Starsoup-Castles of Sand

Metalism Records
2017

Starsoup is a progressive heavy rock/metal studio project from Moscow, Russian. Formed in 2011 by vocalist/guitarist (and sole full-time member) Alexey Markov (Distant Sun, ex-Citadel, ex-Shadow Host), Starsoup made it's debut with the 2011 single, "Angel". The full-length "Bazaar of Wonders" followed in 2013 with two additional singles, "The Wait" (2015) and "Your World Is Dead" (2017), serving as the bridge between album number one and this full-length feature. Released in late November of 2017, "Castles of Sand" is the long-anticipated sophomore LP from this extremely- versatile act. Like it's predecessor, "Castles of Sand" finds Alexey Markov backed-up by not only guest musicians, but other vocalists. Obviously with so many different players at work, Starsoup is going to sound different from album to album. Not only that, but each song is going to have it's own flavor. To that end here is the album's track list. Please note that tracks number 10 and 12 only appear on the CD versions of "Castles of Sand". You can find information on how to order a CD copy of this incredible album by heading here. That link takes you to the group's bandcamp page.

"Castles of Sand" track list:


1.The Catcher in the Lie
2. Into the Woods
3. Brother's Plea
4. Your World Is Dead
5. Rumors of Better Love
6. Escapist
7. Winter in Shire
8. Castle
9. The World That Has Moved On
10. Light Up the Stars (CD bonus)
11. Moon on the Shore
12. Road to Sunset (CD bonus)



Starting off with the four-minute "The Catcher in the Lie", Starsoup's latest recording is a charmingly diverse release where you are likely to pick up on something new and exciting with each new spin! On "Castles of Sand" you'll find everything from traditional heavy metal to classical music. You have progressive AOR and folk-leanings, modern metal and thrash. There is melodic hard rock and there are power metal moments that will make your head spin. Pretty much anything that you can imagine shows up on Starsoup's new album. On paper that might sound messy and chaotic. In actuality this is a well-constructed album that is intelligent and enjoyable. It is geared towards progressive rock fans and anyone that likes their music to be thought-provoking. I'd also recommend it to anyone that likes to march to the beat of their own drummer. Kudos to Alex Markov and company for this excellent album. Hopefully this is just  the first of many great releases from this Russian project.








In addition to Alexey Markov (guitars,vocals, and effects), "Castles of Sand" features:

Mike Sorokin Drums (1, 4, 6)
Ivan Izotov Bass (1, 3, 4, 7), Keyboards (3, 4, 7), Orchestration (1)
Dmitriy Ignatyev Guitars (lead) (1, 4)
Kirill Babiev Vocals (1)
Sergey Serebrennikov Drums (2, 3, 7)
Oleg Mishin Flute (3, 4)
Vladimir Shevyakov Guitars (6), Guitars (lead) (8, 10)
Evgeniy Nesterov Bass (6)
Rustam Akhmatgaraev Keyboards (1, 6), Piano (9, 11, 12)
Artem Molodtsov Bass (8, 10), Guitars (8)
Anton Yalovchuk Drums (8)
Vladimir Shulepin Keyboards (8, 10)
Daria Naumenko Vocals (9)
Alex Dyachenko Drums (10)

