The music has all the jauntiness of the European folk metal, which might be the reason they are released on Cruz del Sur. However, there is a clear American sensibility, with even a touch of jazz via Dream Theater popping up in places. And the odd Black Sabbath touch too. It's rather hard to describe why this band is so endearing, but there is a clear attraction to be had in these songs.
“Nasty Hero” the final track, even manages to be quite catchy. This band has been around since 1990 and it shows. Could this be the year of the Slough Feg? I certainly hope so. A bit of Celtic pagan metal would do the U.S. metal scene a world of good.
Devil’s Whorehouse: Blood & Wishes
There is a genre which many of you might not have heard about called “death rock.” It's death metal that, well “rocks,” and is not caustic to the ear. Done right it’s a heck of a lot more fun than your average grunt, thrash, and groan death metal fare. You could probably even dance to it, if you wanted.
DW sound a bit like Danzig at his most “Elvis of Metal” stage, combined with a touch of the Supersuckers, Monster Magnet, and rockabilly. They may call it death rock, but that does not mean it can’t be one hell of a lot of fun and catchy to boot. The corpse-painted death metal hordes must hate this bunch of Swedes and others of their ilk. They are, in a sense, taking the piss out of the whole death metal genre while making some damn good music at the same time.
Personal favorite on the CD is the awesome “Werewolf,” but the rest of the CD is just as good. As a veteran reviewer of death/black metal I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this sort of release. Hey, its got melody, a tune and a sense of fun about it. You really got to check this release out. I am so glad it landed on my death-deck.
Schenker Barden Acoustic Project: Gypsy Lady
Guitarist extraordinaire, and eccentric of the first order, Michael Schenker has paired up with his buddy Gary Barden for quite an exemplary, acoustic release. And lest you worry, this is not another famous guitarist heading off to medieval balladry and never coming back. There are, however, touches that you might find on an early Blackmore’s Night CD like the chivalric “Fight for Freedom”. Then again the next track is called “El Grande” and amusingly enough is full of flamenco goodness.
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