Review: Unparalleled Height - Rise of the Voiceless

Info

Band: Unparalleled Height

Album: Rise of the Voiceless

Style: Hard Rock / Metal

Released: 26^th November, 2013

Label: Independent

Country: USA

Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnparalleledHeight

Seeing bands like BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, and TRIVIUM in a band's description always makes me take a closer look at what these bands sound like. So, when I recently discovered UNPARALLELED HEIGHT I knew I had to give it a go and listen to their debute release Rise of the Voiceless.

In terms of production, I can't help but think about JUDAS PRIEST's Nostradamus (think whatever you like about the album but the production is quite similar). This, by the way, should not indicate what the music sounds like on Rise of the Voiceless.

The record starts off with a short intro (“The Rise”) that creates just the dark atmosphere you'd expect from an album like this. Following this is the first real song: “Strength Through Silence”. Heavy, but still melodic guitars and time changes here and there build up a rather progressive song which already makes me think of some of the already mentioned bands (during the interlude, especially BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE comes into mind).

“Memories Remain” starts with a real “in-your-face”-attitude. An AVENGED SEVENFOLD verse and riffs that could have found a place on the second KILLSWITCH ENGAGE album The End of Heartache – who couldn't like this? The only critique that could possibly be mentioned is the choruses. A little too slow and soft for my taste, but in the end this is up to everyone's own likes. However, I love the verse in “Spare This Soul” with its great drive. Makes me think of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE again (maybe they should be added in the description, too?).

One of the record's first highlights is “Breaking Through”. No matter how hard I look, I can't find anything in this song that I could criticize. The intro's heavy groove, the (at first) guitar-less verse, and this time even the chorus – this song is an absolute recommendation! In “Never Far Away” it's time to break it down a little. Acoustic guitars in the verse and the synthesizers in the background make this track a really nice rock ballad.

Enough ballads for now – or at least that's what you could think listening to the intro to “The Vision Never Dies”. But again, the verse is very balladic; although, this time it's really just the verse. What I like most about the track is the constantly played lead towards the end of the chorus that just doesn't want to leave your head. “Dethroned” – damn it, I found my favourite. The lyrics, the riffs, the solos, the breakdown (!), everything. Without protest, this HAS to be the album's best song!

Or has it? “Steadfast Spirit” starts off promising as well. The verse's riffs are heavy as hell, the chorus is just as I would want all the other choruses on the album to be – powerful and with a melody that stick to your head – and again one of the mightiest breakdowns I've heard this year (and I listened to ABR's Rescue and Restore!). Great song! “Malevolence End” just doesn't even pretend to give me the time to catch some breath. Mighty riffs, heavy grooves, TRIVIUM-like interludes, great vocals – six minutes that are more than just enjoyable.

Rise of the Voiceless closes with “Heroes Prevail” – an absolutely epic song. Starting off quite silent and balladic, it soon progresses into an (JUDAS PRIESTs Nostradamus-like) interlude and continues into an awesome rock verse. The synthesizers sometimes even remind me of Swedish band SONIC SYNDICATE's first album Eden Fire. This song doesn't offer six minutes, but ten minutes, of brilliant songwriting.

Rise of the Voiceless is a promising debute album by a band that you should definitely keep an eye on. The four songs towards the end and “Breaking Through” show the band's potential, and I can't wait to hear more of these guys.

Listen to: “Breaking Through”, “Dethroned”, “Steadfast Spirit”, “Malevolence End”, “Heroes Prevail”

8 out of 10 points

Track list:

1. The Rise

2. Strength Through Silence

3. Memories Remain

4. Spare This Soul

5. Breaking Through

6. Never Far Away

7. The Vision Never Dies

8. Dethroned

9. Steadfast Spirit

10. Malevolence End

11. Heroes Prevail

Members:

Vocals: Dave Kelly

Guitar, Vocals: Tyler James Larkin

Lead Guitar: CJ Masciantonio

Bass: James Davis

Drums: Justin Welling

Review: Zelinka - Zelinka

Info

Band: Zelinka

Album: Zelinka

Style: EVERYTHING!

Released: October 2013

Label: none

Country: Germany

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Zelinka.Music

As it's Christmas soon, I thought I'd make you the present of another review. Am I nice, or what? But to be serious: I had to introduce you to this band as I only heard of them myself a couple of weeks ago. I was quite sure that there wasn't one album to be released that would make me change my Top5 list of my favourite albums in 2013 – well, I was wrong.

I doubt that I introduced you to YSMA earlier this year (shame on me) but ZELINKA are kind of a similar band. Less proggy but still instrumental. And good. No, awesome! Zelinka starts with a song called “Catacomb”. I know I said the album was less proggy – well, this song isn't. It's got a lot of breaks, a lot of changes, brilliant solos; in short, everything you need. If it wasn't for the length which sometimes makes me want the song to end. “Safaga”, however, couldn't be long enough. Funky, rocking, and simply one of the best songs on the album, that song's possibly the reason for many bassists amongst you to put their instruments aside for a while. Listen to “Safaga” and you'll know what I mean.

If you always though about what Spanish summers would sound like, “Silent” is the track for you. Acoustic guitars, Latin European melodies (if there even is a Latin Europe), and an electric guitar solo that gives me goose bumps. Following this is “Room No. 15” with a blues-like groove to it. You just can't complain about change on this album: it's always there! It's kind of hard to write during the verse as I am always jumping up from my chair to dance to it. Oh, and don't get me started about the bass solo!

