REVIEWS ARCHIVE - K |
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KAIPA
"Mindrevolutions" (Inside Out / SPV - provided by Target) - 1½ out of 5 points - |
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I pretty much liked Kaipa's re-union album "Notes From The Past" - released in 2002 after their 20 year long hiatus - but I never got around to pick up 2003's "Keyholder", so I don't know what went on in the meantime. Anyway, my guess is that "Notes From The Past" was made up of a lot of their older songs that they have been working on for 20 years, as the new album "Mindrevolutions" sounds rushed and incredibly boring to my ears. It's quite evident that Roine Stolt and Jonas Reingold have found their place in the band, cause I can't shake the feeling of listening to yet another Flower Kings album (and we all know how extremely boring that "YES"-copy band is, right?!). Not even drum-wiz Morgan Ågren (one of the best drummers in the entire world in my opinion) can save this album from being utter boredom.
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Claus
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KAMELOT
"One Cold Winter's Night - Live" (Steamhammer / SPV - provided by Target) - 4½ out of 5 points - |
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It's never easy to judge a live album, as it not only has to be judged upon the musicianship and production, but also has to be judged upon the song selection, which is highly subjective in the case of a band with several albums behind them. Kamelot is one of my absolute favorite bands within the power/symphonic metal genre, and seeing that I totally love their last album "The Black Halo" this live disc suits my taste very fine (now that it's from the tour supporting exactly that album). Opening the whole show with the title track "The Black Halo" and playing such other great tunes from that one as "Soul Society", "Abandoned", "The Haunting", "Moonlight", "March Of Mephisto" and my personal fave "When The Lights Are Down", it's clear to see where the weight of the show has been placed. I won't hold that against the band in any way. From "Epica" we get the songs "Farewell", "The Edge Of Paradise" and "Center Of The Universe", from "Karma" we get "Forever", "Elizabeth" (the entire trilogy played back-to-back) and the title track "Karma", from "The Fourth Legacy" we only get "Nights Of Arabia" (but what a fantastic tune that is!!!), but unfortunately no songs are present from the first 3 Kamelot albums … oh well, I guess we can't have it all. Now, as for the musicianship, it's really just as great live as on studio-albums; It goes without saying that Roy Khan is a brilliant vocalist, Glenn Barry and Casey Grillo delivers the perfect rhythmic foundation to the show, and guitarist Thom Youngblood really impresses me with how much "beautiful noise" he (as the only guitarist) can make. I've always found Thom to be kind of a weak link (duh, I of course realize that he is the songwriter, but I never saw him as a real solo-guitarist), but here he is just as good as any other guitarist you could put into this line-up … wonderful solos and superb leads all the way through. Surprisingly newcomer Oliver Palotei does a great job behind the keyboards (and he even gets a solo-spot). The production of this live disc is phenomenal - everything is clear, and it's easy to hear that the band didn't need to do much afterwards in terms of re-recording stuff, as it's just spot on first take. As mentioned at the beginning of this review, a live disc is a real subjective experience, and for me personal "One Cold Winter's Night" is exactly how I want it to be.
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Claus
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KAMELOT
"The Black Halo" (Steamhammer / SPV - provided by Target) - 5 out of 5 points - |
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It was bound to happen - these guys always had it in them to do THE perfect album, and now it was time! As I've said in my reviews of this band throughout the years (both here and in Metalized Magazine), Kamelot is a unit of great musicians and even better songwriters that just never dared to do something outside of the box. But with "The Black Halo" all things Kamelot and more come together in perfect unity, and the end result is an amazing disc of symphonic power metal with lots of melodies, brilliant production, superb vocals and overall splendid musicianship. And, as the icing on the cake, the band has been so adventurous as to integrate lots of female vocals, a couple of black metal shrieks, some extravagant keyboard work and an overall darker atmosphere that suits them perfectly. I'm in love with this disc, and since "When The Lights Are Down" is one of the best power metal songs I've heard in recent years, there not one thing I can put my finger on with this disc, that shouldn't allow me to give them the top-grade.
