JUSTIN’S ROCK REVIEWS W/C 4/6/07

 

3 INCHES OF BLOOD/ FIRE UP THE BLADES

 

This is the Canadian, fantasy driven, Power Metal band’s 3 CD and the 2^nd for Roadrunner and this continues where the last one left off and is chock full epic Power Metal tunes with a falsetto vocalist and telling a good tale.

 

These guys should have been the soundtrack to Lord Of The Rings, that would have been real cool but you can use your imagination, Jason & the Argonauts gets the 3IO#B treatment this time with a track inspired by part of the Golden Fleece film, called “The Hydra’s Teeth” you know the one where the army of the dead rise and try to slay the heroes, “Assassin’s Of The Light” is also just as good, galloping powerful riffs and that distinctive voice.  The other tracks to watch out for are “Nocturnal Command”, “Night Marauders” and “Trial Of Champions” all of them making you want to don your loin cloth, grab your plastic sword and hold it aloft in  Conan The Barbarian style, total escapism, flawlessly performed with loving care and expertly produced by Slipknot’s Joey Jordison, what better commendation do you requite..

 

WEBSITE      http://www.3inchesofblood.com/ & http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/

 

TOTOAL PLAYING TIME = 52 mins + 13 Epic TRACKS

 

ANTERIOR / THIS AGE OF SILENCE

 

Bloody hell, where did these guys come from, you don’t know the name yet but you will, this is totally awesome Thrash Metal, killer harmonised twin lead riffs to die for and it lays to waste anything else in its path, this is the 21^st Century equivalent of hearing the debut Machine Head CD for the first time, it’s the dog’s dangly bits and he’s well endowed.

 

I haven’t been blown away like this for some time, words cannot express how damn fine this band are, the guitar riffs are breath-taking, jaw droopingly good, this is so good it makes everything else sound so mediocre, if you were disappointed with the last Chimaira album then buy this CD and your faith will be restored in Metal.  It doesn’t matter which one of the 9 tracks you hear first as there are no fillers here, yes there are a couple of atmospheric pieces but even these are good, I cannot stress how fine this album is, the vocals are the usual fair for this type of Metal but it’s the riffs you listen to and they are perfection.  YOU MUST BUT THIS CD.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.myspace.com/anterior  & http://www.metalblade.de/

 

DOWNLOAD            “The Silent Divide”   DOWNLOAD LINK

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 44 mins + 9 STUNNING TRACKS

 

INSANIA / AGONY, GIFT OF LIFE

 

For me this is a welcome return of Insania as their brand of Neo Classical inspired Power Metal goes down a storm, sounding a bit like early Stratovarius with a bit of Malmsteen thrown in for good measure.

 

There is some really good interplay between the keys and guitars and the lead guitarist does at times remind me of Yngwie Malmsteen, which is no bad thing and makes for some very good listening, “Hope” and  “Valley Of Sunlight” in particular, the big Power ballad on here is “Times Of Glory” which starts off with snippets of old songs.  The track ”Fight For Life” comes storming out of the headphones at a fair rate of knots and  leaves you stunned and “Facing My Destiny” is just as good and has some very good Neo Classical moment on it.  The guitar playing by Peter Östros is superb throughout and deserves a special mention, if you haven’t come across this Swedish band before this is a good starting point and “Sunrise In Riverland” would be a good follow up.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.insania.se/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 66 mins + 12 Scorching TRACKS