Markus Falkenberg – Power Of Metal.dk

J.B.O. – Wer lässt die Sau raus?!

Markus Falkenberg — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 06:32:51 +0000

There are comedians, there is Metal and there are bands that combine the best of both worlds. J.B.O is certainly one of these bands that play in the spirit of Metal and comedy at the same time. No Metal = no J.B.O. No funny, yet often surprisingly intelligent lyrics = no J.B.O either.

Musicalwise the album tends more to the lighter side with the occasional exception (example: “Hoffen und Bangen”) here and there which makes it much more mainstream compatible than many Metalheads prefer their Metal to be, while others will love it. And that is okay! It is not the kind of music people would expect at a Thrash Metal gig, but at a party? Why not? Ad some beer and a lot of sun to the mix and you get the metalised version of what you would expect at a regular beach club. Think “Jürgen Drews goes Metal”, but with occasionally smarter lyrics than one would expect. Is it right to call this “Fun Metal”? That is a tough question. Some will likely find this kind of Metal annoying, or at least occasionally annoying, but others will find it funny indeed. Love it, or hate it so to say.

Anyway, do not be surprised when some songs sound familiar. The reason for this is simple. J.B.O. went and metalised a couple of popular pop and “Schlager” songs here. And yes, this can be a bit annoying here and there, but then – all of a sudden – you get a slightly harder sequence that makes up for the annoyance. Also, the lyrics! Funny, silly yet surprisingly intelligent. J.B.O. would simply not work without them. And this is also why non speakers of German should be careful with this particular album, because you will only get half the fun.

Now, what to make of this album? 7 devils. However, if you should plan a party and want to play some Metal then this might be exactly the right album for you with its fun and “beery” vibe.

J.B.O. (Facebook)

Orphaned Land 4th April 2019 – We Will Not Resist (Support: Systemhouse 33, Subterranean Masquerade)

Markus Falkenberg — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 22:06:55 +0000

No matter where you come from, there is one thing that all cultures have in common: Music. It speaks to the heart, it speaks to our emotions, both for good and for bad. And yes, this is something that is not restricted to any particular genre. Even the most trivial pop bands are able to give something to their fans: Fun and joy. And Heavy Metal is not any different there. Yes sure, most Metal bands play with aggression and anger, but more often than not this is about letting out your frustration, a kind of cleansing effect so to say. However, there is more to music, particularly Orphaned Land’s music and that is the desire to bring people together. Listen to Orphaned Land and you will find that they have a surprisingly laid back attitude and while the band’s music is certainly aggressive to the ears of the uninitiated there is also something else, namely the heart felt desire to bring people together. Togetherness, international understanding through art. Anyway, let us come to the first band of the evening.

Systemhouse 33

Systemhouse 33 opened the evening and showed the audience that music, that Heavy Metal is an international thing. How? By coming straight from Mumbai, India. However one should not make the mistake to think that their country of origin is all they have to offer. Their Thrash infused Groove Metal is simply too good for that. Think ‘Pantera goes Death Metal’ to get an idea. Musicians going nuts, headbanging, that certain fire in the eyes, you name it, you got it! The audience certainly seemed to enjoy them and that is what live music is all about: Having a good time!

However, if you should expect a more “Indian influence” then you will be disappointed. If you listened to Systemhouse 33 without the visuals then there would be no way for you to tell from where they are coming from. However, visually speaking they were still something else. And maybe that is even a good thing as it goes to show that your ethnic background is way less important than the music we all love. Different, yet still the same so to say. Also, let us be honest here, live music is not just about the music, but also about the visuals and Systemhouse 33 were more than able to deliver there as well. Anyway, if Pantera and Death Metal are your thing then go and check them out! You will not regret it.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/systemhouse33/
Website: www.systemhouse33.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/systemhouse33