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Claus
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KAMELOT "Epica" (Noise / Sanctuary Records - Provided by Nordic Metal) - 4½ out of 5 points - |
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Let me start by saying that this album, even though I grade it with 4½ out of 5 points, is as close to perfect a melodic metal disc as can be. In many ways I would have rated it with all five points, and if I should mention all the good things about it I wouldn't be finished writing this review till the album is actually out in the stores (6 weeks from now). But instead I only give "Epica" four and a half points, and my reasons for that are simply because it's a beautiful disc, that you can listen to and enjoy over and over again, but not a disc that challenges you as a listener. Kamelot are near the perfect band within the genre of melodic power/progressive metal - a band capable of uniting the true heavy metal spirit with symphonic/classical overtones and a musical talent of very high class. The down point is that although they are so talented musicians and songwriters, it irritates me that they aren't pushing the boundaries and go out of their way to not only entertain but also challenge me ... the band simply ain't "dangerous" enough. Kamelot have what it takes to make music that would tip me off my chair - they could easily make me sit and say "woooooooooow!" if they wanted to. Instead they are just contend by making me sit here with this stupidly large smile on my face and enjoy their melodies, the nice rhythmic patterns of Casey Grillo and Glenn Barry, the superb classical arrangements, the beautiful guitar solos of Tom Youngblood and one of the smoothest voices in heavy metal at all courtesy of Roy S. Khan. "Epica" is by far the most complete album by Kamelot so far, and in many ways better than their previous disc "Karma" which I remember grading with the 5 out of 5 review, however it's also the first time that I've started becoming annoyed by the fact that this band simply won't challenge me further with their music than to the point of feeling intoxicated by it. It would be nice to be able to drop my jaw to the floor and having to use all my strength to pick it up when the next Kamelot disc comes out. Till then I'll be a happy little camper and go back to enjoying "Epica" in all its splendour.
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Claus
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KANSAS "Device - Voice - Drum" (SPV Records - Provided by Nordic Metal) - no points possible - |
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A double live album by one of the greatest progressive rock bands of all time; Kansas … aaahh the joy this gives :-) Kansas, alongside Yes, Genesis, UK, Pink Floyd, King Crimson and Gentle Giant, to me stand as the very best of 70's and 80's progressive rock bands. Some of these continued to create albums throughout the 90's and even today, but not many of them have really created anything REALLY good in the past 10 years. However, Kansas did have a couple of good albums in that decade and with the new double live disc "Device - Voice - Drum" they integrate a couple of songs off of those discs alongside their classic hits such as "Song For America", "Point Of Know Return" and of course "Carry On Wayward Son". As with any other live disc from a band with such a great tracking record something is bound to be missed, and for me it's songs off albums such as "Monolith" and "Freaks Of Nature", but that's probably just the logic of selecting songs for such a gig. Anyway, the production is great, the musicians are fantastic and all the songs are classics - there should be no reason as to not investing in this disc if you're a fan of Kansas or of progressive rock in general. Buy it!
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Claus
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KARMAKANIC "Entering the Spectra" (Regain Records - provided by Nordic Metal) - 3 out of 5 points - |
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Karmakanic have ended up with a quite good debut album called "Entering the Spectra". With their use of progressive elements and at times futuristic sound, but still very melodic tunes, this is an album you would be likely to listen to when you want to relax take a journey into a dream world. The opener has a melody that kinda leads your thoughts back to rock pioneers The Beatles, but the music quickly turns into the progressive rock we saw blooming up through the 90's. The music is generally characterized by some kind of jazzy vipe, but also contains "classical" progressive elements like the ones Dream Theater delivers, along with inspiration from diverse exotic and eastern musical cultures. "Entering the Spectra" is a conceptual album, and it seems to consist of epos taking place on Earth some three thousand years from now, but that's all there is to say about that. It is not an original concept, which I could therefore easily be without, and, quite frankly, it is kind of a fluff. Nevertheless, Karmakanic's debut album soothes my ears and passes my criteria's for a progressive rock album.
