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MANTICORA - Safe

From Denmark with great wickedness ...

Album name: Safe

Label: Nightmare Records

Release Date: September 21, 2010

Genre: Thrash / Power Metal

Introduction:

Hands up who knows the Manticore: who is raising his hand in this moment all my respect. This is a Danish band, now active for several years and having a list on the back label, including works of all respect. Fad started more than a decade with a power enough canon, European-style, but we can already see some changes from the standard, then you are in an advanced sound violent but much more melodic. A sound that owes much to American power and the power of Iced Earth Blind Guardian Teutonic masters (all mixed and taken with great taste and personality). The only misfortune is that this great band that I have never been able, willing or unwilling, to break it deserves. In fact, there is still a group that we can not count among the "big" the metal scene, but which deserves, objectively, a place in this great podium. In 2010, again, with this seventh album, as usual, full of ideas, that does not betray the expectations, and that, basically, no big innovations more than in the past. The coordinates are always based on a power metal thrash heavily peppered with explosions, all delivered in a sound-based violence to which it is impossible to remain indifferent. And so Safe is also why, where, however, are turning more and more abundant towards a thrash sound, much heavier than before. If the trend (of the market, above all) by many metal bands, there is an approach to sound more melodic and calm, it is not for the Manticore, which seem to impress more and more, stimulating the dirty side and rough and removing a small slice of the melody. So, good and laudable intentions, though, as fans and "follower" of the band, I feel I can say that the album did not hit me like other masterpieces of the past. The peaks of quality achieved by the amazing 8 Deadly Sins or The saga of horror Black Circus I & II, are not affected by this new effort, while remaining a good album that you can listen with pleasure. The tracklist is a cascade of hot metal: 7 pieces for 50 minutes of thrash-power class and power, no ballads, just coming off melodic. This is safe for you.

Track By Track:

The attack was entrusted to "In The Abyss Of Desperation" , which begins with a thrash riff, then switch to more melodic pieces and other heavier, melodic chorus at the right point and an excellent guitar solo, accompanied by an omnipresent double bass. After all, this is a very classic song at Manticore, and as such will surely appreciated by lovers of these sounds. The following "Silence The Freedom , follows on the heels of the previous track. Of note triplet rhythm and a slight decrease in speed, enough elements uncharacteristic of the group's sound. In mid-song has a brief interlude slowed down, almost oriental flavor. Final entrusted to a massive riff that fades, accompanied by a pounding double bass. Despite the good workmanship of the piece, the music flows without leaving a particular impression on his head. We continue with the next "Complete" , a riff that opens up high-impact, heavy, syncopated, and then give way to great melodies accompanied by a light-based keyboard. So on a slow and dark structure, follow one another very good riffs, but with some hints and insightful progressive acceleration in the chorus. However, the latter a bit sin 'of anonymity, and disperses nell'incedere the song, which becomes deprived of the right thickness. From here on, the songs become more interesting and restores the quality of the disc: "From The Pain Of Loss (I Learned About The Truth)" is the single chosen for an earlier album, and is accompanied by a video tamarrissimo they appear to excess flames surrounding the band, intent on playing. Leaving aside this aspect, the track (the shortest of the album, 4 minutes and 37 seconds) is certainly very valid. Once again, the rhythms are generally slowed, leaving room for a heavy gait and matrix thrash with melodic parts in the vicinity of the solo and chorus. Interesting responses growl, deep and extremely malignant. "A Lake That Drained" is, in my opinion, the most successful song of the album. Although there is nothing that shines a new light, the pace once again be damn fast, powerful, and returns some 'the scent of the last works of the band. The chorus is the most beautiful things can be heard in an album by Manticora: choir, melodic and dark like few others, known to capture the attention and is implanted in the mind from the first listen. A good song then, that once completed, gives way to another highlight of the disc, or "Carrion Eaters" : song by the beautiful melodies, opened with an amazing syncopated guitar riffs. The chorus follows the ingredients to the refrain of the song before, or double bass, choir and a certain intrinsic melodic darkness. After this excellent song, which, however, does not add anything particularly innovative sound to which we have become accustomed Manticora, The album closes with the title track "Safe" : In this long suite, which touches the 14-minute duration, there is a bit 'of everything that made it great and especially the music of Danish combo. After a short introduction of clean guitar, the song (basically a continuous profusion of metal free-range) continues, reckless, through various shades and changes of time, while maintaining a purely "metal". So, for the first 10 minutes, little room is left for melodic, which, however, often we would expect to find in a metal-suite. It 's a constant succession of angry riffs and embedded in art, prevent voltage drops. The last 4 minutes are entrusted to a more slow and melodic, driven by a light acoustic guitar. So ends this further proof of the good band, but does not add anything too new for the genre began.