Subterranean Masquerade

Subterranean Masquerade was the second band of the evening and just like Orphaned Land they hail from Israel. And while it is certainly difficult to pinpoint the exact sound of an entire region there is no denying that Subterranean Masquerade has a certain oriental feeling to it. They are obviously still Metal, but yet a particular kind of Metal. Israeli Folk Metal? Maybe this would push it a bit too much, but they sure seem to have a ‘folkish touch’. But what about their show? Jumpy! Jumping up and down to the beat of the music! Constantly! One running joke on the internet is bodybuilders skipping leg day… Well, for these guys every live show is obviously leg day. And yes, this energy, this impressive stage presence reached out to the audience and got them jumping along. And yet, the band requires a certain openness, but then, they opened for Orphaned Land so a certain openness from the part of the audience was pretty much a given. So yes, this special connection between the band and the audience was definitely there and this not just during the partying. To explain: When you watch a gig with open eyes then you often see little signs that a band and the fans care for each other. These little signs differ from gig to gig, but for Subterranean Masquerade’s gig that night it was definitely an incident where the guitarist was struggling with a cable and a fan in the front row helped him with solving the issue. It was just a little thing, but these little things require a positive atmosphere which was definitely there! Great show!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Submasq/
Website: https://www.submasq.net/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCtbWisSOIFnNi_vkPxOZng

Orphaned Land

Few bands have a reputation like Orphaned Land. Hard music, yet soft hearts. And angry hearts. Maybe this is due to their country of origin that is the culminating point of so many conflicts these days? You can probably not be ‘not political’ in a country like this. And yet they chose to not be falcons, but doves. And maybe that is what so many fans love about Orphaned Land. They really seem to live the cathartic aspect of Heavy Metal, and it seems to do them good, because no matter how harsh their music is, there is still something about the band that has a surprisingly calming effect.

Part of this is obviously due to Kobi Farhi’s (vocalist) charisma which obviously worked overtime this particular night. There was simply something in his eyes, his smile, his entire body language that added a strange, yet soothing effect to his harsh vocals. This effect seemingly also rubbed off on Chen Balbus (guitar) as well, or at least this was the impression you got when you saw him smiling every now and then. It simply felt right and good. Maybe it was just this gig? Who knows? But fact is that Orphaned Land’s entire set simply felt right. Harsh music, harsh vocals, oriental elements, and yet it felt more relaxing than one would expect it from such a harsh band. But then, Orphaned Land is a band that is not only popular in the West, but in the Middle East as a whole. Just Metalfans, just human beings having a good time. So no, it would not be right to say that Orphaned Land exposed their fans to a full frontal assault of Heavy Metal to challenge their emotions, thereby triggering the cathartic effect that Metal fans love and need so much, but still, something special happened. However, unlike with other bands this “something” was much more soothing and relaxing which is exactly what sets them apart from most other Metal bands. If you have not seen Orphaned Land live so far then go and do so! They are certainly an experience that not even Metalfans experience every day. And this is exactly what makes this band so special and straight out valuable!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrphanedLandOfficial/
Website: https://orphaned-land.com/
Youtube (band): https://www.youtube.com/user/OrphanedLandTV/videos Youtube (label): https://www.youtube.com/user/CenturyMedia/search?query=Orphaned+Land

Necromurder – Black Metal Film

Markus Falkenberg — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 22:00:14 +0000

Necromurder. A movie inspired by the most extreme and darkest form of Heavy Metal as of yet: Black Metal. This alone is already a dead giveaway that the movie aims for a dark and grim mood. Also, the movie was inspired by the events in Norway in the early 90s that lead to Euonymus’ death at the hands of Varg Vikernes. Another reason to expect a really dark mood here.

It is not a biopic though. So no, do not expect for this movie to be another version of “Lords of Chaos”! Also, do not expect for the protagonist to be a clear cut stand in for one of the key actors of what transpired in Norway back in the early 90s. However, do expect a grim mood, anger, aggression, Black Metal and violence! Expect violence that looks surreal at first glance, but which is still uncomfortably real. It is uncomfortably real, because it is fuelled by something that is not only present in the Black Metal scene, but elsewhere as well: Passion. Unbridled passion for a genre and everything it stands for.

