Kantation - "Nephilim" (2015)

When you're a young, new band with a successful debut album, there is a lot of pressure to make the second one better than the first.  When they don't, they fall victim to the "Sophomore Jinx".  For a band like Kantation, recording their 2nd album, "Nephilim", seemed like it wasn't gonna be a problem.  The only problem they had was when some of the band members and their families caught the bug.  But non the less, "Nephilim" was completed and the wait was worth it.

"Walk Through Desire" is a perfect choice to open up with.  The first riffs does grab your attention.  Pretty much can see why they're making this their next single.  "Forget Me" is a song that I've grown very close to.  Especially going through a rough depression, where I just wanted to be non-existence to everyone.  That machine gun riff is a perfect opening for "Tragedy", seeing that it's a song about fighting in the battlefield and the soldiers who fall.  And then we go out and search for the Crystal Skull with Kantation's epic tale, "The Invasion Suite".  A great soundtrack for those who enjoy sci-fi and fantasy.  Of course we get a bonus track.  A cover of Saxon's "Power & The Glory", in which the Kantation guys do it some real justice.

We're 15 years past the new Millennium, and Kantation are able to continue a throwback sound without making it sound outdated.  The songs do sound heavier and catchy than "Discovery".  But the one thing I really loved is the way Vinny's double pedal sounded.  I don't know if it sounded like that on the last album, but the double pedal did catch my attention on "Nephilim".  Kantation did not disappoint with their sophomore effort.  And seeing how all the members have lots of experience, I'm pretty sure that helped to make "Nephilim" sound awesome.  And once again, Hitler will have to feel the fury of DeBourge, Lugo, Jimison, Khairullah, and Galore.

To purchase "Nephilim", click here: https://kantation.bandcamp.com/album/nephilim


Rating: 5 Hitlers Punched in the Face

Ninth Circle - The Power of One (2008)

I like to think that once you hear the first few seconds of "Frontman", you pretty much know you're in for one hell of a ride.  What Ninth Circle bring to the table is a 80's metal sound for the 00's.  Imagine if early Iron Maiden and Journey made love, this is what would come out of the womb.   Three blokes from the LA area, with great musicianship and song writing.

When I saw Ninth Circle play in Pomona last month, they really blew me away with a kick arse live show.  So I bought their first two albums, and I like to think that "The Power of One" is a great way to introduce this band.  This album has a lot of songs that you can bang your head, and sing-a-long to in your car.  Once you get past the title track and "The Journey", you're pretty much hooked on this album forever.  "Our Last Days" has a pretty good guitar chug for anyone who's a fan of that.  The beginning of "Hour 21" has a Maiden feel, which I'm always a sucker for.  And speaking of Maiden, Ninth Circle does a cover of "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden.  How can you not love this album.

I have to thank Kantation's Martin DeBourge for bringing attention to these guys.  Their hooks are really great and do grab your attention.  Dennis' melodic vocals is perfect and doesn't sound like generic pop (i.e. Periphery, Monuments, TesseracT).  His guitar playing is also great.  And of course the rhythm section of Frank and Dave really back Dennis up.  These three really make Ninth Circle the well-oiled machine that it is.  When finding new bands, I always try to look for the ones who are pushing their sound forward.  But Ninth Circle has such a nostalgic sound that I really couldn't avoid them.  If you're one of many people who say that today's music sucks, then look up these guys.  I'm sure you'll dig these guys if your a old school fan or not.  "The Power of One" gets "5 Hitlers Punched In The Face"

For more info, follow Ninth Circle on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/NinthCircleBand