Blood Tsunami: For Faen

    Norwegian thrashers Blood Tsunami have returned with a beast of an album in the ravaging For Faen, a release which makes up for the time the band was away whilst thrusting the Oslo quartet forth with a new ferocity and enterprising design to its sound. With blood raging through its veins and a furnace borne hunger, the release brings a spiteful devastation of thrash metal and a freshness which has been missing from many other recent genre releases.

Blood Tsunami was formed in 2004 by vocalist/ guitarist Peter Vegem who had spent the previous years in punk rock band Hellride. Turning to thrash metal the project ran through a few line-up changes in the first couple of years but equally found permanent members in guitarist Kristoffer Sørensen and drummer Bård G. Eithun to drive the band forward. Two demos were released in the same period with the second leading to the band signing with Candlelight Records/Nocturnal Art Production with who their debut album Thrash Metal appeared in 2007. Critically acclaimed the album brought the band good awareness from around Europe where they toured to further strong responses and recognition. Second album Grand Feast For Vultures followed in 2009 and was a stronger even more impressive riot of invention and power, though soon Blood Tsunami hit problems. After losing out on a slot on a full European tour with Absu and Nachtmystium in the summer of 2009, bassist Peter Boström then departed leaving the other members with a lack of inspiration and energy for the band. The remaining trio started up new punk metal band Mongo Ninja, putting Blood Tsunami on a kind of hiatus, which in twelve months or so toured relentlessly and released three albums with Indie Recordings. Though the quintet was drawing strong acclaim and success the founding trio began looking at Blood Tsunami again and brought it back to life during 2012 but now infusing the punk essences of their last endeavour into the thrash devastation of their resurrected project.

Bringing in Carl Janfalk on bass to complete the line-up alongside Vegem, Eithun, and Sørensen, the band recorded a six track demo in 2012 and then set about searching for a label which emerged as Indie Recordings who put out the Mongo Ninja albums. For Faen meaning Devil, though it is also used in Norwegian in the same way fuck is used in English (so the title could mean For The Devil or For Fuck’s Sake), takes no prisoners from first violent note to last, offering an unrelenting siege upon the senses with equally compelling rewards. Previously the band drew on melodic Swedish influences and NWOBHM riffs for their more progressive creativity but now have moved to short biting song structures and a punk snarl to leave a much longer lasting and potent effect in the shorter violent songs.

As soon as the thumping drum call of Eithun opens up first track The Butcher of Rostov, the passions are immediately set on alert especially with the swiftly joining inviting sinewy riffs adding their keen persistence on the senses. In full flow the track unveils a swagger kitted out with a delicious sonic grove before unloading a full ravage of crippling rhythms, flash tearing riffs, and an even more insidious grooved venom. Vocally Vegem has re-ignited the delivery he used in Hellfire and it adds the perfect rasp and belligerent growl to the intensive attitude driven sound. The song thrills with a blend of Slayer, Amen, and Kreator and makes a towering persuasion for release and the new direction of the band.

Next up the bestial Dogfed chews the ear with the savagery of a pack of wolves, its incisors rippling with primal malice whilst its sonic saliva sears with irresistible acid; in barely one and a half minutes it has thoughts racing with deep satisfaction. Its mighty presence is equalled in their own individual bruises by The Rape of Nanking and In The Dungeons of the Rats, tales of war crimes and blood curdling horror which capture the imagination lyrically as much as the sounds succeed in earning full submission of the passions.

To be honest every moment of the album leaves nothing but sheer pleasure in its wake and though maybe the release is not ground breaking it is undoubtedly one of the best thrash cored releases in a long time. Further pinnacles in a plateau of highs come through the colossal rampage of Metal Fury and the unbridled ferocity of The Brazen Bull, both subsequently eclipsed by the ardour igniting Unholy Nights. The song is a classic in waiting, a heart pillaging scourge of fiery sonic mastery within a tempest of marauding riffs and wall demolishing rhythms.

The return of Blood Tsunami has given thrash, if not aggressive metal as a whole, a new thrust of vibrant and destructive energy and in For Faen, an album which thrills on every level.

www.facebook.com/pages/BLOOD-TSUNAMI/43036996206

8.5/10

RingMaster 11/03/2013

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Sparrow & The Workshop: Shock Shock

    

    2011 saw the release of Spitting Daggers, an impressive and enthralling album from Glasgow based band Sparrow & The Workshop which certainly for us triggered a lingering attraction to the imaginative indie folk sounds and invention of the trio. Now they have returned with new single Shock Shock and a new evolution of their already striking presence, the song as enthralling as anything they have produced before but with a deeper expanse and richness of ideas to fully capture the imagination.

Formed in 2008, the threesome of Jill O’Sullivan (vocals, guitar, violin), Gregor Donaldson (drums, vocals), and Nick Packer (bass guitar, electric slide guitar, basstard), soon were drawing critical acclaim with the release via Distiller Records of debut album Crystals Fall in 2010. The following Spitting Daggers elevated their reputation and recognition further with its engaging and evocative creativity whilst tours and performances alongside the likes of Brian Jonestown Massacre, British Sea Power, Idlewild, Broken Records, Sivert Hoyem, The Lemonhead, and Thee Oh Sees only further enhanced their status.

