by Martin Popoff
Blo.Torch - Blo.Torch
(Wicked World/Earache)
As I summarily discard complete metal subgenres from my frame of listening pleasure, I'm glad
there are bands like this filling the fertile few that I give a damn about. New Dutch band
Blo.Torch are one of these cut 'em up experiences between death, black and the extreme end of
traditional, sounding like a cross between God Dethroned, Arch Enemy, Gardenian and In Flames,
which is a nice place to roost as far as I'm concerned. Whether you are getting cynical at this
point, thinking you are noticing too many melodic death metal acts ripping on Maiden, well, that's
up to you. You certainly have that right. But for now, I'm at least finding this recent entry
acceptable and useful, stuffed with thrashy speed, mid-harsh vocals, quick 'n' nimble changes of
mind and pace, and a general entertainment factor that remains high throughout. Blo.Torch may be
average and averaging, but it's drawing concentric arcs through a complex hybrid I'm paying a lot
of attention to right now.
Rating 8
Michael Schenker Group - Live: Unforgiven World Tour
(SPV)
It's hard for me to just enjoy this for what it is, an exploitation release from an organization
that has only had a centre and no foundation pillars surrounding. Schenker took a lot of heat for
his thick last album (I liked it), and much of that line-up is back for this hits upchucker. The
UFO songs are a waste (except for newie Pushed To The Limit: yeah!), all the usual suspects (find
the bum piano note in Love To Love), but the MSGs are quite fun, all stacked to the end of disc 1,
with On And On kind of touching a high. Kelly Keeling is cool, but he's just some guy, y'know? And
he makes half-hearted attempts to sing in the style of the original, although it seems like a
fleeting thought, or perhaps something deep in his subconscious. Anyway, it's hard to listen to
the thing knowing any minute, Master Schenker is going to hand out the walking papers to whoever,
and go looking for another piece of meat.
Rating 7.5