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Martin J
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KATAKLYSM "Shadow & Dust" (Nuclear Blast - provided by VME) - 1½ out of 5 points - |
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Chaotic death metal…again? Yes, and it is not very interesting, though they probably are good musicians.
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Martin P
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KATATONIA
"The Great Cold Distance" (Peaceville - provided by VME) - 4½ out of 5 points - |
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Talk about having made an album that actually lives up to it's title. Swedish doom/alternative/goth band Katatonia have with their latest disc managed to keep the listener at a distance with their great cold sound - never letting in on too much of the misery included, but just lifting the veil enough to make the listener experience the sorrow and despair for long enough time for you to feel something just isn't right in the world. The music IS Katatonia, no other band sounds like this. The lyrics are deep and heartfelt, and you can't stop feeling sorry for the guy who has to outlive all this misery. The production is wonderful - it's clear and heavy - totally befitting the nature of the songs ... dark and cold … vivid and intimidating. Jonas Renkse and company have simply put made an album that scares the living shit out of me, but once it's over I can't help but turn it on again and plunge even deeper into the darkness, just to see if I can erase the distance between the band and me, and let those songs become part of who I am as well.
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Claus
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KEAGY, KELLY
"I'm Alive" (Frontiers Records - provided by Zink) - 2½ out of 5 points - |
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Vocalist/drummer Kelly Keagy (The Mob/ex-Night Ranger) is now ready with a little solo disc called "I'm Alive", and for sure he is (alive, that is). Kelly's got a great hard rock voice, and is able to write some really catchy tunes. Alongside Kelly you'll find such illustrious musicians as Jim Peterik (ex-Survivor/Pride Of Lions), Reb Beach (Whitesnake/Winger/The Mob), Michael Lardie (Great White/Night Ranger) and Mike Aquino (Pride Of Lions/Mecca) - not a bad line-up. Musically Kelly doesn't stray far from home - this is pure melodic rock in the style of Nightranger, Bad Company, Survivor etc. Not exactly earth-shakingly new, but the tunes are very well-written and the delivery is impeccable. For me, the real winner on this disc is Reb Beach - his solo's are just amazing. "I'm Alive" is not a melodic rock disc that will go down in time as a classic, but for now it's a nice little disc to spin.
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Claus
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KEEN OF THE CROW
"Hyborea" (Grau Records - provided by Prophecy) - 3 out of 5 points - |
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American band Keen Of The Crow is made up of members from cult-act Morgion, so with that in mind, it's not really a surprise we're treated to a mixture between doom and death metal, with a big focus on the heavy riffs, the dark atmospheres and lots of solid midpaced-pounding drum beats. Occassionally the band ventures into some death metal/sludgecore territory (imagine Crowbar, Neurosis, COC and Eyehategod in a doom metal version), which I guess is a little remaining rest of their original roots, but most of the time we're moving around in the same style as found on releases by bands such as Katatonia (old stuff), My Dying Bride ("Turn Loose The Swans") and a good deal of Celtic Frost (somewhere between "To Mega Therion" and "Monotheist"). Listen to "Seeking Fury, Becoming Wrath" and tell me this is not Celtic Frost - damn it's a great tune! It's quite an interesting mix that Keen Of The Crow comes up with, and especially the parts of the "Hyborea" album where the band slows down completely and even leaves room for some clean vocals are where Keen Of The Crow really shines as an act to keep an eye out for.
