SLECHTVALK - UPON THE FIELDS OF BATTLE / 2005 / DISCOGRAPHY/BIOGRAPHY/ AND REVIEW

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(14-TRACKS)
1-INTRO
2-THUNDER OF WAR
3-OF SLUMBER AND DEATH
4-WAR OF THE ANCIENTS
5-UNDER A MOONLIGHT SKY
6-CALL TO ARMS
7-WHISPERS IN THE DARK
8-DESERTION
9-DESIEGED
10-IN PARADISUM
11-CRIES OF THE HAUNTED
12-BEHIND THE SCENES
13-VIDEOCLIP(Thunder of War)
14-PHOTO(Gallery)
SLECHTVALK - THUNDER OF WAR MIXI/2005















THIS DEMO CONTAIN(4-TRACKS)
1-THUNDER OF WAR(Single Version)
2-ILLUSIONS
3-LOSS
4-THUNDER OF WAR(Album Version)
SLECHTVALK - AT THE DAWN OF WAR/2005
















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-FROM OUT OF THE MIST WE CAME FORTH
2-CALL TO ARMS
3-MORTAL SERENITY
4-ON THE EVE OF BATTLE
5-DIESEGED
6-THE SPOILS OF TREASONS
7-THUNDER OF WAR
8-BLACK RAVEN DEATH
9-DESERTION
10-UNDER A MOONLIT SKY
SLECHTVALK - THE WAR THAT PLAGUES THE LAND/2002















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-OF SLUMBER OF DEATH
2-A PLEA FOR THE KING
3-FROM BEHIND THE TREES
4-MY LAST CALL
5-THE FALCON'S FLIGHT
6-A CALL IN THE NIGHT
7-AND THUS IS BURNS
8-BURYING THE DEATH
9-WAR OF THE ANCIENTS
10-THE DRANGON'S CHILDREN
11-IN PARADISUM
SLECHTVALK - CHAOS AND WARFARE/2002















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(8-TRACKS)
1-THE ONLY SOUND OF RAIN
2-MEAN ATTRACTION
3-A STRANGER SO CLOSE
4-THE SKULL(Trouble Cover)
5-WHISPERS IN THE DARK
6-THE DRAGON'S CHILDREN
7-STORMS
8-KONGSBLOD(Antestor Cover)
SLECHTVALK - FALCONRY/2000
















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(9-TRACKS)
1-CRIES OF THE HAUNTED
2-T.M.B.W.G.M.N.L.
3-IN HELL I BURN
4-MY BLEEDING HEART
5-TO PRAISE THE UNPRAISED
6-THE SATANIC FOREST
7-CONSUMED BY FLAMES
8-MY ETERNAL BELOVED
9-DE VERDROGEN TEKENEN
SLECHTVALK - CRIES OF THE HAUNTED/1999















THIS DEMO CONTAIN(3-TRACKS)
1-MY BLEEDING HEART
2-THE SATANIC FOREST
3-CRIES OF THE HAUNTED
CREDITS:
Shamgar - Screams, Guitars
Seraph - Guitar
Ohtar - Guitars, Clean Vocals and Grunts
Premnath - Keys
Grimbold - Drums, Grunts, Shofar (Salutary)
Former/Past Members:
Sorgier - Organ & Synth
Fionnghuala - Female Vocals (Live For Antestor)
Nath - Bass
Hydrith - Synth
Meallá - Dancing (Live)
(http://www.myspace.com/slechtvalkofficialmyspace)