Free Metal Monday: Mad John The Wise-Mad John The Wise EP

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Released back in early 2014, "Mad John The Wise" is the powerful debut EP from the four-peace Greek hard rock/progressive metal band of the same name. This name-your-own-price digital download features four amazing numbers from guitarist/vocalist Dimos Ioannou and company* with the shortest of the bunch (the excellent "Green pills"!) falling in at seven minutes and twenty three seconds! Armed to the teeth with technical weaponry that makes my head spin (and not to mention melodic wizardly that is pound for pound some of the best out there!) this talented Athens-based quartet effortlessly merges riff-heavy hard rock, progressive rock/metal, and traditional/melodic metal into something that is intelligent, timeless and 100% original. It's also highly enjoyable and demanding of multiple listens, but would you really expect anything less than that from a band named Mad John The Wise? With a new album in the works (yeah!) this extremely epic foursome shouldn't be that far off from becoming a house-hold name in progressive rock/metal circles. Oddly enough this band looks to be unsigned, but if this band keeps on putting out exceptional material like this that should change sooner than later. In the mean time be sure to pick up this first recording from Mad John The Wise because it is way too good to pass up. Obviously it is a absolute must download for anyway that claims to love progressive rock and/or metal. Let's not dispute that for a second. That being said, "Mad John The Wise" has a lot to offer for casual hard rock and heavy metal fans. Mainly we are talking about it's almighty bass and rhythm riffs, but at it's core this sweet EP also has some (thick) pounding drums and killer lead solos that are very metallic! Just check out opening number "My Dearest Crime" and you'll hear what I'm talking about! And don't even get me started on the raspy voice of Dimos Ioannou!! In a very cool way his style of singing gives "Mad John The Wise" a eerie kind of atmosphere and it is one of those vibes that is usually reserved for doom metal and dark metal recordings. Not that the EP itself goes in that direction. Again, this is progressively-tinged hard rock/heavy metal and damn fine progressively-tinged hard rock/heavy metal at that! Instead it's just a case where the raspy voice of Dimos Ioannou adds another metallic element to what is already a heavy release. Given all of that, "Mad John The Wise" is worse a listen whether you are into progressive music or not. And seeing as it is free and all.......



*Dimitris Ntolkas-Guitar
  Orestes Katsaros-Bass
  Spiros Stefanis-Drums

 

Souldrown-Evil of War (Demo rough mix '00)

Self-Release/Independent
2016

Souldrown is a progressive rock-infused hard & heavy power metal band that hails from Athens, Greece and can trace it's roots all the way back to 1993. The material on "Evil of War" was recorded back in the late 90's/early 00's for a demo release that for whatever reason never materialized. Here it is some 16 years later and the band is finally releasing this material and for what it's worth this is some pretty solid stuff! Early on the group was influenced by the likes of Accept, Helloween, Stratovarius, and Warlord before turning their sights to bands such as Tool and Dream Theater. From the sounds of it Souldrown was hoping to combine heavy/power metal with genres like dark metal and progressive rock. As a result of these huge changes in sound and style the music on this well-crafted 5-track EP cuts a fairly straight line between those two areas. In other words this is heartfelt/sincere heavy metal/power metal that has been given a lifesaving intravenous (IV) line of complex progressive rock/metal. Toss in some inspired lyrics and a more than capable front-man and you end up with one EP that is a steal of a deal at only $1.10! In addition to the bandcamp link that appears above you can check out this respectable demo by heading to Youtube.

