SKY OF RAGE - SoR (CD digi)

Metalville is a really interesting new label keeping their ear to the ground and picking up new and great acts as well as some classy older bands, The Quill being one prime example. Here’s another new Swedish act well worth checking out. Sky Of Rage, based in Borlänge, features  Astral Doors member Joachim Nordlund and Mika Itäranta, plus former Thalamus guitarist Jan J Cederlund. The band also features the outstanding powerful and melodic vocal talents of Staffan “Stiff” Carlsson. Musically Sky Of Rage plays quite classic powerful heavy rock/metal with hints of both this and that. Reclaim The Rights and Soldiers In A Line sound a bit like a successful mix of Black Sabbath and Nocturnal Rites, while opening track Stardust offers an almost proggy touch with heavy and powerful riffing. Here Staffan reminds me a bit of Mike Andersson of Cloudscape. Countdown actually has a touch of Cloudscape, but with more emphasis on the guitars. The guitars, I must say, are a WALL of sound. Powerful, chunky and hits you like a brick. Great production by former Astral Door member Martin Haglund. The song material is strong and powerful, and I really like the perfect balance between the aforementioned chunky guitars, the subtle but very effective keyboards and Staffan’s excellent vocals on top of it all. An excellent debut well worth picking up!

Janne Stark

Label: Metalville

Country. Sweden

Year: 2012

Link: http://www.facebook.com/skyofrage

DOWNSPIRIT - Bulletproof? (CDdigi)

Downspirit is another nice Metalville release. This German unit are more in line with modern melodic rockers like Alter Bridge and Shinedown with singer Steffen Lauth sounding a bit reminiscent of Pretty Maids Ronnie Atkins at times. Heavy on the guitar side, with nice detuned riffing going on, and melodic on the vocal side not falling into the post-grunge pit. Ok, it’s by no means original, but it’s a nice platter with some good hit potential in songs like Human Gift and the punchy Hellyeah. That said, the track Overload does come across pretty original mixing ultra heavy riffing with a cool southern rock style verse, plus the slightly sleazy What A Way To Die. Two songs I didn’t really see coming. I also can’t say I expected the band to do a heavy rock cover of The Roxette’s The Look. They however do get away with it. Nice one.
Janne Stark
Label: Metalville
Year: 2012
Country: Germany
Link: http://www.downspirit.com
http://www.esetscandinavia.com/