Metal Art

Yann Robin is a young composer of contemporary music and is based in Paris. These pieces, Vulcano (for ensemble of 29 musicians), Art of Metal I (written for an all-metal bass clarinet and 17 musicians), and Art of Metal III for the same bass clarinet but fewer musicians, represent explosive writing and sounds but scored in a very approachable way.

Swedish MANOWAR-inspired all-female metal band HYSTERICA will release its sophomore album, "The Art Of Metal", on March 9 via Black Lodge. The CD was produced by Pontus Norgren (HAMMERFALL) and Marcus Jidell (EVERGREY).According to a press release, "The Art Of Metal" sees HYSTERICA taking "a huge leap forward. They've developed tremendously since the debut, 'Metalwar', released in 2009. HYSTERICA is all about classic melodic doom and power metal, with keyboard, extreme vocals and grandiose choirs being added to the mix on this album."

"The Art Of Loss", the new album from REDEMPTION, the U.S. progressive metal band featuring in its ranks guitarist/songwriter Nick Van Dyk and FATES WARNING vocalist Ray Alder. "The Art Of Loss", while not offering something new outside of the tried and true progressive metal formulas still ends up being a well executed album.

Jonas Hellborg launches a new platform for integration of east and west, a project called Art Metal. Borrowing the aesthetic of contemporary metal expanded with Indian and jazz improvisational disciplines, it is a proposal for what a new musical canvas could be. With long time collaborator, South Indian percussion master Selvaganesh, he explores this new path with two legends of the metal scene, Jens Johansson (Yngwie Malmsteen, Dio, Stratovarius) and Anders Johansson (Yngwie Malmsteen and Hammerfall). Completing the ensemble is Swedish guitar phenomenon Mattias IA Eklundh. The music has been slowly brewed over 18 months to find the spaces where the elements of the seemingly disparate musical traditions can comfortably coexist, even gel into new forms of sonic art.

This is probably my favourite album ever and so the 10/10 rating should come as no surprise, LIMBONIC ART having successfully crafted a maelstrom of malignant magnificence that basically sweeps all from its path. Here the keyboard emphasis of old is handed over to the guitars and instead serves to accentuate the majesty of the composition. For a point of reference, think of sailing on the strength of the solar wind racing past gas giants and dead worlds. Think also of witnessing the relics of dead histories.
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