Rapid Fire Reviews is a series where I give some quick takes on some albums I recently listened to and did not have enough thoughts on to make a full scale review, but still garnered enough interest from me to give them acknowledgment. In this episode, we look into a classic band who makes a comeback, a rookie band, and a trio of bands in between.
Atlas Pain - Tales of A Pathfinder
Here is a band that is most certainly not being affected by the sophomore slump curse that so many talk about. Atlas Pain follow up their excellent debut "What The Oak Left" from two years ago with an even better effort in "Tales of A Pathfinder", a solid folk metal record with some nice, epic elements to it. These Italians is telling a captivating story through their music, weaving through their melodies in excellent fashion to keep you hooked throughout the run time. The band still has some way to go though to create fully complete records, but they are definitely on the right path if they continue down this road.
Rating: 8/10 Homelands
Bloodbound - Rise of The Dragon Empire
Some power metal bands are living and dying by the clichés of the genre, and the Swedes in Bloodbound are definitely one of them. They just love to sing about dragons, knights, kings, and other fantasy inspired things. Fortunately for us, they do back up these cheesy clichés with some solid song crafting, really bringing the power in power metal. It does seem though that Bloodbound has been listening to fellow countrymen Sabaton a lot recently, because I am hearing a lot of the signature bombastic style of those war historians, and as a guy who is not fully into them, it does turn me slightly off. All in all though, it is still a fun power metal record that certainly warrants a spin or two. Also, is that Red Skull fighting a dragon on the cover?
Rating: 7/10 Magical Eyes
Danko Jones - A Rock Supreme
I have always admired the Canadians in Danko Jones for always delivering fun rock and roll, and "A Rock Supreme" is certainly nothing different. Although, it is pretty clear now that they have a formula, and that they follow it through thick and thin, often taking the safer route. Not to say that this album is a copy and paste from the band's previous efforts, it certainly has its own unique moments, but it feels like the same old song and dance again when you take it all in, that the group is singing about getting the girl or just wanna party, and they do so with infectious rhythms and catchy choruses, while throwing in some slower songs here and there. "A Rock Supreme" has its moments, and is still a fun ride, but it is still a predictable one that will not get you very excited.
Rating: 6,5/10 Lipstick Cities
Mystik - S/T
Finally we have a contender for "Debut record of the year", a Swedish blackened speed metal band that turns the clock back to the mid 80's and unleashes a furious rage that is just awesome to behold. Mystik is not doing anything ground breaking, they just play fast, hard, and dark. It also helps that they have a knack for creating really catchy and groovy songs that sticks with you like sap from a tree. They put all the pieces into the right places to make this self titled debut truly special, combining the evil nature of Mercyful Fate with those classic speed metal elements. Go check them out if you have not already, and drench yourself in this glorious riff fest.
Rating: 8,5/10 Hellish Forces
Possessed - Revelations of Oblivion
Okay, so I am not that much into pure old school death metal, but when a band as Possessed gets so much attention as they do, it ultimately leaves me no choice than to check out their first album in 33 years. Frankly, I expected "Revelations of Oblivion" to be an over hyped wall of sound, but to my surprise, it actually had some legs to stand on to warrant the praise. This album is an angry assault of death thrash that works just as good today as it did back then, having an primal evil to it that few bands can match up to. It is still a little too much meat and potatoes for my taste to fully appreciate, but as far as comeback records go, this is certainly one of the more energetic ones out there.
Rating: 7,5/10 Shadowcults
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