GERMAN PASCUAL - A NEW BEGINNING

I’ve gotta tell you that German Pascual’s debut solo album A New Beginning is one of the biggest surprises of 2012. From high octane power metal to soaring melodic metal, A New Beginning not only wipes out any preconceived ideas I might’ve had but left me scrambling for the replay button.

Pascual as many of you might realize was the vocalist for Swedish metalers Narnia on their final album, Course of a Generation. He has also contributed to Divinefire on occasion as well. When I heard he was going to release a solo disc I really didn’t know what to expect, but I really didn’t think I was going to get this!!

A New Beginning is strong and powerful, with memorable melodies and the vocals of German Pascual, who has continued to show he is one of the finest vocalists in heavy metal. With tonality along the lines of Dio, Rob Rock and slight hints at David Coverdale. On the odd occasion there are a few deep growls on some of the heavier tracks such as Wrath of God.

The more I listen the more I’m drawn into this swirling amalgam of musical metal bliss. Tracks like Seek the Truth or Open Your Eyes go right on the melodic metal category, but imagine it kicked up one notch with more energy and power. Misty Eyes moves like a locomotive heading downhill, get out of the way or be run over. However the hook is so good, it digs in and remains with you long after the song comes to its completion.

Yet songs like Wrath of God or I Call for the One stride into more intense speed/power metal territory. Thrash type elements and even a hint at modern styling’s ala Divinefire. For the most part this album is a heavier version of the last Narnia album. There are even a touch here and there of some slight progressive elements. The arrangements are solid and even on the heavier songs the melody cuts through and grabs a hold. Just spin Fate of the Blind head banging all the way, with a great riff.

Rounding out Pascual's band is Guitarist Martin Hall, Pain of Salvation bassist Per Schleander and Almah bassist Raphael Dafras. The guitar work is top tier as are the rest of the instrumental performances. The production was handled by German Pascual & Raphael Dafras, with the Mixing and mastering handled by Thomas Plec Johansson. The sound is powerful and the guitar tones cut through without question.

I don’t want to build this album up too much, but I have been surprised and really enjoy this release. Especially when I had no preconceived ideas about it. Pascual has made a statement with this release; he’s a musical force to be reckoned with.

I normally don’t write reviews in the first person but this album has excited me so much, an album of the year candidate? A New Beginning is just that and be prepared for a journey into heavy metal bliss. 9 outta 10 axes from here and I’m cheering all the way!!

9 axes

DRIVER - COUNTDOWN

The latest album from Driver is entitled Countdown which is an apt title for as soon as you put it in be prepared for blastoff! The songwriting duo of Rob Rock and Roy Z has again offered a feast of melodic metal. Superb melodies with dynamic riffs and fantastic musicianship.

Rob’s vocal performance once again shows why he is one of the best in genre. Easily Rock should be in the same breath as Halford, Dio, and Dickenson. His control, range and power never fail to disappoint and just continue to amaze. It’s also of note that his lyric writing has continued to develop with maturity and depth. When it comes to singing about his faith he continues to explore all avenues of it without being preachy or trite.

Roy Z continues to show why the aforementioned Rob Halford and Bruce Dickenson have trusted him with producing their albums. Roy is a solid producer but is able to craft fantastic arrangements in which to put those dynamic metal riffs. Having seen him tour with Rob Halford's solo band along side Metal Mike is no mere feat, but Roy more than held is own and he shines on Countdown with some fabulous guitar venom of his own.

The songs you ask? Everything from strong rockers such as Return to the Sky, Thief in the Night, Feel the Fire, to more slightly subdued tracks such as Cry of the Wounded or Always on My Mind. Cry also features contributions of keyboardist Ed Roth on the songwriting side. Always benefits from the contributions of Dave Fefolt and Jorge Fischer to Roy and Rob’s. Let it not be omitted that there are a few barnburners as well with Hollywood Shooting Star and the title track fitting that bill quite nicely.

The production is well crafted with solid arranging and excellent tones for all the instruments. It is a nice change to hear an acoustic sounding snare drum. The sound pallet is well crafted.

The material here isn’t as heavy as most of Rob’s solo material, but slightly more accessible. I’m sure someone will point to Hollywood Shooting Star and say, ‘accessible??’ but this accessibility comes from how Countdown is mixed. A bit more polish then the first Driver album, but that only adds to the quality of the over all quality of the production.

Countdown is a strong collection of driving (excuse the pun) melodic metal. Songs that are full of energy and demand repeated listens. The hooks will sink in deep and be stuck in your head long after the disc is finished. Driver’s Countdown is an album that will be a long time player in your rotation as its tenacity is the secret of its success.

8 axes

SAINT - DESPERATE NIGHT

One of the finest albums of 2012 comes from the state of Oregon. Desperate Night is the title of the latest release from apocalyptic metal merchants, Saint. On the heels of their 2010 masterpiece, Hell Blade, this offering is just as strong and perhaps even a bit heavier. No one does 1980’s heavy metal better.

Opening with a intro entitled The Crucible, which reminds me of Slayer’s Raining Blood albeit at half the speed, the band tears into the first track Crucified which drives along at a solid up tempo clip. Tight, punchy with a great melody. Yet it gets even stronger with the next track The Key; heavy, catchy and you will immediately hit the replay button.

Throughout this outstanding release the energy and power just flow out of each song. End of the World with its warning to those who claim to know when the end will arrive, plows along and leads you right into one of the strongest tracks with Let It Rock. This track is pure head banging joy, the guitar moves like a freight train on a pure downhill track. In the Fray is up next and doesn’t let up for a moment with its strong combination of bass and guitar performances that just lock in and keep the freight moving.