BIOGRAPHY:
They are loved, they are hated: Slechtvalk. When we take the reviews from all over the world serious, Slechtvalk is one of the most promising Dutch Dark/Black Metal bands of the moment. Named after the fast and bloodthirsty bird of prey, the band knows how to give a recognizable sound to their music. Slechtvalk combines the bombastic parts of Dimmu Borgir with the venomish parts of Dark Funeral, but has also the catchy parts of the old After Forever. A strong mix that convinces both friend and enemy.Slechtvalk's Debut album "Falconry" was released in 2000 by the Dutch label Fear Dark. At that time Slechtvalk was still an one-man project of Vocalist/Guitarist Shamgar. The mix of dark and black metal was received very well and a lot magazines, including Aardschok, did an interview with Slechtvalk. Because of that Slechtvalk became known as a leading band in the Dutch dark/black metal scene. This hasn't changed since that time.Shamgar took advantage of his reputation and tried to form a real band. He succeeded with this and in 2002 they visited the Mailmen Studio in Holland to record their next album. As a teaser they released a split-cd with the well-known progressive black metalband Kekal from Indonesia. Both bands presented 4 songs, including a cover. The split-cd was received very well and at the end of 2002 the new album "The War That Plagues The Lands", with stunning artwork of the well-known Belgian artist Kris Verwimp (Marduk, Immortal, Absu), was released.This album was also received worldwide with lots of enthusiasm and Slechtvalk got a lot of interviews in magazines worldwide. Within 3 weeks "The War That Plagues The Lands" reached a number-2 position in the Lowlands Top-50. In March 2003 Slechtvalk toured through Europe for the first time and played at festivals and for sold-out venues in Germany, Sweden and of Course The Netherlands. In the beginning of 2004 the band played for hundreds enthusiastic fans in Switzerland.The succes in Europe was expanded to Asia. The Asian label Sonnengot Music released the album "The War That Plagues The Lands" for the Asian market. And for the Eastern Europian market the album was released by HROM Records from Slovakia. To expand their strong position in The Netherlands and Belgium, Slechtvalk is touring the clubcircuit with Serenade of Darkness as support-act. At the same time plans are coming together for the successor of "War That Plagues The Lands". The story continues.










REVIEWS:
A rock'n Christian band that doesn't make you nuts by beating you over the head about it. The lyrics are well composed,some people call Viking Metal, which is a combination of Black Metal musical style and theatrics that uses Nordic sounding musical modes and folk instruments (ie Finntroll, Black Messiah, Nomans Land, Eluveitie, etc) to create something a little more complex. In comparison with those types of bands, this band is right there with them, just without lyrics about Trolls, Norse Gods, neo-paganism or drunk sea shanties."The War That Plagues The Lands is an incredible concept album that ranks right up there with some of the best bands in the genre... The guitars are brought forward much more on this disc and the keyboards, while still a vital part, are pushed back in the mix allowing for a much more extreme sound. Vocally, Shamgar has improved greatly with some horrifying blackish shrieks. It seems like the biggest improvement is that he's upped the aggression factor in his vocals. Also present are some occasional death growls, eerie chanting and some beautifully haunting female vocals. All of the different vocals are placed perfectly in every instance and never sound forced. Musically, the band never settles for one sound as the songs range from blistering, to mid-paced, to slow and somber; all fitting nicely and creating an extremely dark atmosphere with a very cohesive feel. My favorite tunes on this CD are "A Dragon's Children", "And Thus It Burns" and "Of Slumber and Death". But really, there is not a downer on the whole album. If all this wasn't enough, the production, packaging and artwork are top notch. When classic black metal releases are mentioned in the future, this disc will stand tall right alongside masterpieces like Horde's Hellig Usvart and Antestor's The Return of the Black Death.",Simply put I love this album. This band is heavy, powerful and extreme black metal. Unfortunately they don't get the respect they deserve in the black metal community for one reason...they are Christians. Speaking as a fan of Emperor and Dissection this is head and shoulders above them all. When I got out of the black metal scene and wanted to find Christian alternatives, Slechtvalk was one of the first I found. I realized I had found a band that was the equal (and superior) of Emperor. This is a must-have for any black metal collection.And What About The Single-Demo "Thunder of War",Great cd with the exception that it isn't long enough. Granted its supposed to be an LP but 2 of the 4 songs are exactly the same... even though the 4th is a "remix" of the first. I couldnt tell much of the difference. However, it's smart, energetic, fun, heavy as hell and definately will never leave my collection.The vocals are fantastic and the music very diverse(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)

A dedication...

I came to the computer early yesterday morning to write a post about our first week in Seattle, but instead, I received heartbreakingly sad news that a dear, old friend had died in a bicycle accident in Colorado. Everything suddenly became trivial compared to this. I can barely process this information and understand it. He was so full of life and adventure that it's impossible to imagine he's not kayaking a wild river, running a marathon somewhere, playing his violin in the community orchestra or tending his extensive gardens.