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Claus
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KEEP OF KALLESIN
"Reclaim" (FaceFront Records - provided by VME) - 3 out of 5 points - |
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For 5 years we don't hear anything from the camp of Keep Of Kalessin, and for me that was long enough to actually forget all about them, until this disc appeared in my hands. Hmmm, the name rings a bell, and back home in my old black metal collection I actually did find one of their 2 previous releases ("Through Times Of War" - the other one was called "Agnen", but I don't think I ever heard that). The only remaining member from back then is Obsidian C, so apparently he must be the band leader. If the music sucks, I guess he is the one I should blame, right? Well, it doesn't suck - this is quite good black metal, a bit old-school here and there (but due to the production also quite modern sounding), with nice aggressive parts intertwined with technical stuff - yes, this is a band that definitely can play their instruments. On vocals we find Atilla (Mayhem) and on drums Frost (Satyricon), and they add their own professionality and style to the product. "Reclaim" is only a 5 song MCD, so it's actually over before we really get into the style and mood of the band, but I do feel that with these 5 songs Keep Of Kalessin has convinced me to get hold of their next opus, unless of course it takes another 5 years and I've forgotten them by that time.
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Claus
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KHYMERA "Khymera" (Frontiers - provided by Nordic Metal) - 2 out of 5 points - |
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Daniele Liverani is a very productive young man - not only is he investing lots of time in his "rock opera" project GENIUS, but also finds time to write a complete melodic metal / AOR album together with Kansas-vocalist Steve Walsh, Khymera. I wonder if Daniele has any time left for his original progressive metal band Empty Tremor? Not that it matters that much, since neither of Daniele's bands really belong in the high class … perhaps they would, if he chose to focus all his energy in just one band? Anyway, Khymera is the latest release, and by far the softer of the lot. This is very melodic hard rock, reminding me more of a Journey album than anything connected with heavy metal. Not necessarily a bad thing, and I do have to admit that a handful of the songs are quite okay (such as "Who's Gonna Love You Tonight" or "Strike Like Lightning"), which of course shouldn't surprise us that much, seeing that we have such well renowned song writers as Russ Ballard, Neal Schon, Jim Peterik or Kip Winger involved here. Good melodic hard rock, but overall also very predictable and at times boring. Steve Walsh is a good singer, and Daniele is a good instrumentalist, but Khymera is not an album I'll be going back to soon.
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Claus
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KHYMERA
“A New Promise” (Frontiers Records – provided by Atenzia) - 2 out of 5 points – |
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Just as when I reviewed the debut of Khymera a couple of years ago, I have to start by saying that Daniele Liverani is spreading himself too thin – they guy is doing way too many projects these days. In 2004-2005 he has done albums with his “metal-opera” project Genius, his prog metal band Empty Tremor, a solo album as well as this new Khymera disc. Too much! Relax man, and try to focus your energy on just one or two bands. Well, Khymera’s second disc here continues where the first one left us, with melodic hard rock somewhere between Journey, Talisman and old Bon Jovi. Not really bad, but not exciting in any way either. On the debut Steve Walsh (Kansas) was singing, but this time it’s Dennis Ward (yes, the producer and bass player in Pink Cream 69) taking care of the lead vocals, and I’m honestly not convinced in any way about his performance. He lacks the talent that makes a good singer – sure he can hit the right notes and all, but he just doesn’t have the “voice”, so to speak. In “Let It Burn” it sounds like he is trying to put on a little Jeff Scott Soto impression, and it really doesn’t work for him. Speaking of JSS, apparently he has written one of the songs, “You Can’t Take Me”, and no matter how highly I think of Jeff as a singer (and occassionally as a songwriter, as some of his stuff are of quite high quality) this song has got to be the worst on the disc – really cheasy stuff. Anyway, Khymera isn’t a band that’s gonna change the melodic hard rock genre, for either good or bad – they are just another run of the mill, and if you need to get hold of everything in the genre, you could do worse than getting this one.
