Andromeda - Exalting The Spirits MCD

A quick post, and my final one for 2010. Another request, this time for Andromeda's 'Exalting The Spirits' MCD. Check my first post on Andromeda here if you don't know this band already. This MCD was released on Genet Records out of Belgium in 1998, almost simultaneously with a split 7" with Pray Silent from Switzerland. It features 3 new songs and the 3 songs from the 7". In the insert the recording data for the 7" songs is the same as those mentioned in the insert for the 7" itself, however there are some noticeable differences, especially in 'Burn The Shroud'. I'm not sure the songs have been remastered/remixed, but I suppose so. Either way, the songs, as well as the 3 new songs still rock. So enjoy, and again Best Wishes for 2010!

Andromeda - Exalting The Spirits MCD

Tension* - ...And At The Hour Of Our Death CD

As requested after posting Tension*'s 'Struggle Within' 7" here, here's another Tension* record. It's their 1st full-length, the '...And At The Hour Of Our Death' CD which was released on None Of The Above Records in 1997. Continuing in the same vein as the 7", it's great NYHC with the distinctive vocals and delivery of singer Mike (who now fronts Pitfight). While I prefer the 7", this CD is still damn good. As mentioned in my previous post on Tension*, their 'Struggle Within' 7" is added to the CD as a bonus, so I kept it with this download as well. There's also an untitled track on this CD which features a cover of The Go-Go's 'We Got The Beat', with heavily altered lyrics! If Poison Idea can cover it, so can Tension* I guess, heh... Either way, enjoy and Best Wishes for 2011!!!

Tension* - ...And At The Hour Of Our Death CD
Tension* myspace

Review: Unveil - Hypnopaedia MCD

Unveil from Switzerland is a political vegan sXe hardcore band made up of youngsters who love their '90s hardcore. Along with bands such as Anchor from Sweden, this band is part of the current wave of European vegan sXe bands. After a 2009 demo, the 'Destruction Wherever I Go' 7" and a split MCD with Deadverse (with the same songs as the 7"), they released their new 7" entitled 'Hypnopaedia' a couple of months ago on Take It Back Records and Start A Fire Records. They recently sent me the CD version to review. The CD version doesn't offer any additional songs compared to the 7", making it a short, but sweet, listen at under 10 minutes.

If you've heard any of the previous Unveil records, you will know what this CD sounds like. But if not: mid-tempo metallic hardcore with lots of chugga chugga, crunchy guitars, harsh throaty vocals and a couple of sweet up-tempo parts (the transition to the up-tempo part in 'Pressure' is especially great). I love this style of hardcore and Unveil do it really well. Unveil has also progressed from their older stuff tho, the songs are more varied while still being cohesive and they have a bit more of a 'punch', which is also due to the dry and clear but powerful production. Lyrically, they're not breaking new grounds and there's definitely room for improvement here, but they're decent and to-the-point, and deal with subjects such as national pride, the selfishness of mankind and sticking to your beliefs.

All in all, this is a sweet MCD. Unveil is still a very young band and I hope they keep progressing. I also hope to see them perform again, I saw them once and they were great, and the singer turned out to be a nice guy as well, what more could you ask for? Support this band.

Unveil webstore
Take It Back Records webstore
Start A Fire Records webstore

Andromeda - s/t 7"

Andromeda was a band from Tampa, Florida, and was formed in the mid '90s out of the ashes of Order Of Importance. They played sweet metalcore with some sludgy influences, grated vocals and some really cool guitar-work. They recorded a self-titled 7" in early 1997 which was released later that year on Toybox Records. These 3 songs would later be re-released together with 3 new songs as the 'Exalting The Spirits' MCD on Genet Records out of Belgium in 1998. Genet Records also released an Andromeda/Pray Silent split 7". Those are the only releases by Andromeda I'm aware of, and I know very little else about this band unfortunately. I still ripped these songs from the 7" tho, as the versions on the MCD are slightly different. Either way, I love the guitar-sound on this 7", and it's a solid 7" throughout. I don't think this band got as much attention or credit as they deserved. Great stuff. So check it out and enjoy.

Andromeda - s/t 7"

Tension* - Struggle Within 7"

There are too many hardcore bands with the same name. There are for instance 2 (great) Unrestrained's out there in the States at the moment, I have records by at least 4 different Foundation's, and in the '90s there was Tension from Florida and Tension* from Long Island. While Tension from Florida was definitely great, I always preferred the Long Island Tension* (sorry Chip!). The main reason is Tension*'s first release, the 'Struggle Within' 7", which is still awesome, and which made a lasting impression on me from the moment I got it. Released in early 1996 on R.P.P. Records out of Belgium, it's a killer 7" from start to finish. Great NYHC with an absolutely awesome singer. The great music is enough to like this band, but their singer Mike is really what makes this band stand out for me. He has a very raw & gruff voice with an amazing vocal delivery, check 'Made To Suffer' and 'Torn Apart' for prime examples. And the lyrics are cool too, and are reminiscent of Neglect's lyrics.

Anyways, I ripped these songs from CD, as the 7" was added onto their '...And At The Hour Of Our Death' CD which was released on None Of The Above Records in 1997. I did scan in the sleeve and insert from the 7" tho. They did a few more releases since the 7" and the CD, some I have, some I don't, if there are any requests I might post some more Tension*. Awesome band, check it out.

Tension* - Struggle Within 7"
Tension* myspace