A bit more reliable this week, I am writing this exactly a week after the last one appeared. A great collection of old and new in this week’s round-up.
CD reviews
Circle of Fate: Back to Life
Female fronted modern metal that comes across as both slick and equally listenable. There is no Amy Lee-esque wobbling or an attempt to out metal-core the lads with this release. This is quite simply driving metal that is done with lots of feeling and ability. It will strike no one listening as a surprise that they have been kicking around for 10 years, originating from Chicago.
Michele Caruso certainly has the chops and the looks to get her into the big-leagues of female-fronted metal. The great thing about this band is the fact that they know how to deliver in spades. Considering I really never heard of them before I got this in the post, its quite a pleasant surprise to find they are this good.
From the opening track “Sanctity” to the bitchy “Its All About You” that finished off the album this is reliable consistent metal. I would not be surprised in the slightest if this release takes the band to the next level of their career. Surely on the basis of this release, they deserve any breaks they get. If you are into good metal delivered well, then check this lot out soonest, you will be glad you did.
Machines of Grace: Machines of Grace
A quality metal tinged hard rock release from a band fronted by former Savatage/Circle II Circle singer Zak Stevens. They hail themselves as a Boston band wishing to evoke their forebears in rock, not that its necessary with the impressive pedigree of the members of this band. Interestingly I would say that the band is aptly named as on this release they prove that they can both headbang on tracks like “Psychotic” as well as be graceful on songs like “This Time.”
You would expect the band to have a certain cache built-in because of the level of the members previous bands. Thankfully don’t simple rely on pedigree to drive interest in the band, preferring to prove they deserve you interest on the merit of the music. Zak and Jeff (drums) have been playing together for quite a few years in various bands, so there is an in-built tightness that exists.
Article comments
1 - thevortex66
Name dropping won't change the fact that these guys are legends in there own minds jeff plate plays christmas music oh that is nice he hides behind his drums a lot of drums dosent make you good skill does they should have called it machines of waste and put a dump truck on the cd. This music belongs at the dump
2 - thevortex66
Hi gray I'm bring Wicked Witch back on oct 31,2009 I played bass Now I have a new sound that is honest metal the cd is totaly free check it out