Being completely honest I’d never heard anything by Greta Van Fleet, but I have heard of them, either within the music press or for in-depth reviews of the gear they use in making the records they have. One of the big things that seems to go hand in hand with them is the label of Led Zeppelin tribute / copy / whatever which is amazing considering that they themselves sometimes ‘allegedly’ approximated certain songs / themes etc from the early blues produced by America in the early part of the last century. Anyway, for one reason of another I just never got round to them, assuming that they are probably doing something right given the amount of noise directed at them.
So, in that respect Starcatcher is a good album it will continue to attract comments about it being a clone or approximation. This is to be expected given that it seems to be standard for those who have nothing nice to say about anything at all. I wish I could write songs like these and sing the way they do.
With this in mind, let’s get the inevitable comments about Zeppelin out of the way now:
Yes, it reminds me of them, there are parts that sound like Zeppelin and the overall feel of the album comes across as though it could have been recorded in the 70’s. Reading online, it looks as though their aim was to get as close to that sound as possible and why not? It does sound great, and It also reminds me of Fleetwood Mac, Heart and of other bands from that era that could write decent songs and play them too.
Right, shall we continue? It certainly leans more to the lighter side of rock than I normally listen to, and the songs acquit themselves nicely, combining strong vocal performances and some cracking guitar playing, neat fills here and there that provide an expanse of sound without becoming a too dense experience but at the same time is layered, balanced and has some great tunes. Fate Of The Faithful has this excellent chord movement going on and just slams with enough grit to know that live, this would be something else and running through there is some storming riffs, Frozen Light is my favourite, it is just epic.
I think what people miss is that this is album number 3 and if they were no more than a Zeppelin copy, they would be faltering by now. This is a stormer of an album, even for me. There are obvious moments that come from Mr J Page’s book of soloing but So What? The way the songs go they need that solo to pay off and this is the way in Meeting The Master. Just class. 9/10
Freedom Call - The M.E.T.A.L Fest (Steamhammer/SPV) [Matt Bladen]
If theres a band who will always make you feel joyous when their set is finished, its German power metal veterans Freedom Call. Chris Bay has led the band for a couple of decades now and they excel in the live areana so what better way to showcase this than with a new live CD/Blu-ray combo that features recordings from Metalfest in Pilsen, Czechia and their show at Regensburg Eventhall Airport, the footage and audio from both shows have been used to make this a live 'best of' where songs from their back catalogue are brought to two rabid audiences showing how excitable a Freedom Call show is no matter where they are.
I did not know Velvet Viper up to now and they certainly made a positive impression on me, however I did end up skipping some parts of certain tracks as I know what to expect, and as it ends up I was right. Here you won’t find cutting edge originality but you will find some solid songs with good melodic choruses, as long as you can keep your interest alive throughout the record’s less prominent and repetitive parts. 6/10
Jamie’s Elsewhere - Paradise (Sharptone Records) [James Jackson]
This five track EP from Jamie’s Elsewhere is the first I’ve heard of the band, hailing from California the band have been through numerous line up changes with, seemingly, only one original member left from their conception in 2005. Musically it has a lot going on, there’s a trace of Electronicore with samples blending Hardcore Metal guitar riffs and drum patterns, vocally the Metalcore aspects of clean verses, growled chorus lines is thrown in there too and each track is an example of this; however a lot of it is just coming across as little more than noise.
Freedom Call - The M.E.T.A.L Fest (Steamhammer/SPV) [Matt Bladen]
If theres a band who will always make you feel joyous when their set is finished, its German power metal veterans Freedom Call. Chris Bay has led the band for a couple of decades now and they excel in the live areana so what better way to showcase this than with a new live CD/Blu-ray combo that features recordings from Metalfest in Pilsen, Czechia and their show at Regensburg Eventhall Airport, the footage and audio from both shows have been used to make this a live 'best of' where songs from their back catalogue are brought to two rabid audiences showing how excitable a Freedom Call show is no matter where they are.
