Brown Eye Superfly

website: http://www.browneyesuperfly.com

I've enjoyed my various encounters with local outfit Brown Eye Superfly over the years, with this being the sixth I think. I have always enjoyed their music, as the no-frills soul-rock is a welcome change to the more ordinary genres I am flooded with. Unfortunately I've not seen them live since way back in '97.

Anyway this is the usual mid-length EP that I have come to expect, with soulful vocals, prominent bass and wah-drenched guitar. I guess you could say they sound a bit like Jamiroqui with a bit less funk. I'm not sure that the vocal melodies are as strong as on some of their other stuff, but overall a solid recording.

Valhalla
Northman

website: http://www.truemetal.org/legion-of-eternity

Given that this album was recorded with just an 8-track recorder, it's got quite a good sound to it. The instruments are for the most part very clear and the mix is pretty much spot on too. The songs are not too bad musically either, though some of them could do with a bit more work (Of Mortals And Gods for example).

I don't really see Valhalla going far with their particular blend of mild Euro-thrash with a New Model Army edge though, and the vocals do not do them any favours at all. They tend to be quite muffled and have a horrible semi-shouting thing to them - possibly partly down to the band being non-native English speakers and trying to disguise the pronunciation.

Verdict: Nothing to get excited about.

Jeniphoria

What we've got here is late 80s / early 90s style female-fronted rock, with a vocal style not that dissimilar to Pearl Jam with a little 80s cheese drizzled on top. It's feelgood radio-friendly music for those that like their music bland. Sort of like a primitive 80s version of Alanis Morissette but with none of the finesse, or dare I say it appeal. While it's competently played and reasonably produced, it's definitely nothing special and to be honest is quite basic. While I'm sure there is a market in which this would flourish, I'm equally sure that it's not anything I'd ever shell out my hard-earned for.

Verdict: Steer clear.

Holochaust

website: http://go.to/holochaust

Opener Beyond The Violence is kind of like a mixture between Megadeth's Peace Sells... But Who's Buying and And Justice era Metallica, while possessing the brilliance of neither. Valley Of Misery carries on the theme, and is worryingly reminiscent of the more subdued parts of To Live Is To Die on the aforementioned And Justice For All. Again it doesn't come close to the original, but it's a pretty decent song nonetheless. Final track I Wanna Lie doesn't so obviously take it's influence from anywhere specific (or perhaps I've just not managed to pin it down yet), though it follows the same path as its predecessors.

It's not that Holochaust are bad you understand, just that when you try to copy bands at the top of their genre you're always going to come a distant second.

Verdict: Pretty competent but no originality.

Naked Mole-Rats

website: http://nakedmole-rats.com

Well isn't this a tricky one. I have no-one I can really compare this to as a whole, so I'll split it up. The vocals have a definite Bruce Dickinson ring to them - not so much in a Maiden way, but more like his brilliant solo album Skunkworks. The guitars on the other hand are at times 70s style dual guitar wankery. In a good way you understand. Other times they are very different, more minimalist.

These combine to give what is a really interesting demo. In a sense I think it's brilliant, and in another I think it has promise but needs some work. I probably plump for the latter of the two.

Verdict: Very interesting blend of styles.

Dream Or Nightmare

More music from a bygone age. This is basically late 80s thrash with the tiniest hint of early Machine Head circa Burn My Eyes creeping into the final track Conflicting Addiction.

It's not done badly, but equally there is nothing to hold your interest and countless bands have done the genre to death.

Verdict: Stick to the classics - drag out that old Forbidden long player.

Elliot Arron
...Gott'a light?...

Oh dear oh dear. Really, this kind of music should be kept for music lessons, and never (ever) released to the general pubilc. If ever there were a case for Music-By-Numbers, this must surely be it. Think of the most derivative 80s rocky metal and you might get close. Couple that with fairly poor production and the dullest songwriting I've heard in a long time. I have to be honest and say there is nothing that could possibly make me want to listen to this CD ever again, let alone buy it. Having said that, at least it can be classified as music, unlike Habacus Sucabah!

Verdict: Please don't make me listen to it again!!!