Review 027: Dying Muses- Dying Muses

Country of origin: Italy
Genre: Heavy Metal
Year: 2014
Label: Unknown

Hello guys, I’m Daltor from F.U.M Blog. I’m back with a new amazing heavy metal band from a little town, Cisterna di Latina, Italy. 
I have to say something about the story of how I knew this band, called Dying Muses. 
One of my other hobbies is playing guitar (guess what xD), and 2 weeks ago I was studying with my teacher, when a guy came there.This guy was the guitarist of this band. When I listened him playing his stuff, I was surprised.Then I wanted to write a review for his band.After this little story, let’s talk about Dying Muses. 
The sound that the band proposes is a mix of heavy/traditional metal with a good dose of melody. The EP I’m going to review is called like the band.The first song is called “Zombie”, that is characterized by good riffs and good chorus. The drumming is also good, but the best thing is the “hard rock” style guitar solo. By the way, all the song is pretty good.“Like a gleam” is powerful, reminds me of some Heavy Metal bands from the ’80; all the song is made of high solos, to harmonize the rhythmic parts. Voice is pretty good.
“Titan’s Revenge” sounds like a classical power metal song to me cause the lyrics talks about battles and epic themes.All the EP is good, but a little bit monotonous in my opinion. 
I hope this band will get better and better. 
Hail to Dying Muses, who composed and produced a very good EP.

Vote: 80/100

Review 026: Dragonharp- Dragonharp

Country of origin: Italy
Genre: Classic/Melodic Power Metal
Year: 2013
Label: Unknown

Hi guys, I’m Daltor from F.U.M Blog. This time I’m going to review an Italian Power Metal Band called DragonHarp.This band was formed in 2011, from Rossana Monico(harp) and from Paolo Albergoni(guitar).
The band identifies its music as Classic Power Metal with various influences (Helloween, Stratovarius and Rhapsody of Fire).Well, let’s listen their EP called “DragonHarp”.
You can guess that the band opened their EP with an instrumental song (Stormborn), because it’s like a must now! I think all Power Metal Bands should open their album with instrumental songs, because it’s so cool.
Ok, the first song leads to “Queen of Dragon”. A Classic Power Metal Song, where you can see and listen what the band think about metal. The song is powerful and also melodic. Another peculiarity of this band is that they sing in Italian (like Rhapsody).The lead parts are so wonderful in this song.Let’s go on to the third song called “Seven”, a song that reminds me of Hammerfall or Gamma Ray. Here we find classic guitar sounds, and amazing harp parts.The next song is “To Live”. A power ballad, where the band shows all their melodic sound and wonderful solos… By the way, “El Cid” is the last song. The end of a trip through Lands and Enchanted Kingdoms.It is a good song, but not their best one. 
I must say this band has a lot of ideas, and amazing technique, very good concept. 
It’s a shame that the EP hasn’t a good quality. I hope this band should remix this Ep, or make an album.
Go on, mighty DragonHarp. 
That’s all from Daltor.
Stay Metal \\m//.

Vote: 90/100
   

Review 025 : M.A.I.M.- Hostëria

Country of origin: Italy

Genre: Folk/Power Metal
Year: 2014
Label: Crowns Studio

Hi guys I’m Daltor! This time I’m going to review a folk metal band with some power metal influences from Italy, called M.A.I.M.

I was impressed a lot by the good taste in musical arrangements of this EP, called “Hostëria”.

The first song is “Casera Death Trip”. The song talks about spending time listening metal with some good friends. Chorus are very good and easy to remember. There are also breakdowns played with folk instruments like Violins or Fiddles.

Next song, called “Quest for perfection”, is a classic power metal song, where the perfection means the “best pub” all over Italy. It is a mighty quest: everyone should try to find the best pub, where all can drink the best beer (you know, folk metal things). The band is devoted to instrumental parts, where we can find epic narrations.

“Polenta & Dragon” is the third song (Polenta is a typical Italian food). I think about a power metal parody, but the song talks about a quest to kill a mighty Dragon. We can see all the talent of this band on instrumental parts and the vocals are really good. Guitars play only rhythmic parts or melodic riffs.

