VOLA - Live From The Pool (Mascot Records)
VOLA are probably one of the best bands on the planet currently, in my opinion of course. Both on record and live they really deliver. On Live From The Pool the lines between their live and recorded sound are blurred as this record is the audio part of a live stream show that has now to been released on physical format. I'll take just the audio version here but let me assure you the visual part is incredible, filmed at an abandoned indoor swimming pool which is part of the Auderød military camp in North Zealand near Copenhagen, Denmark, it was designed by architect Henning Larsen, giving the performance an air of gravitas and a mixture of the natural world and the concrete one as the site now lies in Auderød nature park.
The entire concert was filmed by five cameras and a drone, along with a custom made light installation from Danish audio-visual artist collective Vertigo. Conceived as cinematic experience for their international audience during the pandemic, Live From The Pool is stuffed with tracks from across VOLA's entire discography, with visuals that are just out of this world. For me any setlist that puts Alien Shivers second, is perfect in my book. Though I found myself enthralled for all of the hour an 3 minute set as they shift between thundering heaviness and soaring melodies, Head Mounted Sideways having both in droves, showing why Witness was so lauded when it was released.
Even just musically this album amazes. A lot of the set comes from this album but there is also plenty of A-List material from 2015's Inmazes and 2018's Applause Of A Distant Crowd the most evocative moment comes onf Ruby Pool where the visuals connect beautifully with the music. Masters of complex but accessible music that is built on heavy modern prog metal but goes to further reaches than many of their peers with atmospherics and soundscapes that trigger emotion, Owls being one such number full of dramatic musical shifts making a fitting middle of the set and being in stark contrast to These Black Claws which has electronica, djent and rap too while Gutter Moon has more than a hint of Nick Cave to it, displaying the versatility of VOLA as a band.
Asger Mygind (vocals/guitar), Martin Werner (keys), Nicolai Mogensen (bass) and Adam Janzi (drums) make up VOLA and with a tour lined up later this year along with Voyager and Four Stroke Baron, I would suggest you pick up Live From The Pool to get just a hint of what to expect! 9/10
Ummm...what the hell is this? Such was my cry when I first listened to Right Now, the opening number on The Fundamental Slimes & Humours, the fifth album from the self-proclaimed "Best Goblin Metal on the Planet" I mean they're probably the only Goblin band on the planet with the exception of Mortiis, but unlike the Nordic master of Gothic misery, these Goblins like to have fun, creating music that is part GWAR, part Finntroll, part Faith No More, part Heavy Devy and a lot of Andrew W.K who they borrow from liberally on the piano battering Golden Future.
In terms of genre I'd have to say Goblin Metal as they meld the COB style of keyboard heavy melodic death metal with, the schlocky horror metal of Lordi and pumping EDM and those 'wall of sound' batterings of Mr Wilkes-Krier. They constantly seem to shift styles on this record, Nu-Metal, death metal, thrash, party rock, a shit load more but manage to keep it a consistent listening experience, a weird one but it is enjoyable if you want to listen to a band that are truly unique sounding, though Andrew W.K with black metal vocals is about the nearest I can tell you.
Despite my initial confusion and reaction to this album The Fundamental Slimes & Humours, is a record that will tickle your various bodily liquids into having a good time. 7/10
Denali - Denali EP (Self Released)
Based in Hertfordshire Denali are a brand new death/doom band that features members of Countless Skies and Everest Queen. The EP consists of 3, long slow heavy doom based songs with lots of dynamics between light/shade and quiet/loud along with crushing slabs of heaviness and growled vocals. If I were to make a comparison I'd say that Denali take from bands such as My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost maybe even early Katatonia too.
Trick Or Treat - Creepy Symphonies (Scarlet Records)
Uriah Heep is to Deep Purple as Trick Or Treat is to Helloween. By that I mean one is seen as a pale imitation of the other, however both stand on their own merits. Yes it's time for another trip down the rabbit hole with Italian power metallers Trick Or Treat, their cheeky, upbeat style of music is a dead ringer for anything involving Kai Hansen both Helloween and Gamma Ray borrowed from liberally however they do add some of their own style to proceedings with dashes of AOR and chunky modern riffs as well.
Uriah Heep is to Deep Purple as Trick Or Treat is to Helloween. By that I mean one is seen as a pale imitation of the other, however both stand on their own merits. Yes it's time for another trip down the rabbit hole with Italian power metallers Trick Or Treat, their cheeky, upbeat style of music is a dead ringer for anything involving Kai Hansen both Helloween and Gamma Ray borrowed from liberally however they do add some of their own style to proceedings with dashes of AOR and chunky modern riffs as well.
At their core Trick Or Treat are a Teutonic metal band, although from further South East than the Germanic originators, they have songs filled with speedy twin guitar runs, sky scraping vocals and blasting rhythms so songs such as Crazy and the title track stick in your head for a long time after listening, while the final track The Power Of Greyskull is 12 minute epic that is in the He-Man universe. With songs that have lyrical inspiration from environmental issues, cyberbullying, social media addiction and of course some good old fashioned monster movies as well, in keeping with the Trick Or Treat namesake.
Creepy Symphonies is a damn good listen if you want to wind up with a big smile on your face. They don't take themselves too seriously and neither should anyone listening to this album. It's. Been. Done. Is often the mantra but when it's done well? Who cares! 7/10
Based in Hertfordshire Denali are a brand new death/doom band that features members of Countless Skies and Everest Queen. The EP consists of 3, long slow heavy doom based songs with lots of dynamics between light/shade and quiet/loud along with crushing slabs of heaviness and growled vocals. If I were to make a comparison I'd say that Denali take from bands such as My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost maybe even early Katatonia too.
The melodic phases shifting between spells of distorted riffs, orchestral swells and choirs adding to the whole package these are just the elements that make first song Catafalque so impressive, clocking in at 10 minutes, the shifting signatures and general introspection of the song gets you in it's icy grasp and pulls you into the melancholic malize of Denali. Beneath The Waves, another 10 minutes exploration feels the most like early/current Paradise Lost with that clean riff on top of the doomy distorted elements, as the atmospheric stings shift into a double kick battering in the middle of the song those chops shown in Countless Skies by the singer Ross King and drummer Nathan Robshaw shining brightly too here.
The final track Deathless, and the whole EP for that matter features some crunching basswork from Simon Marston though on Deathless the guitar playing of James McGrenery and Adam C Taylor shows it's full palette, proggy, groovy and with a lot of melodic elements too. I guess you could say the same about the entirety of this debut EP. Any old school death/doom fans will love it, hopefully as much as I do. 8/10
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