Reviews: New Horizon, Stengah, Rust N Rage, Find Me (Reviews By Matt Bladen)

New Horizon - Gates Of The Gods (Frontiers Music Srl) [Matt Bladen]

A triumphal, synthwave opening to this album will slightly confuse what sort of band New Horizon, however as it fades, We Unite explodes out of your stereo with power metal galore. Not the sort of thing you'd expect from former H.E.A.T bandmates Erik Gronwall (vocals) and Jona Tee (everything else), there is little to no AOR on Gates Of The Gods, this is pure classic power metal cut from the same cape as Helloween, Edguy and Hammerfall on Stronger Than Steel. Jona plays bass, guitars and keys on this record as well as producing it, though there are lots of guests that add their prowess to the record. Robban Bäck (Mustasch), Sam Totman (DragonForce), Love Magnusson (Dynazty), Dave Dalone (H.E.A.T), Niko Vuorela (Temple Balls) and Laucha Figueroa all appear on the record. 

Jona wanted a multi-singer rock opera style project but when Erik Gronwall came to record it was decided he'd take the lead vocalist role. He's a brilliant singer using much more of his range on New Horizon than he did with H.E.A.T Their shared passion for power/traditional metal is obvious on Gates Of The Gods; the anthemic Call The Underground brings to mind Sonata Arctica, Stardust adds a huge symphonic sound, sounding closer to H.E.A.T than anywhere else, the melodic flourishes continuing on Event Horizon which goes a little Dragonforce. What we have here is two stupidly talented musicians indulging in the style of music that is their passion, they manage to capture so many of the genre leaders styles, that Gates Of The Gods is plays like a power metal greatest hits. I hope that this lasts more than just one record as I'd love to hear more of New Horizon. 8/10   

Stengah – Soma Sema (Mascot Records)

Following in the footsteps of fellow countrymen and metal heavyweights Gojira, Stengah play a groove-infected style of modern metal that picks and chooses from several extreme metal styles. With lyrics based around literature, politics, emotions, the music is djenty, progressive metal that’s clever, technically proficient but smacks you in the face and shouts “Listen to this”. 

Soma Sema is cutting edge metal at its sharpest full of Gojira, Meshuggah (whose song I believe they took their name from) and Periphery worship, the band led by drummer Eliott Williame has sailed it’s rough seas, evolving into the fully formed heavy music delivery machine you hear on this record. First three tracks all create, chasm s of down-tuned, palm muted riffs, so much so that they do blend a little together as at times the virtuosity gets in the way of engaging song writing. Luckily after the crushing trifecta to kick off the record, there’s a bit more light/shade on Swoon, Nicholas Queste, utilising his clean vocals as well as the roar. 

Lumen brings back the heavy as lead guitarist Maxime Delassus coming into contact with the thunderous, off kilter of Benoit Creteur (bass) and Alex Orta (rhythm guitar). Thankfully Message In Memories and Black Masses Inheritance both go further into a broader sound having emotive, post-metal atmospheres as well as a metallic sucker punch. While we all wait for Meshuggah to release their new album, the debut album from this French band will make sure you’re gurning away to meaty polyrhythms until then. 7/10

Rust N Rage - One For The Road (Frontiers Music Srl)

The newest addition to the Frontiers Music roster, Finnish hard rockers Rust N Rage, sound like Sonata Arctica if they were more inspired by 80’s hair metal than wolves and folk tales. Singer Vince (the whole band just use their first names), has a lot of Tony Kakko in his voice, and while the music is just as upbeat and anthemic as their compatriots it’s very much drawn from hard rock, although the crisp, shiny modern style that Frontiers do so well of promoting. 

Jimmy Westerlund (One Desire) gives this record its sheen, and you’ll need a pair of Ray Bans for the shine on tracks such as Ghost Town. The rest of the band are made up of Johnny (guitar), Eddy (bass) and Jezzie (drums), the foursome clearly honed by touring, this debut is slick, perhaps too slick, crafted for a live audience, the title track and Heartbreaker for instance brings the best (or worst) parts of bands such as Def Leppard. 

The band come from a small town and they definitely feel like a ‘blue collar’ hard rock band with Bon Jovi and Motley Crue, writ large, though their influences never overpowering their own songs. As they dabble in heartland rock on the bluesy Ride On and full balladry on Unbreakable and even a bit of Mr Big/Dokken styled wizardry on The Throne. Hard rock done well by a talented band, here's to One For The Road. 7/10

Find Me - Lightning In A Bottle (Frontiers Music Srl)

Find Me is the other band of Daniel Flores, who long time readers may know as the creative force behind The Murder Of My Sweet, he's also the main musical force behind Find Me, Robbie LaBlanc taking the mic for this fourth album, Flores on drums, keys, bass and guitar with additions from Jonny Trobro, Michael Palace and Rolf Staffan Pilotti. Unlike on The Murder Of My Sweet, Daniel Flores doesn't write the songs here, 10 of the tracks are written by Alessandro Del Vecchio (yep him again) who flexes his creative muscle again here. 

As well as having a load of talent the songs are all well written, with one cover thrown in Far From Over comes from the Stayin Alive soundtrack and here features Vince DiCola on keys, who co-wrote the original with Frank Stallone. So Lightning In A Bottle is an AOR album featuring three of the biggest writers in the genre today all collaborating to make a by the numbers AOR record. 6/10