Another Christian Rock album to review. They are like London's buses, you go ages without seeing any, and then two turn up together. This effort by Orlando based Fireflight is a modern melodic rock album. 10 tracks of catchy and very accessible rock music. My faves on this cd include 'Unbreakable', 'Brand New Day', 'Forever' and 'Wrapped In Your Arms'. I like this cd, and I urge punters whether they are of  faith or not to buy this album. Fireflight’s music offers a haven for the accused and beaten down, and gives an inspirational spark to trust and dream again. And as the title track proclaims, for all those who are broken and have lost their way, there is a hope and love that is Unbreakable. Buy the album and support their music, enough said. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

EOWYN..'SILENT SCREAMS'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 14th April 2008

Eowyn is a Nashville recording artist with an industrial rock/metal sound, and a theatrical stage presence that will leave you utterly captivated with emotional intrigue. “Silent Screams” is a Christian Rock album, and was produced by Travis Wyrick (P.O.D., Pillar, Disciple). With a style that is filled with industrial rock sound, inspiring vocal imaging and a powerful, dramatic presence, this album is set to make a dominant stand in the market place. I for one am having trouble finding fault with this cd. Imagine Evanescence mixed with Plumb, then add in a dose of heaviness, then may be we are nearly there! Too many genuine rock and metal fans get put off when the word Christian gets mentioned in a review. "Silent Screams" is an awesome cd, and I think one of the best in this genre that I and many others will hear this year. BUY! 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

AYIN ALEPH..'AYIN ALEPH 1'

(Ivensis Import) Reviewed 21st March 2008

Want something a little different? Check this little opus out by this Paris Based Russian lass. 19 tracks and close on 80 minutes of what has been described as Baroque Metal. I suppose we could imagine Kate Bush crossed with Nina Hagan and Marilyn Manson, and then add a little bit of Freddy Mercury, and yep, we would more or less be there. Well something like that anyway. As regards the music, the lass offers a mix of various genres. Metal guitars clearly occupy a great part of this cd, and gives the tracks a heavy and metallic feel. Then we have piano and harpsichord to bring a kind of baroque and gothic style to the orchestration. I don't think I am going to bother to list individual tracks. The whole album is an awesome affair, and although metallic and operatic it may be, Nightwish it certainly isn't. I like this, it rocks, it is heavy and it has loadsa melody. This is great stuff, a little unusual but it does our beloved genre proud, and it is well worth checking out. 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

DRACONIAN..'TURNING SEASON WITHIN'

(Napalm Records) Reviewed 18th February 2008

Musically, 'Turning Season Within' sees DRACONIAN speed up the tempo and heaviness a bit, but without leaving their roots or the doomish aspect aside. It is both tragic and beautiful, being filled with songs of longing and drama. This is great doomy gothic metal, and this is where the term 'gothic' in my book certainly does apply. And yet, there is a melodic under current never too far away throughout the album. Featuring the angelic female arrangements of Lisa Johansson, the harsh and at times near violent vocals of lyricist Anders Jacobsson, and with tuned down walls of darkish riffs, these Swedes have certainly delivered with this release. 'Turning Season Within' is certainly not a release for you Avril fans out there (LOL), but any punters who would enjoy a heavy fusion of doomy gothic metal coupled with occasional dreamy melodies to die for...well all I can say is go and buy it! The European release will appear on the 3rd March. Great stuff! 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

DARK PRINCESS..'STOP MY HEART'

(MachXX/SPV) Reviewed 10th February 2008

A cd that has come at me out of nowhere. Dark Princess hail from Russia, and are centred around front lass Olga Romanova. And if this is the sort of music Russia is producing (and I am not talking TATU here), then I want more. There are 12 tracks on 'Stop My Heart' that can best be described as Melodic Gothic Pop/Rock/Metal, not too disimilar I suppose to Evanescence and Within Temptation. Every track here is a good 'un, just listen to 'One Last Goodbye' as an example on an album chockful of singalong anthems. Even the last two tracks that are sung in Russian are superb, even though I cannot understand what Olga is singing about - obviously! . And furthermore, there is also a limited edition double cd that in addition, features their debut album 'Without You'. Indeed, the English versions of the aforementioned Russian tracks are featured on 'Without You', which in itself is a bloomin' good album too. The double cd package is an awesome 23 track effort, and double cd or single cd, I know will appeal to fans of the genre, that like their music heavy, but not too heavy, and very catchy. This cd has to be bought. Great stuff!! 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

LIQUID SKY..'IDENTITY'

