With this column we intend to give young, fresh, unsigned bands the opportunity to let
their voices be heard. We will review demos or independent releases
of unsigned bands looking for promotion.
If you wish to submit us material to be featured here, contact Urban, who is the head of our A&R Department. His e-mail address is Urban "Wally" Wallström,
Note to our readers: keep watching our giveaways as some of the
albums reviewed here might show up there.
2007
Review by Alan Holloway, 
16th October 2007
Here's an interesting little 4 track EP that, if nothing else, proves that the internet really can be full of pleasant surprises. You see, when I was but a lad I had a huge poster on my wall of Lorraine Lewis, lead singer of Femme Fatale and utter babe. Their only album was pretty good, but the New Mexico band fell apart soon afterwards, with the poster eventually following suit as a jealous girlfriend made me replace it.
Now, after varying other projects, Lorraine has hooked up with drumming legend Roxy Petrucci, she of Madam X and Vixen fame amongst others, to form Roktopuss. Okay, the name is unusual, but I have to admit I love it. Of course, a good name is nothing without good music, but I'm happy to report that Roktopuss have started their recording career with four decent slices of hard rock with a sleazy edge to it. “Dogbite” and “Naked” are full on rawk and rollers with a decent bite to them, whilst “Away” is more midpaced and “Desperate” is more of a blues/country acoustic based drawl. All of them are decent songs which made me want to hear more from this band. And yeah, they both still look great...
www.myspace.com/roktopuss
Indie 2007
Review by Satu Reunanen 
October 2007
To go with Psycho Bitch or 12 Inches? It's all in the name, right? 12 Inches was formerly known as Psycho Bitch, so they did the right decision changing their name, although 12 Inches is still a bit far fetched to present these guys music. Sure they sound as filthly as their name does, in a good way, but this fourpiece plays honest rock'n'roll, and I can't see the connection between the dirty minded name and their music. Or it could just be, that my mind is dirty, but there's nothing new there.
These Inch-lads have been together around six years, and those years have produced a band, that sounds exactly what honest rock'n'roll should sound like, developing from earlier years. Their singer has that raspy sound, balls to sing the songs as they should be sung, the guitar sound is perfectly raw, and the melodies are present. Hanoi Rocks is one of their influences, but pick a bunch of those nasty rock bands, most of them are here, at least The Hellacopters and Backsliders to stir your mind a teeny bit more.
It might not be intentional, but they've got a primitive punk side as well, which gives the music more kick and vivacity. It's all done with good taste though, and while the band stays true to old rock'n'roll and is not about inventing new, the cd rocks throughout with singalong choruses, ballsy ones though. Twelve Inches mostly concentrates on the party side, "Don't Let Me Down" gives a good taste from that, and has recorded only two slower songs, "Feelings Overcome" and the Tom Pettyish "Time And Again".
Twelve Inches
Indie 2007
Review by Satu Reunanen
September 2007
Ghost Town Angels is a new band, formed in early 2007 in Finland by guitarist Hank Newman, together with drummer Sandy and bassist Tony Michael, later recruting the singer Kenny Jones. Although a new band, the members aren't new in music scene, having played for years in several bands and projects. This promo features four songs produced by Newman, also available in their MySpace site, and shows a band rocking out with energic vibe.
These angels' rock with raw feel, and a more powerful sound would've worked best for such raunchy music. Jones produces powerful and ballsy vocals, which suite well to this style of basic, traditional hard rock, and they stick out from the promo, along with Newman's playing. I can't quite point out who Jones reminds me of, but Armored Saint/Anthrax vocalist John Bush comes close to this defiant mood.
For such a young band, GTA sounds quite compact and also handles songwriting pretty well. Newman throws in nice guitar work and the drums are heavy enough. Everything is clearly still evolving though, and searching for the final and more dynamic style. The arrangement skills, choruses and climaxes still need more effort, but the songs are easy for the listener to handle, having certain highs, so GTA has after all produced a promo above the average ranks offered by young bands.
Ghost Town Angels
Indie 2007
Review by Kimmo Toivonen, 
01 September 2007
Linehouse is a new Swedish band featuring vocalist Niklas Dernebo and Jonas Ohlund on all instruments. This is their first demo, and it's been mixed and mastered by Bjorn Lodin of Baltimoore. Now that we've gotten the basic info out of the way, we'll look into the music... and it's either vintage-sounding, timeless melodic rock or hopelessly dated eighties soft rock, depending on your point of view. Me, I'm a sucker for the sounds of the eighties, so I like it!