However, sometimes passion comes with a hefty price, particularly when your passion makes you forget that there just might be other things and people who deserve your attention as well, if not even more than your art. And yet, there is a reason why passion is linked with fire: It consumes when you let it go unchecked. Just think of the real life Euronymous who burned with passion for Black Metal. Think of Dead who burned for Black Metal. Think of Varg Vikernes who still burns today. He no longer burns for Black Metal, but his hate is still burning and is probably more dangerous today than ever before. And he is not alone there. Also, think of other more current Black Metal related news about bands that take the whole Black Metal thing at face value.

The protagonist of the movie is neither a copy of Varg Vikernes, nor a copy of Euronymous though, but still, the passion is there. The loss in a fantasy world that makes him ignorant of what and who is really important is there. Hate is there. Aggression is there and a conflict with a certain underground record label owner is there. And it does not end well.

And yet, even though most Metalheads do not really feel at home in this particular blend of the Black Metal Underground there is still something that seems familiar: The passion. Also, everybody who has been active in the Metal scene long enough likely knows some people who lost themselves in their passion for the music. This kind of thing does not necessarily have to end badly, but fact is that this kind of passion can work like a fiery drug that blurs your mind and can burn you when you overindulge in it. And many do.

Now, it is very well possible that Pablo C. Vergara, the author and producer of the movie, had different thoughts in mind when he shot the movie, but he seems like an artist who appreciates a critical voice. Or why else does he support the “Lords of Chaos” movie although he is obviously a Black Metal fan himself? Also, his very own movie is obviously very critical of the genre he seems to love! Was it difficult for him? Maybe. Does his attempt to comment on his beloved genre deserves applause? Absolutely!

All this is makes the movie more than just a bit uncomfortable. You see a man’s decent, you see what he is about to lose, you feel that this is not going to end well. And you are right. The movie is definitely a bloody Black Metal tragedy accompanied by a great soundtrack! 10 devils!

Check out the movie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metalmovie/
Seriously, check it out, because if you find this review intriguing then you will love to hear that Mr. Vergara intends to release an only slightly cut version of the movie there next week!

(PS: Kind of befitting for this movie that our rating system works with “devils”. Go and figure.)

Heavy Metal Road Dog (2016)

Markus Falkenberg — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 19:02:01 +0000

There is a lot that can be said about Heavy Metal as a genre, but amongst these fundamentals is certainly the statement that „Heavy Metal is live music“. Without concerts, without bands sweating and rocking on stage there would be no Heavy Metal, at least not in the form we know it. The screaming guitars, the driving drums, the group experience with the rest of the fans and the band on stage is part of what makes the Heavy Metal experience so unique.

Now, musicians occasionally talk about what ‘being on the road’ is like for them. Seeing a different hotel room almost every day, not seeing much of the city you are in, dealing with the boredom on the road, the occasional excess, the regular sound check, the various things that can go wrong on stage are all things we read about at least occasionally. But who are these guys who keep a tour going? What is it like for these guys you occasionally see running across the stage for whatever reason while the band is playing? And that is what this movie is (watch it on VIMEO, link below) about. The life behind the scenes, the life of a guy who is doing his best to keep the show going, aka the Iron Maidens’ road manager Chris Knudson.

Now, how to describe the movie, or rather his life on tour? Basically the movie is all about how much serious work and life experience goes into keeping the tour going. You have to watch out for the equipment, you have to consider things like that you might have to do some ‘engineering’ simply because the cylinders for the smoke machine you can buy locally might not fit, you have to organise the food, you have to watch out for the local staff to act professionally, you have to make yourself acquainted with each local venue for all sorts of reasons, you have to watch out for the band on stage just in case that a musician is trying to signal you that (s)he is having a technical issue and so much more. And unfortunately not all things are under your control. Think flying. What are you going to do when a bag is missing? Depending upon what is inside the bag this can be an extremely serious issue. How are you going to handle such a situation while also trying to keep the tour going? Also, how are you going to keep the band on time when it is time to leave for the next city?

For the Iron Maidens it is Chris Knudson who keeps the show going, but other road managers’ experience is likely not any different. You have to keep the tour going, you have to make sure that the machine ‘behind the scene’ works like a charm so that the band can concentrate on the music without having to worry about anything else but how to entertain the fans.

