Many people will revel in nostalgy when they think of all the old console- and home computer video games. Sega, Amiga, Nintendo and especially the legendary C=64. Yeah, back in times when video games still have been so beautifully unrealistic. Back in times when the soundtracks for day- and night-wasting games sounded like genuine computer music. Beep! Blonk! Well, lots of those music programmers have become real legends in their genre and wrote music history. The old school retro gamers who dislike the much too „real“ new stuff surely know what I’m talking about. Chris Huelsbeck, David Whittaker… remember? And exactly that ist the plot where the Swedish MACHINAE SUPREMACYs music takes control combining those chip tunes with almost pure, diversified heavy metal. Sure, some bashers and morons will come over and say „…hey, Children Of Bodom and Sonata Arctica have done that for years!“ – but never mind, that’s just nonsense because MS don’t sound like a self caricature (like the two mentioned bands do in my opinion) and have absolutely no similarities to those bands, and I have to attest these guys that they’re doing their duties in a much more serious and sovereign way – with a bigger variety of sounds as well, 66 minutes long and never boring at all.
With the opener „Elite“, the album starts in an unexpected thrashy and rough manner but then changes into a mystical groove part. And here they come, the first video game songs that make you want to run out of your house, jump on your stupid neighbours‘ heads to eliminate them and collect all the power rings and coins hanging on the trees. Or just take a song like „Fury“ that begins with some computer sound intro and continues with a guitar melody that makes you want to swing into your pixelized racing car and get the first place. No problem because the amazing solo gives you the energy and the will to win – and as if it’s an approval that you’re the winner, there is this powerful and triumphing stomping part towards the end of the song, hehe… In „Ronin“ it seems like the computer is infected by the Satriani virus – what a nice levitating melody as the main theme. What a soulful lead guitar! And that thrilling chorus with that dreamy guitar arpeggio even bounces on top of it all! Well, i could go on and analyze every of those thirteen tracks (plus intro and interlude) but I think that would result in a buffer overflow.
MS are always intended to create diversified material. So there’s sometimes the heavy and power metal edge that dominates, then there are parts with hard rock vibes, and there are also some very modern and groovy tunes integrated. And the Scandinavian band loves to build in progressive parts that run right through the entire album in a very well-dosed way. Concerning the instrumental abilities the guys are definitely masters of their genre and impress the listener with some really cool virtuosities without treading into the footsteps of Onan or Narciss. No, these virtuosities are just a utility for making the songs even more dramatic. Well-dosed as well and unobtrusive. And then we have those damn cool retro gaming sounds. All those different elements are stuffed in considerated and thrilling songs, so it’s impossible to find any repetitions or boring parts on „Redeemer“. The only thing that you might have to get used to are the vocals from micro processor… errmmm… singer Gordon who reminds me on a not-so-treble Kärtsy Hatakka from WALTARI, but especially on Ville T (ex-KYYRIA, SUBURBAN TRIBE – this is also the guy that did the clean vocals on AMORPHIS‘ „Tales From The Thousand Lakes“ album). Well, I think that a different voice would have sounded too impure – that’s why I think that Gordon’s voice fits perfectly after listening to a few songs.
This second album exists in two versions: as the retail and the underground version that I received. The difference between these two albums can be read at the band’s homepage. According to the band, the previous album „Deus Ex Machinae“ will be available as well. While talking about the homepage, there are lots of audio samples to be found and downloaded, especially tons of older pre-album material that contains lots of surprises like a cover of the Giana Sisters soundtrack. MS also delivered the entire soundtrack to the arcade shooter game Jets’N’Guns (download a 60 minute trial version here). But these songs can also be downloaded from the band’s website. That’s what I call loyalty and connectivity to fans. So, this album is simply essential for retro gamers with an affinity for heavy metal sounds!
4.5 out of 5 points / www.blooddawn.de & www.scarred-for-life.de
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www.blooddawn.de www.scarred-for-life.de http://www.graphicguestbook.com/eckschiss-of-evil ...and on the eighth day god made the art of war...