I'm going to put up a short post that I wrote previously but never used, and dedicate it to Stanley, a wonderful and compassionate man who enjoyed life, and who will be terribly missed by everyone who knew him.


© 2009 Andrea's easy vegan cooking

We used to have a great Ethiopian restaurant within walking distance of our house. We were really disappointed when it closed, as it was so convenient and delicious and had lots of great vegetarian food. Plus the restaurant emphasized healthy cooking, which was a real bonus. Thinking about this restaurant recently, my husband started craving Ethiopian food and decided to make some. His first attempt was, shall we say, forgettable, but his second try was really good.


Berberé Stew (Ethiopian Lentil Stew) © 2009 Andrea's easy vegan cooking

He made a lentil dish and a green bean and potato dish and served them with brown rice. Both were excellent and not too difficult. If you'd like to try these recipes, they can be found here. The link will take you to the lentil recipe, and you will find the link to the green beans and potatoes on the same page.


Ethiopian Green Beans and Potatoes © 2009 Andrea's easy vegan cooking

CYBERGRIND - TRANSCEND / 2000

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(16-TRACK)
1-MACROSCOMIC PORTEN
2-PORTAL(Intro)
3-DESCEND
4-TRAGEDY STRIKES
5-BRAINWASHED
6-NAUSEATING SICKNESS
7-PHANTASMIC LANDSCAPES
8-DESTINY
9-CIBERGRIND
10-E'NO!
11-RUBBER CHIKEN REFECTION
12-FIEND TRANSFORMATION
14-THE COMPLAINTS OF THE DEAD
15-DEFENSIVE MANOUVERS PART I(Outro)
16-LOST SEA OF EMOCEANS
CREDITS:
Mick Carlisle - Vocals / Guitar
Pentridge Pete - Bass
Mike Forsberg - Drums Former Members
Phil Gibson - Drums
(http://www.myspace.com/cybergrindofficial)
Cybergrind Ex-Mortification Guitarist Michael Carlisle resurfaced years later to form Cybergrind, with a sound not unlike early Mortification- Death Metal Thrash with plenty of broken glass-gargling Vocals to satisfy even the most finicky of Death Metal Heads.Old-School Death/Grindcore similar to the early Morty style when Michael Carlisle was with them!, The musci is ok, lots of short industrial-clips here and there. Micks Vocals could have been better though! This could really be Post Momentary Affliction part 2, it really sounds like Morty back in 1993! There are blastbeats, killer riffs, some digital interludes,Steve Rowe sings the Chorus of the Last Song!! But not like on the latest Morty CDs, he really growls it!! Awesome!!! Anyway, this CD is really good, too bad that the band already broke up, I'd like to hear more...(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)

JESUS WEPT - SHOW'S OVER / 2006

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(12-TRACKS)
1-SHOW'S OVER
2-BLACKOUT
3-BREAK ME
4-HUMAN WASTELAND
5-BLACK CROWN
6-DEDICATED
7-AGAINST THE GRAIN
8-OMG
9-NINE
10-STILL FIGHTING
11-THE FINAL WORD
12-DEAR BROTHERS
JESUS WEPT - SICK CITY / 2004