The movie is also speaking about the nicer aspects of touring though. If everything works as it is supposed to work then you have a chance to enjoy the culture of the city you are in, you can do some sightseeing and simply broaden your horizon. However, there is also the stress, a serious lack of sleep, the temptation to drink more than you should, and loads of boredom to deal with, and that not just for the band. So yes, the movie leaves no doubt that the occasional ‘fun’ always comes second after the job that touring is for all involved. There is simply no time for nonsense. Do your job first, have fun second, or else get in serious trouble with the road manager. And no, Chris Knudson leaves no doubt that he has no patience with unprofessional behaviour. Even the Iron Maidens get a bollocking one morning, because they are late for the bus. And yet, they still love him which goes to show that they know that he is right!

The only thing the movie does not explicitly mention is the amount of money the band has to pay for this professional support. However, it cannot be cheap what with all the staff involved behind the scenes. Also, there is the equipment and transportation fees. However, chance is that this is exactly why the Iron Maidens love their road manager. Touring is obviously expensive, particularly when it involves transatlantic flights and a man like Chris Knudson certainly helps with keeping a tour as financially profitable as possible. And that is also in the fans’ interest, because if touring becomes prohibitively expensive then a band will either call it quits, or start working on more of a ‘hobby level’, which means less shows.

So, last but not least a big THANK YOU to all people like Chris Knudson who keep the Heavy Metal machine going! We need you just as much as we need the bands on stage! Also, thank you to Mark Asselin for giving us this interesting insight. 10 devils!

Heavy Metal Road Dog (full movie on VIMEO):

‘Don’t Fear The Dark’ – A Children’s Book

Markus Falkenberg — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 17:46:37 +0000

Most Metalheads likely remember how they were told that “Heavy Metal is just a phase.“ and that it is just a matter of time before they grow out of it. Yeah, right. The first Metalheads are not only slowly beginning to approach their retirement age, they have also seen lots of younger Metalheads grow into their beloved music. So yes, Heavy Metal has become multigenerational, toddler wear included. Toddler wear and children books about Heavy Metal included, because how else if not with beautifully drawn cartoons are you supposed to make preschool Metalheads acquainted with Heavy Metal, particularly when it is close to bedtime?

And that is where Lav Nandall (author) Kaylee McHugh (illustrations) and Jeanine Breuer (Design) come into play. Short rhyming texts for you to read to your lil’ soon to be hard rocking young Metalhead and cute and beautifully drawn cartoons for the young Metalhead to look at over the day. And yes, some will likely call it indoctrination, but those are likely the same who told you that you would grow out of Heavy Metal. All the more reason to actually go out and buy the book, or rather the series.

As for the book at hand: What does it cover? The birth of the scene in the form of Black Sabbath, early Judas Priest and early Motorhead. Also, who would have thought that Lemmy can look so darn cute? But then, big heads and anime style eyes do that. So yes, it is obvious that the team behind the book and the entire series is really dedicated to their aim to present Heavy Metal to the next generation.

However, we are still talking about children here and Heavy Metal’s history certainly has some darker aspects to it. And that is also the point where I have to urge parents to handle this book (and likely the others as well) with prudence and at their own discretion. The drawings are cute and the way how the book handles things like Ozzy getting kicked out of Black Sabbath due to his drug addiction is very tame and possibly also a very important lesson as well (Quote: “Remember kids, drugs are bad for you!”), but did the book really have to bring up the Judas Priest lawsuit? The one where the band got accused for driving two teenagers into a suicide attempt where they shot each other into the head? Again, even this particular panel is very toned down. In fact all you see are two kids having fun with water guns, but a panel about a suicide that could just as well have been left out? You might want to give it a thought if, or how to present this particular book to your kids. However, if Heavy Metal is a truly important part of your life then this might be a good starting point, because your kids will likely find out about these darker aspects anyway. So, why not under parental supervision?

Also, consider Maurice Sendak’s “Where The Wild Things Are”. Many critics thought that it was too rough and feared that it would encourage children to develop a bad attitude. And yet, it became a classic! With this I do not want to insinuate that the “Don’t Fear The Dark” is en par with Sendak’s masterpiece, but there is certain kinship in spirit. ‘Be different, be rough, but do not be self-destructive’ so to say.