Released on Song, By Toad Records, Shock Shock is the fore taster of the third album from the band due later in the year and a compelling declaration of the new venture in sound the band is exploring. The single finds the band fusing their still vibrant folk enchantment with a feisty fuel of rock and haunting ambience. Within seconds the song offers a sinew and intensity new to previous releases though it is an evolution to their already impacting ideas and imagination which marked their previous album. From the start guitars paint an emotive fiery tapestry to wrap the melodic vocal caresses of O’Sullivan in, whilst the bass of Packer adds inciting yet inviting shadows with its throaty resonance. It is the atmospheric wash though which adds the final provocation for thoughts and senses, its passion courting sonic cloud a slightly abrasive yet golden voice to bring an additional delicious persuasion.

Inspiring loud whispers of The Pixies, Throwing Muses, and The Shangri-Las in many ways, Shock Shock is the perfect invitation and temptation to Sparrow & The Workshop and their upcoming album, a release which is sure to have much anticipation waiting for it after the single ends its own persuasion.

http://www.facebook.com/sparrowandtheworkshop

8/10

RingMaster 11/03/2013

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Limozine: Johnny Got Shot By A UFO

It is Limozine time again as the UK rockers release their new single Johnny Got Shot By A UFO. It only seems like yesterday since they raised the temperature with previous single Tokyo 1970, but then the London based band have never held restraint in releasing their sounds with the last three years or so seeing nine singles, including the new one, and three albums. The new release continues the strong and intriguing presence of the band and their riot of uncomplicated energy to leave again keen satisfaction and enjoyment.

Formed in 2005, the band has earned a strong reputation for their unpolished encounter of garage punk and rock n roll, the sound a raw and honest brawl with feisty mischief able to charm and ignite audiences to their live shows and to releases such as their albums Car Crash Casino in 2007, Evil Love in 2010, and Full Service of 2012. With a new full length release You’ve Been Limozined, due later this year the new single sets it up with enterprise and intrigue even if the song arguably lacks the spark to ignite the ardour it probably deserves.

Released via Beat Atlas Records, Johnny Got Shot By a UFO instantly grabs attention with its psychobilly intimidation and rockabilly swagger locked to its punk rock core. The grooved riffs of Johnny Zero are an instant temptation alongside the bass enticement of Karl ‘da Kops’ Atlas whilst the snaps of beats from drummer Skip Intro frame it all with undemanding yet senses provoking craft. Bringing his guitar and vocals in to play soon after the initial tease, Limo Dean courts the ear with a delivery which matches the sound, uncluttered, direct, and deliberately devoid of anything not organically bred. Across its length the song sparks with its addictive grooves veining the rougher rock rub and throughout it leaves one engaged and involved.

The song does seem to fall one step short of firing up a full passion for its offering and though it certainly does the business of earning strong appreciation it does feel a little like the song missed the opportunity to stand out as one of the most addiction capturing singles likely to appear this year. Despite that Limozine continues to stand as one of the more entertaining emerging bands with Johnny Got Shot By A UFO making a good and pleasing persuasion for band and forthcoming album.

http://www.facebook.com/limozineband

7/10

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RingMaster 11/03/2013

 

Sam Lee: Goodbye My Darling

Photo -rick pushinsky

Taken from the impressive The Ballad Of George Collins EP, new single Goodbye My Darling from UK singer songwriter Sam Lee is an enchanting yet quizzing piece of invention which evokes and provokes with craft and imagination. The song also featured on the 2012 Barclays Mercury ‘Album Of The Year’ nominated album Ground Of Its Own, the release which brought Lee to the attention of a much wider recognition. It is a song which haunts the senses in the most appealing way whilst in its company and beyond, a piece of music and lyrical evocation which ignites thoughts and imagery with elegant persuasion.

From North London, Lee was a graduate of the Chelsea College of Art  and has been a teacher of wilderness survival skills (having been trained by Ray Mears), a part-time Burlesque dancer, and musically served an inspiring four-year apprenticeship under the legendary, late Scottish Traveller, and balladeer, Stanley Robertson, to whom his album is dedicated, before becoming inspired to research and document traditional music, a craft which has since led him to become a regular visiting lecturer to Goldsmith’s College and Newcastle University, as well as  becoming the first folk singer to teach at the Royal College of Music. Spending plenty of time visiting Stanley in the North of Scotland in his twenties, Lee also built up a vast repertoire of traditional songs as well as gaining ancient, idiosyncratic singing craft. This has all translated and merged into his music of which Goodbye My Darling is a captivating and endearing example.

Brewing its presence within a slightly blistered low key droning electronic persistence with ear picking tones of folk based strings, the song opens gently with the raw but expressive baritone tones of Lee spinning their infectious emotive weave. Slowly escalating its presence with a continual addition of varied strings and simmering energy which gradually finds an increase in urgency, the track takes no time in becoming a fascinating and resourceful companion. The initially restrained smile of the song beams broadly as the now bolder stroll approaches and basks in the invigorating climax, the imaginative track leaving behind a full and rich satisfaction whilst giving the richest pleasure during and after its beguiling company.

Goodbye My Darling is a magnetic introduction to Sam Lee and to the charms of traditionally seeded invention he designs, a release for all to investigate with open arms.

http://samleesong.co.uk

8/10

RingMaster 11/03/2013

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