(Insomnia Media) Reviewed 10th February 2008

I grew up listening to melodic hard rock, but in those days there was not the femme metal bands that we have now. I also have had the honour recently to review very good albums by British metal bands Adastreia and Crimson Tears. Now we can add Liquid Sky to that list. Fronted by the gorgeous Hecate Taglietti (there is some Italian there somewhere, Jon the guitarist tells me), the band has released a debut album of awesome proportion, which has left me begging for more. I had known about the existence of this band for a couple of years or so now, and I saw them live in 2006 supporting my buddies XANDRIA. Back to 'Identity', this is a very good melodic hard rock album, by a band that should not only take Europe, but the world by storm with this release. I won't list the best tracks as they are all that good. I can only puzzle at the fact why the bigger labels tend to ignore the talent that the UK obviously has. The production is spot on, and with mixing by Karl Groom (Threshold), this cd is a winner. Go and buy at http://www.myspace.com/insomniamedia. 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

L'AME IMMORTELLE..'NAMENLOS'

(Trisol Music) Reviewed 4th February 2008

Namenlos offers a mixture of hard but melodic electro sounds, with aggressive and distorted male vocals and emotional melodies with Sonja's crystal-clear hymn-like voice. Pounding industrial dance beats meet heart-breaking Dark Wave synthetic harmonies - reflected German poetry opposes angry English lyrics. After the peotic intro of 'Vergessen', the dance floor filler '1000 Voices' kicks in, swiftly followed by the slower and very melodic 'Behind The Light'. Other faves are 'Requiem', while, the rather brief 'Lost' could be straight out of London's West End...Andrew Lloyd Webber..eat your heart out. The awesome 'Blutrot' and 'Reborn' find the pace picking up again, while the variety on this album keeps you riveted being sung in both German and English. I myself am a fan of this band, and Aimee has high regard for them too. Great stuff from a great duo. 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

HANGING DOLL..'WHAT LIES IN TRUTH'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 21st January 2008

I have known about West Midlands based Hanging Doll for a while now, and The Dames of Darkness Festival gave me an opportunity not only to catch the band live (they was awesome on that night too), but to pick up a cd of theirs. 'What Lies In Truth' is the three track EP which found it's way into my grubby paws that night. And it seems I may have taken the last copy from their merchandise stall. For an independent effort, I like it, and it proves that there is a feast of talent here in the UK, if only the labels would sit up and take notice. As their name may suggest, Hanging Doll, fronted by the gorgeous sounding Sally Holliday, play gothic metal not too disimilar to the sort of music that our European counterparts produce on a quite regular basis. And I am sure they are another UK band (like Crimson Tears), who could give some of those bands a decent run for their money aswell. This is pretty good stuff, with the three tracks offered here being classics worthy of ones attention! I would recommend to anybody into this genre to track this EP down (try their myspace site http://www.myspace.com/hangingdoll) and I look forward to a full length album that's due soon. 7.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

RACHEL FARRIS..'SOAK'

(Big 3 Records) Reviewed 7th January 2008

SOAK was originally released in 2003 in the USA (it is that copy I have here), but it will now be released internationally by Big 3 Records in 2008. And with a production team of Dino and John Elefante, plus Rachel herself, this debut album is a wonderful taste of modern melodic rock. On it she proves she's a little princess in this genre of music too. We have the opening salvo of 'You Think', the single 'I'm Not The Girl' and 'Soak', and listening to these great tunes, you know this release is something a little special. The pace slackens a little thereafter, but this is a little gem to track down, and hopefully, with a worlwide release it shouldn't be that difficult. We here at Ravenheart Music pride ourselves in the fact we are not stuck in a goth metal rut. Let's hope other people can say the same too. Rachel Farris is the name, and the cd is called SOAK. Get it! 7.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

CRIMSON TEARS..'THE DARK AWAKENING'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 26th December 2007

There are a few bands scattered around the planet called Crimson Tears. But the one we are talking about is British, being fronted by a very nice lass who goes by the name of Gina Oldham. And what's more, 'The Dark Awakening' is an awesome release of gothic symphonic melodic metal. And it has been produced at Thin Ice studios by Karl Groom and Richard West from the British progressive metal band Threshold (one of my fave bands by the way). And indeed, some of the tracks bear Threshold resemblances..Check out 'Frozen' and 'Emotion Denied' as two such examples. Other faves included in this feast of metal music are 'Eternity', 'Steal My Heart' and 'Strange' . There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this band are carrying the banner for British symphonic metal. If they remain unsigned, then there is certainly no justice in this world! You can check them out at http://www.myspace.com/ukcrimsontears. Details of how you can purchase the cd can be found on their myspace site too. In my book, Crimson Tears will be able to give their European Counterparts a run for their money if given the chance. Buy 'The Dark Awakening', it's great heavy music with rocking heavy hooks! You won't be disappointed! 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

IVORY MOON..'HUMAN NATURE'

