Reka-I

Moment of Collapse Records

2013

As of late, and on my own dime, I've been on a bit of a quest to explore new bands (new to me) and boldly go where no man has gone before ( Sorry, but I've also been watching way too much Star Trek as of late as well!!!!). Therefore, with an iTunes gift card in hand, which was actually discovered while I was cleaning out my work desk over the weekend (When I bought it  and how it ended up stuffed way in the back of my desk remains a mystery?), I decided to check out the new rock and metal releases. Moscow's Reka, which was strangely listed under "rock" first with a "Death Metal/Black Metal" tag following the "rock" label, peaked my interest so I decided to download "I" and see what's what. For the sake of clarity it appears as if this 5-track EP was actually self-released back in April of 2010. I'd only find that out later when I went looking for information to post with this review. But, that's no biggie I figured. The group, which was formed in summer of 2007, is made up of musicians who spent time in the screamo bands Optimus Prime and Forutnae Verbera. Who plays what though on this EP isn't exactly clear. The group's Facebook page does list numerous musicians, but whether that is the line-up here or not is not exactly clear. I've provided a link for the group's Facebook page below though for the curious. If anyone does know the actually line-up here then please drop me a line. Otherwise we'll just say that Reka is made up of screamo musicians. That of course does bring up another important piece of information that should be clarified. Moscow's Reka are not exactly a "Screamo" band nor are they a "Death Metal/Black Metal" band. At first the samples I heard of iTunes made me think that Reka might be a black and roll type band, but they were not exactly that either. When I finally got a chance to listen to the whole EP after it was done downloading I discovered something way more interesting then even black and roll (and I find black and roll really interesting!). The best way to describe this Russian band's sound would be "atmospheric post-metal/post-rock". That said, there are a few flash-back moments when it's clear that the band members of Reka do come from other screamo acts and there are also tiny fragments of dark metal and sludge as well. For the most part though this is easily- accessible post-rock/post-metal with really subtle passages of (cool) rock. The EP swings from peaceful to intense of course, but the way in which the songs are arranged is suggests a band that knows their way around the virtues of traditional rock. If this is at all indicative of the group's other recordings (as other recordings did follow this EP) then I just might have to download more music from this Moscow act!

 https://www.facebook.com/rekaband

http://reka.bandcamp.com/album/i 

Vadikan-Hydrargyrum

Metal Scrap Records
2013

The roots of Moscow's Vadikan can be traced back to 2004 when, as nothing more then a studio-project really, guitarist and sound producer Vadim Pashutin (formerly of  Gross Grolland) first recorded a handful of tracks. It would take until 2007 (and the addition of vocalist Julia Tikhomirova) before all the pieces would start to fall into place though. Even then, as two demos were recorded and released before this full-length debut album, the band (and it's style) was in a slight state of chaos as they tried to hit on that one winning formula needed to keep the dream alive. It would take a few years, but in 2011 everything would change. Enter bassist Ilya Filipyev. In Ilya Filipyev the band found the one musician who would prove to be the last missing piece of the puzzle. Once fully assembled the puzzles artwork would look something like this: Gothic heavy metal with colorful shades of traditional heavy metal, melodic metal/melodic rock and doom rock. This combination, along with pleasantly strange pop and psychedelic undertones (not to mention blues rock!), proves to be more then a little effective. There is even sprinklings of electronic and symphonic rock hidden within the album's 9 tracks as well as some European power metal and neoclassical guitar. Whew! Despite all that it's actually vocalist Julia Tikhomirova, who is as lovely in real life as her pop-sweetened vocals would suggest, that ends up being the first thing you notice as "Hydrargyrum" kicks into gear. Even with the lyrics being in Russian you'll find yourself drawn into the music thanks to her alluring voice and her keen ability to convey the different emotional feelings that this album conveys. In her you begin to appreciate just what it is that Vadikan strives for. She remains the highlight of this album even after repeated listens. Close behind her though is guitarist Vadim Pashutin whose lead work is just spectacular. Whether the music is slow and dreamy and upbeat and intense his guitar playing fits the vibe perfectly like well-loved pair of gloves. With the pair of Vadim Pashutin and Julia Tikhomirova so easily able to feed off of each others strengths, and bassist Ilya Filipyev keeping everything in check (as his bass playing remains a steady point of reference within the album's landscape) the music within this debut-album takes on a life of it's own. The material on hand swirls about in this almost dance-like routine. Is it possible for metal to be both dreamy and doom-laden? With this talented bunch the answer is yes. While no credit is given as to who played drums (or for that matter who contributed the keys) on this album, which is a shame, credit still must be given to both instrumental endeavors. The overall effectiveness of these contributing instruments can not be overstated. Dreamy keys and a rock-steady beat only add to the overall appeal of this multicolored undertaking. As for the sound? Amazingly recordings for this 9-track album took place at several different studios in Moscow ( including Vadikan's home studio) and yet everything flows together perfectly and every aspect of this group (from the vocals to the drums) is right where it should be. The album, which was mastered by Finnish producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Apocalyptica, Sentenced, Theatre Of Tragedy, Entwine, The 69 Eyes) features artwork by artist Alla Bobyleva and a 12 pages booklet by Polish designer Marek "Ptys" Jastrzebski (Helloween, Hell:On, Quo Vadis). Those elements only serve to add to the overall appeal of this praise-worthy full-length debut album.

Locus Titanic Funus-Castus Lacrima

Metal Scrap Records
2013

Having just recently reviewed an album from Ukraine's Metal Scrap Records (EDVIAN'S rather stellar release,"2012") I was pleasantly surprised to find a new e-mail from them in my inbox that contained a huge assortment of promos of various genres. This oddly named lot was sitting atop the bundle so, faced with an open afternoon, I decided to do a little exploring, at least music-wise, and see what this Moscow-based band was all about. From the looks of it we're talking about a pair of musicians in guitarist Alexey Mikhaylov and vocalist Mila Ionova (Mea Vita) who, bound together by a shared love of darker music, made the most out of what was, by all intensive purposes, a studio-only project. Or at least for now as rumor has it they would very much like to pull it all off live. With that "Castus Lacrima" is the pair's debut-release and it's a fine thing indeed! Alright, so there's both female and male vocals. That works well in conjunction with the softer, more subtle passages, and the more gruff (and frankly bleak) black metal moments/movements. Joined by studio enhancements (ie: electronic elements such as synthesizers and drum machines), our pair of  musicians set their sights on provocative (or is that pervasive and punishing?) goth-tinged, occultist metal. While the group's name reportedly has to do with disaster of one sort or another what comes roaring out is anything but a disaster. Instead we have before us what, previously (in another life-time) at least, would have just been dubbed "alternative" music, but here it's like black metal with a twist. As hinted that's a goth twist and, when some sorrowful doom is unleashed upon the mix as well, it's quite the challenge to just say that Locus Titanic Funus sound like so and so when the reality is, as warped and bloodstained as it is with this type of morbid metal, this guy and girl combo is onto something decidedly different. It's not a release for everyone in you're household (unless you live in a hellish haunted house!) as it's dark and does bear some of the tell-tale trademarks of traditional black metal (usually a love it or loathe it genre to begin with), but as I step back and look at "Castus Lacrima" I'm quite glad that I reviewed this one particular release from Metal Scrap Records first as it's likely to stay with me for awhile!