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(7-TRACKS)
1-SICK CITY
2-ONE HAND IN HELL
3-FATHER FORGIVE ME
4-HEAVEN AND HELL
5-MANKIND SKUMBAG
6-THANK GOD THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS
7-COLD WEATHER
CREDITS:
Dan Quiggle - Vocals
Sean Sundy - Guitar
Dave Quiggle - Guitar
Jon Beckman - Bass Guitar
Adam Salaga - Drums
Kerrang - Maggazin
For fans of xdisciplex a.d. (obviously) Jesus Wept picks up where they left off with this cd. When I heard their EP, I couldnt wait for the full length. All the songs are good, all of them. Some have clean vocals, but its pretty much straight up Hardcore, no emo trash or trashy metal. But there are some sweet solos. I cant stop listening to the title track, and Human Wasteland, Dedicated, and OMG,xDisciple ADx' own cult status amongst fans of spirit-filled Hardcore is bettered by only one band, No Innocent Victim. As it happens, the two bands played a lot together and often lent each other members and ideas. The theme carries on to this day as the legendary Dave Quiggle is seen laying down the bulk of NIV's riffs whilst also being the musical driving force behind Jesus Wept. In theory Jesus Wept carried on from where xDisciple ADx left off, with one Quiggle producing and the other Quiggle (Dan) Supplying lyrics and Vocals. The partnership works a dream on their debut full-length. On many of their standout tracks they interestingly manage to supply a form of hardcore that is accessible to newcomers to the scene, yet still ensuring the band maintain their underground credibility in a way that Comeback Kid or Stretch Arm Strong simply can't. Yes, this is accessible to a wider range of musical devotees but it's still hardcore and no mistake! For me, the standout tracks are "Break Me" and the extremely catchy "Broken Crown" segueing into "Dedicated", where they firmly nail their beliefs to the mast. Musically this is a mix of tough-guy and East Coast hardcore punk. Spiritually it deals with typical Christian hardcore themes but in a way that really does make you want to stand up and fight! The band's musical heritage shines through, ensuring this will probably be Strikefirst Records' best release of 2006(http://www.holymetalrob.com)

MIDNIGHT ORCHESTRA - DIGITAL SURVIVOR / 2000 /REVIEW / BIOGRAPHY

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(13-TRACKS)
1-MEET THY DOOM
2-DIGITAL SURVIVAL
3-GOD
4-I AM A LIE
5-PAY TO PRAY
6-EVRYDAY PEOPLE
7-CHAOS
8-THE ONLY ONE
9-TEMPTATION
10-CAIN
11-NO MORE MONSTERS
12-THE CAGE(Bonus Track)
13-WAR DANCE(Bonus Track feat "Wedding Party")
MIDNIGHT ORCHESTRA - LAND OF NOD / 1999














THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(12-TRACKS)
1-WAR DANCE
2-THE CAGE
3-CAIN
4-RENDER
5-BEYOND THE GRAVE
6-COVERED IN BLOOD
7-FEAR
8-THE OATH
9-CREATURES OF THE NIGHT
10-THE CROSS
11-BEYOND THE GRAVE(Demo)
12-OUR GOD REIGN(Demo)
BIOGRAPHY:
"Rather than pursuing an aggressive style, Mick Rowe (formally from the 80's band TEMPEST) has written an album I would call kind of soothing, due to his passive relaxed and almost whispered style of singing. Sheri Watters of the now defunct WEDDING PARTY, assists with her vocals furthering the gothic cause. The name of the game here is simplicity - and it works. The guitars although not displaying any real technical prowess, promote the darkish modern rock sound well, perhaps enabling 'Midnight Orchestra' to obtain quality airtime. With goth rock on the rise and becoming more of the flavour of the day, 'Midnight Orchestra' have shown us all they are one band to be savoured."

