Bandas preferidas : Avenged Sevenfold, Callejon, Trivium, Bullet From My Valentine, Wintersun, Coroner, Disturbed, Morbid Angel, Sepultura, Children Of Bodom, Chimaira, Lost Horizon, Mercyful Fate, Judas Priest, Hellöise, Heaven’s Gate, Chroming Rose, White Lion, Nocturnal Bloodlust, Loudness, Soilwork, Slayer, Exodus, Nuclear Assault, Heathen, Solitude Aeturnus, Vow Wow, King Diamond, Gamma Ray, Caliban, System Of A Dawn, Rage Against The Machine, Nocturnal Rites, Scanner, Tankard, Destruction, Metallica, Slipknot, Blaze Out, Bonded By Blood, Gama Bomb, Kaleikr, Demonoid, Sabbat, Bal Sagoth, Fifth Angel, Nevermore, Sanctuary, Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Sinergy, Alcatrazz, Skid Row, Volbeat, Primal Fear, Iced Earth, Blind Guardian, Racer X, Tesla, Evergrey, Lost Society, Six Feet Under, Obituary, Blessed Death, Atheist, Demolition Hammer, Death, Manowar, Death Angel, Illdisposed, Marshall Law, Pink Floyd, Sinner, Masterplan, Edguy, Avantasia, Jorn Lande, Helloween, Pretty Maids, Brainstorm, Stratovarius, Rising Force, Pestilence, Maintain, Onslaugth, Overkill, Rob Halford, Artillery, Crystal Lake, Avatar, Risk, God Dethroned, Cradle Of Filth, Heaven Shall Burn, Sick Of It All, Nofx, Criminal, Riot, Dream Theater, Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony Macalpine, Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, Agathodaimon, 3 Inches Of Blood, Poltergeist, Vader, Black Fate, Impelliteri, Axxis, Bloodbath, Deicide, Behemoth, Manticora, Equilibrium, Guillotine, Quiet Room, Wicked Maraya, Crimson Glory, Rush, War Of Ages, Rage, Running Wild, Metal Church, Reverend, Anthrax, Flotsam And Jetsam, Chinchilla, Covenant, Testament, Iron Maiden, Satan, Dokken, Lynch Mob, Exciter, Sadus, Black Dahlia Murder, All That Remains, As I Lie Dying, Channel Zero, The Haunted, Angel Dust, Morgana Lefay, Morbid Jester, Seven Witches, Wrath, Burning Inside, Athena, Wardance, Wild Dogs, Septagon, Them, Q 5, Old Man’s Child, Carnivore, Crystal Eyes, Kreator, Legion Of The Damned, Machine Head, Linkin Park, Hell, Kamelot, Cataract, Led Zeppelin, Hyperion, Hittman, Hypocrisy, Hades, Liege Lord, Mania, Forbidden, Holy Mother, Rawhead Rexx, Throne Of Chaos, Apocalypse, Ancient Rites... Depuis 1983, j'ai participé en tant que fondateur de la station de radio gratuite Radio Cucaracha, située à Oviedo, dans les Asturies, en Espagne, tout en dirigeant et en présentant le programme de Hard Rock Cábala Rock. En 1988 j'ai amené au programme des collègues plus spécialisés dans des styles spécifiques de métal (thrash, death, classique ...) et avec eux nous avons donné vie au nouveau programme que nous avons appelé Hydra 105 sur 105 sur la fréquence modulée de Radio Cucaracha. En 1991, en raison d'un déménagement à Madrid pour des raisons professionnelles, j'ai arrêté de le faire. Jusqu'en 2014 et depuis 1996 j'étais en charge des départements Rock et Metal ainsi que de la vente de disques dans le grand magasin du Corte Inglés de Preciados-Callao à Madrid, l'année de ma retraite. De même, de 1991 à 2000 j'ai collaboré à divers festivals de rock à Madrid et en tant que disc-jockey dans un pub appelé Hebe, dans le quartier Vallecas de Madrid, berceau de grands groupes espagnols tels que Ska-P, Reincidentes, Mama Ladilla et autres. En ce moment, je vis dans ma ville natale de Xixón (Gijón) View all posts by batsibatsival
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duijffke, February 6th, 2021
Written based on this version: 2020, Digital, Willowtip Records
Metal music comes in countless different forms. On one side of the spectrum you’ll find subgenres like progressive metal and NWOBHM, on another side you might find acts engaging in heavier music, like black and death metal. Some bands can be put in a certain category after hearing just one of their songs, while others require more consideration. The latter goes for Countless Skies, a British band that has seemingly chosen their own path where progressive, doom and death metal meet. If Devin Townsend would be a genre of his own, I would’ve included him as well.
Townsend with his various bands and Swallow the Sun are the first metal acts that come to mind upon first hearing “Glow”. Both the clean vocals and song structures seem to be inspired by Townsend. Bassist Phil Romeo, who handles the clean vocals, comes dangerously close to imitating him at times, especially in the otherwise beautiful opener ‘Tempest’ and towards the end of the album’s closer ‘Reflection’. It doesn’t bother me as much, however, as the rhythm section in ‘Summit’. While their playing feels rather one of a kind and is without question of a very high level, I can’t help but notice they rip off parts of one of Townsend’s more popular songs, ‘Truth’.
Now that most of my complaints about “Glow” are out of the way I can focus on the many positive sides of the album, for instance the production. Swallow the Sun’s Juho Räihä did a stellar job and made the album sound extremely clear. Each instrument plays a significant role in the mix without overshadowing other instruments. What I particularly like is the fact that the drums don’t dominate the mix, which has been the case a bit too often in metal music in the past years for my taste. Thanks to Räihä’s excellent work, interesting hooks and beautiful compositions in for example ‘Zephyr’ stand out immediately.
With only seven songs and a total runtime of 44 minutes, “Glow” is an easy listen. The band knows when to dial back and cue the acoustic guitar, but never for too long. Listen to the so-called “Glow-trilogy” and get sucked into a mid-tempo song that evolves into a calm, acoustic intro (yes, really) that builds up to the grandiose final part of the trilogy. Once again, it’s time for blast beats, soaring riffs and plenty symphonic elements. The band’s choice to close off the album with a 20-minute epic that’s essentially been split into three parts, turned out great. They really saved the best for last, although the album could’ve ended a bit less abruptly. Especially with such a strong introduction in ‘Tempest’, the final seconds of ‘Reflection’ feel too short.
I haven’t found a single dull moment on “Glow”. This is one of those rare albums where not one song feels like it could’ve been shortened. Every second on the album is essential. The weird thing is, had I known that Countless Skies is a British band, I might’ve skipped them. When it comes to melodic death metal, I tend to listen to Finnish and Swedish bands, but somehow Countless Skies managed to grab my attention. It’s no wonder they sound ‘Scandinavian’, considering the band draws their influence from Scandinavian greats such as In Flames, Dark Tranquillity and Opeth. I’m just glad I didn’t turn my back on Countless Skies, because as it turns out, they released one hell of an album. “Glow” isn’t without its flaws, but perfection rarely exists. And let’s be honest: wouldn’t you buy the CD based on the artwork alone?
Highlights: ‘Tempest’, ‘Zephyr’, ‘Awakening’
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