The last song is “Blood Stained Walls”, an impressive work that go on for 9 minutes.

By the way, this one isn’t the best song of the EP. This song is monotonous, but the scream/growls vocals near the end are interesting

That’s all from Daltor. I must say, this band has a lot of skills, they made an high quality EP (remember, that’s the second EP).

I am giving a high vote, again.

Bye guys, stay metal! 

Vote: 87/100

Review 024: Anaestesia- Jaimy

Country of origin: Italy
Genre: Heavy/Melodic/ Thrash Metal
Year: 2013
Label: 04011 RECORDS

Hello Guys, I’m Daltor. This time I’m going to review a metal band from Italy, called Anaestesia. First thing to know, the band was born in 2008 as tribute band to Metallica and after some line up changes, Anaestesia were ready to make original songs. This EP I’m going to review was produced at 04011 Records by Andrea Palumbo(Hideout).

Let’s listen the opener track, called “Jaimy”. Jaimy is also the mascotte of this band that you can see on the front image of the EP. It represent the death.

The opener track begin with a bass solo which reminds me of Metallica. Then there is a guitar solo that lead to the first riff. It is so powerful. The verse is good and guitars are very strong. Chorus are catchy, and are important the backing vocals. There is a break, a majestic solo and another chorus. Yeah guys, I really like this track.

Next song is “Operation Anthropoid”, which sound more thrash than the first song. The song has a good chorus and the clean section is interesting.

“Kamikaze”, the third song, is just a summary of the thrash played in the years by a lot of other bands.

The next one is “My Friend John”. This song is more melodic than the others and it’s the best song of the EP in my opinion, because it is a mix of thrash and melodic guitar riffs. The chorus is very catchy and guitar solos are amazing.

“Jaimy (EXTENDED)” is the same thing of the opener track, but there is a longer guitar solos section.

Ok, this was the last song. See you soon!

Vote: 85/100

Review 019: Demoterion - Prometheus

Country of origin: Italy
Genre: Melodic Death/ Pagan Metal
Year: 2013
Label: Self-Released


 Today i will talk you of Demoterion, a melodic death/pagan metal band from Abruzzo, an Italian  region that folk metal lovers know as the homeland of Draugr.
What suprise me of this band is that, also if they have been playing togheter only from March 2013 they have already composed an impressive ep such this ''Prometheus".
The Ep is made of 5 songs where the band shows his melodic death     affected by band like Amon Amarth, but also Ensiferum and Varg.
The album is homogeneous and every song is quite good, also if maybe a little bit too little original and some songs are too little elaborated.
The best songs of the ep are Plague From The North, with his chorus that maybe remind me of the chorus from Glorious March by Nordheim, the titlerack Prometheus and God's Servant.
Also the opener Throught The Runes, maybe the worst song in the ep, is not a bad song.
The part these guys have to improve are the lyrics, that are sometimes banal.

Rating: 69/100

Review 018: Lost Ape of Killa - Lost Ape of Killa

Country of origin: Italy

Genre: Nu/Alternative Metal

Year: 2011

Label: Self-Released

These are the things who make me proud to be Italian! Today I'm reviewing a really great ep  from an Italian band: I'm talking about Lost Ape of Killa, a split-up Italian Nu metal band from Sicily in and their first cd titled like the band's name “Lost Ape of Killa”. It is composed by 7 tracks.

The opener track is “We still got a voice to scream”. This song is my favourite one of the whole ep. It says that in spite of everything, we aren't resigned  and we still have a voice to scream and strenght to fight.

“Lost Ape of Killa” continues with “Self-Forgiver”, a great song with political lyrics. It is a complaint of the contemporary political situation. I found this song's riff really awesome.

The third track is “Bloodsheed”, a song against the war.

The fourth song, “Toys”, is the most melodic track of the ep. It speaks about the child labour explotation.

“Insert coin” is an instrumental track that precedes “Distracted”. This song's lyrics are against the system and anyone who follows its orders without asking himself the reason of his behaviour.

“Unmasked secrets” closes this really well done ep.

