Sleep Bellum Sonno – Judge Us By How We Lived Our Lives, Not By How We Made Our Living
02.15.10 Reviews | by: Ahti Arumetsa
Band: Sleep Bellum Sonno
Album: Judge Us By How We Lived Our Lives, Not By How We Made Our Living
Year: 2009
Label: Unsigned
Myspace
Best Song: I’m Not Afraid Of Storms For I’m Learning To Sail My Ship. (Sailor)
Score: 7/10
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Sleep Bellum Sonno tries to hold you with deep, cutting emotions. The material of their sophomore attempt “Judge Us By How We Lived Our Lives Not By How We Made Our Living” is dense, mostly because of the rawness of the matter and the out-of-control feel the album has. Much of this may come from the live-recording of the album. I am not sure what to think of the music yet, as I’m going for the fourth listen, I’m filled with expectations and I’m curious to hear what I have missed so far. One thing is certain, Sleep Bellum Sonno is one of those groups who have managed to create an image of a well-defined band. I wish more bands could put so much effort into the concept of their musical activity.
Story Of The Year – The Constant
02.15.10 Reviews | by: Ahti Arumetsa
Band: Story Of The Year
Album: The Constant
Year: 2010
Label: Epitaph
Myspace
Best Song: The Children Sing
Score: 6/10
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We all know who Story of the Year (soty) is and that they got their big breakthrough in 2003 with their debut album “Page Avenue”. I was one of the kids back then who became a big fan and I could not ever get enough of “Page Avenue”. That was 2003 and 7 years later they are back with another album, this time called “The Constant” and it is released through Epitaph. You who followed this band through the years understand me when I say that this band has somewhat gone down hill, that they have become just another “rock” band. In between the release of “Page Avenue” and “Constant” they put out two other albums called “In The Wake of Determination”, which is by far the weakest album of them all, and “The Black Swan”. Let’s face it – not much can beat “Page Avenue”. So when I started to listen to “The Constant” I didn’t have much hope for it to knock me out like “Page Avenue” did.
Pg.Lost – In Never Out
12.10.09 Reviews | by: Ahti Arumetsa
Band: Pg.Lost
Album: In Never Out
Year: 2009
Label: Black star Foundation
Myspace
Best Song: Crystalline
Score: 9/10
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In Never Out clearly rides on the wave of infinity. The strangest thing about the infinity is the end. Pg.Lost solves the mystery in a bit modern way; by simply keeping it covered with tension, melancholy, robotic rhythms, melodic patterns, which may seem endless. But the album itself is not endless; it actually ends in a very natural way. Roughly said, it moves trough with such persistence and craftiness that the listener can be sure there was not a single note that slipped their minds. Leaving the ending not tragically but inevitable.
Say hello to my kids – Say hello to my kids EP
11.09.09 Reviews | by: Ahti Arumetsa
Band: Say hello to my kids
Album: Say hello to my kids EP
Year: 2009
Label: Unsigned
Myspace
Best Song: Say hello to my kids
Score: 8/10
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Its the end of 2009 and bands (especially new ones) are more flexible and specific. Rock is not simply rock and it’s not that rare when bands are embracing more modern ways of writing, performing – meet “Say Hello To My Kids”. A fresh quartet from Belgium with a seductive and saporous sound scape anchored by a voice which departures from traditional use of vocals (one of the benefits of post-rock) and is used as a storyteller.
The Fall of Troy – In The Unlikely Event
10.03.09 Reviews | by: Ahti Arumetsa
Band: The Fall of Troy
Album: In The Unlikely Event
Year: 2009
Label: Equal Vision Records
Myspace
Best Song: Single
Score: 9/10
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The Fall Of Troy is full of surprises. Probably the biggest surprise the listener will have is the virtuosity of their music. But their latest “In The Unlikely Event“ holds more than simply amazing music.
Taking Back Sunday – New Again
09.20.09 Reviews | by: Ahti Arumetsa
Band: Taking Back Sunday
Album: New Again
Year: 2009
Label: Warner
Myspace
Best Song: Everything Must Go
Score: 8/10
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Taking Back Sunday has always come out with ambitious album names. Starting with very promising debut Tell All Your Friends, sophomore album Where You Want To Be, their third and most successful Louder Now, which was voted the best of 2006 by Kerrang and finishing with their latest New Again.
Before writing and recording New Again the band went trough another self-questioning (as you see from album titles this wasn’t the first time) due to the departure of Fred Mascherino who had major influence on the band since the album Where You Want To Be. On New Again Matthew Fazzi was included as the new guitarist to replace Fred.
Winter Dust – Colours Of The Post-Storm EP
09.20.09 Reviews | by: Ahti Arumetsa
Band: Winter Dust
Album: Colours Of The Post-Storm EP
Year: 2009
Label: Unsigned
Myspace
Best Song: Post-War
Score: 6/10
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A big part of the problem how music is consumed is labeling music into genres. 21st century has taught us that throwing 5 different names (which just lack common sense) at one musical group is clearly not the brightest way to describe music. Although kudos for the attempt.
While I was reviewing Winter Dusts album “Colors of the Post-Storm“ I found myself in the same mess. I was unable to catogorize them. The band leaves their signature on every song, and its enjoyable that they use certain tehniques and patterns which have grown into their own. But at the same time i feel the album is wandering off from the theme they created with the intro song and as the songs go on theres a lot of different ideas blending. The future is less brighter maybe even confusing.