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Claus
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KICK AXE
"Rock The World" (MTM Music / SPV - provided by Target) - 1½ out of 5 points - |
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Canadian hard rock / heavy band Kick Axe released 3 quite good albums back in the 80's; "Vices", "Welcome to the Club" and "Rock the World". They toured extensively with a lot of the bigger bands (Scorpions, Judas Priest, Quiet Riot and Whitesnake, just to mention a few of them), and they had good success on the major radio and video channels back then. Now - does any of that matter today? The answer would be a clear "NO", since the sound of Kick Axe is clearly outdated and have absolutely no relevance, unless you're simply stuck in the 80's and doesn't demand anything new from your music. In all honesty I have to admit I didn't listen to the re-union disc "IV" from last year, so I can't really tell if Kick Axe moved on and found their place within the sound of today, but seeing that they have found a re-release of "Rock The World" necessary, I guess not. There's no arguing that "Rock The World" wad quite nice album back in the day - heck, I even have a vinyl version of both "Welcome to the Club" and "Rock the World" stacked away here (apparently it's quite rare, so if I ever need some quick cash I should sell it, haha) - but if you didn't listen to that music back then, and don't really have the need for a trip down nostalgia lane, then this re-issue won't really rock your world.
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Claus
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KING DIAMOND "The Puppet Master" (Massacre Records - provided by VME) - 3½ out of 5 points - |
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Once again the KING delivers an album of intriguing and horrifying, sinister atmosphere. The story this time is about a puppet theatre where the EVIL dolls come alive at night time, and as I have understood, EVIL wins this time!!! The music is pretty much a mixture of the latest KD discs, meaning all he has done since "The Graveyard". Not my favourite KD period, but this album is definitely better than "The Graveyard" and "The Spider's Lullaby". I have one question though: Why on Earth - being such a big name in the business - isn't it possible for the King to get a decent drummer??? The drum works on this album drags it down from 5 to 3½. Andy La Roque and the other guys on the string instruments are delivering the same fantastic semi-progressive power metal that has been King's brand since the first album. I can't put my finger on anything here. King doesn't sing like he used to do. He doesn't seem to have the same range or perfectionism as on previous albums, but then again - I'm comparing to the albums from "Fatal Portrait" to "The Eye", which are all masterpieces! BUT, our King knows about aging and the shit it brings, which causes him to get a female background singer on the album. I bet you more than the BNP of South Korea that she will come on the tour and sing as well, thus helping the King to do some of the tones that he cannot do himself any longer. I don't mean this as a critique. I consider it a brilliant strategic movement that allows King Diamond to continue to make albums for many more years. BUT…BUT….BUT: GET MICKEY DEE BACK INTO THE BAND, if you want your music to become interesting again, King!
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Lars
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KING KOBRA
"Number One" (Mausoleum Records - provided by TMC Nordic) - 3 out of 5 points - |
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I was born in 1986, which means I never got to experience the glory of the 80's, so I really had no idea of what to expect when began listen to this new King Kobra, which is a collection of all their best songs. Apparently it is a band that has existed for a very long time, 1983 to be exact, and they play that typical 80's rock. When I listen to 80's rock I have no memories of that time, so already here I must be at a disadvantage when reviewing this. Often when I listen to 80's hair/glam metal/rock I am bored to tears. But a few of them can actually make me rock along, and sometimes even get me really excited. And while I am not going crazy about King Kobra and their music, I am really enjoying it to the fullest, so much even that I listened to this album for like an entire day after I got home from work. They have some really nice riffs, some nice choruses, and a bunch of different singers, who all have that kind of pleasant voice, that really works well with the "rockers". The ballads or slower songs don't work quite as well, but so what, they are still above average. Actually I don't think there is much else to say about this album other than; If you like 80's hard rock, then King Kobra sure isn't gonna disappoint you.
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Mads
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KINO
"Picture" (Inside Out / SPV - provided by Target) - 1 out of 5 points - |
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What ever happened to metal? Kino's debut album "Picture" is nothing but boring chord oriented rock music. This is a boring, half-hearted attempt to make progressive heavy metal commercial and the result is nothing but boring and meaningless. Boring boring boring, bla bla bla, boring boring boring.