So again: Parental discretion. If Heavy Metal is an important part of your life and if you have kids then you should really go and read the book and enjoy it for what it is. Make up your mind, be a good mom, be a good dad and then ask yourself if and how to use it as an entertaining, yet educational tool, because this is what books like this one are supposed to be. Entertaining, yet also educational.

Also, the texts show that a lot of thought went into them and the drawings are simply too cute! Just be aware that this is only the start of a longer series. So if you get hooked – sorry, I mean when your kids get hooked – then prepare stay hooked for quite a while! 8 devils!

The first book is available to pre-order at R150-00 (excluding shipping) directly from the author from December 2018.

To secure your copy please contact Lav Nandlall

Iron Lamb – Blue Haze

Markus Falkenberg — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 18:02:24 +0000

Heavy Metal has developed quite a bit over the decades, but there is no denying that a lot of modern Heavy Metal is surprisingly conservative in a musical sense. Many would say that this is a source of weakness, while others tend more towards the argument that change just for the sake of change is a waste of time and effort. ‘Why reinvent something that you like the way it is? Why change when you are comfortable with how things are?’, that is the credo of many old school Metalheads. And why not? Music is a matter of personal taste and personal enjoyment. Fans are well within their right to enjoy modern Metal, musicians are well within their right to try something else, but so are those fans and those musicians who are more ‘traditionally minded’.

And yes, Iron Lamb is obviously a traditional band. In fact the band reminds a lot of Motorhead and Dianno-era Iron Maiden. Fast paced Metal, rough vocals, guitar solos, a driving beat, you name it, you get it. Take the 4th song “The Hunt”, for instance. It could just as well be something from Motorhead! In fact the singer’s voice is extremely reminiscent of Lemmy’s raspy voice which suits this rock n’roll style song extremely well. However, early 80s Paul Dianno would also suit the band. In fact chance is that many fans would probably wonder, if they had just found some forgotten Dianno era Iron Maiden tracks. A good example for this is already the first song “Apocalypse Express”. Underdog feeling, rough guitars, rough vocals, just what you would expect.

And yet, Iron Lamb is not a cover band. They play what they love and that is very old school, aka early NWOBHM style Heavy Metal with some rock n’roll thrown in for good measure. Modern Metal fans who love breakdowns are obviously not likely to enjoy this particular album, old school Metalfans, and particularly fans of Motorhead will likely love it! 8 devils!

Ross The Boss – By Blood Sworn

Markus Falkenberg — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 17:35:53 +0000

Yes sure, the album has been out for quite a while, but just in case that you are wondering about giving yourself a treat for Christmas we decided to write our own very own review as well. So, how should an old school Metalfan feel about the album? Is it an ode to a better time when Ross’ first band Manowar was still free from any scandal? Is it reminiscent of a time when it was still okay for a band to bath in baby oil and pose in fur thongs while holding a plastic sword high up in the air? Is it something that will inspire your warrior’s spirit to walk the path of the warrior straight to Odin’s hall? Maybe.

Yes, maybe. In fact it all depends on your personal musical horizon. If it is entirely focused on Power Metal then you will likely find the album at least a bit disappointing, but if you appreciate at least some Sleaze Metal then you are definitely like to enjoy it, because this album is certainly an interesting mix of both genres. Some songs like the introductory “By Blood Sworn” are very Power Metal style, for instance. Think of a mid paced Manowar song to get an idea. Not very innovative, but still with a nice vibe. However, Ross The Boss’ can still do faster Power Metal as shown with “This Is Vengeance”. Glorious lyrics of battle and revenge, guitar solos, screams, clear vocals, i.e. pretty straightforward ‘go for the kill’ style Power Metal! And yet, that is about it for the true Power Metal fan. Yes sure, there is still a Power Metal ballad going by the title “Faith of the Fallen” which is not bad, but 3 songs are a bit disappointing, particularly when they are not the best of the best the genre can offer.

