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 017: Beckon - Beckon

Genre: Groove Metal
Country Of Origin: U.K
Year: 2013
Label: Self-Released

Beckon is the self-titled  debut ep by the Scottish Groove Metal Band Beckon.

These guys play a good mix of genres,  inspired by Musshuggah, Lamb of God, Amon Amarth, Nuclear Assault, Morbid Saints and other Thrash, Groove and Death metal major bands.

The tracks are an explosive tribute to the best groove, thrash and melodic death metal that we can find around the Metal scene. Explosive, brutal but even melodic.

Good riffs, inspired (as I told before) by the best musicians and bands in these musical genres; good vibrate and growling voices, performing these heavy tracks very good.

In particular I liked very much the “dirty ape” ’s solo that  reminded me Dark tranquility and Amon Amarth’s solos…I love that heavy but also melodic power solo. Very good job indeed to this band.

If you have listened this demo Let's wait for their first full-lenght, if you haven't do it yet, i suggest you to listen to it.

Rate: 80/100

(the e.p is available here https://soundcloud.com/beckonmetal-1)

Review 016: Mythery- The Awakening of the Beast

Genre: Prog Metal

Country of Origin : Denmark

Year: 2013

Label: Mighty Music 

Mythery are a Symphonic-metal band from Denmark. Even though they’re not mainstream, you can find something interesting in it. The Awakening of the Beast consists of two parts. The first one covers the first four tracks, while the second one begins with an Ouverture. This one is actually an independent work, and I guess it’s the main deal of the concept. First of all, the thing that sparked my interest was the use of the violin, that’s not so common in metal-bands. It covers all the melodies and main riffs, giving something interesting to the songs. Mythery’s style tries to wrap up the typical Symphonic melodies and atmospheres and prog-oriented riffs, even though they keeps straight rhythms, without changing it too much. You’re very likely to find hyper-technical bands presenting their works with a high level of technique and a lack of melody. That’s not the case since Mythery seemed to choose the melody for this work. Lead voice presents his weaknesses while growling. Generally a nice work, even though some songs seem to be a little bit monotonous, since they have all the same structure and main idea. Exceptions are the Awakening of The Beast Ouverture, Through Shadow and The Words of Sal, that seem to be the highlights of the album. Not a masterpiece, but a pretty enjoyable work at the end, with good ideas. A little bit monotonous, but still a pretty good job.

 Rating: 68/100

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