|
Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier |
|
Written by Liu
|
|
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 18:00 |
|
Universal Music Enterprises
Four years after their last studio album and fresh off of a massive world tour that saw them visiting every corner of the Earth, Iron Maiden has finally delivered their latest studio opus, the daunting Final Frontier. Following their long runnng evolution, The Final Frontier is another album rife with a myriad of layers and deep complexities that continue to unravel even after the twentieth listen. If you're one of those that are frustrated with the band's growing propensity towards a progressive direction, then jump off of the train now. The band isn't writing for you. They aren't writing music for the diehard fan either. They're writing for themselves and they refuse to hold your hand in the matter. They're going to throw you into the deep end of the pool and your only options are to swim or drown.
Like the last album, A Matter Of Life And Death, The Final Frontier is packed to the brim with lengthy epics. Of the ten album tracks, six go past the seven minute mark. It was also the same way on the last album. Brave New World and Dance Of Death each had four tracks of similar length. Clearly a pattern can be seen emerging. The band obviously has the most fun in creating these massive songs and over time have chosen to concentrate more and more on them when it comes to songwriting. These have always been their greatest strength in my opinion and this direction has been working well for them. If it doesn't work for you, then you can always listen to something else.
|
|
Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 August 2010 20:19 |
|
Read the full review [Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier]
|
|
|
Blind Guardian - At The Edge Of Time |
|
Written by Liu
|
|
Monday, 09 August 2010 20:05 |
|
Nuclear Blast
It's been four years since Blind Guardian released A Twist In The Myth which saw the band trying out new things. The end result got a mixed reaction. While I found much to enjoy from the album, many others thought it was poorly written and disjointed, not up to the pedigree that the band had built up to that point. In any case, it was another step in their evolution and if its only positive was being the impetus that drove the band to write At The Edge Of Time, then I'd have to call it a success.
Now, if you're not already a Blind Guardian fan, then this album isn't going to sway your opinion. At this stage in their career they aren't looking for the approval of their detractors, instead forging ahead for those chosen few who already understand the majesty from which their music is born. |
|
Last Updated on Monday, 09 August 2010 20:37 |
|
Read the full review [Blind Guardian - At The Edge Of Time]
|
|
Written by Liu
|
|
Wednesday, 04 August 2010 17:07 |
|
Epic
I get kind of maddened whenever Ozzy Osbourne manages to scrape out another studio album. Regardless of the quality of the album (which tends to be pretty low given his output in the last two decades), the fanboy lemmings always crawl out of the woodwork, hailing the album as a great return and that the man still has "it". No, he does not have "it". In fact, I'd argue that he never did have "it", instead surrounding himself with excellent songwriters and stealing all of the credit. Anyway, all of that can be discussed on another day, for now we have an album called Scream to deal with. |
|
Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 August 2010 21:35 |
|
Read the full review [Ozzy Osbourne - Scream]
|
|
|
Pain Of Salvation - Road Salt One |
|
Written by Liu
|
|
Thursday, 01 July 2010 16:46 |
|
Inside Out
I just don't know where the hell to begin. I don't think that there's been another band that has taken such a drastic fall from grace in such a short amount of time. I used to eagerly anticipate new Pain Of Salvation releases. Now I just dread them, only giving them a chance out of a faint glimmer of hope that is usually wiped away once I push the play button. I know what they are theoretically capable of and don't think it's unreasonable to expect better. And Road Salt One isn't it.
|
|
Last Updated on Thursday, 01 July 2010 23:19 |
|
Read the full review [Pain Of Salvation - Road Salt One]
|
|
Written by Liu
|
|
Friday, 23 April 2010 17:42 |
|
E1 Music
Overkill is one of the longest standing stalwarts of the 80's thrash metal boom. Along with peers Metallica and Megadeth, Overkill was releasing genre-defining classics that stand strong even today, but unlike those two other bands (and countless others), Overkill never strayed from their core metal sound. They did shift to a more groove-orientated sound, but they were still undeniably metal at a time when it was almost taboo to even utter the word. Despite sticking to their guns, it's hard to deny that the band's output in almost the last two decades has been spotty at best. With Ironbound however, the band has set out to reclaim their throne and show everyone else just how to do a proper thrash album in 2010.
The Green And Black sets things in motion. It's a meaty 8 minute slab of pure thrash goodness that any fan would eagerly eat up. All the hallmarks of 80's Overkill is present here: flesh tearing riffs, a titanic bass sound and Bobby Blitz's venomous vocals. This first song should be enough to put back the faith in any fan who lost interest in the band long ago. Next song is the title track. This is a battle cry for thrash fans everywhere, forged in metal and speed. If you can't pump your fists in the air to this song, chances are you are an amputee. If you can't headbang to this then take off the neck brace. Why'd you think Dio gave you a neck to begin with? To wreck it of course! |
|
Last Updated on Friday, 23 April 2010 18:57 |
|
Read the full review [Overkill - Ironbound]
|
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 1 of 68 |