The first song "First Love" will take you back in time to 1982 or thereabouts, with its' wonderfully old-fashioned "Angelic" keyboard sounds. The song itself reminds me a bit of .38 Special and Russ Ballard. Smooth, nice pop rock.
I really liked the bass-driven verses of "Stormrider", which somehow made me expect a real explosive chorus. That wasn't in the cards, instead we got a laid-back, very Asia-like hook. Okay, that'll do as well!
"Breath Through You" is the most guitar-driven and hard rocking song of the three. The verses are blessed true "Classic Rock" guitar sounds, but the chorus is a bit of a surprise - a squaky clean, almost irritating pop hook that reminds me a bit of A-ha! Wimp Rock to the extreme!
Promising stuff, and I'll be looking forward to hearing more material from this band. Maybe a few songs with a bit more bite would be cool.
www.myspace.com/linehouse
www.linehouse.se
Indie 2007
Review by Kimmo Toivonen,
26 July 2007
Danger Avenue is a Swedish band that plays old-school AOR, taking influences from the likes of Journey and Survivor. They've released a 5 track EP so far, but for some reason they choose to send us just a 3-track CD.
The three songs on the CD prove that they can write decent AOR tracks, with the best one of them being the smooth "Avenues & Boulevards". It kind of reminds me of Street Talk. I actually prefer the harder-edged style of the two other tracks, but merely as songs they aren't quite as good.
If I'm honest here - and I intend to be - there are things I'd question when it comes to the arrangements, and the whole thing could be tighter. I can't deny that they show a lot of promise though, and I expect their next demo to be in an altogether different league.
www.dangeravenue.com
Indie 2007
Review by Kimmo Toivonen,
6 July 2007
This is the first single from Scythe Of Orion, a new Finnish metal band. The two songs on the CD have been chosen for recording because they represent the whole spectrum of the band's musical style. "Sacre et Massacre" represents the heavier side of the band, and while it has its' merits, it doesn't really work for me. It's somehow a bit too pompous and pretentious for its own good - "Artsy Doom Metal" anyone? The vocals of Anu Koivisto are strong though.
The second track "Ghost Hand" is much better. The arrangement is clever, with the band's violin player (!) Maarit Koivisto given a chance to make herself heard more, and the keyboard work is quite athmospheric, reminding me of Royal Hunt. A good, melodic track. Hopefully the rest of the band's material is more along the likes of this track, instead of the gloomy "Sacre et Massacre".
www.scytheoforion.com
Indie 2007
Review by Kimmo Toivonen,
16 April 2007
This is the first single from Supermassive, a young pop/rock-band from Turku, Finland. Apparently their older material can be heard in the movie and TV-show The Dudesons, which is fast gaining notoriety all over the world. Not too shabby.
The quirky pop/rock that Suppermassive play isn't something I'd normally care to listen to, but for what it's worth, they're good at what they do. I can predict that this single will be a big hit among the indie-rock fans who enjoy the likes of The Cure, but will it be a "supermassive" mainstream hit? I Don't think so. If anything, I think the other song "She Knows That" is much stronger, more memorable and more rocking than the title track. The oddly named "In The Land Of Nod" is actually quite irritating with it's happy little melody, repeated again and again... and that might have been just the thing they were aiming for. It might for some, but not for me - the irritation won't become infatuation. The damn song reminds me of The Teletubbies and that is not a good thing. I hope that it's just an attempt at "summer pop hit" and that the rest of their material is more along the likes of "She Knows That".
www.supermassiveband.com
www.myspace.com/supermassiveband
Indie 2007
Review by Satu Reunanen
15 March 2007
TheRMS surprises nicely those not yet familiar with this Finnish Oulu-based band, who released their debut in 2003. "Circles" gives taste of the bands abilities in three songs, and the comparisons to great Finnish metal bands are abundant. More closely TheRMS sounds like a mix between Charon and Sentenced, the masters of melancholic metal, and these guys play with style. Singer Juha Simola is the main reason for such band comparisons, giving the band an even deeper atmosphere from the otherwise melancholic mood with his low-registered powerful vocals, which work well for this kind of metal.
"Circles" is the opening song, which has different character to the rest two songs. Imaging Charon rocking, but add more basic rock touch and fun to it with horns and clever sing-alongs from the rest of the band. Not necessarily a favourite for metal fans because of its different influences, but "Circles" shows TheRMS' capabilities as a colourful band. "God's Gift" is more laid back and mellower, more closer to Charon's material and "Feeding The Fear" rocks again. TheRMS' long journey has given the band confidence that shows, the whole single rocks lean and steadily, powered with good melodies and catchy choruses. But even with these attributes the biggest magic is still missing making them more unique. Maybe they're a dose too clean, but still TheRMS has good material worth checking out.
