Robin Trower - Where are you going to? - 10 Track Album - Manhatton Records - Released 9th March 2015 in the UK

Robin Trower

Where are you going to?

10 Track Album

Manhaton Records

Released Mar 9, 2015 in the UK

Written for RAMzine

Robin Trower – London, UK

  

Genre: Rock/Blues

Biography:

Robin Leonard Trower born 9^th March 1945 in Catford, East London, achieved success with the highly acclaimed Procul Harum during the 1960’s and then later with his own band. Well known for his blues/rock guitar exploits and associated with a hosts of famous names such as Ronnie Montrose, Cream, and Jethro Tull to name but three. Trower has produced an epic array of music starting from 1962 to present day – with ‘Where are you going to?’ being labelled as one of his strongest albums to date by Planetmosh.

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Robin is credited with Guitar, Vocals, and Bass with Chris Taggart on Drums, and Livingstone Brown also on bass, co-production and mixing/mastering. Robin created the art piece that was turned into a classy package by Graphic Artist Eric Krause.

I think it is very fitting that the new album by Trower should be released on the legend’s Birthday, although I never really got into this maestro’s work in the early days, preferring to opt for a more metal kind of leaning, but there is no denying this man is a true genius. At 71 years of age and it seems so hard to believe, but there is no keeping a true guitar legend down.

One of my favourite tracks of yesteryear was ‘A whiter shade of pale’ by Procul Harum and still remains a favourite today, of which Trower lent his hand and vocals to, so indirectly his influence did reach me, even if it was on a small level.

Today, however, listening to this album I cannot help but feel I missed out on some fantastic Trower moments of the past, but grateful to be able to catch up and savour the big sounds that he is now world famous for on this special album.

The sultry strings are just mind bending as are the contrast his vocals that prowl unconditionally. It is seriously catchy and impressive. Capturing the nostalgia of a time gone by and all out hypnotising. There is no getting away from Trower’s unmistakable sound and the way he manipulates the strings making them his own.  The blues element so prominent, utterly stunning and so easy to digest.

He makes playing the guitar sound easy and effortless, so now is the time to fully immerse oneself into the timeless blues genre and just go along with the flow.  This is very emotional music played by an absolute genius.

9.5/10

Track List:

When will the next blow fall?

Where are you going to?

Back where you belong

Jigsaw

The Fruits of your desire

We will be together someday

Ain’t no use to Worry?

In too deep

I’m holding on to you

Delusion sweet Delusion

Braindamage - The Downfall - My Kingdom Music - 10 Track Album - Released 18th April 2016

Braindamage

The Downfall

My Kingdom Music

10 Track Album

Released 18^th April 2016

Written for RAMzine

Braindamage – Turin, Italy

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/Braindamageitaly/timeline

Genre: Post Thrash Metal

Biography:

“Futurist, abrasive and visionary

We play music in the best Avantgardish Metal tradition of VOIVOD and KILLING JOKE, appealing to the modern-ish last decade’s growing Post-Thrashy audience.

You'll get a dramatic avveniristic musical experience, a real futurist dissonant Post-Thrash Metal.

Wait for something really shattering and upsetting!”

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Italian foursome Braindamage have released their 10 Track album The Downfall, although a little short on track titles it would seem. Their sound although powerful sort of protrudes through a beguiling menace that sweeps through an apocalyptic dust cloud and stays close to its boundaries of post thrash metal.

Interesting to know is that on the birth of the band 29^th February 1988 they released a demo called ‘Kingdom of Madness’ Now where have I heard that before? Could it be from Magnum’s album of the same name around eleven years before? Although not in the same vein perhaps but it conjured up some good memories all the same!

It isn’t until the third traccia that things start picking up a bit with some good solid bass injected into it, however it doesn’t win any unusual awards for being different and just the usual run of the mill metal riffs, which is a shame.

It is like the band are stuck in a time warp, hedging their bets on producing something that incessantly crawls and not overly driven apart from a few good chugs, and a desperate attempt to make the vocals sound urgent.