REVIEW:(Digital Survivor)
For many people the pleasure of listening to a song comes from their appreciation of the music itself. These people make up the majority of our society and based that information alone Midnight Orchestra's "Digital Savior" should be a hit! For the rest of you (myself included) who analyze a song or album as a completed work of art, Digital Savior isn't going to impress us as easily. One thing we must take into consideration are the words. Is this artist/group a lyricist? Do the words they write and/or sing actually make you think? Are the lyrics predictable? Are they well thought out or do they sound like they were just thrown together? To answer the last four questions when evaluating Digital Savior The innovative production by Tim Trudeau of Sackcloth Fashion is so superior that it can keep the attention of even the most critical listener. The whole album tends to stick to the same few instruments and Chords but amazingly enough the unique drum patterns and varying approaches in vocal delivery kept my ears pleased for the majority of my listening experience. The First Song, which is the title track, is both laid back and aggressive at the same time. The pounding Drum Loop Compliments the dark vocals and sets the mood for the rest of the album. A gothic/industrial experience with the bang of a hip hop record and the intensity of a drum and bass project. The songs I appreciated the most were "God", and "I'm a lie" which believe it or not is pretty much just a hip-hop song that was very well written and performed. Most folks don't like it when the end of a movie is given away, so to avoid ruining your listening experience I'll refrain from giving to many details about the pleasant surprises on Midnight Orchestra's Digital Savior. Sonically speaking the unique and innovative techniques used offset the shortcomings lyrically and musically enough for me to dub this album a "Must,It's hard to find Christian goth bands that actually sound good--this is one of them. I highly recommend this Album,this item was hard to findthis was true goth metal, good stuff! ,After the much acclaimed album 'Land Of Nod' we have this new release. The first track is a dark and atmospheric keyboard moment which builds your hopes for the rest of the album. The second track, the title track, introduces you to the "digital rock/metal" that colours the album, but there are also rap influenced songs such as "I'm A Lie" and "Chaos". All of the Drums are programmed, which gives it that "digital" feel, but these are offset by Heavy Guitar. However, as the album progresses you find yourself looking for more variance in the Drums and Guitar style - the novelty somewhat wears off. As each songs starts one is truly eager to hear how the song will progress, anticipating greatness, but in my opinion the majority of the tracks don't quite grab you after their intros. The themes addressed are excellent, covering everything from computer addiction to reaching people with real love and compassion. As frontman Mick Rowe says, the goal is to put ministry first and the words are thought provoking, encouraging people to a closer walk with the Lord. This is a big plus, but overall - mixed feelings...(http://www.holymetalrob.com)

KRONICLES - THE NEVER END - 2007 /

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(5-TRACKS)
1-SWITCH
2-GOTTA BE AN END
3-CALI
4-STILL WATERS(Version II)
5-TAKE ME
KRONICLES - THE NEVER END../2007/08














THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(8-TRACKS)
1-SWITCH
2-CALI
3-STILL WATERS
4-GOTTA BE AN END
5-TAKE ME
6-CIRCLE
7-MONA
8-REASON
KRONICLES - THE SONGMAKER / 2005















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-REASON
2-TRY
3-BIG BONED
4-CIRCUS PEANUTS
5-POECIA
6-MONA
7-CIRCLE
8-HELIX
9-SUN
10-WILD SYMPHONY
CREDITS:
Danny - Vocals
Johnny - Guitar
Steven - Bass
Lionel - Drums
BIOGRAPHY:
(http://www.myspace.com/kronicles)
"HM Magazine has named this band, “The Pick of the Litter” in 2008. Kronicles is made up of four men who have a true passion for their craft and mission, with Danny on Vocals, Johnny on Guitar, Andy on the Bass, & Anthony on the Drums. Their diverse backgrounds and musical influences bring to the table what national recording artist Kevin Max wrote to them saying, “you have a sound all your own”. After their win in a local battle of the bands and subsequent spot on the stage of Autumn Blaze festival they have jumped into the local and national scene with fury. "We were just friends that loved to play music together and when we won, it sparked us to push full-force,” says Danny. Since then they have played in many major festivals such as Cornerstone, Atlanta Fest, Ichthus, Soulfest, and Purple Door. This helped them gain a national fan base as well as opening for many national recording artists such as Newsboys, Superchick, Skillet, 12 Stones, Kutless, and Thousand Foot Krutch. With a powerful live performance, they commanded packed crowds at the festivals and an explosive reaction from the fans they call “Kronies”. Ed Young, former owner of The Source Magazine, says "I never knew how powerful this band really was until I saw them perform live.” Their sophomore release, The Songmaker, was an instant success. “Try” was the number 1 most requested song of 2007 on ChristianHardRock.net easily beating many Christian hard rock bands and other number one radio hits. And also their song “Reason” reached top hard rock song on Garageband.com. In an effort to reach more fans, the band made a music video for “Reason” which can be found on many online video sites including YouTube, where it already has 30,000+ hits and rising. Their most recent release, The Never End EP, has revealed a new, melodic direction for the band. With catchy choruses and hard-hitting breakdowns, coupled along with an acoustic track that is sure to ignite passion in all listeners, it has been distributed in a wider market including Itunes and Amazon. “As soon as we began getting invitations to perform in other states, we raised money to purchase a van and trailer, and we hit the road hard. With that came many exciting adventures. I remember coming back from a show in the mountains of PA and when the highway suddenly got covered in snow, the van could barely make it up the hills. We almost crashed after avoiding a truck and I never heard such nervous prayer in my life”, says Johnny. They realized the importance of being road warriors and gladly endured soggy home-made sandwiches and cramped-sleep in the van for the sake of reaching their fans face-to-face with their purpose driven message. With the extra time on and off the road, Kronicles produces and writes their own music, and well as video production and graphic design. They have sold thousands of cds, and it is rewarding for them to know that fans are taking more than just music home with them. The band continues to push forward with its mission: to magnify God through the music and lyrics that have become recognized not only here in the States but internationally(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)

