Rambling Man's Reviews

  Words by Anselm Anderson Liverpudlian rock group  Attic Theory returns with 'Papier Mache', the latest single from their upcoming debut LP What We Fear the Most via ThunderGun Records.   The track is released today and features Candlebox vocalist Kevin Martin offering his soft, emotive voice. The band have premiered an accompanying animated video inspired by the 1975 blockbuster film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. This typifies the message behind the song about masking mental health issues because they don't fit in with conventional perceptions of people in society. As lead singer Lewis Wright explains the lyrics to the song are about someone who hides behind a mask and relies on medication to suppress their feelings. The lead singer adds he wants to convey that there is no harm in removing that mask and not being defined by your past self. The track's radio-friendly brand of Alternative Rock benefits from one of the genre's contributors in the guise of Kev...

Words by Anselm Anderson The Hu , rising stars of Mongolia, first grabbed my attention a few years ago when I saw a YouTube video of their cover of Metallica's classic 'Sad but True'. I was taken by their style of Mongolian metal, using traditional instruments, and their tales of Mongolian folklore. Therefore, I was keen to review this release when I saw it come through my Emails.  Rumble and Thunder  is a Deluxe edition of the hugely successful album, released last year via  Better Noise Records.  I was eager to listen to the album with additional treats for long-term fans. As you probably know, these records are just a rerun of the original with a few extras.  The album clocks in at over 90 minutes long, which features the original twelve tracks plus a reworking of the hit tracks with special guests in the guise of Alice in Chains, Bad Wolves, Serj Tankian and singer/songwriter LP . In addition, there are four acoustic versions too. Photo Credit: Khishigsure...

Words by Anselm Anderson English Songwriter Chris Riley of The False Poets has been busy this year with two lengthy releases from his side project entitled The Support Band.  I have chosen to review the shortest of the two Oceans of the Moon , released in May via Nice Mind Records. The Five-Track EP clocks in at One hour and three minutes and sees Riley team up with experimental noise maker Whitevanperil . The spacey release is an appetiser for the debut LP Imitations, released in June. Oceans of the Moon  is a giant step away from the '60s-influenced folk of The False Poets. Instead, it takes the listener on a crescendo of instrumental melodies entwined with blues, folk, and ambience, which will delight fans of Pink Floyd and Tangerine Dream. The echoes of washed-up waves awaken our senses on the opener 'Oceans of the Moon (Remix), which excites in evoking the sounds of early Pink Floyd. The guitar interplays with excellent production to create a sense of longing. Next...

Words by Anselm Anderson English Songstress Julia Mosley is set to release her fourth studio album Ballad of a Murderess next month via her own record label, Opalite Records. The follow-up to 2021's  Illuminate the Night  is her darkest release. It is a concept album that tells the tale of a Mythological world through three eras of the past, a quasi-present day and a Future Era.  The complex narrative is conveyed through engaging music.  I first became aware of Julia Mosley a couple of years ago and was taken aback by her versatile vocal range, accompanied by her ambidextrous piano skills. I remember comparing her between Kate Bush and Florence and The Machine. The album was the first to be recorded at Illumilight Studios in an Ancient Temple. This helps contribute to an eerie and sinister album. Mosley hails from Stoke-on-Trent, England, she first began writing songs at the age of Fifteen years old. The singer/songwriter has won numerous awards, gaining valuable...

Review by Anselm Anderson Seattle-based Beltfed Weapon has just released Darkened Demise, their fourth EP, a couple of weeks ago. Formed in 1999 by guitarist/songwriter Frank Hetzel,  the true "Veterans" of the metal scene incorporate elements of speed, thrash and death metal.  I decided to write this review after I read the backstory for this album. The album is dedicated to the memory of vocalist and project founder Tim Aymar, following his untimely death in February.  Darkened Demise  gave the ex-Control Denied vocalist the opportunity to experiment with his vocals alongside some experienced musicians. Tim Aymar befriended Frank Hetzel on Facebook after the latter became a fan of the band. Hetzel emailed Aymar about a project he was working on and invited Aymar to write down some tracks. Beltfed Weapon, led by Hetzel, has released 3 EPS: Beltfed Weapon (2001), Peacekeeper (2009), and Raining Plague (2015). I recently came across the EP, Darkened Demise, w...