Blood Island Raiders - Blood Island Raiders (2007)

Blood Island Raiders are another London band, this time comprised of some well respected members of the local scene. Of particular interest (apart from resident Zakk Wylde lookalike guitarist "The Reverend") is the bassist Pete Theobalds, former (founding) member of Akercocke. Unfortunately this isn't corporate satanic progressive-stoner-doom-death metal. What we do have however, is some fine fist pumping mid-paced metal to smoke, drink and/or drive to.

Essentially its Orange Goblin with a hint of Viking Skull and a touch of The Fucking Champs paying homage to the traditional metal of The Obsessed and Trouble. Kicking off with 'I Am The King' and one of those stoner-tone riffs that it's impossible not to love, it sets you up nicely for the rest of the album. There's more than enough "Woah yeaaaaah! Alriiiiight!" to last you a six-pack and a few joints. You've got your usual crunch-driving riffage, tasteful soloage, Warren's meaty pipes and a groovy bass undercurrent throughout. In the spirit of scene comradery there's even a few guest spots; the epic six plus minutes of 'Rust' features the grindcore turned hippy guitar of Bill Steer, though I'm not entirely sure what Team Brick and MC Disaster Lung contribute.

Neither groundbreaking nor revolutionary, if you want layers of depth and complexity then you're looking in the wrong place - this is a boozy background album. Not something you'll spin often, but enjoyable when you do.

6/10

Avey Tare and Kria Brekkan - Pullhair Rubeye (2007)

After doing a little research for the Mum review and reading about Kria's new project, I figured I'd check it out. This album is the collaboration of Kria (Kristin Anna of Mum) and her husband, Avey (Dave Portner of Animal Collective).

First off, I have to say that the whole shebang is strange. The album, as it is meant to be heard (kind of), is the backwards recording of all the tracks. These count as the "standard" songs. But the album also includes "reversed" versions of every song, which I take as a nice acceptance of people's desires to hear them normally. In addition, three songs are also presented in slower forms. Thus, we technically have an album that is about one-third unique work, but is different throughout.

As for the music, well, it's not quite as eccentric as the setup. A very simple folksy acoustic chillout session, basically just both artists singing over the guitar, with some piano thrown in. Kria's voice is beautiful as ever, like the crooning of children, and Avey's singing is pleasant as well. I will say that Kria does not show up nearly enough, and I definitely prefer her over her husband, who wore on me. The guitar and piano are not complex, but they are nice and relaxed. Ostensibly, this is why the songs are meant to be heard backwards - the shifting slur of reverse listening instills a much more exotic feel to the music, with almost a touch of Mum sneaking back in.

With an equal amount of intriguing and boring sections, Pullhair Rubeye is a pleasant trip that might drag on a little too long. Hopefully these two lovers will expand their sound on the next album, perhaps to the point where the album is interesting without being backwards. I don't mean that in a mean way, and they probably made the album with the intent of having it backwards, but I can't shake the feeling this wasn't the result of uncertainty and apprehension.

6/10

Whisper-X - Warside (2007)

Home of Les Légions Noires and overall purveyors of quality black metal, France hasn't typically had the same associations in death metal circles. However, a recent surge of quality releases is giving us what seems to be Les Légions La Mort. Self-financed sophomore effort from the curiously named Whisper-X isn't quite there yet.

Possessing neither the hand cramping technical dexterity of Nile or the noodily prog wankery of recent Anata, what we have here ladies and gentleman is some fairly orthodox death metal. Reminiscent of Blood Red Throne both vocally and riffagely (sans Caspersen style bass antics), Warside won't be turning any heads opting instead to bludgeon them on the way past. Sprinkled with occasional breakdown and melodic respite it's all very much death by numbers. Indeed, there is more than one occasion of "hmm, that sounds awfully familiar". However, passages such as the groove tinged breakdown of 'No Remorse' and widdly melody of 'Ultim(h)ate' and 'The End Of...' are enough to raise a complacent eyebrow.

Another adequate album that'll get you to bang your head, even if you can't remember which bits had you banging when its over.

6/10

God is an Astronaut - Far from Refuge (2007)

Again, not a metal album, but post-rock. God is an Astronaut do theirs like Come On Die Young-era Mogwai, or Explosions in the Sky, and they do it well enough. It's just that the album never really clicks with me until the very end, and even then it's not enough of a saving grace for me to fully recommend it. The album gets by with the post-rock staple bittersweet, sad-then-happy ohmygosh! type melodies, but with it being 90% guitar driven (lightly distorted), I lose interest quickly without any vocals. The last two songs "Lateral Noise," and "Beyond the Dying Light" bring on some creepy noise/ambience, really the best part of the whole album.

GiaA are a contributor to the growing popularity of the post-rock scene, but they're really nothing special in the end, just a semi-boring, one-trick pony a la the aforementioned Explosions in the Sky. I'm excited about this band's potential, and they're really not bad, worth a shot if you're a post-rock completist or Mogwai/EitS fanboy.

6/10

Drowning the Light - A World Long Dead (2007)

Piano, clean and precise, lulls you into this dead world of drowning light. The first track is warm and peaceful - a trap for sentimental fools. Upon its finish, the complacent listener is immediately drawn into a buzzing dirge; a gloom swell whose ebbing current sucks light and joy back into the frigid depths where they shall suffer beyond eternity. There is no happiness, no vigour of hatred, no glory or pride to be found within these waters. There is only the beauty of melancholy, of loneliness and despair.
Really, a black metal dirge is the most accurate description I can think of for Drowning the Light. The sound is depressive, but not in a way that I'm used to. Azgorh is the sole member of this Aussie band, and he proves his ability on all aspects of the album. His singing sticks mainly to an anguished metallic shriek, but chanting and whispering show up in a couple songs. The guitars are the highlight of this album for me, and the reason why I label it a dirge. At times, notably on the second track "The Haunted Ruins of a Vampyric Soul," they even make me think of some abdead pagan choir singing along, as they exude an emotive sorrow. It makes for a haunting atmosphere.
A World Long Dead has really grown on me as I've relistened to it. Some of the tracks don't stand out as much, but on the whole I absolutely enjoyed this album.

9/10

[metareview: album hasn't stuck with me, interest is running out, these rough seas go on for too long, the winds howl through vocoders that sound like tin cans...the trip was fun, but now the ship is sinking and it is a relief.

6/10
[/meta]