"Natural High" is the prologue to the upcoming HammerFall's album, "Threshold". The single contains four songs. Two different versions of "Natural High", the album version and a karaoke one. I guess the second one is for the Japanese market since Power Metal is very famous in Japan and they also love karaoke! A pretty good song with a nice chorus and a catchy riff.The single, also contains "The Fires Burns Forever". You can listen to the song and watch the video clip here! A very good song where Joacim Cans voice makes it even better.
The last song is a live version of "Raise The Hammer", a song from their third album "Renegade"
A nice appetizer untill the release date of "Threshold".
Rating:73/100
Tracklist
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- Natural High
- Natural High (Karaoke Version)
- The Fire Burns Forever (feat. R. Kronberg)
- Raise The Hammer (Live)
Fairyland is one of the few french metal bands that were able to make an internatioanl release. As the name and the artwork reveals, Fairyland is a Symponic Power Metal band. The main themes comes from fantasy, rpg like stories.The influence of bands like Symphony X, Edguy, Avantasia and most of all, Rhapsody is clear to their music. After an epic intro the album opens with two fast symphonic power songs. A small instrumental and then the band slows down a little with "The Awakening" and the ballad "Eldanie Uelle". The rest of the album is a classic syphonic power metal album.
Keyboards has the main role in their music while the vocals are theatrical. "The Fall Of An Empire" has some nice ideas although these ideas are not fresh or original at all. The first songs are pretty good but the extensive use of the backing vocals are really tiresome. Moreover after a while you realize that the songs have the same patterns, a fact that makes the album hard to listen.
In the end, I expect something good from Fairyland in the near future, but first they have evolve in order to develop a unique style (and not to be a clone of other bands).
On the other hand....what was the last time you listened to a good (metal) band from French ??????
Rating: 72/100
The Band:
---------
Parker - Guitar
Giordana - Keyboards
Cesaro - Guitar, Bass
Desfray - Drums
Leclercq - Vocals
Tracklist
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1. Endgame
2. The Fall Of An Empire
3. Lost In The Dark Empire
4. Slaves Forlorn
5. The Awakening
6. Eldanie Uelle
7. Clanner Of The Light
8. To The Havenrod
9. The Wall of Laemnil
10. Anmorkenta
11. In Duna
12. The Story Remains
13. Look Into The Lost Years
14. Accross The Endless Sea (Bonus)
Less Than Jake count 8 official releases with this one. After some unsuccessful and without any new ideas releases like "Anthem" and "B-Sides", they continue with an equal album. If you ever heard any pop-punk band, then there is no reason to spend 40 mins on this one. The only thing worth to mention is some ska elements on some songs.The album overflows of a teen-anger that magicaly transforms the album to a stupid release. "In With The Out Crowd" has nothing to add to music history. People who already like Less Than Jake will be satisfied with their older works. People who don't like Less Than Jake will keep dislike them!!!
In the end, even if you are 12 years old and this is one of your first albums you ever heard, "In with the Out Crowd" is still nothing special.
Rating: 45/100
It's always hard to review a new album from a band such as Iron Maiden. With 30 years of history the band changed many times their music style. Some fans want a new "Number of The Beast", some other a new "Brave New World" or a new "Killers" album. The truth is that "A Matter of Liffe and Death" starts where "Dance of Death" stopped.Don't expect any neckbraker songs like "Trooper". The album consists of long songs, (average time over 7 mins) with acoustic intros like "Paschendale" and "Dance of Death". The first listening of the cd left me indifferent but the more i listened to the cd the more I liked it.
The album starts with "Different World". The fastest song of the album. A fast riff and a catchy refren. The way that Maiden open their last few albums. "These Colours Don't Run" is a mid-tempo song with 3 or more solos at half time.
"Brighter Than Thousand Suns" starts with an accoustic intro and continues with a really strange and good riff. The song lasts 8:45 mins and it has many changes in tempo, riffs and solos. Nice song.
