DOWNRIVER
Hailing from Australia, DOWNRIVER is a band that cannot be easily classified into one genre of music. Featuring a wide array of sounds and influences, DOWNRIVER can go from DOOM to METAL to ROCK to CLASSIC ROCK and back around again. The stand-out difference between this band and other bands that TRY to accomplish this is DOWNRIVER does it well. Furthermore, DOWNRIVER does it with style; DOWNRIVER does it with talent. Look out, because this band from "Down Under" is going to take your ears by storm.
For a self-financed record, "Seethin' Heathen" has FANTASTIC sound. I was not too thrilled with the album art. There's too much going on there; maybe keep it simple next time? Other than that, the packaging is great, the band memeber photos are creative (each member is "transformed" to look like a demon or creature...it looks pretty cool), and the album is PACKED with TWELVE songs. Well, let's get to it........
TRACK ONE - Dead Man's Hand
TRACK TWO - Fear The Eagle
TRACK THREE - Daemonified
TRACK FOUR - Through The Mountain
TRACK FIVE - Ghostly Spiel
TRACK SEVEN - Doombringer (Astride The Glacier Of Hate)
TRACK EIGHT - 6 Shooter Blues
TRACK NINE - Hand Over Fist
Excellent upbeat Rock N' Roll bleeds thru in "Hand...". Gritty guitar with some licks placed in just the right spots give this song an enjoyable listening experience. The bass and drum really add the needed heaviness to this song to make it work well. Crank it up!
TRACK TEN - Dr. Sixicksix
TRACK ELEVEN - Universal Necromancer
TRACK TWELVE - Lair Of The Lummocks
Keep your eyes on this band; they are making a buzz in Australia and I can hear it from America! It's only goning to get louder!!!!
RATING: 9 of 10
MYSPACE PAGE
Review by - Anthony DeLuca
ETHERIAL COLLAPSE
Track One: A Tragedy Divine
After listening to the first few seconds of this song, DEATH meets Sweedish Melodic Death Metal comes to mind. Packed with heavy riffs and roaring, powerful, raspy vocals "A Tragedy Divine" is a strong opening song. The bass really adds to the aggression of this band's sound, right along with the pounding drums.
Track Two: Undo Creation
Track Three: Walls Of Eternity
Track Four: As The Mighty Fall
Track Six: The Eyes Of Solace
Track Seven: The Nightmare Creature
Track Eight: On The Reins Of Desire
Overall, this is a SOLID album. The production is clean, clear, and picks up every instrument. The cover shows a woman who has climbed up some steps, about to enter into a gated house. If you really look at this picture, you can see two eyes and a mouth from the gates and house, almost like a skull with eyes. I wasn't too happy with the lack of lyrics, but the overall package is good. This is a very well done, professional CD.
RATING: 10 of 10
MYSPACE PAGE
Seethin' Heathen
(c) 2008 Independent
Immediate overtones of KISS's "Detroit Rock City", AC/DC, and Motorhead come to mind when I listen to this song. The raw sound from the lead guitar really gives this song a gritty Rock N' Roll feeling. The drumming works well with this song, keeping the pace decent playing slightly along the rhythm guitar. Add in the rough vocal style and chugging rythum guitar and bass and one can see how nicely everything comes together for this band. Based upon my first impressions of this band, expect some good old Rock N' Roll fused with NWOBHM.
I love the way this song starts off with some amazing bass and drum! The mid-paced guitar then starts off, and leads into the opening vocal lines. The arrangement and flow of this song are very reminicent of early SAXON. Clocking in at about two minutes, "Fear" is short but sweet!
Taking it down a bit, "Daemonified" shows the Doom Metal side of DOWNRIVER. Take some BLACK SABBATH, some melodic NWOBHM, and some old fashioned Rock N Roll and you've got elements heard in this song. I liked the fact that this song isn't as fast-paced as the first two songs; it gives the band both diversity and an array of variation to their album.
Balls to the wall Heavy Rock is thrown down on "Through The Mountain". Pounding drum and bass with heavy guitar lead an onslaught of what is clearly an edgy tune. Cleaver guitar licks in just the right places add spice to this song. Screaming Whah pedal solos round the song. Here's another short but sweet throat clutcher at a little over two minutes.