(Ulterium Records) Reviewed 22nd December 2007

Ivory Moon was formed in the summer of 2000 in Italy, and early 2004, the debut album, “On The Edge of Time” was recorded and released in Italy through Battle Hymns Records. In late 2005, the line-up went through some changes, and the band started to work on new songs and ideas for the next album. During 2006, Ivory Moon took residence at Temple of Noise Studios in Rome, to record 'Human Nature'. The sound of Ivory Moon can be described as epic symphonic metal. With the female vocals of Cecilia Serra and with male vocals by Sandro Manicone, Ivory Moon has created a diverse album, both vocally and musically. Okay, there is nothing new on this album - yep, it has all been heard before, but 'Human Nature' will I am sure appeal to fans of Nightwish and Epica, as well as fans of progressive and symphonic metal. And that includes me! This is actually a pleasant surprise by a band that until recently I had never heard off, and 'Human Nature' is worth tracking down for fans of the genre. Try the Amazon web site! 7.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

INDIGO DYING..'S/T'

(Frontiers Records) Reviewed 22nd December 2007

Indigo Dying is a project release on Frontiers Records, and features the vocal talents of Chilean born singer Gisa Vatcky – her credits include such luminaries as Andrea Bocelli, Enrique Iglesias, Placido Domingo, Melissa Etherige and good old Meat Loaf. The center of this project is Fabrizio Grossi, who should be fairly well known to you AOR people out there.. He handles bass, programming, orchestration and yes, even the production. But the star of the album is Gisa – this girl can sing! And even better, she has the songs to back her awesome talent, ranging from melodic rock&metal to anthemic hard rock. Some of the songs on the cd are actually very familiar to me, being covers originally done by Kelly Clarkson and Plumb (Tiffany Arbuckle Lee). Three of the songs also feature the vocal talents of AOR/Melodic Rock super heroes Michael Kiske (Breathe In Water) and Mark Boals (Far Enough, Superman). I really enjoyed listening to this album, that has made me realise why I got into the Melodic Rock scene in the first place. If you like a cross between Melisa Etherige, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Within Temptation, and Evanescence, this little platter should most certainly be on your shopping list. Great stuff. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

ATARGATIS..'NOVA'

(Massacre) Reviewed 19th December 2007

Atargatis have hit the spot with this release, their second in the musical career of this band. This is epic gothic symphonic metal, that will appeal to any fans of the genre. I must say however, that Stepanie Lutzie's nasally twanged vocals do take a little getting used too, but apart from that, this is a strong effort indeed. Some interesting gothic metal on offer, with my faves being 'Riven' (a hit single if ever I heard one), 'Stars Are Falling', 'Green Lake's Ground', 'Fever Of Temptation' and 'When The Ice Breaks'. Meanwhile, another fave, 'The Marching Of The Fey' seems like a good old patriotic German marching song, quite catchy in-fact. I would recommend buying the digipack. The two bonus tracks are worthy of the purchase price alone. I must admit that their previous release, 'Wasteland' didn't quite cut it with me. This release does though! 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

ADASTREIA..'THAT WHICH LIES WITHIN'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 4th December 2007

I have seen Adastreia live on a few occasions, the last being at The Underworld in London, which was also keyboard player Hilary Towsey's last gig with the band. 'That Which Lies Within' is not the sort of album to chill out too with your wife or girlfriend, while enjoying a romantic evening in with a bottle of wine! However, this cd is a metallic feast that has left me totally bewildered as to why this band is NOT signed. Adastreia with the right backing could very easily challenge their European mainland counterparts. After a short instrumental intro, 'In Stillness' explodes from the speakers like a turbo charged express train. And the album does not let up until the very end, when the train decides to stop. Then you wanna take the journey again! And by the way, what a track it is to end the album.'A New Light' kicks in with a techno style intro that would not be out of place in a dance club. Then the heavy guitars arrive, and away we go. In-fact the track 'A New Light' is one of the best 7+ minutes of music committed to cd this year, and I defy anybody to disagree with me on that. Alexandra Martin's vocals may well be compared to the awesome Tarja (ex Nightwish), but when the music is this good, to be perfectly honest, I don't give a toss! This is great stuff, very heavy and melodic..enough said!! Contact the band via their myspace site regards purchase details http://www.myspace.com/adastreia 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

ASRAI..'PEARLS IN DIRT'

(Seasons Of Mist) Reviewed 1st December 2007

Asrai are Dutch. As I have said before, Holland seems to be the Mecca of gothic rock and metal music. This effort by Asrai is stunning. And the image this band portray as a unit is equally as stunning. 'Pearls in Dirt' is Asrai's third cd (they appeared on the scene in 1985) - kicking off with 'Delilah's Lie', this album carries on the way it starts, with some kick ass gothic metal tunes. There are faves here on this album, quite a few actually, but I do particularly like the rocky 'Go' and the equally awesome single 'Sour Ground'. As stated on the cd cover, this will appeal to fans of Evanescence, Within Temptation and Siouxsie and the Banshees. About right in my book too. Excellent stuff indeed!! 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

THE DREAMSIDE..'THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER'