And yet, the album is still not bad because of the aforementioned Sleaze Metal on the album. Quite to the contrary! Think 1980s Skid Row with Joey DeMaio behind the bass and Scott Columbus behind the drums doing their best to truly support Skid Row as good as they possibly can! Take “Among the Bones”, for instance. Pure Sleaze Metal! And the same can be said for pretty much all other not already mentioned songs. Sleaze Metal! The riffs, the solos, the vibe, everything is there. But then, the underdog mentality that is so inherent in Sleaze Metal is probably a close relative of Power Metal’s warrior spirit anyway. So, to switch from Power Metal to Sleaze Metal does likely not take much effort and Ross The Boss might very well be advised to explore this path even further. 7 devils!

Danzig, It Is All About Trust, Cologne 4th August, 2018

Markus Falkenberg — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:58:47 +0000

Many of you might already have wondered how we and other (smaller) publications manage to get the necessary accreditations that allow for us to enter the pit from where we take our photos. The way it works is this: The labels or promotion agencies regularly send out a list of tours where they are offering up their artists’ show for reviews or photo coverage. Sites and magazines then request for accreditation. The labels and agencies put a lot of effort into this, and we do our best to cover the events we know you want to hear about (both if you were there or couldn’t be there). We still take pride in being an independent publication and we do not hesitate to write a negative review, if we deem for such a review to be necessary, but we are definitely not hell bent on writing bad reviews for a cheap laugh. This would not only betray our self-concept as an independent, yet fair publication, it would also betray the trust of the aforementioned labels and promotion agencies. We want this trust, we need this trust and we have no intention whatsoever to betray this trust.

In this particular case, AFM Records showed us their trust by making an effort to get us, i.e. myself and our guest writer, Judith, on the guest list. I as a photographer, Judith as a writer. A few days in advance of the Danzig gig in Cologne, things fell into place. All was good and we were looking forward to see Glenn Danzig do some of his classics songs like “Mother”, or “Her Black Wings”, but also his newer songs. So yes, Judith and I were really looking forward to this very special opportunity.

However, fate would have it that Judith fell ill during the day and therefore couldn’t attend. Bad luck! But then, this was not the first time for me to act both as a photographer and as a writer. So yes, I was more than willing to do both parts. And then, when I finally arrived at the venue I was directed to the special entrance for those who were on the guest list for one reason, or another. And yes, my name was on the guest list. No problems there. Problems only started when I was informed by the security that only yesterday ‘somebody’ had decided to not allow for any pictures to be taken that night! The security guards also expressed their surprise that I had obviously not been informed in advance, but that they had no choice but to enforce the “camera ban”. I was shocked. And yet, I was fully aware that the security was in no way to blame there. They even offered for me to store my camera somewhere so that I could still attend the gig as a regular attendee. I appreciated the offer, but there are too many stories of photographers who lost their gear that way and I just can’t afford to take any chances there. With this I do not(!) want to insinuate any bad intentions from the part of the security, but the venue was sold out and I was not willing to take the risk that they might be forced to intervene somewhere else, thereby possibly leaving my gear unattended. Anyway, if somebody from the security that night should read this then please, accept my cordial thanks! You tried to come up with a solution which I appreciate a lot. Also, you were kind and nice and showed the kind of professional demeanour that I have come to appreciate so much over the years. You are great!

Whoever nullified my photo pass, and any other photo pass that might have been issued was obviously not so great. And while it was never explicitly confirmed to me, I strongly suspect that it was Danzig himself who put this ban into effect. He did it before and will likely do it again. And this is sad. He jeopardised our effort and betrayed our trust, he jeopardised his label’s effort and also betrayed his label’s trust, he betrayed everybody’s trust, but why? Is it his ego? Was he afraid that the high temperatures could have led to pictures of a sweaty Glenn Danzig on stage? But why? Metal is supposed to be sweaty! And so is Punk! Or was he worried that temperatures would not allow for him to pull off a perfect show? Maybe. But then, so what? What is a perfect show anyway? Is it a show where everything goes exactly as planned? Or isn’t it rather a show where an artist manages to entertain his audience? And let me assure you, fans are much more forgiving than one should think. And so am I. I wanted to see Danzig succeed in delivering an entertaining set! I wanted to take pictures that capture his presence and energy on stage. I wanted to give our readers an idea as to how amazing Glenn Danzig, the “Elvis from hell” is!