TheRMS
Indie 2007
Review by Satu Reunanen
30 January 2007
Whooaaa! Sing along everybody! This band will get yer boots and booty moving! Rarely Finland offers such a stable and powerfully rocking and rolling act like Trinity, that has its roots somewhere else, than what has lately come so natural from Finns, that power- and symphonic metal. So here's something, not fresh really, but intriquingly playful hard rock to sink your ears to.
Trinity's story starts already from 1994, but the final line-up came together in 1999. A band that finely rocks like the mix of The Four Horsemen, The Cult and the likes, is a bunch of harsh, but friendly looking five guys. Their image surely goes hand in hand with their music. This cd has five songs, and two are covers; "Pet Sematary" by The Ramones and "Ace Of Spades" by Motörhead. I guess with such finished sound and material this band has, there's no need for further promotion for originals, but I would've preferred to hear more. The covers are ok, although I've grown so used to hearing The Ramones original version, that it takes a while to get used to another version. Trinity stays pretty true to the originals though, but who can really compete with Joey Ramones unique vocals? What comes to the Motörhead cover, Trinity doesn't have that raging maniac attitude that Motörhead manages to produce anytime, anywhere. Still, Trinity has a good drive on both songs.
Singer Sami "Texas" Ilvonen has vocals, that produce multiple sounds and ranges. The cd kicks off with "Heartbreak Ridge", where Texas at times sounds a bit like Andrew Eldritch from The Sisters Of Mercy, and just when you thought you've caught the drift, he changes to another tone. The three Trinity originals, "Heartbreak Ridge", "Calling" and "Dragons Rule The Night" showcase a firm band, that is rocking with a party mentality, which infects its listeners too. The main reason for such infectious party touch must be the southern rock side in Trinity. Just go and see any southern rock act, like Molly Hatchet, and you'll know what I'm talking about. That sound never misses to put a smile on your face. Trinity are following those steps with their guitar-driven, straight melodic hard rock, which still has its fans. Trinity are fans of Black Label Society, and if they tend to reach a similar sound, there's still improving to do for more grungy and heavier sound, but the songs still rock even with a leaner sound.
Trinity
Indie 2007
Review by Satu Reunanen
30 January 2007
The Finnish music scene keeps throwing in new refreshing surprises once in a while, and now seems to be one of those times. The Domination Nation comes from Helsinki, a band that hasn't been together for that long, but already convinces with their rocking sound. "Will I" is only a two-song promo, that features only one original from the band and "Free Fallin'" cover from Tom Petty. This five-piece band has the looks to base their sound to. They're after a heavy, new wave grunge-spirited rock, which is a quite good reference of their music.
More so, based only on one own song, I think there's something similar in them to Silverchair, Negative or even Poets Of The Fall. Very entertaining rock with its lightly flowing melodies and surely radiofriendly. "Will I" has a catchy chorus and the song rocks smoothly with a nice cold guitar sound, that actually is the driving spirit for the song, apart from the nice vocal work from Olli. The band has found their grungy side, but alternative rock could be more closer to what they're about. The Tom Petty cover is nice, although there's a dilemma with the vocals. Tom Petty is regarded as unique vocalist, who's sound is hard to imitate, so while Olli and the band does great with their cover and stay true to the original, I bet Petty fans still cling to the original. But keep an eye on this band nevertheless, the demand on the band has been high already. The bands answer to that is coming soon too, in the form of a full-length.
Domination Nation
Indie 2007
Review by Martien Koolen, 
28 january 2007
This is the second demo of the Dutch young technical prog metal band 21 Eyes of Ruby. It contains 8 songs and it is great stuff for people who are into experimental prog metal, bands like Zero Hour or Twisted Into Form, for example. So you can expect a lot of staccatto guitar riffs, complex melodies and many musical twists and turns. The only things that bother me sometimes are the rather nasal and monotonous vocal parts, but that is something that this young promising band can work on in the future.
"Million seconds" opens this CD and right from the start this power trio kicks you in the ass with their complex and up tempo metal music. The second track "Make a mess" is one of my favourites although I find the vocals a bit "irritating" at times. This is pure techno metal with up tempo beats, excellent guitar parts and solo passages. "24 Again" starts rather quietly - here the singer is at his best – but the song ends kind of heavy with a great headbanging part.
The best song is without any doubt "In vain/Carmine" – it is also the longest track (8”46) – and here the band truly shows their strength. The song starts dark and rather mysterious before the bass guitar sets in to speed up the tempo of the song. The last part is again rather heavy with a repeating chorus and an addictive guitar riff.