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Martin J
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KISKE, MICHAEL
"Kiske" (Frontiers - provided by Zink Music) - no rating - |
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I honestly believe that this disc has been misguided to me for a review by a Heavy metal webzine. 11 school camp, bonfire songs, mainly acoustic without any kind of nerve or balls is simply wrong from Kiske. The Beatles were more aggressive than this, and I am reminded of Oasis, when thet are doing semi-ballads (but with a non-annoying singer). Michael Kiske is one of the old heroes, but the hero days are over and now he's doing something else (this), and it doesn't suit him very well. The former high pitching and light singing was what made him who he is. When you remove all that was good, then what is left? Nothing, but boring, boring songs and boring vocal lines. This should have been reviewed by someone else. I am not in a position where I can judge if this is good or bad within the genre.
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Lars
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KLIMT 1918 "Undressed Momento" (My Kingdom Music - provided by My Kingdom Music) - 2 out of 5 points - |
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What we have here is what the band themselves call "Post Modern Progressive Rock", and that is actually a quite suitable description. Klimt 1918 have clear inspiration from bands such as Police, U2, Tears for Fears, Depeche Mode and Porcupine Tree, and they successfully combine that with some melancholic elements in the vein of Katatonia, creation their own musical style. Klimt 1918 really manage to put together some very powerful and emotional songs with a lot of insensitivity, and the way they combine the very melodic guitar chords and riffs gives the music it's soul of its own. The vocal line is very good and comfortable without being extra ordinary, though. Actually, I have only positive things to say about Klimt 1918, 'cause I get the feeling that these guys are really doing what they do best, but unfortunately this is not my preferable genre of music, hence only 2 out of 5 points. But the grade given is purely my subjective oppinion, so I would definitely recommend "Undressed Momento" to all prog. rock- and open minded rock lovers.
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Martin J
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KLOAK "A True Bohemian Revolutionary" (Drugs / Mighty Music - provided by MNW) - ½ out of 5 points - |
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This album is by far the baddest, suckiest, crappiest, most terrible, most awful and most unpleasant piece of shit I have ever heard. It's totally incomprehensive that bands like this exist, but even more amazing that labels will actually sign them! There is no question that I will dispose of this CD the minute after finishing reviewing it. Maybe I will donate it to the nearest waste incineration. If this CD was a piece of food, not even rats would eat it. But that's just my opinion. Still, this Danish "indie-evil-hardcore" (as they so creatively call it) band delivers a product and deserves some kind of objectivity. The music can best be described as a mixture of alternative punk, twisted indie rock, thrashing hardcore and scorching metal with a very, very angry, brutal and shouting vocal. I'm positive that this lead vocalist is pissed off over something, and it's not just the high gasoline prices we have here in Denmark. What he is so angry about remains a mystery, 'cause I simply can't hear what he is yelling. When KLOAK started as a band and probably said to each other. "Okay guys, let's make some noise", they took it literally and this debut CD is the result. "Noise" is the main factor for KLOAK's kind of music, and what better way to be noisy than to invent your own guitar chords (that's actually what they are doing!) and put them together. "Unorganized structuralism", one might say. I really can't say what kind of people this kind of music would appeal to, but I advise you not to buy it before you've heard it.
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Martin J
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KONKHRA "Reality Check" (Code 666 - provided by VME) - 4½ out of 5 points - |
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Goddamnit, this is pretty aggressive stuff. Yepp, I know: Konkhra has always been, but this one sounds a lot more mature and not like the typical piss-boring death metal album I used to hate. There is unbelievingly much Testament about this (Low, The Gathering), and it suits the band to walk a path like that. The band is uncontrollably tight and the production is crystal clear, so this ought to be a clean 5/5! Then why not, you may ask? Simply because it becomes too innerving to keep listening to the deep bass growl of Anders. No doubt, he's one of the very cool growlers out there, but a little normal singing in between all the ball-breaking growl would make me throw in the last ½ point!!!! Need I say that the solo's of Kim Mathiesen are out of this World. This guy has always known how to rock his fretboard, ever since the days of Human Factor. Konkhra strikes hard and clear this time.
