Tag Archives: 8/10

Amorphis – Under The Red Cloud (2015) – Review

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
Amorphis - Under The Red Cloud - Album Cover

What a refreshing breeze is reaching us from the Northern tundra wastelands! Under The Red Cloud from the Finnish metallers, Amorphis clearly is one of the most varied albums I have heard so far in 2015. And I have heard a few lately. Yet this one here kicks my writing neurons into motion really quickly.

Very close – for a few of the tracks at least – to the 2014 release of Insomnium, Amorphis have skillfully positioned themselves astride a few metal styles. Under The Red Cloud interchanges clear voice passages with growls, which adds this special and specific flavor to their tune. 

And that’s a … [...] Click to raid more!

Uriah Heep – Salisbury (1971) – Review

Posted on by — Leave a reply
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider Review - Uriah Heep - Salisbury - Album Cover

Well, I have dabbled in Progressive Rock and Metal for a while. But often we cover modern artists and sometimes forget the old masters. Because far into the past, there already were jewels that nobody really knows anymore.

Salisbury, the 2nd studio album of early Uriah Heep is one of them. The band’s name derives from the Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield, by the way. Actually the antagonist hero in the story, no less. 

Starting with ‘Very ‘eavy, Very ‘umble’ a year earlier, Uriah Heep went on full progressive mode with Salisbury. Actually, this record – I am tempted to call … [...] Click to raid more!

Leaves’ Eyes – King of Kings (2015) – Review

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider Review Leaves Eyes King of Kings - Album Cover

I am pleasantly surprised! Leaves’ Eyes again managed to up the ante and add a lot of metal in King of Kings to their already improved former delivery in Symphonies of the Night. They steadily increased the quality of their musical prowess over the years and King of Kings is no exception. Deeper, darker, more metallic in structure, but also folk-laden in certain parts. Sometimes it almost reminds me of some Folk Metal acts – but not quite to the extent of calling them that. And the lyrics delivered by Liv Kristine Espenaes are up a notch too – … [...] Click to raid more!

Iron Maiden – Powerslave (1984) – Review

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
Iron Maiden - Powerslave - Album Cover

Do you want to find out what real Heavy Metal sounds like? I mean the genuine, down-to-the-ground, bony metal beat. Then just go for Iron Maiden‘s Powerslave.

And yes, I know it is old. But who are we kidding? This is the real thing. From back in the age when metal was metal. With none of that gazillion different names and nuances to every damn metal sound, someone wanted to play. 

However, stellar metal was already on the menu, but just barely. Just consider the somewhat greasy chart environment at that time: Laura Branigan, Cyndi Lauper, Yes, Duran … [...] Click to raid more!