Beats & Noisecapes

Some bands enter your life and stay with you. They become a central part of your life. Years go by and release after release, the band grows and evolves together with you (or you with them). Anathema is one of those bands for me. The melodies and emotion of 1998's Alternative 4 moved me. I knew I had discovered a band that had something special, something that set them apart. This feeling became even stronger the following year with the release of Judgement . Anathema had found themselves as a band, they were not afraid to take risks and I was happy to go with them wherever they wanted to lead me. For the first interview on this blog, I could not resist the opportunity to speak to Anathema, and Daniel Cavanagh was kind enough to answer my questions. Anathema's last few releases have seen the band evolve into a more stripped down minimalist sound. I love these albums and find them incredibly beautiful and moving but Judgement has always remained my all time Anathema...

Originating from France, Alcest is a band that creates utterly beautiful music with shoe gaze, post rock and dream pop influences. In Shelter the band leaves behind bursts of guitar, all the elements are smoothed out and melody, beauty and ethereal qualities are emphasised to great effect.  From album opener Wings/Opale all the way to the closing track Deliverance, the album takes the listener into an ethereal otherworld. This is a soundtrack of wonder and beauty. In this regard, apart from the the album opener and closing track mentioned above, I would highlight Voix Sereines. Placed half-way through the album is the heart of the album with a great mix of delicate sounds and lullaby-like feel. Best of all, though, the album is consistent in quality and concise at 47 minutes. The songs are great on their own but are best appreciated in the context of the album. The mix of post rock and dream pop qualities is perfectly blended and the band manages to sound honest and tru...

Gamma Ray have been around for a long time and Empire of the Undead is exactly what you would expect from the band. Fast, heavy, epic and melodic, power metal. Whilst many bands have moved away from power metal and changed their styles, Gamma Ray have always stayed true to themselves. This is a band with very little evolution over the years but one that always delivers consistently. The album opener Avalon is a perfect example of what Gamma Ray do best. The song is epic, perfectly built with a slow introduction that builds up into a half tempo majestic part with an excellent chorus. Half way through, the song increases the tempo and moves into power metal territory. Hansen has always known how to create songs like this and he nails it, once more. The song is perfectly built in terms of music contrasts, rhythm changes and story telling.  From then on, the album is quite varied, showcasing the different sides of the band. It's hard to pick favourites but apart from Avalon...

Originating from Germany Xandria has been around since the late 90's and has delivered great albums. Unfortunately, they have always remained in the shadow of other symphonic metal bands and the last few years they've had problems retaining their vocalist. Thankfully, this album will put all those things in the past.  Sacrificium is an excellent symphonic metal album from start to end. In fact, the first thing that struck me when listening to it was how consistently good the album is. There are no real stand out songs as they all complement each other and create a whole. The album is symphonic but the band has a very present and heavy sound. The music is epic in scope but the songs are tight. The album is varied and show many shades but it always feels coherent.  Xandria have managed to create an excellent album. I honestly can't stop listening to it. One of my favourite symphonic metal albums for a very long time. Rating: Heavy Rotation