Nocturnal Bloodlust - Unleash (Review)

So, today I have a review on a very cool album. After name Nocturnal Bloodlust, everything usually becomes clear - this is a project of high-class musicians, where high professionalism is noticeable in every action. Therefore, each new album is a real holiday for ears.

My Rating: 71/100 Best song: ー

However, this was before release Whiteout EP, which was wasted. And after this it was necessary to recoup, that is, to release something really powerful. No sooner said than done. However, not quite done as desired. This album contains a fairly large number of strong emotions. However, when listening to it creates a feeling of incompleteness, as if something is missing.

Composer's work is not very difficult. I got the feeling that the composer hastily glued the songs from patterns that first came to mind. Most likely, this work did not quite like that, but still there is a feeling that the methods of solving artistic tasks are not very thorough. Here you can hear the patterns characteristic of the deathcore in a very low guitar tuning (if not mistaken, Drop G) and with rather diverse vocal parts. For this band, this is a typical picture. However, there is a very high emphasis on emotions, and not on diversity. And, so much so that you can select only the last track. Also separately I would like to highlight a very brutal brakedown in track 5.

Vocalist - everything is great here. Hiroyuki is a very big talent. Accordingly, the result of his work is a very interesting vocal sound and a very large variety of vocal techniques. The only awkward moment is that the lyrics are not everywhere worked out to the end. As if the songwriter had very little time.

Instrumental parts sound cool. In general, parts can hardly be called complex, but the sound is a pleasure. Let's start with guitars - they sound good. But I still wanted to hear something more complicated from the point of view of a guitarist. There are so many Djent riffs here that the Russian community even jokingly called the band Nocturnal Djentlust. Bassist is also good. Bassist is relatively well heard in the mix and this is a nice touch. It should also be noted slap on bass at the beginning of track 6 - this is the second track with slap on bass (the first was Desperate). Drummer is about the same here. Everything is pretty predictable, but the high intensity of drum patterns also sounds cool. Otherwise, there is nothing more to say about instruments.

Professionals of such a high level cannot do their job badly. Actually, the result speaks for itself - this album is cool. However, something prevented the guys and as a result the album turned out to be somehow one-sided. That is, there are a lot of emotions in the album, but at the same time the methods for solving artistic tasks are not very diverse. I can't even single out any one song from the album and call it the best. Well, after a misunderstanding called Whiteout, this work is like a breath of fresh air - you still feel a high skill level. However, now they sound worse than at the time of their first albums. I do not quite understand what they were hoping for? Hiding flaws with emotion? This is a rather controversial decision, since not all listeners have the same perception. And I know a lot of good projects (for example, IScream Never Ground, Bakudan Koukiatsu, Phantom Excaliver), which made a big bet on emotions and did not achieve a tangible result. So there is something to think about.

Crystal Lake - Helix (Review)

I compare very many Japanese metalcore bands to the Crystal Lake. And the reasons for this are quite weighty - this is one of few bands whose members demonstrate exceptional quality both in the performance and in the methods of solving artistic tasks. Recently, however, something has gone wrong.

My rating: 68/100   Best Song: Hail To The Fire

Now I begin to discuss specifically. The idea can not be called interesting, and with the implementation is not so simple. The first thing that I noticed is too simple naming. This is a very disturbing sign, given the previous work. But I will not focus on one thing, there are still many interesting things.

Composer's work - the situation is twofold. It's noticeable here that the composer did not initially plan to do something complicated. That is, he just did what he can do. However, there is not very good application of methods for solving artistic tasks. Because of this, the feeling of the album is ambiguous. For example, some songs are not quite original song “+81” is similar to song Live to Die (Nocturnal Bloodlust). The 10th track was not understood by me. And the last two tracks seemed to me the same and inserted only for the quantity.

Vocalist is good. There is a very large variety of vocal parts. And in every vocal technique vocalist shows excellent performance. The only awkward moment - chorus from 3th track looks like a cry of despair. Perhaps this is used as a way to highlight something, but I do not find it appropriate.

Instrumental parts are not entirely predictable - this is a nice detail. It should also be noted that in some songs the high complexity of the instrumental parts, and in some - not very high. I can not say that a good idea, but there is diversity. Guitar parts are also quite complex, especially in tracks 3 and 6. There is a very low guitar tuning, if I'm not mistaken, this is a Drop G. Rhythm section is quite complicated - here are interesting decisions by the composer. I would like to say that there are no complaints about the rhythm section, but even here there are some strange solutions. For example, the use of a drum machine (I don't remember which tracks) looks strange.

