Imagine yourself falling into a reality of pure blue water existence...that is what I felt when I listened to this vinyl on my record player. This is some excellent ambient music and I personally never heard of this band before I got a copy from the record label- Droehnhaus(in Germany).

The first side(A) has 3 very dark and doomy songs. None of the songs are fast at all...just very slow and ominous mood setting. I find it very fascinating to hear that while watching the record spinning around and around. The record itself is blue so it really fit the mood I think the band is trying to portray in the music. On the third song, there is something that is bit different. The beats I hear is pretty muffled. At first I thought it was some kind of mistake made during production but I realized that it fits the song really well. It almost give a suffocating feeling which makes sense.

The another side(B) is much more uplifting but not entirely happy, happy, joy, joy feeling. It's almost like I'm being pulled slowly out of the watery existence...like I was in the deep then floating slowly up to the surface. It's definitely interesting feeling and I really dig it a lot. The sound is much more soothing and calm than the first side.

I strongly recommend this album for people who are into ambient/noise and want to have a true musical and visual experience. This album is only released on vinyl so you better have a record player to play it.

Best Song: Phantom Ringer-the first song and the darkest. I just love the vibe I get while listening to the album. It's almost like I was "born" into the dark and watery existence.

Worst Song: Floaty Ghost-second song and a little too "samey" to the first song in my opinion but still a great song overall.


Score:8/10

www.myspace.com/mystified

Labels: ambient, droehnhaus, drone, mystified, reviews

This is the female fronted melodic metal band, Venia from Finland...not to be confused with the other Venia from US...the hardcore band which is not even that good.

Anyway, the album was released few months ago on Open Grave Records and it is pretty good. The music is something like a bit of thrash, power, melodic, progressive, and dual vocals(male and female) all thrown in blender. That is not a bad thing...in fact I dig the sound a lot. It's definitely a big improvement over their EP on production and songwriting. I really like the way they have some songs in English and others in Finnish. I guess I have a thing for music in foreign languages.

Best Song:Victory by Surrender
Worst Song:Liberty

I am already looking forward to see what they have in store for next album.

Score: 7/10

www.veniaband.com

www.myspace.com/veniaband

You can buy the album at www.divinemetaldistro.com

Labels: finnish metal, melodic metal, power metal, reviews, venia

Within The Torn Apart is a drone band by Napalm Dave. This album is basically a compilation of his earlier tracks made in 2007-2009. Currently, he has a debut album that will be released on Sullen Records sometimes this year.

Drone is a genre that is not for everyone, and it is purely underground with an exception for Sunn 0))) which is the most well known drone band.

I received the album from Dave and I gave it couple of listens over past several days. I can tell already he's a veteran in the scene and have huge talent. Some of the tracks has bad production but still enjoyable.

I really dig the Sunn 0))) tribute tracks and the one that has Fire (Eligbbor, Frost Like Ashes, Firethrone) contributed his vocals. The tracks all are blistering beasts that just ripped everything apart!

Best track:Darkness Into Light
Worst track:Up Above

Score: 6/10 due to production

I am definitely looking forward to the debut album that is coming out sometimes this year.

You better keep an eye out! Like Dave said, Drone on!

www.myspace.com/cbfdib

Download the album for free!

(link with permission by the band)

Labels: drone, metal, review, reviews, wtta