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Châlice - Shotgun Alley
Release: 2005Label: Massacre Records
By: Anders
Posted: Jan 23, 2006
German melodic metal with the roots in hard rock, is what Châlice offers us with their new output "Shotgun Alley". This is one of these releases, that just has what one expects printed all over it, though in many cases that is the releases that tend to surprise a bit.
The base is very much in hard rock, pretty catchy and driving tunes, it doesn't take many seconds to get into the music, the main problem is to keep the interest up. The music does very much at times sound like something that has been done before, though when that it is said, Châlice does their music really good. The epic almost power metal basher 'Opera Burns' is catchy as hell, good and heavy guitar work and a killer vocal performance, the chorus is amazing and keeps ringing in ones head, when the song stops, not an original track at all, but well-performed. 'Kick It' another favourite of mine, an uptempo rock n' roller, with raw almost sleazy vocals, a nice use of Hammond in the background, a good steamrolling beat and good chorus with a backup choir, and the classic cowbell banging in the background once in a while, classic and good rock. The last track of the album, the acoustic 'Make A Cross' is a good tune as well, of course very different from the rest of the material, due to it being acoustic. The play is nice and emotional, and the calm emotional vocals fits perfectly into the overall atmosphere on the track, which oozes with melancholy, not that ear-catching, but a grower, and when the track turns into a duet, it becomes beautiful.
It's a good album Châlice here has made, not the most original release in the world, but some good and straight ahead tracks, some more profound ones and the epic power metal-like tunes, and they all work well together, and makes the album seem whole. I have started to enjoy the album, and it seems like Châlice is on the right track now, they have the guts, so I guess it won't be long before they get the glory as well. The musicians are good and handles their instruments well, the vocals are well performed and varied very well, and the production is nice and fitting, a good album to pull out once in a while, that’s for sure.
The base is very much in hard rock, pretty catchy and driving tunes, it doesn't take many seconds to get into the music, the main problem is to keep the interest up. The music does very much at times sound like something that has been done before, though when that it is said, Châlice does their music really good. The epic almost power metal basher 'Opera Burns' is catchy as hell, good and heavy guitar work and a killer vocal performance, the chorus is amazing and keeps ringing in ones head, when the song stops, not an original track at all, but well-performed. 'Kick It' another favourite of mine, an uptempo rock n' roller, with raw almost sleazy vocals, a nice use of Hammond in the background, a good steamrolling beat and good chorus with a backup choir, and the classic cowbell banging in the background once in a while, classic and good rock. The last track of the album, the acoustic 'Make A Cross' is a good tune as well, of course very different from the rest of the material, due to it being acoustic. The play is nice and emotional, and the calm emotional vocals fits perfectly into the overall atmosphere on the track, which oozes with melancholy, not that ear-catching, but a grower, and when the track turns into a duet, it becomes beautiful.
It's a good album Châlice here has made, not the most original release in the world, but some good and straight ahead tracks, some more profound ones and the epic power metal-like tunes, and they all work well together, and makes the album seem whole. I have started to enjoy the album, and it seems like Châlice is on the right track now, they have the guts, so I guess it won't be long before they get the glory as well. The musicians are good and handles their instruments well, the vocals are well performed and varied very well, and the production is nice and fitting, a good album to pull out once in a while, that’s for sure.
Rating: 7½/10
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