Weekly Round-up: 12th April 2014

Alfahanne

With lyrics in their native Swedish and their odd Post Black Metal meets Indie Rock musical style, Alfahanne are certainly, at first, a bit of an oddity and won't be to everyone's taste. Once you get used to what the band are doing, however, then it is like an epiphany. This is something fresh, interesting and genuinely exciting. That this, the band's debut album no less, features guest vocal contributions from 3 of the leading names in subterranean Black Metal - namely Niklas Kvarforth (Shining (SWE)), Hoest (Taake) and  V'gandr (Helheim) - speaks volumes about the waves this band are making and the quality of their music. There is definitely something a little special going on in the Scandinavian underground right now with the likes of Alfahanne and Beastmilk throwing down the gauntlet with some gorgeous harmonies, catchy songs and tight musicianship. If you're the sort who is open to something a little different, then I can't recommend this highly enough.

Enthroned

Belgium's blackest sons, Enthroned continue on their dark path on album number 10. But this time, something seems to be a little different. They didn't tear out of the blocks at 100 miles per hour with pounding drums and shrieking vocals. This time, they opted to lure in the listener, first with the prerequisite intro and them with a slow to mid-paced start to the first proper song "Sine Qua Non". In fact, it isn't until about 2 minutes in where the "old", familiar Enthroned sound raises its ugly head, but when it does the pace really picks up. This is a far more varied an album than I have heard from Enthroned before and it really works. Mid-placed chugging riffs more akin to Dimmu Borgir are the order of the day here. Yes, they have slowed down, but have lost none of the groove that makes them so special. A true stand-out band in the Black Metal scene and one that seems to be getting better and better as the years roll on.

Black Label Society

I have to admit that I've never really "got" BLS. They always seemed to be really over-rated due to Zakk Wylde's association with the Double-O. Yes, they have had the odd good song here and there, but for the most part it has just been a dull, mid-paced Grunge meets Skynyrd dirge with a distinct lack of discernible songs. So, has this new album changed my opinion? In a word, no. That isn't to say that this is a bad album - fans of Alice In Chains and the likes might find something of interest here - it's just that it suffers from the same tedious lack of songs and imagination. Shame.

Devil You Know

Following his departure from Killswitch Engage, Howard Jones was much maligned by the Metal world. In much the same way as hapless ex-Maiden frontman, Blaze Bayley, before him, he was given far more than his fair share of the blame for the last couple of lacklustre albums released by the band. It is easy to forget though, that it was Howard and not Jesse, who fronted the band for their most commercially successful period. He left the band for health reasons. That and a hectic tour schedule. Anyway, all that is (recent) history. Howard makes his long overdue return with his new band, Devil You Know (a "supergroup" of sorts) and it is a real corker. Rather unsurprisingly, the band has a predominantly Metalcore sound - let's face it, Howard's voice is perfect for this type of music - but they have given the tired sub-genre a bit of a shot in the arm with this, their debut release. There is a clear Divine Heresy / Fear Factory influence to the drumming, courtesy of John Gerard Sankey (who has played with both bands) and I picked up on something of a Medication vibe about it in places, which was surprising...until I found out that this album was produced by the one and only, Logan Mader. Overall, this is unlikely to change your life, but it is well worth a listen.

Tuomas Holopainen

Prog Rock has always had a predilection for the overblown and ridiculous, but Mr Holopainen has managed to plumb all new depths of ludicrousness with his new project "The Life And Times Of Scrooge". Now, if this was a concept album based on the (in)famous Dickens character, this would be grounds for a bit of a snigger. As it is, this is actually a concept album based on the, ahem, story of one Scrooge McDuck. Yes, you read that right and no, this is NOT a late April Fool's joke. This album really exists in all of its dubious "glory". Musically, this can't really be faulted. It has all of the hallmarks of Tuomas' day job, Nightwish and for that reason, has a definite charm. I'm just not sure I can forgive the subject matter. Could this become a guilty pleasure? Make of this what you will.

Sonata Arctica

I don't usually listen to Power Metal as a rule. I can tolerate bands such as Manowar, Dream Evil, Firewind and Falconer, but to be brutally honest, I find Power Metal on the whole, to be cheesy, embarrassing and totally undeserving of the word "Metal". At best, it's Hard Rock, but even that's pushing it, in my opinion. Yes, it's catchy and has a melody, but so are the likes of Pink and Justin Trousersnake, so that doesn't mean a whole lot to me. Sadly, Sonata Arctica's latest release hasn't changed my opinion (despite receiving glowing reviews) at all. You already know what this sounds like. Power Metal hasn't progressed at all over the past couple of decades and you've heard this before. Many times. It's nondescript and boring. I switched it off at the second song. If you are still reading this (why?), then maybe you have a passing interest in this band, so here's the first "single" from the album.