Barren Earth is classified as progressive melodic death metal band but one has to point out that the group's fourth full length effort A Complex of Cages convinces with smooth flow, enchanting melodies and quite charismatic clean vocals inspired by a minimal Middle East timbre that blends in perfectly. It's no surprise that this album recalls a band like Amorphis when it released Elegy more than two decades earlier since Amorphis' former and now again current bassist Olli-Pekka Laine founded this band. Those who like intellectual progressive folk metal bands like Arkan should also give this release a chance.

There are several elements that make this album stand out. First of all, it has a very smooth flow and the generous running time of more than an hour but only nine songs passes by very quickly. Secondly, the band has a talent to come around with soothing melodies which are sometimes carried by the guitars, at times also by the keyboards and in some cases by both instruments. The musicianship never tries to show off like so many other progressive bands do and always serves the atmospheric impact of every single song. The clean vocals work wonderfully as they are very distinctive, enchanting and expressive, recalling at times Middle Eastern chants. The production is quite airy and adds to the impression that the album invites the listener onto a magical journey.

If I had to pick a song that immediately stood out, I would have to mention the wonderful ''Further Down''. Powerful growls meet dramatic clean vocals. Beuatiful keyboard and piano sounds are contrasted by a steady rhythm section and grounded riifs. Timid acoustic guitar and flamenco passages are cleverly interwoven. The song unfolds emotive atmospheres through six and a half wonderfully imaginative minutes. The track reminds me of a mixture between Opeth and Orphaned Land. You should check this song out and if you like it, you should give the entire record a spin.

There are only a few minor elements to criticize on this beautiful album. The death metal vocals are solid but aren't quite distinctive enough if compared to the charismatic clean vocals. The extreme metal riffs could be a little bit more intense from time to time to contrast the more epic soundscapes. The production could be a little bit more powerful as well.

In the end, you should expect a progressive metal album with melodic folk elements instead of a challenging extreme metal output. Aside a few isolated riffs and the harsh vocals, this album doesn't have anything to do with death or doom metal. That's why some people might dislike this album's direction but in my personal case, A Complex of Cages is exactly my cup of tea. It reminds me of the time when Amorphis became more epic, experimental and melodic with albums like Tuonela and Am Universum without exactly copying this particular style. This atmospheric album is a grower and deserves more attention than it has received so far as it's one of the best records of the year.

Final rating: 85%

Ningen-Isu's latest live record entitled With Great Pomp And Circumstance: Ningen Isu Live!! is a release that will satisfy both fans of old date and occasional supporters alike. Released in its thirtieth year of existence, this package includes two discs featuring twenty-five different songs recorded during four shows at different locations in Japan throughout the year before this package saw the light of day. And you really get twenty-five different songs here and no instrumental solos, interludes or jam sessions. The band offers value for money, especially considering the fact that Japanese import versions are always quite pricey. The package also includes an entire show from one of the four locations consisting of eighteen tracks. This way, one gets both a selection of twenty-five different tunes and two and a half hours of music and one coherent two-hour headline show from start to finish. The amazing thing is that the live show on DVD or BluRay even includes songs that aren't even featured among the twenty-five tunes from the four different shows. Even rare tracks that were only included on compilations so far found their way onto the set lists. That's why this release can almost be seen as a quite representative greatest hits collection, including songs from the psychedelic hard rock debut album Ningen Shikkaku from the very early nineties up to the band's dynamic nineteenth studio album Kaidan Soshite Shi to Erosu released roughly a year before this astonishing live set.

Personally, I prefer the DVD or BluRay concert because its chemistry, flow and groove develop a nearly hypnotizing atmosphere. The bluesy and heavy guitar play complements the vivid bass guitar play perfectly while the drums provide an additional dose of tight energy. It wouldn't be exaggerated to compare Ningen-Isu's instrumental work as a mixture somewhere between Black Sabbath and Rush. The two vocalists aren't as skilled but perform with epic drama that adds a mysterious atmospheric touch to the tales of Japanese culture which often deal with supernatural elements, strange legends and horror literature. Lead singer and guitarist Wajima Shinji has a dramatic, enchanting and melodic voice recalling traditional hard rock and heavy metal stylistics while his childhood friend and bassist Suzuki Kenichi has a much lower and more sinister register with occasional spoken word passages that should please to any doom metal fan but also to those who like gothic metal. The band's entire performance is really fresh and unpretentious. The overture is a sample of one of their songs that lasts for two and a half minutes. The three musicians quietly step upon the stage, prepare and tune their instruments and start rocking out without any further ado. The three men are dressed in traditional Japanese clothes and bassist Suzuki Kenichi has his usual make-up that makes him look like a ghost but that's already everything the band needs. There are no unnecessary backdrops or show effects and the band very rarely interrupts its tight flow to address a few words to the crowd that enjoyed itself without exaggerating, I couldn't see one single person in the audience filming or taking pictures as everybody seemed to enjoy the present moments. Despite the band's tight performance, the trio managed to improvise a few passages of its songs with prolonged solo passages and quite unique sound effects from a theremin.