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Lars
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KORPIKLAANI "Spirit of the Forest" (Napalm Records - provided by Target Distribution) - 2 out of 5 points - |
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What kind of heavy metal band invites you to take your grandmother under her arm and swing her around on the dance floor in an outburst of Riverdance and Square-dance rather than banging your head in metal-enjoyment? A highly qualified answer to that question would be the Finnish band Korpiklaani (or "Forest Klan"). The band takes the traditional instruments of Finnish folk music as the flute, violins and accordion and mix it with traditional heavy metal instruments (as guitars, drums and bass in case you didn't know :-) That way you get what you, justifiably, can call Finnish Folk Metal. Korpiklaani manages to create some very expressive and moody instrumental compositions that takes you on a mystical journey through the deep forests. The only thing that is really bad on Korpiklaani's debut album "Spirit of the Forest", are the vocals, which are performed by a man who just can't carry a tune. That is probably why he tries to compensate by singing aggressively without too many melodies, and that actually ruins the musical experience. If this album had consisted of only instrumental songs, I'm almost certain that I would have awarded it with one or two more points.
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Martin J
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KROKUS
"Hellraiser" (AFM Records - provided by Target) - 2½ out of 5 points - |
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30 years in the music business and still going strong… Switzerland's main import (musically!!! I'm not talking about cheese, watches or army knifes) is back with another album of classic hard rock / metal. As always their musical style is somewhere between AC/DC and Accept, which means simple riffs, pounding rhythms and a voice that sounds like 2 bottles of Jack Daniels and 50 cigarettes per day. I've never found Krokus to be a fantastic band, but it wasn't really one that I hated either - it's just a band that was around when I chose to listen to something else. "Hellraiser" is more polished than what I had expected though: sure, there's still a lot of AC/DC rawness in it, but also a more melodic metal feeling, which actually suits the band fine. Some of the songs are actually very good, and I'm quite impressed by the strong production (by Pink Cream 69 - main man Dennis Ward). Overall an okay album, that would probably be good for a spin or two next time I'm gonna sit down with a bottle of Jack.
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Claus
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KRUX "Krux" (Mascot - provided by MNW) - 4.99 out of 5 points - |
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What a great couple of months February/March 2003 have turned out to be … one great release after the other comes dumping in my mailbox - Lanfear, Evergrey, Solefald etc - but the one above them all has to be this; Krux !!! Make a note of that name, it's worth it, believe me… This is the perfect disc to kill yourself to (if that urge suddenly should hit you, ehmmm). This is by far the most depressive, yet strangely enough also the most uplifting disc I've heard in a long time. Confused? Well, so would I be, if I hadn't had the chance to listen repeatedly to this fabulous disc. This is doom metal at it's best - created by none other than the doom-master himself, mr. Leif Edling (the "brain" behind Candlemass and Abstrakt Algebra), and it sure as hell sounds like 100% Edling-material. Ultra heavy, slow, doom hard rock / metal, which bears more resemblance to the Abstrakt Algebra days of Edling's than the Candlemass style. To bring it even closer to the AA connection, Edling has brought in vocalist Mats Levén, who was the powerhouse voice on the one (and unfortunately only) AA album released almost 10 years ago. And Levén has lost absolutely none of his power. This man is beyond comparison to other vocalists, he is simply above 'em all. Levén's performance on these two discs (AA and Krux), are what gives him a very secure place among my top 3 vocal performances ever. Wonderful heavy songs like opener "Black Room" or "Omfalos" to the amazingly melodic "Popocatépetl", this album has got it all … and more. The only thing that hinders me from grading it with the perfect 5 out of 5, is the fact that AA has stood the test of time with me, and it's still way too early to judge "Krux" as a classic or not … ask me again in a years time or ten, and I'll let you know.
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Claus
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