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Appitne 'Endless Pathways'
An excellently broad second demo from this Dundalk duo (formed from Manifest and Prophecy), which touches upon a range of genres through three very different songs. I've listened to this demo again and again, and opener 'Rise Again' still remains my favourite in terms of its delivery... think of a cross between Bal Sagoth and Megadeth, and you should get an inlking of what lies therein. It's a great song, a really uplifting toon that'll have ye flailing around in your chair like a spakker. Follower 'Carnival Slayer' calls to mind the lo-fi Death Metal (and even lower vocal deliveries) of the likes of Skinless. Finally, 'Darkened Dreams' contains some passionate Celtic-stylings and excellent vocals. Despite the sheer aural variety here, Appitne manage to acquit themselves will style and flair, never once losing their identity. Very impressive. (Spandex)
(contact: John Rankin, Castletown Mount, Dundalk, Co Louth, Ireland. Email: appitne@europe.com)
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Condemned 'Somebody Stop'
Another gore-grind band... anything of note about this Belfast crew? Actually, yes. For whilst they may be perceived by many as yet another superfluous addition to a done-to-death genre, one listen to this demo will show that there's much more to these guys than three chords and a few gurgles. Giving room for interlude weird-outs (as on 'Enter the Boneyard'), their sound is much more engaging than the song titles may suggest. Production wise, it's not great (the drum sound is particularly disappointing), and doesn't come close to doing full justice to their live presence (these guys supported Napalm Death a few months back... and slayed all before them), but it does demonstrate the ideas made flesh by these model young citizens. A crew to keep a festering eye on for sure. (Spandex)
(contact: c/o Willy Taylor, 9 Glenkyle Ave, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, BT36 6SR, N.Ireland. Email: dangleit@yahoo.com
Web: www.angelfire.com/extreme3/condemned)
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Conquest of Steel 'Priests of Metal'
"Fisting in the name of Metal, bang your head in the name of Satan..."... great. This demo makes me gurgle with pleasure. Conquest of Steel, five hairy arsed warriors of the Rock Apocalypse, come up trumps with this demo, a rip-roaring race through the 'Boy's Own' annals of Metal which manages to come out sounding like the entire Manowar back catalogue synthesised into four songs. Tongue firmly-in-cheek (or lower bowel), these guys' dedication to Metal is clear... it's no lame, smart-ass piss-take, more of an affectionate dig, if y'ken... and all topped off with the superbly epic 'Fisting in the Name of Metal' recorded, ahem, before an estatic Hammersmith crowd. Very Heavy, very Metal.. and very Bad News. File alongside 'Lesshelp' in your collection. (Spandex)
(contact: c/o Guy, 112a Huddersfield Rd, Brighouse, West Yorks, HD6 3RH, England, UK. Email: band@conquestofsteel.co.uk Web: www.conquestofsteel.co.uk)
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Cosmonaut 'Cosmonaut'
Excellent. Opener 'One Star' grooves with the same monolithic monster riffs which the now-defunct fellow-Belfast rabble 'The Kabinboy' used to great effect in their various outings. I won't mention the dread phrase 'stoner-rock', for two good reasons... firstly, it's an empty, meaningless phrase... secondly, it's inappropriate here. Hold on, and add a third reason... I think these guys'd get rather upset! Suffice to say that the energy of Monster Magnet exists here, the spirit of a certain Mr Iommi pervades the whole affair, and the stripped-down 'less-is-more' ethos captivates supremely. If there's any criticism to be made of this demo, it'd be that closer 'Down in Stone' is perhaps a tad too ponderous for its own good. (Spandex)
(contact: cosmonautical@yahoo.com)
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Loadstone 'Red Sky'
For one so young, that's a hell of a voice... still squeezing zits but sounding like Layne Stayley... not bad at all. Vibe-wise, think of the likes of Kyuss and their ilk... I'm not into that genre per se and as such I'm not in the best position to comment on originality etc, but this does impress. (Spandex)
(contact: Loadstoner@hotmail.com Web: http://drink.to/loadstone)
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Riffmaster General 'We Like That'
If reviews were based solely on cover artwork, these guys'd run away with the accolades even before the CD was slammed the CD into the player. Mmm, we like those. The toons don't disappoint either, combining the stupid-beer-stomp anthem of 'We Like That' with the darker 'Bloody Vengeance'. They've since released their debut album on their own 'Manqueller Records'. (Spandex)
(contact: Riffmaster General, Manqueller Records, 9 Rathkeel Road, Broughshane, BT42 4NN, N. Ireland, U.K
Email: info@manqueller.com Web: www.riffmastergeneral.com)
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Sinocence 'Embracing Decadence'
Hmmm... not sure what this Belfast band are trying to do here. It's fairly generic late Eighties Metal, mid tempo in the main, with a nod towards Hard Rock and a vague acknowledgement of the better elements of the Grunge ethos. Dr Feelgood Cock Rock it certainly ain't, it's much more of a darker, more sombre affair. Enthusiasm is clearly at play here, and it is evident that they have a good idea or two.. but, to be brutally honest, there's not a lot here to particularly recommend, still less to excite. Maybe I'm too harsh a critic, but based on this demo and their live performance, I'd suggest that they take a step back and figure out exactly what they want to say... a firmer focus could make a great improvement methinks. (Spandex)
(contact: http://www.sinocence.com/)
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Skaldic Curse 'Funereal Eclipse'
A two song offering, a good format for a demo... it allows the projection a band's highpoints and doesn't dilute the impact through fluff and filler. To be honest, the blackened grimness of the cover and band names ('Woundz', 'Monolith' etc) initially filled me with a growing dread that I was in for yet another third-rate generic Black-Metal by-numbers crud-fest. I admit to a certain cynicism with Black Metal as a genre. You know the experience... where a band's proclamations of spite and venom merely turns out to be an embarrassing paucity of intellect and aptitude. But I simply have to heap praise upon this London 5-piece. Whilst the production is fairly poor, this doesn't matter... yes, there is an element of 'heard it all before' here, but the song structure and dynamics give this demo its strength. Amidst the Darkthrone references, for example, I'm reminded a tad of the subtle atmospherics of Opeth's godlike 'April Ethereal' here on this demo's second track,'Place of Slaughter'. The shorter of the two songs is 6 minutes in duration so that gives an indication of the scope for experimentation of reach which the band can very ably fill. (Spandex)
(contact: Skaldic Curse, 49 Kelvin Ave, London, N13 4TH, England, U.K.)
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Stand Up Guy 'Has anything you've done made your life better?'
Definitely the best Irish demo of the year. Neither Metal nor Hardcore, and definitely not 'MetalCore', this demo manages to avoid the restrictions associated with any one genre by dint of its sheer individuality (at least to these ears). This Belfast 4-piece serve up a three song offering and precede to addle your synapses with awe inspiring sonics. Genuius? Perilously close. What's most apparent is the sheer musical modesty on display here. Rather than cramming the songs full of technical smarty-pantsedness, the economy of the delivery makes it intense yet expansive. 'Constant gossip of the Workplace' is a masterpiece which readily encapsulates the inherent discipline of Stand Up Guy. Phil's bass lines are particularly potent here, it really does tie the whole package together. Alongside the likes of fellow Belfast crews The Dagda and Some Days Better, Stand Up Guy add extra punch to the ever-increasingly vibrant Belfast's extreme music scene. (Spandex)
(contact: standupguy777@aol.com / disconnect86@hotmail.com)
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