Eclectic Vibes

by Andrew Frey

Reviews From: International
Putumayo Presents - Acoustic Arabia

Putumayo Presents - Acoustic Arabia

Putumayo Presents
Acoustic Arabia
Label: Putumayo World Music

Sandstorm powered acoustic grooves delight the senses and take us on subtle, laid back journeys through distant lands with a variety of Middle Eastern and North African artists including Les Orientales, Jamal Porto, and Zein Al-Jundi.

Putumayo Presents Website

Crematory - Pray

Crematory - Pray

Crematory
Pray
Label: Blistering Records

These mighty and powerful German gothic doom wizards have conjured another “very now” offering. Blasting a full spectrum of darkened metal including a multi tonal vocal attack plus some electronic elements expounds upon their prior 15 year catalogue of success

Crematory WebsiteCrematory Wiki

Jorn - Lonely Are The Brave

Jorn - Lonely Are The Brave

Jorn
Lonely Are The Brave
Label: Blistering Records

Built around Norwegian Jorn Lande who is touted as being an extraordinary vocalist. Upon listening however, I was struck by how ordinary and blaze’ the music and most of the vocals are. Surprisingly average overall.

Jorn WebsiteJorn Wiki

Kraak & Smaak - Plastic People

Kraak & Smaak - Plastic People

Kraak & Smaak
Plastic People
Label: Ultra Records

This club friendly concoction conjoins disparate musical rhythms and beats into highly contagious cohesive danceable rhythms. Quite a clever musical aptitude. The spaced out and mystical cover of “Man of Constant Sorrow” is worth reverence alone!

Kraak & Smaak WebsiteKraak & Smaak Wiki

Uriah Heep - Wake The Sleeper

Uriah Heep - Wake The Sleeper

Uriah Heep
Wake The Sleeper
Label: Sanctuary Records

Updating but not abandoning their classic 80s synth rock approach, this release shows the band as strong and musically alluring as ever.

Uriah Heep WebsiteUriah Heep Wiki

Apocalyptica - Worlds Collide

Apocalyptica - Worlds Collide

Apocalyptica
Worlds Collide
Label: 20 20/ Jive Records

Cellos and heavy metal may be an unlikely combination, but these fine Finnish folks have successfully been kicking out variants on their theme over the years. With several guest vocalists and a couple radio ready singles, this release is a smoking’ mix of their symphonic metal and thrashin’ ragers.

Apocalyptica WebsiteApocalyptica Wiki

Exciter - Thrash Speed Burn

Exciter - Thrash Speed Burn

Exciter
Thrash Speed Burn
Label: Blistering Records

Refusing to give up or modify their style, these Canadian thrashers have charged up their neck muscles for another go around. Their creative recipe remains mostly unchanged from days gone by: aggressive lyrics taunted by various “evils”  backed with anthemia choruses played over stereotypical thrash grooves.

Exciter WebsiteExciter Wiki

We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year - We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year

We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year - We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year

We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year
We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year
Label: Eagle Rock Entertainment

12 classic holiday tracks respun into riffed up xmas anthems by select metal all stars from bands including Anthrax, Judas Priest, Toto, Styx, Ratt, Dio and Black Sabbath. Something is both heartening and horrible as Lemmy gargles the lyrics to “Run Rudolph Run” and Geoff Tate warbles out “Silver Bells” while Chuck Billy growls a decidedly NOT “Silent Night.”

We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year Website

ZU - Carboniferous

ZU - Carboniferous

ZU
Carboniferous
Label: Ipecac Recordings

Cantankerous jazzy punk and experi-metal rife with overtones, harmonics and indifferent dissonance. This non-vocal trio from Rome breathes new visions of inspired avante art rock with every song penned and every blurry bass note they fondle.

ZU Website

Almah - Fragile Equality

Almah - Fragile Equality

Almah
Fragile Equality
Label: Blistering Records

Well flavored and maturely tempered power metal featuring former Angra members. Robust guitar solos are intertwined with pulsating rhythms and urgent vocals justifying the quality and caliber of this melodic power metal fury.

Almah WebsiteAlmah Wiki

La Otra Banda - Cuatro Tunes

La Otra Banda - Cuatro Tunes

La Otra Banda
Cuatro Tunes
Label: Sanjonero records

A trio of musicians originally from Venezuela, now slowly transplanting to Madison, bring us a teaser of their world beat amalgamation of South American melodies purposely infected with global influences.

La Otra Banda Website

Laura Reed & Deep Pocket - Live At Tree Sound Studios

Laura Reed & Deep Pocket - Live At Tree Sound Studios

Laura Reed & Deep Pocket
Live At Tree Sound Studios
Label: Treeleaf Music

Recorded live for Pandora’s Music Genome Project, this soulful high energy crew, lead by energetic South African born female vocalist, blasts their way through a saucy selection of material, displaying their song talents plus banter and anecdotes to round out the experience.

Laura Reed & Deep Pocket Website

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