Metal Art

In what is becoming a pattern of operation, Seattle's proto-progressive metal band Queensrÿche is issuing a live recording to follow a studio release. In this case, The Art of Live follows Tribe, containing six live versions of cuts from that fine disc. This tour document comes after Chris DeGarmo's reunion tour and features original members Geoff Tate, Michael Wilton, and Scott Rockenfield with bassist Eddie Jackson and guest guitarist Mike Stone…

Chapel Of Disease have caused quite a stir on the death metal scene recently. Approaching from a purely old school angle, their debut album Summoning Black Gods was a refreshing burst of inspiration in an otherwise stagnant scene. Floundering on its past glories and struggling to find a way forward, the death metal scene needed a short sharp shock and it looks likely that Chapel Of Disease may well have given it. Of course this could could have been a one off and their follow up may just be another death metal album. Except it’s not and in The Mysterious Ways Of Repetitive Art the band may well have defined what death metal can be for a new generation. Still chock full of old school riffs and growling vocals and blast beats it also has a sense of experimentation and resolve about it that is not unlike Carcass’ work on Heartwork. It is music which seeks to expand on a previous palette whilst keeping purely in genre conventions.

Limbonic Art formed in 1993. In 1996, they were signed to the record label Nocturnal Art Productions, owned by Samoth (of Emperor and Zyklon). Their debut album was Moon in the Scorpio. In 2003, the group decided to disband with a statement saying "we feel that we have reached as far as we could in our collaboration … the circle is complete, begin another".On June 6, 2006 (06.06.06), the band reunited and started to write new material. On February 21, 2007 it was announced that the band plans to release the new album entitled Legacy of Evil in summer 2007.A subsequent dispute between the band members resulted in Morfeus's ousted from the band, making Limbonic Art essentially Daemon's solo project. He has currently completed the new Limbonic Art release, named Phantasmagoria, out summer 2010. The new music strips the symphonics and keyboards, making it a more raw, pure black metal band.

Rotten music presents the third work of Slamming Brutal Death Metal band Sex Murder Art, Monuments To The Torment.

The brainchild of Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist Nick Van Dyk (guitars, bass, keyboards), Redemption proudly unfurl the flag of American progressive metal, as proven by their impressively rendered eponymous debut of 2003, also featuring vocalist Rick Mythiasin (ex-Steel Prophet and New Eden), bassist Jason Rullo (of Symphony X), and guitarist Bernie Versailles, on loan from the legendary Fates Warning. For their second album, 2005's The Fullness of Time, Redemption gained an additional boost with the guest presence of Fates Warning vocalist Ray Alder, and broke in another accomplished rhythm section in bassist James Sherwood and drummer Chris Quirarte – both formerly of prog rockers Prymary.

Don't be fooled by the heavy riffs and scratchy semi-throaty vocals. The Lake of Tears of "Greater Art" are the same ones that would later bring excellent retro-gothic albums like "A Crimson Cosmos" and the masterpiece "Forever Autumn". What happens is that here the influence of Celtic Frost and Black Sabbath is still very long, and the true personality of the band was yet to emerge. A somewhat raw production, too ethereal lyrics and a similar structure in almost all the songs do not help too much either. In any case, if you enjoy doom-gothic metal with progressive and seventies touches, you can give this "Greater Art" a try, although without a doubt the best of the group was yet to come.