Opening with new studio song The M.E.T.A.L Fest, they start off in thekr bouncy power metal style as a tribute to heavy metal festivals welcomes those who haven't them before to Freedom Call's sound. Then its an intro and the live portion begins, you can feel the joy emanating from the speakers as Metal Is For Everyone, Power And Glory and Freedom Call are all featured sung back by the crowds at both gigs. Musically slick as hell, Bay's vocals are excellent throughout and the band are on point but the audio side can only give you so much so I suggest picking up the Blu-ray as it includes a host of other special bits like a road movie and cover of Hallelujah. Coming up to 25 years in the business Freedom Call show no sign of slowing down and The M.E.T.A.L Fest will make you want to experience them live ASAP. 7/10
Velvet Viper - Nothing Compares To Metal (Massacare Records) [Manos Sideris]
Velvet Viper’s newest addition entitled Nothing Compares To Metal is a solid Euro heavy metal outing but it has it’s contradictions. The quartet from Hamburg, Germany has had a career spanning 3 decades and is a serious exponent of the European heavy-speed metal scene. Production of this record is solid and clear through and through. Moreover it just so happens that I have a soft spot for the slightly driven P bass sound of J.H. Mollers’s bass.
The songs (all composed by Jutta and Holger) had me confused a little bit. In most of them I found good intros, nice sing-along parts, some great and catchy choruses that I found myself singing after the songs had ended, and some nice instrumental parts.
Velvet Viper - Nothing Compares To Metal (Massacare Records) [Manos Sideris]
Velvet Viper’s newest addition entitled Nothing Compares To Metal is a solid Euro heavy metal outing but it has it’s contradictions. The quartet from Hamburg, Germany has had a career spanning 3 decades and is a serious exponent of the European heavy-speed metal scene. Production of this record is solid and clear through and through. Moreover it just so happens that I have a soft spot for the slightly driven P bass sound of J.H. Mollers’s bass.
The songs (all composed by Jutta and Holger) had me confused a little bit. In most of them I found good intros, nice sing-along parts, some great and catchy choruses that I found myself singing after the songs had ended, and some nice instrumental parts.
On the downside I found most songs repetitive with unnecessary long duration. The flow of music was something that slightly eluded the band in this record. Some songs appear to be very good up to their choruses, only to find that changes that come after, would push your attention away from the track. Jutta’s voice although characteristic enough, very powerful in most choruses, seems that it could take a rest and leave the band display it’s abilities more in some parts.
High points from this album seem to be the eponymous intro track, Urd Wardande Skula (had the band used more keyboard parts here, the song would be epic), Speak Truth To Power and Heroic Hearts. A very nice example of my earlier statement is the track. It could very well be a gem track in Dio fronted Black Sabbath album, however the song starts to drift away after the solos of the 5 minute mark.
I did not know Velvet Viper up to now and they certainly made a positive impression on me, however I did end up skipping some parts of certain tracks as I know what to expect, and as it ends up I was right. Here you won’t find cutting edge originality but you will find some solid songs with good melodic choruses, as long as you can keep your interest alive throughout the record’s less prominent and repetitive parts. 6/10
Jamie’s Elsewhere - Paradise (Sharptone Records) [James Jackson]
This five track EP from Jamie’s Elsewhere is the first I’ve heard of the band, hailing from California the band have been through numerous line up changes with, seemingly, only one original member left from their conception in 2005. Musically it has a lot going on, there’s a trace of Electronicore with samples blending Hardcore Metal guitar riffs and drum patterns, vocally the Metalcore aspects of clean verses, growled chorus lines is thrown in there too and each track is an example of this; however a lot of it is just coming across as little more than noise.
I’ve got quite into some Metalcore acts over the last few years but the ones I have liked have shown more substance to their material, whereas this just feels chaotic. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the musicianship on display here and after nearly 20 years of material there’s obviously a fan base that’s kept this band alive despite the hurdles that they’ve endured; there are some great riffs here and some solid melodies but the more Hardcore aspects for me are off putting, it’s like pineapple on a pizza* or marmite vodka, it’s good until it’s not. 4/10.
*I actually don’t mind pineapple on pizza.
*I actually don’t mind pineapple on pizza.
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