Stockholm, Sweden’s retro rockers Siena Root bring both their 70s rock and folk sides to their latest album, Revelation. This is truly a time machine record, as you could have told me that this had been recorded in 1970 and I would have been none the wiser. You get all sorts of fun retro stuff on this album, including a ton of sitar, which is cool and all, but like this record, it can be a bit much. Revelation is a tale of two halves of an album; the first bursting with energy and interesting elements, the second a bit of a slog in seventies nostalgia and some tracks that drag way longer than they should.
Let’s start with the good, that when it is good is excellent. Coincidence & Fate is an amazing opening track, killer proto with that amazing voice of Zubaida Solid. Think Graveyard, Brimstone Coven, etc. just with excellent female vocals. If the whole record was proto-typed based on this song, we would really have a winner on our hands. Ditto for the tracks Professional Procrastinator and No Peace, which highlight the heavy 70s rock stylings of the band and have Solid’s voice the star of the show. Think Ruby The Hatchet without the fuzz and reverb, a cleaner production. Fighting Gravity is another killer track in the same vein as the first three songs on Revelation.
You get some of the more folkier Tull action on Winter Solstice, which is a fun little jaunt through a snowy Nordic forest, but that jaunt seems to extend though the next few songs, which is where that drag I mentioned starts to rear its head. We get a lot of flute and a lot of sitar, which in the grand scheme of things I totally dig, but the pace of the record takes a decline and my overall enjoyment with it. Maybe a reshuffling of the tracks or some editing may have made this record flow a bit better and eliminate the drag I am feeling. But when Sienna Root is on, they are way on.
Overall, Revelation is a mixed bag, but the good outweighs the bad when looking at the record in its totality. A new Siena Root is always welcomed but focus on the first few tracks to see the true genius of this band. Revelation is worth a listen, if only for the first six or so tracks. 7/10
Pierce The Veil - The Jaws Of Life (Fearless Records) [James Jackson]
Pop punk has never been a genre that I’ve explored, I’ve little love for Punk full stop and that influence on anything is lost on me; so to have the latest offering from American Pop Punk act Pierce The Veil was like a dream come true - if that dream was the one where you’re running naked through a crowd of clowns in Freddie Kruger costumes.
The first track, Death Of An Executioner is quite catchy but that’s about as good as it gets and the follow up track Pass The Nirvana, which does remind me of something Cobain and Co have done but I was never a fan of Nirvana either so I feel, well.. nothing; allegedly there’s a message of hope for the younger generation post Covid, as the story is for those that didn’t get to go to prom, amongst other, hopefully more important, things.
One of the reasons I don’t like this genre is the perpetual cycle of grown men trying to sound like they’re still 16 and not the wrong side of 40.. and yes, I do listen to and enjoy Steel Panther’s music, but that’s juvenile for comedic effect this is just obnoxious stroppy adolescence coming from someone who really ought to know better.
I have to skip forward, leaving any thoughts of prom dates gone awry to the boy band territory of Even When I’m Not With You, I’ve an ex wife and three daughters who have thoroughly ruined any chance of pleasure to be taken from the musical offerings of boy bands, neither of them can hold a tune which only makes a bad song worse; allegedly the track is a song about connection, of being “there” despite the distance between two loved ones, there area million tracks stating the opposite - it’s another skip.
I move swiftly through Emergency Contact and Flawless Execution to the title track, hoping that this will redeem the album and give me a hint as to how this band has managed to stay relevant or at least around for nearly two decades; it’s track 6 of 12 for those that care and the answer is no, The Jaws Of Life are dead.
I’m throwing in the towel and giving up and I’ve sat through some of the recent MCU releases which have been terrible, yes Thor: Love & Thunder I’m looking at you alongside countless school plays with a loving smile upon my face every time one of my delightful offspring has looked my way, I’m saying I’m not a quitter by nature but enough is enough.
It’s not for me and I can’t remain neutral or fake a positive review so I’m leaving this to the fans, to those that like middle aged men singing about tween issues, to those that enjoy their Pop mixed with a little Punk. It’s a solid 2/10
Grandma’s Ashes - This Too Shall Pass (Nice Prod) [Rich Piva]
Back at the beginning of 2021 the Paris, France trio Grandma’s Ashes released a killer EP that showed a ton of promise and ripped out four killer grungy/stoner jams that finished near the top of my EP list for 2021. The ladies are now back with their debut full length, This Too Shall Pass, which is a much grander, progressive offering than their debut EP and shows the band really growing it what they are delivering musically. This is pretty far off from their debut EP, but after a couple listens you can start to see how this is an excellent step forward for the band.
