Dark Lunacy - frozen memory (Devoid)
Nile - i whisper in the ear of the dead (In Their Darkened Shrines)
Apocalyptica - no education (Reflections)
Bathory - song to hall up high (Hammerheart)
The Doors - been down so long (L.A. Woman)
Judas Priest - united (British Steel)
Erwin Bolt - meine oma fährt motorrad (100 Gassenhauer)
Nawal El Zoughbi - kalam ellail (The Best Arabian Album In The World... Ever!)
Frank Zappa - jones crusher (Sheik Yerbouti)
Blut Aus Nord - the last journey of ringhorn (Ultima Thulée)
Chimaira - lazarus (Chimaira)
Scheitan - the scheitan (Berzerk 2000)
Tom Waits - downtown (Heartattack And Vine)
Antonio Vivaldi - I - allegro (Concerto per Mandolino, Archi e Cembalo C-Dur RV 425)


Dark Lunacy from Italy are solid Death Metal, but with the specific feature that they use classical instruments (accordion, violin, viola, cello). This track almost goes without this particuliarity, but nevertheless it's a very good and intoxicating Metal track - female vocals and solemn middle section included. Ah, Nile again - this band works incredibly well for me at the moment. This track carrying one of the best song titles ever is more of an interlude, but very intense and 100 % Nile (like every moment of this great album). Quite unimpressive then 'no education' from one of the newer Apocalyptica albums. I don't like the drums on this one, and - unlike 'i whisper in the ear of the dead' - this is one of the silliest song titles. Very atmospheric then an acoustic excursion to a very influential record - Bathory's "Hammerheart" was a blueprint for the feel of hundreds of Viking/Folk Metal bands to come. Not even Quorthon's jolty vocals can chill the fire this album has sparked in thousands of Metal heads. Even if I'm not one of them, I appreciate that and understand more with every listen.

Not my favourite track or album by The Doors follows, the stomping beat doesn't appeal to me so much - or rather, this is not how I'd like The Doors to sound. And they are doing something quite annoying with the guitar in the last third of the song :-( The next song is quite corny I guess, but I love it. This is just a nice message and a catchy tune, love it. United we stand - united we never shall fall! Oh boy, the Gassenhauer again. This time, Erwin Bolt desribes how his grandma is riding a motorbike. Except for the apparent nostalgia - not much. Next one please. Much nicer and feeling much more familiar then the next tune, Nawal El Zoughbi from Lebanon. She has a beautiful voice and this song is built upon a very interesting beat - oh, Arabic music, be with me, forever. Making me happy can be so easy sometimes, although this song is not an apparent hit.

Obviously, the music history quotations make Frank Zappa's music much more relevant - understanding none of that (I'm a total Zappa zero) this song was rather bizarre, but cool. Blut Aus Nord are, besides Deathspell Omega, THE new unconventional Black Metal band from France. Without a doubt, I prefer Blut Aus Nord, although I have to say I only know this album, which was their first. I'm not familiar with Deathspell's first releases. This song is very atmospheric, amazingly interesting in combination with the great cover. There's a lot to discover here, I'm sure. Vastly creative and leaves you wanting more. 'lazarus' is first of all a great song title and starts off with a good, modern Metal riff. And that's what you get. Lots of energy, I'm still not a big fan of the vocals though. All in all average stuff. Ok, so "Berzerk 2000" was, I think, the not-so-crazy-yet second album - you know, in between the almost not crazy one and the totally crazy one. 'the scheitan' is noise, and the way this upsurge of sound is created does make you listen... and frown. Definitely not something I want to come up if I'm having some people over and choose "random" on MediaMonkey. The last third of the song is an oscillating beast.

The distinctive voice of Tom Waits then takes us downtown. This is a groovy little song, almost too cool to exist. Although I have to say I always want to clear my throat when he's singing. A classical ending :-) I know this from somewhere... Vivaldi embraces lightness in this concerto for mandolin from 1725. I think the cembalo is underappreciated - thank God for bands like Rhapsody for keeping it alive :-) And the mandolin rules all (see Indira's 'april'). Nice piece of music by the Venetian composer. And nice Today! I do love you, Today, and don't forget it.


--MightySapnish--