The album continues with a classic Maiden album, "The Pilgrim". A 5 min song with dual vocals and dual lead guitars. Once again the 3 guitars work to full at solos.
In the "The Longest Day" Dickinson finally shows his potential. Singing high and low, fast and slow, gets your attention. Once again Maiden changes their speed from fast to slow and back again. Interesting ideas and nice guitar parts.
"Out of the Shadows" is something close to a ballad (?). It seems that Dickinson warmed up (:p) and now the album sounds even more promising.
As you hear the first tunes of "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" you will start to think that the album gets more and more interesting. 7:22 with strange melodies and even more strange lyrics and a great atmosphere.
"For the Greater Good of God" is a never ending song! It last more than 9 mins and yet it's not boring. Starting as a slow-tempo song it changes to fast and then to mid-tempo song. A hailstorm of solos, speed changes and riffs.
"Lord of the Light" is another strange song changing. Maiden change their style form soft to powerfull and energetic all the time during the 7 mins of the song.
The album closes with "The Legacy". Another long song with an acoustic intro...or not exactly. The best song of the album. 9 mins where Maiden's music shines...
In every song the lyrics talk about war and actualy there is one question: "Why do we go to war?". "A Matter of Life and Death" sure is not the best album that Maiden released. Sure it doesn't have a song that will be a new "Fear of the Dark" or "Trooper", but yet is a solid release.
First, I believe that someone has to listen the album in reverse order since the best songs are at the end of the album
Second, unfortunately Maiden made the same mistake for the second time (first time was at Virual XI). The songs are far too long...Almost all songs are over 7:30 mins and that makes the album a non-easy listening.
"A Matter Of Life and Death" needs time. You have to listen to the album lot of times. In the end Iron Maiden once again they hold the flag of Heavy Metal proudly.
Band
Dickinson - Vocals
Gers - Guitars
Smith - Guitars
Murray - Guitars
Harris - Bass
McBrain - Drums
Tracklist
01. Different World
02. These Colours Don't Run
03. Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
04. The Pilgrim
05. The Longest Day
06. Out Of The Shadows
07. The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg
08. For The Greater Good Of God
09. Lord Of Light
10. The Legacy
I just added a new feat at the site. There is a subscription box at the sidebar. Just put your email there and every time a new article is posted on Metal Hall eZine, it will delivered automaticaly to your e-mail. Hope is handy ;)
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Jesse Pintado played in the grindcore/ deathmetal band Terrorizer, together with Morbid Angel's David Vincent and Pete Sandoval, and vocalist Oscar Garcia. After releasing one album on Earache, "World Downfall", Jesse joined Napalm Death, replacing guitarist Bill Steer. In 2004 he left Napalm Death for personal reasons and revived Terrorizer.
Unofrtunately Jesse Pintado died last week in a hospital in Holland. Century Media press release states: "Guitarist Jesse Pintado (Terrorizer, ex-Napalm Death) died over the weekend in a hospital in Holland. A pioneer in our musical genre, Jesse and his influential sound will be sorely missed. Century Media Records would like to offer our most sincere condolences to his family and friends, and will make a further announcement later in the week."
The official Napalm Death web site has the following statement to Pintado's death: "The band are shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Jesse Pintado this past Sunday. Please expect a statement shortly. Jesse Pintado was a member of Napalm Death from 1989-2004."
Unofrtunately Jesse Pintado died last week in a hospital in Holland. Century Media press release states: "Guitarist Jesse Pintado (Terrorizer, ex-Napalm Death) died over the weekend in a hospital in Holland. A pioneer in our musical genre, Jesse and his influential sound will be sorely missed. Century Media Records would like to offer our most sincere condolences to his family and friends, and will make a further announcement later in the week."
The official Napalm Death web site has the following statement to Pintado's death: "The band are shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Jesse Pintado this past Sunday. Please expect a statement shortly. Jesse Pintado was a member of Napalm Death from 1989-2004."
Jesse's and Terrorizer's final recording "Darker Days Ahead" was released last week. Read more...
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