Blind Illusion – Wrath of The Gods (Hammerheart Records)

 

Blind Illusion was one of the most unique bands from the Bay Area.  They always had this cool rock element in their music, and their take on metal always stood apart from the rest.  This new album fully supports the above-mentioned claims.

Wrath of The Gods is a very heavy record, well written, with plenty of catchy hooks.  The music takes you on a journey here.  It’s a mix of heavy metal with rock mysticism, incredibly original approach.  After the repeated listens the album continues to surprise with its textures and arrangements.  Each song is crafted with a lot of thought and understanding of music in general.  If Blind Illusion appealed to you back in 1988, then that appeal should be even stronger now.

Guitarist/vocalist, Mark Biedermann, is the only returning member from the line-up that produced The Sane Asylum back in 1988.  Joining him are Doug Piercy on guitar, Andy Galeon on drums, and Tom Gears on bass.  This is a very solid line up, made of veterans of the San Francisco scene.  The performances are very strong, and Piercy’s lead work is truly impeccable.  Biedermann’s guitar and vocals still define Blind Illusion's sound, and his presence is very strong, but it’s great to feel the positive influence of the other band members.  This is a very tight unit of talented players.

The album has a great feel, at times sounds very mysterious, but with definite clarity.  The songs beam with strength and heaviness, and the record is a great listen all the way through.  Wrath of The Gods proves that Blind Illusion was always the engine that powered the great Bay Area metal scene.

Mark Kadzielawa

Munition – Visions (self-release)

 

Munition is a brand-new heavy metal band from Chicago, and Visions is their debut release.  It’s an excellent record, and feels more like 2nd or 3rd record.  There is a strong a sense of experience here, even though these players are relatively young.  Well, they are definitely on the right path.  The goods are delivered!

Visions is a well written and produced album.  It charges with electricity from beginning to the end.  The songs are catchy, and flowing.  Instrumentally, these guys are just absolutely perfect in every way possible.  Very tight rhythm section consisting of Dal Dash and Jorey Guillermo.  Those two players lay the ground for Casey Tremont and George Sizos to perform their riff and lead magic.  Vocalist, Syl Smith, is an absolutely brilliant singer, he takes Munition to another level.  It’s a great team effort here, every player on this album appears to be in the right place and essential to the overall magic.

Munition has a great traditional heavy metal sound with tasty dynamics, and bursting melody lines.  One may wonder how kids so young understand this genre so well, but they do, so let’s just enjoy the music.  The songs Visions come out at the listener with sheer force, and as soon as the record is done, you want to press play again!  The more you listen to this album the more hooks jump out at you. The lead work is also very impressive.  There is a lot of emotion and feel coming from both guitar players.

Visions concludes with Judas Priest cover of Dreamer/Deceiver, which is a very challenging song musically and vocally.  Munition delivers true gold here, and shows they are capable of great things.  Syl Smith's soaring vocal delivery in incredible.  He will shine for many years to come.

Visions is a great starting point for Munition.  The album is very solid, and displays a lot of potential for even greater things to come.  Chicago can certainly be proud!!!

Mark Kadzielawa

Bones - Vomit (Disorder Recordings)

Bones is a death metal band out of the depths of Chicago’s southside.  Vomit is their fourth album.  The band has been releasing records since 2011.  They have a very raw and uncompromising sound.  Vomit is a very sincere offering, there is nothing fake about it

Bones consists of three longtime friends who love to hang out and play music together.  They don’t want to reinvent the wheel, get famous, or break any selling records.  They just love what they do, and do it for fun.  This attitude is reflected in the music.  What’s there no to love?

Vomit is a heavy record, driven by awesome drumming from Joe Warlord, blazing riffs from Carcass Chris, and bass and gore from Jon Necromancer.  You put those three guys together and hell will break loose!  Bones takes no prisoners, it crushes them!  If you ever had a chance of meeting, or hanging out with these guys, they’re fun and crazy.  If they ever come to your town, just buy them a beer, and enjoy their company, you won’t regret it.

Bones definitely delivered a gut-wrenching record.  It’s ugly, it’s brutal, and it wrestles you down.  This is the type of metal you play in your garage, and share it with your friends, and that’s exactly what Bones are doing.  Vomit is an awesome record that needs to be enjoyed!

Mark Kadzielawa

Molder – Engrossed in Decay (Prosthetic)

Molder is a like a melting pot of death metal and thrash.  They take some classic influences, blend it, and come up with a great style of their own.  There are riffs on this album you swear you’ve heard before, but upon closer examination, you realize that you may be familiar with the feel of it, but not the actual riff.  Molder takes the best from the past, and gives it back to you camouflaged and mixed.  Combine that with brutality and great delivery, and you have a great record  Those boys are definitely going places, and we will be hearing some great things about Molder in years to come.

Engrossed in Decay is a very catchy and melodic album.  The riffs are brutal and gut punching, and the sense of melody drives this band forward.  The songs are memorable, and will certainly please even the most hardened of crowds.  There is a sense of formula and style Molder developed over the years, and now they are just strengthening every aspect of it.  Having seen the band live on several occasions, this writer can attest of their crushing stage power.

Vocalist/guitarist, Aaren Pantke, has a very distinctive sound and style.  While riffing uncontrollably he can growl, and add fire to the mayhem the band is displaying.  Bass player, Dominick Vaia is a one-of-a-kind character whose personality shows through his cryptic rhythms.  Drummer, Kyle Pooley, batters the drums and provides a solid springboard for Molder to cause hell.  Carlos Santini empowers the riffing on second guitar, and adds that sonic component taking this band into the stratosphere.