Techniques and Concluding remarks:

The entire work is a music very compact and coherent, without excessive voltage drop. However, the major limitation of the album is that this leads to consistency in the long run, in a certain sense of repetitiveness. The lack of ballad negatively affect the rest on this issue, bringing the album to be heavy enough in his lifetime. In addition, as mentioned above, even after repeated plays, songs, in principle, tend to easily print in mind (some exceptions). Despite all this, it is still a very good job, made with great technical skill and a lot of inventiveness in the succession of guitar riffs and arrangements. The singer Lars, although it is a very special voice, instantly recognizable, which gives a dark dimension to the music of Manticora, however, weaves the vocal textures that appear to be often flat and repetitive. But basically, this has always been a feature of the band's sound, which, without Lars, not buy more than size that makes the dark Manticora so unique and special in their kind. Ovation of respect for the other musicians: the pair of axes vortices guitar weaves and ispiratissimo always excellent, and the rhythm section works with extreme surgical precision, with a name inspired and always hides behind the monstrous. However, in this new Safe at both scores and production, the battery does not stand out as in previous releases, where instead he was very insistent and certainly more effective and dominant. The scores of rare and keyboard are poorer than before, probably also addressed the choice decided by the steering thrash sound. A final word on the cover: the symbol of Manticora on a completely black background. So nothing more obvious, a very negligible cover, which does not reflect what is the quality of the album. Artwork separately, also taking into account how difficult it is, nowadays, able to compose an album that sounds fresh and on the whole, quite original, and taking into account the innate brilliance of these five musicians from Denmark, we can only that decided to hoist a thumbs-up for Manticore.

Tracklist:

01. In The Abyss Of Desperation

02. Silence The Freedom

03. Complete
04. From The Pain Of Loss (I Learned About The Truth)
05. A Lake Drained That
06. Carrion Eaters
07. Safe (Searching / A Miracle / Fading / End (less)

Rating: 7.5

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AVENGED SEVENFOLD - Nightmare

When a distinguished guest is not enough ...

Album name: Nightmare

Label: Warner

Bros Records Release Date: July 27, 2010

Genre: Alternative Metal / Heavy Metal

Introduction:

Avenged Sevenfold . Only to pronounce the name of the American band, three quarters of the population Italian metalheads feel shivers of disgust and contempt. It seems, in fact, that the good old American boys are particularly despised in our country, perhaps for that trend their fashionable and image, which wants to represent them as emo-metal-core band. And maybe, just a bit 'are parties with a couple of albums of metalcore, if you like, teen, melodic, pimp and biting, often supported by heavy brackets punk-hardcore (hear the song Streets to get an idea). After then, metal album is not essential for people, but still valid, they surprise in 2005 with City Of Evil: truly remarkable album, that begins to mix metal more "mature" a lot of class and technical ability with a usual emo-glam -punk. The successor is the namesake of 2007, trying to follow in the footsteps of the very good predecessor, without, however, able to enchant the right way. And now, after the recent and untimely death of the excellent drummer The Rev, the band returns with this swinging Nightmare album dedicated to the memory of that failure drummer. Who are they, then, Avenged Sevenfold in 2010? American conviction of having a band behind a glorious success, but that does not appear to ever be able to shine as it might. In fact, this new birth record seems to confirm this: there are songs that are included, since the first listening, too wasteful and pretentious, almost like a constant search, forcibly, of a riff that face shot of who can be catchy. Riff, however, is slow to arrive, or get better and not enter, thereby reducing the disc to a mass of many (bad) ideas badly blended together. Something good There is undeniable, but it seems already that good creative flow of the band has sold out with the first 3 albums. I hope to be wrong, because the band is technically valid and may be able to surprise us again, which, frankly, has failed to do in this new album along. Let us now precise analysis of the disk.

Track By Track:

The album begins, paradoxically, with one of the best songs of the platters, good title track "Nightmare" . Good slow start, with dark melodies and decadent, that leads immediately into a heavy and slow riffs thrash matrix-Southern. The chorus is melodic and spot on. Excellent central interludes and solos seasoned this song, which, though not anything that makes a miracle, undeniably gives hope for a good return of the band. However, from now on, the expectations will be denied. In fact, already with the next "Welcome To The Family" , one can see few ideas and no bite. The pace is still committed to a mid-tempo, and soon see a pimp and melodic chorus, almost collegial punk-oriented, "as many times we find in their discography. Although the piece is pretty obvious, you can listen. The first true and complete flop is as follows "Danger Line" : Do not leave any room for interesting ideas or some well-arranged solution. Everything sounds so utterly trivial, and dragged and without a hint of emotion. Embarrassing and decidedly out of place the piano interlude (appearing even the trumpets!), Which continues until the end of the song. What's more, the vocal lines of M. Shadows make it even flatter. In short, a piece of dull and insignificant. And the time of the first (semi) ballad of the album: "Buried Alive" . As regards the structure of the song, it almost seems that the band wants to rebuild the legendary One and Fade To Black of Metallica. In fact, we have a very good first part melodic, slow, sweet, and inspired arpeggios, accompanied by a chorus distorted more energetic. Too bad that, in this case, the next part of "metal" is somewhat 'predictable, monotonous and with little imagination, coming to deprive the entire story of the label of "good song". The next "Natural Born Killer" is the song faster and thrasheggiante disk. A song in the classic style Avenged. A good start, as well as in the solo guitar arrangement, but otherwise is a succession, once again, the (few) good insights mixed, with no apparent logic, other confused. One song, then, that could be developed in a manner far more inspired. Rather insipid the next melodic ballad "So Far Away" : Once again, we face a song that, although losing to listen, hide the good ideas that seem, unfortunately lazy, not being able to explode and be assertive. We are witnessing a revival in the end, but its contribution is not enough to fully appreciate this one episode swinging. An elementary introduction of clean guitar introduces us to "God Hates Us" , which explodes into a fast riff and bad. In this song reappears in the old growl M. Shadows abandoned after the first two discs. The song continues on track thrash-core American-style (at times, it almost seems that the band trying to ape the Panther, with seizures of bland guitar), representing an episode only managed sufficiently and, ultimately, rather than an end in same and insignificant, to restore the fortunes of the disc. As if what we have heard so far were not enough, the band we propina well after 3 (!) More slow songs, the quality of which is challenged by ideas and often drag trivial: it seems as if the band is exhausted and convinced had given to his own people all the best that could offer, so pulling out of the songs absolutely tired and pale. The terrible triptych consists of: 1 - "Victim" , too melodic, drags on for longer than 7 minutes and 30 seconds, not adding anything new to disc, if not further evidence that the band is a considerable lack of good ideas. The mold of the song is almost geared up for a soft-pop-rock radio. Yet another misstep very negligible. 2 - "The World Dies Tonight" leans wearily along the lines of the previous track. Needless to say, come to this boredom prevail over any small hope to hear something really good. 3 - "Fiction" , really strange and unusual piece. This is a song written by the late drummer The Rev, piano completely, at times agonizing, scores between pop, and other parts darker. Ok, Avenged dear, we admire the courage to risk putting a song so special, but the problem is inserting it into a tracklist already thoroughly undermined and unnecessary, even after two consecutive ballad. But beyond this, the real problem is that the song is absolutely inconclusive and, like many others, is lost in his inconsistency, and concludes the dance leaves a bad taste in my mouth. We are in the end, the last song of the album: the long (11 minutes in length) "Save Me" . Finally, a good song, which, incredibly, it hits and not tired. But now (and thankfully) we are at the end of this long drive. The suite, in its length, finally shows very good ideas. Heavier pieces alternate with parts and almost symphonic scores in the classic sound of the group. Significant acceleration in the solos, followed closely by a part where we hear a Mike Portnoy finally inspired, that very much recalls his personal way of playing in Dream Theater. A slower and inspired the final song closes the entire album. Too bad the rest of the album is not up to this last episode.

Techniques and Concluding remarks:

Here we are at the end of this hard disk. One thing worth noting: the host (right now, apparently, fixed component) selected to replace the regret The Rev on drums, Mike Portnoy is already very well known for her performances in progster Dream Theater (which certainly need no introduction). Who knows Portnoy knows that he has no problems to relate to the playing of the late The Rev, who was still a great drummer, with high technical quality and taste. But it must be said, the performance Mike, on this record, it is absolutely worthy of his fame and his own abilities. Perhaps he expected much more. Another demerit of note, as mentioned, goes to singer M. Shadows: her voice does not shine a particular skill, but winning on the charismatic. It 's a dirty distinctive voice, high-cut and "sleazy" (what I mean?), But lies, unfortunately, on the vocal lines often flat, monotonous and ultimately very repetitive. That said, the key remains the most painful of heavy rock songwriting, as already mentioned, confusing and lacking in good invention. So much so that even over there I could not define a genre precise, channeling all in an eloquent but, alas, dispersive "heavy metal" (basically, everything comes from there, no?). For the rest of the band travels on a good production, excellent technical levels, such as the lead guitarist Synyster Gates, or the above-mentioned special guest Mike Portnoy (no need to remember that technically is a monster?). The cover image is of course very interesting and appropriate to the title, but not enough to revive a hard fragile, so as not enough just 3 or 4 good songs out of eleven tracks in total. We must have more confidence in the band, is to be hoped that the heads are going one more than they should (or more than they have already done), and manage to pull off a quality job than this Nightmare, who sincerely believe in the future rarely turn on my mp3 player. While waiting for the turn, I return to listen to me ... or maybe City Of Evil, Dream Theater.

Tracklist:

01. Nightmare

02. Welcome To The Family

03. Danger Line

04. Buried Alive

05. Natural Born Killer

06. So Far Away

07. God Hates Us

08. Victim

09. Tonight The World Dies

10. Fiction

11. Save Me

Voto: 5,5/10