And here comes rock again. “Toxic” (no, it's not a Britney Spears cover) has jazz-like rock solos in it that can't not be loved! Every guitarist should listen closely here as this is (without doubt) great music. The name “Chill Out” already indicates the chilled-out atmosphere in the beginning of the track. Following this is a nice lead that sticks to your head forever (believe me, I know what I'm talking about as I already listened to the album for the last couple of weeks). These six minutes will be gone like nothing. Guaranteed by New Rock Reviews!

Back to funk: “Funky Bitch” already hints at what you can and should expect. As in “Room No. 15” I can't sit around listening to this track, and just have to move around the room dancing. Pure brilliance (the song not my dancing, that is). Blues fans will be delighted about “The Cat”. It's really hard to sit still listening to Zelinka – and when hard rock enters the song for a short riff during the end, I know I have to love this album! Where do these guys get their ideas from? That stuff is brilliant!

Hard rock wasn't the worst choice of words, by the way. “Gipsy March” (yeah, I know, politically incorrect) is a hard rock song! Boom! The only style that I was missing on the album. These guitars and riffs would have made many long-haired rockers headbanging. But – what – is that reggae? It's … reggae. I'm speechless. Hard rock and reggae in one and the same song – that's what I call courage. The last one on the album is “Raindrops”, a song that has an atmosphere to make you dream like when you're looking out the window on a rainy Sunday. What a nice ending for ZELINKA's debute.

ZELINKA can't be doubted in terms of music. Nor can they be doubted in terms of songwriting. NOR can they be doubted in terms of variation. One point, however, is sometimes a bit less brilliant: A singer would have made this album a 10. Without doubt.

Listen to: “Safaga”, “Room No. 15”, “Funky Bitch”, “Gipsy March”, “Raindrops”

9.5 out of 10 points

Tracklist

1. Catacomb

2. Safaga

3. Silent

4. Room No. 15

5. Toxic

6. Chill Out

7. Funky Bitch

8. The Cat

9. Gipsy March

10. Raindrops

Members

Guitars: Bernd Fleischer

Bass: Torsten Großmann

Drums: Kay Rohr

Review: Life's Too Short For Us - Everything's Fine (EP)

First of all: Considering this as the first blog post in months, I guess I would have to say sorry to all the regular readers who keep coming back to the page and continuously keep being disappointed about not seeing any new reviews. So here we go: I'm sorry, and seriously annoyed with my work morals. As some of you might know, the main part of New Rock Reviews is in German and I'm (in contrast to the German counterpart) the only one writing reviews on here which makes it quite hard to stay up-to-date with it. I'll try and improve in keeping the posts more regular from the start of next year onwards. Call it a New Year's pledge.

Anyway, the good news is: This informational post isn't going to stand here as the last post made for the next ten or so weeks. There's actually a review coming up. A review! Incredible! Or as the reviewed band (possibly) would say: ongelooflijk! Excuse my Dutch.

Band: Life's Too Short For Us

Album: Everything's Gone (EP)

Style: Skate Punk

Release: 29^th October 2013

Label: none

From: Holland

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LTSFU

LIFE'S TOO SHORT FOR US recently released (well, I say recently and mean October...) their new three-track-EP Everybody's Fine and with that is the first band to enjoy their record getting an English review first on New Rock Reviews! How about that?

Unfortunately, the whole record is only about ten minutes long; but it's quality not quantity that counts, right? In terms of production, I think about one of my favourite ZEBRAHEAD albums ever: Playmate of the Year. In other words: Production? Ongelooflijk good!

But the ZEBRAHEAD influence doesn't just stop in matters of production. It's the songwriting, too. I used to skate (and I mean on a skateboard not with those stupid little rolls – or even worse: blades! – beneath your feet, that might make you look interesting when you're a girl but also make you feel kind of weird as a guy...) a little bit – and I failed big time – when I was way younger and these songs kind of make me want to buy a new skateboard (although, considering my ability to actually use it, this would be kind of a waste on money) as I gave my old one to my little brother. Kind of obvious if you suck in skating, right?

Now, back to the music: “Where We're From” starts with a bass intro and turns into a really good classic skate punk track with a catchy chorus and everything you'd expect. Could it be any better? Well … maybe, if the song wouldn't be three but 45 minutes long! Just kidding, of course.

“Your Approval” has a similar structure, although the chorus isn't quite AS catchy as the one in “Where We're From”. The song is kind of diverse with a few changes in rhythm from time to time. Quite nice and definitely a nice opportunity to start a mosh pit during a live concert.

The same's true for “Not Gonna Play”. What a tune! My favourite part about this powerful, melodic, and ongelooflijk good track is the little “breakdown” (if you want to call it that) towards the end. Fair play, guys. I love it.

Everything's Fine, although being way too short for my tastes, is absolutely recommendable to everyone into BLINK-182 (although I managed not to mention them up to now), ZEBRAHEAD, and all other bands who're active in this kind of music genre. However, a couple more songs would have been nice; and then we could talk about some more points...

6 out of 8 points

Tracklist:

1. Where We're From

2. Your Approval

3. Not Gonna Play

Members:

Vocals, Guitars: Stefan

Guitars: Kevin

Bass: Jasper

Drums, Backings: Sean