(Dancing Ferret Discs) Reviewed 24th November 2007

Dutch gothic band The Dreamside is yet another fave band of mine, and have been for somewhile now. This disc celebrates them being together for 13 years. It is basically a strong album of re-mixes (done by various bods), most of which would not be out of place on the dance floor. Some good stuff on offer here, with some great re mixed versions of songs that The Dreamside have committed to disc in the past. However, what has interested me on this specific album are the two new studio tracks..'In Longing' and 'Sticks and Stones'. If these two songs are going to be anything like what The Dreamside may be considering for their next studio effort, then that album will be totally mind blowing. I can't wait! This cd meanwhile, is a must for fans of gothic and electro rock and most certainly one for fans of The Dreamside. Excellent!! 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

ELIS..'SHOW ME THE WAY'

(Napalm Records)  Reviewed 22nd November 2007

This 5 track EP offers the last set of material sung by the late Sabine Dunser, whose untimely death last year saddened the world of gothic metal. This is material left over from the 'Griefshire' sessions, the last to include Sabine's angelic vocals. The band though are carrying on, and Sabine's place is taken by Sandra Schleret. And there are 2 re-workings of 'Show Me The Way', originally from 'Griefshire' on this EP, ably sung I hasten to add by the new front lady. But it is the tracks featuring the late Sabine that shine here. They may have been left overs from those aforementioned 'Griefshire' sessions, but they are little gems in their own right. I have always liked Elis from album number one, and I am not ashamed to say that Sabine's cruel death emotionally saddened me! She has been singing with the Angels for well over a year now. God bless you Sabine. 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

DEAD END TRACK..'S/T'

(Vision Metal Records) Reviewed 20th November 2007

An interesting release here by Italians Dead End Track, that will appeal to fans of Lacuna Coil, Evanescence and The Gathering to name just three! Fronted by the vocally gifted Luisa Quaglia, I can even hear The Cure influences on a couple of the tracks. No surprise as they actually do a re-make of 'Love Song' on this album! This self titled release is a mix of gothic metal/rock/dark pop, with even touches of progressive rock in places. So you get your money's worth crammed into the 40+ minutes. No real individual highlights here, although I do like last track 'Orchid', which is an awesome ballad. It is all pretty decent stuff however, and yet another good release from an indie label. Get it at Sonic Cathedral or cdbaby.com. I like it! 7.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

FLOWING TEARS..'INVANITY - LIVE IN BERLIN'

(Ascendance Records) Reviewed 19th November 2007

I like Flowing Tears, and this cd is a semi accoustic offering recorded at Passionskirche in Berlin, on March 3rd 2004, in front of a live audience. And thanks to the newly formed UK label Ascendance Records, this recording now sees the light of day. I am not a religious person by any means, but while listening to 'Invanity', one can get very easily wrapped up in the atmosphere of the church this cd was recorded in. As a consequence, this is certainly an album to relax and chill out to - not one for you all out headbangers. 'Invanity' will certainly be appreciated by the Flowing Tears fan base, although any fan of female fronted music should give it a listen. The studio recording of Nick Cave's 'The Weeping Song' featuring Johan Edlund from Tiamat, is a good listen too. This album is highly relaxing, enjoyable and fully recommended! 8/10 (Reviewed by Aimee).

ABIGAIL'S MERCY..'SALVATION'

(Crooked House Productions) Reviewed 11th November 2007

Hailing from Staffordshire here in the UK, Abigail's Mercy seem to mix old gothy standards, almost with a 70's vibe, together with modern trends. I suppose you could call their style of music Dark Melodic Metal. Melodic most certainly as there is enough here to keep your feet tapping. They mix male (clean) and female vocals courtesy of Steve and Lindsey, coupled with a twin guitar attack. If one could imagine I suppose The Sisters Of Mercy mixed with perhaps Lacuna Coil...well that sums it up quite nicely. Some good stuff here notably the attention grabbing opener 'To Hell With Angels', 'Meaningless', 'Cloud Dancer' and 'The Truth'. Live with this cd as it may not grab you first listen, but after successive plays, it will! This may be a late review, the cd first appeared in September 2005, but my original copy was loaned to someone who is now in Australia and the cd was not given back. So the band sent me a new copy CD/DVD combo (Thanks Terry). The DVD features 'To Hell With Angels' and 'Cloud Dancer', and is pretty cool in it's own right. A good overall effort 7.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

FOR SELENA AND SIN..'OVERDOSED ON YOU'

(Mascot Records) Reviewed 7th November 2007

For Selena and Sin are from Finland, and this band are a new one on me. 'Overdosed On You' is an awesome platter and yet another release, that has been mixed at Finnvox Studios. The album kicks off with the melodic 'Who's Behind The Door', being followed by the strong 'Lost Like Dreamers Are'. The slower ballad 'Heal' maintains some form of heaviness, on a cd that proves that the female fronted scene is well and truly alive and kicking! Other highlights on 'Overdosed On You' are 'Ghost In The Family', 'Jubileum Of My Sorrow'...and, well, maybe I should stop there as the whole album is a highlight. I do not know how easy it is to track this down, but try, as it will be worth parting with your hard earnt cash. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

CORONATUS..'LUX NOCTIS'