First off, This Too Shall Pass is a gigantic sounding record. The production is excellent; not too much where it is too polished but just enough to ensure the enormity of the songs shine through. Right off the bat you get this with the first full track, Cold Touch. This song sounds so much bigger than all the previous output and has a heavy prog sound with just some hints of old-world folk lurking behind it. I love the layered vocals and the overall sound of the track.
On Aside it seems as if the trio is channelling early Genesis before the heavy kicks in, because Grandma’s Ashes is not giving up the rock for the sake of their proggier direction. Love this track. For a trio this band has such a huge sound, and the track Borderlands is a perfect example of this. You get some more of that folky undertone, but this song is a epic musical journey across old world Europe with more of the excellent heavy prog/stoner vibes, cool tempo changes, and killer vocals.
While there is a bit of a drag midway through, this record is overall excellent with twelve killer tracks, highlighted by my favourite, Caffeine (which I thought was going to be a Faith No More cover) which is the doomiest track the band has ever done and brings the heavy but also the light in the most complex and to me most memorable and enjoyable track on the record.
It took the fourth listen for This Too Shall Pass to click for me, but when it did it did hard. I was expecting more of the straight-ahead stoner/grunge of the EP, but what we got is so much more and Grandma’s Ashes debut record is better for it. Check this out for sure. 8/10
Elyose - Deviante (Self Released) [James Jackson]
Much to my own personal disappointment, I am not multilingual, having recently reviewed Swedish band Fredlos, I’m now presented with Elyose; a French band fronted by vocalist and driving force, Justine Daae. Seemingly a solo project of Justine’s with guest musicians; her bio describes the band as Industrial/Symphonic Metal and at times her vocals do have that ethereal quality found in acts like Epica and Nightwish.
Personally I find many similarities between Elyose and Italian Gothic Metal act Lacuna Coil, both musically, given Lacuna Coil’s recent move towards a more downtuned Nu Metal style and also vocally. This is their/her fourth album and whilst each track is strong enough in its own right, personally I’m not hit with anything that particularly stands out and makes me want to put it on repeat until the neighbours start banging the walls. To me there’s quite a Metalcore edge to the music, perhaps more in line with those acts that incorporate more Electronic elements to the songwriting; for that Industrial tag conjures up acts that are more Techno/Dance based for me and that’s not what I’m hearing here.
About halfway through the album and honestly I’m struggling; whilst each track has moments of something special; the hint of that promised Symphonic Metal, they soon slip into Metalcore mediocrity and any interest piqued is waned. I don’t want to judge this harshly as the songs aren’t bad, it’s just that there isn’t enough of a spark to keep me interested. So I’m sorry or “Je suis vraiment desole”. Which I hope they say in France. 5/10
Overall, Revelation is a mixed bag, but the good outweighs the bad when looking at the record in its totality. A new Siena Root is always welcomed but focus on the first few tracks to see the true genius of this band. Revelation is worth a listen, if only for the first six or so tracks. 7/10
Pierce The Veil - The Jaws Of Life (Fearless Records) [James Jackson]
Pop punk has never been a genre that I’ve explored, I’ve little love for Punk full stop and that influence on anything is lost on me; so to have the latest offering from American Pop Punk act Pierce The Veil was like a dream come true - if that dream was the one where you’re running naked through a crowd of clowns in Freddie Kruger costumes.
The first track, Death Of An Executioner is quite catchy but that’s about as good as it gets and the follow up track Pass The Nirvana, which does remind me of something Cobain and Co have done but I was never a fan of Nirvana either so I feel, well.. nothing; allegedly there’s a message of hope for the younger generation post Covid, as the story is for those that didn’t get to go to prom, amongst other, hopefully more important, things.
One of the reasons I don’t like this genre is the perpetual cycle of grown men trying to sound like they’re still 16 and not the wrong side of 40.. and yes, I do listen to and enjoy Steel Panther’s music, but that’s juvenile for comedic effect this is just obnoxious stroppy adolescence coming from someone who really ought to know better.