Vocal and instrumental parts sound cool, but the methods of solving artistic tasks are a kind of mosh. It reminds me of a new release of band GYZE - it seems that it was released only so that the band would not be forgotten. As you have already noticed, the review is nominally neutral: the high level of the band's skill makes itself felt, but personally I don’t like such ideas and implementation. For me, this band has long been the benchmark of metalcore sound. Now I begin to doubt it.

Simplest japanese metal songs on 7 string guitar

Extended range guitars is always a professional choice. However, sometimes there is a simple artistic task that does not require something complicated. And in this entry I will talk about such examples.

• Galneryus - Heavy Curse (Heavy / Power / Progressive Metal, Standard B)

Usually guitarist from this band has very difficult parts. But during his career, he tried many methods of solving artistic tasks. So many, that he got in my today's list.

• Pulse Of Humanity - No Excuse (Nu-Metal / Industrial Metal, Drop A)

If you know what “Nu-Metal” is, then you will understand this.

• ISAO - Pudding Busters (Progressive Metal / Instrumental, Standart B)

This artist originally used 7 string guitars, and compositions were not very complicated. Here is one example.

• Nocturnal Bloodlust - Dead End (Deathcore / Djent, Drop G)

I also find it strange to see these guys on this list, because their music is very complicated from the point of view of a guitarist. However, there is only a complex scale in intro, the rest is simple.

The list turned out even less than usual - 4 pieces.

The most brutal guitar plug-in

Previously, extreme bands recorded guitars on the classical scheme - studio, amplifier, microphone, guitarist. But in the processing such a result it takes a very long time to hide errors. Or they made perverted experiments in the process of re-amp - only most popular (vintage and similar) amplifiers and pedals exist in VST format. But now there was a plug-in that allows you to get a very brutal sound.



Nice job. The result you can hear is that this sound is very suitable for the deathcore or djent. Comments are superfluous.

Currently, this plug-in is not available for purchase, only pre-order is available. But for those who have pre-ordered, access will be 2 days earlier than for general public.

Djent stick by Vaganych

Grab the pole from shovel and use it to modify the guitar. Do you think this is impossible? In Russia everything is possible.



Here you can see that bass guitar is being reworked. It's not entirely clear why - scale length remains the same, but there is no truss rod. Distortion can be put on bass. Nevertheless, pole from shovel excellently enters the docking area, which is very encouraging to author of video.

Actually, this can be played and sometimes even music is produced. This is suitable for djent and progressive music. Well, we wish the author success in working with this device.

Paledusk - Blue Rose (Review)

Usually, the absence of change is considered a sign of absence of development. Really. And how else can you call a person who does not receive new knowledge and does not reflect on the events taking place? Nevertheless, it does not always happen.

My Rating: 69/100

This also applies to musicians. Repetition of a successful release is the composer's biggest mistake. Paying attention to several features, you don't think about what you can do wrong. Yes, i can say that this is not a simple repetition of the previous work. Here everything is done very smart - the main sound was left exactly the same as in previous album, while slightly changing some shades. Maybe I want to think so, because I really liked this project - I can not speak confidently.

Nevertheless, here we hear groove metal with a very large hardcore influence and non-standard ideas. I will not focus on the idea that this kind of music is quite complicated and in any case, guys are good fellows. I want to say that this project is based solely on composer's non-standard ideas. I don't mean a permanent construction change of composition, although it's also noteworthy and is a positive moment. I want to say something else. You can talk in two ways. First is to say a few words, and the interlocutor will guess what a logical connection is between them. Second - you can combine several literary techniques, thus transferring all shades of your mood and purpose. Approximately the same thing in this release. Here is an interesting combination of artistic techniques. Yes, I can write a little about it, since this element is executed excellently.

Vocal parts are monotonous. Yes, vocalist has good abilities. Yes, sometimes you can hear a whisper (2 track), narration (3 track). And also clean vocals became a surprise (7 track). But in general, vocal parts are monotonous. Also worth noting that there is some too simple voice timbral color. This reminds me of an office clerk who spent 8 hours sorting through paper (in comfortable conditions without harmful factors), and then came on stage and with the latest strength began to sing about how difficult it's to work. I think you guessed what I want to say.