(Massacre Records) Reviewed 6th November 2007

Female fronted metal, but the lucky lads in this band have not one, but two female lasses fronting the band (Carmen R Schafer and Ada Flechtner). And if that isn't enough, they sing in three languages too - English, German and Latin. This offering is similar to Nightwish, Epica and even After Forever, with the two girls offering us a mix of operatic and pop/gothic vocals. 'Lux Noctis' is a fine melodic and at times bombastic release, and it is mixed at Finnvox studios too. And at the moment, it seems that everything coming from Finnvox, seems to be able to hit the spot one way or another! My particular faves on this cd are 'Hot and Cold' and 'Volles Leben'. This is a strong release, and being on one of the bigger indie metal labels, should be fairly easy to pick up. 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

EILERA..'FUSION'

(Spinefarm/Universal Records) Reviewed 30th Oct 2007

This is a very strong release from Eilera, a lass who hails from Montpelier in France I believe. The album is a fusion (soz) of rock/metal/gothic/folk, with excellent use of fiddle, violins and cello throughout this release. Great stuff. I find the vocals quite enchanting, perhaps reminding me a little of UK songstress Dido on just the odd occasion. Standout tracks are a plenty on this cd, but I do rate 'Keep Our Heaven' as one of my faves. And if there is anybody reading this review that finds it hard to believe that girls can rock, check this release out! This is a must buy for fans of the genre, and for those that partcularly love Within Temptation, Nightwish and the like! And the songs on 'Fusion' are fused into your head for ages afterwards! 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

LAHANNYA..'SHOTGUN REALITY'

(Kabuki Records) Reviewed 15th Oct 2007

London based Lahannya should not be ignored if this release is anything to go by. 'Shotgun Reality' offers 12 tracks of catchy dark alternative rock, that flirts quite frequently with electro. And some of the tracks on offer here possess more hooks than a Japanese whaling fleet. Kicking off with 'Beautiful Girl' and this particular beautiful gal sure knows how to rock, with second track in, 'Bleed For Me' carrying on the rather strong start to an album, that has class stamped all over it. Without going into detail, every track on this cd is worthy of your attention, and even the slower ones are good - 'Wandering', 'Roundabouts', and 'Losing Yourself' all being faves of mine. Other tracks that I love are 'Silent Victim'....I'll stop there, because they are all that good! We do and rightfully rave about Within Temptation, Epica and Nightwish to name just three. But perhaps we should now start raving about Lahannya. Different style, but sheer class nonetheless. BUY! 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

INKUBUS SUKKUBUS..'SCIENCE OF NATURE'

(Ressurection Records) Reviewed 15th Oct 2007

Pagan rockers Inkubus Sukkubus fronted by Candia, I must admit to not really sinking my claws into, until now. This is made even more surprising as they are based only about 40 miles (64km) from Ravenheart Towers. They also have loadsa releases under their belt. Anyway, these veterans of the scene have released 12 tracks of synth/guitar driven gothic rock. Nothing really jumps out and grabs you, but this release is consistent enough. The final track is a cover of the Stones 'Sympathy For The Devil'. And a devilish good tune it is too. If the aforementioned synth driven gothic rock is up your alleyway, then investigate further. 7.5/10 (Reviewed by Aimee)

DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA..'THE BUTCHER's BALLROOM'

(Candlelight Records) Reviewed 13th Oct 2007

Here is something a little unusual! The Diablo Swing Orchestra are a six piece from Sweden, with main vocal duties delegated to Annlouice Loeglund, and occasional male vocal duties by Daniel Hakansson. Not perhaps your conventional metal, but this release sure is original. Just listen to opener 'Balrog Boogie' for confirmation. And if that wetted your appetite, then 'Heroines' continues the excellent start. And with track titles like 'Poetic Pitbull Revelations', 'Ragdoll Psychics', 'Gunpowder Chant' and 'Wedding March For A Bullet', 'The Butcher's Ballroom' should hold your interest throughout. I was a Sparks fan in their 70's heyday, and I tell you what, some of the music on offer here reminds me of the sort of thing Sparks may have released. The Diablo Swing Orchestra sure are original, no doubting that, with styles ranging from Swing and Jazz through to Mexican Mariachi-style, and taking in about everything in between, including Middle Eastern and classical elements. They effortlessly meld these influences, with a hard biting melodic metal sensibility. Oh, I like the operatic vocals too. Perhaps for the more open minded of you out there, but variety is the spice of life I say, so I highly recommend it. 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

KATBGINI..'DEMON WITHIN'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 12th Oct 2007

