by Martin Popoff
Goddo - Goddo
Goddo - An Act Of Goddo
(Bullseye)All things Goddo are enjoying a resurgence in Canada at the moment, Goddo being one of the early hard rock acts from the Great White North, signed to a major (Polydor), good for four studio albums and a rockin' double live spread from '77 to '81, and an under-rated, disappearing comeback record in '92. But fortunately, Canadian reissue label Bullseye (www.bullseyecanada.com) are on the case, getting involved with most of the back catalogue as well as (in the near future) a second live album, a rarities pack and a best of, not to mention Greg Godovitz's mammoth band bio which threatens to tell all. The latest releases are of the classic first and the wandering third, the debut rocking very hard for the times (think Moxy, Riot, Teaze, Starz), with such monoliths as Let That Lizard Loose, racer Twelve Days and a Hagar-alike lopester called The Bus Driver Blues. But hey, great vocals, awesome full spectrum sound, and a welcome '70s-style work ethic make this a lost (and now found) gem of the metal past. Pretty much 2/3 metal content, forged in a goodly few hard demarcations. An Act Of Goddo is the band's mellowest release of pretty much of all of them, Greg doing his Beatles songwriter thing, even using a few string arrangements, boogie, lazy guitar rock, very pro but lacking the youthful fire of the debut or record II, Who Cares. Both are remastered from the original analog tapes, with the debut including lyrics, An Act Of Goddo, a snippet from Greg's upcoming book. Verdict? Not the most consequential band in the world, but a competent act who rocked it hard when few else had the courage.
Rating 8,5To/Die/For - All Eternity
(Nuclear Blast)Formerly Mary-Ann (!), this new Finnish act have gone the weepy, droopy funereal route of country kin Sentenced Amorphis (it's the weather), but with a little more drive and projection, secret weapon being the plaintive moan of vocalist Jape Peratalo. But in fact everything is oddly clear and up-front, and the band isn't afraid to experiment with the more delicate side of suicide metal, covering German artists Sandra with In The Heat Of The Night. The rest of the album is heavier though, like sloggy Metallica, cool paradise Lost, gloomy Type O, you get the picture. But the keyboard-painted arrangements and the mix are bright and crackly, and the songs immediate, so you can headbang along without much trouble. Guest stars: Kimberly Goss from Sinergy, Alexi Laiho from Children Of Bodom (logically, those two are an item) and Tanya from Lullacry.
Rating 7.5