DYNASTY - WARRIORS OF THE KING / 2008

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-FAITH
2-LIFE IS A MIRACLE
3-WARRIORS OF THE KING
4-HOLY FIRE
5-KING OF KINGS
6-BRIGHTER THAN A SUN
7-MASTER OF DISGUISE
8-SEE NO EVIL
9-BLOODY WAR
10-FREAK SHOW
DYSNATY - MOTUS PERPETUUS /2004















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-NOT IN VAIN
2-ETERNITY
3-AGAINST ALL EVIL
4-THE WORD THAT REMAINS
5-MITZVOTH
6-FOLLOWING THE SIGN
7-ANOTHER CHANCE
8-SALVATION
9-JUST FOR LOVING YOU
10-THE TIME IS OVER
11-GOLDENLAND
CREDITS:
Nahor Andrade - Vocals (Soul Hunter)
Cacsar Martins - Guitar
Tuta - Guitars
Gustavo Colen - Guitar
Ivan Almeida - Bass
Ademir Machado - Drums
Gustavo Ivon - Keyboard
Last Line Up & Former/Mast Members:
Filipe Duarte - Bass
Samuel Magno - Drums
Rafael Sales - Drums
Daflas Cruz - Guitar
Walter Canuto - Guitar
Wemerson Serino - Guitar
Andrae Baiano - Guitar
(http://www.myspace.com/dynastyheavymetal)









REVIEW FOR THE ALBUMS:
Dynasty certainly deserves to rank among those bands. Its full length debut "Motus Perpetuus" moves in a melodic power metal direction not unlike Harmony or Magnitude 9 while Reflecting the influence of other Brazilian bands such as Eterna, Shining Star and Destra. Displaying a great deal of confidence in its instrumental sound, Dynasty launches into several extended instrumental passages allowing the top notch guitar team of Tuta and Cesar Martins to showcase their abilities. Frontman Nahor Andrade contributes a very fine clean sounding mid-octave ranged voice. Ademir Machado furnishes the albums tight sounding work on double bass and forms a solid rhythm section with Bassist Ivan Almeida. Keyboardist Gustavo Ivon enhances the bands sound without unnecessarily detracting from it.Producer Ricardo Parronchi (Destra) performed an immaculate job on Motus Perpetuus. Crystal clear sounding sonics allow for a near perfect blend of rhythm and Lead Guitar backed by audible Bass lines, crisp Double Bass and a clean mix of keyboards.A great deal of credit goes to Avantage Records for an excellent packaging job featuring professionally done album artwork in addition to a sixteen page CD booklet with easy to read lyrics and several band photos.

