Pain - Cynic Paradise

The multi-talented Peter Tägtgren, is back as Metal Industrial band Pain, Peter plays with both synthesizers/electronics, sharp guitars, and he designs an interesting style of industrial metal music. The Album Cynic Paradise certainly paints a 19th century picture containing gothic medieval warriors going into battle with B.C. Rich Guitars and techno blasting in a barren wasteland. The first song taken from the album is I’m going in, it opens with a gothic choir busting into fast paced heavy metal music. Like most metal music the lyrics are just about audible (but that’s what we want to hear) while managing to included a nice synthesized piece at the end. Probably one of the best songs on the album is dubbed Follow Me, keeping the music fairly similar in style, tone and structure however bringing in a female backing singer which makes the chorus more harmonised and giving the song that extra kick to make you flesh into gear and get those glow sticks out. Similar to most industry most like MSI and Nine Inch Nails this band has a lot more to offer as they can apply to cyber-punks while still letting metal fans bang their heads away. No One Knows a song which I found myself repeating quiet often due to its catchy lyrics and fantastic fast drum placed rhythm. The album on a whole is a new experience which will be a portal for people who are beginning to get into industry music just like pendulum is to drum and bass or Metallica to heavy metal. Overall this band and album is a building block for newbie cyber-punks and metal industrialists everywhere.

Review by Aron Riordann

Backyard Babies - Drool

Coming to you from Sweden……………….. Once again this country has spawned another great rock band Backyard Babies. This time supplying some powerfully amplified metal tunes with their new single Drool. Unleash the hair and rock out to this band with their powerful guitar chords structure and head bang worthy lyrics, definitely one for the rockers everywhere. Also featuring a bonus track F*©k off and Die, which is a more kick back rock tune with a guitar solo which will bring you to you knees and once again proving that rock isn’t dead.

Review by Aron Riordan

Mike Whellans – Fired-up and Ready

I’m a big fan of the blues, now Mike Whellans is not up there with the greats such as Rory Gallagher or The Blues Brothers but he is still a fantastic artist. This one man band produced his new album, Fired-up and Ready containing chillaxing blues music that would be consider very easy listening. The song Fired-Up and Ready, the first of three of my favourites, brings back good old classical blues with superior harmonica tunes, captivating guitar structure and memorable lyrics, this one is for all blues lovers. The next of my favourites is a song dubbed Early in the morning, a very relaxed song unlike the others as in brings in some flavoursome piano compositions while still keeping the harmonica hot! The final song of my favourite tracks is Lonesome Road, although still a blues song it gives a good country feeling to it, with fantastic lyrics telling a story about an enraged women hunting a man down. The album on a whole is a great piece of work which I would be glad to have in my blues collection.

Review by Aron Riordan

Fables Last Stand - A New Breed EP

Coming to you from Newcastle, this 5 piece bands delivers a 5 star Ep, A New Breed. The Ep opens up with a catchy tune, New Breed, which will have your air guitars standing ready to rock. Head bang your life away with hardcore guitar riffs and energetic drums beats. Their next song, Stray Dog, takes things a lot slower than their first track but still keeping up with first class standards, with powerful, sing-a-long lyrics this is bound to be an end of night song in every rock bar near you. Shooting Star, their third track brings back good old rock ‘n’ roll which will be a major interest for those classical rock lovers out there, get your lighters ready. Ending the Ep with another chill back tune, Don’t Come Down (hard), will remind you why you love rock music with its mesmerising guitar and drum structure and its loveable lyrics. This Ep as a whole is a gift from the power of rock ’n’ roll to us all, so shift the pictures of Led Zeppelin to the left a little and hang this band on the wall of fame.

Review by Aron Riordan