The band have been finalists in the Norwegian Rock Championship, which is a big deal in the land of the Vikings. The Norwegian government gives bands grants for their work if they are good enough. Considering the band are in their late teens and early 20s this sort of achievement is pretty impressive. Of course, what would really impress the metal hordes is that they are ex-Emperor man Ihshan’s studio band and they are touring with intelligent prog metal giants Opeth this summer.
This lot are taking the prog metal template and adding their own twist to it. Hard to describe, but damn good. I would highly recommend you seeking this out if you are prog metal inclined. Hell if they are good enough Ihshan & Opeth they are good enough for the rest of us.
Cauldron: Chained to the Nite
An almost antithesis to the prog metal mentioned above, this lot play traditional Canadian heavy metal with lots of gusto and bravado you expect from Canucks. They have the same vibe as Anvil, Helix, and the like. While remaining their heaviness they strive to write songs that are catchy and have a healthy sing-along chorus count. Well what do you expect with a track called “Young and Hungry”.
These guys didn’t get the memo that solos are out of the fashion and show their guitar mastery at any chance they get. Cleary keen on flying the flag of Canada in the new wave of traditional heavy metal, they are doing a good job at staking their claim to represent Canada.
As this is their debut you have to give them credit for a pretty good effort. Enough here to please the older hordes of metal-heads while retaining a freshness that never strikes you as mimicry. Proving that is possible to pay homage to your heavy metal heroes without sounding like a memorex tape of older band’s outtakes. Well worth keeping an eye on.
Ian Gillan: One Eye to Morocco
The venerable front man of the classic rock giants Deep Purple releases his first solo effort in a very long time, ten years to be precise. It was recorded during the enforced Deep Purple hiatus due to the death of Roger Glover’s mother.
Rather than pomp and bombast of Deep Purple’s efforts or the straight ahead heavy rock of Gillan’s self-titled band Gillan, this is quite a mellow affair. The name is based on a conversation Gillan had in the Jewish quarter of Cracow in Poland. The term that inspired the title track is Polish and would be clearly translated in English as a “wandering eye” according to Gillan’s account of the origin of the concept.
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