Katbgini are fronted by Karen Howarth. And her partner in crime with this project, is Carl S Hamilton. 'Demon Within' takes me back to the hazy days of the 70's, being a tasty morsal of 70's style hard rock. But that is not quite all. Because there is a gothic undercurrent running through the music, with Kat's vocals at times taking on a sexy gothic vampire feel. The cd kicks into action with the title track, and immediately, the 70's vibe hits you! And if you want guitar solos, they are here, with Carl plying his trade, and he plies it well. It seems the young and talented Carl plays everything on this cd too. 'Black Wolf' and 'We'll Do It Your Way' carry on the strong start to the cd, with Kat's vocals ripping into these songs. The gothy 'Myths Of Aggression', 'Vampire's Supper' and The Awesome 'The Awakening' slow things down a bit, and I actually like the slower gothy vibe to these songs too. And Kat's vocals...wow! 'Evil Eyes' ups the tempo, while 'Accept Your Master' rocks ala 70's again! I quite like the 'scary vocals' here. Listen through headphones loud, to see what I mean! 'Rage' is the last offering on the cd, a live track clocking in at around 7 mins. Summarising, Kat and Carl have released a hell of a collection of songs. Indeed, Katbgini are yet another unsigned act worthy of your attention. And they tour here with Italian act Macbeth next year (see our tour dates page). 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

LUCID SPIRAL..'FROM WITHIN'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 29th Sept 2007

Lucid Spiral fronted by Brandy Foltz are from the USA and 'From Within' is a strong industrial metal album. And this album should set your feet tapping if nothing else. It is heavy but at the same time melodic. Listen to 'Sacrifice', 'Broken', 'Don't', 'I'll Always Be' and 'Dreams In The Dark' for proof of this. And the other tracks on this 12 track affair are strong too. This cd is another good indie release and can be purchased at cdbaby.com. 7.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE..'WALKING WITH STRANGERS'

(Repo Records) Reviewed 28th Sept 2007

I love The Birthday Massacre. I have all their previous releases, and for anybody like me that likes this band, this cd will not disappoint. If it ain't broken, why fix it - that's what I say!! 'Walking With Strangers' is this Canadian band's third release. It is classy catchy gothy electro pop/rock with hooks galore. The band are fronted by the gorgeous Chibi. Other band members include Rainbow on Guitar and programming, and Mike Falcore on Guitar, synths and percussion. The tracks on 'Walking With Strangers' merge into one another quite nicely. All the tracks here are of standout material, and I think I can honestly say that I have yet to hear a duff track from this band on this or any of their earlier cds! Indeed, closing track on this album, 'Movie' is one of the most beautiful you will hear this year! 'Walking With Strangers' is another awesome release by a very good band that has not really made any inroads here in the UK. No justice - shame! 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

EYES OF EDEN..'FAITH'

(Century Media) Reviewed 28th Sept 2007

A good melodic gothic metal release we have here featuring Gas Lipstick of HIM on drums. Century Media have got us a good un. Dortmund based Eyes Of Eden are fronted by Franziska Huth, she reminding me in places of Liv Kristin. And this is hauntingly beautiful, mystical rock music, being generally mid paced gothy stuff, the sort of style that got me into the genre in the first place. No real standout tracks as they are all pretty good. But the last track, 'Not Human Kind' is a 10 minute plus epic worthy of a mention. 'Faith' has a UK release, and is worth parting with your hard earnt cash (£9.99 in some UK stores), if you are into this type of music. And if you have stayed with this review to here, then you must be. A good effort!! 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

LA-VENTURA..'A NEW BEGINNING'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 28th Sept 2007

Fronted by Carla, this Dutch band has released a strong independent release that is gothy and melodic, and would fit quite comfortably into any gothy female fronted fan's cd collection. In places there are similarites to Evanescence and maybe Lacuna Coil. Fave tracks are 'Memoria', Trefoil', 'Cry' and the awesome title track 'A New Beginning'. Support female fronted music and purchase this cd from La-Ventura's myspace site, http://www.myspace.com/laventura. And a note from the band. ONLY purchase this cd via THEIR myspace site, as there are some illegal sub standard CDR's floating around. Even cdbaby.com are unwittingly selling them! This is a very good release worthy of your attention! 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

ALERION..'THE FLEDGLING'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 20th Sept 2007

Dave has given me this mini cd to review (my first for Ravenheart Music), as I was in a band (keyboards in FUKIT) who musically were similar to this lot! Alerion are a female fronted progressive/metal band (fronted by Romy Muste) from the Netherlands. They have been going for a little over two years. This is a 5 track album called 'The Fledgling'. There are quite a few influences on this cd, but it is certainly an album for fans who prefer their metal at the heavier end of the spectrum. I have heard the term gothic linked to this band. Female vocals yep, but gothic, no! Interestingly titled 'Hindsight 1976' gets the album away, which certainly sets the scene as to what is to follow. Great guitar riffs and bass work. OKay vocals too. 'Estrangement' though is a likeable and quiet instrumental, which then leads us into the awesome Ruins' which is a decent metal track. 'Dragnipur' is a storming favourite of mine (and Dave's too I believe). I just love the vocals on this track. The Megadeth cover of 'She Wolf' ends this decent independent effort! This band deserves your attention. As I say, perhaps not one for fans of AOR, but if you like Megadeth, Trivium or Dream Theatre (with the female vox obviously), then please check them out at http://www.myspace.com/alerion. This cd so happens to be a grower, so live with it and you will reap the rewards! 7.5/10 (Reviewed by Rachel).

