The avalanche of review material is slowing down a bit as music business types think about their summer holidays and what festivals they are going to blag their way into. Not that is a bad thing, of course, as I plan to blag my way into at least one. There is one DVD and a great collection of CDs releases.
DVD review
Metalmania: 2006
In fact this is one of those DVD/CD combos (as opposed to the other way round) that is a highlights set of last year's Metalmania event in Poland, its 20th anniversary. Now as you might have gathered from the name Metalmania errs towards the heavy end of the spectrum taking in all those genres therein. As with most of these highlights collections the stuff on hand ranges in quality (if not to be fair quality of sound) from the absolutely freaking stunning Therion represented by three DVD tracks thru the Flyod-esque metal of Anathema to face-painted loons in the form of 1349 back to the quality metal of Moonspell.
It has to be said this an interesting cross section of European metal from the extreme to the more mellow. If you want to know what the "scene" is like on the continent then have a listen.
CD reviews
Circus Diablo: s/t
This is a hard review to write, a bit. Its really rather hard not to consider this VR-Jr. To make matters more muddled Matt Sorum plays drums on this CD (but not live instead its Slunt's Charles Ruggiero). I think the best comparison for this band is that its the LA Guns to Guns n Roses in the late 80s/early 90s. The songwriting is far better and so is the playing, there is more consistency on here than on any LA Guns release. Another reason the comparison works is that the band has its British continent (with Ricky Warwick of The Almighty and Billy Duffy of The Cult).
Alright to the music. Its basically LA rock done with a modern twist. Attitude, angst and a twist of humour gives this a while vibe that is rather hard to hate. Its only let down a bit by a rant (spoken word) in the middle of the CD that kills the flow a bit. There is not a duff track on this CD and you will find yourself listening to this over and over again. Each time its gets better. Its the perfect album for the summer. Yeah the band is a supergroup of sorts with a collection of veteran and talented players...but who gives a shit? Its bloody good, that is all you need to know. Get it.
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