RENAISSANCE OF FOOLS - Fear, Hope & Frustration (CD)

Now here’s the return of a long lost great musician. Daniel Magdic was in the first line-up of Pain Of Salvation, but then disappeared into obscurity. In the new unit Renaissance Of Fools we also find singer and guitarist extraordinaire, Kjell Bergendahl, who is also found in heavy rockers Thalamus. The band is completed by bass player Björn Tauman (Without Grief, Chainwreck) and drummer Magnus Karlsson. Daniel, Björn and Magnus actually had a previous band together, called Cudfish, which unfortunately never really lift off. Hopefully this will. Trying to describe what you will find on this band’s debut I can use the first two member’s former and ordinary bands – Pain Of Salvation and Thalamus. Here are songs like opener Precious Life and Ordinary Man’s Diary which both possess the heaviness of Thalamus, but also the progressive, slightly melancholic side of Daniel’s past adventures. In songs like Polarized Round they lean more towards the progressive side. I also want to point out, it’s not progressive as in Dream Theater-like technical cold overload, but more the King Crimson and even Pink Floydish side of that genre. The sound is heavy and think, but still very dynamic with akiller mix by Pelle Saether and mastering by King’s X Ty Tabor. The detuned guitars give it an extra crunch and Tauman’s heavy bass playing really lays the album a powerful foundation to rest upon. Even in ballads like Leave It All Behind they manage to give it an aura of heaviness and power. Here Tauman’s bass playing also really shine through. I truly love Kjell’s voice and the way he embraces the songs and takes the melodies to a new level. The harmony language sometimes makes me think of bands like Anekdoten or The Flower Kings. Fear, Hope & Frustration is an album highly recommended for fans of heavy progressive/symphonic rock.
Janne Stark
Label: Metalville
Year: 2011

CLARK LANE – Bedroom Sessions (CDR)

Clark Lane live

Suck me sideways! The name doesn’t really say anything, the demo “layout” looks like it’s made by a kid, no contact info or song titles, but holy crap this band sounds good! The opening track made me think of Dizzy Mizz Lizzy meets TNT with a modern twist. Next up is a melodic modern riff-oriented rocker which really kicks ass. I’m not really sure what band to compare this to, as they do have a twist of their own. Great vocals, awesome musicians, killer guitarist and a really cool mix. At times the sound and style of the guitars makes me think of a mix of Ronnie Le Tekro (TNT) and Pete Lesperance (Harem Scarem). Next track makes me think of my favourite Norwegian band Jack In The Box with its quirky riffs and great harmonies. This is by far the best unsigned Swedish band I’ve heard this year! Awesome stuff! The songs have so many layers, with a simple melodic line on top and really complex rhythmic musical patterns underneath. This is music you can find new stuff in every time you listen to it. Stuff I truly love! The closing track follows in the same style and I am truly in love! This band should be signed sooner than as soon as possible! I NEED an album, I DEMAND an album!
Janne Stark
Country: Sweden
Year: 2011
Label: none
Link: http://www.clarklane.se/

THALAMUS - Subterfuge (CD)

Borlänge-based heavy rockers Thalamus’ debut album was one of the releases that really knocked me out when it arrived. It was one hell of a debut, filled to the brim with fat riffs and heavy grooves. As a small taster for the follow-up the band released a very nice MCD entitled Sign Here For Nothing. When the second full length album Subterfuge now arrives it’s no thunder and lightning and no brutal riff that pleasantly smashes your forehead. Nope, the album opens with almost three minutes of soft, almost jazz/folky, but still quite heavy prog using only vocals, guitars, keyboard, and halfway through also bass, but no drums. It’s definitely a great song, but very surprising. Furthermore it’s only entitled Intro. Well, have no fear, in second track Bring Down Mary they prove the riffs and groove is there! After this When Goblins Cheer brings it all into a dead heavy doom territory, but with a very melodic chorus, which I also didn’t expect. I like that the boys dare to explore new territories, it makes it all a bit more interesting. Blind actually brings in some vintage Purple overtones, distorted Hammond and all, and with a chorus that sounds very much Purple Perfect Strangers era, but with Kjell’s bluesy vocals taking it in a totally different direction. Still Dancing On My Grave brings another dose of ultra-potent riffing which is something of a trademark of this band. The track I Hope You Understand is the only survivor off the intermediate MCD, here re-mixed by Daniel Bergstrand to fit the rest of the disc, and it sure does both musically and soundwise. One of my absolute favourite tracks is the ultra-groovy and almost funky Shot To Hell, which makes it impossible to sit still. The riff fest continues on the She Sells Desolation, which kicks off in quite an unorthodox way with a guitar riff and drums that suddenly stops, like the drummer forgot the rhythm, but soon picks up. Very funny indeed and with another memorable riff. Love Is Shining On The Dead Man almost draws near singer/guitarist Kjell Bergendahl’s side project Renaissance Of Fools with its cool, slightly psychedelic feel. The album finishes with the cool stomping cool riffster Through The Fields, where the riff almost sounds like ugly ogres walking through a stony field, lifting their feet and stomping down hard and firm. Is it better than the debut? I kinda see them as two totally different entities as they are quite different, even though the basic formula is still there, and I feel one completes the other. You can easily play the two back to back without feeling any sense of repetition. Killer stuff!

