Donamorte EP (2012)

Genre - Gothic / Rock / Trance
Label - Gildrome

Track listing:

01 - Psycho End
02 - D.r.e.d.a.
03 - Cherade
04 - Can't You feel It

Donamorte are an Italian outfit consisting of Armando Ammerata (vocals), Garmo (programming and Keyboards) and Kekko (guitars) The Donamorte project came from an idea by Armando Ammerata and the fervid collaboration of Garmo (Lost Reality's lead singer) and Kekko (Lost Reality band member and guitarist).

They put together some interesting music, managing to mic Gothic Rock and Trance sesibilities together with ease and producing some great songs in the process.
Personally Id love to see them add a live drummer to the mix, but they are still well worth checking out!
D.r.e.d.a. and Cant You feel It are the two stand out tracks for me, and after hearing this EP Im looking forward to checking out the album!

Rating - 8/10

Marilyn Manson - Born Villian (2012)

Genre - Industrial Rock / Alternative / Groove Rock
Label - Cooking Vinyl

Track listing:

01. Hey Cruel World…
02. No Reflection
03. Pistol Whipped
04. Overneath The Path Of Misery
05. Slo Mo Tion
06. The Gardener
07. The Flowers Of Evil
08. Children Of Cain
09. Disengaged
10. Lay Down Your Goddamn Arms
11. Murders Are Getting Prettier Every Day
12. Born Villain
13. Breaking The Same Old Ground
14 You're so Vain (feat. Johnny Depp)
15 No Reflection (Radio Edit)

So The mighty Marilyn Manson returns with his latest offering in the form of Born Villain. Now I have to be honest, I really do like Marilyns work, its just that whilst most of his albums have a few songs that were truly great, nothing has really grabbed since AntiChrist Superstar, that is until now!
Born Villain, in my opinion really does see Marilyn redisover his best form.Songs such as Hey cruel World, No reflection, Pistol Whipped, Slo Mo Tion, Overneath....The Gardener, Children Of Cain, Disengaged, Born Villain are destined to become Marilyn classics.
Born Villain is a great album, that I am thoroughly enjoying, just loving the atmospherics that Marilyn managed to create within each song.
Theres another great cover on this album, and just as he did with Sweet dreams and Tainted Love, Marilyn really makes You're So Vain his own, and it has the added bonus of a guest appearence from Johnny Depp!

This album is a must have for any Marilyn Manson fan and well worth checking out for anyone curious or interested in what Marilyn is upto these days!

Rating - 10/10

Gone Til Winter - The First season (2012)

Genre - Gothic / Alternative Metal / Female Vocal

Tracklisting:
01 - Solemise
02 - Heat Signal
03 - Kill Me
04 - Utopia
05 - Deep Sleep
06 - Distant Places
07 - Release (acoustic)
08 - Constant Retreat (acoustic)

Manchester based Gone Til Winter unleash their self released debut upon the world in the form of The First Season.The inevitable comparisons with the likes of Nightwish, Evenescence and Lacuna Coil are bound to be made, yet Gone Til winter offer up a less polished, more organic sound to my ears. Telena Cuthbert has a great voice, powerful and emotive, with a great range that sits on top of the heavy riffing just as comfortably as it does the subtle acoustic sections. the songs are pretty well put together, and the musicianship is all good.
I think the band could benifit with the helkp of a top producer just to add that final edge / polish to the tracks, as sometimes they just seem to lack something that I just cant put my finger on, but thats not to say that there is anything wrong with them on the contary they are all solid, just not outstanding.
Stand out tracks for me include Utopia, Release, Constant Retreat and Solemise.
On a whole a solid debut that shows a band with a lot of potential,

rating 8/10

Obsessive Compulsive - Dreams Of Death and the Death Of Dreams

Genre - Gothic / Punk / Metal / Hard rock
Label - Vociferous Records

Track listing -

01.$$
02.Man Vs Machine
03.The Decay of Hope
04.A Cocktail of Toxins
05.Spit The Medicine
06.Virago
07.Autopsy
08.Future Closing In
09.Exit
10.Hell is a Circle
11.27½

"Obsessive Compulsive Are A Gothic/Punk Band From Manchester, UK. Signed To Their Own Label Vociferous Rocords. They've Released Two EPs, June 2004's 'A Demon For Every Occasion' & 'The Corpses Of Thought' In January 2007. As well as this their debut full length album, 'Dreams Of Death & The Death Of Dreams'."

Imagine a modern day Die Cheerleader (from the early 90's) , with a more sophisticated and polished sound, then you'll be on the right tracks to understanding Obsessive Compulsives sound.

On this album the band have produced 11 great songs, that really showcase the terrific vocals of lead vocalist kelii's voice. (The line up is completed by Pete - Bass, Giz - Guitar and Dani - Drums.) Their sound is familiar angst-ridden, guitar-driven punk rock complemented by Kelii’s dirty, gutteral growls and creamy crooning. The music and composition is not particularly complex, but it works, and it works well. This is a refreshing album, and nothing like I expected it to be which can only be a good thing!
Id like to see the band try to push their musical boundries a little further on their next release but saying that this, their debut album is a great album well worth a few repeated listens!


Website - Obsessive Compulsive
Rating - 9/10

Sister - Hated

Genre - Hard rock / Sleaze / Punk
Label - Metal Blade

Track listing -

01 – Radioactive Misery
02 – Body Blow ‘Pissed Off N’ Beautiful’
03 – Bullshit & Backstabbing ‘We All Were Born Lobotomized’
04 – Hated ‘The Snakes You Thought Were Safe Spit In Your Face’
05 – Motherfuckers (Like You) ‘Can’t Destroy Me, Can’t Hold Me Down’
06 – Werewolves On Blackstreet ‘Peel The Skin From Your Broken Bones’
07 – Spit On Me ‘You Ain’t Got What It Takes To Stay In Hell’
08 – The Unlucky Minority ‘That’s Why I Tore Out My Eyes’
09 – Would You Love A Creature ‘Hypnotized Alcoholized’
10 – Too Bad For You ‘A Living Disease, Too Hard To Please’
11 – Drag Me To The Grave ‘Bottoms Up At The Edge Of The Fall’


This is not the Sister from the late 70's that once featured such members as blackie Lawless and Nikki Sixx, no this incarnation of Sister were formed in Stockholm/Jonkoping Sweden,2006.
Sister's Metal Blade debut, Hated, is a punk-laced slab of angry hard rock. “Hated” is an album that combines this new wave of Glam/Sleaze along with some Punk elements. If you’re into this new stuff you’ll understand what I’m talking about. The music is pretty filthy and raw and in combination with Jamie’s vocals they kick major ass reminding of bands like HARDCORE SUPERSTAR and BACKYARD BABIES with a Gothic / Shock Rock edge ala the likes of Alice Cooper and WASP.
These songs are not exactly going to set the world of fire, but they will enterain make a great party!
I love the angst, I love the passion and I love the tongue in cheek lyrics, this is what rock was all about back in the day!
GREAT album!!

Website - Sister
Rating - 9/10

Le Reverie - Truth & Lies

Genre – Hard Rock / Alternative / Modern Rock / Gothic
Label – Independent?

Track listing –

01 – Hold Me Down
02 – Truth & Lies
03 – Ghost of You


I couldn’t find out much about the band Le Reverie, except that they’re an American female fronted band, who was touted for break out sing of the year with Hold Me Down.
The band has a song writing style that is very similar to bands like Evanescence and System of a Down, yet unique and potent enough to warrant interest. Most of the tracks are piano led, with fuzzy guitars providing Zepplin style riffs all over them. This is an Ep that you need to listen to once or twice, it’s not immediately instant, to me anyway, but with repeated listens the songs give up their magic, and the songs are very well written and performed. Vocalist Allie Jorgen, has a great voice very much in the vein of female rock legends Pat Benatar, Ann Wilson and Amy Lee.
Truth & Lies is an interesting little Ep, cant wait to hear the debut album when it’s released.

Web Site: www.lereverie.com
Rating – 8/10

Incassum - In Vain

Genre - Metal / Progressive
Label - Casket music

Track listing -
01 - The Beckoning
02 - History Repeats
03 - Space To Breathe
04 - So Red
05 - All These Lies
06 - In Vain

Unfortunately for Incassum (a Latin word meaning In Vain), the band’s sound offers up nothing new or exciting. They seem to combine a lot of musical ideas that have already been done, in most cases so much better too. Musically they come across as a Death / Gothic metal band with slight Evanescence tendencies, unfortunately Sharleen Kennedy's vocals just aren’t up to the job.
In most cases the music comes across as a little dull and uninspired, although it does have its moments, I thoroughly enjoyed Space To Breathe and the opening of title track In Vain, but I fear the good points were too far and few in between to warrant repeat listening. Sorry


website - http://www.myspace.com/incassum
Rating - 6/10

Lunar Dusk - 4 track Promotional EP

Lunar Dusk are (presently) a one man Gothic / Electronic / Alternative band formed by Ariel a former member of London based goth/industrial/dark electronic band Cryptonic Love Revival. This self produced and released promotional Ep features 4 tracks, 'Temple Of Ishtar', 'Blood and Tears', 'Saturn' and 'Tranquillity'. The songs are pretty strong, lots of keyboards, electronic piano, fuzzy guitars and Ariel seems to have a little bit of David Bowie type of croon about him places. The production is ok, a little murky at times, but for a one man show this Ep is quite impressive. Id love to see what this guy could come up with given a full band and a bigger production budget behind him!


Think Type Of Negative, Acey Slade, Plastic Toys and you wont be too far off of the mark!

website - http://www.myspace.com/lunardusk

rating 7/10

Calabrese - They Call Us Death Calabrese III

You could summarise this review by stating "If you love the Misfits you'll love 'They Call Us Death', but that would be unfair as there is so much more to Calabrese.

As the band tear into the opening (and title) track of the album, their self styled Damned meets Misfits meets Ramones B-movie Gothic Rockabilly vibe is evident for all to see.
'Blood Of The Wolf' has a pure channelled aggression that wouldn't be out of place on a hardcore bands album,
This Calabrese's third full length album is easily as good as its predecessor's, if not better, and if your into a Misfits inspired Gothic / Punk / Rockabilly onslaught (less the Danzig Esq crooners) then this album maybe right up your alley!

website - http://www.myspace.com/calabrese

rating 8/10

Obsessive Compulsive - Dreams of Death and the Death of Dreams

The debut album from Manchester Gothic / punk / rock band Obsessive Compulsive is a fine piece of work.

Kicking off with ‘$$‘, grunge laden grooves are thrown at you, intertwining with front woman Kelii’s pseudo-hypnotic snarl. The chorus brings forward an attitude that runs through the entire album, “You are the enemy, and we will not be deceived”. Musically it is bold, raw and dirty. Pulsing with energy you can easily pick up hefty nods towards the likes of Hole and Killing Joke. Obsessive Compulsive work best when they are running at full tilt and ‘Spit The Medicine’ is a real belter of a tune 9which for some reson brings to mind lost 90's rockers Die Cheerleader), and ‘Exit’ gives you a track that is destined to be a live classic with audiences bouncing along. The hypnotic Marilyn Manson-esque ‘A Cocktail Of Toxins’ forces itself under your skin and into your psyche showing that they can pull off the darkened slower tracks, and ‘Hell Is a Circle’ simply gives you the creeps.

Dreams Of death and the Death Of Dreams is an album full of raw energy and attitude that just gets better with each listen.

Highly recon mended!
website - http://www.myspace.com/obsessivecompulsive

rating 10/10

Acey Slade & the Dark Party - The Dark Party

New York-based musician Acey Slade is trying to make a name for himself as a solo-artist after stints with glam rockers The Murderdolls and metallers Dope – ‘The Dark Party’ is his debut release with his band of the same name.


This is pretty much a one man project (until it comes to the live shows), and comes across as a great mix of rock and electronica music, with goth elements thrown in the mix in places.

The songs are are all pretty strong, from the commercial 'Sugarcum' to the harder edged 'Coming Down'. Other stand out tracks include 'She Brings Down The Moon', 'Spiders In A Snowglobe and 'Plastic Lego Queen'.

This is a great album and if bands like Plastic Toys float your boat then you're sure to love this album!



Rating 9/10

Spider Rockets - Spider Rockets

Spider Rockets are not just another female fronted rock band, they have a uniqueness about them that stands them in great stead amoungst their fans.They manage to combine elements of Goth, glam, rock, punk and alternative into a great sound and with the lush melodic yet adaptable vocals of Helana Cos they really are a force to be reckonded with.
The songs twist and turn, offering up something new on each listen, To be totally honest I cant really find the words to describe this album, its just complete, it really does have everything, and I dont care what music you are into, be it, Velevt Revolver, Alanis Morissette, No doubt, Gwen Staffarni, L7, The Beatles, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, or Sound Garden, Spider Rockets will have something to appeal to your tastes.
Songs like, Anti Hero, Gold, Kiss You Dea and Disease are just brilliant.

rating 10/10

Maeven - Girl In Blue

The Sheffield girls return with their new one track single, Girl In Blue, their first release with the new line up. The sounds heavy, a little chaotic in places, but great at the same time. Loving the sound, live these girls must be awesome. They do sound familiar but i just cant put my finger on why, but that's probably a good thing! Maeven are playing a kind of Gothicy heavy but melodic garage rock and I'm loving it. I Cant wait to hear the new album when its completed sometime in 2010!

rating 9/10

The Barbarellatones - The Break Up Ghost Review

'High quality trash. Sleaze-Glam with Sleazy Chords, Sleazy Lyrics and even some Sleazy Tuning on their Sleazy Guitars. The Drums are...Sleazy' is what CD Baby says of the new release from The Barbarellatones.
Album opener 'Get Your Freak On' comes across as a moody beach Boys track, and 'Gothic City' just continues the moody feel. Its a beautiful soundscape, with some great chilled out sounds yet somehow maintains that moody meanacing feeling.
The Barbarellatones list themselves as a Glam/Garage/Gothic band and thats a great honest description, imagine a cross between say Poison, Motley Crue and Type O Negative! They sound great!
The only fault I can think of on this album is that they never really rock up the tempo, the songs are all excellent, performed/delivered to perfection, but not one of them gets above mid tempo, instead opting to maintain a dark mood instead, but always maintaining that sleazy edge.
I was suprised at just how much I enjoyed this album!
stand out tracks included, ' Gothic City', 'Grab Your Ankles' (just check out the lyrics lol), 'The Raven' which is just a beautiful song, and 'Unfaithful Lover'.
This album is still a tour d force even if it could do with a fast song or two!

Rating 9/10