It does in places sound very dead, unappealing and similar in execution, so perhaps calling each track ‘traccia’ was a good move after all!

The album hasn’t produced a wow factor and aimlessly twists and turns giving off a confused, although cantankerous edge to the proceedings and kind of leaves the listener with nowhere to go to escape its monotone savagery.

For me this album is very disappointing, predictable and sadly lacking in direction. It isn’t to say the band are not talented musicians but that they have not used their twenty eight years wisely and tried to break out of a rut that seems to be restricting them somewhat.

There is some energy in there and some good solid hooks but sadly they are levelled with a dull thud that dies and then resurrects itself to die all over again, so instead of getting that high octane sound what you get are sounds that go nowhere, fizzle out and amount to nothing.

It is like being blindfolded, remove the blindfold and find yourself in a dark room – nothing much happens from then on in. The emotion is trapped therefore leaving the listener frustrated as nothing is allowed the freedom to blossom and become wholly fertile.

4/10

Track List:

Traccia 1

Traccia 2

Traccia 3

Traccia 4

Traccia 5

Traccia 6

Traccia 7

Traccia 8

Traccia 9

Traccia 10

Members:

Gigi Giugno - Guitars;

Andrea Signorelli - Bass/Vocals

Alex Mischinger - Guitars;

Cosimo De Nola - Drums

Bright Curse - Before the Shore - Hevisike Records - 7 Track Album - Released 13th May 2016

Bright Curse

Before the Shore

Hevisike Records

7 Track Album

Released 13^th May 2016

Written for RAMzine

Bright Curse - London

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/BrightCurse

Genre: Heavy Psyche Rock

Biography:

“Deep, dark, hypnotic and addictive, Bright Curse evolves in the Heavy - Psychedelic scene represented by great bands such as Tool, Witch, Sleep...!”

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From the off ‘Bright Curse’ pound the frets with some bubbling psychedelic ambiance that hits with a melodic edge. The vocals are all-slurring and emotive in every sense of the word.

The distinct Psychedelic consistency broods with an aching passion, involving a dark imagination that is wrapped in an enjoyable style as it targets the psyche with large twists of embracing rhythms.

The band have found a way to inject a lot of seductive traits into the EP, warm melodies, rhythmic groove and plenty of off-kilter moments that are fuzzy and all-appealing.

Mixing a more energetic sound to a warm melancholic hue it travels its path with interest and deep imagination, engaging the audial and offering big rewards.

‘Candles and Flowers’ offers a deep seated heavy riff that flirts with a deviant mind. Its sultry groove is etched in your soul and leaves one in no doubt how to enjoy this track – with the eyes well and truly shut! This is indeed one spellbinding track!

‘Northern Sky’ pays homage to a keyboard be it for only a brief window, but it brings out the dream-like and spine-chilling moments until a heavy bass hook intervenes with great vocals and chilling harmony.

The lilting vocal chords are coaxed to their potential in such a fascinating way, and surrounded by some light strings that leave something good to savour along the way.

‘Earth’s Last Song’ is another brooding and festering track that ambles steadily towards its goal. It is just impeccable enjoyment that lasts, despite holding a melancholy stance – you can feel the music in your gut as it resonates and dramatically infects.

There is something that can be said for this genre of music and that it never seems to get old being enjoyed at any time of the day or night. It reaches into your psyche and just forgets to let’s go.

It holds the listener with a favourable rapport and compelling beats, everything is precise and dished out in equal measures so that the music is well-balanced and stirs up feelings and emotions that can be experienced every time you hit that play button.

Everything flows like molten lava cascading down a mountainside, seamless but with punch and vigour in places and can probably be described as ‘Rock’s naturistic view’ as it gives an insight into a more natural feel and flavour.

This music just keeps on giving and giving!

9/10

Track List:

Lady Freedom

The Shore

Cheating Pain

Walking in a Graveyard

Candles and Flowers

Northern Sky

Earth’s Last Song

Members:

Romain "Shaman" Daut

Max Ternebring

Zacharie Mizzi