Reviews: Astrakhan, Sylvatica, Temple Balls, Sacred Shrines (Reviews By Matt Bladen)

Astrakhan - A Slow Ride Towards Death (Black Lodge/Melodic Passion Records/Sound Pollution)

In the review for Astrakhan's previous release, a live adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar, I noted that on the back of it I would delve into their discography. I did so and found a band who I'm a little annoyed I overlooked as they play a style of progressive rock/metal that brings a multi-faceted approach to the songwriting for a deeper understanding of 'mainstream' music. (Also they are not to be associated with the Canadian doom/sludge band). What makes Astrakhan so good is that frontman Alexander Lycke is probably the best singer in Sweden, his voice is brilliantly resonante and theatrical with emotional resonance too. 

So then A Slow Ride Towards Death is their third studio album and as with their previous records it's a cinematic, progressive metal album with a dark, stirring compositions. A little like Von Hertzen Brothers if they drew from prog bands such as Porcupine Tree, Pain Of Salvation, Opeth and numerous John Mitchell projects (Until it Ends). A Slow Ride Towards Death, opens with Lonesome Cry driven by nasty sounding riff from guitarist Johan Hallgren, counteracted by the soaring chorus that gives a little Train Of Thought Dream Theater where the heaviness was amped up but yet that melodic sound still was the major factor, Control also follows this template. Following on from here we have the metallic Deep Purple soundscapes of Take Me With You which shifts between more distorted riffs and expansive spacial tones. 

These first two tracks show you that Astrakhan are more than your normal prog metal act, sculpting intriguing musical journeys. What You Resist Will Remain and Never Let You Go both have thick rhythms from bassist Per Schelander and drummer Martin Larsson, the first moves into a choral ending bringing those numerous influences as the keys/synths are ever present, Youtopia really using the piano to great effect against the euphoric chorus and twisting heavy riff. A great album from a band that hopefully break out of their native Sweden on the back of this album. 8/10  

Sylvatica - Ashes And Snow (Pest Records/Satanath Records)

Now I know a few of my colleagues, aren't to positive about symphonic death metal but when done well I think it can be bloody brilliant. A great balance between blistering death metal extremity, galloping power metal and huge orchestrals. In February I raved about Starforger's album, as soon as the folk/orchestral intro Daybreak began, it was looking like Ashes And Snow was going to set the rave-o-meter reaching the red again. Sylvatica come from Denmark and Ashes And Snow is their second album, bringing everything they had on the debut to a much higher level. They craft cinematic soundscapes such as Pillars Of Light where the folk instrumentation and especially the organs begin a journey that rapidly shifts into powerful melodic death metal. 

Once again I have to mention bands such as Wintersun, Ensiferum and even Children Of Bodom when talking about Sylvatica as they have that same level of epicness in their songwriting. Jardén Schlesinger leading from his position as vocalist and lead guitarists, roaring with clarity as well as bringing the virtuoso soloing Christian Christiansen's guitar providing the gap between Schlesinger and the rhythm section as they carve through tracks such as the explosive Cosmic Strings. Speaking of the rhythm section, bassist Thomas Rysgaard Haxen must be nuts to try and keep up with drummer Jacques Harm Brandt Hauge. 

Not quite as immediate as Starforger, Sylvatica's second album is a non-stop ride through the symphonic melo-death sound, melding aggression on melody very well indeed. If you're missing Wintersun or Children of Bodom (and you haven't yet heart Bodom After Midnight) then i suggest you unleash the glacial assault of Ashes And Snow upon your stereo. 8/10

Temple Balls - Pyromide (Frontiers Music)

Let's get the band name out of the way. Temple Balls is a terrible name for a band. It made me think that this Finnish act would be similar to joke rockers Steel Panther. However behind the band name Temple Balls have a punchy, anthemic melodic rock that sounds a lot like Def Leppard and H.E.A.T, whose Jona Tee produced the record. Packed with throbbing synths, Pyromide is a very polished third record from these Finns, similar to fellow Finns Reckless Love where these pulsing electronics are used to flesh out the big anthemic choruses (Long Days, Long Lies) and as an addition to the slinky rhythms on T.O.T.C where Antti Hissa (drums) and Jimi Välikangas (bass) get that strutting beat going. 

Fallen Youth comes from the pre-Hysteria Def Leppard catalogue, while Bad Bad Bad has a touch of Ratt, vocalsist Arde Teronen adding a bit of grit. Where Temple Balls have a bit of an advantage over some of their contemporaries is with the big, ballsy dual guitar attack from Jiri Paavonaho and Niko Vuorela, which shift between flashy soloing and focused riffing, You Better Run being a perfect example. It's not all flirty, rock n roll wonder though, the Heart Of A Warrior is a darker toned rocker that takes a little from power metal. All in all Pyromide is a good rock record but the name is still rubbish. 7/10  

Sacred Shrines - Enter The Woods (Rebel Waves Records)

In the early to mid 90's there was a whole glut of English bands that drew from the 60's psychedelic boom and brought it to the ears of raving teens/20-somethings who were having their own spiritual awakening. Acts such as The Farm, Inspiral Carpets, The Charlatans all were the originators with Oasis probably the ones that took the whole thing international. Well it seems like Sacred Shrines driving force Phil Usher has created Enter The Woods as a rediscovery of these now 30+ year old bands(!) Hailing from Brisbane perhaps it's taken this long for the psych/indie pop rock to make its way to Australian but I'm sure is Tim Burgess were to listen to this record on his Twitter Listening Party he'd be trying to remember if it wasn't in fact one of his albums. 

Drenched in hazy psychedelia, choppy jangly guitars and echoed vocals, it's exactly the record you'd want from a band who have toured with The Dandy Warhols, imbued with a D.I.Y spirit that had them recording it in multiple locations with multiple engineers, including Michael Badger (King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard) and Donovan Miller (FOREVR), it gives the record an organic flow through valve tubed Vox amps. Yes I know before we get letters that the bands mentioned previously all took heavily from The Beatles, The Kinks, Jefferson Airplane and even bands like the MC5, so Sacred Shrines do as well but there's a modernity to it meaning that the early 90's style is the pervading one. Great for letting you freak flag fly a little, crank up the volume, it's not to late for 4:20. 7/10