Lucid Dreams-Build And Destroy

Red Ball Productions
2015

What's this we have here? A new album from Oslo metal band Lucid Dreams? Well thank you God above for this metallic blessing! With Thanksgiving only a few days away it looks as if I will have plenty to be thankful for this year! Oops, wait just a minute. Does anyone out there besides me remember this classy (and yet criminally underrated) Norwegian band? Yes? No? I'm hoping it's the former, but just in case let's set the stage for "Build And Destroy". It was back in late November of 2013 that I reviewed the self-titled debut album from this fucking skilled hard & heavy/melodic metal group. As you can see here I flat out loved that album! I still do!! That release, which eventually made it's way onto my 55 best albums of 2013 list (and for good reason as it took it's cue from everyone from Bon Jovi and Whitesnake to Dio & Iron Maiden!), made me a instant fan of Lucid Dreams and it eventually lead me to interviewing the group. That memorable album also made me appreciate melodic metal all the more and over the past two or so years I've honestly been wondering when we would hear from this lot again again. A few weeks back I got my answer. First it was in the form of some cool mp3s and then one day out of the blue a signed CD showed up. I'd feel like a creep if I didn't thank the band for both versions of their sophomore album, but rest assured as neither one had any bearing whatsoever as to how I feel about "Build And Destroy". As to why it's taken me so long to get this review? The short answer is life. My life has become far too complicated and busy and it's become more of a challenge to carve out time for this blog. With that said, "Build And Destroy" is too good to to be kept all to myself so I all but have to share the news of this album with all of you. Especially as it is so well-written and every bit as damn good as "Lucid Dreams" is! If only all sophomore albums were this great! I mean how many times have you found yourself loving a group's debut album only for their second release to be pure garbage? Black Tide anyone? How about Stranger? Perhaps even Praying Mantis? All three of the bands issued follow-up albums that were nothing compared to their debuts. Talk about sad second albums! But I digress. Let's talk about the album's technical aspects and then we can get on to the overall sound of "Build And Destroy". This eight song release (which was actually unveiled at the beginning of last October) was produced by one of the band's two guitarists, Rune Gutuen (with Henrik Antonsson serving as the group's other guitarist), and mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman in Sweden. Compared to the band's self-titled debut this release is about 10 minutes shorter, but at around 37 minutes in length it's still a solid enough amount of material to digest. From a production standpoint Lucid Dream's second album sounds impressively smooth even as it retains a familiar & well loved metal edge. Of the eight numbers on "Build And Destroy" (of which there are no duds!) the shortest one would be "Fear No Evil" (a memorable cut that forges 80's melodic metal with catchy hard rock!) at 3:43 while the longest song is the Queensrÿche-infused "Absence Of Innocence" with it's run-time of 6:36. Incidentally these two numbers are tracks 3 and 4 respectively with the melodic metal masterpiece "Wings Of the Night" serving as the disc's opener and "Eye Of The Storm" (a melodic metal take on Iron Maiden!) closing things out. With a two year gap in-between albums it's of little wonder how tight each of the individual tracks are. From both a performance stand-point and actual song construction that is. Just like on their 2013 debut the musicianship and the songwriting on Lucid Dreams' latest release is second to none. The same goes for the vocal work of Fredrik Sindsen (aka Freddy Vain). Once again Fredrik Sindsen (formerly of heavy metal/hard rock band Trendkiller) moves effortlessly between killer hard rock cuts ("Hellbound" anyone?) and the heavier stuff ("High Heeled Devil" and "Shanghai Cyanide") and he helps add a grandiose vibe to what is already a fantastic metal release! "Build And Destroy" is not only a memorable and downright catchy album, but it's energetic and driven by the same kind of sensational solos that used to be so prevalent back in the heyday of hard rock and melodic metal. Keyboard arrangements come courtesy of  Thorleif Østmoe and he is spot on yet again. For once we find a band that is capable of enhancing the music with such things without ruining the overall metal aspect that really helps drives albums like this. And here's the thing. Lucid Dreams new album "Build And Destroy" is as metal as it gets! In fact Lucid Dreams second album might even be heavier than their first one! Sure enough these Norwegian hard & heavy rockers still pull a part of their sound and style from lighter acts such as Whitesnake and there is the same kind of (early) Queensrÿche/Dream Theatre progressive metal here that I enjoyed on their first disc. But here's the real kicker folks. In addition to the hard rock, melodic metal and progressive metal there is some riff-dropping heavy metal goodness to be found on "Build And Destroy"! Usually it takes the form of Iron Maiden-like metal and I still hear some Dio and 80's-era Judas Priest sneaking in. Thankfully though Lucid Dreams part 2 (aka this eight-track must own CD!) works in homages to early Def Leppard, Dokken, and even Europe's undervalued self-titled album! Lucid Dreams are still kings at taking hard rock, melodic metal and the like and jamming in sharp guitar solos and sweeping arrangements! In other words "Build And Destroy" is just like it's predecessor in that it's all things hard rock. melodic metal, progressive metal, and heavy metal as envisioned by a exceptionally talented band! One has to think that sooner or later the world is going to catch on to just how good this band is. With albums like this how could they not?   