As a matter of fact most of this album delivers exactly what you’d expect from Saint, with a caveat that it might even be better than you think. Inside Out follows the political slant of New World Order from 2010’s Hell Blade; however the chorus is even stronger with its gang vocal. Album closer Escape From the Fire is one of the heaviest tracks Saint has ever recorded, much akin musically to Judas Priest’s Painkiller era. As a matter of fact a lot of Desperate Night falls into that era of Judas Priest, at least to these ears.

The production values are top notch again with a more natural sounding snare drum this time out. The guitars sound simply fabulous and Richard Lynch’s bass is a tone monster, wow! Jerry Johnson shows again that he is a fantastic guitar player who fits the Saint sound and his solos are a real highlight.

The only things that left me flat were the completely out of place Zombie Shuffle, a bluesy track with its swing time beat and the reworked version of To Live Forever. TLF appeared on their album A Perfect Life released in 1999, and it really doesn’t fit this album at all. It is a much more commercial pop metal song, the lyrics come across as cliché and I’m not gonna beat a dead horse.

One item of note is that apparently this is the last album with Josh Kramer on lead vocal. Of the 13 tracks (two of which are instrumental intros and outros) Josh contributes vocals on 8 or 9 songs. I understand that Richard Lynch contributed a vocal on 1 or 2 songs. However Saint has already found a new lead vocalist in Brian Phyll Miller. Miller delivers the goods on the title track, good vocal tonality and strong delivery; after hearing this track it would seem that the vocal department is in good hands.

Desperate Night is a traditional metal fans delight. Fans of Judas Priest, Armored Saint, Saxon, and Accept should find something here to enjoy. A 9 axe review is what I’m giving as Saint continues to show that they’re relevant and up to the challenge of playing some of the best metal in the scene.
9 axe

TOURNIQUET - ANTISEPTIC BLOODBATH

The latest release from technical speed masters Tourniquet is upon us. Entitled Antiseptic Bloodbath it features just about everything you could want from a Tourniquet release; speedy technical riffage, classical instruments that are arranged to flow seamlessly into the titanic metal riffage, in depth lyrical content and superior musicianship.

This metal offering hits full speed on such tracks as Lost Language of the Andamans (don’t let the intro fool you), Flowering Cadaver and the full tilt title track. 86 Bullets has a great riff that grabs you and forces the head to start bobbing back in forth, all the while retelling the tragic story of a circus elephant, named Tyke, who had to be shot after escaping.

Fed by Ravens, Eaten by Crows (with spoken narration by Bob Beeman); The Maiden Who Slept in a Glass Coffin, along with the aforementioned Lost Language benefit from hauntingly arranged strings. The almost sorrowful melodies seem to be a musical overture destined to grab one by the collar and demand a quick rewind to just hear what is being played.

A string of guest stars on the guitar are planted throughout, Marty Friedman, Pat Travers, Bruce Franklin (Trouble), Karl Sanders (Nile), Santiago Dobles (Aghora). To hear Pat Travers play on a Tourniquet album is quite a moment. Never fear Aaron Guerra shines throughout, the man has tone! Luke Easter provides a stellar vocal performance and Ted Kirkpatrick shows why he is one of the top drummers in metal.

Produced by Neil Kernon, who has a very long and distinguished resume in the recording world (everthing from Hall & Oats to Cannibal Corpse!), Antiseptic Bloodbath is a tightly produced and meticulously executed. The instruments are given a change to breathe while not losing their place in the mix, and that driving guitar tone just kicks one up the backside.

Fans of Cynic and the like will what to give this release serious attention. Antiseptic Bloodbath is high quality metal that forces one to examine their role in this life, while taking the listener on a dramatic journey of metal bliss. Don’t miss this one, bang thy head with joy!

8 axes

FRUHSTUCK - QUIET

Often I'm amazed at where we receive albums from for review. Our friends at Youngside Records dropped a copy of Fruhstuck in our mailbox and boy I’m glad they did. Y’see Fruhstuck hail from Poland and would’ve gone totally unnoticed here I’m sure. So you’re asking yourself, “Well are they any good? What do they sound like?”

Fruhstuck’s latest album is entitled Quiet and it is good, a mix of King’s X and U2 if you can wrap your head around that. Quiet boasts solid melodies with powerful instrumentation that delivers the goods. Just listen to the title track and it just screams of King’s X. Pig, Follow, Song of Deliverance instantly remind me of early King’s X; as in the first three albums. The title track is haunting.

The vocal is what reminds me of U2. Martin Krale has an uncanny vocal tone that brings about those Bono comparisons. You won’t find Beatlesque harmonies like you will on most King’s X albums. That being said, Krale delivers a fine vocal performance.

The production is clean and punchy with great clarity. Fruhstuck are a four piece and each member has well carved turf in the mix, but are intertwined nicely. The music benefits from this arrangement as it allows the power of the performance to rise to the top.

As I listen to this I just envision King’s X. I just can't get away from that comparison. The bass tone & guitar tone along with the stylistic arrangements. Quiet offers lots of dynamics that add to the feel of power and strength, lyrically coming from a Christian world view. At times almost like Psalms.

Fruhstuck’s Quiet delivers short punchy songs, primarily in the 2-4 minute range. This album is a 14 song affair so really do get your money’s worth as it were. If you enjoy solid rock n roll with flair then this disc is one to get.

7 axes