Janne Stark
Label: Transubstans
Year: 2011
Country: Sweden
Link: http://www.thalamusband.com/

HEAVEN'S BASEMENT - Unbreakable (CD 7tr)

Sid Glover, Chris Rivers, Rob Ellershaw and Aaron Buchannan. Five young English guys who sound as American as Jack Daniels. Well, since they sound great and they actually give it their own spin, I’m not complaining. Heaven’s Basement sounds like a grittier, earthier and a lot less sterile bad young cousin of Nickleback. To be honest, they don’t sound like Nickleback at all, they just belong in the same genre, but I do think they will appeal to their fans as well. Heavy, modern, melodic and loaded with crunchy guitars. They do have some cool heavy riffing going on as well, like in Close Encounters. Great choruses, too. Yepp, all the necessary ingredients are there! Destined for success? Well, they do deserve it from the seven tracks presented on this CD.

Janne Stark
Year: 2011
Country: UK
Link: http://heavensbasement.com/

BLACK WATER JAMES - Vol 1 (MCD)

Retro is the word of the future! Well, at least that’s what’s currently hot, and I do not complain. Growing up with, and still loving, bands like Mountain, Montrose, Stray Dog, Skynyrd, Pat Travers etc., I really love the younger bands giving the classic seventies hard rock a new spin and their own touch. Black also seems to be the word of today with new bands like Black Water Rising, Black Country Communion, Black Stone Cherry, The New Black, Black Tide, Black Robot, you name it. Well, I don’t mind that either (as long as I don’t mix them up). Black Water James is a new black retro band, and, yepp, I really enjoy these guys as well. The Nashville foursome rocks it with a southern bluesy touch, mixing touches of vintage Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynrd and AC/DC giving them a well deserved spot alongside bands like Silvertide, Buckcherry, The Answer and Black Stone Cherry. The songs deliver, the musicians deliver and the sound is ambient, dynamic and in your face. Great stuff, indeed! A band to check out! This is just a six track promo EP, but it rocks!! After reviewing this I checked out the band’s self-titled debut and I tell you, this one’s well worth laying your hands on, too!
Janne Stark
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Label: private
Link: http://blackwaterjames.com/

GUDARS SKYMNING - Mörka Vatten (CD)

I’m not sure why, but it seems Swedish bands have a certain knack for interpreting, reinventing and rejuvenating the classic old seventies hard rock and elevating it to a new level. Abramis Brama, Graveyard, Magnolia, Mangrove, Blowback, Siena Root, well, they are many and they are good. Now Gudars Skymning presents their second release and they made me a happy man again. Mörka vatten (dark waters). It starts out with a pleasant kick in the joint with the riffster Jag är en trollkarl (I’m a wizard) and continues with the heavy and doomy Södersläntsblues, which actually reminds me a bit of Black Sabbath’s Hand Of Doom. What I like about Gudars Skymning is that the song material is not just plowing down one row, they spread the seeds pretty well. The songs range from straight ahead riffing to some more chords based bluesy stuff, even with some folky overtones in songs like Hyfs och fason. I älvens svarta djup is another cool thing with lots of dual guitars, solos both right and left. One of my absolute favourite riffs is found in two versions on this album, first in Swedish and then in English. Well, not the riff, but the lyrics. Aldrig har jag vetat is a Swedish version of Mountain’s classic Never In My Life, which appears as the last track in its original format. A cool version staying very to the original (except the Swedish lyrics). Another Swedish retro gem to keep a lookout for!

Janne Stark
Label: BloodRock
Year: 2011
Country: Sweden
Link: http://www.gudarssymning.se/

FULLFORCE - One (CD)

Swedish power metal all-star constellation Fullforce have been in the starting blocks for some time, but finally the debut has now been released. If the start by revealing the line-up you may get a picture of what this is all about. Vocals are handled by Cloudscape/Planet Alliance singer Mike Andersson, which secures that that department is well taken care of. The guitar department is run by former Hammerfall/Fullstrike stringsman Stefan Elmgren and Narnia/System Breakdown/Grimmark shredder CJ Grimmark. So, guitars: check. The bass work was initially handled by former Hammerfaller Magnus Rosén, but before the album he handed that task over to his Hammerfall replacement Tommy Larsson, and I’m not complaining here either. The drums are handled by none other than Hammerfall, former Silver Mountain, Malmsteen, Planet Alliance, Johansson drummer Anders Johansson, which seals the deal when it comes to musical talent in the band. Well, talent alone doesn’t make a great band. There have to be songs. So, how does the band do in this department? Album opener Mythomaniac actually didn’t fully convince me. It’s by no means a bad song, it just felt a bit – ok, good song, but I do expect some more from this bunch. Well, fear not, second track None Of Your Concern shatters all the previous doubts with it’s driving and heavy riffing, great chorus and powerful delivery. I think fans of Cloudscape, Planet Alliance and even to a certain extent Hammerfall, will feel pretty much at home. We’re talking melodic power metal here. It’s no reinvention of the wheel, but it’s a nice change of tyres I’d say. Songs like Oblivion throws in some nice oriental vibes, which makes a nice change. There’s also some more straight ahead classic hard rock riffing thrown into the mix, which is nice. The album is full of strong choruses, but fortunately not the type of major scale stuff where you’d end up in the Eurovision Song Contest if you remove the distorted guitars. Good solid stuff! I also like the mix by Grimmark. Powerful and with great separation. The song-writing has been shared between Andersson, Elmgren and Grimmark, which I also think contributes to the nice diversity in the songs. This is a good solid debut from a collection of great names, which proves this is not just a product that looks good on paper, it does sound great as well.

Janne Stark
Country: Sweden
Label: Steamhammer/SPV
Year: 2011
Link: http://www.fullforce.se/