Reviews roundup – Crystal Viper vs. Parker Millsap vs. Fall Has Come vs. Solar vs. The Amazing

Reviews roundup – Crystal Viper vs. Parker Millsap vs. Fall Has Come vs. Solar vs. The Amazing

CRYSTAL VIPER
At The Edge Of Time
AFM

Aiiiieee!!! Heavy Metal! Yup, it’s time for some summer fun with some proper heavy metal, courtesy of Poland’s Crystal Viper.

I’ve always liked an EP. Sometimes you just don’t have the energy for a whole album and you usually get something a wee bit different on an EP. This one has five new recordings although one of them is a Polish language version of ‘When The Sun Goes Down’ from “Queen Of The Witches”.

But it’s pedal to the metal stuff from Marta Gabriel and her cohorts starting with the straight down the middle title track. There’s also a Doro like ballad in ‘When Are You’ and a cover of ‘Tell Me Why’, a 1983 single from Brummie also rans (and friends of Black Sabbath) Quartz. It’s certainly an interesting choice for a cover.

It’s a none more metal release that is out as a 10″ vinyl single with a digital download included. Buy it now if you still sport a studded wristband.

 

PARKER MILLSAP
Other Arrangements
Okrahoma

Say goodbye to the country. Yes, young fella me lad Parker Millsap is the latest country singer to try and make the leap to the mainstream on this, his third full length album.

It worked for Taylor Swift and, um, no-one else. But why not give it a bash while he’s still young. There’s nary a hint of country to be found here although he does throw in a few rootsy licks to show that he’s a serious performer, man. So a few wee bits of folk sneak in. You know, the kind of thing that John Mayer fans would like. And there are a few good pop tunes on offer as well with ‘Some People’ and ‘Fine Line’.

But is he distinctive and / or poppy enough to catch the attention of the iPhone generation? Probably not. He’s got a strong voice and there are plenty of good performances here but fans of his first two records might find themselves feeling cold towards the album as a whole and it’s probably too old fashioned sounding for a prospective new audience. Fingers crossed I’m wrong as his earlier material was definitely encouraging. But even if this turns out to be a misfire he still has plenty of talent and plenty of time to make the great leap forward.

 

FALL HAS COME
Nowhere
Sliptrick Records

To Italy now for some modern alternative rock from Fall Has Come. No, hang on, come back!

See they’re actually rather good. And they don’t restrict themselves to sounding a bit Foo Fightery like every other bloody modern alternative rock. The fact that they’ve opened shows for bands as far apart as Evanescence, Yellowcard and Tigertailz (!) show that they’ve got more to their sound than that. So even if that is their basic template they bring in sounds from far and wide to enhance their music.

They don’t stint on the guitars and there is always a really good melody lurking around the corner with ‘Believe’ and ‘Awaken’ probably the best of the bunch. It’s also well produced and sounds as good as many a major offering. It may not be my first choice of cuppa but Enrico Bellotta – Vocals, Enrico Pasarella – Guitar, Raffaele Giacobbone – Guitar, Salvatore Laurella – Drums and Alberto Laurella – Bass can hold their heads high.

 

SOLAR
Your Creed
Rockestatal

Across the Tyrrhenian and Balearic seas and we arrive in Spain to meet Sölar.

Another modern alternative rock band, this is their second album since getting together back in 2013. They’ve toured widely across Spain building a following who will be pleased at the arrival of this.

It’s more of what you would expect from this style of music with the obligatory Foo influences popping up hither and thither although Sölar also manage to find some space for the odd nu-metal reference with a few Linkin Park riffs making their presence felt.

Again, they’re good at what they do with the title track and the heavy as fudge ‘Shut Up’ real standouts. If they could get themselves on the mainstream festival circuit there is no reason to think they couldn’t break out to a wider audience. A good one.

 

THE AMAZING
In Transit
Partisan

Back in 2016 I heard “Ambulance”, the previous record by The Amazing. Ans I had this to say. “there is a lot of droning, ambience, some white noise and a closing ditty called “Perfect Day for Shrimp”. They say they’re on a “journey to a place where music is free of restrictions”. Me, I’ll get the bus.”.

So has anything changed in the last couple of years in the world of “The Amazing”? Um, not really unless you count the absence of songs about shrimp as a change.

Although the songs do seem to go on a lot longer. Ten minutes in the case of ‘Benson se Convirtio Completamente Furiosa’. I could do the dishes and make a cup of tea in that time. And I know which I’d rather be doing. It’s still all a wee bit My Bloody Valentine, post rock, droning on about nothing very much. People who Like this sort of Thing will doubtless bang on about Red House Painters, ambience and dreamlike soundscapes. All of which should be shot.

 

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