REVIEW FOR THE TRACKS:
After "Not In Vain" takes off in a fast paced manner to a prominent mix of keyboards, a near perfect blend of rhythm guitar and keyboards leads the way to a smooth sounding chorus detailing the work of Christ in the cross,A combination of Bass Guitar and Keyboards opens an instrumental passage carried by several seconds of tight sounding lead guitar work.Commencing to a quickly moving double bass driven riff, "Eternity" slows as a crisp rhythm guitar steadily pushes it to a chorus giving rise to a good commercial feel. Thirty seconds of fluid lead guitar work aligns itself with the songs upbeat tempo. "Eternity" talks about exactly that,Once the hard hitting rhythm guitar at the start of "Against All Evil" drops from the mix, Almeida’s bass guitar is left to carry the beginning of the songs first verse. The rhythm guitar returns, however, to impel the song in emotionally charged fashion until it culminates for a chorus backed by just the right amount of Double Bass. Thirty seconds of dual lead guitar work highlights an instrumental passage ending to tastefully done Keyboard Solo. "Against All Evil" deals with spiritual warfareSubsequent to an acoustic guitar slowly moving "The Word That Remains" through its first verse, the rhythm Guitar kicks in at the start of the second and carries it to an incredibly catchy melodic flavored chorus. Eduardo Parronchi (Destra) makes a guest appearance on lead guitar and delivers a very well done fiery Guitar Solo. "Mitzvoth" gets underway to an even blend of edgy rhythm guitar and keyboards, the two propelling the song until it slows for a sweeping chorus accentuated by Andrade's clean sounding vocal delivery. Eduardo Parronchi contributes another impressive performance on lead guitar, his solo starting slowly until it picks up in speed and ends in a satisfyingly fast paced manner.The seven minute progressive metal masterpiece "Following The Sign" is by far the albums strongest track. Quickly conveyed through its first and second verse by a near perfect mix of rhythm guitar and double bass, the song culminates for a beautifully flowing chorus with a huge refuse to go away hook. A two minute instrumental passage showcases a combination of rhythm guitar harmony and flashy lead guitar work. The songs subject matter is self-explanatory,Initiated by a bass Guitar Solo, "Another Chance" moves forward to a crisp rhythm guitar prior to slowing to a quietly played guitar line upon reaching its first verse. As "Another Chance" picks up in pace, the rhythm guitar returns and drives it to an extensive chorus in which the band makes a statement of faith,A nice lengthy guitar solo stands in perfect complement to the songs pace and feel.A seventies influenced mix of rhythm guitar and organ opens "Salvation" before an edgy guitar riff carries its first and second verse and double bass the swiftly moving chorus that follows. Slowing to a bluesy guitar solo, one of the albums finest moments occurs when a minute long dual lead guitar trade off is carried over more double bass. The message to "Salvation" is self-explanatory,A piano takes the ballad "Just For Loving You" through its first and second verse until the rhythm guitar enters the mix at the start of the third. Picking up in pace for its bridge, the song flows to a good commercial flavored chorus bolstered by vocal harmonies. "Just For Loving You" talks about the forgiveness offered in Christ,Introduced to a rapidly moving combination of rhythm guitar and keyboards, "The Time Is Over" advances through its first verse at an upbeat tempo. After the bass guitar moves to the front of the mix, it helps leads the way to an energy laden chorus progressing at breakneck speed. A tastefully done dual lead guitar trade off carries a well timed instrumental passage."Goldenland" begins to a slowly moving mix of keyboard and rhythm guitar until it builds momentum and proceeds through its first and second verse in a fast paced manner.Gaining impetus during its Bridge ,"Goldenland" crest for an anthemic chorus ending to a bass guitar solo. Lead guitar and keyboard interplay carry the song through its instrumental passage.Motus Perpetuus is a musically solid effort from front to back that gives prominence to an immaculate production job and the bands top notch musicianship. "Against All Evil" and "The Word That Remains" stand out with their catchy melodies, while "Following The Sign" is nothing less than a great example of progressive metal. The rest of the albums compositions, however, I would rate as good to very good but not quite great. Hence, the challenge facing Dynasty is to continue to improve its songwriting skills to come up with even better material highlighting catchier choruses and more noteworthy melodies. I look forward to hearing more from this promising young band in the future(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)

DRACMA - PERFECT CREATION / 2002

THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-THE GLORY(KHRISTOS VOSKRES
2-LAVDATE
3-THIS GENERATION
4-THE FALL
5-WAITING
6-MOUNTAIN
7-RIDERS
8-SUFFERING VIOLENCE
9-CLOUDS IN THE DESERT
10-PERFECT CREATION
11-SUOR DE SANGRE
CREDIT:
Fabrício Rezende - Vocals
Laércio - Bass
Ivan Alatxeve - Guitar
Liênio Medeiros - Drums
Gustavo - Guitar
Max - Keyboards
Former/past members
Fábio Tancini - Vocals
Marcelo Reis - Guitar
Thiago Medeiros - Bass
André J. Silva - Keyboards