But no, I got denied this chance, because somebody, i.e. likely Danzig himself, decided to betray the trust of everybody involved. All this work that was supposed to make Glenn Danzig look good was suddenly just a waste of time, a waste of effort, and definitely a waste of trust. This is not how you repay your own record label’s trust. This is not how you repay anybody’s trust. This is simply not how this whole thing is supposed to work! And yet, this is how it happened.

Anyway, thanks to everybody at AFM Records who was involved in this. Everybody at PoM appreciates your effort and your trust. No hard feelings at all. Also, thanks to the security. You were kind and professional and I hope that you had an easy going night. As for Danzig: Thanks for nothing!

Stryper – God Damn Evil

Markus Falkenberg — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 10:12:36 +0000

“Sing unto Him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.”

Psalm 33:3

Christian Metal does not exactly have the best reputation in the Metal scene. “Preachy” and “boring” are coming adjectives you hear in this context. However, some Christian Metal bands stand out from the musical mediocrity for which Christian music is still infamous for. Okay, maybe the term “mediocrity” is no longer adequate in this context (maybe), but this article is not about the Christian Metal scene anyway, but about one band in particular: Stryper. Yes, Stryper. The band whom you might have had to dodge when they were still throwing Bibles into the audience.

So, what is their latest album like? Actually, it is better than one would expect. Yes, the first song “Take It To The Cross” is a bit “straight in your face” with its message and the chorus is a bit too high pitched and repetitive, but Stryper are still a Metal band and sometimes subtlety just does not cut it in our beloved genre. So yeah, maybe it was a good idea to put this song at the beginning of the album? You get the obvious out of the way and then you can focus more on what the album is really about, namely surprisingly good music. Take the second song “Sorry”, for instance. It is a slow to midtempo radio friendly 80s Metal style (think Glam/Sleaze Metal) song with excellent guitar work and clean vocals and definitely not a song for which Stryper has to feel sorry for. In this the song is pretty much representative for most of the album. Midtempo range, clean vocals, nice guitar work and that certain Glam/Sleaze Metal feeling. And in a way that is also what feels strange about the album: A Christian Metal band that – musicalwise – seems to be at home in the Sleaze Metal genre. But then, Stryper seems to have felt a bit rebellious when writing the album, or how else can one explain the song title “God Damn Evil”? You can read it as a plea to God to destroy, to damn evil, or you can read it as the more commonly used “goddamn” swearword. Coincidence? Most likely not. Stryper is too experienced as a band to not have expected trouble with the likes of Walmart there.

Last but not least, the rating. How many devils (oh, the irony…) does the album deserve? The album might not be a musical epithany, but it is fun, entertaining and feels only mildly preachy at best. They are a Christian Metal band after all and they don’t hide their faith, and why should they? Anyway, 8 devils!

Dream Troll – The Witch’s Curse

Markus Falkenberg — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 17:51:59 +0000

Heavy Metal? Power Metal? Or maybe rather fantasy Metal? Dream Troll’s EP “The Witch’s Curse” is hard to categorise, but the aforementioned catchphrases should be more than enough to conjure up memories of sword & sorcery themed lyrics accompanied by good old Heavy Metal. And yes, these mental images are more than correct. “The Witch’s Curse” definitely caters to those Metalheads who like their music with a shot of fantasy. Just don’t expect anything overly heavy, because the album is a bit more on the softer side of Heavy Metal, clean vocals included. This is not to say that there are no guitar riffs and solos – there are – , but the album is still on the more melodic and midtempo end of the genre. However, this is also what gives this album a certain flow. You start with the first song “In The Name of Isabella”, then you join “The Battle For Enki’s Tower” and then you find yourself on a battlefield under a “Blood Moon” and before you really know what happened you realise that the story is already over. In this the album reminds me of a good book. You want to get to the end of it, but at the same time you do not want it to end. If you like midtempo melodic Heavy Metal/Power Metal then this album is definitely for you! 8 devils!