Tag Archives: 7/10

Arduini/Balich – Dawn of Ages (2017) – Review

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In the beginning, I was skeptical. Six tracks of original content only and three re-heated ideas? And of old, much-rehashed base material to boot? Well, hell’s bells, not sure about that one.

That is how the RockmusicRaider offices started on Arduini/Balich‘s debut record Dawn of Ages. 

The project saw its first flickering light of consciousness in 2013 when Victor Arduini wrapped up the experience with Freedoms Reign. He then recruited Butch Balich and the drummer Chris Judge from his former venue. A serious lack of creativity in the name ingenuity department notwithstanding, the band members are relatively well known. 

Arduini … [...] Click to raid more!

Xandria – Theater of Dimensions (2017) – Review

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They did it. They finally did it. Xandria managed to keep one of their female fronts a bit longer than for a felt stretch of one album only. So, here they again feature the classically trained Dutch singer Dianne Van Giersbergen on their second album in a row. And rightly so. Talented girl that she is, she can easily match a range from Tarja Turunen, over Floor Jansen, and back to Simone Simons. And that means something.

As the band’s progression goes, already their last contribution Sacrificium was a step up the star-studded ladder of operatic glory. This makes you … [...] Click to raid more!

Rotting Christ – Triarchy of The Lost Lovers (1996) – Review

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The new year is still fresh, so what better moment than this one to reflect on some old metal for a change?

Old? The ’90s are old? Well, yeah, if you look at the rapid-fire development all things metal have taken since then. We sure show a totally different landscape today if compared to all these years ago.

And for sure again, if you look at the style changes Rotting Christ took over the years to the present day. Triarchy of the Lost Lovers really got us a fresh look at things and delivered powerfully well.

In essence, 1996 was a year of turning

… [...] Click to raid more!

Mercy Isle – Undying Fire (2016) – Review

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The Gothic and Symphonic Metal universe out there did not necessarily thrill me in 2016 (or even before, for that matter). After the general salivating on these genres stopped, many of them bands have not quite gone where no man went before and developed their tune further.

Instead, most like to take the lighted safe road and just produce the same thing in a different robe all over again. Now, some have seen the light (no pun intended) and started to put refreshing energy back into what never was. For instance, Diabulus in Musica and Epica both issued pretty sturdy new records that got my … [...] Click to raid more!