norwegianmetal

Angel Heart – Angel Heart

Angel Heart – Angel Heart
Mighty Music
Release Date 18/05/2018
Running Time 48:08
Reviewer Tsarina Wilson
9.5/10

Most members of the band Angel Heart are part of the established Norwegian heavy metal band Highland Glory and have musical roots that go back to 1980’s hard rock such as Judas Priest and Queensryche. The group’s line up consists of the clean, crisp voice of Trine Elise Johanson, keyboards and guitars by Lars Andre’ Larsen, drums by Morten Faeovig and bass by Oystein Aaseby Pedersen, and together they make an amazing band. They released their debut album on 18th May 2018, the self-titled “Angel Heart”.

This album has lots of great qualities. Trine’s voice is just outstanding, so clean and crisp and just one of those voices you can listen to, close your eyes and drift off to another world. The guitar riffs keep you wanting more with every song and with a drum beat that has you playing air drums, what is there not to like with this album? It’s fun, it’s punchy, it’s emotional and it’s packed with energy from start to finish. Even if you’re not into rock music, this album is catchy and such a great listen.

The stereotypical rock music from Norway seems to have to an assumed persona of harsh looking and gruff sounding, but this is like night and day to what you think it is going to be. The intense lyrics of ‘She Is Strong’ chill you to the bone, and, being a mother myself this hit a chord with me. It is very much a girl power song, a real anthem to us ladies, and with power melodies “angel’s face and angel heart,” the intensity of the music brought a tear to my eye.

Then there’s ‘Rock Friends’. The guitar riffs that start this off are just amazing. And hey, we all have rock friends. I can see this being sung loud and proud at any concert about true friendships and being there for each other, and the lyrics “we’ll be friends until the end” sums up most rock friendships.

Worth the Wait? Yes, it has been as I can’t say one bad word about this album. It has everything you could want in a rock album; a knock out rock beat, amazing guitar riffs, and such outstanding vocals. The songs have so much meaning behind them, they are catchy, and you will know the words in no time. Rest assured you will soon be singing along with them at the top of your voice (and this is where I say sorry to my neighbours!)
It’s very rare to find an album where there isn’t at least one track you’re not into, not sure of or don’t like. Well, this is one such album as I love every single one of them. The listener is transported from Hard Rock to Soft in a heartbeat and without losing any of the enjoyment.

The last track ‘Sailing Against The Wind’ is very emotional, a story of loss but remembered always in dreams, compared to the rest of the album. This is an emotional roller coaster and if you have ever lost anyone special this will certainly hit home.
If this is their debut album, then I hope they are already writing new material for the next one as I will be waiting for it. Just brilliant!

TRACKLISTING:
01. Burning Desire
02. Run Away With Me
03. I Don’t Need Love
04. Forever Free
05. She Is Strong
06. My Spirit Will Live On
07. Rock Friends
08. Worth The Wait
09. Sailing Against The Wind

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Tsarina Wilson and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Blood Moon Hysteria – My Sacrifice EP

Blood Moon Hysteria – My Sacrifice E.P
Wormholedeath Records
Release Date: 13/04/2018
Running Time 22.03
Reviewed by Tsarina Wilson
6/10

Blood Moon Hysteria are a Norwegian band, founded in 2015 and consist of Runar Beyond (music and lyrics) and Fredrik S.

This E.P is very atmospheric in music but very dark and gritty in vocals with Runar’s impressive gravelly voice. With just 4 tracks, you would be forgiven for thinking you were going to get some run of the mill tracks but this is truly a dark and melancholy set of songs.

The acoustic guitar playing is quite haunting at times and the riffs are enough to give you goose bumps, yet somehow they manage to gel with the fuzzy vocals and everything just seems to work. The spoken part is very dark and, although the words are difficult to understand, it doesn’t leave anything to the imagination. It’s gritty and powerful, almost a throw-back to 90’s black metal.

The band focus on electric guitars, deep bass, eerie mellotron, which separately are good but mixed together are very explosive, and the synths are very clean to listen to. The tracks start slowly, build you up and then take you back down again.

TRACKLISTING:
01. My Sacrifice
02. Deception
03. Towards the Abyss
04. Deception Part 2

LINKS:

Circus Maximus – Havoc in Oslo

Circus Maximus – Havoc In Oslo
Frontiers Music SRL
Release Date: 04/08/2017
Running Time: CD1: 43:19 / CD2: 41:55
Review by Tsarina Wilson
9.5/10

These Norwegian metallers celebrated their fourth studio album, Havoc, on the 4th February 2016 at the Rockerfeller Club in Oslo, with an explosive gig, complete with pyro, sparks, and a massive lighting rig, to make sure the show was as amazing as their songs. They, then, decided they wanted to give some of this atmosphere to those less fortunate who weren’t there by releasing this live album of the gig. Close your eyes, draw the curtains, put this on loud and you are there in the venue with them.

The band, Michael Eriksen on vocals, Mats Haugen on guitar, Glen Mollen on bass, Truls Haugen on drums and, finally, Lase Fribraten on keyboards, have moulded together so amazingly. The guitar riffs, that change from ice clean to pure metal, are a refreshing change and the keyboards leave you wondering if there are other instruments. It really is so good to listen to as it makes you stop and listen intently.

Ever since the band released “Live in Japan” via YouTube, they have wanted to put together a live release in physical format for us all to listen to. With this album, they have got a giant pot, added amazing musicians, clear crisp metal vocals, rock, metal some maturity, strength and love, given it a stir around and this is the result. The vocals by Michael are gritty, mesmerizing but epic and guitars are almost hypnotic.

This band leaves no stone unturned in their expression of music but don’t let the softer songs lead you into a false sense of security. These guys mean business and pack a mighty punch and the synth playing is seriously good listening.

My favourite track is ‘Arrival of Love.’ It’s a ‘sing at the top of your voice song’ (ok maybe that’s just me then!) but I love the guitar riff and the synths in it keep you wanting more. ‘The Abyss’ is just ‘BOOOOM we’re off’ and does not stop from start to finish. It’s just brilliant, although a lot grittier than some of the other tracks.

This album is just raw pleasure from start to finish and they have definitely gained another fan.

TRACKLISTING:
CD1:
01. Forging
02. Namaste
03. The One
04. The Weight
05. Highest Bitter
06. Architect of Fortune
07. Arrival of Love
08. Loved Ones

CD2:
01. Sin
02. Havoc
03. Pages
04. Abyss
05. I Am
06. Chivalry
07. Game of Life

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Tsarina Wilson and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to do adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.