BIOGRAPHY:
(http://radio.holymetal.org/)
Dracma is known as a Christian power metal band that has excellent music, though often sub-par vocals.Combining elements of power metal and straightforward hard rock on its full length debut Perfect Creation, Dracma deserves to rank with other top notch Brazilian Christian metal bands such as Dynasty, Shining Star and Destra. The bands first rate musicianship stands out as a strength of the project. Guitarist Ivan Alatxeve contributes a solid rhythm guitar sound while showcasing his abilities on lead guitar best on tracks such as "Riders" and "Suffering Violence". Keyboardist Andre J. Silva adds just the right amount of touch to the bands sound. Drummer Lieno Medeiros forms a tight rhythm section with bassist Thiago Medeiros. The area of lead vocals, however, proves a bit of a weakness in that the dry vocal delivery of Alexandre Schultz can come across in a manner that is strained and at times borders on the abrasive.

"This Generation" roars through its first verse before launching into an instrumental passage driven by an edgy rhythm guitar backed by double bass. Slowing slightly for the second, the song picks up in pace and repeats its first verse prior to arriving at a second instrumental passage. "This Generation" repeats its second verse and closes to a third and final instrumental break,"The Fall", a very well done instrumental, progresses from front to back to a catchy combination of keyboards and rhythm guitar.

The melodic hard rock of "Waiting" begins to a few seconds of clashing symbols before a driving rhythm guitar slowly carries it forward. Once the rhythm guitar plays a reduced role in the mix, the song moves through its first and second verse at an even mid-tempo before it attains a good catchy chorus. An instrumental passage closing its last minute and a half begins to several seconds of lead guitar that gives way to a blend of rhythm guitar and keyboards. "Waiting" talks about God's faithfulness:(http://radio.holymetal.org/)

After "Mountain" jumps out of the gate in a hard rocking upbeat fashion, it slows as a grit-laden rhythm guitar slowly conveys it to a sweeping melodic flavored chorus. Alatxeve follows with a guitar solo that begins quickly only to transition to a slower more blues based style of playing. While quite solid musically, "Mountain" serves to reveal the limitations Schultz's raw edged voice, particularly upon reaching its demanding chorus.

An acoustic guitar slowly takes the creative "Riders" through its first and second verse. Abruptly picking up in pace, the rhythm guitar kicks in and pushes the song to a powerful chorus carried at an upbeat tempo. An awesome two minute instrumental passage gives Alatxeve ample opportunity to display his abilities on lead guitar.

"Suffering Violence" comes across with a laid back seventies influenced feel. Beginning to several seconds of bluesy guitar feedback, a gritty rhythm guitar underscored by an organ gradually pushes the song to a brief but hook laden chorus. A bass guitar solo opens an instrumental passage allowing Alatxeve to cut loose with more of his standout lead guitar work.

Commencing to the sound of blowing wind, "Clouds In The Desert" gives prominence to a catchy melody as a near perfect blend of acoustic guitar and keyboards bolsters its first verse. Alatxeve follows with an exquisite minute long guitar solo. The song continues through its second and final verse in an acoustic laced direction until it fades out to a well timed flute solo. "Clouds In The Desert", unfortunately, is another track in which Schultz's forced vocal delivery fails to complement the pace and feel of the music.

Once the albums hard rocking title track gets underway to a brief drum solo, a catchy combination of rhythm guitar and synthesizers evenly impels it strong and steady to a good hard hitting chorus. I wish the band had expanded upon an instrumental passage limited to several seconds of rhythm guitar. "Perfect Creation" deals with the end of time,The power ballad "Suor de Sangue" is the albums only track sung in Portuguese (the liner notes provide an English translation). Advancing to an anthemic blend of rhythm guitar and keyboards, "Suor de Sangue" slows to a near crawl for its verse prior to picking up in pace as the rhythm guitar carries it to a catchy emotionally charged chorus(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)