La Bottega del Tempo a Vapore-La Bottega del Tempo a Vapore

Self-Release/Independent
2015

Listen up class. Before we begin today's lesson on the delectable mystery that is La Bottega del Tempo a Vapore (which F.Y.I is more than a mouthful!) a quick word of thanks is in order.  I've got my friend Glenn from Minotauro Records to thank for this independently-released album. So yeah, thank you Glenn! This one is most certainly "interesting" my friend! But I'll get to that part in a second. As our faithful readers (yes, I'm talking to you there!) you may or may not recall that I interviewed this band's founder back in late October. Here's the link to that piece. Obviously I had hoped to review this self-titled release shortly thereafter, but honestly I'm TERRIBLE about making deadlines. I could give you all kinds of logical legitimate reasons why this is, but let's just skip to the chase and talk about this band and this album.
First things first then. The band is the brainchild of Alfredo Martinelli and (per my notes) the phrase La Bottega del Tempo a Vapore translates into "Steam-Powered Workshop of Time". If you check out the previously-posted interview you can get a better feel as to the history of this group and the story-line behind this album. Here's the think though. On first listen I thought this was some kind of Spanish rock band! Apparently I wasn't the only person to think that so I don't feel as stupid as I normally would! The truth is this is an Italian band with lyrics that are native to the group's home-country. The reason I thought this might be a Spanish band (as my friend Glenn sent me this with no notes or anything! You rock Glenn!!) was that it has a bit of a Spanish groove going for it in places. Especially with the classical guitar. Otherwise here are some of my notes for this album (which I had actually jotted down after first hearing the CD and before I had set up the interview with the group's founder!). You'll notice how far ranging they are as I just wrote down the first things that came to mind. And really that is exactly why I'm sharing all of it with you. Sometimes spontaneous responses offer the best overview of such unique releases as this one. Simply put this Italian metal band cannot be pigeonholed!

"Symphonic occult metal?" 

"The Italian band Goblin meets a Spanish rock version of Rush!"

"There seems to be a lot of tribal percussion going on with this song and those are some very sick bass riffs. That's a win-win situation!"

 "This kind of reminds me of European progressive metal meets gutsy garage rock!"  

"This band uses a lot of classical guitar. Even so it gets slightly heavier as it goes on with this track...slightly being the key word. And is that sax I hear?"

"What's this? Now this number has all kinds of wicked magic going on! It's deep and thick, but with killer guitar work and sick key/synth work! Righteous!!"
  
"Piano passages and heavy guitar rock are one thing, but dig that bass again! If it had legs it would walk all over you!"
  
"Why don't more progressive metal band's utilize rock guitar like this?'.

"All at once this album has an atmospheric vibe going for it while it easily maintains it's metallic hold on the listener. It's rich and textured and yet it's built with steel!"

As stated those were my initial notes as I listen to the album for the first time. More or less when it comes to the band La Bottega del Tempo a Vapore we are talking about a progressive rock/metal outfit that is even more adventurous than usual when it comes to song arrangements! That's kind of the foundation (adventurous progressive metal) upon which this Italian band starts everything. From there things get slightly "twisted". While I could try to go track by track with this one (therefore pulling in all of the little whimsical elements that make up each and every distinct cut) it would prove to be a huge undertaking! Let's just say that this band is eclectic and leave it at that! Mind you it's not in a Mr. Bungle or Primus kind of way. At it's core this is still a very much a (progressive) metal album. As such progressive metal fans in general should appreciate the flight pattern that this band charts. La Bottega del Tempo a Vapore simply shakes things up a bit as it lays down well thought out prog metal. And that's cool in my book. I'll admit that it isn't easy to describe this band. Far from it. That kind of comes with the territory though when you try to talk about the really creative metal bands out there.  As such you can probably get a better feel for what I'm talking about by visiting the group's YouTube page. There you'll find a teaser video for this release which I highly recommend.

Interview with Alfredo Martinelli of Italy's La Bottega del Tempo a Vapore

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Alfredo Martinelli of Italy's La Bottega del Tempo a Vapore. I want to thank my friend Glenn from Mintotauro Records for not only making this possible, but for turning me onto this epic progressive rock/heavy metal band in the first place! Be sure to keep an eye out for my review of this band's innovative self-titled release and you can find La Bottega del Tempo a Vapore online by heading here. Enjoy! 

