Σάββατο 27 Αυγούστου 2016

HYAENA – Metamorphosis review




HYAENA – Metamorphosis
Qua Rock Records
Here I have something that will bring joy to the fans and collectors of the 80’s metal sound. There is no doubt my friends that the 80’s was an era that heavy metal was forged and all the genres that we know now were developed or started back then. And although most of us when we speak about 80’s metal have in mind countries like Great Britain, Germany and the U.S.A. (after all that’s where the huge names of the genre popped out), if you do a good research then you will find out that other countries had a very good metal scene as well. Such a country is Italy which in the 80’s had a very strong and healthy scene (although we learned more about this scene in the late 90’s). Such a child of that era are HYAENA and I am here to present to you the re-release of their 1987 demo entitled “Metamorphosis”.

Τετάρτη 24 Αυγούστου 2016

TENTH AMENDMENT – Conviction review




TENTH AMENDMENT – Conviction
Independent
TENTH AMENDMENT is a U.S. based band that exists since 2010 and so far they have released two full length albums, their debut titled “Self Evident” in 2011 and this year they felt ready after five years of preparations to release their sophomore album “Conviction”. Their music is categorized as groove metal and I guess this description is very accurate, but if you ask me I prefer the term hardcore.

Κυριακή 21 Αυγούστου 2016

LACUNA COIL - Delirium review




LACUNA COIL - Delirium
Century Media Records
Despite the poor reviews lurking, I happen to differ in my perception of this sort of "concept" album if you want to call it that. It's a 4-some now as opposed to what the band was in the past in their lineup. Nevertheless, the band managed to create some pretty unique sounds with that dropped guitar tuning and the fluctuation/trade offs between Cristina and Andrea. So what if the album is slow! Read the lyrics and put them to the music it works out well, a good sounding release though people are more used to keying in on “Broken Crown Halo”, “Dark Adrenaline”, etc. This IS the new lineup, some fantastic guest lead guitar-work. As usual, I enjoyed hearing Cristina but it is a good combo. I think you would still put this in the "alternative metal" category, there were no fast bits to any of this.

Πέμπτη 18 Αυγούστου 2016

A TORTURED SOUL - On this Evil Night review



A TORTURED SOUL - On this Evil Night
Pure Steel Records
Having their second and third album, I was wandering what happened to this very promising metal band from U.S.A. It seems that they had some line – up issues and after they have solved that with the coming of 3 new musicians they strike back with their album “On this Evil Night”.

Τρίτη 16 Αυγούστου 2016

KRISIUN - The Great Execution review



KRISIUN - The Great Execution
Century Media Records
Another brutal ousting by this Brazilian trio, pure extreme death metal though not as extreme as earlier days such as “Conquerors of Armageddon”, though still heavy as hell. There are tracks that are a bit slower in tempo, but still blast beating is there accompanying the fast guitar bits. Moyses never ceases to amaze on the fretboard with his fantastic leads whizzing up and down the guitar. The rhythms are catchy, original and HEAVY. A lot of the songs are varied. I couldn't get much into the lyrics but the music is fantastic. The thickness of the main guitar I became a quick fan of this album. They still are kicking butt after years in the industry. I'd say this is their best newest album, though they do have one that came out in 2015. “The Great Execution” has got balls to it!

Σάββατο 13 Αυγούστου 2016

"Στρατός Περνούσε..." στη Νεοελληνική Λογοτεχνία

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ανθολογία λογοτεχνικών κειμένων που περιγράφει τον Ελληνικό στρατό από τον 19ο αιώνα μέχρι και τις μέρες μας. Δεν έχουν αλλάξει πολλά όπως θα διαπιστώσετε... Συγκλονιστικές στιγμές ειδικά όταν τα κείμενα αναφέρονται στις ταραγμένες εποχές της ελληνικής ιστορίας, αλλά και στα καψώνια (ευτυχώς η γενιά μου δεν τα έζησε), και στην αυτοκτονία (έτυχε να συμβεί μια κατά τη διάρκεια της θητείας μου στην Αλεξανδρούπολη). Ένα εξαιρετικό ανθολόγιο που θα ξυπνήσει μνήμες σε όσους υπηρέτησαν και θα δώσει μια γεύση για το τι είναι ο Ελληνικός Στρατός σε όσους θα υπηρετήσουν ή δεν θα υπηρετήσουν ποτέ.