Taking it down a notch yet again, BLACK SABBATH and even ALICE AND CHAINS can be heard in the overtones of "Ghostly Spiel". Once again, killer guitar licks keep a constant hook on you while the vocals have a certain atmosphere to them. If you're looking for that type of song with just enough edge to it so you can mellow out to with a cold beer, then look no further than "Ghostly".
TRACK SIX - Offend Me Not, For I Am The Grisly Hand Of Death
Wow, that song title is a mouthful! All jokes aside, this song is very upbeat, fast-paced, and full of guitar riffs and heart-pounding drum. Speaking of guitar riffs, check out the solos in this song......they shred!
This song was extremely boring and seemed like album filler to me. The vocals are sung through some kind of effects What really makes me laugh is that with my opinion in mind, this is the longest song on the whole album. I don't see any interest, point, or live use for this song.
This song's fast pace reminds me of something heard off a RIOT album, Inishmore era. I liked the way the guitarist utilizes his whah pedal in this song; it really gives a rock edge to this song. Too bad this all only lasts for less than two minutes; punk fans will love that!
I am immediately reminded of an Appetite For Destruction era GUNS N' ROSES song in "Dr.". Whailing guitars dominate this song. This is the kind of song that makes you head-bang, dance, sing along, or do all three.
This song begins with a lot of BLACK SABBATH overtone. At the two-minute mark, an AMAZING guitar lick repeats itself, which leads to the song's main rythm. The bass and drums continue to add that heavy backbone which adds to this band's edge. Once more, the vocals are mid-tone and soaring at points. One of the heavier songs on the album, "Universal.." is a head-spliting Heavy Rock classic!
Easily the heaviest song on the album, "Lair..." has, by far, the BEST guitar riff on this album!!! This is not to put down the other songs, but it must be understood that this absolutlely FUCKING RULES!! Aggressive and fast vocals, heavy bass, fast drum, and that KILLER guitar riff and chugging rhythm ALL come together to make you repeat this song over and over again.......I did!!!
Breaching The Citadel
(c) 2007 Independent
The opening riff of this song is brilliant. Chuck Schundler must be smiling from his grave, as this band seems to be heavily influenced by Death. In fact, it's actually like Death mixed with Kreator. The double bass drums in this song are crushing! The guitar solos here are both flawless, fast, smooth, and rule.
"Walls..." offers smashing drums played along chugging guitar in the first opening notes. This sets the pace for this heavier song, complete with that Thrash Metal "band sings along" part as heard in others such as Atrophy or Exodus. This one's another head banging thrasher!
Played along side a heavy riff is an insane double bass drum in "AS The Mighty Fall". This leads into a soaring guitar lick. The double bass drum and heavy riff continue throughout the song. At the chorus, I liked how there was some clean vocals dueting with the raspy & rough lead vocals. Some growling Death Metal vocals can be heard just slightly in the background. This was a nice touch and NOT over-done!
Track Five: Breaching the Citadel
Some pre-recorded audio opens the title track of this album with "Mr. Gorbechoff, tear down this wall...." as spoken by Ronald Regan. The dominate guitar riff is both catchy and amazing. Strong elements of Kreator are heard here. The solos are loud and flowing. The guitar riffs and double bass drums at the time change fuse well with the rest of the song.
"The Eyes..." is another Death inspired song filled with jumping guitar riffs, fast drums, and powerful vocals. This is the kind of song that provokes a mosh pit. I can hear elements of the song "Crystal Mountain" by Death here and there. The solos are once again amazing.
An amazing riff with heavy guitar and drum opens "The Nightmare Creature". I'm feeling elements of old In Flames here with some of the guitar playing. Once again, Death Metal vocals in the chorus add to the power of the lead vocals. The solos are smooth and very melodic (heavy melodic, not happy metal melodic).
In "On The Reins...", the guitar work is what I call "climbing riffs". A lot of scaling and riffage are going on here. This leads into a fast paced riff. The time change later in the song shows a slower, darker side of the band. After quickening the pace, a blistering solo is accompanied by very fast double bass drums. I can hear elements of "Scavenger Of Human Sorrow" by Death. The song ends by fading out.