I have to skip forward, leaving any thoughts of prom dates gone awry to the boy band territory of Even When I’m Not With You, I’ve an ex wife and three daughters who have thoroughly ruined any chance of pleasure to be taken from the musical offerings of boy bands, neither of them can hold a tune which only makes a bad song worse; allegedly the track is a song about connection, of being “there” despite the distance between two loved ones, there area million tracks stating the opposite - it’s another skip.
I move swiftly through Emergency Contact and Flawless Execution to the title track, hoping that this will redeem the album and give me a hint as to how this band has managed to stay relevant or at least around for nearly two decades; it’s track 6 of 12 for those that care and the answer is no, The Jaws Of Life are dead.
I’m throwing in the towel and giving up and I’ve sat through some of the recent MCU releases which have been terrible, yes Thor: Love & Thunder I’m looking at you alongside countless school plays with a loving smile upon my face every time one of my delightful offspring has looked my way, I’m saying I’m not a quitter by nature but enough is enough.
It’s not for me and I can’t remain neutral or fake a positive review so I’m leaving this to the fans, to those that like middle aged men singing about tween issues, to those that enjoy their Pop mixed with a little Punk. It’s a solid 2/10
Grandma’s Ashes - This Too Shall Pass (Nice Prod) [Rich Piva]
Back at the beginning of 2021 the Paris, France trio Grandma’s Ashes released a killer EP that showed a ton of promise and ripped out four killer grungy/stoner jams that finished near the top of my EP list for 2021. The ladies are now back with their debut full length, This Too Shall Pass, which is a much grander, progressive offering than their debut EP and shows the band really growing it what they are delivering musically. This is pretty far off from their debut EP, but after a couple listens you can start to see how this is an excellent step forward for the band.
First off, This Too Shall Pass is a gigantic sounding record. The production is excellent; not too much where it is too polished but just enough to ensure the enormity of the songs shine through. Right off the bat you get this with the first full track, Cold Touch. This song sounds so much bigger than all the previous output and has a heavy prog sound with just some hints of old-world folk lurking behind it. I love the layered vocals and the overall sound of the track.
On Aside it seems as if the trio is channelling early Genesis before the heavy kicks in, because Grandma’s Ashes is not giving up the rock for the sake of their proggier direction. Love this track. For a trio this band has such a huge sound, and the track Borderlands is a perfect example of this. You get some more of that folky undertone, but this song is a epic musical journey across old world Europe with more of the excellent heavy prog/stoner vibes, cool tempo changes, and killer vocals.
While there is a bit of a drag midway through, this record is overall excellent with twelve killer tracks, highlighted by my favourite, Caffeine (which I thought was going to be a Faith No More cover) which is the doomiest track the band has ever done and brings the heavy but also the light in the most complex and to me most memorable and enjoyable track on the record.
It took the fourth listen for This Too Shall Pass to click for me, but when it did it did hard. I was expecting more of the straight-ahead stoner/grunge of the EP, but what we got is so much more and Grandma’s Ashes debut record is better for it. Check this out for sure. 8/10
Elyose - Deviante (Self Released) [James Jackson]
Much to my own personal disappointment, I am not multilingual, having recently reviewed Swedish band Fredlos, I’m now presented with Elyose; a French band fronted by vocalist and driving force, Justine Daae. Seemingly a solo project of Justine’s with guest musicians; her bio describes the band as Industrial/Symphonic Metal and at times her vocals do have that ethereal quality found in acts like Epica and Nightwish.
Personally I find many similarities between Elyose and Italian Gothic Metal act Lacuna Coil, both musically, given Lacuna Coil’s recent move towards a more downtuned Nu Metal style and also vocally. This is their/her fourth album and whilst each track is strong enough in its own right, personally I’m not hit with anything that particularly stands out and makes me want to put it on repeat until the neighbours start banging the walls. To me there’s quite a Metalcore edge to the music, perhaps more in line with those acts that incorporate more Electronic elements to the songwriting; for that Industrial tag conjures up acts that are more Techno/Dance based for me and that’s not what I’m hearing here.
About halfway through the album and honestly I’m struggling; whilst each track has moments of something special; the hint of that promised Symphonic Metal, they soon slip into Metalcore mediocrity and any interest piqued is waned. I don’t want to judge this harshly as the songs aren’t bad, it’s just that there isn’t enough of a spark to keep me interested. So I’m sorry or “Je suis vraiment desole”. Which I hope they say in France. 5/10
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