EPICA..'THE DIVINE CONSPIRACY'

(Nuclear Blast) Reviewed 19th Sept 2007

Epica have produced 75+ minutes of epic metal blending darkness, light and power. Enough power in-fact to light the streets of London!! I myself am not a lover of death metal vocals, but somehow, they fit in very well on this album, coupled with the angelic vocals of Simone Simons. Instrumental 'Indigo' leads us into the menacing duo of 'The Obsessive Devotion' and 'The Menace of Vanity'. Death metal vocals, angelic vocals, crunching guitars, power drumming, choirs, orchestration, and we are only up to track 3!. 'Chasing The Dragon' is sheer beauty, while 'Never Enough' is possibly the most commercial track on the album. The middle third of the cd is as heavy, beautiful and as menacing as the first third - just listen to 'Death of a Dream', 'Living a Lie' and 'Fools of Damnation' for confirmation of that. And continuing into the final third, there is no let up, with 'Beyond Belief' and 'Safeguard to Paradise' showcasing Simone's beautiful vocals. The epic near 14 minute title track brings the cd to a close, enabling the listener to re capture their breath. To us here at Ravenheart, a cd is always good when time flies by while listening to it. The 75 minutes soon went by listening to this album. Enough said. We also have to say that this is another superb release from the Nuclear Blast Stable. BUY!! 10/10 (Reviewed by Dave&Aimee).

DELIGHT..'BREAKING GROUND'

(Roadrunner Import/Metal Mind) Reviewed 8th Sept 2007

DELIGHT are a fave band of mine, and I have all their English language releases. They are a well establised Polish melodic metal band fronted by Paula Maslanka. 'Breaking Ground' is their 5th English language release produced by Rhys Fulber (famous for his work with FEAR FACTORY, PARADISE LOST and FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY). This cd by Delight is their first to be released solely in English. Previous cds being released in Polish aswell. Now, what about the music. 'Breaking Ground' is a very very good melodic metal release with subtle touches of electronica, offering both ballads and heavier material. There are also re workings of tracks that appeared on 'ANEW', a previous and somewhat awesome Delight album release from 2004 (worth tracking down if you can). Every track on 'Breaking Ground' is a highlight - I quite like the re working of 'EMOTUNE', this first appeared on the aforementioned 'ANEW' album. This cd is a very strong effort indeed from a band that always comes up with the goods on a consistent basis. It is just a shame that it cannot be picked up in the UK very easily. I must thank Steve at ST Records for his efforts at getting this for me. 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

DYONIS..'S/T'

(Independent Release)  Reviewed 31st August 2007

Sheffield based DYONISIS are fronted by Nel Cave and Lou Welsby. This cd by Dyonisis is cool atmospheric rock, and I love it!. This is not really a cd to headbang too, but you could find yourself chilling out to it. The cd has 9 tracks to take the listener on a journey throughout it's atmospheric soundscapes. The cool 'Hunter' kicks things off, followed by second one in, the equally cool 'Reaching'. 'Xact' carries on the good start. Just listen to track 5..'Pretty At A Distance', the girls singing on their own..no instruments. Awesome stuff! The cd continues in fine form, ending with the 10 minute epic 'Rainy Day'. This cd is yet further proof to me anyway, that there is some fine independent female fronted stuff out there, and they are British too. Fine keyboard atmospherics, with some decent guitar work aswell. The band can be found at http://www.myspace.com/dyonisis . I am going to give this an 8/10, a cracking self released effort! (Reviewed by Dave).

LUCY AND THE LOST BOYS..'OUT OF NOWHERE'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 31st August 2007

Fronted by Lucy Gill, Kidderminster based Lucy and The Lost Boys play a bluesy, funky soulful type of music. And this gal in my opinion has one hell of a voice. All out rock or metal this ep is not, but for anybody who enjoys this aforementioned soulful funky sorta music, then this cd is worth checking out. It is only a 12 minute effort, but the 4 tracks on offer showcase this band really well. This ep was handed to my daughter to give to me by Lucy's Dad. He should feel immensely proud of his daughter. In his shoes, I know I would be! A fine effort - check them out on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/lucyandthelostboys 7.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

FIREFLIGHT..'THE HEALING OF HARMS'

(Flicker Records)  Reviewed 7th August 2007

Fireflight is a Christian Rock Band from Orlando. They have produced an awesome cd of modern melodic rock. 11 tracks, and 35 mins of melodic mayhem. 35 mins seems a little short, especially when what's on offer is this good, but when it is this good, who's complaining! The best track to my ears is 'You Decide' which is a duet with Josh Brown who is with a band called DAY OF FIRE. Listen to the lyrics on this track and then you decide! But one decision you must make..buy this cd! 8/10 (Reviewed by Laura).