Instrumental parts performed excellently. Studio work always sounds cool and this release is no exception. The first thing you can notice is extended range guitars (8 string), which give a characteristic djent sound. Usually from such music templates in style of Periphery are expected. But here everything is much more interesting. Yes, I expected more natural harmonics (they are performed only in 3 track). But in general, we can say that guitar parts are good. Rhythm section is also good - composer's good work again is felt. The only drawback - bass can not be heard, only vibrations from headphones are felt. Bass sounds like an octave lower (it's a extended range bass), but it's made quiet. Also here there are additional instriments. In 4th track, you can hear a synthesizer in the style of Korg's magical organs with a "cosmic" sound. It might be interesting if this continued throughout the composition. But this is only in beginning, and then - a simple piano.

Well, this release is very similar to previous. But it's done a little differently. This album excellently shows how to repeat albums so that they are interesting to listen. I don't know if you understood me or not, but I can say that a good band released a good album. I don't know how much this idea is enough, but this time idea was realized interestingly.

Dmitry Demyanenko - Universe (Review)

It happens that talented musicians live many kilometers away from you. And it so happens that they live in a neighboring city. Recently I found a very interesting solo project from Krasnodar (Southern Russia).

My Rating: 85/100



Before, I did not hear the band Shokran, where Dmitry was a guitarist. I don't know if it's right to give an assessment without listening to previous works. But one thing is obvious: dude has great talent. I noticed an interesting album even on cover art. My blog has a dark theme, so you will not notice it. But if you go to bandcamp official page, you'll notice that the cover blends in an interesting way with the page. Thus, it's given a hint that for author there are no borders. Yeah, a good album starts with interesting shades on cover.

Album can not be called very special, but this year it's the best instrumental album I've heard. Usually the most interesting albums can not be described with words. Kevin Lytle - the first one who made me think about how relative my assessments. And now I see a second person who shows about the same thing. All that I write in this entry is just a small part of what I experienced after I took off the headphones. When we say "instrumental progressive", then the word "similar" in this context sounds like a curse. Nevertheless, it reminds me solo project of Isao Fujita. And also there are some similarities with one of his projects - Cube-Ray. At least that's what I remembered.

Composer's work is excellent. Especially I liked the idea of ​​dividing compositions into two parts. This is very noticeable in tracks 2 and 4. That is, the overall construction changes approximately in half of composition. This is not a trivial key change, but a change in overall composition pattern with the help of additional instruments and / or some turns.

Instrumental parts performed excellently. However, such projects have only two options - to play well or not to produce studio albums. But still it's worth noting that after word "djent" I expected an ordinary grinding "zeros" on seventh string for several notes on piano sampler in the style of late 7Years To Midnight. Yes, reality is harsh. But this album pleasantly surprised me - everything here is much more interesting. There is a high skill level. But here is not shredding in the style of Mike Batio, when virtuosity violates all reasonable limits. Here the performance is exactly what the artistic task requires. What else can you say about an excellent musician?

In the end, I wrote few words about this release. Not only because for Russia albums of this level are rare. Not only because at the world level this album looks impressive. Usually don't say anything about such albums - this is the main reason. Such albums are listened to and silently admired. However, you can see for yourself.

Dmitry Demyanenko - Obsession (MV)

Imagine if Toshin Abasi was born in Russia. His work might look something like this.



Yes, it did not seem to you, it's a copy of Animals As Leaders, but with the standard bars sizes. There was copied a lot, even a dark room with unusual lighting. However, this does not negate the fact of having an excellent talent. Composition leaves a pleasant impression.

By the way, his solo album was released on April 5 and I plan to write a review on it soon.

10 guitar riffs that changed my life

Recently saw Jared video, in which he talks about the 10 guitar riffs that changed his life. Today I decided to tell you about it too. So, 10 guitar riffs that changed my life.

1. X-Japan - X (Power Metal/Speed Metal).
2. Slayer - Black Magic (Thrash Metal).
3. Trivium - Pull Harder On the Strings Of Your Martyr (Thrash Metal/Groove Metal).
4. In Flames - Artifact Of The Black Rain (Melodic Death Metal).
5. Lamb Of God - Redneck (Groove Metal).
6. Bullet For My Valentine - Hit The Floor (Metalcore).
7. Bullet For My Valentine - Ashes Of The Innocent (Thrash Metal/Metalcore).
8. Killswitch Engage - My Last Serenade (Metalcore).
9. Periphery - Insomnia (Groove Metal/Progressive Metal/Djent).
10. Kino - Peremen (Post-Punk, New Wave)

I will not describe all causes and consequences - this will not be enough for one blog entry. The only thing I notice is that at first the complexity gradually increased, then the notion "genre" ceased to exist for me at all.