Album Of The Week

What can I say...I have never really rated The Haunted, and have always found them to be generic modern Euro-Thrash/Melodeath.

That is until now...quite what prompted the band to adopt such a complete departure in sound I can only guess at, but wow! This is a stunning album, filled with moments of beauty, sweeping melodies along with neck-damaging riffs and some sublime vocals from Peter Dolving (who would have thought it). There are moments on the album reminiscent of bands such as A Perfect Circle, Katatonia, Alice In Chains, Corrosion Of Conformity and In Flames to name just a few of the influences I picked up on. Whatever happened to give the band this kick, it is definitely a welcome change, and the first genuine musical surprise of the year for me.

If you have, like me, never really cared about this band, other than as a superb live act, you could certainly do a lot worse than to check this album out. Album of the year (so far) for me....Fantastic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeZT9PEuAv4

Hardcore Superstar @ Valhall, Skövde (04/03/11)

I could just write the word "brilliant!" here, but I don't think that would cut it as a  "review". Therefore, I will write a few more words.

When arriving at the venue, I was pleasantly surprised to see a decent size group of people milling around outside the venue. I even remarked to Linda, that there are more people outside smoking than you usually see INSIDE at a gig in Skövde. This was a good start to what would turn out to be a fantastic night. My experience of HS live was limited to one previous gig (in Dudley sometime around 2000), in front of a "crowd" where using the word sparse is a little optimistic, so I wasn't at all prepared for the stunning live show in store.

The band came on stage at around 10 to an excitable crowd, who where, most likely, already a little "lubricated" at this point, and proceeded to tear through a greatest hits setlist. Jocke looked every inch the rock star, throwing his very best Axl and Seb moves (although dressed more like Anders Fridén with his knee high striped socks and braces/suspenders), running and bouncing around the stage. The crowd sang along with every word of every song. The only downside, on a personal note, was the omission of my favourite song "Shades Of Grey", but it would be unfair to complain after such an energetic and enthusiastic performance (from band and audience alike).

An honourable mention must go to the guy stood in front of us, who appeared to be in love with Jocke. Fanboy really isn't a strong enough word....stalker might be more accurate. At one point, the band pulled fans onstage for a sing-a-long of "Last Call For Alcohol". Despite his best efforts, he wasn't picked, but decided to jump onstage anyway, to the bemusement of the band and security (who didn't remove him, incidentally).

We left the venue genuinely surprised by just how good this band are live. They really are the best sleaze/glam band out there right now. On a final note, I would like to say to all the people who call themselves hardrockers in the Skaraborg area, that if you don't have a damn good reason to have missed this show, then you should be ashamed of yourselves.

I am listening to the new Die Krupps material...

...and wow. I have to say that this is a total curveball. I really wasn't expecting an EBM/Electro album from them. Their last album was released in 1997, and the years leading up to its release had seen them embrace the  metal sound more and more. Die Krupps were originally an electro/synth band (formed way back in 1980), but as the 90's arrived, so did a darker, heavier edge. I have waited 13 long years to hear new music from this amazing band, and I was expecting them to continue where they left off, rather than look further back in their history. I think there is a good reason for this stylistic back-pedalling, however, and that is that they have spent the last few years since their reformation, touring (and therefore rediscovering the older material) and have also released an album of re-recorded versions of their classic songs. When you look at it realistically, the metal style they toyed with was a relatively recent addition to their sound, and was only for a brief period. So, taking that into account, I suppose it is reasonable to expect them to relegate it to a more backing role. Of course, there are still heavier elements here (mainly in the simplistic, Germanic guitar riffs), but the overall feel is more of an electronic/industrial  EP. This is, in no way, a complaint as I really can't get enough of this. There are 4 new tracks on offer here, along with a cover and a few remixes. For long term DK fans, this is obviously highly recommended, and for those of you who might be new to the band, it is a fairly good place to start, but for a real introduction, I would recommend the album of re-recorded songs that I mentioned earlier, "Too Much History".

This is the opening track from the EP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ6D2SnsvTA