I really liked this CD and i think this is one of the best Nu metal works i've ever listened to. I hope  Lost ape of Killa can return together  have all the success they deserve.

Rating: 79/100

Review 015: Banned From Hell - Nightmare

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

Country of Origin : Italy

Year: 2012

Label: Self realesed

Italian death metal scene presents different bands known all over the world like Fleshgod Apocalypse  or Cadaveric Crematorium, but it has a lot of unknown or emerging bands who are working hard and looking  for the success. This is our case today ‘cause I'm going to review Nightmare, the first ep from a young italian melodic death metal band form Florence Banned From Hell, released in 2012.

“Banned form Hell”'s style is a perfect mix between death metal's brutality, melodic keyboard and guitar riffs.

It begin with “Overture”,a short instrumental song who prepare us to the “symphonic  brutality” of the rest of the album, and particularly to the second track “Hate”. This song's lyrics are about violence, suffering and, obviously, hate.

The third track is “Killing in cold blood”. It is about a hitman and his jobs.

The EP continues with “Gunshot”. This track speaks of a man who discover a river full of death bodies in wartimes . Then, he will be taken by some soldiers to be killed. It is the most melodic song of the EP.

“Nightmare” is the fifth and last track. This has been my favourite track of the whole EP. I liked everything of this track: his guitar rif, his keyboard solo, his bass line.

This is a very good EP, but i didn't like very much the lyrics: i found them all the same (except for the last track). In addition, the use of English isn't perfect and there are some structural mistakes.

Vote:74/100

Review 014: Folk Metal Jacket - Our War Has Begun

Genre: Folk Metal
Country Of Origin: Italy
Year: 2012
Label: Self-Released

Today I'll talk you about the first demo from the italian Folk Metal band Folk Metal Jacket.
This band, born in 2009, has published this  self-procuded demo, Our War Has Begun in 2012 and an ep Spill this Album, published by Moonlight Records, an interesting label that follow really closely the italian folk metal scene, this year.
After a good intro, there is the opener Faunalia, that immediatly shows all the characteristics of the band, indeed it's a funny folk metal song inspired by band such Finntroll and Trollfest( it's also remind me of the Canadian band Nordheim), with some really interesting banjo parts.
Every song in the demo is really  interesting: Mushrooms with its good chorus, Full of Beer Rivers, It's Not Easy To Be Green and the last song Alice In Paganland, maybe my favourite one of the demo, are all good exemple of Folk Metal but the thing that surprise me is that this young guys has created a personal sound, also due to the use of the banjo.
The lyrics are  usually funny celebration of alcool, or about war and parties.
 Eventually Our War Has Begun is a good demo that show us a good band that may have an interesting future.

Rating: 73/100

Review 012: Ergot - Empty Waters down the myst

Genre: Black metal/ Dark ambient

Country of origin: Italy

Year:2013

Label: Self-released

Have you ever listened to a black metal album? I'm sure you did it at list once before today. So, you should know that feeling who allow your mind to fly across the great Scandinavian woods of conifers.

Perfect, now, forget it, because this album will allow your mind not to fly but to sail the seven seas.

Ergot is an Italian one man black metal band from Trieste, Italy. His lyrics, contrary to the classic black metal bands, especially speak about the sea and the life connected to it.

His first ep, “Empty waters down the myst”, is composed by 5 tracks. It starts with an amazing dark ambient instrumental intro called “Wrecked away”. The second track is called “In love we trust”, but the lyrics contain all but love. This song is about a satanic rite violence and curses made by the protagonist of the track. This song presents classic black metal sounds with classic black metal lyrics, so we can describe this one like a classic black metal song.

The third track, “Veils” is a dark ambient instrumental song with an interesting electronic sound.

The fourth track is “Opening the gate of reality”. Sincerely this song has reminded me Amon Amarth's “Twilight of the Thunder God” under a lot of viewpoints, but it isn't a bad song.

The fifth track “Lost Wisdom”, well-done cover cover of Burzum, is a bonus track.

Just to wrap up this is a good black metal album, but nothing of really original or innovative.

Vote: 71/100