The album ends with the ballad-like "Off you go". A rather remarkable demo by a young and very promising metal band. Watch out for these guys as I hope that they will go far in the music business. Try it and you like it!
www.21eyesofruby.com
Indie 2006
Review by Satu Reunanen
15 January 2007
Kings Of Modesty is a new band formed a year ago, featuring Brother Firetribe-bassist Jason Flinck, the last one joining this band. He's now switched places from his normal duties to the vocalist slot, having a voice that is easily recognizable. You know, voices like Axl Rose, Joe Lynn Turner, Bon Scott or even Mr. Lordi, but Flinck has a smoother approach than most of those mentioned. He handles well both high vocals and parts that demand more power and manly attitude. The other musicians are Samuel Hjelt (lead guitar), Henkka Tuura (bass), Mikael Hjelt (keys) and Rane Simoinen (drums), but a little help also came from Flinck's Firetribe-mate, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, who also recorded the promo and produced it together with the band in his EMajor studio. The mixing and mastering was done by Mikko Karmila and Mika Jussila, so this release sounds very interesting, not to mention the band also features an Ancara-member Samuel Hjelt.
All these promising features won't let the listener
down either. The experience shows in Kings Of Modesty, the band is tight, powerful
and the songs are well structured. The band plays modern sounding heavy metal,
mixing in hard rock, classic and power metal with class. The band is very melodic,
giving room to big vocal harmonies and choruses that are flying high, also including
catchy guitar parts and striking keys. The drums are heavy enough for this kind of
music, though the sound could've been a bit better. This release features four
catchy and rocking songs, more heavier than what you're used to hearing from
Firetribe, but this will definately work for those who love powerful metal with inspiring vocals and musical passages.
Samples can be found from their website and an album should be out this year, so
we'll just have to wait what these lads can offer on a full-length.
Kings Of Modesty
Indie 2006
Review by Kimmo Toivonen,
15 January 2007
Even though the bands' name is almost indentical to a Scandinavian fast food chain, their self-financed first album isn't that easy to digest. Their bio boasts that their music is a "deadly cocktail of catchy AOR choruses, great heavy stuff, some prog-ish and dark-ish sounds, pounding glam tunes", and to be honest, that's not far from the truth.
The album kicks off with two catchy melodic hard rock songs, "Burning" and "Gimme More Rockin'". The first one has a really good hook, while the latter suffers a little of the odd pronounciation: "Gimmee more raw-kin'"...
"Black Rose" is something different, electronic effects with gothic elements and with an anthemic, almost power metal-like chorus. The oddly named ballad "I.N.F.I.L.A. (Song For Mercury)" is obviously influenced by Queen. In the end it sounds more like Robby Valentine's mini-operas than vintage Queen, although there isn't that much of a difference.
"God TV" takes us back to the melodic hard rock of the first two songs, though Sybilla add a bit of glam flavour to it. "Bad Boy's Rock" is as throwaway glam rocker as the title suggests, with a chorus that borrows heavily from "Heaven's On Fire" by Kiss. And then it's time for a curve ball again... it comes in the form of "Stay", which is an ethreal progressive rock ballad with flutes and swirling synth layers. Weird.
Things get even more weird with "Quick Fix" which is probably the most Poison-sounding track I've ever heard by another band! Vocalist Dave Hunter does a great "young Bret Michaels"-impression, and musically this song would have been right at home on "Look What The Cat Dragged In". The Poison-vibe stays for another few minutes, as the next song "Fuelled By Love" is carved from the same wood. The album is closed with the band's epic prog opus "The Invisible Hourglass Of Memories", which offers quite a bit of contrast to the previous fun glam tracks.
The production of the album is good, even though some songs are a bit too full, with all kinds of snaps, crackles and pops. Sometimes less is more... extra mention to the versatile vocalist Dave, and not only for the Bret Michaels-impressions - he is very good, although sometimes the italian accent pushes through.
While a bit of focusing might help the band, I find the band's various styles quite refreshing. Who says you can't mix glam with progressive elements? Sybilla may have not perfected their unique style and they could use a few stronger songs, but still... they're onto something here.
www.sybillaonline.it
Demo/indie reviews of 2005 are now in 2005 A&R Archive!
Demo/indie reviews of 2005 are now in 2005 A&R Archive!
Demo/indie reviews of 2005 are now in 2005 A&R Archive!
Demo/indie reviews of 2004 are now in 2004 A&R Archive!
Older demo/indie reviews are now in Archives!