The two discs featuring songs from four different shows don't have the exact same vibe. Several songs are faded in at the very beginning or faded out at the very end. Interactions with the crowd are even scarcer than during a regular show. The instrumental improvisations sound somewhat stretched without the visual component, especially when the songs break the ten-minute mark. On the other hand, the band's talented musicianship is still fascinating and the direct, organic and raw production is as great as it gets for such a live package.

The set list is of course very complete and covers each important record of the three workaholics. A few of my favorite gems are missing such as the band's very first video single and danceable hard rock tune ''Ringo no Namida'' or the epic and melancholic tale ''Shinagawa Shinjuu'' which might be my favorite songs of the trio but the band could have played twice as many tracks as they actually did and there would still be some excellent tunes missing, simply because this band had released nineteen high-quality studio records back then and even twenty nowadays, without mentioning the numerous collaborations, compilations and singles with exclusive material. I could describe my personal highlights from the set lists but that would take too much time. Let me assure you that there are only killers and no fillers on here.

In its thirtieth year of existence, Ningen-Isu proves once more that it's one of the very best and yet most unknown rock and metal trios in the world. If you like hard rock, doom metal, heavy metal and occasional gothic, progressive and psychedelic influences, you can't get around this massive live package. Well, if you even remotely like heavy music which should be your case since you're reading this review, you should find something for your taste on this brilliant release. This set is worth its price, incredibly addicting and I just can't stop listening to and watching it since I received this wonderful package many weeks ago. The two live discs are worth ninety percent while the full concert deserves the perfect grade of one hundred percent which explains my final rating of ninety-five percent which obviously makes this record the best live album of the year.

Final rating: 95%

Finnr's Cane's second studio record A Portrait Painted by the Sun is an interesting progression for the Canadian trio. This record sounds much heavier than the predecessors thanks to colder and faster riffs and the occasional use of bleak black metal vocals. This maelstrom of darkness harmonizes well with the band's hypnotizing riffs and occasional and often minimalistic atmospheric cello and keyboard sounds. Sinister and speedy passages are interwoven with moody and plodding passages as if both styles were constantly battling yet also complementing each other perfectly.

This more vivid approach also fits thematically since the previous output was a homage to winter while this output stands for the awakening of nature after the cold season. The harsh coldness seems to be winter that tries to fight the more diversified and dynamic song structures representing spring or autumn. These two guiding lines constantly cross each other. Metal purists will like this dynamic step forward while those who appreciated the much smoother debut record might find the trio has lost some of its unique identity. Both points of view make sense but the transition between the first and the second output isn't too abrupt and it's positive that the band hasn't repeated itself.

The diversified epic ''Gallery of Sun and Stars'' is the highlight of the record as fast melodic black metal passages meet appeasing acoustic guitar intermezzos. The song remains captivating, dynamic and surprising despite an ambitious running time above seven minutes. ''A Promise in Bare Branches'' has a similar approach and even adds some melodic male vocals to the gloomy brew but the transitions aren't as fluid as they could have been and the calmer passages recall a little bit too much early Opeth with its seventies' folk and psychedelic rock influences.

If you like atmospheric and mostly instrumental black metal inspired by the wonders of nature, you should give Finnr's Cane's A Portrait Painted by the Sun a chance.

Final rating: 80%

If you've ever been to Sudbury, you know why Finnr's Cane sound so elegiac, gloomy and lethargic because the whole city is like this. It's basically an unpleasant mining town without any noteworthy attractions and stands out as one of the least beautiful places to visit in an otherwise gorgeous province and country. It doesn't come as a surprise that the natural landscapes around the town seem to be the band's main inspirations.

Finnr's Cane's music barely qualifies as metal because of a few monotonous riffs with minor black and doom metal inspiration. Wanderlust is essentially numbing ambient music with a few harmonious neofolk spots here and there. The drum play is mostly appeasing and smooth, the guitar play slow and fragile and cello and keyboard sounds are used scarcely as they invite to dream yourself far away. Only few songs feature vocals that are drowned in the production and sound like vague blurs or fading choirs complementing the domineering instrumental work. The album develops a hypnotizing mood that works coherently from start to finish. The slow but playful and somewhat diversified ''The Lost Traveller'' is probably the most interesting song on an album where the sum is greater than its parts.

As references, I might cite Agalloch, Dornenreich and Empyrium and it doesn't come as a surprise that the mysterious Canadian trio signed with Prophecy Productions which have quite a few interesting ambient and neofolk bands in their roster. If you are looking for gloomy music inspired by natural landscapes, this authentic soundtrack of winter will evoke numerous images on your mind. Finnr's Cane might not be spectacular instrumentally but the band's cohesive atmosphere makes the trio stand out very positively.

Final rating: 75%