 genre: heavy prog
country: sweden
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, scans)
time: 1:08'31" size: 492 mb
ProgArchives:
From the ashes of Swedish hard rockers The GYPSY SONS OF MAGIC, BLACK BONZO rose again as an art prog band by adding depth to their sound through the use of mellotron, piano and Hammond organ. The intense drumming, the intricate guitar work, the firm but steady bass lines, the complex song structures, the overall pomp and their vocalist (who sounds like David Byron resurrected) all spell URIAH HEEP, big time.
Their album, "Lady of the Light" (2004) is filled with 70s pomp reminiscent of A.C.T. mixed in with early KANSAS and a bit of QUEEN. The classy arrangements and harmonies, the heavy organ, the impressive guitar work and the Byron-like vocals may sound all too familiar to HEEP fans, but these guys do what they do extremely well, with just enough personal touches to remind you they're not the HEEP. A great album in its own right that will grab your attention from start to finish. Powerful stuff and excellent production.
Certainly recommended if you're into high-octane art rock, and particularly to fans of URIAH HEEP.
Lise (HIBOU), CANADA
...
Read more »
|
genre: avant
country: sweden
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, scans)
time: 43'09" size: 327 mb
Caleb Deupree's review:
Familjesprickor (Family Cracks) was the last album recorded by the Swedish progressive group originally called Samla Mammas Manna until the group re-formed and released Kaka in 1999, and came after a long period of overseas touring and affiliation with Chris Cutler's Rock in Opposition project, which also included more dissonant groups like Henry Cow and Etron Fou Leloublan. The original drummer, Hans Bruniusson, had left the group in early 1980 and was replaced by a new drummer, Vilgot Hansson, from Stockholm, for tours in France and Belgium. In the liner notes, the group states that Familjesprickor was made during a period of transition, and the music is therefore not as "optimistic and happy" as that on previous Zamla/Samla releases. Indeed, this album is the darkest and most aggressive of any album by any incarnation of the group. The opening track, "Five Single Combats," drives hard and fast right out of the box, and the intensity barely lets up through the rest of the album. There is a bit of a rest on "Ventilation Calculation," where keyboardist Lars Hollmer has brief and wistful solo interludes, but "The Forge" (reprised as Forge Etude by Von Zamla on No Make Up! kicks back up again. The album's only vocals are on "Pappa," a demented folk tune with none of the sweetness of the band's earlier work, but overall this is the most avant rock album the Zamlas/Samlas ever produced.
|
|