Molder made a great record that will be noticed throughout the death metal scene and community.  Engrosses in Decay will cement this band's position in general.  They are young and ambitious, and have already recognizable style and sound.  This is a solid album that will entertain you for months to come, or simply until the new one becomes available.  Brutally excellent!

Mark Kadzielawa

 

Riot Act – Closer To The Flame (Global Rock Records)

 

Riot Act is a new band formed by former Riot guitarist, Rick Ventura.  The name isn’t coincidental either.  This band was formed to pursue the vision Ventura started back in the glory days alongside Mark Reale.  After few spins it is very clear that Riot Act got everything right.  This album rules!

The songs reflect the style Riot was known for, but there are few twists and turns added along the way.  The music is great, and so it the delivery, but it’s the vocalist, Don Chaffin, that takes it to another level.  Chaffin is the most perfect vocalist for these songs.  He has a very characteristic voice and great charisma.  A frontman like that is not easy to come by.

The songs on Closer To The Flame are catchy, melodic, and full of groove.  The band feels at ease playing them.  Nothing is forced here; every aspect of the music works well naturally.  There are few tracks here that could go places if the radio got behind them, but nowadays that’s a very difficult prediction. 

Instrumentally, this is as good as it gets.  Rick Ventura is a great player, and the combo he put together is absolutely fantastic.  The rhythm section consisting of Paul Ranieri and Claudio Calinski is absolutely superb.  The more you listen to the album, the more you realize how much attention to the detail these players paid.  It's a great sounding record, but nothing is accidental here.  It's the pure professionalism at its finest.

There is a second disc available with the album.  In addition to the new tracks there is a disc of re-recordings of the classic Riot songs.  Those sound very impressive too, and once again, Chaffin puts his own stamp on those.  Both discs add up to one pleasant listen.  Whether you’re in a car, or at home, this music rocks your soul. 

Closer To The Flame is a very prophetic title.  One may interpret it as getting closer to the flame that was the original Riot.  If that was the case, the mission is certainly accomplished.  If there is another meaning behind this title, so be it.  Find your own message and enjoy the music.  Having had a chance of experiencing the band live, this writer can assure you it is just as good as on stage as it sounds here.  Riot Act delivers gold here.  Give this band a chance, and they will go straight for your heart!

Mark Kadzielawa

Tubular Bells – 50th Anniversary Celebration (Cleopatra)

Tubular Bells was Mike Oldfield’s debut album that he released 50 years ago.  It was a groundbreaking record that launched the careers of Mike Oldfield and Virgin Records.  To this day, the album is very unique, and since then there really wasn’t anything like it.  Mike Oldfield wrote many albums where he explored similar themes, and eventually started writing songs with lyrics and vocals.  He was successful in both areas, but Tubular Bells was his calling card.

This album does not include any contributions from Mike Oldfield.  His music is being performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Contemporary Voices Choir, and some sessions musicians.  It is a really well put together project.  There is definitely love for the music, you can feel it in how this recording flows.  There were other orchestral attempts at Tubular Bells, but this one by far is the best one.  In many ways, any flaws of the past are brought to perfection here.

This is a very pleasant and relaxing listen.  The whole album is a very nice surprise.  Normally such tributes tend be done in a hurry, and with little preparation, but that’s not the case here.  Every little sound is accounted for, and some arrangements are quite inventive and interesting.  The album has a very cool mood to it.  After few listens it still feels very fresh, and you get the impression that you’re hearing Tubular Bells unlike any other time before.

It's a double disc set, and there are some bonus surprises mainly on the second CD.  What you get is Ommadawn Pt. 1, some parts of Hergest Ridge, and Moonlight Shadow.  The last one of course was a European megahit for Mike Odlfield back in 1983.  The vocals performed by Ella Shaw.  The packaging goes along with the original Tubular Bells theme, only the bells are twisted to resemble number 50.  This is not a new Mike Oldfield release, but still incredibly well put together and entertaining. 

Mark Kadzielawa

Held By Trees – Solace (Tweet Jacket)

In every aspect, this is the most wonderful tribute to Mark Hollis and Talk Talk.  Hollis was a true visionary who took Talk Talk from new romantic pop into progressive minimalism.  This album is the closest thing that Mark Hollis would’ve done if he was still alive, and still musically active.  Even the album cover is related to Talk Talk releases.  Also, there are number of musicians here involved who played alongside Hollis during his years of activity.

The music itself has variety of moods, it can create or alter certain feel.  In many ways, you feel here like you interact with the music.  Sometimes you hear the sounds that simply aren’t there, but your mind takes you to that place.  This by far might the most beautiful impact of this album.  It challenges your mind in the most unexpected ways.  There is a trance element that allows you to go places while experiencing this album.  Solace is what you feel under this record’s spell.  That title couldn't be more accurate.

The music has very odd qualities, some tracks give you that feel of the evaporated love that you're trying to reach so hard, and it’s always an inch higher.  There is also feeling of gentle rain drops coming down at you, and no real reason given as to why.  Imagine looking at the stars, and you get the feeling that in fact, it’s them watching you.  You put this record on another day, and it’s a completely new scenario of feelings.  Sometimes it’s too much, and then you turn this record off, but you keep coming back to it because it takes you places.

Solace is a truly wonderful album that thrives on its own.  Despite the obvious Hollis influences, Held By Trees has plenty of fluids of its own.  The more you listen to this album, you abandon any opinions, and let the music direct you into the unknown.  There is a spiritual feel that can beautiful and haunting at the same time.  Each listen is like a throw of the dice, you get something different out of it.  Those who’ll get it will experience a repeated state of bliss.

Mark Kadzielawa