Reviews roundup – Dynazty vs. Perfect Line vs. Kimia Penton vs. Armored Theory

Reviews roundup – Dynazty vs. Perfect Line vs. Kimia Penton vs. Armored Theory

DYNAZTY
Firesign
AFM Records

Album number six from Swedish melodic rockers Dynazty and as I have a penchant for eighties styled misspellings I’ve always had a soft spot for them. They’ve never really broken away from the pack but with singer Nils Molin now doubling up with Amaranthe this could be their chance for some much needed attention.

Fortunately they’ve got a very good album to go with it. I’m not going to lie. It’s fairly standard Scandi melodic rock with the obligatory nods to the eighties but they do it very well. ‘Breathe With Me’, the opening number, is ridiculously catchy and gets your attention from the off with some good guitars and an instantly memorable hook. They toughen up a bot on ‘In The Arms of A Devil’, which is as close as they’re likely to get to metal but it’s a cracking song and an album highlight. There are a couple of tracks that get more modern and (gasp!) poppy but they didn’t try and get into Eurovision for nothing. However, much as they pass me by, poppier numbers like the title track could get them some Euro radio play.

It’s well produced, sounds big and it’s 75% full of great melodic rock tunes, Nils Molin, Love Magnusson – guitar, Mike Lavér – guitar, Jonathan Olsson – bass and George Egg – drums can hold their heads high.

 

 

PERFECT LINE
Seeds
independent

To France for some modern post grunge. You know, Foo Fighters. That sort of thing. And if That Sort of Thing is Your Sort of Thing then this is definitely your sort of thing.

It leaves me colder than a corpse North of the wall but I know good musicians and good songs when I hear them.

But they do somethimes tip into a world more metallic which means ‘Bad Boy’ managed to get my fist clenched. Lead vocalist/bassist Thomas d’Arbigny has a really clean, radio friendly voice that won’t scare off the Absolute radio programmers. Lead track ‘Be My Guest’ sums up their sound perfectly. It’s poppy and melodic with a good chorus, yet given a rougher edge by the bass guitar which reminds you that they’re on the fringes of the rawk.

They’ve got a strong sound and some good songs which really do deserve a bigger stage even if I won’t be in the crowd.

 
KIMIA PENTON
Where The Rain Falls
independent

Time to calm down now and chill with an EP from songwriter and classical violinist. Kimia Penton.

It’s one of those records that straddles a wee bit folk, some gentle jazzy licks and even some easy listening moments. The kind of thing that Norah Jones did early doors. But Ms Penton has a good voice, knows her way around a melody and manages to craft a couple of tunes that will stay with you for a while.

Track two, ‘Show Me Love’ is the first one that grabs you by the heehaws and doesn’t let go. It’s a bit world weary, a bit jazzy and just sticks in the backbrain. A real gem. ‘Stepping Stones’ is the other real winner that reminds me of Beverley Craven. Which is a good thing. Whatever happened to Beverley Craven anyway? Huge in the early nineties than nothing. Oh well. Hopefully that fate doesn’t await Ms Penton as there is a lot to love here if you’re looking for late night headphones tuneage.

 
ARMORED THEORY
The Fact Remains
independent

And what do we need after some gentle zoning out? Metal Thrashing Mad! That’s what. To that end it’s time to head off to the American colonies and Armored Theory. Or Armoured Theory if they were from the right side of the Atlantic.

Apparently formed in 2010 when founding members ‘Johnny-5’ Roorda and Billy ‘ElyMonster’ formed to perform in a talent show for the military. Which is different. They put out an EP in 2012 but this is their full length debut of all new material bar one song (‘Gingerbread Man’) from the EP and a visit to Chicago (the band) and their sixties gem ’25 or 6 to 4′.

It’s a wee bit hardcore, a wee bit thrash and a touch of sloppy punk which actually works well if you’re looking for something to rinse your ears out with. They’ve been at it a while bit there is still plenty of vigour in numbers like ‘Kintsukuroi’ and ‘Mindless’. If they were on the second stage at your local metalfest you’d hang around and enjoy their raw meat sound.

 

 

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