CD Review: Corvus' 'Never Forget'

Corvus 
Never Forget
Self-Release

Corvus is Arizona's premier heavy metal band. Their new album, Never Forget, will be ingrained in your mind with all of the memorable riffs and guitar solos littered throughout. "Through Dead Eyes" contains heavy beats with loud vocals, but a killer guitar solo and loud percussion. "Deja Vu" opens with a synth-like quality before delving right into a heavy mix of guitars, drums, and vocals. The song is a bit more melodic than other tracks in a Three Days Grace format. "The Spider And The Fly" is equally-melodic, but the thrash metal approach is wickedly fast at times and the vocals dark and moving. "Never Forget" begins with church bell-type sounds that fade out and a string-like medley of atmospheric beauty takes over for a brief moment. However, Corvus' rock side takes precedence with fast percussion, choppy guitars, and a deep bass. There are thirteen tracks in all. Nothing is amiss if you like the hard rock or metal genre. Whether you call it speed metal, melodic rock, thrash metal, or hard rock, Corvus is bound to take your breath away...and then sing about it. ~ Matthew Forss  

CD Review: Tev Stevig's 'Jeni Jol'

Tev Stevig
Jeni Jol
Self-Release

Jeni Jol, which means 'new path,' is a perfect album that explores the experimental, instrumental, and fusion music of the Mediterranean and the Balkans. Tev incorporates the fretless nylon string guitar, fretted steel string guitar, and gourd banjo. The music is instrumental and sparkles with Turkish delight. The heady mix of sounds swirl around sensual rhythms and fluid guitar calisthenics. The music is very fitting for fans of alternative guitar music, Middle Eastern instrumentals, and world fusion with guitars as the primary instrument. The spacious sounds are ripe with lively cultural textures that are not very superficial. The new and traditional compositions reflect a thorough understanding of cross-cultural instrumental music. Fans of the late-Bob Brozman and Shawn Lane will be pleased. No one will be dissatisfied with this release. It's that good. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Yuca's 'Rebuilding The Fallen Empire'

Yuca
Rebuilding The Fallen Empire
Rising Empire Records

The British Columbia-based band, Yuca, is an anthemic rock and roll group with loud instrumentation and fresh sounds. The anthemic opener, "Skeletal Desires," adds a little brass to the anthemic, Trans-Siberian Orchestra-esque medley. The vocals are emotive and alternative. "Maybe We'll Riot" opens with blurby showers of sparks and brilliant displays of orchestrated slices of rock heaven. The punchy guitars, percussion, and vocals are showy and mesmerizing without an element of false reality. "Give Up My Ghost" begins with a sauntering rock beat and radio-esque voices with a throbbing, yet eerie guitar sound. The vocals kick in and provide a perfect accompaniment to the instrumentation. "Where Are My Soldiers At" is another fine rock anthem with big vocals, big guitars, and big sounds that do not necessarily take a pop path, but the result is still very catchy and memorable. "Sparrow" is a languid, cinematic, and experimental rock track with entrancing sounds and orchestral beats. There are ten tracks in all that prove Yuca knows how to create, compose, and perform beats with a purpose. ~ Matthew Forss     

CD Review: Various Artists' 'Meditative Massage Music'

Various Artists
Meditative Massage Music
White Swan Records

The wholly instrumental release, Meditative Massage Music, is ideal for relaxing, yoga, listening, and thinking. It is reflective and blissful with a host of White Swan Records musicians, including Omkar, Gary Stroutsos, Damien Rose, Prem Joshua, Stevin McNamara, and others. The music is slow and meandering. The fluid movements of aural sound envelope the listener as the music soars to new heights. There are guitars, keyboards, Indian percussion, and Tibetan musical instruments that set the tone of great brilliance. The music is much more reduced than other contemporary releases that focus primarily on upbeat, urban, and hip-hop elements. As a whole, Meditative Massage Music is spot-on with reflective sounds and dreamy tones that awaken the spirit and encapsulate the soul. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Vintage Blue's 'Strike The Mics'

Vintage Blue
Strike The Mics

The Chicago-based band, Vintage Blue, was formerly known as Tanglewood. Now the name is shed, but the tunes are better than ever. The ska-influenced, "Set You Free," is a mix of roots and rock music with luscious vocals and reverberating sax. The more rock-driven "Unchained" is partly influenced by Creed, but on a much lighter, vocal scale. The wailing guitars are not too loud or unnecessary. The folksy, ballad, "California Road," contains a good folk rock beat with reverberating B-3 and the horns give the song a little retro-class. "Sleep On This" is strikingly-similar (at least vocally and structurally) to circa-2000 Ed Kowalczyk from the band, Live. The folksy-rock ballad contains backup vocals, horns, and B-3 charisma. The Southern-rock-style piece, "Here To Stay," is a post-grunge anthem with vocals and guitar arrangements reminiscent of Stroke 9. "Against Time" is another song seemingly inspired by Stroke 9. The opening lines of "Just Breathe" beckons the spirit of the band Filter. The most divergent song is the classical, ballad-esque, "Great Divide." Throughout, Vintage Blue delves into various rock, ska, pop, and ballad-driven hooks with intelligent lyrics and classy grooves. Anyone interested in folk-rock, roots, post-grunge, and classy music with style and swagger, than look no further. ~ Matthew Forss       

CD Review: Shantalla's 'Turas'

Shantalla
Turas
Appel Records

Belgium is a land of Irish and Scottish music, right? Well, Shantalla is a Belgium-based band composed of mostly Irish band members, and some Scottish representation by vocalist, bodhran, and shakers player, Helen Flaherty. Helen is accompanied by Joe Hennon on guitars; Michael Horgan on uilleann pipes, flute, low and high whistles; Gerry Murray on accordion and low and high whistles; Kieran Fahy on fiddle and viola; and Simon Donnelly on guitars and bouzouki. All tunes are arranged by Shantalla and feature traditional melodies and rhythms. However, most of the songs are instrumental and possess a characteristic Celtic and Scottish tone throughout. The mandolin brightens things up on "The Boy and the Princess." In fact, even Mongolian throat-singing appears on "Johnny Doherty's." Overall, Shantalla amazes the listener with jingly, folk tunes and classic vocals. Perfect for fans of Celtic, Scottish, and folk music. Also, Belgian fans will love it. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Las Guitarras de Espana's 'Tantas Cosas'

Las Guitarras de Espana

Tantas Cosas

Novo

The Chicago-based group, Las Guitarras de Espana (The Guitars of Spain), releases their fifth album with Tantas Cosas (Many Things). The Spanish-tinged music incorporates a few different, progressive genres, including flamenco, rock, blues, country, alternative, African, middle eastern, Indian, pop, and New Age. The party-driven opener, "Tantas Cosas," is an excellent song that amps up the celebratory atmosphere of the album. The bluesy "Cejilla" continues the party reverie, as a sort of Latino rock with a heavy dose of caffeine. The vibrant vocals of Patricia Ortega leads the way with providing a youthful and bright voice that matches the music in both color and tone. The more traditional and quieter "Invierno" is a great song of folklorico music. The diverse songs and superlative instrumentation provides a wonderful mix of melodies, musical history, and character. In short, The Guitars of Spain incorporate a global mix of music to their 'Latin' repertoire that expands the borders of tradition into something spectacular. A must-have for fans of Latin, Spanish, flamenco, Think of One, Gypsy Kings, and other similar genres and groups. ~ Matthew Forss