Κυριακή 7 Αυγούστου 2016

ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ ΑΚΡΙΤΑΣ

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Αγόρασα το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο για να διαβάσω το μύθο του Διγενή Ακρίτα όπως τον αποδίδει ο συγγραφέας, που είναι αρκετά καλός, αλλά η γραφή του απευθύνεται σε πιο παιδικές ηλικίες (ένιωθα ότι διάβαζα κατά κάποιο τρόπο τον Μικρό Ήρωα). Η δύναμη όμως αυτού του βιβλίου βρίσκεται στα 22 διηγήματα που το συμπληρώνουν. Είναι διηγήματα που κατά κύριο λόγο παρουσιάζουν την Ελλάδα κατά την εποχή που έζησε ο συγγραφέας. Μια Ελλάδα, με τα ήθη και τα έθιμα της που παραμένει μέχρι και σήμερα διαχρονική, αρκεί βέβαια να την αναζητήσεις


WIDOW – Carved in Stone



WIDOW – Carved in Stone
Pure Steel Records
WIDOW is one of these bands that I haven’t followed closely, but I always end up listening to their albums and I even own some of them. Also they are a band that doesn’t rush to release a new album. Just check out their discography and you will see that there is a gap of 2, 4 and 5 years between their releases. Anyway, let us see what WIDOW have to offer us with their new album.

Τετάρτη 3 Αυγούστου 2016

ISOLERT – No Hope, No Light… Only Death review



ISOLERT – No Hope, No Light… Only Death
Ogmios Underground
There is no doubt that the Greek metal scene is at its best with many interesting and qualitative bands popping out, bands that have nothing to envy, that are not inferior to bands from abroad. ISOLERT may be newcoming but still they are a bright example of my aforementioned statement. The band was formed in 2015 and after a demo, about a year later they strike with their debut work with the very fitting and eloquent title “No Hope, No Light… Only Death”. I said eloquent because the title alone can work as the best hint to what this quartet is here to offer us…

Τρίτη 2 Αυγούστου 2016

Bright Nights


Bright Nights: Μυστικά της Νύχτας by Χρήστος Τερζίδης
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Άνθρωποι που λόγω κάποιου ταλέντου ή εμφάνισης, προερχόμενοι από φτωχές οικογένειες, καταφέρνουν να κάνουν το όνειρο τους πραγματικότητα και να ζήσουν μέσα στο γκλάμουρ, τα λεφτά και τη δόξα. Νιώθουν ότι ξέφυγαν από το μίζερο σύστημα που έκανε τους γονείς τους εργαζόμενους που πάλευαν για την επιβίωση. Άνθρωποι κενοί, που μετρούν τα πάντα με το χρήμα και χρησιμοποιούν τους άλλους ως αντικείμενα για τους δικούς τους σκοπούς, αντιλαμβάνονται στο τέλος ότι είναι γρανάζια ενός χειρότερου συστήματος που με την πρώτη "στραβή" τους πετάει και τους φτύνει.

Δευτέρα 1 Αυγούστου 2016

ZARPA - Dispuestos para atacar review



ZARPA - Dispuestos para atacar
Pure Steel Records
A band that started in 1977, an era that heavy metal music was starting to grow little by little, and still is active and releases albums... Well this is an achievement that is worth to be admired. In all these years the hardest task to achieve is to create music that won’t get astray from the original sound of the band and yet to evolve and sound fresh. It is something that very few have achieved, especially if you consider that inspiration doesn’t come on demand. One band that has achieved this is SAXON and I think that ZARPA can say that have achieved the same thing.