Lower The Veil – The 100^th Monkey
Self Release 2012

Lower The Veil hail from Boston and are the brainchild of singer, guitarist and songwriter Damien Baldwin. Having previously been a 5 piece going by the handle of ‘Friends Of Bob Wilson’, the band slimmed down to a three piece in 2011 and changed the name to signal a new beginning.

This album is the trio’s first release, blending together a post grunge sound with a progressive feel. Of the three tracks on this taster ‘Once Upon A Time’ is the best of the bunch, although all three tracks make for decent listening . Baldwin’s vocals and guitar playing are rather good, vocally he sounds a bit like Slayer’s Tom Araya at half volume if you can imagine that.

‘The 100^th Monkey’ is a short and sweet EP, which acts as a good introduction to the Lower The Veil cause.

***
David Wilson

Emina – Take 1
SixtySix Records 2012

Reading the PR blurb with this album it mentions Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Deep Purple as influences on front woman, Emina, and likens one of the tracks ‘(That’s Why) I’m Screaming’ to Metallica, all looked promising. Looking at the packaging as well, there is no doubt that this project is centered around Emina as her face appears at every possible instance, even on the disc itself.

The blurb though proved misleading , as they often are to be honest. The output of the band sounds more reminiscent of a Balkan Eurovision entry than Maiden or Metallica.
When rocking out on ‘Speeding On A Highway’ or the afore mentioned ‘(That’s Why) I’m Screaming’, it is all very safe and sanitised. The backing band are competent enough, but sound like a group of session musicians rather than a cohesive unit. Emina herself has a strong enough vocal, but with little character to it. It is when we hit the ballads though, of which there are many, that things really take a turn for the worse. Most would struggle to reach middle table in the Euro voting, mediocre pap of the first degree.

Emina had been signed to a ‘big label’ for 5 years in which time, as far as I can see, nothing was released with this album only coming out after her time was up. I think if this is what she produced during that period, the label made the correct decision in keeping her under wraps.

Tune into the Eurovision final at the end of May, it can’t be any worse.

*1/2
David Wilson

WINTER IN EDEN ‘Echoes Of Betrayal’ 2012 www.winterineden.com

Despite only being formed back in 2009 Winter In Eden have already released two albums and have just released this new album. They ply their trade in the prog/symphonic metal arena and in vocalist Vicky Johnson have someone powerful enough to rise above the metal bombast when needed.

‘For The Few’ is a cracking opener – lively riffs and great chorus and air guitar heroes will love the solos on ‘Trapped’. Another highlight is the superb instrumental ‘The Awakening Chapter V – Descension’, where the band really get to show their musical prowess. If I have one criticism it is that a few songs seem to follow a similar musical path.

If you like female fronted symphonic metal then grab this album pronto. Hopefully by their next album a bigger label will snap them up and get them the musical exposure they deserve.

****

Jason Ritchie

DANIEL TRIGGER ‘Infinite Persistence’ Indie 2012 www.danieltrigger.co.uk

Self-released solo album from Daniel Trigger who has been in bands since the early 1990′s. Musically this album may appeal to fans of Bonfire or Gotthard, although sadly the songs and being brutally honest, the vocals are not a patch on those two bands. ‘Losing My Faith’ and ‘Take Control’ are decent enough rockers but sadly the album lacks any catchy riffs or choruses to keep you coming back.

Jason Ritchie

4th Dimension – The White Path Of Rebirth

Crash & Burn 2011

Italian symphonic/power metal band who ply their trade at the lighter end of the spectrum – more emphasis on keys and the vocals of Andrea Bicego, who has a more mellow style than your average power metal singer. In fact the album highlights are the ballads and/or when he is joined by a female vocalist like on ‘Everlasting’. This tune could easily make daytime radio as it is not very metal and has plenty of keyboards/orchestration – a power metal Coldplay J ‘The Sun In My Life’ reminded me of Stratovarius and is the heaviest the band get.

Good sound and as you’d expect from symphonic metal no rough edges make for a decent listen but they lack the stand out tunes to help them reach the top of the power/symphonic metal pile.

***

Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)