KRISTIN GLASGOW..'DANGER'S CALLING'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 3rd July 2007

Having exchanged emails with Kristin Glasgow, she seems a nice girl. And now I have had the honour of listening to her independently produced cd. And I like very much what I hear. It takes me back to the 80's when we used to hear artists like Pat Benetar quite regularly on UK radio. Not now unfortunately. 'Danger's Calling' is a healthy dose of melodic rock/AOR, that as I say has an 80's vibe. And Kristin also covers an REO SPEEDWAGON song, 'Keep Pushin'. And REO Speedwagon were one of my fave bands (still are!). Standout tracks are the aforementioned 'Keep Pushin', the title track and the slower 'Forever', although the cd is impressive throughout it's 53 minutes. Kristin Glasgow has been picking up some healthy reviews across Europe, and I am not surprised. There was once a label here in the UK called Now And Then Records. They have disappeared of the radar, but Kristin Glasgow is the sort of artist Mark Ashton at Now And Then would have moved heaven and earth to sign. This cd can be bought at cdbaby.com nonetheless, so what are you waiting for. Support a hard working independent artist. A pleasing effort! Check out http://www.myspace.com/kristinglasgowrecordingartist 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

KELLY CLARKSON..'MY DECEMBER'

(RCA) Reviewed 26th June 2007

Kelly Clarkson has done what Avril Lavigne failed to do with her latest effort. And that is go forward. Whereas our Avril decided to take a backwards step (in my opinion anyway) with 'The Best Damn Thing', Kelly has taken a giant stride foreward, and has turned it up a notch too. Ok, Kelly Clarkson's latest effort may not appeal to the metalheads amongst you, but anybody who is into female fronted modern rock, or the rockier end of the pop spectrum, should check 'My December' out. Mixed by Andy Wallace, with Ms Clarkson involved in the songwriting process throughout, the album is chock full of catchy little numbers that swim around in your head for ages afterwards. And when it comes to ballads, does this girl pull it off. Check out 'Sober' for confirmation of that! And what a voice. Kelly Clarkson is not selling out, she has not gone pop or R&B, she rocks, and when she does slow it down, it is a real pleasure! A certain supermarket chain in the UK has this cd for £7. At this price, it cannot be ignored. So you know what to do...BUY IT!! 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

KRYPTERIA..'BLOODANGEL'S CRY'

(Synergy/EMI) Reviewed 23rd June 2007

This is certainly a year for female fronted music. And German based Krypteria's second album sure keeps the bandwagon rolling. Fronted by the angelic sounding Korean lass Ji-In Cho, this band rock, with anthemic choruses helped along marvellously well by a Gregorian choir that crops up on many of the tracks. I suppose you could class the album as a mix of power metal, gothic metal and melodic metal. The ballads surpass themselves, with my favourite track being 'The Night All Angels Cry'. This is 6+ minutes of musical splendour that had me near to tears (and I am no angel!). Another track that I fell for on first listen was 'Somebody Save Me', 'Dream Yourself Far Away' being another good un! Parts of this album may need another listen for the whole cd to jump out and grab you, but rest assured it will. This is a very pleasant disk, and it deserves your attention. 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

I:SCINTILLA..'OPTICS'

(Alfa Matrix) Reviewed 5th June 2007

I:Scintilla are an Alternative electro rock band, and I just love them. Until around a year/18 months ago, I was not really into the electro rock scene. But this band are premier league in this genre. 12 tracks of electro rock. Brittany Bindrim, I:Scintilla's lead singer has been compared to Shirley Manson (Garbage) and Amy Lee. And I just love her voice. The album is full of electro rock classics, with track 11, 'Taken' being one of my favourites. There is also a special edition double cd, featuring a bonus remix cd, that would set the dance floors alight. That in itself by the way is worthy of the purchase price alone! There are two or three tracks that feature on their previous two releases, but any one not familiar with this band, I suggest check out 'OPTICS' first, then look at their back catalogue. This is a very good release within it's genre, which proves that we at Ravenheart Towers are not stuck in a gothic metal groove!!. 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

AUTUMN..'MY NEW TIME'

(Metal Blade) Reviewed 5th June 2007

This is an amazing album. Will be BIG on the European mainland no doubt, while criminally ignored here in the UK. This is the band's third offering, although I admit not to be familiar with their earlier releases. Kicking off with the ultra catchy 'Satellites', followed by the awesome 'Closest Friends Conspire', it is obvious we have a hell of an album on our hands here. And Nienke de Jong's voice is quite soulful (not operatic!), which makes the cd a joy to behold. Just listen to the closing track 'Epilogue (What's Done Is Done)' for confirmation of this. 'My New Time' also has subtle progressive elements running through it, which cannot be a bad thing. This is a very good gothic prog metal cd, and at times it is quite beautiful too!. Within Temptation had better just look over their shoulders, as fellow Dutch rockers Autumn are coming up on the rails. A fine effort indeed! 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave).