future live favorite as well. This one features something we don't see very often anymore, a guitar solo very early in the song. There are harmonizing guitars, more solos, some with Wah-wah pedal, all and all the guitar players really shine in this one. "Remember the Fallen" is another one that we will probably see on their set-list as well. The song is about the Covid-19 pandemic, and how it has affected the world around us. The bridge is basically the lyrics that I have been questioning myself for 2 years now "Is it never-ending? Will we ever be free? How long will it take to bring normality?"

The Picky Guy

By the time we get to track number 6 "Super Nova" the best of the album is behind us and the loose of steam is visible.  Maybe a bit more of variability would do them well. Some highlights on the second half of the album are "Lady in Gray" with a slower tempo sludgy edge to it and "Black Is the Night" and its cool riffage and guitarwork.

Wrap Up Opinion 

After more than 40 years on the road, Saxon brings their impressive new album with bristling steel-clad riffery and proud intent, the band draws on a variety of ingredients from its career to keep it loyal to their roots but also sounding fresh and modern. They kept simple and straightforward, pure traditional heavy metal flourishing from their 80's success. What else to say? Despite being frontloaded, a very good album, deserving 82/100 and the attention of new and old fans. 

SCORE: 82/100

Genre: Heavy Metal

Released by Silver Lining Music on February 4th, 2022

Rating System

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

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STEVE VAI Inviolate | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Mascot Label Group on January 28th, 2022

Quick Background

Steve Vai is an American guitarist, composer, singer, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee. He started his recording career in 1980 with Frank Zappa. In 1983, Vai began his career as a solo artist with his release of Flex-Able, and solidified his place as a virtuoso rock guitarist with his acclaimed 1990 release of Passion and Warfare. His discography consisted of nine studio albums before Inviolate. The previous one being 2016's Modern Primitive. 

Inviolate

Inviolate. is consequently Vai's tenth studio solo album. It features 9 songs in 47 minutes. The highlight of the album is his new gigantic, over the top Madmax inspired new guitar, the Hydra. I won't go into describing it here, but in the description below you can find a very interesting short interview only about this guitar. The opening track "Teeth of the Hydra" was written for and performed on the Hydra. It's a cool song with nice soundscapes a breakdown using the Hydras's harp that gives it a Indian music flavor. It mostly sounds like a 90's Vai or Satriani mid-tempo song. The single "Zeus in Chains"  picks up on the tempo a little and is a nice groovy song. Overall sounds very similar to the opening track so they flow nice into each other. I do like the main riff a lot and its variations specially as it is being played with a drum break. It gives the song its special character.  The video single "Little Pretty" is different, a jazzy song played on a Gretsch hollow body guitar and according to Vai features his best guitar solo ever. It's mesmerizing, do yourself a favor and check it out. 

"Candlepower" reminds me of "Sisters" or Tender Surrender" but it's also quite unique, as Vai uses the technique of "joint shifting". The experiments and challenges in this song were the results of the lockdown. He uses use a very clean tone, no whammy bar, and no pick, just fingers. The result is fantastic and fascinating, you can also check this one out with the link below. 

"Avalancha" and "Greenish Blues" is more traditional Vai style song very similar to something out of Passion & Warfare. The first being a rocker and the later a bluesy cousin of "For the Love of God". 

"Knappsack" was written when Vai had his right arm immobilized due to recent surgery. At that time he received his beautiful Black Onyx PIA latest Ibanez signature model. So he wrote the song with this new guitar and only for the left hand fully relying on the legato technique. He also made it available on another impressive video with the link here as well. The album closes with "Sandman Cloud Mist" is a beautiful, slow tempo, emotional and melancholic also played in the new signature model. 

The Picky Guy

I don't really have a lot to picky about this album. I mean if you are not into guitars and/or instrumental music, then it's not for you. But other than that the only thing I can say is that some songs are so different and innovative, that the more "traditional" ones in comparison sound "simple". But Vai's simple is a major challenge for 95% of guitar players. 

Wrap Up Opinion 

Vai continues to use his solo work to expand and explore. He has been continually challenging notions of traditional guitar playing and composition even at the age of 60 and having accomplished so much in his successful career. With Inviolate he has done it again. Not only he re-imagined the instrument itself with the Hydra, but also this time around, Vai quite literally invented a new guitar-playing technique. And those are just to highlights of the so many things we discussed he did and explored in this album. Besides all that, the music is fun and entertaining to listen. So I can only say it's a very good album and unless Satriani comes with something so impressive in the coming weeks, Inviolate is the guitar album of 2022.

SCORE: 83/100

Genre: Progressive Rock

Released by Mascot Label Group on January 28th, 2022

Rating System

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

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