Andy-Hey there, Alfredo.  Thanks for taking the time to talk to us about your band “La Bottega del Tempo a Vapore.”  I don’t speak Italian, and I’ve tried to come up with a translation of your band’s name into English.  What I come up with is “The Time-to-Steam Workshop”.  Given your bands progressive leanings, I imagine your band’s name is a nod to your country’s vast contribution to the prog-rock scene.  Can you tell us a little bit about how you came up with the name, and what it signifies?

Alfredo-I came up with the name for the band. In between developing musical ideas and organizing the band’s activity I suggested two band names: the second one was "La Bottega del Tempo a Vapore". Even if it's not a commercial/marketing rule-based name, it has the capacity to make people ask and think about it. Our musical approach is not common; we are something different from the norm, and we want to spread it out a bit. Moreover, we employee numerous different conceptual approaches that we think you’d find interesting. The Workshop (La Bottega) is something like "art and work", based on the concept of the Italian Reneissance, populated by Italy's  old masters, and a time when everyone was a significant part of the entire work. The present and future time (Il tempo) is a constant in our album. It's an important concept of life that flows. The Steam (Il vapore) is that natural element, deep as much as we can see it. It is able to generate strong forces, able to move trains, industrial machines, and, in the same time, to slip into each and every fissure.

Andy-On to the album.  “Il Guerriero errante,” or “The Wandering Warrior.”  Can you shed some light on the story that’s told for us? 

Alfredo-"Il Guerriero errante " tells the story of a samnitic warrior, who receives the responsibility to escort a Lady, engaged to the King, to the King's residence. The journey is characterized by adventures, ambushes and many events. Warrior and Lady bonded immediately, they are united by a strong sentiment and at last they fall in love. The King finds out about the secret relationship between the Lady and the warrior, instructs a Janara (samnitic witch) to avenge him with the damnation of the two lovers. There will be romance, adventures… but for all the details, you just have to listen to our CD.

Andy-As I mentioned earlier, Italy has made a vast contribution to the progressive rock scene.  Can you tell us how Italian prog rock has influenced you as a musician?  What are some other genres of music that have influenced you?

Alfredo-We are influenced by tons of genres and kind of music, as every prog band should be. Our influences could be summarized with Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, Porcupine Three, Opeth, Pink Floyd, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Osanna, Epica, and so on. So genres like Prog Rock / Metal as a base, but also Epic, Orchestral, Folk, Psychedelic, Fusion and more.

Andy-Tell us about the band.  How did you form?  How long have you known each other? How did you meet? How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?

Alfredo-I was looking for musicians to help transform stories into music, so that's where it all began. During the meetings we talked about the contents of various chapters and then we wrote the music and lyrics. A little bit later we added all the other members of the band. Most members already worked together in other projects, so we were all friends. Our artistic peculiarity is that our sounds, rhythms and arrangements are articulated and essential elements, with unusual lyrics.

Andy-Tell us a little bit about your experiences in the studio.  What were some of the challenges in recording such an intricate album?

Alfredo-The final recordings were so intense and needed concentration, which is why the final result of our work is characterized by honesty and consistency. At the same time, it wasn't easy to organize everything and contain costs. We considered our financial resources and managed everything firsthand. Edoardo Napoli from EPN studios of Genova oversaw the final mix and mastering, and he did a very good job, considering a great problem for us: work remotely. The power of Internet!

Andy-And finally one last set of questions. What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?  Do all members of the band contribute to the song-writing process?

Alfredo-As regards the process of writing songs, there's not a fixed rule: inspiration is like a beautiful woman, who never announces her arrival. Certainly mys story inspired our music arrangements, but lyrics and vocal arrangements were made after the musical parts; these are peculiarities of our work. In our band all the members participate in the creation of arrangements. Alessandro did a great job for the production of this album.