Sweden’s sleaze rock act Crashdiet are now on album number five, with no real signs of ever changing. The 80s-drenched, anthemic bangers that make up RUST should basically be what anyone who considers him or herself a Crashdiet fan will expect. That being said, for what RUST is, it’s a solid effort. The choruses are catchy, the drums are big and the riffs are as sleazy as ever. The songs all follow a pretty standard format, but to be honest, Crashdiet doing anything besides the typical hard rock tunes would have a high potential to come across as the band trying too hard. They’ve filled the songs with enough groove and energy that they don’t sound like they’re missing anything, and that’s more important for a band like this than trying weird things to set themselves apart. RUST is sure to fit right in with the rest of Crashdiet’s catalogue. 7/10
Noveria: Aequilibrium (Scarlet Records)
Progressive power metal sounds like something that might either be really interesting or really awful. Fortunately for Noveria, they manage to blend the two styles well, making something that doesn’t sound like typical prog an also not the same old power metal that’s been played by hundreds of bands for decades. Instantly, it’s the vocals that stand out on Aequilibrium. That’s not to take away from the meticulous guitar work, grooving drums and impressive keyboards, though. It seems like Noveria is a band with no weak link, each member adding his own unique feel to the songs. They have a spacey prog vibe that is paired with a triumphant power metal feel, and both styles are always present, rather than the songs or song sections going back and forth. It makes for a much more signature sound, and on album number three, Noveria have found theirs. 8/10
Uneven Structure: Paragon (Long Branch Records)
Now at it for over a decade, French progressive outfit Uneven Structure show their ability to keep up with the times on new album Paragon. The most obvious feature of this record is just how modern it sounds. It’s infused with electronic elements and blends aggression with melody, but what really stands out is its slick production, though it doesn’t sound robotic and overproduced like many of Uneven Structure’s contemporaries. The record isn’t necessarily a concept album, but its songs do flow together nicely and have some recurring themes, musically and lyrically. They’re all similar without sounding exactly the same, and though any one of the songs is a good song om its own, it’s obvious this was meant to be listened to cover to cover. Paragon is a satisfying listen, and worth listening to again. 8/10
Signum Regis: The Seal Of A New World (Beyond The Storm Productions)
Signum Regis’ The Seal Of A New World sounds oddly very current for an album with so much ‘70s prog presence. The catchy yet technical guitar work is a major point of enjoyment throughout the record, and while the instrumentation goes between modern and vintage, the vocals sound like they were borrowed directly from the prog giants of decades past, in a good way. The band has been going since 2007, and though they have had lineup changes, including in vocalists, they clearly work well as a band making their vision come to life.
In many cases, the intentions of the songs are clear and they are executed with sharp precision. Opener Kings Of The Underground boasts some of the best riffage on the album, though there are other songs like City Of God and Never Surrender that have their own impressive guitar work. Nearly every chorus is catchy and could have any crowd singing along with it by its second run. At times, The Seal Of A New World can get a bit cheesy, but it’s impossible to not enjoy. 8/10
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