Ajattara - Noitumaa

OK, right from the get go I need to make it expressedly clear that I am highly biased
when it comes to Ajattara. Being a fan of Amorphis and Pasi's vocals, I was already on board before I even heard them. So, from their very first album I have been a dedicated fan of their unique sound. With that said, I will now attempt to give a fair and balanced review of the new effort, "Noitumaa".

It seems with this kind of music, black/folk metal, you either have an intense passion for it or against it.There is really no middle ground. Of course, some readers right now are probably formulating an argument against what I just said but for the most part it is true. So when I first got Ajattara's new disc to review it felt as if a war was already waging before it even was put into the cd player.

First of all, this is an acoustic black/folk metal album. Egads and ods bodkins! I know what you are probably thinking and believe me, I felt the same upon hearing that it was as such before getting the disc. But yep, no denying it. It's acoustic..not one single electric instrument throughout the entire album. Instead, they have created some of the darkest sounds ever recorded upon traditional acoustic instruments. The outcome is an extremely dark, tribal like sound that conjures up images of ancient pagan ceremonies to summon up dark ancient gods for nefarious deeds. So, all in all....it is a brilliant piece of progression in the black metal genre.





The instruments are extremely downtuned and this adds to the overall heaviness of the sound. This is a brilliant example of why Ajattara is such a good band. They utilize so many different sounds and efforts on this album to bring forth a true acoustic feel to it wihtout losing the overall intensity. On top of the traditional guitars and bass, they are using a Jew's Harp(mouth harp), pump organ, an accordian, cello and violin, and tribal drums that sound as if they are being beaten upon with bones.

"What about the vocals?", I am sure some of the readers are now wondering. No worries there, they are true to Pasi's black metal style and have not been hindered whatsoever. At times he even presents some darkly beautiful melodies while maintaining his demon spawned growl.



"Noitumaa" is likely one of the most interesting acoustic albums I have ever heard and with good reason. It is very odd and unreasonably charming. The production is spectacular and the performance is top notch. In fact, if you can find an acoustic album out there with greater clarity, I would be surprised. In the sea of acoustic releases over the past decade, it is really nice to encounter such a standout album. It may not be for everyone and some of the fans of this bands heavy albums may actually despise it. Who knows? If you love Black Metal and acoustic performances then you will certainly appreciate and enjoy this release. Personally, I think if you are a fan of black metal and don't love it..there is something wrong with you.


Band: Ajattara
Album: Noitumaa
Label: Ranka Records(Finland)
genre: Black/Folk Metal/Experimental
Rating: 5/5
Rapidshare: Here
Torrent: Here

By Bez

Robert Calvert - Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters

"oh, for the days of stick and string."


At the close of the 60's, the psychedelic rock scene was at its pinnacle. With the likes of Led Zeppelin, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, and Steppenwolf leading the way, radio basically ignored a virtual smorgasbord of lesser known bands that in some cases it can be arguably said were just as good if not better than what the mainstream hippie had to listen to. Bands like Hawkwind, Blue Cheer, Audience, H. P. Lovecraft, and the subject of this particular review, The Robert Calvert band.

Remember those cartoons about gremlins terrorizing Bugs Bunny? Well, this disc is full of them and with these guys at the wheel defective airplanes is where it's at! The debut solo album of Hawkwind vocalist/poet Robert Calvert finds as its inspiration the apparently true story of Germany's purchase of the Lockheed Starfighter jet. Due to the modifications made in Germany's appropriation of the jet (the "F104G") that proved to be fatal, the Starfighter later achieved the dubious monikers "The Flying Coffin" and "The Widowmaker."

Captain Lockheed switches back and forth between monster rockers in the classic Hawkwind vein and Monty Python-like pieces that carry the saga along. For the songs, since all the key members of classic Hawkwind are actually on here (though Dave Brock is only present once), this is a veritable Hawkwind album in all but name, with strongest moments including "The Right Stuff" and "The Song Of The Gremlins." Lemmy Kilmister, the man so many in the heavy metal community refer to lovingly as GOD, plays bass in his own dutifully aggressive style. Brian Eno also is on board, and as Paul Rudolph and Simon King were with him to record his debut solo album, folks will notice an obvious resemblance in sound to Here Come the Warm Jets.

At their best, the vignettes are delightfully dark in their surrealism ("Ground Control to Pilot" would have made a classic interlude on Space Ritual) and humor ("Interview"). In the center of it all is Calvert, turning out a manic characterization of the Über-Teutonic Defense Minister with a crazed German accent that might make even Keith Moon slink away.

In the end it must be said that this album is a must have for the fans of classic rock, space rock, prog rock and Motorhead fanatics alike. Ranging in sound from early industrial (early foreshadowing of Brian Eno's solo work perhaps?) to experimental to even a Pink Floyd-esque moment or two. Alas, since this album is so meshed in British humor typified by Python that peaked in the early-mid 1970's, it probably won't tickle everyone's funny bone but in the end who really cares?. In my ideal world, however, an album with such a bizarre idea as its concept gets points just on principle....and this one does.


Robert Calvert - Capt. Lockheed and The Starfighters
Artist: Robert Calvert
Album: Captain Lockheed and The Starfighters
Genre:Space rock, prog rock

By Bez

The Blitzoids - Stealing From Helpless Children

Weirdo music you just don't hear these days...

Hailing from Chicago, The Blitzoids were a studio only project of the De Chiara brothers with the occasional guest appearance by Jim Nickels. Drawing heavily from The Residents, Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa , and Philip Glass as well as taking an almost Salvador Dali/M.C. Escher approach to music, they somehow have managed to fuse in the sounds of nature, organized chaos, ambient, Rock In Opposition, free jazz, abstract and surreal art as well as industrial and noise. This particular album, “Stealing From Helpless Children”, is the best representation of their eclecticity as well as their over the top experimental nature. This album is a must have for anyone who likes to hear what’s going on out on the fringe element of the music scene…and even being released in the 80’s, this album still is ahead of its’ time today. Testing the waters of music itself, The Blitzoids and the few other bands out there like them are the new pioneers of what will be mankind's audio future.

According to the Blitzoids website these records are to be released in the Summer of 2006 as a double cd(still waiting). Former members currently have a project called Kinkzoid, which is described as "The Blitzoids meet The Butthole Surfers".

And I thought I had heard it all.....


Artist: The Blitzoids
Album: Stealing From Helpless Children(Mook Records)
Genre: Abstract/Noise/Ambient


The_Blitzoids_-_Stealing_From_Helpless_Children

By Lord Bez